Life In Photos: St. Paddy’s Day Dash

March 17, 2014February 7, 20173 Comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I just have to share some photos from yesterday. This year is our 7th year of running the St. Paddy’s Day Dash in Seattle, supporting the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. Detlef Schrempf Foundation supports many Northwest children’s charities. When you register for the run, you have the opportunity to donate additional funds to organizations such as Camp Fire USA Puget Sound Council, Seattle Children’s Autism Center, Inspire Youth Project, and the Healing Center. Learn more here. Aside from our money going to a good cause, we have a core group of friends that run this with us every year, and it is one of my favorite traditions. After the 6k our dear friend, –an avid non-runner– Mel, hosts a party for us and she continues to outdo herself every year. She opens her home to us, so we can change and get into some warm clothes –it’s Seattle, obviously it rains on us– and then she feeds us delicious food. Does it get any better?

Here’s the group, pre-race.

Boys will be boys…monkeying around while waiting to cross the street.

The ladies, showing off our tutus. I will put together a tutorial early this week on how to make the tutus. They are so easy!

Mel putting the finishing touches on the Baileys & Coffee shots. Also pictured, chocolate chip scones. I know, wow.

Champagne & pineapple juice, accessorized with shamrock ribbons and straws. Adorable aaaand tasty.

Mini Chicken & Waffles. Hold on to your hats…this is the first of the mini breakfast foods that Mel served. Genius idea!

Mini Coconut Shrimp & Waffles. Ridiculously good.

I’m not sure what Mel called these, but they were essentially Mini Omelets, with cheese and veggies. Also pictured in back, dried nectarines with blue cheese and nuts.

Mini Quiche with Chicken Sausage.

A dasher brought Mini Cinnamon Rolls. Yum.

Another friend brought these Pistachio Pudding Cups, always a hit in our group.

And, I was boring. I brought some of the mimosa fixin’s but also these little fruit skewers, with honeydew, kiwi, and green grapes.

The genius behind mini breakfast foods, Mel.

Do you have any St. Patrick’s Day traditions?

Kitchen Renovations // Part 1

March 14, 2014February 7, 20174 Comments

We have been through various home renovations and none pose the same level of inconvenience as a kitchen remodel. When we overhauled our master bath, we used the guest bath and vice versa. When we remodeled the master bedroom, we slept in the guest bedroom. There was always somewhere else for us to be with the other rooms in the house, but when it comes to the kitchen, there is nowhere to go. Our kitchen has been through a lot –more on that later– but this was the first time ever I thought to create a makeshift kitchen for us, so we could (kind of) carry on like normal. Although this helped tremendously, dinners were still difficult for us, and we did not eat very well this week. Where it DID help, was in the mornings. I am a devoted smoothie and coffee drinker in the morning, so I set up my tray table with the coffee maker and blender so I could easily to get to them and prepare my favorites with ease. I also thought to place a cutting board on the dining room table, along with my crockpot, and the fruit bowl, so I could prepare food in the dining room, if needed. I pulled our chest into the dining room as well, so we had a place for the microwave, so really, we had enough to get by.

Now that you’ve seen my sad makeshift kitchen, let’s move on to the fun part –the transformation in our kitchen! We have come a long way, and I’ll get to that later, but to give you an idea, this is what our kitchen looked like when we moved in, back in 2009.

Our kitchen has gone through many phases, but we are actually almost done now. One of the last pieces was the backsplash tile. We chose marble, and I’m in love.

After purchasing, we got home and I opened up a box to make sure my love was true. And it was.

Then my husband applied thin set, placed the tiles and kept it all straight and in place with spacers. We opted for a 1/8 inch grout line.

After the thin set dried the following day, he went back through to remove spacers and apply grout. Once the grout is applied, you have go back over everything with a damp sponge and remove the film the grout leaves behind.

And then, you sit back and admire. I am over the moon with this kitchen and what it has become.

My husband’s talent and innate knack for this is so inspiring. I’m going to pick his brain and and do a more in depth post about what we have done in the kitchen. As you may have been able to tell, I’m not the most knowledgeable with describing what he did and how he did it. Anyway, a post to come soon with details on the concrete countertops and the rest of this transformation.

Also, a really fun side note…not only are the concrete countertops DIY, but my dad made us all new cabinet doors and trimmed the window (and all of the other windows in the house). This home is a true labor of love.

Taco Tuesday: Pinto Bean & Kale

March 11, 2014February 7, 2017Leave a comment

Although this may sound delicious to some of you, this was a bit of a gamble in my house. I came across this recipe and thought wow, that sounds amazing, but then I hesitated. My husband isn’t really an onion fan and he prefers spinach to kale. And then I decided, experimenting with different kinds of tacos is what Taco Tuesday is all about, so let’s do this!

I came across this taco recipe on Pinterest –here is the original recipe— and decided to make a couple small changes. I always have these multigrain tortillas on hand, so I used these instead of corn. Also already in my fridge, monterey jack cheese, so I used that instead of cheddar. Lastly, I opted to melt a generous helping of cheese on the tortilla prior to adding the beans and veggies.

