Max Wanted to Share. {he told me}

Max brought it to my attention today that he has some new achievements to show everyone and that I have been slacking on the updates.  He says enough with the decorating posts and pretty things posts (he rolled his eyes when he said that one) and get to the good stuff.  MAX!
 

(He looks way to innocent here doesn't he?)  

(There. Much better.)

First, he wanted me to tell you that his 1st Annual Opening Day Pennant Party was supposed to be tonight but it is raining and will now be his 1st Annual Opening Weekend Pennant Party, which is fine with us because the Astros' Opening Day is not until tomorrow anyways and they are our favorite team.  Stay tuned for pictures of his first big event.

Second, he has a TOOFER!!!

Third.  He is a nose scruncher.  I have no idea where this came from but it is quite adorable and he knows it.

(nose scrunching and a toofer?!  I can't even stand it.)

Next he has discovered something down there. 

There are some things a mother needs not know, so I left it alone.  

Moving on.

He sits up on his own!!  And is clearly proud of it.

("Hey! Still paying attention?!  Good. Almost done.")

And lastly, we are THIS CLOSE to crawling.

Not quite there, he hasn't figured out how to move his arm to get his body going forward.  Soon though. Very soon.

That is all.  Just some accomplishments that this little one wanted to pass along.  He leaves you with a cute picture to remember him by.  Until next time.

Tootles.

Pallet Shelves {and a trunk}

It won't stop raining here!  It's cozy but also lazy so few things are getting done outside of the house.  And there are excursions Max and I need to go on!  Oh well.

We did manage to finish these shelves this weekend.  Made of an old pallet our neighbor had in his burn pile.  Before I go into details, I do feel I need to give some props to the hubbs.  God bless the man who when wifey comes home with the tailgate up and an old dirty pallet hanging out of the new car, doesn't even bat an eyelash when she says "will you please take this out and cut it up for me?"  All I got was a "why?" When my reply was "to make shelves out of" (naturally, what else would I do with it?), his reply was "ok" and then he did.  He even went so far to buy a circular saw because I was out there cutting this manually with a little bitty hand saw. I love this man.

So!  Old pallet taken out of trash, cleaned off, cut up and hung on walls.  I got lucky and this one is made of oak and is beautifully aged.  I am in love with them!  One is in my craft closet, which is still in the works  but you get a preview.  The other is in the guest room.  It still needs some work on the decor in it (as I look at the pics, that terra cotta pot needs not be that color) but you get the idea.

The trunk is a fabulous thrift find that I white washed.  I just love the leather straps on it.  Super cute but super dark when bought, so I lightened it up.  Perfect.  I currently holds my fabrics.

The paintings are just something I did because that space needed some frenchy paintings and I wasn't going to pay for frenchy paintings.  What do you do in that case? Make your own.  Groovy.

Happy Monday to everyone!  I do love Mondays, the thrill of the week ahead and all I can get done excites me.  I will be dragging myself out in this weather to go get some of my newest obsession, yarn.  No, I don't knit.

Fresh Strawberry Bread {a recipe}

Strawberry season is rolling in around here.  Fresh local berries for super cheap means lots of baking for this house.  This is my favorite bread, well my pumpkin bread is pretty close, but this tops it I think.  I have a hubbs with a wicked sweet tooth so I toss a bit of chocolate chips in there.  Not part of the recipe though.  I also half this recipe to make one loaf unless I am gifting, then I make the two.  And of course things can be substituted to make this healthier.. ie. wheat flour, apple sauce, egg whites.

FRESH STRAWBERRY BREAD

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh strawberries -  Overripe strawberries are very good for this.  And keep the slices big so you have good chunks of berries in your loaf. I also recommend stirring by hand, not with a mixer to keep the strawberries chunky.
3 1/8 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon - this can be halved. It is very cinnamon-y but I like it like that.
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs beaten
1 1/4 cups chopped pecans - optional. walnuts are also good.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour 9x5 loaf pans.
2. Slice strawberries and place in mediums sized bowl.  Sprinkle lightly with sugar. Set aside.
3. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in large bowl.  Mix well.  
4. Stir oil and eggs into strawberries.  Add strawberry mixture into flour mixture and stir until dry ingredients are just moistened.  Stir in pecans.  Divide batter into pans.
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes (this can take longer.  mine usually takes 1 hr 30 min) or until tester comes out clean.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Key Lime Pie {a recipe}

This little beauty has been sitting in my fridge since this morning and I smiled thinking about it all day.  It is so limey and creamy and fresh.  Perfect for Spring and a great Easter treat if you are looking for such a thing.  Made with fresh key limes, the smell alone is enough to bring a smile to your face.  Super fast, super easy and super cheap to make (even if you do make your own crust... I opted out of that), I do recommend.

KEY LIME PIE

Ingredients:

1 prepared graham cracker crust

3 cups sweetened condensed milk (2 cans works perfect, don't even dirty your measuring cup)

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup key lime juice (20 key limes.  Cut lime in half and juice in a garlic press.  EASY)

1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice and zest.  Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.
3. Bake in oven for 5-8 minutes, until tiny bubbles burst on the top of the pie. DO NOT BROWN!! Chill   pie thoroughly before serving.

A Spring Makeover {dresser redesign}

I'm still working away at the guest bedroom.  This weekend it got a cheery new piece that I am in love with!

It started from 70's drab....

to oh so fab...

 The before pic?  eeek, I know.  Someone did however put alot of time and work into painting that.  So much that I almost hated to get rid of it all.  ALMOST.  No, not really. But I had a twinge of guilt that quickly passed.

Fake painted on wood grain and all, this piece has been on my mind since I saw it awhile back.  Knowing many would pass it over due to its outer appearance, I took my time and slept on it for a good week and then decided it will definitely be worth the work to redo.

So I dragged the hubbs out to pick it up and instantly got to work.  It really is a fantastic piece of furniture.  Good quality, good lines and feet, all drawers in good working condition.  All things you should look for when selecting used furniture.

I am so glad I decided to do this.  Its not perfect.  I am much too lazy to fill screw holes and my fabric in the back is crooked, but I still love it. Much improved from the original anyways. 

For the love of Peat Moss. {curb appeal}

It's that time where my fall and Christmas wreaths are down and I have to decide what the heck to to with my front door.  I don't like a bare entry, an outside entryway just like the inside entryway, should be inviting. I want our guests to walk up to our house and feel welcomed.   I am not one for the wreaths donned with tons of fake flowers in odd colors with huge bows.  Nor do I want a wooden bunny hanging from it, banging like crazy every time the door is closed.  I am however one for natural materials, initials, and a great ribbon.  Combine that with a little hot glue and you get this!!

I suppose you could add a simple flower or two if you like, but please, make them in colors that God intended for flowers.

Lovely right?