Upcycled kitchen center

Our family of 5 (plus 3 dogs) reside in a home that is around 1,500 sq feet. It is our first bought starter home 11 years ago. Its small, but it is our place in the world! However space is at a high commodity :)  R, who is 2 years old, *needed* her own kitchen play center but for now, she co-sleeps with me and the hubs (yup attachment parenting all the way) and all her toys reside in an orderly manner in the living room hallway. So.. back to the kitchen center *need* :) + space and the commercially bought kitchens are huge and not too realistic and rather pricey (things that dont make sense for me to buy into) decided to make our own version. I saw the concept on Etsy and vowed to make it as recycled as possible. After 6 months of collecting items intended for the trash...and assembling it as best possible...we have a realistic, upcycled kitchen play center! Not bad, eh ;) 

......and sorry about the need to head tilt to view the picture. Still new to the blogging, first uploaded picture that worked and I have *no* clue at how to flip to the left. ;)

"Skirting the Issue"

Despite the ideal that this blog has had less than 40 views in the past 2 weeks (and half are probably me trying to figure out how to log in :) I am going to paste this information here! The ladies at Simple Simon and Company sewing blog are partnering with this launch of providing for foster care girls through the art of sewing. For more information and guidelines, jump on over to their blog. On their site you can upload your skirt(s) to share and can be eligible for a contest as well they are offering.

What is "Skirting the Issue?"

Skirting the Issue is an event that has been planned for the month of July to make and donate handmade skirts to girls in Foster Care.  We have teamed up with our local Foster Care Agency, Utah Foster Care Foundation,  in our local efforts, but we have been assured that there are plenty of local Foster Care Agencies across the nation (and world ) and that there is plenty of need for skirts!

As part of the event we have asked over 40 celebrity sewing bloggers to participate and share simple handmade skirt tutorials that we can all use to make and donate skirts to our local agencies (or mail to us if you would like to!)

We have set a goal for 100 skirts to be donated by the first week in August---and we REALLY need your help to make our goal!

Is there an address I can mail skirts to if I can't find a local organiztion?

YES!!! YES!! and YES!!!

There are two local agencies that we have been working directly with to donate skirts in our area.  If you would like to mail skirts, here are two addresses that you can use.  If you will label the boxes "Skirting the Issue" somewhere on them that would be most helpful!

Utah , Wester Region

274 West Center Street
Orem, UT 84057


Utah, Salt Lake Region
5296 South Commerce Drive, #400
Murray, UT 84107


Is there a need for certain sizes over others?

The agency assures us that there are girls of all ages in Foster care (both locally and nationally) and any and all skirts will be greatly loved and appreciated.

Our local agency has specifically said that they have a need for tween and teenage girls skirts.  So, while we are definately making some little girls' skirts, we will definately remember those older girls too!