Thursday, May 13, 2010
I'm spoiled
So I know that there are real, serious problems out there in the world. Forgive me for being obsessive about my kitchen.
Original as seen in this blog post:
After I painted 3 different shades of green, I still don't like it. 
I think the real problem is the cabinets/countertops/old appliances. I am wavering about doing anything because really, if I paint, I want to get new countertops, and if I get new countertops, we'll need new appliances, and if we're getting that deep, I really want to knock out both walls and put in a kitchen island. I think I'm going to settle for painting and possibly new countertops (which does definitetly mean a new sink. The old owner was a smoker and used to put her ashes out in sink, and it was acrylic, so you get the picture.)
Here's the deal: I don't really want to paint the cabinets, but I don't know how much good I can do if I don't paint them.
Old cabinets: Painted cabinets:
Labels: house and home, kitchen
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Potato Soup
You know that Autumn is coming for the following reasons: it's soooo hard to get up in the cool, dark morning. The leaves and grass, although still green, just seem to have a little more color. I bought my first (and I swear my last) bag of candy pumpkins at Walgreens on a whim last week.
After a long, fun, but exhausting weekend, we decided on soup on Sunday night. My mom has a great recipe for Cheesy potato soup. I have it too, but I'm not so good on the replication. Hers just has a special umphh that I can't seem to achieve. Therefore, everytime he requests it, Jason says "But will you make it like your mom does?" I always say yes, but I know good and well that I can't replicate the cheesy goodness.
Still, this batch was pretty darn close. I used small new potatoes from my Aunt Jackie and I let the mixture simmer for an hour or so.
Saute an onion and 2 ribs of celery (and maybe a little tiny bit of bacon. Do not tell my mother) in a couple of teaspoons of butter in a large stock pot.
Add about 4 cups of milk--I used skim and it was great!
I also added a teaspoon of salt and a generous sprinkling of black pepper.
Add 4 chicken boullion cubes and let this mixture simmer and boil for quite a while. It can even be unattended.
Next, cube up about 4 cups or more of potatoes. I would go for more. Like use 5 large potatoes or so. Cover with water in a microwaveable bowl and microwave in batches of 5 minutes or so until tender to a forking.
Add 5-6 slices of cheese. I used American because it melts better, but you might experiment if you have a husband who is more open to interpretation than mine is.
Add the potatoes and simmer for a while, or eat immediately.
It's DARN good. And really not too fat-laden. Over the multiple serving this makes, there's not much butter, maybe a slice of cheese, and skim milk.
I think I may have mastered the recipe.
Perhaps this is the culprit of my past poor soups: I did not write down the recipe. Seriously? What does any of this mean? I am too ashamed to call my mom YET AGAIN for the real recipe.
Isn't it sad that with the popularity of my recipe cards, I only have my own recipes on these cards? I'm slowly converting. Slowly. I'll have to get the real recipe for potato soup before I transfer this one.
Our dear friend Jenn made us these potholders in our house colors as a housewarming gift. I love a handmade gift like no other! And I hardly ever get them, so these were extra special. They're really thick and soft. Luxurious potholders! Everyone should have them!!
Labels: Cooking, house and home
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
It's my Birt-day!
This post could also be titled "Why I Have the Best Husband Ever"
Take a look at my birthday present! (I'm apologizing for all the bragging right now. If you don't like it, just click yourself away!)
I have been the biggest fan of Nashville artist Trevor Mikula for years. Jason and I even went to a show with the intention of buying something, but couldn't decide which one to get, and walked away empty handed.
Then this year for my birthday, I was convinced he was getting me an industrial sink, or an iPod. This, my friends, is way better than those two. Jason and Trevor had a long e-mail correspondence, and trevor sent him several paintings. I'm happy to say that in the end, Jason picked the one that I loved best out of those.
I'm just in love with it. The best present ... I mean best HUSBAND... ever. I love it!
