Keeping the dining room table outfitted with placemats, chargers and even full place settings was something I use to do. However, with two little kids it just seemed like a problem waiting to happen.

Our formal dining room table has a center piece and a table runner. I don't have to dust each plate, charger, move everything to dust the table...the list goes on. 

In the kitchen, we had a custom quartz table top created for our old table. Now, I don't have to use placemats. Again, it has made cleaning after meals simpler. After collecting the dishes from the table, I simply have to wipe down the table. 

Maybe one day I'll go back to fancy mats and chargers for daily use. The dining room doesn't look as fancy on a regular basis. Special occasions I pull out decorations.  But for now, it's about what makes my life easier. 

Having a nicer table and fancier decorations make the two spaces feel complete.  It give it a nice look even with the tables themselves lacking the extras. ​

 The table still wonderful. It is one of the best investments I made in the space. The overall cost of the table was that of a table its size. However, the new table would have had a stone that doesn't match our countertops. The table has been used and abuse. Toy cars have rolled on it. Toys thrown down on it. Kids have gotten paint on it. Christmas cookies have been rolled out on it. Clean up is a breeze. No water stains, no paint stains, no need to grab 50 towels to put under kids' art projects. and no scratches. Lastly, I do not need placemats because everything can be placed directly on the table! 

When it came to a new kitchen table, I wanted one that was durable. Something the kids are able to do art projects, homework, spill liquids, spill spaghetti sauce on, mix food on and it's okay. Our previous table was wood. With all the mats. putting down towels, and wiping up spills it was a nightmare. As soon as someone would spill something, I was jumping up trying to clean it. Fussing at kids to, "be careful, look what you're doing." We still ended up with a spot on the table from a cup. We still don't know where the spot came from. 

During the kitchen reno, I looked for a quartz table and couldn't find one I liked, was the right size or that would match the kitchen.  We used Thumbtack.com to find our contractors.  When the men came to measure for new countertops, I asked if there was a way to have a table top made. He said they do it all the time. I could keep the table I already had and he could fit a top over it. I was able to get the table top extended to create the size I was looking for. It's a perfect fit. It works for us on a daily basis, but it also works for guests. The quartz is extremely thick, thus is it extremely heavy. I would like to get casters added to the legs so I can roll it in the room. 

Lastly, I needed a little more color that was playful. Something that can be easily changed. Turquoise canisters for the counters and colorful dish towels for a few of the handles.  Lastly, I needed some new pots. So, I selected ones that were colorful as well. In the end everything came together. 

1. They say bathrooms and kitchens sell homes. Well, in the case of our home, that wasn't the case. We fell in love with the open living room and the backyard. We fell in love with the potential of what the home could be. Because baby, that kitchen was odd. Not to sound mean, but the layout had to be designed by a man without kids. Then another man had to agree, "yea, that great,' because no mama would have agreed to it.

I would look around the kitchen trying to figure it out. What did I need. What would make life easier. Then, I had a child. Then 18 months later, I had another child. THEN a pandemic hit and I was stuck in the house with 2 under two and a husband all day. The small kitchen's issues were amplified. It seemed like I cooked all day everyday. Someone needed something. Toddler breakfast, adult breakfast, snack, lunch, baby foods, dinner...late night snack...all day. Cleaning after art projects. The kitchen really became the center of our home. Thanksgiving came. I constantly worried a pot handle would be knocked and hot food would land on a child running or walking by. A baby with a walker rolled into my foot while I was at the stove. It made me stop and look at how I could adjust the layout to make it safer for small children. No matter who lived in the home, if they had a small child, this would be an issue. Also, it was just annoying to have to step aside to let someone pass by.

Then I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I was able to finally renovate my kitchen. Armed with a tape measure, the Internet, and my creativity, I got to work. My contractor was amazing. He took my plans and made them work. From moving an AC vent to running new electrical, he made it happen. I was able to move the stove from the walk way, added extra cabinets for storage, add a double oven, warming drawer and for the cherry on top, a pot filler.

After everything started going in, I realized I needed new accessories. However, there was on accessory I could not find in a store, a kitchen table. Our space has an odd shape, the little breakfast nook wasn't really designed with a large family in mind. It was probably an after thought. The men who did our counters were able to make me a custom table top. I didn't have to buy a base, they fitted the top to fit around the small table I already had. 

Bottom line, find a contractor you can trust and listens to you. One who knows how to get things done and has people who know what they are doing. The quality of materials, the care into following plans and creativity are what make a dream kitchen come true. ​

For teacher's appreciation, I created these flowers for the kids' teachers. 
-Small Dollar Tree candle holders (yes, candle)
- 4 bouquets of flowers
       -1 filler flower in 2 different colors
      - 1 focal flower
      - Keep some leaves for greenery and stems to use to hold To:/From: Card
1. Fill holder with water. 
2. Cut flowers taller than vase so they hang to the sides. Flowers should not stand upright. 
3. Add filler flowers first 
4. Add focal flower(s). 
​5. Add green stem. 
6. Tape To:/From: card to stem