Project 365

via Instagram 2/28/13: Sledding withe the AL crew and eMINTS friends. #p365 #emints

Kitchen Progress

We're getting closer to being finished but still a little work to go in the kitchen (laundry room next). I need to hang the doors on the fridge wall, touch-up the charcoal gray, touch-up the white trim, and pick/paint the entire room.

Michael is oh-so-done with it all, but being a good sport about it. He has told me no more projects and then remembered we have to paint the exterior. Boo!!!

FYI - last picture are the fridge wall doors set up to paint in the living room so we could watch TV too. I am a multitasker you know.

Brooke

Clean Up Crew

We got snow the other day and before G went to the sitter he and Daddy did some clean up. It was so funny... Michael asked G if he wanted to go out and play while Michael shoveled off the drive. G said, "No, I shovel too. I need my shovel!" Then Michael said he would go get the shovels from the shed and G promptly told him, "No, I get my own shovel!." They spent 45 minutes cleaning and G "helped" the entire time.

Project 365

via Instagram 2/27/13: Packed more running stuff than anything else. Heading to the #emints conference. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/26/13: My hard working men. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/25/13: I found a way to paint kitchen doors in the living room. Think Mikey is glad ;) I would hate for him to miss any TV. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/24/13: Batman has been gracing our presence a lot recently. He is always such a happy guy. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/23/13: Perfect recovery meal after 26 miles. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/22/13: Presenting at a gathering of eMINTS teachers in Springfield, MO. Was rejuvenating to be a part and to get to present with a great friend. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/21/13: Batgirl & Robin #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/20/13: Finding ice in my water bottle means very cold morning run. #p365

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via Instagram 2/19/13: Lovin' the new shoes. Think they look fast? #p365

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via Instagram 2/18/13: Another lunch date. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/17/13: Late afternoon nap in Mommy and Daddy's bed. We were working on the kitchen project thinking he was watching the iPad. Guess not! #p365

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via Instagram 2/16/13: She's back ;) #p365 @chanti_b

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via Instagram 2/15/12: Thank you Halls for reminding me. May be my mantra for tomorrow. 26.3 here I come! #p365

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via Instagram 2/14/13: Sweets from #1 Valentine. He knows the way to my heart. #2 Valentine sneaking in. #p365

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via Instagram 2/13/13: A 1st for me. #p365

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via Instagram 2/12/13: Daddy's helper and the perfect Daddy. He's so patient. #p365

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via Instagram 2/11/13: Our poor boy has been sick but I coaxed out this sick smile. #p365

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via Instagram 2/10/13: Last in line wasn't so bad except that I missed great conversation. #p365 @rkeck

Project 365

via Instagram 2/9/13: Not just a day with my girls but the whole weekend. The best! @rkeck75 @anewrod #p365

Project 365

via Instagram Feeling like the oldest kid stuck in the backseat of the van. I can't hear a thing they are saying up front but the gaze of that sweet baby girl makes up for that. #p365 @rkeck75

The New Counters Are In

There is LOTS more to finish but the counters are in and we LOVE them. They look great and feel even better...yes I said feel :) They feel so much different than Formica and they are amazing.

They are QUARTZ. I wasn't really into granite and quartz is a nice alternative even a bit stronger. We found them at Lowe's. They took about 5 weeks from order date until install. Not Bad! They are Allen Roth in Alloy.

The counters are installed and of course we ran into a few issues during the instillation but luckily our handyman was available and has figured them all out. Remember we are doing a lot of the remodel ourselves but the counters are done and here is how it looks.

Bar/Stove

Sink

Desk

Laundry

Here is what still has to be done:

• Paint walls (make final paint choice)
• Hang tile (may pay someone to do this now - really don't want to screw it up)
• Paint cabinets (and there are LOTS of cabinets)

Wish us luck. I hope it goes quickly.

Project 365

via Instagram 2/7/13: My talented lunch date. #p365

Project 365

via Instagram 2/6/13: Step 1 of kitchen redo almost done (counters/sinks). Next comes paint and then tile. #p365

We Have a Swimmer

Maybe not a real swimmer yet, but we have a little boy who goes underwater on his own and LOVES it! Michael (and me sometimes) have taken him swimming a few times over the last few weeks and he is doing so great. It really has us looking forward to summer at the lake.

Brooke

Kitchen Overhaul: Step #1

I declared a year and a half ago that I wanted to redo the kitchen before I passed 40. I knew I couldn't afford a complete overhaul with new cabinets and all so I set my sights on new counters, new sinks and faucets, painting cabinets (inspired by a friend's project), paint walls, and tile backsplash. In December, Michael finally gave me to the go-ahead to order the counters (the biggest investment) so I rolled and committed to the laundry room too.

First, I tested my painting idea out in our two bathrooms. I wiped the golden oak cabinets down with a no-sanding liquid twice, did some light to medium sanding, painted one layer of Sherwin Williams tinted primer, and two layers of their black oil-based lacquer.

Guest Bath Before

Guest Bath After

Master Bath After (sorry, no before)

Of course I didn't take pictures of the kitchen before the counter removal but I have many candid shots with the "before" that I will include in the final comparison however far away that happens to be.

Desk

Island/Stove

Laundry Room

Kitchen Sink

Counter Top Sneak Peek

Tomorrow I plan to take pictures of the counters installed and give an overview of the steps to come.