Biggie says so

I have a hot date tonight (with a girlfriend) so I don't have time to post, but I'm throwing out my friendly reminder to please participate in What's Cookin' Good Lookin'? The hubs finally comes home this weekend so I need your delicious recipes to feed my poor guy who hasn't had a home cooked meal in a month. He's even tried to cook for himself...shudder. If that doesn't make you want to participate, I don't know what else would.

And in the words of Biggie Smalls (have I told you about my obsession with 90's rap?) "tell your friends, to get with my friends, and we can be friends." AKA, please tell you friends to come play along and leave a recipe!

via

Thanks all and have a fabulous friday!

Bedroom wall reveal

Before you start reading, did you participate in What's Cookin' Good Lookin'? If not, what are you waiting for?

After hours and hours of tracing and painting and with the onset of possible carpal tunnel, I am finally ready to reveal my bedroom wall stenciling project. I have to tell you, I am in love with it. Like, head over heals in love. But, before I show you, let's take a stroll down memory lane...

Here's the before circa July 2009; before we even owned the house. Curse that blue trim:

Soon after we moved in, we painted the bedroom "Apple Blossom" from Benjamin Moore. Much better and no blue trim to be found.

It's been just over a year, and I a little embarrassed to admit that our bedroom hasn't changed much with the exception of different bedding and a little wall art. We're still kickin' it college style with no headboard, dinky window treatments and minimal accessories. We've been so busy renovating the kitchen, creating a man room, decorating the living room  and countless other projects that our bedroom has been neglected. Consider it our red headed step child.

I couldn't take our dull bedroom anymore and wanted to spice 'er up. Since the hubs isn't home much these days, the only spicing up in the bedroom that I could count on is decorating. Our "step child" was screaming for some attention, and I had to appease it. Via stenciling of course. It was a long process, which I will explain tomorrow, but I just can't wait to show you the final result! Like I said, our bedroom isn't decorated yet so please pardon the decor, and lack of bedding (it's laundry day) and feast your eyes on our not so neglected step child bedroom:

I am loving the personality that the stenciling has added to an otherwise "blah" space. It's the first step to creating a bedroom that the hubs and I will love. Best part, I've completely transformed our bedroom with an *almost* free project. Score!

Anyone else out there stenciling these days? How'd it work out for you? Are you suffering from carpal tunnel like me or did you find an easy way to get 'er done? I'd love to hear what you think!

*editor's note: this post was not intended to offend any red headed step children that may or may not be reading this blog ;)

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

It's that time of week again, my friends. Time to get cooking! Please spread the word about our recipe exchange to get more participation.Can't wait to see what you're all cooking up this week!

What's Cookin' Good Lookin' is my attempt at a blog recipe exchange. I get tired of making the same things over and over again, and am looking to my blog friends to help spice up my life...in the kitchen.

 Here's how to join:

1) Must be a "This Life of Ours" follower to join

You can follow by clicking on the "follow" button over there ------>
 

2) Blog about what's for dinner in your house or share an old post with a recipe that you love!

3) Scroll down to the bottom of this blog post and click on the link to enter.

4) Post your recipe (with the title of your blog) and you're ready to go!

5) Every Sunday night I will make one of the entered recipes and blog about it.
(entries must be in by 12:00pm on Saturday)

***For extra super cool bonus points, please put a link to What's Cookin' Good Lookin' in your blog post to help get more bloggers and recipes to join! Our kitchen's are about to get a lot more fun!***


*** If you try a recipe, please comment and let us know how it was ***

Now for this week's contribution:

Linguine with Clam Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small diced onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 3 cans minced/chopped clams, with juice
• parmesan cheese
• 1 lb linguine or 1 lb thin spaghetti 
• 1 head of broccoli cut up fine (optional) 

How to:

1. Heat water to a boil and cook pasta. 
2. While the pasta is cooking, melt butter and olive oil in pan.
3. Sautee onion and garlic, and add crushed red pepper flakes.
4. Add lemon juice, oregano, basil, and Old Bay seasoning, stir for one minute Add clams with juice and broccoli.  
5. Simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Drain pasta and place in large bowl.
7. Cover pasta with clam sauce, stir well and top with parsley and parmesan cheese.
 

