My New Obsession…s

Posted on by October 6, 2011

Well…a nifty (not-so-) little blog, Miss Mustard Seed, teaches you how to “Move Mountains in Your Home”…if you haven’t been there, this is a MUST read if you have any interest in any sort of DIY decorating projects.  I have only scratched the surface of the information jack-pot that is there.  Anyway, Miss Mustard Seed has introduced me to using canvas drop cloths…yes, like the ones you can buy…on the painting aisle…of your favorite home improvement store (she recommends the 8oz weight). 

My first project was a wing chair I found at Goodwill for $10.  It is ridiculously comfy, but needed a face lift…so I made a slipcover out of a couple of drop cloths!  I LOVE the way it turned out!  It is not completely finished (I am still looking for buttons for the back flap)…but when it is I will post pics of my progress through the process.  Go to Miss Mustard Seed’s Blog & read (and/or watch the videos) on using drop cloths for slipcovers.  My mind is still reeling from all of the ideas floating around in my head…pillows, window treatments (or mistreatments), place mats, Christmas stockings…the possibilities are nearly endless!  It is the texture, I think, that I love…or maybe the fact that I’m not going to be afraid to toss it in the wash if my kids spill _________ (you fill in the blank) on it.  PLUS I’m experimenting with painting on them…Pintrest has really opened up my mind LOL.

That’s the nearly finished chair…with a skirt in desperate need of ironing…and scraps all over my floor, just begging to be experimented on.

So, I’ve been stalking regularly visiting my local Goodwill in search of a ‘wing chair ottoman’…you know the kind I mean, right?  Without luck thus far…however, on a quick stop today, I came across another…only smaller…wing chair.  I’m totally thinking Emma’s room…even considering dyeing a dropcloth pink…didn’t find that tutorial on Miss Mustard Seed yet.  So I am apparently, slightly obsessed with wing chairs…or maybe it is just my drop cloth obsession wanting to make another slipcover…or maybe I just can’t resist a $10 chair!

Today’s secret revealed…I am learning that I really just like to prove to myself that I can do something…up to my own standards.  It isn’t that I necessarily want to make a career out of cooking, or decorating, or anything else I ramble about here…I just like having those things in my holster …in case I ever need them.  I am just a regular mom, trying to survive  enjoy motherhood…if I can do it, so can you!

Em’s Big Girl Room…Project 1

Posted on by September 19, 2011

I have had fabric to get started on the grand redux for quite sometime.  I am all out of excuses to procrastinate…so I completed a small project to get me going.  Pintrest has really inspired me…that’s where I’ve been all week…inside pintrest lol.

My mom got this little peg board of Em’s name sometime last year…I wasn’t in love with the painting on it, but knew I could do something with it…nevermind the dirty walls from little feet.

I started removing the pegs & remembered I needed to take some pics…so after removing the pegs, I painted it quickly (not looking for perfection, just a pop of color) with some basic, cheap craft paint.

Better already, I thought…after the paint was dry(ish), I took it in and laid it on the wrong-side of the fabric.

…and traced with a pencil.

Then I cut, just inside the line.  (It was too difficult to try to cut in one hand and snap a pic with the other).

Back out I went…to what can only be described as my flavor of the month project helper…Modge Podge.  A layer to ‘glue’ it on…

See, sometimes I can do two things at one time LOL…and a layer to ‘seal’ it…love this stuff!

This is where I was really seeing some results…and I was liking it!  I let this dry overnight before I started the distressing & antiquing.  I used some coarse grit sandpaper to rough up the edges (not overly necessary…another time I couldn’t do 2 things at once…no pics).  Then I decided to slather on some antiquing glaze…some of my favorite stuff on the planet!

A few tips about antiquing glaze…you can’t mess it up, so don’t be scared to go heavy…a wet cloth will take it off as long as it is done in a reasonable amount of time (never tried over about 30 minutes)…you can always add more…layering is best.  What?  You don’t use old pizza boxes for home improvement projects?

Use #5974 for old baby wash cloths.  I used a q-tip for the details…

I worked on it intermittently until I got it where I wanted it.  Then I added some lengths of ribbon…

Voila!  Hair Bow organizer 🙂  I decided to hold off on putting the pegs back on…I may look for some cool antiquey (is that a word?) knobs.

Today’s secret revealed…I’m hopelessly addicted to Pintrest!  AND you could easily do this project using a wooden letter from the craft store of your choice 😉

Are You Ready????

