October 17, 2012

Stool Make-over

October 17, 2012/ Michelle Scheibe

Do you all remember my mission to find stools? Kitchen stools. Beautiful kitchen stools.

Like these stools I found at a local consignment shop.

Beautiful, right?

$10 a piece. What a steal. Nate was super excited about them but humored me anyways because the three stools combined were a third of the cost of all of the other stools I was looking at.

I tore them apart, spray painted the bases and stained the tops. I was afraid to bring them in the house for fear of hating them. So they sat in the garage disassembled for 2 months. It’s really hard being me. And my husband. And being a blogger that takes night photos on her cell phone.

The problem is that I’m debating if I like them. I mean, I like them. But do I like them in my kitchen? I’m such a weirdo. I always have to grow to love new things. Even though I really like news things. They look less JCPenney catalog than our saddle stools but I’m not sure about their size.

I’m a sneaky blogger too. Kitchen backsplash reveal has to wait until next week. I have an annoying non-matching outlet plate cover situation to deal with first. Use your imagination.

So what are your thoughts? Because you know what? I’m not really sure what my thoughts are. I just keep typing “stool” and laughing.

October 16, 2012

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

October 16, 2012/ Michelle Scheibe

I posted one of our favorite soup recipes last fall but our food photography was pretty much atrocious then. Not that it’s Pioneer Woman good now but we’re making improvements. Did you know that Nate has a thing for the Pioneer Woman? I don’t think it’s really a romantic thing. More of a “I wish my wife was as good with a camera and whisk” kind of thing. I get it.

He’s blushing now. That’s why I love him.

Enough mushy stuff. Well, mushy love stuff. How about mushy soup stuff?

Loaded Baked Potato Soup to be exact.

We love this baked potato soup recipe because it’s an easy dinner idea for the week but still tastes week-end good. You get that, right?

Loaded “Baked Potato” Soup

Southern Style Hash browns (1 bag)
3 cans chicken broth
3 cups milk
12 pieces of bacon (we go with the easy microwave kind)
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 green onion (diced)

Combine broth, milk, and green onion in stock pot. Once hot, add hash browns. Cook hash browns until mushy (technical term). Mash with potato masher (one of my favorite utensils..after the whisk). Add bacon. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Add cheese. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Add flour to thicken to desired consistency. Enjoy!

We always enjoy it with salad Rhodes frozen bread.

What’s your favorite soup recipe? How about favorite comfort food? Celebrity crushes? Blog celebrity crushes?

Be sure to check out more recipes here!

October 15, 2012

Death in the Grand Canyon

October 15, 2012/ Michelle Scheibe

***Beings DIY projects take us 17 times longer in our 30’s than they did in our 20’s, you all are stuck with more vacation photos today. Mwah ha ha.***

Our last stop in Arizona was the Grand Canyon. (You can read about our stop in Sedona here and here.)

It’s grand. I think these photos are great but photos really can’t do this place justice. My brain couldn’t wrap around the massiveness of the Canyon.

It was almost like I was in a dream. Except Nate had one of his dumb shirts on which helped me remember that it was in no dream. In my dreams, there are no Reese’s or Woot shirts.

We spent 3 nights and two days in the Grand Canyon. More than plenty. The place is massive but it looks about the same no matter where you go. If you’re not big into hiking, I wouldn’t suggest more than one day or you’ll end up spending some of your time on Instagram and driving your brother nuts. Actually, it was nice having some time just to sit and relax and take in nature. I’m no help.

Tips for those looking to go to the Grand Canyon…Right after Labor Day turned out to be a great time to go. There are less people. The number of buses running decreased during our two days there. Less people is always a win with us. The weather was actually great too. Low 80’s at the rim during the day and 60’s at night.

We stayed in Tusayan which is right outside of the Canyon. There is very little in the town and hotels are expensive (but less expensive than in the park). It was really nice to be so close to the park…but I didn’t want to eat fast food (only food option) for many weeks after.

We “hiked” around the rim. There are quite a few miles of paved and unpaved trails that go along the rim. We were all surprised at the lack of guard rails in the park. And the lack of brain cells of people running and hanging on the edge. Not this girl.

There’s a big giant hole over that edge. A giant beautiful hole.

We headed out early our first morning for a hike in the canyon. Nate and my brother assured me that the “difficult” trail rating was only to scare away people that don’t exercise. It didn’t really mean difficult hiking. I surround myself with geniuses. I knew they were full of crap but decided that I needed to try anyways. How often does this Iowa girl get to the Grand Canyon?

We started out on the South Kaibob trail.

Oh hello trail that I thought would be the cause of my death. Did you know that only one person per year dies from falling in the Grand Canyon? Yes, I did Google that after this hike.

Oh man, my heart is racing just looking at this photo. My fear of heights got me big time at the Grand Canyon. I honestly hadn’t expected to be so nervous the entire time. My knees were shaking uncontrollably going down this trail.

All of the signs in the park state it will take you double the time to get back up as it does for you to get down. It took us 2 1/2 hours to get down and 45 minutes to get back up. I struggled big time going down and I wanted out of that hole on the way up.

I don’t want to scare others from hiking the trail. Just be prepared if you have a fear of heights. Elderly people were booking it past me. This nice couple (approximately older than the Grand Canyon) passed us on the way down and then were cheering me on as they were on their way back up.

The views were incredible and I’m very glad I did it. I just might get myself a nice prescription for some Xanax for my rim to rim hike.

We made it to the first stop on the trail. I really didn’t want to go any farther. This smile is fake. I promise you.

Nate and my brother really wanted to make it to the second stop on the trail. With the encouragement of our ancient friends, I grabbed on to my brother’s backpack and hit the trail. I still owe him for a chiro visit.