Golden Mushroom Gravy

Maybe it's the cold weather, maybe it's the fact that I have been stressed and in need of some comfort food (but my National Exam is over woo hoo!) but I have been CRAVING something smothered in gravy.  So last Sunday when we were planning our meals for the week I planned for Mashed Potatoes with steam vegetables smothered in Vegetable Gravy ...YUMMY!

Enter Golden Mushroom Gravy

adapted from: 1,000 Vegan Recipes

Ingredients:

1 tbsp EVOO (I eyeball it)

half a large onion chopped

1 cup cooked or can chickpeas (rinsed and drained if using canned)

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

7-8 large white mushrooms sliced (recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups )

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried savory

1/2 tsp dried sage

salt and fresh pepper to taste

1. In a saucepan heat the oil (medium heat) then add the onion, cover, and cook until soft.  Then add the chickpeas and 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth.
2. Place that mixture into a blender (or if your lucky a food processor).  Blend until smooth and set the mixture aside. 
3. In the saucepan  over medium heat combine the mushrooms and remaining 1 cup of vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce to low heat and add the chickpea and onion mixture.  Add the spices (thyme, savory, and sage) and salt and pepper to taste.  Stir constantly to blend the ingredients. 
5.  Remove from heat and serve.  (This recipe should keep for 2-3 days in a sealed container in the fridge)

We put this delish gravy on our  mashed potatoes and steamed peppers and broccoli but you could put it on just about anything.  It is such a creamy, hearty gravy . It is full of protein (from the chickpeas) and the sliced mushrooms add a whole another layer of yum!

The best part?  It is healthy without sacrificing taste.  No worries about enjoying every last bit of this gravy!

We are even  planning on making this gravy for Thanksgiving Dinner!

What have you been craving now that the weather is chilly?

linked up with: http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/, http://www.homemakeronadime.com/, http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/, http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/11/link-party-3/

Dreaming of Projects

Who doesn't love Pinterest ....seriously?  I lurve pinterest it feeds my addiction for inspiration....
Lately I've been so busy my National Exam is one week away YIKES....needless to say I haven't had time to work on any projects or crafts. 

But they have been floating through my head so here's some thing I've been dreaming of while trying to study 8)

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Making a bracelet out of the vintage watches I have from my Grandma and the Husband's Grandma.

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I have plans to do something like this in the bedroom for jewelry storage.

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I have been eyeing up some globes at an antique store I can't wait to get some and do this ..how cute!

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I have plans to make one of these DIY yarn lights for the bedroom!

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We are definitely going to paint our old fridge with chalkboard paint soon...love the yellow letter too!

And some fabulous ideas for my future craft space so I can create all these things...

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I can't wait to get started on all these projects and share them with you! But for now I'm stuck dreaming.

What about you any good Pinterest projects lately? Any awesome projects completed? Any your just dreaming about?

Linked up with: http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/

Color DRA-MAAA...the saga continues

O color, color, color how I love you ....but how you drive me insane and keep me up late at night.  You my dear friend are the very reason why I have a stack of paint chips 5 inches high sitting on my desk and  a folder full of pictures decided especially to you. 

Still having issues with that dresser turned side board, you ask? Yes, o yes this color drama is directly related to the recent post on my Dresser Color Dilemma. 

For those of you that gave your opinion thanks a bunch!

The totals stand at:

 Yellow = 11

Turquoise = 3

Green = 0

and a couple just couldn't decide (I am so with you!)

All week I had yellow paint chips on the dresser and I was smitten. 

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So today I went off to Lowe's ready to get my paint.  I had a page torn out of Better Homes and Gardens with a yellow with a hint of orange ( I did not want it to look like a nursery in my dining room).

Since the paint chip that was suppose to match this magazine totally DID NOT!

It was like this  

this color doesn't look quite so orange in person

vs

this

I had to get it color matched.  Love the wonderful Lowe's guy he worked hard to get it right...but I came home with something that ended up looking a lot like

has a bit more yellow in it in person

this

Truly I think he got the paint match pretty close and I just did not notice how much orange was really in it.

So here I sit annoyed with my Color DRA-MAAA (name that show) staring at the 20 new paint chips I picked up at Lowe's.  Contemplating my dresser color yet again....

By the end of next weekend I.will.have.that.dresser.painted.darnit.  It may look a little like this ....

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Or maybe not ;)....maybe it will be this fabulous new color that is staring lovingly up at me from the paints chips spread out on the floor begging to used!

Stay tuned for the final chapter in The Color Saga...

Do you have a paint match horror story? Or just a paint in general horror story? Do you have as many paint chips as I do?

Dresser Color Dilemma

O my gosh unfortunately it's been a bit since I posted last.  Life is getting a little crazy with my last month and a half of grad school and my national exam coming up ..yikes!    Anywho on to the dilemma...

We recently moved a side-of-the-road picked dresser to our dining room to be used as our buffet table.

And now I'm contemplating what color to paint it (the hardware will be changed too). It has to be a fabulous color, there is already way to much neutral in my house!

So of course I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.

Here is what I'm thinking.

Yellow

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I lurve the yellow! The yellow in the first picture in my favorite! It's so happy and sunshiney ...word? I say yes lol.  It's grey around here so often I feel like the yellow dresser would be my sunshine. 


Turquoise

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I love the "shabby" look of the first picture!

Green
I had to add this, green is one of my most favorite colors.  I love how organic it is.  However, my curtains in the living room and dining room are lime green so I thought a green buffet table might be too much green.

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Ok so I need your opinions! What do you think? what's your favorite?

I linked up with: http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/, http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/, http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-1024/, http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/, http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/, http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/, http://www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/

Snuggle Time!

Life has been pretty busy the past couple weeks and it is easy to forget we are trying to simplify our lives.  It is important to take a minute and enjoy the really good things...

Snuggling up with Bowsy on a cold Fall Day. 




Linking up with:

Linen Closet Organization

How do newlyweds who have only lived in their house for a year have so much crap?!  LOL  On top of that some of our rooms are not serving there purpose anymore so it's time to change!

Let the reorganization begin. 

What was our guest room is becoming my sewing/craft room (until it someday becomes the nursery 8) )  and what originally was our office room is now becoming our guest room/dressing room and linen closet.  Since we do not have a linen closet the closet in (what will be our) dressing/guest room became our linen closet.



After



I don't have a great before picture (wish I did, it was bad).  The linen closet (now) was piled high with craft things and all the linens were stuffed in another tinsy winsy closet.  I was so excited to get started the first picture I snapped was after everything was cleaned out.

During

During

Then the hubs added some awesome wire shelves from Lowe's and I organized everything and put it in place.

On the lowest shelf I put my extra contacts, extra toiletries, medicine, and toilet paper. 

The next shelf I placed towels (there is only one there because they are all in laundry 8) ) & washcloths, more toiletries, and our sheets (inside there pillow cases to keep them together). 

 On the top shelf I put our air mattress, sleeping bag, and sheets for the guest bed. 

(We are in the process of switching to all white towels and organic sheets).

I was able to fit a small ladder and the vacuum in the closet.  I also placed a laundry basket there for dirty towels and linens.  

Now that it's organized I need to make it pretty!  I plan to get baskets to organize the toilet paper and other toiletries.  I also plan to paint the inside of the closet a bright fun color like a nice sea glass blue (no VOC paint of course). 



Creamy Cucumber Olympic



The Container Store

Are you lucky enough to have a linen closet? How did you organize yours?

I linked up with:
http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/, http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/, http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/, http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/, http://stylishonceagain.blogspot.com/

http://www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/, http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-1018/
http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/, http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

Simple Supper, Busy Life

A simple supper for our unfortunately busy life and What I Ate Wednesday!

Who watched the Today show this morning?  I caught part of it while getting ready for class.  I was so excited to see the Michelle Obama Let's Move Program.  Currently they are trying to set the Guinness World Record for the most jumping jacks in a 24 hour period.  As someone with a background in Healthy and Physical Education this gets me so excited, it is so important to get kids up and moving! 

Anywho, they took a moment to interview Ms. Obama and asked her how her family manages living and eating healthy with their busy lives.  She stated "we just make it a priority"  how great is that!  Everyone has busy lives but I believe it is soooo important to make eating healthy a priority and I'm so glad to see the First Lady does too. 

The hubs and I were feeling super busy, super tired, and running low on groceries so we were in need of a simple, fast supper... but before that here's what else I ate today.

Breakfast:  Peanut Butter toast + banana+ black coffee + water

Lunch: Leftover Chickpea & Leak Soup + homemade bread with cheese + water

Alright our simple supper is nothing too exciting but it's fast, it's healthy, it's easy, and it's not takeout (which is so easy to turn to when your busy and tired).

Dinner: Pasta+semi-homemade sauce + Peas + Water

Recipe
Whole Wheat Spaghetti
Sauce
EVOO
4 cloves garlic minced
2 cans diced tomatoes
Pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil

Cook the pasta.  Saute the garlic in some EVOO add the diced tomatoes and spices let simmer until the pasta is ready and your good to eat!  We cooked up some frozen peas on the side. 

Side note:  I really like the taste of diced tomatoes vs. pasta sauce.  If you prefer sauce you can find cans of "tomato sauce"  that are just tomatoes with no salt added. 

What are your great dinner ideas when your super busy? 

I linked up with:
http://www.peasandcrayons.com/
http://www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2011/10/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-lisa-leonard-designs-giveaway.html
http://youngancrafty.blogspot.com/
http://www.iamalongfortheride.blogspot.com/

Things I Heart about Fall

Today was the most beautiful fall day. The sky was bright blue without a cloud in it. The leaves were shades of greens, oranges, reds, and yellows.  All of this reflecting off the clam lake was like a picture out of a magazine!  And the smell of the fallen leaves..heavenly. 

A day like today makes me think about everything I am loving about fall this year!

ShannonPix - Etsy 

Pumpkins!

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Baking Bread

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Loose Leaf Chai Coconut Tea - Find it Here

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Jumping in a pile of leaves

LLBean

Curling up on the couch with a pretty blanket

VintageDutchGirl - Esty

Scarfs! -  Isn't this scarf amazing! I heart it!

Preparing Fresh Vegetables for the Winter...for the first time!

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Composting

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Shopping for things I can repurpose!

What are you loving about fall? 

I linked up with:



http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-1011/