Before and After 1940's Seattle Home - Reader Remodel

Oh lovely (rainy) Seattle  :-)

I can say that because that is where I grew up.  It is lovely, but I will say, it DOES rain all the time!  

My very close friend and her husband recently finished remodeling their Seattle home.  I asked if they would send me some pictures to show you guys as it is amazing what they did!

My Friends Original 1940's Seattle Home

Their house was built in 1947.

It's so funny how the social times change over the years.  I guess no one wanted to be part of the fun if they were in the kitchen - LOL.  The whole  "open floor plan" seemed non existent!  

Let's take a quick look at the1940's :-)

Christian Dior's "crazy" fashion statement was this:

The kind of car parked in the neighborhood:

And if you were to go to the movies - the ladies would be swept away with Clark Gable and the love scenes of Gone With the Wind :-)

Here is their LIVING ROOM before:

And the beautifully updated AFTER!

It's hard to see in this picture, but they VAULTED the ceiling and put an awesome wooden beam up top. The living room is now completely open to the kitchen and dining room.  They chose a nice espresso cork flooring - it looks fantastic. 

This was the KITCHEN before:

It was the typical small, closed off to the world, 1940's kitchen. :-)

AFTER:

Once again, they completely knocked down the wall which opened up the space to the dining and living room.  In this picture below, you can see that beautiful wood beam!  I love the all marble on the bar and counters!

At the very back of the kitchen through a doorway was the BEFORE laundry room. 

They actually knocked that wall down too and incorporated it into their now HUGE and open kitchen.  I love the glass subway tiles - gorgeous!  If I remember right - they did black IKEA cabinets.  

There you have it! 

Nothing beats seeing INSPIRATIONAL before and after photos! (Thank you Tori and Bobby) :-)  I hope you got your own Creative Juices stirred after seeing this - a remodel is HARD but so worth it in the end.  

EASY Festive Holiday Desserts You Could Make with Your Kids

Hey Friends!

Alright - Fess Up :-)  

I'm trying to be REALLY GOOD in the eating department and it's late at night (I obviously scheduled this to "go live" a bit later) but I'm writing a post about tasty and easy HOLIDAY DESSERTS! HA!  Um, ya, not smart - I really like yummy things......just sayin'

#1) Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies

Honestly, is there anyone out there that doesn't like the MINT chocolate combination? Sigh - that combination makes me happy.  These cookies are VERY easy to make and perfect for a Christmas Cookie Exchange (you know, the ones that say "Please no chocolate chip cookies") I guess they only want the cookies that take all day to make and are really complicated?  :-)  Like these below:-)  I'm just letting you guys know - by the time I would finish a plate they would be STALE - hahaha!  No seriously, they would, and they STILL wouldn't look like that.

semisweetdesigns

Well you can TRICK all those ladies with these ;-)

Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies

They taste and look gourmet but quite simply put, they might even be easier than CCC to make.

#2) Peppermint Crumble Bars

This post is about EASY yummy holiday treats; it doesn't get a lot easier than these bars!  The 5 ingredients are: Flour, Butter, Sugar, White Chocolate Peppermint Candy and Sweetened Condensed Milk.  VOILA! 

#3) Peppermint Fudge

These look so pretty and easy to make!!! It's topped with white chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes! I could see making these and using it for perfect Christmas goodie basket or cookie plate. I love fudge anyway - white or dark :-)  

#4) Peppermint or Candy Cane Popcorn

My friend introduced this to me last year - although she didn't call it peppermint popcorn she called it Christmas Crack......I hope I didn't just offend anyone, but it really is that addicting! :-)

Once again - this is SOOOOO easy!  Just melt white almond bark (it's just like white chocolate) and mix in some crushed candy canes......pour over the popcorn then sit out to "harden", break apart and SERVE!  

#5) Peppermint Patties

These pretty little patties are EASY to make.  My kids would LOVE making them (and eating them)!  It's on my "to do" list.  I wont be tempted to eat them at all though (it's simply butter, corn syrup and lots of powdered sugar) - NOT my cup of tea! I need chocolate. :-)  Just sayin'

mom on time out

#6) Salted Caramel Brownie Bites

Since I just mentioned chocolate - how about these yummy Salted Caramel Brownie Bites.  :-)

And surprise surprise - they are SIMPLE.  She just used a box of brownie mix, ROLOS and chocolate "candiquik" over the top.  OK and sea salt.....for the sophisticated taste buds of course - hee,hee.

