When Three Trips to the Paint Store Isn't Enough

Can't believe it is almost the end of January. Our boys are back at college and I am feeling bittersweet, sad, and mostly thankful. Thankful to have time with my guys home, grateful to have 10 days off of work over the holiday break, and mostly grateful for all that God has blessed me with.

However, with all that I have been feeling a bit lost and at lose ends. Usually I have a project(s) and can't wait for January where I can start my indoor projects. Although I do have a project, but with all of our college expenses, I can't afford to do what I would like. That project is a kitchen gut job but alas, it is not to be at this time. But what better way to spruce up a tired kitchen than a fresh coat of paint.

So off I go to the paint store, a.k.a. Ace Hardware. I knew I wanted a darker grey but other than that...wasn't sure. So I got some paint chips and looked at them awhile but by the time NY Day hit I knew my window of opportunity to paint had arrived. My first choice was a color called Cobblestone Street, but nope, it wasn't the right one. It looked lavender when I put samples up!! Off to the store I got go again to choose color #2.

Loved the color but didn't like it in my kitchen. There wasn't enough contrast and it didn't flow with the grey in my living room. My problem now? The next color down on the paint chip was Black Heron. That was too dark! Although I have always wanted a black room.

So I went back yet again to Ace Hardware! By this time, the staff was getting a little leery of me. This time, I wanted a custom color and that about threw them into heart failure! Luckily I was able to work with this great guy who took the Portland Twilight gallon that I had purchased and added more black and more brown and transformed it into the. perfect. color.

However I was sworn to secrecy as they are not supposed to do that. Shhhh. I am so happy to have finally found the right color. I think I need to find a name for it! Worse? I can't even show you a paint chip.

Pictures of the kitchen transformation coming soon.

Third Time's the Charm, right?

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At least that's what they say. However you put it, this is my third hit at updating my photo gallery and it is definitely my favorite!

I started this project back in 2011 (wow!) and have changed it slightly I think 3 times now. (Why can't I just leave things alone?) You know how you change just one little thing and then, the next little thing needs to change to make the first little thing even better? Well, you get what I'm saying.

That was the case with this picture gallery. It started out like this:

This was the first version of my photo gallery and I was pretty happy with it!
Read more here.

Then I changed the inside color to a darker grey which gave it more pop and I added a little decorative element to the top.

Of course I changed the pictures up slightly and squeezed in more of them!

But then I decided to paint the walls the same grey that was inside the gallery frame (cause I'm into grey now...who knew?) which led to less 'pop' but no time to change it again.

So a couple weeks ago I got out the paint from the dining room, took down the photos (dusted them...whoo!) and painted the back with the navy from the dining room. Updated the picture with recent family photos and added a silver metallic to the decorative thing-a-magig and I'm done.

Third time is the charm, right? We'll see.

Joining this week to:

Pieced Pastimes

It's Overflowing,

Silver Pennies 

DIY Showoff 

Thoughts From Alice 

Boogieboard Cottage

Surviving the Holidays and Keeping Your Sanity

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Can you believe there is only six weeks until Christmas? How did this happen, why we just got the leaves cleaned up in our yard and all the Fall yard work complete. But like it or not, Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks and Christmas just six weeks away. 

Before picture of crate. This was a gift, filled with goodies, for
my youngest son from his cousins

I believe that you can enjoy a stress free holiday season and do more than just survive, you can thrive! How? Easy.

Same crate, aged with leftover paint.

1. Make a list and check it twice. Remember you don't have to do everything and be everything to everybody. Decide what are your priorities and list those first. This should be a gift list and a wish list of 'to do' items and activities. Then list the 'if I have time' wishes. 
2. Finances -- don't forget to add your budget to the list and do. not. deviate. from. it. Yes, this can be hard. Especially when you see all those last minute gift ideas and displays. Don't let them tempt you! You will be glad you did not give in.
3. Stick to your list.
4. Don't be too hard on yourself. The most important thing about the holidays is time with your family not who has the most stuff or how much money you spend. If you have this mentality, your children will too.
5. Work together! Delegate Christmas duties. Share the baking. Let your kids do the wrapping and don't fret if the gifts are not wrapped perfect. Allowing your kids to take ownership of different aspects of Christmas will help them feel like they are giving back too.

Remember to keep the majors the majors, and the minors the minors and you will enjoy this holiday season!

Linking up this week to:

Inspire Me Monday at Domestically Speaking

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Making Monday at Grace Langdon ARt

Amaze Me Monday

I'm Almost There...

Well, that really isn't true because if I've learned anything about myself over the years is that I like to change things up. It makes life interesting, keeps me smiling, and drives my husband crazy! But he loves me and he helps me out all the time with my little projects. God bless him.

Well, the kitchen project was a biggie. Small renovation in the big picture but a huge transformation. There are still many things I would like to change. In a dream world, if money were no object, I would replace my cupboards, remove the counter bar area and put in an island. I would add quartz countertops, rewire above the sink for more lighting, replace my refrigerator. Dare I go on?

But alas, this is not to be. So, I was able to change up my kitchen a whole lot and brighten it. You can see some of the before shots in this post, and the renovation shots here. Folks, we had oak. Now I like oak. really. Okay, not so much. Let me rephrase, I used to like oak a  w h o l e  bunch but I guess this is one of the things that has changed over the years.

I know many of you would 'decorate' much more than I have. With knick knacks and pretty dishes. I would love to but the reality of my life is that it very rarely even looks this clean. I mean come on, I have three high school boys that never stop eating! But I know that someday. in the not to distant future, I will miss the mess.

So, I am learning to be grateful. Grateful that there are so many wonderful decorating blogs out there where I can steal ideas and get inspiration. Grateful for paint. Paint is an amazing creation, it can change your world for a small price! Grateful that my oak cabinets could be painted, knobs added, and it looks like a whole new kitchen. And somewhere down the road, I will have a perfectly decorated kitchen with everything in it's place and clean all the time. But then, my boys would be gone, wouldn't they? So for now, I am enjoying the journey. I hope you enjoy!

Cabinets/counter top before.

Another before shot.

Linking up this week to:

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Strut your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple