Wanted: A Chef

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It's tax season.  That means Nate is slaving away at the office and I am without a chef. Sad.

I hate cooking.  I get bored. 

I try to improvise when I can't. (Ex: You can't substitute water for milk in Kraft mac&cheese.)

I undercook/overcook things. (Ex: A panful of brownies that can be picked up by a fork stuck in the middle.)

So what do I eat during tax season?  Usually grilled cheese or waffles or Dora spaghettios.

This week it was apples and Banana Chocolate Chip loaf.  I'm sure all of the food groups are in there somewhere....


This bread is fantastic.  It's all I wanted to eat.  It's about all I did eat.
Do notice how it is sunk in the middle though because I failed to cook it long enough.
I told you.


I stole borrowed the recipe from here.  I originally found it at foodgawker.com.

Who has some quick and easy recipes that might be a little better for me? And when I say quick and easy...I mean under 20 minutes...that's my attention span...shorter than a gerbil's....

House Tour- Office

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Friday equals "House Tour Time" here on DecorandtheDog. Get excited!

You have caught a few glimpses of our office throughout this week. 
This room contains a few of my favorite things...a glass paneled door, built-ins, and a double sided fireplace.
This room has definitely been furnished on a budget!

Let's start the tour...


Built-in cabinets.  Door leads to living room.

Double sided fireplace

Room Info
  • Wall Color- Down Home (Sherwin Williams)
  • Cabinets- Mid-Continent/Sullivan doors/Antique White finish
  • Curtains- Handmade (fabric from Joann's)
  • Pillow covers- Handmade (fabric from Joann's)
  • Ottoman- Target ottoman found at Salvation Army
  • Couch- Sleeper-sofa from college roommate
  • Frames- whatever I had laying around the house with a fresh coat of paint
  • Do you sense a theme for this room??

To Do List
  • Make the shelves more presentable. 
    • Maybe paint the backs a different color/do some kind of fabric background/stenciling?
  • Replace the curtains that I made a year ago. (yes, I have a problem...but I just don't love them)
  • Move the "map" picture to the right of the fireplace and find something to take it's place.
    • We're thinking a vintage map from e-bay with a vintage frame.
  • Replace dying plant with some kind of chair.
    • or water plant :)
  • Find a few more globes
Feel free to comment with suggestions!

We've Got the Whole World....

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We've got the whole world...in our office!



I like globes. 
Awhile back I saw a picture in Better Homes and Gardens that has inspired my globe addiction.
(I can't seem to locate the "inspiration photo").

I am slowly adding to my "collection".  It's like a globe hunting adventure.

I found this one for $4.00 at my favorite store (aka Salvation Army) last week.
I don't like to pay over $10.00.


Ike eventually approved.

Just a few more and the collection will be complete!



Do you have any unique collections?

SnO-M-G

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I'm not sure what you are calling it but the Snowpocalypse/Snowmaggedon/SnO-M-G/or just a good old fashion blizzard has hit eastern Iowa! 



It creeps me out how many animals wander through our yard....

View out the front door

The clinic that I work at closed at 3:30PM yesterday and it is closed today as well. 

Nate is actually home too...at least until the roads are passable.

Here are the current travel conditions for the state of Iowa...

Red = Travel not advised
Red circles = Roads are impassable
Arrow = General area where we live
At least the groundhog didn't see his shadow!

Happy Groundhog Day/First Date Anniversary

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Nate and I went on our first date 9 years ago today! Crazy!! 

How do I remember this date when I can't even remember our wedding date....or what I had for supper last night?

Because it was 02-02-02.  And Groundhog Day.

I had a feeling it would either be a REALLY good date or a REALLY bad date. 
Kind of like "will there be 6 more weeks of winter or not" but more like "will this date seem 6 weeks long or not."

