Time to Update: Floor Thresholds

In our small entry-way there are three floor thresholds; one for the front door, closet and walk-way. Originally they were all gold, which is not my cup-of-tea. But thanks to some DIY handy-work they are now all nickel, which matches the hardware on our doors. Around a year ago I started by replacing the most noticeable one in the walk-way. Then a few months ago Travis replaced the one for the front door. And last week I replaced the one for the closet (while I was working on the project you saw in my last post).

Here's how it's done:

Remove the old threshold by prying it up along with the nails using a hammer.

(I then vacuumed underneath it what had accumulated over 65 years!)

Measure door opening, and measure and mark your new threshold.

(We stuck with metal instead of wood so we wouldn't have to worry about trying to match the old hardwood floors. Metal is also probably a better option for entry-ways being a high traffic area.)

Use a hacksaw to carefully cut along the line.

Position it, and nail it into place.

Pretty simple, right?

Front door:

All three:

Have you had to replace floor thresholds in your home or do you have some that need replacing?

Do you prefer wood or metal thresholds?

Let's Get Organized: Entry-Way Closet

I guess you could say second trimester "nesting" is in full-swing! I am feeling the need to organize EVERYTHING! So, lets get started and hopefully you'll learn some organization tips along the way...

No matter the square footage under you roof adding shelves, whether free-standing or built-in, is a great way to keep things out-of-sight yet convenient.

This is how the bottom of our entry-way closet looked... not horrible, but it didn't leave much room for storing shoes so they normally ended up in our small entry-way.

Solution: shelves!

I found this some-assembly-required-shelf at Target, and with the help of my screw-driver and easy-to-follow-instructions... it went from this...

to this...

I then emptied everything out of the bottom of the closet, vacuumed it, cut some liner to size for the shelves... and the closet went from this...

to this...
My plan is to find some baskets that will slide under the bottom shelf for "the girl's" shoes.

How do you organize shoes near your entry-way?

Cool Collections: Dishes

Old or new, dishes can be a fun thing to collect... They're eye-pleasing and functional! Use them in creative displays or make them your everyday dishes. They also make great heirlooms that you can pass down from generation to generation. Or perhaps you've been given this priceless gift from a member of your family!

Since registering for our wedding in 2006, I've been collecting these Emma Pottery Barn dishes. I love the beaded detail that gives them the look of an antique set.

This is what my collection looks like so far...

(The stack of plates under the gravy boat are not part of the collection... those are plates I found at Anthropology.)

Inspired by my mom and good 'ol Martha, I started collecting Jadeite in 2003...

Jadeite, which comes in different patterns, is a stain- and heat-resistant, milky-green glassware. Common in the 1940's and 1950's, Jadeite was sold at hardware stores and five-and-tens. It could even be found in a bag of flour or box of oatmeal as an inducement to buy the rest of the set. Today, it is a popular and valuable collectible. My mom and I, along with Martha and her daughter, collect the increasingly hard-to-find Fire-King Restaurantware pattern (though we collect other patterns as well). This pattern was used in restaurants, hotels and hospitals because of it's durability.

This is what my collection looks like so far...

Although I currently keep my dishes on these glass shelves in our dining room they will soon be given a new home that is creative, space saving and baby-proof! ...It's going to take some work but don't worry you'll get to see the step-by-step in a future post!

Do you collect any dishes? If so, what kind? And how do you display them?

From Master to Nursery: Part 1

As many of you know, we have baby #2 on the way and we are currently working on finishing our basement. Well here's the plan... since our home is only a two bedroom at the moment, the basement will become the master, the master will become Angelia's new nursery and Angelia's nursery will become her sister's nursery. Catch all that?

...More Pink!

For the first few months Angelia's room served as both nursery and office. Since before her arrival the room was solely an office we simply made it half and half until she began to crawl. I then moved all the office things to the basement, put an area rug down and made the other half of the room a play area for her.

Angelia's current nursery is all dark wood furniture using white, cream and light pink for the color scheme. Angelia's sister will be inheriting this nursery and all of it's decor.

For Angelia's new nursery I'm thinking white furniture and probably the same white, cream and light pink color scheme.

Similar to this Pottery Barn nursery...

We have yet to get her a new crib, although I found a dresser on Craigslist for $100 (a Christmas gift from my mom) that I am currently working on (you will get to see the run down on it in a future post!).

What color scheme do/would you use for your nursery?

Have you ever played what seems like musical chairs with bedrooms, like us?

Pasta Bowl: Gnocchi with Shrimp and Green Beans

Every week I usually make a large bowl of pasta that allows us to have left-overs for the following night. It's always nice to have a day where you don't have to worry about what you're going to make for dinner! They are usually simple and quick, which is especially good when you have little ones!

