A Nest for All Seasons

So you want a few backyard chickens....

2012-02-13T23:15:00.000-06:00

Deny it all you want, but most of you, if you think about it wouldn't mind raising a few chicks. I mean seriously, have you ever seen the hatching display at the farm show or state fair? Yeah...me neither...it is always too crowded! It is hard to find something cuter than a baby chick, and the great thing is that they are actually beneficial once they grow up (unlike a certain kitten turned cat in our household....don't tell Thor I said that...).

So you decide you want backyard chickens. What is next?

#1 You have to find chicks. This is easier said than done. We drove around to various Acme's and Farm stores last year trying to find a few baby chicks, a few hens for sale, but no cigar. We finally found some at Tractor Supply Store and purchased Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn pullets. Pullets are female chicks, and you definitely want to get pullets if you are trying to raise laying hens. Choose six chicks randomly and you very well might end up with 6 roosters (can you imagine?!) The only problem with buying chicks from a local store is the lack of variety. You aren't going to find the really rare and interesting breeds locally. This year, I ordered from CaliforniaHatchery.com and my chicken coop this year will be bursting from the seams with interesting chickens. Black and Buff Laced Polish Chickens, Buff Brahma, Barred Rock Plymouth Bantams and Golden Campine. Aren't their names just romantic? The great thing I found about California Hatchery is that you only need to buy 3 chickens and 2 ducks at a time (most place make you order 6 of a breed). CH also lets you mix types within a breed, so you could get 2 black silkies and 1 white.

#2 Once you find the chicks, you've got to choose which ones you want. This might seem like a no brainer, but I spend far too much time deciding which breeds I wanted to pick out (there are like 9 pages of rare breeds...ahh!) ...and last year when I picked out the chicks by hand? That was an ordeal too. You see, the buff, gruff worker man at Tractor Supply store didn't really feel anything emotionally towards my new baby chicks. So, when we told him we wanted chicks, he just kind of stepped his big, muddy work boots into the giant bins of chicks and started picking out chicks at random. I had to (nicely and as non-crazily as possible) ask him "Do you think I could please have that one?"...referring to the little white chicken racing around and around the pin trying to get out. I guess I connected with her because she reminded me of my boys running around and around and around the house constantly?? Anyway...I wanted to handpick those chickens and I'm so glad I did. They truly are little members of our extended family, have names and unique personalities.

#3 You have to build a coop. You can get away with a cardboard box for a few weeks, but you have to buy or build a coop that will be large enough for the chickens soon! A chicken coop is work to get together, but it doesn't have to be ugly, it doesn't have to be huge (if you only have a few chickens) and it does not have to be expensive (if you build your own!). If you are interested in building a coop, you can read further in my article on Houzz discussing coop design. Just click HERE!

#4 You have to buy chicken feed. We feed out chickens A LOT of scraps and they eat it up like little demons! However, we still need to supplement their diet with feed and chicken scratch. It costs about $10 for a giant bag of feed and a little over $5 for a giant bag of scratch (cracked corn). You can pick it up at the feed store or order online. I mix the two and they last about 3-6 months with 3 part-time free ranging chickens. They obviously eat more feed when snow is on the ground and they are cooped up vs. summertime when they are munching down on bugs in the yard.

#5 You have to buy a cute egg holder. OK, not really, but once those hens start laying, it is a little sad to just put those beautiful white and brown orbs in an ugly container or old egg carton. There is something really awesome about opening your fridge and seeing a cute little ceramic holder full of eggs from your very own backyard chickens. It's the little things....

I bought mine off amazon, but I think I saw them in other (super cute!) colors at Anthropologie. Want to support this blog with your egg tray purchase? Buy them here!

Houzz isn't Pinterest and That is OK

2012-02-13T11:45:00.000-06:00

Wait - WAIT...don't shoot me yet. Whether you are a diehard pinterest fan or loyal Houzz groupie, I am with you. I love both, I frequent both...you could even say the addiction is shared between the two. So don't hit me yet - I'm not bashing your favorite site - I PROMISE!

However, I gotta let you in on a secret. Pinterest does not replace Houzz. Yes, I know...you used to put stuff in ideabooks on Houzz, but then pinterest came along and it is so much easier, so now you are a pinteraholic. It is ok...breathe. You should keep pinning....but you should come take a peek at Houzz (It is kinda like JC Penney deciding to rule the world and take over Target...you want to be there when it happens, yes?).

Moving on...the top 3 ways Houzz Ain't Pinterest and That is OK!

#1 The Contributors

Now, you might think this is tooting my own horn a bit (maybe a bit...), but I've got to let you in on a little Houzz contributor secret. Each writer is distinctly different, they all comes from different design world views and Houzz allows each contributor to write within their own voice. What does that mean for you? It means that Houzz becomes this giant collaboration of design concepts, but it is not watered down and unified to make Houzz seem like a big giant interior design animal. The point is for you to find writers, designers, architects that you love and to be inspired by them. It is kind of brilliant isn't it? Well I think so anyhow...

Let's break it down a bit...

First of all there is John - John is an architectural genius and always has the most divine designs to show off.

Then there is Vanessa who tours all these incredible homes and hands down has the best house tour ideabooks.

Of course there is Becky that does feature articles on style and design icons...the Toledo Stool ideabook is SO in my favorites.

...and then there is me...desperately trying to infiltrate all the design junkies with love of garden design ;)

...and the list goes on and on -- Shoshanna, Bud, Jason, Jen... Find your favorite, then use the new follower feature (similar to the now defunct GFC) that Houzz recently added.

#2 Houzz isn't Pinterest because ideabooks are not boards. I love my pinboards, but that is all they are. A bunch of ideas all pinned together. Ideabooks allow you to flesh out your ideas fully, share them with others and give meat to the idea bones. (That sounds weird, but you know what I mean, right?)

#3 Finally, Houzz is where the architects live. While Pinterest is queen of the crafters, DIYers and Ryan Gosling posters, Houzz has true experts ALL OVER the site. Ask a design question, ask for a source for a product or ask how to install hardwood flooring yourself and chances are you will GET an answer. Interestingly enough, that answer will actually be RIGHT because it is coming from an expert. How many times have you asked a question on pinterest that just sat there? It just isn't the site for connecting with experts (but it IS the site for finding the most amazing brownies on EARTH).

So take a few minutes and check out Houzz (My article about Ranch style homes has been sparking some discussion - why don't you join??) ...you might never be the same again... (draMAAAAAtic!)

Cheers y'all!

You can follow Amy's Pinboards right HERE. You can follow Amy on Houzz right HERE.

This post has been sponsored by Houzz.com and Blogvertise. All opinions are %1,200 percent mine (can't you tell?).

My Garden Ain't Pretty

2012-02-13T07:18:00.000-06:00

I know what you are thinking....she seriously is saying her garden isn't pretty??

Isn't she like a garden writer or something?? Are those photos fake? Is that not really her yard?

OK, OK -- to set the record straight...I DO take photos in my own yard and I grow lots and lots of flowers and veggies. Yes, I do write about gardening and give tips and tricks on how to get things to grow. That doesn't mean that the garden is always pretty.

In fact, there are times in the year when the garden is just plain ugly. I can write until my hands bleed about how you should consider winter in your landscape plans and pick plants for winter interest, but there just comes a point when the snow is slush and the compost piles up on the beds and cardboard is lining the paths and I am just pleading for some fresh snow to cover it all up. This time of year -- my garden is just ugly. I still love it, mind you. I love weeding this time of year because the weeds are small and they are green (as opposed to the rest of the foliage which is brown and withered) and if we get a few nice days, I weed for hours. I love planning in this season of dormancy...the garden catalogs and books and magazines are my constant companions in the bathtub every night. Still...the garden is ugly.

It is ugly for a few reasons....

#1 I personally have a few reasons that my garden is often ugly, particularly in winter. They are 5,3 and 2 and they don't weed very well yet.

#2 Winter is rough on plants' appearances. While many plants can survive quite easily through winter, they don't always look good doing it (sounds like me and pregnancy). It is just a fact of winter.

#3 Winter is a time for refreshing the soil and battling the weeds. It might not seem like it, but winter is a vital period in the garden's life cycle. The soil needs the nutrients from fallen leaves and compost and winter freezes and thaws break them down quite nicely into the garden beds. I literally throw scraps into the flower beds and hastily cover them (sometimes) with leaves. What the chickens don't find and eat, the ground is happy to receive. However, it is ugly.

The same goes for the cardboard paths. They are functional. They are a blessing to the Earth. They are also quite ugly (Don't tell them I said so!).

So what is the point? Am I just trying to get you to say "Oh dear, your garden is always beautiful. It doesn't matter that it is downtrodden and soggy and littered with banana peels. It will always be beautiful through rose colored glasses"? Am I just playing that card that we bloggers do when we want the world to know we are humble and that everything is not perfect behind our (chalkboard painted, repurposed, vintage or thrifted) doors?

No, not really. The point is this:

Winter gardens are ugly.

My winter garden is very ugly.

I'm ok with it.

You should be too.

Now go throw some banana peels and cardboard on your rosebeds! They will thank you later!

Try a Bleeding Heart for Valentine's Day

2012-02-12T06:15:00.000-06:00

This Valentine's Day, you might be searching for the perfect gift for your sweetheart. While candies and flowers and cards are always nice and appreciated, nothing beats a real plant in my book. I love when a gift is not disposable. I love when you can transfer the gift into the garden and it lives on and on and on, reminding you of that person for years to come. And with valentine's Day quickly approaching, what better gift than a bleeding heart. Think of all the awesome names you could come up with for that one ;)
Bleeding Heart is one of those plants. One of those plants that you can beat up, JUST LIKE HOSTA. No kidding. Rip off a stem, enjoy it in a vase for a few days, shove it in the ground, and NO JOKE, you'll have a plant in a few weeks growing and growing strong. The only thing you really need to give it is some water when you are transplanting it. After it is established, you are good to go with a wonderful plant that will come back year after year after year after year.

You've seen the flowers right? Literally bleeding hearts...

So much beauty, so tough...what isn't to like? By the way, this plant comes up in spring from the ground and looks like peonies. The first time I saw one, I had no idea what it was and thought it might be a weird peony because the shoots looked similar. A few weeks later, it was very clear I had a bleeding heart and a beautiful one at that!

So why not try giving a gift that will keep on giving!!? Try a bleeding heart today!

Portions of text previously published on 'A Nest for All Seasons 2011

Unskinny Boppy | FEATURE FRIDAY

2012-02-10T09:36:00.000-06:00

So my friend Beth has a blog titled Unskinny Boppy (huh WHAT??)

Let me allow her to explain...
During the time I was mulling over the idea of creating a public blog, my friend Dusty at All Things G&D was talking about her trip to see Poison in concert. She inspired me to name my blog Unskinny Bop, but then I glanced over at the Boppy pillow that my son was sitting in on the floor and POOF! A magical idea was formed. If you weren't into big hair bands in the 80's then there is a chance that none of this will make any sense to you. If you do know what I'm talking about, then you already have that song stuck in your head. You're welcome. (Thanks to Beth and Raising Memories for the quote)

You might know Beth from this incredible post that has made the pinterest rounds about photographing a sparkling tree. You might also know her from her incredible succulent wreaths (that is how I found her!) What I love her for now though is her ability to look at life with a grain of salt. She has a humor, a lightness about the way she sees the world that I love. It is hard to explain the kind of gal Beth is, but take 10 minutes and look around her home, her blog, her life for a moment and you'll get it. you'll get the down to Earth girl that is Miss Unskinny Boppy.

So she is pretty awesome, don't you think??

Why not stop by her blog and say Hello!!

GRANNIE's ROLLS | How to Make Homemade Yeast Bread

2012-02-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Meet Grannie's rolls! No, they are not as beautiful as baby leg rolls, but they are close!! These babies are based on yeast and eggs and are delicious (except for the time I made them for my friend Nicole and she ate an entire one without telling me that they were TERRIBLE!! I never figured out what went wrong, but boy they were terrible! The chickens had a feast that day!) Anyway, every other time I have made these rolls they are DELISH. Alex likes them much more than my BASIC BREAD RECIPE and you probably will too! (The added sugar and oil is always a plus in my husband's book...)

