Menu Plan Monday

This weeks' menu: 11/14/10 - 11/20/10

Sunday
Chicken n' Dumplings (did not have from last weeks' menu)

Monday
Semi-Homemade Pizza

Tuesday
Chili

Wednesday
Spaghetti

Thursday
Red Beans and Rice

Friday
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake

Saturday
Out to Eat?

I linked in at I'm an Organizing Junkie

More Details to Make a House a Home

Here are a few more details I love. I think I've mentioned before that I grew up in a house built sometime during the WW2 era. Many of today's details remind me of my childhood home :) The exceptions are the bamboo floors and oil rubbed bronze details.

Enjoy!

Archways

Crown Molding

Brick Stove Surrounds

Dark Bamboo Floors

Oil Rubbed Bronze Fixtures

Weekly Menu

Menu Nov. 7, 2010 - Nov. 13, 2010

Sunday
Taco Soup

Monday
Marinaded Chicken
Risotto
Texas Toast

Tuesday
Mushroom Soup Porkchops
Rolls

Wednesday
Spaghetti

Thursday
Chicken n' Dumplings

Friday
Creamed Eggs on Toast

Saturday
Chili Cheese Dogs

I linked up with OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday here!

Halloween 2010

This Halloween we drove up the Peachtree City, GA to visit with Kenny's family and carve pumpkins. So, we didn't have a big plan this year to hand out candy like we did last year with the fog and all found here. But, came up with ideas for celebrating in Peachtree City next year with dry ice, fog machines, costumes and all!

Here's some pictures from the weekend:

The 3 carvers with our pumpkins

Matthew's

Mine

Kenny's

Jason's gotta drink somehow...

Before my "costume"

My last minute "costume"

Mexican Skillet Recipe

This is the meal we'll be having tomorrow night, but wanted to go ahead and post the recipe in case anyone was interested. I can't remember where I got this recipe, but it was somewhere online and I've probably omitted a few ingredients from the original to make it into something that's more likely to be eaten by me and my husband. So, feel free to add other mexican-style ingredients to your liking :)

Mexican Skillet
1/2 lb. ground beef (chicken or whatever other meat you'd prefer)
1/4 C chopped onion (or substitute with 1 T minced onion)
1 1/2 T chili powder
1 t oregano, fresh (or 1/2 t dried)
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t salt
1 C cooked brown rice (I use Uncle Ben's Ready Rice)
1 can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
Sharp cheddar cheese or any other toppings of your choice

Brown meat and drain

Add onion, chili powder, oregano, cumin & salt. Stir in rice & beans. Bring to serving temperature.

Serve with tortilla chips
and/or
flour tortillas to make burritos (steamed individually between paper towel sheets in microwave in order to make folding your burrito easier)

Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and any other toppings

Menu Plan Monday

Well, this week's menu will probably be lacking because the cupboard is getting bare. Hopefully next week's menu will be better once I get to the store this weekend.

Sunday:
Out of town

Monday:
Chicken Fettucini Alfredo (not homemade) - didn't have it last week

Tuesday:
Mexican Skillet

Wednesday:
Breakfast for dinner

Thursday:
Cheesy Chicken Pasta
UPDATE: Ladies' Pottery Night Out

Friday:
Spaghetti
UPDATE: Eat out at Uncle Bubba's!

Saturday:
Eat out?
UPDATE: Working a wedding

I linked in with: http://orgjunkie.com/

It's All in the Details:

I'm a very detail-oriented person. I think a home is made by the details and adds so much charm. Maybe I feel this way because I grew up in a home built during the era of WW2 that had many of the charming details I still love today.

I think my design style is a little on the more eclectic, contemporary, but warm and cozy side. I don't think of myself as loving the traditional, antique, or country style of decorating. So, some might think my design ideal conflicts with the details I love, but I think there can be a happy medium.

So, without further ado, I give you some of the details that I love:

Transom Windows:

Glass Doorknobs:

Farmhouse Sinks:

Beadboard:

Coffered Ceilings:

So, stay tuned because there's more details where these came from :)

Dark, Dark, and more Dark

In finding picture of details and things I love for houses I'm coming across a trend:

I like dark wood furniture
I like dark oil rubbed bronze fixtures
I like dark wood floors
I like dark cabinets
I like warm, earthy tones & colors (which can tend to be dark)

I need to find a balance somewhere.

I do like more neutral, lighter (but not pale, blah, boring) paint colors
I do like white/cream moldings and wainscoting (beadboard)

Is that enough balance? And, why am I even worrying? It's not like we're even thinking about building a house. Of course we've discussed it and both want to. But, let's face it folks, right now I'm only dreaming of what I want my house to look like.

A girl can dream, right? And, dreams do change...

Stay tuned for a later post (maybe tomorrow) about the little details I love in homes!

Living Room- Tones

I've been looking at Rate My Space on HGTV's website the past few days (all photos taken from this website). I've compiled some pictures of living rooms that I enjoy. These photos speak to me because of the colors & patterns of accessories (but not necessarily the style or type), usually a neutral furniture, dark wood tones, and neutral walls. I'm not afraid of using color, except I do see the practicality of using neutrals on large pieces of furniture. And, despite calling attention to dust, I am drawn to dark wood tones. So, don't pay much attention to layout or furniture style of these as I was paying most attention to the colors.

Exposed brick wall, drum shade/chandelier

Darker, yet still neutral, accent wall - it almost looks like a linen texture to me, which I LOVE!

Shape/color of the couch and dark wood floors. There's almost not enouch punch of color in this room to me, especially with the lighter walls

Although they're hard to see in this picture, I liked this room because of the accent chairs and the rug

Love the built-ins, RUG!, and the accent chairs

Love the rug, accent pillows, and shape of the lampshades. But, this room is almost too light and airy for me, especially with the (cringe) glass top table.

Side note: I don't hate on those who have metal glass top tables, but it's just not my preference

I LOVE the patterned drapes that contrast against the neutral wall

I really like the shape of this sofa with the accent pillows and large dark wooden coffee table

I really enjoy this room as a whole with the exception of the oriental rug and oval shaped coffee table

I really enjoy the overall look and feel of this room, too. Especially the drapes & shades combo

Of course, this room drew me in immediately with all of the green accents :)

Menu Plan Monday

I'll try to start making this a regular post, as well. Sometimes, though, like you've seen before, I start making menus and don't continue after a few weeks in. When I do make a menu, though, I'm usually pretty good at sticking to what's on it but I may just alternate the days we have each dish. I will admit, however, most of my dishes aren't always homemade and are, instead, usually quick and easy. Most of my side dishes are out of a box or can :) Mondays and Wednesdays are especially easy because I'm in class til 7:30 on both of those nights.

Nonetheless, enjoy!

Sunday (last night):
Salmon Patties
Black Eyed Peas
Cornbread

Monday:
Spaghetti
Garlic Bread

Tuesday:
Red Beans and Rice

Wednesday:
Chicken Fettucini Alfredo (yes, this is from a box-sorry to disappoint)

Thursday:
At a conference, getting back too late to cook

Friday & Saturday:
At the in-laws for the Halloween Holiday

Have a great week, everyone!

I linked in with: Org Junkie @ http://orgjunkie.com/2010/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-25th-giveaway.html

Agenda

So, I think I've finally come up with a purpose for my blog. Since I started this blog over a year ago I've made random posts on lots of different things. I think I've made a decision about what I want to devote my blog to.

I don't think I've mentioned it yet on my blog but, I know I did on facebook. I recently met a woman who has started her own wedding & event planning company. She's eventually going to make this her full time job. Right now she hires day of assistants from event to event but, eventually wants to hire a permanent assistant who is on staff, listed on the website, and can be in charge of day of execution in case two events are scheduled for the same day. I'm hoping this permanent assistant will eventually be me. For right now, I'm scheduled to assist her with a wedding on Nov. 6th.

So, how does this relate to my purpose for my blog? Well, I'm hoping to blog about my experiences with this (anonymous) company while changing the names of the brides, etc. because for right now, I don't have permission to give out that information.

I also want to use this blog as a journal for my "dream home." I love looking at HGTV and hope to post pictures of rooms I love from various websites. This will serve me later when Kenny & I build a house, which we both are really looking foward to.

And, I'll also continue to post pictures of things Kenny & I do, too!

Hopefully, I'll post my first "dream" room blog this week as I've already started compiling pictures so stay tuned...

Coming to an End

Well, October is coming to an end and is not going how I planned. We didn't make it to the GA National Fair in Perry, GA. We didn't make it to the pumpkin farm/corn maze in Odum, GA. Nor did we make it to Cumberland Island to go camping.

I did, however, make it successfully to my neice's wedding in Florida, but didn't have quite as successful a trip coming back. Here are a few pictures from that weekend:

Then this past weekend we went to a fair in Statesboro with some friends. Here's pictures from this too:

We're going up to PTC this next weekend for Halloween and to do some pumpkin carving- woohoo! Stay tuned for pumpkin pictures!