Some days, even with the best intentions, loads of ambition (and lots of caffeine), Mother Nature has other ideas for what I'm going to do with my day.
This week I've been working on my front porch, and on my foundation garden. I've been painting pots and furniture. I've been planting and weeding, and mulching. My back is sore and my nails are all broken, but it's all in a weeks work. Finally, today being Friday, this was the day the porch and the garden were all gonna come together. My hubby, Big A is home, the kids are at school, and we were gonna tie it all together.
And then we had storms. Severe thunderstorms with hail and wicked winds. We woke up this morning and it's 42 F, windy and rainy, and there's a giant tree down in our yard. So, what's Plan B you ask?
Well, I thought, have the following items out on my kitchen island:
scissors, glue gun, ribbon, pliers, hammer, 18x24 canvas, paint, glass beads, a wall decal... Perhaps I could make something, and then I came up with a plan, in fact, the perfect Plan B.
Here it is:
I'm gonna look out the window at my hunky hubby wielding a chainsaw, while I put the on the fire, cuddle on the sofa with my cat, and wait til the kids get home. That's not a bad start to the Memorial Day weekend. And, after all, tomorrow is another day!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Why Didn't I Think of That?
At least once a day, I think "why didn't I think of that?" to myself. This morning I was looking for a tip on pulling weeds (more on that later), and I thought I'd make a list of my favorite clever DIY tips and tricks, from our friends in blogland, or Pinterest, with a few tips and tricks I've learned along the way.
If you think of any cool tips or tricks you use in your home, feel free to jump in and leave me a comment! That said, here's my list I made whilesulking and procrastinating getting psyched-up about weeding:
Make your own foaming hand soap and save $. Just mix 3 tbsp. liquid hand soap with 2/3 cup warm water and stir (don't shake) to mix. Obviously, you do have to use the foaming hand dispenser and not the regular kind.
(photo/recipe here)
Speaking of soap - who hasn't heard of the Dawn/Vinegar miracle? Probably you all have, but it bears repeating! Heat 1 cup of vinegar for 1 minute in the micro, and mix with 1 cup of Dawn. Particularly amazing at cleaning showers and tubs. PLUS, spritz some on laundry stains - let sit for a few minutes, and the stain will wash right out.
And similarly, did you know baby wipes are awesome for cleaning leather shoes? Dingy white leather sneakers get a new lease on life with baby wipes.
Dryer sheets have about a billion different uses, but my favorite is to give the dog a rub down when she's been out in the rain - no more stinky doggie. Plus, the dryer sheet gets rid of the static electricity and can help the pup with anxiety during thunderstorms. (We have a big dog, don't know if I'd do this on a little guy, but you could check it out.)
Using tools? Here's a tip - flat thumbs are not sexy. Use a comb to hold a nail and save your digits.
OR, use pliers to hold fabric tacks or nails. Again, save your fingers, they aren't pretty when they're black either. Check out more DIY tips on the website here.
However, a French Manicure IS sexy. This is a cute idea for perfect nail tips every time. (Not sure I'd go with yellow, but...)
Here's a cool idea. To separate eggs, I usually crack the egg into my hand and let the whites separate through my fingers, keeping the yolk in tact. Easy, but kinda yucky. This is not only cleaner, but a way cooler way to separate egg yolks! (Visit the website where I saw this here.)
How cool is that? Don't you want to just run to the fridge and grab an egg?
Speaking of eggs. My lil guy loves to help cooking. His motor skills aren't quite up to egg-cracking yet, so we remove a lot of egg shell pieces. Just use a piece of the shell to fish out the tiny pieces from your cracked eggs - for some reason, the shell pieces are attracted to each other. (Awww).
One more egg tip: fresh eggs are way harder to peel than the older eggs. So if you're making hard-boiled eggs, try to use the "older eggs". (Not too old, "green eggs and ham" makes a cute story, but I'm pretty sure would make you sick.)
And now for something completely different:
Martha Stewart strikes again - make an extra fold in your wrapping paper to create a pocket for the card. Love it.
