Finally Friday

and just dreaming... my dad got his tourist visa and my parents have booked their flights! I can't wait to see them. They were able to get away for almost three whole weeks. While I won't be able to take a lot of days off, I hope that they will still be able to have a nice visit.
Oh darn, that also means that I need to clean the house! This will be a cleaning weekend!

DIY project

When we were in Wisconsin at Christmas, I saw a frame in the basement that wasn't used and had an idea. Sure enough, the frame made it back to Birmingham (Thanks R & L).
I removed the back (unfortunately the glass broke while I was doing so), and under the painting that was originally in the frame, I found these two portraits. Tom's mom thinks that the frame came with the house, so we don't think they are family.

 
I liked the wood grain on the frame, but knew that it wouldn't work with our current decor.

Armed with a Michael's coupon, I purchased spray paint (I think it was less than $2). I had gold paint in the craft bucket, and thanks to Jennifer, I had plenty of scrapbook paper. I also had a pretty flowery curtain that wasn't being used. I had an old frame with a plexiglass (not sure that it was plexi, but that's what I'll call it) front. It had a batik that is now in the donation box.
Time to put it together:
I spray painted the frame (about 4 thin coats on both front and back).
When it was dry, I went over the thinner wood strip detailing with the gold paint.
I created a collage from scrapbook paper.
I cut the plexiglass from the old frame to fit in the new (-er) frame (16x20). I found that it was much easier to cut once I had scored the glass with a utility knife and then used scissors.
I had a storage bin that was being used as a night stand. So I wrapped the curtain around the box and secured it with strategically placed pins.
The result - a $2 facelift to my bedroom's nightstand. I'm not sure I like the scale of the objects on the table so the setup might change. But it's a nice start. 

Celebration week

In this week's celebration: my sister's birthday was yesterday, today is my mom's birthday, and three years ago today, a wonderful man took me out on a date. A year from now, we will be married.

(Not-so) Wordless Wednesday

The first version of the wedding centerpieces, with submerged orchids, hydrangeas, and a floating candle. The ribbon on the mason jar is a green burlap-like material. And if I use my coupons right, it will all be really affordable. This also means that glass cutting and making paper flower plans are on hold for now.

Tasty Tuesday

If you follow the Tasty Tuesday edition, you probably know by now that I do most of the cooking. I am fortunate that Tom is not a picky eater and unlike me, he doesn't have that many cravings. The cooking statement of the weekend is that I cook most of the time and the food is an average of 8 (with a few 10s). However, Tom rarely cooks, but when does, the food is almost always a 10. The latest example, is this creation:

While I was working on wedding crafts in my bedroom, Tom got inspired and whipped this very tasty dish (added advantage, it was a one pan dish). Layer sliced potatoes, sliced carrots, tilapia fish, bacon, and a twig of rosemary in an olive oil/butter coated piece of aluminum foil. Lemon pepper, salt, cajun pleasoning, pepper, and lemon juice were used to season the veggies and fish. Seal the foil and cook on a baking sheet for about an hour at 375 deg.

I got home a bit later than I anticipated last night and decided to make pasta. Of course it had a twist. Meet the rolled lasagna:

I half cooked lasagna sheets, then spread a turkey and veggie red sauce (Ragu chunky sauce to which I added browned ground turkey) and a made from scratch white sauce. I rolled each lasagna sheet and placed them in a pan, poured a bit of the pasta water in the pan, and spread any remaining white sauce on top. Sprinkle some shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese and in the oven they went at 375 deg for about 30 minutes.

CVS run

I don't have a picture of the finds, but the bottom line, I spent $2.90 and saved $22.50. I had to buy candy (not complaining) because my subtotal was -$0.01. So basically, the ~$3 was just tax. Woot woot!

Wednesday Wreath

Some weeks are better than others

There are weeks when some things seem to go just right. Last week was that way.

Work was super busy - we are working on the best way to present data for a manuscript, we got the reviewers' comments for our review, and I taught my first class. And, I loved it all.
I managed to go to the gym that week since I now have a membership.
All but one of my meals were from home.
Our trip to Alaska was booked.
I finally worked on the garden, including cleaning the slats of the balcony - the downside of living in a house that's right on the road. Grime and pollen had turned all the railings a very yucky color, and I couldn't take it anymore.
I finally filed all of my documents and purged a lot of old ones. 
I spent Saturday morning looking at ads, and scored some good deals the craft stores. With my finds, I mocked up wedding centerpieces and I really like them! If we go with the new version, no more cutting glass bottles or making paper flowers. I also got dinner napkins for $1.27 total, which should be plenty for the wedding.
I got started on a new frame project. 

For the icing on the cake:

I've been looking for a nice pair of shoes for the wedding with the following criteria:
Comfortable
Not flat but not too tall
A pop of color

DSW didn't have anything. I looked at Nine West, and at one point, the cost didn't matter anymore. Until on Friday night,  a woman walked in the Barking Kudu and I knew it right there. Her shoes were perfect. I went up to her and asked where she had gotten them: Kohl's, on sale this week. I went to Kohl's early Saturday morning, and got myself a pair of these:

Added bonus, these will be my "something blue".

Sunny Sunday

Sunny Sunday is back! But first off, Happy Easter!

Spring has sprung (although it's a bit warm for my taste)! We planted a few seeds last month, and hope that they will continue to do well. Phlox and lavender didn't fare well. I may try again soon. Here are a few pictures. This year I DIYed some planter labels to that I would remember what I planted. We also started jalapenos, tomatoes, phlox, and marigold inside. They were all doing well, so today I moved them outside (and transplanted and rearranged).

Morning Glory

Mixed pot of Zinnia, Johny Jump Up and Wild Flowers

The Oak tree that really wants to be

Lettuce Mix

Ruby Swiss Chard

Strawberry and mint from last year

Mixed pot of Chives and Parsley (from last year), now also with Cilantro

 

 Our two barrels are finally ready. We chose to just water seal them and drill a few holes at the bottom. These will eventually contain flowers. We didn't want to take the risk of growing produce in a chemically treated planter.

Oh April!

For April, I'm
Excited: about our anniversary
Worried: about the lecture that I have to teach (to first year graduate students) on Friday.
Watching: Big Bang Theory re-runs and GCB
Reading: The newspaper? Real Simple magazines
Listening to: NPR's Car Talk, Says You, and other funny shows
Creating: Finishing up home decor projects and wedding crafts; a new wreath for April
Cooking: More salads (technically not cooking, but eating)
Loving: boxed fans. We are not ready for the AC yet, even though it has been in the 80s in the apartment on some days
Hoping: that i can continue to work on my to-do list
Looking forward to: a great April!