Shelves

Another summer project!

Shelves over the toilet, provide a decor boost, new place for towels. This gave me more area for a first aid station under the sink!

Make sure you leave enough room to remove the top of the toilet.

My other summer project. Using an old window as a luminated shelf.

This way I can all my favorite nick nacks and gifts my family has given in my office and they don't take up any space. I have hooks in the ceiling and then just some chain I picked up at Home Depot, the fun lights came from Ikea..love love the new look!!!

My corner.....

 My view from the bottom, looking up from my chair ... too cute!

Next to move my peg board!

My amazing husband is so talented!

I gave him the idea, basic drawing, then and example over in Centerville and walaa! With the plants we have planted on each corner it will be covered and feeling like Eden in no time :)

It took us three piles of lattice before we finally found two nice pieces for the outside. The plants will wind in it nicely.  Then he added the seat boxes you see on the legs so we can sit on the boxes and roast marshmallows any time of the year. And the kids are still able to reach out from the hot tub and never get out of the tub during the winter!

New kits I put together for crafts or scrapbooking pages perfect for the sheets of photos!

$2 each plus postage, they are going fast! Let me know if you want one my email leefam@digis.net and I do have paypal account.

Lucky (7 left)

Included: 2 paperclips with foam shamrocks and bling, 1 ft ribbon, 5 rhinestones, 4 foam shamrocks, 3 pieces of paper (3x6), and leprechaun glitter.

Thankful (3 left)

Included: 2 paperclips with festive attachments, 1 ft ribbon and rope, stalk of corn and cornucopia.

The new Halloween line!
So freakin cute!

Pre-order yours today, call 801.391.3182, email firstlightinc@me.com or leefam@digis.net and get a free Scentsy bar with your order! All $35 -$40, pay when ordered on Sept.1!

LLee.scentsy.us

Ghouls & Ghost $35

Pumpkin $35

Small night light for above the counter.

Substitutions

I have been looking for alternatives to sugar and flour in my families diets. I found these great alternatives listed on the quakeroats.com (http://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes/content/baking-101/welcome-to-baking-101/ingredients-and-substitutions.aspx)

I thought I would share what I found!

                           

Fun in the Eclipse Summer 2012

lorrieleespeace.blogspot.com

lorrieleespeace.blogspot.com

Eclipse glasses up at Weber State Elipse Party          Notice in this photo  off to the left of the sun!!!!

I have no idea what it is, but how strange is that; 

oo doo doo doo

 We all gathered with eclipse glasses, water bottles and chairs. So much fun waching the eclipse as a family.

The Wasp trap

I found the wasp trap idea on pinterest ( pinterest.com/lorrieleecom). So I thought I would try it.

Two recipes for the attractant:
Apple cider vinegar and 1/4 c sugar
And
Crushed strawberries, 1/4 sugar and water

I used string and a whole punch instead of the duct tape.
I will let you know how it goes...

Parma Rosa Sauce

The delicious Parma Rosa Sauce 


I have never made this sauce before, or have I knowingly heard of it. But I made one batch and then five more! (I froze 4 1-qrt bags) A recipe (listed below) called for 2 cups of this sauce and now I have found another wonderful sauce.


1/4 c. olive oil 
2 large garlic cloves 
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. (3 C) plum tomatoes (I used canned crushed tomatoes)
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste 
1/4 c. heavy cream 
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
2 Tbsp. parsley 
a pinch of sugar (or a peeled carrot cooked with the sauce) 
Water as needed


In a large heavy saucepan, heat olive oil, then add the garlic cloves crushed or if you are using dehydrated garlic cook for 5 min medium/low heat. 

Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cover and cook tomatoes until they're soft and collapsed (about 10 min.). Remove skins if desired.

Uncover and cook, stirring often, until the mix is very smooth. Add water, if needed, to keep sauce from sticking to the pot. Stir in cream slowly, then add sugar (or carrot). (Taste it. The sweet carrot/sugar tempers the acidic tomatoes. You'll know if you need to add sugar if the sauce is really tart.)

