A Budget-Friendly Display

We've been fortunate to host some of our friends and family since our move south, many of which are able to stay longer than just a weekend.  Because they're usually looking for something to do while we're at work, we've been wanting a way to display our suggestions.  We've collected a hefty stack of brochures for tours and activities, but let's be honest, it's mostly about the food, drinks, and socializing here.

I thought about painting a list of our recommendations onto canvas, but there are constantly new restaurants and bars popping up.  And our favorites change quicker than it takes Kirb to run from bed to dish at dinnertime.  He's hefty, but can really move when it's time to feed.  So we decided on something less permanent.

We started by searching thrift shops and Craigslist for a large, chunky frame.  Turns out it's hard to find one on the cheap.  Anything I spotted that fit my liking was over $100.  Right.  So I figured it was time to think outside the box.  With some loot from Lowe's and my own stash at home, I took a less traditional route to get this 2-foot by 3-foot chalkboard creation for less than $35!  Woop woop!

Here's the end product:

I guarantee Pinterest is already teeming with this idea, but here's the how-to for my version.

I bought two 10-foot foam trim pieces from Lowe's for about $15 each.  They had several styles, but I chose a wider version for a sturdier look.  I think it's about 3" wide.  Wood trim would've worked well too, but I liked the idea of the foam being so lightweight.  Our paint situation is looking pretty ridiculous (we're talking big grocery sacks full of paint samples I've collected over the years), so I already had chalkboard paint and a sample tub of red satin paint that happened to be from the front door.  I also busted out some Frog Tape, Liquid Nails, mini foam roller, paint brush, tape measure, ruler, and miter box and handsaw- all of which I had on hand.

You can probably tell by the lighting that I took this after dark.
It was daylight savings time, people.

The first thing I did was tape off the area on the wall where I wanted the chalkboard.  I decided on 2' x 3' for the inside dimensions of the frame, so I taped off an area just slightly larger to make sure I had some leeway with frame placement.

Then I rolled on my chalkboard paint.  It ended up taking 3 coats to get a nice, solid black.

Next, I used my handsaw to cut two 2-foot pieces and two 3-foot pieces of trim.  These would be the top/bottom and sides of my frame.  I used a little sandpaper to smooth out the edges.

After wiping them down (sawing the foam gets a little messy), I layered on the red satin paint with a brush.  I added the first two coats, then used Liquid Nails to connect the pieces end-to-end to form a frame.  I ended up slathering on one last coat once the frame was together, just to make sure all the nooks and crannies were covered.

Once everything was dry, I attached the frame to the wall with Command Strips, cut in half lengthwise.  The advantage of making a frame that weighs no more than a pound!

Boom!  So easy and inexpensive!  

Here's the completed version with our latest restaurant/bar/music recommendations.  You can see we've already made some changes- every time we turn around there's a new place to add to the list!

A New (Door) Face

I won't waste any time building up to this announcement... The front door is complete!  It shouldn't be big news, but this project was moving at tortoise-speed due to all the Mardi Gras festivities.  It's been over 2 months since I first asked for opinions on plans for this guy, so I got my act together to show you what we decided.

Let's rewind to what we started with.  Here's the original plum colored door.

I did some stripping, as you know.  The paint kind.  Then after several weeks with the rustic looking half-red-half-bare door, I took the plunge.  I bought some red paint.  Yep.  The door got a little rouge.  Before I got to painting, it looked like this:

I started by taping off the glass.

Then I added a layer of Kilz primer.

After drying for 24 hours, I painted on the first coat of red.  I let each layer dry overnight, and all-in-all it took 3 coats.  I'm loving the look!

The trim is pale green, but when it's time to repaint it, we plan to use a different color.  Something a little brighter.  Maybe periwinkle?  Wouldn't that be pretty next to a bright red door?!

This is what it looks like from the inside now (with the nice weather, we nearly always have the door open when we're at home).

Did you happen to notice the front light switcharoo?  The original lights were pretty tiny, so we replaced them with some larger, more prominent lights.

Check out the before and after:

Not bad, huh?!  So what do you guys think?  Was red the right choice?

Sitting On It

I'm just going to put it all out there.  Remember the table and chairs we bought on Craigslist a couple of months ago?  We sold them.  On Craigslist.  No, this was definitely not my original plan.  And no, this is not like me to change my mind after making a purchase!  I'm the person who hem-haws around for a week before I spend $20 on something- therefore never regretting a purchase.  I'm changing, guys.  Who AM I?!?!

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It all started with the decision to replace the original 6 chairs that came with the table.  I'd considered it from the beginning, and finally posted them on Craigslist to see what kind of response I'd get.  A new neighbor came by to see them shortly after and happened to dig the table, too.

