ic Kathe With an E: September 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

You're Gonna Love It - Week 73

Happy Happy Party Day Friends!

Here we are, full on into Fall!
I'm seeing such great Fall inspiration linking up
more and more each week!

Mr. B got the storage shelf built in the garage this weekend
and kindly left my Fall bins down so that I can start decorating!
I can't wait!!
We have been so busy with unpacking that
I haven't been able to get my decor on!  
I'll be fixin' that this week so be sure to come back and see how I do!

Now, how about we get our party pants on?

Last weeks most viewed link came from a new face to the party,
Lydia from 

And I agree with all of them except, it looks like I need to pick up a Danish whisk as I have never seen or used one before!
Congrats Lydia, be sure to grab yourself an
I've Been Featured button and display it proudly!

Now, let's get this party started!

Feel free to link up anything you have created.
Recipes, decor, crafts, written or photographed.
Anything you are so proud of
you just gotta share it with others.
I will reserve the option of deleting
any post that I do not feel fits the
theme of my blog. 
Please limit your link ups to
just 2 or 3. 

I love to spotlight
some of my favorites on my
Facebook page and pin them to my 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest so,
be sure to follow me there too!

As always, you don't have to
be a follower
in order to link up.
 I want you to follow
Kathe With An E
because you want to.
Not because it is required.


 I would also love it if you would link back
in some way so that others come and party with us.
Either grab the party button
or add my blog link
to your post or on your
  blog party page.
But again, it's not required.  


I ask that you please 
DO NOT link up
giveaways, Etsy shops or anything for sale.
Save those for the first Tuesday of each month
(next week!)
when,
Anything Goes!

Please remember, this is a party
so, after you link up,
mingle around 
and visit some of the other party guests.


*By linking up your post, you are giving Kathe With An E permission to use your pictures as a feature on this blog and other social media outlets.

Be sure to stop by and visit these other great linky parties this week!
Life on Lakeshore Drive
 




Friday, September 27, 2013

Hometalk~Halloween Tablescape Inspiration

I believe I have expressed my total love of the website
here before?

Hometalk and Pinterest
are now my two favorite go-to sites for any 
home and garden project I might need for inspiration.

With  Hometalk you can "clip" your favorite finds and 
set them up on clipboards you create. 

It’s all done right there on the Hometalk site. 
Once you see a post you’d like to clip, 
all it takes is two clicks and you are ready to move on. Easy peasy.
You can even ask questions you may have 
about a particular paint process you want or did try, 
or a plant you found in your garden and 
don't know what the heck it is (been there!). 

And, just like Pinterest, you can follow like-minded Hometalkers, like me!
Plus, you don't even have to be a blogger to join in!

Can you  imagine my delight when I was contacted by Hometalk and asked to set up a clipboard of my favorite Halloween tablescapes? 

Heck yeah!  
You all know how much I love setting up tables for the holidays, right? 
And, my past two Halloween tables are among the top 5 favorites of my all of my tablescapes!  

So, if you, like me, need some Halloween table inspiration, check out my Hometalk clipboard by simply clicking on the graphic below!
Follow my blog by email
Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Laundry Room Reveal & Dining Room Update

Today, I am sharing a few photos of one of the rooms that was one of the reasons I fell in love with our new home.
Believe it or not, it's not one of my favorite rooms in general because, well,
it's the laundry room!  
No poems, songs or happy memories have ever been created in a laundry room have they?
So, you just know this laundry room has to be pretty darn special, right?
It is.
Kathe With An E - Laundry Room
Just look at the size of this side of it!
Kathe With An E - Laundry Room
All of that counter space!  And look...a deep sink with a sprayer right under a bright, sunlit window! The cabinet below the sink holds all of my cleaning supplies.
Kathe With An E - Laundry Room
And cabinets!  There are plenty of cabinets.  Enough, in fact, to hold all of my dinner plate collection, vases and candle sticks.  Enough drawers for a junk drawer, one to hold smaller candles and the rest for all of my flatware sets!
Down the road we will be installing upper cabinets so that I can move my other tablescaping dishes from the kitchen to this room so that they are all in one place.

Kathe With An E - Laundry Room
Then on the other side of the room, well there is the laundry side of the whole laundry room name.More upper cabinets to contain the products necessary to clean our clothes.  
Kathe With An E - Laundry Room
You may recognize the signs I had made when I re-did the laundry room at our last house. That room seems very very small now, doesn't it?  
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this room!  So much so, I have begun dancing as I do laundry!  Eh, yeah still not doing that!  But trust me, I love this room!

Now on to the update in the dining room.
The curtains I had ordered from the Kirkland's website arrived this past weekend. I fell in love with them when I saw them on another blog 
(and I am so sorry, I thought I had saved it but now I can't find the link.  If you know of it, please let me know so I can give the blogger proper credit) 
and even moreso when I saw them online. (here's a Kirkland's coupon for you!) 
I had ordered 3 sets of 2 panels, 2 panels per window. When I ordered them I was only thinking of length not width.  Mr. B put up one set and my heart sank. 2 panels were not enough, at all!!  The windows are over 70 inches wide and the panels are only 40 inches each. Not enough with pleating etc. 
They, in my mind, looked stoopid!  So, so stoopid! 
I was close to tears when, Mr. B, that sweet wonderful, creative man, came up with the perfect solution!
Kathe With An E - Dining Room Update
Why not use 3 panels per window? 
When he added another panel and I saw the look I was almost in tears again!
For a different reason!
I loved this look even more than what I had envisioned in my mind!
Kathe With An E - Dining Room Update

Kathe With An E - Dining Room Update
The geometric pattern is so modern yet, traditional.
The rods and finials are from Ikea. 
Kathe With An E - Dining Room Curtains Drapes
The photos do not do them justice.  
The room feels so much warmer, cozier and welcoming. 
Take a look at the before and see if you don't agree!
Since I had ordered 3 sets of 2, we could only set up two windows but, I immediately went online and ordered 2 more sets so that all 3 windows will be done soon.
Again, the rocker and wood table will not be staying. 
The table in the corner covered with the green cloth does stay as that is Max's safe place.

We've only been in the new home four weeks and I am finally starting to feel at home. 
Next on my to-do list, get out the Fall decor bins and, start decorating! 
See you back here soon!

Follow my blog by email
Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.




Monday, September 23, 2013

You're Gonna Love It - Week 72

Welcome to You're Gonna Love Tuesday!
Can you believe it's the last week of September already?? 
It's the beginning of Fall and the weather is getting cooler.  
Thank you for taking the time to stop over each week, it is greatly appreciated. 

I'm still a little behind in blogging, trying to get back on track.
I did get the biggest unpacking chore done over the weekend 
and it seriously kicked my behind!
All of my tablescaping dishes, glasses and props are unpacked and put away!  
There was a lot of lifting up and down and I woke up Sunday morning feeling my age but, there is now light at the end of the tunnel and, I can concentrate on getting the house cleaned and ready for the holidays!

One thing that always makes me feel good is partying with you all so let's do this!

Last week's most viewed post came from my sweet bloggy friend Bev from 
Bev shared her beautiful bargains and a tablescape she created using them. 
I love the color aqua and Bev combined everything just so beautifully!
Be sure to grab an I've Been Featured button Bev

Now, Let's Party!

Feel free to link up anything you have created.
Recipes, decor, crafts, written or photographed.
Anything you are so proud of
you just gotta share it with others.
I will reserve the option of deleting
any post that I do not feel fits the
theme of my blog. 
Please limit your link ups to
just 2 or 3. 

I love to spotlight
some of my favorites on my
Facebook page and pin them to my 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest so,
be sure to follow me there too!

As always, you don't have to
be a follower
in order to link up.
 I want you to follow
Kathe With An E
because you want to.
Not because it is required.


 I would also love it if you would link back
in some way so that others come and party with us.
Either grab the party button
or add my blog link
to your post or on your
  blog party page.
But again, it's not required.  


I ask that you please 
DO NOT link up
giveaways, Etsy shops or anything for sale.
Save those for the first Tuesday of each month
when,
Anything Goes!

Please remember, this is a party
so, after you link up,
mingle around 
and visit some of the other party guests.


*By linking up your post, you are giving Kathe With An E permission to use your pictures as a feature on this blog and other social media outlets.

Be sure to stop by and visit these other great linky parties this week!
Life on Lakeshore Drive
 




Tidy Cats® Lightweight 24/7 Performance® Litter

This post brought to you by Purina. All opinions are 100% mine.


I'll admit, we are not cat people.  We lean more to dogs as pets, like Max who is the cutest puppy ever, am I right?
Look at that face - Max
It's not that we don't like our friend's cats. We do.  It's just that we don't want the maintenance involved in having a cat. Straight to the point,  we don’t want to clean the litter box. 
Why would we want to? Getting the litter is a pain, the container is always super heavy, the box smells, the litter never clumps like it should and it’s just a major chore!
Then, I heard about Tidy Cats Lightweight 24/7 Performance Litter! It locks in moisture, has a powerful odor control strong clumps for easy clean up and the best part: the container is lightweight! It's no longer a struggle to lug the litter home. Think about it, a light weight litter would be ideal for elderly cat owners who might have a difficult time carrying litter around.
I just saw this commercial for the Tidy Cats Lightweight 24/7 Performance Litter last night and loved it!  Check it out for yourself: 

So, tell me, have you tried Tidy Cats Lightweight 24/7 Performance Litter yet?? If so, tell me what you liked about it.
Visit Sponsor's Site

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Welcome To Our New Home

Yes!  The deed is done!
After months of back and forths and a whirlwind of moving,
we are finally getting settled into our new home.

We have been whittling away at unpacking, room by room.
We also have been purchasing new furniture and other necessary items to make our new abode comfortable.

I first want to thank all of my blogging buddies that 
filled in for me with awesome posts while we accomplished this 
exciting task!
BronwynCarolDoreenGina, and Pam 
I cannot thank you enough!
I owe you all big and just let me know when I can return the favor!

Now, how about a look at some of the rooms we have, sort of, in place?

Puh-leeze keep in mind that it is all still a work in progress LOL!

First up, has to be the dining room.
You all know how important the dining room is to me.
This room is HUGE! This is the far end, closest to the front of the house.
The rocking chair will make its way to the guest bedroom once we get it cleared out (it's being used as our staging area right now) and a cozy sitting area will be created in it's place.
The floors in the house are much lighter than our previous home
and I am loving how bright they make everything feel! 
In fact, everything about this home is brighter which, makes it hard to get good photos until I get it figured out LOL.
My beloved buffet sits on the wall by the knee wall close to the front door. 
I haven't chosen what I want over it yet but I love that it is no longer hidden by the dining table.
Because the room is so big, I can finally extend the dining table to it's full length and will be purchasing 2 more chairs so that it seats 8.
Bad news is, most of my tablecloths are now too short...guess that means I have to get some new ones right??
Mr. B will be moving the light so that it centered over the table
and I may have to look at getting a new rug or, removing it entirely. 
What are your thoughts on that?
There is a niche behind the table that my china cabinet fits in perfectly!  Love it!
The "curtains" are actually cut from a big piece of fabric Ms K and I found at Goodwill on the day of the move. $4.99 minus my old lady discount and it was big enough to cut into 3 pieces to fit over the windows in the dining room.
We have blinds ready to be installed and I have curtains due to arrive any day from Kirklands.com. I'll post an updated photo once they get in place.

On to the kitchen, another room I just love!
We had to purchase a refrigerator and I had asked for help on my Facebook page on what type to get.
The votes were overwhelmingly for a french door style and we seriously considered it but, we were used to a side-by-side.
This fridge is sooo much bigger than the one in our last home and we are both very pleased with our decision.
One thing I am not in love with is the range.
It is a Maytag double oven style and was left by the previous owners. 
I like the concept but, the bottom oven door is too low.
So low that it hits my toes when fully open.  Plus, imagine roasting a 15 lb turkey.  You'd have to get on your knees to lug that baby in and out!
I am living with it for now as it's there and it works and a new one isn't in the budget right now.

All of the upper cabinets are 42" and I can only reach the bottom two shelves LOL! I plan on using the highest shelves for some of my dish collection that I don't need to get to very often.
Another one of my loves is the island. I love that it is open to the living room.
I'm also in love with the deep sink. One side is bigger than the other and I can fit a whole cookie sheet into it to clean.
Every fixture in the house, hinges, knobs, shower heads etc. is oil rubbed bronze. I'm hoping that is still in style and, stays that way for a very long time or else we will have to win Lotto to replace it all!
I've always wanted granite countertops and am pleased with the granite tiles throughout the kitchen.
We chose backless yet, padded, stools for the island to keep the line of sight uninterrupted. These are super comfortable!
The backsplash will be changed at some point too.
It is handpainted to look like stone and, up close, isn't all that pretty.
On to our little breakfast area.
Now seriously!  Who doesn't love a full bank of pantry shelves??
Again, I can't easily reach the top cupboards so, they will also be used for my tablescaping props.
So far, I have everything organized by type with my baking supplies and boxed food on the left and canned goods on the right.
I also have the canned goods separated by type; Oriental, Mexican, soups etc.
We shall see how long I can keep that up.  
I forgot to get a picture of the pasta that is kept on one of the lower shelves in the upper cabinet but it too is pretty organized...for now.
Next to the pantry cabinets is yet another pantry which I have chosen to use for all of my kitchen appliances and those tools that are just too awkward to fit in regular cabinets. 
I am now able to easily access the pressure cooker, crockpot food processor etc. At the old house all of these were buried and a pain to get to.
Not anymore!  
And, it makes for handy storage of my new best friend, my step stool LOL!

That there ends the tour of the kitchen and dining rooms.
On to the living room.
For the first time in 10 years we actually have a living room with walls that we can place ample sitting in!
The two love seats and recliner are new as are the side tables.
The huge coffee table will not be staying in this room and we will either get a smaller one or do without. 
The two back windows face north while the side window faces west.
The sun really beats in that window as well as the two in the dining room so we have light blocking blinds up but are stumped as far as drapes go. 
We are not sure if we need them lined with blackout or, in combination with the blinds, can we go with plain lined curtains?  Then, there is agreeing on a fabric/ pattern.  I want to go a bit bolder (thank you other bloggers/ Pinterest & Houzz LOL) while Mr. B is more conservative. 
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Separating the dining room from the living room is the fireplace and TV nook.
Mr. B already has a bigger TV on his must have list and I am okay with that!
I'm thinking this mantel nook is going to be so much fun to decorate for the holidays and general every day! That is, once I can get to my decor bins!

So there it is.  The main living areas of the new home!
They will be, I am sure, ever changing as we nestle into our new nest.
Be sure to come back Sunday afternoon when I will be sharing the HUMONGOUS laundry room, my office and the master bedroom. 

Follow my blog by email
Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.