Vintage Nursery

Here are some ideas I found on Pinterest that I am completely loving right now.

We don't know what we are having yet, but I'm having fun looking at boy & girl nursery designs. 

Our Tree

It's been pretty busy around here!  I hosted Thanksgiving this year at our home, and now I've been preparing for Christmas.  Lots of holiday decorating, cookie baking, knitting, & sewing! I also finished painting my antique desk!  I'll post the before & after pics tomorrow!  For now, here is our tree!  We planned on getting a smaller tree this year, but feel in love with this huge beauty!  It took a real long time to cut down & I don't even know how we got it in the house, but here it is:

Stay turned for the awesome transformation of my new desk!  I'm so excited!!  It turned out beautifully. 

at home

{ i started decorating the house for the holidays }

{ new.vintage kitchen rug }

{ our halloween costumes -mad men- } 

{ new.vintage yarn storage tote }

{ finally found a use for the old kitchen scale i bought last summer }

{ another new.vintage yarn tote i bought on etsy }

Easy Blaze Orange Cowl

It's hunting season here in Wisconsin and living in the country & hearing gun shots can make you kinda nervous.  Especially when you have pets.  I decided to make blaze orange cowls for both of my dogs! I chose fleece due to is snuggly warm quality.

Materials:
Blaze Orange Fleece
Coordinating Thread
Tape Measure
Cutting Mat / Rotary Cutter or Scissors

Measure your dog's neck circumference with a tape measure.  Add two inches, one for the seam and the other for a looser fit.

Measure the length of your dogs neck as well.  No need to add any length to that you don't even have to finish the seam.

Cut your fabric with your rotary cutter or scissors.

Wrap the fabric around the dog's neck with the outside fabric up against the dogs fur.  Put both end seams up against each other and pinch off where you would like the cowl to be sewn.  Hold that spot!

Make sure your fabric is inside out and sew the ends together where you pinched off.

{ I cut my fabric too long, so I cut the remaining off with pinking sheers }

Double knot both ends of string and clip them close to the knot! Turn inside out!

Be happy that you took a step closer to keeping your pets safe!

It's Been A While...

{ hand sewing hexies in the car }

It's been quite a couple of weeks!  I haven't posted in a while due to my dog Laila taking ill. 

Long story short we thought she sprained her paw.  However after multiple 2 hour long trips back and forth to the vet with an extremely sick dog { I literally had to carry her } we found out she has Lyme's Disease.  After receiving her last antibiotic today { HOORAY } she's looking & feeling a lot better.  I am beyond happy and humbled to have her healthy.

We also took a business trip out to Chicago & stayed in a pet friendly hotel which was a lot of fun!  We ate at Portillo's - they have the best cheesy fries and Italian beef sandwiches!  
I spent the long hours in the car working on hand sewing my hexies for my new throw pillow!  I finally finished it, and I am very proud because this was my first attempt sewing with hexagons/quilting!  I am hooked now and can't wait to start my next project.

{ We've been having the most beautiful sunsets here lately }

Quinoa Stuffed Green Peppers With Homemade Guacamole

I recently discovered quinoa and I've been hooked!  I was craving stuffed peppers the other day and I came up with this delicious and filling recipe! I also topped it off with my homemade guacamole!

**  This recipe feeds one person, just double the pepper ingredients to feed more than one **
                 { You could also remove the Chicken granules for a vegetarian meal. }

Ingredients:

Peppers:
1 Green Pepper
1/4 C Quinoa
1/4 C Diced Red Onion
1 Tsp Wyler's Chicken Granules
3/4 C Water
1 Tsp Chopped Cilantro
Can of Vegetarian Refried Beans

Can of Enchilada Sauce

1/4 C Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar 

Guacamole:

1/2 Avocado
1/2 Tomato Chopped & Seeds Removed
1 Tsp Chopped Cilantro
2 Tbs Frontera Tomatillo Salsa

Add the diced onion, quinoa, water, & chicken granules to a small sauce pan - cover slightly with a lid.  Cook on a medium to low heat until all water is absorbed.  Fluff with a fork. Once the quinoa is cooked take the quinoa off the stove and mix in 1 tsp of the chopped cilantro, and add the shredded cheese, stir.

In the meantime heat the oven to 375 and cut the top off the pepper. Gut out the insides.  Cook the pepper in the microwave for 90 seconds to soften the pepper.

Add a layer of refried beans to the bottom of the pepper, fill the rest with the quinoa mix.

Pour a layer of enchilada sauce in a baking dish.  Place the peppers on top of the enchilada sauce. Cover with tin foil and cook for 25 minutes.  After 25 minutes take off the tin foil and cook for another 5 minutes.

When the peppers are almost done start making the fresh guacamole!  Cut an avocado in half, don't use the side with the pit.  Keep the pit half in the fridge (it stays fresh longer with the pit left in it).
Mash half of the avocado with a fork. Mix in the chopped cilantro, tomatillo salsa, and diced tomatoes.

Cut the pepper in half to serve, drizzle the enchilada sauce on top and serve with guacamole!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup - Two Ways

{ My Husband's Soup -- see mine below }

I have a picky eating husband who won't ever eat a vegetable.  This recipe works well for us because you can make it two different ways.  You honestly could throw all the ingredients together and mix in the serving bowl, however I always make our dinners "buffet style" that way my husband can skip the veggies all together.  This soup is really easy to make, and very filling! 

Ingredients:

2 XL Baking Potatoes, or 4 smaller potatoes

1 Can of Campbell's Chicken Broth

1 Cup of Milk (I used skim)

Bacon

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (I use Kraft Extra Sharp Cheddar)

Top The Tater or Sour Cream

Broccoli 

Diced Red Onion  

Salt & Pepper to taste

Bacon:

Preheat oven to 400 and line a cookie sheet with tin foil.  I only cook as much bacon as we will eat so I don't waste it.  This dinner I used 9 strips (5 for my husband and 4 for me). Cook the bacon for 12 minutes and flip bacon.  Put the bacon back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes depending on how crispy or soggy you like your bacon.  You can always cook it stovetop too if you prefer.

Potatoes:

With a paring knife peel the skin layer off the potatoes & cut potatoes into small pieces.  Add potatoes to a large pot of cold water and bring to a boil.  Cook the potatoes until they soft and almost ready to mash.

Broccoli: 

Steam broccoli in a steam basket.

Once the potatoes are soft add them to a large microwavable bowl.  Add the milk and can of chicken broth, stir.  Microwave for 5 minutes, stir.  Microwave for another 5 minutes.  Mash the potatoes with a potato masher until all potatoes are mashed.

Serve buffet style! Start with the potato soup as a base and add bacon, onions, steamed broccoli, Top The Tater, & Cheddar Cheese - as much, or as little as you like!

{ My Soup }