5 Tips for Dealing with Holiday Stress

The holidays can be such a bright and cheerful time. The downtime provides opportunities to reflect on what's really important in life and spend quality time with friends and family. Something else the holiday season is great at is stirring up a lot of anxiety and stress. Between finding the time to buy gifts for everyone on your list to coordinating plans with friends and family to trying to make and send holiday cards with an entire year's worth of updates, the holidays can be a real pain.

I find myself wrestling with a lot of stress and sleepless nights during this time of year. My own personal expectations about what the holidays should look like collides with what is realistic. I wish I had all of the time, energy and money in the world to buy an endless amount of gifts for the people I love all while decorating my house to look like a magazine and cooking amazing meals. 

And even though I know every year that this is impossible, I still try. All of the planning, buying, errand running, and cooking never makes me feel as satisfied as I think it should and being tired on top of it all leads to making me a very unpleasant person to spend the holidays with. Besides realizing that my true desires will never be met in the days leading up to Christmas or even in Christmas Day itself, I am learning how to deal with some of these stressors and really enjoy the season for what it's meant to be: a shadow of what's to come when Jesus returns.

And so while these are just some ideas on how to navigate a potentially stressful time, it's important to keep in mind that just trying to manage your feelings and unmet desires won't lead to peace of mind or true joy. That can only be found in the true meaning of this season: That Jesus came to save sinners. 

In the midst of the chaos, here are a few tips that have helped me stay relatively sane...

1. Begin a list of Christmas gifts early on

Throughout the year the people you spend time with will occasionally drop hints about something they would really enjoy receiving as a gift. This could be a passing comment about a kitchen gadget they would really love to have or a raving review about a movie they just saw in theaters that is due to come out on DVD around Christmastime. As you hear these things, take note, and if they haven't gotten around to buying it themselves, put it on an ongoing list of gifts you want to give your loved ones. They may even forget they wanted it until you give it to them which adds to the surprise!

If you start a Christmas gift list earlier in the year you can keep an eye out for deals that you might be able to take advantage of so that you can get the best deal possible and not have to worry about the holiday shopping madness. 

2. Learn the importance of give and take

Besides the pressure I put on myself to make the holidays perfect there is a lot of outside pressure from society and at times well-intended people I know to "perform" during the holidays. There is always that nagging albeit terrible feeling that you didn't hang enough Christmas lights or send enough Christmas cards or make a fancy feast that matches the importance of the occasion. I'd love to do all of these things but as I mentioned it is literally impossible. 

Spoiler alert: CHRISTMAS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. Unless you are Martha Stewart on steroids it is crazy to think you can do all of the things you want and still be pleasant on Christmas morning. So decide where you want to spend your time and energy. If I go all out on the house and decorate every nook and cranny maybe I'll go really simple on meals this year. Or if I decide I want to buy my hubby that huge expensive gift this year maybe I'll go light on decorating the house and not spend the money there. And whatever you had to "give" on you can really go all out in that area next year. Even though it feels like it, it isn't the end of the world!

3. Remember there are seasons

As I mentioned, I'd love to buy my family and friends all of the items I think they would love but there's just not enough time or money for that. Especially since getting married, the same questions always come up around the holidays... who should we buy gifts for and how much should we spend? In the first few years of our marriage we were making next to nothing since JD was working his first career job and I was still in college. It used be really discouraging for me when we weren't able to give many gifts to our family and friends.

But just like everyone told me it would, that season has come to and end and while we aren't rolling around in cash, we are doing a lot better financially and can be more generous than we ever have been. The truth is there are different seasons in life. Maybe you just had a baby and there is no way you are hanging a garland or cooking the family dinner. Or maybe you are single and on the job hunt and you're not able to spend money on Christmas gifts like you would like to. That really is ok! There will be another season of your life when you can focus on those things, but keeping a healthy perspective during this season involves realizing where you are at in life, accepting that and making decisions accordingly.

4. Plan quiet time

Even the incessant sounds of Christmas music can start to drive you nuts after a while if you don't make a point to take a step back, take a deep breath, and get some downtime. This might seem impossible when you have a long list of gifts you haven't picked up yet, but planning time to rest is a really important part of enjoying the season.

