Kitchen Remodel

Caroline just reminded me that I didn't do a post showing my updated kitchen countertops!  I'm loving them so far!  I took a lot of pictures to document the process so bear with me :)

Everything completely torn out

We cut down the pony wall and had to deal with the electrical outlets that were in the pony wall.  The installers were going to cover them up, but my mom said no way.  Thank goodness she was there!

She decided to do the re-wire herself.  No worries folks, she's got skills even with a gimpy wrist.

Both of my parents have skills actually.. Brian and I were so thankful to have them there
or else that electrical would have been covered up.

Installing new outlet boxes and re-wiring the outlets.

love my new sink!  It's so much bigger than my old one

Mostly completed except that we still need to paint the brackets to match the wall..

I love having a flat serving/prep space.

Coffee station

Close up on the new backsplash and range

Life Lessons from Gone With The Wind

For those who may not know, I am a huge Gone With the Wind fan.  I used to read the book every summer and loved the movie even as a kid.  I've always admired Scarlett's strength and Melanie's ability to think the best of everyone.  Of course I've read the accompanying books as well, "Scarlett" and "Rhett Butler's People."  Knowing we would have some layovers on our trip to Boston, I decided to bring "Scarlett" with me to read again.  Based on my latest readings, I've compiled some life lessons that can be learned from GWTW.

 

1. "Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of" -Benjamin Franklin
The camera pans to a stone inscription of this in the movie right before showing Scarlett sneaking away from her nap at the Wilkes' bbq.  While I am not saying that sneaking out to meet boys is an honorable thing, you have to give Scarlett credit for using her time wisely. 

2. "She said we could give ourselves airs and get ourselves all rigged up and we were like race horses and we were just mules in horse harness and we didn't fool anybody"
I love this quote.  It shows Mammy's wisdom.  Your self worth should not depend on the amount of designer clothes, makeup, cars, homes that you own.  All that you own does not define your character.  Matthew 6:19-21 says "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is there your heart will be also."  In the grand scheme of life, designer duds don't matter as much as your relationship with God and doing His work.  I'm preaching to the crowd here in case you were wondering :)

3. Let "god's nightgown" be the worst curse word to come out of your mouth.
Merciful heavens is a good one too.  God's nightgown wasn't said in the movie very frequently, but it is mentioned a lot in the books.  These days curse words are quite common in normal day to day life.  They are in songs on the radio, tv shows, and movies, but cursing wasn't always as accepted in our culture.  In 1939, GWTW took a big risk by saying "damn" at the end of the movie.  I'm sure you all know the famous quote.  While I think that the quote did give some finality to the movie, it was a turning point from which our culture will never return.  Let me encourage you to use a softer word or phrase like a true Southern belle when you are faced with an unfortunate situation.

4. "Sorry to see you throwing away happiness with both hands and reaching out for something that would never make you happy."
Truer words have never been spoken.  It always made me so sad that Scarlett couldn't appreciate what she had in Rhett.  Let's be serious, he was definitely more dashing than Ashley.  Plus he spoiled her rotten, but the grass was always greener until it was too late.  We will always have things in life that "we can't wait for."  I get it.  I couldn't wait to be engaged, to get married, to have a house, to have a bigger house..  We look at what other people have, and we covet it.  We want to be where they are instead of being content with where God has us now.  My mom had a phrase posted on her refrigerator that said "Comparison kills Contentment." It's the absolute truth.  We need to be satisfied with what we have and happy in this season of life.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

5. "Why, land's the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it's the only thing that lasts.  And, to anyone with a drop of Irish blood in them- why, the land they live on is like their mother."
Good ole Gerald bringing me back to my Irish McNamara roots.  I've always been partial to this quote, because I relate it to loyalty.  Loyalty to your family and your roots.  I may live in Oklahoma now, but still consider myself a Texan.  I was raised in the piney woods of East Texas and will always have a little bit of the country in me.  We ran wild over our land and the neighboring land chasing the cows (or running from the bull), swimming in the creeks, picking wild blackberries, jumping hay bales, and not coming home til mom rang the bell for us. I'll never forget those memories I have from my childhood.  Perhaps that is the reason I still want a house with acreage.  I want my future kids to have memories exploring the land like I did.

