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Updating the Cloffice

August 31, 2012

Last fall during the Roomspiration Party, I hosted the Closet and Nooks portion and I revealed my cloffice in the new house but it was never quite finished.  I have finally added a few things and today I’m showing you the updates.

The Cloffice in my first house was a big hit and I really loved the use of space.  This is when I first fell in love with stenciling as well.

When we moved one of the first things I missed was my cloffice as this kept happening on the kitchen counter and I can’t stand piles and mess on my counters.  Also, how can you find anything when you aren’t sure where it even is?

 

So that is how one of the first projects in this house was making a cloffice out of our front entryway closet.

Which then led to building a shelf with hooks in the hallway to the right so guests had a place to hang their coats. Here’s a little before and after shot of the hallway with the coat shelf.

Looking the opposite way down the hall.  You can read more about the entryway updates here.

Here is the after of the front closet, I did recently update the center of the wall by adding a piece of artwork that we’ve had for a few years.  Our friends who are in the antique world bought us this for a house warming gift.  I love the gold frame and colors, so pretty.  The wall is stenciled with Martha Stewart Precious Metals paint in Hazel using a Wallovers Stencil.  The wall color is Galapagos Turquoise by Benjamin Moore.  The desk and chair were a Craigslist find.  In the drawers are nice file folders for bills and paperwork, places for miscellaneous cords for the computers and i-pods, note cards, envelopes and all the other fun office type stuff.  The side wall has a nice pocket folder area where I keep our home binder and some folders that I use often.

 

 

The ceiling is covered in barn wood that I was able to rip off of an old falling apart barn, thanks to my friend Jenny.  We had a great time using our tools and rusty nails.   The light fixture is from IKEA.

 

I love when we can turn spaces that maybe aren’t being used to their full potential into something useful and functional.  The grand total for this space was around $225 give or take a few dollars.  Not bad for an organized area to pay bills, charge your laptop and i-pads, store all that miscellaneous stuff like envelopes, paperclips, stamps, bills, kids school papers and pens.

Have you turned any of your closets into offices, sewing nooks, craft areas or something else?

Linking up here:

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Laundry Room Makeover – Complete!

August 29, 2012

The last few weeks of summer have been flying by with friends visiting from near and far, a little trip back to our old stomping grounds, school supplies shopping and preparing for a new school year.  One of the areas in my home that needed some TLC, organization and a new paint color (flesh colored walls are just not for me) was the laundry room. Not only is the room looking scary, it is very hard to photograph as there is no natural light and it is not very big to be using a tripod in. So bear with me on the photos!

 

My first instinct was to paint the laundry room a blue/aqua or perhaps gray.   Then I thought maybe this room could be a different color from most of the other rooms in our home, which are some shade of blue or gray.  After posting a laundry room paint color question on my fb page, which had a crazy amount of response by the way, I decided to go with green.  Yellow was my first choice and the most popular answer but I went with the second most popular pick, green .  Maybe the blogger Color My World Challenge really did help me introduce a new color in my home, one that I would not have picked if not challenged, I didn’t pick just any green but a chartreuse green.   Digging in my fabric stash I found this blue and green flame point print that I have had for a few years which would go well with green.  Next up for inspiration was a striped aqua and green rug from Target.

aqua green fabric

Here it is, all put together and ready for some laundry!

 

 

 

 

 

I found these great printables at BHG and knew they would be perfect in my laundry room.  Using dollar store document frames and some pink spray paint I already had on hand, I was able to make some wall art for $4.

Here is the link if you would like to print these off as well.

The fabric was used to make a simple sink skirt.  Using velcro with a sticky back and my sweet sewing skills, I covered up the ugly sink for $8.

 

I had this in our bedroom at the last house, it was kind of a sage green color and was laying around in the basement not being used.  A couple coats of some aqua sample paint and a piece of scrapbook paper, new look, new room to use in.

