Some more "No Befores, Just Afters"

I've been busy….

Here are a few makeovers I have been working on:

French Script and Chalk Paint:

Trio of stacking tables:

 Wooden Mirror Makeover:

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Everyone needs a little black and white in their home….

I bought this little chest at GW the other day...

...and primed the top in white paint...

…and painted some black and white checks on the top:

I added some depth with colors:

I gave the ebony stain on the chest some polish:

I am contemplating changing the knobs, but can't make up my mind!

Such a pretty piece, don't you think?

Sharing with:

Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic 

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Shabby Table Makeover

I bought this table on Sunday at the local flea market:

A little sanding, ASCP, stenciling and waxing and it turned into this beauty:

The curved legs and small shelf underneath really caught my eye...

….and the round corners were just perfect for this decorative stencil design...

…such a pretty top!

Sharing with:

WOW us Wednesdays

Harlequin Chest

A friend of mine found an old chest on the side of the road - with a little patience and a lot of work, this is the transformation:

It came to me in this condition, with lifting veneer, tape on the top, and it was dirty!:

I painted it with ASCP and then stenciled the harlequin diamonds with my homemade chalk paint:

 

I sprayed the knobs with auto paint:

and that is how I spent my Saturday!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple

Black, White, Aqua and Quiche!

I love Quiche.  

When I taught HS Nutrition classes years ago, I always had my students make quiche.  Very few of them had ever tasted it or heard of it.  Many of them loved it and went home to prepare it for their family!

My recipe for basic quiche is simply this:

4 eggs

8-10 oz evaporated milk

8 oz grated cheddar or swiss cheese

Then add whatever ingredients you like - my favs are:

cooked bacon

onion

frozen/drained chopped spinach

mushrooms

Sometimes I am so lazy that I put it all in a frozen pie crust shell (why bother to make one from scratch?)

I bake it for about 45 min at 375'

Quiche makes a great breakfast, lunch or dinner, especially when you add a little fruit or green salad as a side dish.

Mmmmm, good!

Sharing this with:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

 Signature Polka Dot dishes

MacKenzie- Childs Courtly Check dishes

Diane Von Furstenberg chargers 

Hand painted checked stemware

Tea Cup Chandelier

I  bought an inexpensive chandelier at the thrift shop the other day and took out all of the electrical wires and components

I primed it and painted it white:

Then I went on the hunt for 5 china tea cups and saucers and attached them to the metal plates on each arm with glue:

I thought this would be great as a bird feeder out in a garden OR in a sunroom with votive candles in each cup!

On my next trip to the thrift shop, I found a cheap gold wall sconce, as well as 3 pretty ceramic bowls.  A little spray paint and glue and this is what I came up with:

Again, this could hold candles or I can truly picture this nailed to a big 'ol tree, filled with bird seed!

Sharing these ideas with:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal  

My "Go To Dip" for a last minute party snack...

Last night a group of girlfriends got together to "catch up" since the holidays.  A few of us brought snacks and I made a Taco Dip that I have been making for years.  It is easy, delicious, and disappears quickly, and I almost always have the ingredients on hand!

Taco Dip

Fry up 1 lb ground beef, drain

Add 1 packet of taco seasoning with 2/3 c water and simmer for 10 min

Spread 8 oz cream cheese in bottom of baking dish

Add meat to the baking dish and cover with a jar of salsa.

Cover with 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Bake for 20 min, until bubbly

Serve with Tortilla Scoop Chips

This was an easy chicken recipe!

Lately I have been trying a few new recipes….This one wasn't too bad, a sweet and tangy chicken:

I saw the recipe online and, as always, I changed it up a bit!

Sweet and Tangy Chicken

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Mix together and spread on chicken:

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

2T maple syrup

1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Spicy Montreal Steak seasoning

Salt & Pepper

Bake for 40-50 minutes @ 350'