Rock The Keys Dueling Piano's

Kitchen Pictures

As promised here are a few pictures from the recent color addition. As I mentioned in the last post, the color is growing on me. I feel it has totally changed the whole feel of my downstairs and really got me on the way to what I really want for my home. It's more relaxed and little more farmhouse-ish.

Before -Stark White and taped for painting

In Progress - A Little Orange

Final Outcome

This is a more acuate color

I'm still looking for a few more vintage kitchen tools (mainly a battered rolling pin.)

Color Timidity

I love my all white kitchen, but with white appliances, white tile, and white dishes, I decided I would add a little splash of color. This is my first home and I have been very timid with color. When we moved in, I had everything painted taupe. I didn't know what I wanted and the pressure to decorate a family room, living room, kitchen, and four bedrooms all at once was just too much. So a year later I am beginning to add some color. I headed down to Lowe's, picked a beautiful color swatch, bought my gallon and headed home.



But now I'm not so sure. . . Here is a preview of what is to come. After I finish this weekend, I'll post more pictures. Keep your fingers crossed!

Mom Jeans

Today started as most. Up at 5:30 to feed the boys (okay, so I don't normally get up until 6:30), showered, and got dressed. Because I was moving boxes to storage today, I decided I would wear jeans. And because I got a new pair a couple of weeks ago, I pulled them out of the bag and put them on. It was then that I realized it had happened. I had bought myself mom jeans.

So it isn't as bad as the SNL skit about the mom jeans from JCPenny. I promise to never wear jeans with elastic siding or a nine inch zipper.

But I must admit, these jeans fit a little differently than other jeans I have purchased in the past. Gone away are the hip-huggers and pants so tight you can't put anything in the pocket. I just don't have the same figure I did ten years ago. Hip-huggers have turned into crack showing jeans, and sight pants aren't the same when you have more curves. So my new pants sit a little higher, and aren't so tight. The website describes them as "Classic jean detailing, contemporary trouser fit. A mid-rise and wide leg opening make this one a multi-tasker. Comfortable, yet super cute.A favorite, but more fun." Sigh. It sure snuck up on me.

Chocolate Under Glass

A couple of years ago MIL gave me a set of coasters for Christmas. It's a nice glass set that you can make personal by inserting pictures of your family. Unfortunately, with everything electronic, I rarely print pictures anymore. So when MIL was headed my direction on Sunday, I whipped out the coasters and scrambled to find something to put in them. Flipping through my recent copy of Real Simple, I found a set of six chocolate cupcakes. I cut them apart, slipped them in, and voile, custom, delectable coasters.

One day I'll really make handmade coasters. . .

Candy Box Redo

Kevin was looking for something to put on his night stand to keep all of his "stuff" in at night. I had a small basket on the table but I really didn't like it. So I took a couple of boxes that candy came in, and covered them in scrapbook paper. When they get worn out, we'll recycle them and find something else.

This is what Kevin's night stand should look like. . .

but this is what it actually looks like

One day I'll spruce up that lamp shade so it doesn't blend into the wall.

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too

I have my glass cake stand displayed on a shelf above my kitchen window. It was so boring I added a sugar bowl and creamers that match my dishes. It adds a little something to a relatively simple display.

Once I get curtains up, I'll show the whole window.

Quack, Quack, Quack, Mr. Ducksworth

You can't help but quote Emilio Estevez when watching a Ducks game. Last Monday, April 28th, our friends, Wendy and Jason, took us to see Game 3 of the Sharks v. Ducks game. I have only seen a couple of hockey games, and play off games are by far the best. Every seat was filled, and people are excited. The great thing about the Honda Center is that is was built for hockey and doesn't have a bad seat in the house. We were in the second to last row, but saw everything perfectly.

Check out the short video after the Ducks won!

Thanks Carvers!

Cottage Cute

My friend Bethany turned me on to The Lettered Cottage a little while ago. Layla is a designer with a cute cottage in Alabama. She has wonderful budget friendly decorating ideas.


Today she is showing off the work of Grace of Coastline. Grace has beautiful things for sale online. Just check out this burlap runner;

I'm always on the look out for fun new things to expand my decorative style.

Stagecoach

Last weekend (April 25 and 26) Kevin and I headed out to the desert (Indio) with two other couples for two days packed with country music; otherwise know as Stagecoach. I have to admit I was a little uncomfortable, I don't do well with extreme temperatures. It got up to 90 degrees during the day and dropped to 60 when the sun set. I'm a little bit of a baby, though. But the music was great. Darius Rucker was probably my favorite on Saturday. I really enjoyed his country music, and he brought back some Hootie music, too. But on Sunday, the best show had to have been Kid Rock. Explicit lyrics aside, he put on an awesome show. He played multiple instruments and sounds just as good live as he does recorded. Brad Paisley out on a great show playing great videos behind his performance. It really was cool! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Kenny Chesney on Sunday night. We had to head back to Riverside and couldn't wait to stay through the 9:30 performance.

More 66ers

Jen just sent me some more pictures of Rachel, Brendan, and me from Kevin's birthday at the 66ers game.

In case you can't tell the difference, I am in the short sleeves with the necklace and Rachel is in the tank top. I was shocked myself at how much more we look like each year.