Tasty Tuesday: One Last Summer Hurrah

It's Tasty Tuesday time! Visit the always fabulous Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam to see what's cooking there! You won't be disappointed...there are always plenty of great recipes to choose from.

Many of you with children have already begun your back to school schedules. Some of us are still hanging on to the glimmer of hope that school begins soon (September 14th for us!). We are. so. ready. I don't know how much more bored a three and a half year old can get, but I don't want to find out. Preschool, even just two mornings a week, will be a welcome change for the T family!

If you're already back to school, or if you are looking for a good "last summer hurrah" dinner to grill out, this is a great recipe. I found it over at Sara's site, Cook with Sara, and thought I'd give it a review.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

from Cook with Sara

Ingredients:
4 boneless pork chops (My package my have had more than that, but I tend to not worry about exactness unless I'm baking)
1/4 cup lemon juice (I didn't have fresh)
2 T soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
3 garlic cloves, minced

Mix the lemon juice and soy sauce in a measuring cup.

I just kind of spooned in the honey until it looked good. Like I said, I tend not to worry about exact measurements unless I am baking.

Then I just dropped in some store-bought minced garlic that I had in the fridge.

Put the chops in a zip-loc bag. Stir the marinade well and then pour it over the chops in the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours. Grill for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once.

We made this an easy dinner. I used a box of mashed potatoes from Target, some Crescent rolls that I doctored up, and a bag of SteamFresh veggies. Easy peasy!

If you're looking for an easy meal to make on a busy night, this is it! Even Natalie liked it, and she's kind of picky about meat.

Grilling out is one of those summer rites that we all look forward to. Soon, the leaves will be changing, and we'll be watching football and eating chili. Enjoy your last summer hurrah while you can!

Sara's recipe was so tasty that I plan on visiting her more often to see what she has cooking!

{Bon Appetit!}

Look Out, Hans Christian Anderson

Otherwise entitled "Amanda Learns to Use YouTube"

Please note that this is a cautionary tale with a tragic ending. You may want to have a box of tissues nearby.

This video could be an excellent teaching tool if you have small children who don't like to wash their hands. The fear tactic seems to be successful.

Natalie also tells a story of "the little girl who wouldn't brush her teeth," but I have yet to tape it. I asked her if her Mimi told her the story of "the little boy who didn't wash his hands," but she claims that this is an original work.

I think she could be an internet sensation with this repertoire of gentle stories with moral fortitude. I see a line of dolls, books on hygiene, and DVDs in her future.

Maybe she'll buy me a pony with her earnings....

Disclaimer: No children were harmed in the telling of this story. Any resemblance to characters real or imagined is entirely coincidental.

Thrifty Treasures: Pretty in Purple

What time is it?

(Say it with me!)

It's Thrifty Treasures time! (sorry, y'all...I channelled 1998 and reverted to my cheerleading days)

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting her weekly blog party today. If you are addicted to scoring fabulous finds for a song and using your creative skills to make them even more beautiful, then this is the party for you! Please visit Rhoda today to read more and join in the fun.

I had every intention of yard saling with my girls on Saturday morning. I even wrote about it on Friday. Then I stayed up way too late on Friday night, and could barely open my eyes on Saturday morning when I heard the girls in their rooms. It didn't help when I discovered after breakfast that I could make videos on my digitial camera, and I taught myself how to download one onto YouTube. (Visit tomorrow to see!) Let's not think about the fact that my dog probably could have figured it out much more quickly than me.

I did find two things at Salvation Army this week. The first is this beautiful lavender crocheted blanket. It's just a bit smaller than a twin-size quilt would be.

I have a real phobia about buying blankets/fabric, etc. secondhand, but this looked to be in perfect condition, and of course I plan on washing it! The picture is terrible, but the color is actually a beautiful soft purple that matches Michaela Byrd's room perfectly. When Natalie eventually moves in there with her little sister, they'll each have a crocheted blanket to match the window treatments. $2.50. I hate to think that someone's hard work and effort was reduced to only $2.50, but it was my gain!

I had to think for a minute or two before I realized what this contraption was.

It's a Xryon 510, which means nothing to me. I remember one of my scrapbooking friends talking about hers and saying that it's basically a small personal laminating machine. It can also create magnets, stickers, and labels. I haven't touched my own scrapbooking stuff in months, but I do have great plans for Christmas gifts with this baby!

It was $2.00. I showed the lady at the desk that it was all jammed up inside, and had laminating paper wrapped around and stuck to the rotating piece. When I got home, I pulled it right out, cut the sticky stuff off and it's good as new. These run around $60 new.

