Green Mac and Cheese!

Since getting my new position, I have not done much blogging. Nor have we done too much DIY. Its been sort of a hectic transition working from home and trying to get a regular routine going. One regular routine is my lunch time TV show, The Chew!

I am obsessed with The Chew. It has recipes, craft corners, and more! Just today there was a great recipe that I just had to share:

Weelicious blogger Catherine Mccords Green Mac and Cheese! Its healthy and fun!

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 pound elbow macaroni (you can also use campanelle, cavatappi or shells)
3 cups whole milk
1 cups packed fresh spinach
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
4 cups grated white cheddar cheese
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
1 cup peas

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Cook pasta in salted water for about 3 minutes less than package directions call for, until al dente. Reserve half a cup of the pasta water and strain.
3. While the pasta is cooking. Place the milk and spinach in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
4. In a large pot melt the butter and then add the flour, whisking continuously over low-medium heat for 2-3 minutes to make a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk mixture and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until sauce is gently bubbling and starting to thicken.
6. Add reserved pasta water and cheese and whisk until melted. Stir in the pasta, broccoli and peas.
7. Transfer to a greased 13″ x 9″ baking dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and the pasta is set.

Life DIY: 40 days

Fun Ash Wednesday Facts:

• It is the first day of Lent, occurring 46 days before Easter. 
• According to gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan.
• Ash Wednesday is so called from the practice of placing ash on the forehead as a reminder and celebration of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God for those of us who so choose to participate. 

Every year Catholics around the world, (and Christians who choose to participate), will spend the Lenten season in self inflicted fasting of some sort to remember our humility, Jesus' sacrifice, and the ever presence of God.

Most years I give up some sort of food I love, dessert, pop, sometimes even meat, and usually its a tough road. This year, however, I have decided on something different. 

When life occurs and the day to day bears down, we forget sometimes what matters. We go through the motions. We go on with our routines and we forget that we should be thankful for every day we are on this earth. So I have decided to give up some TIME. Sweet precious time. I am not sure to the exact amount, 10, 20, maybe even 30 mins. For a busy working mom of two 30 mins is like gold. How will I utilize that time you may ask? Easy.

With Prayer. Prayer is such an easy thing, yet so often we use it when it is necessary. I, and my little family, plan on spending a few mins everyday in prayer, meditation, reflection. It will be tough. Little boys, big and small, are not one to sit still, but prayer does not always have to be so formal. It can be done at the dinner table, during a few minutes of play time, and story time.

How hard will that be? To STOP for a few minutes in this fast-paced world and think, think about life, where you have been, where you are, and where you are going? To think of all those who are sick and suffering and offer a piece of yourself for them, even if it is just time & prayer. It is a powerful thing.

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. 

-Mahatma Gandhi 

Sanctuary from the Storm

When Greg originally chose this deep brown for our bedroom, I acquiesced. I figured I would give him one room where he made the color decision. I went with it for awhile, agreeing to the dark furniture and testing out my interior decorating mettle. I was very limited in the colors that I could use and the result was more darkness. Elegant, but dark. Bedrooms should be sanctuaries from a day out in the storm.

I kept Googgling "Spa Master bedrooms ideas" and envying all the different ideas. After two years, I think I just got tired of having our room be so dark. 

Just a little background on my OCD personality...

I use to change and completely re-do my room at least once every 3 months in high school. Full revisions, moving the pieces of furniture in my room (bed, bookshelf, dresser+mirror, & desk), and emptying out drawers, purging anything I didn't want anymore. I would get so obsessive that once I started I wouldn't sleep until it was done. My dad would come home at about 1AM and find me wide awake in my room in the middle of all the chaos. He would tell me to finish tomorrow and go to sleep every time, but I never did. 

It has been a long time since high school but that obsessiveness still lingers and I guess it was long overdue.

So in normal project fashion, I started with my usual, "So Honey, I've been thinking...." which he responds with a usual, sarcastic "Oh geez, what?" and a denial. This is followed by a week or two of repeat pestering until he finally agrees to repaint the room a brighter color. 

So we moved things from the walls and repainted the room a light gray. So light, in fact, in certain instances it was almost white. (I wish we had gone darker, but selling Greg on painting the room a 3rd time wasn't going to happen) but it definitely brightened up the room.

We were pretty set on not wanting to get new furniture but we did want new side tables to go with our Spa-like decor. I had always wanted a large round side table and I came across one at Target on "clearance." (We sure do love those red stickers!) Unfortunately, we found out it was not tall enough :( 

So, what do you do when the table you purchased is not tall enough? You go to Home Depot and add some railing toppers! The were the perfect diameter and three of them gave us the length we needed. Perfecto!

We painted all of it white (Tidally Wink, left over from Jacob's nursery if you want to get specific) then sanded it down to get that "distressed" look.

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We also upgraded to fancy side lamps, changed our fabric headboard to a simple gray color, and curtains to a dark gray

Curtains were added to the window behind our dresser to complete the look in the entire room.

Here is the results! Our personal sanctuary from the doom and gloom.

MINI BAR/OFFICE REDO

So along time ago, when we originally purchased this armoire for $30 we had all intentions of one day refurbishing it for a better more classy look. Unfortunately, it suited our purposed all too comfortably, and with all the other outstanding projects it was eventually put on the back-burner. 

That day, however has arrived! One bored weekend afternoon, Greg decides he wants to start on this project. So the above eventually looks like the below in all its destructive glory. 

 

 Using original pieces of wood, Greg begins creating a retro fitted built in corner cabinet to hold the mini fridge. My crafty husband was even able to reuse the original trim! This corner section, according to my husband was the most difficult part. It is all angles and his anal-attentiveness will not settle for anything less then perfection.

 

Using the door frame moldings and door hinges from the original armoire, Greg made a nice little door to hide the fridge.

He was right, though, once that corner piece was done everything else when up pretty fast. We added wine and wine glass holders to complete the mini bar. 

We did actually have to purchase a large piece of heavy duty 3/4 plywood to have one solid piece for the desk top. We stained it so it was not a two-toned, discolored mess. It was still two-toned but because we stained it a darker color the result actually turned out nice.

To complete the look we added a cork board behind the desk area, 

framed in extra armoire door molding.

So this is our first try at a built in. Nice, yea?

"You say Goodbye, and I say Hello"

Another year gone, and another year filled with projects, kids stuff, and the like.

Jacob's arrival definitly effected the year. People say the difference between one child and two children is "times 10." Oh if truer words were never spoken. When the shower is your new found "mommy" time, you know its a tough time. Jacob, however, is wonderful. Thank God for such a ridiculously easy baby. He sleeps when he is supposed to, eats when he is supposed to, smiles to make you happy and is mostly quiet. I say mostly, cause when he is hungry and you don't give him food in time, watch out!

The family was also super busy. Aiden had tons of activities with soccer, t-ball, golf, and school. I think this is the year we start wrestling, so we will see if he really takes after his dad! Jacob had his fair share of play as well. This child bearing time around we found our friends sharing in our parenthood bliss. It must have been the year of the baby cause we had several friends and co-workers with babies as well. Having friends to share and swap baby horror stories with (as well as the occasional happy hour) really helps.

We spent the holidays in Spokane this year with all of the Schlaich's. I am so sad that I didn't get a group photos this time around. Sadly, we forgot the camera and so are sorely lacking in Christmas photos.

New Years, however, saw lots of photos, per usual. Eng's annual New Years photo shoot was hosted at my sisters beautiful home. I'll spare you all most of the pictures. That is just too many. Here is the main one. 

We had a few new faces this year. Jacob was not the only new addition to the family. Cathy was born in Oct and Stecker, my nephew is staying and helping out with his grandfather my Uncle Tony. So for the first time in Eng history we had a 4th generation Eng photo. (Too bad none of them actually have the"Eng" last name, lol!)

Shout out to my sister's Christmas present, 4x4 wood panel wall decor, a Stephanie Schlaich original! Using extra plywood leftover from a previous project I sanded, stained and free-hand painted a tree of life relief. Definitely turned out good.

The house also saw some major renovations which we did already share, the Laundry Room, Backyard Landscaping, New Kitchen counters, backsplash, and sink, OH MY! We also finally finished shelves in the laundry and pantry closets. It has been two years in the making but I think I can finally say we are done with all the of the projects inside the house! Oh don't mistake, I am still debating on repainting the master bedroom and changing the upstairs bathroom, but that is all preference. All the necessity inside home improvement projects are done. We still have much of the outside to tackle but alas that will have to wait for warmer weather.

So 2013, seems to be starting out with less of a rush to get things done. We have Aiden's 6th birthday around the corner, followed closely but Jacob's 1st birthday. 1 years old! Man the year has flown. Greg and I usually have low expectations when making and keeping New Years resolutions. Per usual we always try to incorporate a more healthy diet. Keep in mind, the Seahawks are in the playoffs and it is hard not to eat your feelings.

Speaking of feelings, I also have a new resolution to try to sustain. For those who have known me a long while, know that I have struggled with anxiety and was prone to panic attacks in high school. I hadn't had an episode since senior year, but it seems the chemical hormones while pregnant with Jacob seemed to "stir the pot", shall we say. I had a few panic attacks during the pregnancy and since having Jacob have noticed an increase in anxiety and depression. Its been tough these last few months with the stresses of work and the holidays. It definitely took its toll. This year I mean to manage it a little bit better, and hopefully without the help of medications. Taking care of myself is key. Real vacations and "me" time are also a factor.

Ok, enough of the heavy. Christmas decorations are packed and put away (thanks Gregory!) and we are ready for the year ahead. So in the words of the new Seahawks new slogan, BIGGER. FASTER. STRONGER. LOUDER. GO SEAHAWKS!

The Random Door to Nowhere

It all started with this nasty habit of Gregory's. Everyday, when Greg came in from the outside he would take off his coat, and instead of hanging it in the coat closet by the door, he would drape it on my fancy, expensive Macy's sofa! I mean, come on! The closet is right there!

The last time I was in Pier 1, there was this fancy piece of furniture that goes in the entry way of your house with hooks and baskets. My research brought me to Pier 1's "Alcott Hall Tree" at $399. 

$399! There was no way I was going to convince Greg to spend that. Craigslist was the next option. Didn't fair much better. The ones that weren't 100 years old and ugly where about $300. Fail! 

DIY? I came upon this beauty on Pinterst : http://ana-white.com/2012/08/plans/fancy-hall-tree

Totally do-able!

On the weekend that we were to start our project we randomly decided to take a trip to the seattle Habitat for Humanity outlet store. I had been doing a lot of research on "Hall Tree's" and I had come across a few plans that used old reclaimed wood like an old door, so I gravitated towards the used doors. 

and this is the treasure we found! $25. I showed it to Greg, and he agreed we could not let this cool door go to waste. 

So we got to work. First we hit it with some mineral oil to clean the old, dusty stuff. 

 

Then we applied stripper to soften the veneer and current stain.

 

Then we used a chisel and sanding technique to remove it and get it back to the raw exposed wood.

  

We built the base for the seat and cubbies for the baskets out of a regular 3/4 plywood sheet that we cute into 16" sheets.

 

Add some trim and molding

Stain with sun-bleach stain color and add hooks.

TA-DA! Hall tree!