Remodel: Part 1 {The Kitchen}

I spend more active hours in the kitchen than I do in any other room in the house. Lets be honest, cooking and dishes takes time! Consequently, I always love a pretty and functional kitchen. In every remodel Lee and I have done, we've spent the most attention and expense in our kitchens. I've been told its an investment that is always returned when/if you ever decide to sell. I know for me, when looking to buy a house the kitchen is a big determining factor.

When we bought our house, the kitchen needed dire attention. The house had been sitting empty for several years and time had taken it's toll.

So first up on our remodel list was the kitchen! This is the second kitchen remodel Lee and I have done; however, this was more like a total overhaul rather than a minor face lift.

BEFORE PICTURES

Alterations/Additions:

One thing I disliked immediately was the fact that there was no bar area. It felt as if there was no divider between the living room and the kitchen. I love an open floor plan, but this seemed a little too open… So we raised the bar and extended the countertop to make the esthetics more appealing. While messing with the cabinetry, we also went ahead and raised some of the upper cabinets in specific areas to create a custom feel.

Finally, I had a pull-out trash can added. Best. Decision. Ever. I hate to see trash cans sitting out in a kitchen. I don't know why, but it is a major pet peeve of mine. Who wants to look at trash and smell it while your cooking and eating anyways? So, to fix this dilemma, we had a pull-out trash can worked into our design. I added a heavier pull to this cabinet so that it was easily pulled out even with a full trash can. Very pleased with this little gem. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone who is remodeling their kitchen to find a place to add this idea to your design. Add a hydraulic soft-close cabinet hinge and BAM, pure genius.

Once the cabinetry work was finished, we had all the cabinets painted. I chose White Dove by Benjamin Moore to be my cabinet color throughout the house as well as my trim color. The wall color in the kitchen is a customized version of Grey Moire by Pratt and Lambert and the ceiling color is Refined AF-75 by Benjamin Moore. [A big thank you to Sharon at Kolor Key for helping me pick the perfect coordinating colors.]

Next up was my sink. I debated and debated on which sink and what finish to go with for my kitchen. After visiting with several friends who had experience with the different options I was choosing between, I ended up deciding on a ROHL Shaws Sink.  I absolutely LOVE my sink!!! It is by far one of my most favored remodel items. I would highly recommend this sink to anyone in the market for a new kitchen sink.

I chose the Brizo Solna Kitchen Faucet and have been very pleased with it. I have found that the sprayer is not nearly as strong as they are when they are separate from the spout, but I love the fact that it is hidden as well as a single handle pull-down. It definitely falls more into the modern category but it fit in perfectly for my style. I added a built-in soap dispenser as well to keep a minimalistic appearance. To finish off the look, I added a marble tiled backsplash.

Once the sink was installed then came my quartzite countertop. I was able to cut out the middle man when it came to my granite. I found the granite that I wanted directly from a granite yard (I used Verona Marble Company). The general public is not allowed to buy directly from the granite yard, but the installer that you hire is able to directly purchase. After much research and many recommendations, I chose my installer (StoneTec) and granite (Super White Quartzite). This way I only had to pay the installer rather than having an up charge to purchase from a granite company. Thanks to my dear friend Nikki for that advice!

Finally after all the cutting, sanding, and painting of the cabinets, our hardwood floors were installed. Although the floor salesman thought I was crazy for wanting dark hardwood floors, I am very pleased and happy with my choice.

Now that all the "hard work" was finished, it was time to accessorize. New appliances and hardware from Restoration Hardware was added. Additional can lights were added, along with under cabinet puck lights and above cabinet lighting.  The finishing touches on our kitchen remodel is now complete! I love how it turned out and wouldn't change a thing!

LOVE my crystal knobs for the cabinet doors!

Stainless pulls for drawers

The pulls and knobs put together

AFTER

The curved architecture of the house was a favorite that we kept throughout the remodel

Coming soon-- Living Room Remodel

NLI Signing Day

Well 2014 National Signing Day has come and gone! Three of my husband's football players signed National Letters of Intent to play at various universities. I am incredibly proud and excited for these young men. Hard work pays off and they are seeing that in a big way this week.

After several offers from schools across the state, our Beggs players chose to divide up between NEO and Northwestern Oklahoma State. Yesterday, we had their official signing day at the high school with their families and friends.

Although our team and town will miss our seniors, we are excited for what the Lord has in store not only in there lives, but also for the future of the Beggs Demon Football program.

Remember Seniors, always keep first things first and the rest will fall into place.

DoLee Wolf Signing with NEO

Shaliamere Rentie Signing with NEO

Patrick Cantrell Signing with Northwestern Oklahoma State

Families, Coaches, and Admin with those signing

Football Coaches and their Signing Seniors

My Husband (Coach Blank) addressing the underclassman

For more pictures of the Beggs Golden Demon Football team, click here.

Catching Up

As you all well know, I have been terrible at blogging the last few months. Where has the time gone?! Thankfully for the snow days, I am able to grab a few free moments…

We won our first round in the playoffs against Claremore Sequoyah and headed off to Checotah to play for the Bi-District Championship.

The Checotah game is by far the COLDEST game I have EVER sat through. The temperatures were in the teens and that did not account for the wind chill. The game was postponed from Friday night to Saturday night due to winter weather. I had layers upon layers upon layers and still shivered the whole game.

It was a INTENSE game, yet our Golden Demons pulled out a 34-28 win and became the 2013 Bi-District Champions!

Time for the Quarterfinals (and Thanksgiving)! Because our team practiced through break, we were not able to go home for Thanksgiving. Thankfully, my family brought Thanksgiving to us! Football and a feast all in one. 

We all knew this game was going to be tough, but our boys gave it all they had. We lost in the Quarterfinals to the soon to be State Champions, Kingfisher.

We ended our football season this year at 10-3. We were Bi-District Champions and State Quarterfinalists! This season was definitely one to remember. The team chemistry was unbelievable. They were much more than a football team, they were/are family.

For more pictures of the Beggs Golden Demon Football team, click here. 

Christmas at the Blank's

Christmas came and with it our traditional Christmas cookies. My mother is a spectacular cookie maker & decorator. Every Christmas we decorate cookies to send out to family and friends… and this year was no exception.

We rang in the New Year by putting the finishing touches on Colonel's Horse Stall. The barn isn't quite finished yet, but we skipped ahead and finished Colonel's stall so he could get out of this crazy winter weather.

 And I must say, he is one happy horse! Especially on snow days like this…

NYE Cookies Mom & I made

2014 has been a whirlwind around our house so far. With college recruiting at its peek, my husband has been here, there and everywhere. It's exciting to see the plans the Lord has for these young people start to unfold. 

As I sat folding socks on the couch and my husband with his laptop at hand writing a football article, I started reflecting on just how far the Lord has taken us over the past year. It was last year around this time that life was the most stressful it has ever been. The Lord allowed challenges and hardships to come into our life, causing us to cling ever so tightly to Him. He showed us that our purpose in life should always outshadow our goals. Goals can and will change, but purpose always remains. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the here and now that you quickly forget the big picture. 

Although I do not miss the circumstances the Lord allowed in our paths for a short while, I am so very grateful for them. For without trials, faith would never be strengthened. It is in the hard times that the Lords face shines ever so brightly. 

I am incredibly grateful on a daily basis for what the Lord has done for us. It's easy to run to the Throne in hard times, but I pray He continually reminds me that it's on the mountaintop that strength is renewed.

As we turn the page on 2013, I will always remember this year as one that was Divinely directed. So here's to 2014, let His name be lifted through our purpose as we strive to accomplish the goals He has placed before us!

The Race for the Gold Ball

It's that time of year again… unless you're a coach's wife, you have no idea what I'm referring to. Although the season may seem intense, nothing is as tense as the weeks of the State Playoffs. Everything changes in these 5 weeks. Teams may be predictable in season, but once the playoffs hit- all things are possible. It's win or go home-- and no one is ever ready to head home.

The Golden Demons charging in to the Stadium
(The photograph I risked my safety for-- so glad it turned out!)

Thankfully, our Golden Demon's have already found themselves in the second round of the state playoffs! Rally towels were swinging like crazy in the Golden Demon Stadium this past Friday night! It's exciting for the fans, but for the coaching wives it's a whole new level of excitement. All of the HOURS and HOURS our husbands put in [whether it's on the field in practice, in the film room, or simply on their own working and watching film] finally starts to play off- in a big way.

