{Black Doors Stink}

After spending countless hours on Pinterest looking at colored interior doors I knew I wanted something similar in our home.  I originally thought I wanted them all to be black but changed my mind during the process because I thought it would be too heavy down our hallway. 

This is the layout of our home.  It's 1,089 sq ft total. 

{I have no idea why it says kitchen in the closet}

As you can see the majority of our layout is on the left side.  I didn't think  the black doors down the small hallway would look good even though we have tons of black in our house.  I did however decide to paint the back of the three exterior doors black. 

I started the process last night. 

I decided to use Glidden Trim & Door paint in  Deepest Black because of the no drip, no brush marks claim to fame. 

It's true. 

No drips.

No brush marks.

But the smell is horrendous!  It's an oil based paint which I knew but I wasn't expecting the smell to be as strong as it was!  I only got one coat on last night & decided that I wouldn't finish the project until my husband could take our daughter, Landry, out while I worked on the doors. 

I felt horrible after stinking up the house.  Landry was asleep & we closed her door & opened the windows in the house to try & get rid of some of the smell.  It didn't work.  We could still smell it when we woke up the next day.  It wasn't as strong but it was still there. 

The product is amazing if you don't mind the smell. 

Eventually I'll put on the second coat & paint the other 2 doors. 

We need to change the hinges on this door because they are the original ones that were painted who knows how many times. 

You can see the window treatment we did courtesy of Ashley from 7th House on the Left.  Her post "One Roll of Contact Paper Later" inspired me to try the same process on the door leading out to our laundry room. 

Ashley created this template with instructions for easy use.  I followed them exactly & ended up with an amazing door.  It took a while to cut everything out but it was worth the effort.  No one who comes in believes me when I tell them it's contact paper. 

If you decide to use Glidden Trim & Door paint be prepared for the smell.  It does exactly what it says it's going to do.  I'd definitely use it again but next time I'll be ready.

{Star Light, Star Bright}

Several weeks ago I ordered the Moravian Star Ceiling Light from Shades of Light. 

It was delivered on the 21st but with Christmas a few days away we put off putting it up.  I was like a kid on Christmas day opening up the box.  I couldn't get it out fast enough!

And then it sat like this on the couch for a few days.  I was hoping my husband would take it as a hint.  He didn't so I finally just told him it needed to go up.   He did it without any hesitation. 

And now it looks like this....

I LOVE it! 

It's so much prettier in person.  It's the special touch the hallway needed. 

You can see a snap shot of the other project we are working on.  That should be completed in the next few weeks or so.  I'm really happy that we are getting things done!

If you are looking for a Moravian Star light this one is perfect.  It was a bit more expensive than some of the others I saw online but it was my favorite. 

Definitely worth the money!

Hope everyone is having a great 2012 so far!

{A Cabinet Transformation}

In January my grandfather gave us a cabinet they weren't using anymore.  We hauled it back from Texas & decided we'd use it in the laundry room.  We could always use more storage in there. 

It didn't have a top but I knew that was an easy fix. 

It started out looking like this.  Nothing fancy.  Just a plain oak cabinet. 

That was really heavy.

It fit perfect between the washer & dryer. 

I knew I was going to paint it ASCP Pure White & change out the hardware.  I got to work on it two days ago & it's turned out great. 

The picture isn't the greatest because I was too lazy to get the lighting just right in the space.  I really love the ASCP in Pure White.  I love how fresh & bright the color is. 

We decided on the Lace Strewn Knob from Anthropologie. 

I gave my husband a choice of 4 & he chose this one.  I love it.  It looks great & it gave me some inspiration for the space that I'll share later in another post. 

I'm really proud of the top my husband built.  He used some pine boards purchased at Lowe's & cut them to size.  Afterwards he stained them in Dark Walnut. 

We haven't attached them yet because I'm going to paint the room in Martha Stewart's Silhouette & it'll be easier to the move the cabinet without the top attached. 

When I told my husband what I wanted to do he said "Are you serious?"  And I said "Yes. Why?"  He said, "Black, Jessica."  I think it was more of a question than statement.  I told him to trust me. 

