What we have been up to

New valance & floor. Now just need to install baseboards and other finishing touches.

New faucet (ignore the pre-backsplash wall please)

New countertop

Can you believe we have been married a year?! This last year has been our busiest yet with the house, school, and the addition of Jo to the mix. We had a chance to have dinner together to celebrate. My dad had come over that day and helped me move the stove and fix some things around the house. Since the stove was out of commission I couldn't make dinner so we went out. We went to the world famous (according to Matt) Chinese buffet in East Peoria. It was packed but the food was so good. I love tofu but it never comes out right when I make it so I definitely eat it when I can. Anyway, enough of the food talk. The kitchen has come a very long way in the past few days. The tile is all laid and 75% of it is grouted. There are a couple loose tiles I need to go back and fix before I finish but I ran out of steam. I decided to decorate instead. Tonight I had a genius idea. The red silk dupioni table runners my mom made for the wedding are so beautiful and with only one table were going to waste. Then I had the idea to use them as a valance. So here is what I did. I folded one in half, made three pleats with a single stitch each and hung it up. Right now it is attached with safety pins because I'm trying it out. If I decide to make it permanent I think I will use velcro that way they could easily be taken down to clean and put back up. So I've posted a picture. Let me know what you think. I can't decide if the horizontal lines of the shade and the vertical pleats are too busy. This has become way too long. I'm going east tomorrow and won't be back until Monday night so I had better get back to my laundry and cooking. Enjoy the sneak peek of the "new" kitchen.