1 Chicken, 3 Ways

Since I seem to be sticking to the kitchen as a theme for this weeks' posts, I thought I'd share some cooking from the weekend. 1 chicken, 3 ways. 

We tried something new to us and it turned out so well, it's definitely going on the repeat list. Plus, it's super versatile so I knew I'd be sharing it here sooner or later. 

Start with one large roaster chicken, submerge in water in a large pot. Add whatever flavor enhancers you have at hand. I added a chopped carrot or two, some celery stalks, a partial head of garlic, one lemon halved, a handful of fresh thyme leaves, salt and peppercorns.

Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for about 1.5 hrs. 

Remove from cooking liquid (reserving stock), cool and shred.

Couldn't be easier.

What you are left with is super moist and flavorful, fall off the bone, chicken.

That night we shredded half the chicken and combined it with an off the shelf Mexican seasoning. I'm partial to the Frontera line of sauces, and in this case, we used the Carnitas sauce. Paired with corn tortillas, pickled onions and fresh guacamole we were ready to celebrate National Margarita Day.

Later in the week, I revived one of my favorite childhood recipes. We simply knew it as, Chinese chicken, but a quick internet search later I discovered the true name Chow Yow Gai.

Combine shredded chicken with one bunch of thinly sliced green onions. Poor over 1 tbs soy sauce and 1 tbs sesame oil. Heat 1/2c. peanut oil to the point of smoking. Just before serving pour hot oil over the chicken (which will give you a lovely crackling sound) and toss to combine. Serve with steamed rice. 

Now, I've used the whole chicken, but I promised 3 ways - so what's left? Chicken stock, of course. Simply strain that reserved chicken poaching liquid and the world is your oyster, as they say. I came away with 14 cups of luscious, yummy, flavorful, homemade stock. I froze mine in 4 cup increments. Now, I just need to find something to make. Any suggestions?

linking in with:

StoneGable

until next time, 

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Sneaky Smoothie

Remember way back when I shared the beginning of my quest to a healthier me? I promised to keep you updated on my journey, so today I thought I'd share the latest obsession in my health craze. 

Feast your eyes upon my super sneaky veggie smoothie. I guess, technically, I shouldn't say mine because this is actually my Dad's recipe. My Dad has been babbling on about his veggie smoothies  and all the health benefits he has noticed for well over a year (like decreased BP). But, it wasn't until our recent trip to Florida in January that I finally decided to try the smoothies for myself. 

I have to tell you, a month into it, and I am officially hooked. 

His recipe:

1/2 c milk

4 small ice cubes

Protein powder (I use about 1/4 scoop)

1 stalk kale, stem removed

2 stalks celery

1/4-1/2 cucumber

2 carrots

1/2 apple

1/2 banana

4 frozen strawberries

small handful frozen blueberries

This makes about 1 adult, 2 child servings or 2 adult servings.

Depending on Miss T's, my 4.5 year old, mood she usually has a small serving. My 1.5 year old, on the other hand, loves it. As is evident in this video. 

(Hopefully the video works, this is my first time including a video in a post. Exciting stuff.)

I love knowing that even a small serving of this smoothie is more veggies than I can usually get into her in a weeks time. No more fighting at dinner = one happy Mommy.

And for me, I've noticed a huge increase in energy levels and less snacking. 

For those of you that are thinking, I just don't have time to get all that together first thing in the morning...here's how I'm handling it: When I come back from the store, I wash and chop everything and store it individually in tupperware. That way in the morning, I can literally throw it all in the blender and let it run while I am making the kids breakfast. Simple and efficient. That's the way I like it. 

So, what do you say? Do you think a sneaky veggie smoothie might be part of your routine sometime soon?

linking in with:

StoneGable

until next time, 

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Little Organizational Changes in the Kitchen

Colds, ear infections, crummy weather, and overnight babysitting for our nephews kept us home most of the weekend. Which is just fine by me, because I was finally able to tackle some of the much needed organizational projects in our kitchen. 