We went to Carlos O' Kelly's where I ate chicken strips (because I'm the world's pickiest eater).  Luckily he didn't end the date there.
We then went to "A Beautiful Mind". 
After the movie, we went back to my dorm room (get your minds out of the gutter) and stayed up all night watching ridiculously bad old movies.
I don't stay up all night...ever.
There was no first kiss.  Just a nice hug good-bye.
Such a funny/lame story!

Here we are back in 2002...babies....


And now...

Who else has a cheesy first date story?

Mrs. Apprentice's Mantle

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My friend (we'll call her Mrs. Apprentice, to protect the innocent) asked for my assistance.

She e-mailed me these photos and wanted my opinion on how to spice up her mantle.


I like to decorate.  I like to browse websites and find awesome things but this task made me realize how hard it would be to be an interior designer. 

I decorate my house by buying things I like and then making them work. 
That's hard to do for someone else.

After a quick search of some of my favorite sites, I did come up with these suggestions:
  • Hang the picture a few inches above the mantle.
  • Add any of the following (or something similar) to the sides...
Candle Holder found here
Simple Hurricanes found here
Spanish Glass Vases found here
Mrs. Apprentice used these items as inspiration and added a few other options below...
(this is my first attempt at "mood board"...weak!)

Middles vases from ikea found here
Dragonflies found here
Bottom white vases found here


 Which do you prefer?  Any other suggestions for Mrs. Apprentice? 
Who else wants assistance with a problem space?

My Favorite Store

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I think I've mentioned this before but I LOVE the Salvation Army. 

My co-worked told me that pharmacists don't shop at the Salvation Army. They shop at Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn, etc.  

Not this pharmacist! 

Why do I love the Salvation Army?  Because they have AMAZING deals..and I love AMAZING deals!

For example, I purchased this Target storage ottoman last week.  Brand new, perfect condition, tags still on it.


Check out the price tag...


AMAZING!!  I almost peed my pants. Seriously.  We have been wanting an ottoman for our office but we have been too cheap to purchase one for $79.99....but we can handle $25.00.  We're also helping out the Salvation Army with our purchase (justifying is always fun).

And here is our lovely new ottoman in our office....


Have you found any AMAZING finds lately?  Or does the Salvation Army scare you?

Rambling Week-end Recap

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Home improvement projects were lacking in our house this week-end!  Bummer!

Just mainly some organizing and cleaning...nothing super blog worthy.

The office still needs help but I did straighten it up a little bit.


I cleaned the pantry..which I will post later this week. 

We also took the recycling away...it was taking over our garage...seriously. 
We could barely get out the door.  I didn't take a picture...it was that bad. At least we recycle, right??

Ike and I went on a walk to enjoy the balmy 35 degree weather.  Note that the sun is not out.  I don't think it has been out for more than 10 minutes in the past 3 weeks.  I wish I was joking.


Saturday night we went to supper with some friends.  We had thought about hitting up Flavor Flav's new chicken restaurant that opened up 20 miles from here...

William Drayton, also known as Flava Flav, right, serves the first batch of chicken at his new fried chicken restaurant in Clinton, Iowa.

but the risk of salmonella and gonorrhea scared us away and we settled on Old Chicago instead.
(Do you see gloves in that picture? Do you watch VH1?? Sickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk....)

There is currently a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday/Wednesday.  10-14 inches of snow!
Keep your fingers crossed for a snow day post! (Yes, I am a small child!)

House Tour- Master Bedroom

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Let's continue our house tour in the master bedroom.
Here is what it looked like early on....





And today in 2011...




ROOM INFO:
  • Wall color: Poolhouse (Sherwin Williams)
  • Duvet: West Elm Parachute duvet (Feather Grey)
  • Headboard: handmade (see post here)
  • Night Stands: Crate and Barrel Brighton
To do list:
  • find a dresser to paint grey/white and place under the tv
  • add some accent pillows
  • finish sewing the cover for the bench
  • cover some books in grey paper for the night stands
  • hang some curtains or roman shades??? 

I might actually finish a room someday....maybe...

Next week I'll post about my awesome Salvation Army finds....