Painted The Kitchen

Our kitchen was long overdue for a new paint job.  We've had to live with this ucky yellow for almost 5 years and I couldn't stand it any longer.  I spend most of my day in this room so I wanted needed something bright, cheerful, and modern yet still stick with a neutral so I chose a color called 'Gray Ghost' by Glidden from Lowes.  This color not only brightens the room, but I feel happy in it. A win-win!

 BEFORE - blah

AFTER va-va-voom!

BEFORE - yawn

AFTER - HELLO!

Below is a picture of my cute hubby.  Let me tell you, he is not smiling because he is having a good time and loves to paint!  It took him 2 days to do a layer of primer and 2 coats of paint.   He is smiling because I told him to for the picture he knows he is making his wife a happy girl.  :) 

Goodbye

As a boat owner would say, its the second most happy day of their lives.  The day they sell their boat.

Our 1991 Bayliner Capri 2050 has been half-way across the US and back.  She was purchased by us 11 years ago (used) in Oregon and was towed to Texas, which she called home for 2 years.  Many hot, lazy weekends were spent out on the lake either pleasure cruising or just anchored off shore.

A move back to Washington State was next where she cruised up and down the Columbia River a time or two and lived in a barn for 2 years.  Waiting.

Next up would be 2 years in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where she would spend early mornings in the lake trolling for large and small mouth bass, pike and kokanees. And don't forget the lazy afternoons pulling everyone on tubes.  Those were the days.

Her final move (with us) was from Idaho to Tennessee.  She would spend the next 5 years in a cozy garage, up on blocks.  Waiting...waiting...waiting to see water again. 

Sadly, that never happened.  With 2 small children, lack of money and most importantly, lack of a lake anywhere close by, it was time to bid her farewell.

With much deliberation we decided it was time to sell her.  Surprisingly, it only took 5 days (and a few tire kickers) for the right buyer to come along.

I loved this boat.  It gave me such a sense of empowerment.  The feeling of freedom with the power underneath of you and the wind in your hair.

I can only hope she makes her new owner feel the same way.

The graduate

Carmens Preschool Graduation Ceremony was today.  Next year she will be entering Kindergarten.  How did THAT happen?!  Carmen, we are so proud of you!

I love this boy!  He is all boy, too.  Likes mud, water, trucks and trains.

At 2 years and 3 months old, he still isnt talking but he sure gets his point across.

Butterfly in Snow White

Carmen's upcoming ballet program is titled 'Snow White' and she will be playing the part of a butterfly.

Teacher Gifts

With only 2 weeks of school left, I had to scramble to come up with gift ideas for Carmens 2 preschool teachers.  So why not something homemade... or semi-homemade.  A bright kitchen towel and a set of hot pads were just the ticket.  Ms. S told me she loves strawberries so that was an easy one.  Ms. P on the other hand loves anything handmade so I guess that was an easy one as well.  And with summer right around the corner, these color variations were just right.

The Apples and Pears fabric is by Alexander Henry and was purchased from Joann Fabrics. I then mixed in some Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy fabric in green eyelet (purchased from Etsy) and some simple red/white polka dots, yellow/white polka dots and brown/blue polka dots (all from Hancock fabrics).  The green kitchen towel was purchased from Target.

The Kawaii mini strawberry fabric can be found here or here.  I then mixed in some coordinating prints from Joann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics.  The red kitchen towel was purchased from Target.

There are so many tutorials online on how to embellish kitchen towels.  I just did something super simple.  I cut out a strip of fabric 3 3/4"  x 18" (or the width of your towel plus 1 inch).  I then folded 1/4" under on both sides of fabric to make it 3 1/4" wide and topstitched down onto the front of the towel.  Here is the tutorial I used.

There are alot of tutorials also for hot pads.  Just google around and find the perfect one for you.

I tied both sets up with pretty up-cycled ribbons and will put them in a nice gift bag and present them to their new owners on the last day of school.