The hustle and bustle can bleed into your days off if you aren't able to recognize your limitations and where possible, factor in some rest and relaxation. I like to sleep in and then whip up one of my favorite holiday treats: coffee and bailey's :)

5. Just enjoy

Some of my favorite Christmas memories aren't when I was tearing open a gift or pulling a perfectly cooked roast out of the oven. My favorite memories don't usually involve doing much of anything except for just spending time with the people I love and enjoying them as the gifts that they are. Sometimes in all of the planning I hold up the tasks as more important than the people they are meant to bless. This just leads to more frustration and disappointment in the end.

This holiday season my hope for myself and all of you is that we can just enjoy. 

Puppy Fever: It's On

I have been wanting a puppy for a couple of years now. Each time JD and I talked about it there was always a reason to hold off: not enough money, not enough time, too much responsibility. Yadda yadda yadda. 

I've always tried to convince my reasonable husband that NOW is the perfect time, but I heeded his wisdom and I'm glad I did because I am realizing during this whole process how much money, time, and energy a puppy requires (and we don't even have one yet!)

But the time has come my friends. We are getting a puppy. And not just any puppy... a Christmas puppy! There aren't many things more exciting than a Christmas puppy. My wonderful parents are contributing to the expenses as a Christmas gift. They are the best.

After being set on getting a Shiba Inu for the longest time we decided that because of their heavy coat and temperament, they wouldn't be a good fit for us, so after much research and consideration we settled on a Goldendoodle.

I never imagined I would own a poodle, not even a poodle crossbreed because poodles have always carried this stereotype in my mind as being high maintenance and only owned by millionaires. Turns out I was wrong. They are incredibly smart, easy to train, and have pretty easy going personalities. Combine that with the sweet and loyal temperament of the Golden Retriever and you have a match made in doggy heaven.

We are so excited to welcome this little pup to our family. The verdict is still out on a name, but I'm sure once we meet him it will be easier to decide. The breeder we chose is a fantastic family that lives just outside of Salem Oregon. I would recommend them to anyone considering a puppy. They have been fantastic to work with. I will post updates as we welcome him to the family and I'm sure I'll have some great trial and error stories as I've heard the puppy stage is fun but challenging.

Here are a couple of pictures of our sweet little Christmas gift courtesy of Highland Valley Doodles. The pictures range from him at about 1.5 weeks to him at nearly 5 weeks. They grow so fast! Something I'm not looking forward to...

The Rich Food and Relationships in "Chef"

I have a lot of opinions about movies. Film is one of my favorite expressions of art and preferred storytelling platforms. I can totally geek out over film analysis and discussion, so I am excited to start posting my opinions and ideas on my favorite films from time to time.

*Spoilers ahead 


As soon as I saw the trailer for Chef I knew I would love it. Most movies that revolve around food get a high approval rating from me. But I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this movie and realized that while the main motifs center around cooking and food, the character and relationship development is so rich.

Jon Favreau has always been a favorite of mine. The holiday classic, Elf, sealed the deal for me, but he has also directed and starred in a number of other films that have gained him notoriety in recent years (the Iron Man trilogy being among them). While he tends towards the flashy, audience-pleaser type genre, there has always been a way about him that hints at greater depth and a creative eye. I've come to appreciate this about him and my assumptions were confirmed in this movie which he wrote, directed, and starred in.

Besides the fact that I was drooling during most of the movie because of the artistically stunning creation and display of food, I also enjoyed the parallels between the food Carl prepared and the type of character he developed into. 

The story opens with this tension apparent in Carl's relationship with cooking and his desire to be an extraordinary chef and more directly his relationship with his boss, Riva. Dustin Hoffman, The high-end Southern California restaurant owner, was brilliantly cast and acts as a roadblock to Carl being the chef he wants to be. Hoffman characterizes a leader who calls the shots, but leaves no room for creative freedom or risk. When Carl is fired for refusing to play it safe by cooking his most popular dishes on the night a famous food blogger and reviewer visits the restaurant, his humbling journey of self-discovery and self-sacrifice begins.

