Living Room Style Board

This spring I will be revamping my living room. I looked at a lot of different color combos and decided on yellow, teal, and grey.

Teal, yellow, and grey living room by missmelwrites featuring teal home decor

Blue light / Drum shaped lamp shade / Laura ashley lamp, $270 / Jonathan Adler gray chevron throw blanket / Ceramic serving tray / Graham Brown home decor / Graham Brown home decor / New Growth Designs orchid flower arrangement / Better Homes and Gardens small item storage / Velvet throw pillow / Pier 1 Imports teal home decor / White pillar candle / Crate and Barrel yellow home decor / Pier 1 Imports ivory table / CB2 beanbag furniture / Weathered table, $595 / Lacquer side table / Nance Carpet and Rug 12 ft. x 15 ft. Beige Unbound Carpet Remnant / IKEA HOVÅS Sofa cover, Gobo white / H&M Felted cushion cover, $6.71

When I first made this style board a few weeks ago, I was planning on painting my living room. I just don't think that is going to be doable right now. So, I will be keeping my off white walls instead of the grey ones. I think this will still work.

I have already begun to accumulate some of these items. 

Some I already had:

1. Canvas couch (Rooms to Go)
2. Teal table (Target)
3. Grey pouf (Target)
4. Record Player (Mom)
5. 2 Candlestick holders (Pottery Barn)
6. Standing lamp (JC Penney)

And some I have picked up over the last few weeks:

1. Grey pillow (Tuesday Morning) 
2. Set of 2 mustard pillows (Homegoods)
3. Grey chevron throw (Tuesday Morning)
4. 3 Chalkboard baskets (Walmart)
5. Unfinished wood storage bench (AC Moore - will need to be painted white)
6. Unfinished tray (AC Moore - needs to be painted teal)

The items I still need:

1. Teal pillow (will be either be crocheting or sewing)
2. Side table (might be painting the one I have white)
3. Yellow and white rug (will be crocheting)
4. Cushion for bench (will be sewing)
5. 2 large yellow candles
6. Coffee table
7. Table lamp
8. Teal lampshade
9. Yellow flowers and vase

I am also going to need some wall art and to paint my TV stand, small cabinet, and wicker chair. It is going to be a very busy spring!

Clean Eating Monday - Tuscan Bean Soup

When I started out with my clean eating diet, I originally wanted to learn some soup recipes. I used to always keep several cans of soup in my pantry for when I got sick, but canned soup, canned anything really, is a big no-no! So, I knew I needed to learn a few go to soup recipes that I could make and freeze for when I got sick or just wanted a bowl of soup.

After searching Pinterest, which is a great source of clean eating recipes, I found a great recipe for Tuscan Bean soup. I changed the recipe a tad, by eliminating the ham, which I don't eat, and cutting the amount of garlic in half. 

Since I got rid of all of my canned food, I decided this recipe would be a great time to learn how to cook dried beans. I had never cooked dried beans before, so I had no idea that they expanded. It was quite a shock in the morning when I looked in my pot of beans and they had almost doubled, meaning I had a TON of beans. It turned out great, though.

This is a great, simple, crockpot soup recipe, and perfect for the beginner clean eater.

Green Eggs and Ham tutorial

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

This simple green eggs and ham felt food tutorial will let you celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday 365 days a year!

Do you like

green eggs and ham?

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

I do not like

green eggs and ham.

Materials
Felt: white, light green, dark green
Embroidery thread: white, light green, dark green
Embroidery needle
Polyfil


Directions
1. Cut felt food pieces (2 dark green ovals, 1 light green oval, 2 small light green circles, 1 small white circle, 4 white egg shapes).

2. Place pieces on top of each other, making 2 green eggs and 1 slice of green ham.

3. Sew green yolk onto one piece of white egg, using a running stitch. Stuff yolk before sewing shut. Repeat for second egg.

4. Sew two pieces of white eggs together, using a running stitch. I did not stuff the white part of the egg, but you can if you'd like your egg to be fluffy. Repeat for second egg.

5. Sew white circle onto left hand side of light green oval, using running stitch. Sew light green oval onto one dark green oval, using running stitch.

6. Sew ham slice onto second dark green oval, using a blanket stitch. Stuff ham slice before seeing shut.

7. Enjoy your very own plate of green eggs and ham!

Don't have time to make your own set of green eggs and ham? You can pick up a handmade set by visiting my Etsy shop.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

© 2014 Melissa/This Girl Creates

Please remember that items made using my patterns and tutorials are for personal use only and can not be sold for profit. Thanks!

Yarn Along

I am slowly but surely getting my craft juices flowing again. I am doing well with smaller projects, so I think I'll stick with them, for now. 

This little piggy is going to my cousin's new baby girl in Pittsburgh. Isn't she cute?! Once I add the tie to the top, it will be transformed into a bib and all ready to go!

I used the free piggy bib pattern from the Lion Brand Yarn website. I switched up the pattern a little and went with circular ears instead of pointy ones. I also decided to give her sleepy eyes and embroidered eyelashes, which instantly turned her into a girl pig.

It was a really simple pattern, which turned out super cute! I might have to make another one to use up the rest of my pink yarn.

I am currently reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. I have had this book checked out from the library almost all winter. I don't know why, but I have been dragging my feet with reading it, until yesterday when I was notified that Cress, Book 3 of the series is ready for me to pick up. I've got to get Scarlet read before I can start Cress, and with 68 people on the waiting list at the library I can't take too long.

Linking to Yarn Along.

 

Clean Eating Monday - Mashed Cauliflower

I am really not a fan of cauliflower, so when someone told me about this I was very hesitant to try it. Let me just say, it is amazing! In just a few minutes, you'll have a much healthier side dish than mashed potatoes.

Mashed Cauliflower

Ingredients
1 large head of cauliflower
4-6 tbsps of plain Greek yogurt
Ground black pepper to taste

Directions
1. Rinse and separate the cauliflower into florets.
2. Boil cauliflower florets for 10 minutes or until tender.
3. Place florets in a food processor or mixer.
4. Add 4 tbsps of Greek yogurt and pepper to taste.
5. Blend cauliflower, yogurt, and pepper for a few seconds. If not creamy enough, add another couple of tbsps of yogurt and blend a few more seconds until smooth and creamy.

Makes 6 servings