To Start It Off Right:

Happy next few days to you!

My Laundry "Room" (in-the-works)

Along the same lines as my last entry... It's like we can work on anything around here except what's most pressing (ie: THE KITCHEN). We are now avoiding kitchen decisions by working on my laundry "room". I say "room" because it's actually just a corner in our garage. Our two-car garage has 4 functions: a parking spot for my car, a home gym, laundry room and storage area. I'm really only concerned with my laundry area. (Well, I suppose the other stuff is important too...) My husband, in effort to keep my stuff more in my area, went for helping me spiff up my space. Here's the before:

Pretty terrible, I know. (Sometimes I can't believe what I reveal on this here blog space.) I figure that instead of dreaming of my future laundry/mud room space, I should make what I have now be more functional and look better. Shouldn't be too hard, really, considering what I'm starting with. Here's the plan: bright cheery walls, lots of coordinating storage caddies, fun details to make the task at hand a bit less dreary...

It's not yet a finished project, but the walls are done! I decided that I wanted my little nook to be painted my new favorite color, an appley green. My first attempt was terrible. (You can see it in the before pic.) I seriously stink at picking colors. Love that Home Depot took that back, and that my husband is so much better at picking paint colors than me. He came home with Bay Leaf, and it is perfect! Here's a little peak:

We hung some shelves we already had. I ordered some wall decals (these and these) for some whimsy, and am getting some sweet anthropology-esque knobs from a blog friend. I'll be heading to Ikea soon for some inexpensive storage caddies. And I even snuck in some chalkboard paint too. I cannot wait to put it all together and share it with you. Hopefully that won't be too long, but we all know how distracted and s-l-o-w I can be on home projects! Any home projects you're in the midst of?

How I Procrastinate...

So my (must be done) ToDo list was a mile long. It had things on it that literally made my blood pressure rise just thinking about getting them done. You're probably thinking, well, then just do it, Erin. Yah... No. Instead I decided to busy myself working on making a magnetic pad for my grocery list:

It was so much more fun! I just followed these simple instructions using my downloadable grocery list file over there under the downloadable goodies button on the right. It didn't increase my stress level one bit! Plus it makes prepping for the grocery store a little more enjoyable.

Now I just need to fill that fun thing out and get to the not-so-fun grocery store... Anything fun you're working on to help procrastinate on the not-so-fun stuff?

Friday Focus

It's the same thing my motto is egging me on to do.

Workin' on it.

You?

Dreaming of... Kitchens (still)

We've been talking to some contractors and sharing our dreams for the kitchen. I think we're deciding to go the contractor route because, as I've shared before, we have analysis parlysis. We talk and talk (and talk) about remodeling our kitchen, but never get any further than that. My husbnad has decided the the extra money for someone to do some deciding and delegating for us is worth it. He calls it the hassle factor. He's beginning to win me over to his way of thinking, except that we're having a tough time finding someone who completely shares in our vision...

Sure it would be nice to gut our space and start fresh, but I love the 1950's feel of our house and would really like to work with it (as well as not spend a butt load of money). While we're still searching for a team to work with, take another further peak into my kitchen dreams:

It's a bit unnerving how excited I get when I see apron front sinks, butcher block countertops and pretty pendant lights... What features make your heart go pitter pat?

Oh, and by the way, I no idea what we're eating for the week. I kind of forgot to meal plan on Sunday. The holiday weekend kind of threw me off (but it was oh-so-nice). I'll be trying to figure out our meals asap... Any ideas?

Announcing the Winner:

That's Jemm! I'm so excited and can't wait to hear how she spends it! Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway, and thank you to CSN for making it happen. It's so fun to host!

On a side note, does anyone recognize that quote? It's from a Dr. Seuss book called Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? and I had to look it up to remember the wording completely. I've gone blank on the rest of the book, but I've got it on order from the library now, as I'm thinking it will be a good one to read with the fam. It has a stanza in there that reads, "When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad... You should do what I do! Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky! Some people are much more... Oh, ever so much more... Oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!" So, just tell yourself, You're really quite lucky! (especially you, Jemm :-)

Have an awesome weekend!

Dreaming of... Kitchens

I know. I know. I've been dreaming kitchen for as long as you've known me. Those who I talk to on a daily basis have come to expect a kitchen remodeling conversation to happen on most days. I'm not the fastest moving gal when it comes to change, or spending large amounts of money, or making decisions. It's true, but I really think we might be making some updates. I'm growing tired of all the talk and no action. Sooooo, the thought of that possibly becoming reality has me pulling open my inspiration files. Here are a few that I love:

Can you tell that I like simple, white cabinets, wood floors, and breakfast bars? What are your dream kitchen must-haves?

{Don't forget about your chance to win an $80 gift certificate.

Comment to enter before Thursday at midnight!}