Month: January 2011

Categories
Everything Else

Guest Room Redo

I excitedly redid our guest bed on my day off Monday.  I went into the room Sunday & realized that the current theme of blues & reds wasn’t going to work with the new green spread .

Before makeover

So on top of removing the old spread, pillows, & dust ruffle, I switched out the old square pillow {put it inside the new one}, the curtain, & removed everything off the two selving units & redid them too.  This room before was my college & first year post-college room just moved into a new house.  To be honest, I’d done nothing different since we moved in 2006.  It was time.  I kept all the owls, just reshuffled & spread them around a little.  The bright red ladybugs that were not cute or broken were removed & the others mixed in with the owls around the room.  There’s now a small stack for GoodWill & the linens to be washed & put away. 

I’d ordered the queen coverlet {so we could tuck it in to avoid Moe’s pica} and the dust ruffle {they’d sold out of the white in double}.  Because of that I had to do a bit of tucking & folding to make it fit.  I wasn’t exactly sure what a coverlet was {it’s a light quilt for those also not in the know}.  Since it’s not as thick as the normal spread on that bed, I added a chocolate brown heavy quilt underneath.  We had a chocolate brown black-out curtain in the office so I switched that into this room.  My pottery barn kids owl sheets (which are mostly greens, pinks & browns) now match perfectly in the room. Oh & I’m so happy that I stacked my Outlander collection {I’ve been getting them from paperbackswap then got the most recent at Costco} topped with a book loving owl.  Moe approves of the new bed too!

The print now does not match.  I looked for a new one at Home Goods today but didn’t find any that I thought would work.  I figured something a little beachy still & not with a huge amount of color since this is already a busy room.  I found 3 different white shell framed prints I liked, but they didn’t go together.  I’d love to find three that worked or one.  Anyone seen something like that recently?  I think we’re all ready for guests…What do you think?

Categories
Everything Else

Rue La La Lilly Sale

I woke up around 10a, ate a couple of the blueberry muffins I made last night, and signed into Rue La La!  I found 2 sweaters I loved immediately & they had the “Cedar Knit” Lines & Vines Dress that I’ve been eying for months.  I also loved the Worth Carson’s Grandstand dress.

Husband was sitting near me on the couch & ruled out going a little crazy on all three.  Then when I tried to just buy the Halle Limade sweater in large, I realized I’d missed out {I didn’t follow my own suggestion & just had it in my shopping bag}.  The Hearst Hotty pink sweater & Worth dress were gone before I knew it too.  So I thought about the green one in xlarge & just rolling up the sleeves…Then I remembered the couple weddings & wedding showers this spring/summer/fall & thought the Cedar Knit dress would be perfect for it.  I quick bought it {once I updated my credit card on the site}.  So excited the dress is on it’s way to me!!

What deals did you get?  They had lots of little girls dresses for $25.  Anyone get any of them?

Categories
Food

Blueberry Muffins

Jason loves blueberry muffins.  He doesn’t like fru-fru ones with special crumb toppings or any of that jazz.  Like Martha White from the bag is cool with him.  I wanted to do a little better than that {although Martha Whites are good for a quick & easy muffin}.

I searched & found three blueberry muffin recipes Friday.  I decided I wanted to try the Paula Dean one. {1} its Paula Dean so it’s going to be good. {2} it had the least number of ingredients. {3} it made the least muffins {said 12 but I made15} & was considered “easy”. {4} doesn’t use stand mixer so easy clean up.  I decided to take advantage of the food scene on the D5000 & took 53 photos!  Thought I’d share my favorites.

Blueberry Muffin {2008 Paula Dean from the food network}
Ingredients
2 c all purpose flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 c sugar
1 stick unsalted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 c milk {recipe said whole, I used skim}
1 1/2 c fresh blueberries
1/2 c brown or white sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tin {I used 6 cup non-stick & 12 cup silicone one}.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder & sugar.  In a smaller bowl, melt the butter, add egg then milk & stir together.  Pour the wet into the dry ingredients.  Stir using a spoonula until just combined {might be lumpy}.  Gently fold in the blueberries {be careful not to break them}.