After a dramatic turn of events in the form of an embarrassing viral video leads him to travel to Miami with his son and ex-wife played by Sofia Vergara (another favorite of mine), he is provided an opportunity to put his creative culinary vision on display by running a food truck. Meanwhile we are being set up for a significant shift in his relationship with his ten year old son, Percy. The constant disappointment that his son experiences at the beginning of the story because of Carl's spotty commitment to spend time with him, begins to transform into a deeper appreciation for his dad and for his dad's passion: cooking. 

The mold-ridden, smelly food truck provided by Carl's ex-wife's ex-husband, hilariously played by Robert Downy Jr., is given a major scrub down and there is a clear comparison between Carl's life which has become dilapidated and in need of a major overhaul and the truck. The purging process involves a cross country road trip with Percy and Carl's former sous chef and friend, Martin. The story takes on some awesome healing and redemptive themes and one aspect that I really liked: simplicity.

Carl goes from preparing elaborate dishes in a polished environment, to assembling Cuban sandwiches in a truck. The simple act of recreating his favorite street food, which fueled his passion for cooking and food in the first place, helped him to realize that creating good food is really about the community it creates and the creativity that it inspires.

I thought Favreau did a great job making the story relevant and timely. While his relationship with his son goes deeper on the long road trip during which they make stops in several major cities to sell their food to the masses, Percy takes on the role of line chef and quasi social media marketer, documenting their trip and tweeting their adventures along the way. Long lines of hungry people are waiting for them at each location as Percy tips them off to their next stop. This creative and modern twist to the story reinforces Carl's realization that his son is not just a great addition to their team, but valuable as a visionary himself, playing to Carl's weaknesses and helping the food truck become the success that it is.

Chef is a feel good movie but part of what makes it such a great story is that it is not only a crowd pleaser, but also an honest portrayal of what it looks like to pursue your passion and experience relational restoration in the process. Maybe the real storytelling feat in this movie is Favreau's ability to communicate to the audience that when his passion for family matches his passion for food, he is able to enjoy life in a way that is unmatched.

I'm also a bit partial to this movie because of the strong Latin ties and cultural nods. The music, general loudness, and Spanish sprinkled throughout made me want to call my abuela and invite her over for a cooking party.

I give it an A (meaning you should absolutely see this movie. If you don't you'll regret it. Make sure to eat before. And maybe after too. Basically this movie is going to want to make you eat really good food.)

Media Roundup: Apps to Simplify Your Life, Quirky Thanksgiving Day Workouts, Daniel Radcliff Raps, and More

Happy Monday! Only 10 days until Thanksgiving and 45 days until Christmas! And as the famous meme goes, "hang in there baby!"

I am not someone who likes to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I really want to get excited for Turkey day and then get excited for Christmas. If I don't pace myself I will get overwhelmed with all of the holiday madness and all that there is to do. But that's just me :)

Even though I'm not blasting the Christmas tunes yet, I am still anxiously anticipating the holiday season as I'm sure you all are. Here is a little pre-holiday funk to peruse while you try to stay on task and force yourself to be productive even though time off is on the horizon.

1. 8 Apps to Help you Get More Done in Less Time

Speaking of productivity, I found this article from Mashable to be extremely helpful in identifying some good digital tools to help you save some time and work towards achieving a healthy work/life balance -- an issue I know I am constantly dealing with.

The research has already been done, so the only question is, which app, if any, works best for you?

2. Quirky Thanksgiving Workouts

I personally associate Thanksgiving with overeating delicious food and then laying on the couch (or ground) moaning about how much I overate, but I guess there are people out there who look for ways to get some exercise on Thanksgiving. Again, I am not one of those people.

I had to mention the article though because Seattle is on the list of cities that offers quirky workouts on Thanksgiving Day. A full marathon is apparently offered through the streets of Seattle. I must not have known about it because I was indoors. Eating mashed potatoes and gravy. :)

3. Daniel Radcliff Raps

You probably had no idea that Harry Potter is also a rapping wizard, and so prepare for your mind to be blown by the magic you are about to witness in this video.

4. 31 Ways to Be Creative

No matter what you do, working towards being a more creative individual both personally and professionally can be a benefit for a number of reasons, some of which are mentioned in this article.

Maybe in your time off in the next couple of weeks you want to tackle a project that you haven't had time for. Whatever you plan to do, get out there and create!

