...$10.62 worth of thrifting...

It's been a while since I've had time to go to my favorite, local thrifting spots.  Today was a good day!  I only had about 20 minutes, and I scored big during that time.  Sometimes, it's when I'm in a rush that I find the best things.  You?

For $10.62 I got a leather purse, large ceramic pot, medium ceramic pot, 2 coffee mugs, 2 happy hour glasses, and a gift! 

Check it out!!! 

I've been looking for a brown leather purse forEVER.  I continue to use my one-shoulder black backpack because it's easy, it's light-weight, and it's 'hands free' when I  need it to be.  But you know, sometimes that backpack isn't the look I want. But to spend $80-100 on a leather purse...well...I can't justify that. 

Why are you so excited, you ask?

 Because THIS is the exact size and shape I was looking for.  AND the best part??  It was $3bucks!!  AND it's leather!!!  (uhhh...can I say double-take?)

But that's not all!!  I continued on my way...with a grin on my face, and came across these lovelies...  a celery colored planter pot for my new IKEA plant ~ perfect size and cool shape. 62 cents (yes, 62)...and these cute little (dirty...sorry!) happy hour glasses!  One for me.  One for a friend.  Perfect.  Cute.  25cents.

Makes me want to sing M.C. Hammer's   .....  "Can't touch this..."

And how perfect does that plant fit in the pot? 

So I continued on my way down the street to the next shop.  I know this doesn't look like much of anything, but in person, they're much cuter. 
The pot is for another new houseplant for my kitchen. $3.50
2 IKEA coffee mugs. 25cents each
And a beautifully floral stamped white decorative plate with the cutest little bird on it for a dear friend who wants to add some white plates to her picture wall.  Perfect for her!  $2.50

So yes, all in all, it was a great 20 minutes of shopping!! And what did I spend??  Pennies people!!  Pennies!! 

Zucchini Boats

I could probably come up with a more gourmet name for these than "zucchini boats"...but it's truly what they are!  The best ones are when you have those ginormic zukes that you randomly find in your garden (surprise!!) and you don't know what to do with them.

Here's a great way to use them:

Step 1.

Cut in half lenthwise and scoop out all the seeds and spongy center

(not sure what's wrong with my picture up there??)

Step 2.

Spray both sides of the zukes, salt them, and grill over medium heat until softened...about 20-25 minutes...turning as necessary

Step 3.

Stuff with rice mixture.  I sauteed onion, mushrooms, a bit of yellow and red bell pepper, and 1/2 banana pepper, (and salt of course) and added that to white rice.

Step 4.

Sprinkle shredded cheese on top (I used muenster) and cover grill until cheese melts. 

I served this with simple grilled chicken.  So good!!  To eat this monster, just slice it up together.  Easier than trying to scoop it out...

Enjoy!

SlimCado

Remember this from yesterday?

                                       
                                         A "SlimCado?"
Well, in my opinion...don't waste the $1.88  It was HORRIBLE!! It was in no way creamy like an avacado nor did it taste like one.  The only thing that was similar was the inside ~ except the SlimCado is much larger and the seed is huge!  So save your money and buy the real deal!!!

Front Porch Redo...Part I

The time has finally come!!  The exterior of our house is going to get a facelift tomorrow... 

Notice that the window and door trim, under the front porch roof, do not match the trim on the rest of the windows?? 

The trim on them is dark brown, so it's rather dreary when you sit on the porch.  Things need to be brightened up a bit!  We're using the same creamy yellow paint that's on the rest of the house.

And see the house numbers over the door?...and the little tiny (but cute as a button) ceiling light??  They'll be replaced too.

I'm going to put new larger numbers on the interior door on that raised panel in the middle of the door (see it above?), and get a new handle on the storm door...bye-bye standard black handle!

Not sure if you can truly tell from these pictures, but that floor paint is the most hideous paint EVER!!  It's painted like a patchwork quilt. I really don't know who would paint part of it dark red, and the other part barn red, but man!!  Is it an eye sore!  I can't WAIT for my new floor!! 

And finally the ceiling light...

I've loved this little light ever since we moved in...  but it's just not substantial enough for this big square house.  I ordered one from our local light store (trying to support the locals!!) that's big and rectangular...more of an Arts & Crafts style light with clear seeded glass.  I'm very excited for that! 

So stay tuned for my next post.  Hopefully I'll have an update!!  Painter comes tomorrow at 7:30am! 

...today's harvest...

So I brew my coffee, grab my favorite mug ...

and go out back to see what's ready to harvest for today!!  Look what all I found!!

There were 3 yellow grape tomatoes in there too, but I had never eaten them before and the kids and I were so excited to pop them in our mouths, that well...they didn't last long!  I must say, they taste a little different than red.  Some people told me they don't, but I thought so...but I like them!!  A LOT! 

Something we found we like that you might too, is to grab some fresh green beans, and dip them in ranch dressing.  Nick's not much of a veggie man...but I can get him to eat them this way.  Nice, cold, and crunchy!!

I checked on my tomatoes that are on the vine, and not quite ready for harvesting, and I'm pleased to announce

Little Chippy hasn't eaten them yet. 

YET! 

(knock on wood!!) 

Lovin' Free Zukes!!

Don't you just LOVE recipes that only have 4 ingredients?? Especially when 1 of them is FREE?? 

Tonight's dinner:

Zucchini "crab"cakes!! 

per crabcake you'll need

1/2c. packed shredded zucchini

1/4c. italian bread crumbs

1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp. Old Bay

Mix all with your hands and squish it together so the breadcrumbs are wet and well-blended.  Saute in olive oil over medium heat until both sides are crispy and brown.  I served these with cheesy spaghetti. (Whole wheat pasta topped with marinara sauce.  Then I stirred in muenster cheese.)  I also put a dollop of sauce on the zuke cake too....  mmm...so good! 

My 7-yr old that doesn't even like zucchini LOVES these!!  You'll have to check them out!!  If you use jarred sauce, you can have a great, healthy meal in the amount of time it takes to boil noodles. 

Bon appetite!!! 

Summer food...or at least I'm trying...

My tomatoes:

Man, I'd been eyein' these babies up all week. There were 2 that were orange'ish and I was waiting so impatiently for them to ripen on the vine, so that I could have the best, most scrumptious cheese & tomato sandwich.

Today was the day!!  I went out to pluck them from the vine...when suddenly, I felt my finger go into a wet hole.  I pulled the 1st one off the stem and what do you think I saw??  Nibble marks. Nibble marks??  Yes.  Nibble marks.

You see...

There's the cutest little chipmunk living in my garden.  I might have mentioned him before.  Every time I go out there, he runs like mad, over to the rainspout and hides. I didn't really think he was eating my yummy produce!!  I just thought he was enjoying the shade of the cucumber leaves and beans!!  Much to my surprise, that darn rodent is MUNCHING his way through my tomato patch. 

LOOK!!!  See the munch marks??

Ugh!! 

I remember in our last house, the chipmunks would eat the little grape tomatoes that would fall on the ground...but they NEVER climbed up through the vine to get to the fruit!!  Never!!! 

This little fella must be pretty smart!! 

So...off to the grocery store to buy some tomatoes for my fish tacos this week.  I'm so sad!! 

Or at least, I WAS sad, until I found the coolest new item in the produce department!! 

"SlimCado"

It's an avacado from California that's supposed to have fewer calories than a regular avacado!!  I'm SO EXCITED to try it!!  I was tempted to cut it open today, but I really don't need it until tomorrow, so I don't want it to brown...so I'll HAVE to wait!  I'm the most impatient person I've ever met. This will be very hard!!

I'll keep you posted on how it tastes!!

:)