I Love Monograms

I had to run to Hobby Lobby the other day, and ran thru the sale isle and was pleasantly surprised.  $1.50 total--- later, I had 2 monogram drawer/cabinet pulls.  I decided to put them in my hallway.  That's right, $1.50 makes me smile.

I feel like Sarah Richardson on her design show when she put her initals in her kitchen re-do.  What a fun change.   

Smile--- it's Wednesday.  :)  What makes you smile today?

DIY Gold Rattan Side Table

Gold side tables all all over the internet.  Google them.  I felt that I needed one, but didn't want to spend the money.  This one didn't cost a dime.  I had everything. 

First, this old rattan side table that has been rattling around our house for years, is missing in a few places, but still sturdy.  So, before the wind set in the other day I took it outside and cleaned it in preparation for spray painting it.

Note-remember everyone, spray paint goes everywhere -- overspray.  I took this away from cars, homes, everything.  Just a note, in case you haven't worked with spray paint before. 

The before.....

Tada--- is that how you spell it?  Anyway, less than 1 can of gold glitter spray paint later, and it is back at home in my house.  Oh, and the spray paint was out of the garage, some old Hobby Lobby glitter gold, see didn't cost a thing. 

I love it.  It makes me smile.

Rusted Medicine Chest -- Medicine Chest Makeover

I decided to do multiple projects this weekend. 

This rusted medicine cabinet was my inspiration. Not sure where the photo is from, I believe, Apartment Therapy.

I had some leftover copper paint, from doing the pole in the living room (older post).  It is Martha Stewart's Metallic Paint - Aged Copper - approx $6, at Home Depot.

I decided to paint my nasty old medicine cabinet copper.  No before, just trust me, old nasty silver.  Still an old medicine cabinet, but on the way.  Still working my inspiration photo.
This is just a preview. 

About 3 coats with a foam brush.

Really looks good. This is a super small bathroom.  Looking inside -- a shower stall is to the right, we don't use it so, it has sheer black polka dot curtains covering it.  The toilet is to the left and the door hits it when it opens, and the light switch is behind the door, so you have to enter the bathroom to turn on the light switch.  The joy of old houses.

Close-up, see looks good.

Side view.

The ugly old sink.  We have replaced the faucet, -- bathroom needs a repaint (on the list), I painted the gross faded yellow plastic pipes, with some shiny black I had around the house from doing some furniture.  The floor is old white penny rounds painted black.  And.....dun -- dun -- dun, I found a black toilet seat that I will be putting on the toilet. 

We don't use this bathroom that much, more of a service bathroom if you come in from outside.  So little changes will be all it gets.  Did not want a sink skirt, thus the painting of the pipes.  May take the towel bar down, as we use the single use towels - more sanitary.  Not sure on towel bar.  It is right above toilet.  Oh, well work in progress.  Baby steps.  Finish and styled pics next week.  :)

Can't Cook -- What to Heat and Eat

I am always loving blogs that show me their weeks menu.  So, as an added Monday post I am doing a weeks menu.
I should preface this by -- I can't cook.  But, I can heat and prepare, and every once in awhile I actually cook. 

Monday: Trader Joe's Mini Meatballs and buttered noodles. For the meatballs heat them in 1 can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce, and 1 jar of Chili Sauce (in the Ketchup isle), this recipe from my stepmom and it rocks!!! -- She should start a cooking blog she rocks, I will mention it to her.
Buttered noodles, I use the Dreamfields low carb pasta and a big green salad.

Tuesday:  Pesto Pasta with chicken, broccoli, and olives, and a big green salad. 
This is modified from a cold pesto pasta served at Saggio's here in Albuquerque.
Cook, pasta,  drain and set aside. Cook a bag of broccoli, set aside.  Heat chicken (I use Trader Joe's already cooked chicken strips). 
Add pesto to pasta, add broccoli to pasta, add chicken to pasta, toss well, add cold or room temp olives, and fresh parm. 
This is served cold at Saggios, I usually serve it cold.
I like the Dreamfields low carb pasta -- use it for all my pasta.

Wednesday:  Lobo Basketball Game Day. 
I will be trying the frozen Trader Joe's Buffalo Chicken Wings, a big green salad, and the Target Crab Cakes on the side for the Hubs, I am not much of a fish eater.

Thursday:  Chicken Quesadillas - (Channel your inner Napoleon Dynamite).  Low carb tortillas, the precooked Trader Joes' chicken strips - heated - cheese, and just grill in a pan on the stove.
Yes, a big green garden salad.

Friday:  Tortilla Pizza, and Portabella Mushroom Pizza.
While waiting in the urgent care waiting room for the hubs, saw a recipe for Portabella Mushroom Pizza, so will be trying it.  Heat mushroom in oven, stuff insides with any pizza stuffing and sauce put back in oven and heat.
Tortilla Pizza -- because I love them.  Low carb tortilla, pizza sauce, pizza cheese, pepperoni, and heat in oven till cheese melted and a bit crispy, (never gets that crispy in middle) eat with knife and fork.  Low carb, low cal, and will satisfy your pizza craving.

Napoleon Dynamite -- Quesadilla Baby.

Mini Luna Bars - Genius

Found these mini Luna Bars at Costco.  Huge bag for under $12.  Genius.  Perfect mid morning or afternoon pic me up snack.  80 calories and 11 carbs.  Best part, they taste great too.  They have chocolate - white or milk, across the bottom.  You feel like you are having a candy bar, but your not.

Enjoy.

Silver Furniture & Mirrors

I am loving this silver furniture with glass, and mirror, no secret, I love silver furniture lately.  Also, love the photos all over the mirror.  Not practical in my life, but I am enjoying the inspiration. 

