The Bungalow Blog

I Painted our tile Backsplash, yes I Did

Debbie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:50:45 +0000

After adding upper cabinets in my kitchen, painting it and giving it a whole new look, I decided the gold backsplash wasn’t working. I guess I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when I was thinking about freshening up the space. I hate when that happens, don’t you? All I could think about was a shiny, new subway tiled backsplash. I love the fresh, clean look, but realized that change wasn’t going to happen soon, so I came up with plan B, my substitute for subway tile.

source Isn’t this subway tile beautiful?

The gold backsplash was great with my old kitchen and really wasn’t that bad with the new look. It was the gold I wanted to be gone. You can see the previous looks of the kitchen here.

Plan B was painting the tile. It was a quick and easy solution. I used plain old flat white paint. Because of the texture of the tile, I didn’t think a shiny finish, like subway tile, would look good.

I didn’t cover every nook and cranny completely to emphasize the texture of the tile. It looks more like a whitewash.

It really looks so much brighter.

So there’s the new look! It’s working for me now. I’m almost certain that I’ll get tired of this too! Who knows what will be trending next?

It looks pretty with pops of bright colors.

Here’s a closer look at the tile and my pretty old cheese box filled with plants. Hope I can Keep them alive!

Next up on the interior project list will be painting but that will have to wait until all my work outside is finished. I’ve been enjoying working in the garden and getting the flower beds ready for summer. The weather has been just about perfect for working outdoors and it feels great to be outside. We’ve got some power washing to do and I need to paint the shed door but it’s looking good.What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Instagram!

Healthy eating, vegetable hash

Debbie — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:54:00 +0000

After the sickness of this winter, I was feeling better but still had no energy or strength. I’d start to do something and quickly run out of steam. I even had to sit down to fold the laundry. All I wanted to do was lay on the couch and knew I had to get over that fast. My desires were to get outside and do some gardening or work on projects inside and I needed more energy for that.

On instagram I saw lots of pictures of the Paleo diet, clean eating and whole30. I starting thinking that maybe a change in diet would help and boy did it! I feel lighter and have much more energy and an added perk, it’s so much easier to fall asleep.

My new way of eating consists of vegetables, lean meat, fruits, nuts and berries, whole grains and some dairy. It’s not strictly Paleo but it’s working for me. Grains, dairy and beans aren’t part of the Paleo diet but I’m not ready to give up whole grain bread or beans, I just eat them sparingly. Today I had one slice of a good whole grain bread and that will be it for today.

Part of this new way of eating it trying out new vegetables and recipes. You can make a great vegetable hash to eat with eggs. It’s a colorful and filling breakfast.

I diced onion, orange bell pepper and parsnips and cooked them in a sauté pan with a little coconut oil. The vegetables browned up nicely and then I added a big handful of fresh baby spinach and let that cook a bit more. I served it with some eggs over easy and a side of sliced tomatoes. It was so good!

I’ve always loved vegetable but now I’m eating new ones like kale and parsnips and am loving them too. I’m using coconut oil for cooking and delicious balsamic vinegars for dressing salads or just drizzling on vegetables. As far as sweets and packaged, processed foods, I can’t say I will never eat them. If I get a craving for a slice of cake, I’ll have it but not often. That’s the key for me sticking to a healthy diet. It would be a sad state if I could never again have a yummy treat. ……but just a little.

Come on over to Instagram! I’ll be posting photos of the good food I’m eating.

Do you have a favorite healthy recipe to share?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Instagram

About my recent absence from blogging

Debbie — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:42:30 +0000

Recently blogging has been on the back burner. I didn’t even get all of my Christmas or Valentine’s decorations posted…sigh. I wanted to, but the energy to do that simple task just wasn’t there. I was sick all winter. It started immediately after my father passed away and I thought that I may have caught a bug from being in the hospital with him. Because the holidays were fast approaching, I went to the doctor immediately. He gave me a refill on my steroid nasal spray and a different antihistamine. The very next day I was much sicker with fever and chills. This time I got an antibiotic and thought after I finished taking it I would be fine.

I wasn’t. I kept getting worse! The cough was unrelenting and my sinuses sounded like squeaky floors.I was coughing so much that I could barely speak.

To make it even worse, I was stuck at my daughter’s house in snow. Another snow storm hit after this one! There was a lot of snow.

When I finally got back home I went to the doctor again for yet another antibiotic. I don’t do well with antibiotics, while they took care of my sinus infection, I ended up with some awful intestinal problems.