The recipe is fairly straightforward once you have a little practice working with yeast breads. The trick is to add the yeast to WARM (more hot than cold, but not steaming) water and let it "work" before adding your other ingredients. The yeast is what gives the bread such lift.

GRANNIE'S YEAST ROLLS

2 c warm water (...as warm as you can stand it with your fingers immersed)
1 pkg yeast (alternate measurement -- 2 1/4 tsp)
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c oil
1 large egg (or two small eggs if you are working with home laid chicken eggs)
4 c self-rising flour

Place the yeast and warm water into a large bowl. Allow it to "work" for around 5 minutes.
Add sugar, oil and egg and allow the mix to continue "working" for another 5.
Add flour and lightly mix. Use a wooden spoon!

See how the yeast mixture (below) is starting to bubble? That is your sign to add the flour!

Refrigerate dough in a covered bowl (I use a flour cloth) until cool. Grease a muffin pan and add dough. Only fill 2/3 full -- these puppies RISE! Allow rolls to rise in the muffin pan for at least 3 hours at room temperature. (If you allow the dough to rise in the bowl, you will also have to let it rise again once it is in the muffin pan, so it is easiest just to add the dough straight to the muffin pan.)

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until tops are golden.

Nope, it is not as easy as basic bread dough, but it is yummy and worth an extra step or two!! Plus, that smell of baking bread in the house is PRICELESS!! Alternatively, you can head to Giant or Hyvee in the morning when they are baking bread and steal a whiff from them. Smells and sniffs are always FREE! :)

Sensa "Candy"

2012-02-07T07:19:00.001-06:00

So I've been participating in a Sensa review for over a month now, and I've lost several pounds and 1 pant size. I'm not willing to say it is a success yet though, because those few pounds and that pant size has come and gone a LOT. I AM encouraged however...

I mentioned before that I can definitely notice a difference in my satiety when using the Sensa "sprinkles", but my favorite part of the system are the candy "chews". My biggest temptations are candies and cakes, so to have somewhat of a replacement that is helping a wee bit and fulfilling the desire for something sweet is of great benefit to me. There are two types -- a chocolate type and a raspberry type. The chocolate tastes very similar to calcium chews and the raspberry is reminiscent of Starburst. The candy kind of "lifts" and expands in your mouth like chewing gum, so it takes a while to eat (a plus!).

I'm actually considering stocking up on this sampler kit once I run out of the actual system. I think it could help...but only time will tell..I'll let y'all know...

For more Sensa Reviews, just click HERE!

In the meantime, keep cheering from the sidelines...run-run-run!!
PS -- If you cheer loudly enough and I am successful, I MIGHT actually show you the before picture (if there is a decent AFTER picture...but anyWHO)...

Sensa has provided all samples free of charge and all opinions are 100% my own.

The BEFORE picture is just as important as the AFTER photo

2012-02-06T06:15:00.002-06:00

Hey DIYers, Bloggers, Foodies and Gardeners! So have you ever been in a situation where you made this really awesome project or did this really incredible thing with something you rescued from the trash and you go to post it and something is just missing? The project looks good, but everyone doesn't really understand that you took this "thing" from literally a piece of trash to something everybody wants to pin-pin-pin and make-make-make. Have you been there?

Of course you have.

We've all been there because we've all forgotten to take the all important BEFORE picture.

I know, I know... it is so very exciting to get home, unload the trunk and start cleaning, sanding, painting, stripping (the dresser, not yourself) that we all forget to grab the camera and take that all important BEFORE picture. That BEFORE photo is JUST as important as the AFTER photo because it shows just how far that piece of trash, or those simple pantry ingredients or that ugly patch of a flower bed -- has really come.

I really realized my lack of skill in the BEFORE picture arena when my husband was going through my project photos, helping me pick projects for my portfolio. He kept picking projects that were just kind of ok - not stellar. I couldn't figure out why and then I realized that he was picking projects where there was a BEFORE and AFTER one right after another that really showed the transformation. It could simply be a painting job on a piece of furniture, but he liked it better than my more creative projects because there was a good before picture. This was his favorite project....a simple project, but a great BEFORE and AFTER sequence...

Now, not only do you need to TAKE a BEFORE picture, but you need to take a GOOD BEFORE picture. This might be a little contrary to your original thinking. Shouldn't a BEFORE picture look really bad so the piece looks even worse in its previous state? You would think so, but actually a bad picture works against you. People might think the dresser or chair isn't all that bad, rather the PHOTO is bad and your makeover isn't all that grand. Instead, take a BEFORE picture in the exact spot where you will photograph the AFTER shot. Then your audience will get a true picture of your awesome work. See this sequence below? TWO FAILS.

#1 The first photo is badly lit and the second is well lit. It makes it seem like the lighting makes a huge difference instead of the changes that I made.

#2 The photos are taken from different angles, so you don't get a true picture of how drastically the room changed.

Bad BEFORE photo

AFTER photo that is not as effective...

Another biggie when photographing the BEFORE of a room is to take several pictures from several different angles. Doesn't it just drive you batty when there are BEFORE and AFTER pictures in a magazine and you can't really figure out where the walls were in the first photo and how those windows just kind of appeared in the middle of the second photo? It is disconcerting as a reader and uninspiring. Inspiring is when you can see EXACTLY how someone has recreated a space because the photos are taken with similar lighting from the EXACT SAME ANGLE. Take this example from my Sharpie Rug Project. It is very close to the same angle, but not exact...

The next set of photos does a better job of telling the story of the transformation...

So while not an expert quite yet on BEFORE pictures (I still start refinishing pieces in the driveway before grabbing my camera - oops!),
I have been focusing on doing a better job at capturing the horrible BEFORES to better capture the awesome AFTERS...
What do you think THESE befores will become?!

...only time will tell...

What are you creating today? Did you take a BEFORE pic?!

The Sharpie Rug ...and how to become a DIY Warrior Princess

2012-02-03T07:20:00.001-06:00

Good morning everyone!! Meet my ugly, stained sisal rug. It started out life as a decent sisal rug, probably purchased new and used for years, accumulating a fair amount of stains. I, however, was NOT the one to purchase this rug new. You see, even though sisal rugs are cheap (in comparison to wool and such), they are still pretty darn expensive for a large size like this. So if you know me at all, you know that when I saw this rug in a trash can on trash day that it took all of 3 seconds for me to stop the car and toss it in the back.