It's generally not my style to sell whatever items in my house visitors show interest in, but truth be told, Will and I had been semi-wishing we'd gotten a table that was just a bit bigger.  This is the result of a lot of reminiscing about family dinners and game nights with friends.  Then, a couple of weeks after we bought the set on Craigslist, an awesome new shop called Upcycle opened in the Quarter that makes reclaimed tables and other furniture.  That's where we bought the fantastic French Horn light I posted about last month.  Most of the reclaimed tables we've come across are waaaay more than we'd ever be willing to spend, but this particular shop is very reasonable.

So when our neighbor offered to buy the 6 chairs and the table for the same amount we originally paid, I basically shouted "Sold!" and helped her carry it to her house.  That second part is quite true, actually.  Carrying a solid table for 2 blocks isn't nearly as easy as I imagined.

In the midst of all this table-selling business, I started to peruse Craigslist in case some wonderful and inexpensive chairs showed up.  Sure enough, after just a couple weeks I was quick enough to nab 4 woven IKEA chairs for 25 bucks a pop.  My plan is to collect mismatched chairs, but I figured I could easily sell 2 or 3 of these at some point.  So the set came home with me...

Then about a week later, I came upon this vintage school chair for $25 at a thrift shop in town.  He was pretty grungy, but nothing a good vinegar-scrub couldn't take care of.

I'm contemplating painting it.  Maybe a bright yellow for the wood?  Or leaving the wood and adding turquoise to the legs?  I found a few inspiration chairs floating around in inter-space.  Like this from Dot & Bo.  Before they sold out, these guys were $265.  Holy moly.

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So we're currently with 5 new chairs, sans table.  Our dining room is looking a little sparse.  Luckily the guys at Upcycle have already started working on a custom table for us.  The great part is, we made enough money (back) from the old set and some extra outdoor furniture we sold to pay for the new reclaimed table.  Woop woop!

More to come soon!

Sunday Recipe: Rosemary Garlic Bread

I don't usually post on Sundays, but it's rainy here.  And rainy Sundays should be for reading, drinking coffee, and baking, am I right?

I realize it may not be raining where my readers are (AKA my mom and grandma), but I'm pretty sure even dry Sundays should include the activities listed above.

Plus, I just couldn't keep this recipe to myself.  Tasty recipes should not be hoarded.

I originally made this bread with olives and kale, snagged from Mama's Italian Cookbook.  The bread itself was great, a crusty exterior with a fluffy, perfectly dense inside- but the flavor just didn't turn out like I had hoped.  This time around, I used the basic components from the recipe, but subbed out the olives and greens for garlic and rosemary.

The results were aaaaaaah-mazing.  Especially when served warm.  With butter.  Real butter.  My mouth is watering.  Most people assume because I'm a dietitian that I don't eat ice cream, butter, fried foods, or any other delicious and artery-clogging treats.  Truth is, that moderation business everyone spews about all the time?  It's true.  I also believe in quality over quantity, thoroughly enjoying food, and moments of indulgence.  I don't eat butter very often (maybe twice a month), but when I make bread?  Heck yes.

Yay butter!

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Apart from the deliciousness factor, this recipe is also fantastic because it's super simple.  There's also a good chance that you have all the ingredients on hand.  And baking on a rainy Sunday without even leaving the house is pretty much my dream-come-true.

You know, one thing I seem to forget about baking is how specific the measurements need to be.  I get used to throwing things together when it comes to cooking.  When I bake, I have to check myself before I wreck myself.  Or I will wreck myself.  And the bread.

The situation can really get sticky when it comes to "sifting"ingredients.  The first ingredient below tells you to use sifted flour.  You really need to, folks.  If sifting will kill you, at least pour the flour from the bag into the measuring cup.  Don't scoop the flour out of the bag with the cup.  It will pack down, serve up too much flour, and leave you with dry dough.

I was especially excited to use herbs from the garden for this bread.  We have an abundance of rosemary in the backyard  (FYI, there's finally a post in the making about the yard!), and it'll get out of control before I ever use enough of it.  Some of the neighbors are in the same boat.  There are rosemary bushes in the neighborhood that are as big as trees.  No joke.

