Preparing for Thanksgiving Day Dinner

One week away before its Turkey Day (corny, I know)…

Is the panic starting to set in yet?

Are you freaking out trying to get it all together?

Or maybe you haven't even given it a thought yet…

until now that I've brought it up!

A Renovated Cabinet

Way back in August, when I was taking a road trip to Atlanta with my daughter, Kelly...

while she was busy working...

I was busy shopping (with one of my sisters)...

who knows all of my favorite shops near her house.

And that's where I found this little guy....that I knew right away... was coming home with me.

Other than a little broken tip on the bottom.....he was in pretty good shape (on the outside).  

 It had this contact paper that I ripped out and was left with lots of old glue to sand away.

After sanding and painting and sanding and painting....I decided it was just too plain solid white so, using painters tape, I added some color to the doors and top.   I used the same "Zen" color that matches my desk and wall.

For the top, I placed a piece of tape at the edge and then a second piece right next to the first piece.  Then I removed the first piece which left me with the areas that I wanted to paint "Zen".  When I was painting the stripes on my office wall, I learned a great tip from Melissa @ The Inspired Room that keeps your lines crisp looking.  Simply paint over the edges of the tape with the base color that you are painting before you paint your accent color.  It seals the edges!!!

I also added a few Command Hooks on the inside of the doors to hold my "go to" umbrella and a couple of other items that I always seem to be looking for.

I moved the white organizer from my desk which frees up much needed space for me but is still easily accessible on the new cabinet.

The handles were replaced with coral ones that match my credenza.   This time they were on sale at Anthropology for $2.95 each.

Love when I feel like I got a deal!

I just love the way adding a little cabinet...

all the way from Atlanta....

completes me....well, my office.

Supplies Purchased to complete this project:

Second hand cabinet $30

2 door handles $6.43

Total cost = $36.43 

Supplies already on hand:

White Paint
 "Zen" Paint
 Painters Tape
Sander
Hooks

P.S. I was not compensated in any way by Command Hooks or Anthropology.

October Challenge Reveal

Does anyone remember....

            way back in late September....

                     I announced that October's makeover challenge was Guestrooms?

If you feel like that was light years ago...you aren't alone.

It doesn't matter how super organized you are, sometimes life is going to throw you curve balls and you have to stay calm and know that everything will be right where you left it...

no apologies necessary....

just waiting for you to come back and share some love.

Even Mr. Bumble Bee is welcoming me back with open arms...or wings...

I was having so much fun filling the room with things that make me smile...like this photo of a heart shadow reflecting on an old tree that my daughter, Katie was inspired to shoot.

And then...

here's where I left off...

The lovely shots of the umbrellas on the beach (courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens) are actually suppose to look like the DIY chevron patterned one in the middle.

well...and maybe a few personal photos instead.

For now...I will enjoy it just the way it is...open wings and all!

A Heavy Heart

First, I want to say thank you to my loyal readers who are still out there reading this and have been wondering where the heck I have been.

I'm back, but with a very heavy heart. 

Unfortunately, we lost a true angel since the last time I was here.  My husband's, mother passed away on October 16th after an illness that required surgery.

She was recovering well and all indications were that she was going to be fine.  However, much to our surprise (and the doctors), in the early morning hours on the 16th, her heart gave out and she was taken from us.

It has been a difficult time for all of us, especially for my husband, Calvin, as this was his last living immediate family member.  He lost his sister and his best friend (his dad) about six years ago within months of each other.

His mom taught us a lot about many things, but mainly about love.  She would often say "love is about putting others needs before your own."

So please bear with me as I will be spending a lot of time taking care of her affairs but also supporting my husband, Calvin.  I will try to post as often as I can, but can't make any promises in the immediate future.

Having now lost both sets of our parents, we find ourselves in somewhat unchartered waters.  As I venture through this next stage of our lives, I hope to share little bits of her with you just as I have done of my own mother.

I was blessed to have known such an angel and so thankful for all of her love and wisdom.

Kim