Vintage Style Organization

I heart organization.  An organized room is my happy place and the people at The Container Store speak my love language.  I also am completely into containers that have a vintage appeal.  Organization doesn't always have to mean plastic bins and baskets.  And, let's face it, if I make organization complicated or expect these people in my house to put things back in a cabinet all the time - it will NEVER happen.  Here's some ways I've used containers that are functional and have that vintage vibe:

 This tray from Home Goods is a perfect place to toss the 40,000 remote controls that seem to be needed in the living room.  It's wooden with a enamel like interior. (I took 39,999 of the remotes out so you could see the tray.)

For the two years leading up to building our new house, I collected all kinds of vintage-y plates, serving dishes, salt cellars, compote dishes, and on and on, with the plan of putting my jewelry in them.  I now have them sitting in my closet!  It makes finding everything easy because it's right in front of me!  I especially LOVE this Fostoria Milk Glass three section dish I found!  My MiMi collected Fostoria glassware so it reminds me of her every time I set something in it.

Our pantry was mostly planned around the coffee pot.  (I know that's ridiculous and I'm okay with that.)  Coffee is serious business to me in the mornings.  I am not a morning person and I don't really like to be spoken to prior to having coffee. Since that happens, well never, I want everything in arm's reach when I finally get in there to have a cup.  We put a small fridge in our pantry where the creamer is held (among the juice boxes and the fruit cups) and I like to be able to see the pods for my Keurig without having to dig them out of the cabinet.  This numbered & sectioned wooden shelf from World Market is the perfect spot to house my little beauties. 

 (Oh and how much do you love that brick backsplash my lovely hubby did for me?!)

This little metal tray is also from World Market.  By adding in two working glasses from Target (about $1 each and one of my favorite organization tips), I ended up with a caddy perfect for pencils, my favorite felt tip pens, and my May Books from maydesigns.com!

The laundry room is one place where things can end up all over the place if not contained.  I use wooden soda boxes often and this one is fantastic because it's divided into four sections.  It holds everything I need to grab when doing laundry!  I found it while shopping trade days in Round Top last spring.  It was full of evidence of mice nests and I almost passed it up so I wouldn't have to clean it!  Then I remembered I have a husband who can deal with such grossness.  So I got it and I'm glad I did!

I truly do love to organize.  Do you have something that needs containment and you aren't sure what to do?  Hit me up on email and let's see if we can figure it out! 

What to Pick-Up this Weekend

The Fab Five List for a Stylish Summer

(1) Dress up your weekend brunch table with these completely adorable paper table runners.  Just roll it out, cut to length, and toss it when everyone has had enough of those mimosas you're famous for.  In a variety of colors and patterns, there's sure to be one to make your table pop!

{Scroll down to see my table with this fun cutlery pattern.}

Available at kitchenpapers.com From $22

(2)Summer makeup has to be light and easy.  I've mixed and matched this palette all summer and there's no wrong combo!  I'm not a makeup artist AT ALL, so if I can use it and pull it off, you can too.

 Easy and soft summer eyes - yes, please!

Available at Sephora.com $36

(3) If you've spent any time outside lately, you know humidity and your hair are mortal enemies sworn to never reconcile.  Two or three small drops of this serum run through your hair after styling and say goodbye to the dreaded summer frizz.

Available at Target $4.99

(4)Take this liner to the pool, the lake, or the beach for some waterproof drama that comes off easily later with your makeup remover.  I love the Metallic Umber for a quieter line that gives definition without the deep, darkness of a black liner.  Plus, with a little added sparkle, it goes from daytime errands and chasing kids to date night in a flash!

Available at Sephora.com $22

(5)Mix up some Texas cool with Deep Eddy's Vodka.  Combine their tart Lemon or Cranberry flavors with some iced, sweet tea for a fun party cocktail.  Even better, pick up their Sweet Tea flavor and add some lemonade, some ice, and a cute paper straw.  Grab your bag and head to the pool with that one!

Available at Spec's $16.99

{The colors of Summer}

<Seriously, nobody paid me to make this list.  I really do like this stuff y'all! Happy Summer!>

Malaysian Pizza

I love this time of night in our house.  Any other mommas out there love it too?  It's about 11:30.  It's quiet. HGTV is on and chamomile tea is in my cup.  I am thinking back about our birthday week last week and how much fantastic time we got to spend with family and friends in the days surrounding our birthdays.  It's always fun with my birthday and Peter's birthday one day apart.  We honestly love that we get to celebrate together!  On my birthday, Peter grilled steaks and shrimp - my birthday meal request just about every year. I'm definitely a meat eater and definitely predictable.  Peter changes his request up each year.  This year, he asked for this pizza.  I found this recipe probably 10 years ago in a magazine.  (I think it was Cooking Light.) We've cooked it no less than 30 times - enough times that the pages of my cooking notebook where this recipe is kept, stick together from the peanuty, sticky, syrupy sauce splashing out of the pot.  It's not complicated and it's really delicious!

Malaysian Chicken Pizza

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

3 tbsp. water

1 tbsp. fresh minced & peeled ginger

2 tbsp. chunky peanut butter (or I usually only have smooth, so I add some chopped peanuts to it)

4 garlic cloves, minced

Cooking Spray

1 lg. can chunk chicken breast packed in water 

(You can use 1/2 lb. fresh chicken breast baked and then chopped, but I love how the canned chicken shreds in the sauce and makes this SO easy.)

1 cup mozzarella cheese

5-6 chopped green onions

1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

1 can thin crust Pillsbury pizza dough or your favorite pizza dough

Preheat the oven according to the dough instructions.  I prebake the crust for 3-5 minutes, until it just starts to bake.  

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a sauce pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  As the liquid starts to boil, add in the drained, canned chicken and whisk consistently.  Be patient as the mixture gently boils and continue whisking as it thickens.  It will take several minutes for it to thicken.  You want to look for it to boil down to the consistency of a thick syrup.  

Like this:

Take the mixture off the heat and spoon over the crust.  Top with cheese and bake according to your crust instructions.

After baking, top the pizza with the chopped green onion, cilantro, and peanuts to your liking - we like a lot!  Slice it up and eat it up!

Malaysian Pizza - One Big Circus 

Outdated Lamp Transformed to Shabby and Adorable!

Lamps come with sticker shock these days.  Are lamps considered luxury items now and I missed the memo?  Maybe that...or maybe the fact that I haven't actually bought a decent lamp in over 10 years.  When you're saving for your dream home, some things just aren't necessary.  But now I am decorating and styling said dream home, and dropping $100 on just a lamp doesn't sound appealing at all.

I love a good bargain, and I also love a good one hour project.  As a busy WFHM, I don't have time for an all-day crafting project.  Let's face it, I barely get to go to the bathroom on my own, let alone craft some amazingly detailed piece.  My kids are big enough now I can usually squeeze in a quick project here and there while they play on some electronic device - don't judge.  Yesterday it was this lamp makeover.  It went from outdated and boring to shabby and fabulous in just under an hour!

Boring and Out-dated

Supplies: paper to cover your work surface, paint, glaze,
sandpaper, sponge brush or paint brush
Mix equal parts paint and glaze on a plate.

I was saying a prayer as this first coat went on!

Completely cover in two coats, and then use the edge of sandpaper to scrape 

away some of the paint to get the shabby, worn, old, well-loved look

Continue sanding lightly.  I use my finger dipped in a bit of paint/glaze mixture to 

smooth over areas I may have over sanded a bit.

And now, with a new $12 shade from At Home,

 I have an illuminated beauty in the guest room! 

Simple, quick, and easy!

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