White and Wood Chair

August 19, 2014

I spent the weekend getting ready for the first day of school (which was today) and refinishing a couple pieces of furniture. This little chair was a fun, quick fix. I bought this chair for $4.99 at my local Goodwill. The yellowy light birchy wood look is so very 90s to me. Light wood paired with the silver colored metal seems dated as well.

I bought this chair for the bent plywood and the airy shape of the metal frame. At first I thought I might just paint the whole thing a bright color. But, then I decided that with a little stain, the grain in the seat and back might look really sharp. So, I sanded the seat and back down to the bare wood and then used a dark walnut colored stain. I sealed the wood with a almost matte finished water based varnish. The frame got a good sanding and a fresh coat of flat white spray paint.

I replaced all the screws, most of them had been pulled out. When I replaced the stripped screws, I used a couple broken off toothpicks in the holes to hold the screws in place. It’s a great trick when screws get pulled out of hingers or cabinet doors.

See what I mean about the shape? It’s modern and clean. And now with the white and darker wood, I love the higher contrast.

Before

After

Design / DIY / etc.

Land of Nod Store Window and Event

August 15, 2014

Last week was slightly busy. I had the privilege of getting to do two really fun things. The first was I got to install a whole window display in the South Coast Plaza Land of Nod store!!! Danielle, the Land of Nod’s fearless creative director, allowed me this huge opportunity. I kept it simple and clean to let the colors and shapes play. It’s really better in person, the twigs are constantly moving and rotating slowly. You guys, this was so much fun. Creative freedom and a place to share it, can I do this everyday? Please….

Ummm, yep, that’s my little blog name in a Land of Nod store window. Pretty crazy exciting.

I pulled a couple Nod products from the store to finish off the space, a little Nod teepee (of course) with a couple fabulous pillows and a neon pink squirrel.

Denali straightening a couple things for me.

The second fun project was that I hosted a Craft Event at the South Coast Plaza Nod store. Kiddos and their parents came and made their own versions of yarn art pieces. It was a lot of fun. It was nice to take the crafts out of the blog and into real life. There was kids and yarn everywhere, fun chaos.

Olivia hard at work.

Dylan helping me out.

The window display will be up till September 8th, so if you are in the area, please check it out.

DIY / etc.

60s Themed Birthday Party

August 14, 2014

A couple weeks ago we celebrated my mom’s 60th birthday with a 60s themed party. My mom is the queen of entertaining and making fabulous meals for crowds. She has a generous heart and serves her community and family all the time. She deserved to be spoiled and honored. We had the party on the front porch and lawn of my parent’s gorgeous Northern California home.

In the 60s tradition, I served fondue for the meal. We had traditional Swiss and white wine fondue and a spicy bacon chipolte fondue with lots of yum veggies, breads and meat to dip. And for dessert, there was more fondue, Chocolate and also a peanut butter fondue with homemade vanilla bean and blackberry marshmallows, brownies, cake, and and lots of fruit.

We also dressed in period clothing and did a murder mystery throughout the evening. The characters and costumes were very entertaining.

60 looks pretty darn good!

For the table decor, I placed air plants in hot pink sand on some simple squares of fabric that I tie dyed in green.

Do you think these two enjoyed the chocolate fondue?

All the gorgeous paper products came for Party Pail. This is my new favorite go-to party supply store for all the basics. I chose Hot Magenta Pink and Emerald Green for the party palette.

Lots of fun sodas from World Market. I bought everything they had in green and pink. I think I had about 15 different flavors for the guests to choose from.

Yes, this girl enjoyed herself.

Some of the crazy cast from the murder mystery.

Using green chevron treat cups from Party Pail, I made a quick and easy set of party string lights.

You will need as many treat cups as there is lights on your string. Mine had 24. Turn the cups over and cut an X in the middle of the cup with an x-acto knife. Then bend the pieces into the bowl. Remove the bulb from the string and fit the base into the cup, then put the bulb back in. So simple, but a whole bunch of festive fun.

All paper party products were provided by Paper Pail.

etc. / Food & Drink

Kale and Cabbage Asian Chicken Salad

August 11, 2014

We’re trying to make good eating choices around here. So, protein and greens are our friends. Last week I shared my Ginger Turkey Lettuce Wraps, today I’ve got a twist on my mother in laws yummy cabbage salad. I boosted the green value with a little kale and added some kick with a touch of wasbi.

Kale and Cabbage Asian Chicken Salad

1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. wasabi paste (more or less depending on how hot you like)
1 tsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. fleshly grate ginger

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or a rotisserie chicken)
1/2 head of cabbage finely shredded (I used my food processor)
6 cups of chopped kale

1/3 cup chopped almonds
1-2 tbsp. black sesame seeds
Ramen noodles (just the noodles, not the seasoning)

Make the dressing first. In a large mason jar combine the first 6 ingredients and shake well. This makes enough dressing for a couple salads, so go ahead and store the extra dressing in the jar in the the fridge.

Place the chicken breasts in a bowl and add 1/4 cup of the dressing as a marinade. Marinade the chicken for at least an hour. In a nonstick fry pan, cook the chicken with the marinade. Allow the chicken to rest 10 mins and then with two forks, shred the chicken. You can serve the chicken warm or cool on the salad.

Finely shred 1/2 a head of cabbage and mix with about 6 cups of finely chopped kale. Toss the cabbage and kale with about 1/3 of the dressing you made (maybe a little more, maybe a little less). On a cookie sheet, spread out the broken noodles, almonds and sesame seeds, toast under a broiler until just golden brown. Toss into the salad with the chicken and serve.

etc.

Thrifting Thursday – Red Head Oil Painting and Copper Candle Sticks

August 7, 2014

This last Saturday, I did really well at garage sales and my favorite Salvation Army. Here’s a couple of my favorite finds. The oil painting was a must. How often do you come across ones of beautiful redheads? Not very often. I love how dark and moody this piece is. And the subtle hints of color in her hat. It is dated 1974. I kind of think Emily Henderson would approve of this piece.

The pottery piece has a very 70’s feel to it as well. I love the speckled finish. Now to find the perfect fern for this little guy.

And this pair of candle stick – me oh my. So much coppery goodness. The pair were hidden in a box under an old key board at a garage sale. The screws needed a tiny bit of tightening, but otherwise, they are in mint condition.

Now for the best part, how much did I pay?

The candle sticks – $1.50 for the pair (I know, amazing, right?).

The redhead oil painting – $5

The pottery piece – $2.50

Not bad at all. Have you scored something great lately? I’d love to hear what your thrifting adventures have brought you.

Design / etc.

Land of Nod Craft Event in Southern California

August 4, 2014

If you missed it friends, I’m hosting a DIY Craft Event for you are your kiddos at the South Coast Plaza Land of Nod Store this Friday (August 8th). Come get your craft on from 10:30 – 12:30. We’ll be making these artsy yarn masterpieces together. Plus, you’ll get 10% off you in-store purchases for attending. Space is limited, so RSVP to nodevents@landofnod.com

If you can’t make it, I have the full tutorial for making these right here. These mini versions are hung on wooden dowel and just for fun, I painted the ends in coordinating colors.

etc. / Food & Drink

Ginger Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Let’s start Monday off with a tasty, light dinner that won’t heat up your house with lot of cooking. These Ginger Turkey Lettuce Wraps are a favorite in our house when the weather heats up. Jam packed with protein and full of flavor, this is Summer dinner done right.

Ginger Turkey Lettuce Wraps

5 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. grated ginger (I probably used even more – because I LOVE ginger)
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (more if you like a little heat)
3 cloves of garlic crushed

2 lbs ground lean turkey
1 can of water chestnuts chopped finely
1/2 cup finely diced mushrooms
1 tbsp. vegetable oil

A head of iceberg or butter lettuce
chopped almonds or peanuts
fresh cilantro

In a small combine the first 5 ingredients, set aside. Add the vegetable oil to a not stick fry pan, heat. Add the mushrooms, saute until they are tender. Add the ground turkey, cook until it is not longer pink. Add the water chestnuts and the soy sauce mixture. Cook 1 minute more.

