Here she is before, looking pretty… neutral.

And after! A couple washings with TSP, a couple coats of Valspar Jaunty Green, and doesn’t she look so pretty? To the left of the fridge is where the chalkboard wall will be. I’m excited to get that done. But first I need to fill in the knockdown wall texture and slap on some thick coats of primer before even THINKING about starting that endeavor.

Rowan's being coy.

I didn’t paint the wall with the window and sink in it because it’s one continuous wall the goes into the boys classroom. I don’t think I could handle THAT much bright green.

Oh hey! Why yes, yes I am wearing only underwear, a hoodie and Ketchup.

If you look closely at  the first after picture there is a very small space above the upper cabinets that’s useless still unpainted. I think I’ve decided it needs to be painted too, even though the only thing small enough to fit up there are the cats.

So there ya have it. My other color thoughts for this room were an aqua (but that seems to be my first thought for every room) or a smoky purple. What would you have done?

—

Please don’t forget to vote for me daily, if you would be so kind. Thank you!

You might also like these related posts:

• Look what I did today
• Yay! Welcome back to me!
• Dumb things I say

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

These little guys were willing to brave the Arizona rain to get at the pinecone bird feeders the boys and I made the other day. The first batch sat for a week or two before the birds found them, but now it’s like Templeton at the Fair.

And this little boy was willing to brave the rain too!

Good thing Fable was keeping this spot warm for him.

Finished this scarf today. Can’t decide if I like it nor not? It’s at least 8 foot long, and I’m not even going to mention what my brother said about it. Well, maybe. He compared it to parts of the female anatomy. What a butthead.

Made my first batch of Sourdough Bread ever today. It’s so yummy. One of the least finnicky breads I’ve worked with, surprisingly.

I went to check my email and one of the loaves was hoovered down in seconds flat. Mostly by aforementioned brother. Butthead.

There is NO Typo. :/

And last, but not least, I finally got around to packaging up a Valentine’s Day Surprise for a certain special someone. Do you know who you are?

And this concludes our semi-rainy Wednesday  stuck at home. Tell me about yours!

——————–

Please don’t forget to vote for me daily, if you would be so kind. Thank you!

You might also like these related posts:

• I am thankful for…
• Wordless Wednesday #2
• Pictures of Baby Gorgeousness

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Alright guys, I have a favor to ask.

Somehwere along my internetty travels, I came across a sweepstakes of sorts. Prilosec OTC, the heartburn medication, is offering a sponsorship. For anyone, for any reason. According to the FAQs, it’s for around $1000, which isn’t much but is $1000 more than I can use on my hobbies right now.

The selection criteria has 4 sections: Passions, Creativity, VOTES, and Community.

So what I’m asking from you is your vote for little humble ol’ me. You do have to register to vote, but it should only take a few minutes of your time to vote and leave a comment. And if your nice enough to vote and I win, most likely you’ll benefit in a round about way, come birthdays and Christmas.

Oh, and don’t read my dorky profile, I’m so bad at filling out these things.

Thank you!

You might also like these related posts:

• Ahh Drama
• Win this quilt
• Christmas ‘07

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

It’s time for my participation blog post for Tigress’ Can Jam. I actually have two recipes to share with you.

Our theme for January was Citrus, which is awesome because Citrus is so abundant here in Arizona this time of year.

Arizona Citrus

This first recipe was just a standby while I waited for my vanilla beans to arrive for my REAL recipe for the can jam.

