Author: Big Mama

So if you’ve been following along here for a while, you may remember that we decided to get new kitchen cabinets last fall. Actually our original plan was to give the existing cabinets a facelift, but our friend and cabinetmaker looked at them and told us it might actually make more sense to just rip out the old ones and put in new ones since we plan on being in this house forever. And P jumped on board that train and I was happy to just nod my head and do an internal happy dance.

I knew I wanted simple shaker-style cabinet doors in white and a dark wood island top. The rest of it was up in the air because I am the worst at making house decisions. Put me in a clothing store and I can put an outfit together in ten seconds. But put me in a home decor store and I am paralyzed by indecision. You can throw out an ugly sweater but kitchen countertops are forever. Or are at least for a very long time. I know this because when we originally updated our kitchen fourteen years ago, we decided to put in laminate countertops for the time being because everything else was so pricey and that’s what we lived with for the next fourteen years.

Anyway, I did what I always do when I need to make a home decorating decision and emailed my friend Holly Mathis from Holly Mathis Interiors. We met online years ago and have become real life friends over the years and she knows that dealing with me is going to be like “Decorating for Dummies”. At one point in this process, she suggested I needed some ginger jars and she might as well have asked me to solve a physics equation. What I’m saying is I need a lot of help and guidance. So she put together a mood board with suggested colors, accessories, lights, etc. and then she even helped me as I texted her approximately 75 pictures of various marble slabs as I tried to figure out what was the best option.

All that to say, she is a miracle worker and I am so pleased with how it turned out. It’s so bright and clean. It feels like we actually made it bigger but the truth is we kept the exact same configuration with all the appliances in the same place. We added the shiplap wall behind the desk in keeping with my life motto “What Would Joanna Gaines Do?” and kept our existing range and refrigerator because they’re still in good shape, but replaced the ovens and the dishwasher. The white paint, some new true white light bulbs and the cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling make it feel so much more spacious than it was before and give me so much more storage room. The two floor to ceiling cabinets are a game changer because we don’t have a pantry and the farmhouse sink is officially now in the top five loves of my life. And while remodeling a kitchen isn’t inexpensive, I managed to find some things at Overstock and wait for other things to go on sale. I know I’m going to love it for a long time. I’ve even quit panicking over the marble countertops because they are so much more durable than what I feared. They aren’t for perfectionists because you do get some etching, but no one has ever accused me of being a perfectionist so that works out.

The rest of this post is just going to be a series of pictures from various angles, but I’m going to do my best to list all of my sources for everything at the bottom in case there’s something you see that you love and want for yourself.

Sources:

countertops – honed carrara marble (local source)

cabinet paint color – simply white by Benjamin Moore (We used the Advance paint because it’s water based but dries like an oil paint to a furniture-like finish.)

wall paint color – simply white by Benjamin Moore on the shiplap wall and revere pewter by Benjamin Moore on the other walls

backsplash – thassos herringbone marble mosaic

farmhouse Sink (similar)

polished nickel kitchen faucet

antique brass pendant lights (similar) Actual lights are visual comfort pendants available through True Blue Home in Chappell Hill, Texas.

counter stools

framed blue and white otomi textile from Emilia Collection

lew’s bar series brass cabinet hardware

desk chair

slipcover for desk chair

lumbar pillow on desk chair

brass desk lamp

blue and white check dishtowels

large clear glass jars

white pitcher on countertop

large white bowl on island (similar)

gold lacquer tray next to coffeemaker

wing & petal mugs on gold tray

white sugar bowl

personalized to-go paper coffee cups with lids

bamboo tortoise wood blinds

felt ball garland over windows

today is the best day ever canvas from Homegoods (not online)

blue and white ginger jars (now I know what they’re called) from a local store called Five Broads Off Broadway

Just some things I want to make sure you know about. And stay tuned because I’m finally going to post pictures of our kitchen remodel tomorrow. I know it’s been forever but I was waiting for a time when it was actually clean and, well, that just happened last week.

1. Chin Up, America! tee

Sophie and I recorded a podcast right after the election when it felt like everyone was wringing their hands and all gloom and doom. We felt that America needed a more positive outlook. Why not hope for the best until it all burns down? And that’s when “Chin Up, America!” was born.

Many of you requested it on a t-shirt and now your dreams can come true. Or at least your t-shirt dreams can come true, right here at Milk and Honey Tees.

2. lacey’s almond and dark chocolate crisp toffee wafer cookies

I picked these up on a whim at HEB like a month ago and buy them every time I go to the store now. They are so delicious that I have no willpower. It’s the perfect blend of all my favorite things.

3. The Jubilee: Poems by John Blase

John Blase is such a gifted writer. I’m friends with him on Facebook and even just reading his daily thoughts is a highlight for me. He just has a way to make even the most mundane things sound beautiful. You will love this book of his poetry.

