Tonight will be my first time giving out candy in this house!
I didn’t decorate very much for Halloween (only the mantle), but last night we did carve pumpkins.
I don’t think Ringo liked my pumpkin…
Happy Halloween!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
New Button!
The Junk House has a new button!
Take one and spread the love =)
If you already have a Junk House button you’ll need to update your code…Sorry, I know it’s a pain!
A special thanks to Elena at three little birdies designs for making my new button! If you are looking for anything blog-makeover related I’d definitely recommend her! She’s quick and very reasonable.
And no, I didn’t get compensated in any way to say that!
Take one and spread the love =)
If you already have a Junk House button you’ll need to update your code…Sorry, I know it’s a pain!
A special thanks to Elena at three little birdies designs for making my new button! If you are looking for anything blog-makeover related I’d definitely recommend her! She’s quick and very reasonable.
And no, I didn’t get compensated in any way to say that!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
#8, Kitchen Artwork
One more project crossed off the list!
This project took WAY longer than it should have...I was suffering from a serious case of design paralysis. I couldn’t decide what color the frame should be, I couldn’t decide on a quote, I couldn’t decide on the color of the paper, I didn’t know if the frame was big enough, etc. etc. Finally I (mentally) slapped myself across the face and made some decisions!
The first decision was a black frame. I forgot to take a before picture, but the frame was originally gold. I used gray spray primer and FolkArt Shiny Black to paint the frame and inner frame piece.
The second decision was the quote. I found this print on Pinterest and fell in love. I would have bought this print, but it wasn’t quite what I had in mind.
Source: blimpcat on Etsy via Sam on Pinterest
I also loved this image from the Graphics Fairy.
Source: The Graphics Fairy via Sam on Pinterest
Combine the 2 and you have this:
You don’t even want to know how much time I spent in Picasa making this…
The third decision was all about the details. I printed my new artwork on a piece of gray paper from my scrapbook stash. Then I used a piece of aqua paper to make a little heart. I used my handy dandy sewing machine to stitch it up and then bent up the sides.
Finally after a week of being a wishy-washy baby, my wall went from blank:
to this:
I love how it turned out!
Cost
Frame – Savers $3.99
White Mat – WalMart $1something
Krylon Spray Primer in Gray – on hand
FolkArt Paint – WalMart $1something
Gray Paper – on hand
Aqua Paper – Michael’s less than $1
Total ~$7.00
If you want a copy of my print, send me an e-mail (or leave a comment). It’s nothing too special, but I’m willing to share.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Above My Skill Level
When I bought my house I knew the RV gate would need to be replaced soon. No sugar coatin’ – the thing was a piece of crap. I’d been planning to replace it for the last few months, but never got around to calling someone for an estimate. Then we got Ringo. And we knew that broken down fence wouldn’t keep our wild animal in.
I forgot to take a proper before picture, but these should give y’all an idea.
One night I’m looking at pictures of new RV gates,
My boyfriend: “My dad can probably build that. I’ll call him tomorrow and ask.”
Me: “Say whaaaa?! Just like this? The iron and wood and everything?”
BF: “Yeah, he has a welder.”
And that was that.
On Saturday the boys (my boyfriend, his dad, and his brothers) worked their buns off tearing down the old gate and hanging the new one. And on Sunday my boyfriend and I painted the gate and added the wood slats. Yep, I can only take credit for being an extra pair of hands and helping spray paint the gate and posts. Welding is not one of my skills.
Ready for amazingness?
The Front (and a peeking puppy)
The Back
Who knew you could fall in love with a gate?!
Cost
Material – around $300
(My boyfriend doesn’t track what every little thing costs like I do)
And I definitely owe my boyfriend’s dad dinner!
I can’t forget the most important thing: It keeps my little bear safely in the yard!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Blogger Q+A
Want to know my favorite place to relax? If I sing in the car? Well, I’m telling all today!
The adorable Jodie at jodie noted has invited me to participate in her Blogger Q+A series!
