Lamp Shade Update

Hi there!   I'm so glad you stopped by. I want to show you how easy it is to update a plain lamp shade,  with things you have around the house. I went to Walmart to buy a cheap, white, shade.

I think it's very charming, but very plain.

I took some burlap ribbon and tied a bow......

Added a little greenery.......

and gave my plain lamp shade a little pizazz.

You could use anything you have around the house.    A scarf and a flower, a belt, or beads.  The sky is the limit.  I hope this inspires you to dress up that lamp shade you've been wondering what to do with.

Before

After! Thank you so much for stopping by.  It means the world to me!

DIY Chalkboard

Hi there!  We're so glad you stopped by!   I wanted to share something I made, and possibly give you a gift idea for any upcoming bridal showers, engagement parties, or any other miscellaneous events that people may be counting down to (babies, birthdays, vacations, Holidays, Etc...)  Kelly is usually the creative genius when it comes to crafts, but I had to create a gift on a budget that I wanted to share for anyone else who may need some inspiration for something quick and affordable.   A countdown chalkboard!  

I took step-by-step photos as I was making it, but the photos have since become inaccessible.  I'm sorry!    I bought the chalkboard at a local craft store, as well as the large burlap flower.  I used my cricut machine to cut out the letters.  If you do not own a cricut, you can buy precut letters in the scrapbook section of any craft store.  Instead of buying the expensive cricut vinyl, I buy contact paper at the dollar store.  After the recipients are married, they can easily peel the "I DO" off of the chalkboard and use it for other events.  The pink frame is actually a small chalkboard that I glued to the larger chalkboard.   The supplies cost approximately $10, and it took less than 20 minutes to make. Perfect for busy moms!

New Look For Old Lawn Chairs

Hi there!  We are so glad you stopped by. Today I wanted to share what I did with some old, beat up, ready for the garbage, lawn chairs. I've had these chairs for years.  They have served their purpose quite nicely in our backyard.  When I bought new chairs, I put these 2 chairs away knowing that they could be used at our cabin. A few weeks ago, I packed up some supplies to re-do them and off I went. Here is what they look like now.........

Here is the horrible before picture

I believe they were green when I first bought them.   I painted them brown and when I grew tired of that, I painted them tan.

Here is all you need for this project. Rust-Oleum spray paint, 4 cans. 2 for each chair (I used the color Lagoon) Plaid white enamel craft paint A round sponge (I used a Martha Stewart sponge I already had) A through away pie pan (which I use and re-use, so it's not really a throw away pan)

I gave the chairs 2 coats of spray paint, letting them dry in between coats. Next, I sponged on white circles. I didn't want to have your typical chairs. I wanted them to have a little bling, shall we say. That's it.  Super easy and super cheap!

Lastly, sit down and enjoy the view. Don't throw away those old chairs, dress them up and give them a new life.  Thank you so much for stopping by. It means the world to us! Happy painting!

Taco Salad

Hi there!  We're so glad you stopped by!  Here in Minnesota we have had a very long, very frigid winter!  We had to endure over 50 days of negative temps.  I think I am speaking for all of my fellow Minnesotans when I say we're ready for spring!    I started college full-time for Paralegal Studies, so I apologize for my lack of posts!  School has been taking up a lot of my time.  I have not been able to spend as much time planning and preparing large meals for my family.  We've been eating a lot of slow cooker meals, and dinners that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare.  The recipe I am going to share with you tonight is one that is quick, easy, and you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry!  My siblings are probably so sick of this recipe because I requested to have it for dinner every week while growing up.    TACO SALAD  

  What you'll need:  1 lb. ground beef 1 package taco seasoning 1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes with green chilies 1 4oz can sliced or crushed black olives 1 bag of Doritos 1 8oz package Mexican blend cheese, shredded Head of lettuce, chopped 1/3 C. water While browning the ground beef (with the taco seasoning), I gently hit the bag of Doritos on the kitchen counter a few times to break the chips into smaller pieces.  Don't overdo it, you don't want the chips to be tiny.     Empty the bag into a large pot with the black olives, cheese, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and pour the water over the ingredients.  Cook on low, stirring occasionally.    

  Once the ground beef is cooked through, add it to the pot, increase the heat to medium, and stir, stir, stir.   