4. Sparkly Green Earrings E-book

Just in time for Mother’s Day, my first book is now available for just $2.99 in E-book form and the paperback is less than $10.

5. marigot dress

I saw this blue and white floral dress the other day and can’t quit thinking about it. I’m normally not a flowery person, but the blue and white just gets me.

Have a great Tuesday.

So I’m sitting here on my couch. I’ve been to Houston and back in the last twenty-four hours and I’m headed to College Station tomorrow afternoon. But Gulley will be with me for that one so it will be a chance for us to actually have a real conversation without eight million interruptions. Our entire friendship is currently based on three minute calls made periodically throughout the day because apparently our chief function in life right now is to drive teenagers around to all their various sporting and social engagements.

Anyway, I spoke at St. Martin’s yesterday and as I was looking over my notes right before I was about to speak, I realized I’d printed them out on the backs of paper I’d used to test the new printer ink.

I posted this on Instagram and mentioned that I am just barely a functioning adult. Seriously.

And then after my talk at St. Martin’s was over, I got in my car to drive home to San Antonio but had to stop for gas and wanted to get something to eat because I can never actually eat at the luncheons where I speak because I am way too nervous ahead of time. I told myself I’d make good choices at the convenience store. I would opt for some pretzels. Yet this is what ended up in my car.

Speaking of barely functioning as an adult. That’s like the official diet of a fraternity house. But at least I was well-hydrated.

I drove down I-10 eating my corn nuts and beef jerky and hot tamales while listening to a steady stream of 1970s soft rock hits. I’ve always loved 1970s music but it’s all I’ve been listening to lately because there is currently nothing on the radio that I am interested in hearing. Also, get off my lawn.

On the nights I cook dinner, I usually put on Pandora’s 1970s lite rock station (Apparently they didn’t believe in the “gh” in the 70s because it definitely “lite” rock and not “light” rock) and the other night I happened to glance at my computer screen in time to see this album cover.

England Dan and John Ford Coley look startlingly like people you might see on a Dateline special. In fact, that seems to be true of most 1970s musicians. It was a time when men rocked a bad mustache and looked at a wide collar and said, “I BELIEVE I WILL”.

As I was driving home earlier today, I thought of all the 1970s songs that I adore and thought I would make a list of some of my favorites. This is not a comprehensive list because that would be at least 100 songs but they remind me of a simpler time when all I had to turn the dial on an AM radio to find a good song. James Taylor and Carly Simon alone could get me to about twenty songs. I just picked the ones that I adore because they have a lyric that stands out to me as beautifully written or a melody that makes me feel incredibly nostalgic the minute I hear it.

I’m not sure if I love these songs because they are the songs of my childhood or if it’s because music truly was better in the 70s. I contend it’s a little bit of both.

Here’s my personal list off the top of my head. Feel free to share yours in the comments.

1. If You Leave Me Now – Chicago

If I had to pick one band to listen to forever, it might be Chicago. After all, they singlehandedly helped me process a lot of junior high angst.

2. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

I love this song for many reasons, but the line “I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee” is brilliant. Also, “You walked into the party, like you were walking onto a yacht.”

3. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins

This has always been a favorite. “I’m the number one fan of the man from Tennessee”.

4. Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass

This is a song that tells a story. I like that.

5. I’d Really Love to See You Tonight – England Dan and John Ford Cooley

England Dan, you are kind of scary looking. However, you had me at “there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around”.

6. Fire and Rain – James Taylor

I would choose a different James Taylor song on any given day. In fact, I could just listen to James Taylor all the time, but I’m picking Fire and Rain. I think because “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I’d see you again” hits me right in the feelings these days.

7. You’ve Got a Friend – Carole King

This is the best song about friendship ever. The end.

8. Operator – Jim Croce

What is a list of 70s soft rock without Jim Croce? I used to always get him confused with the painter on PBS who painted “little trees”. Do they even look alike? I don’t know. Maybe I just found them both very soothing.

9. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John

I broke my arm when I was seven and my grandmother brought me Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road album. I’m not sure why she thought that was a good gift for a second grader, but I was fascinated by the cover art and listened to it over and over again. This song is one of my favorites of all time of any decade.

10. Danny’s Song – Loggins and Messina

“Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey”.

11. Best of My Love – Eagles

The Eagles are another one that could be an entire list on their own, but I have always loved this one because it gives me a peaceful, easy feeling. See what I did there?

12. Bluer than Blue – Michael Johnson

This song epitomizes some 1970s love song angst. “You’re the only life this empty room has ever had”.

13. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

This song can make me cry in 2.3 seconds. Every time. I loved the Dixie Chicks version, but Stevie Nicks does it the best.

14. How Much I Feel – Ambrosia

This week when I posted the picture of England Dan and John Ford Coley on Instagram, someone suggested I listen to the Ambrosia station on Pandora and let me just say, I applaud you. It’s the perfect mix of some 70s lite rock.

