Spicy BBQ Pizza

While I wait for a special chair delivery (remember my chair debacle here), I thought I'd share a quick and easy bbq pizza recipe!  You'll need:

1 Pillsbury Traditional or Thin crust (you can find them in the same place as the cinnamon rolls, etc.)
3/4 cup of bbq sauce (we like Sweet Baby Rays)
1 cup of cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken from Walmart)
1/2 of a large yellow onion chopped
1/2 cup of pickled jalapenos chopped (we use the HOT ones)
1 cup of pizza cheese (a mixture of mozzarella and cheddar)
2/3 cup of ranch dressing
2 TBS of extra virgin olive oil
2 TBS of garlic bread sprinkle

Roll out your dough and preheat your oven as directed on the package.  Saute your onions on medium low until golden brown (approximately 10 minutes) and set aside.  Spread your bbq sauce over your crust, leaving a 1 inch border.  Sprinkle cooked chicken, sauteed onions, and jalapenos evenly over pizza.  Drizzle ranch dressing over toppings and top with cheese.  Brush olive oil over crust and top it with garlic bread sprinkle.  Bake as directed on the package and enjoy!

Linking up to:
Serenity Now

The DIY That Got the Best of Me.

Whew.  This was the project that I thought would never end, but was totally worth it.  That being said, I won't be making another one for a very, very long time.  But the beauty of me going through all the pain is that I can give you some tips and tricks that I learned along the way that will make this project much easier for you!  So let's get to it!  Here she is!  Our subway art that represents different places the Mr. and I have each lived (or just happened to be born) at some point in time during our 26 years on this lovely planet!

This all started with an empty corner.  I have plans on a little reading corner complete with a West Elm tulip chair, small side table and lamp.  But the wall had me stumped.  See it...to the right of the shelving?


So I ventured around the blogosphere and it didn't take me long to decide on a large piece of subway art.  But with the least expensive customized option around the $250 mark, I knew I was going to have to roll up my sleeves.  That's when I found a DIY distressed subway art at House of Smiths.  This was perfect for a few reasons. 

1. I needed a 4' x 2 1/2' piece of art .  I searched high and low (well, from Google to Bing) and I couldn't find stretched canvas that didn't break the bank, so plywood was a great option.

2. I have some other shabby chic items on my Wall-o-Shelves and Gallery Wall, so the distressed look would be a perfect fit.

3. How hard could it be?  Shelley made it look so easy-peasy!  This is something I should have taken some time to think over since she had a few items at her disposal that would have made this project much less of a headache (specifically the negative space vinyl stencil, gah, I wish I had one of those).

After absorbing a few tutorials, I had the confidence to get her started.

First, I  didn't have a fancy shmancy program to create my poster.  So I typed it up in Word and knew the size I needed my final project to be.  I gave the Kinkos girl my measurements and let her do her thang.  This is what I took home for $10 (I think I may have been able to get it cheaper somewhere else but I didn't shop around, darn it):

I attached my poster to contact paper using spray adhesive.

Then, I cut each address into strips so I could set up the layout.  It was pretty much in the order I had originally typed it, but I moved a few things around.  Make sure your large font lines are spread evenly throughout. 

I spent the next three nights catching up on Keeping Up With the Kardashians and cutting letters to my little heart's content.  Yep, I cut every single letter out.  I kept them organized with sandwich baggies and I labelled them with the address and the line number so I could keep them in order.  I nearly developed carpal tunnel syndrome, but no pain no gain.  Then, I was off to Lowe's where I picked up a sheet of plywood and had them cut it into a few 4' x 2 1/2' sheets.  I had a sliver leftover, so, yay for another DIY!  FYI, they cut it fo' free y'all.  Take advantage.  Once I got home, I got my sand on including rounding the edges a bit.

Tip:  I got a relatively raw plywood.  However, I suggest getting a smoother version that could eliminate a lot of the sanding as well as possibly help the letters stick better.  They didn't want to stick to my splintery wood.

