Kitchen Table News

Before we got married Hunter and his brother painted this great solid wood table and 7 chairs for us.  It has been such a great set to have.  We've had some great meals, parties and projects on this table and chairs.  Even though it was really hard to part with this set- more sentimental than anything- we were ready for something brighter and a little more modern. 

So after Christmas we said good-bye. 

Then we realized how expensive furniture is.  Haha.  Luckily my parents still had this beautiful mid-century table stored at their house.  It matches the china cabinet that we also inherited from my parents and was my grandmother Vera's which makes it the best.  

The chairs were long worn and gone so we used these beauties for a while: 

Finally after a few months of searching and changing our minds twelve times- we found some cute chairs to finish up the set.  It's pretty mis-matched, I know.  But it fits what we were going for when we first wanted a change. 

This little week in January

Our kitchen went from this: 

to this:

Don't worry.  We're not done.

Just time for a change.  I have a little ache when we get rid of things we've had for a while.  The black table and chairs Hunter fixed up and painted for us before we got married.  I will always love the set.  I am glad our good friends will use it now!  I can still have visiting hours.  

This darling table we have now actually matches the china cabinet that sits in our front room.  Someday I will have a dining room and they can be together forever.  The set is my great grandmothers. I love it.  Sadly- my parents tossed the totally beat up chairs years ago.  But kept the table for me.  

So we are in the market for some dining chairs.  

We took our annual trip up to Scottsdale (20 minutes) to the Barrett-Jackson car show.  It's a great day with my dad and Hunter.  This yellow car here is my dad's new dream car.  

(The look on his face when he saw it there!- priceless) 

The blue one below it is an original Shelby Cobra.  Dad has built two of these replicas in his life and still has one sitting in his garage.  But that blue "Super Snake" will probably sell for a few millions this weekend at the car auction.  (Dad's is not worth millions.) 

 And then an instagram repost... with a little more words....

This week has been full of baby prep.  EVERYTHING from accepting wonderful hand me down cribs, play-yards, jumpers, furniture, clothing, and advice

to

 planning this nursery.  I just wish I could decorate five nurseries because I have so many ideas!  But balancing the furniture we already have and the money we don't have- I think I have come up with a pretty nice plan.  It has changed seven times this week tho.  Hunter is so patient.  

to

 prepping for baby shower registries.  Figuring out what we need and want.  

also

Had a doctor's appointment.  Got some instructions.  Have to do that glucose test in a few weeks.  Bleh.  I've done them before.  And I never pass.  Yikes.  Pray for me. 

and lastly

I'm reading Babywise.  I love it.  I've had quite a few recommendations-plus it seems to be a plan that rings true in my mind.  

But it's all about schedules.  Even if they are loose schedules.  They are schedules.  And I am SO BAD at being the boss of my own schedule.  I am productive but not CONSISTENT.  

During my walk last night (finally addressing the above photo)- and some scripture study afterwards.... I realized the BEST way for me to prepare for this sweet baby boy is for me to grow up and get on some type of schedule!  Mostly it's a consistent sleeping schedule.  I am so good at sleeping.  Lots of hours at night and lots of long naps.  I need to get control!  

I am not 19 anymore.  

So today was my first day.  8 full hours of sleep between midnight and 8am.  And no naps.  None.  I don't have control of my naps.  So none.  I've lost the privilege. 

Baby will throw off my schedule I KNOW- but I also know that as I fixate my body on the appropriate amount of sleep each night and try hard we will be blessed.  

Amen. 

I miss my kitchen

Today I am free.  

I am free from rehearsals with unwilling children.

I am free from after school commitments and meetings.

I am free from preparing for next week.

Because next week, school's out!  

Last night was my last choir concert of the year.  It was absolutely remarkable and I am very proud of my students (and myself) for making it really happen.  These last concerts (at each of my schools) made the end of this year totally worth it.   Despite their excessive talking, their lack of responsibility and their laziness at times, these 12, 13 and 14 year olds are TALENTED.  And they proved their worth in two fabulous concerts.   Great job. 

And now that is all DONE.

And I am free.

And today I got to cook in my kitchen again. 

And I amazed at how I literally miss my kitchen.  And cooking.  

I missed throwing tilapia, olive oil and lemon pepper seasoning in foil for the grill. 

I missed my measuring cups when I leveled out the brown rice.

I missed my spices.  Hello spices.  

And I missed my wooden spoons.  Wooden spoons are the best.  I might write about them later. 

Anyways, now that life will even out again and Summer time is just around the corner... I hope to see a lot more of my lovely kitchen.  And a lot less of junior high kids.  (Still love them, though!)

Kitchen updates

When it's summertime and I'm done traveling and having lunch dates and outta money... I do easy, cheap home improvement projects. And by me I mean me and a lot of Hunter helping.

So the first of my end of summer projects was the kitchen. We made valences out of refrigerator boxes, batting, fabric and a lot of staples. And I tell you these things added so much more to the kitchen than I ever imagined! And if I knew how easy they were I would've done them years ago!

Hunter also installed a lovely ceiling fan which helps so much when cooking in this heat!

Then I found this darling red dish towel at World Market when framed spiced up the cabinet shelf.

As if the fridge and pantry weren't enough reasons to keep me in the kitchen all day long, these fun changes have made this my favorite room in the house now!