I love this kitchen

This kitchen picture is from HGTV's rate my space site. This is so similar to what I'm hoping to create in our home. My Sweet Savannah's blog had a link to this recently and between her beautiful decorating and this kitchen...I really feel like I have a sense of what we want. (I'm new to blogging so I hope I' m giving sufficient credit where credit is due...)

So off to Home Depot we went the other day to get prices and a lay out. We left pictures and measurements and anything we could think of to get the kitchen ordered. Today I went back for a follow up appointment and the designer had a really limited computer image of a kitchen that absolutely wasn't going to be ours. All of the elements that were important to us were not there and it's so frustrating! My dear husband was working so I was there with the kiddos and that didn't help. I just wonder if she even looked at what we brought in. There is a couple of other places for cabinets we can explore so I guess the search continues......Until then.....I'll stare at other peoples' kitchens.

the kitchen begins....

So today we went to Home Depot with our pictures measurements and our ideas. We also brought our three children...it was all going pretty well until they found this huge (reachable) bin filled with these little bright yellow plunger things. Let the games begin! Why don't they play with their toys like this?

What we learned was if you are planning to have Home Depot install the cabinets, they charge $100. to come out and measure your space. If your planning to install, you get charged sales tax ( there is not a sales tax charge under their install price,) and they are not liable if the lay out doesn't work. Fair, I guess. I have convinced my husband to finally get 3 estimates and different lay outs before we choose. So we are now in the planning stages...exciting and terrifying!!

summer things to do

www.kidsbowlfree.com kids can bowl 2 free games a day all summer. Shoe rental is 2.50
Anyone have good ideas for cheaper family fun?

Spring has sprung..at the Cleveland Zoo

Does JB think her brother will fall in? See her overprotecting hold?
Reindeer stink....who knew?

from the mouth of babes...

Remodeling on hold to celebrate....

Lessons

The kids were granted a small scholarship to be used towards their piano lessons and right now they are teaching me something. Small step by small step...it's amazing what lessons can be learned. Remember that we're not all supposed to bloom at the same time.

still hanging my head low...

well...here is the wreath...on the door.....that I painted. Have you ever read the story, "If You Give a Moose a Muffin?" Well, this is the story....if you give the mommy a paintbrush. Long story short one thing leads to another and it's all a mess!!) So I'm not posting the door today because my tissue from crying is sticking to the paint.

Another view of the back porch....

The fire extinguisher? Have you seen us remodel?

I have some explaining to do.....

Before:

This is a picture of our back porch door. The porch is hugely functional...but really ugly. We plan on redoing the porch but that obviously takes a back seat ( back porch..) to the kitchen mess..I mean kitchen remodel. This is where the splaining needs to be done...and I'm hanging my head low...but willing to reveal my mishaps. If I'm accountable...I just might learn. I opened a can of paint today. No back up....no one here to say...hey...don't do that ...you DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PAINT!! There I stood.... brush in hand ...looking at the back screen door, already in bad shape. So, what wrong can I possible commit? The weather is beautiful...the birds seem to sing...fix your home....I painted the back door black. I'll post the second coat tomorrow. It should look better then, right?

proud mama moment

The Cleveland Piano Teacher's Association was offering scholarship opportunities. The kids had to perform a piece by memory and a some of the competition was quite a bit older. They did well and we are so proud..............

take a gander....

Geese!!...

Master Bath....Before

Master Bath

I am at the point of shopping for kitchen cabinets and I have a feeling that may take awhile. So I thought I might post the master bath. It's not finished yet but there is progress. I'm currently using the sink in this room as the kitchen sink so I am refusing to put a commode in here yet. The molding is up courtesy of our friendly next door handy guy who has been an incredible resource to us! He brings his future handy guy grandchild (3 yrs old) with him and occasionally just picks up projects and goes to it!! If everyone had a neighbor like this it would be a happy happy world! The vanity we bought off of craigslist.org. If you haven't explored craigslist we strongly suggest it. ( Warning: shopping on craigslist may be habit forming.) The shower is from Lowes. It's a bath remodel on a budget because we have the kitchen area that is taking up a huge portion of our budget. The room is on our first floor as well as two of our four bedrooms. The room needed to be guest ready too because of it's location so I opted not to put a bathtub in here. I would love that type of room.....it just wasn't in the cards for me here. I am still really happy with the space...and all in all it was still an improvement. The tile is a clearance item from Home Depot and the grout is gray. I found the shower curtain from Khols and the teak shower mat from Target. ( I'm doubting the mat is really teak ... but I like it because it serves it's purpose and I don't have to leave a damp bath mat hanging in the room.) The carpet runner is from our previous house and is showing it's age....but it matches. The extra space ( where there is an old chair) will probably turn into a closet. For now, the space is fine.

Good Morning Neighbor

Happy Valentine's Day

We are rich in Valentine's....not much else but I wouldn't have it any other way! Dear Sissy...I have a neighbor who delivers like the best red and white sprinkled donuts for Valentine's .....coming over?

Two things that crack me up....3 year old Ry singing the Target song...."You say goodbye...and I say hello...hello...hello...I don't know why you say good "buy" I say hello..." I must take him there all too often. Also...me....taking pictures of donuts. I guess that's what happens when dear husband works on Valentine's!!
God's blessing for a brilliant St. Valentine's day!

( JB made the X's and O's in the picture...fun craft! To give credit ...the idea was from a blogger and I can't remember who.... ) I guess that's sort of credit.

Window treatments

This is the basement view under the addition. We'll eventually put up real walls. For now...what to do with the windows? Blinds for now?

Window treatments

This window will be over the kitchen sink.

Window treatments

My friend is shopping for window treatments and inspired me get window treatment ideas!

This is the original and new living room spaces. Without a color picked out for the walls...( leaning toward Bamboo ) I'm just looking for something to provide a little bit of privacy.

Roasted Butternut Squash

I'm not going to pretend this is a cooking blog but I was inspired to photograph my food for whatever reason. If you try this ... let me know how you like it. I served it with pecan crusted salmon ( thank you Giant Eagle ) and a glass of white wine.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Onions

serves 6 Cooking time: 35 min Preheat oven: 425

1 butternut squash peeled and cubed
2 med red onions cut up
2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 425
Combine all ingredients in a 13x9" baking dish. Toss to coat and bake for 35 min. until squash is fork tender and nicely browned.