My project this weekend & a tip for cleaning your microwave

 I've had this little desk/side table for going on 6 years with the intentions of painting it. But up until this year, I wasn't sure exactly the look I was going for with it. I was talking about it with my mom (interior decorator extraordinaire) this spring & she gave me a great idea...

  She took me to Urban Barn & showed me a little cabinet with a black top (like my little table already has), silver sides & front, & a butterfly decal wrapped around the side. I have searched the internet, but CANNOT find a picture of the exact one she showed me. So sorry. This is the closest I could find:

Madame Butterfly Tall Cabinet by http://www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk/
Pretty, no?

  I'm not sure I'll add the butterfly to my table... what do you think? I'm thinking it might be too busy with all the displays I do on this table. I would also have to find a stencil or decal. Anywho, I bought some silver spray paint & it's on my to-tackle list for this long weekend. I'll show you the results next week. I'm going to the keep the top black & the chrome trim is also staying. I'm excited to see the results & to finally cross it off my list!

Introducing the Cleaning Tips column! 

(or "One of Steph's handy tips" as my husband calls them)

  In my cleaning detail today I noticed that my microwave was in need of a scrubbing. I learned this tip from the show How Clean Is Your House? & it works so well, I thought I would share.


 Fill a microwaveable bowl full of tap water. Quarter a lemon & add to water. Or in a pinch just add 1/4 cup of lemon juice.

  
  Put bowl in microwave & set for 5 minutes. After it has "cooked" for 5 minutes, let it stand in the microwave for an additional 5 minutes or so. Then, just wipe your microwave out. The steam loosens cooked on food & it just wipes away! And the lemon makes it smell fresh - bonus!


  Thanks for stopping by!

  Enjoy your day!

~Steph

  

Before & After home tour (part 3)

  We recently finished our kitchen renovation. It had been mostly done for a long time, but we put the frosting on the cake this summer by completing the back splash. We opted to go with a simple white subway tile. I'm enjoying the clean, sleek look it adds to the kitchen. 

  Here are some before shots. These were taken before we moved in. We thankfully had 1 month to start our renos before we moved into the house. This kitchen was the first thing to change. It just wouldn't have worked very well for us - no dishwasher, single sink, no upper cabinet doors (I like "stuff" out of sight behind doors), very little counter space...

After shots complete with the new backsplash

  We reconfigured the kitchen layout by adding this peninsula with a high bar top which adds more cabinet & counter space. It also doesn't crowd the fridge & stove so much.

Our control centre 

Here's a better shot of my Paris gallery - B&W photos from a calendar &frames fromIkea - easy peasy.

Recap:

Sources:

Paint: Camalot by Benjamin Moore
Cabinets, countertops, hardware, light fixtures: Ikea
Flooring: Floor It
Backsplash Tile: Home Depot

If you'd like to see our living room makeover click here.
If you'd like to see our main bathroom makeover click here.

  Well, I'm off to start my fall decorating. I'm warming to the idea of Fall arriving & my oldest had his first day of Grade 3 today. My little girl starts Kindergarten at the end of September so I have some extra time to cherish with her. I hope you'll join me next week when I link up to Nest of Posies Fall Festival. September promises to be a month full of beauty & inspiration.

Enjoy your day!

~Steph

8x8 scrapbook layouts

  Last week, my husband, James, took me on an anniversary get-away. It was 5 days of loveliness. We went to Prince Albert National Park here in Saskatchewan. The weather was great so we even got in a little bit of beaching along with some fishing, hiking, lots of dinners out, & tons of R&R.

  I brought some of my scrapping supplies along & while James was napping/watching football one afternoon, I started working on an 8x8 album with photos from Spring 2011. I don't use 8x8 albums super often, but I do like how they bring focus to the photos & don't require much to make them look great. When I do a 8x8 album, I do it with a theme - Spring in this case, but I have done mostly vacations in the past. I gather all the supplies I have that goes with that theme, cut my papers (or in this case, used a pre-cut 8x8 patterned paper pack), & start the fun!

  Here are some favourites from my now-completed 8x8 Spring 2011 Album:

Supplies used:
Patterned Papers, Journalling spots, Butterflies - Making Memories
Die cut flowers, Photo corners - Creative Memories
Flair (Adhesive badges) - American Crafts
Chipboard words & phrases - Little Yellow Bicycle
Bird Punch - Stampin' Up!
Die cut Heart - unknown
Bling & pearls - Prima & Dollarama

Enjoy your day!

~Steph

Apple Recipes

  Our apple trees are bursting with fruit. To the point where we can't keep up with them. It seems to be this way most years, actually. There is so much fruit we can't use it all.

  Here are some of my favourite recipes to enjoy all the appley goodness.

APPLE CRUNCH
serves 6

5 medium apples, cored & chopped 
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix apples & brown sugar in a oven-safe casserole dish. Set aside. Mix dry ingredients. Add egg & combine. Spread over apples. Pour butter over top. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Yummy by itself, with ice cream or caramel sauce!

APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS
makes 12

Topping:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/8 tsp. cinnamon

In small bowl, rub together topping ingredients until crumbly. Set aside.

Muffins:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup finely chopped or shredded apple

Mix dry ingredients. Set aside. Mix wet ingredients. Combine both until just moistened. Do not over mix. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle with topping. Bake in 400 F oven for 15-20 minutes.

APPLESAUCE IN THE SLOW COOKER
makes 4 cups

16 small apples or 8 medium apples, peeled, cored, & sliced
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar (or more if you like it very sweet)

Combine apples, water, & sugar in slow cooker. Cover & cook on low for 4 1/2 - 5 hours or on high for 2 1/2 hours. 

Using my vintage finds

  A couple weeks ago I went thrifting / vintage shopping with my mom... remember?  I came home with several great finds & today I'm going to show you what I did with some of them.

  In one of last week's posts, I showed you what I did with the vintage postal scale I brought home. It sits beside some favourite books on our book case.

  The chair I bought from Great West Warehouse went into our son's room under his loft bed as a place for him to read. I'm going to find or sew some cushions to add to it. We also have a wall mounted lamp to hang in this space as it can get quite dark under the bed when the sun goes down. I'll post pics when it's all put together.

  The Sleeping Beauty record I bought from the Salvation Army Thrift Shop went in a record frame & now sits on top of our daughter's cupboard in her bedroom. I think I'll keep looking for other vintage Disney princess records & perhaps do a collage of them on her wall if I find enough.

The silver basket I found at Value Village now holds my mini scrapbook albums in my scrap space.

  The more I look around my house purposefully looking for items that I've purchased second hand, the more I find. I'm going to be posting more about them in the future.

Enjoy your day!

~Steph