Fancying Up the Kitchen

It was a 4 day weekend around our house and I'm happy to report it went much better then I had anticipated.  My kids got along (for the most part), were super helpful and worked hard at their chores, and were just fun to be with.  We were busy yesterday so I didn't get a chance to post, so you get one today.  I hope you enjoy it and it helps you be inspired to "fanc-i-fi" your kitchen or some other areas in your home.

If your house if anything like mine, the kitchen is it's workhorse.  I spend most of my time in this room and it is the room most used by every member of our family.  Therefore, it can get cluttered and dirty in the blink of an eye.  I have instituted a new cleaning schedule to try and keep the clutter/dirt at a minimum.  It is working great and has allowed me to see a few things I needed to change as well as a few that I'm glad I have already done.

Function is the number one thing we should all strive for in our kitchens but I don't think you have to sacrifice beauty for functions sake.  Here are just a few things you can try doing to add beauty and fun to your kitchen.

A Pretty Catch Dish

I use olive oil everyday in my cooking so I like to have a bottle of it close and easily accessible so I have it on my countertop.  Every now and then a little oil will run down the outside of the bottle, so to keep it from getting on my counter I put a paper towel underneath.  It wasn't the most attractive option so one day I finally realized I could put a nice dish underneath instead and accomplish the same thing but with style.  I went into my pantry and found a dish given to me by my dad from one of his trips to Europe when he was still flying.  I rarely ever use it but like it so now it graces my countertop, allows me to see if everyday, and has a purpose.  

Soap Dispenser & A Brush Holder

I don't know about you, but I think the bottles dish soap comes in are ugly so I don't want it visible but I want the soap accessible because I use it so much that I want it easy to grab.  So awhile back I turned to a bottle meant for oil and added dish soap instead.  It has worked out great and doesn't make me cringe when I look at my counters.  Recently I was getting frustrated with the scrub brushes laying around and looking cluttered behind my sink.  It finally dawned on me that if I put them in a glass it kept them upright, allowing them to dry better, as well as looking so much more pleasing to the eye.

Not Just Cook Books

My mom and I are Ina Garten fans.  She is an amazing cook and you really can't go wrong with any of her recipes.  Her cookbooks are not only filled with yummy recipes but are also beautiful works of art.  She has done such a good job in organizing them and allowing the pictures to capture the beauty of the food one can prepare.  I don't buy cookbooks that don't have pictures.  Food should not only taste good but look good too - but that 's another post. 

Over the years I have collected all of Ina's cookbooks.  Since I don't really have a great place to put them right now I have them on my counter to add color as well as serve as the base for a hot pot trivet, a few clay figurines my kids made at school, as well as a cool bottle that once held vinegar from Italy a friend brought back for me after one of her trips there.

I love using things that are intended for one purpose, for a totally different one.  These are a few of my "secondhand" functions I have used in my kitchen to make it just a little nicer and a more inviting place in my home.  What are some creative things you have allowed to serve a "secondhand" function?  I'd love to see them.

Happiest of Tuesdays!! 

Pinterest Favorites: Valentine's Day

Well friends, the weekend started today for me since my kids are off school.  It also happens to be both President's Day and Valentine's Day this weekend.  In honor of the lovers holiday we will be baking and making treats to share with neighbors and friends.  Let's just say I have over 150 cupcakes in my future.  Wish us luck!

I honor of Valentine's Day I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Valentine's Day pinterest finds.  The great thing about this holiday is that you can use many of these any day of the year because there should really be no limit to the love we shower down on those who matter most to us.

Let's start with a few cute cards.  I just think these are so adorable and fun!

{Source}

{Source}

{Source}

I just love both of these mantles.  I used the first one as an inspiration for a piece over my mantle but of course it's not done yet.  I'm hoping it will get up there by Sunday!

{Source}

{Source}

And you can't have Valentine's Day without treats!  Yum!!

{Source}

{Source}

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!  If you want to see more things I've pinned regarding Valentine's Day go HERE.  

Happy Friday!!

For Sale: Michigan Beauty

I have an addiction.  I love to look at houses for sale online.  It relaxes me and allows me to take a deep breath after a long day.  I love to find the diamond in the rough or the house that actually does exist in real life instead of on my Houzz feed or the cover of the latest home decor magazine to grace my mailbox.  I love to think of myself living in different spaces and imagining how I would decorate them. I ponder what it would be like to have a big party there with all my closest friends and family.  

This past weekend I decided to just see what was on the market back in our stomping ground of Michigan.  I will now make a small service announcement for the state of Michigan.  It is awesome!!  We absolutely loved when we lived in East Lansing and every day I would drive to work I was filled with happiness from the beauty around me.  It felt so comfortable there and instantly like home.  I have no doubt we wouldn't hesitate for a second if the opportunity ever arose for us to move back.  If you ever have the chance to visit, take it.  Michigan will not disappoint.