After a thorough (VERY thorough) cleaning, the rug was in good shape, smelling nice, but still had some stains. I was *this* close to tossing it in my very own trash can, but decided to experiment a little before tossing it. My first experiment was a colossal failure (see below), but the second was a success! You see, the second experiment only took a Sharpie Marker and a little bravery and turned this throw away rug into a fun new rug!

Voila! What do you think of my new Sharpie rug?? The pattern covers up the stains almost completely, and where they aren't completely covered, they are at least camouflaged.

The stains were so bad...check out this photo below. Actually, a lot of what you see is my own fault (remember that failed first experiment?). I wanted to try to sun paint swirls and whirls on the carpet by placing a series of ropes on the carpet and letting the sun bleach and bake away. The only problem was that the wind kept blowing the ropes away and the sun didn't bleach the rug enough for a contrast, yada, yada, yada. SO FAIL. This was the point at which the carpet almost got thrown right back into the trash from whence it came.

Of course, the very best time to be brave and make something artistic is when you have nothing to lose. If I hated the look, then the carpet could go right in the trash or act as a weed barrier for my vegetable garden. Taking a Sharpie to the rug before its inevitable death was not a big deal at this point...

It did take several nights of patiently making mark after mark after mark to complete the rug. Basically, the rug already has the pattern woven into it. It is simply a matter or evolving the pattern into a design. There are two types of weave on the rug, alternating squares like a checkerboard. One of the squares has 4 little thread lines. I simply traced the 4 little lines to make each black sqaure. Then, the squares and rectangles were elongated on a diagonal to fill in the design. The project in total probably took 10-12 hours.

Luckily, I had a friend. Every time I grabbed the marker and laid down on the carpet,

bebe grabbed his coloring book and crayons and started to work with me.

Nothing like joint craft time to bond Mama and bebe, eh?

So how will you be brave today?

Do you have a piece of furniture that you are sick of and getting ready to throw away? Why not try a crazy color or

weird sanding technique before you throw it out. You never know what might strike you as your favorite project yet!!

Be Brave! Be Fearless! Be a DIY Warrior Princess! (or Prince!)

Linking up to The Girl Creative and The Southern institutue today!

How to OverWinter Boston Ferns

2012-02-02T07:25:00.000-06:00

This is what a fern usually looks like at the end of summer....spilling out over the edges, lush and green (sorry for the lighting making it look quite yellow...). In fact, you might still be able to find one or two on clearance at your local nursery that still have a little oomph to them. You can grow ferns as a traditional houseplant, but if you don't have the space, yet want to keep the plants for next years hanging baskets, don't fret -- it IS possible! Simply allow your fern to go into its normal dormancy period and help it go green again this spring!

Here is what the lush green foliage of summer looks like...

The first signs of dormancy start to show on the underside of the fronds. They will turn brown and wither (like deciduous trees) and eventually will start shedding. This is OK! It is normal! Just make sure you bring those pots indoors before a harsh frost. Boston Ferns can only survive temperatures down to around 20-40 degrees and can only survive the high end of that range when handing in a pot. So get those puppies inside when it starts to get chilly outdoors and don't worry when the fronds start to turn yellow and brown and start shedding.

You will need to water your ferns a bit through the winter, but not too much. The trick is to keep them in a dormancy state until they are ready to be prepped for springtime. Water once a week and do it sparingly. Do not fertilize!

Once the temperatures start to warm up, you can start giving your ferns a little more water, but do not fertilize them yet.

Once spring really hits, you can give your ferns a little weak fertilizer and a good watering. Do this in a sink or outdoors so the water can soak the roots fully and run out the bottom of the pot. On a warm day, move the ferns outdoors in the shade (the sun will burn them) for a few hours. The next day, leave them out a little longer. By the third day, they should be safe to leave outside!!

Trim any brown or yellow dead growth, continue to water until the plant takes off and hits its stride. You'll know it is doing well when the green growth is lush and full again!!

(You can use this method with many tender perennials such as geraniums and Gerbera daisies.)

What is growing in your basement or garage this winter???

Mezcal Crema

2012-02-01T07:50:00.000-06:00

Can you guess what this is??

It might look a little like sour cream...

Or a yogurt mint sauce, perhaps??

Take a closer look...

Does the cilantro give it away a little??

...or perhaps the title?? :)

This is Mezcal Crema, a Mexican version of sour cream with a nice jolt and kick. I've got to give credit to Alex -- he was the chef in the kitchen for this condiment and I loved it so much, I made him let me put the recipe here. You are lucky!

It is a simple condiment, most of the flavor stemming from a tequila marinated jalapeno. You simply finely dice a jalapeno and add enough tequila to cover (just a T or so) and let it soak overnight. Throw the mixture in the blender with a little kosher salt and then mix with a traditional sour cream.

YUM.

It isn't exactly what I was looking for with my spicy guacamole experiment, but it is quite close and is a fabulous addition to a spicy Mexican meal. The cream is deceptive because it is soothing and cooling and then BAM hits you with a second note of heat and tequila. So interesting....all in a little unassuming goblet.

Mezcal Crema

1 jalapeno -- finely diced
2 T Mezcal Tequila
1-2 Cups of Sour Cream (to taste)

If you like it hot, add less sour cream!! For more authentic flavor, go for a Mexican Creme Fraiche and the true Mezcal Tequila. In a pinch, go for good ole American sour cream and whatever tequila is on the shelf (if you don't drink, you could get a "nip" bottle...it would be plenty for this recipe!). We made this quite mild for a recent family dinner, but tend to like it spicier! Experiment and taste as you go!!

...because your style is not labeled in one word...

2012-01-31T11:57:00.000-06:00

I love quizzes. (don't you??)

I've always loved reading chick magazines and filling out all the answers to the "Learn what your

worst trait is" and "Are you a good friend?" and "Figure out your style in 17 easy questions!". Fun!

The only problem is that you might end up thinking that your style is "eclectic" or "modern" or "Asian" )

(seriously? Asian?? That is really a design category...as if Asia doesn't have thousands of varying design styles?! Blech.)

My office space...a study on the things I JUST LOVE

Moving on. A long time ago I learned to give up all the design labels. Those quizzes are fun, but when it comes to actually defining your style, they do little more than give you a sticky label to tag on your style. Design books that try to pigeonhole you into a specific style do the same. The thing is - - everyone's style is slightly different and there aren't enough labels in the world to accurately do them justice. So join me in ditching the labels and simply learning your style inside and out without labeling it!!

My article this week on Houzz is all about creating ideabooks to help you learn your own style. Using "just love" books, you can delve into the defining features of your preferences and get a better grip on what you should be looking for when you are purchasing items for your home. Go check out the article right HERE and I would love it if you made your own "just love" ideabook or pinboard and showed them off here in the comment section or over on the facebook page!! Let's see what you JUST LOVE!!

What can I take from this exterior shot that I JUST LOVE? Perhaps a hallway softened by plantings or botanical prints?

Don't Underestimate Your Kids | Pickled Turnips and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes

2012-01-31T07:49:00.002-06:00

Sometimes my kids really surprise me with the dishes that they like. Sometimes I'll make a pasta dish I think they'll love it and they barely eat 3 bites. Other times I make spinach smoothies for salads for myself that they keep asking for seconds of! Craziness! This is one of those dishes...

I made this little salad of pickled veggies for myself last night and chilled and marinated it overnight for lunch today. When I pulled it out of the fridge, the boys kept asking for bite after bite, so I finally gave them each a serving and they whoofed it down. One even asked for seconds.

Later when I was photographing the dish, I noticed a little hands sneaking into the frame...

Yeah -- they kinda liked it :)

So what IS this dish you ask??

It is a simple pickled salad of raw turnip and yellow tomato. The marinade, pickling "juice" is a basic salad dressing and it infuses the veggies (Especially the turnips!) with a tart flavor. I suppose the flavor would intensify if you left the salad in the fridge for a few days, but ours lasted but an evening.

Pickled Veggie Salad

2 cups of Cherry Tomatoes (I used yellow!), washed, not peeled
2 medium turnips, peeled and julienned

Marinade

1 T Spicy Brown Mustard
1 T Lemon Juice
1 T White Vinegar
2 T Olive Oil
1/2 c Water
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper

Mix ingredients and let the flavors meld in the fridge overnight. Serve cold or room temperature. Easy Breezy!

What have your kids surprised you with?? Did they end up liking beets or kolrabi? Do you have a broccoli freak in your house (we do!)

To like or not to like...that is the pinteresting question

2012-01-30T08:11:00.000-06:00

Hello hello! Good Morning!!!

Here is the question of the day...

Should you or should you not...................LIKE what people are pinning from your site on pinterest.

This is my dilemma....

You see, pinterest is the best gage of what readers are liking on my site. (Thank you Gail for showing me how to find my source page!) Not only do I get to see which projects they want to KEEP, but typically posts are given a "title" or comment as they are pinned. I learn a lot from glancing through pinterest and seeing what people are saying.

Last week, I realized that my pineapple post was a big hit over at pinterest, so I decided to post the ginger post I had in queue right away to capitalize on the new followers and subscribers that are into pantry planting.

The problem is...I'm a big fan of the "like" button on facebook as a "thank you". You know...someone says "You hair looks great!" and you press "like" to say thanks, right? Well, I've been "liking" pins that people have pinned from my blog as a way to say a quick "thanks". My questions is whether it reads as a thank you or as an egocentric move of an egomaniac.

In fact, I've been experimenting the past few weeks. I will spend one week liking a bunch of pins...just down the page, like-like-like - thank you-thank you-thank you like a politician. Then the next week I didn't "like" anything. My goal was to see if people hated me liking everything and started to unfollow or whatever. Well...the results are in and my "liking" made no difference whatsoever...

SO...I need your opinion...do you see it as a thank you when someone likes your pin from their blog or as an ego-maniacal move???

Thoughts??

Moments and Impressions | FEATURE FRIDAY

2012-01-27T08:18:00.000-06:00

So I've "known" Nessa for awhile now (via blogland), but recently, it seems she and I have been emailing like over-tweeeeeety songbirds. I'm kinda in love with this girl and I think you might fall for her too...

She has a way of speaking to her audience that is sweet and insightful, not at all crass or over sharing. She is a blogger that lets you see her heart, but isn't opening up just for the attention or shock value. Mixed in with the musings of life are fabulous decor, gardens and recipes (my kind of GIRL!).

One of my favorite recent posts lately is simply titled today.

Then there is the one titled change.

Or maybe you would love the post Two Spoons.

Take your pick! Go read a post or two and make sure to tell Miss Nessa that Amy Renea says Hey!

How to Plant Ginger Root

2012-01-26T07:42:00.000-06:00

So hey....apparently planting a pineapple top is big news...everyone's all pinning and asking questions about growing your own pineapple and gaining a cheap new houseplant, so I thought I would show you another one of my pantry planting successes.

I've been on a major ginger kick lately, so a few months ago, I planted a few chunks of ginger to multiply my supply. Now, people are going to get on my case because you are supposed to lay the ginger on top of the soil, but I plant it right under the surface so my babies don't steal it and eat it. (Yes, they literally do things like that if plants aren't rooted down yet...no foxglove for THIS family!) I have had no issues growing ginger this way!!

So here's a chunk of ginger root, about an inch long, unpeeled....

[ Thanks to Andrea for mentioning in the comment section to be careful to make sure there is a "node" on each section you plant. All of the important "stuff" to grow is hidden in that node and without one, the ginger will just rot. You can kind of think of it as the "seed" inside the little piece of ginger. A node (or bud or whatever you want to call it) is just a little knob on the ginger...you are probably more familiar with potatoes. You know when potatoes sprout in your pantry? That little sprout came from a node. (See a photo HERE) Try to find those little bumps on your ginger. If all else fails, try taking an inch off the end of each little "finger" -- those almost always have a node on them!]

Simply place your chunk of ginger in a pot of rich potting soil and DON'T OVERWATER.

A few cubes of ice a week work until the leaves start to show up.

Bye-bye ginger!

Fast forward a few months...hello little ginger poking up through the soil (see those two little guys?!)

So what are YOU growing? Have you tried planting anything from your pantry this winter?

Taste Testing Frozen Vs. Fresh Squash and Ginger

2012-01-25T08:41:00.000-06:00

SO. You've heard enough about squash and pumpkin and ginger from me the past few days to last you a lifetime. I ask you to read one more post. Then go make some soup. Then eat it and love it. One warning...DON'T USE THE FAKE STUFF!

Remember that oven shot? Yeah...those were all different techniques and finished with different amount of ginger, fresh vs powdered, etc. etc. I was going to write a big long post on the advantages of both, but it all boils down to one thing.

The soup that I made from frozen squash and powdered ginger? The chickens ate it. I did not. It was THAT BAD. It gives squash and ginger a bad name. So please please use my shortcut on the squash, and if you are desperate go ahead and use frozen squash (no don't really...it won't be as good), but please please please know there is NO substitution for that roasted fresh ginger. I know it is a pain to peel, but it totally makes the dish. Promise.

The second thing I tested was a full lineup of stocks and broths. I tried chicken and veggie, organic and non, and a variety of brands. Again, I was going to give you the full work up on my thoughts, but the results were very clear. DO NOT use chicken stock (it tastes too "chickeny" and the squash and ginger kind of loose their "brightness"). Use Veggie stock -- any brand. I tried many and there was no difference in taste between the brands. The flavors of the soup were strong enough to mask any variations in the stock, so go for cheaper veggie stock if you want...just DON'T sacrifice on the ginger~!

The following photos are the stocks and broths that I tested...

Want the recipe for the Nicole's Squash and Ginger soup? CLICK HERE

Want to see how I made the prep process a little easier? CLICK HERE

Want to see roasted Jarrahdale Pumpkins or Beets? CLICK HERE

Roasted Jarrahdale Pumpkin Soup

2012-01-24T08:30:00.001-06:00

Do you have a few pumpkins still sitting around from Halloween? Chances are...they are still good enough to eat! (...but not for long...they might start to rot around this time of year, so now is the time to eat them up!) I had some Jarrahdale Pumpkins (the blue kind...you can see them growing HERE) and they were about to be sacrificed to the compost if I didn't do something about it within the next couple of weeks. Since I was so in love with Nicole's Squash and Ginger Soup I decided to try the same recipe with my pumpkins. Surprise, surprise...I loved it!

So here are the pumpkins cracked open. They have blue skin, but typical orange pumpkin innards. Simply gut the pumpkins, then roast whole using THIS METHOD I used with butternut squash. Add the ginger, butter S and P to the cavity and roast on 400 degrees for a few hours until the flesh is fork tender. I add a little more ginger than in the squash recipe because the pumpkin taste is a little "deeper" and "earthier" than the squash, so I like more ginger to "brighten" it up. (I know...I hate using those words to describe food too...like I'm a "too into myself Top Chef contestant" or something...but I couldn't think of a better way to describe it. So there you go -- brighten up your pumpkin with a little ginger!!)

If you have been following along on my facebook page, you might have seen this photo (above) and wondered what I was up to. Well...let's just say I've been eating so much squash and pumpkin lately that I might start to turn into an orangey looking Bilirubin Baby pretty soon. Those separate pans all full of squash were my taste testing experiments to see which method worked the best for this delicious dish.

Anywho....after your pumpkins are roasted and very tender, with a skin looking like the pumpkin below, you know they are ready to pop out of the oven. LET THEM COOL and then scoop the flesh out (don't loose any of that yummy ginger and butter sauce!) Puree the pumpkin with vegetable stock (FULL RECIPE HERE) and save the soup for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months (or probably longer...).

Had enough pumpkin and squash yet??? Sorry Hardy! FROZEN squash coming up next!!

How to Plant a Supermarket Pineapple (Easy!)

2012-01-23T09:33:00.000-06:00

So you buy a pineapple at the grocery store, eat all the goodness up and have tons of rind leftover. You throw it in the trash, and you feel a little twinge of guilt as all that weight hits the bottom of the can. You throw it in the compost and you feel much better, but you still feel like you are missing out on an opportunity. Why? Because you are throwing away a pineapple! That pineapple top can usually grow a whole new plant if you give it soil and water and light, and this time of year is the PERFECT time to give your pineapple a head start on the growing season. The roots begin to develop before the leaves and fruit, so growing your pineapple indoors while it is getting established and then allowing the pineapple to have more light before it fruits (this summer) works perfectly!

It's really simple...just chop the top of the pineapple off with a decent amount of core still left on it.

Experts say you should let it sit out a day or so, but I just plop it right into the soil.

I plant mine in a pot and move in from indoors to out, but if you are in zone 9 or 10,

or it is summertime for you, feel free to plant your pineapple straight into the ground.

Dig a hole, hold the soil to the side and drop the pineapple in with the spiky hair pointing UP!
The soil should nestle right in around the bottom of the first set of leaves.

Pat the soil down around the plant to settle it in. (It IS a plant now, no longer just a pineapple :)

Wait a few months and you'll likely have a brand new pineapple!

UPDATE | Several weeks later...

After a few weeks, the leaves will start to look a little sad, but this is ok!

Just look for new growth near the center of the plant and be patient! The bottom of the pineapple is very very busy!

Leave these leaves on until they become completely brown, as they are photosynthesizing energy for the root system.

UPDATE | Several months later...

See those bright green leaves? They are brand new leaves that have grown with no help from me. A little water once in awhile and a little leftover coffee as "fertilizer" and the pineapple top has taken care of itself! Most of the old leaves have fallen off, but if you look closely, you can see a few left at the the very bottom of the pot. By the time spring and summer roll around, this plant will be more than ready to head outdoors!

NOTE: Many supermarket plants are hybrids and don't grow true from seed. Planting a piece of the original plant however, (like this pineapple top) ensures that the fruit that grows will be just like the parent plant. There are many naysayers on whether pantry and grocery store "chunks" and roots will grow, but I've found a lot of success with them. You have nothing to lose, but the most minimal of time. It is fun for you and GREAT fun for the kids.

So what do you have to lose? If you want a little green in your window, just pop that pineapple top into a little soil! At the very least, you have a new houseplant for free. At the most, you will have a pineapple plant that grow large enough to produce fruit year after year! Alternatively, you can plant sprouting potatoes from your pantry, beet and turnip tops, leek roots, green onion roots and many more plants from grocery store and pantry "trash". What do YOU grow from the trash?

Has Your Kid Made Anything Amazing Lately??

2012-01-20T08:01:00.002-06:00

Did you know...?

"All children have great thoughts and great ideas which find expression in doodles and sketches…random thoughts, random doodles, find place everywhere. Be it walls or bedsheets or whatever ‘canvas’ the little ones lay their hands on!

Given a chance, every parent would like to cherish each one of these amazing masterpieces. But, they usually run out of ideas and space. Some art adorns the walls, the refrigerator, the pin up boards while some gets stored away in boxes, files and folders.

And very soon they all grow up." (from Little Sketchers.com)

Today's Feature Friday (NO this is NOT a sponsored post!!) is such a special little website. It is called Little Sketchers and showcases bebe artwork. It is a place where your child can set up a free gallery and you can upload their photos, drawings, artwork and plain old sketches. It is a community of artists and wannabe artists and I find it so inspiring. Kids have all the great ideas, don't they?

I have been trying to capture our "everydays" with my Project 52 (yeah...it might take a few years to get to 52, but we are still trucking along...forgetting the whole week thing...), but a few months ago I really started to consider the kid's artwork. I don't want my house cluttered with papers everywhere, and we do have this ART DISPLAY CASE, but I need better solutions. One solution will be to upload photos of the boy's sketches to their galleries on Little Sketchers. I'll need more solutions in the coming years though (our home is overrun with art...) so stay tuned...I have my eyes fixed on one particular stairwell that is 20 ft high or so....

not my kiddo...taken from littlesketchers.com...but he is a cute kid, isn't he?? And check out that ship drawing!

The site is completely free (and remember - they aren't paying for this mention...I just found them and loved the concept), so what do you have to lose? Even if you don't check out Little Sketchers, be inspired by their mission to save that precious artwork somehow!!

Has your kid made something amazing lately? How will you remember it??

Spinach Margaritas. Dinosaur Smoothies. (Spinach Smoothies...shhh...)

2012-01-19T06:31:00.000-06:00

So here is the deal. You've all heard of spinach smoothies, right? Maybe you have tried them. Perhaps you blow them off because you know you would hate the (me too!).

At a certain point though, weight loss becomes NECESSARY and everyone's claims of "oh you can't taste the spinach at all!" and "they are so gooood" start to convince you.

I am here to tell you the truth.

1. If you make a spinach smoothie with a banana and a wee bit of fresh fruit, it will still taste like spinach.
2. That is ok if you work yourself up to it.
3. You can fool your kids by naming them "dinosaur smoothies" or "blueberry smoothies" or "turtle smoothies".
4. You can fool yourself by calling them spinach margaritas.
5. Start your spinach smoothie journey with grace.

So let's start with the grace. You are going to be drinking chopped up fresh spinach. You need to ease yourself into it. The nutritionists out there are going to kill me, but my advice is to start out with a little sugar. (Yes, I know it defeats the purpose...but we are EASING our way into this ok?) When you make your first smoothie, try adding the juice from the can of pineapple (NOT the heavy syrup, just the juice). You can also try adding orange juice, lemonade or another yummy juice (that might have added sugar). The goal eventually is to get rid of the sugary additions, but for your first couple smoothies, it is ok. (Again, no expert here, but strong flavors and a little sugar helped me get started on this journey...)

On to the kids....calling it a "frog smoothie" (or whatever fun name you come up with) goes a looooooong way. The reverse psychology of telling them "you can only have one cup now, but you can have another at dinner. Please don't ask for another cup now because I will say No" works too. Say that really sternly and they'll be begging you for spinach.

The harder challenge is convincing yourself (and your husband). First off...you must admit to yourself that you are drinking spinach. Don't go thinking you will be drinking a pina colada. Next, make it delicious to YOU. You have to add STRONG flavors to mask the greens. A lot of people like banana in their smoothies...I hate it. Instead, I go with really tart citrus flavors like lemon and lime. A lot of lemon and lime. ...and then I rim my Margarita glass with kosher salt (yes I really do), add a bunch of ice to the smoothie and drink up. The strong salt and citrus mask the greens, pineapple adds sweetness and the ice makes it a really thick, icy drink that I prefer. The point is to make it a drink you would actually drink...just with spinach.

Once you start craving your morning smoothie, then you can start cutting down on the sugar and fruit. Take away a little juice here and there...add more water or ice...add more greens...try different greens, etc.

SO. YES, you CAN drink a spinach smoothie. NO, it will not taste as good as a Margarita. YES, you can make it a PRETEND Margarita and have one every morning! Yum!

My Beginner Recipe:

GIANT handful of spinach (around 2-3 cups)
1 can of pineapple in juice (NOT heavy syrup) -- pour the whole thing in
1 can of lemonade concentrate
2 limes (juice and flesh all blended up)
Lots and lots of ice (or water)

Blend in 2 or 3 batches in the blender (or use less juice and concentrate for smaller batches). I combine everything in a pitcher and save it for later. You can also freeze some and make popsicles, etc.

My Advanced Recipe:

GIANT handfuls of spinach (4-5 cups)
1 can of pineapple or 1 fresh pineapple (no juice) (or peaches or pears, etc, etc)
2 lemons and 2 limes (or just add lemon and lime juice to taste)
Lots and lots of ice (or water)

What is YOUR smoothie recipe?

Roasted Butternut Squash with Fresh Ginger

2012-01-18T07:08:00.002-06:00

So Monday I told you all up and down about how wonderful Nicole's soup is right? Did you try it? Well, as you remember, I was eating the soup for lunch and dinner for like a week, so that is a lot of cooking squash...which also means a lotta lotta peeling and gutting squash. A lotta lotta. Now for those of you not familiar with peeling and gutting squash...let me give you a brief lesson.