(Note: I don't buy expensive wrapping paper. I use a roll of brown paper used for shipping. You can decorate it with stamps, twine, burlap, etc...)
Now on to one of my favorite tips, because with very little effort, this cooking tip makes you seem like a Chef to your guests. So here it is: Everything tastes better with bacon, and that's the truth! (You can use vegetarian bacon, too!). Make veggie bundles with green beans or asparagus. Nice presentation and delicious.
Do I need to tell you that chicken, pork, shrimp and fish are awesome wrapped in bacon too? Visit skinnytaste.com for tons of cool recipes.
Do you make your own wreaths? There are tons of ideas out there, so I bet you do!
Here's a super clever idea for wreath making: go to the plumbing department at Home Depot and grab a six foot long piece of foam tubing for $.97! Snip the length you want and duct tape the ends together. Wreath tutorial here.
Speaking of wreaths: Here's an easy way to hang a wreath with no damage to the door - hang a command hook on the opposite side of the door, like so.
So that's a pretty good list to start with. I now have to stop playing and go out and pull weeds - Boo! I know, I'm a baby because I hate pulling weeds - so as I mentioned, I tried to look up "tips on pulling weeds", and didn't find any useful ideas. I'm not too happy about that, but I think I have a plan:
If you think of any cool tips or tricks you use in your home, feel free to jump in and leave me a comment! That said, here's my list I made while
Make your own foaming hand soap and save $. Just mix 3 tbsp. liquid hand soap with 2/3 cup warm water and stir (don't shake) to mix. Obviously, you do have to use the foaming hand dispenser and not the regular kind.
(photo/recipe here)
Speaking of soap - who hasn't heard of the Dawn/Vinegar miracle? Probably you all have, but it bears repeating! Heat 1 cup of vinegar for 1 minute in the micro, and mix with 1 cup of Dawn. Particularly amazing at cleaning showers and tubs. PLUS, spritz some on laundry stains - let sit for a few minutes, and the stain will wash right out.
And similarly, did you know baby wipes are awesome for cleaning leather shoes? Dingy white leather sneakers get a new lease on life with baby wipes.
Dryer sheets have about a billion different uses, but my favorite is to give the dog a rub down when she's been out in the rain - no more stinky doggie. Plus, the dryer sheet gets rid of the static electricity and can help the pup with anxiety during thunderstorms. (We have a big dog, don't know if I'd do this on a little guy, but you could check it out.)
Using tools? Here's a tip - flat thumbs are not sexy. Use a comb to hold a nail and save your digits.
OR, use pliers to hold fabric tacks or nails. Again, save your fingers, they aren't pretty when they're black either. Check out more DIY tips on the website here.
However, a French Manicure IS sexy. This is a cute idea for perfect nail tips every time. (Not sure I'd go with yellow, but...)
Photo here
Random fact, but, I love eggs. Not as much as ice cream, but they're up there!
Here's a cool idea. To separate eggs, I usually crack the egg into my hand and let the whites separate through my fingers, keeping the yolk in tact. Easy, but kinda yucky. This is not only cleaner, but a way cooler way to separate egg yolks! (Visit the website where I saw this here.)How cool is that? Don't you want to just run to the fridge and grab an egg?
Speaking of eggs. My lil guy loves to help cooking. His motor skills aren't quite up to egg-cracking yet, so we remove a lot of egg shell pieces. Just use a piece of the shell to fish out the tiny pieces from your cracked eggs - for some reason, the shell pieces are attracted to each other. (Awww).
One more egg tip: fresh eggs are way harder to peel than the older eggs. So if you're making hard-boiled eggs, try to use the "older eggs". (Not too old, "green eggs and ham" makes a cute story, but I'm pretty sure would make you sick.)
And now for something completely different:
Martha Stewart strikes again - make an extra fold in your wrapping paper to create a pocket for the card. Love it.
(Note: I don't buy expensive wrapping paper. I use a roll of brown paper used for shipping. You can decorate it with stamps, twine, burlap, etc...)
Now on to one of my favorite tips, because with very little effort, this cooking tip makes you seem like a Chef to your guests. So here it is: Everything tastes better with bacon, and that's the truth! (You can use vegetarian bacon, too!). Make veggie bundles with green beans or asparagus. Nice presentation and delicious.
