MOVED IN....NOW WHAT? PAINT!!

We started with the huge wall in the living room, which we had no idea what to do with (and still a little clueless.) We did wait about two months after moving in to paint because we really wanted to be sure it was a color we loved. We found the color, Avocado from the Valspar line, in the Lowe's magazine. The magazine used it in the entire living room, but we thought that would be a little crazy for us so we decided on an accent wall--the HUGE wall. So Grant got to work!

We taped off the base board, outside walls, and ceiling. Then Grant rolled the wall with an 18"inch roller, which made it less than an hour project!! :)

And TA DA.....

We absolutely love it! Now....Just have to add our recently taken family pictures (Coming Soon!) to the wall.

The next project was a Chalkboard Wall! I have been eagerly wanting one for a while, and it took some persuading with the hubby. In the end, he loves it!

{Stay Tuned for the Command Center on the Chalkboard Wall!}

Now on to the next paint project....a Chevron Accent Wall.

We've Moved!.....Glad it's over!

Moving...This one single word involves so many emotions!

If anyone has ever moved, you know our pain! :) It is such an exciting, nerve racking, busy time--so my emotions were a hot mess! Glad we survived, and our still here to enjoy it! I do not know how people move with multiple kids, across the country, with years & years worth of stuff--more power to you! Luckily, we were just moving across town. During the process, I was looking for anything to make the move easier or definitely the most organized it could be! Here are some ideas that we used:

We had tons of paperwork to deal with and I also had many ideas for the new house--paint colors, furniture, etc. that I wanted to keep together. We created a New Home Binder. While we were looking, it contained properties we liked, bank information, paperwork from our Realtor. After we made an offer, this binder turned into contracts, moving documents, insurance, etc. We found an awesome source at Sweet Tea and Saving Grace. It has awesome printables to put into your Home Binder!

{Photo: Sweet Tea and Saving Grace}

Click here to check out the New Home Binder! 

After moving our binder consists of warranties, companies we used & their contact info, paint colors we chose, etc. It is definitely something you will use for years to come!

What else could you include in your binder??

I chose to organize our rooms by a color so every list, label, and box would have the color on the room to help organized were ALL of our STUFF (as my husband would say) went! Bowl Full of Lemons has a great use of the color coding system. I found an awesome printable at The Project Girl with rooms listed already--I took these labels, and printed them on a full sheet of label paper. Then I wrote the contents with the color's room. 

{Photo: The Project Girl}

Click Here to get the Moving Label Printable!

So I needed: Label Paper, Printer, Colored Pens/Markers, Room Color Code---to organize all of our stuff!

(If you don't feel like using label paper, you can always print them on normal paper then cut & tape them to your boxes.) 

Now, you have arrived in your new home after a successful, organized moved! WAHOO!! That's how I felt until I realized all of the boxes had to be unpacked, and once again organized into their places! We're still working this--2 months later! :) 

When moving into a new neighborhood, we definitely wanted to get to know our neighbors. We decided to bake cookies (quick, easy, cheap), and of course I looked up a printable to find to attach to our cookies. Thanks Craftaholics Anonymous!  I loved this tag because it could be attached to anything: baked goods, wine, small gift, whatever! 

Click here to get the printable! 

Here's to Happy Moving, Homes, and New Neighbors! 

Weekly Menu

This week is very hectic for us! I started back to school with teacher workdays & Open House. Grant has started a Fall Ball League with his baseball team, so the easier dinner plans are the HAPPIER this wife will be! :) 

Also, we're planning Aubrey's 7th birthday party this Saturday. It's only a family dinner, but no party is too small. :) of course, she wanted a Gamecock theme! We've trained her well. ;) Just in time for the season to start. I will post pictures of decorations and the party! Great ideas to use for a Game day Party or tailgating! 

Here's our menu plan for the week. Let me know if you have any questions. They are so easy I feel like they don't need much description. 

Monday: Sausage & Veggie Grill

1lb. Of Kielbasa Sausage (we use the turkey)

1 green pepper cut into slices 

1 onion cut into slices

1 large or 2 small zucchini cut into slices

2 squash cut into slices

3 cups of cubed potatoes

Salt & pepper

Foil

Combine all ingredients in foil. Cover it on top with foil as well. Throw on the grill on medium heat for 30 minutes or bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. EASY! 

Tuesday: Zuchhini, Black Bean, Rice Casserole

This is a NEW favorite in the Kirkendohl household. Do your prep the night before & it's so simple (even the hubby can cook it.) 

Wednesday: French Loaf Pizza

1 French Loaf

2 cups of Marinara Sauce (3/4 jar)

Shredded Mozzerela Cheese

Toppings: veggies, pepperoni, etc.

Garlic & Italian Seasoning

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Thursday: Quesadillas, Black Beans & Rice

Tortillas

2 cups Shredded Cheese

Inside ingredients: onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, shrimp,shredded chicken. 

(I like veggie ones, so I keep frozen grilled chicken strips on hand for the hubby's.)

Can of Black Beans

2 cups of rice

Salt & Pepper

Friday: Grilled Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, Lima Beans

4 chicken breast

Blackened seasoning

Box of Macaroni & Cheese ( we use whole wheat)

1/2 lb. of fresh Lima beans

Coat the chicken with the blackened seasoning. Grill on medium for about 45 minutes. Cook macaroni accordingly, and steam the Lima beans with a dash of salt & pepper. 

I hope everyone has a great start to their school year! Can't believe summer has come & gone! Here's to Fall!! 

Everyone Needs a THANK YOU!

So Aubrey had VBS this week, and she had so much fun! Our church did an amazing job, and the amount of work the volunteers put in is so heartwarming. They had a record breaking amount of children!! Yay!

Towards the end of the week, we wanted to do something for her teacher & helpers in her room. I wish I didn't have such a crazy week, and could have done more. But I found the cutest idea here, and we always have cookie dough on hand so it was a perfect match!

I found this adorable printable on Living Locurto. All you need is sandwich bags, printer, stapler & some treats to put in it. They came out great, Aubrey was so excited to give them to her teachers. 

Goodbye Vacation, Hello Reality!

So we have officially said GOODBYE to vacation! Hello Reality! :) After 7 days at the beach, it was nice to be home. We went to Litchfield Beach, SC (right below Myrtle Beach). We've been going here the past 3 years, and absolutely LOVE it. It's very quiet, gated community--where you can take your golf cart anywhere. Our normal day consists of beach then some pool time, followed by a relaxing evening of dinner & drinks with some Catch Phrase or Rook thrown in. :) 

It's very close to Murrell's Inlet, which has a breathtaking Marsh Walk filled with restaurants. You can walk out onto the pier for some gorgeous pictures or have a drink looking out onto the water. It's pretty close to perfect! But of course I had to post some pictures....

  {Some mother/son in law beach tennis}

{He finally was able to join us}

{Nothing is better than taking the golf cart to the grocery store.}

{Penny enjoying the golf cart}

{Wahoo! Beach Time}

{After not wearing sunscreen the first day, it's the tent for him.}

{Marshwalk at Murrells Inlet = Heaven}

{Love.}

{Cousin love.}

{Almost 5 years together}

{Watching as we say our goodbyes.}

It's back to reality with a week filled with activities & work! :( Goodbye Vacation, can't wait to see you again!

Vacation Photo Dump!

We have officially been through half of our vacation. So I thought it would be a perfect time for a phone dump! :) We have hit up the beach for a few days and shopping of course. The past few days it has been a girl's trip-- myself, my mom, aunt, two cousins, and new addition to our family Haddy (4months).  As of tonight, our girl trip is over for Grant is joining us after work tonight for the rest of the week. I'm so excited. We haven't been apart overnight since we got married, and we've been apart for four nights. :(

But here's a look at our girl's vacation before the hubby joins us!  Be on the look out for the next half of vacation! :)

(Sorry for the unaligned pictures & captions-the iPad didn't want to cooperate)

                                                                        {Beach Time with Haddy}

                                                                         {Heaven}

{We are the Champions}

{Ref for the Beach Tennis}

{Chilling on the Beach}

{Beach Tennis}

{Golf Cart Ride to Pedicures}

{Guest to our Party}

{Morning Walks}

Beach Packing List

So the Kirkendohl's are heading to the beach for a week! We're so exciting to have our first vacation as a married couple. We are going with my family for the 3rd annual trip. It's such a nice week to relax, and enjoy the beach! :) honestly, we do nothing all week and its fabulous!! :) so it got me thinking of what to pack? Being the planner I am, I have to have a list! So I thought I would share some of the best list I have found, and any add ons that we would need! 

My Beach Bag Essentials:

- "Wipe able" Bag

-Towel

-Sunscreen 

-Chair clips

-Small bag to hold cash, cosmetics, phone, etc.

-electronic zip bags! ( Absolutely love my new Echo zip cases for IPhone & IPad.) 

-Portable Speakers with music source (iPod, phone, etc.)

-waterproof case on all electronics

-Magazines and Book

-Koozies

-Brush & Detangling Spray

-trail Mix

-Wet Wipes

-Cooler