New Item!

I have a new invitation up in my Esty Shop today.  I love this one and I hope you do to!! 

Etsy Esty Etsy!

I am so excited - crazy excited - I had my first Etsy sale!  I fully admit that when my phone dinged with an e-mail and I checked it I did a crazy, silly, slightly awkward dance in my kitchen.  I cannot wait for the second order! 

Check Out My Etsy Shop FireFly Designs

Please don't wipe your feet -jump over!

Hello ... new front door rug from Home Goods

HomeMade Cinnamon/Sugar Tortilla Chips

I made something yummy! The reason why I know they were yummy is because Conner, the pickiest eater on earth, loved them.  I made {cinnamon} {sugar} tortilla chips.  

 

Start off with tortillas - there is nothing homemade about these - Just bought these at the store.  I use the burrito size to get a good size chip. 

 

Mix cinnamon and sugar into a bowl.  I used approx. 1tbsp of each. 

 

 I use my kitchen scissors to cut the tortillas into pieces.  Kind of like cutting a pizza.  ( I do not cut pizza with scissors though, btw. - I don't think I have ever met anyone who does)

 

Fill a fry pan with vegetable oil, I use just a little over 1/2 cup.  Turn the heat to medium and let the oil heat up.  Be careful!! It will get hot.  I put the tortillas in for about 3-5 seconds on each side.  They will cook very, very quick.  I then transfer them to a glass casserole dish where I immediately sprinkle the chips with the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Repeat this until all the chips are made.

  

ENJOY!

Washroom

One of the rooms in my house that I love is my downstairs powder room.  After the fire and the house was completely remodeled, the insurance company told me that I had to pick out paint for every room in the house.  I jokingly said can I pick a different color for each room - to which the contractor responded "you can pick a different color for each wall if you wanted to".  Whaaaa????? For serious?! I was in love.  I could finally paint the way I wanted every room to look and the husband couldn't complain because 1. He didn't have to pay for it and 2. he didn't have to do it. 

I love the color Tiffany Blue.  That is my happy color.  (Psssst Husband - Tiffany & Co. boxes are Tiffany Blue - the color really stands out with white gold - which is what should be inside said box) I knew immediately that the downstairs powder room was going to be Tiffany Blue and I didn't give a hoot what anybody was going to think. 

 Those cute little jars - found at an antique store for a whopping $12.  I did a happy dance all day when I bought them. 

Warning: Crooked picture taking.  Just tilt your head a little - all will be level then.

I found this cute shelf at Home Goods.  If you haven't been to Home Goods - shame on you.   The cuteness on the shelf are old telephone pole insulators that my father-in-law found and gave to me.  Do you think he is aware of my hoarding and did it to make the husband mad?  Maybe, maybe not - either way I love those things and I still have a bucket full of them! The little washroom sign - I kid you not I found at the dollar store.  

So that is my powder room painted my "happy place" color. 

Firefighter Lamp

As most of you know, Brandon is a firefighter and when we found out we were having a little boy (Lucas) it was an unspoken agreement that his room would be firefighter themed.  I have one talented husband let me tell ya.  He had this old extinguisher in the house (in his office which is now Luke's room to be exact) and he decided he needed to do something more with it.  He made it into this lamp and it is now one of my favorite pieces in the house.  

 

I love to think that one day Lucas will be bringing this lamp to his very own home.  Specially made for him from his Dad. 

A Life Motto

About 3 years ago when I decided to go back to school, I was a little nervous.  I felt as if the journey I was about to embark on was maybe just a little crazy.  Even for me.  I reached out to the person that always seems to have the best advice on ..well everything.  My Dad.  My Dad is probably the smartest person I have ever met.  He's really lived his life and has a way of putting things into perspective for me.  

I reached out to him via e-mail.  With him living in England, the time difference can sometimes get the best of us.  I had asked him if what I wanted was to far fetched, if it was unattainable and just a dream that I should keep as just a dream.  His reply to me hit home - it made complete sense, not just for school, but for everything.  It became my life's motto.  Thank you, Dad - sometimes words can change someone's life. 

That very day I wrote my Dad's quote inside my binder.  Every day that I opened it I was reminded.  That reminder got me through some tough days.  I'm still on the journey with college.  It might be a very long time until I'm done, but at least I can say that there will be a day that I will finish. 

Brand New (old) Table

The Husband has been busy today! I've always wanted a pub table in the eat-in portion of our kitchen, but I didn't want to part with our oak round pedestal table because 1. it was our first kitchen table and 2. we received from a very special relative that is no longer with us.  I'm kind of sentimental in that way.  The Husband calls it hoarding - I call it .... well I don't call it hoarding! 

ANYWAYS - He took on the project this morning of turning the table into a pub table and he did an ahmayzingggg job.  I'm lovin everything about it. 

Now, I'm going to walk you through step by step on how this fantastic idea is played out. 

1.  First step is to unbolt the table top from the base and measure the diameter of the base. 

2. Then you decide how tall you want your pub table to be.  We went 6 inches taller and with that we can accommodate 24-26in countertop stools for seating

3.  Ok, in order to add the height, you're going to need some wood. :)  The Husband used untreated pine that he bought at Home Depot for approx $11.  He bought a 2x10x8ft piece.  He didn't use it all - but that just means he can save the rest for another project!  He also had Home Depot cut it into 10 in pieces.  

4.  Trace the top of the base on to one of 10 in pieces of wood.  Repeat this 4 times in order to add 6 inches onto your table.  Then use a jigsaw (one of my favorite tools ) to cut out the piece that you traced.  Do this for all 4 pieces.  

5. After you have your four cut outs, you then screw each piece separately onto the base.  Use an inch and 5/8ths deck screw.  Use four per cutout.  Remember when you are screwing on each piece separately to offset your screws. 

6. After you have all four pieces secured it's time to get your sanding on.  Use your sander to smooth out the edges.  

7. Time to Paint! Paint or stain it the same color as your base.  We decided to paint the table with two colors.  The base color is black and the table top is a vintage red.  We used normal wall paint, but we sealed it with a semi-gloss clear lacquer. 

8. Final Step!  After your paint and seal is dry the last step is to pre-drill and use 4 inch screws to secure the table top back on the base.

TA-DA! You have a new (old) table! 

Obviously, I typed this up - not The Husband - so if you should have any questions, throw me a comment and I will get him to give you a more technical answer.

Snow Day Part Deux

Snowed some more last night... boys were ready to go this morning.  There was shoveling to be done! As I was taking pictures of my little humans doing hard labor ( I paid accordingly with eggs and toast when they were done ) I received a message from my Dad saying that he was playing in the snow too! Although his version of playing in the snow is quite different. 

Austrian Alps

My Dad is in the Austrian Alps for the weekend skiing.  In my entire life I don't think I have ever heard of my Dad skiing.  I'm concerned for his safety... well I'm more concerned for the safety of all the other skiers around him.  It's true. :)  Have fun Dad! Stay upright! 

Well not as exciting as the Austrian Alps, but the boys did have fun. 

 

These boys - make picture taking easy. 

SNOW!

Snow has FINALLY arrived in our parts of Illinois and Luke was so stinkin excited to get outside. 

Oh, Blue Eyes, My Love

We don't shovel no stinkin driveways! We shovel the front yard, apparently.  

Love, Love, Love that smile.