We leased our solar panels through solar city (now owned by Tesla). They guaranteed that the panels would generate a minimum of 10,901 kWh per year. If it does not produce that amount, Tesla refunded the difference. Our system saved us an average of $25 a month and we  received a reimbursement check of $75 at the end of the year.

Here's a snapshot of our panel's performance the last 5 months we were in the house (we recently sold the house and moved). 

When you enter our new house from the garage, you're faced the laundry room to your left, cabinets and countertop in front, and to your right a large white blank wall. It was very utilitarian and uninspiring. I'm right-brained and my visual surroundings tend to have a strong influence on my mood/emotions- so this really bothered me and just wasn't going to work. 

First, as part of the kitchen renovation, I had the contractors paint these cabinets in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65, the same white as the kitchen cabinets. I like to keep the shades of colors in my house to only a few. I also changed out the light with a Pottery Barn Clarissa chandelier in small (to match the same, but larger chandeliers in the kitchen). 

I took several steps to update this big blank wall. I laid out where I'd like to put some artwork and a coat hook board that runs the length of the wall.  

I bought a large length of 2x4" and Restoration hardware Duluth hooks to match the hardware in the Kitchen, but in oil rubbed bronze. Then I took four picture frames that we already had, but they were white. So spray painted them, bought new mattes from Hobby Lobby and some botanical prints from Amazon. 

Then I picked out a stencil that I wanted to put on the top half of the wall. I chose an African Mudcloth wall stencil from CuttingEdge Stencil--the same place I bought the stencil pattern for my fireplace & patio floor tile stencil project and also for my laundry room accent wall project (in my last house). I bought a gray paint to match the gray in the kitchen counters to coordinate the spaces and got to work stenciling!

Then I screwed the wood coat rack to the wall (using a stud locator, be sure to drill into studs) and hung the pictures. Then I styled it by adding a cute hanging basket of faux lavender, a Persian rug that I've had forever (I bought it in Bahrain when I was in the Navy), hung some family pictures, and added a bench that I had laying around. It used to be at our kitchen table for years until we switched it out for new chairs (see the reupholster blog about those HERE). And voila- my one-day project was completed and my entryway looks a million times better!

Not a year after renovating our kitchen in the suburbs of Allen, Texas, we found a new house on an acre out in the country (and closer to the husband's work). The house has great bones, but the kitchen was pretty dated. Check it out:

It had the two-level island that so many kitchens came with in the 90's-00's. ​I sent the below picture to the contractors that did our bathroom renovation at the Allen house, Priess Remodeling, to show them what I wanted to do. They said that it'd be no problem!

We made the following renovations:

• Swapped out the cabinet hardware with the same hardware we used in our last kitchen renovation: Restoration Hardware's Duluth collection in aged brass. 
• Removed 3 small pendants, filled the ceiling holes and hung a large Pottery Barn Clarissa chandelier over the island, the rectangle Clarissa chandelier over the kitchenette area.
• We painted the following:
  • The cabinets in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
  • The walls in Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
  • The kitchen island in Sherwin Williams Honorable Blue SW-6188 
• Replaced the countertops with a Calcatta Lucia Quartz (the large island took two slabs).
• Cut down the island pony wall, added extra storage cabinetry, added two new outlets, and laid the new countertops across the top making one huge island.
• New backsplash--a classic white subway tile
• New induction cooktop- the Samsung 30 in. Built-in 5-Element INDUCTION Cooktop | Model #: NZ30K7880US
• Replaced the faucet with a champagne gold touch-activated Delta Trinsic Faucet with voice activated Alexa and Google Assistant. 
• Replaced the dated sink with a larger single sink: the Alfi brand 30" undermount Fireclay Kitchen Sink.
  • ​Added a Delta Soap/Lotion Dispenser in Champagne Bronze
  • A matching in-counter garbage disposal button
  • And matching in-sink disposal flange stopper 

Making lemonade from lemons
We didn't find out that our dishwasher was leaking until I started pulling the ugly faux-brick off the kitchen bar and noticed that the bottom of the bar and the wood floors were soaked with water and starting to warp. A phone call to insurance and their assigned contractor later and a kitchen renovation was underway! Obviously they didn't pay for all of it, but they paid for a decent portion which helped us justify making a few extra updates on our own dime. 

Our ho-hum kitchen had bored me for years. We found out a few months after moving into our home that there was a kitchen window that had been tiled over--inexplicably. I can't even imagine why. It reduced the natural light so much it made the whole house seriously dark. (enjoy me in hair curlers and an apron- it's the only "before" picture I could find hahaha)

We started by demo'ing the dark & dated backsplash and opening the window up and adding shiplap to the bar. I drove down to Reclaimed Designworks in Dallas and found some yellow oak salvaged from a Southern cotton mill circa the 1860's. We lightly sanded (so as not to lose too much of the character), lightly white washed, and sealed with Modern Masters Exterior Dead Flat Varnish. We chose a bone white subway tile for a sophisticated and clean backsplash look.

We hit a few hitches with opening up the window that we weren't totally expecting. First, the window was like something from Dr. Seuss all slanted and off-kilter. The contractor built a nice new box frame for it to straighten it out. Then we had to find a new material for the window ledge. We went with a matching salvaged wood to the bar. It was a big hit with our cat Handsome Rob. 

I ordered 4 different sets of hardware before landing on Restoration Hardware's Duluth collection in brass. I highly recommend-it was totally worth the price (and you get a good discount when you sign up for their membership). 

I also ordered Restoration-Hardware look-alike pendant lights from Lighting New York; the Quorum 804-17-80 Signature 1 light, 17" aged brass pendant. ​With a coupon it was $163 compared to Restoration Hardware's $516 price tag. 

Other upgrades to the kitchen included cutting into the existing granite counter tops to widen the cooktop space and add a new GE Profile Series 36" Gas Cooktop. Let me tell you... as an avid home chef - this upgrade was worth every penny and made me happy every single day!

 The last upgrade was maybe tied for first favorite with the cooktop... the 33" single basin sink by Krauss in stainless steel and Kohler's polished chrome artifacts kitchen sink faucet (K-99259-CP). 

Run to your nearest apple orchard (or grocery store I guess) and stock up- once you make these muffins you'll never make another recipe again. Don't skip the glaze, it's what make these extra.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, & finely diced
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (4 oz) - optional
• 1/2 cup raisins (3 oz)
• Glaze
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Butter muffin tins. In large bowl stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, & salt. In another bowl beat together eggs, milk, sugar, & butter. Stir in the apple, nuts, and raisins. Add to the dry ingredients and beat with a wooden spoon just until blended.
  3. Spoon into tins 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into muffin comes out clean.

GLAZE

1. Combine butter, cream, sugar, & cinnamon in a small pan. Bring to a boil for 1 min. Set aside, keep warm.
2. Remove the muffins from the oven and poke each muffin a few times with a fork, then drizzle each with a generous teaspoonful of glaze. Let muffins cool in pan for about 3 minutes, turn out onto racks, serve warm.

This is my father-in-law's favorite green bean casserole dish that he asks me to bring every Thanksgiving. It's a bit of work, so I always make it the day before Thanksgiving and it's so good, it's totally worth it. Like several of my recipes, this one started from Martha Stewart and has some adaptations I've made over the years. 

INGREDIENTS

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 an onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 pound button mushrooms, stems trimmed, quartered
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (snap 'em with your hands and save time)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (don't buy pre-shredded; they add a starch that causes clumping)

INSTRUCTIONS​

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add onion, and saute until it begins to soften, about 4 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushrooms, and cook until softened and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside to cool.
2. Prepare an ice bath: Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add beans, and cook until bright green and just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain, and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking.
3. When cooled, toss drained beans with mushroom mixture; set aside.
4. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup flour, whisk constantly until mixture begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Pour in milk, and continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cayenne, nutmeg, and the remaining teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Pour over beans, and toss to combine.
5. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread half the green-bean mixture over the bottom. Sprinkle on half the grated Parmesan, and spread with the remaining green beans. Combine the remaining Parmesan and the breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over casserole.
6. Cover with foil, and refrigerate until just before serving.
7. You can fry some onions to place on top if you wanted to... but no one wants them at our house, so I never do. 
8. Heat broiler, positioning rack about 8 inches from heat. Cook casserole, covered, until mixture is bubbly and heated through, about 10 minutes. Uncover, and cook until top is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle fried shallots over top, and serve immediately.

I'm right-brained and my visual surroundings tend to have a strong influence on my mood/emotions.  Our fireplace and the tile area in front of our patio door would just hurt my eyes to look at them, They were this ugly orangish builder-grade tile. I thought about replacing the tile entirely but we've got a mile-long list of updates, repairs and renovations that we want to make to our house that total something like $100K... That basically means we have to prioritize our projects and find ways to do some of them inexpensively. 

