Shabby College Headboards

How excited can you get over a headboard?  When I first saw headboards made from shutters I knew that I wanted to make those for my daughter's rooms at college.   They were excited too when I showed them the inspiration pictures!  A college or temporary home is the perfect place to play with a decorating style or colors that you might not otherwise consider.  Plus,  DIY projects are a part of my empty-nest therapy, LOL!  So after I got the final OK that these are cute college furnishings, I set out to find shutters or louvered doors. 

The cost of a set of new louvered doors at Lowe's wasn't bad compared to the cost of a real headboard, but I really wanted to repurpose old doors that were in good condition.  After all, I was going to paint, distress and weather them!  I happened to find the perfect pair at the Habitat Restore for $60.    The Bassman then helped cut them so that both sets of headboards could be made from 2 sets of louvered doors.  This is what the original doors look like.  Blah!

These pictures from my cell phone are terrible, I forgot to take my camera that day.   And, this was likely during my "I'm not serious about a blog" time.  I had no idea I would be posting them on a blog

This headboard is a little more than 2' tall and mounted to the wall with 3M Command Strips.   Unfortunately, you can't really tell it here, but the edges are distressed by sanding so a little white and brown show through.  Maybe I'll update the pictures the next time I visit Tuscaloosa.

This headboard is sitting on the floor and it's about 5' tall.  I used Valspar faux paint weathered crackle on this one.



The girls are very happy with them!  And that makes me happy too, especially after what we forked out for those Anthropologie bedspreads!

I'm going to Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design and Success U at The Stuff of Success

~Kerry~

Miss Mattie's Southern Pimiento Cheese

When I read the February issue of Southern Living and about the same time my friend posted her delicious pimiento cheese pictures of this pretty lunch I could taste a blog post in the works.    You see, I wanted to make all 5 of those recipes in the magazine, they were all different and interesting.

Hominy Grill's Pimiento Cheese was first.  It was good, though not as spicy as I thought it would be. 

Next up was Miss Mattie's Southern Pimiento Cheese.   This one stopped me with a mouth so full I could hardly speak until it was gone.  I may never make it to the others on the list because of Miss Mattie (whoever she is).   It has sweet jalepenos and toasted pecans.

Sweet jalepenos?  I have seen sweet jalepenos in small town grocery stores, of all places, but couldn't find them in Publix.  Remembering that I have made sweet pickles from hamburger dills before, I decided to try it with jalepenos.    I had half a jar of jalepenos to work with.  I emptied most, not all, of the liquid.  Then spooned in some sugar.  Put the top on and shake, stir, shake, shake the jalepeno jar to get it all mixed up.  Allow the sugar to melt.  Leaving it out of the frig will help too.

This stuff is good!  I've never been to the Chocolate Angel Cafe and Tearoom in Richardson, Texas.  I may just have to stop in if I'm ever in the neighborhood.  Maybe I'll meet Miss Mattie and tell her how yummy this is!

The February Southern Living Pimiento Cheese recipes are here.  I'm linking up with Tasty Tuesday.

He loves me anyway

Letter art was one of the first blog-inspired projects that I made.   I don't consider myself creative enough to come up with my own unique ideas, especially with all the great inspiration on the web.  It's overwhelming!  But usually when someone handcrafts something, it carries a story with it which is unique.

This NOEL art from Pottery Barn is nice, but who wants NOEL on their mantel 24 x 7 x 365?   

This is my version, and this Word can withstand the test of time 24 x 7 x 365.

The frame is a cabinet door that I got from the Habitat Restore.    I painted and distressed the outside edges.  Scrapbook paper and Modge Podge covers the background.   The letters from the Hob Lob I painted to match the paper.    Like many things I made in the past, I gave it away.  I was honored that my friend hung it above her piano.  She's an amazing person, I'll tell you about her one day.

He loves me anyway.

1 Corinthians 13

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I don't deserve it.  God loves me anyway.

I'm linking up with

Not the Bassman's Favorite Sandwich

Who doesn't love a steak sandwich, right?  Meat between bread.  PW Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich has got to be a man's sandwich.  I was looking forward to it myself and I thought it would be a big hit.  It wasn't really.  It wasn't a total fail either. 

It's been a while since I've cooked cube steak.  I was surprised at how tender and easy it was to prepare for the sandwich.  And onions cooking in butter always means good food!

This is the lonely picture I took of the sandwich preparation.  I don't know why.  It does capture the high tech recipe holder, my Kindle!   I use it more to read recipes than to read books.  I'm sure if I added an ocean and beach chair to it, more books would be read.  Hint, hint Bassman! 

When the meal was all said and done, the sandwich was good but needed some cheese.  Maybe some swiss would be just the thing.  I will make it again if I'm not making a Reuben or a Chicago Fire or a Muffaletta...

I'm linking up with Sweet As Pie Cooking Club

Upholstery 101

"I'm going back to college", I announced one day at lunch.  ~Blinks~ What?!   Yes, I signed up for the Upholstery class at a local community college.  Oh.  No one seemed very interested beyond that.

