An inviting guest room, on a budget.......

I have always dreamed of having a room in my house done in black and white toile, and now that dream has come true.  This is my upstairs guest room in our new home in Fort Lauderdale.  The walls are a pretty french gray, which I love.  

Now, how is this room been done on a budget?  Fairly easy.  The furniture and lamps are from Ikea, the bedding is from Overstock.com and the pictures are from Kirkland's clearance.  I already had the the other accessories and sheets, so my only splurge in this entire room was the luggage rack from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I love to have company and entertain, and I think this room is very welcoming.  I'm the one in our family and friends that is located closest to the beach and in the warmest year round climate of all, and now that we're pretty much settled in (we just moved here in May), I hope that they all start showing up, especially when they get cold up north.

My next addition will be small baskets with toiletries, etc., I just haven't got around to that yet, but I think it will be a nice touch.

I also have another guest room downstairs that just needs a bit more artwork before I post pictures, and it was truly done on a budget, because the cost of that furniture was free, thanks to my lovely daughter and son-in-law!  Can't wait to show you that one too!

So, you can decorate a guest room on a budget, that feels welcoming.  Good luck on all of your decorating journeys!

Nancy :)

Trying to keep the pantry organized......

is one of the hardest things for me to keep up with, and I don't even know why!  It's probably because I haven't been checking it that great before I head to the store, then I am in a hurry to put things away afterward, and slide it wherever it will fit.  That all ends today!  (hopefully......)

I moved my spices and baking items to the wall cabinet, therefore giving me much more space in the pantry.  I have a somewhat small kitchen to begin with.  My current kitchen is about 1/3 of the size of my previous home (yes, everything is bigger in Texas).  I only have a few drawers, limited counter space, and I miss my island, but I loved the rest of this house so much in Florida, that I am trying all kinds of tricks to love this kitchen.  Fortunately, although not as large as my previous pantry, this one is a good size.

My wonderful hubby said that when we go to paint the inside, he will add another shelf at the top for me, so I can hop up or use a stick to not hurt myself and store paper towels and napkins up there!

Top shelf:  3 lazy susans, one for sauces, condiments, oils & vinegars.

Second shelf:  rice, pasta bread crumbs, chicken stock/broth

Third shelf:  canned goods (mostly beans & tomatoes) I prefer fresh or frozen :)

Fourth shelf:  snacks, especially crackers, peanut butter, etc

Fifth shelf:  dried fruits, convenience packets, breakfast items, cereal.

Floor:  garbage bags: all sizes, saran wrap, baggies, etc., and napkins & paper towels

Not exactly a piece of art, but I think it will work for now.

I love these plastic bins from Target.  I believe they come in 3 different sizes, maybe more.  The labels are from the Better Homes and Garden website.

So until I can find a better system, this will work for now.  Happy organizing everyone!

Nancy :)

Home Warranties & Manuals......

I decided I needed to organize my home warranties, user manuals, etc. in an easy to get to format that would not take up even more space in my filing cabinet.  Along with being space fillers, they also come in different sizes and shapes, therefore falling out, getting stuck in the bottom of the file drawer never to be heard from again. Okay, I admit it, they were all in one pile bulging out of a single file folder!  As usual, I searched through all of the great ideas I have seen on Pinterest and my favorite organizing websites and just could not find what I thought was the right fit for me.  Then Alejandra Costello at Color-Coded.net posted this video of her new system for these items, and I love it!  This is my second project that I feel I have been coached through by a fabulous video by her and it definitely won't be my last. 

These Staples notebooks are fabulous.  I made the binder covers on my computer, and printed the labels with my label maker.  I would have loved to have found clear gussetted binder pockets, but could only find teal, blue, and purple, which I love anyway!  They have a nice velcro closure so you can put multiple books and items in one envelope. The post-it filing tabs can be stuck at the top and you can either use your label maker or write on them.  