Without further ado:

Rosemary Garlic Bread
(Adopted and adapted from the Homemade Olive Bread recipe in Mama's Italian Cookbook)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (plus a bit extra for dusting)
1 packet active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
pinch of sugar
1 1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
4 sprigs rosemary, roughly chopped
oil for brushing


Directions:

1. Add the flour to a medium mixing bowl.  Form a hole in the middle of the flour, and dump the yeast, salt, and sugar into it.  Add the water to the hole as well (lukewarm, to activate the yeast), and knead the ingredients to form a smooth dough.  It may be a bit sticky, and that's okay.
2. Cover the bowl with a clean hand towel, and place in a reasonably warm spot (I usually just sit it next to a turned-on lamp).  Let rise for an hour, or until double in size.
3. Punch down the dough, and knead in the garlic and rosemary until mixed.  
4. Separate the dough into 3 sections, form into loaves, and place on an oiled pan (or one lined with a silicone baking mat).  Dust the hand towel with flour, cover the loaves, and let rise for another hour.
5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.  Once the loaves have risen, brush them with oil and toss them in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned on top.
6. Let cool on a wire rack.*   

*Or if you're not patient enough for all that waiting, cut off a chunk and layer on some butter.  YUM.  It's also delicious with brie cheese, if you're into that.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

First Mardi Gras: The Big Day!

I have to admit, the weather on Mardi Gras Day could not have been any worse in New Orleans this year.  It was 40 degrees and rainy the entire day.  What the heck, right?!  I guess this is part of that whole "polar vortex" situation I've been hearing about up north.  Gross.

Despite mother nature's horrible sense of humor, I was utterly impressed by the Bywater turnout.

The standard large parades always roll on Mardi Gras morning, but for once this Carnival Season, we didn't head out to watch.  Instead, we stayed in our neighborhood for "Society of St. Anne", which we'd been hearing so much about from our neighbors.  Truth be told, it's not a krewe or even a "society" at all, but really just a huge, fun, and friendly celebration of costumed neighbors that parades through Bywater... Although over the past several decades, I think the parade has attracted more than a few folks from outside the neighborhood.

The costumes are what it's all about!  I was overwhelmed looking at all the creative pieces (some works of art, no joke!).  We sported homemade outfits, complete with the shoes I made us both, which you may have seen on Instagram or Facebook if you follow me (you can also catch a glimpse of them in the second photo below).  Luckily, our awesome neighbors didn't hold back either...

Grainy iPhone picture of the full attire.

I didn't get many pictures once the parade became more dense (it was raining, after all), but I did manage to snag some shots as people began to gather two doors down from our house.   

There was very interesting and creative beverage transport.

Seeing all these awesome folks strolling past our house was just about the best thing ever!

And out come the safer-in-rain-than-my-expensive-Canon iPhone photos:

Now for attempting to remove the leftover eyelash glue from my eyelids, and feathers from throughout the house.  Glitter removal is a lost cause.  Glitter has become a member of our family, and it's not going anywhere.

First Mardi Gras: The Pre-Party

Our first Mardi Gras has officially come and gone, and it was even better than I thought it could be!  We made it to most of the parades, had a lot of great times with friends, and saw the real Mardi Gras scene... which is very different than I think most people imagine. 

Just a warning- this post is preeeeetty picture heavy. (I've even got too many pictures for one post, so those from Fat Tuesday itself will come later.)

The season kicked off with Krewe du Vieux, a satirical parade that's known for poking fun at politicians, celebrities, and the media.  On the way to watch in the Marigny, Will's vintage New Orleans Jazz t-shirt got him an interview with a couple of Madrid-based reporters.

Police mark the beginning of the parade.

R Bar gallery parade-watchers.

This krewe's floats are smaller than in most Mardi Gras parades, and the members walk alongside.

The following weekends were full of traditional parade-watching.

Families use these ladder contraptions for their kids to see (and catch throws) better.  Is this not brilliant (and sort of terrifying)?!

We watched the majority of the parades uptown on Magazine or St. Charles, because most of the crowd is families and primarily New Orleanians.  The drunken tourists and crazy spring-breakers don't seem to make it past Canal Street.  Or Bourbon Street, for that matter.  This is Canal the week before Fat Tuesday.

I only took my camera to a couple of the parades, but here's a smattering of iPhone pictures from the days leading up to Mardi Gras.  If you follow on Instagram, you may have seen a few of them already.

Wigs and false eyelashes infiltrated my wardrobe this week. 

Uptown is all about family-friendly fun.  This is on Magazine Street before Thoth (one of the bigger krewes) rolled.

Yea, that's wig #2.

610 Stompers dance in a lot of parades here.  They're known for the short blue shorts, sweatbands, and a large amount of facial hair.  These guys get seriously into their moves, and it's pretty hilarious.

Parade-watchers.

Carnival shoes, beads, stray feathers.  You know, the usual.

I'll never get enough of the great costumes!

How did everyone else spend their Mardi Gras?!  I've heard that other cities have mini-parades and celebrations, which is pretty awesome!