Refurbished: Toddler Table

We were on kind of a tight budget this Christmas.  So I did quite a bit of shopping at thrift stores and watching the sales.  During my trips to a local thrift store I came upon this table and chairs.  You know the kind with padding and vinyl seats (usually some cartoon all over them).  Well it was in horrible shape and all the vinyl was ripped and padding falling out.  But it was $5 so I gave it a second thought.  I wanted to do a table for our twin girls and this price tag screamed "take me home and fix me".  So I did.  It took a few nights and a couple of naps and an extra $15-20 in supplies but in the end it saved me over the $45 price tag of a "cartoon table" and gave my girls an original without it being branded (which I absolutely love).

Materials:
- junk table and chairs set (I have seen these at thrift stores a couple times since)
- wood filler/putty (large container $10 at Lowes)

Work in Progress...Farmhouse Bed (King Size)

If you haven't discovered ana-white.com then you seriously need to.  I love so many of the plans on this site.  I fell in love with their original plan (Farmhouse Bed) and set my heart to making this.  Thank goodness my dad is a jack of all trades and my brother has lots of tools.  Bring them together and I have been blessed with the help I need to make this happen.

Foot board slats and head board slats...a bed in the making

Cutting wood is fun to do...especially with the right tools (ie Miter Saw)

*Update:  The bed is built and awaiting finishing touches downstairs.  But we'll save the whole reveal for another post. 

Repurposed: Bumper Pads into Toddler Duvet Cover

Most likely you are probably sick of the nursery bedding you picked out.  But if you are like me and you made or bought new stuff for a convertible crib (that didn't convert :P grrrrr) then you may find yourself attached to bedding that hasn't had a chance to outgrow your kiddo.  Bring on this great tutorial and idea on how to turn you bumper pads into a toddler bed size duvet cover.  

Hanging Memories...

I know this isn't original but thought I would share how I used this method and how it worked for me.  We moved recently and let me tell you it has been a project in itself just hanging pictures, mirrors, clocks, etc on the walls.  I hung most of them but was dreading doing this last group.  It went in my twin girls room and in our old house it was a bugger to do plus left a number of beautiful holes in the wall from miss guessing and measuring.  Yuck!

So I opted for the paper hanging method.  I didn't have butcher paper though and didn't want to buy some just for this.  I used grocery ads which worked fine.  I did have a little wiping down of the walls to remove newsprint but for the cost (free!) I would definitely do it this way again.

Step 1.  Lay out your paper and trace each frame you plan to hang.  I also labeled each piece of paper for the corresponding picture.  Repeat for each picture you want to hang.

Step 2.  Cut out each frame outline.  Place it on the back of your frame and mark where your hangers are.  This was a simple one hook frame so there is only one little "X" up top in the $2.49 price.  Repeat this for each picture you plan to hang. 

Step 3.  Place your picture pattern on the wall using the paper outlines.  This was a simple layout but using the paper made it soooooo much easier to get precise placement of where to put nails.  

Step 4.  Hammer in nails without removing the paper from the wall.  I don't think you can see my nail in this.  Once nails are in place then hang your pictures up over the paper to make sure you like the placement.  This saves time of putting all the outlines up again if something isn't quite right.  If it's all fine and dandy take down the pictures, rip off the paper, wipe down the wall and re-hang the pictures.

I need to update the pictures in these but I'm so in love with these black and whites that I took of them as babies

The End ... Love it

*I will be sharing photos of the final decor in their room (as I've remodeled since their nursery)...so stay tuned if you are interested) *

Blogging Sabbatical

I really enjoy blogging and sharing things I'm working on or finding online to try out.  But let's face it...I'm still living in my in-laws basement (short sale hell is setting in) and I've run out of projects to share.  Those I brought with me to finish up are done.  I don't want to start new ones because I'm convinced (silly me) that we're going to hear word any day now and be moving to our own place again with windows and sunlight (ie better lighting for pictures) and space (oh glorious space with rooms and closets to fill with our stuff).

So until we move I think I will put a freeze on my blogging.  I have this plan in the back of my mind to stock up on the text of projects or meals that have been done and then take pictures when I'm not living in this hole.  Yep it's a bitter day towards the short sale house I love.  I am beyond grateful to my in-laws but I think we have bonded enough now and are both ready to reclaim our space.

Whip It Up Wednesday: Stuffed Shells

Stuffed Shells (recipe makes 6 servings)

1 egg

12 oz Ricotta Cheese or 2 C cottage cheese (I use a 20 oz? cottage cheese)

16 oz Ziti Pasta, slightly undercooked (I use a box of Large Shells)

1 1/2 C Spaghetti sauce

10 oz spinach (optional but delicious)

 Combine egg, cottage/ricotta cheese and spinach. Recipe calls to food process but I simply mashed it all together with a whisk. Boil your Ziti or Shells until they are a few minutes undercooked. Drain and cool to handle. Fill shell or ziti with the cheese mixture. Place in containers for freezing or into a casserole pan for cooking (or split it up for both). Some recipes call to freeze just the mixture but I like to freeze with it in the shell for even easier meals. Cover with spaghetti sauce (I add a little to the bottom of the pan as well) and cook at 350* for 30 minutes. Additional cheese mixture or mozzarella cheese can be used to top the dish.

 forgive my poor pictures...

...and plate presentation

Rating:  5 stars

-super easy to prepare (and freeze).  Tastes delicious (my father-in-law had three servings and I consider him a little hard to please).  

-this recipe comes from the 30 Gourmet's Big Book of Freezer Cooking book.  It is one we've made before and love. It freezes well and tastes great either fresh or post-frozen.

Whip It Up Wednesday: Minestrone Fix-Up

I am being lazy.  I even made something new for my Whip It Up Wednesday.  It was even a hit with everyone (my father-in-law had three servings!).  But it can wait.  Today was rainy and cool.  What a relief after all the heat.  So I made minestrone soup.  The lazy way too...go figure.  I like Bear Creek soups for quick meals on cold (or cool) days.  But the sodium in them kills me (literally and figuratively I'm sure).  My solution:

Double the water!  You can't tell the difference...I think it tastes better.  I cook mine with sausage usually (yeah I know...adding sodium right back in).  But I double or nearly double the water from 8 cups to 14 cups or more.  I also like to add extra noodles and a can of diced tomatoes or corn or beans or whatever extra good thing I have in the freezer or on the shelf.  Bonus:  it stretches even further in addition to hopefully lowering the sodium per serving.  Just passing on.  I'm sure there are healthier soups out there but like I said...this is my lazy day meal.