it was so nice to hear that you all agreed the afters were better than the befores
of our kitchen remodel.
ha ha ha.
you had lots of questions and i have lots of answers.
how long did the remodel take?
3 months…november – january.
how did you survive?
we moved the refrigerator into the living room…set up a folding table also with throw away utensils
and the microwave…and that was what we used.
it was kind of crazy but so much changed in the new kitchen everyday that it was exciting.
how did you decide what you wanted?
we remodeled our kitchen LAST in our home in illinois and then we moved.
all that work and money and we didn't even get to enjoy it. so when we bought this house we decided
we would do the kitchen FIRST because it is the most important room to us.
i knew i wanted the exact same cabinets i had in my IL. kitchen.
i had a baby at home so i spent hours and hours sitting and dreaming up what to do.
and i had years of magazines pictures in a file that i used to put it together.
did you design it?
yes. i designed it all. i like to draw so i gave my detailed drawings to the cabinet guy brad and our contractor bernie and said " do it like this".
i wonder where those are now???
can we move in?
that depends…are you good at laundry? cooking? cleaning? i may consider it if you are….
is that a real chalkboard or just chalkboard paint?
it is an old school chalkboard…running the other way…from a garage sale.
(sarah has the paint on the wall and it looks great too…so if you can't find a huge chalkboard at a
garage sale…do what she did!)
the kids' dinnertime chores are written way at the top.
what kind of dog is that?
waffle is a golden doodle…half poodle/half golden retreiver. and he needs a haircut.
they do shed and i don't know if they are hypoallergenic.
but if his hair is short…there is practically no shedding at all.
our friends had one liter of these in 2008.
this entire liter of puppies is the happiest bunch of dogs i have ever seen!
but they aren't having anymore puppies unfortunately…and i don't know anyone else to find one for you.
check your classifieds or google golden doodles in your area.
(those are the most frequent questions i am asked about waffler)
how did you have the patience for a kitchen remodel?
craig and i are a good team.
he likes my designs (at least he says he does)…he is very flexible and encouraging with my vision/ideas.
i really like how hard of a worker he is.
we both like to get good deals.
and we take our time figuring out what we want.
and he is such a good painter! he is so detailed.
so much so that he's asked me to stop painting a few times…because i was so messy he wanted me to go.
working with all men (contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpenters) can be a challenge because i don't like confrontation and i really don't like being treated like a dumb girl.
and that happens every once in awhile…but not too much.
i know what i want when it comes to my home down to the last detail.
so that caused some tension for me sometimes…and of course…tears because i am a girl.
but other than that…it doesn't take too much patience when you are so excited.
bernie, our contractor, showed up EVERYDAY and worked all day till the job was finished.
he rocks.
he never made me cry. :)
and i have a few kids around here to distract me…helping with the patience.
what made you decide to put in the wall of windows?
that side of the room was previously a porch.
in the 70's or 80's the homeowners enclosed it with 12 skinny tall windows and a door.
none of them worked anymore.
we decided to use 6 big windows and closing up the space where the door had been…
gaining 3 more feet of counter space in the process.
the wall with wood slats is gone and a steel support beam is in it's place.
the door on the left is now a wall (with the red EAT letters)
the floor was cement on this half and slanted because it was a porch.
it had to be leveled and then the wood floor laid down across both rooms.
stop looking at my dirty dishes!
&
#0160;
do your wood floors stand up well to high traffic?
yes.
i am in love with wood floors.
we have no carpet i our entire house…and only 2 rugs. one of them came with the house!
they are scratched in a few places but i don't mind.
and i HATE to vaccuum.
how should i paint my cabinets?
these are all new cabinets painted by the cabinet makers….so i can't help you with that.
where did you get your slipcoverd sofas?
the white ones are from world market. the blue is an old couch from our IL. days…
what color is the paint on your walls?
you know…in the mess of the remodel we threw out the can.
after we'd used literally every single drop and we don't know what color it is!
that is BAD.
it is a creamy off white…just different enough from the bright white cabinets to show a difference.
it's not yellow.
where did you get your chandeliers?
chicago jenny gave me one for our IL kitchen.
she had taken it out of her house and it was sitting in her garage!!
she walked into our new kitchen and started laughing and called her husband in to show him
my new light i had bought at the flea market. identical to hers…that she was getting rid of.
so when we moved to kansas she gave it to me as a going away gift. 🙂
best gift ever.
so i had two chandeliers that were nearly the same.
yes…i took my light from my IL. house. we put in a different one though…
some of my friends were here yesterday baking for their friends fundraiser…it was a blast.
but you can see the chandelier.
