Organize in style!

I have been pinning and pinning wicker file boxes...I absolutely hate file cabinets..you can decoupage them all you want but they still look sterile and boring to me.. and take up so much space!  As a newly married couple these past two years..I filed my school loans, bank info, job papers in a black plastic file box.. and my husband stored all his papers in a single file drawer of his desk..about half of his papers were in files..the rest..including our bill statements were in a huge mixed up stack!   I love the woven file boxes at Ballard..but they are $65 each!  As  I was wandering the aisles of Ross yesterday I came across these wicker storage bins..($6 dollars each!!) I didn't have a file folder with me to measure..lucky guess..the files fit perfect!! After two long hours of paper shredding and re-labeling, I condensed and combined our files from the past years into these baskets..with room to spare!  We agreed that we can get that ugly fire proof locking file box or cabinet for the very important papers..as long as it stays in the closet! :)   

These book shelves are currently in our bedroom in our apt....they are Target shelves and currently hold  craft supplies, the files, jewelry bracelets, books, a tv..and a few picture frames.. We are moving into our house soon (!!!) ..and I think I'm going to either put these shelves in the office or in the closet (to hold purses and shoes!)  

Baskets make everything better!  I have baskets for books, for dvds in the living room,  baskets in the pantry..under the sink for dish towels...they're everywhere!  The basket above came in a 3 piece set (2 small, 1 large) from Walmart.

I LOVE these Anthropologie bowls !  I've used them for parties..to serve soups..salads..condiments.. and now for my jewelry.. this is not all of my jewelry..a large portion of my collection is in built-in jewelry drawers in our dresser.. but my most favorite pieces are out for display! These bowls come in many colors and patterns and are $8 each..

little things..

These sweet mini wooden chalkboard heart clips were in the bargain bins at Michaels craft store...They come in blue, pink, and natural..I couldn't decide which color to get so I bought all three! 

The clips can be used to hang photos, clip on gifts... how cool would these be for Christmas presents!?

The come in packs of six... could also be used to label appetizers
or on a candy buffet

These mini canvases came in a 2 pack from Walmart..on clearance for a QUARTER!!  Wouldn't these be fun for a child's  birthday ..for each child to paint their own?  

Easy CHEESY potato soup!

1. Add half a bag of Oreida Potatoes O'Brien hashbrowns (I like to use this kind because it comes with onions and peppers..you can add more onion if you like), two cans of chicken broth, one can of cream of chicken soup, a couple tablespoons of chives, and two stalks of celery (thinly sliced) to your crock pot/slow cooker.

2. I cooked my soup for 4 hours on med, and then one more hour on high.  During the last twenty minutes add half of a 8 ounce package of cream cheese, stir...and add in a few handfuls of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (depending how cheesy you want it.) ..stir.

3. Garnish your easy cheesy soup with shredded cheese, cooked crumbled bacon, and sour cream! 

Cajun Chicken Alfredo!

EASY Cajun Chicken Alfredo:

1. Coat four Tyson thin cut chicken breasts generously with McCormick Cajun Seasoning and "jazz it up" with Zatarain's Blackened Seasoning.

2. Pre-heat a large frying pan, add butter, cook chicken until nice and brown.

3. Slice chicken and (here's the easy part!)toss with Knorr Alfredo noodles.

4. Garnish tip: use scissors to snip green onion or chives!

S'mores for breakfast!

We woke up early enough to make "breakfast" on a Saturday!
..and actually use our griddle!   

..added a little cinnamon, chocolate chunks, and mini marshmallows

we're not trying to be healthy here : )

..some of us haven't grown up yet..haha

he was the flipper.. I was the stacker

hungry yet?

too late! 

Furniture Redo!

This was my first experience with Annie Sloan chalk paint..AMAZING!! LOVE IT!   I ordered it from Canabananas at The Market .  I couldn't decide between Pure White or Old White.. the sample looked too dark of the Old White... I used the clear wax but I'm debating about going over the pieces in a dark wax too.. the Pure White is really bright.. both the coffee table and other table were free anyways so I wasn't too concerned if I messed up with my first chalk paint experience.. I was going for a beach look but I think I might use the two pieces in a sun room someday. The paint itself is really thick but very smooth.. No sanding is required..this paint sticks to almost everything!  (I did a little sanding anyways to get some scratches out of the table tops.)  If you mess up..the paint will come off quickly with a wet rag.  Then I used sandpaper to give it that distressed look. The wax was interesting.. because it was clear it was hard to tell where I had used it..after I waxed it, I buffed it with some t-shirt scraps... It is very durable so far..I've set hot/cold/wet glasses on it and it seems to be fine..  Here's a photo below of how the coffee table looked before.. the paint adhered to both the wood top and metal legs really well..I used two coats..

after!!

before...

after!!!  It is the fastest drying paint that I've worked with..dries within minutes..sooo much better than latex..and doesn't flake off

Here's a photo of my dining room table decorated for summer... candlesticks and lantern (Ross), plates (Target), placemats (IKEA - $3 bucks each!) 

Trinket box from our trip down to south Texas,  pail from a friend's wedding,  and vintage mini scrabble letters from my grandmother's house

French Macarons

This was my second attempt at French macarons (macaroons)... my previous try was last summer..and the "macarons" turned out as brownish pink blobs.. this time they were sooo much better!! My brother in law begged me to make these kirby macarons featured on the youtube show..Nerdy Nummies.. I have to admit that show has some pretty cool stuff.. after my last attempt I was pretty apprehensive to try it again.. 
Ingredients:
3 Egg Whites
¼ cup white sugar
2 cups confectioners sugar 
1 cup almond flour 
Pinch of salt
Pink food coloring

Filling:
1 cup raspberries
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 stick of butter

You need room temperature eggs... use a bowl of warm water if they are not room temperature..  I skipped the photo of sifting the almond flour/conf. sugar.

Beating the egg whites...then adding plain sugar... for 8 min!!

I think I used a bit much.. NEON pink macarons!! I found this food coloring at Michael's craft store.

Beating the food coloring in..

Folding the conf. sugar in...a little bit at a time..

Use a cup to keep the pastry bag steady...

Nerdy Nummies tip:  use a hair tie/rubber band on the end of the pastry bag.. I don't know why I never thought of this before!! 

PINK polka dots!!

sneak peek!!

I baked them on parchment paper..and left them to cool for a while before filling them with homemade raspberry buttercream (another Nerdy Nummies tip:  She said to put the raspberries in the hand sifter...use a knife to press them through...that way the seeds don't get in the filling! it worked!!...raspberries, butter, conf. sugar.

SO CUTE!!

I'm so happy how they turned out!  I left a few plain to box up and give to friends..

For Jason  :) 

 Click on the video above to see specific instructions on how to make these kirby macarons!