When I found a handful of pins on Pinterest that showed how easy it was to stencil & paint tiles instead (for 1% of the cost), I had to try it! I felt pretty confident I could tackle this project on my own after stenciling my laundry room wall pretty well. So I searched through the stencils at cuttingedgestencils.com and found the perfect one, the Amalfi stencil. I emailed their customer service and requested custom sized stencils made-- 11 3/4” square for the fireplace and 17 3/4” square for the patio entryway. They cost a cool $38. Rust-oleum's chalk paint is a bit pricey and I needed to buy most the materials new. In total it cost $250 which is basically nothing compared to removing/replacing tile!!

Shout out to Cutting Edge Stencils- they have fantastic tutorial videos that painstakingly illustrate how to use the stencils. I watched a few and felt entirely prepared to get started. One easy weekend project later, I declare our newly painted tiles to be beautiful and a total Pinterest WIN!  
 
If you’re considering this for your home, all I can say is don’t be intimidated. It's a shockingly easy project to tackle. This one was more about being fastidious and following the steps closely. I’ll skip to the chase and start out with the before/after photos—the best part of any blog!! 😊 See the project steps/instructions just below the photos:

​HOW I PAINTED MY UGLY BUILDER GRADE TILE FLOORS:  

1. STEP ONE: Sand the tile with a palm sander- this roughens it up so the paint will adhere best. (Time: 10-15 minutes)
2. Clean it thoroughly with a de-greaser- I used Rust-Oleum’s Cleaner and Degreaser. Follow the instructions on the bottle and then give it at least 2 hours to ensure it’s totally dried. (Time 15 minutes)
3. Now, tape off everything you don’t want painted using blue painter’s tape. I used some magazines & newspapers too, because I’m a really messy painter despite the many years of painting I did in the Navy. (Time: 30 minutes)
4. I started painting using a medium sized paint bush and the primary color of Rust-Oleum’s country gray chalk paint; starting with the grout lines first. (Time: 10 minutes)
5. Next, I painted the face of the tiles with the same country gray chalk paint using a 4” dense foam roller. (Time: 15 minutes)
6. Wait for it to dry – I gave it about an hour… but with chalk paint it dries really quickly and I probably could’ve started the second coat within ~30 minutes. (Time: 1 hour)
7. Paint the tiles in its primary color a second time (Time: 15 minutes)
8. Wait for it to dry again- I ran some errands and gave it probably a half day out of caution (Time: 4 hours)
9. Next is the more intimating part—but don’t be scared… it’s not that bad! I laid down the stencil one tile at a time and rolled on the secondary color of Rust-Oleum’s Linen White chalk paint. I rolled the roller brush in the paint tray lightly and then rolled off excess paint on a paper plate with paper towels on it (SUPER IMPORTANT! If the roller is too saturated it will bleed under the stencil). I taped the stencil down using blue painters’ tape. Some bloggers recommended using spray adhesive- I tried that, but it didn’t seem to make it tacky. It was probably user error—but the blue painter’s tape was simple and fool-proof- that's what I'd recommend.
10. Be sure to wipe off the back of the stencil between every single tile so there wouldn’t be any smudges. It’s probably common sense, but you stagger the tiles you’re working on so you’re not taping the stencil down on a freshly stenciled/wet tile. The paint dries so fast, I didn’t have to pause at any time. I started with the tiles that were full-size. Any that were irregular, I saved for last since they were a little trickier. I came up with my own “hack” on how to stencil partial/irregular shaped tiles by holding the stencil down and using a pencil to finish tracing the design in the cracks/corners and then painting it in by hand. Some bloggers recommended cutting the stencil, but I was certain I’d screw that up and later need the full stencil in tact. Taping/penciling the pattern in cracks/corners worked very easily/cleanly! (2 1/2 hours)
11. I took a short break, maybe an hour or so and then cleaned up any smudges or wavy lines by hand. I was being really careful and detailed, so I probably took about an hour doing that. It made a huge difference and I highly recommend you don’t skip this step.
12. I waited over night to let it dry thoroughly before sealing with Rust-Oleum’s Clear Concrete and Floor Finish/Sealant. Since the patio is right off the pool and the tiles were previously dangerously slippery when wet, I wanted to fix that issue so I added Rust-Oleum’s Anti-Skid Additive. Be sure to follow the package instructions. Once the sealant dried on the tiles, I was a bit worried because it was super gritty feeling – which didn’t feel great on bare feet. However, within a day or two of traffic it had softened to a perfect non-slip texture—so no worries! The sealant instructions recommended only one layer of sealant. Since that required less work than the multiple layers of sealant most other blogs seemed to recommend, I followed the instructions and it’s been perfectly durable.