Do I need to tell you that chicken, pork, shrimp and fish are awesome wrapped in bacon too? Visit skinnytaste.com for tons of cool recipes.
Do you make your own wreaths? There are tons of ideas out there, so I bet you do!
Here's a super clever idea for wreath making: go to the plumbing department at Home Depot and grab a six foot long piece of foam tubing for $.97! Snip the length you want and duct tape the ends together. Wreath tutorial here.
Speaking of wreaths: Here's an easy way to hang a wreath with no damage to the door - hang a command hook on the opposite side of the door, like so.
So that's a pretty good list to start with. I now have to stop playing and go out and pull weeds - Boo! I know, I'm a baby because I hate pulling weeds - so as I mentioned, I tried to look up "tips on pulling weeds", and didn't find any useful ideas. I'm not too happy about that, but I think I have a plan:
So what have you got for me? What are your favorite tips or tricks for around the home?
Parties I'm at today:
Parties I'm at today:
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Doin' That Front Porch Thang...
With news of the devastation in Oklahoma, I want to say how very sad I am, as we all are, for those who have lost everything. Praying for some relief for everyone affected.
Things are coming along here. Several days ago I posted ideas for decorating my front porch, which you can read HERE.
I am nowhere near finished, but have been making a start at the porch re-do. It has been somewhat hindered by our new tenants, the bees. Several phone calls and no one seems able to give us a quote on removing said bees. Therefore, I'm trying to garden and decorate, albeit a little jumpy as the bees get too friendly. Dive bombing bees can be disconcerting! So far I haven't been stung, so I carry on.
Here are a few things I've been working on:
The easiest quick fix I've done so far for the porch has been painting the pots. I've decided to go with black, although I'll probably add in some more colorful pots as the summer goes on. Funny how much difference a quick coat of paint can make.
From YUK:
To NOT TOO SHABBY:
(Look how much more the details on the planter show up.)
After I dusted the pots, making sure to rub off any chipping paint, it took two coats of black spray paint to give them a good cover. I've got quite a few more to do, but need to make another trip to Home Depot to replenish my spray paint supply!
A few weeks ago I made a wreath for the front door. It looked pretty cute for the beginning of Spring.
But I decided it should be in full bloom by now! Enter the glue gun and some more fake flowers from the dollar store:
Next up I bought some curtains. I found some sheer panels at Big Lots, which were on sale for $5. I was thinking of something more colorful, but now I'm pleased that I chose a more neutral light brown.
I used tension rods to hang the curtains. I'm not too happy with the "brass", so the rods will get a spray with white paint in the near future. I love the way the curtains flutter in the breeze. They really make the porch look cozy. In fact, I took them down to adjust, and when Big A walked out he commented how boring the porch looked without them. They just seem to fit the space.
Next up is painting the rockers. They have a matching little table, which I guinea pigged and painted an "espresso" brown. I wanted to make sure that I didn't prefer brown before I committed to painting the chairs. Now that I've painted the table, I'm certain I want them to be a glossy black as I originally thought.
And it's an easy fix. But in my infinite wisdom, I tried to push the little white spray thingy back on, and proceeded to spray myself full in the face. (Not so smart. And not so pretty. Spray paint does not double as eye-shadow as it turns out.)
With my face painted and my eyes burning, I felt my way (arms out, eyes scrunched closed) up the cellar stairs and down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face. And I thought, "Ooh, that's why they say to wear protective goggles".
So, regardless of my mishap - the show must go on. I have to paint the chairs, find rugs, finish the pots, and then PLANT. I also plan to paint the front door black, but I need help from Big A on that one. I'm planning on having this done by Memorial Day. Yeah, next week.
In the meantime, hopefully, I will manage to get rid of the bees. And keep the air-headedness to a minimum.
So what about you? Do you have any outdoor projects going on? I'd love to see them!
Linking today:
Things are coming along here. Several days ago I posted ideas for decorating my front porch, which you can read HERE.
