Letters of Love.

It has been storming like crazy here in North Carolina.  Our poor dog, Penny, hates storms and when I woke up this morning, she was hiding underneath the drying rack in our laundry room.  Poor thing!!!

I finally got around to taking photos of my sewing machine table re-do, and I am pleased with the way it turned out!  Wanna take a peek?  Here you go!

So, what is all that covering the sides and top of it, you ask?  Well..let me share a lil story:

Hubby and I dated LONG distance (1093 miles apart) for 2 years before I transferred to Appalachian.  I was at college at Texas A&M (whoop!)  and he was at Appalachian State in NC.  We saw each other around 4 times A YEAR.  Yeah. talk about TOUGH.  There were times when I would cry because I missed him so much.  Seeing each other for a couple days every 3 months is no fun.  I don't see how military wives do it.

So, during our time apart, we would write letters to each other.  It was all we had since we couldn't be together.  I remember staying up so late to finish up a letter and I also remember the WONDERFUL feeling I would get when a letter from Seth would arrive in the mail.  Man, I loved that moment.

The other day when I found the HUGE box of letters that I kept from him, I knew that I wanted to do something special with them.  They have been sitting in boxes for years and I am so happy that I now have a special place for some of them.  There are letters from both him and me and also our first plane tickets to go see each other!

 That is Seth's plane ticket to come see me before we first started dating.  We talked on the phone for four months and hadn't seen each other in six (when we met for the first time).  He then bought a ticket to TX and we spent a week together in December of 2006.

And that is my first plane ticket to meet his family is March of 2007.

Here's the low-down on how I fixed this baby up:

First go to Goodwill and find a cheap piece of furniture. This one was $20...a tiny bit more than I wanted to spend, but it was worth it.

1. Primed and painted it white.
2. Gathered and cropped the letters to fit the top and sides of the furniture.
3. Mod podged the letters on.
4. Let it dry.
5. Distressed and "aged" the legs and such.
6. Voila!

I know this will be a treasured piece in our home for a long long time and those letters have a special place in my heart.

-Kait

Linking up this project Chic on a shoestring decorating , Finding Fabulous , Fingerprints on the fridge and Remodelaholic and Transformation Thursday.

This girl is in a foul mood.  Why? Because blogger won't let me upload any photos!!!

Is anyone else having this problem?

I want SO BADLY to share my sewing machine table re-do, but I cannot do that until the picture uploader works!!  HMPH.


Oh well..hopefully it will be working tomorrow.  It better be.

For now, here's a new recipe!!

I made these tonight along with baked potatoes and brocolli and it was a hit-



And the best part?  They are healthy-only 271 calories and lots of protein!

Baked Pork Chops

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 12.1g
• Carbohydrates: 11.2g
• Calories: 271.6
• Protein: 28.1g

Ingredients

6 lean center-cut pork chops, 1/2" thick
1 egg white
1 cup evaporated skim milk
3/4 cup cornflake crumbs
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons oregano
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
as needed nonstick spray coating

Directions

1. Trim all fat from chops.
2. Beat egg white with evaporated skim milk. Place chops in milk mixture and let stand for 5 minutes, turning chops once.
3. Meanwhile, mix together cornflake crumbs, bread crumbs, spices, and salt.
4. Spray a 9xl3-inch baking pan with nonstick spray coating.
5. Remove chops from milk mixture. Coat thoroughly with crumb mixture.
6. Place chops in pan and bake in 375º F oven for 20 minutes. Turn chops and bake 15 minutes longer or till no pink remains.

::I REALLLLLY hope the picture uploader works for me tomorrow!!!!::

Happy Monday!

-Kait

Enjoy!

Buried.

Man, oh man.

I have been slacking in the blogging department.  And also the cleaning department.  And also the "getting stuff done" department.

So..pretty much in all departments.

-I just went grocery shopping today for the first time since we've been back from France. (It's been 11 days)
-I STILL haven't cleaned my house.
It looks like this:

 Okay, not really...but it is messy.  (I got that picture from google images)
-I bought tons of seeds to plant for my garden and they are still sitting in the bag.
-My sewing machine table re-do JUST got finished last night.  I will post pictures TOMORROW!  
-We have yet to file our taxes

I am buried in "to-do" lists...


AND..i am working 40 hours next week.  

Yipee!  

I am thankful for a full-time job (before this, I just had a part-time job), but it sure does take some getting used to!

Hubby and I had a nice weekend together and we have postponed our "spring cleaning" for as long as we possibly can.  Perhaps we will start on that in a few minutes...

