Getting my cooking groove and a kitchen reveal...

This was my kitchen before, on move in day, two years ago.



It was painted a medium green, had a terracotta ceramic floor, oak cabinets and a drop ceiling that was very greased out (and therefore even less light came through)...

Here is my new kitchen....themed coastal farmhouse cottage. I went with a two tone, open shelving concept. The color of the bottom cabinets is Behr's Seacoast, the top cabinets is Drifting Snow, the walls are Falling Rain and the ceiling is 100 Acre Rain. (isn't it interesting that all the colors deal with water...? Hope we have no leaks in this kitchen!)








We put up wainscotting (actually paintable wallpaper) on this blank canvas and added some shelves for artistically "well placed" items. My husband added hooks for our aprons. I even found a little apron for Eliel -- for when the time comes that he can help me bake cookies! There are only two aprons for I "donated" my yellow one to my husband so I can make me a new one (now that I know how!). The doors to the cabinets above the refrigerator are still in the process of being painted....those will be closed, no open shelving there. With some of my cookbooks there, it tends to be a bit messy...so no airing my messiness.





Wainscotting (painted the same color as the lower cabinets) was also added to the bottom of this counter. We decided to raise the counter and make it more usable as a breakfast bar. Prior to this, it was rarely used because it was so low -- practically resting on our knees --- that we had to become human shaped C's in order to eat.



Yup, that drop ceiling is down! It totally made the kitchen look brighter and bigger. We found a ceiling light fixture on sale at Home Depot (for 50 bucks) that matched the theme and installed that. As said before, the kitchen is open shelving (not only do I like that look much better, but I think it gives the same sort of open "feel" one gets being at the ocean). I found the beach sign at a lovely store (found online) called the White Flower Farmhouse. Initially, it was placed in our family room (has the same color scheme) but this little spot seemed to be perfect for my little sign.





It was a lot of work but Damion took up the terracotta ceramic tile floor and replaced it with a warmer, more matching laminate wood floor. We had to take up the subfloor as well because it was uneven and well, all old. I love how smooth it is and it's so much nicer and easier to have Eliel in the kitchen with me (see the pics below)! Oh by the way, the door to the lazy susan cabinet is also in the process of being finished....(there were 40 cabinet doors and drawers to do....so, we either ran out of painting space or painting energy!)



I have so many favorites to this kitchen but this sink is one of the top! I LOVE this sink and have always wanted a farmhouse/apron front sink. And the faucet -- yup, that too is new! Would you believe me if I tell you that the sink was $250 and the faucet was $94?

There are still things to be done. In order to get my sink in, Damion had to cut and move the countertop. Now we have to figure out what to do about that gap....ideas, anyone? Also, the farmhouse sink is quite deep so we had to cut into the lower cabinet. That space right there --- yeah, we have to re-install the newly cut cabinet piece and I plan to put a vintage hook there to hold a hand towel. We also have to put some tile on the windowsill and do some paint touchups.





Since my kitchen has been finished, I have been it so much more --- and completely enjoying my time. Coupled with the Eat from the Pantry challenge and just my regular joy of cooking, I've whipped up some fantastic (as said by my husband and guests) meals.

Recently, I've created what I called "Fiesta Eggs" and baked some homemade Cheesy Biscuits (recipe courtesy of Salihan, who I "met" through the One World One Heart Giveaway. The Fiesta Eggs were just scrambled eggs with salsa, green pepper, onion, garlic, basil, garlic seasoning, italian seasoning and cheese. And I've actually used my slow cooker three times this past week. THREE. As in almost half of the week! The slow cooker was used for sweet potatoes, a "pantry" soup and for cuban black beans that we had tonight.







Even Eliel has been enjoying the new meals and kitchen...



prepare yourself for an Eliel photoshoot...

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket

The Shabby Chic Cottage

it's 11:48....pm

do you know where your coffee maker is?

Can I borrow it?

For right now, the scene is this: I am caved in our son's bedroom, watching over him, listening to his breathing because of course during a major reno (and really no kitchen-y resources to speak of, that is, not covered with 3 inches of sawdust and sanding dust...), my son possibly has a flu bug. His poor little nose is all stuffed up and he really can't keep any food down and oh yeah, where did I put the baby thermometer? Between the two of us, we've had 5 wardrobe changes (didn't you know, puke covered clothes is sooo yesterday!). I am sitting here like the first time mom that I am, making sure he can breathe, is comfortable and isn't about to choke on his own vomit. My husband has been working overtime at work (he just happened to be on call this weekend and got that 11pm phone call which meant he was screen staring until about 5am the next morning....) and non stop on this kitchen. With an about 100 year old house, there have been many surprises and decisions to be made and then re-made.

so anyhow, I am in my son's room, blogging and surfing and my husband is hacking away at that floor. Again. Soon, it will be done and we can get back into our little routine in all its mommyhood fantastic-ness. Can't wait to be cooking up a storm in that kitchen! I've been previewing recipes and bookmarking for some good homecooking. Yes, my American Southern roots are totally coming out. I will be trying my hand at making my own apple pie and as soon as peaches are in season (yeah I know like all the way in June), I want to make Peach cobbler. All this by hand (y'all). I even "inherited" a hand peeler...

But the main point of this post is to get back to blogging (I know all of you miss me)..and to also see if any of you have taken part in the Eat from Your Pantry Challenge. I'm gonna make us some good recipes but I also need to be smart about it...especially since we just did this kitchen.

So, yeah, I saw this and thought hmm, that sounds a bit like woman from Proverb 31ish.... using the resources you already have. Just thinking of my pantry, I know, I have plenty of stuff to choose from instead of going out and rebuying pretty much the same stuff... Also, from reading some of the guests posts, it talks about how you also inadvertently, can then save money that you may want to donate to a charity, rediscover family time (or gain more time...it's pretty difficult to do grocery shopping with a 10 month old!) and rediscover creativity. Yup, k, 'nuff said, I am on board!

To start, here are my goals:
1. Spend $250 a month (including Eliel's formula and food) and making sure to use coupons (when appropriate) or go no-name. Note to self: do more of homemade baby food. Another note to self: don't be too hard or too determined to be accurate with this for the first few months, because Eliel's diet is changing.....
2. Do grocery shopping two times a month as a family
3. Make dinner an "event", focused and full of family (and fun). This means setting the table and making it special (candles, flowers, something fun, whatever). I definitely want to incorporate the "high-low" idea (discussing as a family what each of our high and lows of the day were). And when talking over with my husband, doing the dishes together and adding a walk (if my Caribbean blooded body can handle the Canadian weather).
4. Each week, whatever money is remaining from my budget, add it to the "Christmas Jar". I hope this will instill in my son and family the value of helping others.
5. And come spring and nicer weather, to choose 1-2 veggies/herbs that I can grow to further reduce costs.

And obviously an underlying goal is for me to make meals that are yummy and healthy (fresh as much as possible and processed as little as possible).