The Kitchen Remodel Pt. 1: The Countertops

Most of my home improvements are relatively small, but I do have some big ones. Paint, new light fixtures, replacing faucets...all easy, affordable, and quick. A few projects graduate to a larger scale. I remodeled the master bathroom last summer...that one was pretty extensive. My last big project is the kitchen.

I knew early on I wanted to jazz it up, make it more my style; but I need 2 things: time and money. With some research and some creativity, I have begun my journey to a new, pretty kitchen.
First step: update countertops.

It is clean, the old caulking is stained.

Yes, I have a Hello Kitty toaster. It toasts a cute little face on the bread.

This wall will have a backsplash install before the remodel is finished.

They are just white laminate. Not bad, but not great. My vision for my new kitchen will involve white cabinets, and the white countertops were going to be a bit too much white for my taste; not to mention white laminate stains way too easily.

So. My options? Well, a lot, frankly. The cheapest option was to order new laminate, but that still was going to cost hundreds, not to mention the fact it would involve workmen taking over my house and causing a ruckus.

I did what I do best- find an inexpensive, DIY option. The plan was to buy a granite-patterned adhesive laminate roll and recover the existing laminate. Luckily, this lovely product is available at many stores and costs next-to-nothing. In fact, it's probably already in your house...contact paper.

Yep, I learned that laminate countertops are a plywood structure with an industrial version of a contact paper coating the top (along with a heavy sealant). You can cover the countertop with contact paper and apply sealant and caulking, and you have a very comparable finish to store-ordered laminate. The only downside? Seams. But, if you are handy and pick the right pattern, you can hide them without much effort.

Here are my supplies:

Contact paper less than $6 a roll. I need 2.

Close up on the pattern, beige granite.

I used about 8 oz, for about $10.

I used a smaller amount than pictured; a 3 oz tube (no caulk gun needed) at about $5.

With scissors, a small box cutter, and a hard, flat surface tool (I used a clipboard), I embarked on my adventure.

I cleared off each counter area, cleaned and dried the area thoroughly, and applied the contact paper slowly and precisely. Some areas I measured and cut before applying, other areas I just let the paper unroll for easier maneuvering. The clipboard helped smooth out the paper and getting rid of those pesky air bubbles. This takes some practice. You get the feel for it after awhile, and pick up some tricks, this makes the process easier as time goes on. I carefully lined up seams and cut away excess paper around the edges of the counter.

After all the paper was applied, I then sealed it with at least 2 coats of the ploycrylic sealant.  It dries fast (recoating in 2 hours), is waterproof, and leaves a glossy, hard finish. Pay special attention to seams, this ensures the paper will not peel up in time.

Around the wall and edges apply caulking. I used a product that involved no gun, just a point and squeeze. I wiped away excess caulking with just a swipe of a finger.

Before sealant and caulking.

Before sealant and caulking.

Before sealant and caulking...we just wanted to make sure we liked the over-all look.

After sealant and caulking.

After sealant and caulking...so shiny and pretty.

I really do love the look, I think it will look great with white cabinets and the new backsplash I want to install. All achieved for a grand total of around $27. That's right, for less than $30, and a few days work, I have pretty new countertops. Not bad, not bad at all. ;) Stay tuned for more updates!

M.LEWIS

   

Eye of the Storm

This week has definitely kept me on my toes. Mainly because of Phoebe.
If you recall, Phoebe suffered from eye ulcers about 8 months ago. We got them cleared up after a serious round of antibiotic eye drops...and now they are back.
For a few weeks now, I have noticed her eyes looking red and irritated. I would give her allergy medication and a couple of the left-over eye drops and it would take care of itself...only to have it come back in a few days. Monday night, I knew my usual treatment would not cut it.
Early Tuesday morning, swollen, pathetic-looking Phoebe and myself went to the vet. Thank God for a vet with walk-in hours. Seriously. Thank you. (My mom watched my girlies...there was no way I was going to take on that chaos by myself.)
After sitting next to some crazy lady with her over-weight, wall-eyed chihuahua- "Truffles", we were seen by the vet.
A dry eye test showed Phoebe does not produce enough tears, causing natural irritants to aggravate her eyes more severely- and poof: eye ulcers.
The ulcer was small, so he held off on antibiotics, but told me I would have to start giving her over-the-counter eye drops 3 times a day. Forever. *sigh*
I have since accepted this, but her eye is still not right, and now her other eye is looking red. I have asked Chris to take her in again tomorrow. Yes. This vet has walk-in hours, even on Saturday.
I worry about my little pup. I just want her to be healthy and pain-free. I know her eye problems are beyond my control, but I still feel guilty.

All of this happened on a week that had bad weather, a cute terror named Lorelai (who now has a weird rash again), a restless baby (eating every 2 hours!), home "remodel" frustrations (more on that later), and some major sleep deprivation.

