Grrrr....

So, when we started this project, we enlisted the help of many friends to help us along the way.  The idea behind a DIY project is obviously to do everything ourselves, save money and learn many valuable lessons along the way.  Well, check, check and CHECK!

One valuable lesson that I learned the hard way is that you can't simply PAINT over laminate countertops.  Even IF you buy special, expensive LAMINATE paint for COUNTERTOPS...the product just simply doesn't work.  After all my sanding, priming, re-priming, painting and re-painting those bad boys, the paint would just simply scratch off with a fingernail.  ARRRGGGHHH.

The Painted Counters...

Travis and I went to this awesome store called Habitat for Humanity Re-Store.  It's basically all of the leftover building materials from the various Habitat projects.  What's even better, it was just like the Rebuilding Center, but ORGANIZED!  We priced the laminate/formica sheets online and at Home Depot and each sheet was anywhere between $45-$145 for a 4'x8' sheet...totally out of our price range.  So we kept looking.  We weren't able to find anything on Craigslist or at the RBC, so we trekked down to the Habitat store.

JACKPOT!!

Joey cutting the formica.

Along with buying the formica, we also got to use some new power tools....(Cue Trav dancing...).  The formica is not pliable at all and kind of hard to work with, so we had to be very careful.

Travis edging up the sides.

We were able to get 3 counters done, and I must admit, the new surfaces look MUCH more professional.  We have a ways to go, but getting there one step at a time.

HAPPY SPRING FROM PORTLAND, OREGON!

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough..

So we threw another successful event and the feedback I'm getting about these parties is AMAZING!  In addition to raising some much needed funds for the project, people are also having a great time, inviting their friends and dancing the night away with us.  FUN TIMES!

Andrew, Jenn and I.

Again, I couldn't have done this party without the help of my amazing friends.  Katia and Jill held down the front, while Andrew and I mastered the music.  Beside one (major) mishap with the DJ equipment...(ummmm...2 minutes of dead air? No big deal...) the night went off without a hitch!  As a new business owner, I was especially impressed with the "return customers" from the first party...  Word travels FAST!

The front door babes.

A few local celebrities decided to stop by...

Wes Matthews and Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers (with me, cheesing in the middle!)

I need to give the people what they want...and apparently that's a rockin' good time, hip hop all night, good looking folks everywhere you turn, lots of champagne and something different from the "norm" here in Portland.  I will be throwing these every 6 weeks or so (until it gets played out) so mark your calendars for MAY 6TH!!

Tanya and her lovely friends

My hoop girls.

Sticks and Stones supporting the movement.

A special thanks to our awesome photographer, Kevin.

THANK YOU!!