504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Paint My Walls, Purdy Please!

As I have mentioned I am in a state of change (and denial) when it comes to life and my house. I have decided the house needs a boost - I color my hair when I need a boost, so I will paint my walls when the house needs a boost! Such an easy way to transform a space.

(these curtains need to be retired!)

I had hoped that when I showed you my dining room paint, I would also have some gorgeous NEW Roman Shades as well...but alas that did not happen. I ordered the shades - got a GREAT deal...both were on clearance!!! Opened package number one - perfection. Package number two was on back order...just received it...a different color than package one (it says it is the right color but NOT!)...so I have mismatched shades that cannot be mismatched because they are right next to each other. UGH...OK that is my rant.

Anyway...my paint is still beautiful! So, I'll just share that with ya.

I used Mythic Paint, in Melted Truffle - gorgeous! This paint has no VOC's and guess what hubby did not notice I had painted when he got home from work, yes, that is right no paint stink...YEAH! Um, it took two months for him to notice that I painted...go figure!

Besides the great color, what really made this an easy paint job is the Purdy tools. it is true a good (or great) paintbrush makes all the difference! You can read more about the Purdy tools at The DIY CLUB! While you are there be sure to check out who won June's Project Party and get ready to enter July's Party!

My dining room is small, but right in the front of my house....
it has some more fancy-ing up to be done to it,
but great well painted walls is a start!
And it makes my ugly door makeover look even better too!

How do you spruce up your house?

Some products have been provided to me through my affiliation with The DIY Club.

View my disclosure policy.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I'm at Craft Camp!

Skip to My Lou has Craft Camp happening throughout June.

There are a ton of great ideas from so many talented bloggers.
There is something for everyone!

Today I am happy to be one of her campers!

Yippeee!
(better yet...no bugs at Craft Camp)

Want to see my super cute Angels and Monsters in the Garden...go check them out!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

How to Make a Patriotic Star Banner

I am not a big door decor lady, or a big holiday decorator either.
I do love wreaths, but that is about it
(and heck I only have my screen wreath out anyway)...
but after making my birdie welcome banner...
I am sold. I love looking at that sweet banner.
So, for the 4th I decided to make a U.S.A. banner!

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Buffet...an Entertaining Essential

We entertain a lot....it is not always formal, in fact I am more than happy to make a sweep of the house, throw everything in the laundry room and have good friends over for a game night or a crafting afternoon (sometimes I do freak about cleaning the bathroom).

One thing is for sure there is always a lot of scrumptious food!

I am really tired of it always on the kitchen counter. I would love a place, a buffet or sideboard for my home where I could stash all of those entertaining essentials, that would also function as a dedicated serving space. I almost think this is a necessity in my quest for totally home organization (which is going quite slowly by the way!).

In my current home, I do not have a lot of room for a big piece of furniture, nor do I want anything too fussy. Function is key if I am adding any furniture into my home right now.

This simple sideboard in distressed brown has storage, it is not too big-not too small, fits in perfectly with my decor, and also has surface area for hors d'oeuvres and other goodies.

On the other hand a sideboard with wine storage, bigger cabinets, and a little more surface for displaying and serving. I was also drawn to the lighter color. The style is a little different than some of my other pieces, but I am in a design transition now (that is a fancy way of saying - I am tired of some of the stuff!), so it could work.

Oh and then I saw this gorgeous Jessica McClintock Buffet

(I may have had a dress or two designed by Ms. McClintock in my day!)

I fell in L-O-V-E!

It is not simple, but it is glamorous and gorgeous!

So, tell me how do you entertain?

Are you formal, casual, afraid to invite people over at the spur of the moment?

To read my FULL disclosure statement, click HERE

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tickled Pink No. 53

Happy Almost-Weekend!

Time for Tickled Pink!
Sorry about missing Tickled Pink last week. I was off in Indiana at Delta Faucet and truly forgot what day it was...and maybe, just maybe was having too much fun!

That post is coming very soon!

What's happening for you this weekend?

We are celebrating a big 1-0 Birthday for my son! How did 10 years fly by like that?