Posted on by September 1, 2011

For some FOOTBALL!!!!  It is finally here…glorious college football season!  I have been patiently waiting since that very, very long week in January…the one where darling husband was in Peru (where it was summer) and I was snowed in for 5 days, with 4 kids…and an SEC team won the title for the FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW.  All you faithfuls are chanting “SEC…SEC…SEC…” in your head right now.

If you read Southern Living, you have seen multiple articles ushering in football season…if you don’t read Southern Living, you really should…you don’t have to be southern to read it!  I love the “Only in the South…” article!  Here you have to seriously consider the football schedule if you want a fall wedding…at least if you want your friends to attend :).  We definitely do college football best down here, if you don’t believe me…you NEED to try it out for yourself.

We won’t be attending many games…I just can’t imagine trying to keep up with all of the monkeys at a game…I nearly have a nervous breakdown just thinking about it.  It is hard enough to keep up with all of them as we leave the boys’ flag football games!  Can I just tell you how green with envy I am that darling husband is attending the season opener…my beloved Bulldogs vs. Boise State…I will be watching from home…alone, not like the kiddos care about watching…hopefully they will be in bed…or at least happily occupied in the basement ;).  You will probably hear me cheering them on.

In our house, Game Day starts with Kirk Herbstreit & the boys giving us the rundown on what to expect from the days games…I always love it when Corso picks the other team ;).  One of the bonuses of living on the West side of the U.S. was waking up to Herbie on Saturdays, now we have to wait until 10…sorry, I (heart) Kirk Herbstreit…even though he is a Buckeye.  Then the games start!  Gotta be ready for those noonish kick-offs!  I love to have grazing food…usually appetizer type stuff…the kind of food that you can dip into and out of all day long. 

Today I am going to share a recipe my football loving Momma shared with me…she had this dip at a fabulous restaurant in Sedona, Arizona called Elote Cafe…she loved it so much that she bought the cookbook.  The dip is named after the restaurant…the restaurant is named after corn-on-the-cob…YUM!  Can you guess what the main ingredient is???  Just checking to see if you are paying attention :).  No better way to bid farewell to one of my favorite fresh summer veggies!  (Chef Jeff Smedstad does say you can sub frozen corn if fresh is not available…but you’ve gotta try it with fresh!!!)

What you will need:

  • 6 ears of corn (leave the husks on)
  • 1 cup of mayo (here in the glorious South we have access to Duke’s…use it if you can)
  • 1 tablespoon of Cholula hot sauce (I use the Chipotle flavor, it adds a nice smokiness…& I add extra, so do it ‘to taste’)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (if you don’t normally use kosher salt…you need to)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup chicken stock (I sub broth if I don’t have stock available)
  • ¼ cup cotija cheese (this is kinda like mexican parmesean…yum!  I have found it in a regular grocery, but if you don’t find it at yours…go to a Mexican Tienda)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • ground red chile to taste (I use cayenne)
  • tortilla chips (my mom likes the ‘tostadas’ that come in a big stack, broken apart…darling husband prefers blue corn chips…whatever you like & have available will do)

Grill the corn, in husk…I trim mine up so it doesn’t catch fire as easy…and run it under water before putting it on the hot grill…

don’t forget to turn it…

and don’t burn it. 

If I were using frozen corn, I would try to do it in a grill pan (if it didn’t fall through the holes) to get the grilled flavor.  You will need to let the corn sit for a bit to cool enough to handle them. 

When cooled enough…shuck ’em.  For the record, this is our preferred way to cook fresh corn…grilling it makes it super easy to shuck…the silks (for the most part) come right off.

I have this handy-dandy tool for ripping the kernels off the cob, but you can use a knife.

The ‘Players’…in the back is some homemade chicken stock, I had just enough for this :).

When the corn is ready to go, mix the mayo, hot sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper, sugar, & chicken stock in a saute pan over medium heat…whisk it all together. 

Stir in the corn until heated through. 

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with cheese, cilantro, and ground chile. 

Try to restrain yourself…it will be difficult…my husband and I fight over this dip…it is magnificent!  Can you believe I convinced him to take this picture of me getting first dip?!?

You will probably want to invest in Chef Jeff Smedstad’s cookbook…this is only the tip of the iceberg of deliciousness.  I would highly recommend visiting the Elote Cafe on your next trip to Sedona…one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Today’s secret revealed…my mom & I are VERY serious about football (my first blog was a football blog)…before I moved 2000 miles away from her, we used to meet for lunch every week to discuss rankings & how we agreed or disagreed with the polls…then we made our own rankings…ESPN really should hire us.

