Bright Bungalow

Livingroom Art

2011-07-03T10:26:00.000-04:00

I finally finished the piece for the mantel. I am so excited about it, and the needed reminder it gives me each day I walk in the door.

What's for Dinner: Steak with Morell Mushrooms

2011-07-03T10:22:00.000-04:00

We got an amazingly generous gift from a friend of a freshly picked bag of morell mushrooms! They were amazing. We decided to slice them and sautee in olive oil with two cloves of chopped garlic, 1/4 cup white wine, and 1/4 cup lowfat cream. Once it cooked down we topped it on some amazing peppered steaks and had with baby heirloom tomatoes and fresh asparagus! I love farm market season.

What you get:

Shared Post: Kelly Rae Roberts

2011-04-11T18:06:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking often about being intentional with my time, thoughts and actions and boundaries...where I have them, where I need them, how to draw them after I have neglected to do so. It has been an ongoing and rather uphill battle for me to learn that boundaries do not equal selfishness and that the quality of an interaction is more important than the quantity of interactions. I read the below from the blog of one of my favorite inspirations, artist Kelly Rae Roberts. I HIGHLY recommend her blog. Not only do I love her creativity, I appreciate her honesty and humanity and her ability to so openly share both.

Monday, April 11, 2011 from www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com

thoughts on energy

(this is an older painting from last year that i reworked. really loving stamping lately. prints will be available once the shop reopens in the next couple of weeks.)

i have been thinking a lot about the energy we all encompass and what we choose to do with that energy. lately, i've been scaling back my computer time. i've noticed that there is a very real energy that i put out into the online world: social networking, blogging, emailing. some of that online energy is enjoyed and authentic (connecting) and then there are the minutes that are strung together reading miscellaneous blogs/twitter/news feeds that carry no real meaning to me or my life but yet i get sucked in anyways...you know how it goes. and then i notice that my family and my work get what is left over - the energy that feels a little depleted. i had a great conversation about this with a dear friend. it was one of those conversations that left me completely rearranged and inspired to pay more attention to where i'm putting my energy. am i filling up my time and energy with stuff that moves my life/work/inspiration forward? or am i filling up my time with stuff that drains my energy? for me, the lines of work and life are blurry. my creativity is my life which is also my business. but sometimes, especially since the birth of true, i'm feeling the pull to create more boundaries around where and how i give my energy in regards to biz and life. i want to be more discerning about it all. i want to be more intentional. and i want my family to have my best, most powerful, most fulfilled energy - not the leftovers.

i suppose this is something we all go through every now and again. we pull back. and then we dive in again. it's a constant ebb and flow. and our capacity to hold all of that energy also ebbs and flows. i used to have a huge capacity to give and work and dive in and retreat and multi-task - all while staying connected to john, work, and the things that were really important to me. and now i'm in a season of my life where my capacity is smaller, a place where my energy feels precious and limited, a place where i have to really focus on my work and my family first before getting caught up in the periphery. oh the lessons i'm learning these days and oh how i miss getting lost in the periphery!! but i like the idea of having seasons to our lives. i'm in a more deliberate, slow season of my life. and that feels better and better the more i embrace its offerings instead of working so hard to spread myself thin. ultimately, i'm learning that there is so much peace that comes to our lives when we reevaluate how we're using our own unique energies while focusing only on filling up our moments with the stuff that really matters in our lives. i'm going to practicing this concept more and more....because our energy (our hearts, our inspiration, our ability to give) really is a precious resource. i want to use mine wisely.

Dare to Become Your Dream

2011-03-31T15:58:00.000-04:00

Daring to dream, think outside the box, imagine that life could be entirely different. Be vulnerable. Embrace uncertainty. Soar to new heights. Think in a new way. Get out of your own way. Be brave. Seek courage. Desire to inspire. Think big. Think different. Leap. Become your dream. What are we all waiting for?

It is all seemingly simple, but amazingly complicated.

Photo Credit:1 citizenmom.net, 2 quick-reads.com

Community

2011-03-30T21:19:00.000-04:00

“A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living” Rudolf Steiner

Oh, Spring.

2011-03-30T21:14:00.000-04:00

I remain hopeful that you have not forgotten us.

Who Was I Kidding: You Can't Do a Bathroom Makeover in a Weekend

2011-03-21T15:02:00.000-04:00

The joy of older houses, you never know what you are going to find until you start tearing down things! I would say we are 2/3 of the way done at this point. After another weekend of war with the wallpaper remains, we got the wainscoting up and paint.

We removed the old oak vanity and refinished it. This is one of my favorite things to do! It is a great way to add a punch of color and reuse/recycle.
Steps for a cottage blue vanity.