Give me another few weeks and this one won't seem that hectic...but today is still Friday, so I am not there yet.
The 3-day weekend should help. (Happy Memorial Day!)

Oh, and I know she's a dog, but please send her your thoughts and prayers on a speedy recovery. We love that little stinker.


M.LEWIS

The Little Ones

Rolling right along with life here, busy, but normal.

Monday Adalaide turned 2 months old. Her pediatrician said she was perfect, and I agree. He's good that way, making you feel like your child is the perfect version of themselves...which you already knew. 10 lbs and 23 ins long; that's 35% and 75% respectively. Sounding a lot like her big sister, though her stats are the only similarities I see so far.

Adalaide at 2 months

Lorelai at 2 months

Along with looking quite different, their personalities are also significantly different. Lorelai disliked being cuddled and was a difficult nurser. By this time with Lorelai, I was supplementing at least once a day with 2oz+ of formula.
Adalaide on the other hand, loves to be held and does pretty well with breast feeding. I only supplement on rare occasions...even then she much prefers mom. Plastic nipples are not her favorite.

She naps deeply for about 2-3 hours during the day, collectively; the rest of the day is filled up with observing and cat-naps. She soundly sleeping by 10pm every night and most nights she wakes up twice during the night to eat. She still needs some time to get back to sleep at night, but we are making progress. She still has funky nights and days where she throws me off doing something completely different, but in a weird way I expect that unexpectedness. It's the way of the baby, right?

Lorelai is also unexpected with her toddler-way. Nap, no nap; eat, no eating; happy, no-wait- unhappy. Her day is a constant game of opposites. I know if things are going to well they will soon fall apart, and vice versa. She is still a picky, picky eater, but we have made some baby steps in the right direction. Chicken strips and eggs have been added to the list of "things Lorelai will allow to touch her lips."
We also have started the very early beginnings of potty-training. She has been pretty resistant though...I think that task will take awhile.
She has added more and more words to her vocabulary, and she can hold a conversation...with those who understand her best. She kicks butt at identifying colors, most numbers, and about half the letters. She know shapes very well, and can give you any animal sound you ask for. She is one smart cookie.

My girls, being pals

So, apparently, this entry is about my two leading ladies. More updates on different topics coming soon. ;)


M.LEWIS

Odd Pinterest 5.0

Yep, this is my 5th installment of odd things I find on Pinterest. As always, I save my favorites, then compile them hear for laughs. Enjoy.

Skirt (???) in front, shorts in back. Flattering.

Because hair bands are too hard to use.

Old shoes? Old mugs? Great look.

Ok, the general idea is cute, but sumo wrestlers? They have bare butts and too many weird stubby legs.

Because everyone wants a reminder of their pets' cold wet nose...in jewelry.

Another odd choice in jewelry, vegetables. The perfect accessory. 

One more for the jewelry category. Book earrings. big, heavy, awkward, unattractive. 

Still have old flip flops to use? Glue them to the wall. They are "shelves." I think.

Art. To someone.

What ever water bottle needs: a koozie.

Again, if you have any, send them my way! :P

M.LEWIS

Marigolds, Seeds, and the Death of Impatiens

This is yet another tale of my saga to formulate a green thumb. 

My impatiens that were supposed to love the shade decided to die a slow and pathetic death  by my shady front door. I still don't know why.

My new idea was to put the potted plants on the deck in the backyard. I needed something that required full or partial sun, and that was hardy enough to resist my accidental propensity to kill anything in dirt.

I found out there are some plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. I was instantly intrigued, seeing as mosquitoes down here are a long-lasting problem during the summer...actually, I already have half a dozen bites on my legs. Oy. Anyway, the plants include:

• Mint
• Rosemary
• Lemongrass
• Marigolds
• Catnip

I already have some marigolds in my built-in flower beds, so my goal was to get a few more along with rosemary and lemongrass.

Lemongrass, I found out, is slated for a different climate zone, so that is a no-go; and rosemary wasn't available outside of a packet of seeds.

So, I bought the marigolds along with some complimentary flowers for accent. Then I decided to get rosemary and mint in seed form and start a itty-bitty herb garden in my kitchen. My prediction is they will be dead (if they grow at all) before I can transplant them outside successfully. I hope I am wrong about that; though, I feel this will all be moot either way.

Newly added marigold and company

The seeded pots

 Though I keep attempting to be a gardener of such, I do not enjoy it. Of course, I like a well-manicured lawn; trimmed bushes, cut grass, and a nice mounding display of brightly colored flowers...I "garden" to achieve this look. I just wish this scene was easier to achieve.  The "shooing away" of obnoxious, blood-sucking bugs are certainly a bonus as well.

My last adventure in small-scale horticulture? We'll see.

M.LEWIS