Kitchen Redo - It's all I can talk about!

OK Homies. So I may be a little unrealistic about what I want out of this kitchen that we will move out of in a couple years. I'm imagining something like this:

That's basically the colors that we will use...I went to Home Depot and got the paint the other day...I'm itching to paint but we have a few minor things to do first. I have "mudded" like three-fourths of the walls to cover all the old trim boo-boos and nail holes that I just painted over before because I am lazy  had pneumonia last time I painted the kitchen and really didn't feel like messing with it. Yes, PNEUMONIA. I got bored.

Anywho. I am still debating on painting the cabinets dark. We (I) picked out a dark chocolate brown since the step-dad wasn't groovin' on the black, and I must say, I think it will work. But I'm a little nervous...the kitchen isn't tiny, but isn't huge either so I don't want to feel boxed in. Another issue is that the cabinet doors are well, not in the greatest shape, and sometimes painting things dark brings out the imperfections. BUT, I'm thinking if I sand and do a really good job, get some new hardware like this:

And this for the doors:

And some new hinges since lazy clumsy Lori painted over the old ones...then it might look pretty darn good for mobile home cabinets.

So, more pics to come as things move along...I can't wait to put down the new floor and get the walls painted. *squeal*

 

Kitchen Redo Part 1

Nothing stresses me out like a mess. And that's what our house is right now from this kitchen redo. A hot mess. The mess has overflowed from the kitchen into the dining room, living room, and anywhere else the mess needed to be moved to in order to get this kitchen done. I am so lucky that we went to my Dad-in-law's girlfriend's house last night for dinner and she sent us home with lots of leftovers, because I don't think I'll be doing any cooking for a WHILE...

Exhibit A:

Oh, Lordy. That is (was) my dining room with my kitchen island, trash can, and other kitchen items chunked in it. I nearly had a coronary when I walked in this afternoon.

Yes, those are boobie and bootie salt and pepper shakers on top of that island...just wanted to clarify that I don't collect nude sculptures, but I DO collect salt and pepper shakers. They were too good to pass up. I found them in Panama City Beach one year (where else, really?) and found them wildly hilarious.

So anyway, back to the kitchen. The original plan was to redo the floor in our ancient mobile home because it had warped with all the humidity and running of the new giganda air conditioner this past summer. Although, being me, Miss Never-Satisfied, I started observing all the cracks and trim and other things on the walls that needed to be redone, so...we are now doing that as well. But I'll have to post on that later.

Here is my floor all torn up, being prepped to put in new, clean, un-warped new wood:

In mobile homes, (especially old ones) everything is done...well, weird. I am installing a dimmer in my living room for the recessed light that shines on the fireplace and am lucky that it was a "normal" light switch. I'll have to post on that when I do it, too, and show you what I mean.

 Anyway, sorry for my ADD. Here is a shot of the floor after the "fixed" wood is put in:

We are only fixing the warped part because the rest of the floor is in pretty good shape, ever after like 20 years. Tomorrow Dustin will putty the cracks, sand it down, paint a coat to help the floor tiles stick, and we will start on putting down the new floor.

Which is fab, by the way. It is linoleum tiles that look like parquet, or wood, flooring.

We went with those because this place is not an actual house and will probably be demolished one day if we sell off the land. But these tiles were cheaper than some of the stone ones I looked at! And they will be a breeze to clean, which I will do immediately upon placement. :)

OK one more pic for the evening. This one is a shot of the kitchen wall color, called Soothing Green Tea. At first it looked nice but now I call it "Exorcist Pea Soup Green".  I want more of a sage-y greenish gray which I have seen in some high-dollar homes and was very inspired by. I felt a little crazy creative when I walked in and decided to start ripping off the old trailer "trim".

I can't wait for a trip to Home Depot tomorrow with the landlord...AKA the Mom, to pick out new paint (I've already found Soft Sage and Frosted Pine, which both look kinda like my expensive inspiration kitchens) and maaaaaybe get some under cabinet lighting if I'm lucky. I'd love to paint the cabinets black and then have that lighting...ohhhh...yeeeeaaaahhhh....but the landlord (step-dad half) is not too thrilled about the black. Of course, he also asked my mom what color they are now, and didn't realize I'd painted them white 3 years ago...hmmm.

