Summer, Ferns and Porches

Iced tea, pasta salad, flip flops, dining al fresco, watching thunderstorms from the porch…. It is the last week of preschool and we are ready for summer around here!

I love the look of ferns on a porch in the summer.  I am thinking about investing in some ferns to hang on our front porches and a few for planters on the back patio…..  I just have to keep them alive!!

{Images from Pinterest}

House Tour and Retrospective

Hi y’all.  It’s been one heck of a start to 2013.  I got on a blogging roll, and then became completely sidetracked by life — my dad had a big health scare, my husband and I were sick with a mean, nasty virus for almost 3 weeks, and both kids got the stomach bug at the same time.  Whew.

So, I think I mentioned that we had professional photographs taken of our old house before we moved.  Interior designer extraordinaire, Cathy Green, is featuring our Westover Hills house on her blog right now.  The pictures were taken by, her sister, the amazing Beth Furgurson.

The photos made me miss so much about our old house…

I adored the front porch and our red door.

{This picture was taken as we drove away on the day of closing.  Yes, they asked to keep the porch furniture and we agreed.  Pumpkins were complimentary.}

I loved the pane-less windows and the feeling of living in a treehouse.

I am so proud of all of our DIY projects, most of which remain with the new owners.

{Our DIY roller shades — remains the most pinned blog entry on spark!}

But most of all, I loved the house because of the people who lived there and all of the memories we made during the six years under its roof.

{Clare and her playroom}

{Sleeping Julia}

{Lazy summer days in my beloved orange kitchen}

{Dad reading with his girls before bedtime}

So, pop on over and see the professional pictures and Cathy’s really nice blog post.

And, stay tuned for pics of what’s been going down at the new house.

Follow me on insta for real-time updates (ada_marie).  :)

You know you are old when…you envy mud rooms.

{Source for images}

What’s Cooking – Menu for the Week

Hi!  This week, I am starting this challenge to kick-start our dinner routine in the New Year – 7 new recipes in 14 days.  Here goes this week:

{Image via Dinner: A Love Story}

Sunday (New Recipe): Split Pea Soup with the leftover Christmas ham bone, crusty bread, simple salad.  This was really good!

{Image via MyRecipes.com}

Monday: Cooking Light Southwest Sausage and Rice and veggie platter with dip.

Tuesday: Giada’s Quick and Spicy Tomato Soup, superfast drop biscuits and Ceasar salad.

Wednesday (New Recipe): Baked Ziti with Sausage and Mushrooms (from Dinner: A Love Story cookbook).

{Image via Emily Bites}

Thursday (New Recipe): Emily Bites Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli, rice.

Friday: Cooking Light Turkey Tetrazzini, Greek salad.  

Saturday: Out of Town

What’s for supper at your house this week?  I would love for you to share your favorite quick and easy dinner recipes.  I need 4 more new recipes next week to complete the challenge!

Family Room — House Tour Continued!

So, it’s official — we closed on our new house yesterday.  I have been over there twice today and I am happy as a clam picking out paint colors and scheming about furniture layouts.

But, leaving this house is so bittersweet.  I have so many “forever” memories here.  The family room was the reason we bought this house and continues to be my favorite room.  It is where we unwind together at the end of every day and throughout the weekend.  I’ve napped with newborns, watched countless movies with my girls and cozied in front of the fireplace on cold winter nights in this room.  I love the natural light, the treehouse feel and the open layout.

I searched high and low for a “before” picture of the family room (c.2006) that didn’t have random people in it, and below is the best I could do.  It looks from the kitchen into the family room.  We inherited that soul-sucking mustard yellow color from the previous owners.  It kind of looks like Rainbow Brite’s house!

And here is the room now:

I will miss those lush trees in our backyard so much!

The art on the mantel is by our 5 year old, and the baskets on either side of the fireplace hold infant toys and throw blankets.

It’s a fun before/after.  Getting rid of that yellow was life-changing!!!

TGIF and have a great weekend!  We will be doing a “soft move” across town.  Be back next week with more of the house tour.  :)

hi

just a pop in to say that i am alive!  my husband has been working his *tushie* off these days.  i’ve been feeling stretched and overwhelmed.  but i love the sentiment expressed by the message embroidered on this pillow about families and people who you love.  couldn’t have said it better.  :)   

My Life in Instas

Here’s a visual tour of what’s happening around here in Instragrams:

On the way to a spring picnic.

