An Idea From Pottery Barn

Isn't this an easy decorating idea? I found this picture on the  


Pottery Barn website. You could find bottles at the thrift store


or use old wine bottles and scrape off the labels. I like to get my


candles from the Dollar Store. What a cute inexpensive idea!

Chalkboard House Numbers

I found some small framed chalk boards at the craft store. I also bought a chalk marker to write the numbers. It looks just like chalk.

I made myself an outline with a white pencil.

Isn't this chalk pen the coolest?

I am not sure if this is where they will stay. I might put them diagonal above the mail box, but you get the idea.

An Anthropologie inspired project

I saw a cute picture from my favorite store Anthropologie. It was fruit covered in old book pages. I love anything involving old book pages and I love Anthropologie! If you look at my previous post of my christmas tree you will see I use them for a paper chain. I was able to recycle the paper chain and use it for this project. I joke that it was a $10,000 book that I destroyed. Of course I got it for 50 cents at the thrift store. So, I guess am better off not knowing the value of the book, but the project turned out really cute I think.

I had an audience, Bella.

Since I already had my book pages cut in strips, I coated the fruit in Mod Podge, then I coated the strips and started layering them on. I found it easier to use my fingers than the sponge. It took some prodding and allot of Mod Podge, because the book pages were really thick. I really love how they turned out. And they were a fraction of the cost compared to the ones at Anthropologie.

They look perfect in my china hutch!

Kevin's Creme Brulee

My husband makes the most amazing creme brulee in the world! He made me some for Valentines day and I asked if he would share his recipe.

1 quart heavy cream

6 egg yolks

2 vanilla beans

1 cup sugar (split in half)

zest from one orange

Preheat oven to 325. 

Put the heavy cream in a sauce pan over medium high.

Split the vanilla beans and scrape the pulp than add both to the cream and bring to a boil.

As soon as it boils take the cream mixture off the heat cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Whisk egg yolks with a half cup of sugar until it lightens in color usually 2-3 minutes than add the orange zest. 

 

After cream has rested combine it with the egg mixture be sure to temper the eggs so they don't cook.

Pour the mixture into 6 ramekins and place the ramekins in a cake pan and fill the pan with hot water 3/4 of the way up the ramekins. (I heat it in a tea pot while the cream is resting)

Bake for 45 minutes. 

Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.

Remove from refrigerator for a half hour prior to serving and cover with the other half cup of sugar.

Using a torch and while rotating the ramekins in your hand heat the sugar until it start to melt than turn brown then let it rest for a minute to harden.

And that is why I think he makes this dessert, because he gets to use a blow torch! So yummy and fancy. Thank you Kevin!

Valentines Day

I am thinking of how much I love my Boys today! Happy Valentines Day!

Repurposed Candle Sconce

I found these wall sconces at Target on clearance for $6. They are very Pottery Barn looking. I bought the last three left on the shelf. I used two of them in my bedroom. And what to do with the remaining one?

Here is how the bathroom looks after the Boys brush their teeth. That gave me an idea!

Kevin helped with the power tool.  He used a wall anchor and a heavy screw making sure it would hold up well.

I painted the screw to blend into the wall.

TA DA! Much better.

Nice and clean looking. Not bad for $6?

Eggs and Eggs

 

 Okay, I need to make a correction to my last post about my dislike for real birds. I DO like real birds as long as they live outside, because the mess stays outside too. With that being said; I love my chickens appropriately named Hammy, Eggs, Over, and Easy because they give us a bounty of yummy fresh eggs.

 

Here is Deacon petting dear Eggs who is "special" and I think is blind. But that is the reason she is sweet. What is that sneaking in the picture?

Miss Abby.

I have a thing for birds

Like the new blog header? I might change it up a bit eventually. I am not very computer savvy, so I learn by trial and error, oh and my hubby Kevin. I have a love of birds. Kevin thinks it's really creepy. I don't care for real ones because they are way too messy. Boys, dog, and cat are quite enough to clean up after. Here a a few birds  I've collected around the house. All are from the thrift store (of course).

                  

 

A fun little project.

I found this pretty decoration at the Goodwill for $2. A little paint and some candles gave it a new life.

I used some green spray paint and gave it two coats. Then I used some sandpaper on the edges for a more distressed look. It turned out really cute.