It's the ultimate house...premo locale...walking distance to the stadium and campus.  My daughters were ecstatic that they were going to be living there.  NOT at the community college, but at THE university!  The Bassman and I were excited too in sticker shock.  Now to figure out furnishings.  I headed off to the Pottery Barn thrift store to see if there was anything at all that my daughters would even consider having in the house.  "It's a college house", I said (knowing how well things are going to be taken care of...ahem) "so the old sofa and chair from the sunroom is going there."  But it's not cute.  The situation improved from there when I proposed random chairs, painted, with fabric seating, a shabby chic look.  It was something I could learn to do.  This was a plan that we all agreed on!  I have about $5 - $8 in each of these chairs.  Including the fabric, the dining table and chairs cost about $50.  

The girls and their roommate picked out the fabric.  This was not something I could be trusted to do!  It had to be cute and have everyone's approval.   The outdoor fabric was a good choice since it is stain and soil resistant.  We all agree they are cute and are quite comfy too! 



Cute.  Roll Tide.

Corn, Corn and PW Corn and Cheese Chowder

Sweet!  I'm so happy to not only be a member of the Sweet As Pie Cooking Club, but also to get to choose a recipe for the upcoming selection for March.  Yay! 

But first there's the corn.  There's a lot of corn around here.  My father grows it in his garden and we freeze it for use during the winter months. 

It's good, the whole family loves it.  I mean, we have it every other Sunday after church for lunch.  Sometimes prepared 2 ways.  We joke about it, "Are we having corn today?"  It's a lot of corn!  It's in his freezer, my sister's freezer and my freezer.   See? 

Told ya.

PW's Corn and Cheese Chowder was a good opportunity for me to use some of that corn in a recipe that I had never tried.  Actually, I have had corn chowder only once in my life.  I don't remember where so obviously I was not impressed!  All I needed to purchase from the store was the cheese and peppers, the rest of the ingredients were on hand.  

My attention to detail was lacking though, because I didn't notice the red,yellow,orange colors for the peppers in the recipe.   I picked up green and red and they turned out just fine. 

I also used whole milk instead of half and half since that's what I had on hand.   I do like the way Sweet and Savory Snacks lightened this recipe.

I did use less cheese than PW, and more onion?  Yes, we like onion too.   Thinking the Bassman wouldn't think this was man's food, I served it along with some chicken fingers.

Add some fresh cracked pepper and enjoy!  The Bassman and I liked it.  There were leftovers for him to take to work and we gave some to our kids to take home.  Nothing went to waste!

I'm linking up with Sweet As Pie Cooking Club and Tasty Tuesday

To B(log) or not to B(log)

To be or not to be...thinking that famous quote was made by a president that I could commemorate since it's President's Day, I had to look it up to be sure.  

After two seconds of research,  turns out it was Shakespeare so I'll just move on with the intent of this post!

In 2009, I started noticing blogs while looking for decorating ideas and ran across http://thriftydecorchick.com/ .  Hmmm...this is interesting and began following.  Then I noticed one of her followers, http://myblessedlife.net/, lives just across the river from me!  Wow, the blog world just hit close to home.  I began thinking about creating my own blog and seems I don't do anything FAST, so procrastination set in.  Then inspiration came from my friend Amy at with a Vintage Twist.  I'm enjoying her photography, vintage finds and an occasional lunch together.  Amy says that she was undecided about her major back in college so she majored in the same thing that I did!  I was sure she was joking, but no.  You never know when your actions will affect someone else.  (Sorry Amy, I know this is not a real good picture, so I made it small hee hee!)

I'm also so excited to be a member of the Sweet As Pie Cooking Club.  I have always enjoyed cooking and look forward to this new online adventure!

Just wanted to share the sources of my bloggie inspiration.  Thank you ladies!

 

Valentines Day Tradition

This beauty plus 11 more arrived at my door a couple of hours ago! Today there will be dozens of flower pictures to hit the blogosphere not to mention Facebook and Twitter and all the other social media outlets, I just want to share one of mine :) !

They're from the Bassman, of course. I love him.  XOXO

When our daughters were growing up we started a Valentine tradition. We call it "fancy dinner".  Because Valentine's Day often occurs on a weekday when there are work and school commitments, soccer or play practices, etc. we scheduled our fancy dinner according to the rest of life around us.  We're pretty flexible so the fancy dinner doesn't have to be on February 14, nor is it just for couples.  The point is not to let the occasion pass without celebrating it!  The first year we did this, the grocery store had heart-shaped steaks and the Bassman put them on the grill.  Yum!  We turn off the TV and bring out the nice tablecloth, candles, china and stemware.  We sit at the dining table instead of eating at the kitchen counter!  Have you ever had iced tea in a wine glass?  Our daughters have, LOL!  It's a special dinner with very special people. Family love! 

It's never too late to start a tradition or show someone you love them.  And don't wait until February 14 to do it. 

Since the girls are away at college, this year it's a fancy dinner at Pauli's or Albany Bistro for myself and the Bassman.  I love him. 

Getting Started

Getting started.  Isn't that the title of the how-to instructions for products we purchase?   Why is getting started sometimes so difficult?  Is it too late to get started?  It's never too late to get started, they say (who is they anyway).  After following and being inspired by several blogs over the past few years, I decided it was time to jump in and get started!  What I'm starting, I'm not exactly sure.  Will I inspire, entertain or even inform?  I do know that this venture will eventually become a part of my story.   So time to get started!