I knew I wanted my art to be off white with black letters to match my wall-o-shelves.  So I spray painted my entire sheet black with a satin finish.

Remember when we laid out our strips for a layout mockup?  I spaced my lines 1 1/2" apart in order to make the layout reach my 4 ft. goal.  So I laid my words out one more time for letter spacing as well as to make sure the piece as a whole was evenly spaced and filled the entire sheet.  I drew a line to keep everything straight.
 

Time to stick!  I peeled the contact paper backing off and stuck each letter in it's place.  Then, I took a regular cheapo fine bristled brush and painted over the entire piece, using the letters as stencils.

Tip:  Be sure to clean your surface thoroughly before sticking.  Otherwise, you end up with runaway letters like you see below.  See how the letters aren't stuck to the wood surface.  pain. in. the. rear.
 

In the midst of my frustration, I looked over at Miss B enjoying her Dingo bone.  She gave me the "c'mon mom, you can do it" look and I was rejuvenated.  Time to press on.


After two, that's right TWO, coats of off-white paint, I was ready to reveal my letters.  I used tweezers on the ones that actually stuck like Shelley suggested.  Unfortunately, I had several that were not stuck and I just pulled those right up.


Since I was going for the distressed, a.k.a. not perfect, look, some of the bleeding paint on the letters just added to the piece.  I think it's a great addition to our living room and it makes the corner much less of an eyesore.

 
 


Time to break it down:
roll of contact paper     $4
Kinkos print                $10
Black spray paint        $4
Off white paint            FREE!  Already on-hand from My Big Fat Chevron Wall project
plywood                     $7

TOTAL $25!  Told ya it was worth it!

I'll be linking up to these great parties:
The DIY Showoff
At the Picket Fence
Serenity Now
The Shabby Nest
Shabby Creek Cottage
Just a Girl
Thrifty Decor Chick
Home Stories A to Z
Tatertots and Jello
The Lettered Cottage

I Just Wanna Say THANKS!

Yep, that's all.  Over the last month, my little heart has gone pitter-patter when I sit down to have my morning coffee and check the ole blogroll, only to realize...i've. been. featured.  And I just want to say thanks a bunch to some really great blogging buddies that have given me some love!  So here they are, in no particular order!

The DIY Showoff
Serenity Now
AKA Design
At the Picket Fence
Home Stories A to Z

So grab your cup of coffee, cuddle up on the couch, and check out these lovely ladies.  And thanks again for the shoutouts y'all!

via Pinterest

Get the Look for Less

Happy Monday everyone!  I've got some eye candy for ya to start your week off right!  Check out this beaut from Restoration Hardware:

Oooooh....Ahhhh.  The industrial chic look + casters = Love.  And only $1095!  Bah!

Now, I see DIY all over this bad boy.  But for some of us that aren't up for the task (ahem, me!) World Market to the rescue!

Yep, this industrial chic coffee table with casters is rockin' a $229 price tag.

Have a great week and I can't wait to show off what I've been working on!

One Chair, Two Chair, Red Chair, Blue Chair

Have you ever tried shopping for the perfect chair?  It's mind-boggling.  so. many. choices.  Well, when I first started dreaming up my office/craft room moodboard, I thought I already had the perfect chair in mind.  This blue bombshell from Urban Outfitters:

But after deciding to go bold and paint the desk blue, a blue chair wasn't really in the cards anymore.  So, back to the drawing board.  With my chevron wall as a backdrop, I want something with really clean lines that isn't going to compete for attention with my bold desk and wall.  Someone's gotta blend in.

I have a few contenders that I'm trying to narrow down so I can hopefully start using my office/craft room.  Here are my top three:


Unfortunately, I can't afford the vintage Eames Rocker, but this baby is a pretty good repro and sports a $139 price tag on Overstock.  It has great reviews and I like the idea of a rocker in the office for ease of movement (you know, for when ya scoot).