Speaking of cleaning..I would love to hear your favorite cleaning supplies!


Mine is this:

Mainly because of the yummy smell...I love wiping my counters and mopping my floors with it. 

So do tell, what is your favorite cleaning product?


-Kait 

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I missed out last week on WILW because we were on the plane back from Europe, so I am excited to share with y'all what I'm loving this week!

1. I'm loving that I am starting my first garden this year!!  I am also planting some flowers (peonies, zinnias, lupines and a few others).  I gotta start on that this weekend!  Do any of y'all have a garden?  If so, I would love some tips! :)


2. I'm loving that I can finally wear sandals now that's is officially spring!  I have my eyes on some HOTT wedges for the Springtime...

If money grew on trees, these would be mine (I love Tory Burch!):

{source}

3. I'm loving this super fluffy comforter from Anthropologie.  I'm sure hubby would object because it's a tad bit too girly, but I love it nontheless.

Also, check out these sheets..LOVEEEE them. They are "love letters!!"

4. I'm loving that my best friend's wedding is in 2.5 weeks! I am the matron of honor and I gotta start thinking of my speech!  Her bouquet is made from vintage brooches and ostrich feathers and she is going to be gorgeous, I just know it.

{Me and Molly Cate...i just noticed I'm  kind of slouching...sorry, mom!}

5. I'm loving this OPI nail color.  I found it in my bathroom and can't wait to use it all summer!!!

What are you lovin?  Be sure to link up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love!




-Kait

To do...

It's Monday.

Ick...Monday. It seems like forever until the weekend.  (Because it is...i mean the weekend ended yesterday so now I gotta wait a whole nother (that's not a word, but I still say it) 5 days.)  

We are finally done travelling for a while.  It's been fun and great, but I am glad to be home.  And guess what is happening this week for us?

SPRING CLEANING.

I am sure hubby is thrilled. 

But I'm making a long ol' list and we are gonna clean our house from top to bottom.

This may or may not bee our room in its current state.

Yikes.

AND...i am starting my very first garden this year.  I am planning on doing it from containers because we are renting this house and can't exactly till up the yard...but I'm hoping it works! 

I am doing a herb garden..a few veggies..and planting some flowers out front.

For you peeps who know a lot about gardening, I would love ANY tips you have!

Grandma and grandpa got their grand-pup a new bed!  She loves it.

And...I am working on the sewing machine table re-do.  I'm hoping to finish it up tomorrow or Wednesday, but it may take a little longer due to the fact that

I have a new job.

More details on that later.

Hope you're having a Marvelous Monday.

-Kait

Key Lime Pound Cake

It has been a while since I posted a recipe...like a LONG while.  And that's a shame because I love cooking and when I find something I think is yummy, I should share it..right?

AND on top of that, I get Southern Living magazine every month and they have such delicious recipes..and who doesn't love some Southern cookin'?  I sure do.

I made this Key Lime Pound Cake yesterday to take to my in-laws house and it turned out soooo yummy.  It doesn't make you feel heavy after eating it and has just enough Key Lime taste for my liking.

This is a great recipe to make anytime of year, but especially with Spring and Summer quickly approaching!

Key Lime Pound Cake

Ingredients

• 1  cup  butter, softened
• 1/2  cup  shortening
• 3  cups  sugar
• 6  large eggs
• 3  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 1  cup  milk
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon  lime zest
• 1/4  cup  fresh Key lime juice
• Key Lime Glaze

Key Lime Glaze

• 1  cup  powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons  fresh Key lime juice
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Whisk together powdered sugar, fresh Key lime juice, and vanilla until smooth. Use immediately.

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
2. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla, lime zest, and lime juice. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch (12-cup) tube pan.
3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack.
4. Prepare Key Lime Glaze, and immediately brush over top and sides of cake. Cool completely (about 1 hour).

I hope you enjoy!

*Recipe taken from southernliving.com*

I linked this up at Remodelaholic.

America.

Good Morning!!

We are finally back in America..and it feels really nice to be back.  We loved France, but being able to freely conversate with people is something we are glad to have now.  Since we didn't know French (I know a tiny bit) it was sometimes challenging to communicate while we were there.

But alas, our time was wonderful, fun, exciting, refreshing..all those things.

I have a few more pictures to share with y'all!

Here is me and my brother.  (Sorry about the weird black and white edit...honestly, I'm too lazy to go back and change it..so this is how it's gonna stay! haha)

 So, here is a photo that shows just how small things are in France.  Granted, I understaned that hundreds of years ago, people were much smaller, shorter, skinnier..etc  but it was so funny to see hubby have to duck when he passed through a room.  Not just once, but almost every single time!  His head hit the top several times.