Excitement in the bedroom. Haha. Not really. I just said that to gross everyone out.

So my lovely mom surprised me with a trip to TJ Maxx the other day which I thought was to get her a new mattress pad and then me have the old one. You always want it if someone else has it, right? But seriously. The only mattress pad I ever put on our bed was a waterproof, plastic-y one from when our cat was in heat and she decided to mark our bed. Like 7 times. After scrubbing with every man-made and natural urine-stopping concoction out there, I just came to the realization that we would have to sleep on something resembling what you put on a kids bed you are potty training. I got all the smell out and the mattress is ok, but I didn't want to take anymore chances.
So after my husband complaining and sleeping on the couch most nights to avoid waking himself up with "the crinkling" I thought my mom was going to give me her old one which is a Ralph Lauren and I love. Before they came back from vacation the other day I put on clean sheets and made mention of her soft mattress and the hunt began.

I wasn't feeling too hot when we were walking around (I hadn't eaten practically all day and was on the verge of keeling over) so I complained (I think nicely, although my mom is pretty darn indecisive when it comes to shopping) quite a bit but I felt three or four pads and decided if it were MY bed (after she said 3 times "Which one would YOU use?" Duh, Lori...must have been the lack of food that kept it from clicking) I'd still love a Ralph Lauren over other brands. I've had good luck with RL stuff so I was pretty tickled when we finally made it out to the parking lot and she said, "It's yours!" I then wanted to suffocate myself with it for being such a complainer the whole time, but I love it nonetheless. :)

 My naked bed, sort of, with the new mattress pad fresh-out-the-oven!

On its new home! More comfy already!

Ralphy!

With the sheets...Dustin's grandma got these and another set for us...I love the deep chocolate brown...feels luxurious when I get into bed. They rock my socks. :)

Our comforter. I love it and meant to take a "fully made" pic but forgot. Ooops. It's about time for a new one, but this one is still beautiful. I got it before we ever got married and had my eye on it for quite some time before I invested. And I do mean invested. It was a pretty penny.

And we can't forget, my lovely scented candle to make the room smell nice. This one smells fresh, salty, like the beach wearing perfume. Haha!

By the way, I got a part-time/seasonal position at my local Yankee Candle. YIPPPPPPEEEEEE!!!!!

First day of the rest of my life...

I think my mom sums up my thankfulness for today in her post, you can read it here:

http://lingeringshade.blogspot.com/2010/09/year-ago-today.html

Here is my story of my ordeal.

Last year at this time, I didn't know if I'd live one more day, even hour, much less a whole other year! I remember laying in the hospital bed, especially in ICU when no family could stay with me, being completely scared and unsure and tired. They had me on so much medicine I was dopey most of the time to prevent being in pain and probably to prevent me from having a major panic attack. I think the most scared I've ever been in my life was when we arrived at the hospital and they took me to get a CT Scan. I couldn't walk by that time and that was very scary. I couldn't even use the bathroom on my own; my husband had to come help me. I had never been in the hospital, been to the ER, or had a CT Scan before. They told me they would inject dye into my main artery so they could see all my organs and find out what was wrong. I could barely breathe and my husband came into the room to help me up on the little CT Scan gurney and it was the hardest thing to lie there with my arms above my head and listen to a robotic voice telling me when to hold my breath. The dye felt so warm and weird, and I had a funny taste in my mouth when they finally finished and flushed me with saline. They had such a hard time getting that big needle in, and it hurt like crazy getting poked everywhere...it felt like someone ripping a hole in my arm to put it in. (Which essentially I guess it was a hole in my arm!) I told my mom I just imagined God holding me in His hands, keeping me steady and in place while they scanned me.

My Dr. was not there but called at about 10 that night to tell my mom that I had multiple, large blood clots in my lungs and that I was in big trouble if they didn't act fast. I was put on oxygen and told that I would be receiving clot treatments by having two shots a day in my stomach - every morning and every evening. My mom looked terrified, my husband was there, my stepdad, and my dad finally arrived after getting pulled over for speeding! A friend and pastor of ours came in as well and prayed with me. I called my sister because I didn't know if I'd live or die and told her I loved her and could barely make it through the conversation.