5. Helpful Tips for a Job Interview

I know this post is a bit selfish and mostly directed at me. Actually I know that it is :) 

I am in the throws of job searching right now and am walking through the dreaded interview stage. Or at least I dread it. There are some weirdos out there (like my husband) who likes to interview. Whether you love it or hate it, check out these helpful interview tips from Mashable.

Why Grown Adults Would Own Two Small Rodents...

This past weekend JD and I spent the majority of our Sunday making some tweaks to what we have deemed the "piggy palace." My father-in-law and JD worked tirelessly to build this indoor hutch for our little piggies over the summer and we are quite happy with the outcome...

You may be wondering why, in our limited time, we would want to spend the better part of a weekend working on making our guinea pigs more comfortable in their little home. 

You may be wondering why two adults would own guinea pigs in the first place. I have asked myself the same question when they wake us up at night with their squeaks, but they have become a part of our little family and even though we've talked about it on several occasions we just can't bring ourselves to give them away. Here are a few reasons why we keep Camila and Lulu around...

They are Great Apartment Pets

I have wanted a dog for a long time, but besides the fact that they are expensive, it is hard to find an apartment in Seattle that allows dogs. Small animals, however are welcome in most places and they require a lot less time and money. 

When we go out of town we can leave them for several days at a time, and the times that we have been gone for longer our friends or family can just drop in and give them some food and water and they are set for a few more days. Low maintenance pets are perfect for our lifestyle in this season.

It's an Opportunity to Care for Something Besides Ourselves

Guinea pigs by no means require the same level of commitment as a baby or even a dog, but it's good for JD and I to be responsible for something small and dependent on us. In some ways it prepares us for future responsibility.

There are nights when I do not want to clean their hutch or I do not want to spend the extra couple of minutes feeding them in the morning before I head to work, but it's good to be good stewards of the little lives we have been entrusted with, even if they don't appreciate it.

Let's face it, They're Adorable

JD and I both owned guinea pigs growing up and think they are super cute and fun to have around. Their little squeaks and mannerisms really are adorable. We both love animals, even the small, skittish kind.

There's Actually a Surprising Number of People Who Love Them

Guinea pigs are actually becoming more popular, even for adults. There are a number of people who chronicle their piggy adventures on Instagram such as stephsguineapigtures - one of my favorites.

And then there was the amazing Hyundai World Cup commercial where Tony the Wiz predicted the outcome of the Mexico v. Croatia game. He ended up being wrong, but hey he's a guinea pig. You can't expect too much.

And I have come across more and more articles about guinea pigs, like this Buzzfeed one of guinea pigs dressed like superheroes. 

And then there's Booboo the famous guinea pig, which my friend introduced me to a few months back. I mean come on. You've got to have a heart of stone if you don't think these pictures are cute.

You may not be rushing out to buy guinea pigs after reading this, but if I've nudged you in the direction of coming to appreciate this cute little animal, then my job here is done.

Easy Weeknight Side: Asparagus and Yellow Pepper Salad

An exciting thing happened last week. I created a side dish that was delicious and was thrown together with everything I already had in my refrigerator! I am not even kidding. It came from my own brain.

I still have a long way to go when it comes to being a chef and so my side dishes are usually pretty uninspiring: roasted veggies, fruit salads, etc. But last week I wanted to try something different and made something I had never tried before. I didn't even base it off of a recipe. This is huge for me, friends. And so I had to share.

Here is my recipe for a delicious, quick, weeknight salad that pairs great with a pasta dish.

Ingredients:

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips (this can definitely be a different pepper. Yellow is just what I had on hand)
1/2 pound of asparagus, ends trimmed and cut at a bias into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup of pine nuts, toasted
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil plus more to coat veggies for cooking
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, or another deliciously salty, shreddable cheese
salt & pepper to taste

First heat your oven to broil. I think mine was at 500 or so. After prepping all of the veggies, coat them with a bit of olive oil and pop them in the oven. While that cooks make your vinaigrette. To make the dressing combine the lemon juice, olive oil and then add salt and pepper to taste (you could also add a squeeze of honey if you wanted to make it a bit sweeter, but bell peppers are already pretty sweet)

Combine the bell pepper, asparagus, and pine nuts in a bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Top with cheese and serve!

