And just like that, Halloween is over!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! We have a double curse when it comes to Halloween. We live on a busy street AND our neighbors are generally older and don't participate in passing out candy. Still, year after year, Hub and I buy tons of candy in hopes that many goblins pay us a visit. This year we had a total of 7. 4 of which were much too old to be trick-or-treating, but they were in costume... which actually made me more afraid they were going to stick us up for all our loot!

Pardon my need to keep some sort of privacy. ;)

We had a nice weenie & marshmallow roast on our front porch after the twins went to sleep. This was the first year we've done that... and we had so much fun with it I think we've just started a new tradition!

My mind has been a little preoccupied these past few days, but that hasn't stopped me from making mental to-do craft lists!  I just haven't had the time or energy to sit down and actually do them. Soon, though.

Goodbye Tacky Mini-blinds!

Our home's previous owners left us, so kindly, all the mini-blinds. They've certainly "done the trick" for us these past few years, but I can't stand them. It doesn't help that the twins have all but completely destroyed them.

Enough was enough!  Yesterday, while I was perusing the Rustoleum spray paint selection at Home Depot for this project, I saw some Rustoleum Window Frosting spray.  A-ha!

First, we had to clean the window. Once dry, we taped a 1" border using masking tape and taped around the outside of the window to protect it from over-spray.

After 3 coats - about 1/2 the can.

I'll have to admit, I was very worried with how it would turn out.  But, I worried for nothing because it turned out amazing!

Carefully removed the tape, stepped inside to see how it turned out. LOVE!

Loved it so much that we did the same with the beveled glass on the front door. This way, we were able to remove the mini-blinds and let some light in while still getting the privacy we need.

We are thrilled with the way it turned out and have now incorporated using this spray again on the basement windows.

Table Transformation

I love my house - but if there was one thing I can't stand about it, it would be the monochromatic color scheme. Beige carpet, beige couches, brown furniture, brown drapes and taupe walls. GAG.


Yesterday, I gave this brass lamp a makeover which inspired me to do something about the drab table.

In the background you can see our guesthouse... which really deserves its own blog.

On my way home from taking the twins for some blood work, I stopped by Home Depot and perused the Rustoleum spray paint selection looking for the perfect "happy" shade.

While the twins were napping, I gave it two coats of "Lagoon", let it dry, then roughed it up with some sandpaper. I love the varying colors, from the new "Lagoon" to the dark brown and then the light original wood peeking through at spots.

I am loving this color! Now, what to paint next??

Lamp Gets a Facelift

 This is a brass lamp my mother had given me a few years ago. (My mom has a lamp fetish and has tons of them. I don't think I've ever actually purchased a lamp. Ever.)  To be terribly honest, I can't stand brass (Sorry, mom!) and today I decided to finally do something about it.  I spray painted the lamp a "hammered steel" gray from Rustoleum.

Using ONLY what I had on hand (because, well, I'm cheap resourceful!) I made a lampshade. I took cardstock, taped end-to-end, and hot-glued around the base of the existing lampshade.

 Here it is with the cardstock hot-glued around the bottom of the existing shade. Now, to snazz it up.

This step took FOREVER. Using coffee filters, I hot-glued them in a brick-laying pattern covering the entire shade. 

 Several hours, and a few diaper changes for the twins, later.

Here it is in our living room. I think it looks great! Now, I've got it on my to-do list to repaint that awfully drab looking table. Teal, maybe?

Busy Mom's Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Tonight is parent-teacher conferences at school and thank God for incredible relatives that are able willing to come sit with our littles so that we both are able to go up to the school. Tonight, my dear mother-in-law is headed over and will also be joining us for supper.

My secret-rub-recipe pork loin has been slow-cooking at 200 since 11:00am and I've got a spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette ready-to-go. I just needed something else... something starchy.

My husband LOVES loaded mashed potatoes and I have never made any. For my first attempt, these came out incredible! Now, I've just got to figure out how to stay out of them until supper time!

     Ingredients:
     10 medium sized Yukon Gold potatoes, washed and quartered. (I leave the peel on).
     1C bacon bits
     3/4 C butter
     1/2 C onion & chive cream cheese
     2T plain cream cheese
     2T minced garlic
     1/4C milk
     salt
     pepper

1. Boil potatoes in a large stock pot of moderately salted water for about 10 minutes or until tender. Drain.
2. Using a mixer, mix potatoes on a medium setting for about 2 minutes or until about 1/2 way smooth.

Check out the steam coming up from the potatoes!

3. Add butter, cream cheeses, garlic and milk.  Mix on medium speed for another 2 minutes or until smooth.

4. Add bacon bits and pepper. Mix on low setting to combine.

This made a LOT and holy moly, is it good!. I plan on using the leftovers for a shepherd's pie for another night's supper.

    

Organizing Hair Bows...

Life with 4 girly girls in the house means that we are drowning in hair bows. Up until today, I've kept all the bows in a clear tupperware container in my bedroom. (Yes, in my BEDROOM!). In an effort to de-kid our bedroom, and somehow organize this hair bow clutter, I made this...

Now, not only are the bows displayed in a way that we can actually see what we have. But, most importantly, this stuff is in the kids' room where it belongs.

Give Thanks, Pilgrims and Indians

Autumn hued cardstock, hot glue, raffia and items picked up from the park.
(corn kernels, feathers, hay, sticks, dried grass). I traced the letters in glue and allowed the kids to decorate them using the supplies we gathered outside.

Halloween isn't even here yet and I've already turned my goblins into pilgrims and Indians.