Friday, January 20, 2012

Brooke's Nursery

I'm so excited to finally share photos of Brooke's nursery!  I've been putting Ben to work since early November.  I love how everything turned out! Take a look at some before, during, and after photos! :)



Before:
This was our random 3rd bedroom.  Office/Ben's Trophy room/extra storage....you get the idea!

During:


I helped!

 Ben's dad was so sweet to help Ben paint the room....glitter and all!

wow! what a difference!

Ben installing the chandelier

YAY furniture!


Changing Table



 Bailey has his own bed


After:

All we need now is a mattress and a baby! :)

Ben got me the frames above the crib. I love the hot pink mattes! The two outside frames will be newborn photos and the middle frame is a quote.


Toy Organizer from Target -- this definitely will be used a lot!


 I love this area!  My sister got her a pair of pink TOMS! 


 Newborn Pom-Pom hat I found on Etsy.com

 My best friend got her the VT tutu and my mom got her the VT baby onesie.


 So adorable! My co-worker made this!

 I'm pretty sure Bailey thinks this is his new room..


Perfect for organizing small hats, socks, etc...

Definitely my favorite part!!! I'm in love with this chandelier!




Crib/Changing Table/Dresser: jcpennys.com
Chandelier: Pottery Barn Teen
Hot Pink Rug: Home Depot
Glider: Grand Home Furnishings
Letters on bookshelf: Michaels and I painted them hot pink
White bookshelves: Home Depot
3 Frames above crib: Blue Ridge Moulding
Toy Organizer: Target
Closet Door Organizer: Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Paint: Sherwin Williams -  with silver glitter from Lowes

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Obsessed!

My new obsession....

Greek Yogurt!
my favorites right now are strawberry, blueberry, and pomegranate!  It has 14g of PROTEIN!! Insane! :)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tomato Basil Soup

The other day I made a fabulous soup!  It is the same recipe as Norah's in the Taubman Museum.  I cut the recipe in half and we still had tons of leftovers! I highly recommend making this soup ... *warning...it isn't the healthiest but so good! :)


Ingredients:
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 10 whole Roma tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • 2 quarts vegetable broth
  • 3 cups tomato sauce
  • 3 cups ketchup
  • 1.5 oz. fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 lb. butter


  • Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Cut Roma tomatoes in half, lengthwise, and lay out on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with garlic and black pepper, then drizzle lightly with olive oil. Roast for 15 minutes.
    3. In a large soup pot, combine vegetable broth, tomato sauce and ketchup. Bring to a boil. Add tomatoes and garlic and boil for 10 minutes more.
    4. Remove soup from heat. Stir in butter, cream and basil.
    5. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup well. Alternately, you may transfer the soup in batches to a blender and puree.
    6. Strain through a sieve. Serve hot
    Ingredients
    • 5 garlic cloves, minced
    • 10 whole Roma tomatoes
    • Olive oil
    • 2 quarts vegetable broth
    • 3 cups tomato sauce
    • 3 cups ketchup
    • 1.5 oz. fresh basil leaves
    • 2 tsp. ground black pepper
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 lb. butter
    Directions
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Cut Roma tomatoes in half, lengthwise, and lay out on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with garlic and black pepper, then drizzle lightly with olive oil. Roast for 15 minutes.
    3. In a large soup pot, combine vegetable broth, tomato sauce and ketchup. Bring to a boil. Add tomatoes and garlic and boil for 10 minutes more.
    4. Remove soup from heat. Stir in butter, cream and basil.
    5. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup well. Alternately, you may transfer the soup in batches to a blender and puree.
    6. Strain through a sieve. Serve hot.
     
     

    Monday, January 16, 2012

    Christmas decorations

    I know this is super late but I wanted to share a few photos of our Christmas decorations around our house! 



     my creative craft skills!! Perfect for displaying Christmas cards!




    Sunday, January 8, 2012

    27 weeks!

    I can't believe I'm already 27 weeks! Woohoo third trimister!!

    Thursday, January 5, 2012

    Sausage and Gravy

    Easy Sausage and Gravy

    1 pound mild sausage
    1/2 cup of seasoned flour
    1/2 cup of regular flour
    1 cup milk
    1 cup water

    Brown sausage in pot.  Add about a half cup of seasoned flour and a half cup of regular flour, add to sausage slowly until sausage is coated, but you don’t see white flour. Heat and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, mix a cup of milk and a cup of water together and stir into the sausage. Stir constantly until thickened. You may need a little more water.

    Monday, January 2, 2012

    New Years Tradition

    On New Years Day we always make the same meal.... Pork, Spinach, Black Eyed Peas, and Corn Bread!  I always forget what the foods symbolize.... luck, health, money..etc!  We've been having this meal ever since I can remember and now I make it for Ben and I and soon to be Brooke! :)

    Sunday, January 1, 2012

    Happy New Year!!

    Happy New Year!  Looking forward to a wonderful 2012!