I am nowhere near finished, but have been making a start at the porch re-do. It has been somewhat hindered by our new tenants, the bees. Several phone calls and no one seems able to give us a quote on removing said bees. Therefore, I'm trying to garden and decorate, albeit a little jumpy as the bees get too friendly. Dive bombing bees can be disconcerting! So far I haven't been stung, so I carry on.
Here are a few things I've been working on:
The easiest quick fix I've done so far for the porch has been painting the pots. I've decided to go with black, although I'll probably add in some more colorful pots as the summer goes on. Funny how much difference a quick coat of paint can make.
From YUK:
To NOT TOO SHABBY:
(Look how much more the details on the planter show up.)
After I dusted the pots, making sure to rub off any chipping paint, it took two coats of black spray paint to give them a good cover. I've got quite a few more to do, but need to make another trip to Home Depot to replenish my spray paint supply!
A few weeks ago I made a wreath for the front door. It looked pretty cute for the beginning of Spring.
But I decided it should be in full bloom by now! Enter the glue gun and some more fake flowers from the dollar store:
Next up I bought some curtains. I found some sheer panels at Big Lots, which were on sale for $5. I was thinking of something more colorful, but now I'm pleased that I chose a more neutral light brown.
I used tension rods to hang the curtains. I'm not too happy with the "brass", so the rods will get a spray with white paint in the near future. I love the way the curtains flutter in the breeze. They really make the porch look cozy. In fact, I took them down to adjust, and when Big A walked out he commented how boring the porch looked without them. They just seem to fit the space.
Next up is painting the rockers. They have a matching little table, which I guinea pigged and painted an "espresso" brown. I wanted to make sure that I didn't prefer brown before I committed to painting the chairs. Now that I've painted the table, I'm certain I want them to be a glossy black as I originally thought.
The brown looks a little too BLAH to me. Don't you think? 
Now, just to keep it real, let me tell you about a little mishap I had. When I went to take the lid off the spray paint to paint some of the pots, I happened to pop off the little white spray nozzle. This happens once in a while.
And it's an easy fix. But in my infinite wisdom, I tried to push the little white spray thingy back on, and proceeded to spray myself full in the face. (Not so smart. And not so pretty. Spray paint does not double as eye-shadow as it turns out.)
With my face painted and my eyes burning, I felt my way (arms out, eyes scrunched closed) up the cellar stairs and down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face. And I thought, "Ooh, that's why they say to wear protective goggles".
So, regardless of my mishap - the show must go on. I have to paint the chairs, find rugs, finish the pots, and then PLANT. I also plan to paint the front door black, but I need help from Big A on that one. I'm planning on having this done by Memorial Day. Yeah, next week.
In the meantime, hopefully, I will manage to get rid of the bees. And keep the air-headedness to a minimum.
So what about you? Do you have any outdoor projects going on? I'd love to see them!
Linking today:
TUESDAY
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Stop Vegetable Nudity
Nudity is just not appropriate at the dinner table. It frightens the kids. So let's put an end to this unnecessary evil, and dress our vegetables!
These quick and easy sauces not only add some decorum at the dinner table, but, you might find the kids (and hubby) actually enjoy veggies when they're dressed!
I always feel good about myself when I'm eating veggies - and I feel especially pleased when my family is eating them. But, if you're anything like me, food is just a vehicle to get yummy sauces into my belly! With all of the summer veggies hitting the farm stands and super markets, it's a great time to try some of these easy sauce recipes.
If that isn't reason enough, most of these recipes can be made very low cal and diet friendly. Give them a try!
Sesame Garlic Sauce
This is perfect over steamed pea pods, sauteed red peppers, or any veggie stir-fry. Plus, this takes literally 2 minutes to throw together.
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Directions:
Stir fry the garlic in the sesame oil for 1 minute. (Don't let it brown or burn)
Whisk in the soy sauce and brown sugar.
Remove from heat and stir in the sesame seeds.
Pour over any sauteed, or steamed veggie you wish.
Thai Peanut Sauce
If allowed, my kids would eat this with a spoon! Serve it over any veggie, especially veggie kebabs done on the grill. Also great with grilled meats.
4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
a pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
Combine above ingredients in a small sauce pan and stir over med/low heat until creamy.
You can double or triple to make as much as you need.
Also, very good with fresh garlic and ginger (minced) if you have them. But my kids prefer the ground versions.
Chipotle Cream Sauce (COLD)
This sauce has a little kick! (It uses chipotle chilies in adobo - found in a can in super market). My kids like spicy food, and this goes great with any grilled veggie or meat. I make this up and keep it in the fridge, to serve whenever I need it. (Serve cold).
1 cup sour cream OR plain Greek yogurt
1large fresh minced garlic clove
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chilies
a pinch or two of sea salt (to taste)
Directions:
Mix all ingredients except chilies in a bowl.
Take one of the chilies with the sauce on it, and mince/mash with a sharp knife.
Add the chilies to the cream mixture.
Taste and adjust for salt.
Chipotle Cream Sauce (WARM)
Another sauce with some warmth, just so you know! This is really good over sauteed baby spinach, or over fresh corn.
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons minced
shallots
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons dry cooking sherry
1 cup sour cream
1 chipotle chili in adobo,
minced/smashed with a knife
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
Directions
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the shallot and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the broth and sherry, and simmer another 3 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in the sour cream, then the pureed chipotle.
Simmer for a couple of minutes to heat through and season with salt and pepper.
Creamy Parmesan Cheese Sauce
This is my go to sauce for asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower... you get the idea! Goes great over pork chops and chicken too. If you're into it - substitute Gorgonzola or blue cheese for the Parmesan. YUM!
8 ounces cream cheese,
cubed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
cheese (to taste - add more if you think your sauce needs it)
3/4 cup milk
1 tbsp butter
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 dash Tabasco
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Melt butter in a small non-stick sauce pan.
Saute garlic for a minute, but do not let it brown or burn.
Add the cream cheese, and let it melt.
Add the milk, slowly, stirring to incorporate.
Add your cheese and stir constantly to let it blend.
Add Tabasco and black pepper.
Simmer to keep warm.
Note that I have used cream cheese, sour cream and milk for these recipes, but feel free to use lower fat versions. I do on occasion and it doesn't affect the flavor.
So what do you think? Do you have any veggie sauces to share? I'd love to swap!
So what do you think? Do you have any veggie sauces to share? I'd love to swap!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Front Porch Decor
Hello There!
It's a rainy day, so I'll be honest, my job for today is scouring Pinterest and the HGTV website for ideas and inspiration for our front porch. It's working! I feel inspired and excited. Here's my conclusion: With a little bit of work, a few bucks, and some sunshine, we're going to have a comfy front porch this year.
Here are a couple of pictures of our house and front porch (they're old pix, and don't show the foundation garden we put in last year, but I'm not going out in the rain to take a new picture for you - I might melt).
See, this is my front yard!
The first thing I want is a couple of runner sized indoor/outdoor rugs. That's about the only size rug I can fit. I did search around various blogs and Pinterest for tutorials on making my own rugs. A drop cloth rug may be something I could do, but with all I have goiong on this summer (weddings, birthdays, graduations) - I'm hoping to buy a rug or two. I feel kind of guilty, but, here's one I love. Yellow is my favorite color, and I think it would look great on either side of the porch.
This porch below is about the shape and width of our porch. I am loving the curtains. I am going to hang curtains on the far ends (not along the front). I want something breezy and colorful. I'm making my own, using fabric from the fabric store.
When I look at our front porch all I can see is the white front door. Look at me, I'm boing! (That's what it's saying to me - or maybe that's just the voices again). Anyway, my hubby, Big A, agrees that the door looks boring, and we're painting it black.
So, I did a little research, and found a tutorial on painting the front door. Sounds easy enough.
How to paint your front door HERE.
I've been checking out the local garden centers. All of the different colored pots are beautiful. I'm especially drawn to the gold, but I have to admit, gold wont work for our home. Not this year anyway. Everything is so new, (we built our home just 2 years ago), the gardens are a work in progress, and the grass hasn't fully grown in yet.
