Surviving a Kitchen Remodel

This is a non crafty post about why I've been MIA.

So, this kitchen remodel has taken over my life.  *LOL*  I am SUPER blessed that we are getting a beautiful new kitchen.  It's awesome that we get to select each and every design element.  It's also insanely stressful.  I've been without a full working kitchen for over 2 months.

The old kitchen.  Note the spaceship like light fixture, plain white laminate, and tons of wasted space above the upper cabinets.  We also weren't feeling the breakfast nook, it caused constant traffic jams at the kitchen entrance.  We've used it for over 3 years, and spent every day wishing we could re-do it.

My handy husband is doing all of this himself.  He's our plumber, our electrician, the whole deal.  He does excellent work and takes great pride in each step.  It just takes him much longer than a professional crew.  He's one man working full time and doing this kitchen on nights and weekends.  Plus, he often stops to think about all his potential options and select what he feels is the very best one.  I can be one heck of a perfectionist, but he gives me a run for my money when it comes to remodeling.   The big disadvantage to this is the amount of time it takes.  However it's saving us thousands and thousands of dollars and he can have each step done the way he prefers it.  Frankly if he weren't doing it himself there is no way we could afford this new kitchen. There just isn't. 

There's our favorite handy man hard at work.

Although the other side of the floor isn't finished, just check out this amazing curved edge on our tile!  He hand drew a curve and was able to execute it perfectly.  Take that professional tilers, my hubby has mad skills.  *LOL*

We've been surviving with a makeshift temporary kitchen in our family room.  Ah the adventures!  The fridge hogs a lot of power, so if I have more than one other small appliance running with it the breaker trips.  So I can't run the hot plate and the rice cooker at the same time.  I've gotten creative and I'll use the rice cooker on the floor of the living room and then the hot plate in the temporary makeshift kitchen. 

Our temporary kitchen with our old cabinets set up in the family room.

More of our temporary kitchen.

I've got some good basic appliances to use.  A microwave, a toaster oven, a hot plate I ordered just for the remodel, an electric kettle, a rice cooker, a crock pot, and of course a coffee maker. I cook all our meals at home.  Hardly ever eating out.  It can be done, but it's exhausting.  It can take me 2 hours just to make a simple batch of fajitas with my one little hot plate.  We have certainly eaten a lot more junk food than normal for snacks, but have not resorted all the way to TV dinners as they are so expensive and I know my husband would eat at least 3 of them before we was full. 

I have been buying an abundance of paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic utensils.  This way I have fewer dishes.  Still there are plenty to wash with the knives, cutting boards, having to use regular plates for things like thawing meat, the crock pot, etc.  I take dirty dishes downstairs to the basement utility sink, often using a laundry basket to carry them.  I also fill gallons of water and pitchers down there.  If I just need a little water for the coffee maker or kettle I use the bathroom sink.

The whole house is totally taken over by this.  Of course the family room is invaded with the makeshift kitchen.  The dining room has stacks of back splash packages, and lots of boxes of things that belong in the kitchen.  For 2 weeks after our new cabinets arrived and were not installed we had them all stacked in the living room and dining room.  It was so bad we had to skip homeschooling for those 2 weeks because I couldn't even get to the kids' supplies.  I basically hid in the basement and tried to pretend that none of this was happening.  *LOL*

Where's the school desk?  Behind all these cabinet boxes.

Here's the view from the other side, more cabinet boxes.

To top it all off since Archiver's closed I just HAD to go buy a big fixture right.  So awesome!  Except now it's in my house and we can't get it in the basement with all the stuff in the way, so now it's living in my poor dining room too!  *LOL*  Perfect timing, right?  It will be wonderful when we finally figure out how to take it apart to get it downstairs, and hopefully re-assemble it without totally killing the poor thing.  Oh fingers crossed.

This past week I got a cold that no one else in the family got.  I just KNOW it's because I'm such a control freak and a perfectionist.  Having my house all messed up and feeling like I can't clean properly and I don't know where things are or can't access them.

I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.  The cabinets are installed.  Of course that means they are off the floor, so that's a huge plus.  I've also been able to put some things in some of them.  I can't load the top drawers of the lower cabinets without a counter top in place, but some is way better than none.  My husband has gotten most of the wiring for the main lights, and our fancy new under cabinet lights done. 