I didn't want to overwhelm you with a million recipes - just a few good ones that were actually EASY and fun to make!  Now a days, if I'm baking I'm usually doing it to have a good time with my kids - lots of fun! 

Fess Up Friday - Holiday Spirit Adventure

Hey Friends!!

Well, I'm not sure it's a great thing I have a Fess Up titled "Holiday Spirit" - ha ha ha! or Ho! Ho! Ho! (that was bad)  :-)  Yes, my youngest is wearing a stocking on her ONE foot and a Santa hat on her head :-)

Let's just start off by saying the entire Thanksgiving week I was sicker than a dog.....I literally just laid in bed for 5 days.  It was awful.

I did have my toes painted in a pink glitter pattern by my 7 year old, and my son brought me ice chips in grape juice every day.  :-)

He also left me a few post it notes and covered me in his favorite blanket.....he might be a mama's boy but I'm just fine with that!

During this time my husband wanted to tackle the Christmas lights.  Every year, this is such a huge ordeal and I think, IS THIS WORTH IT!?

We have the icicle lights and during any kind of wind storm it throws the icicles up over the roofs edge.  Honestly, this doesn't bother me much but it drives my engineering, straight lined husband NUTS!  Last year he tied a fishing weight to the bottom of each strand! (yes, he did) It didn't work so this year he threaded a heavy wire through each strand in addition to the fish weight.  We had our first windstorm the night he completed them.....and nope, still didn't keep the strands "down".  SIGH!

Well this year I think it hit an all time high as we ended up renting a scissor lift!  Doesn't anyone else rent scissor lifts to put up lights?  hahaha!

My husband Matt is very afraid of heights.  He can plummet 300 feet UNDERwater scuba diving with no way to breath except through a tank, but put him 20' in the air and he's a sweaty mess.  It's hard for him to even move!

After many hours, the lights were finished only to have an entire section go out and he had to buy another strand and replace it.  

It's pretty though.....We do it for the kids - right? :-)

TALKING about my kids......

One of them has been very naughty this year :-)

I just noticed my seven year old CARVED our dogs name into our fancy clay walls (and it looks as if she even copyrighted it!  ha)  I couldn't believe she would do that!  I reprimanded her (and then took a picture and smiled -haha)  My eldest was like,"WHAT?  That's it?  She carves designs into your expensive clay wall and you just say, don't do that again!"  Being the eldest, she thinks she got completely ripped off in the "eased up" discipline department.  I think she's right.....I feel a little bad, but too late now. /-:

I am also 99% sure my youngest will be getting a tattoo when she is older. I guess there are worse things she can do.....I just hope she gets over her Pegasus obsession by that time!

At least I'll be able to count on her for paying for the tattoo as she informed me that she would like to be an Ice Organizer for people when she's older.  She started right away with organizing all our outside ice and putting it into baggies for our freezer......GREAT! :-)

I have been getting a lot of yellow post it notes lately......this was on the same day we decorated for Christmas.......just what we needed, to have to buy new glasses for my son because my youngest daughter stepped on them.  (wrong time of the year for extra expenses!)  I like the note though "Sorry Mom, it was an accident"  I wish I could write that note for all the bad things I end up doing!

This next yellow post it note made me laugh so hard!  I had received a bunch of drinks from a health food company in the mail (I have companies that want me to try their products and if I like them, they hope that I will put them on the blog, and sometimes I do)  But this new up and coming product was just AWFUL.  I gave one to my eldest daughter and came home to this note:

"Luv u, but can't finish this, my taste buds died"  HAHAHAHA!  That was awesome.  I guess I won't be able to put that company on my blog.

Lastly, I think it's time we quit letting my youngest sleep on the couch for fun....or at least she needs to graduate to the larger one......OH MY, how did she ever fall asleep!  (For some reason, being able to sleep on the sofa is her most favorite thing to do - I wouldn't let her do it but she has my husband completely wrapped around her finger!)

Happy Holidays my Friends!

Yes, she may be the most like her mother!  

I just remembered I had an American Clay client  that while I was applying the wet clay I wrote "I love Matt" in the top corner of their ceiling - What am I - a teenager!? (This was only a few years ago, their home was huge and the ceilings high.....she will never notice.......hopefully - hee,hee.)  I also (as an adult) touched an original Monet painting at an art museum when the guards weren't looking..... Maybe it's in our blood (the naughty/fun side of us) but to quote the One Republic song "Yeah, with every broken bone I swear I lived." The broken bones aren't fun, but I still hope to always view life as an adventure.  :-)

So, how has YOUR holiday adventures been so far?  
(hopefully no real broken bones! Rent that scissor lift so you don't fall off your roof putting up lights!)

