Friday, August 30, 2013

Fab + Free Printables




Do you guys like free stuff? Me dos!!

These prints and labels are all free + super cute. I especially love the labels! The site also has blank ones free for download. Just print them out on sticker paper (available at Office Depot or Staples) and organize to your hearts content. Sounds like a good Saturday project to me. Well, Saturday project AFTER football season. Can I get a hey hey?!

Hope you enjoy! (The brave wings print is my all time fave. It's framed in my bathroom and is a cheerful daily reminder to be BRAVE!)

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fox Trot {What Jonah's Wearing}





Have you guys with little boys ever ventured into a store to be overwhelmed with glitter + sequins, and a massive girls section... only to find that the little guys section is approximately 10' x 10'?! Teeny tiny with only a few cute finds? Yep. Me too. Honestly, I never realized how unfair that whole situation was until I had Jonah.

Everyone has their own particular style and we're no different. I've never had a real issue with finding cute things for Jonah to wear because I mix and match from all different places. Do you? Generally, I don't purchase complete "outfits" at stores for him. And, I am not afraid to buy something from the "baby girl" section if it's unisex and works for him. Don't gasp. Think about it. Navy + white leggings are going to be the same for a little girl, OR a boy. So just go with it! 

I thought it would be fun to show you a couple of outfits that Jonah will (most likely) be wearing this coming fall. I have so much fun planning his outfits! The ensemble above consists of adorable leggings, a striped shirt, a cute puffer for when the weather (hopefully!!) turns chilly, and cute high-top TOMS. The puffer is on clearance at Target right now. And, I am just obsessed with those little fox leggings. They will definitely be going into my Etsy cart and making an appearance on Instagram soon (did you doubt me???).  Most of the pieces above can be work with other things as well. I love functional basics. Pair the striped top with jeans or shorts now. Make the outfits pull double duty. 

What are you buying for your little guys (and gals) for the fall? Spill it...

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We have a winner winner chicken dinner! On Monday night I worked up this tasty (and sooo easy) Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap recipe. I've tried other Skinny Taste (just a low calorie + healthy cooking blog that I follow) recipes and I've been pleased with the majority of the ones we've tried. This one is our new fave. Spicy buffalo chicken breast and cool blue cheese? Count me in!!




For the chicken:
  • 24 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 16 oz fat free low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup hot cayenne pepper sauce (I used Frank's)

For the wraps:
  • 6 large lettuce leaves, Bibb or Iceberg
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
  • 2 large celery stalks, cut into 2 inch matchsticks

Directions:
In a crock pot, combine chicken, onions, celery stalk, garlic and broth (enough to cover your chicken, use water if the can of broth isn't enough). Cover and cook on high 4 hours.

Remove the chicken from pot, reserve 1/2 cup broth and discard the rest. Shred the chicken with two forks, return to the slow cooker with the 1/2 cup broth and the hot sauce and set to on high for an additional 30 minutes. Makes 3 cups chicken.

To prepare lettuce cups, place 1/2 cup buffalo chicken in each leaf, top with 1/4 cup shredded carrots, celery and dressing of your choice. (we skipped the dressing and just added blue cheese crumbles! SO YUM!!) Wrap up and start eating!

Original Recipe Here.


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Take Note Tuesday {Three Things}


1. A romantic lace top is on my fall must have list. This one is especially pretty!
2. I'm a sucker for anything with our initials + date on it. I love that these hoops are being put to good use in a unique way! This hoop would make a great wedding gift!
3. If it's salvaged then count me in. Every single time. How cute is this salvaged tin magnet board!?!!

I have to admit, Tuesday's are my favorite on the blog. I love this series and have so much fun sharing my favorite little finds. Happy day, y'all! Do something kind + give someone a hug today!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Faux it UP {No Sew Window Panels}

Confession is good for the soul, right? Okay, good. I have a confession to make, y'all. I don't sew my window panels. Ever. Especially not if I purchase the yardage and make them myself. And no one is the wiser. Fancy that. Here's how I achieve my faux magic...


