your ultimate playroom planner

This is how I make room plans:

I cut out little furniture shapes a play with them.
And I always use a BLUE flair marker.

This is the fabric I bought (maybe a little too early):

Because I thought it might go with the denim chair:

I need a loveseat width couch:

Tom doesn't want anything from IKEA. So I searched real furniture stores in Minnesota. Here are some possibilities:

But it the microfiber was so static-y. The saleswoman said I would have to keep a can of static guard nearby. No way. I have a rule about static. I will not buy static producing clothes, and certianly not furniture!

Now I'm leaning toward a Klik Klak sofa. They fold down into a bed. And were fairly comfortable to sit on.

Even though I like this blue one, I know Tom will want an ARM rest.

And a place for his beer.

Room and Board at Ten to Four

I haven't been to the Room and Board outlet for about 10 years (did another store fill this void?).  I wasn't even sure they'd be open so late on a Sunday. The roads leading there were GLARE ICE. Luckily I ended up having only 10 minutes to shop. Here's what I found:

A buttery double-wide for two (in a cozy chenille).

A midnight blue couch in a linen-like fabric (no kids, no pets allowed)!

Did I mention it was hard as a rock to sit on?

 And the "piece-day-resis-tawnce" (sorry i took german in high school):

Even my new camera didn't really capture how fantastic the red leather was. "I DIE!" says it all.

Yes, I'm a sucker for RED.

But perhaps I should share my best R&B piece from the outlet (purchased in 1992?).

It was crazy outfit day at our house.

Ta Ta 4 Now

I've started an new blog. This blog isn't completely dead yet. If I've got something to say about IKEA and decorating this where I'll but it. Check it out at: http://ohmydoodle.blogspot.com/ Here's my new design for my header:

from my mom's noodle

mom's way better with flowers than i am

the greenery is a sweet potato vine that strouted in a pot somewhere in her house

the red amarylis you see on the table are probably great great great grandchildren from the ones in the wagon from several years ago:

she wrapped all of the artwork in her house with gift wrap to look like presents

and added coordinating folded stars and tiny packages made from greeting cards to the walls

each gift had a different color scheme

the gift tags are her calligraphy--many saved from the past--one says "from eva" who is gone now. here is a close-up of her folded handmade stars:

this is a "martha stewart everyday from kmart expandable bamboo trellis" covered with lights on the deck outside the kitchen window

on the tiny 2 foot inside the house, are knit dolls i used to play with when i was a kid

here's my attempt at decorating:

Ham Croquettes

Our family Christmas day tradition.

From the Better Homes and Gardens Meat Cookbook, 1960.

Original recipe was deep-fried and used saltines.

Mom created a baked version using techniques she learned

watching Cook's Illustrated TV.

Butter & brown the crumbs on the stovetop:

Nice close-up from my new camera.

Making the gooey white sauce.

Mixing in the ground ham.

Breading with egg white for maximum crunch.

Yuckky fingers.
Ready to bake, just 12 minutes at 375.˚

Don't forget to make more eggy white sauce as a topping.

Finis. Hope you like washing many pots and pans!

Score some S'mores

Click here to view.

I Felt Like Making S'more Pins

I used to have this Snoopy pin on my ski jacket in high school. You can see what I was thinking last November and how my idea has changed here.