1, 2, 3

I did a little update on my kitchen jars...

I'm loving the numbers I see ALL over the place.

The "1" jar I stock with towels - trying to kick the paper towel habit!

I think I post a giveaway for some numbers soon :)  Check back...

open kitchen shelving - on the cheap

I have been admiring and wanting some open shelving in the kitchen for quite some time now.

I promised myself awhile ago that I wouldn't ask my husband to do any more projects 

(at least for awhile)

- that if I wanted something done I would try my best to do it myself. 

Here's the intended target...

These cabinets are the cheap, ugly kind.  

I painted them white when we moved in 

(about 8 years ago)... 

then black not that long ago... 

then back white a few weeks ago...  

a woman prerogative to change her mind, right?  Back to the subject at hand...

First I had to get this thing down, 

so I set an old crate underneath to help break the "fall" of the cabinet - and I am SO glad I did! 

I came down with a big thud.

My husband put up a beadboard backsplash awhile back, so I went in the basement and found two pieces - there wasn't one big enough, so I cut them to size and pieced them together.

 I saw some shelf brackets I loved, but ultimately, price won out.  I bought these at Lowe's for about $1 a piece.  The shelves are particle board - about $2 or $3 a piece.  They were 4 feet in length.  

I cut them down to about 38 inches on the table saw (they will cut them at the store for you too).  

I primed the shelves and then painted with white semi gloss (latex).  I had both in the basement.

I did spend about $8 on these.  

No skimping on safety.

I am happy with the result - just need to find the wood filler and buy some trim for the shelves.  I know the edges look rough right now.  I'll update you when I get it all done :).  I am really happy with the change...

I wonder what I will tackle next?

I'd love to know what you think!

whatcha lookin at??

I spend quite a bit of time at my kitchen sink and realized I needed a change of scenery, so this is what I came up with...

 These are some coasters I found on clearance.  They have a spot in the back to slide a picture into...  I've had these up for a bit.  I think I will change them out soon for some brighter fabric. 

I found this cute nest this weekend at the most ADORABLE shop - The Robin's Nest.  (I'll be blogging about the shop soon).  The urn was a Goodwill find and the pillow...

 I fell in love with it on a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois a few years ago.  It is a good reminder for me :)

The silver bells were a Crate and Barrel find at Christmas clearance.  I LOVE these pastel colored candy corns!  (A tip from the owner at The Robin's Nest.)

You can find them at Michael's!  They are in a vase from IKEA (oh how I wish we had an IKEA here!!!)

The little votive holder - a dollar store find.

I made the wreath Saturday night.  I haven't done that in years.  I grabbed a small simple grapevine wreath and greenery and flowers at Michael's.  Cheap therapy...

So, here's my "spot".  Hope you are looking at happy things.

I might not be around here for a few days... more surgery tomorrow.  Oh me, Oh my.  I hope this will be the last one for a long while - if not ever :)

Hope you have a wonderful day!

hallway redo

It seems that we are in the constant mode of remodel.  Happily, this doesn't really bother me because I know change is coming - eventually.  Our kids bathroom remodel has hit the one year mark now - although it is now functioning (but that's for another post).

Our hallway has needed a face lift for a while (yeah, don't mind the bare ugly stairs - that's another redo I am working on...)

This redo started with some fabulous Oops paint - from Lowe's - only a half hour old!  gotta love that.  I found some frames at HomeGoods for $3 a piece.  They had fabric covered mats that I was not too fond of, so I covered the mats and painted the (existing white) front sides black - acrylic paint.  Then I went to The Graphics Fairy website where you can find really cool vintage graphics that you can download and print for free.

I went around the house and found all the black framed pictures that I thought would go well together and then measured out my wall space on the the floor and marked out my space with painters tape so I could play around until I found a combination that satisfied me.

 I might add a little black vinyl here and there to fill in some of the larger spaces, but over all I am happy with how this turned out.