One thing I did not photograph and should have is the beans. You see, I like to buy dry pinto beans and cook them slowly on the stove top with a lot of garlic, half a white onion, salt, pepper and cumin. So, for this recipe, I did not use canned beans, but you could easily do that if you don’t have the time, or the desire to spend a couple hours making beans from scratch.

Although my husband said there were too many onions, he did say that the flavors were really good, so perhaps the next time I do this, I’ll add some more kale to mask the onions. All in all, I’m calling Pinto Bean & Kale Tacos a win.

Today’s BGD // 3.10.14

March 11, 2014February 7, 20173 Comments

Not only was my Monday off to a wobbly start, but the sky was grey, and with the time change, I was a little sleepy. However; being determined to find the best in each day has brought me to yesterday’s BGD, a little thing called quality time with those you love and working with your hands. It’s really the best of combinations. I spent my evening with a bestie, making tutus for the St. Paddy’s Day Dash (a tradition that we have upheld for the last 6 years), while my husband (the handiest guy on the planet) tiled the backsplash in the kitchen. We laughed and we enjoyed admiring all of our creations at the end of the evening.

Sneak peek of the tutu I will don on Sunday for the dash.

Sneak peek of the gorgeous backsplash tile going up in our kitchen. (Please excuse the awful lighting.)

This BGD just goes to show that the start of your day can be a little rocky, but if you hold on the finding the best in your day, you just might hit the jackpot.

One Pan Pasta, It’ll Change Your Life…

March 6, 2014February 7, 20176 Comments

I make one pan pasta a few times a month, and it is probably one of my most favorite recipes. I found this recipe on Pinterest –I know, where else?– this dish is easy, inexpensive, and easy to customize. You can get all of the details here.

This dish has graced our table on numerous occasions and both, my husband and guests, make yummy noises and tell me that it’s delicious. Anyone can make this, trust. Although I write Kitchen Fun posts, I am no chef. Think of me as a novice in the kitchen, and a fan of providing tasty, healthy dishes for anyone sharing a meal with us.

Here it is, the line up. If you have pasta, garlic, onion, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, you can make this dish. On any given day, I have all but the fresh basil, so guess what, make it using dried basil, and it will still be delicious. You don’t have grape tomatoes? Dice the Roma tomatoes in your fridge. Really, it’s fine.

Once you have all your ingredients ready, dump it all in a pan, add 4 1/2 cups of water, turn on your burner and give it a good 15 minutes to cook, stirring often. That’s it.

Like I mentioned, you can customize this, so get creative. Sometimes, I’ll throw some Canellini beans in there, or veggies, lots of veggies like spinach, zuchinni, peppers, mushrooms; whatever you like, or whatever you have. I normally add these sorts of extras in the last 5 minutes of cooking, since I don’t like the veggies soggy or cooked down too much. For this particular one pan pasta dinner, I remembered that I had shrimp in the freezer, so I added an extra pinch of red pepper flakes, and it became spicy shrimp one pan pasta.

Obviously I am in love with one pan pasta, but I just have one more thing to add, and then I swear, I’m done. This makes the best leftovers for lunch the next day. Okay, I’m done. Go make one pan pasta!

Life in Photos: Special Deliveries

March 4, 2014February 7, 2017Leave a comment

Looking back on last week, it’s easy to see that it was a week of special deliveries.

I got these beauties in the mail from Shoedazzle.com and am in love. Now, if only the PNW weather would cooperate so I could wear them.

As you know from Sunday’s post, I received a very special gift from my sis this week, a Whitney English Day Designer Planner. I am still filling out all of the worksheets, but am getting used to having such a comprehensive tool in my everyday routine. Learn more here.

Last but certainly not least, we were able to drop off a little care package to a very special person. Our friend’s daughter recently received a heart transplant a little over two weeks ago and is already at home resting and getting better everyday. We are absolutely amazed and inspired by Micaela and her family. If you want to hear her story and show some love on Facebook, you can find out more here.

Make it a great one.

Today’s BGD // 3.2.14

March 2, 2014February 7, 20172 Comments

Being tucked away in my cozy and warm home, on this cold and rainy day is just one part of Today’s BGD. I’m feeling so fortunate to have the support and push from the people I love and admire most. When I first began writing this blog, it was largely to have a creative outlet, to document all of our home projects, to share in our camping and hiking adventures, and to promote that one can have a full, satisfying life without having to spend a lot money.
I spent my afternoon listening to the rain fall, coupled with John Coltrane on my iPad, reading Blog Inc, and making notes and dreaming up plans in my new Day Designer.

The iPad was gifted to me by my husband. After watching me blog on my phone and seeing how dedicated I had become, he wanted to show me he was proud and to make it easier for me to write.
Blog Inc was gifted to me by my friend, Keely. Without her, I don’t know that I would have ever started this project. She has been a consistent source of encouragement and inspiration.
The Day Designer was gifted to me by my sister, Domonique. I’ve always wanted to set a good example for my little sister, but sometimes she’s the one pushing me to do better and be better. This new tool has motivated me in a whole new way.