1. Cut your panels in the desired length. Fold the top down (I always measure from my rod, to the floor before this step to make sure my panels are the perfect "kiss the floor" length!) and crease (or iron a crease).
2. Then, fold the sides in towards the middle to hide the not so pretty side edges (at this point you can use iron on adhesive to make a real side seam, or sew a seam if you prefer. I prefer to fold.).
3. Clip your first ring to the end of the panel. 
4. Lay out your rings (I use 7 per panel) in even increments along the top of your panel (you can measure if you want to be particular, I never measure. Ha!).
5. Gather up your ring and make sure the panel looks professional, and your rings are placed evenly.
6. Install your rod and hang your fabulous panels! (Make sure your panels kiss/puddle on the floor so you don't have to hem the bottom. Otherwise, hem or no sew the bottom so they don't fray!)

Note: This is probably not the best solution for you if you don't change your mind very often (planning to keep your panels for 10 years?? Sew them!!!), but for those of you like me who change it up and change your mind quite often, this works perfectly. You can re-purpose the fabric quite easily. Lazy girls guide to panels. Boom.

I plan to share more of the family room once it's complete. I have a plan and I'm working on it. Can't wait.

Happy Monday!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Claudia Matcek's State Grand Champion Kolaches

Meme's Peach & Prune Kolaches

I am more than slightly addicted to kolaches. I am in loooove with kolaches. Especially my sweet Grandmother's (we call her "Meme"). Meme's kolaches are yeasty and ohhhh so delicious. When she makes them I eat less dinner so I can eat MORE kolaches. That's saying something because she is an amazing cook and I love eating dinner at her house. Guilty as charged, y'all. My Meme is the best.

While living in Alabama, I started making my own kolaches because they're unheard of (!!!!) in Birmingham. Jeremy and I missed them terribly, so I fixed it. Just started making my own. There's just something so good about the fruit filling (or even sausage & cheese!) and that addicting dough. It's probably all in the dough for me. I'm a dough kinda girl. Have you ever gone home on your lunch break to punch your rising dough down?? Exactly.

I thought I would share Meme's beloved kolache recipe with you guys today. She cut it out of the newspaper and has perfected her own fillings. The recipe comes from the Caldwell, TX Kolache Festival and it's the State Grand Champion winner! I hope your family enjoys these as much as we do!!

Claudia Matcek's State Grand Champion Kolaches
Dough:
2 pkgs dry yeast
1//4 c warm water
1/2 c plus 1 Tbsp sugar (divided use)
2 c milk
1/2 c butter or margarine (plus some for brushing on the dough cutouts and again after baking)
2 tsp salt
5 1/4 c plus 1 c sifted flour (divided use)
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

Dissolve yeast in warm water, Add 1 Tbsp sugar and let stand.

Heat milk in saucepan until hot to touch, almost scalding. Remove from heat and stir in butter or margarine and 1/2 c sugar. Cool to lukewarm and add yeast mixture.

In a large bowl combine salt and 5 1/4 c flour. Add the yeast and milk mixture to flour and mix. Mix in egg yolk. Mix in enough of last cup of flour for desired texture so it is workable- not too sticky to take out of bowl and knead.

Knead on floured board until glossy. Grease Bowl. Put dough in bowl, rolling it around to grease the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thick and cut into individual kolaches with a biscuit cutter. Place on greased pan so not quite touching. Brush with softened butter or margarine and elt rise again covered, until light to touch.

Make indention in center of each and fill with about a teaspoon of the filling of your choice. Bake in oven at 375 degress until brown, about 25 mins. Remove and brush with softened butter or margarine.