These were each $1.00 at Jo-Ann fabric.

They are clear, acrylic stamps with Fall and Halloween sayings on them. "Happy Harvest," "Falling for You," "Carving Pumpkins." I can't wait to use them for MOPS and Natalie's preschool class this year. Fun!

Don't forget the Decorating Dilemmas Party on September 9th. The last one was a blast with a very good turn out.
If you didn't have a chance to stop by the first time, this is a party for bloggers to link up with any challenges they have in or around their homes (decorating, crafts, organizing, gardening, construction). Your dilemma can be anything from "Help! I My husband drilled a giant hole in the wall and I don't know how to cover it up" to "Which fabric should I choose for my new window treatments?" I also love it when people have great solutions to share. This party is all about being real and helping out our bloggy friends. We're going to have a blast, and yes--there WILL be another Giveaway!

You can click here to see the entries from the last party. Hope to see you there!

{Happy Thrifting!}

Fun Friday

I thought I'd just do a random post with random subject matter today since I most likely won't post this weekend. Please feel free to share your answers today!

Highlight of my week? We had two play dates at our house this week, and it made me so happy to see Natalie's face all lit up when our company arrived. She has been so lonely this summer without preschool. Our friends always seem to be so busy, and I've felt horrible for her. She's been bored and probably a little lonely too. It must be hard for a three and a half year old who enjoys being active. Michaela Byrd's reaches as a playmate can only go so far, and their efforts at playing tea party or dollhouse usually end with shouts of "Mine!" ringing down the hallways.

Plans this weekend: I am on a mission to find a patio set ever since I missed the jackpot last weekend. I'd like to take the girls to a yard sale or two tomorrow morning and see if we can find one. Can't hold onto the in-laws' patio table forever! The girls have been invited to a Candy Land birthday party in the early afternoon. Can't wait to blog and show pictures.

T will be helping a friend paint on Saturday evening, so I may sit down and start thinking about Christmas gifts. (YES, Christmas gifts already!) Sunday morning will be the last time our adults' Sunday School class meets before splitting. Our class has grown too large for the classroom, so we'll be dividing into two groups. The hard part will be choosing which new class to attend!

Best TV this week: Hands down, I really enjoyed watching Project Runway's premiere last night on TiVo after the girls were in bed. I got a bunch of laundry folded and was tickled to see Tim Gunn back in action, charging the contestants to "Make it work." I thought the right person went home. I'm sorry, but a puffy silver hoodie dress that looked like a diaper is just not my thing. Apologies if you own something like this.

What am I reading? Just finished Mary Kay Andrews' The Fixer Upper, which I adored and will review soon. Next on my list is I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile. My step-sister-in-law, Stacey, sent it to me and I haven't had a chance to read it yet. It looks like a fun read.

Favorite thing I bought this week? In a rare solo shopping trip, I made a split-second decision to turn into the Payless Shoes by our Target. It was Buy One, Get One Half Off, and I also got a 20% off coupon in the mail the other day.

These adorable flats came home with me, along with a pair of brown Mary Janes for Natalie. It's hard to see in the picture, but the ribbon is fuchsia pink. I am in love.

Most annoying thing my kids did this week? They played "Ring Around the Rosey" in the pediatrician's exam room while we were waiting. Michaela Byrd had nothing on but her diaper, and they were joyfully shrieking at the top of their lungs. I was "whisper shouting" for them to stop. I finally had to lie and tell Natalie that if she didn't quit dragging her sister around by her spindly little arm, Dr. C was going to come in and spank her. I am a bad mother. I'm okay with it.

In other news, I want to thank the lovely Victoria at Whimsy by Victoria for bestowing upon me the Fancy Pants Award. I wish had a tiny little bit of Victoria's creative skills with a sewing machine! Victoria wrote that this award is given to "dedicated bloggers who love to blog, and encourage friendships through blogging." I'm supposed to state why I love blogging and then pass it on.
I love blogging because I finally feel like I have a place to express myself. I have great "in real life" friends, but they are busy moms too. It's hard to get a bunch of moms together for girl talk when we all have different schedules. Blogging has opened up a whole new world of friendship for me. I've been able to share what's on my heart, what's interesting to me, and the crazy stuff my family gets into. I can have girl talk whenever I want now. Amazingly enough, some of you seem to enjoy reading it!

I am passing this award on to four lovely ladies today:

Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful...she must be my long-lost, prettier twin. It's kind of freaky how many things we see eye to eye on. My mama's got some 'splainin' to do!