(and i need some more globes…any one have one they don't want anymore :)
i find chandeliers at antique stores and flea markets.
my friend diana gave me one from her dining room and it's in my bathroom.
they were all brass and i spray paint them white.
should i take my cherry cabinets out and put in white?
that quesiton is too big for me.
it's a personal preference. you want to be happy in your home…so you have to decide that for you.
i like cherry too…they are pretty.
where did you get your roman shades?
a little place called the home depot.
how do you keep the white cabinets so clean?
ha ha ha.
now that is just funny.
right now i can see spaghetti sauce…footprints…hot cocoa splatters…all kinds of gunk on them.
you just have to wipe them off like everything else.
but you can use clorox clean up at least.
and annie loves to use cleaning wipes…often the cabinet cleaning job goes to her on saturday mornings.
what kind of appliances do you have?
the dishwasher is a kitchenaid from best buy. it's great! it get used every single day 365 days a year.
(except i guess you aren't supposed to put pieces of broken glass or bobby pins in them…who knew?)
the cooktop and double oven are Jenn-Air and we bought them off ebay.
one was a floor model with a scratch and one was an older model…but still looked great to us.
the refridgertor is GE and we got it at sears.
the microwave is GE from home depot.
do you help people with decorating dilemmas?
no one has ever done what i suggest.
ever.
so i will say no.
can we see the rest of your house?
no..it's too messy.
just kidding. there is a photo album in the left sidebar…if you haven't seen that.
but i do have a few more before and afters to show sometime.
but the afters are too messy to show you today.
so that is that.
any other questions?
what a handsome boy.
Christine Ishmael - My girls and I scrolled through the pictures of Waffle and we all started laughing at Waffle in the santa hat…! We started with little giggles and ended up with belly laughs…the girls call him “Waffle Claus”! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah E. - My husband and I got a kick out of this post. We have a dog almost exactly like this. We’ll he has a few more spots than yours. His name is Gus, he’s 9 1/2 years old. We get him shaved in the summer (he’s an outside dog) and it’s the exact same look.
Not the best photos of him but you can see him here
http://sarahellsworth.blogspot.com/2009/10/moving.html
http://sarahellsworth.blogspot.com/2009/05/dogs-summer-cut.html
Miss Em - Waffle is adorable! He looks like a completely different dog (and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who does at home haircuts for my dog!)
-Emily
Karrie - Oh wow, I thought the before was the after! My dog (which is part goldendoodle) needs a haircut but her afters always look like your befores. ha! And she smiles all the time, too~they are such happy dogs!
Joy Cronauer - I love this dog! Too cute…I want one! Does he bark at strangers?
tara pollard pakosta - I love him with his hair longer!!
just like when my cockapoo gets shaved,
they look soooo different!
not as teddy bear looking!!!
but he’s still CUTE!
I can’t believe he sheds, my cockapoo NEVER sheds ever! it’s awesome! no hair anywhere! but he does need to get shaved every so often or his hair is too long and gets in the way so he can’t see!!!
waffle is soooooooooooooo CUTE!
tara
meleea - your dog waffle is EXACTLY like my goldendoodle tucker!! we have chewed up pieces of blanket all over our house and our dogs look sooo very much alike! we LOVE LOVE our dog!
clare - I always thought the “doodles” didn’t shed…apparently they do huh?
Sarah - Looks like a different doggie. What a cutie…
Tracy - Wow Waffle looks like a totally and completely different baby with his hair cut like that! He’s so beautiful and I think you’re right – he looks happy all of the time, so he must be smiling! :o) His blanket looks like what my dogs used to do to their blankets when we had dogs too. HA! Thanks for sharing and the lasagna recipe looks delicious! I will have to try it – I’m one of those who’ve never made it either as I thought it was too hard and too time consuming – thanks for showing me otherwise! :o)
carissa... brown eyed fox - his BLANKIE……… i love that!
and it seems like he loves his new do… look at his face!
big ‘ol smile! i am convinced dogs smile.
they do right?
i think so!
Rachel Ridd - adorable! he looks so happy 🙂 I have a golden and their joyful facial expressions are priceless.
deb meyers - my son looks like Waffle when it’s time for his cut…he acts like waffle, too : )
Susie - What a handsome guy! I have a Golden, so I def see the traits in Waffle (when his hair is cut)!
