Our Kitchen Progress!

I thought it would be fun to show you our kitchen today! I love our kitchen! When we moved in our home in 2010, I was sooooooo excited to have a big kitchen. With my husband being a youth pastor, we entertain a lot! We both love hosting friends and family. Andy and I both love cooking! We have yet to paint our kitchen or anything. I can't get over how having two kids under the age of 3, over takes our life! I have dreams for our kitchen though.......Here are the before!

I am not one for stained wood. I love painted trim and cabinets. But I love how our cabinets are simple/mission style. I like how the stain is matte finish. 

Here is our kitchen as of now. 

I have changed the curtains and painted the chalkboard wall. I want to paint the walls soon with a pale yellow called "Bee wax" and change out the lights. Someday we want to put concrete countertops. I would like to put some glass doors on the cabinets to brighten it up. 

It took me awhile to figure out what to do with our shelving above the cabinets. I have landed on the idea of collecting wire baskets. I like that it is functional and fun! 

I have a love/hate relationship with our desk area! I love having it in the kitchen and use it all the time. But it often becomes the landing station for junk. clutter. and chaos. I am always tweaking it to keep it organized. The cabinets hold art supplies that we use the most. The office station is from Staples, Martha Stewart collection. I wrote about it here. 

I am so happy that we painted our walls with chalkboard paint! I posted about it here. It is used all the time! We added the IKEA white magnet boards for Zion and Zakiyah's, Melissa&Doug dolls and  ABC's. 

The picture below is facing our dining room. I love have stainless steel appliances. Don't you think concrete counters will be heavenly!? Someday!!!!

I have cookbooks in a basket for fun! 

I love my chalkboard decals on my canisters.

I love my mini Starbucks mugs with my Andy Warhol soup cans. They are resting on my window sill. 

I love my vintage inspired fabric from Jody! I made these curtains. 

When Andy and I got married, a friend of ours made this sign for us! 

Love my mirrors. From TJ Maxx of course.

I love how calendars can be art! I got these on Etsy. I ordered two different sets. One for the kitchen and one for the studio. I used mini clothespins and twine. 

I won this painting last year from Rochester Women's magazine. I think it goes well with my kitchen. fun. fresh. and warm. 

We made this plate for Zion last year at a local pottery shop.  

My mom is an amazing sewer and quilter. She made this table runner for me! I love it!!!! It is all fabric from the FabricShoppe. I got the balls at Target and the square bowl from Pottery Barn. 

Kitchen sink essentials.

I am excited for the changes that will be made to make the kitchen more us! Everything takes time! But it is going to be so fun painting and customizing it for our needs. Do have any dreams for your kitchen? 

Ladies Candlelight Dinner

Every year at my church, we put on an amazing event for women in our church and community! It has been a huge blessing to me as well as many other ladies. We had around 400 women attend this awesome ladies night. It was a blast! We had around 50 tables seating 8 women. Each table had a hostess that served the ladies and decorated the table with their style! It is so awesome to see all the personalities within people's dishes and decor! Our theme this year was "REFLECTIONS". We inspired with the typography craze right now for the decor! We used mirror garland and candles too! I hosted a table to my friends, sister- Chelsea and cousin-Molly! It was such a blessing spending the evening with my friends! The event is a catered meal with live music and a guest speaker. This year we had a friend of mine, Jen Anderson share her story on how God has carried her through so many circumstances! She nailed it. It was a blessing hearing her heart as she poured her words out to us. I can't wait for next year! 

This was our 5x7 invite. I took this off my iPhone, so its not the whole thing. I love it! Below are some detail shots of the evening! Lots of my table decorations that I through together last minute. I gave a little mirror from Pier 1 Imports to each of my guest! 

Below is the stage set! We had the heart banner designed by our Assistant Youth Pastor, Jorden! He nailed it! I am in LOVE with it. So great! It is perfect! We used our glass podium, a Chandelier from a wedding, black curtains, mirror garland that turned into being a headache to make, and my Pier 1 Imports candle stands from my wedding! 

My friend Kati and I put in long hours at the church between Sunday-Monday that we opted for the church bathroom to get ready! ha. She even had to run and buy a shirt because she was locked out of her house and slept over at my house.....We were a hot mess. :) We put her sister, Lindsay, (also a Hair Stylist) to whip up a style for Kati. This is Kati's daughter, Franki! Precious!!!!!

My girlfriend- Danielle! She hosted a table  and was apart of the special music! Love you Nell.

Brie, Danielle and I! 

Just before the event started! This is Ann, my brother in law's mama! I am obsessed with her red wine glasses! Beautiful. 

Bear with my poor quality.....Jody came with her 2 week old son, Brie and Cousin Molly! 

My Gate gals:  Jaymi and Jordan.

 Alicia and Francoise!

sister Chels and I

  

Kati and Chelsea

 This is my friend, Jen who spoke! She did so great!!!!! love your heart friend.

All in All it was a great event! We couldn't have done it without all the volunteers and servant hearts behind it all. Thanks everyone! 

Do you have a favorite event that you have attended at a church? Or any ideas for us? Loves.