Privileged

It is Thursday night and school starts on Monday.  I have gone to meet the teacher and check out the classroom.  I have given pep-talks and bought new shoes.  School supplies are already packed in the back pack and the fridge in the garage is full of juice boxes and lunch "stuff".  I am sitting here while my lovelies sleep upstairs.  This last week I have been doing the whole school clothes shopping thing.  One particular day I was wandering into a store and it struck me how privileged I am to be doing this.  As much as I could grumble about the expense, time, irritation it is to do it, I am more than anything - grateful.  What a sublime privilege it is to have these three little bodies to clothe.  How blessed I feel that I live in a place where I can easily purchase the things that they need and send them to a school that is safe.  How lucky I am to be their mother.  My kids have issues, some more serious than others, and sometimes I would love to escape their antics but they are mine.  Each smile, each slobbery kiss, each pony-tail is mine to see and cherish.  They irritate me and drive me to near insanity but I love them more than I knew I could love.  I am feeling so grateful to kiss their cheeks and send them off to another year where they will become more of the person they are going to be.  I'm excited to get to know them as they change before my eyes.  Life is complicated, expensive, sticky, and cluttered but most of all - it's good, and it's mine, and once again - I am grateful. 

Vacation....

I needed a rest.  I fought for a rest.  Vacation was coming and I was ready.  I cleaned the house, scrubbed out the refrigerator, packed and unpacked and packed again, planned for every possible scenario.  I rearranged piano lessons, therapy sessions, doctors visits, and more.  I even squeezed in my daughters tonsillectomy so that we wouldn't have a nasty ear nose and throat situation whilst on my dream getaway.  Puerto Vallarta called to me.  Sandy beaches, swimming in the waves with my lovelies, building sand castles and my tan all at once, my dreams were lofty but I felt they were coming.  I had crafts ready, floaties inflated, meal plans and shopping lists at the ready.  I even packed each outfit with coordinating underwear and hair accessories for each child in marked, airtight ziploc baggies - a secret that pinterest claimed would simplify and uplift by travel experience.   My husband and I were going to provide our children with the trip of a lifetime.  They would thank us for this for years to come.  They would appreciate each coordinating outfit, plane snack, and coloring page I had created for them.  I could barely sleep the night before in pure anticipation.
Then it came.
We waded through the mess that is traveling with three children under the age of 6 and a pregnant mother to an international location.  We found taxi's and paid tips, opened endless fruit snacks and sang "twinkle twinkle little star".  Through it all I maintained my hope, my enthusiasm, my vision of what life would be like on "vacation." This dream that I would find myself relaxing on a beach with a cool drink in my hand while my husband frolicked in the pool with my perfectly obedient and exceptionally clean toddlers.
We finally arrived.  We checked in to the resort, dragged 8 pieces of various luggage up to our room, opened the ziploc baggies labeled "new swimsuit", sprayed ourselves with spf 50 and headed out.  That is precisely the moment where reality and the "vision" collided.  When we reached the pool and someone was crying because they had sunscreen in their eyes.  A floatie came off.  This one needed a snack, that one needed to pee.  Someone went out of turn at the water slide causing immediate chaos, mosquitoes, pouting, etc. etc. etc.  So this is vacation.
The reality of vacation is this:  moments of pure bliss surrounded by real mom-ness.  There were bug bites and sun burns, threatening glances to menacing strangers, hot sand, peeing on beds, blown out diapers on pirate ships (yes, you read correctly and there is a long, disgusting story to go along with that one), sandy bum cracks, diaper rash, threats, terrible picture taking, endless correcting and kissing of owies, and one strung-out mommy trying to keep two eyes on three children all the while needing to take her pregnant bladder to the bathroom. 
I have to say though, there was a moment when it was all worth it.  When my vision was so real it literally made my cry with excruciating happiness.  We had gone on a pirate ship adventure that is geared for families.  It was amazing, wonderful, entertaining, delicious, etc. all rolled into one.  They take you on a short cruise in a real pirate ship, staffed by pirates who sing to you and bring you food and drinks (yeah baby!), to a private beach.  When you put your feet on sand they have beach chairs with umbrellas waiting, cool drinks, and activities for everyone.  It was magical.  I was amazed when one pirate scooped up my two little boys, loaded them up on a canoe and happily rode them out to a lagoon to feed fish.  Shannon played with my husband in a small inlet where they watched minnows.  I stood watching it all in amazement.  Each person whom I love most happy, entertained, and feeling cherished.  I was in heaven.  I literally stood there with tears coming down my cheeks.  I was on a perfect beach, on a perfect day, with the perfect people - it was well - perfect. 