Heather - Wow. Thanks for sharing that you feel insecure. I have been following you for a couple of years now and have told you how much I’d love to have a friend like you living near me. I think you are just awesome. Beautiful. Talented. Kind. Sweet. Vibrant.
To hear that YOU have insecurities gives me hope. 😉
Tiffany Morris - Love the “new do” for Waffle! He’s so handsome!
mel - Waffle looks adorable!!! I love his haircut! He looks so much like a lab after those pictures!
katy - That guy {waffle} is so cool!
Amanda - He is such a cute dog! I love his name and all the pictures you post of him. Your blog always puts a smile on my face. Thank you 🙂
Talia - Wow, it’s crazy how different he looks!
Angela - How cute! My daughter is trying to convince my husband that we need a “Waffle”.
Kirsten - Bah! so funny….my neighbor has a labra-doodle and when Cody gets a haircut she says he gets very self-concious 🙂 – and I treat him differently, I think. Our other neighbor has a little Yorkie…and when Ellie gets a trim I like her more…why is that??!?!?!
the inadvertent farmer - Short of Shaggy there is just something about a dog! Kim
kasey - Alright md….
is it ok that i call you md?
I think your dog will be the insecure one now;-)
xo
Mrs. Jones - Now I thought my dogs OWNED cute, but Waffle is some tough competition. Even his name is cute!!
~Heather
Mrs. Jones - Now I thought my dogs OWNED cute, but Waffles is some pretty tough competition. Even his name is cute!!
~Heather
Stacy - I know this is on the wrong post but I just wanted to do what I can to help. I’ve been kind of feeling insecure/anxiety etc. too, and I was asking a health professional what I could be eating that would help and she said protein. Make sure you get enough protein in your diet and it will definetely help. I hope it helps you! And I hope you start to feel better. Your dog looks way cute too!
Courtney - I love Waffle! What a cute/great doggie. I like him better fluffier – but I totally relate to the huge fluff balls of fur flying around the house!
Nina Diane - I love his new haircut!
Christa P. - What a beautiful dog!
Love the new do!
Elyse - What a sweet baby.
elisa - I love that dog. LOVE. And I hope you are feeling better. I too have had a bad week or so. Funk. Time for Spring.
Jen - What a great dog! He looks like a sweetie. Makes me miss my pups. Maybe we’ll get another one some day.
Toni :O) - Of course he’s smiling….he lives in your wonderful house with your beautiful family…I’d be smiling and happy too! God bless you cause I love seeing Waffle…he makes me smile. We can’t wait to give a dog a forever home sometime this Spring.
Debbie S. - Waffle is amazing…hair or no hair..and very photogenic (and tolerant). However, your husbands calf muscles were the star of the picture 😉
Amanda - I have always been a “small dog person”, but I must say that Waffle has me changing my opinion. He is just TOO CUTE!
Christy - Oh my he looks like a totally different doggie!!
Love the picture with the Santa Hat
Cate O'Malley - Amazing what a difference a haircut makes, though I love the old version too. Love the Santa hat pic – too cute!
Traci - i love waffle photos. he is so darn cute both furry and clipped.
the wild raspberry - i have been catching up on old posts….good luck with your resolutions~they are good ones.
and i did listen to rachel…it hit very close to home for me….my sister has cancer…it’s so hard to remember the bigger picture of life.
that’s a hard hitting resolution~
~remember the bigger picture~
have a wonderful god-filled…exercising kind of day~
chasity
the wild raspberry - i figured most people already told you that your doggie is cute so i’ll mention the ripped calves of your hubbie….
very nice….does he cycle or run?
chasity
Deb. - HI-I’m new to your blog, but L-O-V-E, love it!About the insecurity thing…you are normal, after all, aren’t we only human? Seems as if school is always where I have felt that way also. If we are strong in our faith, and rely on our GOD…what do we have to be insecure about? BLESSINGS!
Cara - Hi, my name is Cara. I’ve been reading your block for the last year and just love it – can’t wait in the morning to see if there is something new!! I live in South Africa in a small “village” called Kommetjie (at the sea) close to Cape Town. It’s always amazing for me to think how far we are apart but can still see what’s going on different peoples lives! It’s so interesting to see how different our school terms, way of living etc is but there is also so many things that is similar! Cara xxx
Helen Wall - Waffle looks like quite the character! What a personality.
