my pretend entry way and DIY shelf

Oh hey friends!

It has been 2 whole months since I have sat down to blog about anything ... I went back to work and the slow pace and uncluttered life with a newborn is a thing of the past. I had thought I would at least post monthly updates, but that hasn't happened either.

The good news is that Spring Break is just around the corner! 

In the midst of all the busyness, the hubby finished up a project in our kitchen and dining room. These rooms are now officially finished .. until I decide to change around some decor! (Check out our Farmhouse Kitchen and Dining updates here!) This house doesn't have a true entryway, so I decided to pretend that an empty space in our kitchen was going to serve as our "entry way." We certainly drop things in this area when we get home, so why not make it pretty and functional.

I was inspired by the girls from Shanty 2 Chic to have Justin build a simple shelf with some hooks to go above a thrifted bench I found at my favorite local consignment store. I would have loved, loved, loved to have planked this wall as well, but the dear husband says planking is much too personal for resale.

Shanty 2 Chick Tutorial

(If I had not already found a bench I liked, this bench would have been on the DIY list as well!)

Here's how this space turned out: 

The 2 frames that actually have pictures in them both came from a super clearance sale at Kohls and the other frame and pillow are clearance finds from Kirklands. The letters of our last name were a souvenir from a trip to the market in downtown Charleston on vacation a few years ago.

I have tons and tons of beautiful entryways pinned to inspire me .. here are just a few of my favorites!

Sources clockwise from top: (1) (2) (3) (4)

Happy Palm Sunday friends!

friday favorites: the pioneer woman collection

Does anyone else ever watch The Pioneer Woman on TV? She makes some super yummy dishes and I have tried out a few of her recipes. I recently discovered she also launched a line of kitchen cookware that is being sold at Wal-Mart! She has it all from mugs, glasses, plates, bowls, baking dishes, cookware sets, canisters, etc. And every single piece is adorable! I wish I could start over in my kitchen and have all of these pieces, but perhaps I can add a few of my favorites to what I already have!

What a beautiful display! For today's Friday Favorites I have put together a list of some of favorite pieces and patterns. 

1) Dinnerware

I just love this print! (And all of the other ones!) 

2) Bowls

I will take one of each please!

3) Storage containers

Perfect for spices or even paper clips in the office!

3) Mixing Bowl

Doesn't this make you want to bake something?

5) Mugs

These come in lots of different patterns and are all adorable!

6) Drink Station

This would be great at your next cookout or party!

7) Serving Bowls

I'm not sure I even have any serving bowls.. but I would want use these all of the time! 

8) Pie Dish

A ruffled pie dish? Yes please!

8) Pitcher

I love, love, love this pitcher! It just looks like Spring!

All photos via The Pioneer Woman and Wal-Mart. 

Have you seen this new line? What did you think?

Linking up today with:
Life in Leggings
Momfessionals
Diary of a Real Housewife
Meet @ the Barre 

kitchen update reveal!

Oh, hello 2016!

So I have to admit that I have several Holiday/New Year's  posts sitting half finished in my drafts and I am trying to decide if it is too late to share them. I have so many ideas ... but I'm really short on time these days! Some little person seems to take all of it! :)

However, I am finding time to share the long awaited reveal of our kitchen updates! 

I have had visions of a farmhouse kitchen forever and I have pinned and saved inspiration since we moved into this house. It took several months, but the space has finally come together.

This project first began in July when we browsed around some stone yards and finally choose some counter tops. I really had my heart set on Carrera Marble, and surprisingly it was in our budget, but our fabricator talked us out of it. Instead we chose Giallo Ornamental Granite. Apparently, this is a pretty popular stone because I have seen it all over Pinterest! We love the light color and how it integrates grays and browns easily. If you are local, we worked with Carolina Custom Surfaces and we were very pleased! We also ended up choosing a white cast iron sink for the space. I would have loved a true farmhouse sink, but that would have meant altering the cabinets, which wasn't an option.

Our countertops were installed in August and we had decided to extend the width to create a true bar area on our peninsula. We added 7 inches to create a 12 inch overhang, perfect for some barstools. Justin then added beadboard around peninsula and the next step was painting the kitchen and dining room. I struggled to choose a color, so I narrowed it down and bravely told Justin he could have the final decision. I came home from work one Friday to discover he had chosen Requisite Gray by Sherwin Williams.. and I loved it! 

The next task was refinishing the cabinets and changing them from oak to white. Justin used Rusteloum's Cabinet Transformations and like I said during our last kitchen update (read about it here) this is not a quick process, especially when you still have to work! About 3/4 of the way through, we suddenly had a baby! Obviously, our goal of having the kitchen completed by the time Makynli arrived didn't happen.

