The Headboard

You remember the headboard project right? 
No?
Well you simply must click here to get all caught up.
Ok, now that you are familiar let's talk results!
These are not final results because I have yet to pick the perfect wedding pic to get a giant black and white print of so that I can frame it and hang it about the headboard, but it is in place.  At the head of the bed.  In the bedroom.  On the right track...

So here are the almost finished pictures....

The (hopefully) last bedroom project will be refinishing the side tables.  They are currently a dark stain and I'm really loving the white trim with the chocolate walls so I may do 'em up in some kind of white.  We'll see!

Additionally, we are finishing up the walls and doors for the laundry room.  I'll share pics as soon as there are full walls not just studs in place. 

What are you dong this weekend?  (Other than preparing for Thanksgiving feasting)

A Recipe! Black Bean Salad

Choc full of flavor and nutrition this salad makes a great meal on its own or along side tacos!  It's super easy to make and comes together super fast... Check it out ASAP!

2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of corn, drained
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small bunch of green onions, chopped
Juice of 1 lime

Mix all above beans and veggies together.  Drizzle mixture with lime juice, toss to coat.

Serve with homemade tortilla chips* as snack or appetizer or alongside your favorite Mexican dish as part of the main meal.

* I make homemade tortilla chips by cutting store bought corn tortillas into chip sizes pieces (think round pizza slices).  Lay them out on a cookie sheet, spray lightly with cooking spray and lightly salt.  Bake @ 400 degrees until slightly golden brown.

Enjoy this healthy meal and then enjoy how good you feel after the meal!

Cheers to "du-ing better" for our health!!

Before and After- China Hutch

Over the summer I bought a sad looking china hutch from none other than CRAIGSLIST!!! 
Solid Maple= score!
Excellent Condition= arguable, but score!
I knew that I was going to be painting whatever I bought so I didn't really care if it needed a little love.  I also knew that I didn't want to spend alot of money especially if the piece was going to require some work. 
Here is the before pic....

I ask that you notice the awesome gold etching on the glass.  Who doesn't love some sweet gold criss crosses??!!  This girl that's who.  Needless to say those went bye-bye.  Easy as scraping off with a flat razor.  Next, I went over the whole thing with some sand paper to rough it up.  Then a coat of Killz primer followed by a coat of country white to freshen up the look.  I switched out the sad, dated hardware and re-hung the glass doors and VOILA!
A new to me hutch for the dining area!

Hutch-$80
Paint- $15
Hardware= $12
Total= $107

I'm cool with spending a hundred bucks on something that I am really happy with.  The whole project took a few hours to do.  Well worth it in my opinion!

Color Me Bad

What a title... A post about how color relates to your personality.  My maiden initials were BAD...  deep.
My favorite blog to follow (YHL) had a post about this silly color quiz.  At least I thought it was silly until I did it for myself and it came out sooooo right!

Follow this linkto figure out your own color profile.  Hogwash or Legit?  How did yours turn out?



P90X- Week 3 recap

More of the same to report this week.  It is really hard to fit this program in with traveling...
BUT....
Last night we subbed Cardio X for Kenpo to change things up a bit.  Oh. My. God.  I literally cannot think of another work out that made me so sweaty.  This wore me out!  I was toast by the end.  Like wobbly knees and seeing stars toast...
In a good way, though!  I really liked it.  It's a mix of yoga, plyometrics and Kenpo.  Went really fast too!  Today is supposed to be a break day but I think we may do X-Stretch because I don't have to teach yoga tonight.

Next week is recovery week.  Let me tell you, Tony's use of the word recovery is a bit misleading.  In my pea brain I like to think of recovery as long bubble baths, massages, pedicures, glasses of wine..... 
                                                       
In Tony Horton's pea brain he thinks recover involves the hardest yoga EVER, Core Synergistics (OW!) and more stretching.


One of us is confused on the meaning of "recovery".  Which is it?  I'll give you one hint, it's not me!

