Keeping Up with the Joneses

Monday, April 30, 2012

Phase 2 Complete

I stayed up after the kids went to sleep last Tuesday and painted for FOUR straight hours to finish up the painting part of the kitchen makeover. I kept saying to myself, you can stop when you get to x point but then the thought of stretching this on another day or even days, pushed me to just get it all done. Whew! And the verdict?? LOVE. I'm in love. It is so light and bright and just beautiful. In my opinion anyways. I love how our existing hardware really pops against the white cabinets now. It's making us itch to get the lighting portion done. All with time though. I kind of need a breather for a minute. Seriously don't know how some of these bloggers do DIY projects every.single.day.

Once again, here is a before shot of our kitchen:

And here is a shot after the counters and backsplash were done:

And here is a shot after the cabinets/island base were done:

And by the by, I went back and forth about a hundred times if I should go with a single bowl vs. double bowl sink. The single prevailed in the end and I'm SO glad. I love having one giant sink that I can fit all pans in. Love. It was so refreshing to come back after being gone the weekend to this bright and pretty space.

And here is our updated list:

~~Countertops~~

~~Backsplash~~

~~Sand Cabinets~~

~~Degloss Cabinets~~

~~Prime Cabinets~~

~~Paint Cabinets~~

~~Paint Frames and Island Base~~

Remove fluorescent lighting/patch ceiling

Add canned lighting

Add pendant light

Add Under cabinet lighting

Decorations for walls/top shelf of cabinets, etc
Bar stools for island (forgot this on last list)

New wall color???

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Get-a-way

(photo taken by Kristin Dunn last summer)

Love this picture. Not only is the lighting gorgeous and the scenery pretty but I feel it captures a the love Brad has for me. Sure, Brad and I have our moments when there is not pure marital bliss, although, thankfully few and far between, but I NEVER question this man's love for me. I had a few weeks about a month or so ago where I felt like I was doing so much with little recognition. I was busy puttying and sanding cabinets (by myself) all while staying at home with the boys all day and often times at night solo because of Brad's out of control hockey schedule, all while doing laundry and cooking dinner, and, well, you get the idea. I might have said to Brad one night, where's my gold star for all that I'm doing?! All I really wanted was some words of recognition (which I did get by the way), but Brad, being the amazing hubby he is, devised a plan that I needed a weekend away from my responsibilities. He asked one of my girlfriends if she'd be down for a weekend away with me and she said of course and the plan was hatched for a trip to Austin. They secretly picked the weekend and worked out some details. Then Brad told me about the surprise about two weeks ago. I of course was ridiculously excited and grateful. But sometimes life loves to throw curve balls. A week before our departure weekend, my girlfriend let me know something came up that prevented her from coming along. Cue water works. I guess I didn't know how much I really needed that weekend away from responsibilities until how upset I got at the thought of not going. I felt bad for crying in front of Brad because I knew he wanted this weekend to be special for me too. But once I got the tears out and Brad comforted me, I got over it. We wrestled with the idea of eating the cost of the hotel (pre-paid) and just no one going or going as a family. The idea of going just the two of us came up, but there was no way I was going to ask my parents to keep the boys since they had just kept them the weekend before so we could paint. And then, my parents being the amazing grandparents they are, called me and said they wanted to keep the boys again, so Brad and I could take advantage of the opportunity and have the weekend away. A-mazing. I felt guilty and almost said no, but the poolside and Austin bbq were calling my name and then I said yes and hung up the phone before they could change their mind. Kidding. For the most part.
And the weekend really was perfect. We left after Blake's skating practice Saturday and we spent the afternoon once in Austin poolside. And it was heaven.

And we had some darn good Austin BBQ for dinner with what is now my new favorite drink... beer-rita. I mean look at this thing!!

Our weekend away was so wonderful, but nothing is better than coming home to two little ones throwing their arms around you and planting kisses on your face.

p.s. - my parents are not only amazing in every way for watching our boys and doing fun activities with them like putt-putt, but they also got Brady to use the potty for the first time. He went twice. Both kinds. Because you needed to know that. My parents also potty trained our first baby, Odie, when we went to Colorado (trip we got engaged). So, only fitting my parents help potty train one of my actual babies.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Kids say the darndest things

For the point of this story, I'm about to get a whole lot of personal with you. I have a birth mark. Well, that's not very personal, but the location is. It resides on my butt cheek. Eek! That's the backs story. Here's the actual story: So, the boys and I were at the all mighty Chick-fil-A the other day and we all made a trip to the restroom before hitting the road. And, as all women do, I hovered. And Blake evidently felt the need to check things out and said, "Momma, what's that line on your butt?!!... There's a dark line on your butt! What is that? What's that on your butt Momma??" And, the restroom happened to be completely full at that moment. Of course it was.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Bluebonnets

The entire time my brother and I were growing up, my poor mom always wanted to take us to a bluebonnet field or sunflower field and take our pictures. We made fun of her and never let of her. Meanest kids ever??? Anyways, I figured, a perfect birthday and mothers day gift to my mom would be to get her grandbabies' pictures taken in the bluebonnets. Enter in my friend Kristin. Isn't it great to have friends that are uber talented?? I sure think so. I asked my friend Kristin (who took the pics at the top of the blog) to shoot the boys in the bluebonnets. I have to say, my boys, while photogenic, do not have a calling for modeling. They do NOT want to cooperate. AT ALL. Even with the bribe of ice cream. Boys, through and through. They were too interested in the lady bugs and the nature around them. I feared that we had no worthy shots, but the thing about having talented friends...they take amazeballs (yes, I said it) photos. Love. I mean LOVE these pictures. I really honestly loved every single one she sent me. But I'll post just a few here. Thanks Kristin!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Makeover Update

Our mini kitchen makeover is taking for-ev-errrrr! But slow and steady wins the race, right? RIGHT?! Having two small kiddos has made the do it yourself part of this project take a lot longer than originally anticipated. But its coming along. And I can not wait until our kitchen is put back in order. There are things from the cabinets all sitting out on the counter tops and I can't stand the mess. I'm over it!! My parents graciously kept the boys the majority of the weekend so we could knock a bunch of the painting out. And I'm so happy to report all cabinet doors and drawers are DONE! The only painting left is the frames and island base, but I'm about half way done with that. And, its something I can work on at night after the kids are asleep. If I can muster the energy. Praying I can call the painting part COMPLETE within the next few days. Once I get the inside painting finished and doors rehung, I will post another picture. Here is our list of items to complete for the kitchen project and what we still have left to tackle....