Joining in the Fun!

Posted on by July 26, 2011

Re-posting this from February…joining in the linky par-tay over at The Handmade Home!  Hope you will go over & give her some bloggy love, she is a fellow southern girl.  If you are looking for fabulous ideas for decorating your home, you will want to stay there a while, possibly your entire day (or week…or month LOL).  So remember when you are reading about ‘the winter blahs’ that this is a repost…it is like a hot, swampy oven out there today!  You know I love a Linky!

Click Here to Join the Par-tay!

I don’t know what this lingering desire for color is…is it the winter blahs or maybe spring fever?  My last home utilized lots of color…in the form of paint on my walls, I can think of 9 different wall colors.  My new house, that I love, has only 2 different wall colors…and it is considerably larger than my former home.  My entire home, less the 2 walls of the dining room (it’s an open floor plan), is a light-ish khaki…crisp khaki or southern sand, to be exact.  Those 2 walls of the dining room are an amazing shade of pea-ish green…I love that color!  I don’t know if I love it because it is so fabulous, or because it is the only ‘color’ LOL.

I really want to repaint my master bedroom…I’m afraid my darling husband may have me committed if I so much as suggest we paint.  See, we bought this house from a local bank…not quite ‘as-is’, but we didn’t get it in tip-top shape, either…the price you pay (or don’t 😉 ).  So to say that we went through some difficulty with touching up the paint to make it presentable…well, that is a gross understatement.  I still have a spot on my ceiling that I have yet to get paint that matches…incredibly long story, that ended with me telling my husband to stop looking up!  *sigh*  I really can’t believe that I’m even considering painting to be quite honest.  I know that painting is relatively inexpensive, fairly simple, and not horribly time-consuming (if you have the ‘right’ paint, of course). 

I really want to make myself deal with the overall khakiness of my home in new, creative ways…that don’t involve repainting walls.  I have been weaving in accessories, but I’m not ‘there’ yet.  In my kitchen and informal dining I have pops of red.  My family room is coming together with splashes of turquoise, my current obsession…I think it has something to do with it being my birthstone, but I am so digging turquoise…in my wardrobe & decorating.  It is amazing with the khaki.  I am even thinking about branching out and mixing in some of the turquoise with the reds in the kitchen…thoughts?  anyone? 

This is the mantle in our family room…I am trying to use the turquoise effectively, without going overboard with it.  I have similar ‘splashes’ on the bookcases that flank the fireplace on both sides.  On a different note, do you think it is wrong that the large picture above the fireplace includes only 2 of my 4 children? (it is the twins…I took this on a trip to San Diego…I loved this fountain).

Today’s secret revealed…I’m trying to step out of my box and find the new me…choosing a path I’ve never taken before, working with the wall color I have.

…and now it is nearly gone.

Posted on by July 24, 2011

Summer, that is.  The boys are all registered for school…the stores are all filled with school supplies…where did it go so fast???  I have only written 2 posts this summer…time really does fly when you’re havin’ fun. 

I have been so busy, that I totally missed a very special day…The Secrets of a Southern Girl’s 1st birthday!  It was on July 19th, I was busy recuperating from a lovely vacation and spending valuable time with my Mom who was here for a very short visit…so happy late birthday to my little creative outlet!

I’m sure that once the boys are back at school, in about 3 weeks…YIKES!…I’m having flashbacks to this time last year…I can’t believe it is here already!  I’m sure once they go back I will be refreshed and ready to get back at blogging…I have tons of material jotted down on my trusty note pads that I carry everywhere…even a few partially written posts.  We have just been so busy this summer…busy enjoying the down time.

I’m sorry if I’ve kept y’all hangin’, but I will tell you that a future post (sometime probably after August 17) will include a very special…very southern recipe…there was a movie of the same name…can you guess it???

Today’s secret revealed…savor the moments, like summer they fly by!

Summer is here…

Posted on by June 24, 2011

Is it just me, or do the number of impromptu parties multiply in the summer?  I find that we can have a party, pretty much anywhere…the pool, baseball practice, the driveway…you get the idea.  I like to have a few things on hand…just in case. 

Chips and some sorta dip…usually I have a few varieties, but tortilla chips & salsa and plain potato chips (I like the wavy kind) with french onion dip are must haves!  Random veggies and a bottle of ranch on stand-by are always a hit…oranges cut into wedges…and, of course, freezie pops (outside only at this house). 