Xazmin at This is the Year. I don't think you'll find a sweeter blogger on the web. If I had a million dollars, I'd have her design enough hair bows for my girls to last until 3rd grade. Then I'd take us to see a live taping of So You Think You Can Dance.

Stacey at The Blessed Nest. I don't think she's ever created a post on her blog that hasn't encouraged or inspired me. She was one of my bloggy friends who had some kind words to share with me after Annonymous left a nasty comment here.

Pam at Bibbidi Bobbidi Beautiful. She was sweet enough to send me some information to help me with my finicky toddler. Her blog is adorable, and I'm hoping to get to know her better.

No need to pass the award on, girls, unless you'd like to. Just wanted to let you know I was thinkin' of you this evening!

Finally, please start thinking of dilemmas and/or solutions you may be able to share for my upcoming Decorating Dilemmas Party. I'll work on adding some html for the button soon. If you're new here and want to know more about this fun party, please read here to see how much fun we had at the last one. Would any of you be interested in doing a linky to share our updates before the next party?

{Have a wonderful weekend, my wonderful readers!}

Thrifty Thursday: It's Chic to Be Cheap {24}

Hooked On: Project Runway

"In difficult times, fashion is always outrageous." -Elsa Schiaparelli

Something "fierce" is returning to television tonight.

I am not a fashionista, but I've enjoyed clothes since I was a teenager: wearing them, buying them, reading about them, and thinking about them. I might not know always be able to fit in them, but I like fashion just the same.

While I don't enjoy reality programs that feature contestants eating spiders or jumping off of giant inflatables, I do enjoy the ones that showcase creative competition.

I love the intricate choreography on So You Think You Can Dance (and, to some degree, Dancing with the Stars). I enjoy watching interior designers battle it out to construct rooms decorated with items from a grocery store on HGTV's Design Star. And I really really get a kick out of the fashion designers on Project Runway putting together lovely (and sometimes hideous) ensembles to hit the runway.

I am so thankful that my faithful TiVo can download all of these wonderful shows and save them for me to watch after the kids are in bed. I sit in shock, amusement, and bewilderment as Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia judge the designers' work. And I fast-forward through all the commercials.

I read in the paper recently that this season Project Runway moves from New York to Los Angeles, which I am a little weirded out by. When I think of fashion, I always think New York, and Parsons The New School for Design was such a great back drop for the show. I was hoping to get a shot of it at this year's Girls' Trip to NYC, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

It's so much fun to hear style guru Tim Gunn issue a challenge to the designers, and see them rise to the occasion. Gunn's "make it work" motto can apply to so many things besides fashion. It took me hours just to create a straight table runner, so I can't imagine coming up with an outfit made from auto parts and actually making it look good. (One contestant made a dress out of woven seat belts, and it was to die for!)

So where does the thrifty part come in?

Since I no longer work outside the home, and I have two small children (who are so much cuter to dress!), I can't afford to go crazy in J. Crew anymore. I can get my fashion fix drooling over heavenly cocktail dresses (and laughing at a designer who wants to use "leathuh" on everything) on TV, and then go to Target and spend $15 on a new top.

I can make that work.

Project Runway premieres the new season tonight at 10 pm (ET) on Lifetime. Don't expect to see pieces you'd pick up at Macy's. Most of the designs are pure fantasy, and that's what makes this show so much fun!

{To see what everyone else is "Hooked On" this week, please visit Julia at Hooked on Houses. She hosts a fun fun blog party each week, and allows other bloggers to link up and share what's making them smile. Thank you, Julia!}

Natalie's "Candy-Striped" Nursery

Despite my lack of design knowledge and experience, blogging has inspired me to get out of the "I'm just a stay-at-home mom" rut and put some effort into feathering my nest.

The room I'm sharing today belongs to my older daughter, Natalie, who is three and a half now. Some of these photos are older, so please don't think I make my preschooler sleep in a crib! Her room might not impress a real designer, but my husband and I put a lot of effort into it, and it was definitely a DIY project.

View when you walked in the door "Before" (Technically, this was during "construction," but there wasn't much in there except for a futon, an ugly dresser, and some office-grade blue carpeting that was present when we moved in):

View when you walk in the door "After":

1. Southern Living at Home wall bucket with faux flowers. I probably paid $20 or so for the bucket, and a friend's mom did the arrangement for me.

2. ABC quilt on the wall. Baby shower gift from my grandmother

3. Upholstered child-size rocker. Free. It was mine when I was little, and my mother's before that. I remember reading storybooks in it as a small child.

