2fer

Don't you just love 2 for 1 deals? Well if you are like me the answer is a resounding YES! So what do you get? Mango salsa and shrimp ceviche! Sound good? Ok, good... let's do this.

Mango Salsa

 Mango Salsa 

1-2 mangos cubed

1-3 Jalepenos (your preference

1-bunch of cilantro

1-whole lemon

1/2 a smal to medium sized purple onion

2-tablespoons of EVOO

3-tablespoons of orange juice

Salt to taste

Mason Jars are an excellent way of keeping your salsa fresh for at least a week-never lasts longer than that in my house. :) This stuff is amazing on chicken, fish, with chips and in tacos. Maybe even a savory turkey meatloaf? Huh... something new to try. 

Shrimp Ceviche

For the ceviche:

1-2 lbs. of shrimp(depending on how many people you are serving)

 1/2 of your mango salsa base(If you are skipping the salsa and opting for just the ceviche-you can skip the olive oil and orange juice)

2- persian cucumbers(you can use any kind of cucumber- I just really like the persian because they have less water than American)

1-medium sized tomato

 Et Voila!

(without shrimp)

(with shrimp)

I only add hot sauce to my shrimp ceviche because I hardly use jalapenos if any since my daughter is such a spicy lightweight--she needs to eat too, I guess. :)

Bon appetit y hasta luego!

In The Kitchen via Instagram

If you haven't already, come check out what I've been cooking up in the kitchen via IG.

Let me know if you're on there too so I can stop by and visit.  :) Happy Thursday all!

 Chicken avec mushroom and onions in wine sauce and crispy kale chips. 

 Chicken with homemade enchilada sauce over saffron quinoa.

 Oatmeal pancakes topped with blue berry balsamic reduction, macerated strawberries and a yogurt honey drizzle.

 Chocolate oatmeal and pumpkin brownies with frosting and icing!

Spinach salad with balsamic dressing, strawberries and blood oranges.

Ciao!

Painters Table

As the months and years go by, after yet another move to a new home, sometimes things get a little beat  up and you wonder whether or not its time to let them go.  Maybe your needs have changed or you've just outgrown a certain style. Whatever the case may be, I wouldn't give up on pieces with good bones. 

Here we have exhibit A: victim of storage scraps and mover dings. Not to worry, I have new plans for this little guy.  I'll I need is a: 

drill gun

casters

a block of wood

glass(home depot will custom cut)

wire 

screws

nails

and

spray paint

Once you've drilled the holes to fit each paint brush on the wood block drill the holes for the caster's, then turn the table upside down and attach a wood screw through the table and into the wood block with the holes in it, that way it doesn't move on you when grabbing your brushes. Turn right side up and spray paint the whole thing. Allow to dry and affix your glass top last, you can secure with a little caulking if you have any gaps or are afraid of getting paint underneath the glass. Oh, finally, instead of using a dowel rod as a napkin holder I just nailed 2 tiny nails, ran some small gauge wire and tied the ends to each nail. This keeps the napkins off the storage area and rolls just fine. 

There you have it, a rolling painters table! 

Beats the ultra fancy stuff you find on-line or in expensive art stores. Like this one:

#Terrariums and Mini Gardens

If you've been on #Pinterest at all you might have noticed an increased popularity of terrariums, mini gardens, and fairy gardens. This whimsical hobby is fun for the whole family and the possibilities are endless. Here are a few I came up with: 

Leprechaun Garden

Yoda's Bonsai

Candle Lantern Garden

Candle lantern's are not only good for candles they make great center pieces and even better terrariums. 

Terrarium with battery operated LED lights.

(Close up)

#Stonehenge

Putting travel souvenir's to good use. 

Top view.

I only wish I could get my hands on greener, smaller moss. Maybe I'll make my own. I found a recipe on... you guessed it Pinterest(there is beer involved-can't wait to try it). 

12-12-12

Since my last post we've been a little crazy dans la maison. Moving is never easy especially if you are sans a maison for an entire summer. Now that the chaos is behind me, I can get back to some unfinished projects. Here is the first:

(I was unable to find a photo of the original piece)

This bench was purchased in a little antique store in V.A.

I also worked on a little side table recently. Still debating on whether I should cover the side with little square mirror tiles.?? 

Bon nuit.

Carte Postale

Happy Friday

I'm sharing my latest "junking" find. An album of old french post cards! I have to tell you these postcards are beautiful and bonus they have a story to tell about a mother who visits her sister in Paris. At least thats what I've made out so far. It's a little tough to read since the handwriting is so small. 

What I do know is that correspondence is primarily between Paris and Chicago, Paris to New York, and Paris to Illinois. The postcards dates range from the 1920s-1923. I am looking forward to putting the timeline puzzle piece together, only about 95 cards to get through-easy day.  Here are a few for you to enjoy. 

Bon Nuit.

Tree Table

Tree stump tables are not as easy as I had hoped. I somehow convinced myself that the bark would flake off with ease. Not so. This was quite labor intensive. 

The bark was tough to pry off, it was as if it was glued on or something. 

Not only do I have to muscle through this process I also have to be mindful not to leave scars in the stump which is extremely difficult.

Once the entire outer ring is removed its time to break out the trusty sander and get sanding. Depending on what look you are going for you will be sanding either sanding for a while or a long while. 

Then it's time remove all debris and apply paint, stain, lacquer, or a simply clear poly.  

I opted for a natural rustic look so I applied a clear fast drying poly.

Voila!

I did think of painting them...white maybe? Metallic silver? Hmm....

Well now that thats out of the way I guess I should get started on my post.

Hasta luego amigos.