a little (chest)y......

Hey there! How are you all on this fine day?

The hubby's great grandmother recently moved to a retirement community because she was having trouble living alone. In the process of this move, the family all got together and helped move her to her new home, as well as helped empty the house. We were told if we wanted anything, to ask and throw our names on it.

Well, lookie what I found.....

I found this beauty and asked for her really quick. I can't believe no one else wanted her!!! How about a closer look? I think so....

I just love her so much! I have wanted a cedar chest for about 10 years now, and I never thought I would get one. Can you see the two toned wood on the top and front? And the gorgeous inlaid pine in the front? Gorg!!

And this old girl is, well, old.

There is a button on the front that you need to push in order to open the chest - great to keep little fingers out! It also came with the original key that still works!

Now for what I found inside. This chest was made in Hanover, Ontario. Lets here it for something made in my province! (In case you didn't know, it's not a common thing for us to see)

So pretty! The inside is in great condition!

It's the original moth insurance form from 1940!

How cool is that!

And there was even a patent stamped into the lid, so I am not sure how old she really is, but i am guessing old enough. A lady never tells anyway, right?

All in all, a pretty good find.

This house needed to get a little chesty. Now, what to put in her? I feel like I need to put silk in there.

What do you guys think?

K.

Linking to:
HOH #97 



one cool dude

Hey guys!

Remember here when I showed you the corduroy pillows I made, and the shorts on the dog result? Well, I couldn't resist!

Motley loves to be dressed up in shirts, doesn't matter what kind - small, large, tank tops, tube tops. Loves 'em.

So how could I resist dressing him up a little bit more?  Look at that face - can you even blame me?

So does anyone else dress their animals up? I would absolutely love to see them!

K.
Linking to:
HOH#97 

quick pillows

Hi guys.

Today is just a quick post that I am sure everyone has done. Use pant legs to make pillows!

The hubby had a pair of cords that were toast, instead of tossing them I turned them into little accent pillows.

 

 Now be kind, this was my first time using a sewing machine or making pillows! Please don't be fooled, I did not make the gorgeous front pillow - I wish I did though!

No, I took these worn old corduroy pants:

 Chopped the legs off to make these beauties:

shepherd's pie

Howdy people.

I pinned a shepherd's pie a few weeks ago from Cambell's Kitchen. I know shepherd's pie is a pretty easy thing to make, but I thought I would try something different.

 

I made some changes to the recipe, like using real potatoes instead of instant. Instant potatoes freak me out - no idea why. They just do.

Cambell's Kitchen - Shepherd's Pie (with additions)

1 pound ground beef                                                              1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 tbsp ketchup                                                                       1/8 tsp ground black pepper

1 cup frozen peas and carrots                                                1 cup milk

 2 tbsp butter                                                                          4 lg potatoes, boiled & mashed

1 can Campbell's®  Cream of Mushroom Soup                   

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Cook the beef and onion in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is well browned, stirring to separate meat. Pour off any fat.
• Stir the soup, ketchup, black pepper and peas and carrots in the skillet.  Spoon the beef mixture into a 9-inch pie plate.
• Stir 1/2 cup shredded cheese into already prepared mashed potatoes; Spoon over the beef mixture.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are lightly browned. Add remaining cheese to top of dish, bake 10 minutes. Broil until cheese is browned.

 That's it. Serve and enjoy.

Any shepherd's pie recipes you guys recommend?

K.

Linking to:
HOH #96

carrot cake cupcakes - BHG

Hi there!

The hubby's birthday was a few weeks a month ago (sorry so late!) and he LOVES carrot cake - with all capitol letters! So while browsing Better Homes and Gardens one day I came across a great recipe and pinned it. I knew I could use it for his birthday cake/cupcakes. I always ask him which he feels like - this year, cupcakes. 

scrabble anyone??

Hi guys.

Whew! What a weekend, hope you all had a great Easter!

Today I am going to show you a great idea I saw over at The Twice Remembered Cottage . It's a magnetic scrabble board!

I know, I know. I am a little late on the chevron train, but I don't care. I have been waiting for the right decor item to use it with. I thought that this would be an ideal use of it.

.....and life keeps going

Hey everyone.

Well, I am trying to stay upbeat right now and having a hard time. And I said to myself, Self....(JK!) I wouldn't do that to you guys.

But I did take a step back and went back to my previous post here. And I thought that instead of running to my room and pulling the covers or my eyes again, I should snap out of it.

Life goes on. 

 (source)

Just because something happened to me, does not mean that life stops moving forward. No one knows that I am devastated but me, and I can't take it out on others.

If you did read my last post, you will know that the news is not good. 

We were hoping for the call to give us the greatest news in the world. 4 years in the making. But, it was not the results we wanted.

I just thought I would share that with you guys. 

No nursery plans in my future.

But that's okay. We will try again next month, and who knows? Maybe I will have some news to tell you guys.

K.

kitchen countertop - a spray paint affair

Hello again!

Back in December I posted about the mini kitchen redo I did. If you missed the post, you can check it out here.

As a reminder, here is the before and after:

Quite the difference! Here is a closeup of the countertop before and after:

Doesn't that before and after just make you want to squeal?

Cause I know I did!

before & after - fake plant

Hello again.

Today I have a before and after of a fake plant I received for Christmas a few years ago. I loved the flowers, not the pot it came in.

So what's a DIY-er to do?

chocolate snickerdoodles

Hey there people!

I am back today with another recipe for cookies! The hubby and I were having a sweet tooth craving tonight, so I popped on over to Pinterest and looked through the many (many) cookie recipes that I have pinned.

After some careful deliberation, we settled on Chocolate Snickerdoodles from The Farm Girl Recipes. I must say, it was a very good choice!