Of course, the rockers fraternal twin is option #2.  I love the sexy wood legs (yep, chair legs can be sexy) and I can already see it in the room.  Another Overstock bargain since you get TWO for $169.  And since I'm planning on having similar chairs in our dining room, these would be a great option for additional seating.  Always gotta be thinking about function and practicality.  Again, great reviews but I'm slightly concerned with stability as well as height (both him and his twin have this problem).  The Mr. is 6'4" and some of the reviews voiced how low it sits to the ground as it's biggest fault.

And option #3.  I have a secret.  I have a crush on this Urban Outfitters chair.  The clean lines, the bamboo frame, and the warmth it could bring to the room are all wrapped up in its stellar $149 price tag.  I really wish UO had reviews, but I may call their Customer Service line and see what I can find out.  It does sit a few inches higher than the other two, so that may be what pushes this puppy over the top!

Decisions, decisions.  Any and all opinions are welcome because this obviously isn't going to be easy for me.

So, I've been thinking...

...err, pinning really.  Seriously, Pinterest, get it.  Love it.  Pin it!  Here's what I found pin-worthy lately!

How great is this canvas art?  I'm loving the street names and directions as the art.  And then putting it in a gallery wall for an even bigger impact--genius.

VIA

What a great farmhouse style sliding door (kind of like a pocket door!).  What a great conversation starter!



VIA

L.o.v.e the apothecary jars for laundry fixins and galvanized tubs for storage!

VIA

How stinkin' cute!  I'm sure I can work this into the craft room/office in one way or another!

VIA

It's no secret.  I have a thing for owls.  They are popping up everywhere in our house and this pillow will be part of our decor family soon!

VIA

So, I've been thinking.   I have this huge empty corner that would be the perfect spot for a nice big piece of subway art.  So off to Etsy I went and WOW--$250 for the size I need (roughly 4' x 2 1/2').  No.Thank you.  Then, I stumbled upon this beauty by House of Smiths and fell in love.

VIA

Yep, I've got something up my sleeve now and thought I'd give you a little sneak-peek!

If I don't post for a few days, you know where I am.  I'll be cutting, cutting, and cutting some more.  Then sanding and gluing and painting...oh my!  Whew!  It's gonna be a busy week!

P.S.  All of these images can be found here.

P.S.S.  Remember my dresser makeover?  I finished painting our bed frame (which also sported matching blonde wood just like the dresser) and painting the room (which donned the yellow walls you've seen throughout).  So I finally added PROGRESS shots of our Master Bedroom to the Our Home tab!  No real BEFORE shots because I didn't realize how muy importante that was in the beginning of this whole journey!  Doy.  I'll do better, I promise.

Something Sweet

The Mr. made one of my all-time favorite desserts last night and then it hit me--I haven't shared the recipe with all of my friends in Blogland!  So, "You're welcome," in advance.  WARNING:  Be prepared for chocolate-y, banana-y, cinnamon sugar-y goodness that will make your mouth water by the mere vision of the wonder that is Nutella.

Dessert Quesadilla

You'll need (yields 2 servings):

2 small tortillas
1/2 c. of Nutella
1/2 of a banana sliced very thin
2 tbs cinnamon and sugar (equal parts of both)
2 tbs butter

1. Take your first tortilla and spread nutella on one half.

2. Place slice bananas on top of the nutella spread.

3. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the banana and nutella spread.

4. Fold over to make into a quesadilla.

5. Melt 1 tbs. of butter in a pan over medium heat.  Place quesadilla in pan until golden brown (around 1-2 minutes).

6. Flip and immediately sprinkle the cooked side with cinnamon and sugar.  Let the other side brown for 1-2 minutes then remove from pan and place on the side you cooked first.  Immediately sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and ENJOY! Repeat for a 2nd serving (you know you want one)!

Linking to Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage !!

