One of the things Britney has dreamed about since we got married and bought our first home (and surround sound system) is having a true home theater - you know with the 110" screen and theater seating, preferably in the basement where there is little to no light. There are big plans for our basement here, but for now, it's full of the corn boiler and other projects that I never seem to get around to...
So, for now his Media Room is the old maid's room just off of the kitchen. The only before picture I have is from just after we moved in. Our old TV died just after our furniture arrived from Georgia, so in true redneck style, we just left it and put the smaller TV in front of it until we could haul it away..
We've since gotten new furniture and a new working TV. The ceiling is wallpaper that was painted to look like an old copper ceiling. It's OK, but drives me nuts! But for now, it will have to do until we can do it up right!
We added picture molding about one foot below the ceiling to help bring the height down a little. All of the ceilings on our first floor are over 10 feet. Not exactly comfy, cozy, home-theater-ish.
We painted, walls and trim. The walls are Ben Moore Phillipsburg Blue and the trim is Ace - Beautiful Brown Eyes. Both are in eggshell.
The windows are mistreated! My first ones ever and it took some creative thinking, but we got there. I still need some big lamps for the sofa table and a few more things to go on the wall AND to finish painting and hanging the doors on the closets, but we're almost there!
And just because this is the most involved remodeling project I've ever done...The windows - again :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Recipe Wednesday and a Remodeling Roundup!
It's a cool, rainy, dreary day here in MN. The kind of weather that makes me wish for a warm, yummy desert. So, today it's Apple Crumb Cake! This has to be one of the easiest recipes I've ever made, but it's always a hit where ever I take it. My friend Kathy gave this recipe to me probably 9 years ago and it's still a favorite! Now excuse me, I need to go run to the store...
Apple Crumb Cake
2 cans pie filling
1 box WHITE cake mix
1 stick of butter, softened
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Pour pie filling into 9x13 baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine cake mix with butter (will be crumbly when mixed). Add nuts and lemon juice. Pour over pie filling. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown.
I've also used blueberry, cherry, and strawberry pie filling. Every one of them is delicious, but apple is my favorite!
Now onto the remodeling roundup part...
The Remodeling Guy is hosting a remodeling roundup on Friday - May 1. I've been meaning to post about it for about a week, but I've been busy trying to get my projects finished!!!
Be sure to link up with RG on Friday and show off all of those awesome projects you've done - or even some that are in the process or that you're still just dreaming of. It's sure to be a great place for inspiration and you may even win a prize or two!!
Happy Hammering!
Apple Crumb Cake
2 cans pie filling
1 box WHITE cake mix
1 stick of butter, softened
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Pour pie filling into 9x13 baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine cake mix with butter (will be crumbly when mixed). Add nuts and lemon juice. Pour over pie filling. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown.
I've also used blueberry, cherry, and strawberry pie filling. Every one of them is delicious, but apple is my favorite!
Now onto the remodeling roundup part...
The Remodeling Guy is hosting a remodeling roundup on Friday - May 1. I've been meaning to post about it for about a week, but I've been busy trying to get my projects finished!!!
Be sure to link up with RG on Friday and show off all of those awesome projects you've done - or even some that are in the process or that you're still just dreaming of. It's sure to be a great place for inspiration and you may even win a prize or two!!
Happy Hammering!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
My Childhood Bedroom
Today, Misti over at Studio M Designs is having her first Mr. Linky party where we get to show off our childhood bedrooms. I want her first party to be a huge success, so I decided to join in - even though I don't have any pictures. This is one of those times I wish I could run over to Mom and Dad's and grab those wonderful shots of our bedroom from 1984!
My sister Jill and I shared a room until I was 16. Our room went through several redecorating phases, but I think the room I remember most vividly was our "heart room." It had white walls with bright royal blue trim. Yes - royal blue. Our beds were white, but I don't really remember what style they were. I think they could've been bunked but we never had them that way. You know - because bunk beds are dangerous and all.