What little munchies to you keep on hand for those fun times? 

Now, what about the drinks?  Juice boxes for the kiddies…what do you have for the adults?  In the summer, one of my FAVES is a Saucy Arnie Palmer…good lemonade & Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka.  The good folks over at Firefly were kind enough to start producing ‘Skinny Tea’…it is a carb free version (I hear the roar of the crowd from here).  I am now in search of a truly yummy low-carb lemonade (not crystal light or Trop 50…tried them…crystal light doesn’t have the pulpy magic & Trop 50 still has too many carbs…maybe I need to add some fresh squozed lemon to the crystal light…or make my own…I want Chick-fil-A quality diet lemonade with out the $9 a gallon price).

One of my new favorite summer drinks is the Beer Margarita…yep, you read it right!  My Jersey Girl gone South friend Kathy was kind enough to introduce me to these wonderfully refreshing drinks.  Such an easy recipe…4 Coronas (or Corona light), 1 cup of tequila, and one can of frozen limeade (do not dilute!)…serve them over ice.  You’ll be back to thank me & Jersey later ;).

What is your favorite summertime beverage???

Today’s secret revealed…don’t put your batch (or two) of Beer Margaritas on ice in the serving container.  If you happen to not finish them, they keep just fine in the fridge until the next night.  One more thing…squozed was not a typo…it is a Duckwall-ism.

Settling in to Summer

Posted on by June 16, 2011

I didn’t realize that my blog posts might be missed :).  Thanks to those who have asked “when are you gonna do another blog post?”.  These last few weeks we finished up school, had Baseball All-Star practice every night for 2 weeks for 2+ hours, then trying to settle in to a summer routine (or lack there of), planning for visits…the list goes on & on.  I had forgotten the challenges of adding 3 little boys to my regular routine…grocery shopping is quite an undertaking in itself.  We have had such fun, when I’m not intently trying to focus on one thing (hence the lack of blog posts). 

The W.A.C. collected quite a bit of food for the Backpack Program!  The kiddos & I are going to deliver it tomorrow! 

One little project I have going on with the boys is an earning chart.  They really need to start helping out with the messes they create.  We have ‘point makers’ (clearing dishes from table, room picked up, make bed, clothes to laundry, good deeds) and we have ‘point takers’ (whining, fighting, talking back, wet suits on floor, naughty acts).  I let them choose a prize and they have to earn 100 points to get it.  I love encouraging the good behavior…and really needed to do something to curtail the naughty stuff.

Miss Emma is quickly approaching 3!  She is so sassy…and quite the mother hen.  She really keeps those boys in line.  She wants in on the point making…so her points are earned by using the potty.  Oh happy day!  We are potty trained (wearing pull-ups at night)!  I have spent the better part of a decade changing diapers NON-STOP…with some periods of 3 in diapers.  I know some mommies mourn these milestones, but that’s how I know I am truly, most happily done adding to our family…4 is definitely enough :).

What are your summer plans?  I’m always looking for creative ideas, please share!

Today’s secret revealed…I miss the everynight baseball practices…we had fun watching those boys…and the beer margaritas were so refreshing!

The Backpack Program…Summer Struggles

Posted on by May 26, 2011

Let me give you a quickie description of The Backpack Program…there are many children who depend on the free-lunch programs at their schools as their main source of nutrition.  Many school districts have started programs that provide discreet stashes of food that these children take home over the weekends, so that they have food to eat.  In our school district there are 182 children that receive food from this program…I can’t even explain this to my husband without crying…there are 182 children in our immediate area that don’t have enough food at home to make it through a weekend.  For some of them, without this Backpack Program, they would ONLY eat at school…it just breaks my heart.  So, the school year is coming to a close…can you imagine what is going through these children’s minds?  Almost 3 months until school starts back.

Our school district has asked for donations of foods (peanut butter, canned tuna & chicken, mac & cheese, cereal bars, canned fruit) to supply these 182 children with supplemental food supplies monthly in June, July, & August.  I am asking the ladies of the W.A.C. to pool our resources together…and I’m asking you to do the same…you don’t have to do it for my school district, check for programs in your own.  With all of the money our country sends out to foreign lands…our children are hungry…this should not be!  We should take care of our own FIRST.

To read about my school district’s Backpack Program click HERE.

Check your local districts for similar programs…if there isn’t one yet, maybe you will be the one to start something that makes a huge difference in the lives of many children.

