I can't believe it's finally done!

Yup, my kitchen....It's done!  I can finally share what I have been spending my weekends and little spare time that I have with three kiddos on.  

Beware, there is photo and information overload because I am just so excited that all my hard work finally came to fruitation.

Here is what the house looked like when I moved in:

And here is what I was able to accomplish on a tight budget (I used my air miles and got about $400 in Rona money, I shopped clearance, made all my artwork and did all the renovation work myself):

I found and purchased everything I could on kijiji...Seriously, I bought the yellow table for $25 with  4 chairs.  I was able to sell the chairs for the same price so the table was free.  I used some spare primer and paint I had in the basement. Yay!  I also got the chairs from kijij to the tune of $10 a chair!  I got the hood fan also on kijiji for $40 and it retails for $300 new!

I made the faux roman shade from some leftover fabric I had from a previous project.  I would love to get some pretty fabric that is colourful but that will have to wait until I find the perfect one!

I bought both the dishwasher and stove on clearance for killer prices.  I mean seriously low...I still haven't found a fridge for a good enough clearance yet so it will have to wait.

I painted the toaster yellow so it could be a nice bright accent in my kitchen and it worked like a charm.

 I made most of the artwork in the kitchen.  Trevor got the sweet VW sign for free.  We bought the Dr. Pepper sign on Vancouver Island a couple of summers ago so it was just hanging out in the basement.

I bought the chandelier on clearance at lowes for $25.  Nice score, I must say.

I got the wood countertops at ikea for $120!  They were on clearance as they are no longer carrying this exact type.  I finished them in minwax stain and 5 coats of waterlox topcoat.

I used my rona money for the breadboard, trim, track lights and some other projects around the house.

Out of all places, I bought my sink at Costco.  I lurve it to death.  Yup, love it!  My sister picked up the faucet on clearance for $99 as well.  She's a beauty.

Bought 3 gallons of paint and used it all from Sherwin Williams at their 40% off sale.  Best way to buy paint because it is cheaper than buying at the big box stores.

Here's a better look at the befores and afters:

I am pretty proud that I was able to accomplish this all with this being my first big renovation project.  It has now just got me super stoked to start on more projects and renovation to poor Trevor's dismay (Between skiing and me spending all my free time doing projects, he has missed me tons the last couple of months)! 

 

My kids' a Bawss!

I just have to say it: I pretty much have the coolest kid eva!  Yup, I said it.

-25 degrees Celsius WITHOUT the windchill and my kid is still rocking Sunshine Village last week.  He has had 2 lessons so far and is now on his 3rd out of 10.  His instructors are two very cute 20-year-old girls.  When they go up the ski lift together he sits in the middle with both their arms around him and he has a complete look of satisfaction on his face.  What a stud... I am so very fortunate that we were able to provide this experience for him.  He looks forward all week long to skiing and it is such a freeing thing for him.  His instructor last week has been teaching for 10 years and him and the co-instructor told me that they have never seen a kid so daring.  He was going down steep and crazy trails and even went off a ski jump!  He was screaming 'Faster' over and over.  I had several people tell me they could hear he whoops of excitement from far away. I can't wait until Bright is a little older so that I can pick up skiing again and ski with my crazy little man!

 Riding the 18 minute Gondola to get to the ski resort! Loving it!

Its a good day...

...To make some vintage looking signs!

I have started on a couple little projects for my entry of my house.  One of them included making a vintage fruit crate sign.  I started off with just plain cheap spruce I had leftover from some bed slats a few years ago (Yes I keep all my wood scraps as I know I will use them).

 I went to town and beat up the wood with a chisel, hammer and fork.  Two coats of stain later and I was left with this:

 I taped and painted my design.  After some light sanding, a white wash and then a dark wash I was left with this:

Trevor wanted to know the significance as there usually is in most of my projects.  So here is how my wierd mind works:

I wanted to do an old fruit crate because I am in love with them and wish I could collect oodles of them.  I used Sonoma as my place where they were from because I lived near San Francisco for a couple of summers and I super loved it and will always have a soft spot for it in my heart.  Lastly, why pears?  It is a simple equation: It looked the best in typeface (after I tried and tried to find another fruit that looked better because the Pear has to be one of my least liked fruits). :(

Don't mind the oddly place white rail beneath where she is going to live.  I am in the process of another projects and had to place that so I knew where to place my new old style vintage art.

While doing that artwork I also made a couple more wood canvases for some more signs.  This is one I threw together in 30 minutes....Yup, 30 minutes!  She is inspired by my sister-in-law and it made me think about how cute a photo booth sign would be...Yup I was right, it is cute! Same exact process here, just in little form.

My last sign is in the works, so it will be posted later! Gots to love me some free artwork and 3.5 hours total work, not too shabby.

 

Bad Mojo

I jinxed myself....1 hour after posting my beautiful stag photo and he has already had an experience.

In all fairness, I told Emy "You better put it down or else..."

And then he was flying through the air into the window. She did put him down, just not how I expected. Yup, terrible twos have definitely been in full force for a long time. I knew my daughter had to punish me for all the naughty defiant things I put my own mother through. Trevor thinks Emy is an exact replica of Mama in looks, personality, defiance, attitude and even down to the rheumatism pains in our legs during weather change. I must say that I truly love her little naughty self and all the personality it reflects in her. Yup!

My least favourite time of year

Right after Christmas is my least favourite time of year. You no longer have Christmas to look forward to but there is still months of winter ahead. In my case I have the added dread of the Christmas party. Trevor's company has it in the middle of January.

I have no social skills, no style and don't want to spend tons of money on an outfit I only wear once after I've gained my obligatory couple pounds at Christmas. So I always painfully suffer through hours of my awkward self in weird outfits and unmatching jewelry. This year I decided to be proactive and make some jewelry to compliment my little plain black dress and add colour. I came up with a necklace and bracelet in about 1.5 hours. I'm happy with them. Please ignore my crazy lady hair as the only people seeing me today was my kids and they are not picky.

Also, check out my $10 clearance buy...Isn't he just the cutest? He came in peeling white but I was too impatient to take the 5 seconds it takes to get a before photo. I'm still in love with him days later!