Blogolution Update: Memorial Day Facelift

Blogolution Disclaimer:

Although our shed is technically outside the house (duh!), I think this still qualifies as a Blogolution project as it is yet another way we are making our house into a place we love. 

Apparently our new family tradition is tackling painting projects over Memorial Day weekend.

Last year we painted our house - or at least we started it. The official completion took a few months.

You can see that dramatic before and after here.

This year, with some leftover paint just chillin' in the basement and a three day weekend at our last minute disposal, we decided to give our shabby-looking shed a much needed facelift.

{BEFORE}

{DURING}

The chipping paint literally jumped off the surface upon spraying it with our standard outdoor hose.

{AFTER}

Second disclaimer:

Please excuse the few mismatched shingles.

Stupid windstorms.

Beautiful results aside, I have already petitioned the hubs for a real Memorial Day weekend next year, 

specifically one that does not include painting of any kind.

Blogolution Update: Kiddo's Kitchen Nook

You have no idea how excited I am to show you this reveal!

Here is the before picture of that weird little nook in my kitchen:

Cute, but completely useless.

Not anymore!

First I gave the wall a coat of Gliddon's Autumn Haze. The paint in our kitchen was still from the previous owners so we were in need of something new.

Then I measured and marked the size of rectangle I wanted for the framed chalkboard and did two coats of chalkboard paint inside the lines. 

(In case you are wondering, applying black paint over your new pretty kitchen paint feels unbelievably counter-productive.)

The hubs gave me a crash course on his table saw and I tried my hand at cutting the trim for the frame. Aside from getting a speck of sawdust stuck in my eye for the entire afternoon, I'm pretty proud of how I did on my first try. Just don't peer at the lower right angle of the frame too closely.

A right angle she is not.

You should know that I was super giddy just getting the chalkboard finished. I suddenly found myself actually loving something in my kitchen. Who knew that was possible?  Not me.

But I didn't stop there.

Here is the console table that was previously occupying this nook.

Does the new table look familiar?

Using my new table saw skills, I took about 8 inches off each leg of the console table, and then removed the lower shelf and supports. After priming with Kilz, I gave the table a few coats of Rustoleum Heirloom White. I finished off with a clear protective coat and felt pads on the feet.

For the tabletop itself, Justin and I browsed the lumber at Home Depot while I tried to explain to him what I had in mind.

Note: when your hubby can't see your vision, draw a picture!

Other than referring to Ana White's site for some standard kiddo table measurements, I didn't have any formal plans to follow so I really wasn't sure what I wanted to use. In the end I decided that 1x6's would give me the look I wanted. As luck would have it, when we finally went to get the lumber (family joy ride in the 1978 Chevy anyone?) I stopped by the cut bin and found exactly what I needed at a fraction of the price. Yeah, baby!

Back to the table saw!

I cut my 1x6's (actually more like 1x5.5's) into 30" lengths, gave them a good sanding and stained them a dark walnut. Then, since this is a kiddo table and I don't want to cringe every time the table is exposed to spilled milk, crayons or play-dough, I followed the advice of some fellow furniture DIYers and used a paste wax to protect the beautiful walnut finish.

Finally, I laid my wood slats across the old table top, using wood glue for reinforcement, and secured them with screws through the underside.

Last but not least, did you not totally ooh and ahh over my adorable bucket stool? I found this stool at my local Habitat store for $5 and I'm pretty sure I fall more in love each time I see it.

Before:

After:

And, it offers storage!

 I painted the metal rings and the legs, and cut a new seat after discovering that green astroturf does not detach from plywood willingly.

Since I so badly wanted to use this stool with the kiddo table, and the stool measured a smidge taller than most standard kiddo chairs/stools, I went ahead and made the table an inch higher than I had intended. This may pose a problem later down the road when I try to find another seat or two to go with the table, but until then I think they look adorable together. 

Then add the cutest kiddo in the world and its heaven in my kitchen!

I'm linking up to:

Blogolution 2011 Update: Green & Violet

Its been ages since I posted an update on my Blogolution but I really am making progress.

Let's just say that my kiddo's kitchen nook project has taken me a wee bit longer than I anticipated, but I expect to have the reveal for you tomorrow. 

In the meantime, here are two smaller projects I have managed to finish on the side:

I found this old wooden crate at a spring yard sale.

Around that same time I decided my cardboard recycling bin was looking a bit too redneck.

(Do rednecks recycle?)

Tacky, I know.

So I drilled a few holes in the top of the crate and fed some braided jute through to make some spiffy little handles. Then I stenciled 'Recycle' on the front with craft paint - lest anyone question the purpose of the wooden crate in the corner of my kitchen holding more empty Diet Coke cans than any two people should produce in a year.

Its all Justin, I swear!

Nothing dramatic, but it sure beats a tacky cardboard box.

And remember how I said Violet, my craft desk, was looking a bit too prim and proper in her perfect purple paint job?

(Wow, thats a lot of P's.)

I finally emptied her contents, moved her back out to the carport, and gave her a good distressing, followed by some antiquing glaze. I also lined her drawers with some script craft paper and swapped out her hardware for something more fitting.