 
It’s been 5 months since I painted the tile and it still looks brand new. I’m confident it will hold up for years. They’re a serious statement look. I can’t help telling people I painted them and they’re always blown away. The contractor who renovated our bathroom couldn’t believe it. He took pictures to share with another client who’d just been talking about painting their existing tile.
 
The best part? This cost is about 1% of what tearing the tile out and replacing it with new flooring would’ve cost! This project only cost $250!!!
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

• Palm Sander
• 17" Amalfi Stencil for my floor tiles from Cutting Edge Stencil
• 11" Amalfi Stencil for my fireplace surround from Cutting Edge Stencil
• Dense foam 4" roller
• Pack of 4" replacement rollers
• Stenciling brush kit
• Rust-Oleum 285141 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint 30 oz, Country Gray (qty. 4)
• Rust-Oleum 285141 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint 30 oz, Linen White (qty. 4)
• Rust-Oleum Anti-Skid Additive
• Rust-Oleum Clear Concrete and Floor Finish/Sealant

 
We’re in the process of buying a new house now which has too much tile for my taste, but we don’t have the budget to pull it out. So, I definitely see a lot more tile painting in my future. I’ll add pictures from that project in this blog too so you can see more examples. Thanks for following this blog and please comment with questions or feedback and share with friends!!

This is an adaptation from a Martha Stewart recipe (I'm a huge fan of hers). I always pair this with my jalapeno cornbread muffins that are another Martha adaptation to my own personal taste. I'm making this tomorrow - after writing it I'm totally jones'ing!

INGREDIENTS

• • 4 slices uncured bacon cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey 
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1/4 cup minced garlic cloves
  • 1 medium chopped jalapeno (i wear gloves when chopping!)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 cans (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes in puree
  • 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
  • Coarse salt
  • 3 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• optional toppings
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
  • Sour cream
  • Crumbled cornbread
  • Grated cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Heat a Dutch oven (or other heavy 5-quart pot) over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp and brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Raise heat to high; add turkey. Cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Add onion, garlic, and jalapenos; cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cocoa powder, and cumin; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
  3. Break up tomatoes with a spoon or your hands, and stir them in along with the puree. Add molasses, 1 cup water, and 4 teaspoons salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, partially covered, 30 minutes.
  4. Add beans; continue cooking, uncovered, until meat and beans are very tender, and chili is thick, about 30 minutes more. Serve with desired toppings.

This is my kids favorite breakfast. It's really easy and totally different from the same ole' pancakes or waffles I'd typically make. Every weekend I make a big breakfast for the family and this has been added to the mix over the last few years.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 large eggs
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt and pepper.
   
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
   
3. Whisk wet ingredients into dry until just combined. 
4. Melt the butter in a heavy 12-inch ovenproof skillet (I use cast iron) over medium-high heat. Let it cook until it smells nutty and browns, about 5 to 7 minutes, then swirl skillet so that butter coats bottom of pan.
5. Pour batter into pan and bake until puffed and golden, about 25 minutes.
   
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar over it or serve with jam or maple syrup- toppings your choice!

This quiche recipe was a childhood staple in my house. Pair it with a big glass of orange juice (I don't know why... but it just works) and serve it for dinner. I cut back on the broccoli a bit and add bacon when I'm making it for the kids. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Pie Crust
• 1 cup shredded swiss cheese (about 4 oz)
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups half and half (1 pint/16 oz)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 to 3 cups broccoli florets

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Microwave broccoli in microwave dish with about 1-2" water, dash of salt for 4 minutes (cover dish with saran wrap). Drain and allow to cool a few minutes.
  2. In separate bowl, beat eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper. When broccoli is cooled a bit, place it in pie crust that you've spread out in a glass pie plate. Add cheese and egg mixture. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Then turn oven down to 325 degrees and bake 30 minutes. Cool 5-10 minutes before cutting.
  3. Quiche Lorraine: eliminate broccoli and add bacon (cooked slices crumbled to pieces) and 1/2 cup freshly chopped onion.