Boy! This has certainly been a crazy time at the Harris House. So much has been going on that I completely forgot to write a post last week. There's still a lot happening (mostly happy things), so it will be a pretty short post this week. But here goes nothing!
How was everyone's Easter? Ours was GREAT! Of course we started the day with church. By the way, my son did EXCELLENT on his Easter speech. Afterwards, we headed out to take some Easter pics (Harris Family Tradition). This year, we found ourselves downtown Pontiac ;-)
City Shots!
My Love!
Me and my favorite little guy!
While we were at it, we even discovered a new local date night spot in the process. A gentleman that took a family picture of us literally forced us into the restaurant that he and his wife were headed to--their nephew is the chef and they were sooo very proud :)
Did I mention how happy I am that they forced us inside? This place is all the way my style, as a matter of fact it reminds me a lot of my wedding reception venue.
Not the best comparison shot, but can you see the similarities?
Now we can go downtown and enjoy a 5 course meal--that's a big deal for our small little town!
Fast-forward a bit, while on spring break my son bit through his lip and needed stiches (which was an ordeal within itself), and a few days after that my husband bought a new old school car, a Trans Am to be exact. Add to that the fact that I finished another novel and began editing an older one, and you can see that I've been really preoccupied. Oh! And I almost forgot, my entire household has been battling a cold. I think the worst of it is over though :-) THANK GOD!
But maybe, just maybe, most exciting of all, MY SON FINALLY LEARNED TO RIDE HIS BIKE!!! WHEW HOO!
I was beginning to think that he would never ride. But I suppose 4 years old isn't so bad. Either way, I'm just glad he's doing it. So that's that! My last week or so in a nutshell. Hopefully, there's some chill time somewhere in my near future. Did anyone else have a crazy couple of days?
It’s
almost Easter, so you know what that means. It looks like Mr. Rabbit is going to
come hopping through my house at any moment now :-) Luckily, I was able to pick up some
really good deals at Target (and the Dollar Tree), and the rest of the décor was items I already had. Check it out:
When I came across this bunny garland I just couldn’t pass it up, good thing too, because it was only three bucks! She scores!
Here's a close-up. I just love that the bunnies are wood & a tad bit distressed :)
Next I
picked up these little woodland friends. Originally, I wanted to use moss
covered rabbits (super cute right?),*clears throat* but these were the right price. I
thought they’d look awesome with burlap, since they have brown streaks running through them.
Hopping Merrily! Perhaps you can't see it, but underneath that moss is a burlap ribbon that I'm using as a runner. It just gives it an added something.
As you can see, I recycled my 'Christmas' trees that I made. I think they work well with the bunnies.
I also
grabbed these glitter eggs from the Dollar Tree. My intention was only to use
the gold eggs, but I needed more. Because I wasn’t going to spend the money to
buy more packs of eggs (just for two gold eggs), I decided to suck it up and just use all
of them for a more colorful display Whomp!
All the colors of the rainbow!
And that's that!
Moving right along to the table setting. I would have liked a more Easter themed table, but the way
my bank account is set up, it just wasn’t happening. So I dug up my boxes of
decorations and tried to make it look as spring like as possible. Let’s take a look-see, shall we?
I mixed and matched a few pieces to give it a bit of a new look. The Hydrangea garland is from my Mother's Day tablescape. The golden elephants are from my mantel, the is, of course, from my writing room (which was also the center of my Christmas table), and the chargers are also from Christmas as well. Again, I stole the marble encrusted candle holders from my mantel. So the table has a bit of a new look, but it's filled with all things you seen before.
I also decorated the outside of my home. Unfortunately, we had a wind storm last week that literally ripped my little décor apart :( The things that weren't destroyed are waiting for me to hang them back up, like my Easter tree--it looks like this one:
Isn't that something? The only difference is I live in Michigan so the grass isn't that green yet, and my flowers haven't bloomed, and the days aren't consistently sunny, but besides that--my tree looks just like this one...once I pick up all my eggs and rehang them, lol :-P
Well, that's it. That's the Harris House for Easter. And I think that's the last holiday that I have to decorate for until Halloween :) Yay! My mantel can finally go back to being an adult. If you'd like to share your holiday décor, I'd love to see it. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season, and have a very happy Easter!
Easter is right around the corner. Of course I debated decorating the outside of my house, but I eventually decided that I would not. That is, until I went to the Dollar Tree...DUN DUN DUN! The inside of my house has been decorated for about a week, and it's cold here, so I said "forget about the outside." But as I was moseying the aisles (had to take my aunt to the store and I always pick up something that I don't need when I'm taking someone else out) I came across some cute yellow and white ribbon. I couldn't use it for anything so I put it back, until I came across the same patterned flower stakes. I had to have them!
I picked up the yellow and white ones!
I decided to make a wreath with the yellow ribbon, however, I didn't want to spend much. As you probably know, the dollar store sells wreaths, I've used them for many projects before. But I wanted something larger. So I continued my journey up and down the aisle searching for a suitable base. I found just the thing in the toy aisle: a hoola hoop! :) There were various sizes, but I decided to get the smallest one they had, since there was not a lot of yellow and white ribbon available. For this project you will need:
1 hoola hoop
2 rolls of Ribbon
1 package of Rope
Flowers
An Easter Sign
Glue gun/Sticks
Here's a look at all of my supplies
See how well the ribbon matches the outdoor stakes?
The first thing you want to do is wrap the ribbon around the hoola hoop. I love ribbon wrapped wreaths because they take absolutely no skill! I must say, for this wreath I would have liked a thicker structure, but beggars can't be choosers! So I rolled with it.
Once the hoola hoop is completely wrapped, it is time to attach the flowers with the rope.
Once the flowers are secured it's time to wrap the bottom to give it a nice, clean look. For this step you can use just a bit of the ribbon to cover it. I had an extra burlap ribbon that I decided to use. I then wrapped the leftover yellow ribbon as well as the burlap ribbon into a bow in the exact same space. Once you have prepared the wreath to your liking, take the sign and glue it into the center or wherever you see fit. Here's my finished project!
If I had it to do again, I would have probably used a different ribbon to wrap the hoola hoop. I would like a fuller look (that could have been achieved with a different structure or the placement of ribbon). In the end, I am satisfied for $6, and it was something I wasn't even thinking about doing :)
After I finished my wreath I decided to Google 'hoola hoop wreaths' and I see that this isn't a novel idea. Some of the wreaths made from hoola hoops are absolutely gorg, and best of all, you can pick them up for just a buck.
So, since I wasn't completely satisfied with my wreath I kept thinking about what would give it the definition that I wanted. Finally, I got it: feather boas. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any yellow boas to make my Easter vision complete, but the dollar store had some green ones at the time for St. Patrick's Day, so I tried my luck.
Here's the materials I used. 1 20.5 inch hoola hoop, 4 green feather boas, and a hanging leprechaun :-)
It's the same concept as before. Simply wrap the boas around the hoola hoop and glue the sign to your liking. Here's the finished look:
I might move the leprechaun up a bit so that he is standing just inside of the wreath, but I have time. Because Easter and St. Patty's Day are both in the month of March this year, this guy won't be seeing the light of day.
And that's that. Two cheap, festive wreaths, well under the price of one. What wreaths have you come up with for this year?
Hey Guys, I hope all is well. It's going to be another quick post today. I haven't done much around the house, at least not much that I want to share :-) Today, I'll be discussing 5 things that will allow you to enjoy your space a wee bit more. Your home is your castle, your sanctuary, your own personal retreat. It's one of the few places where you make all the rules...so why not love it? If you're like me, then you don't have the cash for your dream house just yet or even the goods to fill it with. But you can make the most of the situation, and here's how.
1. Clean Up
Chop! Chop!
I know it may sound like a given, but honestly, nothing will do more for your space than a good, old fashion cleaning. My house looks so much better early in the morning and late at night when my little guy is in the bed, and all of his toys are put away. But kids aren't the only culprits of a messy house. Things as simple as dusting, mopping, and cleaning the windows all go a long way.
2. Declutter and Organize
My fridge will never look as good as this...
Even if your house isn't really "dirty", a ton of junk all over the place can certainly make it feel like it is. Clutter doesn't just take up space in your home, but it takes up space in your mind as well. Many people find that when their surroundings are out of order it's had for them to relax and get comfortable. By putting everything neatly in it's proper place, you will be able to enjoy your space all the more.
3. Thrift Stores Are Your Friends
Home of Judy Aldrige
When it comes to thrift stores, you never know what you may find! Although every trip isn't a success story, the times when you get lucky, you get really lucky! The room pictured above was decorated entirely from items purchased from thrift stores and Estate Sales. Crazy right? With a little work, and a lot of looking, you never know what types of gems you'll uncover.
4. Do It Yourself
Sticking with the circle theme throughout the house, I created these burlap wreaths to give the wall a bit of interest.
