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July 28, 2015

Mini Kitchen Makeover | The Reveal


Good Morning.  I hope everyone's summer is going well.  I am excited to finally share our kitchen with you all today!  We started with a very dark kitchen and I absolutely love how bright and fresh it looks now!  Our home is only about 4 1/2 years old, so we already had really nice cabinets, stainless appliances and a great layout.  Therefore, our changes were not major structural ones, but instead smaller cosmetic ones.



I love the look of an all white on white kitchen.  We started a couple of years ago with painting the cabinets white which you can see more of here and here.  And we finally completed the look about a month ago by adding the white subway tile backsplash.  I was back and forth on whether to lay it horizontal or do a herringbone pattern, as well as whether to do a light or dark grout.  Both looks I really liked, but finally decide to stick to a simple, classic look and go with the horizontal pattern and light grout.  We did the backsplash ourselves, which was fairly easy once we got the hang of it.  The harder part was actually removing the old tile and repairing the drywall before we could even get started.  Before we installed the new backsplash, we also added under cabinet lighting which is wonderful!  My husband did all the electrical work for those and I'm so excited that I can actually prepare food on our back counter tops now.



Lighting was the next change we made.  You can see in the before picture below that we started with 3 smaller pendants over our island.  For this makeover, I wanted to eliminate one of the small lights and instead switch to two large pendants.  While hunting for lighting, I came across this round, wood chandelier and fell in love with it!  So I decide, why not move the current breakfast table pendant (very similar here) to the island, buy one more to match, and replace the breakfast light with this pretty round one.  Great plan, until the new island pendant arrived and was ever so slightly different from the old one.  Ugh!!  Same store, same name, but it had been changed a tiny bit.  So much for saving a little $$$, as I had to order a second island pendant.  But after all that I love how it all turned out and how they compliment each other!



 
The breakfast area also got a little refresh.  In addition to the new light, I also purchased new chairs (love the gray finish on these) and decided to paint my pedestal table white.  We used the same spray technique as we did on some of our previous painted furniture projects.  And to give the table a protective finish we sealed it with 3 coats of polycrylic which will hopefully help it stand up to our daily use.
 
 
 
Would love to maybe change out the faucet one day and of course a lighter color granite would be so lovely, but it is not in our current budget.  So, it will stay as is.  For now :) 
 
Source List
Paint Colors
  • cabinets - Kwal Paint Pure Snow
  • walls - Kwal Paint Bone White
  • trim - Kwal Paint Pure Snow
 
Have a wonderful day!!
Linking at the Pretty Preppy Party
 
 
We can also keep in touch here:
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July 23, 2015

Sweet and Salty Recipes


 
Hi there!  We are still beach'in it but I wanted to pop in and share a few of my favorite recipes that I like to make for vacation.  Food and drinks are definitely a major part of our vacations plans.  I am a dip/appetizer girl and I also have a major sweet tooth.  I could seriously go to a restaurant and just order appetizers and desserts :)  Here are a few of my favorites above.  You can click on the links below each pic for a full recipe.  For this trip I made the candy surprise cookies and this dip
  
Lots more yummy recipes under my 'FOOD' tab.  All taste-tested and approved!
 
Have a wonderful day!



July 16, 2015

What is #YourHomeStyle?

 
 
Hi there!  Today, I wanted to quickly pop in to let you know about a fun weekly Design/Décor Series I'm co-hosting on Instagram with 4 other super talented design bloggers.  We want to see your home style.  Each week on Tuesday we announce a new photo challenge theme and you simply post a picture of that week's theme and hashtag it #YourHomeStyle.  This week we are looking for entry ways or foyers.  Then the following Monday we feature our favorite on all 5 of our IG accounts.  And what's great is you don't have to have a blog to join, just an instagram account!  Fun, right?  We have seriously been blown away by all the beautiful homes each week sometimes sending our voting into overtime :)  Below are a few of my favorites from the previous weeks' themes so you can see for yourself what I mean.


 
 
 
 
So gorgeous!  So come join the Instagram fun! 

P.S.  The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open to the public tomorrow.  And today is the last day for cardholders to shop deals before things sell out tomorrow.  And you can still earn double reward points through today.  See previous post for the details and some of my favorites!  Happy Shopping!
 
 
 

July 13, 2015

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

on model:  hat | tank | chambray top | jeans | purse (similar)
 
Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a great weekend!  As you already know the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Early Access started a few days ago.  Not a picked through end of season sale, but major sales on all the new styles coming out for next season temporarily marked down.  And if you're a card holder, you can shop early!  I have the debit card, which is free and you get reward points and perks like early access shopping!  So hurry and get one so you can get first dibs on these next season styles!!  You can apply online :)  And if you don't have a card you can shop and add to you wishlist and then purchase on July 17. 

So I finally went through and picked some of my favorites.  The tall boots, booties, jeans and earrings are already on their way.  I also love these jeans and this pair as well.  I have two pair of Vigoss jeans (one I'm wearing in my profile picture :) and they are great...fit well and can't beat the price.  I bought a couple of these long sleeve layering tees last year and wear them a ton.