So, vacations are what they are which is kind of a mess.  They are humid, dirty, stress-filled chaos with moments of absolute loveliness woven in-between.  In the end, it was worth it.  If I get to choose one day, one moment, to pattern my version of heaven after - I know exactly which one it will be. 
So now I'm off to wash the mountain of laundry with a smile on my face.  I am exhausted and could really use a day off after my vacation but you know what?  I can't wait until next time.  :)

Why do we need each other????

I got a call from a close friend about a month ago and she was in tears.  She explained that she was lonely.  She said that she lives in an area where there really aren't many women her age to associate with.  It is a military base area where people move in and out frequently and she was struggling.  She said, "I need some kindred spirits!"  She had had a conversation with another woman who told her she shouldn't have these feelings - that her husband was all the friend that she should need.  This only intensified my friends sadness and guilt because now, not only was she lonely, she felt like a bad wife.
 
This conversation has been tickling my consciousness for a while now.  Do I really need other women in my life or can my husband fill all of those rolls?  Is that even fair to expect of him?  My answer is:  I don't know.  I don't know that there is a right or wrong to those questions.  I have a fantastic husband whom I confide in and trust with everything that I am.  He fills the pieces of our little world that I cannot.  He is my prince charming and goof ball friend all rolled into one.  I love hanging out with him any chance I get.  But there is something about 'girls night' or 'park day' that I look forward to every time it comes. 

I went to the park today with a bunch of ladies from church.  Some of whom I know well and others I don't really know at all.  I tried to talk with everyone I could.  The conversations ranged from episiotomes to cellulite, really good pizza to eczema.  We didn't talk about personal things, we didn't talk about relationships or gossip about whose doing what (which made me very happy because that really makes me uncomfortable), we just laughed with each other.  We had brownies while our kids played.  We compared nail polish and favorite restaurants.  We could relate to each other about stretch marks and nausea, labor and karate class. 

I wouldn't say these women are necessarily "kindred spirits" in the Anne sense.  I don't have much time between soccer and groceries, homework and bedtime to cultivate many intense friendships but, I must say, I felt better after spending time with these amazing, unique, beautiful, understanding, intelligent women.  I felt relieved, like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.  Like maybe now I don't have to carry around all of the crazy, weird, funny thoughts in my head because I got some of them out. 

I still love hanging out with my husband and he is the only person that I share my innermost thoughts with but, perhaps tonight he won't have to hear about my cellulite thighs or which color nail polish I am contemplating.  Maybe there's a context for certain things.  Maybe there's room for both.  Maybe both are necessary.  Maybe both are vital.  Maybe time spent with people of our same gender makes us appreciate and be all the more present in time spent with our spouse. 

So next time you're at the park, or in church, or whenever you get the chance - strike up a conversation.  Ask the lady next to you how she's doing, ask her how old her kids are, ask her what her favorite food is, share the goodies you brought.  You just might find that you feel a little better, a little more in-tune with something, that spending time with one of your sisters makes you a better wife.  Maybe you will find that "kindred spirit" or maybe you will find someone who just laughs at the same time you do - it really doesn't matter either way.  There is something healing about being around other women - the kind of women who uplift you, make you laugh, speak kindly of their husbands, help you with your kids, wipe a nose even if it's not related to them.  There's something indescribable about it that we need.  So, hooray for splash park day and girls night out and talking on the phone.  Husbands - we need time with other women, we are better wives for it, it's time invested not spent.  Women - get out there and talk to someone, if they make you unhappy - move on, but I am sure you will be surprised at how many women out there would love to chat with you and you will both be better for it.

Love,
Me.

A little here and a little there.....

We finally got the rest of our house painted and we are thrilled with the result.  It was so nice to put that job in someone else's hands.  We even had him re-do several areas of the house just to freshen things up.  I am so happy with all of it!  We are also slowly decorating our dining room.  We got a new table and chairs which I LOVE!!!  I have always wanted a table that could comfortably seat 8-10 and now we have it.  Hoooooray!  Anyway, here are some pictures.  :)

The wall color is Gobi Desert and the ceiling is called Pinecone.  Love love love!!!!  Now to make a centerpiece for the table and get a chandelier hung.  :)

Words to live by....

"You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley...LOVE

Happy Tuesday!!!!!

