Kitchen Island

This project took quite a while to complete. I bought the dresser off Craigslist back in September for $35. I really wish I had a "Before" picture. However, just imagine a seafoam green painted dresser with a mosaic top of starfish and seashells, complete with green leaf drawer pulls. When I got the dresser home and looked inside the drawers, I saw it was stamped "Bassett," so I think I definitely got a solid, quality dresser.

I started by taking the ornate scalloped wood trim off the bottom and removing the top. I then attached a piece of plywood to the bottom of the dresser so I could attach the feet I purchased from Lowes. Then I bought a piece of bead board for the back and some pine boards for the sides. I gave the whole thing a coat of black paint. I purchased new hardware from eBay. I thought about using all 6 drawers but found these baskets @ Michael's that fit perfectly and thought it helped it look more like an island. And the final touch was the 2" butcher block top that we splurged on that a local cabinet maker built for us.

Total Cost
dresser - $35
paint - $10
wood/bead board - $25
baskets - $28
hardware - $14
butcher block - $138

So a total of $250 for a kitchen island that fits our space. We really needed the extra storage, so I'm super excited to have this project done.

I'm Back.....

This is the view from my front door... or, should I say, it was the view a few days ago.

Ok... not that anyone reads this blog, but I am back from a break. Let me just say that a combination of strep throat and the kids being out of school for 3 days last week (along with the snowstorm and deep freeze) has kept me from writing. However, this week should see us back on a more "normal" schedule. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The kids and I spent some time cooking some special foods (comfort, of course). This donut recipe was found on my favorite recipe site http://www.recipezaar.com/ (I highly recommend you check it out, if you haven't yet).

I started many new projects this weekend, but sadly have finished none. I think I may need to borrow/buy a couple of tools. We'll see. Hopefully, I have some projects by the end of this week. Check ya later!

A New Year... Full of Opportunities

Well, it's been a freezing last week or so here in the midwest and today was no different... I believe the temperature is hovering somewhere around zero. The good news is that I didn't have to leave the house today and the family spent one final day of Christmas vacation together before we all head back to our busy schedules.

As promised, I am back to post some goals (not resolutions) for this next year. While sifting through my ideas, it was hard to narrow them down to just five, so there will be a few more... please bare with me:

1. Save money for a basement remodel (it's currently unfinished)- this will take much dedication and discipline (especially from me... I'm the spender) and sacrifice on the part of the whole family to make this happen

2. Be better organized for daily living..... purge unnecessary items... build systems that will help our family be more efficient at getting out the door in the morning and maintaining a mostly clean and uncluttered living space (no small feat for a household with 4 children)

3. Track finances weekly and hold a monthly budget meeting with hubby

4. Spend more quality time with the kids.... right now, I'm thinking one child per month on a one-on-one "date"

5. Send out all birthday cards on time... I know this sounds ridiculous... but I have gotten seriously bad about doing this.... I have twelve neices and nephews...... maybe this goes back to being more organized, but, anyway...

6. Menu plan weekly or monthly.... haven't decided which.... this also goes back to organization... but perhaps, also to time conservation, in terms of less grocery store trips, etc.

7. Spend more quality time with hubby... go on a "date" at least every other month (maybe even a weekend getaway?)

8. Live in the moment.... and enjoy each and every day and know that in the words of Trace Adkins.... "You're Gonna Miss This" and if you haven't heard that song... here's a link:
nevermind, apparently, I can't figure out how to do that... darn all this complicated blogging stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A
Maybe I just figured it out.... we'll see.

9. Oh, and I can't forget. I want to save for a new camera. As a matter of fact, I'd like to purchase the Canon Rebel XSI. I'm already half way there after saving Christmas money and some New Year's Eve earnings... maybe I'll post about that later.

Good night, all!

Happy New Year!

We had a great New Year's Eve night at the hubby's parents' house. We ate good food, played games and enjoyed the fellowship of family. Unfortunately, all that fun has taken it's toll on my body.............and I'm exhausted today. I just can't stay up until 3 a.m. like I used to and still function the next day.

Believe it or not, all the kids (including the youngest) were up at midnight to ring in the new year. And, again, unfortunately, they don't do well on very little sleep, either. So, hopefully, we will all get our much needed sleep so we can start accomplishing all those New Year's goals.

Tomorrow I will list 5 key goals for next year that I would like to accomplish! You'll be glad I waited.... I hope. Until then, I leave you with this quote:

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man (or woman). - Benjamin Franklin

Musings of a One-Time (Hopefully) Insomniac

You may ask what I'm doing up at 2 a.m. I am wondering that same thing, as I'm usually passed out by 10:30 and was falling asleep on the couch by 10 p.m. earlier tonight. Then I got my second wind, I guess. This is my opportunity to experience insomnia.....it's not much fun! And now I'm starting to freak out since I'm sure the kids will be up by 7 or 7:30, and I'll be too exhausted to tend to them properly.

I guess I'll muse about my recent happenings and the constant ideas that are floating through my head right now..... My husband and I have begun attending a Dave Ramsey class through a local church. We're not taking it at our church, but that's another story. We just completed week 4 of the course, and we are thoroughly enjoying it. I hesitate to share this, but we have never had a detailed budget before, where every dollar was accounted for, and I couldn't be more excited! I pray this enthusiasm continues as I hunt bargains, clip coupons, and visit multiple stores in an effort to drastically trim the budget for groceries and supplies. I'm the type that gets really excited about something, and then I get really excited about something else. I guess you could say I'm really more of a sprinter than marathoner. So, for me, the goal is to stay the course for the long haul and fight the fight while Washington tanks the economy!

Update

I would really like to post more often. I took pictures of cookies and stockings and other crafts I created during the holidays, but I never got around to posting any of them. Things were hectic and chaotic around here, but I wouldn't want it any other way and we had great time. My sister and her family visited us from Arizona. I saw my newest niece for the first time and it was fun to watch her and my youngest together. (They are only 7 days apart in age). Thanks, Josh, we love seeing your feet in the picture!

I've found a few projects to start on now that the Holidays are over. Hopefully, I'll get those items on here soon.

Cute Corduroy Skirt

I found this great tutorial online at grand revival design: http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/photos/ruffled_skirts_tutorial/index.html

The instructions were fairly simple to follow, even for a novice sewer like myself. I was pretty impressed with the results and Lauren loves it too!