Serve in lettuce cups, topped with nuts and cilantro. Serves 4-5 people.

P.S. My family thinks they don’t like mushrooms. They didn’t even know there were mushrooms in these. 🙂 Foiled again.

DIY / etc.

You + Me Printable Poster

August 1, 2014

Happy Friday friends! I’ve got a free printable for you today. This poster has been sitting on my desk top for almost 6 months. I finally went to Fedex Office and had it printed this week. It’s simple and clean, and just the change I was looking for. I had a scripture print in this 18×24″ frame, but I was ready for something new in my bedroom. I love this blocky lettering, you’ve seen it before in my Valentine’s and on the girl’s Sister’s Banner.

You guys, this is cheap decor. It only cost $2.25 to print this bad boy. Since mine was going in a frame, I just had it printed on regular paper, but Fedex Office (Kinkos) will print on card stock as well.

Click here to download your own copy of this 18×24″ print. Feel free to pin it and share it with your friends. Have a great weekend!

This is intended for personal use only.

etc.

Thrifting Thursday – $1 Finds

July 31, 2014

Yep, that’s right. Each one of these items only cost me a buck each! Not a bad week of thrifting. I found these items all in Eureka, CA last weekend while I was visiting my parents.

The chair is pretty great, I love the curved back. I think I might paint it a fun color and recover the seat. The wicker piece is my favorite find, I can’t wait to give it a new glossy paint job in a great color (probably green). The little pottery vase is definitely a handmade piece and totally worth a dollar. And finally, the little covered plate needs a facelift. The wood is weathered and worn. I’ll probably paint it or maybe sand it down to the bare wood and give it a food-friendly finishing.

What have you thrifted lately?

Design / etc.

Midcentury Dining Room Table and New Chairs

July 30, 2014

So, about 2 months ago. I decided to sell my dining room table and chairs. This was our first real dining room table and chairs that we bought 11 years ago. We bought it out of necessity and it was the right price. It has totally served us well, but I was ready for something new or old (as it turns out). You know, sometimes your taste just changes.

Well, I found a Swedish made midcentury dining room table and chairs at a local antique mall and decided I needed to sell mine in order to buy the new one. And, it sold right away, to a friend. So, I went back to take a better look at the table and decided that the chairs were a little wobbly and and I didn’t want to deal with tightening chairs for years. So, we were without a table. But then when I was in San Diego a couple weeks later and did a little craigslist hunting and found this gorgeous Danish Mid Century table for just $350 (and actually he took $300 for it). It really is too good to be true. It’s in mint condition, no water marks or scratches and I LOVE it. And it’s teak!

White Metal Chair // Walnut Stackable Chair

So, now to find chairs to go with it. I’ve always love these bent wood chairs from West Elm. I love that they stack and I’m just drawn to the modern, sleek shape. I bought one and brought it home to see if I liked the two together. And I think I do. The colors are not exactly the same, but I’m ok with that. So, I think the plan is that I’ll buy a total of 4 of the West Elm chairs and 2 of the metal ones. What do you think of the metal ones on either end of the table? I like them for the nice color contrast and the casual feel they bring to the room. My built-ins are pretty formal and we aren’t really all that formal. I want the space to be clean and pretty, but also relaxed.

With the leaves out.

It’s nice and compact with the leaves in.

The leaves slide in under the table top. No need to store them in the back of a closet.

A better look at the table and chair colors together.

Please excuse the yucky iphone picks I took late in the evening. My built-ins are actually white, not a nasty yellow like they appear in this picture.

Really, I want your opinion. Do these chairs work with the table? And do the white metal ones on either end make sense? In my head they do, but I’m weird (I like manikin hands).

Here’s another look at the old table. My new one is going to be pretty great, when I get some chairs.