Talking about not disappointing, the house I found in a town next to the one we lived in definitely does not.  There are so many things I like about it.  This should be on the cover of a magazine.  It has gorgeous curb appeal, architectural interest, tons of windows, an amazing kitchen, and the yard alone makes me want to sell my left arm for.  Truly a gem.  Take a look for yourself!

Michigan Beauty Stats:

5 Bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4,537 sq.ft.
On 10 acres of property 

Let's start with the exterior:

I am a huge sucker for white houses with black shutters.  Nothing looks more classic to me.  The thing that I believe really sets this house apart is the different twists, turns, and heights of it's architecture.  It also sits on a nice 10 acre lot so you have your privacy.  The ONLY thing I would change is the orientation of the garage.  I would have turned it so the doors were not on the front of the house.

Now for the interior:

Is it just not a dream?!?!  I c.a.n.n.o.t. get enough of that curved kitchen counter with the curved island to compliment it!!  AHH!!!  The bedrooms are all well sized without being ginormous, there's a fireplace in the master, hello!!, and the moldings and finishes are all top notch.  The only thing I'd change is that light over the sectional in the front room.  It just looks out of place to me.  

Of course the reality is that something this amazing and gorgeous comes with a pretty little price tag so if you by chance happen to have about $900,000.00 laying around, this could be yours.  We can all dream though!

I plan on sharing some more homes in the future that I run across.  I will be picking ones from all different price points and locations around the country and maybe even world, so stay tuned for a house near you.  Until then, have a fabulous Wednesday!!

What Would Meg Do?/You Do?

Happy Monday friends!  I'm so excited to introduce a new segment on my blog that I hope all of you will love too!  One thing that I believe is very important to interior decorating - and well, everything in life really - is that we do not have all the ideas and that we can only make what we are working on better if we seek the help and input of others.  So I would like to announce a new segment I would like to do on this blog.  I got the idea from a girl I follow on Facebook and just like her, I'm going to throw my name into the title, "What Would Megan Do?"  Here's how it works,  if you would, send me pictures of a problem room in your home and then I will post them here on the blog and give you my ideas on how to make it better and then anyone else who has ideas can also chime in by making a comment in the comment section.  Sound fun?  I can't wait!!  The email address you should use is, the8cowhouse@gmail.com.  Hey, it's free decorating advice, so what do you have to lose?

To kick this off, I thought I'd start with a space in my own home that I am having a decorating dilemma with and see if any of my amazing readers have ideas.

In my front room I have a wall that is quite large.  Part of the wall has an 8 ft ceiling above it and another part angles up and is vaulted.  As you will see from the pictures, I have our piano in the 8ft ceiling part and next to it I have a piece which holds all the piano music.  Next to that is a ladder with blankets and then my fun metal Christmas tree that I intend to leave out through at least the spring before hiding it away until Christmas again.  The only thing that must stay on this wall is the piano because I have no other place to put it.  I hesitate to put another piece of furniture in the vaulted end because I think it will look like too much furniture on one wall.  I also need to create a bit more seating and lighting in this room so if I could add some along this wall that would look like it made sense, I would.  How high should I take something in the vaulted area?  I just don't know.  Take a look and tell me what you think.

Here are some of my ideas:

*On the vaulted section, add sconces - ideally before they button up the master bathroom wall which is on the other side!

*Add a piece like the one below to allow for picture and dish displays and add some seating underneath.

*Do something crazy, and make these doors and put them on a rail.  (Of course it would be sans the wedding couple and flowers, but the arch would definitely be included)  It would be doors to nowhere, but still an interesting piece.

But really, I have nothing friends so please, Please, PLEASE help me!!  I know you are all full of good ideas and can help me out.  Once you've given me ideas for my space, start sending me your pictures of your spaces so I can help you!!  It really is a win-win for everyone!

Here is my email again: the8cowhouse@gmail.com

Happy Monday!!

Because Let's Be Honest, We All Need A Few More Succulents In Our Lives!

For the last year or so I have been loving the new trendy thing of succulent gardens.  These little arid loving plants are just the cutest things!  They come in a variety of fun shapes, sizes, and colors and when you put them together they can make the cutest little garden, which if you happen to have my track record with plants, are luckily relatively hard to kill.

One of my friends recently had a birthday and I was on the hunt for the perfect gift.  I went and scoured a local antique mall but just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.  Towards the end of my hunt, this little white terrarium looking piece caught my eye.  I grabbed it and knew I could do something with it.  My original plan was to just put a plant in it that she could easily change in and out but when I went to Lowe's to look for one none of them were looking just right.  That's when I spotted the cute little flowering cactus and I knew my first succulent garden would be born.  I hunted around for a total of 5 succulent plants trying to get different colors, shapes, heights, and textures.  I grabbed a bag of soil and another back of rocks and checked out so excited to go home and see it all come together!!