Our comforters were white with different colored hearts all over them and my mom had stenciled hearts around the top of the room - in all different colors to match the comforter. I remember many nights lying in bed and counting the hearts until I fell asleep.
We also had this awesome (at least I think so now) old vanity with a huge round mirror. I'm sure that when we got older, we were too cool for it and needed something much more fashionable. But now I wish we still had it. I could come up with some really great ideas for that piece!
The last thing I remember were these blue pieces of lattice or something similar that were mounted above our headboards and there were little hearts that were supposed to look like flowers peeking out around the "fences".
I'm sure if I found pictures of it now, I would think it was a pretty ugly room :) But there were lots of great memories made in that room - and lots of great sisterly fights too! Thanks, Mom, for making our room fun, and I'm sure for putting up with all of the "wants" that we had!
So, how about you? Go on over to Misti's and tell us about your childhood room. Or better yet - post pictures if you have them!!!
My sister Jill and I shared a room until I was 16. Our room went through several redecorating phases, but I think the room I remember most vividly was our "heart room." It had white walls with bright royal blue trim. Yes - royal blue. Our beds were white, but I don't really remember what style they were. I think they could've been bunked but we never had them that way. You know - because bunk beds are dangerous and all.
Our comforters were white with different colored hearts all over them and my mom had stenciled hearts around the top of the room - in all different colors to match the comforter. I remember many nights lying in bed and counting the hearts until I fell asleep.
We also had this awesome (at least I think so now) old vanity with a huge round mirror. I'm sure that when we got older, we were too cool for it and needed something much more fashionable. But now I wish we still had it. I could come up with some really great ideas for that piece!
The last thing I remember were these blue pieces of lattice or something similar that were mounted above our headboards and there were little hearts that were supposed to look like flowers peeking out around the "fences".
I'm sure if I found pictures of it now, I would think it was a pretty ugly room :) But there were lots of great memories made in that room - and lots of great sisterly fights too! Thanks, Mom, for making our room fun, and I'm sure for putting up with all of the "wants" that we had!
So, how about you? Go on over to Misti's and tell us about your childhood room. Or better yet - post pictures if you have them!!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Recipe Wednesday
At least you know there will be something new to read on Wednesdays! Hopefully I'll do better about posting with some projects finishing up in the next week or so...Here you go!
Tortellini with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
4 teaspoons dried leaf basil
2 teaspoons fresh minced parsley
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 pound cheese tortellini, cooked (I usually do at least 1 1/2 pounds and there is plenty of sauce!)
Blend bouillon granules with basil, 2 tablespoons parsley, and pepper into the crushed tomatoes. Saute the garlic in olive oil. Add tomato mixture and bring just to a simmer. Add cream and bring to a SLOW boil. Add the Parmesan cheese. Stir well and stir the tortellini into the sauce. Enjoy!
For some reason, I have a hard time finding cheese tortellini here, so I substitute cheese ravioli and it works just fine! Let me know if you make this recipe. I'd love to hear your reviews!
Tortellini with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
4 teaspoons dried leaf basil
2 teaspoons fresh minced parsley
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 pound cheese tortellini, cooked (I usually do at least 1 1/2 pounds and there is plenty of sauce!)
Blend bouillon granules with basil, 2 tablespoons parsley, and pepper into the crushed tomatoes. Saute the garlic in olive oil. Add tomato mixture and bring just to a simmer. Add cream and bring to a SLOW boil. Add the Parmesan cheese. Stir well and stir the tortellini into the sauce. Enjoy!
For some reason, I have a hard time finding cheese tortellini here, so I substitute cheese ravioli and it works just fine! Let me know if you make this recipe. I'd love to hear your reviews!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Recipe Wednesday
It's Wednesday, and you know what that means! A new recipe :)
Minnesota Pork Chops
6 Pork Chops
Salt and pepper to taste
1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice
2 cups water
1 (8 oz.) can mushrooms (I omit this!!)
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules (I buy the cubes in bulk at Sam's and then crush 3 of them for this recipe)
1 (10.75 oz.) can condensed cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom) soup
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a skillet with a small amount of oil, brown the chops seasoned with salt and pepper.
Spray a large 9x13 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Sprinkle the rice and seasoning packet evenly in the bottom of dish.
Add water and mushrooms. Sprinkle with chicken bouillon. Arrange the chops on top and spoon soup over chops and rice. Cover casserole with aluminum foil and seal tightly. Bake for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours or until rice and chops are tender.
Let me know if you make this recipe and how you like it! It's one of our family's favorites!
Minnesota Pork Chops
6 Pork Chops
Salt and pepper to taste
1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice
2 cups water
1 (8 oz.) can mushrooms (I omit this!!)
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules (I buy the cubes in bulk at Sam's and then crush 3 of them for this recipe)
1 (10.75 oz.) can condensed cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom) soup
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a skillet with a small amount of oil, brown the chops seasoned with salt and pepper.
Spray a large 9x13 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Sprinkle the rice and seasoning packet evenly in the bottom of dish.
Add water and mushrooms. Sprinkle with chicken bouillon. Arrange the chops on top and spoon soup over chops and rice. Cover casserole with aluminum foil and seal tightly. Bake for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours or until rice and chops are tender.
Let me know if you make this recipe and how you like it! It's one of our family's favorites!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Recipe Wednesday
It seems I'm somewhat known now for my culinary expertise :) Don't let those fancy words fool you. They really just mean that I can follow a recipe really really well! So, here's the first of my recipe Wednesdays!
This is a recipe everyone in our house loves. We usually eat it for breakfast, but it makes a good snack too. The original recipe I got was for muffins, but whenever I tried it as muffins, they always caved in the middle. So now I just put it in a casserole dish and bake it that way. Then we cut it into squares and enjoy!
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
Mix all together
Add to dry mix:
1 cup milk
1 egg
3/4 cup oil
Grease 9 x 13 pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.
If you make it, let me know how it turns out!
This is a recipe everyone in our house loves. We usually eat it for breakfast, but it makes a good snack too. The original recipe I got was for muffins, but whenever I tried it as muffins, they always caved in the middle. So now I just put it in a casserole dish and bake it that way. Then we cut it into squares and enjoy!
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
Mix all together
Add to dry mix:
1 cup milk
1 egg
3/4 cup oil
Grease 9 x 13 pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.
If you make it, let me know how it turns out!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Happy Anniversary!
Yesterday was our 11th anniversary. Time feels like it has flown by and stood still all at the same time. I don't think of myself as being old enough to have been married for 11 years. But at the same time, I'm so glad we're in the groove we're in now. We're best friends. We love each other so much and have finally figured out how to show each other that. Dishes, laundry for me and cooking good food for him - that's how :)
We have a very unique situation. Britney works out of our house, so we are literally together all of the time. For me, this hasn't always been a good thing. But, like I said before, we're in our groove and things work really well for us. I am so thankful for the situation the Lord has put us in and even though it was really really really rough for me when Britney first started working from home, I truly believe that we went through that adjustment four years ago, when we lived in GA close to family and friends instead of now - when we're halfway across the country.
I am so thankful for that and for the wonderful husband that the Lord has blessed me with! I love you Britney and look forward to eleventy more anniversaries!!
We have a very unique situation. Britney works out of our house, so we are literally together all of the time. For me, this hasn't always been a good thing. But, like I said before, we're in our groove and things work really well for us. I am so thankful for the situation the Lord has put us in and even though it was really really really rough for me when Britney first started working from home, I truly believe that we went through that adjustment four years ago, when we lived in GA close to family and friends instead of now - when we're halfway across the country.
I am so thankful for that and for the wonderful husband that the Lord has blessed me with! I love you Britney and look forward to eleventy more anniversaries!!
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