Two months later...

The last two months have gone by so fast (too fast!).

About a month ago we moved my dad into the memory care unit of an assisted living facility.  It was, I think, meant to be...

We were given two day's notice by the rehab facility that he was being released the day before Thanksgiving. Of course we weren't prepared for that, so made arrangements to move him into their skilled nursing section (how convenient for them).

Skilled nursing is what you think of when you think "nursing home" - hospital beds and old people sitting in wheelchairs in the hallway.

I couldn't stand it.

Then, the director of one of the assisted living facilities I'd visited when he was first taken to the hospital called the day after Thanksgiving.  I had liked the facility, but thought it was too big - all elevators and long hallways.  He'd never find his way back to his room.

But she suggested their memory care unit.  I'd driven by it.  It was smaller.

Well, I happened to be in town.  She had time to meet with me an hour later.  I called my brother and he was available too.

They had three rooms available and by the end of the day we'd put down a deposit and by that Monday he moved in.

I didn't know if he'd like it.  He always said he wanted to stay at home, with visiting nurses to take care of him.

But he actually likes it! (Maybe because they took the guys to Hooters last week.)

I don't really care why.  I'm just happy he's happy and being taken care of.

Work is still going well.  I like it. It's stressful and I am REALLY busy.  But the people are nice (for the most part!).

I've been doing a lot of work on the house.  I'm tired of living in a construction zone, so am focusing on getting rooms done livable. I'm still working on multiple rooms at once (currently the master bedroom and dining room), but there is a plan and a light at the end of the tunnel!

Part of that plan involves getting "new" furniture.  My furniture consists mostly of hand-me-downs and IKEA.

I love the hand-me-downs.

I hate the IKEA.

So, I got rid of it.  All of it.

Then, just last weekend, I finally moved back into the master bedroom (remember this? That was almost exactly a year ago!).

I moved in a dresser I got from a garage sale, and a chest of drawers I got from a thrift store in New York (Thomasville!).  I set my little tv on top and hooked up the Wii so I can watch Deadwood, and thought "This is horrible.".

I needed something I could set my big tv on to watch Deadwood (it is SO GOOD!).

I needed one of those low, wide dressers.

I needed something like this...

This is a photo of an Ethan Allen dresser that was being sold by a furniture store in Maryland.

Two days ago, I found a dresser exactly like this at Goodwill for $35.88 (for Ethan Allen!).  Similar dressers are currently listed on eBay from $595 (without the mirror) to $1,200.

Also in the plan is removing the old, ugly medicine cabinet in the bathroom...

again, not my photo. this time it's from Home Depot

with a mirror and light fixture.

And, since I'm putting the big tv on the dresser, I won't be needing the mirror, so...

Two birds, one $35.88 stone.

That same night I found found The Light Between Oceans, which is supposed to be really good, and at a different Goodwill near me (that has the BEST selection of books),  I've recently found The Girl on the Train and The Goldfinch, in hardback, for $1 each.

The Girl on the Train was really good. I'm 88 pages into The Goldfinch (only 683 to go!), but it's already really good too.

Finally, I've tried a few new recipes - some were just ok, some were really good...

This Balsamic Mushroom Pasta from Girl Gone Gourmet was incredible! It was so good, I've already made it twice.

I also liked this Pineapple Fried Rice from Damn Delicious.

And finally, I was at my brother's house on Christmas Eve, and someone claimed their homemade Ritz Cracker fake Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patties (one of my favorite Girl Scout Cookies!!) were even better than the real thing.

No way.

Way.

Pretty in Pink

I've always wanted a pink bedroom.

And now I have one!

Benjamin Moore First Light

Usually when I start painting, my initial reaction is "I hate it!".

But I'm cheap, and not about to repaint, so I forge ahead and after the 2nd coat I always love it.

This time, it was love at first light (uh, sight).

