Friday, January 29, 2010

My Favorite Things

A list of my favorite recent decorative purchased and want-to-purchase items.


1. Pierced Urns? I have no idea what these are called - this is the entry that found an image on google. I bought one at HomeGoods in blue but I would kill for the giant white one they have there right now.

2. This fabric is begging me to buy it. I just need to find the perfect place to use it. Too bad I don't know how to reupholster furniture. Wouldn't this look great on a chair???


3. Ben and I have a bet going right now. If I win, I get these trays from Ballards. Only $25 for the set. If I lose - maybe they can be a Valentine's Day gift?




4. Zinc Dresser from Restoration Hardware. Although it is on sale for only $1055 {insert sacrcasm here} I don't think I will be getting this anytime soon. It is beautiful though.


5. Artichoke Bowl? Again...not sure what this is called. Amanda Brooke had one in her new office and I totally loved it. I hope she doesn't mind, but I bought one for myself last night. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right? This photo is stolen from her too. Thanks Amanda!

6. I would like this light fixture


to replace the boob light (excuse my language, but what else can you call these things? I feel like it should be wearing a bra.) in my living room.

7. I recently purchased 4 sconces similar to these for one of the walls surrounding my tub. I scored a great deal on mine. These are from Ballard's and are priced at $50 each. I got four at atHome for $68 - TOTAL! And I personally think mine are cuter. {Actual photo coming soon.}

8. My mother got me a set of 3 glass cake stands (they are 3 different sizes and heights) for Christmas. I am in love with them. I had been drooling over these and she didn't even know it. She knows me though!

9. Artichoke sculpture thingy. Got this at HomeGoods cause it matched my bowl. On clearance for $8!

10. My good friend, the Monogrammin' Momma, is going to monogram my dining room chair covers for me. Pretty soon...they should look like these but with a "G" of course.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

New Blog

Bethany Faucett and I have decided to start a little deorating blog. It will be full of tips and inspirations for creating a fabulous home on a frugal budget. We will have items for sale and tutorials for updating or refinishing an object you already own. We are both passionate about decorating and saving money so we are super excited about sharing our thoughts and ideas on the matter.

Please visit us at www.frugallydesigned.blogspot.com!


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Rumpshaker

On January 7, 2007 I lost my grandmother to colon cancer. In honor of her, Ben and I are running in the Rumpshaker 5 K in March. It is to benefit Colon Cancer Awareness. Check it out...it's a great cause!


Part of the run is through a colon...how very, um....educational?


We would love to run with a team, but need 3 more people to join us in order to qualify for that title. If you are interested, leave me a comment. It is March 27 at Sloss Furnace. You get a free pancake breakfast...any takers???

If you don't want to run but would like to attend the breakfast click here to get a ticket for $5 (Includes $3 off return visit to Up The Creek).

Monday, January 11, 2010

Veteran Venting

We live in a neighborhood with the garages and driveways on the backside of the house. In order to access our garage, you have to drive down an alley behind our house. This is only important for the first part of this story, but important, nonetheless.

So, Saturday this old man comes to my door and informs me that the garbage people will start collecting our trash from the alleyway. This way we don't have to pull our cans around front. From now on, we can just slide them out of the garage to the end of our drive ways.

Good news.

Then he says that they are going to spray paint our house number on the driveway so they know whose trash to pick up.

Red flag.

I don't say anything out of fear that I am being overly picky as I tend to be about this kind of stuff. In fact, I feel sorry for him because he is ancient (a WW2 vet, according to his hat) and it is like 20 degrees outside. So I say, "Bless your heart out in that cold, can i get you anything?"

He says he is fine and goes on his way.

Well I tell Ben about it when he gets home and he isn't happy about the spray paint either. My mom also agrees that this is not an acceptable method of tagging me as a customer. I mean, has this company ever heard of putting stickers on garbage cans?

So yesterday I see him making his rounds again and I stop him to ask him about the spray paint. I tell him I'm a little nervous about it and he gets ALL upset. Tells me that "no one else has a problem with it and he doesn't know why I am getting so upset about it...it's just 3 inch letters...and I should be happy that he has even asked them to do this and stop being so difficult!"

At this point I, a) realize that he is one of my neighbors and not someone that works with the trash company and b) am staring at his WW2 hat and reminding myself to mind my manners.

I take a deep breath and say, "I'm sorry. Please don't get upset. I appreciate everything you have done to set this up. I think it will be so great for the neighborhood. You have done enough already, I will call the garbage company and handle it from here."

He has a few more opinions about what I should do and I smile all the way through them with gritted teeth.

My new strategy: Get back to neighborly chit chat; aka CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

"I am sorry I never introduced myself! I'm Jamie Grizzle. So you live in the neighborhood? Which house are you?"

He doesn't introduce himself back, just says he is house #5921.

I say, "Oh yeah? Which one is that?" Because, unfortunately, I haven't had time to memorize everyone's house number yet. I guess I should add that to my new year's resolution list.

