Finally the back splash is done! We may add a knife rails but the tiling is done!
Before:
After:
The only thing we have left to do is seal the grout which is not necessary but Brian and I think we should give ourselves that extra protection with me cooking :)
We love it! The blues and the gray tie in with our tile and the black and the silver tie in with the appliances. We think this one job makes our kitchen look so much nicer and more finished.
I just wish it didn't take so long :-\
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
So close yet so far....
My parents are moving down this weekend and I am so excited! It cannot come soon enough! But we have a lot of cleaning to do!
Still working on getting back splash pictures for you. Unfortunately the project is still not done. We are waiting on our "friend" to come back and finish the final touches which should only take about 30 minutes at most but he hasnt shown up yet. As soon as he comes I will get those pictures up.
Still going to the gym but only at lunch. The extra hour at home is great. I can a chance to relax and get everything done. I haven't noticed a change in my weight which is good.
It is going to be 100 degrees this weekend! Ugh! Not ready for that to start.
I am doing pretty good at this comment challenge but it takes a long time to comment on ten blogs. I do not want to just say "hi" which makes my comments a little lengthy! But I am having a blast and finding even more blogs to follow.
Still working on getting back splash pictures for you. Unfortunately the project is still not done. We are waiting on our "friend" to come back and finish the final touches which should only take about 30 minutes at most but he hasnt shown up yet. As soon as he comes I will get those pictures up.
Still going to the gym but only at lunch. The extra hour at home is great. I can a chance to relax and get everything done. I haven't noticed a change in my weight which is good.
It is going to be 100 degrees this weekend! Ugh! Not ready for that to start.
I am doing pretty good at this comment challenge but it takes a long time to comment on ten blogs. I do not want to just say "hi" which makes my comments a little lengthy! But I am having a blast and finding even more blogs to follow.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Chicken Paprikash and Oven Rice
I haven't posted a recipe in awhile and I needed to post something for all those commenters so what better then one of our favorite recipes.
My mom found this either in a magazine or newspaper back when I was in High School I think and it has been a family favorite ever since.
It has two parts, the Chicken Paprikash and then the Oven Rice
Chicken Paprikash
Oven Rice:
I usually start the getting the rice together to put in the oven after I get the chicken simmering for the first 40 minutes. I am a slow poke so by the time I get the rice ready to be put in the oven it is time to flip the chicken. If you can get the rice in the oven at the same time as you flip the chicken the in the rice and chicken finish at about the same time.
No pictures because I am exhausted but it is yummy
My mom found this either in a magazine or newspaper back when I was in High School I think and it has been a family favorite ever since.
It has two parts, the Chicken Paprikash and then the Oven Rice
Chicken Paprikash
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium onion, peeled and
chopped
1 tablespoon Hungarian
paprika
12 pieces chicken (thighs,
legs, breasts) about 6 pounds, trimmed
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup homemade or low sodium
canned chicken stock
½ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1) Heat the oil in a very
large, deep skillet over medium-high heat
2) Add the onion and cook,
stirring until tender
3) Add the paprika
4) Sprinkle the chicken with
1 teaspoon salt
5) Place in skillet with the
onion
6) Add stock, reduce heat,
cover and simmer for 40 minutes
7) Turn the chicken and
simmer until tender, another 40 minutes
8) It is cooked when the
meat starts to fall off the bone
9) Put the sour cream into a
bowl and stir in ½ cup broth from the skillet
10) Stir mixture back in to
the skillet
11) Dissolve cornstarch in 1
tablespoon cold water
12) Stir cornstarch mixture
into the skillet and cook for 3 minutes
13) Season to taste with
salt and serve with oven rice
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted
butter
1.5 cups white rice, rinsed
1 small onion, peeled and
chopped
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 stalks celery with leaves,
diced
½ teaspoon ground black
pepper
2 tablespoons parsley,
chopped
3 cups homemade or
low-sodium chicken stock
1) Preheat oven to 350F
2) Heat the butter in a
medium pan over medium high heat
3) Add the onion, celery,
parsley and cook stirring until the onion is translucent, about 5
minutes
4) Spread the rice over the
bottom of an 8X8 baking dish
5) Sprinkle with salt and
pepper and spread the onion mixture on top
6) Put the stock in the same
pan used to cook the onion and bring to a boil
7) Pour it over the rice
8) Cover the dish tightly
with foil and bake in the bottom half of the oven for 40-45 minutes
until all liquid is absorbed
9) It can sit on the stove
top until the chicken is finished
I usually start the getting the rice together to put in the oven after I get the chicken simmering for the first 40 minutes. I am a slow poke so by the time I get the rice ready to be put in the oven it is time to flip the chicken. If you can get the rice in the oven at the same time as you flip the chicken the in the rice and chicken finish at about the same time.