I should be spray painting an old side table gold today, however, as luck would have it we have 40+ gusts of wind today, so spray painting is totally out. 

This is from a mag, and for the life of me I can't remember where.  If you know, please let me know so I can give credit.

What is inspiring you on this President's Day?

Pass-Thru Dining Room - Outdoor Lights Indoors

I have a pass-thru dining room.  It sits smack dab in the middle of the house.  You see it from almost everywhere, and you walk thru it to get almost everywhere.  It has some fun features.

I used an outdoor light fixture over the table, and hung it super low. 

The fixture gives these great patterns on the walls when lit up. 

Here you can see the great shadows and patterns of the light.

I found these funky round placemats at Wallyworld aka Walmart for $2 each.  A color for each chair.  I do have multi colored chairs, blue, green, natural.

My cheapie placemats.  Love them.

Similar version found at Pier One.

Pass-thru, walk-thru dining rooms.  Enjoy.

Cuff Your Jeans - Make your own Boyfriend Jeans

Tired of the winter blahs?  Well let the spring in and Cuff Your Jeans.  You can use any old pair of jeans you have, even a boot cut jean.  Simple easy, get your 1950's on.  Ok, get your today's style on.  Whatever.

Take your jeans, on the floor or on your leg.  Up to you.

Pinch in the front in the middle.

Roll once.

Roll twice.

Roll three times.  Or as many as you want. 

Wear and enjoy.

Funfetti Waffles and Pancakes

Who doesn't love funfetti?  Picked these up at my local Target and they are fun. Made them over the weekend.  I love Funfetti.  I do have to say, I wish there were more sprinkles in them.  I could have put more, or you could just put some in your own batter I guess.  Next time, I will add some more sprinkles.  Funfetti away.......

Made them as waffles......

Yum.

 Made them as pancakes.

Try them.  Or make your own.  Either way it will bring a smile to your face.

Easy DIY Pleather Covered Box Spring

So, I decided to cover my daughter's box spring with pleather.  She isn't a fan of the dust ruffle, and she didn't want a sheet on the box spring. 

I got out the trusty sewing machine.

Made notes on how to cut my pleather.

Got $8 of pleather from JoAnne Fabrics - in black. Cut into strips 4" wider than box spring.

Sewed them together.  Sewed them so they would have a seam in the middle of the bed on each side.

Put on box spring.  Since her tastes may change, I just used good old fashioned Duct Tape to adhere it to the top of the box spring.  Sarah Richardson, and some other bloggers glued, sewed, used velcro, your choice.

Then wrapped it around the metal Hollywood bedframe and stapled it underneath to the box spring. Again, so it could easily be removed if wanted.

Finished.  Looks like a leather - pleather covered platform bed.  Love it. 
Happy Saturday projects to you.

Painting a Dresser/Chest Silver

I have a couple of old chests of drawers.  Dressers/Bureau's, call them what you want.  I guess technically speaking a chest is tall and a dresser is lower.  So, I have a dresser that I want to paint into a silver color, similar to the ones below that are available at Pier One.  I have seen silver painted dressers, nightstands, chests, all over the blogosphere, so as they say on "Downton Abbey", "I thought I would give it a go".   Yes, too much internet TV.  Don't you just love watching TV on your computer?  It is addicting.  Anyway, wish me luck. 

As we used to put in notes to our friends, (way before text), and passed across the room behind peoples backs, circle one:

It will look great.

It will look terrible, and have to be reapainted a different color.

It will look great.

See where I'm going here?

The dresser is in horrible shape "looks" wise.  Water stains, scratches, old and worn.  I did think about sanding and staining.......But, I love the silver. 

Pictures, when done. It will look great!!

Nestle Toll House Cake - Fluffy Sea Foam Frosting

While perusing some old Magazine Ads, I ran across this one for Nestle Toll House Cake.  Yes, Cake.  As you can see by the ad it is missing the left side.  Anyway, I love a "Fun-Fetti" cake, (if you don't know what one is -- hit the grocery store baking isle).  So, I might love this too.  Now it does give Ann Pillsbury's Quick-Mix Method for making the cake, however, I think any good cake mix would do.  Basically it's a cake and you cook Nestle's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels inside it.  Yum.  How about a white, spice, or even red velvet cake with chocolate inside.  Yes, please.

Basically make your cake, then pour into your 8" layer pans, then sprinkle 1 package Nestle's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsesl (reserve 2 Tablespoons for frosting) over top of batter, half on each layer, bake in moderate oven 350- cool and frost. 

There is a recipe for the Fluffy Sea Foam Frosting which I will post below in case you need a frosting recipe. 

Ad is from 1949.  --- What about baking it in a Bundt Cake?  Love a Bundt Cake.  Ok, seriously, I love all cakes.  Need to diet now.  Thanks.  Enjoy.

Here it is Fluffy Sea Foam Frosting.  I may have to try this one.  it does call for 2 Tablespoons of the Nestle's Semi-Sweet Morsels -- however in the pic it is white.  So if anyone makes this before I do, let me know.

Fluffy Sea Foam Frosting:
Combine 2 egg whites, 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 1/3 cup corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/4 teaspoon salit in top of double broiler.  Cook over rapidly boiling water, beating with a rotary beater (would a whisk work), until mixture stands in peaks.  Remove from heat.  Add 1 teaspoon vanilla: continue beating until thick enough to spread.  Gently fold in 2 tablespoons Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.  Don not stir.  Frost cooled layers.
Yay it's Wednesday.