The next day several nurses rushed in and said they needed to take me to ICU. I remember asking, almost jokingly, if I was going to die and they never gave me a straight answer; just that I was "very sick".
I stayed in ICU for 2 or 3 days and then got released to a private room. I went through the rest of the week being woken at 4 am every day to get blood drawn and was given multiple medications every few hours. I wasn't even allowed to get up and use the regular bathroom; I had to use a "potty" by the bed. I definitely wasn't modest anymore after my stay! The last day, I finally got to get up and walk the halls. My mom was there as Dustin was at work and walked with me, dragging my IV bag along the way. I was so glad to get out of that room and see the hallways! I didn't go far as my legs felt like they forgot how to walk, and was exhausted soon, but it felt like a victory. I got news that I could be released and we packed up and wheeled me to the car. Even the smell of someone smoking outside smelled so real and wonderful when I got my first breath of "non-hospital air"! I went home and took my first shower in a week (PHEW! I kept complaining that I stunk in the hospital, they all looked at me like I was crazy and that was the least of my concerns) and it seemed like it took forever but felt good. The rest of of the night and even that week and month is a blur to me, but as time went on I learned to live with my new life.

Today was a great day. I had a beautiful blue sky and a cool morning with the windows open at home and windows down in the car. I started it off early by heading to the mall for a Yankee Candle sale. Ha! I got there early and enjoyed the quiet except for a few people walking around for their morning exercise.I smiled at everyone and enjoyed being able to walk all around the mall without being out of breath. Over the past year I have had good days, lots of bad days, and a few "ok" days in between. Lately, over the past 2 months or so, I've had mainly good days! My mom and stepdad Craig-person (I call him that) took me to eat Mexican food and I had a margarita. I had a wonderful day and plan to have many more to come.

Eat, Pray, Love...

Oh....boy...I hopped on the Eat, Pray, Love train this summer when I saw Julia Roberts on Oprah. My mother-in-law was reading the book on vacation when we went in June and loved it so I got the book as well. I wasn't able to make it past India without being a little bored (those of you who have read know what I'm sayin'.....) so I was SO glad Mom asked me to go see it with her...I liked the condensed version idea! Although I do plan to read the rest when we go to the beach again!

 What wonderful movie it was. I love Julia (I say that as though we are good friends) so that helped a lot. The film was a little dragging at first but once she started traveling it was a fun ride. We LURVED the idea of Italy and all their food and wine. We have lots of German relatives, so we felt soooo European going to see that movie, and obviously would fit right in in Italy. ;)

I got all dressed:

Which is really just me wearing something other than flip-flops like the rest of the ladies in the theater...

I learned a new word! "Attraversiamo", which means, "Let's cross over" (like, the street...not to another life or something!) I keep saying it with much gusto. ATTRAVERSIAMO!!!!!!! I just need to use it in context now.

And last night I made SPA-GHETTI!!! *with Italian accent* Although failed to take a picture because I was too busy eating.

Today my husband made a delicious salad for dinner with Romaine, red onions, banana peppers, black olives, a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and some parm. It was delish!

 We got super-excited and even found a perfect pizza:

So this is what my dinner consisted of:

Is that a glass of red wine hiding in the corner? So it is.

Some Old Days and New Days

Dustin's grandparents gave him this photo to make some copies of. This is his grandfather (PawPaw or PaPa, not sure of the spelling) when he was around 22 years old. Isn't he handsome?

This next photo is of an old store that Dustin's great, great grandfather ran in Alabama, "Big Coon". Still looks pretty good for being so old!

 

The inside:

The Bell Spring:

 Dustin's family purchased some land out close to that old store, for Dustin's grandfather and for the family to pass through the generations. They have plowed it and cleared the land, and purchased a small travel camper to stay in when they are out that way. I have not seen it yet but am excited to go "camping" soon!

What a pretty view!

 

Lately...

 Hmmm...so what have I been up to these days?

WELL. If you MUST know, the new Premier Designs Jewelry 2010-2011 catalog just came out!!! I'm SOOOO excited. I must brag and say that the company has outdone themselves this year. I think the jewelry is the best yet. I have been busting bottom getting the word out, handing out catalogs, and just letting everyone know in general what a great company I am a part of!!!

Aside from that, I've been on a Pottery Barn kick. See Exhibit A:

I went on their website and saved a ba-gillion pictures to use for decorating reference. Although I must say, I don't have QUITE the money or doo-dads right now to really make it work, but I try.

Exhibit B: Me forcing Mom to take a picture of me in Pottery Barn for use in my "Dreamboard". This is me envisioning myself sitting in a Pottery Barn-esque home one day. Hehe!

I've been playing around a little with more summer decorating. (I said I wanted to do that!)

My dining room/kitchen table was looking kinda blah.

I also took everything off the end tables and the mantel in the living room and have stoof in front of it multiple times in the past few days going, "Hmmmm..." with a very "thinking" look on my face.

The mantel is to be determined but while I wait, at least I can eat some yummy dinner Dustin made:

I took the pic in the beginning stages...it's going to be Mexican soup...but it smelled so good I had my nose in it already!
More later on if I actually redo the mantel or just put everything back how it was............

Our new patio set! (Kind of...)

So we finally got our new patio set! 

We haven't finished decorating around it yet so I just saved some pics off the website:

We don't have that rug (I couldn't find it in the store or online) but I had my eye on this one for a long time and when it went on clearance I grabbed it:

Yes, it looks a little crazy 70's, but I promise in person it's a little more muted and goes well with the color of our house, which is cream with a butterscotch-ish trim color.

 I have lots of pretty red accents - on my pillows that are on the two benches by the front door, along with a few hanging thingys.

Someone took a pic on the website of their patio area, and it's a similar set and the same rug, so it gives you KIND OF an idea of how ours looks:

I have no idea who the person is (sorry, person) but their set is similar (ours has a glass table and brown throw pillows) and the cushions are the same.

So anyway, we have to put up some lattice, and move a few things around, and I'll update soon!

Just a quick one

I'm not feeling too hot today so I finally moved from the bed to the couch and when I did...

I suddenly became Cat Lady!

Ugh, I thought I Wouldn't be Cat Lady until I was at least 70...

Have a great Day!

More of the patio...getting closer!

OK, so this really isn't of the patio itself...just around it. We have all but one small space to do and that is getting done today. I bought a rug I'd had my eye on at Wal-Mart on clearance, (of course) Mom ordered us an umbrella that should be here next week, and all we have to do is get the patio furniture. Dustin LOVES one at...you guessed it, Wal-Mart! It is on "Rollback" so we are setting aside money for it but I'm thinking we'll get it soon.

We went outside a little while before the sun went down. We had bought a pretty tropical palm plant a while back and decided to move it over by the new patio. Good decision, I think. And I finally got to use my Tiki Torches!

 

And my pretty votive holders I showed you a few posts ago. :)

I hate these pretty much every time of year except for now because they are just a bunch of green leaves, but they look pretty while they bloom! (And they match my new rug, which I forgot to take a pic of! Erg!)

This I took a little earlier in the day, it's my Breast Cancer Rose! It came back!

The sunset in the distance wasn't much to look at, but I looked straight up and what a pretty sky!

We can't wait to get our new patio set and have a shindig!

New patio!

We have needed a new place to sit outside for a while ever since we tore off part of our deck that was rotting away. The rents (AKA landlords) helped us get some concrete a few weeks back and we FINALLY started on it today.

We used a stone paver mold to make the look. All the little dots are seashells. I also sprinkled sand in each one. (Yes, I know concrete already has sand in it...but this is beach sand!) and you can see it on top of some of them.

Dustin mixed and really worked hard.

I smoothed and added the seashells and sand. :)

My hair was all wet...it's close to 100 degrees here, so we kept soaking out heads in the water hose. I was way past vanity at this point!

We are almost finished and are saving up for a new patio set and umbrella!

Back to work in the morning...!