Monday, August 31, 2009

Shelf Giveaway!

photo by Traci

Maybe you have noticed that I am a teensy bit obsessed with home improvement right now. No? Well I am. If it's not about my kitchen or door knobs, its about my landscaping visions (think sitting area in the front and sandbox with a beach theme in the back). Poor Paul is such a trooper with all of my ideas and at least listens to them.


These shelves are absolutely adorable, aren't they? I know they would look perfect somewhere in my house. She also talks about them here. She shows us how to make them AND she is giving one away!

Natural Bridge Landscape

Humor me, okay? We took a billion and a half pictures. These are the last of them, I promise.
The hike at Natural Bridge is so beautiful at this time of year. It was so humid and misty underneath all the trees, it felt like we were in a magical rain forest full of hidden elves and fairies and gnomes. Everything was covered in vibrant green moss.











Sunday, August 30, 2009

More vacay with the fam

I forgot all about the pictures of my parents visit that were on my camera. I am feeling quite generous tonight with them ;) 1. welcome signs - 2. kali dribbling ice cream - 3. modeling presents from Papa via Thailand - 4. Papa and Katie modeling the gorilla's shirt - 5. Papa and Ellie at the gorillas - 6,7,8- Modeling their 3-D glasses
1. Dallin showing how far a roo can jump - 2. Kali and Dallin on the train - 3. CHEESE! - 4. The kids modeling the Thailand jammies - 5. The crew that hiked to the top of Natural Bridge - 6. Ellie and Paul at the look out - 7. Kali displaying the oreo cookie/cake that we made for her mommy's birthday - 8. Kali striking a pose


Fort Boonesbourough
1. Crazy guy eating lunch in his house - 2. Papa making fire - 3. Paul and crazy guy making fire - 4. Dallin making cornmeal - 5. woodworker guy doing something - 6. woodworker guy on the lathe

Must love dogs?

My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE our neighbors dogs.LOVE
LOVE

LOVE

Stake Picnic @ Cave Run Lake











Friday, August 28, 2009

speaking of black doors....

On the other hand, I really like this!

designer duds




Spray paint addict

The "remodel" continues. I have been loving spray paint and my new friend "spray paint gun".
I just finished painting the chandelier in my kitchen.
I can't find a before picture, but it was similar to this. In fact, here is my inspiration (make sure to check out the link she provides to the soccer ball topiary...pure awesome. I will have to do this one, soon!).
I am planning on changing the mini lamp shades, or getting rid of them all together.
Here are the two colors that I am deciding between.
So far, the score is 5 for the darker green and 2 for the lighter green.
(6 of those votes are mine, 1 from my neighbor, and I am not counting Dallin's vote, "Mom, I don't want green, paint my door black!")

While I was taking pictures, I noticed that someone was (watercolor) painting as well!
Caught in the act!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Fried Green Tomatoes with Creole Dipping Sauce

Never mind that I just set fire to the parchment paper in my oven....yummy "smoky" nachos, huge flames, soot flying everywhere. Chalk one on my "kitchen disasters" list!

We had dinner at a friends house on Saturday and they made the yummiest fried green tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomatoes
4 large green tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
vegetable oil for frying
Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs, salt and pepper onto another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Them dip the tomatoes into the milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs/cornmeal to completely coat.
In a large skillet, pour enough vegetable oil into the pan so that it is 1/2 inch deep and heat over medium heat. Place the tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. The tomatoes should not be crowded or touch each other. Flip the tomatoes when golden brown on one side and fry on the other side. Drain on paper towels.
Creole Dipping Sauce
(this sauce tastes exactly like the dipping sauce that comes with a bloomin' onion)
1 cup mayo
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 Tbl minced capers
1 Tbl minced onion
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp horseradish
1 tsp paprika
4 sprigs parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until use.

Friday, August 21, 2009

she love jewelry

...just as long as she waits until she is 16 to pierce her ears...

"new" door knobs





inspiration, instructions, and advice: here and here

jammie night

We love jammie/movie night!
Dallin insisted on laying next to Ellie and playing with her hair. They may fight like cats and dogs at times, but they sure do love each other!

Preschool days

Dallin started preschool again this week. He was lucky enough to get Mrs. B again.
There were no tears this year (from either of us ;).

The only problem we have now is getting him out of bed in the morning!
That, and getting me out of bed as well!