Trash to Treasure - Foyer Dresser

BEFORE

Happy Monday All!  I'm going to be spending my week in "power user" training (oh joy!).  But I did want to share our latest trash to treasure before & after with you. 

AFTER

With a little sanding and painting, this dresser has taken its place as the best piece of trash Dave has ever brought home!

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm sharing this trashy treasure with:

Southern Hospitality - Today's Thrifty Treasures

Debbiedoos Garage Salen Party

Market Day - August 28th

From the Midtown (North Hills) Farmers Market

Local apples - Godwin's Orchard

1lb grass-fed beef - Cohen Farm

Rainbow chard - Edible Earthscapes

Tigger melons - Cloverfields Farm

White potatoes & onions - Ball Farm

Bell peppers - Kellam Wyatt Farm

Eggplant, zucchini & squash - Cedar Rock Farm

It Does Get Easier, Right?

This morning I dropped Clayton off for his first experience of kindergarten.  At our school, the kindergarteners only attend one day of school the first week.  It really is like an assessment day before the final class assignments are made.  I've been so nervous about this day.  My stomach has been in knots all week!  I felt a little better when we got to the school and found out Clayton would be spending the day in Ashleigh's former kindergarten teacher's classroom.  And that two other teachers, whom we know, would be assisting in the classroom today.  Clayton was okay right up until it was time for me to quietly make my exit.

Then he cried and I felt terrible for leaving my baby.  Having been at home for all his life, this will be quite an adjustment.  For him and for us.  As much as it worries me, I try to remind myself this will be a time of growth for Clay.  In a few months we will look back and be amazed at how much he's learned, the friendships he's made.  I know he will be okay, but right now it's kind of tough.  Funny thing is Reed was crying this morning because he wants to go to school!  Go figure!

First Day of Second Grade

Ashleigh with her sparkly kitty lunch box

She had a great first day of 2nd grade!

Homekeepers Journal - August 24th

Baby Clay around age 2. 

Can't believe he's headed to kindergarten this week!

This week's Homekeeper's Journal is all about thoughts of Autumn.

Autumn in my kitchen means ……. A crockpot of chili using local, grass-fed beef.  Then settling down to the table for a bowl of chili topped with sour cream and shredded raw cheddar cheese with homemade cornbread on the side.

Autumn in my home brings …….My birthday! 

I bring Autumn indoors by ……..Incorporating items from nature - pine cones, bare branches, colorful leaves, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn.  Also decorating with colors that bring to mind warmth - browns, reds, and oranges.

A few favorite Autumn activities for my family are …….The NC State Fair is an absolute MUST for us during Fall!  I love the sights, the sounds, the FOOD!  Funnel cakes - yum!  We also enjoy heading out to one of the local farms to pick our pumpkins for carving.

Two favorite Autumn recipes are …….My Chili using local, grass-fed beef and Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese (can substitute sweet potatoes - another Fall favorite!).

This Autumn I would like to ………Go apple picking!

Please visit Sylvia at Christian HomeKeeper Network to read what is going on with other home keepers around blogland!

Market Day - August 21st

From the Midtown (North Hills) Farmers Market

1 dozen pastured eggs - S&L Farm

Stoneground whole wheat flour (ground the night before market!) - The Grain Mill of Wake Forest

2 bars handmade soap - Moondance Soaps

Red apples - Godwin's Orchards

Sweet potatoes and okra - R&V Farm

Onions - Ball Farm

Trash to Treasure - Hubby Brag!

While my projects have been piling up, Dave has been  hard at work on his own!  His most recent project was this trash to treasure armoire.  He started working on it so fast, I didn't get any before pics! 

The drawers were busted, so Dave nailed those back together.  Then he got to work painting.  He used a color from Valspar (New Black).   

And here is the armoire in its new home!  We decided to put it in the family room, replacing the trash to treasure dresser that had been in the corner.  An upgrade of sorts!  

I'm so proud of my hubby and the work he did on this project! 

He's got quite the eye for cool trash. 

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm sharing my Hubby's project with:

Remodelaholic - Remodelaholic's Anonymous Meeting

A Little Knick Knack - EBTKS

Fall Garden Started!

This year, I'm attempting a Fall garden for the first time!  Using salvaged bricks Dave found on Craigslist for free, I constructed a square similar to the one used for my small Spring garden.  My intentions were to start the seeds indoors at the beginning of July.  BUT...that didn't happen!  So I planted the seeds directly into the soil mix and have been praying for the best.  I planted broccoli, kale (lacinato and a curly leaf variety), red chard and spinach.

The newsletter from one of the local nurseries mentioned them selling transplants for the fall gardening.  I may go ahead and clean out my Spring garden and plant a few of the transplants.  Sort of like a "Plan B" if my direct seed experiment doesn't work :)

Zucchini Enchiladas with Homemade Sauce

Zucchini Enchiladas with Homemade Sauce

Recipe from Quick Vegetarian Pleasures by Jeanne Lemlin

We enjoyed this veggie dish the other night and it was quite tasty!  A great use for zucchini if you have an over abundance or have been gifted some.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium local onion, diced

1 large local zucchini, shredded

1 can organic red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Real Salt to taste

Ground black pepper to taste

8 organic whole wheat tortillas

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

For sauce:

1 28 oz. can organic tomato sauce (I used a 6oz can of organic tomato paste with water added)

1/2 cup local, heavy cream

1 large garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon Real Salt

Ground black pepper to taste

- Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.  Add the onion and saute 5 minutes.  Stir in zucchini and oregano and cook until tender but not mushy.  Remove from heat and stir in kidney beans, salt and pepper.  Let the mixture cool.

