Photo wall

Tonight I added to the collage wall. I decided to put the photos that I was going to put up on the staircase wall on the collage wall downstairs. I was just feeling a little weird about all the wedding photos and thought they would be better downstairs instead of right when you walk in the door. And....I think they made the wall  look complete...I kept feeling like it was missing something. Richie refers to it as my wedding shrine....better to have it all in one place. :)

I like it better than before. I could probably still change it a million more times...maybe too much white on top and black on the bottom...but hey it's up and that's it...for now anyway. :) Yay! 

photo collage wall

This was another big ticket item on my summer to do list. I had purchased the frames quite a while ago and have played around with the layout for months. Finally I ordered photos. I had contacted my wedding photographer to see if she had any suggestions for ordering professional quality photos, and she told me about mpix I was very happy with these photos, and the price was very reasonable. After I got the photos I moved around a few frames, then I needed my wonderful hubby to hang the frames....not a fun or easy job. :) We started with the large wall....I had started school so I brought my school work to the basement, he brought his wireless stereo to keep himself in a happy mood and we worked through it. I decided to add the letters from our wedding...I just love them.

I started with everything on the floor and from the floor we moved it up to the wall. 

My school work and Richie making sure everything is aligned evenly. 

I added these to the wall next to it. With our professional photo album and guest book. 

I like it...I think...for my first collage wall anyway. :) I think it is higher than it should be... maybe if everything was a foot lower it would be prefect. I knew I couldn't ask for this change at that time so we will let a little time pass and then see how Richie feels about moving everything down. :) Or maybe I just forget about it and keep this in mind when I put up a photo collage in our new house. 

Next these are going to go on the wall up the stairs. :) I hope friends that come over don't mind seeing lots of wedding photos of us. :) Maybe some day we will have a dog or kids we can put up pictures of but for now it's just us. 

Fall Cooking

I love lazy football fall Sundays. This morning I made pumpkin waffles that were delicious. We had them with homemade maple syrup and peanut butter. YUM! I found the recipe on Pinterest of course. 

Pumpkin Waffles

Ingredients

• 2 C flour
• 2 Tbsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 egg yolks (save egg whites)
• 1 C pumpkin
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 C milk
• 3/4 C melted butter

Instructions

• Mix dry ingredients together
• Then add egg yolks, pumpkin, vanilla, milk, butter
• Beat 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into batter
• Cook in waffle iron (I used a deep Belgian waffle iron)
• Serve with buttermilk or cinnamon syrup

Copyright © YourHomeBasedMom

For dinner I'm going to make a lasagna soup. I also found this recipe on Pinterest. I've made it before and it was a big hit! I found these fun noodles to use because Fred Meyer didn't have mafalda or fusilli...I think they are going to work so much better...the cutest looking mini curly lasagna noodles. :)

This soup has the most delicious flavors and the yummiest ricotta cheese surprise on top. 

Lasagna Soup

for the Soup:

2 tsp. olive oil

1-1/2 lbs. Italian Sausage

3 c. chopped onions

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

2 T. tomato paste

1 28 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

6 c. chicken stock

8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta

1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil pasta

1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

for the cheesy yum:

8 oz ricotta

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. salt

pinch of freshly ground pepper

additional cheesy yum:

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color. 

Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over book or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. You may even want to consider cooking the noodles separately, and then adding some to individual bowls before ladling the soup over them. This would be an especially smart move if you are anticipating any leftovers. Right before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt and pepper. 

To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on the top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese. 

Source

Source: Adapted from 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds, as seen in the February-April 2011 edition of At Home with Kowalski's magazine from Kowalski’s Markets.

Time to get organized!

I love being home on a Saturday with nothing to do...because I can actually do so many things. :) 

I worked from one project to the next...it was a very productive day.  All of my organizing materials had been set out on the living room floor staring at me for a while now so I decided to dive into the project.

I went to Staples...one of my favorite places to shop. I just love office supplies...it's definitely the teacher in me. I bought a binder, (Martha Stewart of course) some pocket sleeves, a file basket, and an accordion file.

I have been accumulating many magazines and needed to sort through those ideas so I tore out my favorite pages and organized them into similar areas....for example kitchen, bathrooms etc.  I decided to put these clippings into the accordion file. I'm not convinced that I will love this yet but I'm going to give it a try. I think I might like to have these in a binder in clear sleeves but I'll see and can always change it later. That's what being organized is all about....trying it and finding out what works for you. 