Citrus Marmalade

Makes 6 half-pint jars

Ingredients:

• 4 meduim oranges
• 2 medium lemons
• 2 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄8 teaspoon baking soda
• 61⁄2 cups sugar
• 1 package powered pectin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon butter

Preparation:

1. Wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces, and then prepare the ingredients.
2. Sterilize empty canning jars by placing them upright on rack in water bath canner and covering them with hot water to 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Boil 10 minutes. At altitudes higher than 1000 ft, boil the jars an additional 1 minute for each additional 1000 ft elevation. Keep the jars hot and drain just prior to filling.
3. Wash the oranges and lemons throughly, I use a scrub brush. Remove the rind in quarters from oranges and lemons. Trim and discard half of the albedo (white flesh attached to the rind). Or all of it if you don’t want all the bitterness associated with it.
4. Thinly slice the rinds and place in a 4-quart (4 L) saucepan.
5. Mix the rinds with water and baking soda. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   

   Citrus segments

6. While the rinds are cooking, remove seeds from the peeled oranges and lemons, and finely chop the fruit, saving the juice. Set aside.
7. Add reserved fruit and juice to the cooked rind mixture. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
8. Measure exactly 4 cups of cooked fruit and rind mixture (a box of pectin is sufficient to gel this much liquid). Use a slotted spoon to make sure you get all of the fruit and rind, and then use the juice to bring the total volume up to 4 cups. Discard any leftover juice or use it in another recipe that calls for orange juice.
9. Add pectin and butter or margarine to the measured fruit. The butter or margarine reduces foaming during the cooking process.
10. Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
11. Add sugar to the mixture. Return to a boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
12. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
13. Prepare two-piece canning lids according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
14. Ladle hot marmalade into hot, sterile jars, leaving 1⁄4 inch of headspace.
15. Wipe the jars and the rim with a clean cloth or towel, place a clean prepared lid on the rim, and screw the ring band on finger-tight.
16. Process in a boiling waterbath canner for 5 minutes (altitudes of up to 1000 ft). (Increase processing time by 1 minute for every additional 1000 ft in altitude.)
17. Let jars cool undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours, then check seals by pressing the middle of the lid with your finger. If the lid springs back, then the jar is not sealed and must be refrigerated. Properly sealed jars can be stored in a dark, cool place.

—

Now on to my official Citrus Can Jam entry.

This recipe is adapted from a recipe I found on Epicurious.com. It’s one of my very favorite marmalades to date. It starts as a sweet lemonade taste , ending as a warm backnote of vanilla.

Meyer Lemon and Vanilla Bean Marmalade
Makes 6 half-pint jars

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 pounds Meyer lemons
• 5 cups water
• 5 1/2 cups (about) sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• Pinch of salt

Preparation:

1. Wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces, and then prepare the ingredients.
2. Sterilize empty canning jars by placing them upright on rack in water bath canner and covering them with hot water to 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Boil 10 minutes. At altitudes higher than 1000 ft, boil the jars an additional 1 minute for each additional 1000 ft elevation. Keep the jars hot and drain just prior to filling.
3. Wash the lemons throughly, I use a scrub brush.
4. Zest lemons. The more pith you zest, the more bitter your marmalade will be.
5. Peel and discard unwanted pith. While working on a plate to catch juices, chop lemons finely. Discard seeds.
6. Pack enough lemons, zest and any juice to measure 2 1/2 cups. Transfer to large nonreactive pot.
7. Add 5 cups water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand uncovered overnight.
8. Measure lemon mixture (there should be about 5 1/2 cups). Return to same pot.
9. Add equal amount of sugar (about 5 1/2 cups).
10. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Add pinch of salt.
11. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Attach clip-on candy thermometer.
12. Maintaining active boil and adjusting heat to prevent boiling over, cook until temperature reaches 230°F, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
13. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
14. Prepare two-piece canning lids according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
15. Ladle hot marmalade into hot, sterile jars, leaving 1⁄4 inch of headspace.
16. Wipe the jars and the rim with a clean cloth or towel, place a clean prepared lid on the rim, and screw the ring band on finger-tight.
17. Process in a boiling waterbath canner for 5 minutes (altitudes of up to 1000 ft). (Increase processing time by 1 minute for every additional 1000 ft in altitude.)
18. Let jars cool undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours, then check seals by pressing the middle of the lid with your finger. If the lid springs back, then the jar is not sealed and must be refrigerated. Properly sealed jars can be stored in a dark, cool place.

—

Now… Who’s bring the fresh homemade bread so we can eat up all this marmalade?

You might also like these related posts:

• Irish Stew and Oat Bread
• Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Green Lentil and Kale Soup

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I did put together a new list of tutorials and inspirations for myself, though. Proud of that.

Check it out here, or in the side bar.

You might also like these related posts:

• #1 Thing that made me happy on Wednesday
• Sorry
• Back Tack 4 Completed!

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Svala from Ikea

The kids had different ideas, as usual. Within a few days they had scribbled all over the top with crayons and who-knows-what. Even the table legs had been colored on. I’m totally psyched with the creativity coming from these two little boys. Psyched. Too bad they didn’t consult me first because their artwork totally didn’t go with my Pottery Barn color schemes.

Daisy Dreams laminated cotton

I recently came across a tutorial for an oilcloth table cover from Twig & Thistle, that I thought was a great idea for the boys’ workspace. I had some oilcloth that I picked up from my favoritest fabric coop but it was very girly.

Then it occured to me that I had a yard of chalkcloth in my stash. That would be perfect! It’s fairly water resistant for spills and such, and I could whip out the chalks when the kids were bored. Score!

Kathleen’s tutorial included adorable little scallops around the edge, which I thought would be okay if done in a nice manly color, like black

chalkcloth. But man, chalkcloth is hard to work with. I didn’t have quite enough to cover both tables separately so I did one cover for both tables pushed together.

I ended up just having straight edges with a little bit of decorative stitching.  I think it turned out pretty good and the kids have throughly tested it. Heck I even ended up eating on it last night because we had a HUGE crowd to feed last night.

Chalkcloth Table Topper

Pretty Colors

This is serious business...

(Declan was still napping)

So if you’re in need of something similar head on over to Twig & Thistle for the exact instructions. Or you can check out Oilcloth Addict for a no sew custom chalkcloth table topper, also.

You might also like these related posts:

• Look what I did today
• Random Friday Randomness
• Mothers

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

My gorgeous boys

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche;
They don’t have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn’t come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don’t want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’

Real Mothers know that a child’s growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade…
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother…

…

My grandma sent this to me today, and I thought it was short, sweet and completely on point. I just wanted to share with the rest of you who might need a little poem about now.

You might also like these related posts:

• Happy Birthday D!
• 2008 Resolutions
• Life Fail!

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Garage Entry

The coat hooks are from Ikea that I spray painted red yesterday. The little Simplify sign I picked up at Hobby Lobby and was near my garden tub in the old house. And the organizer cabinet is from Pottery Barn that we received as a wedding present not long before we moved so this is the first time it’s been hung. I’m always hesitant to make these cute little groupings because I have so few decorative accents that I don’t want to use them all up at once. But this worked out nicely.

Not bad for 30 minutes work, eh? (And I think it’s all pretty much level too!)

You might also like these related posts:

• Chalkcloth Table Topper
• As Declan would say…
• (Not so) Wordless Wednesday

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I was recently reacquainted with a local source of produce, by my friend Niki. Lemme back up, actually. My boys – Matt included – can go through fruit like it’s going out of  style. (As a matter of fact, my 2 year old just snuck out of bed, came down stairs, snatched a tangerine and asked me to peel it. At 10:30pm.) On just about any given day, I have to start telling them no or I have to face the, uh, biological aftermath. Not fun. So one of my common quests is to find the best deal for us on produce. We’ve tried local co-ops, we’ve begrudgingly paid super high prices at health food stores, we’ve gone for the cheapest possible ala WalFart. But it seems you always end up where you started.

Mango Jalapeno and Mango Habanero Jam

The Superstition Ranch Market on Apache Trail always has one good deal or another. Some of you non-Arizonians have to realize that not much grows here, so 4 pounds of pears for $1 is a smoking deal. Or Honey Crisp apples at $1/pound. Or a quart of blackberries for $.69. We’re pretty much in heaven every time we go in. Sometimes we go a little too crazy and we can’t eat our spoils fast enough. So Niki and I have turned to jam. But I’m not gonna lie. We’re kinda testing the waters to see if we’d make it with our own Farmer’s Market booth.

Mango Habanero Jam

We came across this recipe at 28 cooks and knew we had to try it. It was simple, took only a few ingredients and sounded positively delicious. The prep was simple and there was hardly any work involved. Just blend it up, boil it and pour it into jars. It set up beautifully. 28 Cooks says it’s not as hot as you may think, but don’t be fooled. It has a kick, albeit a very delicious one. I’ve tried it on sharp cheddar (yum), cottage cheese (yum), bread (yum) and a soft goat cheese spread (yum). It’ll make a delicious glaze for roasts. I’ve heard it’s delicious on grilled cheese sandwiches? I’ll  have to try that too.

It very much reminds me of the spicysweet tamarind mexican candy as well, and I can see myself eating this straight out of the jar… Wait, Niki, my mom and I have all already done that…

Niki opted to use half jalapeños and half habaneros in her batch, hence the very green jam instead of orange like mine. It’s definitely more kid friendly that way, but still has a nice bit of spice and an amazing taste.

So if it sounds like something you’d like to try, drop on by and see Niki or myself, or just make it yourself! It’s easy! Head over to 28 Cooks. The recipe is right here.

Mango Jalapeno Jam

You might also like these related posts:

• 2008, here I come!
• Links and more
• Chicken Enchiladas Verdes

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Okay, so after a 7 month hiatus, I am back. If you ever want to get comments on your blog, just stop blogging for a really long time. I hope to be back blogging regularly now. I overhauled the whole blog, got rid of unnecessary “features” and setup a new gallery tool. Be sure to check out the pictures, by clicking on the links either above or to the right. I update with pictures of the boys regularly.

New Year by *Sally M*

On another note, 2009 has come to a close. It was a year of ups and downs for us, like I’m sure it was for most other families. We were taken to court by one of my daycare clients, and nice guys always finish last. My husband bought me a wonderful new home! He also plowed through massive layoffs at his work and even ended up with a promotion. We were surprised with an unexpected pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage. We made new friends, lost family members, and all in all I think we weathered the storm nicely. We can only hope 2010 is as good… Well, maybe with a little less of the downs, of course.

As is typical for me, I hope that I can use my blog to stick to my New Years resolutions, which are pretty typical for me, just look at the one’s from years past. But this time I have a whole house to decorate and make homey. On a budget. I also convinced Matt to buy this little pretty for my Christmas present…in pink of course.

Cavallini 2010 Daily Planner

My hope is that I’ll have plenty of space to schedule things ahead of time, so that I don’t end up scrambling the day before a birthday or 4 weeks before Christmas again. My plan is to make Christmas presents throughout the year, and maybe setup a couple crafting get-togethers. So if any of you are interested in meeting to have some good food, a few drinks and make batches of Christmas presents with friends, let me know.

I have lots of new recipes to try, crafts to make, sewing to do and I hope to do a bit of canning. And by a bit, I mean I think I’ve been bitten by a canning bug. I found a new source for cheap, fresh produce and homemade jam and jellies has never sounded better. I still need to set up and decorate my “craft room”. I’m kinda ignoring the fact that half of it is supposed to be for Matt’s computer stuff. We debate over the name of it constantly. Matt originally named it the S.O.R. – Server Operations Room. I’ve decided it’s the Sewing Machine Operations Room – S.M.O.R. That’s a  much nicer name, don’t you think?

So those are a few of the things I’ll be working on this year. Wont you join me?

And remember, a blogger lives for comments. Please don’t be shy. If you drop by, lemme know you were here! To do so, just click on the link below that says “Leave a comment/# of comments” and type in whatever your heart desires.

Thanks for reading!

You might also like these related posts:

• Questions about the Blogger…
• Free Hugs
• Ahh Drama

© Katie for Runaway October, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us, StumbleUpon

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh