Category Archives: etc.

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Choosing a Graphic Rug for the Dining Room

September 4, 2013

If you’ve done any home improvement, you’ll totally get where I’m coming. Once you update or tackle one room, you just get the urge to move onto another.  Since I gave our living room a more modern look, I’m itching to make changing all over our house now.  The next room on my list is our dining room, probably because it’s adjoining the living room.  
I like the wall color, a dark charcoal grey, I think it’s a good contrast to the bright white living room. And I love how the rich wall color makes the trim and built in china cabinets pop. I think dining rooms are a great place to try darker wall colors.  This room is really pretty basic, the only furniture is the large square dining room table and a little cabinet to hold our computer. We’ve had the table and chairs for 10 years now. It’s a great size and shape for our room, but the style is probably not what I would choose now. It’s a little more French country then I’d like it to be, it’s probably those turned legs. But, like the living room, new furniture is not in the budget right now. So, I think a great graphic rug would really give this space to a more modern tone.
So, here’s my problem, how do you find a square rug for a square table and room?  FLOR of course! I’ve gotten their beautiful catalogues for years and have dreamed of a fabulous, totally customizable rug for our home. FLOR is an innovative system of carpet squares that you assemble to create custom rugs, runners, or wall-to-wall designs of any shape or color. So, a square area rug is no problem at all with FLOR.
But, how do you decide? They have soooo many amazing colors and patterns to choose from. I NEED YOUR HELP! I’m drawn to the graphic patterns and as much as I love color (especially green), when it comes to bigger pieces, I like to keep things a little more neutral. Color can always be added in the accessories. Take a look at the 6 patterns that are at the top of my faves list. Now tell me which one I should choose and why. I’m really serious, please leave me a comment, I need your advice.
Hide & Batik // Craft Work
Vintage Vibe // Mod Cow
Lasting Grateness // Vintage Vibe with a Jitterbug Memories boarder
Here’s some of my thoughts on these rugs. I LOVE them all, but I’m trying to identify their pros and cons. I think the most classic and formal rug is probably the Lasting Grateness, but maybe I want to be a little more edgy. Then the edgiest or most trendy is probably the Craft Work. It’s so right now and fabulous, but will I love it in 2 years? I surprised myself with the Mod Cow, it is also trendy, but also kind of a classic. I’m drawn to it’s big, bold, black and white graphic pattern. The Hide & Batik is so lovely and organic and it’s also the one Lonnie liked best out of all of these, but there is also none that he dislikes either. The Hide & Batik is also a look a haven’t seen anywhere else, definitely unique. And then last, but definitely not least, Vintage Vibe. I think it’s my fave, but it’s also very similar to my living room rug. I love that it is soft and cozy looking. It’s not stuffy or too fancy because, even though I have china dishes, we are neither stuffy nor fancy.
You can see I am getting nowhere in this decision making. I’m usually a very decisive person and know what I love. But FLOR just has too many amazing chooses. Your turn, which one and why………
For more about FLOR, check them out on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. 

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Green Chili Bacon Corn Chowder

September 3, 2013

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Farmland but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #porkinapinch  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO
Where did the Summer go?  I don’t know about you, but I am ready for some cooler weather.  And cooler weather means quick and easy dinners like a big pot of hearty soup.  This Green Chili Bacon Corn Chowder is going to be a family favorite.  It’s creamy and just a little spicy all at the same time.
And what’s really better then BACON?  Maybe chocolate from time to time, but bacon it probably at the top of the charts.  It’s crispy, saltiness is really hard to beat.  I used delicious Farmland Bacon in this recipe.  Farmland has lots of great, quick recipes using their quality products.  You’ll want to be sure to check out their site.  And definitely follow Farmland’s pinterest for lots of quick and easy dinner ideas.
Soup is a go to meal at our house when the weather cools and it’s a great way to serve a crowd inexpensively. 

Green Chili Bacon Corn Chowder
1 lb bacon
3 medium sized potatoes
5 cobs of corn
3 cloves of garlic
1 can of chopped green chilies
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups milk (or heavy cream)
1/4 cup Masa Harina (instant corn Masa flour)
salt and pepper to taste

Cut bacon into 1/2″ pieces and place in a heavy saucepan or dutch oven.  Cook the bacon until it is crispy.  While the bacon is cooking, throw the corn on the cob on the grill.  Grill on all sides till it is just browned. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towel.  Remove all but 2 tbsp. of the bacon drippings.  Place the chopped garlic in the pan and cook until just golden brown.

