Office Re-do Reveal...Finally

So...all the way back in January I let you in on my dark secret of the awful home office. Well, it's finally done! Mostly. There are still a few projects left to tackle, but most of the work has been completed. For a reminder, here was my original plan:

And here are the before and after shots! Click on any of them to enlarge.

Looking into the room from the doorway

Scott's work area...still much messier than mine :)

My work area and solid corner of curtains

Here are a few more shots as well:

Still working on my gallery wall.

That pillow from Target was one of my original color sources for inspiration

So proud of my chair re-do. I like it a lot better than the oak wood and green pleather cushion that was there before.

I still have a few projects to complete. That cabinet in the last shot needs sanded, painted and new hardware, but I'm having trouble deciding on a color. I'd like to get some wood blinds for the windows, and there's nothing on the wall opposite the gallery wall. I was also thinking of Modge Podging the trunk under the side table. I got it at Wal-Mart over 20 years ago, so it's a piece I feel ok messing up. Furniture/Paint sources are:

1. Wall Color: Mountain Ridge by Behr, Home Depot, $35/gallon
2. Curtains are burlap, Amazon.com, $49 for a set of 2 (we ended up with 2 sets to go across the corner)
3. Faux Mercury Ball Curtain Rods are from Target - $30 each
4. I spray painted the chair with Hammered Rust-Oleum white paint - 4 cans
5. Fabric for the chair is duck cloth from Hobby Lobby
6. Rug is from Target, $80 (5x7)
7. Mirrored crackle glass lamp from World Market, $49 + $20 burlap shade
8. Art is from etsy, and the tiny watercolor is from our trip to Paris

I can honestly say I'm pretty happy with how this project turned out! Anyone have any suggestions for hiding that vacuum in the corner? We have zero storage space.

On The Menu: Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Mango Black Bean Salsa

In the summer I'm always looking for simple recipes with fresh flavors that DON'T heat up my kitchen. Our kitchen is very warm in the summer at the back of the house and it's almost unbearable to stay back there and have to turn the oven on to make dinner. Which is why I was so happy to find this recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. I followed her recipe to the letter, so I'll let you click the link and read her instructions. The only thing I DID change was to add a half of one avocado - cubed - to the salsa. I also used minute rice so my cooking time for the rice was a little shorter than what she has listed. Hopefully you enjoy this summer meal as much as I did!

On The Menu: Turkey Pesto Meatballs

This is a recipe adapted from Baked Bree (her original uses 2 lbs of turkey and makes quite a bit) to serve 4 people. I like this one because you can easily adapt it - we either serve it with a marinara pasta or an alfredo pasta. This past time I made it, I happened to have a box of Butter & Garlic Pasta Roni on hand, so I took the easy way out and served the meatballs with that instead! But even this cut down version makes quite a few meatballs (about 25), so you could always freeze half if you're serving for two. This is also one of Judah's favorite meals!

Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground Turkey
3/4 C. Bread Crumbs
1/2 C. Pesto (we buy a large jar at Costco, but you can make your own if you prefer)
1/3 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 egg
Salt and Pepper to taste
A Handful of Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Directions:
1. Set up: preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place a wire cooling rack on top of the cookie sheet and spray with olive oil or pam. This allows the cooking grease to drain onto your cookie sheet and for easy clean up. It also makes it so you don't have to turn your meatballs over during cooking time.
2. Combine all meatball ingredients in a bowl, mixing well.
3. Form into walnut-sized meatballs and place on wire rack on cookie sheet. I usually get between 25 - 30 meatballs.
4. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
5. Serve by themselves with marinara sauce or with pasta and your choice of sauce.

On The Menu: Crispy Cornflake Chicken & Creamy Bowtie Pasta

Another day, another Pinterest Recipe. This one courtesy of the blog Jamie Cooks it Up. You can view her original recipe or use my slightly adapted one below. I've changed the proportions to serve about 3 people. This one tastes delicious and is extremely filling, so I don't make a side for this one.

