Playing Catchup

Yes, it's been months since I've last updated.  Yes, that means I'm a slacker.  My sincerest apologies to my family and anyone else who has been waiting for my next update with baited breath.  I really don't have an excuse except for..... I suck.  Yup.

Anyway, things have been pretty busy at our house.  We had our foundation repaired which has led to a myriad of other projects.  Jeff and I joke that by the time we're done with this project all that's left will be replacing the windows.   Our fifty year old house will almost be new.  No joke.   

So here's the low down... Basically they ripped off the walls along the back of the house.

Like so..

Then sealed any cracks with blue rubber stuff and put up giant steel beams.  It's supposed to prevent further leaning/ movement/ damage/ bad things.

 But this meant we basically had to rip out the bathroom and laundry room.  Let's blame it on the drywall, and the previous owners.  

Jeff has fixed more bad electrical, tiled, plumbed, hung drywall, scraped popcorn ceilings, painted rooms, and is now redoing all of the woodwork.  Let's just say that marrying a handyman is probably the smartest thing a person could do.  I'm pretty sure that Jeff is good at everything.  I mean, seriously folks.  

Anyway, it's been crazy but I feel like we're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

On that note, I'll leave you with a sneak preview...

Eek!

Our Life According to My Phone

Let's play catch up.

Oh Sweet Sweet Friday

Yeah, that's me in the blue poodle skirt.  I'm only sharing this 'cus I like you.

It's Friday!! 

Well, actually it's currently 11:24 pm on Thursday, but I'm pretty stoked...  Can't you tell?

So, I spend my entire work week thinking about my weekend to-do list.  I get out my little lined notebook, make sure everything is neatly bulleted, and get out my favorite black ink pin.  Then, I put everything into categories.  First there are the errands I have to run, the projects I need to finish, and the food I want to cook.  I already have a list for this weekend, but I have a looming problem..... As soon as the weekend hits I will end up forgetting that that neat little list ever existed.  

That's sort of an issue.

My to-do list has become so insanely long that all I really want is to crumple it into a ball and throw it in the trash.  Apparently I can't do that anymore.  The projects are staring me in the face, and my stock pile of Nutella is becoming dangerously low.  (Oh Heavens!)

I am now going to share my list.. Not to get phone calls from certain relatives (ahem), but as a virtual reminder that I cannot destroy with a match or lighter.

Okay, here we go.

1.  Finish painting my closet doors

2.  Repaint the bookshelf

3. Start curing the pork belly

4. Do laundry

5. Drink a glass of rosé (Hey, something has to be enjoyable.)

6. Read my latest issue of Bon Appétit

7. Clean the coop

8.  Spray paint my big metal B

This list is totally do-able, right?  I purposely didn't make it too large, mostly because...well...I know myself.

Anyway,  I'll let you all know how it goes on Monday.  Expect a new update on Scratch That, including a possible new "Wine of the Week" series.   Oh, and if you haven't started "following" it yet, do it.  I pinky swear that it won't be lame.  I'm not crossing my fingers behind my back either.

So there it is!  Have a great weekend dudes. 

 À bientôt!

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to the man who taught me everything.

(like the most effective way to blow something up)

I love you. 

Jeff is 30!

My Mister turned thirty yesterday.  We celebrated with pizza, strawberry cake, scotch, and a zombie movie.  We're total grown ups, yah know?

New Toys

Look what I got in the mail today!

That's right, a "new" piece of chartreuse Fiestaware.  Woot!  Chartreuse was originally released in 1951 and lasted until 1959.  A teacup from that era would look more like this... (etsy)

This particular piece was made during a limited two year re-release from 1997 until 1999.  It has the modern handle and a slightly different, glossier finish.  Pretty cool, eh? 

 

I also just purchased this mini-disk persimmon pitcher.  This color ran from 1995-2008.  The photo really doesn't do the color justice.  It's slightly more salmon in color and definitely not that dark.   

Oh well.  My bad.

They're pretty great... right?  Heck yeah!  Plus, collecting Fiestaware is way cooler than when you hoarded pet rocks as a kid.  For serious.
Oh, and my collection may be pretty tiny, but that just means I have room to grow.  Yup!  (P.S: I am hiding a few marigold plates and platters, and another turquoise ramekin.) 

The pictured colors in no particular order:

Chartreuse: 1997-1999

Persimmon: 1995-2008

Sunflower: 2001- current

Scarlet: 2004 - current

Turquoise: 1988 - current

Marigold: 2011 - 2012 (75th Anniversary edition)

I have my eye on a few more colors (lilac, rose, flamingo, medium green, sea mist, uh hem), but I need to lay off for a while. 

By the way, my birthday is next month....

Befores and Afters

Hey dudes!

So, I am just now realizing that I haven't posted a photo of the house since we (I'm sorry ... Jeff ) has painted it.  I suck. 

 

This is a before photo.  I can't believe how gross the siding looked.
I'm so glad that crap is in the dumpster. 

 This shot is probably the closest thing I have to a photo of the front of the house.  Oops!
Btw: This is me, my lil' sis, and my cousin Andy.  We're pretty cute.  Just sayin'.