Cut the corn off the cob and peel and dice the potatoes into 1/2″ pieces.  Place the corn, potatoes, green chilies and chicken stock in the pan.  Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender and begin to break apart.  Reduce the heat to low and add the milk or cream (depending on how rich you want it).

Then in a small bowl mix the Masa Harina with about 1/2 cup of water, then add this to the soup and mix well.  This is a trick I learned from the Pioneer Women.  I love her chili and she uses Masa to thicken her chili at the end. And in this corn chowder, it just adds to the flavor.  Cook the Masa for about another 5 mins. or until the soup thickens.  Stir in half of the crispy bacon and save the other half to sprinkle of the tops of served bowls of soup.

Now if we could just get some cooler weather to go along with my soup here in California. I know it’s wishful thinking, because it will still be Summer weather here until Halloween. I do this every year, September comes and I start hating the hot weather. Are you ready for Fall like I am?  What’s your go-to Fall recipe?

Farmland products can be found at many grocery stores, but specifically here in Cali, they can be purchased at Grocery Outlet.

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Wall of Triangles

September 2, 2013

I know I already shared our new, more modern living room with you.  But, I want to give a closer look at my wall of triangles and share how it did it.  I knew I wanted triangles of some sort on this wall, and I’m so pleased with the end result.

It was really simple to do this wall.  And from start to finish, I had this wall done in just one Saturday morning.  I used my cricut machine to cut four 12×12″ sheets of triangle on cricut’s vinyl.  I used silver, black, cream and green. In Cricut Craft Room, I fit 24 triangles on each sheet.  Then I used blue painters tape, a level and a ruler to mark out the triangle’s placement.  I placed my triangles exactly 12 inches apart from each other and then on the rows staggered them 6 inches apart.  I placed the colors in random order.

I’m itching to do another wall of removable vinyl wall decals somewhere in our home.  I’m thinking some stars in Dylan’s Star Wars room maybe or when I finally get our laundry room done, I can do something funky in there.  
Is there a wall in your home that could use a graphic makeover?  What shapes would you like to repeat in your space? 

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Monthly Memory Verse – August

August 29, 2013

Last year I put together a free printable monthly memory verse each month.  You can read more about it here. But, to be completely honest, I missed a couple of the Summer months because we were so busy.  I thought I’d get around to doing them at some point, well it looks like a year later it is. I’ve read your comments and I finally have a verse for August.
I thought this was a good back-to-school verse. And it’s a very personal scripture for me, it got me through two years of living in Yemen. It was a bit of an uneasy time there and I clung to this scripture. Looking back, I am so glad I lived in Yemen. I really loved so much about the the country and the people. I made life long friends and grew as a Christian, teacher, mother, friend, and wife. God was faithful, and he carried us through those years and protected us. 
Right now I’m not sure what the future has for me. I loving being a teacher and hope to go back to that someday, but I have also worked really hard at this blog. I would love for it to be my “job”, like earn income with it. The truth is I have to trust that God has a plan.  And it’s a good one. It’s a much easier thing to say then to really believe in your heart.  

I hope you are encouraged and please feel free to print this off for your own personal use. For the free download click here.

This is intended for personal use only.  

(Note: The text at the bottom of the image may print, but it is not within the 8 X10 measurement.  When you print, do not scale the image)

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Living Stylishly with Toys

August 28, 2013

Yes friends it is possible!  We live in a little California bungalow built in 1920, so their is no playroom or even spare bedroom.  There has to be toys in our grown up spaces.  We really do live in our living room, it’s where we are most of the time.  And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to feel like I’m living in a day care.

I’ve got some great tips for Living Stylishly with Toys, and I’m sharing them over at Honest to Nod again today.  I hope you head over there and check it out.  Then come back here and let me know if any of that was helpful and also share with me, how you live with toys. I’d love to hear some other great ideas for coping with clutter.
Let’s take back our grown up spaces, so that when the kiddos are in bed, we can feel relaxed and comfortable.

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DIY Gold Dot Burlap Coasters

August 27, 2013

I shared a bunch of great gold dotted finds a few days ago. And I’m back with more gold dots. I used my gold dot burlap to make some easy coasters.  I don’t know about you, but I’m all about a coaster.  They totally save you tables from sweaty cold drinks and piping hot ones.  Plus, fun ones like these look just happy sitting all piled up. 
Here’s the how to and what you’ll need.
Supplies:
Unbleached Cotton
Pins
pencil
sewing machine
iron
Start by cutting 5 inch squares of both the burlap and the cotton.  Then pin them, right sides together.  Stitch around the outside edge leaving a 2 inch opening.  Clip the corners so that they turn right side out  without lumping and bumping (I forgot to photograph that step).  Using a pencil’s eraser end, turn the coaster right side out.  If you use a sharp object it will make holes in the burlap, so the eraser works well.  Iron the coaster flat, folding in the open edge so that it can by closed.  Using a small amount of fabri-tac, glue down the opening.  Let it dry completely and then iron it one more time. 
If you’re just a beginning sewer, this is a great project to try.  In a matter of 30 mins or less, you can have these made.  