So simple and kinda fancy! Enjoy!

 Now, it's your turn! 

What's Cookin' Good Lookin' Review: Meg's Peanut Butter Cookies

Hellooo there! Sorry I didn't review yesterday, I was at the movies. I saw 127 Hours in case you're wondering. Definitely not on the same theme as this post, so let's talk cooking.

Thank you to those of you that participated in our recipe exchange this week. To those of you that didn't, can't wait to see your contribution this week! Yes? Yes!!! Kthanks!

Though everything sounded amazing this week, I chose to bake Meg's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. Peanut butter, chocolate, oatmeal, the promise of life changing cookies...need I say more? Truthfully, she had me at peanut butter, ya'll! (why is there no northern phrase for ya'll by the way?)

So, were Meg's cookies life changing? Let's find out:

What I absolutely loved about Meg's cookies first and foremost was that there were super duper simple to make. What's more is that I had all of the ingredients on hand. 

I followed Meg's recipe to a T and made a discovery. Once I got to the point in the recipe where everything was creamed, I found that I had made a delicious fruit dip.

You have no idea the restraint it took not to stick my face in the bowl but Meg's recipe was for cookies, not dip, so I had to continue. After adding the egg and remaining ingredients to the mix, I scooped them on to the baking sheet. Meg got 16 cookies from this batter. I got 13. I like things big, what can I say? After 12 minutes in the oven (bigger takes a little more heat), here's my final result:

My verdict: This recipe produced 13 chewy cookies that taste like peanut butter without being overwhelming. The cookies are delicious and are an absolute must for any peanut butter enthusiast. To sum it up, Meg, your cookies have rocked my world!

Thanks again for your contributions this week. Did anyone else try a recipe? Can't wait to see what you cook up this week. Be sure to tell you friends to come and join the party!

A love letter

Dear Turtle Wax Oxy Interior1,

I don't really know how I can express the love and gratitude my heart holds for you today. We don't often interact, in fact, for the last 1 1/2 years you've been residing untouched in the hubs' shed. Sometimes, the hubs and I will look at you and remember why we bought you in the first place. Do you recall? It was when Macie was 10 weeks old, pooped in my brand new car, and walked it all over the back seat. Oh, the memories. You've moved with us from Florida to Virginia and have stayed in that dark shed through record snow storms, nor 'easters and unyielding summer heat. Many cleaners would have given up by now, but not you. You've been waiting around for when I would need you again, and today, Oxy (can I call you that?) was your day.

When I left work today and noticed a funny smell in my car, I had no idea what it could be. Soon, it was apparent. You know that stenciling project I've been slaving over? You know that quart of green paint I bought for it then decided I didn't need? Well, I think that paint had it out for me. It spilled half of its contents across my passenger seat. Oxy, I had a puddle of paint on the front seat of my car. I didn't know what to do. Worse off, how was I supposed to tell the hubs? He despises that I keep a messy car.

In my moment of sheer panic and crisis, I had no idea how I would clean the mess. I tested a few options. Paper towels just spread it around. A scrub brush and water just made it worse. I needed something stronger. Then you dawned on me, Oxy. You, brought light into my life when I all I had was green paint darkness. From the moment I sprayed your white foam on that paint,  I knew you were what I needed.

       
Through two hours and four rolls of paper towels, you stood by me as we soaked up that paint until the sun went down, literally. Together, we cleaned my car until no one could ever tell a trace of paint had fallen on that gray fabric. Oxy, I truly believe that if we can get through this, we can get through anything. Thank you for standing strong with me and still working though you've sat in that shed for so very long. Thank you for not poisoning me with toxic fumes, but most of all, Oxy, thank you for saving my marriage. Because had you not worked, I'm fairly certain Paul would have left me.

Farewell my love. I will miss you, but I hope we don't meet again soon.