I know I am not the only busy lady or man out there..
I know I have been awful at returning emails and comments. That will change, but I have also gained some much needed perspective during this crazy deadline time...I am trying to figure out how to manage it all and not have my kids think the only thing I do is sit on the computer (not good!).
...so THANK YOU all for coming by! I appreciate it!

I LOVE the ease of sharing links on Facebook, so this is how I will make my way through Tickled Pink links. I will now get more active with that!

So, go on over and LIKE 504 Main on Facebook!
Don't miss a thing. If you have a Blog Page, just let me know
by leaving a comment on the 504 Main Wall!

I am also inviting you to share your

link on my FaceBook wall this week.

Please no giveaways or etsy shops,
but whatever you link up here, feel free to share the link on my Facebook Wall.
Hope I have not made a mess with that invitation!
(be sensible peeps...I reserve the right to DELETE!)

If I feature you on Facebook or twitter, be sure to grab a button HERE!

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a poem...
a fashion find...a favorite product...your favorite post...
whatever makes your blog fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}
Click right HERE to Grab a button!

PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS
1. Link up...whatever makes your blog fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!!
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
4. I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not adhere to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
5. Please visit at least the 3 links in front of you!

TICKLED PINK Now Has Categories
I won't banish you if you mess up, but try to link appropriately, pretty please!

Craft, DIY, Decorate
crafting, diy, decor type links

Cook, Bake, Eat
stuff to eat, cook, drink, and bake

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Note That Goes Well With S'mores

I have crashed and burned.
Whenever I finish a MAJOR project,
I always crash and burn for about one week.
It is almost like all the things that I could not concentrate
on before are all swirling in my head - AT ONE TIME!

I have a gained some much needed perspective in the last couple of months,
but I still have a bajillion projects to finish,
some super FAB giveaways to get to,
and
an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (beyond belief) trip to
Delta Faucets to tell you about.
Seriously I had no idea how much fun faucets and plumbing could be! Of course all the people at Delta, the company who brought us bloggers there, and the bloggers who were on the trip were also A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

In the meantime, a friend of mine (like a real life one who I have know since I was 7 or so) made the s'mores bark I posted about during the holidays for a teacher gift...
and it was a DUH moment for me.
She is brilliant!
I think I got stuck in the fact that it had bark in the title and bark is for Christmas, right?

So, here is my s'mores bark recipe (again)...
perfect for taking on a picnic or to a party when you cannot make the real thing!

If you have read my blog before, you know I am a sucker for anything s'mores related.

If you have never read my blog before, well, now you know too!

{and I am not the only one in the family with this issue.}

I love this idea for the holidays, but seriously how perfect is this for summer.
S'mores and summer go together right?
So, when you cannot have the real thing,
make up some s'mores bark to take along.
YUM!

(please excuse the photo - quite possibly my worst food photos ever!)

INGREDIENTS/SUPPLIES

(adapted from a recipe found at about.com)

16-17 full graham crackers (about 1 and 1/2 sleeves)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Rimmed baking sheet
OPTIONAL: nuts, bacon, candies

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F.
Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.
Arrange graham crackers in a single layer on the cookie sheet. Place them right up next to one another. You may have to cut or break apart some of the graham crackers.
Melt/Stir butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over a medium flame.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, being sure to stir constantly to avoid separating or scorching.
Once at a constant boil, pour the mixture over the graham crackers. Use a spatula to spread it over the crackers in an even layer.
Place toffee in the oven for 5 minutes. It should be bubbling all over.
Remover from the oven and cool for one minute.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the hot toffee and let rest for about 1 minute, then spread with a spatula or knife.
Once evenly spread, sprinkle mini marshmallows on top (I press them down just a little).
FOR FUN! I put the entire cookie sheet in the broiler for 2 minutes to toast the marshmallows and then popped them in the refrigerator to firm up. The toasty taste is the best!

ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS:

You can also add other favorite items like toasted pecans...or what about joining the bacon craze and crumbling some crispy bacon on top for bacon s'mores bark!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Thanks Dad...Lessons Learned

Happy Father's Day!
(this is a repost from,last year..some of you may recognize it!)

Anyway, this is about my Dad! He and I are a lot alike - good and bad. I am pretty sure that is where I get my impatience, my eagerness, and my competitive spirit.

My Dad was a police officer for 20+ years. I am proud of that and always was. He worked funky hours, but it was a good life. He was often able to come home with his partner and have dinner with us. And then other times, we wouldn't see him for days due to his schedule. Sometimes I would get up at 1 am {or later} when my Dad got home from work. We would eat PBandJ on Saltine crackers and watch Planet of the Apes or a weird caveman movie.

When I was younger, I was fascinated with Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. All the police officers chewed it {they all had mustaches too}. I thought it was special...and I thought {or was told} that you had to get it from a policeman. Every night {or day} when my dad came home from work, if I was "good" he would give me his special Police Gum and I was in heaven. I am not sure when I realized everyone could buy Wrigley's Spearmint Gum...not just police officers!

Of course, Police Gum was the invention of the man who, while we were vacationing at Lake Powell, had me convinced that the holes about 50 feet above water were fish houses, and that the yucca plant was named that because it tastes awful {yuck-a!}.

Now, life at my house was not all fun and games, my Dad takes some things very seriously....like his lawn and his baseball hats!

Oh you think I am joking...NOT! He is obsessed with his lawn. He cannot go on vacation for too long because his lawn will grow too tall. We joke that he measures it daily to see if it needs to be cut...and cutting is an all day event...and, remember we live in coastal California...we are not talking acres!

Baseball hats are my Dad's signature item, placing just ahead of shorts - no matter what the weather. As for baseball hats, they must be worn correctly {bill to the front, unless you are in a boat, then it is acceptable to wear it backwards}. The bill must also be bent - just so. I am sure my Dad has a special tool for doing this somewhere. You know what is scary...I find myself repeating this to my son when he screws around with his baseball hat!

Both of my parents were supportive and gave it their all for their kids. They were always coaching our teams, or sitting in the stands cheering us on as we got older. They taught us a lot and let us grow into who we are.

So to end this, I want to say a big thanks to my Dad for teaching me...

...how to take care of myself - but that did not mean he didn't ask the police to drive by my apartment when I moved out and lived on my own.

...how to NOT throw like a girl. And with that, I played Little League with the boys until I was 12. I even once pitched a no-hitter shut out - who says a girl can't throw?

...how to drive a stick shift, which I still prefer.

...how to drive a boat and how to water ski.

...how to ride a dirt bike.

...how to ride a regular bike!

...how to wash a car properly {I do not always do it, but I know how to!}

...that you can never have enough bungee cords or zip ties.

...that Peppermint Schnapps does not taste like a candy cane.

...how to be the last person to leave a party.

Happy Father's day Dad!

And Happy Father's Day

to all the dad's out there!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Playing with Water at Delta Faucet DIY Blogger Event

Well, I just finished the book...

And now I am in Indiana

at a FABULOUS DIY Blogger event hosted by Delta Faucet Company!

I was so very excited to be invited and

excited that the nanny (aka Grandma) was available!

We will all be playing with water and learning a lot

about new innovations and ideas while we are here.

Tonight I even had homework - take a backward shower!

(more on that later in the week)

I was SUPER-EXCITED for so many reasons, including that this was

my first opportunity to meet The DIY Showoff -

I have loved her since I began blogging and

we work on The DIY Club together too!

(she is awesome)

Delta Faucet Company has a great couple of days planned for us and I am excited to talk to the other bloggers some more...and play in the water!

Here's who is here!

Joey and Lane Make A House a Home

Merrypad

SavingsGrid and Daily Home Renovation Tips

I will be sharing more of what we do and learn.

Now I just need to get some sleep...

I am in the EST and I am a PST that stays up late

- that equals a little problem.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I {heart} Salsa: Healthy Confetti Salsa

Today, I am sharing one of my favorite salsas - it is a little different than the traditional chips and salsa (I like those with margaritas!) most of us have come to expect,

but a nice surprise nonetheless.

This salsa is healthy and versatile recipe!

