So, a few days ago, I was perusing home blogs, you know, the kind that make you wish you had things you don't...like decorating talent.
See, Adam made this comment the other day about how our house still doesn't feel like ours...and I agree completely. Maybe moving into a brand new house isn't all it's cracked up to be. (It really isn't... what, with the lawn and the water softener and the touch of "contractor" all over this place, we've spent way more money then we anticipated...) and we still haven't put the deck on! Yeah.
But I am not complaining...just looking for advice.
I've searched for articles about taking a "new" home and turning it into YOURS. I've searched for ways to justify getting rid of brand new items in the home. I've searched for answers on how to obtain the country/cottage style I am coveting in a house that's right off the cookie cutter presses.
I've found nothing.
So, I scour the blogs...and one of my all time favorites is The Lettered Cottage. I know, you probably already know about this blog, but if you don't, I am sure one look will have you bookmarking it.
Layla is super cool and her taste is to die for. Their videos crack me up and I love this blog!
So, I emailed her.
That's her and her husband, Kevin. They do all their home projects together. I told her my dilemma. Maybe what I was really looking for here was courage. Could be. I have been needing a lot of that lately. And in the world of decorating, for some reason, I freeze.
Well, Layla more than delivered. She did a whole blog post: "Easy, Affordable ways to add Characters to a New Home."
For real? Seriously? I couldn't even digest it all in one sitting! Honestly, this is so helpful and so doable...so if you, like me, are in dire need of some help...check out her post! Or her E-book, "Creating an Inspired Home."
I want to add that the reason I thought Layla would understand is that this is what her kitchen looked like when they first bought their house:
Not so unlike mine...
But now...after some TLC...
Yeah. It's that beautiful.
She made some great points though...especially about resale value (which is one thing that has always kept me from tackling any home project...fear that the next person won't like it and if we ever decide to sell, we won't be able to...)
Fear. Such a nasty bugger.
So...I wanted to publicly say "THANK YOU" to Layla Palmer, who has given me much to chew on. I just might have some after photos of my own pretty soon.
Though, I have a feeling they won't be nearly as beautiful as hers!
In other news...
I wanted to share this recipe I got last week in a Weight Watchers booklet. Yes, I am still counting points...but more so as a test of my thyroid than anything. I am reading another Geneen Roth book and hope that it gives me the courage to once and for all say goodbye to dieting...but we'll see...
In the meantime, this Spinach with Tomatoes and Feta came my way the day after I went grocery shopping so I happened to have everything on hand. My organic delivery sometimes gives me things I don't know what to do with (like butternut squash! yikes!) and also, a huge bag of spinach.
I ate a spinach salad, but then, it was just sitting there...staring at me.
So. This recipe came at just the right time. Super easy and you may (like me) already have everything on hand!
Spinach, cherry tomatoes, Feta cheese, garlic, onion and olive oil. Oh, and salt.
How much easier could lunch be? Trust me, if I can do it...well, you know the rest.
So, you get a deep pot. Mine is admittedly a little deeper than it needs to be, but I couldn't find anything else at the moment, so it had to do.
Throw in the oil, then the onions. Once they're brown, you can add the garlic.
I should add that your house will smell incredible at this point, but your fingers will smell like onions and garlic for at least three days.
Now, as you cook, make sure to take a moment to admire the homemade granola on the counter. It is incredible in every way...and gluten free!
Once you've properly admired... you can get back to the spinach...
You add it in, along with some salt (I use kosher salt because I want to taste it...none of this wimpy table salt...) So you throw it in.
It looks like a lot, no?
Well...it wilts...(duh)
It wilts a lot.
Looks like it needs more salt...
I love kosher salt.
So, next, you take these babies...
Yum. They are good. Cut 'em in half and throw 'em in...
It already looks yummy.
So, you let that simmer for a couple minutes and then take it all out and add in the Feta...
I love that you can click on that picture and see that my cheese hasn't expired. That's rare. Anyway, Crumble it up (about 1/2 cup) and dump it on top...
Mix it all in...
And enjoy!
This was a delicious lunch. I ate two servings because it's only 2 points for one serving, and while I know I should've added some protein, I find that is much more difficult to get!
Anyway, it is wonderful and I wanted to share it with you because I find lunch is the hardest meal of the day to figure out what to eat!!
Here's the details:
(The recipe suggests using leftovers as omelet filling...I suppose if you like that sort of thing... I'm not a big egg person.)
Per Serving: 2 points
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
Serves: 4
- 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
- 3/4 cup chopped onion
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 10 oz. baby leaf spinach
- 1/4 tsp salt (again, use the kosher, it's tastier!)
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes (I used cherry tomatoes...yum)
- 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1. Heat oil in large deep pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add onions; cook, stirring often, until light golden and tender, about 7-8 min.
3. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds
4. Add spinach and salt; cook, tossing, until spinach wilts, about 2-4 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes; cook, stirring, until tomatoes soften, about 1-2 minutes
6. Remove from heat and drain off any extra liquid; stir in Feta. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving
