Past Projects

Summer seems to be the time of year when Seth and I undergo the most DIY projects. So, in hopes that we will be completing a few this summer, I figured I would post on our past projects first!

    

Some are small and some are more substantial - we had fun doing them regardless of their scale.

Our first apartment. Grey and yellow stripes in the bedroom

Nothing fancy here. We just needed a solution so I would stop shrinking Seth's sweaters.

Christmas decorations

Christmas decorations

Found this old smoker's table at a shop in Jim Thorpe, PA. It was painted white with sky blue inner panels and was chipping like crazy. The hinge on the door was also broken.  This was after it had been sanded and painter's tape laid on. 

Finished product.

Needed a stand for a plant. Found this for $10 at a thrift shop.
First pic was after I had sanded down a pretty thick stain/varnish.

Sausage stuffed Zucchini Boats from Skinnytaste.com. So good.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/07/sausage-stuffed-zucchini-boats.html

Zucchini pie from Skinnytaste.com. So yummy.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/07/crust-less-summer-zucchini-pie.html

Her Zucchini Casserole is amazing too.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/07/zucchini-casserole-25-pts.html

Pear, prosciutto, parmesan and goat cheese pizza. YUM.

Peanut butter cups from Blueeyedbakers.com
Melt in your mouth delicious.
http://www.blueeyedbakers.com/home/2012/4/24/crunchy-peanut-butter-cups.html

Cookie dough dip from Addapinch.com
http://addapinch.com/cooking/2011/10/14/cookie-dough-dip-recipe/

We found a card catalog at our favorite vintage revival store on Main Street. I found table legs on Etsy and Seth secured a piece of wood to the bottom and the legs onto the wood with some brackets from Lowes. And voila! Card catalogue side table.  

The sign Seth proposed with.

Martha Stewart Butternut Squash with Sage on Thanksgiving.
http://www.marthastewart.com/339296/butternut-squash-with-sage

My family's Sweet Potato Pie on Thanksgiving

This was a pumpkin cheesecake trifle I made on Thanksgiving. The recipe is from Mybakingaddiction.com. I think next time I would make it in small individual dishes like the recipe calls for since it was so sweet.
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-trifles/

I made another pumpkin trifle earlier in the fall from Tasteofhome.com. Here's the recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Pumpkin-Gingerbread-Trifle

Crockpot candied pecans. These were a great snack for people on Thanksgiving while they waited for food.
http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/2011/06/crock-pot-recipe-sugared-pecans.html

Seth painted the 3 canvas piece above the couch.

Made a collage in the bedroom using engagement photos.

Made a terrarium and placed tiny kitty figurines Seth's mom had given us in it.

Hanging succulent garden. We are having a hard time keeping them grounded in the pots so we have them stabilized with string right now.

Our first big purchase together - a popup camper!!! We have spent the past two weekends stripping and replacing the caulking. Updating and checking the electrical work, and cleaning it inside and out. Excited to eventually USE IT!

  

One of my favorite vases was looking a little tired...so we made it into a lamp! All we needed was a bottle lamp kit, a ceramic cutting drill bit, and a little hot glue!

My newest project. I saw this dresser at one of the thrift/revival shops in town - it was pricey but I loved the colors and wash. I found a gorgeous dresser at the Salvation Army and waited until the price was reduced to buy it. I am hoping to put a nice wash on it and restain the wood like the dresser above.

Black Bean Soup

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/09/black-bean-soup.html

* I wanted a little meat in this so I added a hamhock to the process - really glad I did - it came out Y.U.M.M.Y.

Here are some other recipes I made and loved but didn't take any pictures of:

Sweets:

Chewiest Chocolate Chip Cookies
http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com/2011/08/best-ever-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

Peppermint patties
http://www.food.com/recipe/peppermint-patties-101027
*These were good but tough to make

Chocolate Truffles
http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChocolateTruffles.html
*Just like the peppermints above - so good but a pain to make

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/09/caramel-apple-cheesecake-bars.html

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
http://www.bigflavorstinykitchen.com/2010/12/supper-club-chocolate-peanut-butter-surprise-cookies.html

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
http://twotinykitchens.com/2011/02/23/peanut-butter-pretzel-bites/

Fleur de Sel Caramels
http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=224&S=0

Nutter Butter Truffles
http://candy.about.com/od/trufflerecipes/r/nutterbutters.htm

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cake
Devil's Food Cake Mix with lots of cinnamon and chili powder
Dark Chocolate frosting + more cinnamon and chili powder
All to taste and SOOO good.

Savory:

Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Breasts
http://www.skinnytaste.com/search?updated-max=2012-07-19T05:25:00-04:00&max-results=8

Pulled Pork
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/04/slow-cooker-pulled-pork.html

Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/04/mixed-baby-greens-with-strawberries-25.html

Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/03/roasted-prosciutto-wrapped-asparagus.html

Ok, thats enough for now!