Mod Nursery

Jenny at http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/09/tobys-nursery-part-1.html has posted part 1 of a client's nursery redo. I love everything from the sailboat mobile to the hand painted pull down shade (she painted it herself, btw). I also love the long, flowy curtains and the little picture gallery above the crib.

She'll have part 2 posted soon, but for step by step instructions of what you see now, check out her blog at the link above. She's an awesome decorator!

Under Pressure

This is a great song to wake up to.

Free Template and a GREAT Idea

This is another great little project from Lori's "Be Different Act Normal" craft blog. It's two different treat baskets made out of patterned card stock. This is perfect for Visiting Teaching and so easy. You can change the card stock to coordinate with different seasons/holidays and other than the teeniest bit of ribbon, that's all you need!

Ooooh, you can also make a matching card and envelope!

Here's the link... http://thenshemade.blogspot.com/2010/09/tiskit-tasket-little-green-paper-basket.html

... party favors filled with candy as well? The possibilities!

What Do You Do?

What do you do when you're so angry you feel like your head might explode? Count to 10?????,.... walk away..... run for 5 minutes.... sing a hymn.... punch someone in the face...... seriously, WHAT DO YOU DO?!

Cool Quilts

I'm trying to decide on a quilt pattern for my girls' beds. I made yellow duvet covers for them the other day and am now looking for "non-matching" bedding at Grace's request. She's a double digit and does NOT want to have the same pattern or fabric as her little sister and I don't blame her.

So I've been searching for some modern quilt patterns and have found quite a few really pretty ones. The problem is, I don't have a lot of time, so cutting out tiny little individual squares or strips or whatever just doesn't appeal to me. It's definitely not my season for that!

Here are a few less time consuming patterns I've found recently...

Sarah Richardson's quilts are very charming, but not too country. I love how graphic and colorful they are. Happy colors too!

This zig zag pattern is from mmmcraft blog and is actually a duvet she's making for her daughter. This is a great way of using extra fabric or fat quarters. It's beautiful!!!

The bookshelf quilt is so cool isn't it?! Stacey H. sent me a link to Urban Patchwork a while back and I checked out her blog. All of her quilts are amazing! I don't think this would be hard to recreate or even applique bookends or pictures on the shelves. Such a great pattern!

This pattern looks neither simple nor quick, but it's lovely isn't it?!

Maybe for a pillow or doily? Ugh, maybe not... still too ambitious.

Quick and Easy Solutions

There are few things that give me more pleasure than finding a solution to a problem that will take less than 5 minutes and almost no effort!

Rather than make a bed skirt, why not put a fitted sheet on your box spring and call it a day? I always use white sheets.

Who doesn't have mismatched towels? Try attaching coordinating ribbon that will magically transform this hodgepodge into an eclectic, "I did it on purpose" set.

This is by far my favorite quick and easy (and cheap) decorating solution. I made a giant message board for my hall and can display cards, pictures and whatever, rotating it all easily throughout the year. Here are Martha's directions...

Pretty and practical, our ribbon board has been keeping work spaces clean since it was introduced -- and keeping party invitations, postcards, and photographs organized and easy to spot. The board can be made from Homosote fiberboard, available at lumber yards. Have it cut to size. Pull linen taut around front and sides of board, and staple it to back, securing two opposite sides first, then the other two. Be creative in arranging ribbons in a pattern on the surface. (The pattern at left is modeled after a garden trellis.) Use upholstery tacks to secure ribbons. Tuck your cards behind the ribbon; you'll need few, if any pushpins. Screw a picture hanger to the back, and hang the board on the wall.
From Martha Stewart Living, January 2001

Happy Fall Y'all

"Autumn is almost here, the first day of fall 2010 is officially weeks away; and depending on where you live in the U.S. and Canada it can feel like an autumn breeze is blowing (Vancouver) or like the high heat of summer like is for people in New York City. Officially, summer does not end until September 22 which marks the first day of fall 2010 at 11:09 EST. The September equinox is also known as the Autumnal Equinox. 'The sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the northern hemisphere during the September equinox. The location on the earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is known as the subsolar point. The subsolar point occurs on the equator during the September equinox and March equinox.'
Source: timeanddate.com"

So right, it's not fall yet, but I'm ready now.

Fall is such a lovely time of year in Tennessee and for the first time in months I'm excited about cooking again. Even with air conditioning you feel gross when it's 102 degrees outside and completly unmotivated to turn on anything that would make the air hotter or more humid! I especially love fall recipes, like breads, soups and PIES and was aghast the other day when half my YW didn't know what a chess pie was. WHAT!!!! How can you live in Tennessee and not eat chess pie? Well, this needs to be and will be addressed and I'm just the Amerikorean to do it. I make the best chess pie this side of the DMZ.

Here's a yummy recipe for you all to try if you'd like.

CHESS PIE from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar and vanilla together. Mix in the eggs, then stir in the cornmeal, evaporated milk and vinegar until smooth.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 40 minutes. Let cool. Cut and top servings with whipped cream. You will think you have died and gone to heaven.

