My Favorite Photo Action

For the record, I use PSE 7.

OK, moving on.

I really don't like to spend a lot of time editing photos, but I like to make my photos to look their best. Enter photo actions. My current favorite for portrait style pictures is from Rita over at Coffeeshop. It is called Perfect Portrait. Really, it is the only one I use. I like it so much, why spend a bunch of time finding more? Check out the before and after and tell me you aren't a fan, too:

Before

After

It's official. I must find somewhere in my house to put this clock. Love it!

Easter Egg Tree

I saw a few of these last year on some of the blogs I browse but didn’t get around to making one then. So this year when the hubby pruned our trees I was quick to snatch up the discarded branches. The eggs were already in my stash of Easter decorations. (I say that like I have a lot. I really only have these eggs and a “Happy Easter” plaque. Sad. I know.) Super simple and it adds so much to our living room. I am going to miss it when Easter has come and gone.

It wasn’t until yesterday when I read this post from Baroque Babies, that I learned that this is actually an Easter tradition from Europe. How fun is that? I love decorations with just a bit more meaning than, “I thought it looked cool.”

This shop in Austria is pure eye candy, don’t you think?

Of course, it’s only appropriate that Martha has her version of this tradition.

The Unveiling

of our happily ever after. (Check out the before here) Nothing too drastic. Unless you consider red walls drastic. My grandma thinks I am scandalous for them. Love that lady. And drastic or not, my kitchen makes me super happy!

I am going to owe the hubby big time for posting this. Alas, it is the best shot I have of both walls.

My Favorite Little Space and a Small Preview

This is my favorite place to look as I take in my newly painted kitchen. The main reason is because it is one of only two spots that have any accents, but even if it wasn’t, I am pretty sure it would still be my favorite.

This is also your little preview. I still have a few finishing touches before the entire kitchen is picture worthy. It’s coming soon. I promise. I am sure you have been losing sleep over this, right?

Oh, and remember what I said about getting the “everything-is-exactly-how-I-want-it-and-I-wouldn’t-change-a-thing” after? Even this space isn’t there yet. I need to buy something like this green decorative ball  for the candlesticks (I feel funny calling them candlesticks. They look more like vases, but they aren’t hollow. Whatever. Oh, and if you want to know where you can find that ball,

it’s at Save On Crafts.) And the adorable picture of my baby girl is going to be replaced with this adorable picture of both of my kids.

Coming right along … just not very fast …

    Before

After

The pictures don’t allow you to appreciate the change nearly enough, in my opinion. Alas, this will have to do. We love our newly “frankincensed” wall and the new knobs on the pantry doors. Now if I could just figure out what else to put on the wall above the pantry. Suggestions?

(And please don’t say vinyl. I love vinyl. Vinyl has its place. Above my pantry is not its place. If you have vinyl above your pantry, I bet it looks terrific. Seriously. I might even have to come over and admire it. I just don’t want it above my pantry. Savvy?)

P.S. Remember the knob company I told you I would totally recommend, if they came through on delivering the goods? Well, they came through all right. We got them today … about 4 weeks sooner than we were expecting them. We LOVE them! So, if you are itchin’ to replace the knobs on your cabinets, go to Kitchen Cabinet Hardware. You will not be sorry. Or you could always buy our big ol’ fat white ones that we just happily removed. Yep. You could do that to. Very inexpensive. Are you tempted yet?

Before

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for us. A trip to IHOP for free pancakes, stop at Lowes for the last few painting supplies, and then to the library. All with a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old in tow and all early enough to get home for lunch and naps. That makes you tired just reading it, doesn’t it?

So what do I do? I stay up past my bedtime reserving books at the library and posting a “before” picture of our kitchen. Smart.

I am starting to have anxiety over the red. Not the color itself, but the hue, or is the correct word shade? I never did like those art lessons. Whatever the case, I just want it to be the perfect red and I’m not sure if it is. I will probably dream in red tonight based on all the times I have walked past and studied the test patch on my wall.

Here is my kitchen as of tonight, never to look the same again. Well, starting tomorrow at naptime. Right now I am going to be responsible and head to bed.

Changes on the horizon …

I hesitate posting this because then I am going to feel obligated to post  “before” and “after” pictures and I don’t think I will get to the after for a long time. Well, at least the “everything-is-exactly-how-I-want-it-and-I-wouldn’t-change-a-thing” after, at least. Does anyone get to that point outside of TLC and HGTV?

Alas, my excitement outweighs my hesitancy.

We bought red paint today for my kitchen. “Bangkok Rust” to be exact. It is a dream come true.  I believe every home should have a red wall and I have lived in my home for two years without a red wall. Such a travesty.

Soon to change. Very soon.

We also bought a can of “Frankincense". Lovely name, isn’t it? It is on the same paint chip as “Butternut Tree” and “Pronghorn”. Who comes up with these names anyway? Wouldn’t you love to just sit in a chair eating vending machine snacks and making up outrageous names for paint colors? What a job, but I digress. “Frankincense” is for a wall that sits between our kitchen and living room.

Once the walls are painted I can finally make the window treatment for my kitchen window (and possibly frame the kitchen window, but I haven’t presented this one to the hubby yet). I have had the fabric picked out for about 1 1/2 years. I suppose that means that I still like it, right? 

And finally, we bought new hardware for the cabinets. We bought them online at a great price. If all goes well with the shipping and such I will definitely recommend this company to you. The knobs were 66% off the price that we found at Lowes. Now I can put that money I saved towards replacing the chandelier, or maybe a new dress. It’s a toss up.