Love always,

Trish

Oil Spill 2010

A big news story of 2010 was the BP oil spill. Well, here in the Reyes household, we're having an oil spill issue of our own. Of course, the devastation's not quite on the same scale, but had the Gulf spill not happened, I think our bedroom would have graced the front pages of most national newspapers...

Where to begin? Well, I'm in the midst of a big stenciling project in our bedroom (can't wait to show you!) so I've had to pull some spider monkey maneuvers and climb all over the place to trace and paint. In the process, I accidentally spilled  the reed diffuser on the hub's nightstand. No biggie, I just  wiped up the oil, and the extra fragrance was rather nice. No use in crying over spilled milk oil.

 Innocent looking right?

Wrong! Big time wrong. Today, I was in the bedroom folding laundry when I noticed this where the oil had spilled (enter Psycho music):

That flippin' oil diffuser ruined the poly finish on our beautiful bedroom floor. It's bubbling, and yucky, and just so sad. I don't usually freak over this sort of thing but, you see, the floors in our home are the only thing our house had going for it prior to us giving it lots of love. They're the one thing that we get compliments on regardless of what else may be happening in our love nest. They're the Angelina Jolie lips of our home. Untouched, beautiful, and natural. And now, I've ruined them for the sake of our bedroom smelling like green tea and cucumber. 

For the record, this is not the first time oil diffusers have gotten the best of me. See this sofa table? It was over $600. Well, it retailed for that price at a local upscale boutique. We paid less than 1/3rd when it went on clearance.

See all of those perfectly placed picture frames? They're strategically placed to hide other oil spills...here's the ugly truth:

Clearly, oil has gotten the best of me. Fortunately, I've recently discovered the amazing scent of Pier 1 candles and, like the Gulf of Mexico, I'm hopeful our house will soon be an oil free zone.

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'? Chanukah edition

It's that time of week again, my friends. Time to get cooking!

What's Cookin' Good Lookin' is my attempt at a blog recipe exchange. I get tired of making the same things over and over again, and am looking to my blog friends to help spice up my life...in the kitchen. So please participate in this recipe exchange in return for some great recipes!

Here's how to join:

1) Must be a "This Life of Ours" follower to join

You can follow by clicking on the "follow" button over there ------>
 

2) Blog about what's for dinner in your house or share an old post with a recipe that you love!

3) Scroll down to the bottom of this blog post and click on the link to enter.

4) Post your recipe (with the title of your blog) and you're ready to go!

5) Every Sunday night I will make one of the entered recipes and blog about it.
(entries must be in by 12:00pm on Saturday)

***For extra super cool bonus points, please put a link to What's Cookin' Good Lookin' in your blog post to help get more bloggers and recipes to join! Our kitchen's are about to get a lot more fun!***


*** If you try a recipe, please comment and let us know how it was ***

Now for this week's contribution:

Since tonight is the first night of Chanukah, I would usually make potato latkes. These fried lovelies stink up a house, are time consuming to make, and fill out a waistline but are worth every fried bite. They are so delicious and a one time of year indulgence. Since I'm sick and the hubs is away, latkes will have to wait until he gets home, but you lucky ducks can have my super easy and delicious recipe.

Happy Chanukah Latkes

(feeds about 4 people as a side dish)

Ingredients:

3 large yukon gold potatoes

1 large onion

1 egg

flour

salt

pepper

oil

applesauce (optional)

sour cream (optional)

How to:

1. Clean and peel potatoes

2. Using a food processor, shredd potatoes and onions. There should be an even ratio of potato to onion, or slightly less onion.

3. Mix potatoes and onions with egg and a little bit of flour until the mixture holds together. 

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste

5. Heat oil in an electric frying pan. Do not splatter or overheat!

6. Add small scoops of potato mixture to oil and fry until you get desired temperature. (I prefer less cooked latkes, while many love them crispy!)

7. Remove from oil and blot with paper towels.

8. Serve hot with apple sauce or sour cream.

9. Enjoy!

Now it's your turn. What are you cooking up this week?