I still need to prime, paint and hang the trim.  Install new blinds. And new closet doors.  One of those closet organization systems would be nice...

It'll be a while before it's "done".

I also made this recipe for Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes that I've been seeing all over Pinterest and it was GOOD!  I didn't include the chicken so it took less than 30 minutes.  (Nice!)

Ingredients

• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small jar (3-4 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in oil
• 1 lb chicken breast tenders (or not)
• salt
• paprika (just a little bit for the chicken)
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 8 oz pasta
• 1 tablespoon basil (if using dry basil), if using fresh basil you can add more
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (at least, add more to taste)
• 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water (or more)
• salt, to taste

Instructions

• If using sun-dried tomatoes in oil (in a jar), drain the tomatoes, reserving 2 tablespoons of oil for sauteing.
• In a large pan, on high heat, sautee garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (drained) in 2 tablespoons of oil (reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar) for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant. 
• Remove sun-dried tomatoes from the pan, leaving the oil, and add chicken tenders, salted and lightly covered in paprika (for color) and cook on high heat for 1 minute on each side. 
• Remove from heat.
• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some cooked pasta water (Note: I think this is SO gross so I didn't do it and the sauce was just fine). 
• Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water (to stop cooking).
• Slice sun-dried tomatoes into smaller bits and add them back to the skillet with chicken. 
• Add half and half and cheese to the skillet and bring to a gentle boil. 
• Immediately reduce to simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until all cheese melts and the sauce is creamy. 
• Add cooked pasta to the skillet and stir to combine. 
• Add 1 tablespoon of basil, and at least 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
• Optional (in my book): Add about 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water because the creamy sauce will be too thick (do not add all water at once - you might need less or more of it). This will water down the thickness of the cheese sauce and make it creamier.
• Immediately, season the pasta with salt and more red pepper flakes, to taste, if needed. 
• Let simmer for a couple of minutes for flavors to combine.

End of December 2014

On Friday I delivered the last of the donations for our community giving tree, and now have a lull until I either find another job or have to start preparing for next year's events (hopefully the former).

I do love this job, but I'm getting excited about the future - meeting new people and doing something different.

Over the weekend, I relaxed - finished one book (The Meadow, by James Galvin) and started another (A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan).

Although one book takes place in the mountains along the border of Wyoming and Colorado, and the other is set in urban New York and California, the books are very similar - both move back and forth in time to tell the inter-related stories of several people.

And they're both really good!

Sometimes I feel like I can't do anything fun while the house is such a mess, but this weekend I decided that the fact that my bedroom looks like this...

so I have to sleep here...

doesn't mean I can't use the kitchen, so I made this recipe for Creamy Crockpot Potato Soup.  (I left out the bacon until the end, though, because soggy bacon is so gross.)

I also made this No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread and it really couldn't be easier!  I was shocked!  I'll try adding in some flavors next time - cheese, rosemary, jalepeno...

To get in the holiday spirit, I watched Love Actually, #2 of my holiday movie trilogy that started last week with The Holiday.  Tonight I will finish with The Family Stone, before spending Christmas Eve with family (SO thankful I don't have to fly anywhere!) and then having dinner with friends on Christmas Day.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Biting the Bullet

It's been a while.

Life has been changing really quickly around here lately.

First, the job...
I LOVE(D) my job!  I couldn't wait to go to work every day.  I worked days, nights, weekends, holidays, didn't make any money and didn't care!  It was a great feeling!!

Did you notice all that was past tense?

Yeah, those days are over.

I'm a big "go with the flow" kinda girl.

Recently, some little thing happened but I wasn't even fazed.

Then a little-bit-bigger thing happened, but I thought "I can get over that".

Then something really big happened but I decided to take the weekend to calm down and think rationally.

Then something truly awful happened and I said (out loud, by myself) "Alright already!".

So I'm looking for a new job.

I've had a few interviews already and more scheduled, including one (gasp!) in corporate, which I swore I would never go back to (desperate times, right?).

Then, the house...
When I bought this house, it was ok - not really a "fixer-upper", it just wasn't living up to it's potential.

I've been slowly working on little projects here and there (very little, very here and there).

Then something snapped.

I'm just tired of living in a construction zone, so I set aside some money, got a contractor friend over and told him to keep going until I run out of money or projects, whichever comes first (money).

Right now I'm working on the kitchen, master bedroom and bathroom.

I really need to find a job.

My New Favorite Toy

Wagner Power Products 503008 HT 1000 1,200-watt Heat Gun!

When I bought this house, there was a little semi-circle of linoleum inside the front door...

I don't know why this is so blurry

Last year, I pulled up the linoleum when I ripped out the carpet, leaving this...

I don't even know what.

That was seven months ago.

Seven!

I was given this heat gun for Christmas, and finally got it out this weekend for another (not interesting at all) project.  Then I wondered if it would do anything to this... stuff.

It did!

Whatever it was, it was hard as a rock.  But after I heated it up I could scrape it right off.

And now...

hardwood floors!

Yes, the floors need to be refinished, but this is another huge improvement that didn't cost (me) a penny!

Next up, the kitchen...

sigh...

In case you were wondering...
No, I'm not being compensated by Wagner in any way for this endorsement.

(unfortunately!)

Breakthrough

I bought this house from a couple that had bought an RV and was hitting the road.  Since they obviously couldn't fit a whole house full of stuff into an RV, I inherited everything they couldn't get rid of, including A LOT of furniture.

The house has four bedrooms, and in an effort to make things easier for myself, their master bedroom became my master bedroom, their guest room became my guest room, their office became my office, and their... 

storage room?

became my storage room.

don't judge

But I could never figure out what to put where in any of those rooms.  I've moved dressers and bookcases back & forth (and back & forth, and...) for the past year and a half.

But then this past weekend, I was standing in doorway of "the red room" (partially red, as you can see), and had an idea...

the new master bedroom!

I moved everything out, tore up the carpet (and padding, and tack strips, and staples), and shifted the master bedroom over one.

I'm leaving the paneling (I really don't mind it!), but I will be painting the walls one color.  I'm thinking pink (!), specifically Wild Aster by Benjamin Moore.

Making it Lovely

I also need to:

1. refinish the floors
2. replace the blinds
3. replace the ceiling fan
4. replace the closet doors
5. and so on
6. and so forth...

Someday.

(Baby steps!)

The Frosting on the...

door?

Yes!

For some reason, the door to my basement was glass...

sorry for the reflection

It wouldn't really bother me, but this is the view...

lovely

I thought about replacing the door, but decided, on a whim, to try this first...

It took two cans, but it worked!

I also switched out the old (ugly!) brass doorknob for a new one in brushed nickel (all by myself!  It was surprisingly easy!!).

Very inexpensive, very easy and a huge improvement!

Labor Day 2013

Two outta three ain't good either.

The three day weekend started out ok...

On Saturday, we wandered.

We started in Dyersville, home of the Field of Dreams movie site.

Then we checked out Elkader, a super cute little town that gave me lots of ideas for Bellevue.

I loved this store!

Just outside of Elkader is the little town of Gunder.

VERY little

Gunder is known for the Gunderburger at The Irish Shanti.

A Gunderburger is one pound (!) of locally raised beef served on a locally baked bun.  (I love that everything's local!)

I did not have the Gunderburger, but the smaller version from the kid's menu was delicious!

After Gunder, we wandered over to the flea market in Marquette (it was very hot and everything was very expensive).

Across the river is Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin where we stopped at a couple of garage sales.  I found a large, white enamel bowl with red trim for $3.

not the one I bought, but mine is just like this

After Prairie, we drove through the orchards in Gays Mills (orchard after orchard after orchard after...), to Richland Center where I saw this shelving unit on the side of the road with a sign that said 500.

I had seen this...

at Addicted to Decorating, and wanted to do something similar for this girl...

so cute!

Luckily, in this case 500 meant $5!

Now we'll see if I ever do anything with it.  It's real wood (not particle board) and I almost hate to "ruin" it!

Sunday, we went to the pork roast ("Iowa's Largest"?) at the church behind my house.  We ate pork sandwiches, listened to music (some good, some...), and "visited" (small town Iowa's version of "hung out".

On Monday, we broke up.

(my idea)

On the bright side, when the going gets tough, I get super productive.

First on the list was ripping up the carpet in the living room.

after

I also made this Rotel Chicken Mexican Casserole.

The actual recipe is...

Ingredients

3 split fryer breasts cooked and cubed

1 bag of tortilla chips crushed

1 can of Rotel

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1 small can of chopped green chiles

1 lb of Velvetta or American Cheese

Directions

Cook and dice your chicken 

Mix together your Rotel, Soup, Green Chiles, and cubed Cheese

Heat this mixture in a microwave till melted and then add your chicken 

In a casserole dish, layer 1/2 your chips and 1/2 your cheese mixture

Repeat these layers and top with a few crushed chips

Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly

But I threw everything (except the tortilla chips!) into the crock pot on low for about 8 hours, shredded the chicken, then layered it into the baking dish and threw it into the oven.

It was SO good!  If you like that cheesy Rotel dip (who doesn't???) you'll love this.

Not Wash,

power wash.

you take the high and I'll take the low*

After doing just this one wall (it took ALL DAY!), we went downtown to watch the Ski Bellevue show,

then came home for some delicious Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken sandwiches from how sweet it is...

Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken

Ingredients

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 large)

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

8 ounces of beer

32 ounces of barbecue sauce

Directions

Season chicken with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. 

Add to crockpot, then add beer and 24 ounces of barbecue sauce. 

Cook on low for 8 hours, tossing once or twice if desired. 

After 8 hours, shred and add remaining barbecue sauce. 

Toss chicken to coat and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to absorb everything. 

Serve as desired.

*


Tonight I did another wall.

Two to go!

Plus the deck, and the driveway, and...

Then it'll be time to start over!

Something for Everyone

Over three years ago (in March 2010 specifically), I was fantasizing about leaving New York and having my own washer & dryer (among other things).

And now, I have them!

When I first saw the house, the laundry room (closet), looked like this...

laundry room - before

I didn't care.

I had a washer and a dryer!

But last week, my washer leaked all over the floor, and since I was taking them out anyway, and had leftover paint from the guest room, I painted the walls Lime Foam by Valspar and the shelves a bright, glossy white, and installed a brand new washer and dryer on Friday.

a glimpse of the laundry room - after

Saturday night, I had to work.  But, once again, my office looked like this...

Slightest Idea

so I wasn't complaining.

Sunday was Father's Day,

Happy Father's Day!

and we decided to surprise the kids and take them to Wisconsin Dells, also known as the Waterpark Capital of the World.

We stayed at the Wilderness Resort, America's Largest Waterpark Resort. 

Aside from the waterparks, Wisconsin Dells is basically a huge tourist trap, with mini-golf,

rollercoasters,

fudge shops,

and Ducks (amphibious trucks).

One bright spot?

JCrew Outlet

Worm-icide

I was in the yard one night last week and noticed that my evergreen tree wasn't so green...

I thought it was dead, but it's not.

It's worse.

It's COVERED in these things...

horrible picture of worms

They were all over the front porch too.

gross

I did some research online and I think they're"bagworms".  They hatch in the spring and eat the needles off pine trees.

Sounds about right.

I immediately headed to the local True Value, and after reading the backs of every product in the store (it felt like), I decided to try this Sevin Concentrate Pest Control.

And, it worked!

So far.

They can come back.

But now I'm ready for them!