Let There Be Fire

It's so easy to get a fire permit in my city, I'm not sure why it took me so long to make a fire pit. This is really just the beginning of what could be a grander project, but this'll do for now.

My inspiration:

 

So gorgeous.

Here's what I have now:

Short of the sand, which I fully intend to get, eventually, it's pretty darn close to my inspiration photo. An almost free project. The rocks we had lining a poorly placed garden that could only ever grow weeds. We bought the Adirondack chairs for $18/each, those aren't a necessity. You could get away with using something natural for seating, like logs to keep the cost down to nothing.  Buy the permit for $20, then boom, done.

Check out your local recreational fire code and give your husband a shovel. There's nothing better than the smell of a fire on a cool night.

<3 dani

Drop It Like It's Hot: Menu Monday

Well hello friends. I fell off the wagon. Well, not technically, as I've still been making a menu at home, I just haven't been posting them. Oopsies.

A week ago, the Farmer's Market that's only 1.5 miles away from my house opened for the season. My new workout plan requires me to walk three miles at least three times a week, which is the perfect distance to make several trips to the FM. How convenient.

So here goes.

Monday Dinner: Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tuesday Dinner: Smoky Spice Rubbed Salmon -- I've had salmon in the freezer for a looooong time. I refuse to fry it because I'm trying so hard to shed this baby weight. This sounds like an amazing recipe.

Wednesday Dinner:

Thursday Dinner: Mexican Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas -- I'm using Pork Steak for this. That's what I have in the freezer.

Friday Dinner: Cilantro Lime Tilapia Tacos

Saturday Breakfast: Slim Fast -- Say whatcha want, slim fast is a great way to kick-start weight loss. It is especially helpful for people like me who overeat even healthy foods. I buy the power at Sam's Club ($14) and mix with 8oz of Skim Milk. Boom 200 Calories.

Saturday Lunch: Leftovers (that's assuming there are leftovers)

Saturday Dinner: Grilled Chicken Bruschetta

Sunday Breakfast: Happy Father's Day!!! Going out to Breakfast!!!

Sunday Lunch: Salads...whatever's around

Sunday Dinner: Biscuits and Gravy

Enjoy.

<3 dani

Shh...Baby's Sleeping

My kid can pretty much sleep through anything; dogs barking, doors slamming, husband sneezing, he can handle it. So, I suppose one of these adorable little door hangers isn't really necessary, but it might help keep the solicitors away...ah yes, my ulterior motives surface and I'm totally using my child.

Of course I was originally inspired while putzing around Etsy and figured I'd eventually make one, but after an unruly encounter with a solicitor last week, my intentions were kicked into high gear and I finally got around to making this:

It was as simple as buying a door hanger at Michael's, painting it, then writing on it. Less than a dollar. Let's hope it works. Hey, even if you don't have a kid you should try it...keep the door-to-door folks away. :-)

<3 dani

Is It Summer Break Yet?

Time is dragging. I cannot wait to get back to blogging. My summer break begins in one week, but I plan to start posting again next week! I have so many projects to tell you about. Oy Vey. Who knew being a mommy to a five month old, a doggy mommy, a wife, and a Dean would take so much time ;-)

As you await my return, look at my cute kid 

See you all again on Monday. Menu Monday is back.

<3 dani

Drop It Like It's Hot: Menu Monday V

Once again, we spent most of last week eating from the freezer section. Luckily for us we took home a couple meals worth of Easter leftovers. Sometimes making a menu works. Sometimes it just doesn't. Turns out the baby is the boss now.

He's a really cute boss though, right? He's also really interested in Daddy's Biscuits and Gravy.

Anyhoot, on to our menu for this week.

Monday Dinner: Breakfast Burritos

Tuesday Dinner: Crockpot Lasagna

Wednesday Dinner: Ham, Broccoli & Cheese Pasta Bake -- The Hubs doesn't like mushrooms, so I made a few little changes from the original that I linked. Still the same concept though.

Thursday Dinner: McCormick Spaghetti

Friday Dinner: In Chicago -- yay!

Saturday Lunch: Leftovers or Hotdogs or Frozen Pizza

Saturday Dinner:  whatever we didn't eat for lunch ;-)

Sunday Breakfast: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

Sunday Lunch: Crescent Roll Pizzas


Sunday Dinner: Meat Loaf & Mashed Potatoes

Have a delicious week.

<3 d

Another Chalkboard Paint Project

It's probably a good thing that I waited until recently to buy a can of chalkboard spray paint...otherwise my entire house might be covered with the stuff.

In case you missed it, a couple weeks ago I did THIS project. And today, while Ryne was napping, I did this!! (again, sorry for the crappy pics...camera is still at school...)
 

For months I've been trying to figure out a way to incorporate a menu/notes board into our kitchen, but I'm working with such limited wall space, that finding a spot has been difficult. But on Monday, as I sat in our office, paying bills, and staring at the whiteboard hung on the wall that still had notes from last school year, I had an epiphany.

 That whiteboard (that my hubby brought home from work..i.e. FREE) shall be my new menu board and it shall go right here:

A while back I put up the shelf. Check out the post HERE.

To make my board, all I had to do was spray the chalkboard paint on, let it dry, tape off the chalkboard area and spray the frame green. Let it dry. Done. I'm so in love.

And speaking of Opening Day, a little Cubs love!

<3 dani

Bottle Cap Art

This project, like many of my projects, was born out of necessity. Necessity to get rid of a piece of art that had seen better days.

I had framed a sprig of rosemary...not thinking that eventually it would dry out and all I would be left with was a twig...yeah, pretty in it's own right, but I could do better. 

Luckily, I hoard a couple of things. Bottle caps are one of those things. A couple of years ago I made THESE awesome coasters using bottle caps and since then I've continued to collect caps with the hopes that one day I'd make more (ps -- if I hit 100 followers by April 15th, I will hold a giveaway for a set of those marvelous things). But there are more caps than I need for more coasters, so I came up with another use.

Here is the new piece of coaster art: (sorry for the poor photos. I'm using my iphone because I forgot my camera at work and there's no way in hell I'm entering the school over spring break to retrieve it -- pretty sure that's against the law or something)

It was originally this:

All I did was rummage through my cap collection.

Organize the caps within the matte and hot glue them down.

Re-hang and boom, done.

 

If you like the "S", check out that project HERE

I dig it.

<3 dani

Drop It Like It's Hot: Menu Monday IV

I totally skipped my menu last week. Whoops. It was the last week before spring break and things were a bit chaotic, so most of our meals were either frozen or from a box.

mmmmmm

Now that I'm on break, I can actually chill out and make some yummies this week.

Monday Dinner: Biscuits and Gravy

Tuesday Dinner: Breakfast Burritos

Wednesday Dinner: Beef Stroganoff (make it simple, just grab some meat and a package of McCormick's Beef Stroganoff mix -- done)

Thursday Dinner: Curry Chicken

Friday Dinner: Asian Chicken

Saturday Lunch: Leftovers 

Saturday Dinner: Out

Sunday Breakfast: ...not sure...something light, so we can pig out later.

Sunday Lunch/Dinner: Easter Meal

Have a delicious week!

<3 dani

Easter Bucket

Remember back in the good ol' days when finding something with your name printed on it was like the coolest? Or maybe you were one of those kids who could never find anything with your name on it because your parents clearly didn't think that far ahead when naming you...(I am one of those parents).

Luckily for my little guy, the internet, Etsy and vinyl die cutters exists, otherwise the closest thing to a personalized item he'd get would be an off-centered, puffy painted, white t-shirt that I, most likely, wouldn't let dry long enough, so the paint would smear all over. Yeah.

Instead he gets this cool thing.

Even though in my mind it was a novel idea, apparently I'm not the first one to think of this. I went to Etsy and did a search for "easter bucket" and this is what I found. I realized two things: first, some are way overpriced; second, I could totally make one on my own with a little help.

