Thursday, January 28, 2010

Vampires Beware!

Christopher's Ranch Garlic is on sale at Kroger/King Soopers this week for $1.00. It is grown in Gilroy, California. When you drive through the town you can actually smell garlic in the air! They grow and process it all in this little town that smells delicious! And it's right next to the town where they grow artichokes! Double yum!!

First, just slice of the top of the "head" leaving the paper-like skin in tact. Then slowly rub away the outer layer of skin keeping the bulb together. When I was doing this step I had this flash back of being in college, standing in my apartment's kitchen with my cousin/roommate Lisa. We were eating her grandmother Ruth's spicy garlic pickles that burned your lips, but they were so good you couldn't stop yourself. Isn't it funny how the smell of something takes you right into your past? Okay, back to the garlic.
Drizzle it with olive oil until each bulb is well coated. Cover with foil.

I used my Rub-A-Way stainless steel soap bar to get the smell off of my hands. Works every time!

Roast the garlic in the oven at 375 degrees for about an hour. It should be golden, and when you squeeze the bulb, each clove should slide right out. By roasting garlic the strong, pungent flavor turns into this creamy smooth- tasting experience. You could stop here and just spread it on a sourdough baguette.

But I chose to make garlic mashed potatoes. (and by potatoes I mean a combination of cauliflower and potatoes, don't tell anyone!)

I removed each clove of garlic from the head and separated them in snack size lunch bags, and popped them into the freezer. You can take out a bag, defrost it and use it for so many things! I roasted all ten heads of garlic at once. If you are going to do it you might as well do it all at once. My house smelled like an Italian Restaurant. (In a good way)
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What a difference a year makes...

I took this picture of my friend Crystal and her baby Rylee exactly a year ago. When I open "my pictures" file it is the first one that greets me. I love the sweet look on Crystal's face, and the fact that they match even though it wasn't planned. This is Crystal's own hair, so it gives the essence of "her". She passed away from an agressive form of cancer two months after this picture was taken.
This Valentines Day be thankful for your loved ones. Just as you should every day. I miss her, and her family misses her. But I think of her often.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A new Blog!

Just in case you are tired of hearing about my Goodwill Hunting episodes, I thought that I would start an entirely new blog all about my little addiction to the Gee-Dub!
Here's the link: http://alittlejunkinmytrunk.blogspot.com

It's called A Little Junk In My Trunk! Do you love it?! (Mom-that is a refrence to having a large behind, get it junk in your trunk!?)

I don't really have that much junk in my trunk, but I do have a lot of Goodwill stuff in the back of my SUV!
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Have I mentioned my fascination with Restoration Hardware?

Do you have $169.00 burning a hole in your pocket? Restoration Hardware has the perfect lamp for you!


No?


Then dance on over to the Goodwill and pick this up for $6.99.




Oh I guess you can't now because I just did!

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

100th Post!!

Restoration Hardware Inspiration

I saw the new "Shutter Collection" in the Restoration Hardware Catalog. I knew that I could re-create the look for a lot less. I have "vision"!
Then I remembered seeing this ugly thing at the Goodwill...
and went back to pick it up. I figured that if it was still there it was meant to be. And there it was. You really had to squint to see it's potential.
Nice lamps, can you say "Go Broncos!"





But look what I have now. I love it!! Oh yeah, that is one of those ugly lamps by the way. I used two different kinds of spray paint on them. I primed them, then used"Cast Iron", with a light spray of "Antique Bronze" over the surface.






My husband and I are bi-coastal! Don't get all riled up now, it just means he is from Brooklyn, New York and I'm from Central California. We lived in San Francisco together for a few years in between, so The Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge are important to us. He used to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge every day to work in the city. I love to decorate with meaningful things to our family. (BTW the originators of Restoration Hardware lived down the street from us in San Francisco, its funny how life makes recurring circles!)
Happy 100th post to me!



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Monday, January 25, 2010

Restoration Inspiration

A little Restoration Inspiration...
I love these dramatic wingback chairs from Restoration Hardware.
You can have ONE for $1,595.00 just click here.

Or you can have this one from the Goodwill for $25.00.
No, she's not cute here, that fabric is super ugly (I'm trying to be nice.) But didn't your mom ever tell you that you have to look past outward appearances?
High back, check. Wing back styling, check. Save yourself a $1,570.00 and some change. Pick up this little lady for $25.00, buy yourself some linen and lysol and recover it! It isn't hard, I did it myself. here
If I had a place to put it I would do it myself! Run over to the Goodwill on
14400 E Belleview Ave. Aurora,CO 80015 and give yourself a little project.
(Oh then blog about it so I can read it!)

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Fun with Photos

Be veewy, veewy, quiet.....I'm hunting wabbits....

Cute cap from the sporting goods store where I waited for my husband to study the baseball equipment for a good hour. This was my treat for being so patient! I love it! (Oh and BTW yes this is how we have fun on a Saturday night, taking pictures of eachother in our new hats from the store.)

I'm not really a hat girl, but it is COLD here!



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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Restoration Inspiration

I'm inspired by this picture....and I have some things to show you. I've been very busy....are you intrigued?

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Drumroll Please...

Please don't turn me in to the TV show Hoarders! I realized that my office had a problem and called for professional help. Her name is Tami McCall and that little lady is a miracle worker!
Yes there is a batting cage in my basement, oh and workout gear. First I had to unload EVERYTHING from my office and office closet. It was a huge pile of hot mess!
Just a lot of this and that...
and more stuff...

There's Keys, you remember him? He's my friend/handyman.

Everything had to be OUT!

Keys painted the office with the color "Weimaraner" it is a

gray-beige, lovely, warm color.

It looks darker here but it is gray-ish in "real life".

The Office Closet "Before"




Okay, this is AFTER it was unloaded...or so I thought. EVERYTHING had to come out so Tami could put it back in some kind of order! Isn't Tami the cutest thing!!


Hold onto your skirts ladies, because the after pix will blow your skirts up for certain!!




The wrapping station...


My Portmerion Collection....and Tami McCall from Zeal Denver.





Dishes...and room to grow!
Tami is a miracle worker!! She runs a company called Zeal Denver, and is available in the Metro Denver area for event planning, decor, organizing, and using your own things to transform your home and LIFE! You can email her at ZealDenver@gmail.com or call her for your own makeover! 303.909.1424

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