House Updates

Right before we left for vacation Chris spent a day tearing out the carpet and pulling up tacks in our bedroom and on the stairwell.  Our house is now officially carpet free and it was way past time that the old, yucky carpet be removed!  Overall, we were pleasantly surprised with the condition of the floors.  They aren't perfect and will need to be refinished but they look really, really good!  Here's what we have so far:

 Desperately needs some paint :)

 Looking good in the bedroom!

But not this area over by the window!

In the fall, after Chris moves back home after his summer internship, we'll refinish and paint the risers on the stairs.  I'm sure that will be quite an adventure!

Anyone else have any home projects going on???  Would love to know what your working on!

Also, finally matching lamps in the bedroom...lamps seem to give me issues.  Got this set at TJ Maxx! 

Summer Solstice Chicken

While on vacation, we were each assigned a night to make dinner for the family.  Our night fell early in the week and we decided on grilled chicken, grilled corn on the cob and Asian slaw.  I was able to make my marinade before we left, using fresh herbs from our garden and it was delicious!  I adapted a recipe from Janice Cole's cookbook, Chicken and Egg; A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes.  The Summer Solstice Chicken was so flavorful but not overpowering (but BRIGHT GREEN), exactly what we needed for our relaxing beach meal :)

Summer Solstice Chicken Marinade:
4 cloves garlic, smashed
approx 1 cup chives, chopped
approx 1 cup cilantro
approx 1/2 cup dill
1 medium white onion, chopped
 2/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Toss everything into food processor and blend until smooth.  Marinade chicken for at least 8 hours or overnight before grilling.  Thanks Brittany for the awesome cookbook, it is full of great recipes :)

Best Buddies

Had to share this photo of our two pups...now best buddies :)

ipad Cover + give away

Both Chris and my Mom are ipad 2 owners...but I should probably be honest about our ipad, Chris wanted it, I resisted and  then he talked me into it and now I am obsessed with it (and I've stolen it, it's a great tool for my day job :)) To help my Mom, a guidance counselor, protect hers while traveling from building to building, I made her this ipad cover (yes, with leftover fabric from my Trash to Treasure Part 2 post).  I made it intentionally sung so the ipad wouldn’t slide out but it doesn’t fit her ipad + cover…so I’ll be making a second one for her.  This being said, I now have an ipad case…anybody need one?  I'm happy to mail it out to a blog reader as a thank you for reading gift:)   

This cover has a green, brown and white fabric, satin lining, brown trim and a velcro closure.

Urban Garden-Update!

With all the hot, hot, HOT days that we've been having in Ohio our little garden is producing some big time produce!  I've already dried herbs twice and will have plenty to get us through the next winter!  Parsley potoatoes anyone??? 

 We also have lots of dill (above), basil, oregano, rosemary and chives!

 Instead of having tomato plants, we have a tomato FOREST.  Seriously, these tomatoes are taller than I am and I've had to re-inforce with a second cage to hold them up!

  

Our green pepper plant has put all of its efforts into ONE pepper...can't wait to try it!

Trash to Treasure Part 2

So I forgot to take before photos (again...sorry!) but here is my next attempt to give a new purpose to a tired item.  I've had this straw bag for several years and LOVE it because I can fill it up with lots of things :)

 I replaced the old madras lining and the white but dirty pleather handles with a fun, summery fabric.  I'm happy with the result but need to find a better way to secure the lining, the thread I orginally used isn't strong enough and it sags a bit but that will be a quick fix with a glue gun! 

Prayers, Please

Over the 4th of July weekend, while at a holiday party, my cousin lost his little boy due to a drowning accident.  At this time, we ask for your thoughts and prayers for little Thomas and the family that he left behind.   We all know that Thomas is now in a better place in heaven!

Unfortunately, this is not the first tragedy that has struck our small hometown this weekend, on Friday one of our classmates passed away as well.  Our thoughts and prayers also go out to his family and his daughter Hailey.