No pictures because I am exhausted but it is yummy
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Dream Honeymoon....
That has turned into the dream 5 year anniversary trip
A couple Saturdays ago I got online and planned what I wanted to be our honeymoon. It was great, I loved it. But it was expensive.
I was still trying hard to not give up on my dream/idea of a "proper" honeymoon which had two major components: Out of country and at least a week or so. So I had been looking at Canada and had narrowed it down to Nova Scotia.
Down side? Spirit Air does not fly to Halifax and through my parents generosity and a deal Spirit was doing, if we used Spirit we wouldn't have to pay for the air plane tickets. We could fly to Toronto, Montreal or even Maine but those are 8-13 hour flights themselves and then we would have to drive 9-10 hours just to get there. And for us it is not worth that. There are plenty of Airlines that do fly to Halifax but those tickets are expensive.
But I decided to plan it anyway just to see what I would end up with. I was working with your vacation time over Labor Day. With only taking 4 days off we can be out of work for 9. Perfect opportunity!
Our Itinerary:
September 1: Halifax Metro
-Fly in and stay at A Paddle and Ponder Guest House
September 2: Halifax Metro and South Shore
-Tour Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Brewery
-Check out Bedford Institute of Oceanography
-Spend the night at Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island
September 3: Yarmouth and South Shore
-See Cape Forchu Lightstation
-Stay at 1775 Solomon House
September 4: Fundy Shore
-Take a cruise with Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises
-Go on a graveyard tour with Candlelight Graveyard Tours
-Stay at Admiral Digby Inn
September 5: Fundy Shore
-Go visit the Avondale Sky Winery
-Stay at A Seafairing Maiden
September 6: Fundy Shore
-Go see Blomidon Inn Gardens
-Drink more wine at Blomidon Inn Gardens
-Stay at Annapolis Royal Inn
September 7: Eastern Shore, Northumberland, Fleur De Lis
-Visit the Canso Museum: Whitman House
-Visit the Arisaig Lighthouse
-Stay at Annfield Manor
September 8: Halifax Metro
-Take a tour with Tattle Tours
-Visit Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
-Stay at A Paddle & Ponder Guest House
September 9:
-Fly home :(
We are basically seeing Nova Scotia in a circle starting and ending in Halifax. If/When we go on this trip we may tweak where were are staying but that is pretty much the foundation of the trip. I tried to plan fun things to do but leave time to relax or do something else we hadn't heard about.
What are we currently thinking about for the Honeymoon? Vegas! No gambling (maybe a quarter to say we have done it) but day trips like visiting the Hoover Dam, visiting Bonnie Ranch, etc. I will post on that once we narrow things down.
A couple Saturdays ago I got online and planned what I wanted to be our honeymoon. It was great, I loved it. But it was expensive.
I was still trying hard to not give up on my dream/idea of a "proper" honeymoon which had two major components: Out of country and at least a week or so. So I had been looking at Canada and had narrowed it down to Nova Scotia.
Down side? Spirit Air does not fly to Halifax and through my parents generosity and a deal Spirit was doing, if we used Spirit we wouldn't have to pay for the air plane tickets. We could fly to Toronto, Montreal or even Maine but those are 8-13 hour flights themselves and then we would have to drive 9-10 hours just to get there. And for us it is not worth that. There are plenty of Airlines that do fly to Halifax but those tickets are expensive.
But I decided to plan it anyway just to see what I would end up with. I was working with your vacation time over Labor Day. With only taking 4 days off we can be out of work for 9. Perfect opportunity!
