It's Thanksgiving Over at Kitchen Comforts
I'm getting ready for the Thanksgiving kickoff for Kitchen Comforts. November is my busy entertaining month every year, so I'll have tons of recipes, tips, download samples, planners and other goodies.
Bathroom Update
I wanted to get the bathroom repaired before November, since we are having three different events at our house then. Otherwise, it would wait until Spring.
The project was supposed to be:
Remove wallpaper
Paint
The project turned into:
Remove wallpaper
Remove next layer of wallpaper
Remove drywall (It wasn't properly prepped and started falling apart in step 2)
Replace drywall
Mud and Tape
Sand
Patch walls
Sand
Patch walls (due to shrinkage)
Sand
Prime
Scrape ceiling
Patch ceiling
Patch walls (a few dings that weren't visible until primed)
Sand ceiling
Sand walls
Prime ceiling
Prime walls
Patch walls (ladder dings from priming ceiling and a few final tiny dings)
Sand walls
Prime those spots
Paint ceiling
Paint walls
So now we have two more coats to go on the wall (we're painting it a deep red), but it's almost done! A one day job is now on it's 4th week. Gotta love home improvement.
I'll show before and after pics this weekend
The project was supposed to be:
Remove wallpaper
Paint
The project turned into:
Remove wallpaper
Remove next layer of wallpaper
Remove drywall (It wasn't properly prepped and started falling apart in step 2)
Replace drywall
Mud and Tape
Sand
Patch walls
Sand
Patch walls (due to shrinkage)
Sand
Prime
Scrape ceiling
Patch ceiling
Patch walls (a few dings that weren't visible until primed)
Sand ceiling
Sand walls
Prime ceiling
Prime walls
Patch walls (ladder dings from priming ceiling and a few final tiny dings)
Sand walls
Prime those spots
Paint ceiling
Paint walls
So now we have two more coats to go on the wall (we're painting it a deep red), but it's almost done! A one day job is now on it's 4th week. Gotta love home improvement.
I'll show before and after pics this weekend
Tuesday in the Nursery: Wubbanub
I know Wubbanubs have been making the rounds on the nursery/mom/baby blogs. Otherwise, I'd have never known about them. However, being that they are basically unknown up here in North Dakota, so I figured I'd mention them.
Wubbanubs are Soothie pacifiers attached to small stuffed animals to make it easier for baby to hold on to and keep the pacifier in the mouth. And, easier to find if they happen to fall out. Everyone I've given them to so far just loves them.
I can't even remember what site I first read about them on, I'm guessing it was PoshCravings, since that was the first baby one I started following. However, when I saw them I put them on my list of "Baby Stuff I Want" right away. When Baby Dagny had their big moving sale a few months back I bought a dozen. I've hoarded a few away to keep and have been giving the rest away as baby gifts.
I love the red dog, it reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog. And the bright color makes it easy to find among other baby stuff. Which I'm hoping it will make it easier to see once we are trying to juggle a baby and all the paraphanelia that comes with one.
Wubbanubs are Soothie pacifiers attached to small stuffed animals to make it easier for baby to hold on to and keep the pacifier in the mouth. And, easier to find if they happen to fall out. Everyone I've given them to so far just loves them.
I can't even remember what site I first read about them on, I'm guessing it was PoshCravings, since that was the first baby one I started following. However, when I saw them I put them on my list of "Baby Stuff I Want" right away. When Baby Dagny had their big moving sale a few months back I bought a dozen. I've hoarded a few away to keep and have been giving the rest away as baby gifts.
I love the red dog, it reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog. And the bright color makes it easy to find among other baby stuff. Which I'm hoping it will make it easier to see once we are trying to juggle a baby and all the paraphanelia that comes with one.
No Life?
Two friends of mine and I joke occasionally that we have no life. So we thought we'd start up a monthly game night. In an effort to come up with the first weekend that we're available, we got to the first weekend in January before we found a weekend that was "possibly" available. We have more of a life than we thought we did, which is quite a relief. Do you ever feel like that?
Soundtrack to my Life
I never did finish this "project", there are so many great songs. All I could do is narrow it down to a handful of songs that would have to be included, for one reason or another. My intent was to come up with a soundtrack of 15, but depending on my mood on any given day that I thought about this I would replace half the songs. These were the constants.
Pipkins - Gimmee Dat Ding
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
The Cure - Friday, I'm In Love
Depeche Mode - Somebody
Modern English - Melt With You
The Pixies - Gigantic
Holly Cole Trio - Onion Girl
Pipkins - Gimmee Dat Ding
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
The Cure - Friday, I'm In Love
Depeche Mode - Somebody
Modern English - Melt With You
The Pixies - Gigantic
Holly Cole Trio - Onion Girl
Apple Butter
Earlier this week I was given two bags full of apples by a co-worker. I've been munching on a few, but the majority of them are going to be peeled, sliced and used for baking and making apple butter.