Today’s secret revealed…one evening my oldest was complaining about his life (I thought that was a teen trait, he’s 7!)…I asked him was it his new home, the big screen TV, the Wii, or all of his toys that made it so bad…then I explained to him that there are kids that go to his school that don’t have food to eat at home…the only food they eat is when they are at school (of course I was crying as I explained this)…I told him he needed to think about that…it made him tear-up (I felt a little bad), but he hasn’t made that complaint since.

Embrace it!

Posted on by May 25, 2011

As I have mentioned before…40 is not far off for me, my 30’s are winding down.  I am not sad, depressed, or concerned (except about my metabolism coming to a screeching halt)…mentally, I am totally fine with it. 

Today is my bestie’s birthday…let’s just say that she’s a little ahead of me ;)…we talked yesterday about our age & what it means…we are totally on the same page!  Whatever age we are is FABULOUS because we are FABULOUS (yes, that’s me tooting my own horn).  I have never been happier in my life, every single day seems to get even a little bit better…I can’t imagine how great it will be as my 40’s come to a close. 

I don’t worry with the trivial little dramas of life.  I have chosen to forgive any grudges I have had…washed myself of the weight of it all.  I don’t necessarily do these things for others, but I do them for ME.  I have found that I create my happiness.

I am blissfully happy in my marriage…that doesn’t mean that my husband doesn’t make me completely crazy sometimes…it means that making me crazy is part of the journey…nothing is perfect & if you think it is, you are probably gonna be disappointed.  See, Nester’s motto (which I have adopted as my mantra) applies to life, not just decor… It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful!  Do my 4 little monkeys tap dance on my nerves?  Of course they do!  They are 7, 5, 5, & 2!  That is pretty much their job description.  They also bring me more joy than I ever thought possible…even when I feel like I’m gonna explode like a volcano. 

What is dragging down your happiness?  What is stopping you from fixing it?  If it is a relationship that is less than ‘ideal’…are you be ready to let go of the issues?  Reach out, try your best to address the issue…even if the other person is not ‘there’ yet, you will feel so much better by being willing to let go of the bad.  You really can CHOOSE to be happy :).

Today’s secret revealed…the girls weekend was a smashing success!  It amazed me how I hadn’t seen some of those girls in over 20 years…and we didn’t even miss a beat…picked up right where we left off, like I saw & talked to them all of the time.  I can’t wait until next time!

Platters with Purpose

Posted on by May 20, 2011

When you think of how to use a platter, does it pretty much stop with serving food?  Maybe you get a little crazy and hang one on the wall…I am a platter fanatic.  I don’t really know where it started, but I love them…and love to find new ways to use them.   My BFF gave me a lovely platter for Christmas, I didn’t want to put it in that high cabinet above my fridge…I wanted to enjoy it, be reminded of my friendship. 

I was having this issue with my kitchen sink supplies and my countertops being constantly wet.  I didn’t want to stuff everything under the sink where I didn’t have ready access.  I was just about to hang that pretty platter on the wall…then I had this idea:

It keeps my countertops free of water spots…and is much more aesthetically pleasing…the group has a ‘purpose’.  My sponges & sink stoppers have a home in the bowl, my dish soap, hand soap, & counter spray are easily accessible & don’t look like they need to be put away.  It is one of the rare places that isn’t riddled with clutter (still working on those home goals).  I know it isn’t an earth shattering idea, but it works so well for me!  On the last visit to my BFF’s home, she showed me how my use of the platter she gave me inspired her to do the same…I thought ‘hmmmm, maybe I should blog about that’…so here we are ;).

I like to also use platters in place of trays.  Trays usually have handles that pose storage issues, so I tend to steer clear of them.  Again, things look better to my eyes when there is something that brings them together…adds cohesiveness.  Next time you host a little gathering, be it coffee or happy hour…give it a whirl!

Now, I’m not much of one to do tequila shots…but I liked the look of the bottle AND my supplies on hand were kinda limited ;).  What do you think?  I think this totally looks better than having them all separate.  (I really should’ve done a picture to compare the 2…sorry!).

And for the next morning (LOL!)…or afternoon tea…

Do you have a favorite pretty platter that doesn’t get used often?  Give it a new purpose!

Today’s secret revealed:  I tend to attach sentimental value to ‘things’…I love that platter because everytime I wash the dishes I think of my BFF…that is what motivates me to find everyday uses for special ‘things’.

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