I love DIY décor, and I'll tell you why. For one, working with your hands is extremely therapeutic (even if the product doesn't turn out the way that you hoped). Two, there's nothing like making something yourself and proudly displaying it. No matter your skill level, whether you make a simple flower arrangement or an intricate woodworking piece, get to it! Not only will it give you something to do for the day, but you'll have something to show for all of your work too.
5. Set The Tone
Ahh, relaxation!
Ambiance is everything! Sure, creating the right mood in your home can get expensive, but it doesn't have to be. A coat of paint, a cheap or thrifted lamp (think warm or intimate lighting), or even just burning a candle (or my new favorite: wax melts) all add to the tone of your space. A place that's clean, smells good, and has the proper lighting is an instant pick-me-up. For even more of a bang, turn on some of your favorite tunes and you'll think you're really somewhere special. One of the best compliments I've received to date was from my husband. After a long day of cleaning, we returned to a perfectly lit room with jazz playing as we opened the front door. He turned to me and said, "It feels like we're walking into a hotel." Just that one sentence made my day of cleaning more than worth it :-)
There are certainly more things that you can do to fall in love with your space. So, what are your go-to's?
Ok, so this will be a really quick post today. Two weeks ago I decided to upgrade my son's room into a bonafide big boy room and it was a major success! Now I want to decorate my sleeping quarters :-) Anyways, the hardest thing to find was, DUN, DUN, DUN, artwork.
With my son really wanting Thomas the Train everything, I knew that the pictures on the wall would make his space complete. As luck would have it, none of the stores had pictures, posters, canvases, or wall hangings of the popular stem engine. Even the internet was scarce when it came to options, and I was pressed for time.
I only had about four days to pull this all together, and Tuesday after he came home from school, it all needed to be done. I may have procrastinated just a wee bit *shrugs* No, actually it wasn't me. Furniture stores try to deliver way too fast these days. Do you want it tomorrow? Nawl bruh, I want you to chill. A fast turnaround time should be a good thing, but not when you're not prepared. I digress...
So needing things fast, I decided to make my own art! All you need is a computer and a printer to do it. Obviously, the easiest thing to do is find pictures that you like and print them. Pinterest has a variety of FREE printable art. However, if you're looking for something more specific it can get a bit tricker.
I wasn't in love with any of the Thomas prints that I came across, and honestly, they were probably copyrighted anyways. So I decided to create prints of popular Thomas sayings in cool and fun fonts. By coupling the prints with matted frames it really brings it together in my opinion. Here's a look:
The frames are pretty large, although it may not come across that way on the picture.
I selected a different font for each frame.
I really liked the detail. Since his bed & dresser is also cherry wood, I wanted matching frames that would kind of ground the room while still being fun and playful.
I lucked up and found this ready-made engine themed print.
I knew I wanted this frame right away as the shape reminded me of a rail road crossing sign (see how my brain works?). This frame sits on his new dresser, along with a vase of wasted money Thomas minis that my son doesn't play with.
And just for good measure, here's a pic of some of the frames in use.
When discussing my latest DYI, I was shocked to find how many people didn't know that printing your own "art" was an option. I know that my brother-in-love would kill me for saying this, but art doesn't have to expensive or fancy. Sometimes it's just about liking it. My prints look awesome in my son's room--even if I say so myself ;-)
Making your own frugal art isn't just limited to prints either. You can use pretty pictures from calendars, post cards, fabrics, or any other thing you can think of. The key is just to have fun. Well that's it for this week's post. Hopefully, I can find some more creativity to tap into soon. XO until the next time guys!
Hello! I hope all is well. Today, I'll be discussing recipes! One of my favorite things to do is EAT. Sounds greedy doesn't it? Well, I am! Another favorite of mine is travel. Mixing the two together is just pure delight. For times when I can't get away, it's always fun to try to recreate dishes from places that I've travelled or places that I want to go. For Valentine's Day my husband and I created an authentic Jamaican meal for some very special valentines--the women in my life :-) *Mother, Granny, Aunt*
Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to get in the kitchen and whip up something good. I would like to think that people would appreciate a nice, hearty meal more than some hit-or-miss chocolates. So without further ado, let's get to it:
On the menu this year:
Jerk Chicken
Caribbean Rice & Beans
Island Cabbage
Fried Plantains
&Whipped Banana Pudding
For the sake of time, I'll just go over the chicken and rice--that's a meal by itself :)
Let's talk about the chicken first. This crockpot recipe is soo easy that it should be a crime; it's also 100% delish! Here goes:
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken recipe
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: AfricanBites
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Caribbean
Serves: 5-6
Ingredients
I lime or lemon
6-7chicken thighs or 3 -3½ pound chicken cut up
2 teaspoons creole seasoning (replace with salt and pepper or chicken spice)
1 or more Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Habaneros)
6 garlic cloves, chopped
½ tablespoon cinnamon powder
½ tablespoon allspice coarsely ground
½ teaspoon coarsely ground white pepper
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
3 medium scallions, chopped
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
½ cup pineapple juice or pineapple
1-tablespoon bouillon powder (optional)
Salt and pepper to season
Instructions
Trim chicken of excess fat and pat dry with a cloth or paper napkin. Rub with lemon, and 2 teaspoons creole spice or season with salt and pepper
In a food processor or blender, combine the cinnamon, thyme, green onions, onion, habanero pepper, soy sauce, Maggi/bouillon, brown sugar, onion, nutmeg, allspice and pineapple juice or chunks. Pulse for about 30 seconds until blended
Drench the chicken with ¾ of the jerk marinate, place in a zip lock bag and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. Try not to touch the jerk blend with your hands because it extremely spicy hot- If possible use gloves or just place the chicken pieces and marinate in the slow cooker so that they are tucked tightly. Cover the slow cooker, turn it on to high, and let it cook for about 3- 4hours.