 These are the perfect size for me!

 We saw so many  beautiful Chateaux..and to think, these were what the wealthy people (usually royal people) lived in!  Sheesh!

 yes, I found a cat...and he loved me.

 This is an old old castle where Charles Perraul started on his book, Sleeping Beauty.

 Another chateau...

 And this is my grandmother's home in france! (and where my brother lives now) 

A small 2 bedroom home that was built in the early 1800s...You see those shutters on the outside?  That was for security during World War II.  They would "board" up the house and hide in it. 


As you can see, we were so busy being tourists...it was a great time.

And this weekend we are at hubby's parents for the weekend.  They kept our pup while we were gone and Seth has law school orientation tomorrow!  Yipee!!

Today we are doing some shopping (my favorite!)  and having a yummy dinner tonight of tilapia, asparagus, mashed potatoes, rolls, and sweet tea... YUMMMMM!!

I hope you have a great weekend!

-Kait

P.S. I made a Key Lime pound cake yesterday.  and I will share the recipe-TODAY!

A goal completed.

While we are here in Poitiers and my brother is at work, hubby and I decided to fix up the house a little bit.

Here's what I've done so far:

-buy a good smelling candle

 -buy some lysol wipes

-clean out the fridge (there may or may not have been old cheese in there)...ICK!

 

-in the process of washing my brother's sheets.  He told me that he's only washed them one time since he's been here.. he arrived in June of last year...hearing that made me want to throw up.  His reply "I am always clean when I get in bed, so why wash them?"

....umm..no hunny..that's not a good excuse.  

And remember..he is 25 years old.  hahah!

Don't get me wrong-my brother is a clean person..but maybe he just doesn't get some things..like washing sheets and cleaning out the fridge. I'm glad I am here so I can do it for him :)

I am going to take photos of the house when I finish cleaning, but for now here is a couple photos of me mowing my first yard! It's one of my goals to complete in my 101 in 1001 days project.

 I mowed the yard! The lawn mower is eletric-which means you have to plug it into the wall.  Notice all the cords everywhere..it was a fun experience!

Alright, time to go clean..we head back to the states in just two days.

Tonight we are eating with some of my brother British friends and then tomorrow we are having a true French meal with his neighbor.  She doesn't speak English...

Until next time,

Kait

Chocolate and Bread.

Good Morning from Poitiers, France!! I wanted to share a few more pictures and then we are heading to La Rochelle! It's a small coastal town and we're going to the aquarium and visiting a few other places.  My brother is showing us around, and I'm so glad because he knows French and it makes me feel a lot better!

We have been eating our share of chocolate and bread for you all- don't worry!  We usually have a chocolate croissant for breakfast and chocolate for dessert at dinner- it's wonderful...except for the fact that I may not fit into my jeans anymore...

This castle was constructed in the 11th century...WOW!

They make nutella in small "to-go" packages! YUM!

 

We visited the American cemetary in Normandy.  These were all the soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Normandy. Very touching and somber.

 

This is Mont Saint Michel.  An abbey that was built in the 10 century.  

 

Chenonceau

 

Hammurabi's Code

 

Chartres-the tallest cathedral in France.

 

Mcdonalds!

 

A bed and breakfast we stayed at in the French countryside.

 

Azay-le-rideau

Sorry for the short post-we are in a rush, but I had to share!! Hope you're enjoying your day! I'll be sure to post with longer stories in the near future.

Au revior!

-Kait

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hello all the way from Paris!  Here's what I'm loving today!!

I'm loving that my sweet in-laws are keeping our puppy while we're gone.  We miss her so much but know that she is having so much fun with grandma and grandpa (and their two doggies!)

We sent my father-in-law this picture and told him to show Penny so she wouldn't miss us too much:

And this is what he sent us back:

 How precious is that! She was looking at the picture and I just know she misses us a lot.  ;)
I'm loving the wonderful places we've been in France! Sacre Coure, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc De Triumph....and tomorrow we are picking up our rental car and heading to the beach!

I'm loving that I'm really going to get my hair cut SHORT(er) next month..it's been super long for over 3 years now and I think it's time for a change...what do you think?  Do you like these haircuts?

I'm loving NUTELLA! Seriously, that's all they have here in France ,it seems.  I have had a nutella crepe, nutella with bread...next it'll probably be a nutella shake. It's so yummy!

What are you loving today!?  Go link up at This Kind of Love!

-Kait