Garden Bouquet

Now is the time to clip the last of the flowers from your garden. We are expecting snow the Rocky Mountains this weekend, so I wanted to make sure to get some flowers inside.

I took some clippers outside and looked for autumn colors. I went next door and clipped some too. (I asked first) Missy didn't mind at all. I happeed to use a Steel Cut Oatmeal tin, but a can of pumpkin would be cute too. I just slipped a small drinking glass inside to hold the water.
I think it looks so sweet on the table, I can now get ready for some snow!

By the way, you can see one of the chairs from my last post in the picture. Pretty good match! The lazy susan is a DIY re-do for next week!

Garden Bouquet

DIY Dining Room Chairs

All the boys went away for a football weekend, leaving me alone to look for a project. My dining rooms chairs were in bad shape, so we just replaced them with really swanky new ones! (Can't wait to show you) So since the old ones were just sitting there in the garage, I decided to fix-em'-up. They were bound for Goodwill so what is the worst that could happen?

Here is the chair "before". Why yes as a matter of
fact those are the chairs from "Everybody Loves Raymond" in the early 90's. I had a little footstool in my closet that I decided to throw in the mix.
Lessons Learned:

1. Don't use crappy primer. This brand is what I am referring to

This primer made all the difference!


I used the dark primer because I wanted to paint the chairs black.

2. Don't use crappy spray paint. You have to get the best spray paint, it will save you a ton of time, cursing, and money in the long run.

3. Drink lots of Chick-Fil-A Iced Tea. I think it has triple the caffeine of regular iced tea. (I did all six chairs in one afternoon)

I roughed up the chairs with sandpaper for a lightly distressed look. (We distresss things around here, might as well go with it)
I decided to use a paste wax for a hand rubbed finish, it looks okay but it wasn't necessary.

Here is one of the finished chairs, and the footstool is now a pumpkin holder.
Ahhhhhh....much better.

DIY Dining Room Chairs

Holiday Cards

(Image from Gorsuch)

This is what I would like to see this year from my cousin Lisa's family that happens to live in Norway (your goodie package is on its way). Dear Lisa, please put all of your children in Dale of Norway Sweaters and sit them on an antler bench. I am NOT KIDDING! You have no idea how many times I've tried to get my boys into these sweaters. My husband is the president of the "No way in (lets say heck) are you getting me in that sweater." Club. I did get close to that one year, but now that the boys are teenagers all bets are off.


I love Norwegian sweaters. LOVE them. So Lisa, get on it. Now! (I can be bossy now and then)


This picture is from Gorsuch. It is a Colorado company that sells an "Aspen lifestyle". Here is one of my favorite outfits under "Colorado Cool"



I did the math for you. The outfit is about $3,000.00 if you purchase it in the catalog. YES that is Three Thousand Dollars. I just went shopping in my closet, target and wal-mart (don't get me started on how much I dislike wal-mart) and put it together for lets say considerably less!! You wouldn't catch me dead with a scarf tied around my neck by the way. I'm 5 foot 3 (on a good day) and a small person. I would look like a......actually I'm not sure what. And white jeans in the winter. WHAT? I did find some "winter white" skinny jeans that are adorable. You will NEVER guess where. Hint: I was there to buy Javalogs for the fire-pit. The logs weren't there but these jeans were! I'll post pictures of my outfit soon with the price comparison. What looks do you like to "knock off"?
'

Holiday Cards

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's October and you know what that means....pumpkin! These cookies are the best, they are easy to freeze, and they aren't half-bad eating them straight from the freezer. (it has been known to happen)

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

1 egg

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil and egg, set aside. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda in the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.

2. Now add the vanilla and chocolate chips

3. Drop batter using a mini scoop or teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

I got the recipe from my cousin Lisa so I think of her when I make them.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mr. Draper call me a cab...

This is an open letter to all Colorado drivers.
Please stop crashing into my car.

As you may know I was in a car accident about six months ago. I was hit in an intersection by a young, inexperienced driver. I was less than a mile from my house. Because of some memory and attention problems the doctors put a medical hold on my liscense. I was not able to drive for six months. About a week ago the neurologist finally gave me the "go-ahead" to drive my kids to school, the grocery store, and with supervision perhaps to the mall.

I started driving about a week ago, and I have to say it was pretty scary. I was convinced someone was going to crash into me at every turn. Well it happened last night. I was yet again on the SAME STREET and was rear-ended less than a mile from my house. It sounds like a joke. But jokes are usually funny. This time my car was not totalled and I'm fine. My back bumper is currently residing in the back seat of my BRAND NEW car with hardly any miles on it.

For a week I was driving around waiting for the worst to happen. Well it did happen, but it turned out fine. You know how you dread the first scratch on your car, but then when it happens you can stop thinking about it? Well the person hit me, I'm fine, I got it over with, and now I can move on.

But please everyone, if you happen to see me on the road, pull over to the side and let me pass unharmed.

I have to go now, Mr. Draper has called me a cab.

Mr. Draper call me a cab...

Works for Me Wednesday

Turkey bacon and egg on whole wheat tortillas.


I make "grab and go" breakfast and lunch items to keep in the refrigerator and freezer so we can get out the door fast around here. I make turkey bacon and egg quesadillas, fruit kebabs, or slow-cooker oatmeal so it is ready when the boys get up.(One is in middle school and the other is in high school so they are on different schedules)




(peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat raisin bread panini and brown rice crispy treats)
I try to make a healthy breakfast and lunch that they will still enjoy. My younger son brings his lunch everyday so I make the "cookie of the week"(and hope they can last for a week without disappearing), and a couple of different panini choices that I make on Monday morning. He just has to grab one of each and throw them in a bag. (then my husband writes a different fictional name on his bag every morning, usually it is some obscure character from The Simpsons. ) We are very fortunate that our boys get up and get going on their own. Our mornings are pretty calm around here for a nice change.

Works for Me Wednesday

Give a boy and sandwich...

and he will eat for a day. Give him a panini press and he can make his own sandwiches for a lifetime!



I would have cut that sandwich in half for two meals. But he's a boy and thinks a sandwich the size of your head is great for lunch.

Give a boy and sandwich...