Back to the cheap

To survive whatever lies ahead, I like to try and be prepared. So in some ways, I do like the newness of a New Year. I like to re-dedicate myself to frugality. Especially after the holidays. We may keep a simple Christmas at our house, but there are always extra expenses (Property tax) and non-paid time off in December that have us behind as we start the January of a new year. Time for beans!!!

In the mix of everything, since I love home decorating and can't afford to just go out and spend what I want freely, I have to find ways to redecorate my home using the creativity that leans toward the cheap! With the downswing of the economy and real estate prices down, we can no longer afford to update our kitchen the way I had wanted. So I am going with a "funky country California" look in my kitchen. Paint is always an affordable way to change the look of things. This year we will be painting the kitchen and dining area (actually the whole inside of the house) So I am excited about this change and challenge.

I purchased with my bonus money from my nanny job, a butcher block kitchen cart from IKEA for $59.00. I stained it and placed it in the middle of my kitchen, making it a "one-butt" kitchen, as my sons complain. I like it. It looks like a bed and breakfast kitchen we once stayed at.  It also hides my ugly old white stove. I have some ideas for my kitchen that will spruce it up in a cheap and creative way.

the kitchen at bed and breakfast