A friend and fellow coaching wife and I always sit together at games-- well we did until I almost took her out with my great excitement when we intercepted the ball in a BIG play with only 8 minutes left in the game. I went to hug her and while I was hugging her I yelled, we just won the ball game!!! (Bless her heart, I pretty much tackled her) She started laughing and people around us thought we were crazy-- I thought to myself, weren't not crazy, we've just been around our husbands so long that we are starting to think like them and knew that we had just won a ballgame!

Beggs Making the headlines in the Tulsa World Saturday Morning 

It was a rough week prior to the victory. Lee was diagnosed with acute bronchitis in the middle of the week, but is receiving treatment as if he has pneumonia considering he will not be able to stay out of the cold weather for the unforeseen future. In addition, another coach came down the a nasty stomach virus the day of the game. Both, still came out and did their job and helped lead our team without one complaint. So proud of the staff that surrounds my husband on a daily basis. The Lord is so good!

This was the first playoff victory for my husband while being the head coach. Consequently, it was a big night for our household!

So proud of this man!

As Lee and I were walking off the field, one of our starting running backs asked me if I would make the team some more of the gooey butter cake that I have randomly surprised them with throughout the season. So of course I said yes!

After buying out the stock on the shelves at Walmart of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and cake mix I went to work. Making enough Gooey Butter Cake for our entire team is quite a challenge! High school boys can put away food on any day, much less after a big practice. Lee asks that they stay away from a lot of sugar while in season, but I think this calls for an exception.

Gooey Butter Cake has always been a staple dessert in our home. My St. Louis roots can't help but love a good Gooey Butter Cake. 

After baking, baking, and more baking, I finally have enough to take the team tonight when practice is over. I love being able to bring little goodies to the team and the coaches throughout the season. It makes what they do day in and day out a little brighter. 

Now it's off to bring home another W for our town this coming Friday night! Who would have thought I would be anxiously awaiting another victory that causes my husband to be gone so much? 

You better believe I'll still be the loudest and proudest fan in the stands!!! 

Zucchini Chips

Being a coach's wife doesn't leave much time for home cooked meals during the season.  We are constantly on the run to the next game, getting home ultra late after meetings and practice, or simply just exhausted from all the special functions and events that football season brings. Thus, clean eating has not been priority in our house. Let's be real- it's more of a grab and go or throw some comfort food our way time of year. No matter the year, football season always brings its challenges and this is usually the hardest. My crockpot literally broke from extreme use this season. (Thankfully, Williams-Sonoma ships quickly--otherwise Lee would be out of luck for a while!)

However this week we decided enough was enough. A healthy diet leads to so much more than slim figures. It gives you more energy, better moods, clearer skin and a happier well-being all around. 

So today I ventured out and made two new dishes. (Thanks, Pinterest!)

First on the menu was Zucchini Chips. Any form of chip is always welcomed with eager arms in our home… however, I was very skeptical about this particular kind. I mean, a vegetable as a chip? No way that could actually be enjoyable, right? 

Wrong.

They are surprisingly delicious!

The Cast of Characters:

Zucchini

Apple Cider Vinegar

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Start out by slicing the Zucchini ultra thin. I read that lots of people liked theirs about 1/4 inch thick; however, my favorite ones were the ultra thin ones that throughly dried and got extra crispy.

I put all my Zucchini slices into a bowl and poured a little apple cider vinegar over the top and stirred. This simply gave a little tangy flavor to the chips. It is definitely an optional step.

Next, line your Zucchini on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (I buy precut parchment paper specifically for baking sheets from King Arthur Flour. I highly recommend them! Grab one, cook, and then throw it away with all the mess once you are finished. It's lovely.)

The next step can be done one of two ways: either buy Pam with Olive Oil and spray a light coating over the slices, or in my case since I didn't have any of the Olive Oil Pam Spray, I chose to use a brush and lightly coat the slices myself.

After you've oiled the slices, pull out your salt and pepper and go to town. However, remember that the Zucchini will shrink in the oven and thus your spices seem to double in taste once the chips are finished. I definitely over did the pepper--so take it from me, less is more in this case!

Throw them in a 230 degree oven for 1 hour. If the chips are not dried out and crispy at the one hour mark, keep cooking them but check back every 10 minutes so they do not get over done. Mine ended up needing about and hour and a half total cooking time. 

Finally the chips were served.

Although they still can't compare to a good ol' baked potato chip, they make their own statement and give another veggie serving as a bonus!

These will definitely be on repeat in our home.

Up next: Oopsie Rolls (Gluten-Free Buns)