Random Friday

I am so happy it's Friday!  I was looking forward to this because my kids are at a friends house swimming which leaves me with some peace and quiet for several hours.  Can you hear my sigh of relief?  I thought you could : )

We have had an exciting past couple of days with severe weather hitting us yet again.  I don't know about you all but I am so over it.  Very happy that today has ended up being beautiful.

Two nights ago we headed on down to our tornado room and I prayed asking God to keep us safe and that nothing would hit our home.  Well, little did I know while I was praying that one of my trees broke from the base.  Here is the pic I took just yesterday.

That tree is massive.  If it fell toward our house...well, I would be calling the insurance company.  It is in the same position today caught up in two other trees.  Our friend Steve, Passion for Simplicity, said that the tree is not going anywhere by the way it landed.  My shed is safe for now until my husband can chop it all up for firewood : )
So thankful that God heard my prayer.

I also wanted to share with you a runner I designed for the tables in the teachers lounge.  I just got it today and am so excited!

They are 8'6" in length and the fabric came from Hancock. Thanks to the wonderful Diane for sewing them for me.  I think I need to take up sewing..don't you think?

Have a wonderful weekend all and stay safe ; )

99% .. Almost

It's Monday..another busy week.  How is everyone?  Hope you all are doing well.

As I mentioned last week I am at the beginning of the end for the teachers lounge transformation.  I was there last Friday from 4:30 - 9:30pm.  We are just around the corner to the finish line.  I did my best to cause as big a change as possible with the budget I had.  There are some things that could not be done for various reasons.  I wanted to share with you what did get finished this past Friday.

Starting to hang the chandeliers..

 Do you like the fireplace wall with the long linear shelves?  I think it brings a coziness into the room.

These two are some of the greatest people I know.  She keeps everyone organized and on task..amazing! Her husband was one of the site leaders.  He is very calm and wonderful under pressure.

My girls helping assemble the Ikea chandeliers .

  

Got that mirror from the Thrifty Boutique.

In the process of hanging art.  That required some patience.. lol.

Hanging up the bar in the kitchenette.  He was such a great help : )

The chandeliers look great..brings interest in the space.  

Almost done..still have to stage the bookshelves, tables, etc..

Finally the bar is up w/ hanging baskets and pots (from Ikea).  Will post more with it completely staged in August before the school year starts.

What do you think of the progress so far?  Do you think the teachers will enjoy it as their break room?

Another Small Transformation

TGIF!  

I am so happy that we finally have rain and a break from this unbearable heat.  It was a welcome sound when I woke up this morning to the pitter patter of raindrops.

I am also happy because I get to go into Walker Elementary and begin the staging process of the teachers lounge.

The cabinets for the kitchenette are done but we are still waiting for the counter tops.  

I wanted to show you another set of chairs that we refurbished.

The before...

The chair had a hard, dark finish.  You could hardly see the wood grain.  The fabric on the chair, well, can I just say UGLY!

Then we began to work on them..

Days and days of work.  Stripping the chair...sanding...re-stripping..sanding..I think you get the picture.

After all that, here is what they look like today

Didn't they come out beautiful?  I love them.

I think the teachers at Walker Elementary will love them as well.

When I began talking about the teacher's lounge I had a whole lot of inspiration from different sources.  One of those sites came from Design Sponge.

Look at these chairs I found on her site and was inspired to take on the challenge of the ones I showed above.

(image source) Design Sponge

The After..

image source Design Sponge

Gorgeous!

I will post more here next week and will show you what was accomplished today.

Have a great weekend : )

Dreaming of Something Cool

Happy Monday!

It is going to be a scorcher here in the midwest with temperatures in the Chicago area around 107 degrees and might I add the humidity.  My poor hair is definitely going to suffer : (

All of this got me thinking about something cool...

Elle Decor

Just looking at it brings relief. 

Here are some more places that will help remedy on this steamy day.

Elle Decor

Bali

Scenografic Pools

Doesn't that make you just say, "AAAHHH."

Wishing you all a "dip in the cool" this week.

Can It be? : Landscaping

Happy Monday!

My husband and I woke up to the sound of strong winds, deafening thunder and lightning that looked like spider veins.  So glad that we didn't have any damage but a friend of ours down the street has trees down.  They are fine I am glad to report.

There have been really strange weather patterns around here lately.  I am hoping my readers stay safe through this unpredictable summer.

I guess this is a great time to talk about yard clean up and continue our "Can It Be" series.  We moved into this house almost 3yrs ago now and boy did we have a task on our hands and might I add still do.

Yes, a hot mess!  That is only one small section.  