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Sweet Potatoes

Mini Gnocchi

Frozen Cooked Shrimp

Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce

Tomato Sauce

Frozen Cut Green Beans

Finely Shredded Mozzarella

If you've never tried gnocchi (pronounced: nockie) I highly recommend it! It's used and cooked like pasta but it contains potatoes and has a more chewy texture. It also cooks faster, you only need to boil it for 1 - 3 minutes. You can tell when they're done because they will float to the surface.

In this dish I used two different types of gnocchi to add some variation. The whole wheat gnocchi requires a bit more cooking time so add it to the boiling water just a minute before adding the other gnocchi.

In a large skillet, added the shrimp, green beans, alfredo sauce and tomato sauce, gave it a good stir and cook it on high until it comes to a slight boil. I then added the gnocchi and give it another good stir.

Once you dish it out sprinkle it with the shredded mozzarella & serve!

...Buon Appetito!

The creaminess of the sauce, chewiness of the gnocchi, crispiness of the green beans, and savoriness of the shrimp made this dish deeeee-lish!

Do you usually use recipes when you cook or do you prefer to throw together your own creations?

From Storage to Display: Vino

I love when items that could simply be stored away are used for eye-pleasing displays! Instead of keeping all your wine bottles in a wine cooler, cellar or elsewhere where they are hidden, try adding wine racks and shelves to your kitchen or dining area. Even display your wine glasses!

Here are eight wonderful examples from Pottery Barn...

This one most closely resembles ours.

Almost four years ago Travis and I received a wonderful wine bottle & wine glass shelf from Pottery Barn, and a wine cart from Target as wedding gifts.

Here they are displayed in our first apartment.

We've lived in our house for almost three years and all this time the wine bottle and wine glass shelf have been sitting in our basement. I guess I was waiting for Travis to hang them since he hung them in our apartment, but I think it was time for me to take matters into my own hands.

(1) With the wine cart still against the wall, I decided what height I wanted each shelf by hanging a wine glass from the wine glass shelf and placing a champagne glass on top of it.

(2) Moved the wine table exactly where I wanted it and centered the shelves above it.

(3) Made sure they were level.

(4) Found the wall studs.

(5) Screwed in the metal hook plates.

(6) Hung the shelves!

I used the wine glass shelf to hang wine glasses and on top hold champagne glasses & a vase that's engraved 'Jaclyn & Travis May 20, 2006'.

The picture in the corner is a wine menu I had framed from 4 Olives, a restaurant I was an assistant chef at for a summer while I was in college.

How do you display your wine bottles & glasses?

Our New Addition: Gender Reveal

After patiently waiting 25 weeks we finally had our sonogram! Normally it's done between 18 and 20 weeks but we waited until after the first of the year to allow our insurance to pick up the bill for us. Isn't that nice of them!?

When we were pregnant with Angelia we found out she was going to be a girl during a sonogram at 21 weeks. But with this being our second time around we wanted to do something a little different... So instead of having the sonographer tell us the baby's gender we had him write it down on a card and place it inside a sealed envelope. (This required even more patients, but since we waited this long I knew we could go a little longer.) Later that evening, after Travis got home from work, we went out to dinner together at the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza. After ordering our meals we pulled out the card and opened it...

The moment felt more special finding out while on a date together, rather then in a hospital in front of a total stranger.

9 weeks

25 weeks

That's right, we are having another girl! Angelia is going to have a little sister! And Travis is going to be out numbered 3 to 1! They will now be known as 'The Cool Girls'! Her official due date is April 21st!

Do you have any baby gender reveal stories?

Slow Cooker: Roast Stew

This was my first time making this stew and actually my first time to make anything in my slow cooker! The cold weather really got me excited to start experimenting with it! And let me tell you... this was delicious and the whole house smelled wonderful! Travis loved it too! You know guys and their meat!

Ingredients:

Round Roast

New Potatoes

Carrots

1 Yellow Onion

2 Leeks

3 Celery Stalks

Onion Soup Mix

3 Bay Leaves

Pepper

To make your roast extra tender first sear it on both sides, either in the stove or on the grill. I didn't want another pot to clean so I braved the cold and put mine on the grill.

Then start chopping! ...Chop your onion, celery and leeks into small pieces and your potatoes and carrots into bite size pieces. I used baby carrots to save some time.

Add all your ingredients into the slow cooker, cover with lid, and fill it about 1" from the rim with water. Let it cook on high for 4 -6 hours.

Try this recipe at home and let me know what you think...

What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?

Little Miss Cool

Our daughter, Angelia, is going to be a big sister in April! The two of them will be just 19 months apart. Angelia is going to love having a play-mate around all the time! We find out tomorrow if she's going to have a little brother or a litter sister! So before I introduce Cool Baby #2, I wanted to make sure I introduced you to Cool Baby #1...

Angelia Bella Grace

Born October 8, 2008

Weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz

Already workin' that lower lip just moments after birth.

Sweet dreams...

Miss Hollywood!

Easter...

Fourth of July... with her 'boy friend', Owen.

First Birthday!

Playing in mom & dad's leaf pile.

Stay tuned to find out if Cool Baby #2 is a boy or a girl!!!