Sunday night I made breakfast for dinner - inspired by this recipe for Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake that I found on Pinterest. To go alongside I simply made hard boiled eggs and bacon. I wanted to share this with you simply because it was delicious! Noah loves blueberries so I like to try recipes here and there that I think he might like. Click on the link below for the recipe, and if you are interested in trying another really good version (one I made a bit ago) click here.
We have been working (procrastinating) on Noah's room for awhile now. We chose paint colors this summer, and ordered the desk below.
I used Olioboard this past week to create this mood board. This is my first attempt at making a mood board. Olioboard was easy to use. I would recommend it. I tried another companies to start, but had lots of problems.
It is so nice to see everything for Noah's room in one place. It is also easier for my boys to visualize what I am thinking, and how it will actually look. I am amazingly getting some positive feedback for once. It is also nice because anything they don't like can be easily deleted and changed around.
Noah's walls are painted Peppercorn and his ceiling is Sea Salt - both by Sherwin Williams. We had one wall painted in chalkboard paint, but the painters decided to cut corners so they have to come back and fix it.
So, we already own the dresser, bed, nightstand, and glass cabinet. The glass cabinet he has is really similar to the one above - no shelves on the bottom though, and the legs look more like a nice wooden carved table. I purchased in on clearance from Anthropologie a few years back. He has the depot light from Pottery Barn, but my husband keeps insisting that we get a ceiling fan with a light. I think I am going to lose the battle. He has a green fan he likes just fine, but ... I am going to lose the battle. I think the one I found above is not too bad. I wish someone would make a depot looking ceiling fan. That would be great!
We are going to use all the same bedding. It is bright and cheerful. He chose the bright plaid years ago for the shams. The quilt is a light gray t-shirt like material. His sheets are white with chocolate brown stitching. He also has a grain sack looking pillow with red striping.
He need a desk/guitar playing chair, and he liked this charcoal gray one I found. It even has rolling wheels!
As for the walls - he thinks the frog is "beast" and even Josh loved it. We will hang his guitars on the wall, and he has wanted the Whippet art for some time. I'm not sure what we will do with the window. The boys don't really like the idea of drapes - so maybe a simple little valence.
Anyhow, that is where we are in the planning. Hopefully we will get it all together soon for a real reveal!
I am loving the above leg warmers from Grace and Lace. What a great way to have a little ruffle show above tall boots! I had wanted some ruffle socks, but haven't been able to find any. Now I just have to decide which color I will get the most use out of.
I couldn't resist this hand cut Whippet silhouette from Eliza B Crafts. It has been mounted onto a book page found in a vintage dog book. A fun way to add a little history and whimsy to the house. She creates her little works of art in all different breeds!
This adorable wreath in everyday colors is made of 80 to 85 hand needle-felted balls. Made by my friend Amanda - I believe she will also do custom orders. She also makes adorable ornaments using this same process.
Here is a sample of some of her color choices. Check out her shop Five Blind Mice to see more. She had really cute garland at the holidays as well. Something to keep in mind for next year.
Personalized self inking address stamp - This is my favorite design, but there are so many original and creative stamps it makes it really hard to choose just one. Go to NoteTrunk to see all of the designs. Here is one more example ...
There are so many creative items to be found on Etsy. These are just a few that have caught my eye.
I'm going to work on mood boards for Josh and Noah's bedrooms - there will be a few works of art I found on Etsy added to those (if I figure it out) plus some drapes I'm liking. Last week all I managed to do blog wise was create a new header. It was really needed, and I'm liking it much better. Other than that I think I had bloggers block.
See you soon, and thanks so much for stopping by!
This is a recipe originally found by my mom. My sister told me it was fantastic, and sent me the recipe.
It is so good that my oldest - a boys who dislikes spaghetti - asked me if I could make the spaghetti again. It was shocking that he was asking for spaghetti, and also surprising since it had only been a week since we last enjoyed it.
My very favorite way to enjoy this spaghetti is with the ground tenderloin that the butcher gives us. He makes it from the trimmings when you buy a whole tenderloin - you get 2 pounds ground along with your tenderloin. I'm going to have to ask if they ever have this to sell if one randomly "needs" some.
So, here is the recipe. It is super simple and satisfying!
To make the sauce:
Melt 1/2 stick of butter in a large frying pan
Add 1 small diced onion and 1/2 tsp. minced garlic and saute until golden
Add 1 pound of ground round and brown
Add 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper
Add one 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
Add one 6 oz. can of tomato paste
Add one 6 oz. tomato paste can full of water
Add 1 tsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. oregano
Simmer for about 2 hours (I haven't waited that long)
I am considering today as the official start to my new year. The day to start accomplishing things. A fresh start.
We really enjoyed Christmas, and really kept it very casual after.
I did take the boys to Kalahari after Christmas with 3 of their friends. I had some really good laughs this holiday break. The laugh until you cry kind of laughs that I love! Some courtesy of their friends. Can you imagine pulling two hard solid wood dining room chairs together and using them as your bed for the night? No pillow - no blanket. When I woke up in the morning at Kalahari, and came out of my room the living room area was one of the funniest sights I have seen, and this is just how I found one of Noah's friends sleeping. I was trying to take pictures, but the lighting was dim - anyhow the 3 in the living room ended up being awakened by my laugh. I tried really hard to contain it, but it was kind of like being in a class where you shouldn't laugh so you are trying so hard not too. Such a funny sight! His friend told me that he and the floor had a bad history. I forgot to ask him later what the history was. This boy is so darn funny. One of the funniest people I know.
I am also sure that we experienced divine intervention on the way home. We were on the Ohio turnpike, and I had the feeling that I should take it slow. No one was behind me so I really took my time. When I reached the top of the turnpike it was like we were on a rollercoaster and heading up a hill - concrete on both sides - just a narrow lane to travel - and you couldn't see where you were headed. I drive a Jeep which is higher, but I still could not see what was ahead. I slowed even more, and just had a funny feeling. Next thing to happen is that I have a car in the lane I am in heading straight for me. A elderly man was driving and he was angry and yelling at me. By this time I drove my Jeep to the left where there was a couple of feet of cement. At this point I am thinking that I know it was very clear that I was supposed to head up the way I had. There was no way I was going to get back in that lane at that moment, and cross over the bridge with no visibility so I turned the Jeep around on the concrete and started heading down the other side of the road. Next thing we see is a mini van heading up the road the same way we had, and the old man heading straight for them. When we got down to the bottom again the old man had stopped in a grassy median and was sitting there. When he saw us he went in front of us, and went on his "merry" way. We started back up the road as we first had - made it over the bridge - and then just wondered how that man got to our side of the road. Really scary, and I am so very thankful that this is the story I have to tell. Thank God.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year. I am looking forward to 2012, and it's unlimited amounts of possibilities.
Hope you have an enjoyable day!