Our Itinerary:
September 1: Halifax Metro
-Fly in and stay at A Paddle and Ponder Guest House
September 2: Halifax Metro and South Shore
-Tour Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Brewery
-Check out Bedford Institute of Oceanography
-Spend the night at Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island
September 3: Yarmouth and South Shore
-See Cape Forchu Lightstation
-Stay at 1775 Solomon House
September 4: Fundy Shore
-Take a cruise with Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises
-Go on a graveyard tour with Candlelight Graveyard Tours
-Stay at Admiral Digby Inn
September 5: Fundy Shore
-Go visit the Avondale Sky Winery
-Stay at A Seafairing Maiden
September 6: Fundy Shore
-Go see Blomidon Inn Gardens
-Drink more wine at Blomidon Inn Gardens
-Stay at Annapolis Royal Inn
September 7: Eastern Shore, Northumberland, Fleur De Lis
-Visit the Canso Museum: Whitman House
-Visit the Arisaig Lighthouse
-Stay at Annfield Manor
September 8: Halifax Metro
-Take a tour with Tattle Tours
-Visit Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
-Stay at A Paddle & Ponder Guest House
September 9:
-Fly home :(
We are basically seeing Nova Scotia in a circle starting and ending in Halifax. If/When we go on this trip we may tweak where were are staying but that is pretty much the foundation of the trip. I tried to plan fun things to do but leave time to relax or do something else we hadn't heard about.
What are we currently thinking about for the Honeymoon? Vegas! No gambling (maybe a quarter to say we have done it) but day trips like visiting the Hoover Dam, visiting Bonnie Ranch, etc. I will post on that once we narrow things down.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
3rd Annual Comment Challenge
Hi Everyone!
This is a quick post because I have to leave for work in about 5 minutes but I wanted to make sure I had something up for today. You may even get 2 posts ;).
I am doing the 3rd Annual Comment Challenge again where I am going to try and post everyday and comment on at least 10 other blogs each day. I had a blast last year so I was looking forward to it again this year but it caught me by surprise. (seems to be a pattern going on here....)
This week is pretty hectic with work and my parents moving down (YAYAYAYYAYAY!!!!!) so I will do my best!
Today's topic is about me:
My name is Rachel and I am a newly wed. My husband Brian and I just got married on March 3, 2012. We bought a house New Years Eve 2011 and moved in January 1st 2012. We did not have the best building experience. We are doing our honeymoon in March with friends from the way it looks like now. We hopefully will have a little one on his/her way relatively soon.
Currently we are just working, trying to relax and get some house projects done.
So that is us in about 5 minutes time!
This is a quick post because I have to leave for work in about 5 minutes but I wanted to make sure I had something up for today. You may even get 2 posts ;).
I am doing the 3rd Annual Comment Challenge again where I am going to try and post everyday and comment on at least 10 other blogs each day. I had a blast last year so I was looking forward to it again this year but it caught me by surprise. (seems to be a pattern going on here....)
This week is pretty hectic with work and my parents moving down (YAYAYAYYAYAY!!!!!) so I will do my best!
Today's topic is about me:
My name is Rachel and I am a newly wed. My husband Brian and I just got married on March 3, 2012. We bought a house New Years Eve 2011 and moved in January 1st 2012. We did not have the best building experience. We are doing our honeymoon in March with friends from the way it looks like now. We hopefully will have a little one on his/her way relatively soon.
Currently we are just working, trying to relax and get some house projects done.
So that is us in about 5 minutes time!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Show Us Your Life: Dining Room
I am late again but this time with a good excuse!
Our dining room was being painted this weekend so I thought I should at least weight till it was done being painted! The dining room can't be called finished until next weekend or so when our dining room set comes down so I will post a finished finished picture later next week. But this is as close to finished as we have ever seen it. And yes I know I haven't posted the back splash...I will we are just waiting on one small thing to be finished before it is all put together. If it makes you feel any better until we get that one small thing done our kitchen can't be put back completely.
So on to the Dining Room:
Before:
Our dining room is in a great central location which made moving really easy. Everything that didn't have an obvious home went into the dining room and we have since been working on getting everything out of the dining room. It has also been the area for big pieces of trash and where we keep the paint/tile/things we need for the project. Before we painted it was the emptiest it had ever been.