I will admit, had I not already told my friend that I was bringing her something I may just have kept my mouth shut and kept this beauty for myself.  It was one of those projects that I just kept looking at again and again after I was done because I made my heart happy.  It was SO easy to make and I plan on making one for myself sometime soon.  I may just have to make them for all my friends birthdays this year!!  How can you not be happy looking at something like this?  To me Succulent = Happiness.  The two really are interchangeable in my opinion!

Happy Weekend Friends!  Go read THIS if you need some inspiration and belief in yourself to create things that are amazing!!

Simy's Coconut Curry Shrimp/Chicken

I just want to thank each of you that have passed along words of encouragement as I continually try and find my feet in the blogging world.  It really boosts me to know that you enjoy what I write.  It helps give me motivation to keep going.  You are all the best!

Today I'm sharing a recipe that is a favorite in our house.  I love coconut milk and so any recipe that has it as an ingredient I am up for trying.  This recipe was given to me by one of my mom's friends and we have been making it for several years.  It is also an "All In One" recipe which I love and makes busy mom life a bit easier.  I hope you try and and like it!

SIMY'S COCONUT CURRY SHRIMP/CHICKEN

1 Cup Diced Tomatoes
3 Cloves Garlic Minced
1# Shrimp, peeled and deveined (you can use chicken as a substitute if shrimp isn't your thing)
2 Tbsp. Curry Powder
2 (14 oz) cans of coconut milk (shake well before opening)
1# Asparagus, rinsed and cut in 2" pieces
Fresh Basil, chopped (about 12 leaves)

Cook shrimp* and garlic in 3 Tbsp. oil just until shrimp are pink.  
Add tomatoes, asparagus, and basil.  
Cook 1-2 minutes.
Add curry powder and mix in.
Add coconut milk, stirring.
Season to taste with about 2 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 1 tsp. salt.

Simmer for 8 minutes
Serve over rice.

*I like to add the shrimp in raw right at the end so that the shrimp are more tender and don't overcook.

ENJOY!!

Pink Curtains

I couldn't change how I was created,

 I could only make myself more

 of who I already was,

 focusing on what made me unique,

 what made me me.

~Edie Wadsworth

I love a new year.  It really is a great way to dump the baggage of the last year and step forward on a new path.  Many make new years resolutions and I think that it's a good practice.  This year with having just had a baby and trying to get my feet back on the ground I decided I only had one goal.  The funny thing is that it's probably the biggest goal I've ever placed before myself.

I have a love hate relationship with social media.  It's nice to see how friends that aren't near are doing and the fun things, and sometimes sad things (those aren't nice of course), that are going on in their lives.  There are certain people I have come to really admire through social media and dare I even say envy. They seem SO happy.  But I don't envy them for being just "happy" for happy sake.  As I look and admire these happy people I realize I envy them because they are happy by living THEIR lives, on THEIR terms, in THEIR each unique and special way.  Now that doesn't mean that everything they post is roses and a trip to Disneyland.  No, in fact it's the good and the bad, the happy and the sad all mixed together, but it's 100% them and in some way they have come to push aside what others may think of them and truly be themselves.  

So what is my 2016 New Year's resolution?  It's to be me.  To find me.  To cut through all the crap of what I tend to tell myself I'm not and find out who I really am and then embrace it and live it and let it shine from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.  I need to do it for myself, for my husband, for my kids, for my friends and family, for my God.  I need to become and shine as He has always intended for me too.  

It's not going to be easy.  There is a constant scroll of doubts, inadequacies, and flaws that threaten to derail me and that I have to beat back every day, sometimes moment after moment to keep ahead of myself, to keep the path in front of me cleared, if only just by a few feet.  I turn 40 this month and while many would say I'm still young, I truly do hope I have more of life ahead of me then behind me and I hope I make it 10x better than the latter.

For sometime now I have been looking for fabric to hang curtains in our front room.  The dominant color of the room is navy with pops and accent colors in lime green and pink.  Over the last year I have been looking for the perfect color to make curtains to flank a window and door on either side of the fireplace and create more unity and warmth in the room.  I was set on green because it was safe and something I knew I could live with.  But a few weekends ago a friend and I went shopping to a few fabric stores and, with a little bit of encouragement on her part, I knew green was not the color.  Green was the safe color, the color everyone else wants or would expect me to have, but it isn't the color I know I want.  Pink it has to be!!

I came home that night and informed my husband that pink curtains would soon be hanging in his living room to which he replied, "Sounds good!  I know it will look great because whatever you do looks great."

My friends, if you are struggling with the same issues I am, I encourage you to find yourself this year.  Find out who you really are under all those layers we tend to put on to "protect" ourselves but that only end up keeping us from reaching our full potential.  You may just end up discovering that "pink curtains" are what you need in your life.  That "pink curtains" will help you shine just a little bit more.  Because after all, it's just a little bit a "fabric", but it can create a whole lot of happiness.