Hello everyone!  If you are following my When to do what??? cleaning schedule then you will know that today is FLOORS!!!!  Sweep and mop those floors and you will feel better about everything. 

I have never been a big fan of Tuesdays.  I'm not even half-way yet.  But, today is sunny and beautiful and I am going to have a better attitude.  (Do you hear the pep-talk voice I am giving myself right now?)  :)

I am also starting to get ready for Easter.  I am really excited to start.  I found some ideasand thought I would show you my favorites.

Jelly Bean Easter Bark.  Doesn't that look amazing!  I love the colors.  You can find the recipe here:  http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/144801/Jelly-Bean-Easter-Bark/detail.aspx

This is a free Easter Printable.  I just love it!  I thought this would look spectacular printed in vinyl and put onto a mirror. 
http://craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-spring-easter-printable.html

My trees are suddenly in need of some trimming.  :)  I love this tablescape. 
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/04/blues-and-branches-a-spring-tablescape/









Here are a few others to check out:

http://www.craftyendeavor.com/2012/03/08/easter-egg-garland/

http://www.parenthacks.com/2011/04/muffin-tin-as-easter-egg-dye-container.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+parenthacks+%28Parent+Hacks%29

http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.com/2010/02/bunny-tails.html

Keeping your front-loading washer clean and fresh....

I read a great article the other day in Real Simple magazine.  A reader asked the question, "Why does my front-loading washing machine smell like mildew?

We recently purchased a new washer for that very reason.  It smelled bad and I couldn't figure out why or how to fix it.  Our solution was to buy a new one.  I wish I would have known how to prevent this problem and then how to fix it if it did happen.

Here are the tips that were suggested in the magazine:

1-Don't use too much soap!  Front loaders use 1/3 of the amount of water of a regular washer.  If you put in too much soap, there won't be enough water to wash it away.  The residue left by the soap can result in mildew.  Make sure you use HE detergent and then only the recommended amount.  Less is actually more in this case.

2-Check to make sure your front-loader is level.  If the machine is not perfectly level, it could not be draining properly.  If you find this is the problem, then call a service man to adjust it.

3-Re-think using liquid fabric softener.  It has a waxy bas which sticks to the tub of the machine giving mildew a place to grow.  If you do choose to use it, use a VERY small amount. 

HOW TO FIX IT.....
Quotes from Real Simple Magazine, "To get rid of the mildew odor, run an empty machine on the hottest setting with bleach or Affresh ($8, homedepot.com), a cleaner that deodorizes a washer's interior.  And after each load of laundry, leave the door ajar to allow the interior to dry." 

Many newer front loaders have a cleaning cycle also.

Good luck and I hope this helps. :)

Busy with this....

You probably  have noticed a definite lack of posts lately.  The reason is wedding cakes.  I am a cake baker and I had a big wedding last weekend.  I thought I would post it for fun.  Wedding cakes are expensive for a reason - they take a loooooong time to make.  :)  Anyway, here it is.  Enjoy!

Chair rail.....

I have been itching to add chair rail somewhere in my house and I have been re-decorating my dining room lately so it was a perfect fit.  I don't have the "after" photos yet because I am still working on it but here's the chair rail photos.  This was actually a really easy project - definitely do-able during nap time.  :)  Give it a try!

First, measure and then measure again.  Start from a corner.  Cut your pieces and then tape them to the wall to make sure everything is fitting as it should. 






There are two trains of thought when it comes to placement of the chair rail on the wall.  The first is to place it 1/3 of the way up the wall.  The other is to place it at "chair height" thus the name "chair rail".  I went slightly above 1/3 of the wall - more in line with my chairs.  It is completely up to you though.  Tape it up and look at it for a while.  Nail the rail on with locking finish nails that are made for trim work.




 
 Here is the rail all cut and nailed up.  I wish I had a nail gun but I don't.  It would have been much faster that way.  Make sure you nail into the thickest part of the rail.  After it is up, go back and sink your nails in slightly. 
 
 







The next step is to fill the nail holes with caulk.  Then run a small bead of caulk along the top and bottom of the chair rail to make it seamless.  I like to go back with a damp cloth and wipe along the rail to take off the excess caulk. 





After the caulk is dry, tape off both sides of the rail and paint it. 










Don't leave the tape on very long.  As soon as you have it painted, pull it off.


 
There you have it.  The finished project.  As soon as I finish decorating the dining room, I will post pictures of that.  Chair rail is simple, easy and relatively inexpensive.  You can do it!

