Lego Kitchen Island

Is your kitchen island feeling a little drab?  Look no further.

Dwell, Lego Kitchen Island, check out the article, they covered their kitchen island with 20,000 Lego pieces. 

If I had a kitchen island I would cover it with those mini mirror tiles.  But, I don't have a kitchen island. 

Mad Men Season 5 Interiors

One more Mad Men post.  Love the show.

What I am loving right now is the seriously sunken living room in Don and Megan Draper's new apartment.  Love it.  Look how sunken it is.

Another view.

View of the living room and steps when Don is being surprised at his party.

Another view of the levels.  Check out the great flat multi colored pillows on the couch.  I am seriously in love with those.

Since Pantone's color of the year is Tangerine, I had to include Joanie's apartment in tangerine and turquoise.

Loving Trudy and Pete's Fridgidaire Flair Stove.  That is so retro and cool.  I have loved those since there was one on Bewitched years ago.  In fact when the Hubs and I bought our house, our opening for or stove was exactly the size of a Fridgidaire Flair, wanted one badly.  Still do.
There is a pull-out drawer for the electric burners.  Such a neat stove.

Yes, a second look at that double oven unique stove. The stainless under the stove, where the towels are hanging pulls out to reveal 4 burners.  Pots and pans storage in the white below.

Those set designers rock.

These are obviously screen shots from the TV.  All photos AMC Mad Men.
Happy Wednesday.

Cat Eye's are Back -- Mad Men Season 5 "Zou Bisou Bisou"

Let's just start off by saying Yay to Mad Men.  Loved the 2 hour opener.  With that said, if you missed it at least take the time to go to YouTube and see the "Zou Bisou Bisou" song. 

Now, that we have that out of the way, let's talk Cat Eyes.  Oh yes they are back! Need I say more. 

Here is some inspiration for you.

Mad Men Season 5 Mrs. Megan Draper in the "Zou Bisou Bisou" song.

Dramatic eyes, and wow to that dress.

Vintage magazine ad for Body By Fisher -- notice the automobile earrings.  Really, notice the Cat Eyes.

Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's", just a hint of a cat eye. 

Make-up counter here I come.  You?

Dollar Store Easter Decorations

I wanted something quick and easy for my table, so I hopped over to the Dollar Store and picked up 3 of these planters for $1 each, and a couple bags of grass and eggs. 

After easter, I would love to plant them with real grass and grow it on my table.  Not too sure if it would work, may have to try it.

This is how it looks when you walk in.  I added a candle, and some old ceramics my daughter painted when she was little.

Her Grandmother gave her this singing Easter Bunny.  I should probably give it to her some day.  A chicken comes out of the egg and sings with it.  It makes me smile.

Quick, fast, simple Easter smiles.  Smile it's Monday.

White Shirts - Black Shirts - Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

It is no secret that I love a white shirt.  I also love a black shirt.  Either one is an instant classic, and not matter how you wear it, it always feels great. 

Loving Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen in black and white.  How about those oversize retro aviators?  What's not to love?

Make it a great weekend.

The Guest Room

Let's face it, most of us have more house than we need, or for that matter more apartment.  Ok, unless you live in New York.  So, for those of us that have more space than we need or use, what do you do with the other rooms?

Office, check.  Guest room, hmmmm? What do you do with the others?  I have struggled with this question for quite some time.  Yes, a guest room is standard.  But what if you don't have guests?  Do you do  a guest room anyway?  I do have a twin guest bed in the office so I am technically covered.  Do you dedicate a whole room?

What are some other options?  Exercise space, or maybe a game space, library, craft room.  Multi-purpose room. 
I think I am settled on a multi-purpose room type space.  You can go in and watch an old tv, exercise, craft, hang, or just get away.

Thus this photo from AD - Architectural Digest.  Look closely, skip the coffe table, and the chairs, although I will put a couple of chairs in there that float around the house.  Focus in on the couch -- it really is a twin bed.  Love it.  Kind of reminds me of the Brady Bunch Family Room, with the 2 twin beds that they used as couch/lounging/guests etc.  This is perfect.  Genius.  I have a twin bed, so I can just repurpose it and be ready to go. I love the way they made it look like a couch. 

Now, I think I may go with a color instead of the all white.  Love the all white, just not practical for me.

So, what do you do with all your extra space?

Yay, it's Friday.  I am making the Pinterest S'mores this weekend, can't wait.  Total diet blower.  Oops.

Costco Bathroom Lights

Old houses, old lights, no plugs.  This old 1947 house has old bathrooms with no plugs.  Hey, in 1947 they didn't use blow dryers and straighteners.  Years ago, sadly -- years ago, we changed the original light fixture to this vanity one so there would be a plug in the bathroom. 

Reality is no plugs fit in it.  Truthfully it was never used.  Since it was ugly and getting uglier by the day, the Hubs and I kept saying we would change it.  Well, inflation baby, everything is going up in price.  So, whats a girl to do?



Costco to the rescue.  The lights below were $29.99 in store.  Budget friendly and we love them.

Yes, the bathroom now needs a repaint.  Hmmmmm.

Love them.  Thought about placing them so they shine up, but like them down.

Low Carb Mac and Cheese

I love macaroni & cheese.  I love Kraft macaroni & cheese, however, I need a lower carb option.  Sooooo, I decided to substitute the low car Dreamfields pasta for the Kraft pasta. 

There was 1 cup of pasta in the Kraft.  So I substituted 1 cup of the Dreamfields.  Dreamfields pasta is on the left, Kraft on the right. 

I boiled the pasta, and made the Kraft just like you would as directed on the box, with  milk and butter, and the packet of Kraft powdered cheese.

Yum.  Tasted just like it should and the low carb pasta worked perfectly.

I Totally yummy and just like I remembered.

DIY Tuxedo Jeans

I ran across these Rag and Bones Skinny Tuxedo Jeans, and thought what a great DIY.

Get your favorite inexpensive skinny jean -- I am thinking Forever 21, and some black or any color ribbon at your favorite fabric store about 1" wide, and sew or fabric glue down the side.  They make a wonderful fabric glue that is clear and stretches. 

Hint, If you are going to do the fabric glue, don't get the shiny ribbon as it doesn't work as well, or if you do, be careful of any over gluing. 

Easy DIY.

Photo Rag and Bone Skinny Jeans.

Avocado Pesto Pasta

Avacado Pesto Pasta.  Fast, easy, and yummy.  Any pesto you want, an avocado (mashed) and any add-ins you want.  I added tomato, and parmesan, and for the leftovers I am adding broccoli and olives, can't wait.  Oh, and any pasta you feel like cooking.  I used low carb angel hair. 

Enjoy.

Ghost Chairs

Love my ghost chairs.  I actually found 4 at Goodwill quite some time ago.  They were $9.99 each.  Yep, that's $40 for all 4.  They roam around my house as extra seating.  Right now 2 are in the Hub's office under his Christmas Gift from my parents.  He loves that poster.  Now, if I could only find his old Fraternity pledge paddle (no longer politically correct) to hang next to it.  That should be one of my weekend projects -- to locate it.  I love pulling up one of these chairs when he is in his office and visiting with him.  Little things.  Smile.

Cold and gloomy here, weekend projects here I come. 
Go Lobos.

Working on Wine Room

I feel like the old Dunkin Donuts Commercial -- "Need to finish the wine room," instead of "Time to make the donuts." 

Well, --- I need to finish the wine room.  As a perpetual zhush and rearranger, this is the new arrangement. 

Inspired by something I saw on Craigs List, I dug out this old black chest, -- oops forgot the before pics,  --before it was some sort of brown wood, painted white.  It has been given a fresh coat of black paint and is being used as wine storage.  (Oh, and the mess in the garage with all the stuff this chest was holding-- well oops, when it warms up, I will clean it up, no photos of that).  My goal is to use what we have, until we decide exactly how we want to use this room.  My guess -- we will be using the room as wine storage.

The room is an "L" shape, this is the right side from the door. 

Our wine label.  The Hubs took this photo, behind our house and we use it as our wine label. 

Wine label.  Looks like it's "Time to make some wine." 

These are the hanging labels you see on the wine.  Simple and easy, so you don't have to remove bottles to see what you have.

This is the looking in of the "L" -- or the first part of the wine room.  The part you have seen in photos is to the right as you stand in this door.  These rooms stay a great constant temp.  Originally, we invisioned this room as more of a wine making room.  Soooooooo, that brings me to a need for a thin table, etc. to hold/store the ecoutremants. Thinking cap on.  

I am hoping to zhush it a little this weekend by looking around the house/garage to see what I can find to -- "use what I have."  Wish me luck.

It's Friday.  Weekend projects anyone?
Go Lobos!!

