A little bit closer

With less than two weeks away from when T's parents will be here for their holiday visit we have lots to do.  My dad will be up later that week, and my Meme for the day of Thanksgiving.  In case you missed everything that I wanted to do by Thanksgiving... check it out here.

Measuring Cup/Spoon Hanger
You know when you are rushing to cook something that you should have set at least double the amount of time to cook and you need those measuring spoons that are everywhere in the drawer?  I do.  I typically dig for them ram-shacking the entire drawer and then trying to close it only to find that the pizza slicer or can opener is now half way hanging out of the drawer... and then some words are usually shared between the drawer and I in the kitchen (yes, dogs typically stare).

I do not want you to think this was my own creative idea, I found SEVERAL examples of this project on pinterest.  Some used trim pieces, nails into the cabinet, and even paint stirrers.  This is my take on the project...

This is what happens when you ask T to do something on Sunday morning...

Large hooks in the coffee cabinet

Notice the 3M tabs?  I wanted to cut them off but T said we should keep them in case we ever want to do away with the hooks. 

The smaller spoons and opener are on the adjoining cabinet with the glasses.

A Tortoise Home
Remember my love with all the Nate Berkus stuff at Target?  Well I finally figured out a place I could put my precious tortoise shell without having to worry if someone or something would knock it off the wall.  In less than 3 minutes, it had it's home in the DR above the small yellow cabinet.  I didn't realize that the space was so big, I might have to move it one day and hang something with it so it fits in the space better.

I need a gold catch all tray here to go with everything.

I love all the white/cream that is going on in this photo.

A Little bit of Crafting Work
A few weeks ago I painted several small canvases that I plan to use as part of our Christmas decorations this year.  I brought them out to finish this week.... here is a teaser...

Started Wrapping Presents!!
I know that I'm weird because I enjoy wrapping presents.  Most people wait until the very last minute, but I love to do it early, on my own time, like when I watch DVR'd shows.  I have a few odd shaped gifts that I need to find boxes for or a very clever way to wrap them!

Surprise

There is a project that we have wanted to begin for a while now, but we have been putting it off.  While I do want to share the projects that I listed a few weeks ago I do want there to be a surprise element when our families come down.  I'll tell you this isn't anything huge, but it will take us a few days to complete.  This project has to be done before one of the "to do's" could be completed.  (I know, bummer)

Have a great Thursday!  

Three Weeks

A week has gone by since I made my list to do by Thanksgiving... and I'm already re-thinking it.

EEEK!

This was my list for things I REALLY wanted to get done...

1. Cornice in the kitchen 
2. Install a board to hang measuring cups on in the cabinet to make extra room in the drawers
3. Hang the gallery wall in the kitchen
4. Add a shelf (or two or three) in the SR
5. Fire Pit

Now... I have started on several of the items above and one will be finished tonight (can't let the cat out of the bag yet) but I realize all these probably aren't going to happen by Thanksgiving.  Darn-it.   I will show you a few options that gives a hint on one of the projects...

#1 pick currently

This one was too young looking, like it should be in a child's room. 

T didn't like the texture of this one. 

While I loved this one, T did not.  Sad face. 

*All fabrics found at Printer's Alley in Raleigh, NC.  

This was more of a task list that I hoped to complete by Thanksgiving:

• Address Christmas Cards *waiting on holiday stamps to come out at the post office now!
• Shop/Wrap Christmas Presents
• Put up the Christmas trees (Yes, you read that correctly, we have multiple trees this year)
• Do a good deep cleaning so Meme doesn't try to clean my house on Thanksgiving
• Clean out the fridge, really well, to make room for the massive amounts of food we're going to have to store. 
• Wash out the cooler and prep for a beverage cooler to be kept outside (to have additional room for the fridge)
• The weekend before get caught up on all laundry and have it put away
• Plant the Crape Myrtle and Japanese Maple tree that Meme gave us months ago (again, so she won't try to do it that day)

Now... as far as this list.... it WILL get done.  Tonight the fridge is getting a good cleaning and stuff that is questionably bad is getting tossed.  It's crazy to open it and see we have three salsa's open... shame on us.  I've started our Christmas shopping and while I'm not close to being finished, I do feel we have a good chunk already done!  I think I might get T to pull the wrapping down so I can begin wrapping while we watch TV at night.  

Anyone have any motivation for us?!

2 Weeks

I have two weeks before T's parents and my dad come up for Thanksgiving.  *I am thankful for T's and my dad driving to us for Thanksgiving*  There - I jumped on the bandwagon of "Thankful November" for just one moment.  Usually I try to make Thanksgiving low key, no stress, and have nothing set in stone.  The past few years our parents come up Wednesday afternoon and we all go out to dinner get back and relax (aka. until my dad passes out in the floor) then we head to bed.  Thursday is full of looking at the Black Friday ads and cooking.... I could honestly skip the cooking part this year.  I don't know why I'm just not feeling all the food (I know - WEIRD).  Friday my dad usually gets up and goes to the crazy sales (You know the ones at like 3am?)  he usually buys one thing and then just people watches.  Then the rest of us get out.... is it just me or do the stores not have the "good" deals they used to have?  I think its just a tradition now more than anything.  Side note: I will have tools on my Black Friday list, we have projects that we want to do and no tools to complete them.

So in two weeks.....

                            oh no..... I just did it again, lol.

I want to:

• FINALLY paint the guest bedroom, we've had the paint for over a month now, goodness. 
• Hang the lights on the back deck (We got two strands on clearance and we're going for a French Bistro feel on the back deck)
• Get the house decorated for Christmas (If we don't do it now our parents don't see it)
• I need to make/find at least 20-40 more ornaments so that my new colored tree comes together (I want to use a paint sharpie on some bulbs, find some other ornaments that aren't round to tie the tree together)
• Spray paint some decor (Re-purposing some cheap decor I had - it's kinda starting to beg for a makeover anyhow)
• Get 3 yards of burlap
• Wrap what few Christmas presents we have thus far
• Address Christmas cards (Yes, We've had our Christmas cards for a little over two weeks already)
• Have some copies of some pictures made to go in frames
• Hang the curtains in our bedroom - and if they don't work - take them back and quickly find something that does lol. 
• Clean up our laundry area (So nothing falls on anyone while they are here)
• Hang a tv? (A girl can hope right?)

Of course there are other little things that will pop up along the way... like upkeep cleaning, maybe finding the impossible hinges for the guest bathroom, and depending on how our motivation goes we might be able to walk into our third bedroom (please don't hold your breath on that one).

So let me share how we started prepping tonight... 

 Hint:  I have been collecting yellow paint chips for over three months.

 After a screwdriver fell on me last week, T is organizing :)

Yes, those are moose on his pj's and slippers

Some people in the family didn't get the two weeks off to a productive start... smh.