Tuesday, August 31, 2010

New Living room! (future....future...project!)





Couch slip cover and throw pillows












window treatments...
coffee table and side table (color... distressed ...not fabric!!)





Side chair slip cover...cant you just see it!! So excited!


Monday, August 30, 2010

Window treatments!

possibly this material for the roman shades???

Option 1.. ticking stripes roll up..
option 2 roman shades..
So my monthly project is making custom window treatments for the house! We have huge beautiful windows, that no curtains fit! So I am going to attempt to make them (with the help of my mother!! ) but I need some input...on our kitchen bay what type?? I will post pictures of ideas and please vote on what you like best...or advise different styles!

Weekly menu

Monday-grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, salad and veggie of some kind
Tuesday-grilled steaks, rice, salad (got a great deal on some yummy steaks at Sams this weekend)
Wednesday-Kung pao chicken with broccoli, rice and salad
Thursday-grilled panini with homemade french bread and apple walnut salad
Friday-french bread pizza & oatmeal pie (instead of popcorn!! )
Saturday-1st WVU football game and friends are coming over-brats and saurkraut buffalo chicken dip...umm
Sunday-grilled chicken sandwiches with grilled veggies
So far for my shopping Sams $106( meat, chicken, broccoli, blueberries, watermelon, and other such things)
Grocery store 67$ so I am pretty excited about that
Local produce stand $14

Pancakes and temper-tantrums

wow it is only 750am and I am ready for a nap!! So I did again get up with Chris, made the bed when I heard miss Mia...so I took a quick shower while the hubs watched Mia as she banged on the shower door, or threw herself onto the floor in absolute disgust that I didn't take her in with me...THEN Eli woke up, Mia pooped, made breakfast, cleaned up breakfast, Mia threw several more tantrums...and we are off to the grocery store!!
Mia is my challenging and dramatic child! I know that this will be an asset when she is an adult, but I worry about her teenage years!! Chris and I laugh that, thank GOD she is cute! :) I am trying to start thinking about Christmas and what we are doing for the kiddos! I am excited about it, although sad to think we will be so far from family at Christmas....I need some kind of craft project!
Eli is going to starting our preschool/homeschool curriculum in a few weeks and i still have a few things to complete, but am really excited about it. We have set up several play groups and he is in soccer and we are thinking about swimming soon.
I am loving the change in my life of just having to focus on my family and my house but at times it feels lonely or overwhelming. Being able to focus on tasks and projects helps me stay focused and feel like I am accomplishing tangible things! The Hubs was wonderful enough this weekend to take the kids to the park so I could have some alone time! It was bliss! It is amazing how much you can accomplish with a quiet house!
We are planing a trip to WV to visit family either this weekend or next. I am not sure we will be able to make it this weekend with all we have going on and that makes me sad since we will miss my bother's engagement dinner...but we will see them soon!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Weekend...over







Well we had a busy and productive, but still fun weekend! I am super tired and want to just sit down have a glass of wine and relax!! Here are some pictures of our..dance party, bread making, backyard planning, shopping, mexican eating, house cleaning...weekend!! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Weekend project

So for this weekend we are attempting to make our small outdoor side yard more usable! WE want to put in a small patio right off the kitchen, plant a few plants so when I look out the kitchen window I don't shutter! Well with Miss Mia I am not sure how much we will accomplish but I have positive thoughts! IT is going to be a beautiful weekend...
I also hope to get some bread baking done, I am attempting english muffins...of course house cleaning, laundry and Chris needs some new work clothes. We also like to try and take the kids somewhere fun...hmm I may have put too much on my weekend chore list!! Oh well...I project at a time!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Yummy granola


Easy Homemade Granola
2 cups rolled oats..1/2 cup flax seed meal..1/4 wheat germ..1 teaspoon cinnamon...1 teaspoon salt..
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Canola oil..1/4 cup honey..
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar..1 tsp vanilla extract..1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds..1/3 cup dried cranberries.. .1/3 cup chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with cinnamon and salt (
I added nuts and wheat germ and flax seed here, next time I would omit the salt)

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.
Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them. Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the nuts over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.
Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Return the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely.

Sprinkle the dried cranberries and chocolate chips over the granola and use your hands to transfer it to an airtight container. The granola will keep for 1 week.


PURE Enjoyment!! :)