I'm thinking the gold might be "making a silk purse out of a sows ear", as my great-grandmother used to say. I don't really know what that means, but gold would be too fancy for our home. I think black for the larger pots and some colorful little guys, would look a lot better.
The pot below is great - just paint a large pot and put our house numbers on it. I can do that!
We have two rockers, similar to the one below, which were a gift from my parents. They're natural wood, and unfortunately, they were attacked by the dog. Hey, it's hard to tell the differece between a chair and an intruder. SO, the chairs get a makeover - wood fill for the chew marks, and a new coat of paint too. I think they'll look gorgeous painted black.
My favorite idea, is one I used at our old house. I am going to put Hostas and Coleus in the long window box planters, and put them along the front railings. As the plants grow they create some height and natural privacy. Plus, they're pretty easy to grow, and very colorful.
They hook over the railing, and they adjust to the width of the planter, which is handy.
Now, in case Big A, wasn't paying attention, this is the rug I want. What? I'm just giving him ideas for my birthday!
So what are you doing for your porches. Got any cool ideas?
Friday, May 10, 2013
Just DO IT!
I have had this vase for years. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I look at it, I think "You're ugly. I don't like you. You don't even match anything in my house. Nobody likes you." And that's not very nice of me. I seem to have a lot of anger towards a vase. It even kind of stresses me out.
I'm just so happy it's not brown and purple anymore. I need it right where I can see it - to remind me that procrastination is no friend of mine.
Like I mentioned, usually I get right on changing things if I don't like them. Despite my hang up with the ugly vase, I love spray painting. Spray painting is FUN. I could easily go around the house and grab 10 things on any given day and give them a coat of paint. It's cheap, it's easy, and it's satisfying.
But, there are rules. I'm no expert, but I have learned a couple of things through trial and error (read: screwed up really bad).
So what are you painting? Next on my list are some outdoor wicker chairs, 3 billion plant pots, and MAYBE my kitchen chairs.
After, oh, let's say 10 years, and extensive therapy, I have finally tackled my procrastination with this particular project. Why did I wait 10 years, full well knowing it's an easy fix, and being the kind of person who changes everything? The simple reason is I don't know.
"Just DO IT" I told myself. I put on my Nike's, and with the support of my therapist, and my loving family cheering me on, I headed outside with my ugly vase.
Aw, here they are. My favorite saw horses, that fold up and are easy to carry and store. (They could use a coat of spray paint too).
A quick couple of coats of black spray paint and voila. MUCH BETTER! That was easy! I don't know where it will end up. For now, I filled it with sticks and put it by the front door. We shall see...
Like I mentioned, usually I get right on changing things if I don't like them. Despite my hang up with the ugly vase, I love spray painting. Spray painting is FUN. I could easily go around the house and grab 10 things on any given day and give them a coat of paint. It's cheap, it's easy, and it's satisfying.
But, there are rules. I'm no expert, but I have learned a couple of things through trial and error (read: screwed up really bad).
- Get a spray paint sprayer attachment thingy. It makes spray painting even easier, and you don't get spray paint all over your fingers.
- Spray paint out doors. Spray paint is super toxic and it smells pretty bad.
- Spray paint away from cars and the house. The spray paint will travel. I didn't do this, but a friend of mine spray painted near her hubby's new truck and lets just say THAT was a bad idea.
- Spray paint on a dry, still day. What should take one can of paint will easily triple on a windy day. (Not that I have done that either, or emailed a fellow blogger wondering why I was going through so much paint.)
- When you paint, keep moving in a sweeping motion to avoid drips and splotches.
- Do 2 to 3 light coats of color. It will dry in minutes between coats, so be patient.
- If you're spray painting ceramics or wood, give it a light sand, and prime it first. That way your spray paint won't scratch up on you.
- For out door objects like chairs and tables, plant pots, etc, use a poly coat to seal the paint.
- I personally would buy good brand name primer and poly. That way you can use the cheaper paint if you wish. I have had no problem using the cheaper paints. Generally I buy the paint that is the best color, rather than the best price. Either way, spray paint is inexpensive.