Well there you have it.  Life lessons that I have learned from Gone With the Wind.  I recommend you take the time to read the book(s) if you have a week or two to spare ;)

DIY China Hutch

Some of y'all may remember seeing the before picture of this china hutch in a previous post.  One of my mom's friends from college GAVE it to me.  I was thrilled!!  It is solid wood and gorgeous, but needed a little update.  I had seen all of the pins on pinterest about the gel wood stain and with an assist from a friend, we tackled this project.  I couldn't be happier with the results!  I love that after 4.5 years of marriage, I could finally unwrap and open my wedding china.

before

taping off the mirror after we removed all the glass panels

Yes, that is a men's sock that my sweet friend Kelsey is applying the gel stain with. 
I couldn't/wouldn't have started this project without her!

first coat is almost done!

 I'll spare you pictures of the second and third coats and the poly coat and just skip to the after! It's gorgeous!  Perhaps a bit darker than I expected but much more modern looking with the stain.

new hardware sure helps update the look

My new goblets I didn't even remember that I had.  It was seriously like Christmas morning! 
Can't wait to use my china now :)

I'm pretty happy with the updated look!

Please come to Boston for the springtime

Props to anyone who got that title.  It's one of my favorite songs by Kenny Chesney, and I got to go to Boston in the summer so almost the same thing :)

My coworker Bernie & I got to take a trip to Boston for a conference for our biggest customer.  We were able to finally meet the people that we have worked with for years now.  It was so great to discuss issues face to face and determine how to best handle things going forward.  We also had some free time and got to visit some historical places and wonderful restaurants!

I will say Boston is not like the South at all!  I was pretty glad to be home where they serve Dr. Pepper and everyone smiles at each other.  Seriously, even our 7 hour layover/delayed flight was not nearly as bad when spent with sweet Tulsans.  Everybody just chatted and laughed even when we had to run through the rain to board our flight home at 11pm.

First stop after maneuvering through the cow path streets of Boston was our hotel then on to Legal Seafood.  Best seafood I've ever eaten.  It was so delicious!  Our waiter was so nice and kind.  Turns out he wasn't from Boston so that could explain the kindness. 

Swordfish, Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Scallops, Jalapeno Cheddar Polenta, and Cole Slaw

Steak, Scallops, Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli

Our waiter from California who attends Harvard and smuggles fresh fruit from California in his bags to Boston.
This guy was a character for sure!

Out on the balcony at the hotel

Day two we had breakfast at the hotel and made a quick stop at Faneuil Hall before heading to Boston College to set up and get ready for the conference.

That guy walked right into my pic of the buildings..

Cheers with my coffee.. It was 9 am

Mashed potatoes, scallion and bacon pizza at Otto's

I tried the 3 cheese tortellini pizza

With the CFO of GB, Judith

the students at rapt attention listening to our presentation :)

Sushi!

Dragon roll & Firecracker roll

I could never live in Boston.  There were no Dr. Peppers to be found anywhere!

Breakfast at the hotel was so good!  I had a pistachio muffin for the first time and it didn't disappoint.

I made a quick run into Georgetown Cupcakes on our way to the airport.  We hunted for a parking spot for about 20 minutes before Bernie just dropped me off so I could pick up some cupcakes for the road

Another stop at Legal Seafood in the airport.  We had to try a Boston crème pie in Boston.

The icing was a little messed up but the salted caramel cupcake still tasted amazing!

Halfsies with Bernie: Birthday cake and Salted Caramel

Thank goodness for the cupcakes that helped pass the 7 hours we spent in the Dulles airport waiting on our flight to Tulsa.

I've never seen this done in my life, but we ran from a ramp in the pouring rain to get on the plane!  It was 11pm and we were so thankful to be headed home so we rolled up our pants and made a dash for it!

safe to say he missed me

and loved the Lobster chew toy I brought him for his 5th birthday!

Such a fun whirlwind weekend trip up North!  I almost finished my 800pg book that I started at the first of the trip since we had so much down time at the airport :)