A Shutter and a Shelf - Part 1

I have been wanting to learn how to refinish things - furniture, shelves, etc. I want to be able to get a good deal on something and then make it my own. So, I asked my sister-in-law to show me how to do it and she was happy to help. She's very talented! Tammy and I hit some yard sales and found my first projects - a shutter and a shelf.

The shutter was FREE, which is always a great price! I wanted to refinish it and use it in our guest bathroom which has a beach theme.

First, I sanded it. I used a sander and then finished sanding by hand.

I was going to paint it white and then distress it, but I decided to leave it the way it was after sanding it. My husband really liked it that way and I agreed. So, I just stained it using Early American. I stained the back first, for practice, and learned not to leave it on very long. The back is a little darker :)

I decided to spray paint the fixtures that had been on it. I looked at new ones, but I thought that these turned out nice.

I used Rustoleum Hammered Brown spray paint.

Tammy made a wonderful sign for me to hang on it. She shows how she made it here

I took a white shelf that I had and distressed and stained it to hang under the shutter. It actually turned out better then I thought it would.

Here it is finished and hanging in our guest bathroom.

I'm very happy with my first project! I can't wait to work on the next one :)

Linking up with:

Chili Pasta Skillet

This past Sunday, I cooked my new meal for the week :) I used the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook Bridal Edition again.

This time I decided on the Chili-Pasta Skillet. We had actually had in once before at a friend's house and it was good, so I decided to make it myself. Here are the ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

3/4 cup chopped onion

1 can red kidney beans (15 1/2 ounce), rinsed and drained

1 can diced tomatoes (14 1/2 ounce), undrained

1 can tomato sauce (8 ounce)

1/2 cup dried elbow macaroni (2 ounces)

1 can diced green chile peppers (4 ounce), drained

2-3 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)

First cook the meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

Stir in everything else, except the cheese. I actually used whole wheat rotini instead of the elbow macaroni. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes (until pasta is tender), stirring often.

Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

It was delicious!

Happy Father's Day!

Linking up with:

A New Cabinet

On Saturday, Clay and I found this cabinet at a yard sale. It's real wood and was made in Lincolnton, NC. We both liked it, but we weren't exactly sure what we would do with it. I thought it would look nice in the kitchen but we don't have room in our kitchen right now. Clay suggested we put it in our bedroom where we had a smaller shelf. 

So, we decided to get it.

We also decided not to do anything to it. I like the finish and it looks good with our other furniture. It's a whitewash stain and is already distressed. One day if it does end up in the kitchen, I may paint it....we'll see.

The smaller shelf that was in our bedroom is really meant for a bathroom. I bought it at Target several years ago and had used it as a nightstand. It served it's purpose, but it didn't look that great.

The new shelf looks much better.

I'm glad we spent $20!

Spending the Day with My Man

Yesterday, Clay and I were able to spend the whole day together! With my work schedule, his school schedule, and life, we sometimes do not get to spend as much time together as we may want to. 

The first thing on the agenda was yard sales. After going to a few up in Pennsylvania, I was excited to go again. Clay agreed to go with me - he was hoping to find some fishing gear, tools, or anything like that. So, we got up early and went to see what we could find! I was kind of nervous in the beginning because we weren't finding anything and I didn't want to waste our whole morning, but then it started to get better :)

First, we found this old brick mold. The woman said that it was used to make the bricks for the fireplaces at Banner Farm. We both thought it was really neat!

Our second purchase was this cabinet.

I got another shelf that I want to paint.

Then we found this old chair and I was so excited about it! I had seen a chair turned into a planter at Love Where You Live and I really wanted to try it. This chair is already missing the seat, so I won't even have to cut it out! I just need to decide how I'm going to paint it.

 

Unfortunately, Clay didn't find anything...but I think that he still had a good time!

After lunch, we wanted to go to the driving range. Clay loves golf, and I enjoy watching it and want to learn how to play. We went to a driving range, but on the way there it started getting windy and dark, so we decided we probably shouldn't try to hit any balls. It's a good thing we didn't because on the way home it started pouring!

