Sauteed Yellow Squash

Everything is better with bacon, squash with bacon is simply delicious.  This recipe is simple and very good!  It's great as a side dish, although I eat it by itself!  My kids love it too!

Ingredients:

* 6 large yellow squash sliced
* 1 medium onion chopped
* 3 slices of turkey bacon
* salt and pepper to taste

Cook bacon until crisp, remove from pan and roughly chop them to pieces.  Place aside.  In oil, add sliced squash and chopped onion and cook until tender.  Add bacon, salt and pepper.  Mix gently and enjoy!

I am linking this post to: Kelly's Korner

Wooden Basket Makeover

I found a cute little wooden basket while at my favorite thrift store Monday afternoon.

1/2 off $2.99, I couldn't pass it up!

The heart on the side didn't really appeal to me, but I bought it anyway assuming it would be easy to remove.  It wasn't!  In fact I almost took my finger off trying to remove it!  Suddenly the heart didn't look so bad and I decided to carry on.

Before heading home, I picked up a few cans of spray paint, and some painters tape.

After a couple coats of  Home Depot's no frills spray paint, I used my ruler to mark off vertical lines spaced 1 inch apart.  I marked the lines with painter's tape and sprayed over it with Krylon's Classic Gray.

Of course I had to distress it a bit!

Do you like it?  The stripes make me smile! : )



I am linking to:

Banana French Toast

My family adores french toast. I made this recipe this morning and everyone loved it!

Ingredients

* 2 large ripe bananas
* 2 eggs
* 2 cans of evaporated milk(or 3cups of milk)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 loaf of brioche bread

Puree the bananas

In a large bowl, stir together milk, eggs, salt, cinnamon and vanilla.  Add banana puree.  Dip bread in mixture to coat both sides.  Place the bread into a buttered skillet and cook until lightly browned on one side.  Turn and cook until done.

Serve with syrup and have a great breakfast!!!

Thank-you

  I had no idea when I started blogging the treat I was in for.  I have made many friendships through blogging and I am always inspired to be more creative.  After a push from my daughter I thought this would be a neat way to share some of the projects I completed, a recipe here and there and even a bat!  I never thought I would feel connected with so many of you and create so many friendships.  As my list of followers grows, I am amazed more and more that many of you are interested in what I have to say or the projects I post. My cousin calls me "Emotia", short for emotional! She teases me because I cry easily I may or may not be crying as I type this and I'm very sentimental.  I am so happy to have a spot in blog world and to be amongst so many creative people. Thank-you for being here. You are appreciated!

Having said that, I was recently awarded the stylish blogger award by four lovely ladies Tana from Orange it Lovely, Tatum from Many Moments of Me, Rosemary from Villabarnes and Miz Helen from Miz Helen's Country Cottage.  These ladies have wonderful blogs and I'm sure they would love if you stopped by for a visit and said hello! In order to accept this award here are the rules:

Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
Share 7 things about yourself
Pay it forward to 15 bloggers whom you feel are deserving
Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award.

7 things about me:

1. I just recently started carrying a purse.  I thought carrying a purse would make me look too grown up.  Now I love my big purse.  It's great for stashing food into the movie theater!!

2. My daughter and I share the same middle name.

3. My husband and I love Quentin Tarrantino movies.  We even went as far to name our son after him. His middle name is Quentin!

4. My bucket list includes running a marathon and visiting Germany.

5. I HATE my feet!

6. I have four best friends who live in N.J. We have been friends since elementary school. We visit each other as often as we can. We spend hours on the phone reminiscing and laughing. They have been there for me when I needed them most. I can't imagine my life without my girls!
 
7. I love everything 80's. From movies to music, you name it and I probably love it! 



Pay it Forward to 15 GREAT Bloggers:

Uruguay Life
Before and After Lovelies
AliLilly
Blessedmom's Simple Home
Danielle is Nesting
Funky Junk @ 202
Shans Wife MeMe
Meg and Mum's
Raine and Sage
Shabby Sweet Cottage
Shell's Shabby Shack
Creekside Creations
Almost Never Clever
Emerald Cove
Modern Country Style

Thanks Ladies!

 
   Tonight's dinner was easy and quick.  This is a good basic stir fry recipe loaded with fresh vegetables. It smells wonderful while cooking.  My family loved this and it was super easy to make.

Stir Fried Shrimp, Broccoli and Carrots

1/2 pound raw shrimp, shelled and deveined 
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1 cup chopped fresh broccoli 
1 cup chopped fresh carrots
1/4 cup vegetable broth

In a large skillet, saute garlic in sesame oil until tender.  Add the shrimp, broccoli, carrots, salt and pepper.  Stir-fry for 5 minutes until shrimp turn pink and vegetables are crisp-tender.  Add broth. Cook 1 minute longer or until heated through.  Serve over rice

I am linking to: Prairie Story

Chair Makeover (Updated)

  I know, I know I'm supposed to be finishing up my bedroom so I can post pictures of my room.  But along the way I got side-tracked.  I purchased this chair from the thrift store back in August.  After bringing it home I gave it a couple of coats of spray paint and tore off the 3 wood pieces that were attached to the back of the chair with staples.  Lots of staples!

  I made a cushion for the seat and called it quits.  I had enough!  Who was I kidding?  I am not an upholsterer!  Then I read this post on Miss Mustard Seed's blog and I was INSPIRED.  "Keep Trying".  It's as if she was speaking directly to me!  So I gave it another try. 

  I gave it a couple more of coats of spray paint and distressed it a bit with sandpaper.  I used cardboard, a snow blanket, leftover fabric and trim to cover the chair with.

  I was really pleased with how the chair turned out, especially since this was my first time attempting to make a seat cover.

  But the chair was still looking a little bare.  I found a neat skirt suit at the thrift store and used the skirt to make a pillow for the chair!

  Much better now!  Thank-you so much Miss Mustard Seed for inspiring me to carry on with my project!


Track back: Before and After Lovelies

A Sneak Peak!

  I know, I know I'm supposed to be finishing up my bedroom so I can post pictures of my room.  But along the way I got side-tracked.  I purchased this chair from the thrift store back in August.  After bringing it home I gave it a couple of coats of spray paint and tore off the 3 wood pieces that were attached to the back of the chair with staples.  Lots of staples!

  I made a cushion for the seat and called it quits.  I had enough!  Who was I kidding?  I am not an upholsterer!  Then I read this post on Miss Mustard Seed's blog and I was INSPIRED.  "Keep Trying".  It's as if she was speaking directly to me!  So I gave it another try. 

  I really wanted to show you the chair in its entirety, but it's dark here and the pictures turned out horribly.  So if you will come back tomorrow and I'll post better pictures! ; )