I think my favorite part of this system is separating what stays with your home and what goes with you.  If you sell your current home, just leave the home warranty/manual binder for the new owners, they will surely appreciate it.  Keeping those receipts, warranties, especially for your big purchase items is so important.  You want to be able to grab them if you have a problem with your iphone, computer, camera, television, etc.

I hope this inspires you to get your appliances/purchases organized too.  My next project will be cleaning the actual filing cabinet now, and getting into the shred zone......

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

Cookbook review.......

I have made enough recipes now from this cookbook to review it.  It is my current "go to" book to refer to when I am in a hurry.  Robin Takes 5  by Robin Miller - 500 recipes, 5 ingredients or less, 500 calories or less 5 nights a week at 5:00 pm......that's what it says on the cover, and in my house it delivers everything but the 5:00 pm part....

According to the introduction of the book, "The average American eats out an astonishing three to four times each week."  That is a lot of processed food which you have very little control of it's content or calories.  We eat out maybe 3 times a month, I just couldn't imagine eating out that often each week.

You already know how I love a recipe with 5 ingredients or less.  That total does not include salt, pepper, olive oil, cooking spray or water.  Those are things you have on hand already.

The book is divided into 8 chapters:

1. Soups, Stews & Chowders

2. Pizzas, Flatbreads, Calzones & Strudels

3. Pasta, Risotto & Rice

4. Chicken & Turkey

5. Beef & Pork

6. Seafood & Shellfish

7. Side Dishes

8. Desserts

Some of my favorite recipes so far have been:

Orange-Dijon Chicken

Chicken Arrabbiata

Tuscan Chicken wit White Beans, Tomatoes and Oregano

Chicken Oreganata

Roasted Chicken with Hearts of Palm and Parmesan

Baked Chicken with Cherry Barbecue Sauce

Flank Steak with Cucumber-Scallion Relish

Pork Chops with Strawberry Mustard Sauce

Cranberry Barbecued Pork Tenderloin

just to name a few, LOL!  As you can see, I love trying chicken recipes!

Give this cookbook a try.  I think it would make an awesome gift for a new single person living on their own, a new bride, that friend that says cooking takes up too many ingredients and time.  There are enough entree ideas alone to not repeat a recipe for a year, although once you see have easy some of these are, they'll become weeknight favorites that you will make over and over again.

Have a wonderful day!

Nancy :)

I like them, I really like them!........

Brussel sprouts.  Just to say it can take me back to childhood and fear.  You know, that fear of having to try something that you can't even stand to look at or smell?  The vegetable that maybe your Mom would eat, but no one else would let cross their lips?  I think it was second on my list, right after liver and onions, (which by the way, will remain on my fear list forever) but I can gladly say, I like brussel sprouts!

Here's why:  Bacon!  When they say every thing is better with bacon, just go for it.  Here's what I used, after combining several recipes together.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apple & Bacon

Print Recipe

1/2 - 1 lb. fresh brussel sprouts

4-5   slices cooked bacon/save the grease

1-2   granny smith apples

1-2   tablespoons red wine vinegar

1-2   tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Either fry bacon in a skillet or bake in oven until crisp.  Save bacon grease.  Crumble. Remove the dark green leaves from outside of brussel sprouts. Cut core off at bottom of brussel sprouts then cut in halves or quarters.  Cut apple (skin on) into small chunks.  Combine everything (including bacon grease) except cooked bacon in a bowl and spread out on baking sheet.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, maybe longer if sprouts are large.  Add bacon bits and serve.

How did it go over?  Let's just say the fear is gone, baby!  I will now eat brussel sprouts that are roasted for now, and I am willing to try them other ways too.  The hubby loved them, but lucky for me, he'll pretty much eat anything!

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

Sometimes a meal is an event....

not just a meal, and this Truffled Mac and Cheese from Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa is a major event.  Why did it make event worthy status?  I used a lot of ingredients, some I've never used before, many, many pots and pans, my food processor, destroyed the kitchen, and spent way more $$$ than I normally would to make my own mac & cheese. Was it worth it?  Absolutely, it was amazing!  