Clockwise starting from the top left: 1.) My set up - 1 large deep pot, a pasta pot, and an aluminum foil covered baking sheet 2.) My three Tupperware containers for coating chicken 3.) No need for a meat tenderizer - I just use a rubber mallet 4.) The finished product (and Judah's portion for the next day) 5.) Frying up my chicken

Ingredients:
• 2 Large Chicken Breasts
• 3 Cups Frosted Flakes (You can use Cornflakes, but I'll actually eat the leftover Frosted Flakes and the sugar helps caramelize the chicken a little more)
• 1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• Salt and Pepper
• 6 T Vegetable Oil
• 8oz Farfalle (Bowtie) Pasta

Sauce Ingredients:
• 1/2 Container of Italian Herb Philadelphia Cooking Crème
• 1 Can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
• 1/4 Cup Milk
*Optional Fresh Chopped Parsely

Directions:
1. Get set up ready. Line a baking sheet with foil and set to the side. Fill your large pot or pasta cooker with water, and put your oil in your deep pan or skillet. Place your ingredients for your chicken coating in three separate containers - one for your milk, one for your flour, and one for your cornflakes/Frosted Flakes.

2. Place the chicken breasts into a large Ziploc bag and pound thin with a meat tenderizer or rubber mallet. You'll want them about 1/4" thin. Then cut each one in half so you have four pieces of chicken.

3. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Coat the chicken in flour and place them on a plate in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, crush your cornflakes by hand or with a food processor, get your water boiling, and heat up your oil (over about medium high). Preheat your oven to about 300°F.***

4. Get your pasta cooking. Meanwhile, take your chicken out of the freezer. Place each side in the milk and then immediately into the crushed cornflakes. Coat well. Cook your chicken in the hot oil over medium high for about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken over, REDUCE the heat to medium, COVER your pan/pot and cook for 7 more minutes, being careful not to burn the bottoms.

5. Remove the chicken from the pot and place onto your tinfoil lined baking sheet and slide in the oven for 5 minutes or so. Meanwhile use the same pot your chicken was cooking in to get your sauce ready.

6. Combine all sauce ingredients with a whisk until bubbly - about 3-5 minutes.
7. Combine cooked pasta and sauce. Top with your crispy chicken and enjoy a very filling meal.

***Note that because all ovens/ranges are different, cook times are approximate and may vary.

StyleMint Review & Mystery Box Reveal

A few weeks ago I won some credits to StyleMint from the fabulous blog A Cup of Jo (Thanks, Joanna!). StyleMint is a subscription site with great basics and an ever-changing inventory. The stylists behind the site are Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen - and love their style or hate it, they've got a great eye for classic basics and flattering tops. When you make your first purchase on StyleMint, your account is activated and you get a credit every month to use towards a purchase unless you choose to skip the month. It's nice because you really don't have to buy something every month, but it can be kind of a pain to go in to the site and remember to "skip" if you don't want your credit card charged $29.99 (the cost of most tops on the site).

I loved the two pieces I got with my free credits: the Grace Tee in Navy and the Turner Sweater in Cream. Both are flattering, and the tee shirt is the softest I've ever owned. The sizing is a little strange on StyleMint - You choose from sizes 1-4, but I've found going by their sizing chart is pretty accurate. I chose to order my items in a 2. The pictures on the site normally tell you what size the model is wearing so that helps as well.

So, after being happy with my original choices, I thought I would be adventurous and get one of the StyleMint Mystery Boxes they offer every so often. I chose the "Summer Escape Mystery Box" for $34.95. I was guaranteed at least 3 items but could receive up to 10 items at a $300 value. I'd been planning so much for our upcoming Seattle trip that I haven't really gotten a lot of summer items, so I figured this would be a good time to do so, and I'd have some fun while doing it.