Here's the kitchen today.  Starting to look like the space of my dreams.

The best part is that yesterday we finally picked out our granite.  It will be installed in about a month.  In the meantime I hope my husband can set up the water for the new fridge location and move the gas line for the stove.  Then after the granite is installed he will just finish the plumbing for the sink and dishwasher.  That's not something to do now because we need to see how the sink sits in the cabinet. 

So, in about a month I will have a fully functioning kitchen.  Not all the cosmetic components will be finished, but the kitchen will work and I'll be able to use it.  Then he can fiddle around and take his time painting, installing the crown molding, and installing the back splash we're doing throughout the entire kitchen, and adding hardware to the cabinets. 

Soon it will all be over.  It will all be worth it, I hope!  *LOL*  It's expensive, it's exhausting, it's a kitchen remodel.  As frazzled as I am I also feel truly blessed we are able to do this.  To get to pick all the colors and details is pretty special.  I love our new cabinets.  The color is lovely and I even got some great built in organizing features, just a few, but they make a big difference to me.  It's a dream come true in so many ways.  I'm just looking forward to getting past this part of the process.

Thanks for reading about my adventure.  I'm pretty frazzled and stressed, but what a wonderful result it will be.  Seeing the progress at this point is amazing.  The kitchen feels SO much bigger with the new layout and the lighter cabinets that go up higher.  Once the crown molding is in it will touch the ceiling.

I love you all dearly.  I will try and catch up on your fabulous blogs again soon :)

Hugs and crafty best wishes!

Amber

What I've Been Up To - Teaching My Kids!

Lots has been going on with me lately. It's been making it really hard to get projects up!

I have been doing preschool at home with my 3 year old daughter.  I am doing this 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.  She is learning a ton and doing very well, I include my 2 year old son in some of the activities when I can too.  Plus the usual cleaning, cooking, etc.  She is taking dance and will be starting gymnastics soon, hopefully next week if I get down there to get her registered.  I am also trying to practice my sewing and hoping to be making a couple Halloween costumes for my kids.

 On a sad note, my grandmother is in the hospital dying.  She fell, hit her head, and had bleeding on the brain.  They did surgery and had high hopes for recovery, but she isn't going to make it.  My father has been out there with her for 2 weeks.  She has lived a good life and all that, but it is still hard.  My grandfather will not be able to do much without her as he has a very bad back, so he will need to go live somewhere where he can be taken care of. That has been zapping my energy too.  It is hard to hear the sadness in my father's voice and not be able to be there with him right now.

So, long story short I am SLAMMED.  Lots of transitioning for me.  Trying to get into a good routine with the new things we have going on in our lives. I am answering e-mails more slowly and may not be posting too often for a couple weeks.

In this post I've added some pictures just to share.  I made a board with the day of the week, month, what we are doing for the day, etc.  I am going to start using this with the kids on Monday.  It should be fun.  Everything is laminated for durability.  Lots of pieces to change out store in an envelope on it.  Some things attach with magnets, velcro, etc.  It took me HOURS, it's exactly this kind of thing that has been making it hard to blog!  *LOL*  The other pics are the school area and the adorable kids learning and doing projects.

 

So, if you have trouble getting ahold of me, this is why.  I hope to be back at 100% and posting more frequently again in a couple weeks.  I am still around, but falling a little behind.  Just wanted to let everyone know.

Spending so much time each day focusing on projects and learning has been AMAZING!  By far the most rewarding feeling ever.  I don't always have "good mom" days or moments.  Sometimes I yell at my kids, or get upset that the house isn't perfect, etc.  I am really finding this time to focus on them and not think for a second about housework and such has been good for all 3 of us.  I just need to adjust to the amount of time it takes and get into a new routine.  Finding out what works and what doesn't for when to start, which activities to do, etc.

*Hugs to all*

 

I look forward to getting my creative mojo back!

Happy New Year, here's my Fave 2010 Projects!

This had to be my very best work.  It's a WORKING gumball machine card.  Oh yeah, you turn the little handle and you get tic tacs.  If you are newer to my blog and have not checked this out yet - you really should.  I have a 100% FREE template available to download and 2 videos of instruction walking you through it step by step.  Check out this post for that good stuff.

