What's Cooking Friday

"What's cooking this Friday?" You ask.  NOTHING is my answer.  Fanny and HailNo are gone for the weekend.  Pookie has to work on his Eagle Project, so he and Daddio will be gone for the most part.  So, this Friday and weekend will consist of me and the 3 youngest boys.  Cole has Autism.  His diet is very limited.  WillieP will eat anything, and EAM eats pretty much nothing.  I think I am just going to order pizza. 

Who Do I Use?

I have had many people ask me the question of "Who I Use" for everything under the sun.  The one I get asked the most, and one of the most important questions is my pediatrician. 

He is Dr. Neil Seethaler with Centennial Pediatrics.  He is a wonderful Dr. 

Happy Hump Day???

Yeah...not so happy.  BUT it is definitely a hump...More like a MOUNTAIN! 

I am trying to stop yelling.  And I found this

Photo and info found here

unfortunately for me this webinar has already taken place.  I am off to see if there is another sometime soon!

My New Kitchen

We are thinking of revamping our kitchen.  Our house is plenty big enough square footage wise; we just need a better use of space.  We definitely need more counter space.  We cook A LOT in our house.  We need more work space.  I am thinking "Island" maybe (???).  It could & would give us extra cabinet space and added work space.

Find Island here

There is this one...Beautiful! But it is very large and would take up lots of space.

This one found here

Then there is the more cart like ones. They are nice and movable, but I am not the biggest fan.
OH, the choices. I will make one someday!

It's That Time of Year

Christmas will be here before we know it.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas blogs.  Most, I admit, come from my beloved sister-in-law Marianne Strong!

I wish I had stairs for the world to see, but mine are behind a door!  This and many other ideas come from the "Will You Help Me Robert?"  post.  "White Christmas" is another one of my favorites!

Sassy Sites! has a post that includes 130+ ornament ideas. 

And this is my new wreath for Christmas.  I found it on Pinterest. 

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving

They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.

- Hindu Proverb

Happy Thanksgiving from my house to yours!

It Looks Great, but Beauty Doesn't Last

Haverty's has beautiful furniture, but let me tell you, it falls to pieces! 

When do You Put Your's Up?

I see people putting up their Christmas trees already.  Someone asked me when I was going to put mine up.  Well...I have a hard enough time getting through one holiday at a time; I can not even think about the next one.

Well, last year all of the lights on our wonderful pre-lit tree blew out.  So, I am debating getting a new tree or maybe, we will get a live tree.  Actually no... EAM is still really little and may put needles in his mouth.  So, in reality I guess I am buying a new tree or just wrapping strands of lights on the one we have.

I wonder if I can get by with this tree? Probably not. 6 kids will be very disappointed with such a tiny tree.

So, if I by a new tree I guess it will be one like this.

both tree found here

May I Have the BEST Wine from Your Cellar?

Maybe some day I will have a wine cellar like one of these.

But for now, I wonder if I can do one like this in my non-functional fire place?

I feel a project coming on!

NOTE: All photos found here

Take a Seat

Why is it so hard to choose a chair style? 

I love all of these styles. 

I am not sure where to credit these chairs.  So let me know if you know.  Want to always give credit where credit is due.

Rugs Galore

While we have not officially picked out a paint color, I am looking at rugs for our office.
Here are a few that I really like.









Rugs found here, here and here

50 Shades of Gray

I am not talking about the books, I am talking office colors. My business partner wants gray...and gray is a fine color. The problem is there is not JUST gray. There are a million shades of gray. Photo from flickr

What's Cooking Friday

Well, I am not going to tell you what is for dinner tonight.  I am going to tell you what Hails Bells and I started this morning and will finish up sometime today---CINNAMON ROLLS

A few years ago, I bought a cookbook called Pioneer Woman.  These are some of the best recipes EVER!  But there is one thing is this cookbook that is like no other...CINNAMON ROLLS. 

Go buy the book, read the blog, watch the show.

Recipe  and photo is all credited to the Pioneer Woman!

A Place to Lay my Head

I am in desperate need of a new comforter/bed spread/whatever for my bed.  I have found a few that I really like, now it is time to convince the hubby.

The first one I found on Pinterest and the last three were found at Horchow

I am so Proud...

To call Marianne Strong with Marianne Strong Interiors, Family.  She is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I know.  She lives in Birmingham, AL, and she teamed up with St. Vincent's Health Systems and the Talk of Alabama to give away a nursery.  She designed a beautiful nursery too.


Below are the links to the blog posts and pictures:
St. Vincent Nursery One  Two  Three

There may be more pics and posts about this project. 

What's Cooking Friday

Today we are having Thai Chicken Noodle Soup.  The recipe below comes from Fitness Magazine, but I tweek mine slightly.  My husband does not like and I am allergic to peanuts, so I do not use the peanut butter and peanuts.  I add about a half a can of coconut milk (unsweetened) and the juice of a lime.  I also try to get fresh bean sprouts instead of canned and use a can of straw mushrooms diced.   

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons minced ginger

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/2 cup natural chunky peanut butter

• 1 cup crushed tomatoes

• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 6 ounces rice noodles

• 2 cups shredded green cabbage

• 1 cup canned bean sprouts, drained

• 1/4 cup chopped scallions

• Chopped cilantro (optional)

• Chopped peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. In a soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink on the outside.
2. Dissolve the peanut butter in the crushed tomatoes; add the mixture to the soup pot along with the chicken broth and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Add the noodles; reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the cabbage and cook another 5 minutes. Stir in the bean sprouts and scallions; turn off heat.
3. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with cilantro and peanuts if desired.

My New Bathroom

OK...Not really, but it would suit my husband JUST fine. 

* I do not know where photo comes from, but this is FUNNY!*

Happy Halloween

This is me and 4 of my 6 children.  I wish you all a Happy and Safe Halloween!

In My Dream Home...

I have these stairs.  And if I ever move into a home that has more than 4 steps (like I do now)  these stairs WILL be mine!

*I pinned this on Pinterest.  I have no idea where this picture comes from, but if anyone out there knows, I would LOVE to give credit to that person/blog.*

Gloss Over Matte

This idea and picture comes from Sawdust and Embryos.  It is such a cool idea and a cheaper way to make a neat wall. They even give you the details on how to do it, and give a template to copy!  AWESOME!!!

Tuesday's Bathroom

I think I will take this shower!

I found this pic on Pinterest, but  you can find all kinds of bathroom ideas on HOUZZ. 

Daydreaming my Monday Away

I love this pantry.  And as soon as I can find the time to redesign my kitchen, it is going in it!  BUT, unfortunately for me, today is not that day.  (BOO for me!)





Pantry found here. 

What's Cooking Friday's 10/19/12

BLACK BEAN SOUP!

We are throwing all the ingredients in a slow cooker and letting it go!

4 cans of Black Beans
1 cup tomatoes, diced
2 cups Vegetable Juice (tomato, V-8 etc.)
2 Tbs. Cumin
Pinch of Sea Salt
1/4 cup Jalapeno, diced
1 1/2 Tbs. Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Oregano
1 Tbs. Coriander
1 1/2 tsp. Basil
1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
2 tsp. all-natural, unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Tbs. Ground Flax Seed
1/3 cup Olive Oil
2 Onions, diced
1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
Juice of 1 Orange
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar

I got this recipe from Tone It Up!

Blogs I Love to Read

There are a few blogs that I like to read while drinking my morning tea.  I don't get a lot of time to read them, but I do get a few minutes in the early morning hours.

There are 2 design blogs that I love to read:
1) Marianne Strong's Haven and Home
2) a life's design 

Both are very cool blogs that give you lots of ideas! 

There are some fitness blogs I read more than anything:
Body Rock  and He and She Eat Clean

And then there is adelynSTONE...This one I read just for the fun of it.  

I hope you all read some of them!

Happy Hump Day

I,SOOOOO, want this for my house.  Unfortunately, I found it on Pinterest, but there is nothing else about it.  I guess I am going to have to make one.  I think it sums up my home perfectly!

Kitchen Organization

Tidy Mom has 8 ways to keep your kitchen organized.  I am going to have to try them!  My kitchen is so UNorganized it is not even funny!

Tin Ceiling???

Why Not???  This website has some interesting ways to cover your ceiling and walls. 

I am thinking of doing my dining room like this.

It would be a conversation starter for sure!

What's Cooking Friday

What is cooking in my kitchen this friday is PUMPKIN SCONES. 

I got the recipe from Sweet Pea's Kitchen. 

My Olympic Sport

Yes, I think it should.  I don't know about anyone else, but no matter how prepared I am, I will have to search the house for something.  For me, it is usually KEYS. 

Tuesday's Bathroom

What is not to LOVE about this bathroom?  I love the gray tile.  I love the yellow walls.  I love the rug.  I love the starburst mirror thingy.  But that I love the most...2 shower curtains.  What a wonderful idea! 

Vintage Finds

I love vintage finds for my house.  Foxy Roxy's Attic has some cool stuff like these glasses!

Check out her etsy shop.   She has lots of really neat, vintage items. 

Get to Know Me

Hello Hello Everyone!  My name is Meliah (Mel) Miranda.  I recently became a Real Estate Agent affiliated with Keller Williams-Franklin.  That is in Franklin, TN for those not in/around the area. 

I have 6 children-4 boys-2 girls.  I have started this blog for ideas on organizing, decorating, reinventing your home, as well as my own.  My Sister in Law is an Interior Decorator in Birmingham, so a lot of stuff will come from her. 

I, also, have a child with Autism, so there will be things about that.