After chicken is cooked carefully remove the chicken and place it on a broiler pan or a baking sheet covered with foil. Be careful because the chicken would be really tender. You might have to use a spatula or tongs. Add a little bit of the cooked marinate on the chicken. Adjust the rack in your oven so that the top of the chicken is 4-5 inches below the broiler. Broil on high for about 3 - 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and deep brown. Don’t walk away from the chicken – this really acts quickly. Broilers can burn food.
While the chicken is getting crisp simmer the sauce from the chicken together with the remaining jerk marinade in a saucepan for about 5-7 minutes. or until reduced to desired consistency.Brush over chicken .
Although the recipe calls for letting the chicken marinate overnight, I've never tried it that way. I'm sure that it would be even more yummy if I allowed all the flavor to really soak in, but trust me it's good as is! Another slight variation, instead of rubbing my chicken with lime I actually peel the lime and throw it into the blender with all of the other ingredients. It was an oversight the first go round, but it was so good the first time that I decided to do it "wrong" again. Don't be worried when you see the blended mixture. Looking at it for the first time, I just KNEW that I was going to have to throw the whole thing out. Honestly, it looks like vomit, but it smells divine.
Yuck &Yum! Hey, that might be my new name for it, Yuck & Yum Chicken ;-)
Now for the Rice and Beans:
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: AfricanBites
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Caribbean
Serves: 3-5
Ingredients
¼ cup canola oil (or canola)
2 garlic clove, minced
½ medium onion, diced
2 teaspoons creole spice
2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 sprig fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13.5 oz can (1¾ cups) coconut milk
15.5 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 small bay leaves
salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
3¼ cups chicken broth or water
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon (optional)
1 whole scotch bonnet pepper.
1 teaspoons paprika(optional)
Instructions
Wash rice until water runs clear. Drain water.
Heat a saucepan with oil. Then add onions, garlic, thyme, and hot pepper, sauté for about a minute.
Stir in rice to the pan, followed by beans for about 2 minutes, then add coconut milk, bay leaf, bouillon powder, creole spice, with 3 cups of water, bring to a boil reduce heat, cover with a lid and simmer until rice is cooked, about 20 minutes or more. Stir occasionally from the sides to prevent burns , add more water if needed.
Adjust for salt and pepper. Discard bay leaves You have to stir occasionally to be preventing any burns.
Serve warm
So, things can never just go smoothly in my house. There were quite a few little mishaps that sent my hubby back to the store several times. However, in the end everyone said that the food was GOOD! We actually had fun cooking too. It was one of the rare times when we were both in the kitchen with the music going, dancing around, and completing our own separate tasks. It was nice ;-) Here's the finished product.
Never mind the Playdoh cap on the table. I guess that was my little guy's contribution :) Actually, he was really good and played quietly to himself while we made a mess in the kitchen.
The Dessert...
My husband was really concerned with if we were saving any, lol #greedy
Dinners packaged & ready to go!
I even created this corny little menu :)
One bite and we were here again!
We had a great time creating and recalling. If you try out any of the recipes let me know what you think. Until the next time, XO!
We're now only FOUR short days away from Valentines Day, yay! Of course, my décor has been out ever since I took down my Christmas stuff sometime in the middle of January. I feel like if I would have waited until February to decorate for V-day, it would have been a waste of time. Anyways, I didn't do much decorating for the lovers holiday. I largely used things that I already had (that's always a plus, right?). So since showing my décor would have only taken about three and a half seconds, I decided to write about the hottest songs for every occasion. But first, here's my Valentines stuff:
My elephants are back, front and center! I guess that means the holidays are mostly behind us. Come on SUMMER!!!! Again, I wanted to decorate using traditional colors, so I chose gold and red.
