Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A Jar Full of Love

My Mom & Dad were
high school sweethearts!
You don't find that too often anymore...

This is one of my favorite pictures of them.
I believe it was taken at the state fair
before they were married.


Mom & Dad have always been a shining example
of what a marriage built on the foundation of Christ looks like.

Rose in back is made from tea-stained dryer sheet!

 I'm not naive enough to think there were no struggles,
disagreements, and frustrations,
but I never saw it or heard it.
All I saw was Christ's love shining through them both!

Heart was a generous gift from Tina at TinyBear

So I could think of nothing more appropriate
for a Valentine's tribute
than to feature them
and their love that was and still is
so evident to everyone around them!

I love you both!

Linking up to Kathleen's White Wednesday
at Faded Charm!

Have a Wonderful Day!
Hugs!
Lori

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Unclutterd and Feeling Good!

Yesterday I spent most of the day
de-cluttering my kitchen!

I have wanted to do this for a very,
VERY long time!

There was so much stuff around 
that it made any kind of work in here 
practically impossible!

Now....I'm very nervous and embarrassed
to show you these pictures!
But you need to see them 
in order to understand
the relief and satisfaction I'm feeling!

Ok....take a deep breath....
Here goes nothing!
Please don't faint!
It does get better!

Here's what it looked like before I started:

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! 
CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!
Boy, I had my work cut out for me!

This counter is a magnet for anything 
and everything to gather,
mail...snacks...
Tupperware that won't fit in the cupboard!
 Unfortunately I had to remove the green bin because
water had gotten underneath
and it was not a pretty sight!
I will clean the bin up and use it somewhere else,
away from any water source!
I like it too much to get rid of!

The toaster is too big for this space.
And it also is a gathering place
for anything that I didn't have a place for.
The book and the bag have been there for....
well, let's just say it's been awhile!
 The bin in the corner holds necessary items:
like nails, screws, sewing thread & needles
for quick fixes, plate hangers.
But these things are not needed on a daily basis.

Morning coffee was always a battle!
There was always something in the way 
of the coffee pot, 
and I was always moving things around 
to get to anything.
The cookie jar, which holds tea bags and coffee filters,
was too big for the space,
and I never used anything in the wire basket
except the sugar shaker.

That was painful!
I hope you are still with me!

Now, for the AFTER!
{SIGH!}
 Much better!
I CAN SEE MY COUNTER TOP!!!
And LOTS of it!

Here is my new coffee/beverage station! 
My homemade hot chocolate mix and loose tea
are in the round jars.
I was excited when I discovered the jars fit
LIKE A GLOVE in the white wire basket!
Pens and paper are now in the drawer where they belong!

 And I found this basket in the new spring product
section of our NEW Hobby Lobby!
(it opened last Tuesday & I've already been there twice!)
 Coffee filters and scoop - another perfect fit!
 HL also has coordinating wall plaques
that I will probably be purchasing to cover the 
hideous laminate on the back-splash of my counters.

 Toaster & knife block are now over between the
stove & fridge, freeing up A LOT of space on this counter!

Not sure what to put in the bottom 
of this basket yet (bananas?),
but the top, since it's hard to get to,
is now home of a teapot trinket box and mini teacup.
Will be looking for some greenery to place behind it, too.
This little wire teacup holds recipe cards while cooking!

 And my odds-n-ends bin found it's new home 
on top of the fridge, 
along with my spoon-lady and her cow.
The basket holds snacks & such.

So there it is - my weekend kitchen project.
Largely inspired by Leslie's kitchen transformation at
Goodbye, House! Hello, Home!
I'm hoping to have the cabinets refaced
and the countertops replaced in the near future.

Well, time to go watch the last half of the Packer/Bears game!

~~~GO PACK GO! ~~~

 Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs!
Lori

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Change of Season

 I finally got around to taking down the Christmas decor 
today and putting up some Valentine's decor!

Here's a sampling of what's been done so far...
 
My "adopted family" wedding pictures!


  I was going to put conversation hearts around
the candle, but I like the pearls better!


 I will be looking for a couple soft pink roses 
to put in this vase I found a couple weeks ago 
at the local thrift store for $1!!!


I will be posting pictures of my 
apothecary jar re-do soon!
So Stay Tuned!
(I promise it won't be a month before my next post!)


Hugs!
Lori