Healthy lasagna....

We had this lasagna for dinner last night and it was a big hit!

Ingredients:
1 box whole wheat lasagna noodles
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
1 green pepper (chopped)
1 Tbsp basil
1 Tbsp oregano
salt & pepper - dash
1 jar of your favorite red pasta sauce
1 egg
1 15 oz carton of low-fat ricotta cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp parsley (I used dried but fresh works great too)
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice - mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, whatever - I use a blend.
           (1 cup will go in the with the ricotta mixture and the rest will go on top.)

Cooking Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 9x12 baking dish - spray evenly with non-stick spray
Put 1/4 cup of red pasta sauce in the bottom of the dish and spread over the bottom of the dish.

Boil pasta noodles at a rolling boil for 10 minutes.  (I know most noodles boil for 12 but I like lasagna noodles a little firmer because you don't want them falling apart when you stack them.)

In a medium size bowl, combine: ricotta, egg, parsley, and 1 cup shredded cheese.

Cook the sweet Italian sausage until it is crumbled and no longer pink.  Add the chopped green pepper and spices.  Continue to cook until the green pepper is tender.

Layering the lasagna:
Place a layer of noodles over the 1/4 cup of sauce in the pan.  If the noodles don't completely cover the bottom of the pan - it's okay.  It's better to not come all the way to the edge than to have noodles pushing against the edge - that's how they get dry.
Crumble a thin layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then add a thin layer of the sausage over that.  Now, use a spoon to pour a VERY thin layer of sauce over the meat.  Don't do too much sauce of the lasagna will be soupy.  Then place a layer of noodles over the sauce.
Keep repeating this pattern until all of the ingredients have been used. 
Sprinkle extra cheese on top.

Cover the dish with tin foil and seal it up as best you can. 
Bake for 40 minutes.
Uncover the dish and bake for 10 minutes more.

Serve and enjoy!!!

This lasagna doesn't get too soupy so it doesn't need to rest before you serve it like traditional lasagnas.

Pot Roast and "real" gravy.....

Sorry it's been a little while since the last post.  After the kitchen re-do, I really haven't felt like doing much of anything at all.  I did change the mirror out in the downstairs bathroom with a gorgeous one I found at a thrift store for $9, (SCORE!!!) but other than that, not much.

Anyway, I was making dinner last Sunday and thought I would talk over a few points about gravy.
Most of you probably already know how to make gravy from scratch and how to thicken various sauces but just in case - here are a few tips. :)

Making pan gravy:  "real" gravy is made from the leftover juices from the meat you cook.  It is simple, delicious and will always compliment your meat.  Here's how I do it.
I cook most of my meats in the crock pot so I will use that in my example but it will work with whatever your desired cooking method.  I will use a beef pot roast as my example.

Beef Pot Roast in the crock pot:

4 long stalks of celery
1 medium onion
4 large carrots
1 three to four lb pot roast - whatever cut you like best
1 pkg McCormick pot roast seasoning mix (or whatever herbs you prefer)
1 can beef stock
1 cup water

Cooking directions:
*Roughly chop the veggies and place them in the bottom of your crock pot.  Place your defrosted pot-roast on top of the veggies (if there is a fattier side, place that side up).  Pour beef stock in.  Mix the seasoning mix with the water and pour over the roast.  Cover and cook for 6-8 hrs on low.

*This is a great time to throw some baked potatoes in: Wash potatoes, poke with a fork, spray lightly with cooking spray, wrap in tin foil, place in 350 oven for 1 - 2 hours.  Yum!*

After the roast is finished cooking, put it in your serving platter and surround it with the cooked veggies.  Cover the whole thing in tin foil and let it rest until the rest of the meal is ready.

Gravy:
There will be a lot of juices left in the crock pot after you take out the meat and veggies.  Strain the juice to remove any leftover bits of meat or vegetable.  I strain it twice just to make sure.  Put the juice in a medium sauce pan over high heat.  Bring it to boiling.  While it's coming to a boil, put 1/2 c. ice-cold water in a cup and stir in 2-3 heaping Tbsp of corn starch until it's dissolved.  When the juices are boiling stir in the water/corn starch mixture.  Reduce the heat to medium and continue stirring until you achieve the right consistency.  Remove from heat and serve.  (If your gravy is too thick, just add a little more water).

Voila!  Pan gravy!

