Man I just realized how long it's been since I posted anything. I guess it has something to do with the old adage "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all". I promise there are good things to come!


So I guess I will just leave you with this adorable breakfast nook....LOVE IT!

Last Nights Dinner...

...Was like WHOA!!!!

I love that I amaze myself on a regular basis in the kitchen! When hubs and I first met, I could not cook! Like burnt toast couldn't cook! But over the years I have learned a few things and taken some risks. I have really embraced the art of cooking with whole ingredients and we eat a lot of protein and veggies. Well last night I tried to mix it up a little...


Hubs doesn't eat any cheese that isn't yellow, so I topped his chicken and mushrooms with cheddar, and mine with feta.

Delicious!

Since my facination with all things handmade has become more of a way of life, I have been obssesed with hand stamped jewelery. "Item #1 on my 2010 Wish List" is an adorable name tag pendant.


I showed this necklace to my hubs last night telling him how much I loved this necklace hoping that if I dropped enought hints then maybe, just maybe I could have a necklace like this....
WELL, get this! Turns out my father-in-law has a set of stamps collecting dust in his workshop, and my hubs knows exactly how to make these lovely little pendants! I feel like he's been holding out on me! And evidently this set is not just letters...it's letters, numbers, and symbols in all different sizes. Hubs thinks there are probably over 100 stamps.....um excuse me?!?!?!? Why am I just finding out about this!

Oh Stella...

So Stella, our 2 year old pup, is full of constant entertainment! For those of you who know my dog, you know what I mean, and those of you who don't, well let's just say that she should have her own TV show!
Stella has a little bit of a sensitive tummy sometimes. And by sensitive tummy, I mean expensive taste! She just can't handle inexpensive dog food... it makes her puke. I don't blame her!
So, since we are all eating healthier as a household, and I am on this whole food eating kick, I thought I would give making dog food a try.
I have known many people in the past that make their own dog food. My old boss used to feed his pure bread pups whatever leftovers were in the fridge. An old friends mom used to make Spanish style chicken and rice everyday for his dogs. But as of recently one of my closest, and more sensible friends Jessica, of BirdLime Photography, introduced me to the answer! SoJo's! So it seems pretty easy...just add chicken and veggies!


But I thought we would do an experiment tonight, before I spend $30 on a giant bag of feed. I made some chicken and carrots and mixed them with a small amount of her yucky food. You know just to see if she was interested....am I crazy of coarse she was interested.
Now normally, Stella LOVES carrots! Tonight, this happened:


She did eventually clean up all the carrot pieces that she spit out, and loved her little concoction. So the verdict.... I think that i need to buy the SoJo's!

Take A Moment...

My best friend told me the other day that I do too much for everyone else and that I needed to take a moment and do something for myself. I tried to explain to her that I just couldn't do that, but really had no explination of why I couldn't do it.

Evidently, all signs are pointing to "taking a moment". As I am sitting here looking over all the blogs that truely ispire me I found this on Design*Sponge:


“WE BELIEVE that clouds are unjustly maligned
and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them.

We think that they are Nature’s poetry,

and the most egalitarian of her displays, since
everyone can have a fantastic view of them.

We pledge to fight ‘blue-sky thinking’ wherever we find it.
Life would be dull if we had to look up at

cloudless monotony day after day.

We seek to remind people that clouds are expressions of the
atmosphere’s moods, and can be read like those of
a person’s countenance.

Clouds are so commonplace that their beauty is often overlooked.
They are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul.
Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see in them will save
on psychoanalysis bills.

And so we say to all who’ll listen:
Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty, and live life with your head in the clouds!”

Item #1 on 2010's Wish List!

This awesome hand stamped necklace comes from a great little etsy shop called The Rusted Chain. She has some amazing and inspirational handmade jewelry! Some serious MUST HAVES! I have really been wanting a necklace like this one with Ash's name on it since before he was born! Maybe the hubs will get the hint for my birthday! The Rusted Chain also has a great blog! Check Check It!

Jewelry Hanger

I have been seeing a lot of really neat jewelry hangers around lately, and thought that i would just go ahead and save $40 and make my own...here is the finished result!

Dry Erase Wall Calender

I finally finished 2010's first craft project! My step mom can't believe that after all the crafting i did over the holidays that i would have anything left in me. but for those of you who know me personally i don't know what day it is without a calander.....SO......after searching for a while and not wanting to give in to the calender of baby photos made courtesy of "SnapFish"....i decided just to make my own! I refinished the frame and hand cut the calender from scrapbook paper.



And in the process of hanging the calender i was inspired to give the kitchen a little re-arrange! i have been re-arranging all over the house lately. it's so refreshing you know!?!?!?



oh...i also ripeed this picture of a "thinking of you" card my step mom sent me a while ago and made it into a magnet! i just love this picture! i reminds me so much of all of my girlfriends!

How did this happen?

Growing up in such a large family I know that kids can get themselves into some strange situations! But can some one explain to me how this happend?

Two New Recipes

My mother-in-law gave me these recipes the other day. They are classics that she's been making forever. The casserole is my husbands favorite childhood dish (and it just so happens to be gluten free!) and the salad is from the Columbia Restaurant...it is so good that i could eat it every day!

Columbia's Original "1905" Salad
4 servings
prep time: 25 mins

1/2 head of iceberg lettuce torn into bite size pieces
2 ripe tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
1/2 cup thin strips of Swiss cheese (2oz)
1/2 cup thin strips of ham (2oz)
1/4 cup pitted green Spanish olives
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup evoo
2 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. grated Pecorino Romano cheese

1. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, ham and olives.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, oregano,Worcestershire sauce. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, continually beating to form an emulsion. Stir in the vinegar and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Add the Pecorino and toss and serve.


Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
4-6 servings
prep: 10 min, bake: 55min

1 (30oz) package frozen shredded hash browns
1 (8oz.) package Monterey Jack cheese with peppers
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 1/2 cups milk
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl
2. Stir together milk and the last tree ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour over hash brown mixture. Pour all into a lightly greased 13x9inch baking dish
4. Bake at 350 for 45 to 55 mins or until golden brown.



so yummy!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year friends and family! I have some pretty amazing art, craft, and restoration ideas for this upcoming year! I can't wait to share them all with you guys! For today though I am just enjoying this rainy New Years day snuggled on the couch with the hub and baby!