What To Do With Christmas Cards and Fun Crafts Ideas!

Alright friends,

When I saw this I just HAD to share it with you guys!

If I'm correct, almost everyone (except my parents - hi mom!) have a smart phone.  The phones that can snap a picture at least :-)

I thought this was a fantastic idea of what you can do with all the Christmas cards you receive this year!  Just snap the Christmas card picture and put it as your contact for that friend :-) (see, if in the past, you had stuffed them in a drawer or (GASP) thrown them away you won't feel so bad -right? Guilty problem solved) ;-)

This is hands down my favorite funny Christmas card!

Just feel the J O Y :-)

Jamilia Jean Photography

Miracle of Miracles :-)  We ended up getting a family shot for a Christmas card.  

It helps that my violin student's mom is a photographer and neighbor :-) I told her the only way we'll make this work is if it's super casual and I don't have to plan anything - ha!  So she "ran" down the street and we walked into the field across from our house and snapped a few shots.  EASY enough!  

Here are some Christmas crafts (treats!) that looked so fun and EASY!

Just put together 2 small candy canes, melt (bake) at 300 for 3 min (just to soften the candy canes) Once you do that you can pinch together the ends and insert the lollipop stick.  Next fill it in with the white almond bark.  Sprinkle with sprinkles VOILA!  What a fun gift or new tradition to start with your little kids/grandkids.

OneLittleProject

Another similar food craft that I have done is these Stained Glass Christmas Cookies!  The inside is just crushed jolly ranchers (or any see through hard candy!)  SO MUCH FUN!

How about making some GINGERBREAD play dough with the kids?  I love the cinnamon added to this mixture as it makes it smell like the holidays.  I also add gold glitter for some extra excitement - yes, we get WILD over here at my house.  HAHA!

Talking about getting wild with cinnamon :-)  This ornament craft is also a winner.  You just use elmers glue, cinnamon and applesauce as the "dough" to create gift tags or ornaments that the kids can give as gifts.  It makes the house smell heavenly!

Be sure and check out my Christmas Gift Idea post for gift inspirations :-)

Are you going to do the Christmas card photo contact idea this year??  I am!

Top 10 Christmas Tree Theme Ideas!

Are You Ready? :-)

In my home, my kids' "readiness" makes up for any of my lack of readiness - hee,hee!  My husband has a STRICT rule - no Christmas music or Christmas movies till the day after Thanksgiving. I don't think he reads my blog, so I can tell you the kids and I break this rule often, but shhhhhhhhh :-) :-)

Here are the top 10 most beautiful Christmas Tree Themes I found across the internet.  The first one is my friends tree :-)  

#1) Decorate with BIRDS!

If this theme interests you, click over to see the full Christmas bird decor in her beautiful home!

#2) Decorate with a Beach Theme

If you live by the water, this might be a fun idea!  A tree covered in starfish!  I would add some sand dollars too. 

BHG.com

#3) Decorate with RIBBONS
I'm still trying to find the tree under all the ribbons but I think it's very pretty!

#4 Decorate with your athletic passion

What do you think of this ice skating theme?  White ice skates and red mitten throughout :-)  No, I am not planning to do a Pickleball Christmas Tree - OK, now I'm cracking up at myself - could you just see white wiffle balls and red paddles lining my tree?  SIGH, I'm too much ;-)

BHG.com

#5) Decorate with a Simple Shabby Chic Theme

I love the simplicity of this tree!  The vintage white bobble ornaments just add the finishing touches to this cozy room.

#6 Decorate with Pinecones!

I love adding natural elements to ANY of my home decor.  This is beautiful :-)

French Country Cottage

#7) Decorate with TWIGS

OK I kindof cheated, this is also decorating with pinecones......they just added even more natural elements to it.  

#8) Decorate with Paper Hangings and Cutouts  

This has a simple country feel.  I love the galvanized bucket used as the tree stand.  

#9 Decorate with Peppermint - ha!  Candycanes and Snow!

This is really something else - VERY fun and pretty.

U create crafts

#10 Decorate with Good Memories :-)

Lastly, doesn't this magical pictures make you want to sip hot cocoa (or an eggnog latte, yes, I love eggnog) while walking through the lights with someone you love - let the snow begin!

So, which one was your favorite?  

Hope you had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving my friends!