I have never been part of a household that kept their garbage can under the sink. When I moved out on my own, I attempted this – but I guess I just need a bigger garbage can than under the sink space allows. I’ve always always had my can out in the open. This has included anything from a plain open can, a plastic with step on open top, a metal round step on open top, and more. With our current tiny galley walk through kitchen, there is no room for the garbage can at all. It flowed out into the dining room next to the kitchen.

At first we had two open bins, one for garbage, and a random card board box that rotated through for recycle. We upgraded the recycle to a plastic bin and the garbage to the metal round step on to open bin. The can was broken though. I bought it from Linens and Things when they were going out of business, and it was non-returnable, so for over a year we lived with just opening the can by hand. Then I happened across this lovely little DIY project on Pinterest.

Original Post and photo credit to Ana White Homemaker

We are a family of DIY’ers – but hadn’t done anything on this level yet. We have yet to live somewhere we have the space for tools and real building of things. Thankfully, my father in law has a garage, tools, extra wood, and was willing to help out the hubs on this project. We decided to make two of these cabinets. One for garbage and one for recycle. We painted them a shade darker than our walls, and did the bead board in the sale color as the walls.

I can’t speak much to the construction – I do have to pass all the credit on to the Mr. But, I can take credit for the paint job! I used my hand dandy Rubber Band Trick for easy clean up painting.

I don’t have a great shot of the finished product….our dining room hasn’t been fully put back together enough for me to show you – but possibly I’ll get one soon. Here is the garbage can in action!

I’m super happy with how these turned out and so proud of the hubs for putting them all together!! It’s also been an added bonus to have two additional small counter top spaces in the dining room.

Happy Pinning! Happy Constructing!!

I’ve been a bad and busy little blogger. Yesterday, my sister and I (with our men) attended Urban Craft Uprising. It was amazing!!! We did some great holiday shopping, I picked up some goodies from Cake Spy , Lilli Pilli French Macaroons, and This Charming Candy. And we saw some great artists like Fable & Fury, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated , and Monkey Sock Monkey. A great creative wonderful day with my sister and our husbands! But- the she said “how come you haven’t blogged in so long?! I subscribe and you don’t post!!”

GUILTY AS CHARGED!! I’ve done a bunch of things over the last few weeks, but haven’t moved the pictures from the camera to the computer or had a chance to write up the posts!! Appologies dear readers!! So to hold you over until tonight, I’m going to answer a little holiday survey I picked up from Welcome to Hardmont.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Can I get a hot chocolate eggnog?! I like them both and they are both so different! Last night I had hot chocolate with gingerbread marshmallows melted on top and it was amazing!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Without little ones, we haven’t done much with Santa. When the do come into the picture – Santa will definitely wrap presents in his own special paper just like when I was little!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I really like white lights. Then you can make up for the color with ornaments. I like lots of glittler ornaments on my tree to make more sparkle! We don’t light our outside since we’re in a condo – but grwoing up we always had classic colored lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No – but I do have a framed picture from our Engagement session of us kissing under a mistletoe!

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving!! Each holiday deserves it’s own time, so I don’t let Christmas overrun Thanksgiving – but as soon as that turkey is in my bellah, it’s time for lights and bells!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
I do love a good turkey dinner! My favorite part of a turkey dinner is the stuffing. But, Christmas morning coffe cake a yula bread is a tradition I couldn’t live without either!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
I always loved going out to pick our Christmas tree and cut it down. I loved riding the hay ride and wandering around for what felt like hours in an endless forrest of U-cut. We would find the perfect one and take turns with the hand saw until we were tired, then dad would finish it off. The guys would wrap it up in plastic netting and put it on top of our van, and we would warm up with hot apple cider and mini candy canes.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I distinctly remember riding the bus one day, it was early gradeschool, and the kids that had older siblings were acting all cool knowing that Santa wasn’t real. I remember playing along but then believing in my hear that he was real and I couldnt’ believe they were saying he wasn’t!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Only since I started spending it with my husband’s family. They do their big family gathering on Christmas Eve and open presents. Then we sleep over at his parents and do a smaller family gathering in the morning and my family in the afternoon.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
White lights with mostly red and green decorations. Lots of things with sparkles and glitter! Plus a bunch of ornaments hand made by my aunt!

11. Snow! love it or dread it?
LOVE it!  We hardly get any in Seattle – but when it comes (as long as I don’t have to go anywhere) I love it!!

12. Can you ice skate?
Not really. I’ve gone two or three times…I usually make it about 4 times around and am exhausted from trying not to fall.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
There have definitely been a few – I remember getting the doll that you used cold water to paint her makeup on. And the first year we were together, my husband got me a diamond necklace.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
I love spending time with my family and taking in all the warm and happy feelings.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Cookies. Because I can get away with eating them all day long

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Our whole Christmas Eve/Christmas day schedule is pretty much a tradition now. It’s a nice routine that gets us to all the family. Other than that, I think Stockings is my favorite. Just my husband and I do them together now – but I can’t wait to have kids and share the tradition with them as well.

17. What tops your tree?
haha, this year, it’s a sparkly thing that was actually originally a gift topper. It looks like a colorful sequined water spout coming out the top of my tree.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
I like giving. I love to watch people open what I got for them.

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum?
I love candy canes, but only the straight end of them, I toss the curved part.

20. Favorite christmas movie?
Elf! I will watch Elf seven times in December. It never gets old and always makes me laugh! Plus I love the Christmas song that Zoey sings in the bathroom

21. Saddest christmas song?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer

22. What is your favorite christmas song?
I really like the dramatic ones that get sung in church. Oh Holy Night is a defininte favorite

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Do you remember your favorite gift? I’d love for you to pick a quesiton or two and answer it in the comments! Or – take the survey and post it on your own blog!