Ktichen Before

 Before the demo.

 Goodbye bulk head.

 Goodbye brown cabinets and green counter top.

 Good bye fan, door, and black microwave.

 After bulk head removal. 

 Another view. It really opened our alley style kitchen up.

We have since installed the new cabinets. I love, love them. More to come soon.......

Excuse Me.....

              

You'll have to excuse me this week............ I'm working on some projects! Can't wait to post   

 pictures of the final results!!

Pillsbury Crescent Party

 

 I was selected to host this party by MyGetTogether. Pillsbury Crescent provided me with the products and the information to host the party. 

The packet included:

*Pillsbury Crescents Recipes to share with guests

*5 Coupons for FREE Pillsbury 8 oz. Crecscnet Cans to purchase Original Crescents or Crescents Recipe Creations for recipes

*A $20 gift card to purchase recipe ingredients

*A handy shopping list of recipe ingredients

*30 product information sheets with coupon

*Allergen fact sheet

*Tabeltop signs to display near each suggested recipe

*60 recipe cards

*A special oven mitt

*A sheet pan and metal turner

I made 4 of the following recipes Pillsbury Crescents provided:

Crescent - Wrapped Brie

Serve this elegant, yet easy, appetizer with one or more of the following toppings: chutney, jalapeno jelly, fruit preserves or salsa.

1 Can of Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1 round  (8oz) of Brie Cheese

1 egg, beaten

Directions: 

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate crosswise into 2 sections. Pat dough and firmly press perforations to seal, forming 2 squares. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut crosswise into 2 rectangles. Pat dough to form 2 squares.

Place 1 square on ungreased cookie sheet. Place cheese on center of dough. With small cookie or canape cutter, cut 1 shape from each corner of remaining square; set cutouts aside.

Place remaining square on top of cheese round. Press dough evenly around cheese; fold bottom edges over top edges. Gently stretch dough evenly around cheese; press to seal completely. Brush with beaten egg. Top with cutouts; brush with additional beaten egg.

Bake 20-24 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Mini Crescent Dogs

2 cans Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

48 cocktail-sized smoked link sausages or hot dogs (from 16-oz package)

Directions: 

Heat over to 375 degrees. Unroll both cans of the dough; separate into 16 triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise into 3 narrow triangles. Place sausage on shortest side of each triangle. Roll up each, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point; place point side down on 2 ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown; switching position of cookie sheets halfway through baking. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

*Crescent Bacon-Cheddar Pinwheels

*Crescent Layer Bars

Crescent Layer Bars

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1 C white vanilla baking chips

1C semisweet chocolate chips

1 C slivered almonds

1C cashew halves and pieces

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) 

Directions: 

Heat oven to 375 (359 degrees for dark pans). Grease bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough into 2 long rectangles. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough. Place in pan; press over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust. Bake 5 minutes.

Remove partially baked crust from oven. Sprinkle vanilla chips, chocolate chips, almonds and cashews evenly over crust. Pour condensed milk evenly over top. Return to oven; bake 20 -25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan. Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. 

Crescent Bacon -Cheddar Pinwheels

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can Pillsbury crescent recipe creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

2 Tbsp ranch dressing

1/4 C cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

1/2 C finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2oz)

1/4C chopped green onions (4 medium)

Directions: 

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4 inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4 - inch rectangle.

Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. 

Serve warm.

 

After everyone had sampled we voted on what we liked best. The Crescent-Wrapped Brie took 1st place. The kids like the Mini Crescent Dogs the best. I was pleasantly surprised about the bars. I didn't think they would be so good. They crescents make a great crust to this bar. 

Kelly took home the 9x13 pan that was provided by Pillsbury Crescents, and Kendra took home a Pillsbury Crescent Oven Mitten also provided by them. 

Most of the women each had recipes to share that included the Pillsbury Crescents in them.

They were sent home with coupons, recipe cards, and product info.

In total I had 11 women and 15 kids attend.

Success!!

After

I made this up this afternoon. I was thinking of a quote to hang in the bathroom. Then I thought of a Veggie Tale movie they have about Self Worth. Self Worth + Mirror = a quote for reassurance!! Every time you look in the mirror are you happy? Are you thankful? Do you put yourself down, or lift yourself up? I thought this quote fit just right! The stars are cut outs from some extra scrapbook paper I had. The frame was taken from another room. Frugal decoration!!
I grabbed this cute silver basket from Target. Then I bought different shades of tan, brown, and black washcloths to use as accent/decoration. I love our new toilet paper holder. I purchased that at Wal Mart.
We found the counter top at Home Depot. I think we purchased this for $30 something. Good deal. I painted the cabinets black and added brushed nickel knobs and hinges. The faucet and mirror were there already. We then put up bead board and put up a chair rail. It's the same trim as the bottom, we just turned it upside down!