I served mine alongside some homemade baked manicotti which was divine also. It was a good night in the Lorence house.The buttery-ness of the pine nuts was so lovely with the buttery/saltiness of the parmesan. Yum!

Enjoy!

Media Roundup: Cold Weather Prep Tips, The Benefits of Journaling, Zack Galifianakis, and More

We are constantly being pelted with a barrage of content and so I have gathered some of the articles and videos from the past couple of weeks that I have found inspiring, informative and downright funny. I'll be sharing these types of posts periodically. 

Living in small spaces for the past five years has led me to appreciate the helpful insights and design tips from Apartment Therapy. 

I don't live in a house, but many of these cold weather prep tips apply to apartment living too. At the very least read these 7 things to do now to prepare your home for winter just to get some design inspiration from the pictures! 

Brad Pitt + Zach Galifianakis = laughs for days. That's all I have to say about the latest episode of Between Two Ferns.

I journal every day for at least 15 minutes. All of my goals, hopes, and prayers go into a journal or moleskin as I try to grow personally and professionally, which is why I was excited to read an insightful article from Contently proposing that journaling the past can help you work smarter in the future. 

Even if you don't consider yourself a great writer or enjoy writing, the beauty of journaling is that it doesn't need to be pretty or even make sense, it just has to act as a road marker so that you can look at it later and reflect on how much you've grown and how you can improve moving forward.

Jim Carrey hosted Saturday Night Live this past weekend and while my husband and I rarely stay up as late as 1 AM we decided to risk being sleepy the next day to watch the comedy legend at his best. The episode was amazing by the way. 

Watching Carrey in action reminded my husband of another skit that he had seen him in a long time ago and he made me watch it. If you are a fan of Jim Carrey at all you will not be disappointed. I was cracking up when he showed me. 

I hope you are feeling more inspired or at the very least have a smile on your face after watching Jim Carrey try to rescue Will Ferrel in a jacuzzi. 

Cheers,
Hannah

Pacific Northwest Pro Tip: Fall at The Farm

Look at this cute bakery and giant cinnamon roll:

Now imagine yourself taking a big bite of this gooey cinnamon roll while watching a duck race and enjoying the smell of roasted corn and apple cider donuts. This doesn't just have to be a dream, friends.

This was my weekend. Sunday was one of the coolest days I've had in a long time (not literally, it was actually pretty warm). We went on a little adventure with some pretty amazing people to The Farm at Swan's Trail in Snohomish.

If you are looking for a fun fall activity look no further. This adorable farm just an hour Northeast of Seattle is pretty much a pumpkin patch on steroids. The corn maze, apple orchard and pumpkin patch are all on site. Everything from pig races to a petting zoo to just about every Fall treat known to man is all contained on this beautiful plot of land just outside the city. 

We picked out a gorgeous pumpkin which we carved later that night and got to touch baby animals! What more can you want?!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

Opting for Adventure

The end of September marked five years since my family and I made the 35 hour trek in our PT Cruiser to move me to the Pacific Northwest. September also marks five years since my husband and I got together. 

The week I moved to Seattle was a whirlwind. Besides moving across the country, I was trying to adapt to college life and meet new people. Everyday was exhausting!

Hello college and a brand new life!

The night JD asked me to be his girlfriend he took me to his favorite coffee shop, Zoka, where he sat me down and pretty much told me that he had come to the realization that he was in love with me. I was in shock to say the least. My husband was and is a passionate guy. It's part of what I love about him. Not many guys would tell a girl that he loves her on the first date. 

Life continued to be crazy that year. I threw myself into my school work, while dating a guy who was finishing up college when I was just starting. I was also bouncing back and forth between San Antonio and Seattle and feeling homesick. A lot. 

It felt scary moving away from friends and family to try to brave college on my own. It was really hard at times and there were days I wanted to catch the first flight home and leave the rainy weather behind me. But it was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I'm so glad I opted for the adventure instead of comfort.

Mine and JD's first picture together back when he wore earrings more often than I did

Anticipation for Fall and Summer in Review

Summer is over and along with it my desire to fly by the seat of my pants every day and just take whatever life throws at me. 

Isn't it neat how the seasons and the weather frame life's rhythms? That's at least how I have come to think about it. The Fall is my favorite time of year. When I was a student I always looked forward to the beginning of a new school year, new classes, new opportunities, a fresh start. Maybe it's just because I'm only a year out of college, but I still think of the Fall as the start of a "new year" even though technically January has dibs on New Years and new year resolutions and all that stuff. 

Since moving to Seattle I've had to adapt a bit to a different way of life. We get rainy/grey days for much of the calendar year, (typically November through April or May) but in return we get some of the most beautiful seasons. Summer and Fall are by far the best though. 

After losing my job in June I decided to take a couple of months off to recover from a long tiring season and just enjoy the weather, the beautiful city, and my friends. My days were mostly filled with house projects, visiting with friends, and laying out in the sun. It was pretty fantastic. 

After August came and went I dove headlong into job searching while still keeping a few side jobs on my plate. Mostly blogging and a bit of account management for a friend's startup. Job searching might be one of the worst necessary evils that exists. Especially for a young professional who wants to work in marketing. It turns out that everyone and their mom wants to work in marketing. Who knew?

Thankfully my husband landed an incredible job right around the time I lost mine and so I have had a lot of freedom to take my time and find a job I really want. I have emailed and met with a lot of people over the last few weeks trying to figure out what God has for me in terms of my career, but nothing has turned up and for a while I was really anxious about it. Finally after about a month of searching I came to the realization that I don't need to drive myself into the ground trying to find something. I can see this as an opportunity, not a burden. 

Around the same time I had this realization my good friend contacted me asking if I could watch their one-year-old son a couple of days a week. They were in serious need of help after their child care option fell through at the last minute. Even though babysitting hasn't been at the top of my "dream job" list I felt like it was the right thing to do. I still have time to find a permanent job, but I get to hang out with an adorable little boy and help my friend in the process.

So, my Fall schedule is starting to shape up and I have a lot of peace about what the next few months will look like. I am really excited to see what is in store. 

I took some time off from blogging as well to revamp my blog: change the design and refocus my goals. I am really happy with the design changes and rebrand! I feel that the new title is a better reflection of my life and what I want to write about (check out my About Me page!) I hope to write more often and continue to make improvements to this blog as it is much like the rest of my life: a work in progress.

As I mentioned, my summer was a blast and there were a few highlights that I want to share. I can't wait to jump into the Fall and enjoy all it has to offer, but before I do that, here is my summer in review...


I ate a lot of this:

I saw a lot of my favorite people:

I visited the beach and the mountains:

My sister came to Seattle!

I celebrated my 24th birthday with kayaks, paddle boards, and smooches from my hubby.

I reconnected with old friends and JD made a new one:

Credenza Makeover Tutorial: Part 2

After reading through part 1 of how to refurbish a large piece of furniture, here is a step by step guide on how to complete the project... 

4. Sand (If needed)

If your piece has a finish on it you will need to sand it. You can usually tell if the piece needs to be sanded by the look and feel of it. If the piece is a bit glossy looking and is smooth to the touch that usually means it has a finish that needs to be sanded off. I sanded my piece by hand, which took a lot of time, but because there was so much detail I preferred it. If you have an electric sander by all means use that, but you will probably need some sheets of sand paper as well to get to some of the hard-to-reach places.

I decided to use two different drop cloths. One for sanding and one for painting. When sanding you are looking to strip the finish from the piece and you'll end up having a "weathered" look to the wood like so:

5. Paint

After you've sanded your piece the most important thing to do is clean all of the sawdust. When you start to paint you don't want any sawdust mixed in there. To be thorough I swept my patio and wiped each part of the piece down with a damp wash cloth.

Once you are sure that there is no sawdust floating around, make your final decisions on how you are going to paint the piece. Here is a piece of advice: let the piece itself determine how you will paint it. What I mean by that is that you should use the natural features of the furniture like borders, lips, etc. to decide what color you want where. I did yellow as my primary color and so I used that for the face of the drawers and the main sections of the body. I wanted a white top so I used white on the top surface, the borders of the drawers, the flower details on the top drawers, and the bottom border. 

Painting the bottom border was by far the most difficult because I had go in with a small paint brush and make the lines myself. Some people might want to just tape it off to make it easier, but I was lazy and impatient :) The bottom border is definitely not perfect just because the yellow and white bumped right up against each other, but you can't tell unless you look closely...

6. And Paint Some More...

Here is an important thing to note: the quality of the paint will definitely impact how much time it takes to complete the project. I decided to go with a bit of a cheaper brand this time and I wish I had just gone with the expensive stuff (Shermin Williams). I had to paint 7 coats on this baby! It took me several weeks almost working on it every week day for a few hours a day! All of the hard work and time it took is part of the reason why I'm so proud of it :) Here is a picture of like 3 or 4 coats in. Definitely not enough...

When choosing your colors, consider how dark the piece is and how light your colors are. That is another thing that impacted how many coats I had to do. White and yellow are about as light as you can get and the color of the wood was fairly dark. Ideally you'd only have to do 3 or so coats so that it looks completely solid. Usually paint cans have labels on them that have instructions on how much time you should wait for a coat to dry before you start painting again. I just used my best judgement, usually waiting at least an hour or less for smaller areas.

Finally.... Put the piece back together, (put hardware back on, drawers back in, etc.) move it to the desired location, and you're done!

Make sure to keep the original paint swatches or write the paint color down somewhere so that if you need to buy more later to do touch ups you can. 

Take a step back and take it all in! It was a lot of work and you just added a beautiful new piece of character to your home. Nice job! Hopefully you are as happy with the outcome as I was with my project. 

Do you have any furniture refurbishing or just general DIY success stories? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Credenza Makeover Tutorial: Part 1

After taking a break from writing for a couple of weeks to spend 10 fun-filled days making trouble around Seattle with my little sister, I am back at it finishing up some house projects before I buckle down and find a full time job. 

My last big DIY project for the summer was a beast to work on, but I am SO happy with how it turned out. I thought I'd share a two part step-by-step tutorial on how to refurbish a large piece of furniture, so here we go...

Have you ever expected to breeze through a project and end up completely wrong about how much time and energy it would take to finish? That's what this project was for me. I kept thinking, "I've done something like this before, how hard can it be?" And "I have plenty of time to finish this. It will be a piece of cake." Yeah... I was wrong. I learned a few things from this project that I will share so that you don't have to make the same mistakes I did :)

Since I stopped working full time my days have been filled with A TON of DIY projects, which I have loved, but I am glad to be wrapping up the many projects I have going on and I know my husband will be glad not to have our house in a constant state of chaos :)

I bought this credenza at Goodwill for $70. It was a pretty exciting find. The piece is REALLY well-built and has some great character and beautiful detail. Here is the before picture of the piece...

And some after pics...

As you can see I kept the original hardware and tried to go for a Spanish style that would brighten up our office. I am loving it! It makes the whole room seem more welcoming. Here are some tips on how to refurbish your own piece of furniture:

1. Make a Plan

Having a plan in place will save you a lot of stress and time later and while this might not be the most fun part of the project, trust me, you will be glad that you put some thought in up front.

Some good questions to ask yourself before you start: 

Where will I work on this? 
What is my timeline? 
What kind of materials do I need? 
How much work am I willing/able to put in? 
Where will this piece end up in my house?

2. Pick Your Colors!

This is the fun part. Now you could just go to Lowe's and spend hours browsing all of the colors trying to envision what it will look like and narrowing it down swatch by swatch, (like I did) but I would recommend NOT doing this. Instead of spending WAY too much time at the store and getting all confused about what color you even wanted in the first place because you've looked at so many color swatches your eyes can't seem to distinguish between blue and green, a better idea would be to consider what color(s) you want to paint the piece based on what you already have in your house. After that you can pick 5-10 of your favorite shades, take them home and see how they fit with the rest of the room and the piece itself and then... sleep on it. 

Paint can be expensive, and so a helpful tip to save money is to go online to some of the home improvement and paint store websites and see if they have any promotions going on. That's what I did and I ended up getting some great paint on sale.

3. Gather the Necessary Tools & Materials

Here is a list of materials you may need for the project, depending on your vision for the finished product:

- Sand paper or electric sander
- Your choice of paint and the right quantity (I went with two different colors, 1 gallon for the main color and 1 quart for the trim color)
- Several sizes of good quality paint brushes
- Painting tape
- Drop cloths
- Washcloth
- Any tools to take the hardware off

Once you've bought all of your materials and decided where you will be working on your project, it's time to get the piece ready for sanding and/or painting. 

Stay tuned for part two of this tutorial next week where I will get into sanding and painting the piece. 

Do you have any fun DIY and/or house projects you've been working on this summer? Tell me about it in the comments below!

The Blessing of Inconvenience

I was still brooding from having to stay late for a friend’s wedding to help with post-reception clean up when my phone rang. My husband told me earlier in the week that he had volunteered us to be part of the cleanup crew, but my annoyance level kicked up a notch when we ended up staying past 10:00 and I watched the precious last few minutes of my Saturday night get eaten up by sweeping floors. It was to my surprise that shortly thereafter my close friend and former co-volunteer with REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) called me. She asked if I was up for going on an “adventure.” My friend had just become a permanent member of the REST staff and was now receiving emergency REST hotline calls as part of her job. She had just received a call from a transgender woman who had fled from her pimp in California and was desperate for help. My friend was about to meet her at the train station and asked if I wanted to join her for the impromptu meet up. Here I was feeling incredibly inconvenienced about having to spend a few extra minutes throwing away dirty party napkins and I was faced with another opportunity that would turn my comfy Saturday night into a very uncomfortable, inconvenient situation.

Having volunteered on the direct outreach team for REST for nearly three years myself, I understood the urgency of the situation. I also knew that having the support of another volunteer was incredibly important. After taking a brief moment to discuss it with my husband, I agreed to meet up with her so that we could drive together and pick up Linda from the train station. Our goal was simple: pick her up and find a shelter where she could spend the night. Immediately upon pulling up and loading Linda’s luggage into our car we could tell that she was scared and reeling from the day's events. We got to briefly hear her story and just listened in shock as she recounted her horrifying experience. We tried to convey our heartfelt sorrow at all of the things she had suffered in just a 24-hour period. She was on her own without any family and friends to provide her shelter, without a job, money, or even a place to sleep for the night. But the most important thing was for us to to somehow help her to realize that she was not alone and that we wanted to do everything we could to help her.

Without enough time to plan in advance we were not able to find Linda a shelter to stay at that night. Our next best option was to go to a 24-hour diner, buy her a meal and have her stay there until morning. We joined her for a quick cup of coffee and got to hear more about her life. Our differences seemed endless when we first met. Age, lifestyle, and religion, just to name a few. But as we continued to talk and I got to know more about her, I realized we were the same in so many ways. Both of us enjoying coffee over conversation, our desire for safety and love, an appreciation for family and friends. As we left the diner I was incredibly humbled to have heard her story and to have the opportunity to help her that night. Talking with Linda put things in perspective and I realized how petty I can be -- trying to protect my comfort above helping and serving others. 

A few days later I received another phone call. It was my friend asking if I could meet Linda at the train station again. She had a friend down south who had offered to let her stay with her while she figured out what do to next and so I was going to buy her a ticket to get there. I was genuinely excited to get to see Linda one more time. It was a beautiful, sunny Seattle day. When I pulled up at the train station she was sitting on her luggage on the curb, sunglasses on, soaking up the rarity of the sunshine in February. We got to chat for a while and she expressed her deep gratitude for everything my friend and I had done for her. As I was driving away, I realized that I had been incredibly blessed by her. Ironically I was blessed by the very thing I had been trying to avoid: inconvenience.

*The name of the woman in this story has been changed for her protection


If you are unaware of the amazing work that REST does for men and women enslaved by the sex industry, please take a look at their website, follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and consider how you can help combat the all-too-common issue of sex trafficking.

Sex trafficking is a reality that is constantly astounding me and causing me to take a sober look at the world we live in. It is an issue that is close to my heart because of my personal involvement with REST for most of the time I've lived in Seattle. I'm sad to say that Washington is tied for first for the state with the strongest trafficking according to an article by the Huffington Post that was released earlier this year.

Don't be afraid of being uncomfortable. Learn how you can help combat this injustice, even if it's just educating yourself and others.

Here are some more resources on the topic:

http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2014/index.htm

http://freedomnetworkusa.org/

http://www.polarisproject.org/resources/hotline-statistics/human-trafficking-trends-in-the-united-states