Before:

After:

Ahhh, so much better!

UP NEXT: 

(1) The kiddo's kitchen nook! Honest, it really is finally complete. Check back tomorrow!

(2) My command center. Now that we have our new computer Justin has been nagging me (see, he does it too!) to complete the desk and chair I found at Goodwill last fall so we can have an office area again.

(3) The shed. Its getting a fresh coat of paint this weekend in order to match the house. This project hasn't been quite as fun but its lookin' great!

Easter Weekend

Since Easter weekend was over a month ago and I am only just now getting the photos posted, I will try to keep the chat to a minimum and let the photos tell the story.

This year the Asotin County Fair, the Dogwood Festival and Easter all fell on the same weekend. Lewiston and Clarkston were buzzing with activity.

Incidently, this was also the weekend our computer went bezerk, thus the delay in this post.

We kicked off our weekend by attending the fair on Friday night.

We ate a funnel cake, watched the kiddie rodeo and showed Kendry all of the animals.

There were plenty of bunnies,

and baby chicks,

 and a few turkeys.

Kendry was a bit hesitant around these guys, and can you blame him?

The male turkey was bigger than he was.

 Proof that God has a sense of humor:



The fair is never a cheap affair but we love going.

Now on to Easter!

Do you recall a certain adorable bowtie I made for Kendry's Easter ensemble?

 Yeeaaahh, he didn't wear a bowtie.

Its a long story.

Lets just say that the hubs' sentiments toward bowties ranks up there with his sentiments on argyle sweater vests.

(sigh)

So I went back to the drawing board and came up with an alternative.

Justin got his preference for a standard tie and I got my awesome orange fabric.

Before church:

Church was followed by a delicious homemade brunch and Kendry's first Easter egg hunt in the back yard.

Justin may have nixed the bowtie idea, but the too cute newsboy cap was a necessity.

 If only tulips bloomed all year long...

 Jelly bean sugar high!

 At least he has got the sharing thing down.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1.

The blessings these women are in my life:

My mom and grandmother (aka GG) visited us the week of May 10th. 

In the words of Momma B: A good time was had by all!

2.
McDonalds Asian Chicken Salad
Seriously dee-lish!

3.
The music of Christina Perri.

4.

PINTEREST

I've got some mad pinning skills goin' on now that I've joined this site.

Which brings me to #5...

5.

HUBBA HUBBA!

Ain't she a hottie?!
Thats right, I called her a 'she'.

Cut me some slack for acting like a total nerd and taking a portrait of my computer, alright?

I haven't had a new, properly functioning system in for-eh-vah.


6.
And last but certainly not least...

Consider this your sneak peek at my kiddo's kitchen nook.

The Kiddo's New Ride

I love this time of year, when I can finally wean myself off my gym membership a bit and start taking my workouts outdoors - biking, hiking, walking, rollerblading, or running in a non-stationary mode. 

You won't catch me running on a treadmill anytime between April and October; its simply too nice to not be running outdoors. And while I enjoy having some time to myself during my workouts, I also like having the option of taking Kendry with me when I so choose.

For running and walking I tote the kiddo along in our BOB jogging stroller,
although 'tote' might be the wrong word to describe pushing an extra 40 pounds ahead of you during your workout.

I have yet to give the BOB a try while on my rollerblades. I know the instruction manual warns against it; however, my own sisters have used their jogging strollers while rollerblading so I know it can, in fact, be done. 

The only problem is that every time I entertain the idea of trying it out I get a visual of me tripping over my rollerblades on the levy bike path, losing hold of the BOB (with Kendry in it), and watching it bounce treacherously down the boulders and into the Snake River. Not such a farfetched visual if you have ever heard of my Great Rollerblading Debacle of 1999 on the WSU campus.

Long story short: one huge hill = disaster for a beginner rollerblader.

As coordinated as I may appear, I have my disastrous moments.

So until my rollerblading skills reach roller-derby potential, I think it best for Kendry to not be included in  my rollerblading workouts.

For hiking we take the Kelty.

And biking? Justin and I have one bike between the two of us.

Justin purchased this bike for himself several years ago while we were still dating. I don't think he has been on it since he tried to bike to work back in 2006 - uphill in 80 degree weather. Since that day I have assumed ownership of said bike by default. 

But its not very fun to bike alone, so I have been keeping an eye out for a good deal on a bike trailer so my favorite little workout partner can join me. As it just so happens, my friend Nancy was looking to sell her bike trailer just before Mother's Day, so I called dibs on it and told Justin I wanted it as my Mother's Day gift.

Wonderful husband that he is, he was happy to oblige.

On Mother's Day I took Kendry for his first spin in his new ride.

As you can see, he has a bit to learn yet on the proper way to wear a bike helmet.

To all you fellow members of the Nintendo generation: doesn't Kendry look like Toadstool in that helmet?

We made it one mile before Kendry was fussing to get out. I told myself he was just over tired from his birthday weekend and the fussing was not an early indication of an aversion to bike rides.

I'll let you know if I'm right after we venture out on our next ride.

Here's to getting outdoors this summer!

A big thank you to Nancy and my wonderful hubby for such a great Mother's Day gift!