DIY / etc.

DIY Colorful Cube

August 26, 2013

Geometric shapes and designs are everywhere right now. And I can’t get enough of them. They bring a modern, angular edge to any space.  You might have noticed this colorful cube in my new living room (which I shared on The Land of Nod’s blog, Honest to Nod). The cube adds a subtle splash of color and interest to my mantel without feeling heavy or bulky. I took colors from my Framed Textile from Yemen and used them randomly on my cube. 
This is a simple little DIY that requires very few materials and just about an hour of your time.  So head over to Honest to Nod for all the details and instructions.  
Are you loving geometric shapes like I am? 

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Back to School

August 19, 2013

Well, it’s that time again. My kiddos headed back to school this morning. It’s always exciting and a little bit of an adjustment after a summer of fun. But, I know they will do great.

Both my husband and I are teachers (well I’m not currently), but learning is really important to us. Lonnie is definitely a life-long learner. He always has a couple books that he’s reading and they are not all fiction. He’s a facts and figures kind of guy. And I feel kind of dead if I’m not pushing myself to learn something new. Learning keeps me feeling young and alive. I’m more of a doer. I want to learn a new skill or technique versus just obtaining information and facts. This blog has been a huge learning curve for me. I can do things on my computer and camera that I never thought I would know how to do. And a lot of my learning definitely happens through trial and error.

I few years ago I took a community college course in Adobe Illustrator to help with my blogging skills. I am far from an expert, and would love to learn more, but I try to play with AI as often as possible so that I don’t forget what I learned and hopefully a learn something new. I also have a Bamboo drawing tablet that I got for Christmas the year before last. I don’t use it as much as I’d like to, so I decided to take it out this weekend and “play”. I thought I’d work on some hand lettering, and this is the end result. It’s a little reminder for my kids as they head back to school and frankly for myself. I’m all about this peachy coral color right now (and my sister in law, who faithfully prints of my stuff, loves this color). And I’d be more then happy to share this simple little printable with you.  So, if you’d like a copy of this 8×10″ print, just click here for the download.

Here’s a couple instagrams from this morning. I have some really great kids you guys. This year I felt strongly that I was supposed to pray two things over them.  1. Confidence and 2. Compassion: I want them to be confident in who they are and I want them to be compassionate and see other’s needs.

etc. / Food & Drink

Easy Summer Entertaining with Outshine Fruit Bars

August 13, 2013

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™
and Outshine Fruit Bars, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SnackBrighter http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”

I love to entertain and in the Summer that means throwing something on the grill. It gets really hot here and turning on the oven is the last thing I want to do. But, any good get together has to end in a yummy sweet treat.  I say, keep it cool and serve something icy cold. When it comes to enjoying a refreshing treat, Outshine Fruit Bars are the only way to go.

I can’t get enough of these fantastically fresh fruit bars. They come in lots of really great flavors, my favorite is probably the creamy coconut.  All the bars are packed with real fruit and made with simple and honest ingredients. And did I mention that some of the bars have as little as 70 calories! They are totally a no guilt treat.

I’m serving creamy coconut, peach, strawberry, and pineapple. The colors all look fabulous together and served on a tray of ice, everyone’s treat stays cool.

For more about Outshine Fruit Bars, you can follow them on Facebook.

DIY / etc.

Pineapple Tote Bag

August 10, 2013

In keeping with my pineapple theme this week, I’ve made a couple pineapple tote bags. Pineapples are such classic motif and they add a touch of summer to these simple pre-made bags.

This is an easy craft for my all my Cricut friends. I purchased a couple canvas bags in cream and denim and my local craft store.  Then I used the pineapple shape from the Cricut cartridge, Serenade, and cut out 3 of each shape on Cricut Iron-on Vinyl. And finally, just as simply as it sounds, I ironed on the vinyl pineapples. The glittery gold on the denim is my fave, but the black on cream is pretty sharp as well.

For more pineapple fun, check out my Pineapple Chicken Rice Salad and the Window Shopping I did for Pineapple Pretties.