kitchen update

I feel like the kitchen is starting to come together, even if the only thing accomplished is that it is finally painted. I even did all the wall painting by myself and surprised Eric when he got home! I know he enjoyed not having to help paint because he helped paint the ceiling, which is the worst kind of painting to do.

I'm really excited because I ordered my concrete from Amazon the other day and my concrete countertop adventure will be starting soon! Hopefully it's not a complete failure because that would be very sad. Regardless, I am excited to give it a try.

I've read numerous blog posts about how to do concrete countertops (thin coats, building boxes, over tile, over laminate, etc.) and came to the conclusion I wanted to try thin coat over the current countertops. Everyone that posted this method seemed to be please, but then again, their blog isn't called "Nailed it or Failed it," so maybe the failures out there just didn't blog about it! Anyway, I bought my supplies: Ardex Feather Finish, Cheng Concrete Sealer, and Cheng Concrete Countertop Polish.

hs photo & design - an adventure into boudoir photography

If you read my blog regularly, you've heard me talk about Heather. She's the blogger behind Confessions of a Wannabe and one of my best friends.

 

She has a new blog now, as she is starting her own photography and design company. I am unbelievably excited and proud of her. Her creativity is truly inspiring.

 

I told her just today that I wish I had sweet skills like her, something I could market, something I loved, that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I'll get there eventually, but that is not the point of this post.

 

Just last weekend we shot a boudoir session at her parents' house. We did it at her parents' because they have really good lighting and a little more space than either of us have. It wasn't even that awkward to run around her parents house in next to nothing...

 

meal plannig done right (part 2)

This is the continuation to my last post regarding our meals this week.

 

I split this blog post up into two different posts because we had two REALLY good recipes this week for dinner and they both deserve their own posts.

 

Part 1 is Tuesday's dinner: Lentil Taco Salad

Part 2 is Wednesday dinner: Roasted Red Pepper Soup

These were both definitely "nailed its," and were both found on Pinterest.

 

 

meal planning done right (part 1)

I'm going to split this blog post up into two different posts because we had two REALLY good recipes this week for dinner and they both deserve their own posts.

 

Part 1 is Tuesday's dinner: Lentil Taco Salad

Part 2 is Wednesday dinner: Roasted Red Pepper Soup

These were both definitely "nailed its," and were both found on Pinterest.

 

vegan zuppa toscana

My friend and I love Olive Garden. It's our go to place for lunch when we all meet up. The problem with Olive Garden is that they don't have many "healthy" choices. Quite a few of my friends are into healthy foods; vegan, vegetarian, organic, you name it.

 

I found a recipe on Pinterest for Zuppa Toscana and Eric and I made it a few weekends ago. The problem with it was that it was more Indian than Italian. It had chili powder and curry in it, so it wasn't like the Zuppa Toscana I've grown to love from Olive Garden.

 

My solution to this little dilemma was to make my own Zuppa Toscana recipe. I took the Indian Zuppa Toscana recipe and changed out the spices and a few other things to make my own. Man, am I glad I did. The second Zuppa Toscana attempt was amazing, delicious, excellent, etc.

everyone should have a rice cooker

Eric had talked about wanting a rice cooker for awhile because he just didn't like how sticky the rice came out when we cooked it in a pot on the stove. I figured it was the perfect Christmas present and told my mom he wanted one.

 

We found one at J. C. Penney for $30! Yes, it was only $30. Here's the one we got (or I should say, Eric got): Aroma 8-cup Stainless Steel Rice Cooker.

 

Rice literally comes out perfect, every time. Perfect restaurant rice, every time. 

 

Eric is not one for things. He hates clutter and having anything that he feels serves no real purpose. This is not one of those items. Does it take up room in the kitchen? Yes. But even Eric doesn't care. That's how great the rice cooker is.

 

It seriously makes it so easy to cook rice. You put it in, press a button, and then it tells you when it is done. It even keeps it warm for you until you're ready to eat it.

 

If you eat rice as often as we do, I highly recommend a rice cooker. 

peanut stew with rice

I found a tasty looking recipe on Pinterest last week and decided to give it a try this week. The recipe was for this easy and tasty looking peanut stew.

 

The recipe is VERY simple. I don't think you could mess it up, unless you don't know how to cook rice. && if you can't cook rice, see my next post (coming soon!!) about the best kitchen investment you can make!

 

Back to the recipe. It's really good and really easy so it makes a great week night meal.