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  To make the sauce, combine the tomato sauce, heavy cream, garlic, salt and pepper.

- To assemble the enchiladas, pour a layer of sauce on the bottom of 2 large casserole dishes.  Spoon one eighth of the bean mixture along the center of a tortilla, then sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of cheese.  Roll the enchilada and place seam side down in the baking dish.  Repeat with remaining tortillas.

- Spoon the remaining sauce over all the enchiladas and sprinkle some of the remaining cheese on each enchilada.  

- Bake 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Local ingredients used: 

Zucchini - Cohen Farm, Silk Hope, NC 

Spanish sweet onion - Godwin's, Johnston County, NC

Heavy Cream - Maple View Farm, Hillsborough, NC

I'm sharing this recipe with:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Tasty Tuesday

Goodwill - 1950s Inspired Charlotte Russe Dress

Charlotte Russe dress - $2.79 Goodwill

Happy Monday y'all!  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  This morning I'm sharing my latest Goodwill find - this 1950s inspired Charlotte Russe dress.  I've developed an interest in 1950s fashions as of late.  So I had to pick up this dress!  It is a peachy/melon colored check fabric with striped belted waist.

A close up of the sweetheart neckline with puffy cap sleeves.  A strand of faux pearls to complete the 50s look!

Dave and I haven't done much yard saling lately.  I think the season is slowing down here as everyone gets ready to send the kids back to school.  A couple yard sale buys worth sharing:     

Dark blue Gadzooks corduroy jacket - $2

And these pretty decorative pieces.  Dave thinks they have absolutely no purpose at all.  But lying around looking pretty is purpose enough for me!  I paid $1 a piece for my shiny baubles :)

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm sharing these thrifty finds with:

Debbiedoos Garage Salen Party

Southern Hospitality - Today's Thrifty Treasures

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Market Day - August 14th

From the Midtown (North Hills) Market

1lb pastured pork Italian sausage - Coon Rock Farm

Okra - Cloverfields Farm

Green bell peppers - Kellam Wyatt Farm

Red apples - Godwin's Orchards

Zucchini - Cohen Farm

Local honey - The Pleasant Bee

Sunflowers - Blue Dragonfly Cut Flowers

Curls, Curls, Curls

Over the weekend, I decided to try something new with my hair.  I picked up a pack of flexi-rods (flexible curling rods) at Target and did a wet set (rods set on wet hair) Saturday night.  The result...curls....LOTS of curls!  My hair is already short (chin length), but the curls make it look even moreso.  There was a time when I probably would have shrieked in horror and immediately washed them out.  I've always wanted my hair to have some length. 

BUT...I think I like it! 

Even if it does make me look like pictures of my Mom from the 50s.

Who knew we looked so much alike! 

 Dave likes it.  He said it made me look like a 50s pin-up!  Ashleigh wants me to curl her already curly hair.  Reed loves touching the rods when they are in my hair.  And Clayton, well he just wants to know if Christmas is 2 days away.  When I tell him it is not, he then asks if its 3 days away!  My coworkers have also complimented my new, curlier hairstyle.   

So, I think I'll keep the curls for the time being.  Maybe even experiment with different sizes of rods.  After all, three of the coolest people I know have curls!

Homekeepers Journal - August 10th

Please visit Sylvia at Christian HomeKeeper Network to read what's going on with other home keepers around blogland!

This week’s Journal is all about struggles and what we do when we find ourselves there.

I struggle in my kitchen with ….. paper clutter!  Our kitchen seems to be the landing spot for all things paper - mail, school papers, artwork, recipes, coupons, etc.  I should take the time to sort right away, but realistically I just need a temporary holding area (other than the kitchen island) to put stuff until I can look through it later.

Struggles of any kind have a tendency to make me ……  prayerful and reflective.

I struggle more when ……. I feel like circumstances are out of my control.  Or when I feel like I'm not being everything and all things to everyone.  Understanding that there is only so much (very little) I can control and only so much I can do in my own strength, is something I still struggle with. 

When it comes to people, I struggle ….. to be open, especially when meeting new people.  I have a tendency to be guarded and reserved. 

When it comes to struggles, I believe the Lord wants me to know ….. that He is in control.

Goodwill Tax Free Weekend!

It has been TWO weeks since Dave and I have hit the yard sales together.  So we were excited to see what treasures we might find this weekend after our hiatus.  Well, we found absolutely NOTHING!  That's how it goes sometimes!  But the weekend was not without its thrifty scores.  

Last Friday was the start of North Carolina's tax free weekend for school supplies and clothing.  Our local Goodwill stores also participated! 

Express cotton skirt - $3.39 Goodwill

My prize of the weekend was this size 0 Express candy striped cotton skirt.  I saw this skirt last Monday and loved it instantly.  I've been on such a flouncy skirt kick this summer!  I was going to buy it Monday BUT...the store security device was somehow left attached to the skirt when it was donated.  The ladies at the Goodwill didn't have anything to remove the device.  And I really couldn't see myself walking into Express with a skirt still carrying the security tag and no receipt.  So, I figured I lost out on the cutest skirt ever...heartbreak!

Fast forward to Friday and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the exact same skirt back on the rack.  This time, no security tag!  And it was also tax free! 

My other tax free Goodwill buys from the weekend:

Old Navy light blue striped cotton dress - $4.59

A. Byer floral skirt with ribbon - $3.39

Close up of floral design

Light green pleated pencil skirt - $3.39

Close up of stitched floral pattern

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm sharing these tax free Goodwill buys with:

Debbiedoos Garage Salen Party

Southern Hospitality - Today's Thrifty Treasures

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays