Face Lift

I have just completed another project.  Whew!  My Aunt Diane was getting rid of these chairs & I am so glad I snagged them.  I wish there were more than just the two.  {I am re-thinking that last statement.  They were each a lot of work, so now I'm torn.}

Before:

After:

It's amazing what a little paint can do!

Good Eats

My sister keeps asking me if I've made anything tasty since we've moved here.

Last week I made some delicious dinners & some yummy treats that I would like to share!

I started off the week [Monday] with something I knew would be impressive to my husbands tummy.  I had been out of town for a long time & the poor little guy had to eat out every night.  Leading me to...

Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomato Pizza

• Pita Bread [I originally had pita bread in my cart, but then I saw Basil Naan.  My brother has raved about his grilled Naan pizza, so I traded out the pita bread...I don't think I will ever even try the pita bread because the Naan is so delish!  ***Naan is an Indian flat bread.  I found this kind atTarget.]
• Pesto [I used this recipe.]
• 1 cup thinly sliced Mozzarella cheese [Don't skimp here! Go for the good Mozzarella!]
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil

Preheat oven 450 degrees.  Spray pita [or naan] with cooking spray.  Spread pesto evenly over crust leaving 1/2 inch border.  Top with tomato slices, then mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle basil over the top.  Bake at 450 for 5 minutes [I baked mine for longer to make sure the cheese was thoroughly melted].  Yum!

Next I made Taco Soup. 

 This has become one of my favorite recipes.  I would make it every week if I didn't feel like Jordan would get sick of it.  I use the recipe you can find here.  Best when served with Frito's!!!  Also, I add more seasoning {like always} because I find it a little bland if you follow the exact recipe.

While blogging, I ran across this next recipe.  Who doesn't love Somoa Girl Scout Cookies?!?  Now, who loves the $$$ of Girl Scout Cookies?!?  Not moi!!!  So I tried this recipe out...

& 100 years after I started making them, they were complete.  I will never complain about the cost of a Somoa ever again!  What I am getting at:  I don't recommend using this recipe, just go buy them.

Another recipe I tried for the first time turned out to be a new favorite.

3 Cheese Manicotti

[Well shells, really.  Target did not have Manicotti so I used JUMBO Shells.]

• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup Ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped dry parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Marinara Sauce [I tried out Giada's Savory Sauce from Target & it was good enough that I'll buy it again.]

Mix first 6 ingredients.  Cook & drain Manicotti [or  JUMBO Shells].  Fill pasta with cheese mixture.  Spray baking dish with PAM.  Spoon some Marinara sauce to coat bottom of the pan.  Then add stuffed pasta.  Top with more sauce & sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Finally, I will end with these...

Malasadas or Chinese Doughnuts

• 1 tin Buttermilk Biscuits, cut each biscuit into 4 pieces & roll in hand until round
• 1/2 cup sugar

Drop dough balls into 350 degree oil [I used my Wok].  Fry until golden brown.  Place on paper towel and then transfer into brown paper bag with sugar.  Shake until evenly coated.  Healthy & satisfying!;)

I hope some, if not all, of these recipes make it to your tummies!

Oh, and a Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers out there!!!  I hope your day was as special as can be!

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Slavedom

{I'm going to jump right in here...if you are wondering why, when, where, & for whom I did this, check out the last blog post "Easters."}
I use the word slavedom, but really my services were voluntary.
I like to paint, what else can I say.
After over 20 gallons of paint (7-8 different colors),

maybe 50 paint rollers, thousands of feet of painter's tape, and millions of brushstrokes, I could still probably spend at least another three weeks finishing things up!

Here are the "Before's" and the "After's," get your "Ooh's" and "Ahh's" ready.
I thought we would start at the front door.  Actually, this is not my masterpiece to brag about.  Mom painted the door...

This is the large family room, leading to the kitchen.

The fireplace looks 1,000% better than it did!
U-G-L-Y {it ain't got no alibi!}

The spare bathroom upstairs...

Master Bedroom

Lucy & Nora's bedroom

The basement..."After"

{That is a jumpy castle in the middle of the floor...& the whiter part of the wall is for the projector to shine on & play movies.}

The babies room..."After"

I painted two of these side tables.

I also made this shelf a little more interesting...it used to be plain ol' white.

This is the only "Before" picture I have of this nightstand, but it turned out really nice too.

Now you can see why I may still be picking paint out of my fingernails.

There were a few more rooms I painted that weren't pictured:

1 office

2 hallways

1 master bathroom

1 living room

11 kitchen

I think Nora likes her new house though, what do ya think?!

Easters

Easters.  If you don't know why there is an 's' on the end of Easter, GO watch Nacho Libre...

anyway, as you may or may not have noticed, I am behind.  WAY behind.  Allow me to get caught up. 

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Rewind to three weeks ago, April 12, my sister's birthday!!!  Jordan & I flew to Dallas where we then went our separate ways, him to Florida for a convention & me to Mesa to help the birthday girl.

Bethany needed help.  She was 8 months pregnant,

moving into a new house that was a foreclosure and in need of a lot of work.  Since I am the designated painter in the family & I fly free, I was happy to do my part.  Jordan joined me there Easter weekend so we could participate in the celebration of a very happy couple, Jordan's little brother Stephen & his new wife, Ginny.

Their reception was fabulous,

 her dress was gorgeous, & we were so happy we could see them be sealed for time and all eternity.

 Easter consisted of going to church, Deviled Eggs,

 Grilled Salmon, Lemon Passion Cake,

& an  Easter Egg Hunt!!!

First the littles get a head start...

then their older BIGGER siblings join them.

When the hunt was completed, consuming the candy began.  Oh, & Uncle Ben looking around for generous little hands.

I did many other things while visiting Mesa, not all were captured on film. 

We dined at a yummy Thai place in Gilbert with Jordan's siblings...twice!

Jordan & I saw

which was, eh.

I got a pedicure.

I had a girls night with my mom & Beth.  {A much needed break from all the painting!}

We saw

which I really liked.

Mostly I painted, but I will put the three weeks of slavedom in a separate blog post {mostly for you, Elyce ;) }.

It was wonderful to see all of our loved ones.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
 Until next time...