recipe: caprese penne
Posted: March 18, 2013 Filed under: favorites., how to., recipes. 4 Comments »i wouldn’t say i’m the best wife-chef out there but i’m learning a lot & lately i’ve been trying to add a few new things to my repertoire… gil & i love to eat at home but finding the time to cook elaborate meals doesn’t happen often. this caprese penne is quick, easy & oh so fresh. it was a nice switch from the things i usually cook & still uses some of my favorite ingredients… & as summer approaches i know the tomatoes & basil will get even better.
what you’ll need:
- -1 16oz box of penne
- -4 to 5 medium ripe tomatoes (i used hot house. yum.)
- -1 bunch of fresh basil
- -1 ball of fresh mozzarella
- -4 cloves of garlic (i pressed it)
- -olive oil
& here we go:
- chop tomatoes into large but bite-able chunks.
- double check that your basil is clean, pull leaves off the bunch & cut extra large pieces in half.
- tear or cut the fresh mozzarella into pieces the size of your thumb. you don’t want them too big or they won’t melt later.
- sautee garlic & olive oil in a large skillet or pot, then move it off the burner but don’t clean it up yet you’ll be using this pan again.
- cook your pasta until it’s al dente & strain, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
- pour the 1/4 cup of pasta water into the pot with garlic & oil. add the pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella & basil last. cook over medium heat until the pasta is well coated with garlic & oil, the basil starts to wilt & the cheese starts to melt. add s+p & serve!
- enjoy!
before & after: chandelier lightbulb switch…
Posted: March 16, 2013 Filed under: before & after., how to., interiors. Leave a comment »this week i did a quick update on our dining room chandelier… i’ve always loved the traditional chandelier bulbs because they’re classic but let’s be honest, sometimes classic can be a little boring.
here’s the before:
i really wanted a modern update… a little funk & something unexpected since the chandelier is already so glam. i picked up a few packages of round bulbs for $6 & came home to do the swtich.
it turned out to be the perfect update i was looking for… modern, fresh & definitely suttle. i love it.
& the after:
what do you think? there are tons of great light bulb options out there so be curious! bulbs are an inexpensive change-up that will make you feel updated right away. i’m working on a few other light fixtures around the casa & can’t wait to show you the edison bulbs!
how to: natural laundry detergent…
Posted: August 26, 2012 Filed under: au naturale., health & wellness., how to. 1 Comment »thanks to this book we’ve been going all kinds of natural around chateau de gatch the past few months! {don’t mind my constant pretending we live in the french countryside} if you’ve read any of the skinny bitch books about kim’s vegan lifestyle you’ll love this one… it’s packed full of no-nonsense, tough-love information about cutting wordly un-natural crap out of your life. you’ve got to do your research people! i can guarantee the media, the places you shop & heck even your friends aren’t telling you the truth about what you’re putting on & most definitely in your bodies. {think past food to your kitchen surfaces, candles, water bottles, tampons, make-up, & even your clothes.} you’ll freak out once you open your eyes to the facts but doesn’t it feel good to know you can make a change?! i feel a huge responsibility to protect & take care of the house, family & body the Lord gave me.
gil & i changed some things immediately… plastics, toothpaste, hair products & we decided we’d start to switch out other things as we ran out of them. got to keep a watch on the monies right? i was most excited about making some of our own natural household products! first up laundry detergent & dishwasher detergent! the ones you buy at the store are full of NASTY toxic chemicals like chlorine bleach, phosphates & fragrances! little do we know about the allergic reactions, changes to your central nervous system & the damage to wildlife that they’re causing. well, not anymore! there are lots of recipes online for home-made detergents… this is just the one i liked best! so, here’s your how to…
{you should be able to find all of this at your local super store, grocery market, trader joes or natural health store!}
you’ll need:
- an airtight container & a scoop
- white vinegar {this natural acid will dissolve dirt!}
- baking soda {a great deodorizer, will keep colors bright & whites white!}
- washing soda {cuts oil, fights grease & stains!}
- borax {a natural stain remover & disinfectant!}
- liquid castile soap {a gentle cleanser. use any scent you’d like… i’m obsessed with lavendar. if you choose to use unscented you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil}
i spent some time searching online for recipes until i found one i really liked…
- 1 1/4 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
at first i wasn’t sure what i wanted to use to mix, but a wooden spoon worked best… in a large non-metal bowl start with the vinegar & add ingredients one by one in order of the recipe. STIR CONTINUOUSLY! {especially between the washing soda & borax} this was really important. my first batch became a little too solid to continue. oops! finish with the castile soap… it will seem like a thick semi-wet paste but as you continue stirring it will begin to look more like the early stages of bread dough or feta cheese. you’ll want to mash out as many large clumps as you can & keep stirring until it’s evenly cakey & crumbly.
i made a double batch {but mixed them separately} & dumped it into my container. use 1/4 cup each load. we’re going with 2 heaping tablespoons…
i used it for the first time yesterday! it smells great, our whites came out clean & bright & i’m excited to see how much money we’ll save because this stuff is SO inexpensive! not to mention you’ll have plenty of supplies left over for other home-made cleaners! i can’t believe i ever paid $12+ for a bucket of poison. let me know if you love it… be curious!
how to: hidden tab curtains…
Posted: July 24, 2012 Filed under: before & after., how to., interiors., living small. Leave a comment »i’ve been meaning to tackle these curtains for a while… our extra bedroom has now become a “study/library” since the hubs is working on his masters & we don’t often have visitors… (my not-so-secret plan is to one day finish our garage so that it can be his “man space.” that way ALL his books, instruments, pipes & what-nots can have their own space while i have a a gorgeous monica-like fancy guest room, or nursery if babes come along one day.) we’ll see.
it’s still a work in progress but here is the hubs’ new workspace…
i had to replace two panels that our bunny accidentally chewed up a few months back. (he got stuck behind a piece of furniture that used to be against this wall & we think he was trying to fight his way out…) i shortened them & put them in the attached bathroom… they are perfect & now i can check that off our to-do list! the curtains are from ikea & i love them. you can find them here. they’re the bright white i wanted, just sheer enough, cheap & they have this cute pin-tuck design in stripes that gives them the perfect amount of femininity. the only thing i didn’t like about them was that they’re tab curtains. in my opinion, they’re just a little too un-finished for me… i think curtains should really anchor a room, look polished & be an “ahh moment” when you enter.
so, i pulled out my sewing machine, ran a quick white bobbin & got to work. it was REALLY simple, took only about an hour & really made a huge difference! here’s the how-to:
step one: make sure your curtains & tabs are ironed, they’ll be much easier to work with.
step two: fold tabs back & fold under edge so that it’s even with the pocket. {you can pin them all ahead of time if you’d like but i just folded them & sewed as i went along.}
step three: try your hardest to sew on top of the already-there seam… i stitched a 1/2 inch centered on the tab. don’t forget to reverse a few times so it’s nice & tight.
front view…
step four: voila! now, hang them back up!
see! much better.
i hope you found this little project simple enough & please let me know if you try it. be curious!
living small: under the cabinets…
Posted: July 1, 2012 Filed under: before & after., how to., interiors., living small. Leave a comment »living small often means using every inch of space you have to it’s fullest potential… no “usable” space should go unused for long! our quaint little townhouse didn’t come with a pantry OR a linen closet {something i don’t remember thinking was important at the time of purchase…hmm} so, we’ve created a “pantry” in our large downstairs closet & learned that our kitchen cabinet space is crucial.
if there’s one thing besides amazingness that you should know about my hubs it’s that he loves coffee. quad tall americanos left & right. i needed to open up some cabinet space & also wanted to make a few coffee cups more accessible… the space under the cabinet that holds the coffee supplies seemed like a perfect place to start! 4 brass hooks & one dollar later, ta da!
who knew that something so simple could make such a difference! we love the easy-to-grab mugs & you can find our coffee maker here. we HEART it a whole lot… here are a few other under-the-cabinet ideas… all via pinterest. of course.
arts & crafts…
so much easier to read a cookbook this way while working!
love this idea for hanging pots & pans.
genius.
smart, sweet & so usefull.
oh, & please share any under the cabinet tips you might have… the options are endless! be curious!
how to: burlap chandelier cord cover..
Posted: April 3, 2012 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., how to., interiors., living small., personal. Leave a comment »who really wants to see the has-to-be-there-to-work cord & chain attached to a beautiful chandelier?! not me. i’ve been shopping around for a chandelier cord cover & i was thinking velvet or burlap… but since i recently decided & started making all of our new living room curtains out of burlap i decided it would be a nice matching touch, plus add a little “dirt” to our very glamorous/femme dining room chandelier. i only found cheap looking silk-ish ones at lowes/home depot… i saw this one at potterybarn & was amused but not inclined to buy. it was too long, & why pay $19+ shipping for something i can make?!
so here’s your how-to! it was seriously SO easy, took me around 10 minutes and cost about $12. {with supplies left over for future projects.}
step one: i cut a 6 inch wide strip of burlap off of some yardage i’m using for the curtains… i didn’t measure the length but made sure it was about the length & 1/2 of my chandelier chain/cord.
step two: i bought “sticky back velcro” at michaels. first i cut both sides (of velcro) in half so i’d have thinner strips to work with. cut strips the total length of your burlap fabric. {i also made sure to buy the “beige” color so you wouldn’t see black or white through the burlap.}
step three: laying fabric flat, attach both pieces of velcro to burlap. {both pieces of velcro should be facing up.}
step four: wrap burlap around cord (with velcro facing outwards) & start velcroing! you’ll want to wrap the edges around & inwards so you don’t see the seam when you’re finished… keep scrunching it as you work your way down. {spread scrunches out for best results!}
step five: step back, take a gander & enjoy! ta da!
hope you like it, try it & love it! let me know what you think… & be curious!
living small: jewelry storage…
Posted: January 30, 2012 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., how to., interiors., living small., personal., style & fashion., uncategorized. 2 Comments »i was brainstorming a way to organize the plethera of earrings, loose buttons, broaches, rings & whatnots that were spilling over in my jewelry drawer. what is low-profile, easily accessible & has small sections? & then it hit me… ice cube trays. a quick trip to wal-mart & 4 dollars later & i was set.
i just happen to have a shallow, velvet lined jewelry drawer in my dresser so they worked perfectly. i don’t think my jewelry has ever been so happy to be so neatly organized.
hopefully you’re inspired to find a way to make this work for you too! & don’t forget about sewing trinkets, office supplies & children’s whatnots too! i’d love to hear how you make it happen… be curious!