After realizing that the basket of toys under our DIY kitchen island was doing nothing other than creating lots of clutter in a small space, we decided to replace it with a storage basket for some of our bulkier pantry items. Onions, garlic, and potatoes seem happy enough here and the height of the basket has kept enquiring minds and curious hands at bay.

Speaking of the pantry, this is what we've been dealing with. A small, but deep space filled to the brim - to the point where it's hard to find what we're looking for. 

A quick and simple solution - make use of the vertical space. 

We used one set of expandable shelves (similar here), individually, on both the upper and lowest shelves. Infrequently used canned goods have found a new home in the back of the pantry with the more frequently used grains on the upper shelf. 

Clearly, this isn't rocket science. It's the little things - like being able to actually find and use your pantry items. Amazing.

Same goes with our spices cabinet.  No more lifting each jar to find what we're looking for. The tiered organizer is the perfect solution. (similar here)

Seriously, opening the cabinets and seeing this just make me happy - not much more I can ask for, is there?

Hope you had a great weekend!

linking in with:

Met Monday

Until next time, 

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Drop Leaf Breakdown

You know how sometimes a short work week can feel really long? Well, this week has been the opposite for me. Like super fast. Crazy fast. Despite one night with only two hours sleep due to an ear infection. Honestly, I had no idea they could be so painful. To be awoken by blood curdling screams is not something I'd like to repeat anytime soon. 

On the other hand, moving the white drop leaf table to the corner of our living room is a move I'd do again and again.

(how's that for a transition?)

Previously, this corner has housed a constantly rotating collection of occassional chairs. The drop leaf table is a much better balance to the painted bar armoire. Don't you think?

Next step after placing the table in this corner was to style the space, obviously. 

I switched out the artwork from across the room; I like how the darker frame and canvas contrast the lighter table. It's all about creating a balance, after all. 

Following that thinking, I topped the table with the dark red lamp. Dark on light, you see. 

A basket of toys stored below the table is a must in this all purpose family space. Besides, you know how I love the layered look.

I consolidated my silver frames from around the room and added one statement frame for a bit of interest. I used to love the look of all silver frames, but lately, I've been trying to mix it up a bit. More eclectic and collected looking. Only time will tell which look sticks.

I'm liking the casual, temporary look of framed art leaning against the hung art. Looks kind of spontaneous. Hours spent creating an effortless look, right?

And because you can just never have enough candlelight - a hurricane adds a bit of glam to any vignette. 

There you have it, the breakdown of our newly styled drop leaf table.

linking in with: 

Jennifer Rizzo

Brambleberry Cottage

French Country Cottage

until next time, 

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Young and Fun Bathroom Mood Board {Client Work}

You may have noticed that I've been ramping up my client work as of late. Experimenting with other styles, working with different personalities, and dealing with feedback has been quite the experience. And I am thankful for it!

Recently I had the opportunity to put a mood board together for my cousin's bathroom update. She's a young professional, living in her own home. The bathroom space is fairly small, with a heavily patterned tile floor in shades of yellow, grey and blue. I wanted the feel of the bathroom to be light, bright and most importantly youthful while working with the existing tile color and pattern.

This shower curtain was the jumping off point for the whole space. The large scale pattern won't compete with the small tile pattern and the various shades of grey will compliment the current scheme. 

Adding additional storage is also a must in a small space - no matter how many people are sharing it. You can never have enough storage! I love the classic, yet youthful look of these cross brace shelves from Ballard Designs. 

Plus, shelves are a great place to add a pop of unexpected color when wall and/or floor space is at a premium. 

These bowls from Anthropologie compliment the yellow currently in the space, while also introducing a new accent color, which will add more depth to the room. And, as we all know, bowls can be used to corral all kinds of things, like jewlery at the end of the day or before you hit the shower.

Speaking of a long day, a garden stool is the perfect size perch to nestle next to the tub for a book, magazine or drink while you indulge in a long, hot bath. 

Oh yes, that sounds good right about now. 

Thank you, Sara, for allowing me to work on this project for your home. It was fun! I can't wait to see where you take it from here. 

