From this to that Friday; Kitchen Style

So, I have mentioned that we have been remodeling our house off and on for the past few years. We bought the house almost 8 years ago. It was built in 1953. When we moved into the house, we had two kids. Now we have 5. We are growing out of our house! Over the past few years, we have changed some, gutted some rooms, and updated lots!

When we moved in, the kitchen was pretty much like the following 4 pictures, but was a different color. (I never took a pic before I painted it one summer on whim when my hubby was out of the country.) It was old style for sure. Counter and cabinets on just the one wall. Oven on another wall (and the cupboard above it and vent hood weren't even there when we moved in. We added that.)
 
The fridge was where the microwave is in this next pic. Again, no cupboards or counter on this wall.

An old country style kitchen needed updated. I need more counters!
Before:

My wonderfully, talented, goofy husband about to go at it!

We took out the wall where the fridge had been that separated the kitchen from the dining room.

My son learning his goofiness from his dad.

Gotta love father and sons working together.

Fast forward a bit. Now we have installed "new" cabinets I found on Craigslist and husband and another son are getting the counter ready to tile.

I LOVE my tile countertop!

Fast forward some more and here we are now. The wall on the left was also bare before, other than there was a door there to our bedroom. We filled that in and added floor to ceiling pantry along the whole wall and a computer/desk area too. Broom closet at the end. Moved the fridge over there too. My husband took all the doors off of the cabinets I got off of CL and built all the doors himself for the kitchen.

After:

Still a bit more to do. Need to add some more trim here and there along the top left and do a few other things, but it is almost done! And I don't feel trapped in the kitchen anymore either! I love my huge counter and the kids love sitting there and talking, eating, and doing HW. A great gathering place!

The little things

I LOVE this quote. I've had it cut out for quite some time and never have time to apply it somewhere (like so many others...) I wanted to try something different this time and added the flourish behind the glass. I really like the idea, although not sure about with this font? Still love though!

Catapult Science Project

So how many of you procrastinate? I sure do! I always work better under pressure, but not always sure that's a good thing. And I hope I haven't passed that on to my kids. But my oldest might be in trouble!

He had to do his first science fair project this past week and didn't start it nearly in enough time in my mind. (Since I was up until 1:30 am with him helping him finish it the night before it was due.) After it, I could tell that he was proud of it and he said, "If I knew it was going to be that much work, I would have started it sooner!" (It didn't matter that I had mentioned for him to do just that a few times in the past couple of weeks...grrrr)

If you are looking for how to make a tabletop catapult, we found several designs here:

http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/how-to-build-a-catapult.htm 

Ours is basically like one of the very first ones posted with the list of items and even lengths listed and rubber bands.

It was fun trying it out with him though. I'm sure glad I have a handy husband that can go make something like this ping pong catapult with him though!

 Anyway...just thought it was kinda fun and thought I would share. Happy Wednesday Everyone! We're half way through the week already!

DIY Curtains

We have not only been remodeling our house for the past few years on and off, but are also getting ready to list it. Along with that, we got some new couches last year and I needed new curtains to go with the new color. Well, I looked and looked...online and in the stores. Curtains are sooooo expensive! WHY?!!! I saw all these pins on pinterest about using tablecloths, but it really wasn't a lot less expensive that way compared to buying the fabric for me and for the size windows I needed to cover. PLUS I couldn't find a design I liked, so I bought some fabric and made some. And they were soooo easy! You just hem a big rectangle basically and then hang it from those cute and easy and very functional rings with clips. I added a stripe and used two different fabrics, so I had to sew a few rectangles, but still so easy and I love them!

Plus, remember this? Love having scraps to coordinate with!

It's Tuesday, so let me know what kind of projects you have going on around your house!

Banana Muffins: Multi-Allergy Friendly

It's Monday folks! What's on the menu for you this week?

I thought I would share a recipe I tweaked so that it is allergy friendly again. 

