Shut the front door...

Last week while driving up to my house I decided I'd had enough. My deep red door was bringing me down and had to go. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a classic red door, but I was just tired of seeing red everytime I walked through my door.

The door had been painted by the previous owners and could have used a few more coats when they did it. Combine that with the fact that it was dingy and scratched up it was neigh time for a fresh coat. So out came the swatches and the strange looks from the neighbors as I sat on the curb staring at my front door covered in little squares of color.

 In the end I went with  Bennie Moore's Mountain Laurel.

Here's my handy tip for keeping the rim of your paint can tidy while you paint

Then you can just dip and wipe on the band instead of the edge!

2 coats later I had a fresh and fun new door. I need to do a bit of plant trimming/re-arranging out here, but the color sure is fun!

I love the way the color goes with the greige walls and charcoal trim, plus it really makes the hardware pop. 

Honestly the color did look a bit darker on the paint chip and I would have liked to have it be a bit darker but      

I am really happy with the color as it is. I was a bit worried what my older neighbors would say, but just a few days ago I got a phone call from one of them just to tell me how much they loved the new color! You know you live in a boring quiet neighborhood when your door is the topic of neighborly conversation!

& Picky Neighbors!

Wow, it's been a busy few weeks! I apologize for not being around much but first grade is looming just around the corner and I have been trying to pack in as much fun as possible before school starts. When last we left off this momma was checking activities off our summer bucket list like crazy. we have just a few left and after we go camping this weekend will be almost done, and with almost a month to spare! here's a few things that have been going on the last few weeks...

I finally got around to putting chicken wire into this old window frame so the boys have there own place to hang their treasures. There room is slowly coming along, now I'm just looking for dresser.

We need a new dresser because this guy is officially potty trained! I cannnot get over how much easier it is the 2nd time! We no longer need the giant dresser/changing table so I'm looking for something that will fit better. please ignore the slipcoverless sofa and toy strewn living space in the background :)

I have been on a "make it myself " kick and have been making all my own jam, cottage cheese, butter, bread, root beer and so on. I usually prefer to make rather than buy but I've recently attempted things I've never tried before, like butter!

I found this blog called The Italian Dish, where the author has an amazing recipe for really fast, really delicious bread dough with out kneading!  Although skeptical, I decided to give it a chance and can honestly say that it will forever change the way I make my dough. You seriously mix up the dough and put it in the fridge, then just take it out and bake it when you want fresh bread. I have now made everything from beautiful crusty loaves, to pizza, to cinnamon rolls and not one of them took longer than a few minutes! Honestly it almost makes me angry when I think of tall the time I've spent kneading and trying to make a perfect dough when this is sooo easy!

Farmer's market pizza, recipe to follow in a few days

Cranberry pecan cinnamon rolls

Well, I'm off to pack up for our camping trip. 4 days of  tubing, s'mores, swimming, and sleeping under the stars with our very best friends! Hopefully I'll be able to get some good family portraits while we are on the river, fingers crossed!

& Smokey campfires!

Today we decided to find an adventure, so off we went to breakfast, Costco and then the zoo!

Adventure was had by all,and then so were naps.Now we are eagerly awaiting for our handsome daddy to get home...so we can attack him with water guns!
Have a great weekend!

& loaded water pistols!

Quick fix-Sloppy Flo's

Yep, Flo's as in Florintine! 

While I am a huge fan of the traditional Jo, I made this twist on one of our favorites out of necessity. The spinach  in our yard was overgrown, the burger buns we had left over and needed to be used, the minor amount of spaghetti sauce was too little for pasta and the mushrooms were about to gang up on me.

So whats a girl to do?

toss them all in a pan and cook up some very quick and tasty...

Sloppy Flo's:

15-20 mushrooms quartered

1/3 red bell diced

1/2 yellow or red onion diced

1 clove garlic chopped

Spinach (as much as you want, I used lots!)

2/3 c. Spaghetti sauce

1 tbsp.olive oil

salt/pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 c. parmesan cheese

4 burger buns

Sautee mushrooms in olive oil until lightly browned. Add onions & peppers and cook until soft. add garlic, salt, Italian seasoning & pepper, stir to combine. Add spinach and cover stirring occasionally until spinach is cooked down. Add sauce and Parmesan cook until melty and delicious!

Serve on toasted burger buns, and Enjoy!

& Parmesan nibbles!

Tuesday 10- Momma Peace

This past weekend my boys went fishing, which meant that I had the whole house to myself all weekend. While I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's, it is so nice to have some quiet solitude for a few days to help you appreciate what you havve.
This weeks Tuesday 10 are my momma time highlights from the weekend...

{ten}

Getting to unveil my NEW BLOG DESIGN! Thanks so much to Kim at 733 Designs for doing such a great job at putting my style into a design and doing it so quickly!

{nine}

Cleaning my house on Firday and having it stay that way until the boys got back Sunday afternoon (exactly 5 minutes after they got back)

{eight}

I love you Steve Martin, what a great summer read! 

{seven}

These ultra fab gold heels I bought myself, and then when dancing in!

Seriously, I danced my butt off in these and my feet were still happy at the end of the night!

{six}

Saint John and the Sinners

A fun local band, who did an all Fleetwood Mac night!

And the lead singer Christina is 6 months preggo and as cute as can be!

{five}

Sipping my morning coffee in the warm sunshine as my chickens peck feverishly at my painted toenails. I guess they think bright red toenails look like delicious bugs!

{four}

Having my honey send me adorable pictures from their fishing trip

{three}

Watching a chick flick without anyone picking on me, and cyring without feeling silly!

{two}

Not cooking 1 single meal the whole time!

{one}

Not coming home to an empty house after work on Sunday!

Being covered in hugs and kisses and getting to hear all about papa's boat!

What do you do when you have the house all to yourself? 

Also, I want to wish my momma a very very happy birthday today! I wish I could be there to make you dinner and watch a Giants game with you!

Peace and cute shoes!

Happy Fourth!

Via

Water fight, Bike Ride, fireworks & BBQ with friends. 

Today is gonna be a good day!

Wishing all of you a happy and safe 4th!

Peace & water pistols!

Good morning my lovely friends, How is everyone today?

I'm certainly doing better, now that I've gotten in contact with a blog designer and will soon have a fancy schmancy new blog!

Our weather has been gorgeous the last few days and I am so energized by it that I'm tackling all sorts of projects. 

Yesterday I started sanding this desk I got for free from my neighbor

 yeah it certainly does not look like much now but it's sturdy and will work out great for the boys room. which reminds me as soon as I get the mountain of donation toys and clothing dealt with I'll finally show you the room.

All with the help of my trusty bat wielding sidekick!

I cannot wait to get my house back in order since I decided to clean out every closet and re arrange all my furniture this last week. 

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th! I cannot believe Jess and I BOTH have the day off. we'll be BBQing on the back deck all day and I cannot wait!

Peace & Primer in my hair!

Oh the mess and Mayhem

So this morning I decided that my blog needed a new look...cut to me practically in tears as I royally mess up my blog!
Ugggghhh!
Can anyone recommend a good blog designer that can get me a nice not messed up blog, like yesterday?
I've found a few but they are all currently busy
That's what I get for trying to add a menu bar, which should be a lot easier to do then it apparently is.
I'm looking at you Blogger!
Okay I swear this Hissy Fit is over but you're gonna have to bear with my less than stellar blog for at least a few days.

Peace get off your huffy bike!

*Remodelaholic*

Hi Everybody, I'm being Featured over at Remodelaholic today!

I'm so happy that Cassity invited me over for the day, I hope you stop by too!

Peace & New Friends!

Sweet Wine Slushies

I love a good slushy, but the strangely neon corn syrup concoctions that sit mixing perpetually in convenience stores give me the creeps. Plus sometimes a girl wants a more complex flavor than blue suspiciousberry.
That's where my unwavering love for my Cuisinart ice cream maker comes in.
And just in case you do not own an ice cream maker my beloved little churner is on sale with coupon at costco as we speak!

 Yes, my ice cream maker and I shall someday conquer the world, but for now I'm happy being the cool mom that makes homemade frozen treats for the neighborhood kids.

Today, however I made myself a slushy, a decidedly grown-up one with only 2 ingredients.

Nothing is safe from becoming a cold delicious treat in my home, after all I am the one who made bacon cookies a few months ago, mmmm...bacon ice cream

Anyways, today I simply poured a cup and a half of red wine and 1 can of squirt into my ice cream maker and then flipped the switch 

15 minutes later I had a perfect slushified wine cooler!

Luckly my ice cream maker came with 2 crocks so I can make the hubby and I a batch of these and then make a more kid friendly batch for the little ones.

Peace and Brain Freeze!