Show us where you live- Kitchen

Kelly's Korner is hosting Show us where you live Friday. My friend, Heather, told me about it yesterday while we were out to dinner, she is one of my friends I made banana bread for :)

She told me she was going to participate and I originally told I was not, because my kitchen is my least favorite room in the house. As I was cleaning to leave for the weekend (yes I clean so when I come home after a weekend away everything is nice and clean for the first 2 seconds when we arrive) I decided I was going to participate. My feeling is you only know how far you've come if you are honest about where you started!! So I am showing my kitchen!!



Welcome to my kitchen...

This is the view coming from the garage through the den..

Notice the mismatched chairs for the kids? We have a wooden princess chair for my daughter and an NCSU for my son. Why you ask? Because I was tired of recovering the seat cushions every time we had a function at the house and the kids like having their own personal chairs. No arguments of who sits where.

The cabinets were originally brown and hubby painted them white for me. Now I want to paint them with a glaze like Kelly's cabinets but I have a feeling that will never happen. I would also like new counters but that is way down on the list!!! I did make the curtains and I really love my curtains!

The view from the kitchen looking back to the den.


Fridge and pantry! My two favorite pieces are right here. The rooster from Pier One and the chalkboard I redid.

Up close of my 9x9 kitchen. It is small but it does the job!! Plus, I am not a big cook so it isn't a big deal. The item I dislike the most is the original 1988 stove. It is so old and yucky I can't stand it, but money doesn't grow on trees and my husbands theory is "if it isn't broke we are not getting a new one" grrrr!!

This is my humble kitchen. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Procrastinators Party!!

Looks like I am not the only one out in blog land that procrastinates. The Inspired Room is having a Procrastinators Party and leave it to me to be fashionably late!! I first had to find a project that I've been procrastinating on!! HAHA!! That is a laugh!! All I have to do is look to the right or the left of my computer and I can find about 5-6 in this room alone!!

Although there are plenty of undone/unfinished projects in my house, I really wanted to challenge myself and do a project that I have been putting off. Since this party is the exact type of motivation I need to get my act together I picked my children's table and chairs that I keep in the kitchen. The deal is you pick a project that you have been procrastinating on, show it to everyone and then in 2 weeks show the completed project.

Before:



The story on this table. My daughter received this as a gift when she was 18 months old from her Nana and Dah and they got it at Ikea unfinished. Well, I painted it a fish theme and quickly got tired of it and painted it white. Then it sat primer white for about a year. Then I decided I was going to make it a chalkboard table. Well, good idea in theory but I am not a big fan of chalk dust in my house. Especially, when my child can make a fresh piece of chalk into a nub in 2 minutes. Now I believe all children's chalk belongs on the sidewalk.

Here it sits in my kitchen undone, untidy for almost 2.5 years. From afar it looks okay but up close it is a mess. I am challenging myself to get this painted!! I can do it!! I just need an idea. Anyone have a good idea to pass along? I would really appreciate it.

I am such a slacker!! I just realized I have even posted about my procrastinated painting projects!! Even more reason to get this done!!

Stay tuned!!! In two weeks (even though I will not be in town for any of weekends during that time) I will have this done!! I am off to find inspiration from someone out there!!

Good luck to all of the other procrastinators out there participating in the Procrastinators Party!! We can do it!!

Do something unexpected...make Banana Bread

Tonight I am meeting up with two of my very good friends from college for dinner. We all have two kids each and made it our goal to get together once a month for dinner. It works out fabulous and we all have such a good time.

I really have a ton of stuff I need to do (laundry, bathrooms, mop), want to do (Mod Podge Mania), should be doing (accounting work), but I decided I needed to do something special for my friends today. They seem to need a pick-me-up. One is potty-training her son (going very well) and the other is crazy busy and nothing seems to be going right this week. I have another friend I would love to send a loaf too, but since I am a friend I won't, because she can't eat sweets right now. Sorry E!! For the ones who can eat sweets Lawson and I made them some Banana Bread. I hope it makes them smile!!

Here is the recipe. This always comes out moist and is sooooo easy!!

Best Banana Bread (really that is the name)
Jim Graham's Farm Family Cookbook

1 stick butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Beat in until creamy. Stir in bananas. In separate bowl, sift and measure flour. Add salt and baking soda to the flour. Mix dry ingredients with banana mixture. Pour into greased loaf pan*. Bake at 325 degrees for approx 50 min. Cool on wire rack for 15 min before turning out of the pan.
** I used six mini pans and cooked for about 40 minutes
Recipe doubles nicely & freezes well.

I think this unexpected gift will make them smile and make their day!!

Motivational Signs

My Dad sent this to me and as the "Procrastinator Crafter" I had to share!!



Hope you are having a good week!

Make-over Wicker Planter Box

I am the lucky owner of lots of undone projects, and it is easy for me to participate in Jen R's Home Make-Over on the 25th of each month, as long as I get my tail in gear. I know what you are thinking "Maridith, the Home Make-over is on the 25th and today is the 26th." Well, what can I say, I like to be fashionably late!!

My MIL and FIL gave my husband and I an old wicker planter box when we moved into our first home 8 years ago. Before we were the owners it had been painted many many times. We would of loved to of used it in our current but a white planter box against 80's beige trim clashed really bad. Therefore, the wicker flower pot has been in the shed for approximately 3 years. My front door is finally done, and my shutters are finally black, so I am ready to dress up my front stoop!! It is all a process to me and nothing can go out of order.

Before:

During: I have a black thumb(appropriate since I like black so much) so I asked my mom to plant my herbs. To give them a good start.

