DIY Dining Room Table

So with future plans of a big family and holiday dinners, we really wanted a dining room table that could accommodate more than 4 people.  (Un)Fortunately the options for 10 foot tables were WAY out of our price range.  With that in mind we decided to put this tutorial to the test and build our own.  Take a look and let us know what you think:

 

Final Cost: $505 (including the cost of some new tools- pocket hole guide, square, level, etc.)

Average Purchase Price of a similar table: $1,000

 

 

Staining and Clear coating the legs after they were cut-

The base of the table top-

Table top with the hard wood flooring glued and nailed into place-

 

The table leaves which take the main table from 6ft to 10ft-

 

After the first pour of clear coat-

 

A ham on the table

 

First coat of clear coat on the leaves-

 

 

The base of the table set up in our dining room-

Centering the table top on the base to secure

 

Close ups-

 

 

In action-

We absolutely love it!  At a 50% savings, I’d say it was a great investment.  The strength and character of this piece makes it so special to us!

30 before 30 Project

I added a new sub-page under my “About” tab.  30 before 30 is a challenge to myself to complete 30 things before I am 30 years old.  Somethings seem easy right now, some really push me out of my comfort zone and other’s are things I’ve said that I wanted to do for a while, I just haven’t gotten the courage to go for it.

Feel free to check out the list and let me know what you think.  Have you tried any of these things?  Do you have your own list of things to share? 

My ABCs of Eating

I just saw this on Lisa’s Blog and thought it would be fun on my mindless day!

A is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?

Cortland!  In particular I LOVE the ones that grow on my tree in the front yard.  I have two Macs and a Cortland.  Of course the Cortland has the best apples!

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?

I like soft breads.  In particular Brooks BBQ has the best bread in their restaurant!

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!) Currently-

I love Quaker Cinnamon squares

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?

I’m a recovering doughnut addict…I’ve avoided them for like 3 years now, but my favorite doughnuts are from Price Chopper.  They are frosted with white frosting and drizzled in chocolate and I’m ashamed to say I could eat a dozen doughnuts in 3 days, BY MY SELF!  It was a LOT of sugar, thank God that was before my metabolism slowed down!

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared?

Scrambled or hard boiled

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product?

MILK!!! I LOVE skim milk, but only from Stewarts.  In my 23 years on this planet I’ve only ever bought Stewarts milk.  It’s the best and it’s local!

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?

Usually my yard, Barbers, Shauls, Price Chopper or Aldis

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?

Hot apple cider is the only hot drink I like.

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.

Vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.  I’m a boring ice cream kind of person.

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?

Jam- Homemade.  I really love my Strawberry Rhubarb one.

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?

Pumpkin nut bars

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today?

It will be a chicken salad sandwich on whole grain Italian bread with bacon and veggies.  Yum, I can’t wait!

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?

I usually use the microwave to defrost things, but I don’t cook stuff in there often.

N: is for nutrients, do you likes carbs, fats, or proteins best?

It’s a tossup.  I love carbs but cheese is one of my true loves, so protein’s a big factor too.

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?

Olive oil and canola

P: is for protein, how do you get yours?

I eat meat and cheese, a lot.  I’m also a big milk drinker.

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?

I turn them into granola.

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?

Potatoes!  Yum.

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?

BLTs have been a huge hit for me lately.  Actually anything with bacon.  I’m REALLY on a bacon kick right now.

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling?

I bring snacks because I’m cheap but I don’t usually have a problem finding something to eat at a restaurant.

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?

Growing up I loved American cheese and Oreos, but I shy away from that one now.  I’m not really sure what I eat that is weird.  I still love cheese with something sweet though.

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?

Just a multi, when I remember.

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?

Yuck.  I can’t stand it, but I love spicy foods.

X: is for XRAY. if we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?

A peach chobani.

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?

My mom’s spaghetti and meatballs and bologna sandwiches on white bread.

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?

Stuffed zucchini or cut into fries, breaded and baked- dipped in ketchup!