4. Paint. T did the white base, a friend helped me tape off the striped pattern (green, cream, and pink), and I painted all the rest by myself. Don't ask. Probably $30 in paint because I bought it at Wal-Mart. I remember the paint guy telling me that the colors reminded him of candy stripes. It's held up well for almost 4 years. Close up of stripes:

5. Convertible crib. I wanted a white crib so badly, but T insisted on a solid wood crib and we couldn't find one in white. Little good it did, because Natalie whittled a pattern on all the rails with her teeth when she was teething. $300

5 b. Bedding. Waverly pattern from Babies 'R Us. Being a first-time mom and having nothing better to spend my money on, I wanted everything and the kitchen sink. This pattern didn't come with a kitchen sink, but I did get the bumper, 3 sheet sets, a quilt, and a blanket. $200 for the set.

View of window and closet "Before":

View of window "After":

The window has been replaced since this photo was taken, but this area is pretty much the same these days.

6. Bunny print. $6 at local craft fair.

7. Bought fabric for the roman shade, and a friend did the shade for me. The valance is Waverly. $30 for fabric, $20 for the valance.

8. Glider rocker and matching ottoman. Free. My mom had it sitting in her house. It was pretty beat up and needed new cushions. T spray painted it with a fresh coat of white, and repaired one of the arms. I used the same Waverly fabric and the same friend sewed slip covers and recovered the ottoman for me. I spent many long hours feeding Natalie in that rocker!

9. Three legged round table. $2 at a yard sale. Bought the white cover at Target for $10 or so, and used remnant Waverly fabric as a "runner." Both of the lamps in the room came from Wal-Mart. Approximately $40 for both.

Closet:
10. The dresser was an awful brown wood laminate from my college days. To read how I transformed it into a girlie fleur de lis creation, click here. This project only cost me a few dollars for new knobs because I used leftover paint from the walls.

11. New closet door. $30

View of doorway:

12. Bookshelf from mother-in-law's garage. Free. Was very dirty and dark stained wood. I used leftover wall paint to transform this one too.

This is what's hanging next to the door. I got it when my family visited Neuschwanstein castle in Germany. Each of the pewter castle's rooms features a different fairy tale scene. It has intricate paintings done by hand, and is one of my favorite things. It seemed perfect for a little girl's room. (Edited to add: These are sold all over Germany-in the South, anyways- and each one is different. They also have little pewter scenes from homelife, doctor's offices, the market, families, etc. I had to whine for a week straight to get my dad to buy it for me, but it was worth it. I am a skilled whiner. I call it the Great Whine of '95)

Close up:


Over the book shelf:
Natalie ended up loving Beatrix Potter, and she wore the ruby slippers as Dorothy last Halloween.

View of other wall:

We added the shelf along the top when Natalie was 6 months old or so. T built it himself. Most of the stuffed animals up there were mine when I was little. Around $75

The changing table was around $300. We use it as a dresser now.

This hanger set is Southern Living at Home. Probably paid $20 to $30 for it. My grandmother gave me the baby clothes. They were my mother's, and the little booties were mine.

The magnetic board on the other end of the dresser was a Michaels find for $10. I love the glass knobs. The purse was mine when I was a little girl, and the pointe shoes were also mine.

My sister gave Natalie the beautiful German dress that she got on a trip several years ago. It was too pretty to leave in a closet.

I love the Southern Living at Home tray on the dresser. It matches Natalie's mirror, and we use it to hold all her girlie stuff. Approximately $35 for both.

I found this little bowl stashed away somewhere, and we use it for her little clips.
To see how I made the bow holder hanging on the wall by the door, click here.


Just keepin' it real...this is what her bed looks like after nap time these days:

Out of all the rooms in the house (besides the "New Room"), I've spent the most time decorating this one.

I feel so bad for poor Michaela Byrd...by the time she came, I was just too tired to do anything! In my defense, being pregnant with an active almost-two year old in the house was draining.

It actually worked out well though. I'm not planning on making it "big girl" right now because she and her little sister will be sharing the larger bedroom soon, and I didn't want to make any costly changes. As soon as Michaela Byrd is old enough to sleep in a big girl bed, both girls will be in her room, which will be a blank slate for decorating. Lucky for me, my old day bed and guest room bedding will fit in well in Natalie's current room.

Total approximate cost for the room: $1128

Also, don't forget to mark your calendars for the next Decorating Dilemmas Party here at Serenity Now!! Read about the last party here! Hope to see you there!