  You only need to cook it on medium for a few minutes.  You want the chips to be soft, but not soggy.   You can also try it with corn and black beans.  Top it with sour cream, taco sauce, salsa, or any other taco fixings you prefer.   Enjoy! 

Baked Ravioli

Hi there!  We're so glad you stopped by!   I cannot take credit for coming up with this recipe all on my own.  I had seen a ton of pins on pinterest for baked ravioli recipes.  I never actually looked at any of them, I just thought "That sounds really good" and I moved on.  Fast forward a few weeks.  I was lacking ingredients for all of the dinners I wanted to make, so I was going to make my usual go-to dinner when I need to go grocery shopping (Spaghetti. I'm sure I'm not the only person that always has noodles and pasta sauce on hand at all times...) Anyways, I opened the freezer to grab a pound of hamburger and I saw a bag of ravioli.  Light bulb.    Here is easiest recipe of all time!  Baked Ravioli.   

  What you'll need:  1 jar spaghetti sauce (I use classico)  1 bag frozen ravioli (larger raviolis)  1 C. shredded cheddar cheese 1 C. shredded mozzarella cheese   Preheat over to 400.  Layer a 9x13 pan like you would while making lasagna.  Like this: Lightly spread spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the pan Ravioli Spaghetti sauce 1/2 C of cheddar cheese, 1/2 C of mozarella Raviloli Spaghetti sauce Cheese   Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  

Christmas Around My House

Hi there.  We are so glad you stopped by. Day 3: Christmas Around My House

I don't know about you, but I love to see how people decorate for Christmas. Since there aren't enough days in the week, or hours in the day for us to go to everyone's house, I thought I would invite you to my house through my blog.  Welcome to our home!

Let's start at our front porch.

   I found this adorable pillow at Home Goods and decided to decorate around it. The plaid "blanket" slung over the chair, is actually a tablecloth.   

Come on in to our living room and sit a spell.   

We can turn on the fireplace and the lights on the mantel, for a warm cozy feel.

A quick and easy addition.   Take a bucket, add some pine, branches and a burlap bow. 

Here is our sitting area off the kitchen.  

Speaking of the kitchen..... I kept it very simple this year.  I'm loving the soft earthy colors.   A little spruce with a snowman, set in a tray with a few rusty stars.

The top of the refrigerator is a great place for a display.   A winter wreath and we're done here.

The area above my pantry cabinet...... No flat space shall be left untouched.   A little more pine and a reindeer covered in a sweater.  Yes, please!

A pine tree in a basket with a little spruce twig.

A simple wreath above the sink, with a burlap bow.

We can't forget the island.  A vintage-y Santa, lantern and a little more pine. Put a doilie underneath to give it a little warmth.

Our kitchen table.   A simple basket with burlap, pine cones and berries.   Add a poinsettia and a berry clip and you're done.  Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  I loved having you.

Barn Wood Christmas Tree Box

Hi there.  We are so glad you stopped by! Today, I want to share with you my newest, or should I say oldest, treasure. It has a wonderful story behind it, which makes it so special to my husband and I. It's our Christmas tree box.

My husband's cousin and his wife, now live on the farm that was once their grandparent's.   On this homestead there is a grand barn.  After many, many years, the barn is going to be taken down.  My husband asked them if they would mind if we took some of the old barn wood. They said yes.   I'm not going to lie, I did a happy dance.  More than one happy dance, actually. We scored many treasures that day, which included a few barn doors and an old cow watering dish.   Oh, be still my heart. Well, as soon as we got the wood, I asked my husband if he would make a box for our Christmas tree.   He agreed!

Every year we go with our children and grandchildren and cut down a real tree.  The box had to be big enough to hold the tree stand, that would hold the water, for the tree.  Because these stands are bigger than your typical stand, the box had to be bigger as well.

Since I need to water the tree, I needed to be able to access the stand. So, our box had to have a door

Among some of the great items we were so blessed to be able to have, were old hinges.    What could be more perfect on an old barn wood box, with a door, than old hinges?   I know - I was giddy with excitement!

I did not want to take away from the look of our Christmas tree box, so I decorated with white and silver bulbs, clear and metal snowflakes, pearls, and of course, burlap!   

I thought it was the perfect look to go along with our new/old box.

This year I have fallen in love with all the different ways you can display your Christmas tree.  I thought this idea fit right in. I hope this gives you that little push to try something different.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  It means the world to us.