I promise, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth!

Really, I didn't!  See, I'm here!

I'm sorry for my absence.  As most of you can appreciate, I've been crazy busy.  Something had to give.  Unfortunately, the blog was it. It was either that or a little 4 year old girl.  I've just been pulled in so many directions lately that I had to do something. 

But, I'm here now!

I've got a few projects to share also in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

For now, I'll give you a few pictures to show you what I've been up to.  We are s-l-o-w-l-y redoing our kitchen.  I finally saved up enough for counter tops, then the water heater broke.  Luckily, we were able to replace it without cutting too deeply into my counter top fund.  But, although it probably wasn't the best financial decision, I knew that my fund would slowly dwindle to other things, so I got my a$$ in gear and finally picked out tops!  Here is a before pic of the beautiful laminate tops I had before:

My vision was light cabinets and darker colored tops.  Don't ask me why, but I'm on a gray kick lately.  It's my new neutral.  Unlike a brown or tan, it goes with any crazy color I decide to use!  So, I got a grayish/blackish granite top.  I also started painting my cabinets.

(This is where my Public Service Announcement comes in...) If you ever decide to paint your own cabinets, allow at least 10x the amount of time you think it will take, then triple that!  I've done 2 small sections, the top row hasn't even been touched.  However, I'm glad I decided not to tackle it all at once.  I used ASCP Old White.  I did sand though after a good cleanin'.  I didn't want any of the sheen to come through.  I then topped with clear wax, dark wax, then clear again.  So far, I love, love, love them.  It will just be a lot of work to finish them.  A LOT.  A LOT.  You hear me?  hehe

So, here is the sneak peek:

Excuse my lack of staging and the mess you see.  I'm doing the best I can!  Whatcha think?

And, here is a quick before/after of a great bench I bought while hitting the yard sales with Cassie, blogger extrodinaire!

Just blah, but great storage!  I painted one coat of  Pantone MyColor paint, then distressed so the red really came through.  I topped it with a coat of wax and it's so smmmmmmooooooth!

It's at Ginger & Spice, so if you like it, go buy it!  hehe

And, finally, I want to share something else with you that is at the store.  I did not paint this. Contrary to what some may think, I love the look of natural wood.  I came across this mantle while picking up some furniture I bought from Craigslist.  The guy made a remark about throwing it in the burn pile before I grabbed it and ran.  Shame on you!  This thing, in the burn pile?  Oh, the humanity...

I've scoured every room in my house for a wall where this would fit.  Twice.  I can't work it out, so it's at the store, come visit!

Sharing at:

Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed