Duck Egg Blue Chair

 

For Mother's Day, I received the sweetest high back antique chair from my parents. My dad even replaced two of the broken rungs. Such a handy guy. 

Here is what it looked like before...

I finally got around to painting this chair and chose Duck Egg Blue, ASCP. The chair originally had a lot of texture (bubbles and bumps) from the old stain, which I didn't want to lose.  So, I painted directly on top of the stain and did not sand or prime it. The result was the dark stain and texture coming through the Duck Egg Blue when I distressed it. 

To finish the chair up, I gave it a coat of clear wax. The wicker was starting to sag a bit so I soaked it with water and put it out in the hot sun for a few hours. It tightened right back up!

Have a lovely day...

Linking up to: Serenity Now , My Romantic Home, French Country Cottage, Miss Mustard Seed

Nutella Is The Devil.

  How in the world did I make it into my thirties without ever tyring Nutella???

Seriously.

 I've missed out on so many potential years of yumminess.

That stuff is money.

Sinful.

Like frosting but with small health benefits.

 

I was introduced to it earlier this week when I opened my daughter's lunch bag.

Inside was the jumbo jar of it. She had been with her dad the night before and packed it for lunch.

Like me, she is a planner.

She brought the Nutella and her girlfriend brought the fruit.

Together they were the most popular girls in the cafeteria.

 

Mini-Me talked me into having a spoonful and right then and there I became hooked.

I think we shall have a love hate relationship....

my emotions loving the soft gooey brown substance and my hips hating it.

 

Here are a few delicious looking Nutella recipes:

 


Nutella Meringues
 
 

Nutella Crescents
 
 



Nutella Pudding

Nutella Fudgesicles

 So, not only is Nutella delectable, obviously it's a very versatile product.
Now excuse me while I go eat it for breakfast. And maybe lunch.

Linking up to: My Romantic Home

 

TJMaxx Mirror Makeover

I've learned something recently: Don't be afraid to purchase something new and then make it over. For a long time, I only looked for old pieces of furniture and decor to spruce up and mostly I still do. However, sometimes you can't find what you're looking for or buying new may be a better option.  For example, my boyfriend bought this mirror in the clearance section at TJMaxx. With a coat of Duck Egg Blue and a little bit of Rub'n'Buff, it looks like an old shabby chic mirror!

Before:

Cheap plastic like material with an aged bronze color

One coat of Duck Egg Blue, ASCP

Light distressing and Gold Rub'n'Buff

So keep an open mind when you're perusing the Clarence aisle at your local home decor store. Just because it's new doesn't mean you can't change it!

Linking up to: My Romantic Home , French Country Cottage , The Shabby Creek Cottage

Turn an old picture frame into a serving tray

Have any old picture frames sitting around??

You can easily turn them into serving trays!

All I did was paint and distress this Goodwill frame, add handles to the side

 and a piece of wrapping paper under the glass.

This will be so easy to change out for holidays, a different look,

or even with real photos.

To ensure that the bottom will not scratch any surfaces,

add rubber feet or felt.

Easy as could be!

Linking up to: Young House Love, Serenity Now , My Romantic Home , French Country Cottage , The Shabby Creek Cottage , Savvy Southern Style

Hello Monday

 Hello busy weekend!

Hello Jazz Festival in downtown Apex

Hello to dancing with friends and wine on the streets

Hello to lots of painting

Hello to a mirror makeover

Hello Duck Egg Blue

Hello to an old picture frame

Hello to turning it into a serving tray

Hello to eating too many sweets this weekend

Hello to my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte of the season

Hello Little Debbie Pumpkin Faces

Hello yummy Candy Corn Oreo's

Hello super fun weekend

Hello Monday.

xoxo

 

Linking up to: The Wiegand's , Lisa Leonard's Blog

Washi Tape Giveaway!

 Here is your chance to win an awesome giveaway from Le Paper Cafe. With over 250 styles of washi tape, cutting dies and rubber stamps, you'll surely find something you love. A few months ago, I was the lucky winner of a Le Paper Cafe giveaway and had so much fun picking out 10 rolls. 

Good luck!!

*** HUGE FALL RAFFLE GIVEAWAY ***...For every purchase you make from Le Paper Cafe  from now until September 30th, 2012 you will receive one RAFFLE TICKET which will be shipped with your order. The Grand Prize Winning Number and The 3  Runner Up Winning Numbers Will Be Announced On ETSY, Facebook & Le Paper Cafe website on Oct 8, 2012.  More Details....

The Grand Prize Winner will receive a GIFT BOX of assorted items including Washi Tape, Stickers, Rubber Stamps, Blank Envelopes, Korean Envelopes, Gift Cards, Blank Tags, Glassine Bags, Journals, Sticky Notes, Magnetic list pad, and other little paper craft goodies, some of which are not available in our Etsy shop. A minimum $75 value. We will be posting a picture of the Grand Prize on Le Paper Cafe's Facebook page by Monday Sept 17th, 2012,  and also on www.lepapercafe.com

The 3  Runner Up Winning Tickets will receive a $15.00 Gift Certificate for Le Paper Cafe

****Please Note: One ticket per customer per day*****

****Available only for addresses and orders in the United States***** 

No Purchase Necessary. If you would like to get a Raffle Ticket without a purchase, send a 3"x 5" note card with your name, address, and email address, along with a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to Le Paper Cafe, 16631 County Road 178, Tyler, TX 75703. Entries must be postmarked by  September 25th, 2012 in order to be received and processed by the deadline. We will mail you your Raffle Ticket in the SASE that you send us. 

Darn Good Broccoli Cheese Soup

Y'all, I can't even describe how good this broccoli cheese soup is.

Make it and you will know exactly what I'm talking about it.

I made my first batch of the fall season because Mini Me was feeling under the weather and requested it.

Ingredients:

1 TBS olive oil

1 cup diced onion

1 clove minced garlic

2 carrots peeled and sliced

1 can of chopped mushrooms or fresh

2 cups fresh broccoli florets and stem pieces, chopped

3 cups water

2 vegetable bouillon cubes

2 TBS worchestire sauce

1 TBS soy sauce

1 TBS cayenne pepper (you can adjust this)

8oz uncooked elbow noodles

3 cups milk (I used original almond milk)

1 pound box of Velveeta Cheese, cubed

Saute the diced onion in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Slowly pour in 3 cups of water. Add carrots and cook for 5 minutes. Add bouillon cubes,worchestire, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, broccoli, noodles and 1 cup of milk. Bring to a low boil and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Add cubed cheese and stir continuously until melted. Add remaining two cups of milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Add more water or milk if a thinner soup is desired.

Best. Ever. 

Make it. 

Linking up to: Centsational Girl , Serenity Now , Savvy Southern Style, A Bowl Full of Lemons, My Romantic Home





Hello Monday

Hello to trying on Halloween masks at Big Lots...with my mom

Hello to my new creepy white mask

Hello to coziness and friends in the local pub while it rained

Hello downtown Apex. Oh how I adore you.

Hello to my favorite boy band

Hello hair cuts for the schnoodle boys

Hello to cuteness

Hello vet trip for George

Hello to my sick little guy

Hello rocking chair that fits me perfectly

Hello to my dad for fixing it up

Hello painting project

Goodbye weekend

Hello Monday

 

 

Linking up to: Lisa Leonard's Blog

True Story...

Here's the dialog of a normal mid day texting conversation I had with Mr. SST.....
Y'all, I can't even make this stuff up!

E: I've decided to rent a small bobcat. One small enough to fit through the front door.

Mr. SST: For a second I thought you were talking about the live animal.

E: I am. Crap. I just spilled coffee on my dress.

Mr. SST: Wait, you weren't talking about the bulldozer?? What would you do with a live bobcat? This conversation is hilarious. The coffee spill sucks.

E: I want a cute little one that could entertain the dogs while I pack and maybe even lend a helpful paw. Why would I want a bulldozer inside? Silly.

Mr. SST: Well, if your "small" live bobcat fits through the front door, I'd hate to see a big one...

E: Maybe I was originally considering a Bobcat bulldozer but then I realized how much I've always wanted a small live one. But I guess either would do.

Mr. SST: Haha...

E: Oh, you won't be laughing when I get one. You know, I once was a bobcat.

Mr. SST: I've seen one in Columbia before. They are awesome!!
Side note: He completely ignores my "I once was a bobcat" statement. Smart man.

E: I think I need one. I will look up exotic animals. They can't be hard to get. And I just realized that not only was I a bobcat in elementary school, I was a cougar in middle and high school. Maybe I was destined to be an exotic cat lady.

Mr. SST: That is a very good point. I would vote for a bobcat rather than a cougar.

E: And that is why I love you. Have a good day.

Linking up to: The Wiegand's, My Romantic Home