Black Toilet Seat

A little bathroom porn.  This was my inspiration bathroom.  Not copy folks --- inspiration.

My bathroom with the copper painted medicine cabinet.  Added a basket out of the garage.  And wait for it..........

My $10 black Wally World toilet seat.  Love it.  Big smiles here.

Smiles......!!!!!

What to make for dinner -- Buffalo Chicken Salad

Last week I posted a menu of what I was making for dinner, and it was totally fun.  It gave me focus when it came to nightime meal planning (something I lack), as well as it had already been thought out and I didn't have to think about it, just went thru the freezer and cabinets and added those items I was without.  Most of these meals are make what you need for 2 or more people, so not really many leftovers, but you could make more if you wanted.

Please remember, I am not a cook, I am a heat and eater......smile.

Monday -- Target's Market Pantry Buffalo Chicken Strips -- Love them.  400 degree oven for 20 min and they are ready to go.  I will be serving it over a green salad, with tortilla strips -- (right out of the bag), grated cheese, tomatoes, olives, ranch dressing, with Mini Club Crackers on the side.

Not feeling the salad?  Do a KFC bowl, and add, mashed potatoes (out of a bag-- those heat and eats are pretty good- remember I don't cook, I heat and prepare), some gravy, cheese, corn if you like. 

Tuesday -- Tacos.  Ground beef with taco seasoning, cheese, salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, and maybe pinto beans on the side.  Crunchy or soft your choice. 

Not feeling tacos-- make a burrito.  Add some queso -- love the Tostitos Queso .

Wednesday -- BLT - with Egg.  Yep, bacon, lettuce, tomato, with a fried egg sandwich.  I am loving the Trader Joe's already cooked applewood smoked bacon with no nitrates.  On the side, possibly a bag of chips.

Thursday -- Meatball subs.  Yep, those frozen Trader Joe's meatballs that are always in the freezer, on a sub roll from the store deli, lightly toasted with some marinara sauce, and parmesan on the top.  On the side -- salad of course.  Almost like an open faced sub pizza.  Yum.  Messy, eat with a fork. 

Side note -- if I don't have left over spahetti sauce, I like the Kroger or any store brand Pizza Sauce.  Works perfect.

Friday -- Baked chicken breast -- just pop in a pyrex, with some butter and my favorite seasoning Mrs. Dash, and bake, on the side -- stuffing, and some Trader Joe's Gravy -- probably brown, and some green beans.  Also on the side, a glass of wine. 

For the weekend -- been dying for a grilled cheese and tomato soup, as well as a slice of pizza, as well as whatever is in the freezer to heat and eat. 

Enjoy.

Any Day S'mores - No Cooking

Seriously, who doesn't love S'mores?  No matter what kind of day you have had a S'more will solve it all.  These are fast, easy, no cooking, and you can use ingredients you have.  Yum. Oh, and I can't cook.

Seriously easy.  I didn't show the Graham Cracker box, because, I was down to my last few in a Ziplock, but I use gold old fashioned Honey Maid Grahms, they taste the best.  Yep, I am loyal to my Hershey's, but if I don't have a bar, I have been known to use the semi-sweet morsels, as well as their chocolate morsels.   For the marshmallow creme, I did just use a store brand.  Oh, and yes, marshmallow on both sides of the graham cracker. 

Not feeling it?  How about crumbling some graham crackers, some chocolate and a tablespoon or so of marshmallow creme in your ice cream?  Yum.  Or have some Teddy Grahams, some chocolate pieces, and some marshmallow creme -- creme in bottom of bowl, and then sit the Teddy's and chocolate in it.  Dunk and eat.

Enjoy your weekend.  Share a S'more with someone.  (Hint:  If you make these in the smaller squares -- by breaking in half, then half again, those are best done individually.  If you do a whole one, it will break in half once, but after that gets tooooo messy.)  Enjoy.

Online Magazines

Publishing has changed.  Traditional publishing that is.  That brings me to a Friday question......Which online magazines do you enjoy?  Here are a few to check out.  Most are shelter(home)mags, but one is fashiony-- is that a word?.  Matchbook Magazine,  Rue,  House of Fifty,  Lonny,  N.E.E.T. Magazine (this one is more fashion,).

I still love a good hard copy of a mag, but the online ones have a great place in my heart too.

It is super windy here in the southwest and cold and yucky.  I will be giving them a surf?  You? Did I miss a good one, let me know.