To check out my design services, please click here.

products images and sources

Shower curtain

Bowls

Apothecary Jars

Shelves (no longer available)

Grey and White Polka Dot Towels

White Pearl Towels

Bunnies (no longer available)

Bath Mat

Yellow Towels

Garden Stool

Window Shade

until next time, 

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Table In A Pinch

Last year at Christmas time, we moved the white dropleaf table to make room for the Christmas tree. When the tree came down, the table did not make a return. 

We liked the more open feel of the space without the table. So we left the space empty with grand plans of finding a suitable replacement. 

6 weeks later and not having a place to set a drink was really starting to grate on the old nerves, if you know what I mean. 

So, in a pinch I came up with this little arrangement. The garden stool is a fun, eclectic, pop of color that works well to place a drink when sitting in the chair on the right. 

But, the more frequently used chair on the left, was still without a perch. The bent wood ottoman wasn't flat enough to keep a drink from toppling over. So, I placed an old silver tray on top.

I do live in a home with a 15 month old destroyer, so I left it empty for a couple of weeks just to ensure she didn't take an interest in knocking it over. 

 Keeping that in mind, I put this little vignette together without using anything too precious. A simple potted orchid, a candle, and a tiny ceramic bird...leaving just enough space to set down a drink. Ah, perfect.

A make-shift table in a pinch. 

Hope everyone had a great long weekend. We spent ours in WI skiing and enjoying.

linking in with:

Met Monday

Cowgirl Up

A stroll Thru Life

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

until next time,

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Window Shopping {Ikea}

Way back at the beginning of this year, the fam and I made the pilgrimage out to Ikea. At the time, we were looking to solve some storage issues, which resulted in this:

Yes, that's right. I joined the ranks of Expedit lovers. To read more about it, click here. 

But, like any good shopper I had an ulterior motive to our Ikea trip. Sourcing for future purchases. Come on, admit it. You do it too. Say you are just going for one quick thing, but secretly taking loads of mental notes for upcoming purchases. 

Like this sectional, sleeper sofa. 

I. Want. It.

But, it's a big ticket item, so it's on the list. You know, the list. Everyone has one. 

The one day, some day list.

Here it is folded out. Ah, all that lounging space, extra sleeping space and storage space. 

So perfect for family movie night in our basement family room. 

Now, if you think this is where you'll scroll down and see this couch in our family room, you will be sadly disappointed. It's still on the list...for now. 

Of course, while we were there we had to check out their natural woven chairs. It's a toss up between this one...

And this one. 

For me, I like the golden tone of this one, not to mention the price and comfort. 

Originally, I was thinking in our dining room, but now I'm thinking our new library. 

Put it on the list!

Speaking of the basement playroom, I'd love to see one of these gigantic maps on the wall. Or possibly in our upcoming office transformation. See, it's a good thing we didn't make a lot of these purchases, still so many things undecided. 

No trip to Ikea would be complete without a pitstop for lunch - gotta enjoy the Swedish meatballs. Yum!

After lunch, with my future purchase research complete, we strolled around taking in all the inspiration. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Although the lines of this chair are a little modern for my home, there is no denying that it's striking. Love the navy velvet!

So many possibilities - paired with a hot pink toss pillow or a pop of yellow. Umm...good stuff.

These wall organizational systems are great. In a kitchen, craft room, office or laundry room. Both sleek modern and more traditional options to meet your needs. 

Thought long and hard about where I could incorporate these into my own home. 

The options for kids rooms were endless. Loved the bunting panels, the striped blankets and the polka dot bedding. If I had to do it all over again, these would be great contenders. 

Speaking of bedrooms, I had no idea they carried an upholstered headboard. Next time we're in the market to update our guest bedroom, I think this headboard will be on the list. 

So, how did you like accompanying me on this virtual window shopping experience. Almost as good as the real thing? 

until next time, 

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Book Inspired Library Centerpiece

Part of working on our new library/playroom has been adding to our book selection. I know, I know...
trials and tribulations; 
life is rough; 
any excuse, right?

Anyway, any self respecting interior design blogger needs to have books that represent her passions, so I've been sprucing up my design book collection. One of my first purchases was Miss Mustard Seed's (Marion Parsons), Inspired You book. 