I was in 7th grade the first time I ever tasted apple butter. I was spending the weekend with my best friend at her father's house, and they had a small "orchard" for a back yard. Her step-mother made apple butter every fall, and I remember when we arrived the whole house smelled like apple, cinnamon and nutmeg. We had fresh baked bread with apple butter at just about every meal, and ever since I anxiously await jars of apple butter to show up at farmer's markets in the fall.
With a surplus of apples, my first thought was to try my hand at making apple butter. So, I went shopping last night for all the ingredients to make apple butter from this recipe. I'll put some apples aside for Apple Galette and Caramel Apples as well, but the majority will go towards the Apple Butter. I'm hoping it turns out well and I will hopefully have enough jars to give a few away for Christmas.
Supreme Apple Butter Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup apple cider
8 pounds Macintosh apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2 cups apple brandy
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sealed sterile containers, and cool at least 1 hour before serving.
*UPDATE* I've cross-posted this to Kitchen Comforts and will put any future recipe cooking type posts over there instead.
I was in 7th grade the first time I ever tasted apple butter. I was spending the weekend with my best friend at her father's house, and they had a small "orchard" for a back yard. Her step-mother made apple butter every fall, and I remember when we arrived the whole house smelled like apple, cinnamon and nutmeg. We had fresh baked bread with apple butter at just about every meal, and ever since I anxiously await jars of apple butter to show up at farmer's markets in the fall.
With a surplus of apples, my first thought was to try my hand at making apple butter. So, I went shopping last night for all the ingredients to make apple butter from this recipe. I'll put some apples aside for Apple Galette and Caramel Apples as well, but the majority will go towards the Apple Butter. I'm hoping it turns out well and I will hopefully have enough jars to give a few away for Christmas.
Supreme Apple Butter Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup apple cider
8 pounds Macintosh apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2 cups apple brandy
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sealed sterile containers, and cool at least 1 hour before serving.
*UPDATE* I've cross-posted this to Kitchen Comforts and will put any future recipe cooking type posts over there instead.
Crash Into Me
I just LOVE this photograph, which I just purchased. Yay!
I stumbled on Bueller Designs a while back and immediately subscribed to the RSS Feed. Every post is a bit of eye candy. So, with the announcement of her new site today, of course I had to peek.
I was immediately smitten with the photo titled "Crash Into Me". I have 2 possible locations for it, I'll try them both and see which I like best. One is a wall which will be painted Valspars "Posh Red" when we finish it this weekend, the other is my office whose paint name escapes me at the moment (it's a shade of muted green, I'll post it later).
I'm leaning towards a simple black square frame at the moment. I'll have to think about it a bit. I'm open to suggestions. When I get the photograph I'll take a quick snapshot with each wall to give you an idea.
*Update* The green color is Valspars "Irish Paddock"
I stumbled on Bueller Designs a while back and immediately subscribed to the RSS Feed. Every post is a bit of eye candy. So, with the announcement of her new site today, of course I had to peek.
I was immediately smitten with the photo titled "Crash Into Me". I have 2 possible locations for it, I'll try them both and see which I like best. One is a wall which will be painted Valspars "Posh Red" when we finish it this weekend, the other is my office whose paint name escapes me at the moment (it's a shade of muted green, I'll post it later).
I'm leaning towards a simple black square frame at the moment. I'll have to think about it a bit. I'm open to suggestions. When I get the photograph I'll take a quick snapshot with each wall to give you an idea.
*Update* The green color is Valspars "Irish Paddock"
Round Crib
There are so many blogs out there covering modern design and modern nursery accessories and modern this and that. To take it a step further, there are a lot that even narrow it down to mid-century modern. I have a hard time finding blogs that really concentrate on decor and design that feels very traditional or vintage even. While I like the simplicity of modern, I don't care for a lot of the fabric choices or all the straight lines. Simply not my taste, I like a little frou-frou, or fussiness as my sister-in-law calls it.
I keep hearing that there are too many breakables and that my house won't work for children. Growing up my mother had plenty of breakables, but we were taught to stay out of certain rooms and that some things were to look at, not to touch. I knew this at a very young age. When I was 2, I knew my grandmother's figurines were very precious and not to be played with like toys. I was always fascinated though, and one day my mother and grandmother puzzled at what was wrong with the figurines. What looked like a strange shadow on them was in fact jelly, since I had very carefully kissed each one after having indulged in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My point is that children can be taught to be respectful. Since we will have our own munchkins running around the house soon I will let you know how things go.
So, in my more traditional preferences, I'll highlight traditional children and nursery items that I absolutely love on Tuesdays.
I absolutely fell in love with the round cribs that have been in the market for a few years now. I couldn't wait to get one, since we finally have our own nursery to plan. There is quite a selection at All Things Creative, including some that are geared specifically towards each gender. These are the cribs I coveted.
Recently though a more affordable option is available for those of us looking for a round crib on a more modest budget. Last year JCPenney started offering a limited selection of round cribs, they are much more affordable and still look great. For mine, I picked a gender-neutral cherry panelled round crib from JCPenney that will be used for all of our children. I absolutely love it! I am very happy with the quality, and I also got the optional canopy intending to use it with a canopy for a girl and without for a boy.
