Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Good-Bye Avacado

You want to know what I did this weekend???

Come on, I know you do....It's very exciting!!!!!!!


I spent my weekend turning this:

into this:

This is how I did it. I bought a kit from http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/giani/products.html


It was so easy, and inexpensive, I was cursing myself for not doing it sooner. I have only hated our lovely-avacodo-60's-green countertops for the 7 years we have had our house. So when I found the site during my blog hopping, I was literally giddy with excitement. Let me tell you, I ordered the kit & was counting the hours until it was in my hands! $39.95 + $10 shipping = $50 and I have brand spankin new counters that look FAB!!!! (Ok, I don't want to break my arm patting myself on the back...or maybe I do.) I just cannot get over the transformation. And all in 3 days & for $50. I am one happy lady!!!

It is so easy, even my non crafty BFF LAURA can do it!
*Sorry, Laura, I let the cat out of the bag for the whole world to see. I love you, but crafty you are not :)*

Here is how you do it. The kit comes with:
  • primer
  • 3 mineral color paints
  • sealer/clear coat
  • paint roller (the best roller I have ever used)
  • sponge
  • foam paint brush
  • instructional DVD

additional things you will need:
  • paint tray - check
  • kitchen cleaner/degreaser - check
  • muscles - check
  • patience - (I usually lack this, but I made an exception)
  • ugly countertops that are in excellent shape - check

STEP 1: Clean your counters!

This took a good bit of muscle on my part. Because, let's face it, I don't regularly move my microwave & clean behind it. I know, disgusting...but out of sight, out of mind.

Here they are clean & green in all their glory!

STEP 2: Primer!

I was really impressed with how well the primer covered the hideousness of the green. And that was just 1 coat. I contemplated leaving them as is (***rolling my eyes at the very thought***) and Jarrett actually thought this was it.

STEP 3: Sponge on your colors!

I did exactly what the DVD said to do. Work in 3 foot sections sponging on your first color (light brown), 2nd color (goldish-tan), & 3rd color (white). The paint cans are actually numbered, this is why I say it is fool-proof! I allowed it to dry for 2 hours & then decided I needed it to be a little lighter. That was easy enough, I just put some more white on!
Sorry I didn't take any pictures from this step (my hands were filthy with paint & I didn't want to ruin my new camera that my Mommy bought me for my b-day).
Here is what it looked like with all 3 colors
STEP 4: Clear Coat/Sealer!
This is where patience comes in. You have to wait for your colors to dry completely. Put on your first coat of sealer & then wait 8 hours to put on the 2nd coat. And you have to allow 24 hours for the 2nd clear coat to dry before you can use your countertops again.
I really don't think I could be more happy with how they turned out. We were going to redo the countertops anyway. We were going to buy new ones, but then they would have a seam & it would cost a couple hundred bucks. This way I have the look of brand new countertops at a FRACTION of the cost & there are no seams! WOOT WOOT!!!
(Let's ignore the fact that I have no backsplash & that I have tried painting a few colors on the lovely wallpaper. The backsplash will come in due time & I'm pretty excited about that too!)


Let me know what you think, or if you are planning on trying this. I'm not going to get any additional compensation/goodies from the company - because I am not by any means an "endorser" (is that a word?) I just LOVE the product. And I am quite proud of myself!

Friday, October 2, 2009

unhappy farmers


Here are my 2 very unhappy farmers last night...I will explain.

Jar is anxiously awaiting the beginning of harvest. Well, for a few reasons a) his own crop isn't maturing as fast as he would like for it to, b) harvest means work, which has been slow-going the past month, c) because it gets him out of the house! hahaha! (Maybe that last one is why I am anxiously awaiting harvest.)

Olivia came home from school last night with a interesting little science project, which happened to be right up Jarrett's alley. Yesterday in school, they put soybean seeds in little plastic baggies. Then each child brought it home wearing it like a necklace, tucked into their shirts close to their warm little bodies.

I, foolishly, asked Olivia if she made a necklace at school. (And I say foolishly, because boy did that ever bring out the sass in her. She answered in her most "gee-whiz-Mom-don't-you-know-anything" tone. If I ever find who taught my daughter sarcasm, oh wait I just need to look in the mirror...ahem!)
She said that she was "growing a seed & it is germinating." I was quite impressed that she knew such a big word. And this statement definitely caught her father's ear. Thus, a 15 minute conversation between father & daughter all about farming, planting, germinating, & so on. It was really cute. She told him how her class will be planting the seeds tomorrow.
And they were irritated when I interrupted their little discussion to snap a picture.

All in a days work I guess. I am sure my two farmers are not the only farmers who are a bit on edge these days.


this little girl...


loves her nuk,
standing on the fence, & pretty yellow butterflies.
As you can see, she loves to catch butterflies. And unfortunately, she loves them to death.