How to Make-over your kitchen on a budget...ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF AN AMAZING FRIEND

So people have asked so here you go...

For anyone who knows me...once I hear a great idea, in a full 4 minutes I am convinced that I must do what was suggested. The feeling is so strong that I get overwhelmed with completing the task at hand. This is not always a great thing...sometimes it is better to take a breath and wait. Not this time.

Enter Melanie Craver. Melanie, or Mel, close running partner, parent advisor, whisper partner at church, good listener and generous friend. I could elaborate on each one of these traits and gifts mentioned above but this time I am focused on her generosity. Mel has the unique gift of being handy. As a woman. And this admire. I have none of this gifting. She recently redid her kitchen (house built in the 70's like mine) with paint and hard work. She painted her countertops to make them look like granite. They were amazing. So in typical Beth fashion I say--I want countertops like Mel. Both of our families do not have a lot of funds to spend big on kitchens so we thought we can at least do what we can. Mel quickly agreed to come over last Saturday and help us paint. Mel walks in the door and says...you know after we do the countertops you should put tin back spash up from Home Depot and you should take that curtain down at your kitchen window and cut out the trim hanging around the window. Instantly I say --Scott we are doing this and we need to have this done by next Saturday's Valentine Party at our house.

Finished project--




















Here is the before picture--

Here is the after painting process-- (at this point Mel said here Beth I'll show you how--to which I respond-can you just do it please? I can't do that. And she graciously said yes.)

Here is the finished Countertop-

Here is the finished backsplash and countertops--

Mel answers questions if you get them to me. Yes we know Keri Altland, Wanda McFarlane and Missy Jeanes you are next. :)

So for around 200.00 (yes we are dipping in to tax return) we have a new kitchen that I love to just sit and look at. It almost makes me want to do the cooking..but not quite.

So anyway-back to Mel. Mel walked in and sacrificially gave of her time and energy. She does this often. She lives unselfishly and for others each day. She loves to give and give and give. I am not worthy to be the recipient. I constantly feel like I am in the debt to her. We love her and her family so much around here that my mother is considering adopting her because she is everything I am not. 

All that to say--God knew what He was doing when He put us together. She shows me Christ every time I turn around. I love you Mel. 


For step by step directions and a few of Mel's favorite links see here this was the email prior to our weekend adventure.....

We need the following supplies:

-black oil based paint  

-gray oil based paint

-bronze oil based paint

-roller covers

-top coat 

-blow torch

-tape

-Drop clothes - (cheap, plastic ones work great) 

-small pan liners (3-4)

-sponges - or we could use plastic bags 

-light sanding block

I'm going to outline the basic steps that we need to cover.I will also attach some links to other websites that discuss painting your countertops and the process.  In case, you're scared....it made me feel a lot better to see others having success.

1.  We will use your already painted layer as our "primer" layer.  We should lightly sand it thought to help our next coat to adhere. Clean off and tape.

2.  Paint 2 coats of black topcoat, let dry in between coats.  We may be able to get away with one coat, depending on the coverage.  I'm not too worried since you've already painted then.  I feel good that we aren't going right over the laminate.

3.  Sponging - we will then sponge the colors we are using to add variation.  I used gray and bronze.  This is a matter of artistic ability and taste.  Don't worry - if we get too much of one color in one area, you can always add black after it dries to "take away/cover up" the color you may think there's too much of.  Worst case scenario - we start over by painting the entire thing black and start sponging again.

4.  We should let this set for at least 24 hours....in fact I would let it set all week and then we could do the topcoat the following weekend, but it's up to you.  You will be able to use it and not have to worry too much about messing up the paint job.

5.  Top Coat - this is by far the most challenging part of the project.  The hard part is not using the counter for about a week.  You may want to set up a "work area" table during this time.  Believe me though, it's hard, especially with a family, but it's worth it.  The top coat is beautiful and for the most part does a great job protecting the surface.  I use mine hard and while there are some minor imperfections, overall it has worn well and I love the look.  When I'm rich someday I will get granite, but for now this will work!!

6.  More on the top coat - we need to mix it, and then spread it. It is messy and sticky so we need to make sure the drop clothes are in place securely to fully protect your cabinets and sink area. While it's self-leveling, we need to use the blow torch to pop the air bubbles as they rise to the surface.  After this we just need to keep the area from being touched - at this point, any touch will leave fingerprints, indentations etc.  Again, only you and I will probably even notice, but I'm going to try to not make the same mistake on your counters that I did on my own!  