Now for what I received... We'll start with

The Good
Item #1 was a brightly colored headband. This will be great during those summer days when I don't feel like doing my hair and want to keep it off my neck.

Item #2 was... a black longsleeved turtleneck? Well, nothing quite says, "Summer Escape" like a black turtleneck. Although it's a very soft and lightweight quality. It will be good for the fall. I'm not usually one for taking "selfies" but I thought I would for this exercise to give you an idea of how things fit.

(I had to do some serious cropping so you couldn't see my dirty bathroom. Also, self portraits in the bathroom make you realize how dirty your mirror is).

And now onto...

The Bad
Item #3 was exactly what every woman who's ever given birth needs... a crop top! Don't worry, I didn't do a self portrait for this one. I guess at least it fits with the summer theme? I don't think I will ever wear this. Maybe under a top that's too low cut? I dont' know. If anyone has any suggestions for how to style this to disguise it or de-slutify it, feel free to let me know!

and finally

The Ugly
Item #4 was at least a tee shirt - the bread and butter of StyleMint. However, with this tie die pattern and flutter sleeve and flimsy tie at the top, it resembles something I wore in 7th grade circa 1997. Unfortunately there are no refunds or exchanges for Mystery Box contents. I'm also open to any suggestions on how to style this one.

So, needless to say, I probably won't be ordering anymore Mystery Boxes from StyleMint. The only top I could still find at the site was the turtleneck, and it was on sale for $12. I'm pretty sure I just barely got my money's worth. I'll stick to picking out my own items from now on. If I could have built my own "Summer Escape" Mystery Box with my own picks, I would have loved to have received Orion Tank, the Marconi Scarf, the Richmond Shirt, and the Keen Shirt. Now those are true summer essentials!

Taking Advantage of Corporate America...

...one free sample at a time.

That's right. I like free stuff. How many times have you come across an ad like this on the internet:

"Free Samples! Sign up today, no obligation!" or "Make $2000 a month just for giving your opinion!"

They're pretty ubiquitous, right? And many of the times, they seem too good to be true (and they often are). But there are a few gems out there. As a mom with a lot of unexpected expenses, I love finding ways to save a buck and cut corners. In my spare time this year, on lunch breaks, weekends when the baby is napping, etc., I have filled out forms, clicked "like" buttons, retweeted, taken surveys, and more. I have gotten free samples and full sized products from:

• Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
• Oil of Olay
• Ponds
• International Delight
• Quaker
• Goody Hair Products
• Dove
• Pantene Pro-V
• Several Free Pizzas from Red Baron, Freschetta, and Totinos
• Perfume Companies
• Chocolate Companies
• Bear Naked Granola
• And a whole lot more

Yesterday I received a package of over 50 diapers, just for agreeing to give my opinion on them. I've also made over $300 in paypal cash and Amazon.com gift cards. I've also won free StyleMint credits and earrings from blog giveaways. My husband jokes that now I get a package every week. It's all about knowing which sites to use for the greatest reward for your valuable time, and I'm here to share which ones I think are top notch.

1. SwagBucks.com - this one is pretty easy. It lets you earn "SwagBucks" for doing things you would normally do online like shop, search the web, and participate in special offers and surveys. Just using their search engine as my home page lets me earn SwagBucks. Generally 500 SwagBucks = a $5 gift card. Pros: a lot of different ways to earn points. Cons: can take a long time for your rewards to be redeemed and a while for the points to start adding up.

2. FreeFlys.com - This site sends you emails when free samples are available for practically anything - beauty products, coupons, baby stuff, and more. This is how I've gotten free Bobbi Brown mascara and a free tumbler. They advertise pretty heavily on facebook. Pros: no time commitment, just let the offers roll in. You can pick and choose which samples you want. Cons: Every time you click on anything it opens a new tab in your browser (this is just a pet peeve of mine). They send a LOT of emails, so if you don't like receiving a lot of emails, this one is probably not for you. Also, a lot of the offers are for in-store coupons. Aint nobody got time for that.