You have to cut off the top of the squash, then cut of the bottom. Then you have to start peeling the thing. From the top in little strips, around the whole top of the squash. Don't peel your fingers in the process!

Then you get to the bottom and it becomes even more difficult to peel. See how thick that skin is?

Peeling it is a NOT fun job and if your knife isn't sharp, it becomes quite a dangerous job -- beware!

Once the squash is finally peeled, you cut it in half right down the middle and then scoop out the "guts.

Messy and not fun, but not nearly as bad as peeling...

Once you get the guts out of the squash, you can toss them in the compost or separate the seeds from the pulp and roast the seeds...nom nom!

In Nicole's recipe, this is the point where you cut the squash into cubes, roast and then puree the squash. To be honest, the peeling, gutting and cubing was taking forever, so on my second batch I decided to roast the squash in its skin. From what I have read the skin has a bunch of nutrients in it, and I'm thinking they probably leech into the flesh while roasting...that's just a theory though - don't quote me. The fact of the matter however, is that leaving the skin on while roasting is MUCH much easier. I did two batches and taste tested them to make sure that the taste didn't suffer, and I couldn't tell the difference between the two! So from now on, my squash soup is going to be roasted whole like this:

Do you see how the skin just crisps around the top?

Once the squash is roasted simply use a spoon and scoop out the flesh as close to the skin as possible.

What about the ginger??

Simply add your peeled and chunked ginger (no getting around the ginger peeling) and a little salt and pepper

into the "guts" cavity and sprinkle the whole squash with kosher salt and pepper.

YUM. Eat up!

Bye Bye GOogle Friend Connect....Maybe?

2012-01-17T14:52:00.002-06:00

Hey blog reading fiends (yes, I said FIENDS)....you probably already know this, but in about a month, Google Friend Connect will be gone (for non-blogger blogs?). I am a blogger blog, so maybe nothing will change?! Anybody else confused??

Anywho...if you follow through Google Friend Connect, make sure you follow along on another RSS feeder, pinterest or facebook as well....just in case...

Make Your Own Plant Markers

2012-01-17T08:26:00.000-06:00

So last week I broke down and ordered myself a metal stamping kit. I wanted to make those awesome little silverware plant markers that have been all over pinterest lately, and have been waiting and waiting hoping to find one on the cheapie at an auction or thrift store. Well, it has been about a year now and no luck, SO amazon it was!

Of course, I couldn't wait a few days to get my kit to make labels for my WINTER POTS, so I made it work with what I had...a little cardstock and some lettered brads. The cardstock was punched with a craft punch (until it broke on me...darn Fiskars...anybody have recommendations for better craft punches?) and then the pieces glued together in a kind of wavy line. Then it was simply a matter of pressing the brads through the cardstock, attaching bamboo skewers to the backs (hot glue again!) and placing the sharp ends of the skewers into the soil.

These plant markers obviously won't work outdoors...they would wilt with the very first rain or snow...but they are perfect for indoors! An added benefit of the bamboo skewers is that they have been taking up a little water from the soil. When the water line is high on the skewers, I know I don't need to water, but when I can no longer see the water line, those pots needs a little H2O.

So make it work! Radishes, turnips, beets or potatoes! They all need a little label and you can make cute versions with whatever you happen to have lying around the house.

What do YOU make plant markers out of??

Nicole's Squash and Ginger Soup...TO DIE FOR

2012-01-16T08:43:00.001-06:00

So Nicole makes this soup. It is called Butternut Squash Soup and the first time she brought it out to the table, I was a little bit skeptical. You see, I've never really liked squash. The flavor was a bit to blah and the texture too stringy...I dunno -- just never liked it. So it was with a little bit of (hopefully hidden) fear and trepidation that I dug into my first bowl of squash soup. Funny thing...after that first bite there was no going back. You see, Nicole had added a GENEROUS helping of fresh ginger to the soup ad it made all the difference in the world. ALL of the difference. Slightly spicy with LOADS of flavor, the ginger makes the dish (and a little salt helps too!). Based mainly on squash and vegetable stock, this dish is healthy, delicious and has been my lunch (and dinner) meals for the past week. I am not kidding. I have truly been eating this soup for almost every meal and it is filling, delicious and so spicy that you meet that "flavor" quota. (You know that quota that never really quite gets met when you go to a bad buffet and you eat and eat and eat, but there haven't been any really amazing flavor standouts, so you feel like you aren't fulfilled??? C'mon I know you know what I am talking about....that feeling after you eat a cafeteria meal that is bland as bland can be, so you keep adding salt and pepper hoping it will help, but it never does, so you eat a chocolate bar and THAT finally fills that natural craving for great food and flavor. The ginger in this soup just SLAMS that need for some brilliant flavor...so please please don't leave out the ginger...it is vital!!)

Butternut Squash and Ginger Soup

1 Butternut Squash
I Medium White or Yellow Onion

1 Medium "hand" of FRESH ginger
2 T Safflower Oil
Salt, Pepper and Butter to Taste
Blender or Immersion Blender

Wash, Peel and Gut Squash
Cut Squash into Chunks w/o skin
Peel and Cut Onion into Large Chunks
Peel and Cut Ginger into 1/2 inch chunks

Put Onions, Ginger and Squash into baking dish
Drizzle with Safflower Oil, Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
Bake 1 Hour @ 400 degrees (or sometimes a little longer) until fork tender
Place batches of roasted veggies in blender and thin with Vegetable Stock (NOT chicken stock!)
Puree until Smooth
Add butter to taste if desired and water for consistency if desired, S and P to taste!

...now if you are like me...you might get impatient, skip the blender step and just eat a little roasted squash for lunch.

Roasting the ginger chunks right along with the squash allows enough flavor to infuse the dish and the roasted squash is just delicious too...

NOW for the disclaimer. My husband and kiddos DON'T like the soup. Nicole's husband loves it. I love it. She loves it. I love it super super gingery (I added more than the recipe calls for), but it could be off putting to some people. SO tread lightly with the first batch, but if you like ginger, you might be hooked...just warning you...

PS...topping your soup with a healthy does of roasted squash and/or pumpkin seeds is a fun twist!!