This has been the first summer since I began my teaching career that I have not worked. For the past several years I babysat for a family with four kids all summer, and although that job had its fun moments (and I got paid for taking kids to the pool and to movies), it's been so nice to actually sleep in and relax all summer long. I've gone to the pool a lot, read some good books, visited the lake a few times, and spent loooonnnggg mornings in bed with multiple cups of coffee. As simple as it is, one of my all-time favorite things about summer is waking up late, making coffee, watching the Today Show, and reading before ever getting dressed! I look forward to these late mornings all year, and I have taken full advantage of them this summer.
I've also had the time to do some deep cleaning around the house and get more organized. Because our kitchen's pantry and cabinets are so small, we have a large metal shelving unit in our laundry room that houses the microwave, pots and pans, and lots of other odds and ends. I finally got the chance to buy some pretty storage bins that were on sale and get it looking less chaotic! Isn't it crazy how clearing clutter in your house helps clear your brain, too?
Before:
After:
My big goal this summer was to paint our dark picture-frame paneling cream (part of the reason I opted out of the nannying job). However, once I talked to some painters and realized that I was going to have to sand and caulk and apply multiple coats of primer and paint, I decided to get some estimates for hiring the job out! Thankfully, we got an affordable estimate so I got to sit back and relax even more while the crew worked. Best decision we have made in a while! Although I will say that it can be incredibly frustrating working with self-employed workers...that's a whole other post. Peyton was hesitant at first because he liked the dark wood (as do all other guys who walk into our house), but he does like the finished product. I feel like we live in a new house! Here is a before and after shot of the kitchen:
Pretty drastic, huh?!?! We still need to get some fabric to make valances for the two big windows in this room (after our hiatus from spending for a while), but for now I am content to bask in the calming, cheery new paint job! I chose a pale robin's egg blue for the sheet rock (Martha Stewart's Spring Melt), and I'm really happy with the color.
I still need to hang some things in the living room (including our drapes) and move all of the lamps and accessories back, but here's a mini before and after of the room:
No more living in the dark ages!!!!!! One of my favorite parts of the whole thing is the woodwork around the fireplace all in cream. I will post more pics soon. For now, we are off to the beach with my family for one last hurrah before reality (school) returns!
