Furniture Redo

 2 weeks ago, Kevin and I got a wild hair up our butt to refinish our dining table and chairs. 
2 years ago we had purchased a new dining set from Slumberland furniture.  It was counter height and only comfortable sat 4 people. It was fine for the first year or so but then the girls because climbing EVERYTHING and it made us very nervous with them being so high up on the table.  There was just no way to keep them down off of it.  Also, it did not have a leaf and although we had 6 chairs to go with it, 6 people around the table was a joke!   I had decided on a whim to list it online one day and within the first 10 minutes someone wanted to buy it for full price.  And within 2 days we were left with an empty kitchen and only a folding table and chairs.  We searched in stores for a nice "forever" dining set but knew we just couldn't afford it right now.  I was so bummed because it just didn't feel like a "home"  with a card table and folding chairs.  Then one day I found this (below) table and 6 chairs online listed for only $50 more than what we had sold our set for. AND it had a leaf that could be put in and seat up to 10 around the table! 
Kevin wasn't completely sold on it but we got it anyway.  The top was worn, as were the chairs.  As time went on I started to regret my $300 purchase and wished I would have just saved that money to put towards a new set. 
It finally got to the point where we had to do something.  We were tired of looking at it.  The top was so dingy and never seemed to get clean either.   We did some research on the best ways to refinish it and decided to go the paint route this time.  Deciding on colors was the hardest part. We probably spent an hour online looking at different color combos and then another hour in Home Depot doing the same.  We finally decided on doing a two tone combo of dark top and lighter base and chairs.  The outcome was better than we expected. I absolutely LOVE  how it turned out.  I feel like my entire kitchen is brighter now.  The total cost of supplies was around $250 but that included EVERYTHING 3 cans of paint, 2 cans of primer, a paint sprayer, drop clothes, rollers and tray.  Not bad considering we did we refinished a dining table, 6 chairs, 2 dressers, a bed, and a night stand.  That's right around $50 per piece of furniture.  While it seems like a lot right up front, it is WAY cheaper than purchasing new furniture.  Also, we have plans to use the sprayer on 3 other tables/t.v. cabinet and other crafts in the future, so that itself has already paid for itself too.  

 Kaelin's bed and dresser.  Paint color:  Hint of Violet. 
This color was perfect for her bed set.   When Kevin first painted it outside, it looked white but when held next to something white, I could definitely see the "hint of violet"  It seemed to get even more purple in her room with all of the bedding and curtains up.  I love it and I know we'll keep this for many years to come.  This bed and dresser were purchased at a garage sale for $75 when Lauren was a baby.  A fresh coat of paint makes it look brand new even though it's at least 30 years old! The bedding and curtains were hand me downs from my little sisters room.  Well she's not so little anymore since she's 25.  It just goes to show you that "old" can still be cute and look really well if taken care of. 

 Lauren's dresser came from Kevin's parents house and we took it with us when we moved to Kansas.  It is a nice solid wood dresser, just had a lot of imperfections was pretty scratched up.  Nothing a fresh coat of paint couldn't fix.  We used the same paint on this dresser and night stand below that we used on the top of the dining table.  Last minute I decided to paint the drawer pulls with some pink acrylic paint that I had in my craft room. It was the perfect touch.  I do need to take them off and seal them since acrylic on metal tends to be easily scratched off. 
Lauren's night stand below came from my parents house. It is as old as me, I'm sure. I don't remember a time that we didn't have it.    It was in fantastic shape, we just wanted it to match Lauren's dresser since we use it as her night stand. 
The brown color matches perfectly to her bedding that was passed down from my mom.  Pink & brown are perfect for a little girls room and unlike a "princess" or "Dora"  themed room, both of my girls rooms should not be outgrown for years to come.  Which means, less money spent on decorating in the years to come. 

Sorry I just had to show you my dining table again because it's so beautiful.  My husband and his skills rock! 

Day 3: Hands

It's "craps time" again! :)

Day One: Your view today.

My view yesterday morning was that of paint.  Lauren's favorite time of the day is crafts.  She can't quite say crafts and says "Mommy, I want to do craps!"  We have tried correcting her many times but "craps time" it is.  Haha.  I made the joke yesterday that I wish "craps time" was when she was actually crapping in the toilet and not in her diaper.  Someday! We'll work on that more in the future. In the meantime, "craps time" will have to do!  I love her excitement and joy over little things like paint and crayons and even sometimes just plain water to paint on a chalkboard.  Does anyone else have any fun creative ideas for crafts with kids?  I'm running out of things to do with her and don't want her to get bored.

Break from Blogging

I have decided that I am going to take a break for a while from my blog.  It may only be a few days, maybe a few weeks at tops.  Things are just super stressful with Kevin gone and a high risk pregnancy.  I have too much to do to be fiddling around trying to figure out what recipe I am going to post, or even put up pics of Lauren's birthday.  I need to pack bags, go to dr's appts (3x week) etc.  I am sorry..I hope you all understand. 

Summer, sweat, softball, sweetness, stupid car.