The previous owner was a gardener (went all out) but the house was empty for a year and a half and I didn't know which were plants and weeds.  We purchased the house going into fall.  The following year I let it all grow up to see what I had.  Not being the most keen on plants I had to ask my neighbor to identify some of them.

Now that I took inventory it was time to start cleaning out.  I know that the previous owner put his heart and soul into this but weeds got in the way and began to take over what was good.

This is a far away pic where you can't really see the weeds but it will give you an idea of the expanse of what we were working with.

The whole side section.

Our second year we worked with the front (by the light post) pulling out what we could.

Here I am!  Working hard.

Gotta take a pic of Corey too : )

Cleared out the weeds from around the tree.

So much work!

Now here is what it looks like 3yrs later cleaned out.

Do you see that wide open space?

Here is my inspiration...

image source

I want it to be peaceful as people are walking by the house and at night to have it lit.

It got me thinking on how all of us should be taking inventory of our own lives and pull out what is choking us in becoming that beautiful garden that we are meant to be.  Our lives are meant to bring beauty to those who come in contact with it.  It's a process that can be painful and tedious but definitely well worth it.

Have a great week!

Can It Be? : Hallway Finished

Happy Friday!  

Yesterday I was connecting with some great designers on Twitter via #DesignTv .  There are so many great creative minds willing to share secrets to help you with your spaces.  Would love to connect with all of you on there as well.

I haven't updated on our hallway for quite some time and if you remember it looked like this..

Remember the stained carpet?  We had painted the hallway a color from Behr called Head for the Hills.

Was not happy about the carpet so my husband

took up the carpet and we began the process of putting down hickory flooring that we had in our family room.

I love this floor!  My husband did a great job.

The hallway leading toward the bedrooms is a great place to hang photos of the family.  I put pictures of us by the bedrooms we occupy.

Btw..don't mind the smurf blue bathroom at the end of the hallway, we will tackle that at some point.

Have a great weekend all : )

California Burgers with Guacamole Mayonnaise

How is everyone doing today?  I can't believe it's July already!  Time to grill and enjoy the fireworks.

Wanted to share a recipe from Weber that would be great for this holiday weekend.  Your friends and family will be raving at your grilling skills : )

 

California Burgers with Guacamole Mayonnaise

• Serves4
• Prep time25 minutes
• Grilling time18 to 20 minutes
• Rating
  • Currently Rated 5/5

Grocery List

• Fresh Produce
• 2plum tomatoes
• 2poblano chile peppers
• 1ripe Hass avocado
• 1small white onion
• 1lime
• 1small garlic clove
• 1/8oz fresh cilantro
• Meat / Poultry / Seafood
• 1-1/2pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
• Oil and Spices
• 2tsp kosher salt
• 1tsp ground black pepper
• Condiments
• 2tbsp mayonnaise
• Other
• 4hamburger buns

California Burgers with Guacamole Mayonnaise

Recipe by Jamie Purviance

Recipe from Weber's Way to Grill™

Featured on February 4, 2011

• Mayonnaise
  • 2tablespoons grated white onion
  • 1ripe Hass avocado, pitted and peeled
  • 2tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2plum tomatoes, cored, seeded, and chopped
  • 1tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 1small garlic clove, grated
  • Kosher salt
•  
  • 2poblano chile peppers
  • 1-1/2pounds ground chuck (80% lean)
  • 1-1/2teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1teaspoon ground black pepper
•  
  • 4hamburger buns

1. Using a sieve, rinse the grated onion under cold water and let the excess water drain off. In a medium bowl mash the avocado and mayonnaise together with a fork. Stir in the onion, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic. Season generously with salt. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface, and set aside. (The mayonnaise can be prepared up to 8 hours ahead.)
2. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over high heat (450° to 550°F).
3. Brush the cooking grates clean. Grill the chiles over direct high heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until the skin is blackened on all sides, about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer the chiles to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to trap the skin. Let stand for about 10 minutes. Remove the chiles from the bowl and peel off and discard the blackened skin, stems, and seeds. Chop the chiles into 1/2-inch dice.
4. In a large bowl gently mix the ground chuck, chiles, salt, and pepper, and shape into four patties of equal size and thickness, about 3/4 inch thick. With your thumb or the back of a spoon, make a shallow indentation about 1 inch wide in the center of each patty so the centers are about 1/2 inch thick. This will help the patties cook evenly and prevent them from puffing on the grill.
5. Grill the patties over direct high heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until cooked to medium doneness, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once when the patties release easily from the grate without sticking. During the last minute of cooking time, toast the buns, cut side down, over direct heat. Top the burgers with the mayonnaise and serve warm.
   
   
   Have a great 4th of July weekend!  Stay safe.