I serve it on everything from baked potatoes to tortilla strips.

It is crisp, light and refreshing...a wonderful change of pace!

Confetti Salsa!

This salsa can be served with:

chunks of French bread,

a sliced baguette,

Pita Chips,

Corn Chips {store bought or homemade},

Carrot or celery sticks

{it doesn't stick to the carrot but gives a nice flavor}.

Red Pepper, Cucumber, Tomato, and Basil Salsa

Confetti Salsa

Ingredients

1/2 red pepper

1/2 yellow pepper

1/2 orange pepper

1 medium cucumber or half of a large cucumber

3 large tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced -Of course you can add more garlic!

Handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

"Dressing"

Option 1: Use Italian Dressing (Fat Free or regular) to dress the salsa. It takes about 1/4 to 1/2 cup...Start with less and add to your liking.

Option 2: Juice of one lemon, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, splash (or 2 T rice vinegar). Toss, pour, squeeze directly into the bowl of veggies and toss.
Any combo of your favorite vinegars can be used.

Optional

Red or yellow onion, finely chopped

Directions

I use the food processor - and chop each type of ingredient separately - for this recipe because I like everything chopped real small, and my knife skills are not winning me any competitions on Top Chef. Bigger chunkier salsa is also great.

-Seed peppers and cut into medium size pieces.

-Place in Food processor and chop...place peppers in bowl.

-Slice cucumber in thick slices and chop in food processor, place in bowl with peppers.

-Chop tomatoes - your choice to do it by hand or in the food processor. Place in bowl with cucumbers and peppers. {or drain one can of diced tomatoes and add tomatoes to bowl}.

-Chop Basil into small pieces and add to bowl.

-Peel and mince garlic, add to bowl.

Add desired salt, pepper, and dressing to bowl and toss.

This is best if prepared in advance and the flavors are allowed come together.

NOTES:

-You can add or delete peppers depending on taste and what is available. For example, use 1 red pepper and 1/2 yellow pepper. You can also use the whole pepper to make more salsa.

-I have also used canned diced tomatoes (drained)

-I have used zucchini in place of the cucumber

Makes 2-3 cups depending on the amount and size of veggies used.

Happy and Healthy Eating!

What do you like to put salsa on???
Need more salsa in your life...salsa on over to check out this super EASY salsa recipe

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Summer Means Grilling!

The Summer weather is pretty miserable here...
lots of fog, about 60 degrees (if we are lucky)
but it is summer, so I try to make it as Summery as possible
for the kids! We all have to eat and to me
summer means grilling so, grilling it is!

I grew up grilling hamburgers, steaks, and chicken,
but it is my turn to share these memories with my own family.
Of course that means a great grill is in order.
I have a "thing" for all things shiny,
and a grill is definitely one of those shiny things!

This is a beautiful Weber natural gas grill that I kind of go ga-ga over.
It has a burner, smoker, and rotisserie burner - what more could I ask for!

If I had the space to create an outdoor kitchen,
I would definitely be in the market for a built-in grill
to be a part of it (a girl can dream, right?).
Isn't this set up gorgeous! One day...one day.

Or then I again, I keep hearing for "reliable sources"
that you need to have a real, old-fashioned charcoal grill
(maybe with a few modern touches) to enjoy a true BBQ!
I do love the idea of some authentic BBQ!
(some yummy grilled veggies sound great right now!)

So now I ask you, how do you grill?

What is your favorite thing to grill?

Personally we love to grill pizzas!

To read my FULL disclosure statement, click HERE

Friday, June 10, 2011

Tickled Pink No. 52

Happy Almost-Weekend!

Time for Tickled Pink!
Time for deadlines!
That's all folks!

I know I am not the only busy lady or man out there..
so THANK YOU all for coming by!

I LOVE the ease of sharing links on Facebook and for now, while I am working toward my deadline this is how I will make my way through Tickled Pink links.
So, go on over and LIKE 504 Main on Facebook!
Don't miss a thing. If you have a Blog Page, just let me know
by leaving a comment on the 504 Main Wall!

I am also inviting you to share your

link on my FaceBook wall this week.

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!