Dinner.  Brown Butter Gnocchi.

4 year old iPhone picture at the Children’s Museum.

Morning salvation coffee.

Grocery shopping buddy.

Casual Friday.

Awesome Event and Fundraiser.

My new happy tray from Target.

Multitasking.

Makes turning 35 not so bad….

{Are you on instagram?  Come find me: ada_marie}

{mini} Buy This, Not That!

Anyone remember these posts?  I have been coveting this duvet from Serena & Lily for some time and just saw a great knock-off for more than $120 less….

LOVE THIS?

{Catalina Duvet Cover, Serena & Lily, $230 for F/Q}

BUY THIS!

{Tangled Up in Blue Duvet Cover, Land of Nod, $109 for F/Q}

P.S. Have you seen all the awesomeness at Land of Nod lately?  I love that most of it is easily translatable to adult living but at kid prices….

{Eden Table Lamp}

{Wish My Lucky Four Leaf Mirror}

{Confetti Duvet Cover and Sheet Set}

{The Vines Have it Storage}

 

Random Things I am Liking Lately

Here are some random things on my “making-me-happy” radar screen lately:

Oversized Botanical Prints!  I love the idea of oversized botanical prints like these from Wisteria.  I can’t stop thinking about them.  They would be right at home in my dining room and already come framed….  Yesssssss.

Trader Joe’s (3 Minute!!) Steelcut Oatmeal!  As you can see, I hoard buy this in serious bulk.  I add a splash of milk, a dash of cinnamon and a banana…every morning and I never get tired of it! 

Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner!  I got a tip on this from one of my favorite bloggers (thanks, Jackie!) and can’t use anything else now.  My hair has never been softer or smoother.  You can find it at the grocery store or Target for as little as $4.99 a bottle.  A serious steal.

Gascon Malbec!  This $12 bottle of yummy goodness can be found at most grocery stores — I have also seen it at Trader Joes and World Market.  I am no wine expert, but I love the hint of mocha in the background. 

Birch Box!  I just got a subscription for my birthday — I can’t  wait to get my first Birch Box.  Let me know if you want an invite!

Instagram!  Are you on Instagram?  Come find me at ada_marie!

Did I miss anything?  What’s on your radar screen today?

Weekly Menu

I promise that this is NOT turning into a menu-planning blog!  These posts are quick and easy for me, and that’s about I have time for these days! 

Here’s what was on the table last week (I may do these a week behind, so that you can get my two cents on the new recipes):

Monday: Cooking Light Orange Curried Pork, with yellow rice and roasted fennel (which was a new vegetable for me, so delish, sliced the bulb, put a little EVOO (1/2 tablespoon) and salt and pepper, in the oven at 400 for about 30 mins). 

Tuesday: New Recipe!  You’ve Got Supper’s Slow Cooker Barbacoa served in flour tortillas with store-bought mango salsa.  This was the STAR of this week’s menu.  Easy and delicious — it will become a regular on the slow cooker circuit around here for sure!

Wednesday: Cooking Light’s Chili with Pasta and Beans.  One of our favorite chili recipes – easy and quick.

Thursday: Tortellini and Banana Pepper Salad.  A favorite in the warm-weather months.  I love all of the flavors and that the dish is light, but really satiating.

Friday: New Recipe!  Weight Watchers Mini Feta and Vegetable Frittatas with steamed snap peas and bagel and cream cheese.  Everyone really liked these, even my picky 4 year old.  Spray or butter the heck out of the muffin tins because these stick!  I may see if it works equally as well with liners — the clean up was less than fun.

Saturday: Salmon Burgers with green salad.  Another freezer staple in the spring and summer.  We throw these on the grill frozen, put them on potato rolls with grainy mustard, Claussen pickle chips and tomato slices, and it’s a yummy, good-for-you burger!  P.S. It’s equally as good wrapped in lettuce or over a salad.

What’s on your dinner menu?  Any inspiration you can share?

Happy Cooking!