Stop by here to find out my favorite comfort foods, first movie star crush, guilty pleasure CD, and lots more!
And say hi to Jodie while you are there!
Ringo Thinks You’re Awesome
If you’ve stopped by lately I’m sure you’ve noticed some changes. I’ve been working (slowly) to fancy-up my blog. The Junk House has a new background, a new header, and some added features. Now it’s about time for some new buttons! OK, so I only have 1 new button (so far), but I love it!
Please take one if you’ve been featured, name-dropped, listed on my blogroll, have been a sponsor, or are a regular commenter…because I we think you’re pretty cool.
So, what do you think of the new look and the new button?
Please take one if you’ve been featured, name-dropped, listed on my blogroll, have been a sponsor, or are a regular commenter…because
So, what do you think of the new look and the new button?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
#9, Fall Mantle
I finally decorated my mantle for Fall/Halloween!
This is how my mantle has been “decorated” for the last few months:
Please don’t think that I think this looks good. I put some of my favorite pieces up here while I was unpacking and never got around to placing them in their permanent places…oops!
I haven’t done any Fall/Halloween decorating, so I figured I’d start with the mantle (and it was on my list).
You probably noticed that I painted the mirror. I used Creamy by SW and I think it looks SO much better white.
The candy corn candle idea is from Your Decorating Hotline via Pinterest. Yes, I actually made something I pinned!
I made the bunting using my scrapbook paper stash. I sewed the pieces together with my sewing machine. I think it looks cuter and will probably hold better than glue. I punched 2 holes in each and strung them together on some ribbon.
The twigs are from my neighbor’s tree. Branches hanging over my yard = Mine! I used the leftover fabric from my pillow for the bow. The big pumpkin was 99 cents at the grocery store. All of the little pumpkins were 50 cents each at the farmers market. The striped pumpkins are from Wal-Mart - $2.97 for a bag.
For about $10.00 (pumpkins, candy corn, 2 glass jars) I have a mantle that I’m not ashamed of! Its projects like these that make me wonder what takes me so long!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Pile o’ Dirt
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that we were planning a little landscaping in the backyard; then I showed you I wasn’t kidding…we borrowed a tractor!
Here’s our progress:
A big pile o’ dirt (and a puppy)!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Pinterest Recipe Week Review
Last Monday I announced that I was only going to cook Pinterest recipes for dinner for the week. Everything turned out pretty good, but I only ended up with a few “keepers”. Before I crap on any recipes I want to say that these are just our opinions. You might like something we didn’t and vice versa. That’s what makes food (and life) fun; everyone is different.
All recipes have been pinned here.
Monday Night:
Biting into the bacon wrapped chicken bites was like a little taste of heaven! Seriously, these were good. My boyfriend said they were good, but unhealthy…duh! It’s wrapped in bacon! I definitely wasn’t going for healthy with this recipe…that’s what the pear in the picture is for.
Cooking Note: I used orange juice instead of lemon juice. And when I went to flip them half way through the cook time they were swimming in fat and juices, so I took them out and replaced the foil.
The potatoes were good, but nothing special. I prefer onion soup mix.
Tuesday Night:
I made some substitutions on this one. I used pinto beans instead of black beans (my bf doesn’t like black beans) and I replaced the corn with extra lean ground beef (I’m allergic to corn*). I thought this turned out pretty good, but I don’t know if I’d make it again. I have a binder full of amazing recipes and I just don’t know if this makes the cut.
*I still eat products made with corn (I refuse to give up tortilla chips), but I try not to eat whole corn.
Wednesday Night:
I dropped the ball with the roasted red pepper-garlic sauce…maybe that’s why it was just OK. I didn’t buy whole garlic because I figured I could just use my jarred minced garlic…wrong! And maybe it was just me, but my sauce took FOR-EV-ER to reduce. I was hungry and getting annoyed…maybe that’s also why I thought it was just OK.
I love, love, lurve these mashed potatoes! They are so creamy I want to bathe in them…OK maybe not, but they are gooood! Oh, and unless you are feeding an army, you don’t need to make the full recipe!
