Accessories on Standby

So I am cleaned up from Christmas and things around the house always seem rather flat and uninteresting after the holidays. I like things bright and gussied up. I have been contemplating a recent post by The Nester that you can see for yourself here.

I have a serious problem that once an accessory or a piece of furniture is in a really good spot I mentally deem that ITS PLACE. Not a big deal when you switch apartments once a year and it takes 6 months to find that spot. But now I have a house. It has been 2.5 years. Time to get a little jiggy wid it. If you know what I mean.

So, back to the ever fabulous Nester's post. I try to think as I am reading about what thing sI have that are the same size, the same color, and I have a mental block. I cannot picture it. I cannot even think about what I have stored away. I seem to have lost all imagination.

What to do. Oh what to do.

Drastic measures were clearly called for in this situation. So I proceeded to take every accessory in the house and pile it on the dining room table in my melodramatic "I have lost my imagination" way.

I did leave a few exceptions in their place as too much work is just not sensational. I left the goodies above the kitchen cabinets where they were, and I left the office alone so the hubs could still have a safe place.

I have decided to live a bare house for a few days in hopes of reconfiguring my brain not to have specific homes for specific items. So far I have switched out a few lamps. Next I will do something with all the bookcases as the holes that have been left clearly show the need for some rearranging.

Also, you start to forget what exactly you have in your possession after a decade of carting things around. I also want to have a home goods swap at some point, so I am hoping to find some things I truly can live without. We will see.

Weirdo Delicioso Shepherd's Pie

I would like to begin this post by saying that I like to credit people. I have been in school a long time and understand referencing in all matter of formats: MLA, APA, blogging niceties, etc. However, I am not sure how to reference this recipe.

I think it is from a book called Sweet Revenge. I only think this not KNOW this because I was given a copy of copy which has multiple handwritten destructions that show it to be passed on and tidbits added to it. Which makes it kind of archeological in a way, but I digress.

Here it is in all it's fresh-out-of-the-oven-smelling-heavenly-goodness:

Given my reference questions I will just post here how I did it, since it is meant to feed all the world's hungry and there are only 2 of us. I obviously did not cut it down enough, but here is what I did for what you see above.

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped celery

2 TBSP olive oil

3 TBSP flour (I use unbleached)

1 c. chicken stock

1 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp rosemary (which I didn't have, so I used an Italian seasoning blend with rosemary IN it)

1 tsp sea or kosher salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

2 LARGE baking potatoes

1 c. (ish) half-n-half

1 c. Gruyere (I used Italian Kraft blend because I am thrifty)

A little butter

* 1/2 c. frozen baby peas

*1/2 c. frozen baby corn

* I did not use.

I would at this point like to point out that I made this over 3 days. So I have zero idea how long it actually takes to cook.

Saute beef, onions, & celery until beef is browned and vegetables are limp. I drained the meat, then added the olive oil and vegetables. Add flour and stir in well. This thickens the mixture and it begins to stick together. The recipe says it should be bubbling, and I am guessing they did not drain it. Slowly add the chicken stock. Stir and add in thyme, rosemary, salt, & pepper. Cook and stir until mixture is bubbly and thickened. *Stir in peas and corn and set aside.

Boil salted water, peel potatoes and add. In an small saucepan heat the half-n-half to steaming, but not boiling. (SUCH A GOOD TIP!) Drain potatoes, mix on a low speed with an electric mixer slowly adding the half-n-half and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

In each pie pan place 1/2 the beef mixture and top with potatoes. Scatter little butter bits on top of potato mix and sprinkle with paprika (totally forgot this!)

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes in a baking sheet. I lined the rack with foil because I was worried about it bubbling through the potatoes. Which probably would have happened if the potatoes had not been cold from me making them the day before. Instead of butter and paprika, I pulled the pies out 10 minutes early and sprinkled a little cheese to brown.

I love thyme and this dish has plenty of it. It is hot and different which I am going for right now with the cold weather and trying to eat at home.

Yikes this is late!

Well, I suppose this post is not too late considering the gifts had to be given before posting. But even that logic does not excuse the laziness that is my blogging lately.

So with a Christmas budget in full effect, I got the tray idea here at Bless Our Nest. My first plan was to make chalkboards, but I will be honest and say that chalkboard paint at my Home Depot was $11 and I was just not ready to commit that much to the project at that point.

I found the trays at 2 or 3 Goodwills around town. Some are sterling plated, one I am pretty sure was a plate charger, and 2 were tin? Maybe? Who knows, but they all worked.

I started off with rags, paper towels, 99 cent craft paint, 1998 acrylic paints from freshman art class, and some old sponge brushes.

The buddy I made these with bought a set of calligraphy-looking stencils which we promptly cut to pieces!

For the faux-finish I used craft glue mixed with water.

See, I have already skipped a step! I first spray-painted the trays in a matte almond color.

Then I spread the watered down paint all over with the sponge brush.

I then wiped it off with a rag. On some of the trays I did this more than once since some had a fine filigree I wanted to highlight a little more. That and when I find an easy step I can handle, I really like to wallow in it and build my confidence before tackling the next step.

Then I taped the stencil together (but not to the plate!) and painted. The stencils done with craft paint did not turn out with super clean edges. But I liked the effect. The 11-year-old acrylic paint had much better edges, but was a trial to use. Being 11 years old and all.

The first two experimental trays.

All of the trays together.

Two trays I added ribbon two and one I left alone. I am not sure what M did with her trays. the only thing I did not do was buy plate hangers or plate holders since I was not sure if the receivers wanted to hang them or have them sitting. I wish I had just decided for them so it was a complete present. I hate giving gifts without batteries.

Handmade gifts are fun, but super stressful. I battle the perfectionist side of me that does not want to give less than perfect gifts. I am more used to creating messes or projects that do not pan out and live out their life in my garage. But trying to make a budget-conscious project into something that is nicer than its price is hard. I do like the challenge, and I love to get homemade gifts! So I finally stopped debating and gave the gifts and I feel great about them.

My recycled Christmas presents turned out excellent, but that is another post and might be more the route I take in the future. At this pace however, you'll see that post mid-June. :)