Kitchen remodel : Back Story-Before

When JMN & I bought this house in March 2012. This was the first house either of us had ever purchased. And once we made our minds up that we were going to buy a house we were in full speed. JMN Best friend is a Realtor and JMN are pretty aggressive folks. After about 2 months we were in OUR house. Now that's from casual conversation, Realtor, and poof signing the dotted line.  We knew there would be some things we would have to fix up.
I didn't imagine that the kitchen would even be on the list. I don't cook. I love to eat but I am challenged in the kitchen so I didn't really care how it looked. But over the last year I realized that I was really having a feeling about it.
I hate the wallpaper! ( okay I always hated the wallpaper) I remember some of my friends parents had the same variation of wallpaper in their kitchens . If you will look in the 4th picture you will see that they even picked a fruit dangling lamp as well. The pears look like penises. ( you know you were thinking it too).

One of my favorite blogger's, Skinny Meg, redid her kitchen (2014) last year and when I saw how  wonderful my kitchen could be I was like yeah!! lets do this.

 

 

Now lets me real. Remodeling anything is costly and I work for a non profit. And I still have to pay my car note. So things will happen slowly. A remodel is a want not a  need so therefore when there is some extra moola then I will push it towards our little project.

I really liked the fact that Megs cabinets are gray. Gray is my 3rd favorite color. I also lOVVVVVE the shelving. Our floors are white tile so our counters will probably be white as well.

I cant wait for you guys to come on my remodel journey with us!

 

 

 

Online shopping: Ulta

Since I am on this Ulta Kick let me tell you sometimes that I have been eyeing on Ulta.
Siren
Eden
Expesso Experesson

Ruby Star
Master Kajal Liner
Black Cherry

Check out these links !

DQ

We got a Dairy Queen!

 

It opened on December 26. I don't even want to tell you how many times I've been since its opened. Just know that I know the General Manager and he has already told me where the next locations are going and possibly when...

I know people in high places lol

 

TJ Maxx Finds

You ever go into a store for something and you see 50 million things that you want but nothing you actually need. Well when I went to TJ Maxx  it was the perfect case.

I mean if anyone wants to purchase any of these things it would be most appreciated. ( wink)

Grace Place

I got an email the other day at work about making a dish or volunteering at one of the local kitchens that help the homeless call Grace Place .

For the first time I made green bean casserole and I think it turned out pretty well.

 

 

2 cans Kitchen Sliced Green Giant green beans, drained
1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup
1 6 oz. container French's French Fried Onions
2/3 cup whole milk (you can use skim but whole is definitely tastier)
Salt and Pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 2 qt. casserole dish combine green beans, soup and milk. Sprinkle in a good helping of salt and pepper, garlic powder and onion powder (typically 6 shakes of each) and stir together. Once ingredients are completely incorporated, pour half the container of french fried onions in the mix and mix together completely. Put into the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Take casserole out of the oven and sprinkle the remaining french fried onions on top. Place back in the oven and cook for 4-5 minutes or until french fried onions look really golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. 
boom!

Happy birthday to me!!!

Nov18 was my 27th birthday .

And I couldn't have been more blah.

Yeah that's the only way I can explain it .

I had no plans to actually interact with real people . Which is completely the opposite of my previous birthdays.

My other half couldn't take off work due to inventory at this store and my " friends" were all working and I was having that selfish moment where  I wanted them to come to me and try and make my birthday special . 

I have been wallowing in birthday self pity for a couple weeks now. I have no idea why . One day in the office I was practically in tears . Oh 27 3 years until 30 approximately 70 years left of life. 

How stinking depressing ..

You know how I spent it?
I drove two hours to go to Louisiana Boardwalk and shopped my life away.

I took a chance and walked into Mastercuts in Bossier serious afro in hand and the hair lady sprayed gold on my hair and laid it down!

 

No idea why I didn't remove my scarf and pea coat.. Actually I looked like a serious skank in a tennis dress and leggings.

Selfie queen! Shout out to JMN & Zales for that amazing engagement ring

I'm a snob so the only places I wanted to go was Gap & Fossil. $300 later I left with  a closet full.

this is the face of a shopping addict.

I didn't ask for anything for my birthday.. Why? because I honestly have more than I could ever ask for. And since my family doesn't celebrate holidays the only person that was looking for something to get me was JMN.  So I sent him a picture on Pinterest of this amazing Reese cake.

This is what Brookshires created for me!

of course every time it comes to my name people want to manipulate it to be something else so JMN had to get them to fix it.

Its my birthday so why am I waiting on JMN to get dressed?

Isn't he cute?

3 watermelon margaritas, half parmesan chicken mash potatoes and green beans from Longhorn I was done for.

 

And this is how I spend my 27th birthday.

boo hoo hoo

 

Hair matters

You know I keep telling myself that hair doesn't matter but you know I feel like I look like a different person when my hair is straight as  compared to when its curly. World explain that to me. Is it the worlds subliminal message to me saying straight hair is beautiful? Or is it that I don't have many people around me that I can relate to hair wise.
#hoeredlipstickout
#NYC
#cheap
#target
#idonthaveanyclotheson
#dontactlikeyoudontdothisyourself
#imcute
#frizzgang

94 % of the time

I went to the orthodontist Dec 7. As always I was excited thinking something new would happen. But even with less than 6 months left before I have them removed my wires were not changed ( tightened) and I didn't even get a new band. My ortho asked me if I had been wearing my band and I told him 94% of the time. He kinda made a noise and said 94% isn't 100%. ( side eye give me a reward hoe)

 

Unfortunately I had to give up the maroon chains I've been wearing for the last 3 months. I had gray purple and some other lame color to choose from. WTH. So I went with gray because I knew I had a wedding to be in and I didn't want my colorful braces to be popping out on her pictures 20 years from now.

 

I don't get to go back until Jan 20th. ( ughhh forever)  I have been slacking real bad on wearing my band too. You know how you get excited about something and then it doesn't work out the way you wanted it to so you are just OVER IT. Yeah that's how I feel right now about my braces because I still don't see the change that they really need to make and they are most definitely are not ready to come off. There is a huge gap on the side of my mouth ( not pictured) ( didn't have that joker before braces either) that isn't lined up. I don't know.... I just feel like they should look different. I digress...

 

I'm still braced up and I really cant wait to see what my teeth will look like when they are off.

Did I mention they are fully paid for? 6 months early woot woot go me..

( insert cabbage patch)

Ali the Altima

Today 2 years ago I became an adult and bought my very first car.

My how times flies by.. I cant wait to pay her off LOL