Things got put on hold for quite a few weeks, but Justin was eventually able to complete the cabinets and change out the pulls. I insisted that I wanted the drawers to have different pulls than the cabinets, which was a little bit more expensive and a little more complicated! (However I discovered that buying pulls in sets from Amazon is way cheaper!) Justin then moved on to the backsplash in December. We chose a simple and clean white subway tile and a light gray grout. My only regret about this project would be the grout--a darker color would have suited the space better. On New Years day Justin finally put the finishing touches on everything! 

It is quite the amazing before and after! I am so pleased with how it turned out. I think it makes the space look brighter and bigger, which is important in a small kitchen. 

Before:

After:

 I have plans for a little coffee station area .. I'm slowly collecting the right pieces!

Source List:
Paint color: Requsite Gray by Sherwin Williams
Counter tops: Giallo Ornamental Granite
Tile: Lowes
Stools: Kirklands
White pitcher and canvas art: TJ Maxx
Cabinet and Drawer Pulls: Amazon
Rustoleum Cabinet Transformation: Home Depot (ours took 2 large kits)
Faucet: Lowes
Sink: Lowes
Mail Holder: Kohls

friday favorites: kitchen and baths

It's Friday! Although everyday feels like Friday on Summer Break!

Currently, the hubby is working on our master bathroom. The cabinets are getting a face lift, the walls have become a calming shade of blue, and he is installing a new vanity top and bead board. I can't wait until it is finished! Unfortunately, I'm not much help because he has deemed all of the products he using as toxic for a pregnant lady!

We also went recently to begin the process of having new counter tops installed in our kitchen. We have found a company we want to work with, but we still have to make a decision about which stone! I'm dreaming of a farm house kitchen on a budget!

Which leads me to today's favorites: beautiful and functional bathrooms and kitchens via Pinterest. I've been fawning over some of these looks for months now!

If only I had another bathroom that could have gray cabinets and a feature wall!

This is very similar to the plan we have for our current space!

 Open storage is not really practical, but goodness is it pretty!

We are not redoing our shower, but if we were, I would want this one!

 More gray, more shiplap type walls, more love.

Chunky Shanty 2 Chic shelves will be happening!

Accessories of course.. you may see some of these ideas again.

 Um, just gorgeous!

 More wishful thinking, since our current cabinets will not allow for a true apron sink.

 These colors .. yes.

 Also happening around our peninsula!

 Ikea? Why yes I will be visiting you soon.

White cabinets and a dark island .. add in some beams on the ceiling and my dream house is finished.

For more gorgeous and mostly practical ideas, visit me on Pinterest! What are some of your favorite looks for bathrooms and kitchens?

Linking up for Friday Favorites today with:
Life in Leggings
Momfessionals
Diary of a Real Housewife
Meet @ The Barre

Home Management: Recipe Binder

Hello friends,

I recently had some extra time on my hands that I used to revamp my Recipe Binder. I had started a very simple binder to keep together recipes from online sources and magazines in several years ago, but it wasn't exactly nice looking. I use my Recipe Binder often- it is a must when meal planning! (You can check out how I meal plan here).

This is a super easy project with just a few necessary materials.

1. Gather and organize recipes into categories. I choose:

• Appetizers and Party Food
• Main Dish: Pasta
• Main Dish: Chicken
• Main Dish: Beef
• Main Dish: Soup
• Sides
• Desert
• Other

2. Find cute, free printables for  your binder. I searched the free section at Teachers Pay Teachers and downloaded a chevron packet. I use them all of the time!

3. Label each section and create a cover. Insert recipes into page protectors and put your book together!

 That's it! Store in an easily accessible location because I can assure you that you will reach for this book often!

spring centerpiece

There may be snow on the ground still, but I am dreaming of Spring. So much so that I decided it was time to change out my table centerpiece! 

I first showed you this wooden box several months ago (see here) and shared some inspirational photos with different ways to decorate with it. I was inspired by a Shanty 2 Chic tutorial to have my husband put together this super budget friendly box from wood scraps. Check out my previous post for lots of ideas for how to decorate with it!

This time I decided to use mason jars and hydrangeas from At Home to decorate for Spring. I added a little bit of jute around the box as well.

Our farmhouse table was a DIY project (pre-blog days) that my husband made a few years ago. The original plans came from Knock Off Decor and is a Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware inspired project. It didn't quite turn out the exact color we had in mind, but maybe one day we will update it again. :)

This is such a pretty area with the windows, but besides hanging up curtains, we have yet to tackle anything in our kitchen and dining room. We have big plans this summer to update our cabinets, change out out the counter tops, paint, and of course decorate!

This one little change already makes it seem brighter and warmer ... Spring I am ready for you!