A Stroll Down Memory Lane- Staircase

Let’s take another stroll down memory lane and check out where we were on our house building process 3 years ago…

3 Years Ago This Week: 

Our house started to look like a house!

Do you like our plywood shoved in the patio door area to help meet code?  Classy.  And looking at the ladder up 3 stories is giving me a panic attack…I, obviously, was not involved in the roofing process.

Ike and I were enjoying the view out the guest room window.  He definitely loved going to check out the house progress…

The circular staircase was built…

I was so in love with these stairs (still am).  If they had cheeks, I would have squeezed them.

When designing our house, I wanted it to have some unique architectural elements..no cookie cutter contractor house here.  The problem with “unique” is that “unique” usually means expensive…which we really didn’t have the budget for.  These stairs were definitely more expensive than a traditional staircase but they were worth every penny. I just had to do away with my secret passage that I wanted to add.  Darn it…but seriously, how cool would a secret passage be?  I’m still trying to figure out how to add one now….

There you have it.  Our house 3 years ago this week!

And just for fun, if money was no object what “unique” thing would you add to your house?

  Along with a secret passage, I think a slide would be pretty sweet.  And how about an indoor pool just for fun?!

Let’s Talk Rugs (with a survey)!

Why are rugs so expensive?  It’s so sad for a DIY’er that tries really hard to stick to her monthly budget. 

I really thought I was done buying rugs but the other night I came up with the brilliant idea that our guest bathroom needed a runner.  Nate loves my brilliant ideas.  He's so happy he married a genius.

The guest bath is long and narrow.  Perfect for a runner…



The walls will be painted Valspar’s Gravity (same as the guest bedroom).  I did decide on a plain white shower curtain…because I want the rug to do the talking.

I was doing some on-line browsing and found some decent options on RugsUSA.  Has anyone purchased from them?  I had a bad rug experience with Overstock so I’m hesitant about ordering from them.  Doesn’t mean I won’t…just hesitant.  My options for purchasing a runner in a store in the area are VERY limited so on-line will probably be my best bet.

I had originally considered DIYing a chevron runner (like 100 other bloggers) but I don’t have an IKEA close and all of the runners I have found around the area are still pretty pricey for a plain runner that I could potentially ruin with paint.  The option isn’t out but at this point, I think I would prefer to purchase something.  Gotta make those long hours in the pharmacy good for something, right?

Ike and I want your opinions because we are the most indecisive pair….and we love a good survey..seriously, I'm that weirdo that fills out every survey that comes in the mail...

Boardwalk Stripes: Yellow or Black

 

 

Damask: Red or Black

Zebra Print: Black or Grey



I’m also open to suggestions….especially if anyone knows where I can find a chevron runner.  I really don’t want to spend more than $120-130…I don’t even really want to spend that, so the cheaper the better!

Let me hear your thoughts!  Or should I just stick to good ol’ bath rugs and call it a day?  Is a runner weird in a bathroom?  Do share! 

Raspberry-Lemon-Yogurt Bread

I love bread.  I really do.  I couldn’t do the whole Atkins thing.  Carbs are my thing.  Don’t judge. 

I was in the mood for some homemade bread this past week-end and I saw a recipe in Self magazine for a Raspberry-Lemon-Yogurt Bread.  It sounded healthy-ish so I decided to try it.

If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you may know that I’m kind of a disaster in the kitchen when it comes to meals….the husband is the cook in this house.  I, however, can bake up a storm….look at this baked to perfection bread…

 

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar, divided
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup nonfat lemon yogurt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups fresh raspberries

How do you bake it on up?

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Coat a 1 lb loaf pan with cooking spray.
• Combine flour, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Combine yogurt, eggs, butter, zest, and vanilla in a second bowl.
• Toss raspberries with remaining 1 tbsp. sugar in a third bowl…so many dishes.
• Fold yogurt mixture into dry mixture; stir to combine completely.
• Gently fold in raspberries.
• Scrape batter evenly into loaf pan.
• Bake until top is golden and springs back when you gently touch it (~65 minutes)
• Enjoy

Our Review/Changes We Would Make:

• The lemon bread component was really good.  Good flavor and texture.
• We would cut the raspberries up.  We folded them in whole and they just turned to mush in the bread.  I think it would be better with blueberries.  Nate hates blueberries so he disagrees.
• I used my new Pampered Chef mini loaf pan (darn co-workers and their parties). I was pleased at how well the stoneware baked the bread.  Fancy.
  • This recipe made 3 loaves in this pan.  Hopefully the other two freeze well.  The ability to make little loaves was the main reason I purchased this pan. We try to eat fairly healthy (as in no sugary stuff) during the week and then we eat whatever we want on the week-ends. My co-workers will probably hate this pan because whatever “sweet stuff” we have left over from the week-end goes into work.  Poor co-workers!

• We’ll definitely make this bread again!

What’s your favorite bread recipe?  Do share! 

Linking up to: Little Brick Ranch, Sweet as Sugar Cookies