Aren’t our husbands great for sorting through our emotions and getting to the meat of the issue. I know I wouldn’t be near as sane if I didn’t have him to help ground me!
Laura Phelps - 2 questions….
Do you think Waffle feels insecure now that you cut all of his hair off???
And
when can Craig come over and talk with ME???
Connie - What an awesome before and after! I can’t imagine how much more comfortable he is. =)
Sophie - Wow, its like a completely different dog! Looks gorgeous!!
Rach - We over here in Cali LOVE the short do. So sleek!!
Kim - Waffle is adorable…and your husband has very nice legs. I’m just sayin 😉
candace - Waffle, you are too cute! And you have the best new year’s slim down plan I’ve seen. 🙂
Darlene - If I didn’t know better, it would seem like you had 2 dogs. One shaggy one and one clean-cut one. We have 3 dogs and our puppy is a shih-poo. She’s is need of her first hair cut but I don’t have the guts to do it. Truth be told….I like the shaggy/matted look. Dread-locks, if you will.
Love the post – because I L-O-V-E dogs!
Heather Giustino - What a cutie!! He looks like such a happy guy!!
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - That dog is just adorable…with fur or not. He does look like he’s smiling. My sweet Fergie always looks like she’s scowling. Poor thing:)
A pocket full of posies... - Laughing SO hard- I’m crying!!!!- not at your insecurity- at “WAFFLE the wonder-dog!” goodness he’s too cool!
Blessings!
Jill
p.s. love what you shared on your last post…
Kristine - i love waffle!
**glad you’re feeling better!**
Bernice - He looks like a completely different dog!
Melanie - That last picture of Waffle in the Christmas hat is so cute.
Do you shave him yourself? I have a maltipoo and he needs grooming right now. Go read my blog post about the crazy nut job of a dog he is. He needs meds or I am going to be on meds!
julia - I love waffle’s new do. Is he all like “Hey, look at my new look” or is he more like “dude, what happened to the built-in insulation”?
Staci Danford - That is so funny.. We have a dog who shreds his cover too.. BUT maybe not in a nice crazy way. haha That was a wonderful Monday laugh..
Staci
Holly - how could anyone not love waffle?!
Courtney Walsh - he makes me want a dog. Seriously. He’s so cute!! Both ways. 🙂 I am far too horrible a domestic engineer to handle cleaning up dog hair, but if I ever get brave, I want a Waffle of my own. lol
Rach - Oh my, lol. He’s a totally different dog! Cute too!
Becca Parker - What a sweet baby!
immyyas - What a happy cute pooch!!! When I had my lab I would shave him just like that… I LOVED the few weeks of less shedding. Plus they look so put together & “derssed up”.
Kat - He looks so cute after his haircut! And I love the pic with the santa hat.
Jen - We have a golden doodle that we used to dogsit for. He looked JUST like Waffle and we LOVED him. His name was Webster. Now we have our own sweet miniature poodle that we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. They are the best.
Two questions:
1. Why does he shed so much? Webster never shed at all. That’s why his owners got him. Must be waffle got more of the “golden” than the “oodle”, maybe?!?
2. I would LOVE to know how you picked Waffle?!? You know–in all your free time! 🙂
Love your blog! Many blessings on your sweet family!
Whitney H - Love that he is wrapped in his blankie! Also makes me smile to see photos of Waffle!
Melissa Morrill - It’s like a totally different dog!! I just wanna cuddle with Mr. Waffle!
p.s. Tried Pineapple Vodka….YUUUUUM.
Rachel / cREaTe - i can’t look at any picture of waffle without getting the giggles. but that 2nd one down of his new ‘do takes the cake. and his holy blankie???? PRESH!
ashley - I told my little man about Waffle when he walked up and asked, “Who dat doggie, Mama?” He said, “I have doggie name Waffle, Mama. Jus’ like my waffle beh-kfas.” hahaha. That is one cute dog! Nice hair-do choice! 🙂
Glad you could talk it out with your hubby. It always helps to talk to someone. 🙂
Have a beautiful day!
merlin - He’s sure not insecure!
Lessons from Waffle…..
Brooke - he’s sooo cute 🙂
Xina - Still love your blog, love the pics of Waffle (LURVE that name!)…I live voraciously thru you….I can’t handle BIG dogs, but want one. Got 2 little ones. Waffle looks COOL!
Amber - Oh my gosh, so cute!! I love him all clean shaven. You can see his cute little face better.