Before

Here are the before pics of the kids bathroom. At first I decided that I wanted to paint the vanity and put new knobs on the doors. I took everything off the vanity and then I decided I didn't like the fake green marble laminate floors. So I got after the floor with a chisel and a hammer. Q came home and said what flooring do you want? Wood laminate would be really nice. He then says, " If we get that wood laminate then we'll have to take the ceramic tile off the walls in order for the floor to fit under the trim. And if we take the tile off the walls then we might as well get a new counter top and get rid of the green one!! "
SWEET!!!! Basically it was a huge snowball effect. The project just kept getting bigger and bigger. We had to act fast. One trip to Home Depot and we had the flooring, walls, and knobs and hinges picked out in an hour. I'm an impatient person if you couldn't tell.

Nothing was wrong with the bathroom other than be a bit dated. I just didn't like the colors. It was functional, but not pleasing to MY eye. I think I get obsessed about decorating the house b/c I spend a lot of time at home. I'm constantly thinking of the possibilities. I get bored fast. I'm always changing furniture around.

Hopefully tonight I"ll post the finished product for you. I'm waiting on Q to finish up a few things 1st.

War Zone? Nope.

You would think our yard was a war zone. I could say that some aliens came down and destroyed our lawn with their laser beams chasing after a squirrel, but that would be just too crazy! The truth is, Quentin is replacing our sprinkling system. It hasn't been used in over 20 years! The previous owner didn't use it because of all the cracks in the lines. We want a nice green lawn, so Q fixed it. I'm grateful that Quentin is so ambitious. He's a hard worker. His Dad also came over to help. We also found out we have a severe mole problem in our yard. Time to get some Lime!
Stella was hard at work trying to scare the worms out of the dirt. She found two worms and named them Ceesal and Jackie! Where she came up with those names I don't know. But it sure was funny.

Taking a break for a smile! Such a handsome man!

I'm so Happy, I'm so Happy

The void if filled. For the longest time I"ve wanted a table to put in my living room. There has been an empty spot there since we've moved in. I've been looking for just the right piece of furniture. Finally Target had this piece on sale. I bought it, put it together and filled the void!! I love it. Makes the room look so much warmer in that spot. Now all I need is an apothecary jar for my bird's nest!

Flooding of the Basement Part 2

Remember when our basement flooded the first time? I thought this was the last and only time it would flood. I was wrong.

Last week we had below zero temps. Lots of icicles on our roof. The cold temperatures caused a pipe to break in our basement. We had flooding again!!!

This happened Thursday afternoon. I had the kids, and the husband was at work. I'm in the middle of changing a poopy diaper and all of the sudden I heard a huge explosion sound. Oh no. I knew what had happened. Earlier in the morning we woke up and our faucet in our master bath was not working. The husband went to Home Depot and purchased heat tape and a few other things to help fix the frozen pipes. He thought he had time. Wrong!!!
So, I go downstairs and water is bursting out of this 1/2 inch copper pipe. All down the walls and all over the treadmill, guitars, dresser, bed, and photo albums. I didn't know where the main shut off for the water was, I call my in laws and they rush over. I call my Dad and he says, turn off the pump on the circuit breaker. I do that, it's still flying everywhere. Mean time, I'm trying to get as many buckets and towels down there to stop the water from spreading all the while trying not to get to close the hot water. (Yes it was the hot water line that broke!!) I would say it was a full out shower of water for about 10 minutes before my Father in law came over and shut the water off. I'm so grateful for them. I'm glad they live close. Luckily this time, the water was on the half of the basement that has the laundry room and some other things. Not the kid's playroom, or family room!!!
Of course the one day I need to get a hold of my husband, his phone wasn't working. This line has been disconnected!!!! Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Are you flipping kidding me?????
My in laws sucked up all the water with the wet vacs, and wipped things down while I kept the kids out of there and tried to calm down my nerves. There was still a slow leak in the pipe so we hooked up the vacum hose to the pipe that was busted and let it drain into the base of the wet/dry vac. The next day we had a friend of a friend come over and fix it for a 1/4 of what it would have cost us to have the plumber come over. Thank you Lord for connections!!!!

Disaster fixed. Dry basement lives again!!!

No more white!

Here is my weekend project. The walls have been white since we moved in. White isn't bad but it made me feel like a doctor's office waiting room. I also finally put a second coat on the stairway!! I moved some of the pictures around in the hall way and I'm happy with the way it turned out.
I finally found a place for my "H." I had it in the bedroom for a long time but didn't think it belonged in there. I think this is a fitting place for it.

Almost There

The new family room! All that's left in here is some trim work around the fireplace. The kids think the slippery floor is fun to slide on. We worked down here from 10:30 this morning to midnight! We're tired but excited how far we've come in two weeks.
This room is all done. Just need to get all the tools out. This is the kid's new play room.
Q and Christian laying the floor earlier in the day.
The work zone~ You could say it got a little dusty down there today. Thank goodness for fans that have the option of reverse on them!!! They sucked all that dust out of the basement.