They turned out pretty good too. :) 

2/3 cup sugar (I used 1/3 cup honey and 1/3 stevia)
1/3 cup shortening (I used coconut oil here, but coconut butter spread or you palm expressed shortening would also work here)
2 eggs (We use Omega 3 eggs, but can sub with flax seed if needed)
3 T sour milk (I just used that same amount of almond milk and added a couple drops of lemon juice as well)
1 cup very ripe mashed bananas
2 cups flour ( I used 1 cup sorghum flour, 1/2 cup rice flour, and 1/2 cup potato or tapioca starch)
1 tsp xanthum gum (You can omit this if you are using regular wheat/white flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt

Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs. Stir in milk and bananas. Add dry ingredients and mix well. (Choc chips optional. I did some with and some without. Again, I used the dairy and soy free ones seen before in previous Monday posts.) Bake at 350.

When we first started having to make things that were multi allergy friendly, it was all new to me. I spent a ton of time in the store and online researching and looking for good recipes. So, I am happy to pass along ones that have worked out for us. My husband liked these better than others I have tried to tweak. So, there you have it! Hope it helps someone out there!

St. Patty's Day Pillowcases

Just had to share! How fun are these?! 

Trying out some heat transfer vinyl on them. I have read mixed reviews online on the durability of it being washed over and over. We shall see...

From this to that Friday: Cub Scout Car Slides

It's my favorite day of the week! I love FTTT Fridays!!!! And I am especially excited about this one, because my son has his last :( official Pinewood Derby tomorrow! (Pics of his car(s) coming later!)

A little background:
I used to be the den leader in one of my son's packs a couple years ago, and my husband used to be the cubmaster in another son's pack years ago, and I used to be the committee chair until recently, not to mention I used to be over our church's children's program a few years ago, which included cub scouts, AND my husband and I were the district's Cub Scout daycamp program directors one year too. (How's that for a run on sentence? lol) Can you tell we LOVE scouting?

So...I was so excited to share this with the boys in our pack and have them make them at our pack meeting last month as a gathering activity for our Blue and Gold Banquet!

These are the supplies I started with:

And this is what we ended up with!

 It really was so easy and the boys all loved. I love seeing them wear them AND it got them pumped for their upcoming Pinewood Derby this month! (We actually let all the siblings make them too, they just didn't attach their little cars to slides.)

Here's a little tutorial if you are wanting to make some:

 (This cost me maybe $2ish and I had lots extra!)

I used paint that I already had. One was the blue in a spray paint can (above). The other was a bottle of acrylic gold that I just sponge brushed on.

  (Couple dollars at a craft store or Walmart.)

Again, I used what I had on hand, but even if you bought some, this project is super low cost for lots of boys!

 And wear with pride! 

Yeah for Cub Scout Fun!

Faux Fur Hats Share

Just thought I would share some super cute and fun hats that I got through Groopdealz (love that site! It's dangerous!) from Born to Love found here. 

(Do not copy and use any of these pictures without premission. They are the property of Create it. Go! Thank you!)

Now if it was just cold enough to wear them...might have to wait for next year. Good think I ordered them a bit big. Either way, they are loving them and even wanting to plan Halloween costumes around them. lol

Trying Something New: Skirts

So, how many times have you said I want to do that someday OR I could do that, but then never get to it. Well, I have always wanted to sew more. I have done basics and have a basic knowledge, but haven't sewn a lot of clothes. In fact, I have only done pajama pants (about 12 years ago!), a pillow or blanket here and there, a hooded towel once?, and some Halloween costumes over the past few years. 

Reading patterns is like a foreign language to me too, so I needed some simple instructions. Well, I found them! I saw these cute ruffled skirts on pinterest 

and with a new sewing machine that came in the mail (Wahoo!) I was itching to sew. 

This tutorial at Grand Revival here was great!

So, here is to my first new try at sewing skirts!

And then the twirls started!

Well, I think they like! And now they want their dolls to have matching skirts, which I am ok with! Because I get to sew more! heehee

So, it's Tuesday, so let me know some things you have tried for the first time and how they came out!