Labels: house and home, painting
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Summer Friday Night Menu
Friday I was off work, so I stayed home and played housewife. It was so very gratifying! Although, I think if I did it everyday, I might get frustrated---but maybe not. I cleaned, cooked, walked downtown to the Post Office, Library and to my favorite antique store.
According to Jason, we finally had enough boxes unpacked to have everyone over. Don't get me wrong, there are still boxes. So many boxes. But they're mostly relegated to the spare bedroom and the various closets. I'm working on it!
Dinner for 8:
BBQ shredded beef: This was such an easy crockpot recipe, and was DELICIOUS! Enough food for probably a dozen people
Corn on the cob
Shish-kabobs: peppers, onions, pineapple and cherry tomatoes marinated in olive oil with rosemary and sea salt, then grilled.
Baked beans
Watermelon slices
Homemade ice cream: from Ben and Jerry's recipe. Mmmmm. I freakin' love my Cuisinart ice cream maker. I used my Tahitian vanilla from Trader Joe's.
And to drink: Watermelon lemonade. {via goodLife eats} YUM. YUM. YUM. So flavorful, tart, and watermelony. I used my immersion blender for the first time and it worked like a charm. I had so much of this left over that I think I'm going to make a sorbet in the ice cream maker.
So finally, the reason we bought our house came into good use. What a lovely inaugural run. Next we need to work on lighting and getting some chairs for a seating area on the lower portion. One thing at a time!
I spent all weekend printing my sister's wedding invitations. I'm wobbling on whether to post them or not. I may have to wait until she's sent them out so I don't spoil any surprises. I did 6 runs of 200 cards!!! Darn my tiny press.
Labels: Cooking, friends, house and home, weekend
Monday, June 08, 2009
Tiny Road Trip Weekend (And the Kitchen)
I had Friday off work, sort of. My sister Lauren and I had planned a quick trip up to IKEA and the Renegade Handmade store in Chicago.
Friday morning I get a call that I need to stop by a farm in St. Charles, Missouri (on my way to Ikea) and take some photos of a farm and its farmer. I was pretty excited about this prospect because I'm always moaning about the quality of photos I'm given to put in a layout--so this time I could take them myself.
I was a little worried, however, about being a hypocrite. I always tell our writers to stop taking photos in the middle of the day when the light is horrible. On Friday I didn't have much of a choice if I wanted to continue on to Chicago before 2am.
I had a great time shooting out in farm country (only a mile from an engineered community with little boxes all the same). There were beans and corn and planters going over bridges galore. Goldmine! Unfortunately, I was a little pressed for time. And now I can appreciate what our writers go through when taking photos. It's a little distracting to try to talk to the farmer while thinking about if you should have brought a ladder, and how this photo is going to look in layout.
These grain bins show a watermark from the flood of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers last Spring and Summer. Farming is a hard life. I said that to the farmer, and he said, "No. It's a good life. It's treated me really well." He was a really sweet man. Been married for 60 years.
I picked up Larny and we headed up I-55 to stay with my college roommate for the night before all of our adventures the next day. I got a happy meal, and Albert Einstein was in the bottom of the bag! I always forget that you get a toy in those things.
See? It really IS the happiest place on Earth! I think I broke Lauren at Ikea. Then the next day I was exhausted and sickly feeling. I had an Ikea hangover.
Here's the kitchen and a portion of our haul. I'm sick to death of stud finders and allen wrenches, let me tell you. But I was even more weary of the grape-vine buffet thing (heaviest thing in the world, no wonder the previous owner didn't want to move it.). Now it's on the covered deck where it will serve as a drink/food serving station when we have people over. Like next year sometime. Jason says we can't have people over till all the boxes are unpacked, and frankly I just don't see that happening anytime soon. We're getting closer, though!
Hey Jenny--I got that stainless steel table thing in the AS-IS room!! Everything was an additional 20% off in there. I thought of you!
Labels: house and home, kitchen, weekend
Monday, June 01, 2009
The studio actually works!
Eureka! It works! I was putting off actually trying to print in my new studio. Don't know why. I think I felt like the magic of a good impression wouldn't work in there. I was scared. But here's to just jumping in! Nothing like 3 more recipe card orders to light a fire.
