Still thinking....

Time continues to pass and the samples of cabinet doors still sit in my kitchen. I think I have narrowed it down to Choice A but cannot decide if it should be feathered or not. The company tried to push me into making a decision but I had to push back. I have not been getting home from work until very late this week and I have yet to see these samples in natural sunlight due to the rainy, foggy, nasty weather we've been having lately. Hopefully, I can get a better look this weekend. We have a lot of natural sunlight that pours into our kitchen, so it is a big deal.

Maybe posting the picture here will help me think about it a bit harder :)

For all you animal lovers...this will break your heart. Please help!

Choices! Choices!

After looking at sample after sample, we narrowed down the new faces for our cabinets down to two choices.  Home Depot made us a sample in each of the styles we liked in the color we wanted plus another sample with the color we like with a feathering effect so we could see upfront what the cabinets would look versus making a decision from a sample in a different color or looking at pictures in a book.

First, I have to say I am stunned at how heavy the new cabinets will be.  The facing is really heavy and sturdy.  Quite the opposite of what we have now, which is pretty but of low grade quality materials.

So what do you think? I haven't seen these samples in natural daylight yet but couldn't resist taking a picture and putting them on the blog.  I am pretty certain that we both agree that we love the feathering effect.  At first, I was sold on Choice A but now seeing Choice B in the color we like I am not sure which to choose!

At least we do not have to make a snap decision.  They are just waiting on us to decide and then they will put the new facing into production.

The Existing cabinets:
Don't get me wrong...it is pretty as you can see in the first picture but in the second photo, that door isn't propped open - it is simply warped!

So, we are about to say bye-bye to the nasty cabinets above for something lighter and hopefully more period appropriate once the install is complete.  What do you think?

All choices, side-by-side:

Choice A:

Choice B: 

Happy new year!

It seems just like yesterday we were singing 1999 by Prince and that 1999 would never come.  The fact that it is 2012 amazes me.  As I get older, the years seem to fly by so quickly.  Looking over 2011, it was a swift pass in time but we did accomplish a lot.  Our first full year in our new home was filled with needed improvements: adding gutter covers; hiring an arborist to take out dead limbs and trees that were encroaching on the roof; painting the exterior of the house; and starting to redesign the inside of our home.  For 2012, we have lots of grand plans to continue the transformation of our house into our home.

First and foremost is our Christmas gift to one another.  I think I have mentioned my love/hate relationship with our kitchen. It is huge and spacious, which I love.  However, its beautiful makeover by the flipping flipper was done poorly.  The cabinet facing is already discoloring and the doors are warped. Drawer facing is either missing or falling off.  In addition, I am convinced that a man who knew nothing about cooking or enjoying one's kitchen designed it.  The main storage is not in the cooking area but facing away from it and into the dining area.  It just isn't functional.  Enter The Home Depot and their cabinet refacing program.  They are not only going to help lighten up the color of the cabinets but they are also going to rearrange them for us as well.  I will get some before pictures up shortly.  We narrowed down our facing choices and they will bring the two samples for our consideration this week. EXCITEMENT!!!!

Looking back....

Trinity's bathroom was originally a very bright aqua before we toned it down

We love our trees but an oak in our front yard was getting choked by a vine

Underneath the vine is a healthy tree, thankfully

We couldn't get over how thick the vine had gotten over the years

Vine not tree...seriously!!!

Cleaned up pecan tree in the back yard.  Many dead limbs removed

Prepping for new paint!

The Flipping Flipper strikes again...pillars made of press board instead of wood.  What an idiot.

Our painters had almost two weeks worth of prep work.

Christmas is in TWO days!!!

I have decided that 2011 is the year of days going by way too fast to even fathom.  After Thanksgiving, I had a business trip to San Diego and then a wonderful family vacation to Disney World.  To say the last two weeks have been nuts is a complete understatement. Evenings filled with Christmas gatherings and weekends packed with ballet recitals, birthdays and celebrations is enough to put the most organized person behind. I think I am getting the last of our Christmas cards out today and hopefully doing some Christmas shopping tonight (if the recovery from my minor sinus procedure cooperates!). At least all things from Santa have been handled!!!

My husband and I have started working on next home project that will kick off in January 2012, so I know I'll have something interesting to share then!

Until that time, I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas season.  Thank you, Lord, for the birth of your Son!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Happy Thanksgiving and Lazy Black Friday

Yesterday was a beautiful day for Thanksgiving.  The air was chilled just enough and the sun was shining brightly.  The food and company were excellent.  I usually do not brag on my cooking but I will say that I will never buy a frozen turkey again.  This year we splurged and purchased an organic, free-range, never frozen, fresh turkey from Harry's Farmers Market.  OMG it was SO good.  Yes, you can tell a difference!

19 lbs. of pure yumminess! 

Hanging with dad!

Cheesing with mama.

Princess approved dinner!

Even the little one ate all of her turkey this year, which was a big improvement over the 1+ hour show down we had last year with her and her dinner plate.

As for today, the infamous Black Friday, it is nothing but the great chill out for us.  I thought about heading to Target for their midnight opening but fell asleep during the 11 o'clock news at some point. Dear husband did have to work a few hours this morning since he is in retail but the afternoon and evening will be spent relaxing and snacking on leftovers.  To me, it sounds like another absolutely perfect day.

Hammer and a nail

I did it! I put some holes in the wall and I wasn't even tearing down sheet rock!  The first set of tiny little holes went into my kitchen ceiling.  I collect friendship balls or witch balls as they are called in some areas of the country.  Mine come from a variety of locations - some are hand blown from artisans in Savannah, Georgia while others come from New England.  The witch ball is a hollow sphere of colored glass hung in the window of a house to protect it against witchcraft. The webs of blown glass inside the ball are there to catch the bad spirits. As best as I can tell, they originated in the 18th century.  Friendship balls do not have the webs and have been around since the 20th century.  I love them as they are each unique and are mesmerizing.

I was agonizing over where to put them and finally went with a corner of the kitchen eating area.  I was hoping for a place with more light but this is remotely familiar as it is about the same location I had them in our former home.  I still have a few more to put up and I am not sure where I'll put them but I must say it is nice to see them again.