Simple Cherry Round Crib at JCPenney
All Things Creative offers customized panels
to match your nursery
I keep hearing that there are too many breakables and that my house won't work for children. Growing up my mother had plenty of breakables, but we were taught to stay out of certain rooms and that some things were to look at, not to touch. I knew this at a very young age. When I was 2, I knew my grandmother's figurines were very precious and not to be played with like toys. I was always fascinated though, and one day my mother and grandmother puzzled at what was wrong with the figurines. What looked like a strange shadow on them was in fact jelly, since I had very carefully kissed each one after having indulged in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My point is that children can be taught to be respectful. Since we will have our own munchkins running around the house soon I will let you know how things go.
So, in my more traditional preferences, I'll highlight traditional children and nursery items that I absolutely love on Tuesdays.
I absolutely fell in love with the round cribs that have been in the market for a few years now. I couldn't wait to get one, since we finally have our own nursery to plan. There is quite a selection at All Things Creative, including some that are geared specifically towards each gender. These are the cribs I coveted.
Recently though a more affordable option is available for those of us looking for a round crib on a more modest budget. Last year JCPenney started offering a limited selection of round cribs, they are much more affordable and still look great. For mine, I picked a gender-neutral cherry panelled round crib from JCPenney that will be used for all of our children. I absolutely love it! I am very happy with the quality, and I also got the optional canopy intending to use it with a canopy for a girl and without for a boy.
to match your nursery
Daring Book For Girls
I'm eagerly awaiting The Daring Book For Girls
which will be released on October 30th. I purchased The Dangerous Book for Boys
shortly after it came out and pored over it for days, calling out to Paul every so often "Come look at this", "This is pretty neat", "I can't wait to go through this with our kids someday".The book for boys covered so many things necessary for childhood fantasies: building a treehouse, making slingshots, folding the best paper airplane, tying knots, morse code and so much more. I wouldn't limit yourself by the titles, since I liked treehouses and strong knots as much as my brother ever did. I'm hoping The Daring Book for Girls covers as many adventurous things as the boys book, and it's not too girly-girl. As long as it isn't a dissertation on tea parties, it should be just about perfect.
Just Two Things
For MiYon
Just Two Things
Two Names You Go By:
1. Barbara
2. Zaya
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Navy Pantsuit
2. White Blouse
Two Things You Would Want (or have) In A
Relationship:
1. trust
2. respect
Two Things You Like To Do:
1. read
2. paint
Two Things You Want Very Badly At the Moment:
1. Console Table for my Foyer
2. Upstairs Bathroom Remodel
Two Things you Did Last Night:
1. Watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2. Burned CD's
Two Things You Ate Today:
1. Egg McMuffin
2. Mandarin Oranges
Two People you last spoke to:
1. my supervisor
2. Paul
Two Things You're Doing Tomorrow:
1. going to work
2. attended a webinar about building our web presence for work
Two Longest Car Rides:
1. from Monterey, CA to Laurel Springs, NJ
2. from Tulsa, OK to Charleston, SC
Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Two Favorite Beverages:
1. Sweet Tea
2. Hot Cocoa with Bailey's
Two Jobs I Have Had In My Life:
1. Technology Consultant in ND
2. Computer Programmer in IL
Two Movies I Would Watch Over And Over:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. The Breakfast Club
Two Places I Have Lived:
1. Subic Bay, Philippines
2. Hafnarfjodur, Iceland
Two of My Favorite Foods:
1. apples
2. Garlic Lime Chicken
Two Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
1. Orlando, FL
2. Iceland
Just Two Things
Two Names You Go By:
1. Barbara
2. Zaya
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Navy Pantsuit
2. White Blouse
Two Things You Would Want (or have) In A
Relationship:
1. trust
2. respect
Two Things You Like To Do:
1. read
2. paint
Two Things You Want Very Badly At the Moment:
1. Console Table for my Foyer
2. Upstairs Bathroom Remodel
Two Things you Did Last Night:
1. Watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2. Burned CD's
Two Things You Ate Today:
1. Egg McMuffin
2. Mandarin Oranges
Two People you last spoke to:
1. my supervisor
2. Paul
Two Things You're Doing Tomorrow:
1. going to work
2. attended a webinar about building our web presence for work
Two Longest Car Rides:
1. from Monterey, CA to Laurel Springs, NJ
2. from Tulsa, OK to Charleston, SC
Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Two Favorite Beverages:
1. Sweet Tea
2. Hot Cocoa with Bailey's
Two Jobs I Have Had In My Life:
1. Technology Consultant in ND
2. Computer Programmer in IL
Two Movies I Would Watch Over And Over:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. The Breakfast Club
Two Places I Have Lived:
1. Subic Bay, Philippines
2. Hafnarfjodur, Iceland
Two of My Favorite Foods:
1. apples
2. Garlic Lime Chicken
Two Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
1. Orlando, FL
2. Iceland
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