We replaced the wire shelving with some melamine shelving from Menards.  The shelving brackets are from IKEA, I purchased them last year for the Cloffice but didn’t end up using them there.  The baskets are from Hobby Lobby and store our pool towels and cleaning rags.  So where did I put everything that was on the wire shelving?  The drawers under the washer and dryer!  I have no idea why  I wasn’t using the drawers but they hold quite a bit and keep the clutter away.  The toilet paper and paper towel have relocated to a different area of the home.  Otherwise all my cleaning and laundry supplies are neatly tucked away.

Where did the laundry sorter go you may be asking?  Well, I’ve started using a new system for washing our clothes, maybe most of you do this as well, wish I would’ve thought of it sooner.  I just take the entire dirty hamper from child A’s room, throw it in the washer, dryer and then they take the basket of clean clothes to their room and are responsible for putting the clean clothes away.  There is no more sorting of clothes, especially socks and underwear, which was a dreadful task!  Laundry for 6 people can be a bit much at times and this washing one person’s clothes at a time has simplified my life!

Here are a few before and afters side by side so you can see the change!

 

The wall color is Frolic by Sherwin Williams, I scored a gallon of paint for $28 during their 40% off sale a few weeks ago.

The rug is from Target $14

Ironing Board Cover Target $8

Ironing Board Hanger $8

Melamine Shelving  $13

Baskets from Hobby lobby on sale $35 for both

White Clock Target $6

Document Frames for Printables $4

Total $ 118

I’m linking up here:

 


DIY Show Off
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Home Stories A2Z

By 20 Comments Filed Under: Before and After, laundry room

What I’ve been reading, what God’s been doing and more…….

August 18, 2012

Sometimes I wish that I liked to journal so I could go back and read events and seasons of my life, maybe I’d have better insight into how I ended up in the season I am in now.  This is going to be a personal post, sharing of where I am right now, how I think some of this came to be, etc.

For a while now I’ve been feeling like my spiritual life is a desert, dry, barren, no water in sight, no joy, just barely surviving.  Bitterness, unforgiveness and pride have taken over, they have been hiding in there for a while and finally they seem to have just taken over.  I do not like this!  I do not like the person I’ve become.  Trying to get personal without getting too personal is hard when writing on a public blog but there have been relationships that have definitely headed south in recent years, attitudes that have developed and also just a whole lot of yuck.  Relationships that need to be made right, need healing, need forgiveness and love.  Attitudes that need to change and yuck that needs to be cleared out.

I have loved James MacDonald of Walk in the Word for many years now.  He brings God’s word and truth in a real and challenging way, that’s what I like and what I need.  The local radio station here does not play his broadcasts but thanks to the wonderful internet, I can listen to him anytime.  While browsing his site I came across a book, Lord, Change my attitude before it’s too late.  Whoa!  I think he wrote this book just for me! How did he know?  I threw it in my virtual cart and raced for the virtual check out.  Three days later, it arrived on my doorstep.

I’ve been reading this book, a friend is reading this book at the same time, God’s been doing stuff, taking the proverbial scales off my eyes, chiseling off the hard, dark crusty shell covering my heart, shining His truth into my dark, hidden areas.  It’s been a great jumping off point for me, I’m seeing much more clearly now, there is a lot of work to do, I know this now.  I’m ready.  I want to change.

Another thing that I’ve been contemplating and would be a change is this blog, blogging in general, blog reading, etc.  Debating if maybe it’s time to hang up my blogging shoes, get off fb and just put the focus on things that are more important.  Making my house comfortable, functional and relaxing is good but is it the best?  I don’t know.  I have had many discussions with my husband and even some other bloggers about this for the past few months and I don’t know what to do yet.  Have you given up something you enjoyed because it brought out wrong attitudes or you simply knew that it was a time sucker and wasn’t the best way to spend your time?

