Anyone else takin' it easy today?

I am.

For those of you that are Facebook friends, you saw how my Wednesday went.

Yea, not so good.

I was ready for Friday 2 days ago.

Let's just say my car still smells like blueberry smoothie, only spoiled.

YUM, no?

But today is going to be a good day...

Oldest has basketball awards today from this week's bb camp.

So i get to be on campus where i took a few (ahem) courses which is kind of cool.

OK REALLY cool since all i ever hear is how great Dad's school is. LOL.

And we have happy hour in this house today precisely at 5. 

No dilly dally.

Mommy needs a mojito....or 4...who's going to count?

don't judge. 

as i said, rough week.

And because mommy also needs a break from the kitchen...i pulled out a ham that the man so graciously cooked on the egg and froze a few weeks back 

knowing there would be a day soon when i was scream 

NO MAS 

to being in the kitchen

when the pretty weather is of course, 

outside of the kitchen.

So we're turning that ham into sliders from Pinterest.  

Really, I keep saying I love my cookbooks, 

but i haven't really done anything from them in a long time - 

I go to Pinterest for all my recipes. Sad.

And I know one day my laptop is going to get fried sitting on the counter

while i cook.  

But i did see this the other day in Lowes.

Is this not the bomb or what? 

 Well, that definitely is ONE thing that might make me

stay in the kitchen.

Prettying up the Dining Room

I thought I would show you a better picture of what we're working with now that we have real furniture, and not just a beat-up craft table covered in glue and glitter.

 The table and chairs are older Thomasville and the factory stamp and lot numbers are on the underside from the North Carolina factory.  

When I researched them, it says the line has been discontinued but there are no marks that tell me when it was made.  (At least as far as I can tell but maybe there is a way?)

 We got the hutch from him as well, although they aren't set. 

Which you can tell by the colors here :)

They're both mahogany but the hutch is stained a darker cherry.

The hutch is stamped Bernhardt inside the left drawer and in excellent shape.  

My research on it shows it was produced in the 30's. So it's pretty darn old.

 Now, here is what I would refer to as dilemma Number One.

The EXTREMELY tall ceiling we have in here.

It makes this hutch appear soooo small, maybe too small for the space.

but...

i heart it.

And we really didn't pay for it - we kind of got it free considering we paid below market value for the table and chairs....

and when i was snooping around online i found a very similar one for almost a grand.

So right now, it stays.

So..I'm trying to determine what to do to flank the sides of the sides of the hutch, or accessorize the top of it to bring the ceiling down closer.

 And....I'm not in love with those Pottery Barn drapes either, so those might go.

And...if they go....something lighter, that works well with color in my kitchen will be brought in.

And what to do on top of the table, hurricanes or pillars or candlesticks....centerpiece or no?

Oh boy, where to start...

 Linking to Wow Us Wednesdays
hoping to hear some great ideas!

Excuse me, you want HOW MUCH??!?

You guys know I have a very hard time parting with my $$.

HATE IT.  I read your blogs, i know i ain't the only one.

But for several years 

(going on 7 to be exact)

I have been holding off from buying a new dining room set.

I was getting a divorce - not in the mood to buy.

I was changing jobs - not the right time to buy.

The kids are too little, too messy, too rambunctious for nice stuff - wait until they're older.

We're moving! We'll get a dining room set once we move in.

It's hot - we need a pool more than we do a dining room set.

MOMMY NEEDS A POOL MORE THAN A DINING ROOM SET.

 

And now here we are with Pinterest.  

DANG it with all with inspiration.

And google - well, you should be ashamed for acknowledging my search request for Ethan Allan.

See what you did - you showed me this!!! 

What is wrong with you?? 

You turned me into a spoiled brat because I didn't have $10K for a dining room set.

(truth be told, we ALL know i wouldn't have spent it even if I had it, cash in colddeadfingers, people)

Enter my hero....

Craigslist.

Does this look similar???

Why, yes, yes it does!  

And heck no it wasn't $10k for the table, chairs and hutch either.

And, yes, we have the hutch, but it's still in trailer while get the old china cabinet cleared and outta here!

It's not EA, but it is Thomasville, and it's over 50 years old by the tag on the bottom of the chairs and the look of the hutch. 

Not antique, but gorgeous just the same!

Working on finding new fabric for the chairs this week, and a plan for the top of the table....

and...a place to store my extra china since the new old hutch is much smaller than my old old hutch. 

Did you follow that? 

Now, in perfect timing, my man is off to some poker game with the boys, and I have a glass of red and a chick flick.....and some pinterest calling my name ;)

Linking to the girls at the Picket Fence!