Birthday Projects: Project 4 and 6

 Two quick and easy projects, things I already had been using just updated to "fit" me better.  

I have this mirror on my dining room wall, and my kitchen/dining area doesn't really have a theme but I have a couple inspiration pieces in there that are multi-colored (red, gold, purple, mostly.)  One of them is an art piece that I myself painted.  The mirror was just basic white, and I wanted it to go better with the vibe of the room.  

Quick and easy update, just painted the frame purple to match the vibrant feel of the room.  

And project 6 is my money jar.  I have a basic mason jar that sits on one of the nightstands in my room that I toss my change in.  Purple is the color of abundance, and royalty so it felt appropriate to paint the jar purple (and then I distressed it a little.) 

Birthday Projects: Project 3

 I love to be outside, but like writing it seems to take a back burner in my life.  45 is the year of getting my priorities in line.  I don't have a porch at this house, something that when I buy or build will be a necessity.  There is however a little patio out back, basic small cement patio.  I had purchased 4 chairs just before moving into this house for the back deck at my before house, and they made the move with me.  They just stayed stacked up in the corner of the patio.  Seriously, I think I used them twice.  In nearly 5 years.  

This is what the area looked like.  I unstacked the chairs for the purpose of the picture, but they were all stacked where that far back left one is in the photo.  And those are the broken down weathered bunky boards from the boys bunk beds that have been sitting there for nearly 5 years as well.  Complete with a vine growing up it.  

I looked into what I could do to these chairs, as I'm not just rolling in the dough ya know?  But I also knew I didn't want that faded red to be the asthetic of my new area.  I found on pinterest a brand suggestion for spray paint to redo outside items and was intrigued.  I found a color I liked, and then I found an accent color I liked.  I bought a small metal table from Dollar General.  While researching Project 7, I found the idea for using an old crib mattress spring as a plant holder and loved that idea too, that's the bright pink item standing in the corner behind the seating.  Outdoor rug from Target. 

Other additions are a snake plant and a cactus.  As well as a citronella candle because mosquitos should be the state bird here.  I hadn't purchased the plants for the holder back there when I took this picture, but they are climbing green and purple plants that I'm very excited about.  I also added a double shepherd's hook to hold a flower basket and a bird/squirrel feeder.  

I am so pleased with the area now, and I spend a good amount of time out there now which was the goal.

Birthday Projects: Project 2

My living room has these two wonderful chairs that are part of a living room set that was gifted to me by a member of my Old Lady Gang (the senior fitness class that I used to teach, I refer to them as my OLG) when I moved into this house.  They are so comfy, we all really love this furniture.  But, I needed an end table between them.  I recently purchased new night stands for my bedroom, as before I only had one.  That one night stand was the night stand my mother bought me when I was 15 years old.  It's 30 years old, and has been moved 5 times, and well loved.  It has a lot of history for me though, and it's the first piece of furniture that was ever mine.  I decided I wanted to keep it in use, and I'd refurbish it to make it work for that room.  

It was just basic white, but it is solidly constructed.  I sanded and cleaned.  I decided I didn't want the big bottom drawer in there, and would be removing it and replacing it with a bin to hold throw blankets most likely, but definitely a bin in that spot.  

This is essentially what the front looked like.  Don't ask me why the picture is so close up.  Idk.  I cut that little drawer guide out with a hacksaw to make room for my bin.  And, then the cat decided--oh yeah we have a cat now--she really liked climbing in and out of that spot.  So, I took a different direction with that space.  But when that cat moves out (she's Two's cat, so when Two leaves she will also) I'm putting my bin in there y'all.  I swear.  

Navy and Cloudless, plus a special ordered agate slice in various shades of blue for the drawer pull.  And a pillow.  Who am I?  I don't even LIKE cats.  *facepalm*  That gorgeous stained glass butterfly is courtesy of The Bestie as well (my friends have been really supportive of my emotional state and I get random presents, which is so sweet and makes me feel very loved.)  That vase is also a gift hand crafted by The Bestie's awesome daddy. 

Lazy Housewife: Frito-Pie

 I saw a FB post without a recipe it was just a picture of this baked Frito wonderland.  