Using a fine grit sandpaper, scratch off the finish on the cabinet. You aren't trying to get down to wood, just rough up the surface. Pick a few spots and sand those a second time, you will get a deeper saturation of color in those places. Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove dust.

Mix one part flat white acrylic paint with 2 parts water. Lightly load with the paint water mixture a 1 1/2 inch chip brush.

Paint with the grain of the wood. You will be able to still see the wood through the paint at this point, which is a good thing, you don't want a full coat, more of a white wash. Allow to dry for one hour and apply a second coat.

Select your top paint color. I used Sherwin Williams spa blue.
Mix one part paint with two parts floetrol.
Keeping with the grain apply one light coat with a clean dry chip brush. Repeat until desired saturation is reached. You may want to apply another white coat over the top, or just hit some areas for a more distressed look. Allow to try for 2 hours.

Using a third clean dry chip brush (good thing these are cheap) apply a thin coat of polyacrylic matte top coat.

Allow to dry and repeat with a final coat.

More photos and tips to come this weekend!

The Eve Before a Bathroom Makeover

2011-03-11T21:06:00.000-05:00

We bought our house in July. A friend said that it looked like the previous owners got their inspiration for decor from the Cracker Barrel Store. I couldn't have agreed more. We have a small half bath, that has some great charm, cute window and amazing vintage crown molding. Problem - it was COVERED in a very small, incredibly busy floral wall paper.

I began the enormous task of getting it down last month. This same wallpaper had covered the entire kitchen as well and was nothing short of pure hell to get down. Industrial strength wallpaper glue on plaster walls is a real treat to get down. I ran out of steam halfway through the bathroom. Tomorrow is the day for the finish. We are going to do wainscoting, a vibrant spring green paint and I am going to refinish the vanity and mirror in a fun vintage robin's egg blue and make new curtains. Our 48 hour bathroom plan begins tomorrow am.
Here is the "before"

If all goes well, there should be an "after" at some point Sunday night. I have had a few people ask where I get my DIY decorating ideas from. Here are a few things I use for inspiration.

Fresh Home Magazine is published quarterly. They have great, vibrantly colored, DIY ideas. Their website is a treasure trove of ideas and colors. I can't ever seem to part with a new issue, and look at it often for inspiration for our house, but for art at well.

West Elm has modern and contemporary furniture and accessories. Their rooms are really put together, but not at all fussy and have very reasonable prices. It is a good mix of sleek danish modern ideas mixed with vintage cottage, that makes a great modern, but comfortable statement.

Better Homes and Gardens Online decor webpage and newsletters. I still remember issues of this in my house growing up and their website is just beyond their print publication. Check the link, you will be surprised. They have great ideas for every room in the house. Their weekly e-newsletter is worth signing up for...honestly.

Tonight I will sip some tea and get inspired for the makeover. One thing I know for sure, we will have some Adele, Fleet Foxes and Avett Brothers on for deliciously fun sing-a-longs and motivation!

Blackbirds & Bumblebees

2011-02-28T21:45:00.000-05:00

Blackbirds and bumblebees is a great blog by artist Susan Najarian. I found her work on Etsy, which lead me to her blog. Her art is fun and whimsical. It reminds me of the freshness of spring and dreamy afternoons.

I have to laugh at the one of the posts on her blog. I too and a HUGE fan of the IFC show Portlandia. There was an episode about how you are more likely to buy something if there is a bird on it you are more likely to buy it. This rings true for me, but ironically I am really spooked by birds when outside. This fear isn't grounded in any sort of experience or logic, just an irrational fear. But, put a bird on an art object, note card or mug and I will smile and purchase.

I am currently working on a few new art pieces. My hubby got me a great art scanner for our anniversary *3 years and loving it* and I hope to have my etsy store up and running in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, there won't be any items with birds on them.....yet.

Crush: Blog Love

2011-01-25T21:45:00.000-05:00

I discovered a new blog. Not so much a new blog, but new to me. Creature Comforts has all sorts of beautiful, yummy things. Check it out.

In Good Company: Caitlin Hinshelwood

I love the gorgeous art and home goods made by Caitlin Hinshelwood — available in her etsy shop of the same name. Her work reminds me of the sort of handcrafted treasures you might find and the world's most awesome antique store/thrift market. I just can't get enough! Her art portfolio is also brimming with inspiration...so be sure not to miss it. xo Ez

Fresh Art: Mini Faded Memory Flowers on Wood

2011-01-24T20:44:00.000-05:00

What's For Dinner: Bean and Ham Soup

2011-01-23T19:19:00.001-05:00

I found this recipe over at Fabulous Foods and modified it slightly.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 teaspoons thyme, minced
black pepper and salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 bay leaves
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
32 oz chicken broth
1 meaty ham bone
4 cups chopped ham
1 can black eyed peas

1 large 48 oz can white northern beans
1 can butter beans
1/3 cup half and half
1 tablespoon corn starch

Sauté onion, garlic, carrot in olive oil adding rosemary, thyme, sage, and basil with salt and pepper when onion is softened.