Whewww....I think that's it.  Check out the links below and they will show you what I'm talking about etc.  

http://designstyleinspire.blogspot.com/2013/01/diy-faux-granite-countertop-project.html?m=1

http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/decorating/kitchen-counter-updates.html

http://wildwhitneys.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-very-first-post-on-my-very-first.html

26.2...the weakest runner in run club

I never journal. Never blog. Read blogs but never participate myself. You can tell as I created this blog for my personal journaling in 2010 and only had one post. That was one sentence long. Thought it was going to be my therapy. Turned out running is part of my therapy.

If you would have asked me when I started running a few years back--would you like to do a marathon? I would have laughed out loud. I could not do a marathon. The one mile kids fun run is where it all started-a few years ago. My kids ran the Red Rose race and I could barely do the mile run. Committed to a 5K --which lead to a half and it just kept going from there.

Little did I know that when I moved to Lititz and prayed for friends in Lititz that God will provide AMAZING women to run with and then eventually cook with. You see, the ONLY reason I could be at the starting line on Sunday was because of Run Club. They met for early runs and every time-one runner stayed back and hung back with me to make sure I completed the runs I needed to complete. They talked while I ran. They texted, encouraged when I left and beyond all of this--they fundraised for clean water with me. 

You see I am the weakest runner in run club. Not only am I not physically strong I am not mentally strong. When I entered in to this bucket list item of running a marathon I knew I would need a team to get me to the end of 26.2 and a team they were!!! 

Turns out I am ready to burst as I keep replaying Sunday over and over in my mind and I just need to remember this feeling. The weather was perfect. I was chilly as I made my way off of the train alone (forced Scott to stay back at the hotel room and catch some more sleep) and made my way to Team World Vision charity tent. Inside the warm tent was a sea of orange shirts eating breakfast and people chattering excitedly. After an amazing team cheer and prayer over us we headed out to the starting line. I met a nice guy that walked with me the whole way to the start and chatted with him during the long, long bathroom lines. After this it was time to get into our coral. I joined our coral and insert music. 

And we were off! All I can say is that I had a smile on my face for pretty much the whole 26.2 miles. After being instructed by TWV to write my name in big letters on the front of my jersey-of the 1.7 million fans lining the streets, I think 300,000 of them called me name and I felt I needed to acknowledge each and everyone with a smile, a nod or thumbs up. 

Beyond the fans cheering I LOVED the signs I saw this weekend. Here are my favorites:

"You are running better than the federal government right now"

"You have stamina-call me!" (held by females)

"I got up early to make this sign too!"

"I tripped the Kenyans you still have a chance"

"If you haven't pooped yourself you've already won"

"Toenails are for sissies"

Moody Church, North Western and UIC had some of the best cheering stations.

I saw one sign that said Running is a gift. Yes it is. I relished that my legs were moving. The adversity becoming overcome was amazing. One runner was fixing his prostethic leg in front me of, one woman wore a shirt that said "yeah I have cancer, yeah I am on chemo..so???" 

I wanted to give up and walk at mile 24 but the woman at the water station yelled my name and pointed to the end and said ''Beth you take this...you take this!!!"  I finished and cried. When I finally met Scott back at the charity station I cried as he hugged me. It was over. I was overjoyed to eat deep dish and celebrate with my team. 

Back to the night before-there were 1300 TWV runners and I think they said 800 of us were there for our carb loading dinner. We were there to see where the money we raised was going, meet other teammates and carb load together. When I sat down at the table I noticed a paper that had my name on it. It was called the Hero list. Come to find out the top 100 fundraisers would be honored with a second medal the following day. Scott and I (and all those of gave and supported the efforts) received this medal.

You see this was a miracle all in and off itself. When we dove into the fundraising, when I would get overwhelmed at how in the world we would raise this money-I prayed and all I can say is that God provided. He brought friends that cared for wells in some many unique ways. BLOWN away by this.

In conclusion-I could never ever have done Race day without TWV and although it was one of the hardest days ever, I am already looking into the next 26.2.
Who will join me, the weakest run club member.....????? :)

I am so excited to be here

Therapy has begun. I now can blog without writing in a journal. So in love.