A Sneak Peek into Our Week...

You won't be seeing much of us this week...

 

We are busy preparing!

 

Here are just a few pictures to peak your interest...

 

 

 

 

 

Come back Friday for a more complete reveal and then next week for some more "eye candy" with tutorials!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!

DIY Seed Pots {Tutorial}

The last few days have given us some signs of spring! The daffodils are beginning to bloom! The chives are beginning to pop up through the leaves in the garden.  Pinterest boards are popping with spring fashion ideas!

 

 

These little signs always give me an itch to dig in the dirt, and my radar for early planting sounds its alarm!

 

This year, my goal is to utilize more of my yard for edible plants, and hopefully still maintain some beauty! 

{I'm really an aesthetic gardener at heart!}

 

My idea is to plant 18 tomato plants along the inside of the picket fence that dresses up our front yard.  Hopefully the pickets will maintain the charm all while supporting the tomato vines! 

{Not to mention this is where we get the most sunshine!}

 

 

Typically I run to the garden store and purchase starts for all of the plants I want in my garden.  This year, in an effort to stick to our new budget, I am getting more creative in starting from seed and spending a minimal amount on supplies!

 

 

Here is a tutorial for free DIY Seed Pots!

 

 

 

Gather your supplies:

 

*Can with both ends cut off

* Stack of newspapers {mine are donated from my neighbor}

 

 

Next, cut your newspaper into strips and roll using your can.  You will want to leave about 2" at the end to fold into the end of the can, which makes the bottom of your seed pot.

 

 

Once you have folded the paper into the bottom, set the can upright and press down on the paper to make it flat. 

{Am I making sense?}

 

The can should slip out at this point!

 

 

Fold over the tops about 1/2"-1" in order to hold everything in place!  And voila...free seed pots in very little time!

 

 

Fill those babies with some planting soil, add your seeds, water, and place in a sunny window!

 

 

This post brought to you by my happy helpers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!

Our Kitchen Reveal {Before and After}

Just over a year ago we embarked on a major change in our home...

 

 

 

The Kitchen {before}

 

 

 

 

 

and after! 

 

My handy husband did all of the work himself, except for the hardwood floors!!!

 

 

Those are the original cabinets that he sanded, bonded and painted!

 

 

My favorite part of the kitchen is the sink!!!

 

I had always dreamed of having a farmhouse style sink, but if you've ever shopped around for one, you know they come with a VERY high price tag {in the 1000's}!

 

One day we were walking through IKEA, and we found this one for $300!!!

 

Of course, being from IKEA it is made for IKEA cabinets, but Mr. Handyman was able to cut and create different supports to make it work in our standard cabinetry! 

 

I love, love, love this sink...Claire can even take a bath in it!

 

 

The next HUGE blessing in this project is our stove! 

 

 We had a 15-20 year old stove that really had seen better days!  One day I was perusing Craigslist, and came across a stainless stove that sounded perfect.  But, we really did not have the budget for it, and I was tempted to just make it work! 

 

Following a prompting of the Holy Spirit, I chose to wait!  Would you believe two days later, my friend Megan posted this on Facebook?  {Free!!!  Just come take it!!!}  This stove is incredible...it even dehydrates down to 104 degrees...low enough to still be considered "raw" for you health lovers!  Not to mention the numerous other features it has! {Thank you Miss Megan!}

 

 

This is a view from the living room...if you look at the "before" picture above, you can see that we gained a ton of space by removing the wall that was between the dining room and kitchen!

 

This table {which we also found on Craigslist} expands to 104"!!  Enough to seat all of us plus in-laws and grand babies!!!

 

 

 

 

This is the other side of the dining room...here is where the piano sits. {My husband and his siblings learned to play on this piano ~ now my children do!}

 

 

Eventually we would like to build a window seat that expands the whole length of the wall under the window to the counter. And, we do need to add some blinds before summer comes and the sun is beating in those windows!!! And, yes, we do intend to redo those chairs on the ends...all in good time!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!