Her book, much like her blog, is full of positive energy, beautiful photography and easy to follow tutorials. 

The reason I am writing all of this? 

Because one chapter and photograph in particular really hit home with me and inspired our new library table centerpiece. 

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It seems like such a simple idea. 

But, could I really just leave crayons, paper and coloring books out on the table? Could I handle it? 

And most importantly, would it actually encourage our little ones to do more coloring? Or would it be just another pile of well organized toys that get overlooked everytime the dreaded, "I'm bored" statement leaves their mouths?

Well, as it turns out...I can handle it. 

And, I actually find it kind of sweet. And, hold on to your horses, it's actually lead to hours upon hours of coloring. 

I've used a simple tray and two wooden bowls to organize our crayons, into what T calls the pretty and not pretty colors. A stack of computer paper, a book of construction paper and a couple coloring books round out the "vignette". 

I'm so thrilled that our plan to change this room from the breakfast room into the library/1st floor playroom is working out for all of us. 

Also, I just had to leave you with a view of our homespun Valentine's decor ... afterall, who doesn't like a couple gigantic hearts hanging from a chandelier?

until next time,

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Bridging the Gap

I'm just back from a very last minute trip and visit with a dear old friend, who just had her 3rd baby. What a whirlwind {and adorable baby}! So forgive me for only sharing a recent purchase for our dining room, today. 

That being said, it's still a pretty amazing mirror that I think really bridges the gap between casual and formal in our new dining space. As per usual, it's not exactly what I had pictured here, but when I found it, it just seemed too perfect to pass up. 

The intricate carvings make it feel special, while the mid-toned wood keeps it safely on the informal side. Exactly the look I am trying to achieve. 

Before you even ask, I am sure you can guess, I found the mirror at HomeGoods. I swear, you must think it's the only place I shop. 

Hung above our refinished eBay dresser, I think they make quite the pair. 

Funnily enough, it was actually T's idea to include a lamp in this corner. I wasn't too sure about it, especially this lamp, but it seems to be working. Of course, the collection of candlesticks playing off the straightness of the lamp, help. 

So, that's that for this corner. 

Hope you had a nice weekend, too. I've got a couple fun things planned for this week, so hopefully I'll be seeing you. 

linking in with:

Met Monday

until next time,

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How to Add Interest to Styled Shelves

Since I've been talking endlessly about styling shelves, what with my dining room hutch (here) and my library shelving (here), I thought I'd take it a step farther and offer some tips on adding interest to your next shelf styling project. 

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Here are a couple easy, go-to ideas, for adding interest to your shelves:

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1. Baskets.
Baskets are practically the perfect shelving accessory. Not only do they look great, add texture and cover a lot of real estate, but they function for hiding some of life necessities that are a little less than attractive.
Pottery Barn always has a lovely selection of baskets, which happen to be on sale as I type this, but I always have great luck at HomeGoods, Tj Maxx, etc. 

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2. Framed Art.
Whether you choose to include family photos, prints or frame just about anything that has meaning to you, art can add a lot of personality to your space. Hung in the shelf, propped up against the back, hung in front of the shelves or atop a stack of books - it all looks good, while adding depth to your styling.
If you're looking for simple black frames, Target is always a good source. 

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3. Ceramics/Vessels.
A collection or grouping of ceramics or vessels can add a pop of color or a bit of texture to an otherwise basic display. 
I'm currently crushing on these woven ceramic vases from West Elm.

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4. Plants.
Adding something natural, like a plant can add a bit of life to what could be a fairly one dimensional space. I love the two plants incorporated in the image above, so homey.
Believe it or not, I buy the majoirty of my house plants from Home Depot. They have a great selection at very reasonable prices. Especially orchids. I've also heard very good things about plants from IKEA.

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Whether you choose to incorporate one of these suggestions or all of the above, the key is to repeat shapes, colors, groupings, etc throughout the shelves to keep the eye moving and therefore creating interest.
Easy peasy, right?

So, any shelf styling in your future?

until next time,

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