Guess what?? I needed another antibiotic to get over the crud in my gut! That’s 3 different ones, cipro, augmentin and flagyl! At one point I was so sick that I went to the ER and spent the day there getting rehydrated.

It took about three months before I started to feel better. After all this I’m determined to be healthy. My diet has changed drastically. I shop the outer aisles of the grocery store now and try to stay away from processed foods. My diet consists of vegetables, lean protein, fruits, nuts, whole grains and low fat dairy.

I’ve always loved vegetables and now I’m eating avocado, kale and parsnips which weren’t in my diet before.

Fast foods and sweets aren’t a daily part of my diet like they were before. I will eat something sweet if I’m really craving it but that hasn’t happened too often.

So that’s the scoop. It’s been a rough winter…..dark, cold and sickly for me. I’m feeling better and the sun is starting to shine, flowers are growing…..things are looking up!

How did you manage the winter? Did your family get hit with virus and flu? Got any tips for staying healthy?

I ‘ll be sharing my recipe for breakfast veggie hash soon. It’s good!

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Re-purposing a coffee table into a kids table

Debbie — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:32:26 +0000

Some pieces of my Mom’s furniture I just couldn’t bear to part with after she passed on. I kept her living room tables and use them in my family room. They’re really sturdy and will last generations. The coffee table I wasn’t using, so I decided to re-purpose it as a kids play table.

I don’t have any good before pictures, but here it is upside down in the process of being converted into a play table.

I had to remove one leg on either end to accommodate the chairs I found at the thrift shop. I moved the legs out to make a wider space for the chairs and reattached them with glue and corner brackets. I also added wheels to make it easy to move around.

The little chairs were a great find at just $1.10! I spied them and they were mine! I don’t have a good picture of them either.

I painted the top with chalkboard paint and the rest is Annie Sloan Provence. I love that color! The pouf is from Target and looks so cute with this set! I gave it to my granddaughter Mia for her birthday.

Now it’s the perfect spot for tea parties.

If you look closely at the leg you can see the corner brackets that I used.

Alzheimer’s had already claimed Mom so she never met Mia but I’m sure she would approve of the way her table is being used and I’m happy to be able to give it a new life, even if it feels bittersweet to me.

Linked to

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Newtons can be part of a Healthy Lifestyle

Debbie — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

When I was a kid, I grew up eating Fig Newtons, you know, way back in the old days! My mom always had them in our house. She loved her Newtons and shared her love of them with me. I’m so glad that Newtons are still around today for us to enjoy and become a part of our busy lives and crazy schedules.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out the Triple Berry and the Baked Apple & Cinnamon Newtons. Now don’t turn up your nose at Newtons because you think your family won’t like them. They are delicious and satisfying and a great addition to the healthy and busy lifestyles of today. My favorite flavor is Baked Apple & Cinnamon. I love that combination so much and Newtons didn’t disappoint me.

Real fruit and whole grain Newtons are a great on-the-go option for busy lives and conflicting schedules of families on the go.

Give your kids a pack of 2 that they can eat on the way to daycare, soccer practice or dance lessons. And they aren’t crumbly which makes them even better for a traveling treat. Triple Berry Newtons are 100% whole grain and have 6 grams of fiber, making them a great after school snack that you can give your kids with confidence, knowing it fits into a healthy lifestyle.

Grab a couple to go along with your coffee as you head out the door. This is my favorite way to enjoy Newtons! They travel well.

I also tried the Cherry Vanilla Fruit Thins. They remind me of delicious tea wafers, perfect for when you need just a little something.

Relaxing and letting go of stress is part of a healthy lifestyle too, so pour yourself a nice hot cup of tea, grab some yummy Newtons Fruit Thins and enjoy.

Did you grow up with Fig Newtons like I did? If you didn’t, I hope you’ll give them a try and enjoy them as a sweet part of your busy life.

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And be sure to visit the Newtons brand page on BlogHer.com to read other bloggers’ posts!

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Happy Easter

Debbie — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 13:22:12 +0000

Spring is a favorite time of year. We celebrate this time of renewal and Christ’s resurrection. He is risen!

I hope you enjoy this day surrounded by your family and friends!

Mark 16:1-8, When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don’t be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ “

Christ is risen INDEED!

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Valentine’s day décor in the kitchen, Belated

Debbie — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:53:46 +0000

The baker’s rack is decorated in pink and white for Valentine’s day. Painting it white has given it a new life. I painted it Annie Sloan’s old white before Christmas and it’s fun decorating it for the seasons. It holds a collection of white pottery, which you know I love. I added a few Valentine’s and ribbon for a pop of color.

The pink hearts are actually paper doily hearts that I colored with a marker.

