The Year of Changes.

It was only a short time ago that the most important thing in my life was going out, seeing who my roommates were going to start dating, dating different guys at the same time, waking up with a headache (still happens), oh, and getting my teaching license. The reason for my rapid maturity (although, I'd argue this wavers) could, in part, be attributed to a number of my friends having babies, being in a committed relationship (!!!), seeing beyond Friday night, or the sobering realization that I'm 28 years old. I spent 2 + years of my life going back to graduate school to become a high school English teacher. While I cannot undermine what the experience and 2+ years of teaching awarded me, I know that teaching in a public school (or perhaps any school) is not for me. Without delving into my cynicism about the state of public education and the never-ending, but always under-appreciated devotion of teachers, I can no longer give my life to that career. Thus, although finishing the last bit of my masters is on the agenda, I now find myself a little uncertain about the future, but excited that I feel like I can do some of the things I think have always been buried inside me. OK, so on a lighter note, the following is a chronicle of my becoming a quasi-adult (I painted a room!) and the projects that have help me to realize that 28 is still two whole years from 30, and that the future isn't as abstract as it had seemed.

Now that my boyfriend Bill and I live together in a condo, I got the idea of re-doing our kitchen after my incessant viewing of HGTV (which I had always thought was for "old people"). I should note that prior to my moving into the condo, it was the very portrait of a bachelor pad, with a hoarder's design idea. After removing bike tires from the dining table and an array of beer bottles lining the book shelves (he did have two books), I was able to see the potential.
So, just to make things interesting, I set a strict $500 budget for the kitchen "re-vitalization." Obviously, this only allowed for minor changes, and caused us to prioritize what needed done, and what would produce the biggest change. Here is a rough breakdown of costs:

$80.73 for Backsplash
$50 for a stainless steel faucet I found on craigslist in original packaging (note: it has yet to be installed in the pictures)
$122 for lighting (two separate lights)
$130.13 for three colors of paint and backsplash supplies
$18.73 in decor
$16.62 various hardware

TOTAL: $418.21
That leaves the rest of the budget for the flooring, which we haven't purchased because we weren't counting on having room in the budget! Because it is a small kitchen, that should be enough money.

Here are before/after pictures:

Note sure who decided off white was a good color for cabinets.

Recovered stools; painted cabinets; spray-painted knobs; painted counter base

Gross.

Less gross. Remember, faucet has yet to be installed. Under the cabinet light; backsplash; shelf over the sink; vases either made or from Goodwill.

I am still grappling with the fact that someone thought this looked good. It's enough to launch me into a dark depression.

Thanks to Bill's boss for assisting with the lighting to ensure Bill didn't get electricuted, which I'm fairly certain would've been the outcome.

Q-tip floral arrangement (thanks to Pinterest); various plates found at Goodwill (on half-off day, of course). We gained about 2 feet from removing that drop ceiling. Ugh!

These are various other pictures from the kitchen area.
A thing my mom gave me that I couldn't figure out what to do with. Just paint and scrapbook paper.

Chalkboard paint for our many lists.

The stained glass window right outside the kitchen: painted wall and trim.

Next: the bathroom