This cold water/corn starch mixture is good for any gravy or sauce that is not dairy based.  I use it for all of my meat gravies and sauces such as sweet and sour sauce.  If you are making a sauce that has a milk or cream base use RUE for thickening it.  Rue is equal parts butter and flour that you mix together and add to the sauce as it is cooking to thicken the mixture. 

Good luck and have a great day!

The "desire" timeline.....

Me.



I have been all about self-reflection lately and after hearing a talk in church today about recording your life story I am itchy to do it.  I thought I would start with this:  A short list of what I have wanted at different phases of my life.  I think making a list of things you yearned for paints a very good picture of who you were and are inside.  Also, it's fun!  :)  Try it out, I think it will make you smile to remember the things that were on your internal Christmas list. 

Wants: purely things I desired, most of which never came about - thank-goodness.

Elementary School:
*cheese (yum!)
*a cure for acne (yup, started at 8 years old - my poor kids)
*fruit roll-ups in my lunch box
*ballet lessons
*a baby named Chevrolet (weird right?)
*to be psychic
*a perm


High School
*to be an actress
*a cure for acne
*a date
*jeans that weren't handed down from my sisters
*combat boots
*to be like "everyone else"
*marry Brandon Fraser



College
*have a nose ring (didn't really get one, just dreamed about it.)
*a cure for acne (are you sensing a pattern here?)
*be an "artist"
*a jeep
*not be broke
*be different than "everyone else"
*be skinny
*work as a designer on Broadway



*Insert a time period where I served a mission to Brazil.  Then came home to meet and marry the man of my dreams.  Those two events changed absolutely everything for me.  Again, thank-goodness!









Today
*wainscoting
*still a cure for adult acne (sheesh, I'm 32 already!)
*a minivan with doors that open with the push of a button on my keys
*hardwood floors
*children who remember to flush
*various un-necessary surgeries to "tune-up" this mommy body
*find the perfect salsa recipe
*live on the coast in Oregon
*To enjoy my kids while they are still little

Oh how life changes what we think we want.  I think it's good to reflect on who we were and to delve into who we are.  It doesn't always have to be in serious, time-consuming ways.  I think our kids would probably rather know these silly, fun things about us anyway.  :)

p.s.  I didn't include anything spiritual or too deep.  I thought it would be fun to record things that probably wouldn't normally be known about me. 

Me. 

Healthy frozen taquitos.....

We love these taquitos.  They are amazing and really good for you.  They come together quickly and you can easily double or triple the recipe to make lots for a party or just to have for a day when you don't want to cook. 

Healthy "make-ahead" frozen taquitos:

Ingredients:

1 small cooked rotisserie chicken
1 small can diced green chilis

1 can pinto refried beans

1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

12-16 medium sized whole wheat tortillas

Instructions:

Remove meat from the rotisserie chicken and shred it.  (An easy way to do this is put it in your stand mixer and mix on med speed for 2 minutes)  Add chilis, beans, chili powder, and cheese and mix until incorporated.  Put a small amount of mixture along one side of the tortilla and roll tightly.  Place on a cookie sheet.  Repeat until all of the mixture is gone.  Flash freeze the taquitos (don't cover them and place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours).  When they are frozen, place them in freezer bags and put them back in the freezer.

Baking:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Remove the taquitos from the freezer and place on a sprayed cookie sheet.  Lightly spray over the taquitos and put them in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown. 

Serve with fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

Delicious!!!

For what?????

