Fun Fact Friday 07.12.13

It's always nice to have a long weekend, isn't it? I decided to take Friday off from work to make it an extra long weekend. We needed it. We were able to get so much done at the house, enjoy time by the pool, enjoy time out with friends, and even ended our weekend with a family dinner. So although this past week hasn't been all that exciting, here's what our weekend looked like:

1. Our first dinner party - Yes, we've had people over and even hosted a July 4th cookout, but Sunday was our first real dinner party. And of course, the first dinner party went to the parents. I happened to pick up a Williams-Sonoma grilling book more than 2 years ago at Homegoods and sadly, we'd never used it. That is all changing! Their grilled pork chop recipe was to die for. Maybe it was just that J cooked them perfectly, not sure. Either way - they were a big hit!

2. Ugh, we thought we had hit the door jackpot. Not 2, but 3 of these solid doors for $45 each! Seriously?!! These tend to run more than $150 each, sooo three for $135 was too good to be true. What happened? We measured an unfinished door way, and had no idea how thick a door jam was until we picked one up on our way home. Womp womp. The doors went back, but we will be checking this store regularly!

3. Current front runner for the master bathroom faucets. Really the only runner right now. We finally stopped by a local plumbing store recommended to us by both sets of parents, I mean who else can we trust?! Saw this faucet and proceeded to find something wrong with every other one. Love these, want these, of course they're pricey. But honestly, what bathroom fixture isn't?! Ugh.

4. Remember how I said we got things done around the house? That includes the yard. We did it, we spent about 6 hours between Saturday and Sunday cleaning up parts of the yard. Check out the weeds before and after. What a difference. It was J & I out there Saturday, my mom and I out there Sunday and I am so so thankful for both of their help! Too bad we have a few more beds to weed....who's gonna help?!

5. Ah, thank goodness for our pool! It was so nice to jump in the pool after getting things done during the crazy heatwave last weekend.

That's all I've got for this week. 

Any weekend plans?

I'm planning to hit up my first estate sale (thanks for the great idea C!), get some cleaning done, and maybe tackle some small projects around the house.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Linking up with H54F, That Friday Blog Hop, Friday Favorites

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

No Shop July Challenge - Closet Styling 07.10.13

Good morning! And welcome to the second installment of the No Shop July Challenge Closet styling series. You are in for a real treat today. Not only do you get to view my restyled outfit, but I have two lovely guests joining in! I hope you'll be linking up your own outfits at the end too!

What I am absolutely loving about this styling series is that you just might look at an article of clothing you've had for years a little differently. Pair it with a belt this time, add totally different accessories, pair colors you hadn't considered before. It's fun, and even better, it's free. So while we tend to "shop" our own closet daily for outfits, hopefully this provides you with a little inspiration to mix things up.

Tracey

This was such a fun outfit for me to put together. Sadly the weather didn't cooperate for pictures so I hope you don't mind the bright white wall behind me.

Inspiration:

 via

My take:

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Loft

Sandals: Jack Rogers

Bracelets: Alex & Ani

Watch: Michael Kors

Lauren

I am completely in love with this denim vest. Man, 20 more days until I can purchase one of those.

 Inspiration:

Lauren's Take:

Vest: Lauren Conrad at Kohls

Tank: Target

Maxi Skirt: TJ Maxx

Bracelets: Stella & Dot, Beapeamadethis

Watch: Kate Spade

Nails: OPI - I Eat Mainely Lobster

Absolutely love the denim vest and maxi skirt combo!

Meg

This is such a great outfit for day or night by changing it up between flats and heels. I am all about dresses during the summer months and this outfit is perfect. I may have to give it a try... 

Inspiration:

via

Meg's Take:

Dress: Loft

Belt: TJ Maxx

Sandals: Old Navy

Necklace: Etsy (Bridesmaid gift)

Bracelets: Alex & Ani

Watch: Michael Kors

Toes: Essie - Mint Candy Apple

Meg seriously got this spot on. I love it! Doesn't she look so pretty for her birthday dinner?!

Direct quote from Meg - I've only worn this dress once before and now I can't wait to wear it again! 

Like I said before, it can be so fun to shop around your own closet and mix things up! 

Thank you so much Meg & Lauren for participating!! This was such blast to put together. If you're interested in joining the closet styling series and don't have a blog to link-up, no worries! Send me your inspiration photo, pictures of your outfit, and any details you can provide on where your outfit is from. I would love to include you in next weeks post.

What about you? Have you done any closet shopping lately? Remixed any new outfits? Link it up! 

<div align="center"><a href="http://talkativetlc.blogspot.com/" title="Talkative*TLC" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg597/talkative_tlc/20130701_NoshopJuly_Collage1_grab_zpsb26d0bf8.jpg" alt="Talkative*TLC" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

All I ask is that you link back and share this the link up with your readers. I'd also love if you would follow my blog on  some platform (GFC, Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin, etc)

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking up with with Bethany for Three-fer Thursday!

