The $100 Teacher's Lounge Remodel

Well, it's kind of finished.  It has been for awhile, I'm just waiting for someone to hang up the coat rack that I bought.  It hasn't happened yet, so I thought I'd go ahead and post some pictures.  I can post some more pictures when everything is complete, but for now this will have to do.  When all was said and done I spent a total of $103.99...not too bad, huh?  My biggest trick for staying on budget was Hobby Lobby.  Everything I bought was 50% off.  I didn't do much, I just added a little bit of a cozy touch.  Like I said before, the kitchen itself is really nice.  It has just become the junk room/dumping ground for everyone there.  I'm hoping that changes.  I've gotten some really good feedback and I'm not sure about other teams, but I know the third grade teachers have started eating lunch down there now.  So, that's a start!  I made a small gallery wall on the largest wall, a coffee bar, added a touch of red with the curtains and other things, and gave it a good cleaning.  It still really needs a coat of paint, but that's just a little too much work for me these days. :)  I hope you like it!

I'm ONE!

Look at me...I'm one year old!  I now weigh 21 pounds and 5 ounces!  Mommy's thankful that she doesn't have month by month stickers anymore, because I can't sit still long enough for her to take pictures like I used to when I was younger.  I take two naps a day still and three bottles.  My bottles are now just milk....no more formula for me!  I'm army crawling and scooting like a lobster everywhere, but I'm still not really crawling or walking yet.  But I'm talking like crazy!  I can say so many words now!  I also have 7 teeth and counting.  I love to play and I love books more than toys!  I can look at a book for a very long time by myself.  What a year!  It went by so fast!  Hope my second year is as good as my first!

Till next time!
XOXO-
Vivi Grace

Pecan Pie for my Southern Guy

There are certain things that my family on the east coast just doesn't partake in....for example - chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, and pecan pie to name a few.  Even though I pretty much grew up in Oklahoma, having a New Yorker for a mom kept me somewhat sheltered from some of the southern delicacies.  I only had these items if I was at a restaurant and ordered them!  In fact, I never even tried pecan pie until a couple of years ago.  It just never looked good to me.  I decided to make Frank a pecan pie one year for Thanksgiving to give him at least one of his "normal" Thanksgiving dishes.  I got the recipe from The Pioneer Woman and like everything she makes, it was amazing!  I made him another one this year and added some cut out leaves to decorate the top.  I got those as a wedding gift and only seem to remember I have them in the middle of the summer.  I actually saw them today and it was the right season, so viola!

If you'd like a delicious recipe for pecan pie, click below!

Pecan Pie Recipe

Happy Thanksgiving!  Tomorrow my baby turns one!  A lot to be thankful for, that's for sure!

It's a Party!

Let the festivities begin....

It's party day!  I'm so excited.  I've been awake since 5:30...argh!  I hate that, but oh well.  Just a part of me I guess.  I can't sleep when I'm excited.  These are the preparations I've done this morning.  We're going to have about 30 people here this afternoon for brats, s'mores, and cake!  I'll post party pics soon!  I can't believe my baby is almost 1...where did this year go?

My Thanksgiving Mantel

I hope this doesn't look too cheesy because I had a lot of fun doing it!  I'm really getting into planning Vivi's birthday party.  I LOVE the fall.  I had a fall wedding filled with pumpkins of all colors and candles and twigs galore.  (In fact, those twigs on the mantel are leftover from the wedding!) It never even occurred to me until recently that Vivi's birthday will always be in the fall, which means that I can decorate fallish forever!  This mantel was very easy to do.  I bought some really cute scrapbook paper for the THANKFUL letters.  Yes, I used the di-cut machine at school to do my letters...oops. :)  I bought a heart punch-out at Michael's for the leaves that Vivi and I collected today on our walk.  The rest is just burlap rope, little clothes pins, candles, etc.  I even used the cut out hearts from the leaves as mantel confetti...can't beat that.  Hope this inspires you to decorate for the fall instead of jump to Christmas like so many do!

Birthday Party Inspiration

Sweet Veeves is turning one very soon and we're throwing a big shin-dig!  The invitations are out and now the party planning is underway.  Thanks to Pinterest (again!) - these pictures are my party inspiration!

Source: pinterest.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: uncommondesignsonline.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: thegingerbreadblog.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Quick deliciousness...

This just looked too pretty not to share.  Since Vivi entered our lives, I now have to narrow my dinner cooking selections to anything that takes about 15 minutes to prepare.  This has always been a staple in my house over the years...it's quick, healthy, and so yummy.

Here's my recipe for Black Bean Burritos: (this was today's recipe...I change it according to what I have in the house)

1/2 onion sliced
2 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 jalepeno chopped
olive oil
1 can of black beans
two handfuls of spinach

Heat the olive oil and add the onions and jalepeno.  Cook them until the onions are clear and add the garlic.  Cook for another 3 minutes or so.  You don't want the garlic to turn brown.  Add the can of black beans somewhat drained.  Stir and heat for just a few minutes.  Add the handfuls of spinach and stir...give it a couple of minutes and viola!  That's all you gotta do!  Toast up some wheat tortillas, add some cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, anything you want and EAT!

(P.S.-This picture was taken with my new iPhone..can you believe the quality on that thing?!  I can't!)