This card received a very special honor. Kristina Werner chose it as one of her top ten picks in a color challenge.  Wow!  That was a rock star feeling :)  The card used the Stampin' Up sets Trendy Trees and Good Neighbors.  To see the challenge winner round up click here.

This was a special card.  I was making it to send to someone who makes a TON of cards, so it had to be a good one.  I just love the way it came together.  This is a card I have a video of, and I also have a cut file you can download for free.  Feel free to check out this blog post to see the video with all the details!

I realize all these projects are cards, even though I did scrapbook pages and home decor, and other stuff.  To see all of my projects you can always check out my gallery by clicking the button toward the right hand side of my blog.  

2010 was really AMAZING for me!  We bought a home - which is a huge deal of course.  Yet, the craft moments stick out the most for me.

 

Robyn from My Pink Stamper showed a card I made her on one of her very first U Stream live shows.  Wow!  I about died.  Really, I should send her another card now that my skills have vastly improved.  *LOL*  I was just starting out and to have her say hi live like that was so crazy to me.  I can only imagine what it would feel like if I ever get to go to CHA and actually meet her.  She also sent me a card in return!

I had a very sweet gal send me a special box of goodies from CHA because I was feeling really down I didn't get to go.  I cried when I opened the package.  What a kind person!

I won some fun blog candy, and of course made a bunch of amazing new blogging friends.  I even have some special cards that have been sent to me!  I truly love to see what others create, and the kind comments on my blog and Youtbe sure bring a smile to my face.

I actually made a couple design teams!  Wow!  I get turned down... A LOT so it was beyond awesome to actually be picked.  Being chosen as the design team leader for SP & Company has been a real dream come true.  Being a housewife I don't get to have a lot of adult conversations so being able to coordinate such an amazing team and work with beautiful stamps is a bright spot in my day.  

One of the best things is that in November I met some local Cricut crazy gals, and ADMIN BECKY from Provo Craft.  If you are on the Cricut Messageboard you are probably familiar with her.  If not, then just know it was a big deal to me.  The girls are all so sweet, and we are planning more get togethers in 2011.  Actually, as of right now I'm the one doing the planning.  *LOL*  Yeah, I have spreadsheets with RSVP's and all that kind of stuff - I'm good at that type of thing.

I look forward to a fantastic 2011.  I will be hosting a big Cricut party at my house in Feb and will be sharing photos and video with ya'll.  I'm going to be doing a lot of projects, and also doing some Q & A and reader/viewer requests.  So, stay tuned!

The crafting community is AMAZING!  I hope to do more to give back this year in the form of give-a-ways, raks, and doing more charity work with my crafting.  I did cards for soldiers a couple times last year, and need to get my butt in gear and start doing that or something similar again.

Happy New Year!!!!

Our Swarm

At the Expo with a few friends we made there.

 Saturday was the most amazing day ever!  I met up with all my new bestest scrappy buddies and had the most amazing day.  Those of you who are on the Cricut Messageboards probably recognize the name Admin Becky - as she is the one who overseas the boards.  Well, she flew out to come to our get together!  One of the other gals arranged it, and I guess since we're Circle members Provo Craft wanted to make us happy, so they let her come!  Everyone at Archiver's flipped out and wanted their pic taken with her too.  We were among Cricut royalty.

Me with Admin Becky!!!

We went to a stamp expo, out to eat at Applebees, to this awesome paper store I'd never been to, and then to Archivers for a crop. I could not have had a more wonderful day with amazing ladies! We even ran into another Circle member at the stamp expo. 

At the crop.  Of course, I closed my eyes! *LOL*

So, what did I manage to get done at the crop?  Cover one chipboard album of 5 pages!  *LOL*  Yup, I was a little distracted.  :) 

Another photo at the crop.

Our Family's Simple Halloween

My husband and I love Halloween.  We have a TON of decorations sitting in the basement. This year, they stayed there.  Most of them would scare our kids, and since we are just getting settled in the new house it's one more project we didn't need anyways.