Simmer the sauce a bit for the cream to become incorporated. Add water, if needed, to bring the sauce to desired consistency. 4-6 servings 






I made this for the following recipe:


http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/2423433-Spicy-Chicken-Rigatoni/Kerry Hicks

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Replant left over vegi's

Can you believe it! I saw this on pinterest, so I thought I would try this.

I placed the bottom of two stalks in a little bit of water and after 4 days...the celery stalk on the left is sprouting leaves. I planted them in my garden...Too cool.

This spurred my curiosity!

Did you know there are others...no kidding!

Here is the list of :
Celery, Sweet Potatoes, Ginger roots, green onions, pineapples, and garlic.

thanks for stopping by!

Easy-peasy chicken enchiladas

 For a full batch--
2 containers of sour cream
1 brick cream cheese
3 cans of cream of chicken
2 cans cheese soups
1 can of green chilies
3 cups cheese
3 lbs of chicken

for a smaller batch--
1 container of sour cream
1 brick cream cheese
2 cans of cream of chicken
1 can cheese soup
1 can of green chilies
3 lbs of chicken

Put two tbl of mix into each tortillas, cover in shredded cheese and leftover enchilada filler. Bake on 375 degrees

Another project....the wash tubs I have put off planting for too long

Washed them really well, then added dirt and smelly flowers : )

thanks for stopping by!

Next project...

Terra Cotta pots painted and vinyl added, adorable!

I sprayed rust-oleum primer on the outside of the 3 pots I purchased. After they dried, I used purple, yellow and red spray paint.

I had full intentions of painting the decoration on the pots by hand. But then I thought, it will be out in the weather and I will have to repaint it every summer season. Decided on vinyl instead! Peal it off and stick on the new, oh yes!

Then I used various different sizes of other terra cotta pots until I achieved the height I wanted.

 and here they are, so freakin cute!   : )

 Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage screen refurbished

OMG, weekend projects. This fabulous warm weather has engaged my creative side!
First lets begin with a long over due project, a vintage screen with homemade chalk paint. My daughter asked me to paint this screen for her. She is planning on using it for her jewelry and hanging it on the wall.

In the beginning.....

The screen was in very good condition, no repairs needed to be made but, sanding was a must. I used a belt sander and a small detail sander. The screen was so rusted, it absorbed everything that it came in contact with. So next time I will clean and coat the screen before sanding or painting anything.

Tons of recipes out there...the one I liked, after testing....

2 Tbl Non-sanded grout

1 Cup of any color paint (I used Seaglass blue)

Stir with a stir stick, until smooth. I had bubbles, but it didn't have any clumps. After applying two coats, I asked my daughter to take a look...no go, not blue enough. In a few of the instructions out there, they told me not to leave the paintI mixed another blue I already had and came up with the final color. I did pour the left over from the first coat in a glass Kerr jar, with a lid...I had run out of time.

I left the paint and the grout over night...which many of the instructions out there say not to do! So of course...lol

But a really cool thing happened. When I started painting there were now, clumps in my smooth paint. At first I panicked! But then... the clumps gave it a bit of character. So, I continued to add two coats.

After I let that dry for a couple of hours, it was time to sand again... 

Excited but a bit worried....

AWESOMENESS....Love the way it turned out, more beachy than I could have asked for!

Now on to the screen itself. We decided to paint it white! I used spray paint, my favorite, Krylon. I have used the cheaper Walmart, low end brand. For this I needed something that was going to coat the first time and seal in this screen.

Drum roll......tatata tata tatata tata

I taped it all off and used newspaper, paper to wrap around the edges. Did you know you can visit your local newspaper and get leftover rolls of paper...sometimes or free!

I braided 3 pieces of twine on each hook for a little flair.

The glue is still a bit wet but, I added sand from a vacation to South Carolinas beaches :)

Everyone is happy 

Thanks for stopping by!