After: I decided to lighten up the planter by adding a wooden 'F' on the front. I really like the finished look!! The process of removing chipped paint off of wicker is not fun! However, using a drill to make holes for the wires to hang the wooden letter is fun!!! I love power tools!!

This is what people will see coming up to my front door.

Looking out my front glass door. Makes me smile!!

Cost:

3 cans of spray paint $12

Herbs and Marigolds $14

'F' $3

Soil 1/2 bag $4.50

Total cost $23.50

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

I started this blog in January of this year and this blog has been so inspirational to me. First, it keeps me on my toes and keeps me motivated and allows me to be me. Second, I have met some wonderful people whom I never would of met if my world was as small as the people I see every day. Third, if I were to name my top 5 hobbies this would be on my top 5!

I have been given another award by Xazmin. Either she really loves me or thinks I need some love by others. Which ever it is I will take it. She gave me my first and only award (until now) back in March. She knows how to make me soooo happy!!



The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1.Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4.Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5.Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

There was a time in my life I had ZERO gratitude at all. It was the lowest time in my life and felt God was out to hurt me. One August night, my sweet, athletic, handsome brother died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 22. He died of a genetic heart disorder called Brugada. We had no knowledge of his disorder because he was of ideal health. He had just graduated from VMI Military Academy, played Division I basketball all the while going through military hell there. Then God decided he needed to be in heaven. I still to this day do not exactly understand why, but since then through my children I have been able to find a deeper amount of gratitude towards life's simple pleasures. Because at any moment it can all be taken away. The prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, for if I die before I wake..." has deeper meaning then you can even imagine.

1. My brother, Chad is an identical twin and his surviving twin is Ryan. Ryan is just like him 6'5", unbelievably handsome, funny and just a good guy. Ryan has a deeper peace then I and he said it best to me one day "Maridith, I feel like Chad died so I could live" See Ryan was diagnosed with Brugada after Chad died and now has a defibrillator. I am grateful, but damn it is a hard pill to swallow!!

2. My husband. We have been through thick and thin, but through it all we LOVE each other and are best friends. He is my rock and is the most unbelievable man. We were made for each other!!
3. My children. What can I say I am so grateful I was blessed with two beautiful, healthy children. They are the light of my life and I am so glad to be their mom!!

4, My sister. I use to torture my sister (I was so mean) as a child but some where between 21-23 we became the best of friends. I talk to her EVERY DAY!! When we don't talk for a day it seems like weeks.

5. God. He never gave up on me even though for years I pushed him away. He loves me!

6. Okay this list could go on and one forever so I will end it with I am grateful every morning when I wake up and when my kids wake up (hopefully after 7AM). Each morning I say a prayer thanking God for another day!!

Now that I can barely see the computer screen through the tears, I am going to spread the award to other bloggers. Take it or leave it!!!

Amylee13
Heather
Hedi
Jill's Believe it or Not
Paige
Katie at Nesting Spot- she has this award but I love her blog so I am giving it to her again!!!

Okay, I stink at this. It is late and I can't link to any more!! Sorry. I love you all and so appreciate your support!!!

Good night!!

Little Boys Don't Do Pink!!

God has blessed me and my husband with a daughter and son. We truly count our blessings everyday that we have one of each sex and they are so healthy. That being said, my kids have a cheap-cheap mommy, which means some staple baby items that are gender specific are used by both. For example, pink baby bath towels, pink blankets, pink sippy cups & pink strollers. All items listed are used by my son and it doesn't phase me for the most part. But there is one item that my son uses that epitomizes my cheapness and that is the pink stroller.

Little guy hugging on his sister's pink blanket!

The story of the Pink and Black Stroller

When we had my daughter we chose not to find out if she was a boy or girl, so everything we received like big ticket gifts were very neutral. Perfect!! Having everything green and yellow didn't bother me, but as she came into her own she was so girl-y BUT she had no hair. Some people would say "Oh HE is so cute", it didn't matter if she was in all pink she was still called a he!! My response was always the same "He is a she" and would move on. Well, one day I decided to break free from my sensible side, and bought my daughter a pink and black stroller. I was so proud of this pink and black stroller for my daughter it just made me giddy to push her around. I think it was more for me then her, but still, it was something that should only be used for a girl and I loved it...2 years ago.

Now, I hate this stroller. Why? I am embarrassed to say I have been sporting my son around in a pink and black stroller since he was 8 months and I cringe inside every time I use it. I would cover the pink back with a diaper cloth to hide the large area of pink (pictured below), but the pink trim just screams pink to me. No one has ever said anything about my little boy and a pink stroller but I can see it in their eyes!! How cruel am I ??? Throw practicality out the window "Little Boys Don't do Pink" I know, call me petty I don't care. he is 15 months old and it is time for me to do something about it!!

I thought about selling it, taking the money and buying a new one, but I would still have to shell out an additional $40-$50 for a new one. I could buy a used one after selling this one, but the process of finding a used one would be too time consuming. Then I had an idea. It was a little crazy, maybe even stupid, and beyond cheap, but I decided to paint the pink trim and make a new headrest cover. I figured if it didn't work, oh well I tried!!

I took one more picture of the pink and black stroller for old time sakes. Then my daughter and I started painting!!

Before:


After: A one-of-a-kind NCSU stroller!!

How did I do it? I used black paint (have lots around), mixed in some Textile Medium (had some of that around too, not sure why) and started painting all of the pink trim black.

The cover is made out of some left over material I bought for baby gifts. Go NCSU!!

Cost: Nothing!!

Saved: $40-$50

Verdict: No more pink and black stroller for my little boy!! No more cringing!! Yeah!! I even like the stroller again. I just wish it had a cup holder. Oh Well.