Long Awaited: The Kitchen Reno!

So, if you know me, you know I LOVE to spend time in the kitchen... not only to bake cookies or cook dinner, but more often than not, I'm in there to eat. So, it's no wonder why this project topped the charts for my "Most Wanted Renovations"-- yes, even higher than our master bath that has carpet and a doggie-door sized hole in the door... 

But ladies (and gentlemen), you have to understand my reasoning. You see, the kitchen is my home, my gathering place for friends, and, despite how gross the bathroom is, let's face it, people don't hang out in there! So, on New Year's Eve we started demolishing our icky kitchen that I've put up with for over two and a half years! 

This will not be missed:

We began by tearing up the counters-- which actually began when I dropped the blender out of the cabinet one night and shattered a whopping SIX tiles! But, as it would turn out, we had more trouble tearing them out when we actually got started... All in all, it took about seven hours to tear out the tile and remove the concrete to make way for our new IKEA counter tops.

 

In my head I envisioned a creamy white cabinet, a walnut stained counter, dark floors, recessed lighting, and white subway tile backsplash. But, I soon realized cream cabinets that matched our other painted cabinets (in the living room and entryway) would clash with subway tiles, so the search for a new blacksplash was on! 

image via Pinterest via Simply Seleta

image via Pinterest via BHG.com

I played with the idea of adding some fun mosaics, or even making my own mosaics from glass beads, but when we started tearing off the existing backsplash it became clear we would be replacing A LOT of drywall if we went with tile. So, I started looking through Pinterest.com (click here to see my boards!) for ideas and it suddenly clicked that EVERY kitchen I loved had a beadboard backsplash. Off to Lowe's we went! 

Plus, as an added bonus, beadboard is very affordable, easily installed, and I could paint it in any color. 

Brandon installed the beadboard and I was in charge of putty. I also was the lucky one that got to sand ALL the cabinets and doors ("Yay, I get to sand cabinets!"--said no one ever...).  

 

Meanwhile, Brandon cut and fit our IKEA Numerar counters that his mom had delivered for us from down south. Without having to pay shipping, our counter-tops came to $450 and were gorgeous! Which is awesome if you ask me. He also installed our new stainless-steel sink. 

 

I stained them in  Miniwax "English Walnut" after some light sanding (I'll post more details later). 

Anyway... here is the most recent photo! I ABSOLUTELY love it. Now I just cant wait to tear down that light, paint the walls, add trim, and get rid of those SUPER ICKY cherry-wood floors!

 In case you wanted a flash-back-- ew.

I guess I should stop here to apologize and explain this post is a SUPER-fast summary of our work over the last 21 days without many photos because, to be honest, I've only snapped photos here and there on my iPhone rather than taking genuine, "professional quality" photos to share. There will eventually be more to come, but I'm just trying to stay up to date on the blog :-)

So, here are a couple other random tidbits...

Behind one of the cabinets I found this note left for the previous owner's hubby AKA "Bumble Bee"... if only we didn't know that he used to grow marijuana in this house and that he beat the same wife that wrote this note... bastard (pardon my French).

 

Moe really likes to help too... so much in fact that we think he's attracted to loud noises!

Oh yeah, and we got another cat... Meet Lily-- once again, I'll explain later ;-)

The last sixteen days.

So, part of my plan for this year is to start writing on this blog more... and, as you can see, things are moving slow. But, the truth is, out here in the real world things are moving fast! 

------

This year has started off with a couple of bumps, but I'm trying to take it in stride.

Sadly, at seventeen years old, we had to finally say goodbye to our little poodle, Ginger. 

 

My parents made the decision after over ten years of wonderful times with her. She was my mom's "baby" and went to work with her every day. We first met Ginger outside of a craft show when I was in seventh grade. The SPCA had all the adoptable dogs out on display and she waited until we walked up to put her nose through and it was all over. We adopted Ginger  with the plan to give her to my great grandmother to keep her company, but we wanted to get her spayed and cleaned up first, so we took her home. She was already and adult, estimated around three or four years, but after going to the vet, we found out she was closer to six or seven years. We soon became attached and realized she wouldn't be going to Grandma's, she was our dog.

Not long after we rescued Ginger my grandma had a severe stroke that left her in assisted living. We constantly brought Ginger to the home to visit where all the elderly women would fuss over her and tell us stories of their pets. They especially loved how Ginger would "dance" (quite exquisitely) for treats. Ginger was friendly to everyone and even tolerated being dragged around by her ears by my nephew and experienced life with two lab puppies and my little Izzy tormenting her as well. There was no doubt that Ginger was a saint. 

A few years back a tumor appeared on her gums. The vet gave us a guess of about two months before we would have to make a decision. But, thankfully, we were blessed with three more years together. However, dogs can't last forever, which was reinforced with the loss of Indy in April. With the family so devastated from losing Indy so young, my mom told Ginger she had better hold on. 

In September, a visit to the vet for a cough showed a large tumor on Ginger's lung. The vet explained this would lead to her demise. She explained that even if the tumor was operable, at Ginger's age it would not help. Our only option was to keep her comfortable. We were given pain medication and Ginger's ability to be spoiled went way up. The week of Christmas it became clear that it was time to make a decision. Her body was giving out before her spirit, but with the holidays it just became too much. My parents waited, hoping she might pass on her own over the holiday while the vets were closed, but she didn't. It was especially hard on my dad who still struggles with the "what ifs" from losing Indy. But, with Ginger, there were no "what ifs". There was no "getting better". She was around seventeen, the oldest dog the vets sees, and she lived an incredible, happy life. 

On January third they finally made the decision to take her in. They said their goodbyes and buried her beneath the oak tree at their home alongside all the other amazing dogs we have owned. Losing a pet is never easy, but we have been thankful that this goodbye was more easily accepted than with Indy. We couldn't have possibly asked for more time with her and we were so blessed to have had all these amazing years and wonderful memories with our little girl. Ginger, you will be missed.

-------------------------

A few other things have been a little "off" lately too. My dad's health issues seem to be causing him more and more difficulty and appear to relate to Rheumatoid Arthritis, but we are not entirely sure yet. At fifty, he seems to young to be having the amount of pain and discomfort he is experiencing. 

Also, within the first week of January I got a flat tire and cracked a tooth! This isn't a good way to start this year. However, I don't want you thinking this post is all bad. Despite these "bummers" that keep popping up, I feel alright. I'm trying to just take everything in stride and it is going pretty well. Not one of these "bad things" has been within my control and I have had to accept that. 

While on one hand things were getting rough, the other hand was having fun. This week my work started back up and next week I start my third semester in the master's program and I start seeing families! <--- EEEK!

And, since this is a home blog and not just some diary (which I treat it as anyway)...

We started our kitchen renovation!

On New Year's Eve we started to demolish our kitchen and now we have taken it so much farther! You just wait... these cabinets are no longer stained with that icky-sticky cherry finish and there is already a beautiful back-splash and counter-top installed! 

I promise I will post details soon, but in the meantime, a 52 pound Saint Bernard puppy needs to go get his last round of shots at the vet!

Just had to share...