Spoon the batter into the greased cups about 2/3 full.  Bake 10 mins then remove from oven.  Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with the 1/2 c sugar.  I thought 1/2 c was too much so I probably used more like 1/3 c.

Return the muffins to the oven & bake another 10-15 mins or until golden brown & they pass the toothpick test.  We don’t like them very brown, so after 12 mins, once a fork came out clean, I took them out.  Let cool 10 mins then enjoy!

Categories
Everything Else

Stylish Blogger Award

My sweet friend B aka Annie gave me this award this past week.  It’s the first award for 2011! Thanks B!

Here’s the scoop for this one:
1. Link to the blogger{s} who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 15 ladies& let them know you did.

My 7 facts:
1. I joined myfitnesspal.com on Thursday.  I downloaded the app for my phone last night.  Keeping track of exactly what I’m eating is pretty eye opening & knowing I have to write something down has already stopped me for having seconds a few times.

2. I was so excited to take advantage of the $1.88 deal on diet coke 12 packs at Harris Teeter today.  Diet coke is something neither of us go a day without.

3. I keep Dove caramel filled milk chocolates on the coffee table as a small sweet bite for me.  We keep mini Reece’s Cups for Jason.

4.  I can’t wait to get my toes in the sand.  I know I traveled a lot at the end of last year but not often to the beach.  I’m hoping for more beach trips this year.

5.  Even though I don’t need to spend the money, I’m really excited just to check out Rue La La‘s Lilly sale today at 11a.  I’ve heard things will go fast & to take advantage of Quick! Buy It before your favorite is gone. {photo from RueLaLa}

6.  I could eat pizza any day of the week.  We had a Newman’s Own Four Cheese frozen pizza last night & it was really good for frozen {even better that I got it for $3.50 on sale & with a coupon}.

7.  I do almost nothing to get my hair “ready for work”.  Turn upside down & add mousse.  That’s it. Did I lose my stylishness with that confession? I hope not.

I’m passing this along to:
Sally at Exploits of a Military Mama
Suzanne at Pretty Swell
Katherine at A Hokie & A Cav
Nicole at Fantabulous Faby Family
Sara at Mrs & Mister
Alena at Charmingly Chandler
Lins at Waking Up Williams
Joanna at Planned Spontaneity
Jenny at Jennandtonica {triplets are stylish!}
Katie at Sluiter Nation
Jamee at A New Kind of Normal
Miss Living in Lilly
Kristen at BonBon Rose Girls
Megan at MegaWhat
Marion at Perfect Chance Memories

Categories
Everything Else Reading

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet

I’m going to try this year to do at least a quick write up/review of each of the books I read this year.  There are years I look back & don’t remember anything other than “yeah I read that”.  I hope this will help.

January’s book club choice was Jamie Ford’s Hotel of the Corner of Bitter & Sweet. Long title. Great book. I was on the library wait list since it was decided we’d read it in December. I was still 32nd on the list on 12/20 so I jumped on Amazon & realized with our prime account I could have it within a couple days for $5. I got it the next night!!

I started it last weekend, but read most of it Monday night. Once I got really into it, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a father-son story; a love story; a WWII story. It goes back & forth from 1986 & the 1940s all in Seattle. The main character is Chinese but has befriended a young Japanese girl, Keiko. The book taught me more than any middle school history book on the Japanese interment camps & the life in the camps.  I was fascinated by the Seattle jazz featured & the friendship between Henry & Sheldon.  I don’t want to give too much away, but I definitely recommend it.  I’m posting it on my paperbackswap account now, so if you’re interested find “ldybugsuzi”.

PS, I searching for a photo of the book online {thanks}{being lazy & didn’t feel like taking then uploading one}, I stumbled upon the author, Jamie Ford’s website.  It’s really good if you want to get to know him a little better.