And what great Christmas gifts these Kendra Scott pieces make:  cuff, stud earrings, dani stone drop earringsnecklace, tassel necklace.  All on sale!  And finally this Tory bag is gorgeous and on major sale.

Happy Shopping!!



July 7, 2015

Southwestern Style Chicken Wraps

 
Good Morning.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday weekend!  Always one of my favorite times of the year.  I shared a couple of pictures of our weekend on Instagram if you're interested :)
 
I enjoy cooking a more elaborate meal over the weekend when we have the time, but quick, easy yet still tasty meals are my favorite most nights during the week.  Last week I made these Southwest Style Chicken Wraps and they will definitely be added to our menu rotation more often.  They are so easy and so delish that I thought I would share with you all. 
 
 
 
 
Southwestern Style Chicken Wraps
 
Ingredients
  • 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 package of bacon
  • tortillas of your choice (I used wheat) 
  • lettuce of your choice (I used iceberg)
  • tomatoes diced
  • cilantro
  • salsa ranch dressing (HEB brand if you're in Texas :) or plain ranch dressing
  • guacamole
 
Method
  1. Season chicken breast with salt, pepper and Italian dressing.  Grill or bake in oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.
  2. Cook bacon.  I place my bacon on a foil lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until slightly crispy.
  3. To make wrap, place tortilla and top with desired ingredients.  I layered with lettuce, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, a couple leaves of cilatro and then drizzled with salsa ranch dressing.
  4. Serve with guacamole, tortilla chips and extra ranch for dipping.
 
 

 
This wrap is one of those recipes that you could fix to your liking.  You can change it up to make it a bit more healthy or add other ingredients to it make it ooze with even more yumminess.
 
And a little update on our mini kitchen makeover.  I've been debating sharing our progress along the way, but since it's really only a few minor changes, I'm holding out to show you all when everything is done.  But here's a quick update:  new backsplash done, lighting ordered and should arrive today, new breakfast table chairs arrived (love them.)  So basically we are left with installing the lights (above the island and breakfast table) and painting my breakfast table (which should happen this weekend.)  My goal is to have it cleaned and ready for pictures next week while both kids will be at camp.  So stayed tuned :)
 
Have a great day!
 


July 6, 2015

Target Style Swim and Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Early Access

 
I love Target for many reason including their super cute and very affordable swim line.  I picked up this suit last week and love it!  Something a little different then what I normally pick as far as the top goes, but it's really cute on and fun in the back.  I like the bottom too, as it's not too skimpy (for those of us over 21 :)  Of course what I love most about getting the less expensive suits is that I feel like I can get a couple of new ones and have more variety without blowing my budget.  And not only is everything pictured from Target, but all under $20!
 
Before I sign out, there are some sales worth mentioning.  Loft is having a great sale right now!  They are usually a bit too expensive for my budget, but they run great sales.  So I usually hold out for their sales like the one that is going on now.  They have 50% a few summer pieces and I got this chambray top on sale to go with this skirt (which is not on sale currently, but pick it up when it was $25 off.) 
 
This dress is also on sale for $29.  And adore this seersucker skirt which is $29 as well.  Perfect for summer!
 
And finally, switching gears from pipping hot summer sales to fresh, new Fall sales!  I'm sure you've been hearing all the buzz about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  Not a picked through end of season sale, but major sales on all the new styles coming out for next season temporarily marked down.  And if you're a card holder, you can shop early!  I have the debit card, which is free and you get reward points and perks like early access shopping!  So hurry and get one so you can shop early!!  You can apply online :)  And if you don't have a card you can shop and add to you wishlist for when you can shop on July 17.  I will be back soon with some of my favorites! 
 
 

 
We can also keep in touch here:

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July 2, 2015

Festive Foods

 
Happy July!  Do you have plans for the fourth?  We are heading out of town for a few days to enjoy some small town fourth of July festivities, including a parade, bbq cookoff and a town picnic with kiddy rides, food and music.  But before we head out I wanted to make a little something festive to bring along with me.  So as I was browsing for recipes yesterday, I stumbled across the cutest site yesterday called Life Love Sugar and it is loaded with fabulous festive food ideas, as well as other mouth watering recipes.  You'll definitely want to check out Lindsay's site, but make sure you have lots of time because I promise you'll be sucked in and won't want to leave :) 
 
How amazing is the American Flag surprise cake above?  Wow!  I was stopped in my tracks.  I don't think I'll be attempting the surprise cake for this weekend, but maybe one of these delicious ones below.

 



 
Amazing, right?  I think this last one is my favorite, simply because of both yumminess and a level 1 on the difficulty scale.  Layers of strawberries, blueberries, cheesecake pudding, golden oreos, and cool whip...so many of my favorites! 
Simple + delicious = winner!
 
So which is your favorite?  Do tell :)