Easy Wreath

Hello Hello!

I have mentioned before how completely inspired I am by nature...A walk around the block or even the yard can give me so many ideas! I also love the idea of doing projects on the cheap...and it doesn't get any cheaper than picking it off a bush in the backyard. I wanted to make a small wreath to hang on what I call our "awkward wall"! It just needed a little pizazz...

                                                                    A blank slate

         Our pampas grass...I love when it starts to change colors in the fall- It is perfect for the wreath!

Close up of the pieces I pulled

Just randomly plugging them in

After putting in my pieces...I used some leftover ribbon to hang it up

Here it is on the "Awkward Wall"

Finished product...love it!

                      This entire project cost me NOTHING! All made from my leftover junk! :)

                                                            it's all about re-purposing!


                                                                             Natalie

I Heart Spaghetti Squash

There are some things that I just assumed that I wouldn't like... Spaghetti Squash was one of them. I didn't understand it and thought it looked creepy! On the other hand...I LOVE pasta...I could eat it every single day! The problem with pasta everyday is that it would make me fat...and...I would like to avoid that. After looking around the web at "Healthy" pasta recipes...I came across TONS that used Spaghetti Squash in place of pasta. I decided that I would get one and give it a go...even though...I knew nothing about how to cook one! It turned out to be quite the adventure...but I made a delicious, somewhat simple and delicious lunch!


Getting into the Spaghetti Squash is probably the most difficult task...I didn't know that going in! I kinda hacked it up. Once you get it cut open...scoop out the seeds and such like you would a pumpkin and discard.

 After it was halved...I rubbed one half down with olive oil, salt and pepper. I then baked it tender side down on a baking sheet at 450 for 30 min.

Found this in the freezer and decided to use it to spice up my veggie pasta

Here is what it looked like right when I pulled it out of the oven.

I then used a fork to scrape out the tender "noodle like" goodness

Half of a Spaghetti squash makes for a lot of veggie noodles

Added some red sauce ( V's is my fav) and my steamed veggie package

And last...but certainly not least...Parm! MMmmMMMmm

                     I would for sure recommend this to anyone...it was mega delicious! I didn't even miss the pasta!
                                                                     

                                                                      Happy Monday!!!

                                                                                Nat

The great outdoors...

I am a big fan of working with what you have! Fall is such a beautiful season...and mother nature gives us plenty to work with when it comes to decorating. Today I took a walk around my yard for a little inspiration!

The leaves were all such pretty colors! I collected some and decided to make my own little arrangement for our outdoor living space.

I played with a few different arrangements and dug out my $1.99 Bed Bath and Beyond place mats and...voila!

I love the greens and reds...

and a closeup of my leaf bouquet...

5 min worth of work! Love it!




Natalie

Super easy pumpkin cupcakes!

Let me begin by saying...I am not traditionally a "Pumpkin Person"! I like pumpkin spice lattes and SOME pumpkin pie...but it isn't something I seek out!

My best friend is getting married and requested that I may pumpkin cupcakes for her Bachelorette party. I had never made them before, so I was excited to see what that was all about! There are multiple recipes out there and I am sure all of them are great...but I actually found one that wasn't horrible for you! I found it on skinnytaste.com and modified it a bit! For those of you that speak Weight Watchers...they are only 2 points...maybe 3 with my frosting! FYI...they are still good frosting-less!

The recipe couldn't be any easier!

* one box white cake mix
*1 can pumpkin
*1 tbs cinnamon
*1 tbs pumpkin pie spice
*1 cup water

I know what you are thinking...no eggs? no oil or milk? Nope...and yes...they were very good!

Bake at 350 for roughly 15 min...check them often. when the tops start to crack a little...you know you are close!

Realistically this recipe makes about 17 cupcakes! I made a super easy cream cheese frosting for the top!

Frosting-

*2 8 ounce cream cheese packets
* 1/2 cup softened butter
* 2 cups powdered sugar
*1 tbs imported vanilla extract

blend your moist ingredients first while slowly adding sugar until it is all smooth and blended!
I then sprinkled the Cinnamon on to for looks. YUM!

Happy baking!

Natalie

Back to Burlap...

Happy Monday to you! Like I mentioned before...I went Burlap crazy at Hobby Lobby...so I decide that I should also make place-mats and a pennat. (I'll show you that when it's all done!) This was a very easy 10 min project!

                                         I traced around one of our existing bamboo place-mats...

                                                       Cut them out...no need to be perfect

     Super simple...but adds that little bit of fall texture that the house needs!

                          Seeing this picture makes me think..."Man we need some more color in there!" another project...another day!

                                            Have a great week!

                                                      -Natalie

Something fishy...

 Happy Friday! Oh how I have waited for thee...