In this oh so pretty turquoise binder I'm going to put all of my drawings of room layouts, cabinets, built-ins, notes, etc. I don't have too many of these drawings yet but I know I will. I'm putting all of these papers in these really neat 3 pocket page inserts I found. There is one full page pocket with two other pockets on the front....lots of room for many pages. These pockets also have a cut alongside the hole for easy snap in snap out access so you don't have to open the binder rings every time. 

Here is the file box....we will be keeping all of the not so fun paper work in these files like the budget and permits....the husband's stuff. :) We don't have too many things to go into these files yet either but we will add files as we need them.

And here it all is...in one neat and nice place. 

Behind the files I have the binder, accordion file, and all of my magazines. Now I'm ready to get going on all those other big and fun decisions we have to make like marble, and fixtures, and doors. :)

Concrete!

How fun is it to pull up to the lot and see a big truck pouring cement?! So Fun! 

Also a small world... Rich and I are standing along the side of the property watching and the cement guy game over and said "Hey are you at Rosa Parks?" And then I knew I had recognized him...it was Pam (or first secretaries) son Steve, I've seen him at the school many times because his daughter attends. 

Stem walls are up and cement in. I really wanted to write my name in the cement but we weren't in town when they poured....oh well I'm sure there will be another opportunity. 

Rich was cleaning up all of the plans that were left spread all over the lot. We need those :) and the rain was coming in....glad we stopped by. 

Boards were removed from the walls. 

Richie is standing right where the driveway into the garage will be. 

Look at all of those supports!

This is the length of our living room and kitchen...big. :) 

I'm standing right about where my 48" WOLF range will be. :) But quite a few more feet up. 

Richie is checking out the view from the mountain of dirt that is going to be spread around soon. That's about what we will see from the bottom level deck. 

comments

I just realized I had my blog setting set so that only registered members could comment....ooops. Moms were asking so I've change it and now anyone is able to comment. Oh and I have to mention that the lightning that is lighting up all windows every few minutes and the thunder that follows is quite crazy tonight. Night!

A busy few weeks

Well last week I went back to work....it sure is hard to transition from not working to working overtime. I'm not sure why starting school this year has been tougher than it usually is...maybe because I'd rather be on Pinterest looking at house ideas or maybe it's because I started a blog and I'd rather be blogging, or maybe it's because it's just hard to get up early and be on a schedule. Even though it's hard we all know that I do best with schedules and I do love fall so I know it will get better. :) I am taking a break tonight from school work though so that I can write about all of the things we have been up to lately. This is a goal for me...I'm trying not to work later than 5 and not do any school work at home. So far I haven't been completely successful.

Last weekend for Labor Day we were in Chelan with the Piro's and Gordon's and had a great time as always...we spent a lot of time surfing and boating and playing with Haddie of course. The weather was beautiful and we can home with great sun tans. Can't wait to go back in a week for Mandy's wedding.

Great picture of Richie and then myself....I try. I wish I could stay up longer, but at least the falls don't hurt...just a little water up the nose usually. 

The following day, Tuesday morning, I woke up bright and early for the first day of Kindergarten. So far I'm really enjoying my class. I'm not enjoying hearing "teacher, teacher, teacher" all day though. I know that will get better too.

On Tuesday night Richie and I drafted for our couples fantasy football league which really isn't a couples league anymore, it's just Mindy and I, our husbands, and a bunch of guys. :) Then on Wednesday night us girls drafted for our girls league...Powder Puffs. Kim, Mindy and Katlin came over and Kelsey joined us on speaker phone. It was fun... I'm excited for this league even though I still don't know what I'm doing. 

Lastly tonight we went to the lot to see the work they have been doing and it definitely looks like a construction site now...our poor neighbors (i.e. the porta potty). 

And now we have footings. We went to see how the inspection went and it didn't pass because they used the wrong bars for the corners so they have to redo it and inspect again tomorrow. After that they will begin pouring cement. 

It's so neat to see the footprint, but still a little hard to imagine. I can't wait for the day we have walls. 

Well that was a lot of miscellaneous. I'm hoping this football game with be over soon...ready for bed.. SO excited tomorrow is Friday....I'm already looking forward to my Starbucks in the morning and a productive weekend ahead. House cabinets and cleaning on the to do list, oh and the Seahawks of course.