15. Your Song – Elton John

Yes. I have two Elton John songs on my list. It was like Sophie’s choice and I chose not to choose.

And now I just realized I didn’t put any Christopher Cross on my list. Or Styx. But I have got to go to bed even though I have fallen into the 1970s and can’t get up.

Which is probably true of many of the musicians from that decade.

Happy Thursday.

I have a lot of thoughts in my head right now but just not enough time to get them all down on paper. But I’m heading to Houston tomorrow and I’m hoping that some quiet time in a hotel room will give me a little bit of time to actually write paragraphs and such. I’m also hoping it will afford me the opportunity to order a cheese plate and a glass of wine from room service while I watch something on Bravo on TV.

And in case you’re in the area, I’m speaking at the women’s spring luncheon at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston on Wednesday, the 26th and will be in College Station on Friday, the 28th to speak at the Aggie Women’s Legacy Luncheon at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.

Here’s a quick list of things you might like and/or might make you laugh and/or might just be informational.

1. She Reads Truth Bible

I got this She Reads Truth Bible in the mail about two weeks ago and it’s quickly become one of my favorite things. It’s the Christian Standard Version of the Bible and includes built-in devotionals, reading plans, cultural context and even an opening few pages on how to read and study the Bible. A friend told me a few weeks ago that she felt like she needed a “Bible For Dummies” and this is kind of that but wrapped in a beautiful, smart package.

It seems to be backordered a lot of places, but you might be able to find one in your local LifeWay store or just order on Amazon and know that in a few weeks your future self will thank your past self for being heads up and placing an order.

2. At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider

I am such a homebody. There just isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than in my own house and even on the best vacations, I find myself ready to come home. Which is why I love the idea that home and family can really be found in different ways. Tsh is a beautiful writer and this would make a great summer read.

From the inside flap:

What would you say if your spouse suggested selling the house, putting the furniture in storage, and taking your three kids under age ten on a nine-month trip around the world? Tsh Oxenreider said, “Thank you for bringing it up first.”

In this intimate, transporting memoir, Tsh shares the story of how her family spent a rather ordinary nine months in an extraordinary way: circumnavigating the earth to see, firsthand, the places they’ve always wanted to explore. She chronicles their global journey from China to Singapore to Australia, Uganda, France, Croatia, and beyond, as they fill their days with mouth-watering food, breathtaking sights, train schedules, world-schooling the kids, and the gradual awareness of all the world teaches about itself, its inhabitants, and the places we call home.

From releasing paper lanterns in Thailand to experiencing the community of strangers in Zimbabwe, Tsh invites readers to join her on a trek around the globe without the cost of a ticket; to discover the people, places, and stories worth knowing about; to belong in the familiar and yet feel at home outside of it; and to find the balance between wanderlust and rootedness. “Travel has taught me the blessing of ordinariness, of rootedness and stability,” she writes. “It can be found anywhere on the globe.”

3. gap sleeveless drapey scoop-neck dress

I ordered this dress from Gap last week and now it’s on sale for just $24. It’s super soft, totally lightweight and also comes in gray, black or navy. It’s a great dress for summer.

4. febreze laundry odor eliminator

I bought this at HEB last week out of desperation because Piper and Mabel think our outdoor furniture is for them and so they are always on it. This is fine until we are actually having people over and want it to smell like not dog. However, it was hard to get the dog smell out.

This Febreze laundry odor eliminator works like a charm. You just add it in with your normal detergent and it has made even the stinkiest things smell fresh. When you have a husband who owns a landscape business and a daughter who plays soccer, that is known as a miracle in a bottle.

5. dior addict long-wearing tattoo color tint

I haven’t bought this yet because I’m not sure what color to get, but I am excited about the promise of it. I love a long-wearing lip color and this one is allegedly not drying and stays on a long time.

6. 13 Reasons Why…Your Life Matters

I’ve been hearing about the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why and was glad to see that my friend Sissy Goff, the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, is writing about it for both kids and parents.

7. It’s Not Okay To Just Start Talking to People You Don’t Know

Sophie’s friend, Daphne, linked to this on Facebook and it cracked me up. You know what they say, there’s always some truth in comedy.

8. 19 Best Children’s Book Quotes

I loved reading all of these and it included some of my personal favorites.

9. B&N Teen Blog

Caroline is a reading machine and sometimes she can’t find a new book. This teen blog at B&N has been a great resource and has helped her find some things that she may not have found otherwise. Not all of them are necessarily for everyone, but it’s definitely got some great suggestions.

And the B&N Reads Blog is a great place to look when I need something new to read. I plan to read all the books this summer because my spring reading has been lackluster at best.

10. caffeinated tee

And now I’m going to bed because there’s a reason I keep looking at this Caffeinated tee from Milk & Honey and thinking I need it.

Have a great day.