A Recipe To Remember....

A few months ago I saw this picture and I just KNEW what I needed to do.  I had a wall in the kitchen that was calling to me to put something on it.  And that something was going to be a print of my Grandmother's recipes...in HER handwriting.  I chose a recipe that I loved as a child and one that she often made.  I am sure that I will change the recipe out from time to time...but I love it.  I love seeing her writing on my wall and remembering sharing laughs in this very kitchen:) 

Here is the original

Console UPDATE....

A few months back I shared our new tv console table with you all...and since then we have changed a few things. We decided to hang the tv (man now it looks really small:) and hide the wires.  I LOVE this feature!  Cleans the whole thing up!  And then Jeremy put plexiglass in the bottom cabinet so that the receiver could be used without the door being open.  Woohoo!!!!  I wonder how many more changes we can make:) 

UPDATE: Headboard...

This is NOW:)

This room is, and may always be, a work in progress.  But here is the state that it is in now.  I still need something for the walls and then I should begin work on the other side of the room:)  Until then, here is the headboard after it was placed in the room:) 

This is the "Before" 

Project List:

Next up on the project list (in no particular order)....
1.  Recessed Lighting
2.  Laundry Island
3.  Kitchen Shelving and Facade?
4.  Storage Closet
5.  Walk-In Closet (new room)
6.  Basement Door
7.  Mantel
8.  Coffee Table
9.  Crown Molding
10.  Bo's Bedroom

Okay, I will stop here.  I could go on and on:)  But these are some of the upcoming projects!  Can't wait to get started:)

Weekend Project...I need to Console about this Console...UPDATED!!!

The inspiration

And here is ours:)  Happy in its new home:) Corners still need to be attached and then I get to decorate!

 This is the project that we are working on today.  I am SO excited to have this!  Well, we don't have it yet...and we may completely fail...but here goes nothing!  I will post the project as we go but here is what we are aiming for...

UPDATE:

Purchased the wood.  This project cost around $60 for all the wood and supplies.  It could be cheaper at a "Big Box" store...but we stayed local:)  Go Whidbey!

Hey, who is this handsome man? :)

Frames built and first shelf installed.

Cross beams and second shelf...Jeremy and I are learning as we go...but getting better:)

 We still have the top to adhere and then we stain.  This has been a fun project!  The kids have become good helpers in the shop too:)  Bay even has her own little work station.  I thought dancing was in the near future...but maybe it will be wood shop classes:)  More pictures to come as we continue our project!
UPDATE:

That is right folks...that bubble is just about perfect!  WOOHOO Cornwell's!

The top is done...

Corners are applied:)

Not Bored with this Headboard;)

Okay...dumb title:)  haha:)  I had just grown tired of our upholstered headboard and needed a change.  I knew that I could re-cover the upholstered one to work in Bay's room (I will post pics later) so it was a win win:)  I wanted to mute the colors in our room...giving it a more serene look.  We are on our way.  Lots more projects in there but this is a good first step:)  I will post the final pics of it in the room soon:)  But here is the progress we are making....

 Laying out the pattern that I wanted.

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 My handsome hubby hard at work:)

 Distressed the boards with the kids help...this was fun and makes the piece even more special:)  We even used my Grandpa's old tools:)  Then we stained the whole thing with driftwood stain (LOVE the color) and nailed 1x2's to the back for support and to act as the legs of the piece. 

 My romantic husband made the piece perfect by etching in our initials:)  Fitting don't you think?  This is my absolute favorite part of the whole project!  It makes such a difference in our room...and now I am excited to complete the rest!!!!

Reflect...

Project day!  Another fabulous idea found on pinterest:)  It is true what they say that you can make a gorgeous mirror for under $10!!!  This whole project cost maybe $7!!!  The mirror was $4.50 in the back to school section at Target and the wood is cedar fence boards:)  Sanded and stained.  I want to make a million more:)  Fun project with a big impact.  And the cedar smells great too...BONUS:)

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

Last week I looked up at my fireplace and said "one of these things just doesn't belong here" and I was right.  We had a black mirror above our fireplace and it was too "clean" for the space.  So I started trying to figure out what would go and decided that making it would be the best thing to do:)  I go my inspiration here and then set out to find the mirror and the wood.  Armed with a crazy drive to get things done and a husband that likes my crazy;) we found a mirror at our local Habitat store!  It was much bigger than I set out for but FUN!  The whole project cost around $40.  And for a 41" mirror...that is pretty amazing!  I may end up making the frame a little wider some day but for now the change is a welcomed one:)

 Started by measuring the board for the back and cutting it to fit with extra for the frame.  Then used liquid nails to secure the mirror to the backing.

