It's the most wonderful time of the year!

When Twilight and Halloween decor meet up in a spooktacular giveaway!!

What do you need that you don't even know until you see it?

Answer: This glorious shimmery Edward pumpkin from my friend Jen at Harried Mom Of Four.

Edward all lit up.

Okay, she made this. Go and read all about it here. I can't even believe she's willing to part with it...so hurry over and enter for a chance to win this yourself...before she changes her mind!

Whoa...what happened...

Okay, I found out why my blog was unreadable for awhile there. Evidently my background had expired...fixed with a spooky Halloween one :)

BOO!

Please see below if you missed out on the great kitchen remodel :)

The cheap kitchen makeover

Welcome all DIY'ERS

Have you been wanting to paint your kitchen cabinets? I'd been dying to do it for a few years. Yes, I'm a procrastinator, too!! I finally got up the nerve and just went for it! I lurve them!! Here's a little more info!

I've painted my kitchen cabinets....FINALLY! Do you know what it's like to walk into your kitchen everyday and loathe your kitchen cabinets. Feel like you've walked back into the eighties and wonder Why? Why? Why did someone think this was a good look?! I was being overrun by Oak. It was everywhere. Every cabinet in my house is the same cabinet. Oh, yes, you heard me right. Every. Single. Cabinet. Let's see...that would include all 3 bathrooms, the mud room and of course the kitchen.

Would you like the ugly tour?

Here you go...

Blech!

Gross!

Uh, forgot to take the picture until half the cabinet fronts were off. Don't judge :)



Dear Lord, please don't make me look at these cabinets another day.

Lovely shot of the drill case in the forefront. Tune in another day for photography tips.





I don't know why people are against child labor. I mean, hey it's cheap! And they are begging to do it!!

What technique!! Tune in another day for painting tips!


Here's the glazing technique. Brushed it on (door on right), waited for about 5 mins. and then wiped it off with a damp cloth (door on left). This spread it around in a really nice thin layer and then I could rub harder where I needed more white to show through.

Here's a close up of the texture I put into the paint. I added some dry joint compound mix that I've had hanging around and that made the paint really thick. I brushed it on very haphazardly and let it semi dry. Then went over it lightly with the bristles of my paintbrush. So essentially I was wrecking the paint. You know when you wanted a smooth finish, but then you try to paint over it again and it hasn't quite dried so it looks all bumpy.

I did this so the glaze would look old and worn. It really worked out well!!

The rest was just a matter of getting out the sander before glazing and going along the edges of the cabinets and the corners in a very random way.


Soooo...here's the reveal:

I'll just say that I'm thrilled with how it turned out!

I chose a distressed look for the obvious reason that it's kid friendly. When the cabinets get kiddie fingerprints on them...it won't be so noticible. And because no matter how much I would've sanded and prepped those cabinets, that paint would've come off somewhere. You. Just. Know. It. Would.

Finally, I received the best compliment I could have. Finn came in after I'd rehung a few of the doors and said "Ewww...they look so old and dirty." Bingo!! My job here is done!

To see lots more transformations and ideas, head over to The Shabby Chic Cottage's Transformation Thursday and over to Kimba's Diy Day

Up and coming

Well, I've been a little preoccupied lately. Mostly about Maggie. Thank you to everyone and your kind words. Off tomorrow to do funeral...ugh. It's about a 2 1/2 hr. drive...this will be one long emotional day for the whole family.

But on to brighter things...

I have a big reveal to bring you on Monday. Oh, yeah baby. It's the other thing I've been preoccupied with. Let's just say it was a huge undertaking. HUGE!!! Bigger than I realized.

Looking forward to seeing what you all think :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

xoxo

A New Angel

Thank you to all of you that have been praying for Maggie and her family. Sadly, she passed away early this morning at 7am with her mom who had stepped away to put on her bathrobe, her dad in the bathroom, her grammy getting ready to come upstairs and her biggest brother on the bus riding to school.

I think she chose that time of peace and quiet. I think she wanted to spare her family the memory of watching her very last breath. I've been thru that and it can be extremely difficult and hearwrenching.

If you can, please continue to pray for the ones she left behind who will be suffering so greatly.

Goodbye dear, sweet Maggie. Your life was too short, but you lived it to the fullest. Godspeed!

Prayers Needed

I post this with a heavy heart today. I've been away from the blog world for awhile. We've just had a lot going on here. My post today isn't about me. It's for a dear friend. Maggie Medvitz. She's 2 1/2 and is going home for hospice care after a 4 month battle with brain cancer (ATRT). The prognosis for this rare agressive cancer is...simply put...horrible, if you are under the age of 3. For some reason, after 3 the odds of survival are 80%.

Unfortunately my friend Maggie was diagnosed when she was 2 and 4 mos. she has endured more than I, as an adult, would be able to put up with. Lived in a hospital for over 3 months and is how she has spent the last few months of her tragically shortened life. We still pray for a miracle, but I am asking for prayers to ease her and her families suffering.

You may read Maggie's story and her mother's inspirational daily posting's here.