Easy Banana Bread

2 cups unbleached white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup yogurt
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups bananas (about 5)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
walnuts

Mix as possible with a toddler. Bake in 9x5 loaf pan for about an hour or until you can open the oven door without burning the kid or when you remember that the bread is in the oven. Yum.

Things I didn't learn til I was almost 30

1. Mayonnaise really is delicious.

2. The top of my electric stove pops up for easier cleaning.

3. Buying things to make life easier doesn't work unless you use those items.

4. Good coffee beans, a burr grinder and a cheap French press are all I need to make yummy coffee.

5. Less is more.
(currently trying to get my house to look more like this than the current cluttered state)

Carrot Orange Golden Raisin Muffins

I've got to start blogging recipes. The paper files I have are out of control and I can't save recipes to my iPhone anymore...since I am on my third one in a month.

Tonight I used this recipe to make some muffins for my little munchkin (and my husband and me) for breakfast. They weren't quite sweet or orangey enough, so next time I'll tweak those.

1.5 cups whole wheat flour
.5 cup white flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs
scant 1 cup whole milk
.75 cup honey (use 1 cup next time)
2 TB sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
zest and juice of one orange (add orange extract next time)
1.5 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup golden raisins

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients and then add carrots & raisins. Makes 19 muffins.

Kitchen chandelier

I bought this chandelier about four years ago at the Habitat Restore for 8 bucks, knowing I'd have a use for it someday.



I think it would be perfect over my kitchen table, where there isn't a light overhead. I'm thinking of painting the wooden part aqua and spraying the metal (which is a little beat up) a brushed stainless to match our faucet and dishwasher (and hopefully cabinet hardware if I ever refinish the cabinets).



It wouldn't be this bright turquoise - that's just how the picture came out on my crappy Photoshop job. I'm usually a fan of lampshades on chandeliers but I'm thinking I like globe bulbs for this one.



Since I'm terribly indecisive...any opinions welcomed.

Cabinet's done...almost

Why do I keep a blog? I never update. I've started a couple of posts to remind myself of how I've done things...but never finished them. Like this cabinet, which is still a work in progress:

See the uneven doors? My dad has since tried to fix it and it's even worse!

So here's my reminder to self not to ever create my own stencil again, because the pattern is so uneven. Luckily the dishes disguise it a bit...I hope.

color me surprised

I saw on the Dwell Studio blog today an announcement of their partnership with Robert Allen. I was surprised to see a fabric I'd bought nearly 11 yards of remnants at Hancock Fabrics on Mother's Day pictured.

My crappy iPhone photo:


Dwell Studio photo:



I'm planning on making an upholstered headboard and maybe some window treatments with this for our bedroom. I got the fabric for a steal - what a treat.

So many pretties when you're not looking

The little boy and I went to HomeGoods the other day and I saw so many pretty things. Why is it when you're not in the market to buy that you find things you like?


I'd love to put these next to our bed.


So pretty for the foyer.


If only I had a need for a table lamp in my kitchen. I tried very hard to think of a need for it...


This would be perfect in our living room.


Bedroom lamps...we do need some as our Ikea lamps are quite prone to tipping.


Another item I wish I had a home for in my kitchen.

But this...

If I did not have a toddler, this table would be mine. I want to buy and store it for later, but the husband does not appreciate that idea. Love.