Well well well, our kitchen is officially done! As in, no more paint touch-ups, no more lights to rewire, no more electrical plates to put on, or reverse osmosis tank to wait for. We are OPEN for business and I could not be more thrilled with how it all turned out.

During this whole five month process, I had this vision floating around in my head. And with each large decision that was being made (and purchased, gulp), I just hoped and prayed it would somehow all work out. It’s funny what people will say when they enter the home now: “Wow, it’s so French!” “It’s so east coast!” “The cabinets are so… ornate.”

But the best thing that is said? “It’s so you.”

I hope so. Well, I hope it’s us. Polished but relaxed. Bright, comfortable, welcoming.

Welcoming is key. And I wanted that to be known. We already know the pineapple is the official sign of hospitality, so what better print to be first seen in the kitchen when you walk in from the mudroom.

It’s killer, right? The print is from Minted, and the spectacular frame is from Framebridge.

Have you heard of these guys? They are awesome. You simply buy your frame online, either upload or send them a photo (they email you the shipping label), and poof! It arrives to your home quickly, safely, and ready to be hung.

I was so impressed with their costumer service and pricing that I reached out to them to see if they could offer my readers a discount. Sure enough, I was met with a big YES!

So friends, if you have any beautiful prints, photos, or kids’ art work laying around that you’ve been thinking about framing, now is the time! Until 9/30/15, first-time Framebridge customers may receive 15% off their order by using the code ALIFEFROMSCRATCH15 at check-out. Woohoo!

Happy framing!
C

The fine print: this post contains affiliate links which means that if you use these links to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use these links to make your purchase but please know that when you do, it supports my blog and for that I thank you.

Is there anything more stressful than settling on a paint color for a room? I know that for some, the thought alone induces sweating and major anxiety (hi mom). 

In spending some time (ok, ok lots of time – like many many hours of time) researching the perfect colors for our new great room walls and our cabinets, I stumbled upon this quote and it completely resonated with me:

Why do I like this color? Because of the way it reflects on your skin. It’s  feminine  and  soft. It’s  almost  like  you’ve  got  a  little  glow in  your  cheeks.  That’s what you want in the morning when you wake up and have no makeup on.  – Charlotte Moss

In the past, I always thought about paint colors in terms of what would flatter the room itself, not the occupants who live there. But this completely made sense and was such a fresh point of view. Of course you want a flattering shade for yourself on the wall! Take the wrong shade of white for instance. It can yellow and even (gasp!) make you look older. Not cool.

From now on, paint choices will be made in terms of how they look in the room, in certain light, and next to skin tones, preferably us moms. Because let’s face it. We can use all the help we can get.

Oh and what color is she talking about? Well that would be Benjamin Moore’s Pink Damask. It’s a crazy fleshy almost nude pink. It’s filed under their white collection and made the cut for their 2015 paint colors of the year. Score.

Here’s hoping it works…

And the cabinets. I have to laugh when people say they have ‘white‘ cabinets. Oh my goodness there are so many different shades! After staring at 4 samples of white for nearly 3 months, I landed on Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. It’s perfection in the room. Creamy and warm, but still reads white white that has a beautiful glow. I love it. 

How do you choose paint colors? Are you quick and effective or do you agonize over the decision? I’d love to hear about your process in a comment below!

Wow. This might just be the strangest post I’ve ever written on ALFS. So much so that it’s been on my mind since our permit was released and in my drafts for weeks. Just sitting there. Taunting me that it must be written. I mean, hey, I’m primarily a food blogger – suddenly I’m going to have no kitchen? Some explanation is in order here.

Then I started to sift through the last six years of photos to select one for the post. Photos of wild haired L when he was two, sitting at the peninsula counter, munching on a banana.

Photos of B as a newborn, propped up on my shoulder as I attempted to get dinner going during the dreaded witching hour.

Photos of B and L together, coloring on the floor, tripping me every time I’d shift positions to get a different pot, spoon, ingredient, or spice. Photos of L helping me cook, photos of B messing it all up. Photos of a super chubby B in his high chair chowing down on pot roast while his eyes never once left his big brother over at the counter.

Photos of entertaining family and friends over and over and over and over again.  Football parties and birthday parties and Christmas Eve Eve and random Fridays and just becauses.

Photos of happy moments and sad moments and messy moments and impressive moments and failed moments. Because it all happens in the kitchen, right? At least it does in our home and I suppose that’s why it’s so incredibly hard for me to let this one go. Tears, really.

I know I’m going to have better. The best, really. We’ve designed and purchased our dream kitchen: signed, sealed, and delivered (well, almost). There’s no turning back. But that doesn’t neccesairly equal happiness. Sure, it’s all nice… grand, really. But what I’m really looking forward to, what I’m aching to have start, is the memories that occur in that new kitchen.

So while the La Cornue rocks so much I can barely sleep, and I can’t wait to cook this summer stew in this pot, what I’m really looking forward to are the moments of life, not the cooking, that occur in the new kitchen in our home. The great report cards brought home, and the double play in baseball stories, and the sad day at recess and up all night growing pains, and the big big big decisions at M’s work, and the frantic typing on my Mac as I try to get one more sentence written for a killer new recipe while B pulls at my leg to bring me outside to pitch.

Because, while great food is my world, nothing compares to those moments. Nothing. I’m going to be a bit, well, lost in my own home over these next 4-6 weeks. I know life will go on as normal butI can’t wait for our life to be back in the… kitchen. 

And with that, my old kitchen is signing off, friends. I have some reserves to keep ALFS moving along, but expect a bit more lifestyle posts until we are back up and running in the kitchen. Fingers crossed for July 2nd, please. Toes too if you’re able.

C