our kitchen - more Lipstick on the pig 💋🐖

Budget Kitchen updates




Laminate cabinets, hand-me-down dining chairs, tired paint...our 80s kitchen has been screaming for a facelift! When we moved in, to try to bring it into this century, we opened up the wall to the living room, got new appliance, popped on updated laminate countertops, and changed out the flooring...and it looked ok...



Fast forward 6 years and 3 kids later and finally we found the motivation to take it the next step.  We went to a custom cabinet company and got an estimate for new cabinets...it was $6000 and that was just the cabinets (no installation, no countertops, just the bare bones).  Ha!!! No Farmer sink, glass uppers, trash drawers...nada...just boring white cabinets for $6000.  We weren't really excited about spending that type of money right now.

So...

We decided to TRY painting the cabinets before spending all that $$$$ on a new kitchen.  Put a little more lipstick on the pig. Well...I'm really glad we did!

The project took about 2 weeks (due to drying time in between coats and occasional slacking).  It was well worth the time and effort.  Makes the kitchen look much more open/clean.  Honestly, I can't believe how nice they look.

The chairs we've been using were some pieces of junk I found on the craigslist free items page.  They served their purpose but it's time to let go! So we got these upholstered nailhead chairs and banquette.  I didn't want to spend a lot on these either since nothing really stays nice here with 3 toddlers.  I found these on walmart.com for $50/chair and they're well worth that price.

fall

So many smiles

not gonna lie...surviving every day with these 3 lil loves can sometimes feel like a grind.  they can be a handful.  my favorite is when they all cry at the same time or when I think it's about 630 but it's really 445...and bedtime seems forever away. 

i feel like I'm growing a lot though.   i'm trying to become more patient and even tempered.  anyway, it's worth it.  their smiles melt my heart.  they are happy babies and we are loving every minute watching them grow...that's all that matters.

 

add another babe to the Babe Squad!

Ican't describe the overwhelming feelings of joy/happiness/excitement I have for my brother and his awesome wife as they welcomed their baby girl Chelsea last night! another beautiful and perfect girl to add to our "Babe Squad" as we like to call ourselves!! 

Beach day #1 with 3

At the playground...you know

Marathon Park, Bridgewater MA

RJ

I took these pictures of RJ today at the park.  He was so happy and full of energy..Loving life.  He had so many smiles for me.  It makes me so happy because our lil champ had such a tough winter and spring with so many trips to the doc.  Ear infections, colds, coughs, breathing trouble/asthma...the last 6 months weren't very fun for for a 1 year old.  But he powered through and seems to be healthy with his breathing under control. 

(RJ at Childrens Hospital late April)

Huge thanks to the doctors and nurses at Milton Pediatrics, South Shore Hospital, Childrens Hospital and the pulmonary specialists at Mass General Hospital.  We have so much appreciation for the people who work in medical pediatrics...never realized how tough their jobs are or truly appreciated how much we parents rely on them.  

Favorite Bronzers

It's spring!! Yay!  Here are my favorite bronzers - jergens and clarins 

Chalkboard Art {tips and tricks}

Chalkboard "Art" 

I got this big chalkboard at Christmas tree shop (like $15) to put in our kitchen.  Thought it would be cute to write little inspirational messages and create seasonal/holiday themed designs.  

I just use regular cheap chalkboard chalk (skinny kind).  Prime the chalkboard before you start by rubbing chalk all over surface then erase it using a chalkboard eraser.  I always mark the center and font sizes using light chalk lines to avoid crooked designs (light lines are ez to erase later)...I never trust my eye.  

I learned a nice "cheat" from Pinterest...

Print out font/words, cover back of words with chalk, then trace over onto board to transfer.  Original pin here: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-heart-wreath-chalkboard-art.html

Spring shopping for "post-baby"

Last few days of pregnancy #3...all the "nesting" is pretty much done.  Counting down the minutes til not only the new baby is here but also for the cold weather to go away (snowing today here). Can not wait for spring! Went shopping for a few spring items.  I wanted to have a few things Id feel comfortable in during that transition period "post-baby" ;) 

I got a bunch of staples and some jewelry:

maxi dress

jean jacket

white jeans

coral cardigan

cream jersey dress

denim shirt

lots of layering tanks (white, coral, mint)

I think I'm a little obsessed with the mint/coral theme.  

Baby #3...any day now!!

Ok...so pregnancy #3 is nearly over! Holy crapadoodle! That went by fast.  Luckily, another healthy pregnancy.  A little more uncomfortable/tired at the end compared to the first two but I'm sure that's normal.

Chasing around a 2 1/2 yr old and a 1 yr old while preggo made me come to a very important realization...I'm not superwoman!! Hehehe!! Being 34...I felt 34! Thank god for the best husband ever who always takes special care of me.  

And a huge thanks goes to our amazing family (my mommy, nana & papa, my awesome sisters/bro and sister-in-law) who spoil us with free babysitting.  Those date nights and breaks throughout this pregnancy were key to our happiness(/survival)!

Scheduled to meet this little one March 18th (c-section). We still don't know the sex (I'm thinking girl) and Candi named it "peanut" which is adorable either way...and we finally nailed down both a girl and boy name we really like...so we should be ready!! Plus, this time, we actually did some "nesting"...truth be told...we did a TON of nesting (probably making up for being unprepared in the past).  Nursery is awesome...we made it very colorful (primary colors).  I worked Ross to the bone...and I got crazy crafting made bunting, curtains, random Pinterest inspires decor, and putting together thrift store finds to make it the happiest room in the house.  

WELL...wish us good luck! We'll need it ;) General consensus is that we're a little crazy...probably true but we say "bring it!"

Xo Laura