My Big Fat Chevron Wall

Happy Monday y'all!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I worked my bootie off to make some progress on our craft room/office (especially since my Craigslist desk is ready and rearin' to go).  After coming up with my craft room moodboard, I knew I wanted to do something unique on the walls.  We were cursed blessed with textured walls, so I'm a little limited.  But I wasn't going to let it get me down.  Besides, I've got a love for chevron and I knew it would be the perfect show-stopping element for the room!

First, I did lots, and lots, and lots of reading on how to paint stripes on textured walls.  The consensus, push that tape down hard with your finger to get in all the crevices.  So I went out and invested in Frog Tape (since that also seemed to reign supreme in the painting community), picked up a couple of color samples, and rounded up the rest of my supplies for a weekend of chevron fun!

Step 1-Divide the wall in half with your first vertical line. 

Tip:  use a chalk line for your vertical lines if you don't want to hassle with peeling tape as you go during your horizontal striping process.

Step 2-Grab your laser level and get busy.  I divided my two sides in half, then in half again.  Each line will be a point in your chevron stripe.

My vertical stripes ended up being 17 1/2 inches apart and I decided to go with that same measurement for the width of the strips. 

Step 3-Mark your points.  Every other strip was marked every 17 1/2 inches, then the strips in between were started at 8 3/4 (half of 17 1/2) inches to start, then up every 17 1/2 inches so the lines stagger.  Mark your first 2 lines, then use a laser level to mark the rest on down the wall.  Here's my super technical laser level holder. 

Now you're ready to start marking your zig zags!  This was my favorite part because you really got to see it starting to come together!

Step 4-Connect the dots!  Be consistent in your taping.  Each time I taped I started my point on the right side of the tape, under my pencil mark.  This is really, REALLY important so you don't end up with an uneven pattern.

Step 5-Because I didn't use chalk, darn hindsight, I had to pull up my vertical tape as I taped my chevron stripes.

Time to paint!

Step 6-Push down the edges of your tape where you'll be painting.  This will get the tape sealed off in all the crevices.

Step 7-Use a sponge brush to create a seal around the edges.  Then roll away!

Have plenty of time to paint so you can get your second coat on and pull up your tape before your paint dries!  You'll reveal crisp, beautiful lines!

And the finished product:

One more BEFORE and PROGRESS

I'm still searching for the perfect chair for the space, but I stop and stare each time I walk past the room.  The Mr. thinks I'm a weirdo, but I can't believe what paint can do!  I'm excited to see we're making progress on this room!

I'll be linking to these fab linky parties this week!  Check 'em out and find a new friend to add to your reader!

The DIY Showoff

At the Picket Fence

Serenity Now

The Shabby Nest

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Thrifty Decor Chick

AKA Design

Home Stories A to Z

A Month in Re-View

Any fellow "The View" watchers out there?  Well, each month they recap what went on for the past 4 weeks and call it a Re-View.  Get it?!  Well, I thought it was pretty catchy and the best way to summarize this post.  July was hot, busy with work, hot, full of projects at the house, and did I mention it was HOT?  Here's what went on last month in my life as a Mrs.!

I finally convinced the Mr. that we weren't "formal dining room" kind of people and we would get much more use out of a craft room/office!  So we started Changing and Rearranging!  While I was at it, I went ahead and posted a few more spaces and updates to the house tour on the "Our Home" tab!

BEFORE

AFTER

Then, I got my sew on!  We had some pillow talk and showed a couple BEFORE and PROGRESS shots!

BEFORE

 

PROGRESS

I put up some Words of Wisdom in our Gallery Wall and did a few DIY projects to fill all those frames!

I even got in touch with my artsy side and showed you how to draw and make your own silhouette without one of those fancy machines!

Ooo and I finally got my entryway bench!

My 3 month work-in-progress is finally complete!  Wall-o-Shelves + Gallery Wall.  CHECK!



And lastly, no summer is complete without s'mores!  Made to go, these puppies are perfect for entertaining!

Whew!  What a month!  I can't wait to see what August has in store!