#10- Buy a new or refinish my current kitchen table

I am just a little beyond thrilled about my purchase today!!

I was going to refinish my current kitchen table, but I found one today for a really, REALLY good deal!  I couldn't pass it up!  And I am THRILLED!!

Here is my old table.  (That I am grateful I had--thanks to the help of my siblings!)

But, as you can see, it has seen better days.

And here is my NEW table!!
It also has a leaf so it can comfortably fit 8--and more if we squish! 

I didn't think I'd get this one crossed off my 40 before 40 this early, but I am glad I did!

Hooray!

Deck the Halls

The "Inside Parent" Gets Dirty

I LOVE that Darin loves to garden....because I don't particularly enjoy it.
Darin lovingly calls me the "inside parent" and he is clearly the "outside parent."

Yesterday, I spent several hours getting my hands dirty.
I weeded, I tilled, I dug, and I planted.

And I loved getting help from this little cutie.  (He wasn't so clean when we finished).

Cinco de Mayo

Darin and I hosted a little neighborhood Cinco de Mayo potluck.

We have the BEST neighbors in the world, and it was fun to spend an evening with them.

We had lots of yummy food, with a good variety.

It was a PERFECT night! 

 The weather was beautiful and it was fun to sit and visit with everyone.

After dinner we had a little photo booth, and a pinata for the kids (that I made myself).

Thanks for coming you wonderful neighbors!!

I am kind of in love with this picture of Andrew!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Canvas Knock Off

One of my friends made some canvas knock-offs, and they turned out great, so I thought I’d try it.

You just upload a regular picture as an “engineering print” (that only costs $3.00), then you spray glue the picture, wrap it around a dollar-tree foam board, and tape it on the back.  I LOVE the way they turned out, and it is nice to finally have some "art" in the basement, and replace the pictures above the stairs  with a new big canvas to include Andrew!

Here are my three canvas knock-offs in the basement:

Here is one with Matt so you can get an idea of how big they really are.

  

Then, I did another one that is DOUBLE the size of the three in the basement.

It doesn't look that big in the picture, but it is pretty large.

And this one cost a little more...$5 instead of $3.

Thanks mama for helping me put it together!  I LOVE how they turned out!

#11 Get new Living Room Furniture

I have never loved my living room furniture.

I guess that's why getting a new set was on my 30 before 30.

Darin's parents upgraded, and we got their old set.

And I LOVE it!!  

Thanks a million  mom and dad!!!

My mom made me this cute table cover:

(Thanks mama!!)

And I LOVE that this family keepsake happens to perfectly match the colors!

Mom also made these two decorative pillows with the extra fabric--isn't she awesome!?

We are LOVING our new living room!!

Carving Pumpkins

Matt asked me about 1,000 times if we could carve pumpkins.

We finally got around to doing it on Saturday.

We REALLY had a fun time.

And I LOVE how festive it makes my porch.