The printing area is in a corner, but I get a great view out the window of my landscaping, and I set up my small cheap paperweight collection on the sill, so I have something to look at while printing. What did I look at before? I never thought about it, but I like the new view.
Can I just say I'm thrilled with how the yellow photographs? Thank you. I LOVE it!
Shona turned me onto iced herbal tea. Why didn't I think of that? I've been living with this in my hand for the past week: Trader Joe's Pomegranate White tea over ice. Mmmmm.
Time to go blow dry my hair for work, oh, how I hate thee, blow dryer!!
Labels: house and home, printing
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Dinner and the Studio Project
I know I had a beautiful kitchen at my parents' house, but when there's already a nutritious hot dinner waiting for you when you get home, it just seemed pointless to spend an hour cooking. Now that we're on our own, and accustomed to good suppers, we're making an effort to actually eat dinner, and not just subway or takeout.
Last night I made Phat Thai from Chez Pim's recipe. I bought all the ingredients in Columbia at the Asian grocery store, and coaxed Jason into eating adventurously. It was pretty good, too, although I'd like to try the basic cooking method with simple stir-fry ingredients, like soy sauce and chili. I heart rooster sauce. I used my big ole saucepan that my cousin Kim gave me for the first time--and it is AWESOME!! I could have cooked 4 servings of Phat Thai in that thing. Amazing. It's totally worth all the space it takes in my pot cabinet.
And here is the current state of the studio. I'm working on it! It's actually a lot closer than it looks to being workable. I did end up painting over the turquoise walls. A nice off-white color. you can see that light is at a premium. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on that, but I will perservere!
I bought a rainbow print for the studio--I love rainbow colored things!! It came from Present and Correct.
Labels: Cooking, house and home
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
FInally we've moved!
Cake paintings by the awesome Meredith Steele.
After 5 days of moving, we're finally at a settle point. Yes, I still have boxes everywhere. That's what we're using the 2 spare bedrooms for, right?
It's really hard not to go around hanging stuff on the walls, but I want to meditate on where things go first. The studio is still a mess, but it's getting there.
Jason took 2 hours to put together our new grill. We haven't eaten a meal that wasn't out on the deck yet. Yay! I love to eat outside. Our first meal was grilled hot dogs and other summery fare.
I'm pretty thrilled with the paint colors and our new Crate and Barrel couch. Can you tell I'm exhausted? I just don't have the energy for flowery discussion.
Labels: house and home
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Hardwood floors are done!
I have said it so many times now, but they just look FANTASTIC! The short planks and mix of red and white oak really make it look like a designer floor. There are still a couple of dark spots from the previous owner's pet. I'm thinking pets and carpets don't mix well.
Check out the pic on the left--the master bedroom is going to have carpet, so we didn't have it refinished. You can see the previous orangey, dull finish, compared with the spare bedroom on the right.
It all makes the gray walls look so much better also. We're getting a couch this week, and hopefully carpet.
Labels: house and home
Sunday, April 26, 2009
House update
These are the FABULOUS new lights. I'm so thrilled with them. And I can't tell you how much I love the dark gray wall. It's just beautiful. We painted the entry way the same color.
We're deep in the throes of painting. Now it's all the woodwork and doors... I've spent at least 20 hours now painting woodwork, and I'm not even done with the top floor of the house.
The GREEN! kitchen--I love it.
The hardwood floors that we thought we would refinish, then the carpet guy told us that they were only 1/4 inch thick, so that was impossible. We ordered $2000 worth of laminate, but yesterday my uncle came to check out the place and we discovered that they are infact full thickness, and can be refinished. So we'r sort of back at square one. I am NOT putting down laminate over top of real wood.
Jason spent the whole weekend ripping up stained carpet and pulling up staples.
Here's the dilemma: What to do with the dining room floors? Any ideas, anyone?
This is a more accurate representation of the colors of the walls.
Labels: house and home