There have been so many areas He’s been working on, Pride, Bitterness, Unforgiveness, Worldliness and Anxiety to name a few.  While taking a bath I began to wonder if others are feeling this way, I know my friend is, we are journeying through this book together and it’s great to have someone to chat with, challenge me, laugh, yes,  even cry with.  Then I thought maybe I should just blog about it, put myself out there, see if anyone else wants to join me.   So, I’m wondering, do you?  Has your life been lacking joy?  Are you feeling bitter, hurt, angry, sad?  Want to journey with me in letting God do a work in our hearts?  Changing our attitudes?  Being shaped and molded to be more like Him?  Because trust me, shaping myself has not worked out well, I look like a batch of dough that has been mistreated, all sticky, crusty in some spots, cracked, worn down and lumpy.   I can’t promise it won’t be painful to be stretched, re-rolled and made into something better but I know it will be more than worth it!  If this sounds like something you want to do, you can send me a private email if you like, fb me or comment below.

By 10 Comments Filed Under: life and love, Uncategorized

Random Thursday

August 16, 2012

Long time no see!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I have missed blogging, reading blogs and even chatting with many of you but the summer has been busy, the calender is filling up and school will be starting very soon!   I thought I’d just share some bits and pieces of life that have been going on around here, random stuff that doesn’t really fit into a category but I’d like to share anyways.

A few weeks ago, I was able to meet up with the fabulous Janel from Nellie Bellie, formerly known as Hating Martha.  Although our meeting was brief, I just know that we would have a fabulous time together!  I mean, look at my face, I’m already having fun.

Janel even made me two gifts for my laundry room, aren’t they fabulous?

I did manage to bring her a few cupcakes without eating them, my favorite is the lemon curd.  It was a close one but they made it to her safely.   Janel & I share a love of cupcakes…..this blogging friendship is meant to be.

my friend Andrea from Our Blue Front Door came to visit me.  It was not a quick drive for her but I’m so glad she did it anyways!  We had a great time working on some projects, painting and shopping.  So glad to have real life blog friendships!  Friends that paint together stay together.   Andrea brought some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint with her, you know it’s going to be good when your friend brings paint and a van full of furniture!

We recovered one of her stools with some fabric I had on hand and some of the AS Paris Gray paint.  I stole this picture from Andrea, mine wasn’t as cute as hers.

My coffee table received some AS chalk paint treatment as well.  I really really want some AS chalk paint, so I’m saving my pennies!

Before Andrea came to visit, the hubby and I decided to take our own marriage advice, we managed to sneek away for a night, thanks to our awesome friends who watched all of our children for us!  We will pay them back by putting their kids to work cleaning our house watching their kids for them in the fall. Spending time alone together was fabulous and we didn’t even do anything exciting, just being together alone was excitement enough for us.  We did splurge on this shake and shared it together, oh yeah, and we bought a succulent.

After a busy weekend away, we came home and I decided we needed to spray paint our shutters black.  The faded cranberry just wasn’t working with the new roof color.  So after breathing in fumes for a few hours, the house looked much better but I wasn’t quite done.  Time to do the light fixtures as well.  For about $40 I changed the look of the front of the house, for the better!  Well ok, so the roofers helped out but I think I had the hardest part of the whole thing.

Next year hopefully is the year we get the front landscaping done.  I’m not a big fan of the shrubbery and weeds.  The hostas are bigger than Kim Kardashin’s head and they need to be split.

I also worked on the laundry room and it’s close but no cigar.  Not even sure what that saying means but I do say it a lot.  Here’s a quick before and after for those of you that aren’t following me on facebook, and you should be because it’s fun and I like to talk on there.   Plus I share stuff on there, like my swollen sweat gland and stuff.  Back to the laundry room, it might be done soon.  What do you think of my dramatic color pic?