I normally try to keep my meals simple, but still a bit gourmet when possible.  I consider my lasagna and my prime rib an event instead of a meal, therefore it is something I may only make once or twice a year, or for company.  This particular recipe I have been glomming for three years, yes I said three years. I saw it on an episode of The Barefoot Contessa in 2009, and have probably watched it 4 times.  It has been in my "got to make this" mental file storage that long.  I decided I needed to quit stalking that episode and make the recipe, but first I needed to research cream sherry, and find truffle butter.  

I had 2 deviations from the recipe.  I used one pack of gourmet mushrooms with the cremini mushrooms because I couldn't find shiitake mushrooms, and I used panko bread crumbs instead of bread, we only buy honey wheat bread here.  I eventually found the truffle butter at Fresh Market.

Truffled Mac and Cheese

Print Recipe

Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Good olive oil
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced 1/2-inch 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced 1/2-inch 3 tablespoons cream sherry
Kosher salt
1 pound pasta, such as cavatappi
3 ounces white truffle butter (recommended: D'Artagnan)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, scalded
12 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 1/2 to 3 cups)
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan, add the mushrooms, and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until they are tender. Add the sherry and continue to saute for a few more minutes, until the sherry is absorbed. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Add the pasta and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain well.

Meanwhile, melt the truffle butter in a large (4-quart) saucepan and whisk in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the white sauce is thickened and creamy. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, the pepper, and nutmeg.

Combine the pasta, sauce, and mushrooms in a large bowl and pour them into a 10 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish.

Place the garlic and parsley in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until they're minced. Add the bread crumbs and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the crumbs over the pasta and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown. Serve hot.

Recipe Source: Ina Garten, Food Network.com

My review:  Fabulous!  Will I make it again?  Yes, the morning of a dinner party or special occasion I will cover with foil and refrigerate, and bake while appetizers are served.  

Occasionally, you need to splurge, and this was one of mine.  I hope you give it a try and let me know what you think.

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

Linen closet - re purposed! ......

Yes, this is the year.  It is the year I finally, positively, absolutely commit to finding a place for everything, and everything in it's place.  Okay, a gal can dream, can't she?  Seriously though, I am making an incredible amount of progress in getting things organized, but most importantly, getting rid of things I no longer need.  


I was inspired by the HGTV special "Neat Freaks".  It showed some very organized families and how they live, plan, shop, decorate on a budget, and even one person that was in an incredibly organized living space of only 300 square feet.  I would encourage you to go to HGTV.com, and as of yesterday, they were still showing the full episode, and I think you'll love it.  Some of the bloggers we love to read and follow on Pinterest and Facebook are on the show as well.


I decided to store all bath towels in the bathrooms, and all sheet sets in the bedrooms.  I limited myself to only 3 sets of sheets per bed, but 2 would work just as well.  The system I am using for the linen closet frees up the cabinet in the bathrooms to make room for the towel storage.

These are the center 3 shelves, but I have the top shelf busy and the floor working as well.

Another view.  I love it!  Good inspiration to put things back, and one of my favorite clear boxes is "Travel Size", because we like to be on the go, and yes, I keep those little lotions and shampoos I get at a hotel, don't you?

Close up view.  Now, I'm sure your next question will be, where did you get those awesome labels?  I got them from Alejandra at Color-Coded.net.  She was on the HGTV special, but I had discovered her months before, and loved her organizational style so much, I bought the filing system she recommends (future post) and now these awesome storage labels.  Please follow her videos any chance you get, you'll be inspired!  The clear boxes are from the The Container Store.  They used to hold my shoes (yep, I bought the box of 20 last year actually) but my new closet system has racks, so I re purposed the shoe boxes.


There you have it, the reason I haven't posted all week until now.  I was cleaning out things I had been putting off doing.  Oh, and another reason.....I couldn't remember where I put my digital camera!  So much for a place for everything.....but what the hey, I am sure trying.


Have a wonderful weekend!


Nancy :)