I figured it would be easy enough to figure out a recipe on my own, but also know that if you google "Frito Pie" there are a plethora of recipes for you that will be much more precise than what I'm about to type.

I make two pans of this every time I make it, well now I make three because I shared with my parents once and from then on I make a pan for their house every time I make it for our house.  The reason I was making two to begin with you may wonder?  Well, I love the Chili Cheese Fritos.  But they are not vegan.  Regular Fritos are, however.  

I make the Beefless Ground (really, that's what it's called) in the same skillet I have browned onion in.  Add a little water and some taco seasoning mix.  

I use the Goya brand yellow rice with peppers (also vegan) and cook it just like the box says.  You'll also want one can of seasoned black beans. 

I buy vegan shredded cheese, I'm not real sure what the brand is that my kids prefer honestly, but go with what you like.  

A layer of Fritos, a layer of beans, a layer of rice, a layer of cheese, crushed up Fritos.  Bake until cheese is bubbly-if you are using regular dairy cheese, vegan cheese doesn't do that so you'll just bake until it's warmed.  

For my personal pan, I use chili cheese Fritos and regular diary cheese because preferences.  A big hit with everyone.  Girls.  Boys.  Parents.  

Birthday Projects Project 1

 At the beginning of June, I turned 45.  For the last 5 years, I have taken a week's vacation to honor my own birthday.  I'm known for celebrating for the WHOLE month, and that first week of vacation kicks it off right.  I've never done anything huge with the time, I just relax, spend time with my closest people, and love on myself.  This year, I decided I was going to dedicate this time off to work on projects for my house.  We've lived in this house for 4 1/2 years, and I've not really done much in the way of decorating it because...it's not MY house.  It's a rental.  Something has finally shifted in me though, and I wanted this space for as long as we are in it to feel like OURS.  Mine.  US.  

Project 1

I have a large blank space over my bed.  I wanted to put something there, and I bought a plain wooden sign from Michael's.  Two ordered me stencils for the project as a Christmas gift, and shortly after Christmas, I bought the paint colors I wanted for the sign.  And then it sat.  Until June 7th.  SMDH.  I knew what I wanted the sign to say, much to the CRINGE of my tween/teen boys.  It's lyrics from a song that have just always stuck with me.  

Once completed though, it didn't feel right above the bed.  It looked too big for the space-something I should have considered a little more carefully when I bought the sign, but a smaller sign wouldn't have worked for the lyrics either...anyway, the opposite wall in my bedroom was also completely bare, so that's where it landed and I LOVE it there.  

One of my work kids has been loving on me extra this year for my birthday, as I'm going through a period of emotional growth/turmoil (they go hand in hand.)  She picked out a most perfect tapestry that is now home to the barren space above my bed.  Pictures of that come with a different project, so stay tuned.  

Back Burner

 For some reason, even though I feel a "pull" to write, I allow this blog to be put on my back burner.  To celebrate my 45th birthday, I've been doing a bunch of home projects (blog posts to come!)  One of those projects is to create a "work corner" in my bedroom.  A comfy chair, a "table," notebooks, pens, journals, and my laptop.  I've commandeered a chair from The Bestie, just need to de-cat it and reupholster.  But it's a big comfy chair and I'm excited to have it.  I purchased a "table" from Amazon.  

It's small enough that it doesn't take up much space, I can tuck the bottom under the chair to pull it to me when I need to type or write on it, it's got a little pocket there where I can store my laptop.  AND the one I purchased was "returned for damage" so I got a steal.  It's a little scraped up on the end, but so am I so it seemed fitting for my workspace.  

I've been journaling, and ordered myself a couple basic notebooks from Target, and I have a wicker basket that will sit next to the chair as well to hold my things.  Also for this space I bought a Himalayan salt lamp that emits a lovely soft glow, which just helps my personal energy when I'm working.  

All this to say:  more posts are coming.  I don't know what the content of this blog will be going forward.  Most likely it's going to take on my own personality, which is ALL OVER THE MF PLACE.  It'll be life, cooking, exercising, health, parenting, adulting, aging, traveling...all of it as it happens.