This XO sign is the one new thing that I picked up. I got it from Target in the deal section for only $3. To the left is a faux wax candle in a Dollar Tree candleholder that I upgraded a while ago with a band of Sequin. To the farthest left is a glimpse of my great grandmother's candle stick holder that was gifted to me recently by my grandmother. The holders are very special to me and I think it adds a bit of a romantic element. The mates for the candle stick holder as well as the sequin holder are on the other side of the mantel.
I had this heart garland from last year. It was one string, but I split it into 3 simply by taking apart the links. If I ever want it to be all one piece again, it's a simple fix. The two hearts on the bottom are on Christmas hooks so they can hang linked on the doors. And that's that for decorations.
So now that that's out the way, what songs have I picked out for V-Day? I have 15 actually, and I've broken them down by categories. Hopefully, you'll find something that suites you. Let's jump right in!
1. Category: Pop Love Infatuation by Lipstick Gypsy
I am currently kind of obsessed with this song. At first it threw me for a loop that it was a man singing, but I love the MJ/ Justin vibe. This song is super fun and perfect to get ready to for your Valentines day date!
2. Category: Island Love Before I leave by Jah Cure
No list is complete without a little reggae, right? Reggae love songs--even better!
3. Category: Sexy Love Sumthin' Sumthin' (Mellowsmooth) by Maxwell
It only takes one word to describe this song--sexy! From the very first notes, you just know it's about to be sensual.
4. Category: Supernatural Love No Ordinary Love by Sade
For those times when a love is just too good to give up on...
5. Category: Young Love Sunshine by Lupe Fiasco
"You're my sunshine, you're my moonlight, you're the starry skies above me, won't you please come down and hug me, think I found love in this club tonight."
6. Category: Done with Love Just to Keep You Satisfiedby Marvin Gaye
This is quite possibly one of the realest songs ever recorded. Marvin Gaye actually wrote this song for his ex-wife, and you can feel it in every word! This man sung this song! His heartfelt vocals against that soft melody, really leaves you with the bitter feeling of heartbreak.
7. Category: Classic Love In a Sentimental mood by John Coltrane
Simply timeless! This classic tune sets the perfect tone for dinner for two or a quiet evening in.
8. Category: Fun Love Happy Valentine's Day by Andre 3000
Upbeat, funky, creative--with a song with Valentine's Day in the title it's only right that you give it some spin on February 14th. If you ever wondered about the day from Cupid's prospective then this is a must listen. Favorite line? "Could be an organ donor the way I give up my heart."
9. Category: The Ultimate Love I will die for you by Prince
Awww, boooo!!! So apparently, Prince doesn't want his music on YouTube, tsk tsk. I still have to include this song. I know that it's been debated whether this tune is about God or not, and I am in camp YES IT IS! Who else would love you like that? I mean just look at the lyrics.
"I'm not your lover I'm not your friend I am something that you'll never comprehend
No need to worry No need to cry I'm your messiah and you're the reason why
'Cause you, I would die for you, yeah Darling if you want me to You, I would die for you"
I really don't understand why we can't sing this for alter call :-P I always think of Jesus personally singing this to me when I hear it.
10. Category: Jazzy Love Seduction by Boney James
Seduction, no words necessary.
11. Category: No Good For You Love Insomnia by Jill Scott
"You have managed to turn me from a woman of substance to this." Enough said.
12. Category: Lost Love The Love We Had Stays On My Mind by The Dells
Here's another song that really touches your soul and makes you feel it. These men KNOW they sang this song. Its put a few tears in my eyes when I wasn't even going through a similar situation. It's just so much passion. Them ad libs though! I'm positive this is what regret sounds like.
14. Category: Forbidden Love I'm in Love With You by Erykah Badu and Stephan Marley
Everyone might not always understand your love, but luckily they don't have to."I'm so in love baby, I don't care what the people say."
15. Category: Throwback Love Got to Be There by the Jackson 5
If this song doesn't embody love then I don't know what it does. The whole sound seems like these fellas are floating on clouds. "I got to be there when she says hello to the world." That's pretty deep for these youngins! That goes for "Maybe Tomorrow" too--those lyrics.
So there you have it--whether you want to be with someone, want to get rid of them, or found the love of your life, there's a song for you! Hope you all have a safe and happy Valentine's Day! Until the next time, XO!