He says, "That's the stupidest question I have ever heard! That's like the idiot that asked the sheriff where mile marker 499 is. It is between mile marker 498 and 500, you idiot!"

Ummm, what?!?! Did he just call me an idiot?

At this point, I'm laughing out of pure shock. I don't know what else to do and I can't even tell if he is being serious or joking anymore.

So I laugh and say, "Haha, I guess you are right. I guess I meant more like what color is your hosue? (The houses in our hood are all different colors, white, gray, light blue, light green, yellow, etc. It's how we all identify each other. We are the gray house with the topiaries...you get the idea.)

So this is the part that still hurts my feelings. I honestly don't know how I could have been any nicer or what I did to deserve the wrath of this old man, but...

He throws his hands in the air and YELLS, "Lord, woman! Let me go! What is wrong with you. Why do you keep bothering me?!?!?" And walks down the street with his hands in the air mumbling about how I am crazy.

It's funny now...but whew, yesterday? Not so much.

I guess that is what I get for being all soap boxy with my Facebook status this week: I think I am going to focus my energy on only saying encouraging words this week. That's means, not saying something that will tear someone down...even if they can't hear me.

Get behind me, Satan!

Sarah's House

This show made an MFT list a few months ago. I was so excited to see that season 2 just started on HGTV. I was even more excited to find out that her first episode was about a nursery I have been drooling over since I found it online a while back. I didn't even know it was one of hers. I think it comes on on Saturday nights...all my friends that are as fascinated with ID (interior design) as I am have to check it out!

Here are some of my favorite pics from last season.

FoyerFront Staircase
Living Room
Dining Room

Master Bedroom
Kitchen
Home Office
Girl Room
Child Lounge
Basement Family Room

Family Game Table

Powder Room
Mud Room.
My dream laundry room.

And a sneak peak at this season...THE Nursery.


Sunday, January 10, 2010

Pizza Quesadillas

I feel like this is so obvious that I must be the only person in the world who didn't already make these, but yesterday I was trying to find something quick for lunch and decided to make a quesadilla. Except I was in the mood for pizza. Duh! Combine them...so easy!

My version:
flour tortilla
spray butter
pizza sauce
banana peppers
turkey pepperoni
cheese

1. Spray tortilla with butter and put face down in the pan.
2. Layer sauce and toppings on half of the tortilla and fold over.
3. Enjoy.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Homemade Granola

Thanks to Lisa Kaufhold for this great recipe!

2 c oats
3/4 c wheat germ
3/4 c sunflower seeds
2 c peanuts, crushed
2/3 c brown sugar
1/2 c honey
4 Tb honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
8 oz dried fruit

  1. Mix peanuts, oats and wheat germ and sunflower seeds in a baking dish with sides.
  2. Toast for 10-12 minutes.
  3. Prepare a glass with waxed paper lightly sprayed with oil.
  4. Bring brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt to simmer, stirring constantly.
  5. Mix toasted nuts, dried fruit and brown sugar mixture together in a large bowl.
  6. Spread out mixture in baking dish. Firmly press it into dish.
  7. Cool for 2-3 hours and cut into bars.
*Will keep well in the fridge.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Resolutions for a Happier Life

Can I do it? The jury is still out, but if I tell myself I can...then maybe, just MAYBE...

1) Get healthy. Another year of promises...hopefully not so empty this time around. My mom gave me an elliptical (Thank you, Mom!). It is upstairs in my very own house. I don't even have to brush my teeth to get to it. No excuse can keep me from working out this time around. None. Except laziness. Let's say 30 minutes a day 4-5 days a week. To start.
OBJECTIVE: to get healthy, weight loss will be a bonus.

2) Home Projects.
A) Paint - A room. Any room. I have several on my list, but I am scared of color. Maybe doing one room will take the edge off?
B) Window Treatments - Dining Room, Master Bedroom, Master Bath and Living Room.
C) Hang Family Photos - Hopefully along the staircase.
D) Furniture - Bedroom, Buffet, Chairs for LR and bookcases for our ever growing collection of books and DVD's.
E) Rugs - Living Room and Dining Room.

3) Daily Quiet Time. I fantasize about being the type of person that gets up early in the morning, puts on a fresh pot of coffee, runs 30 minutes on the elliptical, showers, makes her bed and reads her daily devotional all before the rooster crows. But as my poor husband can attest, I am by no means a morning person. By NO means. So if I can just accomplish these things before the days is over I will consider myself on the ball!
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Daily Quiet Time. In the Word and in Prayer.

4) Love. Isn't this what Jesus is asking us to do? I love Him. I really do. But do I love Him enough to love His people? Not the people that are easy to love; i.e. my husband, family and friends. All people. This includes bad drivers, inconsiderate individuals, arrogant folks and even loud eaters...everyone. This is a life long journey. But I plan to be extra aware of this calling this year.