I have often been told that I know how to do a lot of different things.  I have also been told that I am non-committal, a dreamer, and crazy.  The thing that I have discovered about myself amid all of these labels is that I love to learn.  There really isn't a subject out there that I am not interested in on some level.  I find everything at least mildly captivating.  I dream of taking a pottery class.  I love to discuss physics with my sister.  I can't wait until I have some more wood in my garage to mess with.  I love ballroom dancing, landscape painting, restoring furniture, travel, etc.  I would love to learn how to rock climb.  I think of sitting in a class and just absorbing knowledge and it seems heavenly.  But there is always this question looming, whether I ask it of myself or I hear it from others - what for?  What are you doing this for?  Why are you taking this class?  What is your objective?  See, there's my problem.  I often feel like I can't explore unless there is some sort of paycheck at the end.  I feel like this world likes to say that you can't learn unless you are going to make it work for you.  Like learning isn't worth anything unless there is some sort of reimbursement.  I have struggled with this for so long.  Why can't I learn about anything and everything just for the sake of exploring it?  I have worked at sooooo many different jobs.  In college I moved to a new apartment almost every semester and had oodles of roommates along the way.  I took tons of classes that didn't apply to my major.   Thus the labels, but I don't regret any of it because I learned something new with each experience.  No, I am not a master of any one subject.  I would say that I am not even mediocre at most things, and that has tortured me sometimes, but as I have pondered it more - who cares?  I like to try new things just for the sake of trying it.
So here's the challenge.  Let go of the end.  Try something new.  Don't be burdened by needing to justify it.  You don't have to be good at what you try to make it meaningful and worthwhile.  It doesn't have to make you money later or lead to some sort of occupation or life change.  Just learn because it interests you and nothing more.  If it leads somewhere, great, if not - great too. 
Sculpture, knitting, photography, science, botany, history, religion, auto mechanics, woodworking, heck - if learning about the life cycle of a newt interests you, go for it!  Take a class, watch a tutorial, pick up a tool.  With the Internet, so much amazing information is yours for the taking.  I have watched countless tutorials online about sewing, cake decoration, painting, home repair, gardening.  It's worthwhile because you like it.  You are worthwhile.  Learning is still fun, can still be yours, and does not need to lead anywhere but to wake up your mind.  You are still a work in progress.  You are not set in stone.  There isn't an age limit to growth for the sake of growth. 
I don't like the term - invest in yourself.  It infers that anything you put into grooming yourself and your mind has to then produce some sort of tangible return.  So if my learning to sew doesn't have me creating a new wardrobe for my family or selling some handcrafted thing on etsy, then it was a bad investment?  I say no.  If learning to sew leads to absolutely nothing except that now I know something I didn't before then to me, that's enough. 
I have come to terms with the fact that I am one of those people who could accurately be deemed, 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'  It's okay.  Each roommate, each job, each class, each trip, each book, each tutorial, each experience leads to a me that listens to people more.  Leads to a me that realizes I don't know everything.  Leads to a me that can hopefully see from a broader perspective.  There are a few subjects that I constantly try to do better at and expect results of myself for sure - motherhood and marriage for example.  I have a feeling though, everything I learn adds to my capacity in those areas as well.
I bet your city offers classes in just about anything you could be interested in.  Go for it.  I think I'll take tennis next month, I'll probably suck at it, and that's okay. :)

My kitchen project.....

This is the after. 

Where have I been you ask?  I have been painting my kitchen.  Those of you who have done this project need no further explanation as to my recent disappearance.  Those of you who have not attempted it probably don't understand the scope to which this can overtake your life.  :) 
This kitchen has bothered me since the moment we looked at the house.  I loved everything about this house except for the kitchen and have spent many hours contemplating it, pouring over it, and finally decided to change it.  Here's the process. 
P.S.  I didn't take a proper before picture because I forgot.  I am still getting used to the whole "document what I am doing"  idea.  I promise to try harder.  :)

This is what the kitchen looked like when we first looked at the house almost three years ago. 
I have since painted the house a beautiful shade of beige called "Gobi Desert" which I loved but reduced this kitchen to a mind numbing beige wonderland.  The thing is, this is a nice kitchen, granite counter tops, under mount sink, real wood cabinets, all good things.  I fought changing it but when it really came down to it, I didn't like it. 

 First I cleaned the cabinet faces and bases with an oil-removing soap.  Take your time with this step.  Then let everything dry.  (Yes, I know I need to reorganize what is in my cupboards.)

 This is the primer I used.  It covers even the shiniest of surfaces.  I really didn't want to sand my cabinet doors and this did the trick beautifully.  You can even prime over tile with this stuff - amazing!  I did two coats on everything.  I used rollers that are specifically made for cabinets.

Primed.  I can't stand it when I have a messy kitchen so this literally gave me nightmares for several nights.

Two coats of paint on the front and the back of each cabinet.  I used a brush for the crevices first and then went over with the special roller to remove brush strokes.  I think it worked very well.  Allow plenty of dry time between coats.  This took a lot of patience for me. 

We decided to add oil rubbed bronze hardware to the cabinets.  I love how they look.  Our granite has flecks of bronze and black so it goes nicely. 

We added a pendant light fixture above the sink and I am in love with it!  It is oil rubbed bronze with a blown glass shade in a rope pattern.

I love how light and airy it feels now. 

I found this little runner at Ross and love  the pop of color it adds to an otherwise monochromatic space.  I have a thing for turquoise and red together - my favorite combination.  :)

If you ever decide to tackle a kitchen redo just remember to be patient, it takes a while.  :)