Starting {Finishing}

This post isn't full of beautiful before and after shots (ok, well, as beautiful as my terrible camera can take). There are no staged and altered and pretty-fied photos. There is no fun DIY project. There is no gluing and sewing and cozy-ing and fluffing. It's real. The stuff you'd see if you walked in my door at this very minute. Instead of saying "where does she find the time to do all of that", you will say "why doesn't she find the time to finish all of that".

 

I've been plugging away at my "to do list". To be honest, I can't actually remember where I put it...but I do remember what I put on it. 

 Painting the upstairs hallway ceiling was on the list (and has been for 5 years...ahem). I have told myself (many times) that Fall would be the best time to do it, so I'm not sweating like a hippo while I do it. Then, every Fall, I quietly move on to fun projects. That don't involve ceilings. Because I hate painting ceilings.

I also told myself and any one else that would listen, that after our last few houses, I would NEVER be painting ceilings. Again. Ever. 

Dang.

If I would have gotten in on the design process when this house was being built, things would have been A LOT different. Like, no flat pink pig tan paint (look it up, that for sure has to be the name of the color) throughout the entire blasted house, including ceilings. Yuck.

 

The good news is, I've started to finish. I've started to finish the master closet that I started way back in February.

I've started to finish the master bath that I started right after I started the master closet (that I didn't finish). 

I've started to finish the ceiling in this room that was finished until I started to change the light...

I've started to finish the last piece of trim in the kiddo's bathroom.

And I've started to start to finish the upstairs hall ceiling that I have put off starting for 5 years (for fear it wouldn't be finished).

 And while I was starting to finish that, I started to really finish other things I started to never finish. 

It's a creative thing.

xo- Chris

 

 

Boys Vintage Industrial Bedroom {Final Reveal!}

This may have been the most delayed reveal ever. Really. 

But in all fairness, I DIY'ed my way through and I have to say, I'm really happy with how it turned out!

There was nothing wrong with how the room looked before, but the dressers needed to be repainted. And then the ball started rolling. It's just how these things work in my house in the world of decorating. Right?

If you aren't sick of this room yet, then get ready for a meeelllionn  pictures, because this baby is DONE! (for now.)

This is what it looked like a really like time ago, right after I painted it when we moved in:

Then I put both boys in the same room as I was ending my primary color phase. Thank goodness for decor-evolution.

And today...after plugging away for most of the summer - my take on a vintage industrial boys bedroom.

If you want to know how I made this room by myself on a budget follow these links!
Vintage Red Cross Pillows
DIY Ticking Stripe Duvet Cover
Book Page Wallpaper 
DIY Book Page Art 
Restoration Hardware Inspired Art  
DIY Black Pottery Barn Finish 
Card Catalog Inspired Dressers 

Thanks for stopping by!

xo- Chris

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DIY Showoff
Between Naps on The Porch 
It's So Very Cheri: It's Party Time 
Thrifty Decor Chick: November Before & After 

Card Catalog Inspired Dressers {Boys Bedroom}

I've been waiting until I had the time to write up a "DIY" post on my card catalog inspired dressers - and that's just not going to happen right now, so instead of waiting another week, I'm going to at least show you what I've done.

 But just so you know - these were REALLY easy. A little bit of paint, some Rub 'n Buff and a few clearance drawer pulls and they are done!

Here they are before - when I had cabinets stacked on them. They don't look very terrible in this picture, but they were scuffed and marked and just overall pretty awful looking. One had a broken drawer and of course, mismatched knobs.

And after (with way too many pictures of dressers):

I know I could win the award for most drawn out room reveal. Sorry about that! Once my mind starts swirling with new creative ideas, I start doing things all around the house. It's chaos really.

What do you think? Did I pull off the card catalog inspiration? 

xo- Chris

 Linking up to:

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday

Cheese Zombies {Recipe}

My favorite school cafeteria lunch was hands down the cheese zombie. I don't know where the name comes from. Think grilled cheese, but with homemade bread encompassing the gooey cheese like a  fluffy, yeasty blanket.

 I haven't thought about them since leaving the tiny town in Oregon I grew up in. Not until recently, trying to come up with ideas to create freezer meals for my boys school lunches. 

I made a few different batches of the zombie. They failed. They were hollow. The cheese was absorbed into the bread. They were a miserable failure. And then I found this recipe. 4th grade memories came flooding back with each bite. And, there were none left to go into the freezer. I guess I'd better make them again.

This is the perfect fall evening meal when the leaves start to fall off of the tree's and the air get's crisp. Serve with homemade tomato soup and you've got yourself an incredibly satisfying meal that everyone will love!

Cheese Zombies

 2.75 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast
3/4 Cup Water, warm (110 degrees F)
6.5 Cups All Purpose

3/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk
7 Tbsp Granulated Sugar

1.5 tsp Salt
7 Tbsp Vegetable Oil  (I used Coconut Oil)
1.25 Cups Water (68 degrees F)
1.25 lbs American Cheese Block, Sliced
1/2 Tbsp Butter or Margarine, melted

Pull that Kitchen Aid out of the cupboard and make it earn it's keep, otherwise you are going to have some SORE muscles!

For best results have all ingredients and utensils at room temperature.
1) Proof yeast by dissolving dry yeast in warm water. Let stand for about 5 minutes until bubbly.
2) Place flour, dry milk, sugar and salt in mixing bowl. Using a dough hook, blend on low speed approximately 2 minutes.
3) Add oil and blend on low speed approximately 2 minutes.
4) Add water, mix on low speed for 1 minute.
5) Add dissolved yeast and mix on low speed for 2 minutes.
6) Knead dough on medium speed for 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic.
7) Divide dough into two equal pieces and place in warm area for 45 to 60 minutes.
8) Use a lightly oiled half sheet pan (I use THIS pan from Williams and Sonoma and LOVE it) and evenly stretch one of the dough balls on a sheet pan. Put sliced cheese evenly on top of first layer of dough. Take second dough ball and stretch evenly on the top.
9) Place in a warm area until double in size, 30-50 minutes.
10) Bake until lightly browned: conventional oven 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.

 11) Optional: Brush lightly with melted butter or margarine while warm.

 Let me know if you make them! I'd love to know what  you think!!

xo-  Chris

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