Anyone who knows me... is well aware that I am an animal nut. 2 dogs 2 cats and Bob Dylan...the fish ( Below)

Side note: Yes ALL of our animals have equally strange names. Walter Cronkite (Cat) Layla Sunshine (Cat) Einstein Russel ( Dog) and Sophie Aretha Franklin ( Dog)...not even kidding! Yes...I am an odd girl

Bob lives in our kitchen. He enjoys a solitary life and likes to hide under rocks. He is a beautiful fish...a red tail surrounded by a beautiful blue. You might say he is "tangled up in blue" LOL! Yep...lame joke!

This picture was taken in his first home...a small plastic condo we picked up at Petco. We really though he needed an update! Jeff's sister in brother in law -as well as my mom always put there Betta in a pretty glass bowl with a nice green plant. My brother in law was nice enough to gift us some "green viney stuff" if you will...

                         Here he is in his new home! The glass vase came from target, cost a whopping $5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   

                         Close up of the plant. Now you must take care in selecting a fresh water plant...you don't want to stick your fishy friend in with just anything! It could make them sick or kill them!

Here is some basic Betta/plant compatibility info that I collected from bettafishcenter.com

Plants that are Betta safe include Peace lilies, Chinese evergreen and Philodendrons. There are several different varieties of these beautiful plants.

                                                                         Peace Lily 

                                                     Philodendrons ( Heart leaf) this is what we have...

                                                                    Chinese Evergreen

                     You do have other plant options...just be sure and check with the fish expert at your local pet store. Hint: Make sure not to let the plant roots crowd the fish too much. If they grow too long you will need to buy a bigger vase.

                                                               Have a great weekend!

                                                                             Nat

Falling in line

Hey Everyone! Happy Hump Day! I have been playing around with some fall ideas for my house. I feel like fall decor may be a bit of a challenge with the aesthetic we have chosen in the casa...but I also feel like there are many different ways to "do" fall! Surely I will figure something out. Here is my attempt at "Mantle Decor" now...We don't have a fireplace! I am hoping that soon...maybe around Christmas we can snag a nice realistic looking fake fireplace. Anyone know of a place to score a non cheese ball looking one? Anyway...here is the scheme I came up with! This is just an old bud vase from flowers Jeff got me many moons ago! I know it's old, because it has seriously been years since he bought me flowers! (Kidding hun!) I also have some random silk fall flowers. I sprayed the vase avocado green (my color of the moment) and picked out some of the fake florals to go in it! Picked up some...or a TON of burlap at Hobby Lobby! Hey-don't judge me! It was on sale and multi functional! I used some to cut a runner for my "Mantle" Here it is before decoration...begging for some TLC Clean slate... Breakin' out the breakfast tray and candles...love them! First attempt! Note the green vase and floral. It still looks far too naked for me let alone out of balance! Second attempt! Much better. I think the memory board really adds something and I like my viney plants. If you hadn't noticed...I am most certainly a "more is more" type of girl! Close up on my vases. The bird in this picture is actually one that Jeff and I got as a gag gift at one of our wedding showers! Little did anyone know...crazy Natalie would LOVE it! The book here is actually our guest book from our wedding...I like to display it Hope this gave you some ideas of what to do...or even of what not to do! Natalie

draft

Inspiration Tuesday...

 Good Tuesday! Today is a day when I am in need of inspiration. When in need of inspiration I turn to one of my MANY obsessions...Pinterest. These are all different projects that I found on there and have totally gotten the creative juices flowing! Enjoy!




                                            So Fall...and so simple! Burlap anniversary pillow

                                                         I just love this color combo

                                            Most definitely going to attempt the "Days until plaque"...good for all occasions

                            This idea is simple yet brilliant! We have mail all over the house! great solution!

Guestroom progress

Happy Monday my friends!

 I caught up on lots-o-projects this weekend! Can't wait to share them all!

In an earlier blog I described what I was working with in regards to our guest room. ( Pic above)

So...I set out to update it a bit! It needed some color and some decent looking accessories ASAP!

I recycled and old frame and that sweet pirate picture that I showed you in an earlier post and set out to make a memory board. I covered the painting in cork and then picked up some fun fabric from Hobby Lobby to finish it off.

   

I cut the fabric roughly to the size of the canvas/ cork board and pulled it tight before fastening it with a staple gun on the backside of the canvas.

 

Here is my new memory board in it's new spot in the guest room. I am debating on if I should mount the memory board or just keep it leaning in the nightstand? I still need to get some cute tacks for it!:) The room STILL needs some more detail and color...but this is a start! The entire nightstand/ memory board cost me a whopping $45! It feels so good to be able to re-use items and oh yeah...save some cash!

Have a great week!

Natalie