I’m off to paint trim in the two older girls’ bedrooms, one bedroom is painted, bedding is here and I’m about 1/2 way done with, the other room the bedding arrived and that’s about it.  We are clamping down on the budget so the bedrooms will be done with a small amount of money but I think I can do it!  Speaking of budgets, I am considering doing a series in September with some other bloggers about budgeting, groceries, decorating a home, repurposing, etc.  Would you be interested in a series about budgeting?  Also in September I’ll be back to regular blogging and blog reading!  I’ve missed you all!  Talk to me, do you like the laundry room color?  Have you met friends from the internet in real life?  Do you like lemon curd cupcakes?  Inquiring minds want to know!

 

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Ravioli Casserole

August 9, 2012

I am transferring over blog posts that got lost in the WP move a few months ago.  I can definitely see that I have grown in my styling and photography skills.

Ravioli Casserole
Quick Cooking

1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
1 package (25 oz.) frozen cheese ravioli cooked and drained
2 C. (16 oz.) small curd cottage cheese
4 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ C. parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread ½ C. sauce in ungreased 13×9 baking dish.

Layer ½ of the ravioli, one cup of the cottgae cheese and one cup of spaghetti sauce.

Top with half of the mozzarella.

Repeat the layers and then sprinkle the top with parmesan and parsley. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

 

 

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Italian Salami Pasta Salad (cold)

August 9, 2012

1 16oz bottle Creamy Italian Dressing
16oz Rainbow Rotini cooked and rinsed in cool water
1 Green Pepper cut up
1 Onion cut up
1 8oz can can Black Olives
1/3 pound of Salami
1/3 c Parmesan Cheese

Cook the rainbow rotini, drain and rinse in cool water, set aside. Cut up Salami, Green Pepper and Onion. Combine the noodles with the Salami, Green Peppers, Onions, Black Olives, Parmesan and Creamy Italian Dressing. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. If it gets a little dry, just add more dressing and mix well. 

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Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

August 9, 2012

This is another great recipe that a friend gave to me.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cubed
1/8 cup margarine
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
Directions

Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm. Serve over egg noodles, brown rice or mashed potatoes.

My kids loved this!  It is really  yummy and if you leave it in the crock pot long enough the chicken falls apart!  Definitely a winner!

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Sausage (Kielbasa) Potato Soup

August 9, 2012

My friend sent me this recipe because her family really loved it and she knows how picky my kids are! We tried it and it has an approval rating of 2 out of 3 kids and my husband really likes it too. He even likes to make this soup so this is one of the meals that he will prepare for us on the weekend.

1 pound smoked kielbasa
6 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
1 can of chicken broth
1 can of corn
1/2 Cup celery chopped
1/2 Cup chopped carrot
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1-1/2 Cups milk
2/3 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, brown sausge, drain grease and set aside. In the same pan combine the potatoes, corn, broth, celery, carrots and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Add the milk, cheese and and sausage, cook and stir until cheese is melted and soup is heated through.

Serves 6.

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Grandma’s Goulosh

August 9, 2012

Grandma’s Goulash
Grandma Lorraine

1 lb ground beef
½ lb cudaghi or Italian sausage
2 cups elbow noodles
½ C. chopped onion
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can tomato soup
1 can tomato sauce (8oz)
1 C. cheddar cheese
2 C. mozzarella cheese

Brown the ground beef and Italian sausage with onion in a frying pan, drain grease and set aside. Cook the elbow noodles until al dente and drain, add to 9×13 dish. Combine meats and noodles in casserole dish, add the corn, tomato soup, tomato sauce and cheddar cheese, mix all ingredients together and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly.

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Chocolate Chip Bars

August 9, 2012

This is another lost recipe but now it is found!  Thanks to my friend Jess for this recipe, we love it and now even my girls make it.

Chocolate chip bars

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 ½ c brown sugar
¾ c cooking oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ c flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 c chocolate chips

Directions
Mix brown sugar and oil together, add eggs and vanilla, stir well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into egg mixture, add chocolate chips.

Pour into greased 9×13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.  These are really  yummy but they don’t photograph very well.

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