House Tour!

I recently helped my friends, Jessica and Campbell, buy this cute house. It had been on the market for a while but had good bones and just needed a little updating. Jessica had that vision and a great sense of style. They have made a real transformation with lighting, paint and furniture. A true test to how staging can help sell your home! Here are the before pictures.



Foyer



Dining Room



Kitchen









Family Room



And now drum roll please......the afters!



New Bright Green Front Door and Wahoo Flag. Go Hoos!

  

Foyer



Dining Room




Kitchen




Breakfast Room




Family Room



Another Family Room View





Nursery



Happy Family

Thanks to Jessica and  Campbell  for letting me share their new home.









Garden Update

We finished the garden! Well Michael finished it. Doesn't it look great?  Now just water, feed and wait!
Read more about our garden here.

My iris have bloomed! Love them!

Michael's Birthday

Camille, Clyde and I threw Michael a lunch time birthday party! The kids had a great time and Camille asked Michael...."Daddy, is this your best birthday ever?". To which he of course replied "yes!". 

We had Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing!

We had party hats!



Yes..that is a bruise on Clyde's face. He is all boy and fearless so constantly has bumps & bruises!



A good time was had  by all! 

We didn't splurge on a sitter this year, so I made dinner for us. Click here to see our menu. I am not a big fan of shrimp (really I don't like it and never eat it) but Michael loves it so I decided to give it a whirl for his birthday. Still not a fan but I did manage to try a few pieces.

I got these plates for free from a friend of my Mom's. I think they are so neat.

Menu Planner Template

There are now lots of online magazines out there and I just discovered the latest, House of Fifty. When scrolling through the issue, I found a menu planner template. Click here to download. I am excited to give it a try. My only concern is that there isn't enough room for my list but I can run into the staples box or maybe redesign if I like the set up. Check out House of Fifty because there are also links to great recipes, fun sandals selections and some home decor. I enjoyed it!

Today is  Michael's birthday so check back tomorrow for pictures of our celebration!

Menu Planner

We had a great weekend. The bunny paid a visit. Chocolate for breakfast again this year!

Monday - Kickin Chicken with Crunch, Yellow Rice, Corn

Tuesday - Michael's Birthday Dinner: Bobby Flay's Grilled Shrimp with Triple Lemon Butter, Hash Brown Potatoes, Asparagus

Wednesday - Southwestern Casserole

Thursday - French Dip Sandwiches, French Fries

Weekend Fun!

I am so excited about the Easter weekend. Michael is off work today and I am looking forward to nice weather and maybe getting a project or two complete. Fingers crossed on that one! Sunday we are headed to my mom's  for a non-traditional Easter feast of Fried Chicken and to celebrate my Gaga's 85th birthday.

Gaga with Clyde on his baby dedication day!

I have to make pasta salad for the event and am considering this recipe. I made it once before with orzo and added mini fresh mozzarella balls.

I have had a great week with a contract on my listing, two real estate closings and I won a $100 gift card to Clementine, an upscale consignment store in Richmond. With my gift certificate, I purchased some Citizen Jeans, a skirt from Anthropologie and a Banana Republic blouse. I am so excited!  Here's to a great Easter weekend for everyone! Check out our Easter from last year here.

Sale Pending!

UNDER CONTRACT IN 12 DAYS! 

Menu Planner

Sunday - Grilled  Chicken Caesar Salad

Monday - Lesley's Easy Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice (see below)

Tuesday - Tilapia Piccata, Risotto, Green Beans

Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas

Thursday - World's Best Lasagna (in the freezer from last weekend)

Lesley's Easy Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
1 lb. dried red kidney beans

2 pkgs. kielbasa sausage (or 2 lbs of your choice sausage)
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. creole seasoning (approx)
3 cups uncooked rice (cook rice separately)

Stir together first 7 ingredients and 7 cups water in 4 qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 7 hours or until beans are tender. Serve with rice. Makes 10 cups.
.

Stoakley Family Garden

I am so excited because we have decided to plant a garden! I wanted to do it last spring and summer but never got my act together. Here is what our very sunny garden bed looked like before.

Yikes!

Last fall, I dug up a bunch of lilies that never bloomed. I gave them to friends and family and transplanted some to other areas in my yard. I left all my iris which I love and am hoping will bloom again soon.

Here is what the garden looks like now.

We still have finish fencing and get cages for our tomato plants.

We planted 3 tomato plants, 1 cucumber, 1 squash, 1 bell pepper, basil, cilantro and jalapeno pepper.

We also planted a little garden for Camille and all she wanted in there was carrots but we also put a few flower seeds down as well. 

I hope it is a success. We have never done anything like this before.

Easter Decorating

Easter snuck up on me this year. Yesterday we got down all our eggs and decorated the dining room.

Menu Planner

Monday - Terrific Turkey Enchiladas

Tuesday - Brown Butter Gnocchi

Wednesday - Williams Sonoma Sloppy Joe Starter, a gift from my friend Jessica who says it is delicious!

 Thursday - Black bean and goat cheese quesadillas

I have  lots of projects that I am trying to find time for...stay tuned!

New Listing in Desirable Woodlake Community!

Move in Ready Home with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in Desirable Woodlake Community   

This home features a large family room with gas fireplace & freshly refinished hardwood floors throughout the downstairs. The kitchen features a large eat-in area with views of the private, forested lot.  The home includes a screened in porch and brick paver patio with water feature….perfect for entertaining or relaxing.  Master bathroom has his and her closets, double sinks and separate garden tub shower combination. Off of the 2^nd bedroom, there is an additional 14’ x 7’ room with a built-ins & window that would make a great playroom or office.  2.5 car garage. New hot water heater. Great location within walking distance to Woolridge Elementary.  Many community amenities such as walking trails & parks.

$244,900

Sneaky Sweets!

I have Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious and Double Delicious cook books. I have made a bunch of her healthy dessert recipes but my favorites are the Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip with carrot and the Oatmeal Raisin cookies with sweet potatoes. My kids loves the both! What a good way to sneak in some veggies!


Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip

1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
1/2 C. cream cheese (recipe calls for ff- I used regular)
6 T. chocolate syrup
1/4 C. carrot puree (I microwave the carrot in a little bit of water then blend in my mini-chopper)
fruit slices for dipping

Combine all ingredients until smooth.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 C old-fashioned oats
1 C whole wheat pastry flower or white whole wheat flour
1/2 C raisins
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp canola oil
1/2 C firmly packed light brown suger
1/2 C sweet potato puree
2 large egg whites
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside. In another large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix the oil into the brown sugar until well combined. Mix in the sweet potato puree, egg whites, and vanilla. Add the chocolate chips. Add the flour mixture all at once. Stir until a thick doug forms. Drop the dough by the tablespoonful about 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten the cookie mounds with the back of a fork. Bake the cookies until they are golden brown around the edges, about 12 to 15 minutes.

I have also made these brownies for Clyde and he liked them.

Michael's Menu Planner

We had a great weekend and are a little tired today after a night out at The National Theater watching the VCU Rams. Michael planned our menu again this week. Here goes....

Sunday - Chili Burgers, Ranch French Fries

Monday - Fish Tacos, Corn & Black Bean Salad

Tuesday - Italian Sausage Pasta, Salad & Bread

Wednesday - Gourmet Chicken Pizza

Thursday - Dinner out!