There are many different variations so I didn't post my own recipe which is for a buttermilk chess pie. I wanted to go for something more traditional. You can also make a lemon chess or chocolate chess pie. Those are both delicious as well!

Depeche Mode - Somebody

I was in a music rut yesterday and wanted to find something I hadn't listened to in a long time. I found an old Depeche Mode cd and thought, why not? The kids, however, were horrified by the synth, and said it sounded like something from a Japanamation movie. They're probably right. BUT, WHEN THIS SONG CAME ON, it was like the weird feeling slapped me across the face and left me speechless. Aaaaah, Depeche Mode.... holy cow. I told the kids to shut it while memories of my teenage years in Germany came rushing back. Going to the lake wearing our mood lip balm and Burger King chicken nuggets we paid for with money we bummed off the commissary baggers and walking around downtown Frankfurt and eating Japanese noodles and Hanau High School and sucking at soccer, and tucking our shirts into our jeans pockets, and talking about our intense crushes and crying over heartbreaks etc... I miss my old friends and you know what, I miss being a carefree teenager sometimes. It didn't seem carefree at the time though. Funny.

Things I Learned Last Week

Grilled London broil, yes grilled, is MUCH better with caprese salad than canned corn.

Life is better when it's cooler outside.

If you're chopping jalapenos, wash your hands before rubbing your eye. (thanks dad)

Like morning sickness, PMS can strike at any time.

Cotton shrinks, so that grey and black tshirt isn't flattering anymore.

Some teenagers are clueless, CLUELESS... and no, I'm not talking about my own or any of my youth.

Morning prayer and scripture study are key to managing my anxiety.

Talking and chopping don't mix well.

My posture is terrible. I've actually known that for a long time, but now I'm starting to feel it.

Tegan and Sara

Scott and I took Oliver and a friend to a concert a couple of weeks ago. One of the opening bands was a young group called Tegan and Sara from Montreal, Canada. Loved them! The were way better than the other bands including the headliner, plus they're identical twins which makes them all the more lovable.

http://teganandsara.com/

Flea Market Fever

I've got the fever and I've had it bad for a long time. I know it's weird, but I can't help it. When I find something that Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware recreates, sitting in a tag sale for a quarter of the price or less, my hands get sweaty and my head gets light. It's magic.

Over the years, I've found some real treasures! Here are a few of my favorite things...

This 1942 lithograph I found framed and matted for 19.99 at Goodwill. I love Goodwill, don't you?



These cute little 1950's era roosters are so cute. I couldn't resist them at 7 dollars for the pair!

I also found the French armoire at a flea market in Tongren, Belgium years ago. It's cool because it folds down flat like a puzzle. The two prints were also flea market finds, matted and framed, 18 buckaroonies!

I keep my quilting fabric in this hutch from the "Peddler's Mall" in Kentucky. It was so cheap and crusty, I didn't feel badly about putting nails in the sides and hanging my quilting rulers where I could get to them easily. Another reason I love second hand... you don't feel anxious about doing whatever you want to make it your own. The inside holds a ton of fabric. My dad thinks it's ugly, but who cares what he thinks.

Occasionally my husband gets into it, like when he found this lovely antique recliner at a junk store for 50 bucks! It's got a brass rod in the back that moves up and down to adjust the position.

Grace's dresser is falling apart, so I've been on the lookout for a replacement. I found this Edwardian "gentleman's butler" a couple of weeks ago. It still has the original labels on the shelves for very British things like, "pyjamas" and "sundries". It smells like moth balls still, so I haven't actually put her clothes in it. All part of the game!

A cheapo bookshelf from a thrift store has been most useful upstairs for keeping bedtime books organized and handy. I did have to paint this one because it had stains all over it.

This rolling desk was just too cute to pass by. The only thing I had to do was repair the leg. I've used it as a desk, a small kitchen island, and now an entry way table. The print above it was bought in Kahl, Germany for 15 Deutsch marks = about 8 dollars at the time. It was my very first flea market find!

And if I had to choose one more of my favorites, it would be this little table. Nothing special really, it just fit perfectly in that spot and cost next to nothing. It also came with that finish.

I'm not posting this to brag about my fabulous finds, but to help anyone looking for inspiration on a budget. Keep in mind it takes a lot of looking to find one treasure, but it's worth it. I have so many fun memories when I look at these things too like, hauling around babies in front packs and strollers at 6 in the morning with other Army wives.... dragging our stuff behind us, exhausted and exhilarated! Bartering when I didn't have the money to actually purchase with cash! Walking my kids at various indoor flea markets when it was raining because I couldn't stand having them in the house for ONE MORE MINUTE. Using vinegar and baking soda to get the "old people/house" smell out of furniture. Fun stuff like that. It's a challenge to decorate a house, especially when money is tight but it makes it fun when it turns into sport!

If any of you like junk shopping as well, call me. I'm so there.

PS. I also love IKEA, can you tell?