Thanksgiving Menu Planning

Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away!
Last year I didn't cook.
This year I am.  For what could be a whole big bunch of people.  If you are in the area, stop by!  We'll have plenty of grub to share.
Because I do not like failure, I am planning for this feast.  Not just daydreaming of all the food and drinks, but seriously planning.  Here's what my neurosis has come to:

Similar to an inspiration board, but not.
A PLANNING BOARD!  (Now re-read that phrase but in an announcer voice.  Way more fun, huh?!)
Starting at the top, we have your basic yeast rolls, painted with butter for sheen and buttery-ness.
Next, a glass of Frangelico liquor to take the edge off.  Two if the pie doesn't turn out right or the potatoes aren't cooking fast enough or I drop the cranberry sauce all over the floor, or let's face it, if I feel like having 2 glasses of Frangelico....
Stuffing.  Oh stuffing, how I love thee....  Simple.  Delicious.  From Martha.  'Nuff said.  (I substitute dried cranberries for the cherries)
Pumpkin Creme Pies.  Like the old fave oatmeal creme pies, but pumpkin.  And less processed.  My how C Diddy will love me! 
Sweet Potatoe Fries.  Because no one ever eats the mashed sweet potatoes and because I'm choosing the menu and I think these will be a SMASH!  I sprinkle mine with salt, pepper, and nutmeg then bake them @ 400 'til they are ready to eat or I am ready to eat them (whichever comes first).
Butter... in the shape of a turkey??!!  Don't mind if I do... if I can find this at the store.  I will not be carving butter.  There won't be time for such tom-foolery. 
Turkey.  Duh.  We are American. 
Green bean Casserole.  A non traditional version of the old cream of mushroom favorite.  By using fresh beans instead of canned there will be some bite to the dish.  Some crunch.  Mmmm.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.  Duh.  We are American.
Cranberry Sauce.  I will most certainly have the awesome canned jellied cranberry sauce because it is bomb- diggy.  But for those more sophisticated tastes I am going to throw this bad boy together.  Looks delish!
Apple Pie.  I love to make Martha Stewart's traditional apple pie with her perfect pie crust.  I am also known to make fun cutouts for decorating the top of the pie.  Please note: I am no artist so don't get your hopes up. I did some little apples a few years ago.  Nothing too crazy.
Last, this wine has quickly become my favorite.  Despite the name "Sweet Red" it's not so sweet it tastes like juice.  It pairs well with everything!  The other night while using a bit of it to cook I poured myself a glass and added some frozen blueberries to chill it.  They infused the wine with a gorgeous flavor and made for a tasty treat once the wine was gone!  I do insist that you try this wine.  A- mazing!

How is your planning coming along?  Are you cooking or just eating?


End note: Barefoot Wine has no idea that there even is a Mrs. Dubetter.  They did not incent me to provide a raving review.  I did that all on my own.

P90- Week 2 recap and a recipe

Photo Courtesy of Tony Horton, P90X

In a word: SLACKER!
While not a total failure, I'm pretty sure Tony Horton would not be pleased.  I'm also pretty sure that every time he says, "I know it hurts!  It's supposed to!", he's speaking directly to me.  As if to say, "Stop with the whining and crying and slacking!  Just work!"
I'm taking it very personal.  Probably because I know I didn't work as hard as I should/ could have. 
I skipped Friday, Sunday and Monday.  Oh god, I really want to delete that because that looks really bad in writing!
Whoa is me, I'm a slacker.
Ok, no more feeling sorry for myself.  Must get amped for Week 3!  Then week 4 is recovery week which means Core Synergistics and Yoga!  Yum!


Photo courtesy of P90X

 Ok, officially inspired. 
We've been doing really well with eating well.  I promise to post some delicious recipes soon.  Last night we had homemade Broccoli Cheese soup.  Followed by fat free cookies and cream frozedn yogurt.  Tonight is Chili!



Photo courtesy of Cooking Light

 Here is the recipe for the Broccoli Cheese Soup (or click here):
Cooking spray
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)

Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.
Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.
Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 203 (28% from fat); FAT 6.3g (sat 4g, mono 1.8g, poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 15.6g; CARB 21.7g; FIBER 2.9g; CHOL 24mg; IRON 1.2mg; SODIUM 897mg; CALC 385mg;