Meme's Original Clipping from The Eagle. Check out the Sausage Kolache Recipe, also!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Kitchen Essentials {World Market Style}

You guys. Have you been to World Market lately?? Have you visited their website? GO. Now. Not to be all bossy, but seriously. They have the cutest schtuff right now that has a retro + sweet vibe!! The price points are great too. Look what I found via their website...


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Rustic Farm {Jonah Knox's Nursery}

I'm missing our house in Birmingham today. Badly. And the beautiful hills. And the seasons (fall was especially beautiful there!). And, our life there. Just about everything. A little sadness (okay, a lot of sadness) comes along with the adventure and excitement of a big cross country move. I'm learning this as I go.

Last night I had a little (ugly) cry after I put Jonah to sleep in his crib. His bedroom here is not decorated. And that makes me sad. I know its just decor and fluff, but I feel like that is what makes a house a home! The extra stuff. I plan to rectify this situation as soon as possible. Just need to.

His nursery in Birmingham was my favorite room in our home. So much love and care went into creating it for him. I loved rocking him to sleep in his chair. Great memories in this room!! Since I'm missing our home so much this week, I thought I would share photos of his rustic little nursery with you all. I loved this room so very much.










Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Take Note Tuesday {Three Things}


1. I love, LOVE this tee from Anthro. Party in the back.
2. Pop of fun watch. And, it's half off right now. Hollaaa. 
3. Chalkboard canisters. Useful in so many places. (These would look so cute in an office holding paper clips, and office supplies!) I'm a sucker for chalkboard anything!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Weekend Adventuring {The Children's Museum}

This past Saturday we took Jonah to The Children's Museum of Houston. It is seriously the coolest place for kiddos (and ahem, parents who like to have fun too!!). The entire second floor is the "Tot Spot" which is a huge enclosed area for children 36 months and younger to play. There's even an outdoor play area!! Jonah had a BLAST!!! It was so cool to see him exploring the area and playing with other babies. He has the cutest personality.

We had lunch at Niko Niko's market downtown on a cute little corner block with a green area where Jonah could run around. The entire weekend was all about spending time with our little guy. Letting him explore and play. Best ever!! I highly recommend the museum. It was such fun!








Happy Monday!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Awkward Spaces

In our town-home we have a not so cute little window that peeks into the tiny kitchen area. It is not my favorite. Not by a long shot. Saying "it is not my favorite" is a reaaaally polite way of saying I hate it with a fierce passion. Hate. It.

Now, don't get me wrong. I appreciate the fact that they wanted there to be (some small?? and awkward??) form of communication between the dining/living area and the kitchen, but it is so inefficient and down right ugly. Useless!! Facts are facts. Regardless, I'm living with it for the next 10 months (not that I'm counting...ahem). So, on our recent getaway Jeremy spotted this rustic metal "make your own garland" in a little shop. Helllooooo. I'm a garland nut. You already know this. I bought it thinking I could move it around and make it multi-functional.

The first place I thought of when I walked in the door was this awkward peek-a-boo window wall. Yuck. Up went the garland. We clipped our favorite Jonah-grams to it and I'm already liking the awkward wall a lot better. Success.


Okay, not total success. But much better. I have a few more plans for this wall. I'll keep you updated as we make progress. Any progress is better than ugly + blank + awkward peek-a-boo window, right?!

What are you living with + working on + trying to be positive about in your current abode?? Share!!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Anniversary Getaway {Rachel Ashwell's The Prairie}

This past weekend Hubs and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary at The Prairie Bed & Breakfast in Round Top, Texas. Rachel Ashwell (yep, you guessed it. Shabby Chic!!!) owns it + designed every single space. I was beyond thrilled to spend the entire weekend there with my love.

The Prairie exceeded my ever so high expectations in Shabby Chic-ness and the staff was so friendly and fun to boot. We enjoyed every bit of our stay. Such a relaxing place (not to mention GORGEOUS). Obviously, I couldn't take just a few photos so prepare yourself for Prairie overload (no such thing!).

It's just that pretty, y'all...