Anyway, here is what's been going on at our house.

Family Time

Spend some time with your family today!  

See yah next week.

Like Woah

Before you click this link.. Remember I am no where near done.

Lessons I've Learned From Being a "Professional" DIYer

The Money Pit 1986

This list needs no introduction.

1.  The Money Pit is for realz:  I walked into my house and thought.. "This won't be too bad, maybe 10 grand tops".  HA! If I could kick my former self in the butt, I would.  Rotten floors, saggy dry wall, bad electrical, a hole in the roof and a foundation that tilts??? Ten grand my butt.

2.  You'll know you married the right guy when you do a home reno:  Seriously, I think my marriage could withstand a nuclear holocaust.  

2.  Don't take anything at face value:  Do yourself a favor, look behind that bathroom vanity before you think the bathroom redo will be super easy.  

3. Tarps are your friend: You'll figure that out quickly when you spill an entire gallon of white latex paint on your hardwood floors.

4.  There are only two types of real motivation:  The weather and your parents coming to town.  Funny how things get finished when you don't have any choice.

5. You'll absolutely detest the former home owners:  Yes.  Whoever decided to paint all the register covers without taking them off the wall.  I'll find you.

6.  No matter how much space you think you have, you'll fill it up:  Can anyone say yard sale?

7. Good friends grout:  Thanks Joe.

8.  Listening to Marvin Gaye on Pandora helps you paint faster:  No joke.

9. Dogs live to break your antiques:  Thanks Shadow.  Momma loves you.

10.  No matter how much you pre-plan, you'll always want to change something:   The new white desk in my room isn't white enough.  I wish I hadn't used so much blue and I already redid my master bedroom.  Just sayin'.

One Month Later

Yeah, I'm still working on this project.  I think it just took me awhile to A) Get some inspiration / motivation and B) Get the right color scheme.

So this is what I've chosen for my office.  The walls are going to be Martha Stewart's Eggplant.  My woodwork is all Behr's Ultra Bright White.  The back panel of my bookshelf is Behr's Retro Avocado.  The blue is Martha Stewart's Plumage, which is going to be integrated somehow.  The silvery tone, Martha Stewart's Tin, will most likely be put on a piece of furniture.  The fabrics (from Hancock Fabrics) will be integrated either as new chair padding on my desk chair, curtains, or throw pillows.  I'm honestly leaning towards the hounds tooth for the chair, and the gray and white for curtains.  

We'll see!  I better get to it.  I'll never finish at this rate.  Be on the look out for before and after photos.  

My Purple Problems

I guess you have it pretty good when your biggest issue is picking the perfect shade of purple.  Hum.

Anyway.  I am picking out a purple color for my office.  It's a small room with three windows and a big built in book shelf.  I kind of want the room to feel cozy, grown up, and clean.  So far the plan is to paint all the woodwork semi-gloss bright white, the book case bright white, and then continue to use my white desk.  I have also thought about bringing in some ochre, and a neutral gray (possibly).

So help me pick one out!  Let me name them starting from the top left swatch and going clockwise:

1) Blueberry Pie (Martha Stewart)

2) Eggplant (Martha Stewart)

3)Purple Basil (Martha Stewart)

4) Purple Rain (Benjamin Moore)

I do have two favorites, but I'd rather not divulge that information.   Leave a comment with your vote.

Disclaimer:  The swatches on the wall were taken mid-afternoon.  Blueberry pie is more intense in other parts of the day, and purple basil is more of a red-violet.  Googling Martha Stewart Paints may give you a better idea of what they look like in real life.

Three Weeks Later

I can't believe it's been about three weeks since I've last updated.  Then again, I can.  Home improvement things seem to come to a screeching halt during the cold winters months.  Jeff is also now a full time student and the work is all on me.  Of course, we know how effective that is.......  

So in the last month or so I've painted the bedroom, which you've already seen, and done a little bit of antiquing.  (Thus the photo of my little $10 food scale)  See!  I'm good for something!  Even if it is shopping.  

I also recently started a small food blog called Scratch That: Eating the way Memaw Intended.  So far, it's not much, but I hope to be able to put more time into it.  I will admit that my real interests have been in cooking.  I think it's because you can create something beautiful and the satisfaction of the effort and final product is so addicting.  So please, head on over there and join, comment, or hate on it.. whatever you so choose.

I hope you all are doing well, and that the promise of spring is as exciting to you as it is to me.  Here's to an exciting, project-full March!  

Phases

Yeah.. I totally go through phases.  First it's white, then it's yellow, then it's polka dots... Who knows.  Anyway!  We redid the bedroom, and (NEWS FLASH), I'm in lurve.  I thought I'd take you through each step.

It might look subtle at first but don't let your eyes fool you... It's not.

Phase one:  "Former Owner's Leftovers" (aka dirty mauve flat paint, or sick and disgusting)  'Scus the mess.

Phase Two:  Martha Stewart's Opal.  Beautiful color, but honestly, not for us.  It was exactly as the name described it.  The color shifted from gray, to white to blue and then purple.  I guess that's fine, but as a wife, I feel bad making my husband sleep in a baby blue room.  After a year of being unhappy with the results I finally changed it.

