Monthly Archives:

July 2010

FUN/DIY/ HOME/ Homemaking

Decorating With Numbers

Decorating with numbers is all the rage right now, thanks to Pottery Barn. I have seen so many great Pottery Barn knock-offs all over the web, and I think it is time that I get in on the action.

I found these great baskets at our local thrift store for $4.00 each.  My plan is to paint them each with a number using a stencil, then hang them on my kitchen wall.  I have very little storage space in my kitchen, so they would hold things like dishcloths, paper products, foil and ziplock bags, etc.  I am contemplating spray painting them black, then making the number on each of them white.   The wall they will be hanging on is a deep red, and all the cupboards in my kitchen are white.  I have a glass topped, rod iron table with 2 black chairs right in front of the wall I want to hang them on.  Here is a small glimpse of the area I am talking about.

What do you think? I need your input–should I spray paint them black?  White?  Keep them natural with a black number?  Should I hang them horizontally or make a square, hanging 2, with 2 directly below them?  I am leaning toward painting them black with a white number, and hanging them in a row horizontally. What do you think?  

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Meals/ RECIPES

Italian Salsa Cruda (Raw Tomato Sauce)

Lately, I have been really into finding and making authentic recipes from all different types of cuisines.  This recipe caught my eye because I have a lot of fresh basil and parsley growing my my garden, and in another week I will have a whole bunch of ripe tomatoes.  One of my favorite flavor combinations are garlic, basil and tomatoes, so I knew I would love this recipe.  It comes Teresa Giudice’s new cookbook “Skinny Italian.”  If you recognize her name, it might be because she is on the show “Housewives of New Jersey.” (and just because I know of her cookbook does not mean I am admitting to watching the show!:)  Ok, maybe I have once or twice..).  She comes from a large Italian family, so her recipes are authentic, but not your usual, heavy, Italian fare.  She uses fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic, and sometimes peppers for flavor, so you won’t even miss the typical 2 inches of melted cheese on top!  I promise!

The key to this recipe is using quality ingredients.  Vine ripened tomatoes, olive oil that actually comes from Italy, (very important, so sweet and mild), FRESH basil and parsley, and freshly shredded Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese.

Parmigiano Reggiano is authentic Parmesan cheese, made in Italy and aged to perfection, at least 18 months.  It has a deep, nutty flavor that just makes this dish.  It is more expensive, but because the flavor is so wonderful, you don’t have to use much of it and it will keep in your refrigerator for at least a month if tightly wrapped.

If you skimp on the quality of your ingredients, this dish WILL NOT be the same.  Buy the good stuff!

Italian Salsa Cruda
3 large, ripe tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/2″ dice
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup parmigiano-reggiano, grated

Toss all but cheese together with your hands–like the Italians do!
Let stand for 30 minutes.
Serve over noodles, or on toasted slices of baguette.  Top with cheese.

This post is linked to:
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans

Uncategorized

Links I Like #4

Children’s Art Poster :: Modern Mantle
I am going to do this, without a doubt.  If you don’t know what to do with all the art work your little child artist makes for you, you may want to click through and check out this great idea.

Upcycle Craft: Doll Headbands :: Zakka Life
Got barbies in your house?  They would look so cute with these little homemade headbands.

What To Do With Mint :: Thy Hand Hath Provided
Growing mint?  Need to know what to do with it all?

How To Keep Healthy Eating Practical :: The Well Grounded Life
Conceal, Real or Ideal.  “…permission to choose the best option that is available and DOABLE for our lives right now”  Great post.

Favorites: Simple Gift Wrap :: Marta Writes
I am a huge fan of simplicity, especially when it comes to gift wrap!  Thank you, Marta, for your great but simple ideas!

Divine Twine :: Sherbet Blossom
I would like one in every color, please.  This is the perfect thing to have on hand for simple wrapping, especially for baked goods.

DIY Ice Cream In A Jar :: Style Me Pretty
What a cute gift, and IT’S IN A MASON JAR!  Too. Much. Fun.

Banana Bread In Mini Pots :: Style Me Pretty
These are also from Style Me Pretty and are just so cute.  They would make an inexpensive but thoughtful gift.

The Bravest Affair A Married Woman Can Have :: Holy Experience
“The courage is in the covenant”  Beautiful.

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ANTI-PROCRASTINATION/ HOME

Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays #18

***Please read before linking.
There are 2 areas to link up, with 2 different themes.  Read more below and please link up in the right area.  Thanks!***

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to Anti-Procrastination Tuesday!
To learn more of what this is all about, read this post.
To read my original “Doozy List,” read this post.
To read my “Summer Doozy List” read this post.
I am steadily working on my Summer Doozy list, concentrating this week on relaxing and reading.  I have a goal to read 3 novels, which does not seem like much, but I do a lot of reading for personal growth, so to find time to disappear into a novel takes some thought and planning.  I just finished “The Help” and loved every minute of it.  Now I am reading “Amish Grace.” (not a novel, but definitely a book that draws me in) What are you reading this summer?  
New Nostalgia 

These link ups got the most clicks last week, and I can see why!  

This post is full of wisdom and is one I have read a few times over.  Kelly is a wise woman who knows what her priorities are and shares how she goes about keeping her priorities straight.  Here is one of my favorite parts of her post…”Take control and stop trying to please everyone!  You can’t, you know.  You just can’t, so stop trying.  Do what’s best for you and your family.”

Diann has given herself permission NOT to do it all.  Loved her insight & realness. Her post shares her internal struggle with her “To-Do” list and the solution she came up with.  

What a great idea, hanging milestone shadowboxes on a wall to remind yourself of the history you have created.  Oh how I wish I knew about this idea when I was first married!

I’ve tasted some incredible Tahini Dressings at my local health food store, but they always cost over $5.00, so I am very interested in this recipe, especially since I am growing parsley!

Yum, yum & yum.  I love roasted garlic and I know I would love this dish!
NewNostalgia 
All right, let’s get to linking!
Looking forward to seeing what you all have been up to!!
Be encouraged, Be Inspired, And Get Something Done!
***Stop And Read Before Linking!***

I will have 2 different themes for you to link to.  Please choose the correct theme, or I will need to delete your link.  Thanks!

*If you are a tweeter, hitting the tweet box at the bottom will help get the word out.



***”Anti-Procrastination” Themed:***




~things you want to accomplish (lists, goals)
~things you did accomplish
~thoughts on procrastination/ways you beat procrastination

***Flexible Themed***
~Recipes
~Projects
~Crafts
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ANTI-PROCRASTINATION/ HOME

“AP Tuesday’s #16” Featured Posts

New Nostalgia  
These are just so cute. I love that fruit is incorporated into a dessert.

Holidays are a time for treats & I think these S’more sticks are brilliant.
Veggies are a good way to celebrate, too! This is a post full of great tips. I have never roasted corn on the cob, definitely going to try it after reading this post.
Not only does she share this great gift idea, but she shares a link for Wordle.com, where you can put in raw text and it will create a wordle for you!  How cool is that??
You know that tiny cupboard over the refrigerator?  Look how she put that usually wasted space to good use.  Great idea, huh?
This is a bin of items to keep in the car that will come in handy at their family’s many sporting events. I love the trick she uses to secure the canvas bin in their car.  So smart!
Proof that if you just start, you may end up getting further then expected!  
This is such a great idea and would  make a cute gift.  I love the words she uses, and it spurs all kinds of ideas in my brain.  I may have to make a jar like this for each of my girls with words that describe the amazing things I see in them, with a lid label that says “You are…”

5
Gardening/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Homemaking

Square Foot Garden Progress

April 12
April 12
April 12
April 22
April 22
Lettuce, Radish, Swiss Chard, Onion
April 22
Radish & Lettuce
May 28
Carrots, Spinach
May 28
Tomato, Squash, Cucumber, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Basil
June 5
Same as above, a week later.
June 5
Lettuce (replaced radishes), Swiss Chard, Mesclan, Spinach, Carrots, Onion
June 13
Same as 2 pics above, a week later. (Tomato, Squash, Cucumber, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Basil)
June 30
Same as bed above, 2 1/2 weeks later!
June 30
This cucumber leaf below was only 2 inches on May 28.
On June 30, a month later, it is 7 inches!
Pretty Amazing, huh?  So cool to see God’s Creation grow!
To see my first post on Square Foot Gardening, click here.
To read more of my posts of gardening, use the search box in the side bar.
This post is linked to:
It’s A HodgePodge Friday @ Its A HodgePodge Life
Metamorphasis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Show And Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
giveaways
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Gardening

Harvest From My Garden

Sugar Snap Peas
Swiss Chard
Radish
Radish
Spinach
Lettuce
Short Carrots
Lettuce Wrapped & Ready To Give To Neighbors
Our Very First Cherry Tomato
Carrot
Carrot-My Girls Love Pulling Them Up
I honestly cannot believe I am having garden success!  It is so satisfying to eat something that was just a seed a couple months ago.  The lettuce & swiss chard get eaten at almost every dinner, and soon we will have cherry tomato abundance.  I will post pics of the garden very soon, you won’t believe how much everything has grown!

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