During:
We have had some set backs with who was going to paint it. The person we were originally going to use got called into work so my friend Andy who used to work at the hotel offered to do it! He found out Friday at about 10am and was here Saturday at about 9:30 am. He also did the will be nursery which I love but that is another post ;)
After in the early evening with lights on:
After the next morning, no light:
I absolutely love it! The color is Icy Teal by Glidden but we used Behr Paint. It is a very soft blue green color. While we have that large window and could get away with a darker color, Brian is very sensitive to the light and we have the blinds closed all the time. Also, all the other rooms will have such light colors I didn't want to go so dark that it would look odd. The socket covers are off, those are being put back on tomorrow night but otherwise it is done :) Next stop furniture!!!
Our dining room was being painted this weekend so I thought I should at least weight till it was done being painted! The dining room can't be called finished until next weekend or so when our dining room set comes down so I will post a finished finished picture later next week. But this is as close to finished as we have ever seen it. And yes I know I haven't posted the back splash...I will we are just waiting on one small thing to be finished before it is all put together. If it makes you feel any better until we get that one small thing done our kitchen can't be put back completely.
So on to the Dining Room:
Before:
Our dining room is in a great central location which made moving really easy. Everything that didn't have an obvious home went into the dining room and we have since been working on getting everything out of the dining room. It has also been the area for big pieces of trash and where we keep the paint/tile/things we need for the project. Before we painted it was the emptiest it had ever been.
During:
We have had some set backs with who was going to paint it. The person we were originally going to use got called into work so my friend Andy who used to work at the hotel offered to do it! He found out Friday at about 10am and was here Saturday at about 9:30 am. He also did the will be nursery which I love but that is another post ;)
After in the early evening with lights on:
| Yes, house is a mess but this shows how the room blends with the other rooms |
After the next morning, no light:
I absolutely love it! The color is Icy Teal by Glidden but we used Behr Paint. It is a very soft blue green color. While we have that large window and could get away with a darker color, Brian is very sensitive to the light and we have the blinds closed all the time. Also, all the other rooms will have such light colors I didn't want to go so dark that it would look odd. The socket covers are off, those are being put back on tomorrow night but otherwise it is done :) Next stop furniture!!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Carley!
This past Wednesday I got to babysit Carley for a few hours in the afternoon while her parents said good bye to a friend and workmate. Of course I took a ton of pictures!
She has gotten so tall and has so much hair! Blondish too which is surprising to me. Apparently her mom was once blonde like me (now a very pretty brunette) so they think that is where the light hair is coming from.
We read stories....
Played dress up...
At this point the night got interesting. Put her down, she was quiet and laying down so all was good. Then I noticed on the video machine she had taken off her diaper. I go into put diaper on and it was then PARTY time. Could not get her to quiet down until about 10:30ish. I kept trying to put her back but she would scream and cry and I couldn't let her do that and they have neighbors and I am not sure what her parents do so I kept hanging out with her
I did get her back down at 10:30. She didn't go to sleep at 10:30 but she was content to be quiet in her crib and take her diaper off again. At that point I had decided that I wasn't going back in, she was fine and I would just let her parents know about the diaper. I did not want her to be awake when her parents got home. We had a good laugh about her taking off her diaper. I thought this was the first time she did this but it wasn't which did make me feel better. I thought I had somehow taught her bad trick
She was so sweet and so much fun. She was perfect! The only issue of the night is the one I caused. It was a late night but I did enjoy my Carley time!
She has gotten so tall and has so much hair! Blondish too which is surprising to me. Apparently her mom was once blonde like me (now a very pretty brunette) so they think that is where the light hair is coming from.
| Just look at those cheeks and curls! |
| "Yes, Rachel we share the love of Penguins!" |
| "I want to say cheese!" |
We read stories....
Played dress up...
| "But I want the camera!" |
| Don't worry Daddy! Her Daddy is raising her right! Cutest little Giant's fan! |
| First outfit change |
| She wanted me to put the hat on.. |
| Getting sleepy! |
At this point the night got interesting. Put her down, she was quiet and laying down so all was good. Then I noticed on the video machine she had taken off her diaper. I go into put diaper on and it was then PARTY time. Could not get her to quiet down until about 10:30ish. I kept trying to put her back but she would scream and cry and I couldn't let her do that and they have neighbors and I am not sure what her parents do so I kept hanging out with her
| She is so not sleeping |
| Notice the different pj pants |
| "I will scream if you put me back in my crib" |
She was so sweet and so much fun. She was perfect! The only issue of the night is the one I caused. It was a late night but I did enjoy my Carley time!
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