3. Influenster.com - The premise of this site is to write, read, share, and discuss about products you have used in the past. This one probably takes the most time to earn any tangible rewards. You can pick the categories of products you feel you're an expert on - beauty, fashion, games, movies, drinks. There are quite a few "badges." Each time you review a product or complete any of the tasks assigned to you, your Influenster "score" goes up. The higher your score, the more likely you are to receive products to test in the mail. If you have a high influenster score, you can qualify to receive what are known as VoxBoxes. These are similar to subscription boxes, usually with a theme, full of 4-5 full sized products that are shipped to your home. You test the products, give your feedback, and perform additional, optional brand challenges - which let you have a chance to win more products from one of the brands in your VoxBox. I've received one VoxBox so far - the 2012 Holiday VoxBox which included Quaker Real Medleys, NYC Lipgloss, a Goody QuickStyle Brush, Energy Drink Mix, Face Masque, and a coupon for SoleSociety. I've also competed in brand challenges and won products from Ponds and Ferrero Rocher. Pros: Really good rewards for being an active participant. Not hard to give reviews, and there's a lot of categories for you to review products from. Cons: They can be pretty selective about who gets a VoxBox. You have to dedicate a lot of time to writing reviews and tweeting to be selected, and REALLY like talking about products.

4. OpinionOutpost.com - By far my biggest money maker. I can usually earn anywhere between $20 - $50 a month depending on how many surveys I qualify for and take. This one is simple - you sign up for an account, fill out a profile so they can match surveys to your profile, and then start earning points by taking surveys. Points for surveys usually range between 5 - 40 points, but sometimes there are higher paying surveys available. 10 points = $1. You can cash out your points for Paypal, Amazon.com, Itunes, or donate your money to the American Red Cross. Pros: points can add up pretty quickly, and I love the ability to redeem for cash. Also, a lot of the surveys are for in-home market research. I love getting products to test in the mail and then report back on. The funniest one I did was a perfume survey where I had to wear a different perfume every day for 5 days. Cons: most of the actual surveys come from other sites and can be a little buggy with technical issues. However, I've found the support team to be incredibly helpful and they always credit my account when something goes awry. The biggest con is spending time taking a survey only to find out you don't qualify for it towards the end. It can be frustrating, but I just plug away and try to find another one I will qualify for.

The thing to remember is: nothing is really free. You may be paying in time or in personal information. Since signing up for all these programs, I have received a LOT more spam email and telemarketing calls. That's fine with me, I knew it was part of the deal. But just be aware, you are throwing a lot of personal information out there. I would never recommend signing up for any site that wants access to a credit card or bank account. If you think you can just sign up for a site and then do nothing, you'll be disappointed. It is possible to get a lot of free stuff online, but it takes time and patience!

On The Menu: No Peek Beef Tips

This is one of those Pinterest recipes that sounded too easy to pass up. Plus, only a few ingredients makes this mama very happy. This recipe comes to you courtesy of the blog Mommy's Kitchen.

Ingredients:
• 2 lbs stew meat, beef tenderloin tips, or cubed chuck roast (I used stew meat)
• 1 small can mushrooms (4-6oz.), Optional
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
• 1 packet brown gravy mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup water

Directions:
• Preheat oven to 300° F
• Spread your meat out in a single layer in a 9x13 baking dish
• Mix all other ingredients in a bowl and pour over beef tips. Stir to coat all pieces evenly.
• Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 300° F for 3 hours - no peeking!
• Serve over rice, egg noodles or mashed potatoes - we went with rice!

We also had it with some fresh french bread - perfect for sopping up extra gravy. My only complaint about this recipe is that I found it a little salty. If I make it again I will find low sodium versions of the mixes and soup. Other than that it was a nice hearty meal that made a lot of leftovers, and reheated well over the next week.