Master Bathroom Makeover

Our bathrooms have been the source of much drama and frustration this summer and into fall.  As you recall, we had the water leaking from the ceiling issue that we dealt with for several months.  After finally identifying the source of the issue, our master bath shower doors, we decided to just cut the problem out and not use that shower.  We thanked our lucky stars that we had a second bathroom to move into, and were content to move on about our lives.  However, as the weeks moved on, we both began to question exactly how long this relocation was going to last. 

While shelling out $4500 to replace the shower doors and fix the drywall the water ran onto sounds great, we don't exactly have that kind of cash sitting around.  I'm sure most of you can relate.  So, temporary fix to the rescue!  We picked up a tube of plumbers caulk and when Andrew took off to Texas for ten days for work, I set to work on re caulking the shower.  I figured while I was fixing up the bathroom, why not go all out.  Our bathroom cabinet is the original honey oak cabinet, and it is really starting to show its age.  At some point, we would like to gut the whole bathroom, but that point is not now. 

After googling a few things, and looking up a few more things on Pinterest, I set off to Lowes.  As a side note, it might be an indication that you spend too much time at Lowes when you get to the register and the woman knows your name.  I wont show you the whole makeover yet, because it isn't done.  But, I can show you some of the progress. 

 Lately, I have been on an anti-tape kick.  However, with this project I caved because there are some pretty tight corners to work around and I didn't want primer and paint everywhere in the bathroom.  

 

 Primed and ready to paint.

 

Ready to dry

 

The vanity before.... 

 

The vanity after painting.  The drawers and doors were removed to be painted in another room.

This project is on a tight budget.  After shelling out mucho dinero the past few months to identify the cause of the ceiling leak and then fixing the ceiling, reno funds are a little limited at the moment.  I will do an updated post when everything is finished and talk about the final budget for the project. 

Operation Wall Sign Complete

So, earlier this week I mentioned I was on vacation a few days this week and hoped to get some projects done.  While I didn't get everything done I wanted to, I made some good progress.  I did get most of the frames painted with the exception of a couple that didn't take the first coat of spray paint, so I need to figure out a plan b.  However, I did get the sign completed that I was working on for the bedroom!

Several months ago we started discussing the need for more artwork on the walls in the bedroom.  I had a small sign I purchased a couple of years ago at a craft show that says "always kiss me goodnight".  The sign looks rather small in our bedroom now, so I wanted something that was a little larger. I have been keeping my eye out at craft shows, but wasn't finding anything the size that I wanted.  So, this past weekend when I was at Hobby Lobby and saw a wall adhesive with the saying on sale for 50% off, I picked it up.  One night this week, I had it taped to the wall to make sure I liked the position of it before adhering it to the wall.  When Andrew came home from work, he let me know he wasn't so much a fan of just putting it on the wall.  Enter plan b.  Luckily, we have scrap boards in the garage from various projects we have worked on over the summer.  So, I grabbed a four foot long board and got to work.

I wanted the board to have an ivory color with a crackle effect.  I thought I previously saw a crackle spray paint at Lowes, but when I went to look I didn't see it.  I jumped on the internet and saw several postings indicating that Elmer's glue brushed on would create the crackle effect I was going for.  I quickly threw on a coat of metallic spray paint I had on hand so that the under-color of the crackle would be dark like I wanted.  Then, I brushed on a coat of glue I had sitting around.  I tried Elmer's Wood Glue like is mentioned on the Elmer's website, however, it didn't brush on very well.  I did read several posts online stating the "new formula" doesn't work as well as the good old fashioned stuff.  I dug around in a couple of drawers and was able to find some off brand brush on glue, which did the trick.  I waited only about 10 minutes after applying the glue and then brushed on a coat of light ivory/tan interior wall paint we are currently using to paint several rooms.  Every post I read stated you had to use a latex paint as the coat over the glue.  Spray paint didn't work as the top coat because of the difference in drying time.

Once the paint was completely dry (I waited about 24 hours), I applied the lettering to the board.

WhenI finished applying the lettering, I applied a clear top coat to seal everything.  I used Valspar Clear Satin Spray Paint.  I let that dry overnight and hung our new sign!

Vaction = Project Time!!!

Something rare is going on this week, I have multiple consecutive days of vacation.  I legitimately can't remember the last time I took multiple days off work.  It was at least a year ago, and probably longer ago than that.  No, I'm not trying to toot my own horn or show off, I just don't like to take time off.  It never fails that you work super hard to have everything caught up before you go on vacation.  When you come back, you work super hard trying to clean everything up from being gone on vacation.  But, I needed a mental break before I had a total breakdown. 

Things at the house have been slightly chaotic lately, so I have been looking forward to getting some projects done this week while on vacation.  I'm still trying to track down someone to fix the ceiling at the house and then repaint the ceiling once it is all done.  We are paused on the basement shelving project for the winter.  That project was a massive undertaking to say the least.  I have also slowly been working on painting the hallway on the main floor as well as the stairwell and upstairs hallway.  We have switches out a few lights in the house, we are working on stripping an old chest of drawers that was painted, I have been trying to get window coverings up, and deep clean the  house.  Lots going on! 

Amidst all that, I started another new project over the weekend.  At the top of our stairs, there is a big blank wall that I have been pondering what to do with since we moved in.  The previous owners had family pictures on that wall, but we have those on the mantle downstairs, so that plan was out.  I came up with the idea last year to do a quote wall.  The quotes would be from books Andrew and I have read.  So, this weekend, I finally put the plan into action.  I went to Goodwill and picked up eleven picture frames in 11x14 and 8x10 sizes.  The frames didn't have to be pretty because I was planning on painting them all. 

 

Here are a few of the frames I picked up this weekend 

 Spray painting them semi gloss black, glossy black, and aluminum

 A few of the frames I found had some great detail work

Love this 11x14 frame painted silver

My plan is to paint all the frames and get the glass for each one cleaned up.  Both Andrew and I have to come up with five quotes each for the frames.  The 11x14 frames I'm likely going to have printed.  The quotes for the 8x10 frames I will print from home on scrapbook paper I purchased at Hobby Lobby this weekend.  Once all the frames are assembled, I will create a gallery wall with our quotes.  I will be sure to post the after photo once everything is done.  

Here is a sneak peek at a another project I'm working on for over our bed.... 

Recipe Wednesday - Beef and Quinoa

I realize I just posted a recipe yesterday, and a not so healthy one at that.  However, today I will redeem myself with a healthy, delicious option for dinner.  Did I mention it is also quick and easy?  I found this recipe a couple of weeks ago and tried it out last week for dinner. We had delicious meals for days of this recipe!  Keep in mind, it is just the two of us, so things tend to stick around a little longer than they would if we were feeding a few extra mouths.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!

Back To Baking

I love baking, and we are headed into prime baking season.  Sadly, I think the art of baking, or the enjoyment of baking, is disappearing.  Everyone seems so busy these days that baking has turned into breaking off a square of the pre-made dough from the refrigerated section of the grocery store and throwing it on a pan to stick in the oven.   

I hope some day to pass along my love for baking to our kids just as my grandma and mother have passed it along to me; see evidence of my early baking below!  Since Halloween is right around the corner, I wanted to whip up a batch of sugar cookies to take with me to a work meeting this week. 

I like to say baking is in my blood; I remember baking with my grandma when I wasn't old enough to see over the counter yet.

I use the sugar cookie recipe my grandma used.  Nothing fancy, just traditional, delicious cookies!

 

 Halloween cookies in the works for this year!

Thanksgiving cookies from last year!

No, baking sugar cookies isn't a "quick" process, but it is totally worth it in the end!  

Grandma's Sugar Cookies- 

1 Stick of Butter (warmed to room temperature)

1 Stick of Margarine (warmed to room temperature)

2 tsp. Baking Powder 

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla 

1 Cup Sugar

3 1/2 Cups Flour 

3 Eggs 

1. Mix sugar, margarine and butter in a mixer until well mixed.  

2. Add in baking powder, vanilla and eggs 

3. Slowly add in flour and continue to mix 

Chill the dough for at least four hours, I generally chill it overnight.  Roll the dough out onto a floured surface.  You can see in the photo above that I use a pastry cloth with a frame to hold it tight and keep it from moving around while rolling out the dough.  I also use a rolling pin sock to make sure the dough doesn't stick to the rolling pin.  I have tried rolling them out without the sock when I was in a pinch and it did not go well.  Roll the dough out a little at a time making sure the dough doesn't become to thin.  Depending on how long it takes you to roll out all the dough, you might have to put the dough back in the refrigerator from time to time to make sure it stays easy to work with.  

Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes until the edges just start to brown.  Spread out on the counter to cool.  

I generally frost the cookies the following night unless I'm making them over the weekend and then I just let them cool for about an hour before I frost them.  

Frosting: 

1 stick of margarine (melted), start with 1/4 to 1/2 bag of powdered sugar and 1 tsp. of vanilla.  Mix all the ingredients and slowly add in 2-3 Tbs. of milk until the frosting is the right consistency.  

Frost the cookies and have fun decorating! Make sure to let the frosting dry for a bit before putting the cookies away.  

The thing I like about these cookies and the frosting is that they aren't heavy.  They are both very light and don't hit your stomach like a brick... until you eat half a dozen of them at a time. 

Recipe Wednesday - Crockpot Cheese Tortellini

This recipe was a huge hit in our house.  It was just as good leftover, which is always a bonus.  Andrew isn't a huge fan of leftovers, so when I make something he will eat for multiple meals, I count that as a win.

This recipe was super easy to make and will be going on our regular dinner rotation. The only thing I changed from the recipe is using ground turkey sausage rather than links or slices.

Fall Favorites

I'm not sure I could pick one season as my favorite.  There are things I like about all of them.  Spring brings tulips and lilacs and new life.  Winter gives me an excuse to drink peppermint mochas, summer is full of color with all the flowers in bloom, and fall has tons to offer as well.

1. Pumpkins- I love going to the pumpkin patch and finding the perfect one for our porch.  We haven't been to a pumpkin patch for a couple of years.

2. Changing Leaves -

3. Pumpkin Flavors -

4. Scarves -

5. Football -