Today is DIY day at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land, and Price My Space day over at The Nester's amazing Nesting Place blog. Please also be sure to scroll down for an invite to my next Decorating Dilemmas party! I was hoping to do two separate posts today, but it's been one of those days. The kind of day where at the end of it, you just want to sit and, well, read your way through a blog party. I love a good party, so how could I resist joining in the fun again? It was nerve wracking for me the first time to link up my dinky little rooms alongside rooms of bloggers who use fancy design words like "chaise" and "polyurethane" and "bed-in-a-bag."

Ah Ah Ah Ah, Stayin' Alive (While Canning)

It's Tasty Tuesday time! Visit the always fabulous Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam to see what's cooking there! You won't be disappointed...there are always plenty of great recipes to choose from.

I have a pretty great mother-in-law, judging from current standards. Mom T never tells me what to do, she doesn't complain or nag, and she's always willing to lend an ear and offer (good!) advice when asked. She also never seems to mind teaching me how to do things.

Like canning. The results of my lesson last week were mixed in that the product turned out great, but I almost killed myself and was insulted by the mail lady. More about that later. Trust me, you'll want to read this. If you're having a bad day, I promise I don't mind you laughing at my misery.

We started with my harvest of Roma tomatoes from my little garden, which is made up of three Roma tomato plants, one beefeater tomato plant, and three thyme plants. The tomatoes are plentiful, and I haven't done anything to deserve it. I felt quite guilty about the bountiful harvest.
First we boiled the tomatoes in a large pot for several minutes.

After placing the tomatoes in a bowl and pouring cold water over them, we inserted a knife near the top of each tomato and made a little circle cut around the stem. The stems and cores ripped right out, and the skins fell right off!

This is what the bowl looked like after the tomatoes had been cored and skinned:

Into the blender on puree!

Then we sifted the sauce to remove all those pesky golden seeds.

Back into the pot to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or so.

We added a packet of seasoning put together by a friend. You could easily add your own oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, and marjoram.

It was about this time that I ran outside to check the mail. The mail lady was just leaving and turned to wave.

"When's the baby due?" she called.

I glanced down. I was wearing my grandmother's "halfsy" apron tied up under my arm pits since I let Mom T borrow the apron that covers the entire torso.

"I'm not pregnant. I'm just fat. And it's this apron." I replied flatly.

The poor mail lady just stuttered and stammered, and I almost felt bad for her, but then I remembered that she had just called me fat, so I just went back inside instead.

To add injury to insult (yes, I meant it backwards), I was leaning over the stove to stir the pot, not realizing that the front eye was on.

Mom T smelled the burning before I felt it.

My apron was in flames.

My first thought?

"My camera!" (I had it in the case over my shoulder)

Natalie stood there with her mouth hanging open, while Mom T yelled to see if I was okay, while I beat the flames out with my bare hands.

What happened to stop, drop, and roll?

I guess I didn't want to break my camera.

This is what my grandmother's poor, handmade, vintage apron looks like now. There was a piece stuck to the ceiling too. I have some small burns on my hands, but nothing tragic. I truly am lucky that my shirt didn't catch fire...because the apron was tied up under my arm pits, my face would have been toast. I've had some kitchen accidents before (blew up a biscuit in my mom's microwave when I was in 4th grade, set fire to her recipe box in high school...), but I've never set fire to myself before.

Even worse, I got a lecture on fire safety from a three year old.

"You need to be careful, Mommy." Natalie informed me in her most serious voice. "We don't play with fire."

I'll remember that.

Then, "Who is going to clean up this floor?" (pointing at the burned up, charred pieces of my favorite apron on the floor)

Gritting my teeth. I'll get right on that.

Moving on....

We boiled the lids of our Ball jars.

You're also supposed to run your finger over the rim of each jar to be sure there are no bumps or cracks, otherwise they won't seal.

After we poured the sauce in, Mom T wiped the rim again to clean it up.

Close those lids tightly!

Sit the cans in some water inside the steamer.

Lock 'em up! They sat in the pressure cooker for 25 minutes or so. I believe they were under 5 pounds of pressure.

Voila! Finished product. They are kind of watery because nothing has been added to them yet.

When I'm ready to use them, I'll add tomato paste to thicken them up, meat, vegetables, and my own spices.

Did you enjoy this little lesson in canning? It's not hard at all, but it is time consuming. It goes by much more quickly with two people!

I hope you found some humor in my catastrophe.

You can stop laughing now!

{Bon Appetit!}