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

Burrito Bowls

I can't wait any longer to share this new to us recipe. It's just so good. And so easy. If you like Mexican food, this meal is a must.

A few weeks back, J and I had one of those nights where we hadn't planned anything for dinner and weren't sure what to do. I secretly love these nights. Because things like this occur, where we end up making an amazing, completely unexpected meal.

I can't say we thought of this 100% on our own. I mean, who doesn't love the burrito bowls at Chipotle?! We had eaten there at some point the week before this meal came together. And obviously it was so dang good that it was still on our minds.

So, here's what we used to put together an easy, quick, go-to meal:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil - I've been working more coconut oil into our lives
• 5 ounces sliced chicken breast, or steak, or shrimp - protein of your choice
• This taco seasoning - do it, it's worth it and you'll have plenty to spare for future meals
• Trader Joe's Organic [frozen] Brown Rice - also worth grabbing if you can, otherwise 2 servings of cooked brown rice works too (just limits the quick part of this meal)
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• Shredded cheese - we prefer cheddar
• 1 diced avocado
• 1 diced med. tomato
• 1 cup diced lettuce
• Salsa of your choice
• Nonfat plain greek yogurt
• Hot sauce, if you prefer

In a small bowl, mix the cut up meat of choice with a tablespoon of taco seasoning. Add more if you'd like a stronger seasoning, or go with less if that's how you roll. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add in seasoned meat and cook through - stirring occasionally, should cook in 7 minutes or so.

While the meat is cooking, drain the canned black beans and corn in a colander. Give a quick rinse with cold water. Once the meat is almost done cooking, toss in the beans and corn, add a little more taco seasoning if you'd like (I do), stir, cover and let cook on low heat.

While the flavors are blending together on the stove, dice up your tomato, avocado, and lettuce. If you're lucky enough to live by a Trader Joes and have purchased the 3 minute brown rice, now is the time to pop it in the microwave. They're not kidding, it's perfectly cooked in 3 minutes. 

Once the rice is cooked, set yourself up a little buffet of toppings. Add a large scoop of rice to the bottom of your bowl. Then add the meat, bean, and corn mixture. Next, add on the toppings. I prefer shredded cheese next so that it has a chance to melt from the heat of the rice and meat. Then veggies, salsa, sour cream yogurt. I'm not kidding when I say that you won't be able to tell the difference between sour cream and yogurt in this dish. Even J was shocked.

How to make this meal even quicker - use left over grilled chicken, steak, etc from the weekend's cookout (this was done in these pictures). Slice up the cooked meat, season with taco seasoning, place in heated skillet for 2 minutes on med-high heat to warm through, follow remaining directions

And making a little extra so that burritos are the meal of choice on day two doesn't hurt either! :)

There are so many options with burrito bowls. Add what you like, leave out what you don't. Next time we make these, I think I'd like to use shrimp. I'm also loving the idea of incorporating the ingredients used in fish tacos into a burrito bowl. 

Enjoy! And let me know if you give this a try. I absolutely love hearing from you!

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Home Tour: The To-Do List

This is the post I've been putting off writing. There are just so many things to do over here. But I think writing it down may help us check things off the list more quickly. Or at least, I really hope so.

This is a list of the big items in every room. If I listed out every single thing that needs to get done, you'd be reading all day.

Grab a coffee/tea/water/etc and be prepared for one lengthy post. Here are pictures of our house as it stands one month in and our current to-do list. Oh and I warn you, these are not the greatest photos....I'm working on that:

Kitchen

• Paint walls - currently thinking Benjamin Moore Muslin
• Paint trim
• Regrout tile floor - phase 1
• Replace floors - phase 2
• Possibly paint cabinets - phase 2
• Replace door to basement (and get rid of the cat door)
• Add barstools - done. Absolutely love these barstools
• Add floormats for in front of sink and stove top
• Add rug for in front of french doors - purchased this one and its working out great
• Hang valance or roman shade

Entryway

• Add storage unit, setup welcome spot - this shoe bin is working out so well
• Paint using kitchen paint
• Replace floors - phase 2
• Replace screen door - current one is crooked, lets bugs in

Dining Room

• Paint walls - will carry kitchen color into dining room, but possibly at a darker tint
• Add dining room set - Craigslist find!
• reupholster dining room chairs
• Paint dining room chairs possibly. Thinking white
• Add two new end chairs - upholstered in same fabric as seats of other chairs
• Add sideboard/storage unit - IKEA Besta storage unit
• Hang curtains - Homegoods find
• Add a rug - probably natural fiber
• Hang artwork/mirror/photos

Family Room

• Paint walls
• Hang bamboo shades - very happy with these ones
• Hang curtains/make curtains
• Add a sitting area, possibly floor to ceiling bookcases
• Rip up rug, add hardwood flooring
• Add large area rug - probably natural fiber
• Mount TV
• Create a gallery wall

Living Room

• Paint walls - clean up the thousands of nail holes
• Paint ceiling and trim
• Reupholster couch
• Add an area rug
• Add shades and curtains
• Hang art

Office

• Build new desk area - large, wall to wall desk
• Paint walls - currently planning on Crisp Romaine by Benjamin Moore
• Paint ceiling and trim
• Add office chairs
• Add roman shades
• Hang art

Guest Bedroom

• Install finished floors - Installed Bruce solid hardwood planks in Oak - Saddle
• Paint walls - Westhighland White by Sherwin Williams
• Paint trim - standard white trim paint from Lowes
• Paint ceiling - standard white ceiling paint from HomeDepot
• Add an area rug - very, very happy with this one
• Add window treatments of some sort
• Add a bedframe, night stands, bureau
• Add a ceiling fan
• Hang artwork and a mirror
• Create a closet space, currently not even a hanging rod

Spare Bedroom

• Install floors - Installed Bruce solid hardwood planks in Oak - Saddle
• Paint walls
• Paint ceilings - standard white ceiling paint from HomeDepot
• Add baseboard molding, window trim
• Paint said baseboards and trim
• Paint closet
• Add roman shades
• Set-up a fitness/exercise area - phase 1
• Hang a mirror and artwork. Thinking something using clipboards for the exercise area (like this)
• Set-up a nursery - phase 2

Bathroom

• Not planning to spend a dime on this space until we're able to gut it and renovate - ideas shared here

Master Bedroom

• Install floors - Installed Bruce solid hardwood planks in Oak - Saddle
• Paint walls - Alpaca by Sherwin Williams
• Paint ceilings - standard white ceiling paint from HomeDepot
• Add basboard molding, window trim - In process
• Add door jam, trim, bi-fold doors to J's closet - carpentry work done, now on the lookout for the perfect door
• Add trim, pocket door to my closet
• Buy/refinish nightstands - Ikea Rast nightstands ftw.
• Mount TV
• Add relaxed roman shades - example
• Hang artwork, photos

Master Bathroom

• Get quotes for work
• Hire contractor
• Choose floor tile, shower wall tiles, shower floor tiles
• Choose double vanity
• Choose countertop
• Choose faucets and shower hardware
• Paint walls

My closet

• Create a more organized space
• Paint walls, add stencil or wallpaper possibly
• Install baseboards - In process
• Add drawer storage
• Add shoe storage
• Add a small, bold area rug
• Move bureau into closet space

Not so bad right? Ha. We're getting there. Slowly but surely. I mean, remember what our bedrooms looked like on day 1 (here)?

There has definitely been some progress! 

But just making this list exhausts me. So much to do. I'm sure these lists will change with time, and smaller, more specific ideas will  get added, but here's our start. And I will definitely share progress pictures as we go.

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

Fun Fact Friday 07.05.13

A little later to post today, whoops. That's what taking the day off from work will do. Ahh. Felt good to sleep in and be woken up by the sun instead. Yes, we still don't have any shades upstairs. So I've been getting woken up at about 6:50 mornings when I get to "sleep in". Hey, it's better than 5:20 am!

I hope those of you in the USA got to celebrate the 4th of July yesterday! It's a holiday that always tends to sneak up on me, but is always sooo much fun. We ended up hosting a little BBQ here and I can't wait to do it again next year! Who's coming??!

So here we go, here's what going on over here these days -

1. The No Shop July closet restyling linkup is still open! I'll be keeping the linkups open until Tuesday nights, before the next week linkup begins. Check out the outfits these girls put together this week by shopping their own closets!

2. I stumbled upon a new to me blog this week and I must share. This post in particular has really stuck with me. It is very inspiring.

3. I got to visit with this little guy yesterday morning. Do you know how badly J and I want another one now?! J is seriously in love with our little nephew. He's a very laid back puppy, for now ;).

4. I decided to mix up some chicken salad for yesterday's BBQ. I was going to just wing it, but decided I'd consult the experts and just make sure I wasn't leaving out anything major. Of course I went straight to one of Ree's recipes first. I had already baked my chicken (I like the flavoring better) but used her recipe otherwise - and substituted greek yogurt for the sour cream. It was fantastic. And there's plenty left to enjoy over the weekend (love that about cookouts).

5. I stole this from a good friends instagram account....these are the best Solo cups ever! I bought them accidentally but am SO glad I did! We ended up hosting a beer olympics of sorts yesterday. Competitions included - beer chug, flip cup, horseshoes to 11, cornhole to 11, kanjam to 11. J was the commissioner and everything ran smoothly. Although teams were picked at random and almost all ended up co-ed, no surprise that the two guys team won.

6. The rest of this weekend will include house projects, yard work (boo), hopefully a beach visit, and hosting dinner for our parents (eek!). Have any good/easy recipes you want to send my way??

Have a fantastic weekend!

Coming up Monday - updated house tour/to-do list! See you then. :)

Linking up with H54F, That Friday Blog Hop

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!