I'm a Real DIYer

I like to think of myself as a DIYer and I always have good intentions, but I usually turn into a HYHDI kind of gal (Have Your Husband Do It).  Though with this particular project, minus one crucial step, I really was a bona fide DIYer.

In getting ready to remodel the dining room, I had decided to move the kitchen-cabinet-matching hutch from the kitchen to the dining room and give it a new color.  I am a new fan of chalk paint and chose Annie Sloan's French Linen for the exterior and then a bright turquoise for the inside back wall.  I removed the glass from the doors, spray painted some chicken wire in white, had the hubs attach it for me, then added some new hardware from Hobby Lobby and filled it up with all my pretties.  I love it!

I also painted an old table and chairs from my husband's parents and  painted the chairs Annie Sloan's Old White, distressed them and added different fabrics from Hobby Lobby.  For the table I painted the legs Old White and the top is a 50/50 mix of French Linen and Graphite then added the dark wax to make the table appear more aged.

You can see where I've added the dark wax on the right
side of the table, but not yet to the leaf.

All in all I think it looks pretty great!  More to come on what we did to the dining room as a whole.

Independence Day

Hope you all had a fun, family-filled 4th of July!

Camping

Well it just wouldn't be summer without a camping trip.  Andy and I had several camping trips before we had kids, but when you're in the grind of diapers and potty training and meltdowns without naps, kinda makes it more stressful than peaceful.  BUT.  We have outgrown those stages and it's time to move forward.

We decided just a one night trip right outside of town would be more appropriate, since we didn't know how a tent-sleeping, fire-cooking, bug-biting experience would affect the kiddos.  We kept it simple, not taking too much stuff or too much time and it ended up being a very pleasant experience.

It went so well in fact, I think next time we'll venture farther and for longer!