Random acts of decor, a kitchen decor update using your on hand items and cheap key items.

I have been doing a lot of overhauling in my home and life. It's been amazing, and exhausting at the same time. I am on my second laptop this week (didn't realize the first one didn't have a CD drive). Just as I was getting used to the new phone, I had to throw in a laptop and windows 8. Wow, 8, bad bad bad... maybe I am just old fashioned. I like Android, and my Windows NOT trying to be Mac. I should know I have had a MacBook Air now since it appeared on the market... yeah, the first one. I never liked the thing really, it was cute when I could fit it in my purse and take it to the local coffee house on Capitol Hill. But that was a long time ago my friends.

 It hasn't just been the technology aspect of it all it's the: "I am also going to overhaul the entire house because I have a wild hair up my ass" thing. Did it all on line, never went to a store! The big stuff is coming next week... YIKES! I started in our bedroom, then the family room, the kitchen and ended in the living room.  It is not complete as I type. There a pillows in bags, boxes waiting to go out to recycling, and things are just not complete. That gives my anxiety like nothing else! But I am happy to report that My kitchen looks awesome. Nothing major in there, just mainly a decor overhaul. It's like night and day in there. Before all this started I took pictures, and I can't remember what camera ( I have 3), or what computer I may have downloaded on (we have 5 total). I told you, it has been busy town around here since I started on my son's first birthday.

I didn't want to blow the budget picking up 'stuff'. So I decided to buy a few key pieces to tie my theme or look together and then just use items already on hand. I wanted an eclectic, vintage look, using red and yellow's. So here's how it all went.

 I picked up a few awesome sale items from Hobby Lobby that really got me going. The sale item here is the vintage fan. Everything else was already in the kitchen, but I just regrouped them for a fresh look.

I like rummaging around the house and finding new homes for things. 

This fun colorful 'thing' was the other sale item. It was $10. Then I gathered up my skulls and keys. Kind of a skeleton key thing going on here. I have a collection of vintage keys that usually hang out in a bowl. But the placement of this is much higher. So putting them in a mason jar was perfect here.

I just love the bold colors!

I swear everytime I try to get things done... its just the wrong time of day. Hence the blinding light coming into the kitchen while I was trying to take photos. I also got the Coca-Cola sign for under $10. Again it was all about the color. I also moved over my tins to compliment that beautiful green The tin was a sale item from many years ago from Anthropologie (when I worked there). 

I created a little Zen garden for myself. Anything to make dishes a little bit more enjoyable. I remember  how it all started now. See that little bottle of Palmolive Soft Touch? As an Influenster member I received this product to test out. When I was creating a board for it I got distracted by kitchen decor. I got the 'bug'. But to be honest I like my Soft Touch dishwashing liquid. I am currently using the Soft Touch with vitamin E. My hands... NOT destroyed. I am happy. 

So what's in your Zen garden? This is where I have my herbs, and onions. That way I can just snip what I need and it all can grow back. I used an old vintage look can for a plant pot (cherry of course). I used and old cracked mug from Anthropologie for my scrubbers. Just fill with pebbles or beans to keep them from tipping out.

Those curtains are very old from Cost Plus, they used to be long... not any more!

My favorite projects were the vintage stars and the EAT sign. Those I did for a whole ZERO baby! 

Stay tuned for that, I will show you how to get that distressed look.

Click here for the Vintage 3D Star Tutorial.

EAT Decor

You will never have to buy 'cream of anything' soup again, or taco seasoning, or ranch or dry soup mix!

I love cooking, and I love my crock pot. I am a big believer of cooking for my family every day. Unless the kids have sent me to the place where I just want to hide in the closet, then daddy has to bring home a take and bake pizza ;-)

The biggest ingredient in crock pot is "Cream of _____ Soup". That's fine and all because there are a lot of  options, same for ranch packets, onion soup, and taco seasoning. They are not super expensive, but have you ever tired to find that little packet in a pinch? OK that just might be me, but have you read the back of those packets and cans? Not exactly the greatest thing for you. So I decided to round up my collection of recipes of the most commonly used mixes in crock pots, and cooking. (These are what I commonly use any way.)

Enjoy! 

Below is my Favorite Dry Onion Soup Mix, because it uses NO bullion or Salt.

Author: Angela Litzinger @ angelaskitchen.com

Recipe type: gluten free, dairy free, spice mix

Serves: Equals one packet of dry onion soup mix

Ingredients

• 8 teaspoons dried onion flakes


• 1½ teaspoons dried parsley


• 1 teaspoon onion powder


• ½ teaspoon celery seed


• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper


• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

1. Blend everything together well. Use as needed for your recipe.

Note: This blend does not contain salt (unlike the pre-made packets. Hoo-boy! Are they salty!), so be sure to taste your dish and season as needed. 

Taco Seasoning From: Self-Reliance By Jamie

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt

Put ingredients into a jar and shake

Ranch: Also by Jamie

5 tablespoons dried minced onions

7 teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.

For dip:  Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.

And the most important one of all:

Cream of "something" soup recipe From: 1 Orange Giraffe

1 cup non-fat dried milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup bouillon (if you have cubes you have to smash them up)
You can use whatever kind you like (ie, beef, veggie)

4 Tablespoons freeze dried minced onions (I used the minced onions from Sam's Club)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme (I couldn't find the thyme so I used dried parsley instead)

1 teaspoon pepper

(For the equivalent of one can of condensed cream soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick)