We knew we weren’t likely to find $1 cabinets again (like we did for the office built-ins) but we couldn’t resist checking out the Habitat For Humanity ReStore for the four cabinets that we need to create the peninsula and build in the microwave/fridge (we’re able to reuse the 36″ cabinet that used to live where the stove now sits, so that saved us some major money). The good news is that we found three out of the four we needed! And only spent $90 total.
Yup, we got a corner base cabinet for the peninsula for $50 and two upper cabinets (one for over the fridge and one slightly taller one for over the microwave) for $19 each. And just for reference, to buy those cabinets new from Home Depot or Lowe’s (in the stock, off-the-shelf department) they would have been $219, $96, and $89 respectively (for a grand total of $404). So we saved $314 by going secondhand. Which made complete sense since we’d be scrapping the doors anyway.
The issue with the doors? They don’t match our existing ones (nothing that we hunted down both new or secondhand did since our doors are 30 years old). But to get the solid oak cabinet frames for that price is a steal and once they’re all painted white with new or retrofitted matching doors (from other existing cabinets that we’re not using), no one would ever guess they hailed from the ReStore.
We could only fit two of the three into our trunk. But thankfully they’ll hold items for seven days at our ReStore, so we just came back for the giant corner cabinet with a bigger car borrowed from John’s sister a few days later.
Now they’re all at home, but not in their places yet (the carport and our sunroom are the holding area for lots of old cabinets and doors that we have removed and new ones that we’ll be switching in).
And yes, the sunroom looks especially crazy and smells like wood. Could be worse (wood isn’t that bad of a smell, actually). Hopefully in the next few days we’ll be back to share our freshly built-in fridge.
But wait- it’s Halloween. Did you really think we’d let you go without sharing the kiddos in costume? Meet Mrs. Monkey & Mr. Banana:
Clara liked doing her best monkey impression (saying “ooh ooh ah ah” and waving her arms) while Burger slinked around looking beyond embarrassed. The second we popped on the “hat” part of his banana, he just slumped down and half-closed his eyes as if to say “this is not ok.” We freed the poor guy from his yellow prison within a few minutes of this photoshoot though. And gave the boy a bone. Actually his monkey friend handed one over. She’s a very generous chimp indeed.
And Clara’s cousin Emanuel (seen here turning two) even got in on the fun. He was a ferocious lion who requested candy corn throughout the photoshoot. Hilarious.
Of course the banana + monkey thing might not be as cute as one especially cute combo from last year…
Hope you all have a very happy halloween! Oh and what were you guys up to this weekend? Any cabinet hunting or candy corn binging goin’ on?
Psst- Check out our pumpkin patch adventures (including a family moon bounce and corn bin adventure) here.
That is the CUTEST costume combo!!
That is some serious cuteness!
Adorable costumes!
Omg, LOVE their costumes. So sweet.
That is the CUTEST costume combo!
Oh my gosh, that monkey and banana duo is priceless!
Clara and Burger look SO adorable!
oh my goodness that is absolutely adorable! lol!
OMG – Clara and Burger are killing me!!! Sooooo adorable!!!!
okay…the cabinet finds are good…but clara and burger stole the show!! how adorable. Happy Halloween Clara!
That’s the cutest monkey and banana I’ve seen all day! :)
So cute!
Outside of Philly, this weekend involved snow. A lot of it. Halloween parties were canceled, and as a teacher, I have my first snow day today because so many people still don’t have power. It’s crazy!
Yeah isn’t that crazy? My mom and John’s sis are up in NY and they said it was such an unexpected thing! So sorry for all the trouble that pesky snow caused!
xo,
s
Burger & Clara are ADORABLE. We can’t dress up our pup because she would eat her costume… Haha. Also, great find with the cabinets!
The costumes are adorable! They are perfect for trick or treating in this chilly weather. You seem to be a health conscious family (like mine) so I thought I would share how we handle the oodles of candy that come through the door on Halloween night. Our kids can eat as much candy as they want on Halloween night (usually about 3 pieces, lol) and pick out 10 pieces to keep. The rest is put on the table when they go to bed and the Switch Witch switches the candy for a new toy. We started tis tradition when our kids were tiny so this is norml to them. Happy Halloween! :)
Haha, I love it! So smart!
xo,
s
The switch witch! I need to keep this in mind for when we have kids. I definitely don’t want tons of candy around either (for my own hips sake at that), but I want them to have the experience and get some. I love that idea!
I wish I would have heard of this before tonight!!! I’ll have VERY hyper children who can’t help but cry for candy. Sigh. Next year the Switch Witch will be switching for sure!
What a cute costume combination! They both look adorable!
Eek!
Monkey monkey monkey!
She’s so cute it kills me!
I got to work to find a huge tin of candy corn and candy pumpkins on my desk. I have a pretty great boss.
Of course, pretty much all someone has to do is keep me fed and I’m a happy camper.
Oh Em Gee, cutest monkey and banana duo ever!
Clara dressed up in the same exact costume as the little one I nanny for did. I find it so funny how her and Ainsley share many similarities, and were also born on the same exact date.
That’s so funny! Give Ainsley a big drooly kiss from Clara. She loves “birthday twins”!
xo,
s
We recently picked up a cabinet for ourselves from the ReStore. I have to admit, I was bummed when I didn’t see any $1 ones. And then I got uber bummed when we found the perfect size in AMAZING condition for….$40. $40?! But now I see that $40 is a really great price for what we got. It is solid wood and has a finished side and when I painted it white, it was perfect for our laundry room.
http://chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com/2011/10/laundry-room-revamp-reveal.html
That monkey and banana costume is SO cute. Did you and John dress up as anything fun?
Nah, but we’re thinking about it next year when Clara’s a little older and has more endurance for the whole door to door thing (this year we’ll probably just be giving out candy from home…).
xo,
s
Very beautiful, perfect fantasy!
I love your blog!
Vanessa Brazil.
aawwee.. that is the same costume my little man is going to wear tonight. :) Too cute!
Good find on the cabinets… still anxiously awaiting those AFTER pics of your kitchen!
LOVE the costumes. What an adorable family!!
Aw that is too cute! Love that you always dress them up as a pair. And such an adorable shot of Clara ‘walking’ Burger.
Hey Sherry!
I’m Jackie, I’ve been reading your’s and John’s blog for over a year and I just wanted to say that I love you guys! I think it is SO AWESOME that you are saving so much moolah with your kitchen renovations by diy-ing so much. You are an inspiration for my husband and I to diy our renovations (we are hoping to buy a home next summer and we want a fixer upper). But yeah, I just think you guys are the cutest and wanted to tell you I think your family and your home is beautiful, keep up the good work! :)
Aw thanks so much Jackie! You’re so sweet.
xo,
s
So stinking cute. That one where clara is sucking her thumb is a keeper.
I know you weren’t planning to paint the insides of your cabinets (I don’t think?) but will you stain them all to match or paint them now they’re all mismatched, or just leave them be as they’re behind closed doors?
Good question! I think we might paint the insides down the line- or even do something fun like use wallpaper, contact paper, shelf liner, or some other “cover” to give them a new look whenever you open the door. We’ll keep you posted!
xo,
s
Love the costumes! So cute!! What did we do this weekend? Hunkered down inside while 18″ of snow piled up outside. Someone definitely played a trick on us here in NH!
Woah- that’s a ton of snow! Stay warm!
xo,
s
I hear you Lindsey! I’m over in Maine. You got slammed harder than us, but 8″-10″ in just a few hours is still nuts for October! My SIL is in Western Maine and I think they got blasted too.
I know, huh! Towns just miles from us got up to 27″! Definitely a crazy storm. So many people without power, but thankful to have ours. Where in Maine are you, Heather? We have family in Kennebunkport.
I’m in NH too! Bedford – we got 18 inches as well and still no power!
Oh man- hope you get power back soon!
xo,
s
I’m north of there by about an hour or so! Closer to the Brunswick area.
I never would have even thought to look at the Restore for those cabinets- you guys must be saving a fortune! I’m going to have to find one up in our neck of the woods (Minnesota) before we get cranking on our next bathroom remodel!
Your lil monkey & banana are adorable!!! :) :)
Oh so cute pictures of monkey and banana. We have an actual weiner dog I should dress and have my kids go as ketchup and mustard. Too late, they are 14 and 19:)
Cutest Monkey/banana combo ever!!
This weekend involved me getting engaged (!!!), getting a job offer for the city where my fiance lives, and watching my best friend get married. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Woah! Congrats!!!! Sounds like the best weekend ever.
xo,
s
Congrats! That sounds awesome!
Thanks guys! Is it bad that I’m even more excited that I now get to try out some of my fav YHL makeovers on his house?! Hope he realizes what he’s in for. . . My favorite part – he hid the ring in a fortune cookie! I’ve kept a few of our fortunes to put in a frame for a gallery wall! (The one he got before he propose? “It’s your time – Take a chance!)
So cute!
xo,
s
Best.Costumes.Ever. I like them even better than last year. Will you be taking Clara Trick or Treating? This weekend I had engagement pictures taken :) So much fun.
We’re thinking that we might ring a few neighbor’s doors just for fun but will spend the majority of the time giving out candy for the bigger kiddos (Clara and Burger both love when the doorbell rings…).
xo,
s
So, I’m dying to know… did Clara attend the little Halloween party she was invited to by the pumpkin head? How was it?
Yes! It was such a hit! So many kiddos were there and we did a pumpkin seed hunt and painted pumpkins and the adults had a pumpkin carving contest. So cute.
xo,
s
I love it!! The banana costume kills me.
Clara and Burger just made the cutest pair in those costumes. Can’t wait to see how the kitchen is coming along
Great costumes! My 1 year old son is the cheeseburger this year.
Those are too funny! Both of the babies have such personality! Wish I could get my daughter into a costume, but looks like it will be her “Batman” tutu and a onesie. Gotta love shopping in your closet! Be safe!
omg they’re so cute. my kids have never wanted to wear coordinated costumes, waaaa :D
Hehe, I’m sure it helps when one of those kids doesn’t have a say … ie: a dog. ;)
Crazy cute costumes, love them! :-)
SO cute! Love the coordinating costumes!
Monkey loves banana!!! haha
How is it that y’all don’t own a truck yet? :)
I know, right? We love our little car though. And since random family members have SUVs we’re usually all set by borrowing theirs! Haha.
xo,
s
When we were remodeling our house (okay, we still are!), I didn’t want to buy a truck, or a trailer that I would have to store somewhere, so I bought a rooftop rack for my 2002 Jetta. It has carried everything from drywall to double doors to cabinets to various pieces of furniture (I once brought home 8 dining chairs in one trip!). It’s saved me a ton of time and truck rental fees. I highly recommend it. I got it for about half price (about $180) by buying off ebay, but it was totally worth it! Maybe it’s something you want to consider?
Amy
Love that idea!
xo,
s
And PS I just realized this morning that it is Halloween so my kids are wearing random things out of the dress up bin. #parentingfail
Well, I already professed my undying love for my local ReStore in another post from last week. I am kicking myself for not visiting sooner!
The costumes are adorable!!! I wanted a zombie costume for our Basenji, but they only had them for larger dogs. Boo. Will mom and dad be partaking in the costume wearing at all? :) I will be wearing a witch hat and hair to go trick or treating with our nephew.
Happy Halloween everyone!
Yes, I think we’ll put on weird hats or wrap our faces in TP for the mummy effect. Haha.
xo,
s
Ugh, I don’t have a baby (or a dog) but your Halloween costume combos (both this year and last’s) make me want to have a baby like yesterday. Probably should start with the dog though…
As always the cleverness with which you save money and repurpose inspires me to do the same in my life. Thanks!
hahaha oh burger. So tolerant! They are the cutest.
My weekend consisted of having a date night with my Pepere, driving home 3 hours and hitting the snowstorm with 1/4 left to go. Let me tell you, and unplowed dark, snowy highway at 35mph is still pretty intimidating when your studded tires aren’t on yet. Made it home all safe and spent yesterday powerless. Which in essence just means I made sauerkraut, crafted my pinterested challenge, crocheted some mittens, and melted some snow from outside to wash the dishes (yay gas stoves!). We had a generator for keeping the fridge cold here and there. We got power back last night thankfully, but man – 8″ of snow in October is a lot, even in Maine!
Tonight my husband will be on the tractor pulling the hay trailer around the neighborhood for the annual trick-or-treat hayride! I can’t wait (I always sit on the trailer).
Wow- so glad your power is back already!
xo,
s
We’re lucky. I have an acquaintance who they told 3-5 days!
That pic of Clara and Burger, where she’s sucking her thumb is my absolute favorite.
Loving these shorter posts with your bits o’ progress. Keep em coming! They help me quell my desire to see an already finished kitchen, though I do enjoy the whole makeover process.
Can you explain more how you are going to get the second hand cabinet doors to match? Are you going to take them to a carpenter? And for the corner cabinet, are you building it out so that it is a right angle in the peninsula?
We’re actually going to try to use some of the upper cabinet doors that we’ll be removing (so they’ll be extra) and retrofit them to hopefully work on the new cabinets (by cutting them down and using the Kreg Jig to reattach them in the right measurements). Could be a total bust though (in which case we’ll probably hure a carpenter who can mimic the old doors exactly). We’ll definitely keep you posted as we go!
xo,
s
Love the outfits! Our dog was a banana a couple years ago. He hasn’t forgiven us yet. Can’t wait to see how these cabinets come out.
OH MY GOODNESS….it doesn’t get any cuter than that!
It never ceases to amaze me how you guys zero in on crazy deals and come up with creative low-cost alternatives. I would feel like I beat the system with a 15% discount at a big box store and be totally happy, but you guys, you guys have a true saving talent. Can’t wait to see the kitchen makeover unfold. PS: Clara and Burger = melting heart! So cute!
OMG…those costumes are adorable. Love all the pics ~ especially love the one with Clara sucking her thumb and Burger looking directly at the camera.
Great find on your cabinets.
Happy Halloween!!!
Clara and Burger are so cute!I love their costumes!
PS. I used your furniture painting tutorial this weekend on our Pinterest Challenge project! It’s turning out great!
Yay- so glad. Congrats!
xo,
s