I know that with the light that the room gets it'll be okay.  I've always wanted a black room but was never brave enough to do it but I'm going for it now.  We bought the paint Friday & I'll start that this week. 

I'm excited about the room's transformation & being able to use it for more than just a dumping room. 

{Resolutions for 2012}

I've never really been about making resolutions.   Mainly because I can never keep them.  This year I wanted to seriously set some goals that I could reach. 

Resolution #1

I started a diet November 21, 2011.  Yes, the week of Thanksgiving. 

Yes, I'm crazy. 

I lost 13 pounds the first month. 

So, my resolution is to remain on the diet & lose another 62 pounds.

I've never been overweight.  Ever. 

After we lost our first daughter I went into a deep depression.  I used to be ashame to admit that but burying your child can do a number on you physically & emotionally.

I gained about 75 pounds.  I want to lose the weight for many reasons.  My health, to give my husband back the wife he married & to be able to keep up with Landry as she gets older. 

I'm on the right track & I feel confident that I can keep the weight coming off. 

Resolution #2

Organize our pictures. 

I love taking pictures.  My older sister calls me Kodak. 

After Parker died I realized how important pictures truly are.  Besides our memories it's all we have of her so I always have my camera with me.  Always. 

I took over 500 pictures the first month Landry was alive. 

I'm addicted. 

We have tons of pictures on our computer that need to be organized & saved to disk just in case our computer decides to crash. 

It'll be a job but totally worth the time & effort!

Resolution #3

Finish our project list

And by that I mean without adding to it!  We have quite the project list but nothing we can't finish.  We have an issue with starting something & getting bored & moving on to the next project.  Nothing ever gets finished in our house. 

I decided to make a list room by room & finish one room at a time. 

We are excited about trying some DIY stuff we've never tackled before.  We work well as a team {most of the time} & getting things done is our theme for 2012.

Resolution #4

Better Meal Planning

Being on the diet means a multitude of things.  No eating after 7 pm, staying within 1800 calories a day & eating 3 meals & 2 snacks a day. 

During the winter it's easy to eat before 7 because my husband is "off" from January to March so he's home by 5:30 at the latest.  April-December he's working until about 8 or 9 every night except Sunday.  It's harder because I hate eating without him but I know I have to.  

I did really good for about 2 weeks & after that I just got lazy.  This one will be tough but I think I can handle it.   

Resolution #5

Find a church to call home

We are members of a local church.  We used to love it but it became too political & way too clicky.  We stopped going when I got pregnant because I was super sick the first 14 weeks. 

We both have some personal issues with the Pastor. 

When we went into labor & had Landry {8 weeks early} no one from our church called, emailed, texted or visited.  I was raised Baptist & I know the duties of a Pastor. 

We were told by another member of the church that the reason they didn't do anything for us was because we hadn't been to church in a long time. 

Yep, my mouth dropped open just like yours did. 

There's more than just that.  We talked about it for a long time &  thought maybe we should go back but we don't feel at home there. 

We want a church that has a great youth program. 

A church that makes us feel at home. 

Makes us feel welcomed & not judged. 

I've been praying about it & know that God will lead us to the right place.  I also know that I have to remain open minded & open hearted. 

We'll start visiting some local churches next Sunday.  We are excited about the journey & trust that God is walking it with us. 

Resolution #6

Organize

Everything in our house. 

Get rid of clothes, shoes & purses we don't use. 

Purge the kitchen drawers, cabinets & pantry.

Work on the laundry room.  It's in need of a major remodel.  It's a great size room that will eventually lead out to a deck. It has a lot of potential but because it's a room  that we are never in it never got any attention.  That'll change.  Soon.

Go through our file cabinet.  Keep what's important. 

I want to organize every square inch of this house.  It will probably be the most time consuming job because I find myself having an emotional attachment to stuff.  Crazy I know.  I'm working on that too. 

Well, that's my list. 

Did you make a New Year's Resolution list?