SSSSSSSSSSS....is for Sizzlin' hot! My goodness, the heat in Kansas is insane.  The heat, along with humidity has had temperatures in the 110 range for about a week now.  It is not fun.  I shouldn't complain.  I get to stay inside all day if I do so chose. Kevin, however, is up every morning at 4:45am and out the door by 5:15am to be on post for PT.  It usually is still in the mid 80's that early!  I don't know how they do it.  I sweat walking from my car to the grocery store and back.  It's no fun carrying a 25lb Lauren and then an extra 30lbs in my belly.  Blah~!
Our week started out with Kevin gone Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  They have been doing a lot of  live fire trainings to prepare for a possible deployment to Iraq in November.  I say possible, because we have not received official orders yet, and anyone who knows the Army or any branch of the military knows that things change all of the time. Deep in our gut and my sad heart, I know with all of the meetings we have had lately, that it is most likely inevitable. One year..wow.  I know I will not be the first person to go through this.  I hope reading this, makes some of my readers understand maybe a glimpse of the anxiety that I was dealing with in my last post.  2 kids, 1 and a newborn, is a lot of work in itself.  What some of you might not have realized is that  we (me and Lauren), are home alone...a lot.  Every weekday for atleast 12-14 hours day, sometimes longer.  Sometimes, he's gone for days.  I wasn't trying to get a pity party. I am still not trying to. Just wanted you to know my perspective.   I know a lot of woman do well with many young children.  I know a lot of them also have family near by, and spouses that can work from home.  That is not our case.  I think one who would understand the most what I am dealing with is Becky (Kevin's cousin).  I am kind of her copy cat.  :) :) :)  2 kids, in 2 years, military, and she dealt with a deployment shortly after the birth of her son Alex.  She is stationed in Germany too! I don't know how she does it.  I really appreciate all of her support and advice, she has been a great friend to me! 
So stay tuned, for more updates on the deployment and what are plans are for the next year to come.  There might not be an update for a while, we are at the mercy of information from the Army  :) It may be a little while, and that's because we just don't know anything for sure yet.

Wednesday ended with a Dr's appt.  Kevin was gone still, so I had to take Lauren to hourly daycare on post.  My doctor was running about 90 min. behind.  So frustrating.  After being there for an hour, they asked if I would be willing to see one of the male ob/gyn.  I didn't care.  My doctor was leaving at the end of the month, so she wasn't going to be my doctor much longer anyway.  So, I saw this crazy man!  Wow, he was kind of a spaz.  He talked a million words a minute.  I had a hard time keeping up with him, and I am known to talk a persons ear off!  I liked him though.  He agreed with everything my previous doctor had recommended for me and the baby.  My blood pressure is still high.  Not high enough to be pre-eclampsia but high enough since the beginning to be considered pregnancy induced chronic hypertension.  Starting the first week of August, I have to go to the hospital TWICE A WEEK (ugh) to be hooked up to the machine to monitor the baby's heart rate and my contractions.  If things are ok from weeks 34 to 39 then we will just schedule and induction between 39/40 weeks.  The dr's do not want me to go more than 40 weeks.  If there are not good results during one of the NST's or my blood pressure would get worse, then obviously emergency induction would be the case.  Please keep us in your prayers. 

Sweetness....I have been working on Lauren's birthday invites/announcements.  My sister Kara, bought this cute onesie for Lauren a few months back for her to wear for her first birthday.  I decided to run with the theme.  Hobby Lobby had scrapbook paper 50% off, so I constructed my template and began to cut out a whole bunch of polka dot ones.  I am very happy with how they turned out.  Now I just have to find a day, when the temps are not so hot that I can do a photo shoot with Lauren outside. 
I plan on sending a birthday announcement out to all family and some friends.  I wanted to send everyone an updated picture.  With my family in Illinois and Kevin's in Minnesota.  The chance of people actually traveling to Kansas for Lauren's birthday is pretty slim.  However, it's a big event for Kevin and I as much as it is Lauren.  We are so excited for our little girl, and we want everyone to feel included even though we are states away.  She deserves all of the fun, and love and  presents because she won't be daddy's only little girl for much longer!! 

Softball....Wednesday and Thursday night were spent at the softball fields on post.  Luckily the games have been later in the evening so the temps cooled down enough ( in the low 90's HA!) to be bearable.  It's so cute when Lauren recognizes her daddy through the fence. She will point and yell.  I just love it.  Here is a picture of Lauren clapping for her daddy when he made a base hit.  She gets really excited when she hears other people clap and she joins in.  How precious!! She loves her daddy so much!!

Ok we are going to end this post with Stupid car....My old grand am over heated on Kevin on the way to work yesterday.  Bummer!!  We have been dealing with the same issue for years with this dumb car.  Kevin had a guy at work look at it, and he thinks it's the thermometer.  Funny, with the thousands of dollars spent fixing this car in the last few years, that is the only thing that has not been replaced, and it only costs about $11 and we also have one in the trunk of the car.  We bought it last summer when we were having issues.  So please pray that this simple fix is all we need.  We just need this car to last atleast til his deployment.  Then we can let her rest in peace :) Prayers please!!

So today's post was brought to you by the letter "S"  ...  haha!  I have been watching a lot of Sesame Street with Lauren to get her excited for Sesame Street Live next week!  The USO brought the tour to Fort Riley and it is FREE for us! I just love some of the perks of the military!! 

So Sorry about the Super long Summary of our weekly Schedule.  :) :)