I that last one with the santa hat!! So precious!
Suzanne - I heart waffle.
Jaclyn - I love the picture of him wearing the santa hat! He DOES look like a very happy and well loved doggie!
Nicole Q. - I had to laugh because when i saw the title “new do” i was expecting you . . . wondered what you did, and then Waffle flashed up on the screen, i laughed!
Debra - He looks like a totally different dog! That must be the happiest looking dog I’ve ever seen!
Diana - I can just hear Waffle… “I can see! I can see!” ROTFL!!! Oh, geesh, I love your doggie. {I miss both of ours sooooooo much.} Our Chip had shagginess like Waffle and was always so happy to be able to see things again after his haircuts, LOL! LOVE the Santa hat on him… and of course he’s smiling! {Our doggies smiled all the time for us!}
Waffle is truly a handsome buddy!
You GO, Waffle! { ♥ { doggie hugz } ♥ }
Okay, I’ve had my Waffle-doggie fix. THANK YOU!
Foy (Garden Cook Write Repeat) - He looks years yonger with out all that hair! What a nice looking dog!
Cathy - Awww! Isn’t it funny how when they get their hair cut they look like puppies again?
Jess - Waffle! Love ’em.
tami reed - Even though Im not an animal lover that dog is too cute lol
Renee - I bet Waffle is so happy with his new found handsomeness. Great pictures! xoxo
Keri R. - This post reminds me that I need to make an appointment for our goldendoodle to get shaved! My husband tried to do it himself… 🙂 Now her hair is totally patchy
Kimberly - I agree with Staci, nice legs, Craig!!!
Love Waffle’s haircut too 🙂
Nancy - What a fine pooch… I would love to imagine what his voice would be like if he could actually talk in human voice. My dog would sound like Will Ferrel in Old School. Frank the Tank. I wonder what Waffle would be like??? By the way, I made my daughter a rainbow cake for her bday. She loved it and the party guests “oohed and aahhed” when the cake was cut. Thanks for giving my party that wow factor! 🙂
jenjen - So cute! My sister has the same dog and they keep her shaved. They live in Idaho and her dog is always getting muddy out in the fields. It probably feels so good!
XOXO
Jen
AshleyR - I love waffle!! He just looks so hugable. I drool over your house every time I see pictures. It reminds me of everything I love… family, fun, laughter, old, new, comfy, and cozy all wrapped up in one!
BriBedell - It’s like you get two dogs for the price of one 🙂 He is super cute!
Tonya - He looks so good! Looks like 2 different dogs…what a cute boy!!
Hillary @ The Other Mama - So cute! I wish I looked that good after a haircut!!
Georgia - Hehe – he looks like a sheep which has been sheared! lol
Very handsome boy! 🙂
Staci - Man oh man is he a cutie 🙂 ALMOST makes me wish I had one….minus the hair 🙂 (We had a yellow lab for 12 years…I STILL find “Baxter hair” occasionally 🙂 And this might be inappropriate to say…but I have to… your Craig has some seriously great calves on him 🙂 hee hee
Londen - You have the cutest dog! He looks so friendly too.
Beth - Wow. Really the same dog! So cute! He’s a good model! My dog would have been eating my camera during some of those!
thea - I soooo love the “do” and his name is wonderfully…delicious!! LOL! Glad you talked with Craig. 🙂
Sandy - I’m with Jeanne, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Waffle’s long hair too. Of course, we don’t have to clean it up every day. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the pictures. I’m seeing Waffle’s santa hat picture in a sort of collage for next year’s Christmas card.
Tracy - way too cute! I can’t wait to do that to our golden – he’s LONG overdue!
Such a sweet face on your boy….so happy!
Happy Monday ~
Lisa - OOO Waffle i am in love with you!
DreamGirlLisa - Aww, waffle looks like a completely different pooch. Still adorable though!
Lisa - Cute! And I just noticed the globes above your cabinets. Love that!
Trish - talk about insecuritys around parents at school! My daughter goes to a private school and we live out of district so I have to bus her. she has CP so she uses a walker… so already I know we are “different” I am nervous, about ready to puke and I pull into the parking lot on the first day of school and I back right into another mini van… oh yeah. Thankfully I held it together and didn’t burst into tears the second I looked this woman in the face. But I definitely wanted to crawl into my shell and never return again!
jeanne - Are you SERIOUS that is the same dog???? Crazy cuteness!!!! I actually LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the long hair:-)