Day 1 of the Renovation!

Hubby left this morning for another 2 weeks away working and I took this opportunity to start our renovation.
Step #1: Remove the carpet in the living room.
The carpet is still in okay shape but because of my allergies and asthma, we thought it'd be best to take it out.

Pulling up the carpet was quite a challenge by myself, with the room full of furniture but I did eventually get it up.

The first peek of our hardwood was so very exciting.

The second peek proved slightly disappointing



Perfect spot for a rug don't you think?

The big event of the day was when I pulled up the center of the carpet to find what looked like black mold.


Imagine my delight when I figured out that it wasn't mold AND it washes off! It appears to be a waxy/soapy substance (I think I'd rather not know what it is, just in case!)


3-4 hours of scrubbing and I'm 3/4 of the way done cleaning it up. I also found that the Spackle and paint that are on the wood will come off with a good scrub! Another day of cleaning and it will need to be re-stained and sealed but we have got an absolutely beautiful 80 year old hardwood floor!!
What a great start to a long awaited home for Hubby and I!



Stay tuned for more!

Jenny <3

Repurposing and refinishing

When I started writing this post it was really deep and really, very personal. I decided that you’d rather just see what I’ve been up to. So I will leave it at this: I have needed some repurposing and refinishing in my life lately, so I started with my furniture.
Here are a couple of before and after pictures.

Before: Two bedside tables. One white, one brown. I believe they were originally found by my grandparents at a garagesale.
After: Sanded and painted black. I plan on getting pieces of glass to put on the tops.


Before: Tolan's bedroom suite headboard. Brown with gold hardware.

After: Painted black. Upholstered doors in Ikea fabric.


More to come.
Jenny <3

Repurposed frame

A few weeks ago, hubby and I were hanging pictures and accidently dropped one. I kept trying to think of what to do with the broken frame and it came to me today, a tray!


Made for free using: Left over shelf paper, left over ribbon, a hot glue gun, and a Ribba frame from Ikea http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10134631 without the glass.

Grandpa-in-law's cake

It has been a while since I made a cake for my husband's grandfather's 80th birthday, but I wanted to share it with you.
It was probably the most interesting cake I have made. It was a replica of our family's farm. Including a combine in the process of harvesting, a tractor attached to an auger, a tractor pulling a grain cart being loaded, 2 grain bins, 2 semitrucks, the shop, Grandpa's pick up and a model A (it was supposed to look like the one that is parked at the farm).
All of the vehiles had toy car wheels, cardboard or paperclips for the undercarriage and fondant (I have been buying Duff's fondant, although it is a little pricey, it is easy to work with and tastes great). The building and grain bins were made out of rice crispy squares and fondant.
This was also the first time that I got to use my new airbrush. I used it for the grass (I didn't do a very good job of keeping it where I wanted it, but at that point I was feeling pretty rushed.)
The cut wheat was shredded wheat cereal, the standing wheat was shredded wheat cereal and crushed captain crunch and the dirt was both of the previous and a coco cereal. The grass was shredded coconut and the grain in the trucks, combine and grain cart was actual grain from one of our family's grain bins.
Most ambitious cake but lots of fun!
Jenny <3

YUM

I have been trying really hard to make good healthy meals for me and hubby. This is easier said than done because we are gone almost every weekend. Groceries need to be pick up Monday night gone by Thursday. I am guilty of wasting LOTS of food this year but I think I am getting better. I really need to start using a meal plan so we can get only the groceries we need and waste nothing! I first need to find recipes that we both like (which can be difficult). I think it will be a matter of trying recipes until we find some really good ones. A couple that I tried were Irish stew and sushi. The stew was a hit with both of us but the sushi was only a hit with me. Back to the drawing board!


Jenny <3

Where have you been?

It has officially been over a year since I moved to the U.S. of A..
What a crazy whirlwind of a year it has been.
My husband and I are learning how to live with each other and love each other without driving one another crazy.
I LOVE my American family, my American church family and the few American friends I have made.
Things are still a little in the air as we travel from our home to our families' every weekend. We will also be headed back out into the great big world when my hubby bubby starts working out of the office again.
There are many new things happening and I look forward to sharing them with you over the next little while! (I'm still not pregnant, so don't even think it!)

Jenny <3

Oh.... Hi there!

I know, I know.... it has been a while.
I told you I was building suspense! Is it built yet?
This is the "cake" I made for my sister's wedding last year. It was actually 130 petit fours and a top cake. It was so fun to make and quite a challenge. The wedding was even more fun and I got a new brother out of the deal! The guests enjoyed the cakes and I was told by a few that they took them home because they were so cute. I definitely look forward to making these again!




Jenny <3