Phase Three:  Martha Stewart's Lamb, or white perfection.  It is a warm white with a smidge of green, but not enough to really call it green.  We replaced the curtains with some beautiful Pottery Barn nubby cotton drapes, and then we hung up a bit of art.  Not only does the room feel bigger, but it feels cleaner.  I can't believe what a can of paint can do.

So... that's what's goin' on at our house. 

On a side note.  Please join me in mourning the loss of the Pats to the NY Giants.  I'm shedding a tear or two tonight.   

The Best Surprise Ever

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After much anticipation, I got my first egg today!  I believe it's from Harriet due to the location in which I found it.  

YAY!!!!

   

Spring Fever Already??

Source: tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Maybe it's because I spent five days in sunny California, or maybe it's because Kansas has yet to have any sort of snow storm, but I already have spring fever.  (How was that for an extra long sentence??)
I can't help but think about landscaping ideas, and gardening ideas even though it's usually around 30 degrees F here.  Total wishful thinking.

Anyway, here's my gardening wish list:

Hard-scape 
(is that how you spell that??)
New lighting in the front yard
Fix the edging around the raised beds in the front yard
Rip out the remaining ground cover in the front yard


Plants
Herb garden with tarragon, basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, mint and whatever else I can find
Tomatoes (3 varieties)
Peppers
Greens of all sorts
Grape vines near the coop
 Gourds possibly
Sunflowers


I really want mostly herbs and greens.  We really don't have a large garden area and I'd love to change that, but we'll see what time and life permits.

Anyone else have spring fever yet?

He's So Fly

Say hello to Mr. B, my oldest furbaby.  I had two days of vacation to kill so I decided to knit him a little sweater out of some yarn in my stash.  I have to admit, the yarn is gross.  It's like this faux suede junk.  The texture was awful to work with and I'm pretty sure I'm going to give the other skein and a half away.  The pattern I used also did not work out.  My boy is pretty husky in the shoulders and upper rib cage, so this sweater ended up being one big experiment.  Oh well, he's a dog and he doesn't have a say in what clothes I put on him.  Oh the joy of being a dog mother.

Here is the pattern it is based off of.  I used Lion Brand Lion Suede.  I'll never use it again.  Ugh! 

It's A New Dawn, A New Day

This is the view from my parents house.  No really!

So, I'm really starting to believe that years go faster the older you get.  I feel like we just started 2011 and that we've just moved into this house.  In reality, we're only a few months from spending our second year on Lawrence Ave.  Insane.  

This last year has been full of ups and downs.  Job loss and recovery, graduation from KU, visiting family, never ending house projects, and it goes on and on.  I'm so happy that we have made it this far.  Life is good (as cheesy as that sounds) and we're stronger than ever.  

Things I'm Loving Right Now.... Winter Edition

Design Sponge, via Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Lauren on Pinterest

White on White

Agate

Antique Brass (the real stuff kids)

Antique Lace

Mustard and Ochre (of course!)

Leather

Antique Velvet

Mud Cloth

Rocking Chairs

Antique Clocks, Watches and Typewriters

Faux Antlers and Faux Fur

Wire

Sisal Rope

Sisal Rugs

Nubby Cotton

Fiesta Ware

Pottery

Vanilla

Mismatched Place Settings

Depression Glass

Mercury Glass

Amateur Art, Oil Paintings and Watercolors

Curtains that skim the ground

Wrought Iron

Wood tones

Grays

Antique Globes

Real Wood floors

Exposed Brick

Burlap

Chevron

Raw Silk

French Onion Soup: My Way

Image Borrowed From Here

I am a sucker for French Onion soup.  It's something about the cheese and the salt and the rich broth that just gets me every time.  Tonight I improvised on a basic recipe for this classic french soup.  Here it is!

French Onion Soup

6-8 Onions, cut into half moons and sliced thinly  (I use a mix of onions, yellow and white to be exact)

1/4 c butter sliced into pats

1 tbl extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

4 cups of beef broth

1 cup medium bodied red wine (I used a Malbec)

1 cup chicken broth

2-3 sprigs of tarragon

2-3 sprigs of sage

2 bay leaves

1 baguette sliced 

Shredded gruyere cheese to taste

Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet until melted and slightly bubbling.  Add onions and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cook on med-low heat, stirring occasionally until golden brown and caramelized.   (This will take up to an hour).  Remove the onions from the skillet and put into a stew pot or something comparable.  Add liquids.  Tie the herbs together into a bundle (the bay leaves may not fit into a bundle).    Season with more salt and pepper.  Bring soup to a boil and then quickly reduce heat until is just simmers.  Simmer for 30+ min.  I usually let mine go for an hour, this helps the flavors meld.

Pour soup into oven proof bowls.  Place a few slices of bread and a sprinkling of cheese over each bowl.   Place under the broiler until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melty.  

Remember that this soup is adjustable.  I did a lot of ingredient eyeballing and a lot of time improv.  It's also important to taste as you go!  I've tried this soup several times and this version was by far the best, even Jeff said so.  Enjoy it and tell me what you think!