Asian Cuisine- Home Cooking Class

Last night I hosted a cooking class for some of my friends/family that enjoy cooking. Some of the awesome Hmong gals I work with came over to teach us how to make homemade spring rolls, egg rolls and a peanut sauce. Everything was so delicious! After we all helped prepare we sat down and had a nice dinner together.

If you know someone that likes to cook and has a specialty you should try hosting something similar. It's interesting how much you learn.. and how much fun you will have! Two of us bought the ingredients, mainly because I left the Asian store shopping up to to them, and then we just split the total grocery bills between the 10 of us. $5 a person and that included dinner, a night of entertainment and a cooking class... what a STEAL!!

Homemade Serving Stand- Total cost $.98

 

I made a cute little homemade serving stand the other day for a total cost of $.98

First I purchased this blue dish for $.49 at a resale store...

And at the same store, during the same trip, I also purchased a white plate for another $.49. I had some left over red spray paint from recent project (that I will be sharing soon) so I used that and sprayed the blue dish red.  I just wanted something red to use this fall and winter, I had nothing against the blue.

 

Next I simply placed the white plate on top. It fit in a way that it wouldn't slip. I did not attach the two so I could take it apart for easy storage.























 
 Linking to Metamorphosis Monday.

Basement-Still coming along

A few weeks ago my hubby and one of his best buddies installed the basement kitchen cabinets. I snapped a photo because I wanted you to see the first thing to go into my new cabinets... their beers!

 

Then today my dad helped my hubby install the kitchen sink and garbage disposal! Yea!

It's so wonderful to have a great family that is always willing to lend a helping hand. And while the men were at work I had some quality time with my mom.

Next on the list... finishing up the basement bathroom!

Autumn Welcome

 

 One of the many things I love about pulling out my fall decor is the smell of cinnamon. I usually close my eyes and take in the scent that I haven't had a whiff of in months. It's funny how the mere smell can make me feel so warm inside. Do you have a different smell that affects you in a similar way?

Today when I experienced that warmth I said a prayer for all of the people and things I am thankful for.

Yes, I know it's not Thanksgiving yet and I will be the last to rush you into a holiday that you are not ready for yet. But shouldn't we give thanks all year long?

I have been blessed beyond comprehension! And by that I mean I do not feel deserving of everyone and everything God has given me. You might think I'm just lucky, but it really has nothing to do with luck. Our God is just so amazing, open your heart and you too will be blessed!

With school underway for the boys and the basement nearly completed (photos to follow soon), it is nice to have some time to myself. One thing I enjoy doing with my alone time is curling up with a good book and appreciating the silence. Off to read I go! Happy Autumn everyone!

31 lbs?!

This morning when my 10th grade son left for school it was raining and I offered him a small umbrella to take along. He said "Mom, I don't have room for anything else, I'd rather just run through the rain."

This afternoon I picked my 6th grader up from school and he was hunched over all the way to my vehicle, I soon realized it was because of the weight of his backpack. 

Tonight both of the boys went to hang out with their friends so I decided to see just how much stuff they had in their backpacks.  I could not believe how heavy they seemed, so I decided to weigh them. The 10th grader had a book that didn't fit in his backback, I weighed the book and his bag together... 30 lbs! Are you kidding me!?  Then I went on to weigh my 6th grade son's backback, 21 lbs! 

How ridiculous is that? They aren't carrying anything in those bags that aren't school related. 

Both insisted that they didn't have much in the way of homework before leaving for their friends. When they return, I look forward to hearing why they carried so much stuff home if they don't have much homework! Does anyone else worry about the weight our kids lug around these days?

Time to get ORGANIZED

Because I don't have a single spot left for an icon on my computer desktop...

Because every time I reach into my purse for something, something else falls out...

Because I have so many stacks of paper around my office, it looks as though I'm about to have a bonfire...

Because my new family school year calendar, doesn't have a single thing written on it...

Because last week I forgot about my son's orthodontist appointment, opps...

Because I'm so much happier when things and people are where they are supposed to be...

I have decided to spend some time getting organized this weekend. Whatever you are doing this weekend please know it is WAY more exciting than what I am doing!

Basement Carpet Installed!

 The basement carpet was installed this past Friday and we couldn't be happier with how things are looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stairs which the hubby built look better than we imagined.

The red poles are the next to go, hubby already started boxing them in this evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is my new 2nd pantry.. Tonight we installed the shelves but I don't have after pics yet, I was too busy filling them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see the status of the kitchen cabinets, they are stained but not hung yet. Ignore the hanging wires, those are for speakers that have also yet to be installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you think the basement is almost complete, think again. As you can see by a glimpse into the bathroom, we haven't even started tiling it yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope everyone is doing well!

A much needed weekend at the Lake!

After many weeks working on the basement we took a weekend to head to the cabin and relax lake side. We all had a great time and now I feel so recharged!

Junior High and High School- they are growing up way too fast!

It's a big year at our house! Our sons are now in junior high and in high school.  And watch out.. another teen driver on the road. Just kidding, our teen is an EXCELLENT driver! I am so proud of both of my sons, they are just amazing! Welcome to a new school year for all of you that have kids, and the return of all those flashing school zone lights for all of you that don't. :)

More Basement Progress- Stairs and Appliances

I know it may be hard to see, or at least it is for me since we have so much to still do, but we are making progress on the basement.

Hubby has taken on the stairs all by himself and is doing a great job (remember we are not carpenters, just attempting to be DYIers).

Don't worry when then are completely done I will be posting more pics (the carpet hasn't come in yet, which is a good thing because the stairs have to be ready for the carpet to be installed!)

Today the fridge and dishwasher were delivered.. **Please note the finished tile on the floor!**

Only I'm not quite ready for them...

I spent the day sanding and conditioning the cabinets. Have I ever mentioned how I dislike sanding?? Thankfully an awesome friend came over to assist and promised she would be back later tonight to help stain them (the hubby will be busy finishing the stairs!)

I hope to return with another update real soon!

My first attempt at Tiling- basement kitchen

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much, the basement is really taking up my time these days. I started tiling the kitchen area down there. It's coming along really well. 

 

I will say it's the first thing I've done down there that is really taxing on my body. Do you know how just scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees is tiring?? This is very similar but takes a lot longer. Just this first half of the kitchen area took me 6 hours! It's a very slow process, especially if you are particular like me and want it done perfect.  In case you are wondering.. I do have help, my hubby is in charge of cutting the tiles with the wet saw outside and bringing them to me. But fortunately for him we planned it out in a way that we have to cut very few tiles (he has only had to cut 8 so far!)

And this is just the step that you mortar it to the ground.. Next I have to go back and grout it all!

Soon I will take a basement break and visit some of your blogs, I promise! Our new fridge and dishwasher are being delivered next week as well as carpet installed (we are not installing the carpet, we do draw a line somewhere), so we're sort of in a time crunch to finish the tiling.

20 Gallons of paint + 2 days = Painted Basement

We spent the weekend painting the basement! It took 20 gallons of primer/ paint to get it all covered. We carried the neutral color from our first floor down there. We are trying to flow straight into the basement for the consistency.

We are delighted with out well the knock down ceiling turned out.

Next up, the engineering and building of our stairs (since we took out the wall and made a new landing we now need to decide whether we are going to have a step in both directions from the landing and what kind of spindles/ handrail we want. The steps that are currently there are just plywood for temp steps, not carpet ready by any means.

We are also going to start the tiling on the kitchen and bathroom floors this week, hang 4 new doors and wrap the metal poles from the support beams. The cabinets are in our garage calling my name but the staining will have to wait until next week (sure would like to get them up though so I don't have to look at all of these cutouts on the wall).











Linking to Metamorphosis Monday