*feedback always welcome!
before & after: under $20 light fixture re-vamp…
Posted: November 5, 2011 Filed under: before & after., how to., interiors., living small. Leave a comment »every house, new or old has little things we’d all like to change. and sometimes, just one tiny change-up can equal one great re-vamp!
one of the reason’s i loved this house when i first saw it was the fact that it WASN’T upgraded yet… sounds crazy, but i liked the idea of skipping the fancies and having a clean pallette to work with. of course there’s a lot we’d like to do, {hardwood floors, granite countertops, a deck and built-in bookcases} we get to do it on our own timeline and on our own terms. and i’m indecisive {i can hardly decide if i should take a nap or not} so i like to do my research and spend time figuring out exactly what i want… while i’m in between planning the big projects, i like to tackle a few small ones to keep things moving and fresh!
this project takes less than an hour and cost me less than $20. and all you need is a screwdriver…
i recently noticed how out dated and extremely “builder’s basic” the sconces were in our downstairs half bath… yuck! the silver fixture itself is simple and perfect, but this carved glass had to go!
before:
after: i snagged the new ones at Lowe’s for $17.08… i’m loving the classic shape and clean lines. {thinking about changing all the ones on our ceiling fans to match next!}
voila’! hope this inspires you to re-vamp something this weekend! let me know what you’re up to! be curious… hg.
before & after: mirrored dresser…
Posted: August 16, 2011 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., before & after., favorites., how to., interiors., personal., uncategorized. 1 Comment »i’ve always love mirrored furniture. it’s alluring, elegant, it seems “grand” somehow and it’s always breathtaking… i love that it also creates an illusion of more space by reflecting what’s around it. here are a few photos i heart… 
i always heart anthropologie furniture.
ahmazing console, i also heart this wallpaper.
i was on the search for a new dresser/nightstand for our master bedroom while Gil was in London last year. {i use all of his travel opportunities to do house projects! i did the dining chairs while he was in Virginia!} i wanted our room to have his & hers, bedside tables. Gil’s matches our tall dresser and is a little more masculine so i needed something girly and lovely… i ended up finding exactly what i was wanted for around $70 at one of my favorite spots: The Depot at Gibson Mill in Concord, NC. i was surprised at myself that i had no intention of changing the look of the dresser… the matte black paint and glass knobs were just perfect… but once i placed a few things on top i felt like it needed a little something. something pretty, clean and graceful to kick up the lady-likeness just a little… i measured the dresser top and called Binswanger Glass {they were the most reasonable of the 3 quotes i got} to order a piece of mirrored glass. {you can decide on your thickness, type of edge bevel and be sure to ask for clean edges so no one gets hurt!} i picked it up the next day and viola! {cost: $40} not too shabby!
before:
and after:
have a dresser, console or desk that could use a little update?! try to mirror it and let me know what you think! be curious… hg
before & after: cane back dining chairs…
Posted: August 6, 2011 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., before & after., how to., interiors., personal. 3 Comments »well, it’s finally time to show all of you the new finished dining chairs! it’s also my first before and after… yay! {i’m excited for this new category} and let me just say that i have a new found respect for anyone who works with furniture… it is NOT easy work. sanding, cleaning, scraping, painting, ripping, pliering, cutting, wrapping, and stapling. it’s intense and i never knew my hands could be so sore. it’s been a labor of love this entire week as i’ve worked like crazy to get them finished…
remember the 4 months of searching?! well, i finally found these beauties on craigslist… i convinced the seller to sell them to me minus the matching table and i got the deal of a lifetime! pocket change for six chairs!! {2 arm chairs and 4 side chairs} the husband was sweet enough to head with me to Salisbury on a sunday afternoon to pick them up. initially, it’s hard to look past the things you immediately aren’t in love with but, i knew the vision i had for these chairs would eventually come to be… monday i started sanding and painting… tuesday: more, wednesday: even more, thursday i started the reupholstering and even though i finished it, i’ve decided i don’t want to see a staple gun again for a VERY long time. friday: finishing touches and now we can sit in them! we’ve been patiently sitting at our coffee table every night for dinner…
honestly, they turned out much better than i expected and my expectations were HIGH! i remember saying while sanding the very first chair “”gil, i’m not sure these are “the ones” yet, but i think they’ll turn out nice.”" he laughed, of course and i kept at it… but now i’m positive. they are everything i wanted and more… and i’m a very happy lady! i hope you like them!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
i hope this inspires you to go on the hunt for something you’ve really been dying for. you shouldn’t ever feel like you have to buy furniture “just to buy” it. this is your home you’re building!! make it the most charming and delightful place you have to escape, a place where you and your family can really be at home together… go all out, give it your all, and make it your own. oh, and be curious… hg