I added a few Valentine cards here and there.

On the top shelf, the doily hearts were glued on skewers and I added a little ribbon.

I twisted the ribbon swag.

Pretty pink carnations and more doily hearts are on the 3rd shelf.

The only thing I bought was the Valentine cards, I had the other stuff in my stash!

I’m about to put these decorations away and move on to the next thing but I wanted to share its prettiness! I hope you had a great Valentine’s day!

Thanks for visiting!

Debra (((xx)))

Valentine’s Mantel 2013, Pretty in Pink

Debbie — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:42:54 +0000

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Pink and white are on my Valentine’s mantel this year, along with pieces of white pottery. I tried to keep it fairly simple and think I succeeded. Cute white birds and fresh flowers help to remind me that Spring will soon be here.

The windows came from the old house I used to live in. If you click on the link, you will be taken to an old post with pictures of the old house……the old posts always crack me up!

I got the lantern at a Pottery Barn outlet.

The carnations lasted for a long time but sadly the tulips didn’t.

I loved the way they looked bending over the side of the vase.

White pottery is such a great collection. You can come up with ways to use it over and over again. I have so many pieces but still keep looking for unusual or vintage pieces.

In the pitcher are twigs with tissue paper flower buds.

Here’s how to make the flower buds: cut a circle of tissue paper, ( I cut different sizes), put a dab of glue in the center and fold in half, then fold in half the other way and squish together to form a flower bud. Then glue them in different spots on the branches. I used a low temperature glue gun to keep from getting burned.

Happy Valentine’s day, how are you celebrating?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

Trying to grow houseplants

Debbie — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:40:36 +0000

Last week at Lowe’s I noticed a whole display of new houseplants. On an impulse I bought 3 plants hoping to bring something green and growing home with me. Houseplants can help brighten up your home on the dreary days of winter and we sure need some brightening in our home.

I don’t have good luck with indoor plants and these probably won’t last long, but if they last a few months I’ll be happy. We don’t get good light for plants in our home, I’ll blame my failure to keep them alive on that.

I set up the dining room table as my potting station.

These pretty pots were at Lowe’s too, I thought they were ceramic, but they’re plastic! I was totally fooled. They were around 9 dollars each.

I drilled drainage holes in the bottom.

For the small plant, I used a piece of Haeger pottery from my collection. I added a few stones to the bottom for drainage.

It was time to get this plant in a bigger pot. I loosened up some of the roots to keep it from getting pot bound.

These are the three plants, dracaena, a palm and the other one, the leaf……..I lost the tag. It shouldn’t be so hard to grow houseplants……just the right amount of light, water and feed occasionally. I think I overdo it and end up killing them.

Every year at this time I get so tired of the dark, cold days, I get excited when I see the sun shining! This morning I woke up to a cloudy morning with more snow on the ground but at least I have some pretty plants to enjoy…….for a while anyway!

Got any advice or secrets to share about growing houseplants?

Thanks for visiting!

Debra (((xx)))

Chocolate covered Strawberries and Blueberries

Debbie — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Chocolate covered strawberries are so good, especially if the strawberries are big, ripe and sweet. As much as I love chocolate in any form, I’ve never melted it at home to coat berries or even Easter eggs! Since I had a gigantic bag of chocolate chips, (that my hubby bought at Costco thinking I would make him 20 batches of cookies…didn’t happen) I decided to try melting the chips and coating strawberries and blueberries. It’s my version of health food.

I had to do a little search to find out how to melt chocolate chips.

I found that you need to add shortening to the chips and it’s good to coat the chips before you start to melt them. To 2 ½ cups of chips I added 2 Tablespoons of shortening. The microwave works fine for melting chocolate, but I chose to use my vintage Pyrex double boiler just because I like using it.

I kept the heat on low to simmer the water and kept stirring until it was completely melted. At this point I may have eaten a spoonful of the melted goodness!

Using a wooden skewer I dipped the berries in the chocolate. The fruit has to be really dry…something about the chocolate seizing up.

Sorry for the quality of this picture, at this point my hands were coated in chocolate too. After a couple attempts at making chocolate blueberry clusters, I decided the best way is to place the berries in a pile on a piece of parchment and cover them melted chocolate, then separate a cluster of about 5 or 6 berries from the pile. It’s very messy!

I used my teacup pedestal, embellished with Valentine’s ribbon, to serve the berries.

I may have over-dipped them but that makes them even more yummy!

Delicious!

Have you ever dipped fruit in chocolate? What your best method?

I’m on Instagram, are you?

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Thanks for visiting!

Debra (((xx)))