All I had to do was buy the bucket (Dollar Store), grab the ribbon from my craft supplies (reused from a diaper cake) and search Etsy to find a shop that would make the name decal (Design Threadz -- all I did was give my dimensions and BAM I had my own listing. That's service.)  the correct size and finally order it!

I ordered the bath sticker toys here.

Love Love Love.

<3 dani

Simple Spring Mantle

It's nothing special. Just a simple change, but simple is good. One day I might drastically change it up, but I can't find anything to put up there that won't distract the beautiful wood.

Big fan of old books. They chill in almost every room of our house. They aren't in the bathroom, but I suppose that having them in there isn't such a terrible idea. Reading material...

Subtle colors. I loathe pastels, unless they are covering delicious candies. 

Of course some pottery from my ol' college buddy Lindsey Burns (the new owner of Bohemian Home in Plymouth, MI). 

I have a pretty sweet collection rocks. No really. I love rocks.

Happy Spring y'all.

<3 dani

Mobile Shmobile

Seriously? Mobiles are unbelievably, unnecessarily expensive. And is it possible for them to make one that matches my son's nursery theme? Noooo.

So, once again, we must improvise.

 

These poofies from momadvice.com inspired me. Of course, I'm not making mine pink. I already get in enough trouble when I make my son watch Clueless and sing Madonna. Heaven forbid he have pink poofies in his room ;-)  

My version:

Here's what I did. 

For the large poof, I took 10 sheets of tissue paper out of their package, unfolded them, then refolded accordion style. Be sure to crease your folds. --For the two small poofs, I cut 2 large sheets in half to make 4 smaller sheets (that's all I had -- oopsie -- a tad under prepared and over-excited).

Then, I wrapped and tied the middle with the ribbon I planned to hang it with. 

Next, I  separated each sheet from the other.

I forgot the rounding of the edges step on my big poof...yes, I was rushing.

After that, I carefully poofed each sheet. A few sheets were sacrificed by my hastiness.

And finally, I hung them above my little guy's changing table. Nice.

Yet another quick, inexpensive craft that you can even do half-assed and it still looks pretty neat. High-five.

<3 dani

Chalkboard Herb Planters

 
Hallelujah! I finally bought a can of chalkboard paint. I was inspired by a Michael's email suggesting this project:

How pretty, right? Although, I'm 90% sure no one's handwriting is that perfect...

My version:

Here's how I did this.

 I got me some pots. $3 total

Masked them off...literally...I couldn't find my painter's tape, so I used my masking tape. By the way, it worked just fine.

Sprayed 'em down.

 Completely painted and pretty.

And in their new home. I went to buy plants, but they all looked so gross and sick. Maybe I'll start from seed. So for now they sit empty, but you get the idea.

In total, this took about two hours and that's only because the pots had to dry before I could fill them.

Try it. This will be way easier to maintain than my outdoor garden that I let go straight to hell last year when I was preggers. I'm not a fan of weeding.

<3 dani

Drop It Like It's Hot: Menu Monday III

Phew, what a week.

The weather was unseasonably warm, so some of the meals I had planned for last week I ended up switching out. I switched either because I didn't want to run the oven or because we were too busy enjoying the outdoors.

Lesson #1 of creating a weekly menu, be prepared for last minute changes. Always have something quick and easy on hand that anyone [ahem, The Hubs] can make in case something comes up.

This week, I prepared for warm weather. 

We're having picnics everyday!!!!!...juuust kidding.

Monday Dinner: Grilled BBQ Chicken & Potato salad

Tuesday Dinner: Slow-Cooker Pork Tenderloin

Wednesday Dinner: Slow-Cooker Chicken Soft Tacos

Thursday Dinner: Frozen Pizza 

Friday Dinner: Tater Tot Casserole 

Saturday Lunch: Leftovers 

Saturday Dinner:  Chili Hash

Sunday Breakfast: Biscuits and Gravy 

Sunday Lunch: Leftovers 

Sunday Dinner: Spaghetti

Yummers.

Have a delicious week!

I'm linking up here

<3 dani