Although NYE will most likely be spent on the couch (though if I'm being honest that's usually what happens around here anyways), you can still have a fun cocktail! Champagne is the go-to for this night, but I prefer Prosecco or Cava. A friend gifted me little flavored sugar cubes for my birthday that were meant to pop into a glass of sparkling wine and add a fun twist. I loved them, and was wondering if I could make them myself. Well, you can. It's actually incredibly easy to make sugar cubes. It only takes a few ingredients (which you probably have laying around) and you can create a whimsical addition to your drink. These would also be great at a tea party or for a really sweet gift (see what I did there). Moving on, here's how you make them...

Missing your favorite coffee shop? Want to make fun and easy latte art at home? This is a fun and easy way! ​It's also a great way to jazz up hot chocolate and other winter beverages! 

I planned to share this in April, but here we are, almost through December and I'm finally sharing some of the hidden storage in this kitchen. I really enjoyed the problem solving aspect of designing this kitchen. What did I need storage for? Where could I put that storage in a very small space? One thing I couldn't work around was the fact that there will only be three drawers. At first I was worried, but I had three drawers in the kitchen before I demo'd and one was completely inaccessible. We made due with just two, and after pairing down a lot of useless equipment, I realized that's all I needed.

We also spend all summer in an RV where we only have one drawer, so I think this helped to make me feel better about the design! That being said, two of the drawers in my design are really deep, and it felt like a waste (not to mention an organizational nightmare) to have them be left as they are.

I used an Ana White plan to create my own version of a double drawer. The double drawer allowed me to put baking utensils in the lower part, and smaller gadgets (peelers, presses, etc) easy to reach on the top. We've been using it for a few months and I really love it. Perhaps I will finally get rid of my potato masher as the only thing it does is prevent drawers from opening. Perhaps...

Here's how I did it.

I'll admit that fried chicken is not in my wheel house. I grew up with a very European centered cuisine, and while I love BBQ and have mastered other American comfort foods (mac and cheese, meatloaf, pot roast) fried chicken has remained elusive..until now.
 
It's never come out crispy enough, but I now know the trick, and it's a game changer. So if you want to make easy fried chicken that will rival the Colonel, read on.

I decided that a global pandemic was the best time to gut my kitchen and rebuild it myself, from scratch...I've had better ideas...I've also had worse ideas. For the most part, I'm really happy with how it's turning out.

The plan was a kitchen "refresh" as opposed to a full remodel. So the cabinets, counters, backsplash and decor was getting redone, but I was keeping the appliances. Which means the dishwasher that came with the house, that ugly but unfortunately it still works dishwasher had to stay.

So what's a gal to do with an ugly dishwasher in the middle of new cabinets...paint it of course! I decided to try to make it look like a built in "panel" dishwasher. It turned out it was super easy, inexpensive, and did the trick (until we can replace it)! So if you want to cover up an older dishwasher, this could be the solution for you. Here's how I did it...

Each month I come up with a "word of the month" to sort of guide me but also reflect on where I am personally, professionally, and here in this little creative space. I've been bad at sharing these lately, but my goal for August in this space is more consistency, nope that's not the word ;). ​
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Remember that time I decided to renovate my own kitchen during a global pandemic? Oh the crazy things that I decide to do. To be fair, I had decided to do all this prior to the stay at home situation, so it was ready to go, and if you're going to be stuck at home with a kitchen that is slowly sinking by the day...you may as well use your new found time to do something about it.
 
I've been trying to update on progress, but sometimes I get in a rhythm and get stuck in the "big picture." So I'm going to try to break down some of the components of this reno. Let's talk countertops...what I used..how I did it...what I messed up on...what I would do differently. If I can do this with no previous experience, so can you. Ready? Okay let's go. ​