 Next Jeremy cut the frame to fit, more liquid nails and then a few screws to secure the whole thing.  There is about a one inch overlap on the frame to the mirror.

 And here it is!  You can see our next project in the reflection.  We are going to take down those lights and install pocket lights in the living room.  I can't wait!  Mood lighting here we come!  Gotta love dimmer switches:)

Stain it up...

Finally!  We were so tired of the brown/red deck!  We live in a cute little "beach house" and our deck was not giving the right impression:)  Plus it was time to do a touch up anyway.  So we took the opportunity to make a change.  To make it more our us, and more beach:)  I think that it turned out perfect and brings the outdoors in!  Love that!

Bay had to pose for the picture too:)

After.  So much better! 

Just ignore the drip system:)

Inside looking out...see how much better it flows?

Entertain Me...

Finally.  We found the perfect little piece of furniture to put our stamp on, make our own...all to set a television on top of:)  I am excited about this piece.  I have been waiting for just the perfect thing...and because I have been waiting so long I was about to buy a new piece!  But HURRAY we get the chance to up-cycle a gem of a (use-to-be) sideboard.  So excited!  Jeremy just left to pick up the piece and then the project will begin!  I will post pictures of before an after for your entertainment:)  Fun Fun Fun:) Fingers crossed that this works the way I have envisioned in my head!

Sneak Peak....

Above is before...and below is in the process...

After three coats of paint, some stain and a little distressing...this is what the product!  Love it!  Now we just need to find the right hardware and we are done!  It is the perfect fit for our room:) 

 Looks a little cluttered right now...Need to hide the speakers, hang the art and move some wires.  We are also planning on opening one of the cabinets with glass or taking out completely and adding a shelf.  But progress....

Deck Garden...pics coming soon

Over the weekend we decided to plant our deck pots.  Usually I plant in an array of colors, all different flowers.  This year I wanted to try something new.  We chose the color palette of every shade of purple, green and lime green.  But instead of only using flowers we mixed in vegetables and fruit!  We have potted blueberries, raspberries, grapes, eggplant...intermixed with flowers we have beets, beans, peas, cilantro, chives and rosemary.  It is so beautiful and I am so excited to see how it will work:)  Fun to think of just walking out to the deck to get a few ingredients:)  I love it!  And it really is pretty!  There could be so many ways to make this look great with other veggies!  Again, we will see that works and what does not as the spring/summer progress:)

Little Garden Project...How does your garden grow?

We have now been living on Whidbey for, well, 5 years in August!!!  Can you believe that?!  And all of that time we have spoken about planting a garden.  We have been dragging out feet because of our darn rabbit and deer problem and I really did not want a huge fence up on our property (other than the one we have for the dog).  But this year we found a simple project that takes away the commitment level of large garden project and lets us get out feet wet.  To see what works for us and what does not.  We found the raised garden project here, realizing it would only cost a fraction of the other raised bed ideas, and got to work:)  It was SO easy and SO worth it:)  The whole project (including the rabbit fence) was around $60.  And that is not from the big box stores but our local stores (meaning it could be even cheaper than that if you live in a more populated area).  I am can't wait to see what this summer holds for us!  The plants are already sprouting:)  WOOHOO!!!!  Next stop, nectarine tree!!!

This is the backyard.  Gets sun most of the day, has a fence (for the dog) all around it that will protect from deer, and we put the rabbit fence just around the boxes.  We also have smaller planter boxes filled with lettuce and spinach.  The bricks are a perfect place for now...already level and close to the water source for the drip system.  Happy happy:)

Little helper

 So far we have cilantro, parsley, basil, thyme, spinach, kale, red lead lettuce, romaine, pole beans, tomatoes (heirloom and cherry), cucumber, jalapeno,  red pepper, summer squash, corn and artichoke in the backyard:)  Sound like an awful lot for the space huh?  Hahaha:)  We will see what works and what does not in a hurry!!! :)

Before the Storm...After the Rain...And HERE is the Rainbow...

Here it is...our biggest project to date!  The men did such a great job on this:)  A vision realized.  I will post more details soon...I just could not wait one more second before sharing:)