Life Goes On......

Well, hello there. 

Gosh, it's been forever. 

Sorry about my absence, but I had some personal things to deal with over the past month. Actually, it is an issue that I have been dealing with for over three years now, but it hit hard last month.  I found this, and it really helped pull me out of the emotional drowning I was experiencing.

(source)

I know I previously posted about telling you guys more about myself, and if there ever was a time for it, it's now. 

banana bread

Hi guys!

I made some banana bread this weekend and I got to say, it was pretty yummy. It's a great way to use up over ripe bananas.

it's here!! it's here!!

It's here! Holy smokies it's here!

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway through The Pinterest Project for a bag from Daisy Lane Designs! And it's fabulous!

I took a few pictures to show you guys!

Isn't it great! And the quality is amazing... definitely a good investment. The above link is straight to her Etsy shop. You should take a look!

And a picture of the tag.

Well that's it for this post. If you are in the market for a new purse and wanted something handmade and unqiue. Check out Daisy Lane Designs!

Until next time!

K.



downstairs bathroom update

Hi guys!

Today I just have an update about the downstairs bathroom. I mentioned before here that I had some hyigene items that I needed to move from the upstairs bathroom.

This bathroom is in serious need of a makeover, but it will have to wait!

Here is a quick before

(please ignore the paint brush - I didn't notice it until right now!)

And after a quick redecoration. It's not much, I just grabbed what I had around the house that wasn't being used.

And a shot of the items that were moved. Before I moved this all down here, the space was empty. I am ashamed to say that, but it's true.

But not anymore. I am happy that I found a place for all of our "sometimes" products.

Have you guys completed any mini-makeovers?

K.



quick before & after

Well hello!

I just have a quick post for you today - a before and after of sorts. I took a plain storage container, you know the clear ones that have drawers?

Well I made some chalkboard labels for it.

Before:

the great crap cleanup - laundry room

Hey there!

A few weeks ago I linked up to a party going on a Lovely, Crafty, Home. I joined up three different areas in my house that I started to pile crap in. If you missed it you can check out my original post here. If you have already viewed the horrors you must think I am brave.

I felt we all should stop hiding the truth - we all do it! I am sure that some part of your house has piles of randomness all over it.

But back to this post, I have an update!

This is

The Great Crap Cleanup - Laundry Room Edition

(snappy title, eh?)

First a before picture.

I decided to tackle the easiest room first. I know, pretty good strategy.

All of this stuff was from the upstairs bathroom from after the Reno. I ran out of room, and needed to move it into the downstairs bathroom. Once I got my buns in motion, it was pretty easy to clean up.

you & me wall art - my take

I'm back! Did you miss me?

I saw a great art idea at Little Lovelies that I just had to try! It called You & Me wall art. Allison pinned this print here from Castle & Things. 

(source)

Isn't it just great? I just love it (get it?). When I first saw this, I thought it would look great with my gallery wall in the basement. So, I pinned it and forgot about it.

Don't we all?

wordy wednesday

Hello!

I thought I would try something a little different to spice this blog up. I have just been posting when I complete a project or when I think of something to show you guys. Everyone has things going on in their personal lives, and I have been letting things get in the way of doing something I was really starting to enjoy! And that is this blog.

It's an outlet. A way to share things with people I would never usually meet in real life. It's a place I can show things I like, things I'm proud of, or show something just because I want to. And I know that you guys won't judge me (much)! I have trouble letting people into my life, and this is a way to help me open myself up. I can be proud of something and put it our there for anyone to see; and whether I get a million (did anyone read that imagining a Mr. Biggles-worth on my lap? No? Just me then) page views or none - the main thing is that I put it out there.

So anyway, back to the reason behind this post!

With everyone on Pinterest, it is great to be able to like something and keep it with you in a way. When you see something funny or cute, you pin it.  You may never look at it again, or you may feel like sharing it the world. 

I am always finding quotes, sayings or just funny word posts all over the web. Recently I started pinning them to my Words & Phrases board on Pinterest.

I decided that every few Wednesday's I would share some of these with you guys. It is something that everyone can appreciate and have a chuckle with. 

So enjoy!

(Pinterest) via (source)

i have crap too

Hi there!
 Look at me, I am actually keeping up with a goal I had for this blog!

Lovely Crafty Home is having a Get Your Crap Together link party this week. I am feeling this kind of party.

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and then the quick get rid of all the evidence sweep - I have some major crap piles going on. And in the spirit of sharing, I figured I would take pictures (read: evidence) of the crap I have going on and show you guys.

I have a few minor areas and one major area. First, to make myself look good I will show you the little stuff.

~ Craft Closet ~

Kitchen After

Hello again! The stars seem to be aligning for me right now and my computer is going to let me show you guys the kitchen after pictures. They didn't seem to want to be uploaded the last few days.

So anyway, as I mentioned here I did a mini-reno of the kitchen. The yellow cabinets and brown counter top are history!

 A before and after picture, side by side:

Top 5 of 2011

Hello Again! Can you believe 2012 is here already? I know I can't; time sure flies after you are about 12 years old!

My wish for this blog in 2012 is get get my creative juices going and show you guys how crafty I can be. I found last year (so weird to say that four days into "this" year) I would forget to take pictures of before I did a redo, or of the steps. Even sometimes I forgot to show you guys at all! This blog is so new to me, but I promise to do better from now on.

I have been seeing "Top Posts of 2011" everywhere I look, and it got me to thinking? What were my top posts? This blog only started in September 2011, so there are really not many "top" posts. But I did find five that were head and shoulders above the others.Without further delay:

Top 5 Posts in 2011!

#1 - Ribbon Tree; with over a thousand page views is by far the leader of the pack.

 (original post here)