Add vinegar, tomatoes, stock, ham bone, and bay leaves. Simmer about 2 hours and add the beans and continue to simmer about 20 minutes.

Remove the ham bone and fat from ham adding any meat back to the pot. Whisk in corn starch and cream. Reheat and serve.

What You Get:

Photo

2011-01-21T13:01:00.000-05:00

Photo:me taken with with Retro Camera Android App
Word Art: Rae Dunn
Teal Leather Journal: Barnes and Nobel
Mosaic Art Tile: Studio Vertu

Rituals and Routine

2011-01-20T16:17:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking quite a bit about the rituals and routines that we have in our daily lives and the roles that they play and how as we get busy, they change, are put aside or ignored. As a child, a bedtime routine is of the utmost importance. It can be a time to teach love, story, acceptance. It serves as a transition from busy, community, play to reflection, imagination and rest. So why is it as adults we don't practice self love and give this same sort of time to ourselves? I am horrible at this. I often crash out of sheer exhaustion at the end of the day, sometimes in bed, other times in a chair, the couch or some other place not meant for sleeping that almost always results in a neck cramp.

I have been trying to introduce a nighttime ritual into my day. I need that transition, that time to reflect, relax and imagine. A time to let the day melt away, be thankful and hopeful for what the next day will offer. I need to give myself the time to engage my senses, breath deeply and relax. A time to rest and rejuvenate my mind as my body prepares to rest.

In learning to incorporate a bedtime routine, here are a few things that I have found that I am really enjoying. Trust me, this is a work in progress. I hope to have it become more important to me than my morning coffee. I think there is a lot of importance in beginnings and endings, attention should be paid.

Tea - This is a great way to engage your sense of smell and taste while relaxing. Tazo has a new line of wellbeing teas. Rest is a great tea for evening. It has hints of mint, orange, lavender, licorice and other soothing herbs. Tea can serve as a great transition between busy and rest. Try to focus on tasting the herbs and flavors, really enjoy the tea, be present in the moment.

Smell - I am in love with the Caldrea Linen Spray in Sea Salt Neroli. Inspired by bright, clear mornings at the shore, this watery composition opens with sparkling essential oils of Lemon Verbena and warm spice from Cardamon. An exquisite white floral heart is supplied by Neroli, the blossom of a bitter orange tree native to Tunisia. Unique mineral notes enhance the fresh sea experience, seemingly adding salt to the air. Lovely woods and sophisticated musk ground this aquatic delight to the land, and provide a home cleaning experience unlike any other. Great scent description from Caldrea. A few spritzes on my quilt before bed really helps make the room feel cozy. After a few nights this triggers happy sleepy feelings for me. October Moon in Old Town is m favorite place locally to explore and by the entire caldrea line.

Gratitude- Keeping a journal where you record your gratitude for the day is a great way to keep perspective. We get so bogged down by where we feel small, insignificant or not enough. It is important to remember, reflect and record what we are thankful, the successes for the day, a time to remember to celebrate life, right where we are. No exceptions. Inspirational artist Kelly Rae Roberts has a great book full of inspiration and directions for making a beautiful journal. Below is a piece of her work. This is my goal, to celebrate gratitude more than I think about falling short.

The Price of Invulnerability

2011-01-10T23:02:00.002-05:00

The Gifts of Imperfection

2011-01-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

I am reading an amazing book right now: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are by Brene Brown. I am only a few chapters in and it is already really impacting my thinking of others and myself and my story. One of my favorite quotes so far can also be found on an art badge on her site http://www.brenebrown.com/badge. I am moved by these words.

Fresh Art: More Faded Memory Flowers

2011-01-09T15:45:00.001-05:00

These still all need a thick coat of wax, but are nearing completion.

Fresh Art: Faded Memory Flowers

2011-01-08T19:51:00.001-05:00

New Series: Faded Memory Flowers

What's for Snack: Beer Cheese Dip

2011-01-07T19:54:00.000-05:00

What You Need

2 cup shredded smoked gouda

1 block cream cheese

1 cup shredded monetary jack

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves finely minced or grated garlic

¼ cup finely diced red pepper

¼ cup finely diced onion

1 1/2 cup of beer (I prefer 1/3 cup Founders Red’s Rye and 1/3 cup Centennial IPA. You want dry hop and a bit of malt. Do not skimp and use cheap beer. You will get a dip that tastes of alcohol and not hoppy-malty goodness. Visit Founders Brewing Company to get an idea of the two brews listed above, so you can find an equivalent microbrew in your neck of the woods)

Bring beer to a rolling boil for 1 min and let cool slightly. Return to very low heat. Add garlic and onion. Cook for a few min and then add all of the cheeses, Worcestershire and red pepper. Stir until melted. Once mixed let set for 30 min for flavors to distribute. Reheat and served with crisped baked French bread or tortilla chips.

If desired, one cup of fresh spinach may be added to mixture while cooking.

What's For Dinner: Spinach Lasagna….Red or White….pasta or veggie

2011-01-06T12:58:00.003-05:00

What You Need

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 15 oz container ricotta cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg
2 minced garlic cloves

Jar of pasta sauce and small can of tomato sauce OR one jar of alfredo sauce mixed with a cup of milk if making white lasagna
9 no-boil lasagna noodles or one eggplant thinly sliced
1 bag fresh spinach

2 cups fresh sliced Portobello mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cracked

2 teaspoons basil
pinch of red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 375° F.

1. Combine 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic, chopped parsley, egg, basil and red and black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a 9x13 inch baking dish pour 3/4 cup marinara sauce or alfredo sauce. Place 3 pieces of noboil lasagna on the sauce or a layer of thinly sliced eggplant, covering with another 1/2 cup of the sauce.

3. Layer with half of the spinach and mushrooms, then a layer spreading half of the cheese mixture over the spinach. Repeat layers. Finish with 3 more lasagna strips or eggplant and cover with remaining sauce.

4. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for one hour. Uncover and top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese during last 15 minutes of baking.

Allow to sit 20 minutes before serving.

If you would like a version with meat, add browned ground sirloin to the marina sauce or grilled sliced chicken to the alfredo version.

What You Get
A yummy white or red lasagna....that I don't have a photo of!

New CB2 Catalog Goodness

2011-01-05T20:35:00.000-05:00

I think that one of my favorite parts of wedding planning was getting to register at Crate and Barrel for fun household items. Today the new CB2 catalog arrived and has a great mix of things that have a modern sensibility with a hit of whimsy. I lucked out and married a guy who likes my artsy cottage style...as long as the items still have good function. Here are a few finds from www.cb2.com that caught my eye.

Floor Display Wine Rack

Wood Birds Pillow

Oliver Snack Plates

Fabric Wall Art

2011-01-05T14:53:00.000-05:00

I love Hobby Lobby, especially their fabric section. Every month, for one week they have 30% off all fabrics which makes this project uber affordable. You will need 1/5 of a yard of at least 5 fabrics to make your wall art collage. Look for prints in the same color family, or that have a singular color in common. Here I was looking for cool tones with a hint of green or blue in a bright hue. Cut the fabric into squares, wrap around a embroidery hoop, secure and trim the excess. This can also be great decor for a kids room. You can attach the fabric rounds to the wall with velcro, they can be used as stacking toys, and one of my favorite 1 years olds discovered that you can play a mean game of peek-a-boo with them as well.

What's For Dinner: Spicy Shrimp & Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

2011-01-04T19:52:00.000-05:00

What You Need

4 slices of crispy cooked bacon, reserve drippings
1 red pepper thinly sliced
Sliced almonds
Organic baby spinach
1 lb large cooked shrimp, tails removed
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sugar
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic salt, pepper

1. In bacon drippings saute onion and red pepper briefly until they begin to soften. Add olive oil, vinegar, sugar and crumbled bacon strips. Stir and remove from heat.

2. Heat pan with olive oil, add shrimp and sprinkle with spices to taste. Saute until warm.

3. bacon dressing with onions and red pepper over spinach and toss. Add warm shrimp and sprinkle with almonds. Garnish with fresh lime.

What You Get

What's For Dinner: Beef Barley Soup

2011-01-04T19:42:00.000-05:00

Best served with a crusty bread and a glass of malbec, merlot or a very hoppy beer.

What You Need

1lb cubed stew beef
fresh ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
1 medium chopped onion
3 chopped celery stalks
2 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
1 small can tomato paste without sugar
6 cups fresh spinach
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
10 cups low sodium beef broth
2 cups quick cooking barley
2 cups water
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
pinch of red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Brown in soup pot over high heat with 2 teaspoons olive oil for 2 min. Remove and set aside.
2. Add celery, mushrooms, garlic, onion, pepper and remaining olive oil. Lower heat to medium and cook until translucent. Add tomato paste and stir until mixture is covered.
3. Add broth, vinegar, barley, water, salt and thyme to mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 min.
4. Place beef and juices into pot, turn off heat, cover and let set for 5 min.

What You Get