I know that these people believe in me, and that makes me feel like I’m in the right place, doing the right thing. The second and most important part of Today’s BGD, is having supportive and loving people in my life.

Framing Some L-O-V-E

February 27, 2014February 7, 20173 Comments

As a part of the Apartment Therapy January Cure, one of the last assignments is for participants to frame some artwork and get it hung up. Although, I’m well out of my own personal January Challenge, this assignment was important to me, so I say better than never on this one. Here’s how it all turned out.

Now, let me go back and explain how it could possibly take me forever and a day to hang up a couple frames. I had purchased two white frames and black matting, with the intention of hanging up some photos of the hubby and I, in our master bedroom. I printed off a photo and placed it in the frame with the matting, and I hated it. My friend suggested painting them, and I decided that sounded way more fun than exchanging them. I didn’t get to this project until last weekend just because life has been hectic –and one has to be in the mood to be crafty. I am happy to report that once I started working on this project, I enjoyed painting so much that I decided to create some art for the other frame.

I knew I didn’t just want to paint them, and the idea of texture was on the brain, so I found some mesh in my fabric drawer and placed it over the matting. I just taped it in place on a piece of foam core board. Then I began painting, just using some basic white acrylic paint. After maybe ten minutes, I peeled the mesh off, and this is the outcome.

Once I saw how the white turned out, I knew that a little touch of gold on the matting border would be nice. I love that the matting has dimension, and I really like its imperfections and variation.

For the second craft, I pulled out my letter stamps for a little touch of personal art.

I did not have a black ink pad, so I used black acrylic paint and this required a lot of testing. Also, I just liked this photo.

I chose two lines from our wedding vows for this piece. The top one is from my vows, and the bottom one is from his vows. Now, this little reminder lives over our bed, so we can see it every morning and every night.

I am really pleased with the outcome, and I love that with each day our home becomes more complete and more us.

Ice Cave Hike

February 26, 2014February 7, 20174 Comments

Here we go again, I have another snowy hike to share with you! A few weeks ago we went to the Big Four Ice Caves, and we brought sleds and friends, which equals a perfect day. Because it was an easier hike, we got a bit more interest from friends, and knew that we wouldn’t be dead tired afterward, so we made a whole day of it. We loaded up our vehicles with sleds and gear, and caravanned all the way there. When embarking on a car ride over an hour long, one must be sure to bring the proper provisions, ie coffee, water, snacks and walkie talkies. Walkie talkies, brilliant.

Upon arrival, we suited up and began the trek. Mia led the way!

There were beautiful mountain views everywhere you turned. Looking back on these photos, it’s pretty amazing that we lucked out on the weather. Not only was it dry, but the blue skies were just gorgeous.

This photo was taken from a good distance, and the size of the ice caves is so deceiving.

I love this shot because it shows off the icicles and the texture of the interior walls of the cave. It may be cheesy but nature is very, very cool.

Of our group, no one was brave enough to go into the caves, but you can see in this photo that people were venturing pretty deep into the caves. (Click on this photo to enlarge it and see how far inside the others went.) You could hear water dripping into the caves periodically, and that was enough to make me nervous and keep me well outside.

After taking in views, it was time for some sledding.

And, time to get a cute shot of Mia wearing her backpack in front of the caves.

And top off the day with a group photo.

After our fun day, we were ready for some hot food and a drink or two, so we stopped off at LJ’s Bistro & Bar on the way back. We enjoyed happy hour, a cozy atmosphere, and some laughs.

Have I convinced you to go hiking in the winter time yet?

Taco Tuesday: Spicy Black Bean

February 25, 2014February 7, 20171 Comment

I love tacos, and one of my favorites is any variation of the black bean taco. I found this recipe on Pinterest a while back and have been making them, or at least a version of them, pretty regularly since finding the recipe. This recipe is easy and can be adapted to what you have or don’t have.

The only essentials are:

Corn tortillas –I use a whole wheat/corn blend
Black beans
Cheese

If you have those things, reach into your pantry for spices, and into your produce for any yummy add ons. I used cumin, sea salt and minced garlic in the beans for this recipe. Give the beans a good stir and mix all the yummy flavors together, and then right there, beans are done. Okay, on to a very important ingredient…cheese. I happened to have a giant bag of shredded Monterey jack in the fridge, so Monterey jack it is. I minced some fresh jalapeno up and added it to the cheese. Cheese is done. Next, I added some olive oil to a large pan and got it nice and hot. Place a tortilla in the pan and coat the bottom of the tortilla with the oil, flip it and add some cheese to one side of the tortilla first, then some beans on top of the cheese, and then some more cheese on top of the beans. Then, using tongs, gently pull the other side of the tortilla over, covering the beans and cheese, forming your taco. Now, place another tortilla in the pan, so you can have two cooking at once. Allow each side to get golden brown and crispy.

For taco toppings, sour cream, hot sauce and cilantro are perfect for this dish. Also muy importante…VEGGIES! I added some lightly sautéed veggies on the side for some color and a healthy spin on this indulgent meal.