We went out to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant - Casa Torres. I love chips and salsa! We stopped by Target and then went to Rita's. Usually the day we have our date we also have our cheat day from eating healthy :)

When we got home we decided to rearrange our bedroom. We wanted to try to get rid of the table that the TV is sitting on because it doesn't match anything else. So, we moved all the furniture. But then we didn't like it and decided to move it all back. It was very disappointing. 

We had a busy and fun day. I love being able to spend time with my husband!

Flowers are Blooming

We moved these flowers from the side to the front of our house this spring. We were not sure if they would make it (since we're really not sure what we're doing in the garden), but they have started blooming!

Linking up with:

Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry

Being married has definitely made me care more about cooking. I want to be a good cook and make delicious meals for my husband :) I had never cooked much or knew how to. I still don't really know what I'm doing but I'm trying to learn. I can follow a recipe but I'm not good at making things up on my own. With my work schedule, I do not get to cook that often. Also, my husband loves to cook, and is good at it, so I share the kitchen with him (I'm not complaining about that though).

About a month ago I decided that I was going to pick a new recipe every week to try. I've been using my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook Bridal Edition (a great wedding present).

Tonight I made the Garlic Chicken Stir Fry. Here is a list of ingredients...though I didn't follow it exactly.

12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1 cup water

3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 tablespoon of cornstarch

2 tablespoons cooking oil

10 green onions

1cup thinly sliced mushrooms

12 cloves garlic (2 tablespoons of bottled minced garlic)

1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts

First you combine the water, soy sauce, and white wine and marinate the chicken in that for 30 minutes. I did not read my recipe before hand so I only marinated my chicken for about 10 minutes. Lesson learned - read the recipe well before you are planning to start cooking :)

Cook onions, mushrooms, and garlic in oil in wok. As you can see, I used a sweet onion instead of green onions and I do not own a wok.

Remove vegetables and cook chicken until no longer pink. When you remove the chicken from the marinade add the cornstarch.

Remove chicken (or push to the side if you have a wok), and add the marinade. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Return vegetables and chicken and stir. This is also where you would add water chestnuts if you want them.

I then served it with rice that I had made in a steamer.

It turned out well and tasted very good. Clay approved :)

Annie Sloan Giveaway

Please visit Blue Creek Home for this great giveaway of Annie Sloan's paint!

The Giveaway Includes: 

  One quart Old White Chalk Paint, tin of clear wax, tin of dark wax,  two small wax brushes,

and a copy of Annie Sloan’s book “Quick and Easy Paint Transformations”

You may click on the link at the top of the page to enter her free giveaway by completing a few simple steps.

Graduation

The graduations for my nieces and nephews has begun! I have 13, and my first niece graduated from high school today. I remember when she was just a little girl, and now she'll be going to college and then on to the Air Force (at least that's her plan).

Before I know it they will be graduating too!

She was home schooled, so my brother and sister-in-law had a ceremony for her in their yard. It was then followed by a cook out.

She played a song that she had written. She then thanked her parents for their love and support, and also thanked friends and family.

There were many family and friends that came to celebrate with her. She had family that came from as far away as Connecticut!

Watching her reminded me of my own high school graduation. It's hard to believe that I graduated 10 years ago! I remember looking up to people in college and thinking they were so mature and had it all together. I couldn't wait to be like them! And now I'm past college and working full-time, and I still don't feel like I know a thing. When do you start to feel like you're an adult?

Visit to Pennsylvania

Last Friday I was able to go visit my brother and his family in Pennsylvania. I cannot believe how big my niece and nephews are getting! The oldest is taller then me and the rest of them will be soon. I think that's one of their goal's - to be taller then Aunt Katie!

I remember when they all still had chubby cheeks! Time goes by so fast.

We had a camp fire the first night I was there and made smores. They were delicious!

While I was there, I asked my sister-in-law to teach me how she refinishes and distresses things. She is very talanted! So, on Saturday we went to a few yard sales to find some things to work on. I was able to get a shelf for $2 and a shutter for FREE! Tammy helped me get started and I'll finish them at home. I'm so excited!

 

 

It was a very relaxing week where we went for walks, did a puzzle, went bowling, read books, ate ice cream, and watched movies.

It was so nice to be able to spend time with my family!