I ordered the kids' costumes a couple months ago.  The characters Abby and Elmo from Sesame Street.  My daughter was so excited to see her Abby costume.  My little son couldn't have made a cuter Elmo.  The poor tortured little thing in that big, fuzzy, red suit... it was so precious!

Saturday was a busy day!  We took our kids to one of our local rec centers (there are 4 in our community) for their Trick or Treat Street.  It was amazing!  For only $1 per kid there were goodness knows how many booths with candy, toothbrushes, and other goodies.  The kids even got fun things like small containers of Play Doh and water bottles!  We only got about halfway through all the booths and went outside because the kids were restless (they are only 1 & 2.)  Outside was a blast too because there was a pumpkin patch and each family gets to pick a pumpkin!  I wanted to take pics to scrap, but I didn't even bring the camera.  It's just as well.  Hubby and I were exhausted from carrying the kids the whole way through, and we had to park pretty far out too. 

After all that we drove for over an hour to my sister-in-law's house for a Halloween party she was having.  The kids sure had fun.  My daughter adores her older cousin.

Sunday we stayed home and worked on some projects around the house.  I took a marker to our pumpkin, which really delighted my little daughter.  We stayed in and handed out candy to several cute trick or treaters and munched on a snack tray of assorted meats, cheese, & crackers. 

I look forward to Halloween next year, it's hubby and I's favorite holiday.  I hope you and yours had enjoyable celebrations as well, and maybe got to glimpse some cute trick or treaters if you don't have your own at home.

That's Better!

So, I got my temporary scrap space all cleaned up.  I don't know how long I'll be up here in the loft, so I'm trying to avoid putting up a bunch of shelves and things and creating holes in the wall.  I hung my Making Memories Embellishment Center, but I NEED that, and there were some hooks left by the previous owners I put my Cricut mats on.

I won't get to paint and decorate and make it pretty.  When I leave the space it will be a playroom for my kids and I haven't decided on the theme yet, so I'm leaving the current decor for now, even though it isn't my style at all.

It feels good to be getting settled in, even if this isn't my long term space.  I will be creating a dream of a room in our new basement, but of course finishing it will take time.  Right now we need to find out what the specific requirements are for submitting for a permit.  We've got to map out all the electrical components and all that stuff.  Ugh.  I like making things pretty, not discussing wiring and drywall.  Bleh!  *LOL*

So, this is why I haven't shot any videos lately!

Yeah, HELLO!  This was taken a few days ago.  It's already improved a lot, but still very much a work in progress.  Hopefully I can finish cleaning up this disaster this weekend and shoot a good video or two.

I've been so busy tending to setting up and unpacking all the other areas of the house that my space for crafting hasn't been getting much needed TLC.  When I do organize I tend to spend FOREVER trying to get everything just so, so I end up taking forever.  I'm trying to get better about that.  

We will be building me a great craft space as we finish our basement.  In the meantime I'm here in the loft.  Later on this will be a play area for the kids.  I know we all say we make craft messes, but I think maybe this one takes the cake.  When we moved I realized just how much craft stuff I really have! I've been trying to pair down and letting my daughter use up some of my old stickers and such in the interest of getting rid of stuff.

Wish me luck!  I hope to bring you videos very soon, I miss it terribly.

Random Photo - My New Nails

Yes, this is random I know but I wanted to share my fancy nails.  I am so impressed by the fantastic work the gal did creating this design by hand.  The details show up better in person.  

It's the first time I've ever gotten a design done on my nails, but I figured it would be a like a little wearable art I can enjoy even on the days I'm in my pajamas and otherwise look like a scraggly mess!  :)

Toddler Creativity

I decided to help my sweet little two year old daughter make a card for her Daddy.  It was so cute watching her little brow furrow as she focused hard on the task at hand.  The kid knows how to use my tools, it's crazy.  She has even picked up my ATG gun by herself before and tried using it.  If she could only hold down the trigger she'd be all set.

It was such a great experience watching her enjoy the creative process, and she loved helping me trim the paper and fold the card.  I look forward to when she can draw pictures that are supposed to look like real things.  Who doesn't love the cute stuff kids come up with?

Here's a couple pics of the card.  I helped her with the outside but not the inside, and I included a pic of the mess she left,  she is CONSTANTLY messing up all my organization!  *LOL*