So what are you painting? Next on my list are some outdoor wicker chairs, 3 billion plant pots, and MAYBE my kitchen chairs.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Leibster Award Nominations and a THANK YOU
A BIG THANK YOU to Kim at Exquisitely Unremarkable and to The Whimsical Peacock for the Liebster Award Nomination! For those that I've nominated my questions for you are below. Thank you all and have a wonderful day!
1. What is the main focus of your blog?
DIY, home décor, crafts, and a few recipes thrown in. (Of course there are some stories of "fails", and sarcasm from my loving hubby and kids).
2. What is your favorite candy?
I don't have a big sweet tooth, but I do like Heath Bars and gummies.
3. Fiction or Non-fiction?
Historical Fiction, is my favorite, but I also like crime and horror.
4. What is your favorite season? Why?
Summer. I love it hot and sunny. We live in the "Finger Lakes Region" of NY , and are lucky to be included on my parents boat in the summer. We go out with the family, park it in the middle of the lake, eat snacks, swim and play music. Hanging with the family in the summer is just so relaxing. I like BBQ's and camping, sitting around a fire.... Ahhh, c'mon summer - get here!
5. Are you an animal momma?
We have a crazy cat, who is more like a Tasmanian devil, named Sammie. We have and even crazier yellow lab who is 2, named Winnie.
6. Do you like to cook? If so, what is your favorite dish to prepare?
I LOVE to cook and I used to own a catering company. Ironically, I stink at baking! (With a capitol S.) I used to hire a baker for that part of catering. I don't really have a favorite dish to prepare. But the guys in my family like me to cook Beef Wellington. I could spend hours in the kitchen. (Funny aside - unlike Kim who nominated me, I can not stand pizza! I do like chicken wings tho!)
7. What is your favorite movie?
Gone With the Wind. Historical and sappy!
8. What did you find most
surprising about blogging?
There's a lot more to do on the computer side of things. I used to read blogs about cooking and DIY and thought the blog authors spent their days creating... but that's about 20% of my time, compared to how much time I spend on the computer.
9. What sport/ activity did you do in school?
Soccer was my thing. I also played softball.
10. What was your most frivolous purchase?
Nothing really. I'm pretty frugal. The other day my hubby and I were discussing what we would buy if we won the lottery (not likely as we don't play), and he said he would buy a new motorcycle. I was thinking "I could go to the Thrift Shops whenever I wanted"! (Sad, I know). I do, however, have a little problem with cowboy boots and shoes.
11. What is the one thing you will not leave the house without?
A sweater. I'm always cold.
11 (random and in no particular order) facts about me:
- My hubby and I have five kids, aged 5 to 23.
- I met my hubby in 1st grade, where he used to bully me for having a Woody the Woodpecker Lunchbox - so I used to eat with the nurse in order to avoid him.
- I'm addicted to coffee. And coleslaw. (Sad, but true).
- I have a degree in Television Production, and worked for the BBC in London.
- Country music is the only music I listen to (However, I do like Pitbull, and my kids say "of course you like the creepy old rapper").
- I am 5'3" and my hubby is 6'3". Therefore, I almost ALWAYS wear heels.
- We built our house almost 2 years ago, and we still have boxes to unpack in the basement.
- I have the best family and in-laws in the world.
- If I could live anywhere, I would move to Jekyll Island, Georgia. (But I wouldn't move cuz all of our awesome family lives here - we go there every Spring Break instead.)
- My favorite meal would be Lobster with melted butter. Yes, that's a meal to me.
- I can't stand folding laundry.
Andi at Delusions of Ingenuity
Karen at Bargain-ista
Rebecca at Living Better Together
Nicki at Sweet Parrish Place
Chelsea at AmeriAus
Here are 11 questions for my nominees:
1. When did you start your blog, and why?
2. If you could have a whole day to yourself, what would you do?
3. Who is your hero?
4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
5. What's your favorite song?
6. What is your favorite meal?
7. What is your favorite junk food?
8. Coffee or Tea?
9. Do you have a claim to fame?
10. What was your biggest "fail" in blogging, and did you laugh or cry?!
11. What is your best tip to help your fellow bloggers?
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