Thursday Night
No Picture =(
The shrimp is definitely a keeper! Yum Yum! I only marinated the shrimp for an hour…I don’t plan far enough ahead to marinate 24-48 hours…maybe next time. Anyway, the shrimp had great flavor and was really quick to make (not including marinating time).
However, we did not like the rice at all. I prefer my rice sticky and this made the rice too mushy for my taste. My boyfriend didn’t like the flavor.
Sunday Night
I liked the sandwich…it was tasty. It was also really quick and easy to make. My boyfriend said, “It’s good, but not the best sandwich I’ve ever had.” That’s probably true, but it was still yummy.
The fries were good, but nothing special. They turned out just like any other baked fries recipe.
Dessert
It’s cheesecake, so it was gooood. End of story.
The recipes that earned a spot in my infamous binder are:
The Marlboro Man Sandwich (maybe)
Has anyone else tried a recipe they pinned?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
#4 = Done, plus bonus!
Yep, 1 down 15 to go!
And yes, it was the easiest one on the list. So easy that after I finished I was embarrassed I put it off for so long…
Anyway…
The bathroom paint has needed to be touched up for about 6 months. *hangs head in shame* The walls have serious texture, so a few spots were missed when we originally painted. And then we replaced the toilet. The tank ended up being smaller than the original, so you could see where we hadn’t quite got behind the toilet with a second coat. Fast forward 6 months and I finally got the roller out!
Note: The “after” pictures more accurately reflect the real wall color. I took most of these pictures at night, so some are a little sketchy. Such is life for a “by night DIYer” And I'm sure you'll notice that some of the "before" and "after" pictures aren't the exact same area - after I painted I couldn't find the original spot.
While I was at it I decided to touch up the hallway paint too. The walls got dinged when we moved the treadmill out of the master bedroom and then when we moved in some of my boyfriend’s furniture. So these spots have only been there for a couple months…not nearly as bad as the bathroom.
Note: The “before” pictures more accurately reflect the real wall color.
Note: The “before” pictures more accurately reflect the real wall color.
Yes, this post is only about touching up paint. Small victories!
I’m planning on having a couple projects done next week…we’ll see…
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Pinterest Recipe Week
Yesterday I decided this would be Pinterest Recipe Week! I planned out 5 dinners (we usually eat out Friday and Saturday) and 1 dessert from the recipes I’ve been pinning on Pinterest. I think it’s about time I finally start making all this stuff I’ve been pinning…maybe someday I’ll have Pinterest Craft Week…
Dinner List
Dessert
Next Monday will be Pinterest Recipe Week Review. I’ll show off and review all the food I made. Hopefully there are some keepers in this batch.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The List - 16 Projects
A few weeks ago Allison at House of Hepworths shared her list of projects she should have finished by now. Apparently it’s been a major motivation because she’s already finished 6 of the 24 projects! I need that kind of motivation!
And so: 16 Projects To Get Workin’ On
(in no particular order)
1. Headboard for Master Bedroom - Complete
2. Mount TV on Bedroom Wall - Complete
3. Spray Paint Bathroom Vent - Complete
4. Touchup Paint in Master Bathroom - Complete
5. Replace Missing Master Bathroom Vanity Drawer
6. Add Towel Bar in Master Bathroom - Complete
7. Sew Kitchen Curtains - Complete
8. Make/Hang Kitchen Artwork - Complete
9. Decorate the Mantle - Complete
10. Expand Gallery Wall - Complete
11. Add Baseboard to Living Room
12. Paint Stripes in Office
13. Paint Desk - Complete
14. Landscape Planter in Front Yard
15. Clear and River Rock the Pool Area
16. Gravel Back Section of Yard
And yes, I probably could have finished a couple of those projects in the amount of time it took me to take all these pictures and write a post.
And no, I haven’t forgotten about the 2 other projects that are still on my “upcoming” list from a couple weeks ago. Those are still in-work.
OK, who’s taking bets on how long it takes me to finish all of these?