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our first two eggs

January 31, 2012 By 4 Comments

It’s the little things in life that can be so unbelievably thrilling and satisfying.

Yesterday afternoon as I went to clean out the girls coop, I was met with the greatest little surprise ever. Our first eggs!

Back in August D and I bought twenty-six baby chick to raise, use their eggs, and butcher.

Well, things changed and somewhere down the line D and I transitioned into a Vegan lifestyle and eating the eggs and meat of our chickens (or any chicken) was no longer something we wanted to do and so we were left with a difficult decision.

What the heck do we do with all those chickens?

We decided we wanted to keep a few of our favorites and the eggs that they produced, we’d give away to friends and family. We ended up selling fifteen of our flock, a mix of hens and roosters, to a lovely couple who own The Collective, which is a farm and community cooperative development project. And although I still struggle with the fact the roosters will be getting butchered, there was no way we could have kept all of them with our hens starting to lay.

So what about our eggs?

Even though we’ve made the decision to not eat them anymore, we did decided to keep four of the hens for agricultural purpuses and becuase their poop is one of the greatest things you can add to your composting bin. And, because they are four of the coolest ‘chicks’ around!

And I have to say, finding those eggs was one of the coolest little surprises I’ve gotten in a long time. We knew that the little ladies would start laying in the next few weeks but honestly, I thought it would be closer to March then at the end of January.

So now, every morning when I pull on my muck boots and trek out to the pasture, hop over the electric fence (don’t worry, the top wire isn’t on but don’t tell the goats!), and open the side hatch of the coop, I will do so with great anticipation, knowing there will be four perfectly oval eggs sitting there waiting for me.

I’m so proud of our lil’ hens, just as a momma hen should be.

 

Filed Under: Farm Life Tagged With: , , ,

office makeover reveal!

January 30, 2012 By 26 Comments

The day has finally come and I’m excited to reveal to you what I have done to revamp our home office. It’s  amazing what a difference a few little changes really makes! By painting the trim alone, the room looks so much brighter. The office is naturally one of the darkest rooms in the house because of where it is located. The only time we get somewhat okay lighting is in the mid-afternoon for about one hour. When I painted the trim white, it automatically felt so much warmer and cheery.

So here you have it. Without further ado…the scary before pictures.

See, dark,  scary, cluttered and totally unorganized, huh?

My overall goals for this little revamp were to get us more organized, add some warmth and life to our office, and incorporate a place for my craft and project supplies. I can say that this was achieved and I’m really happy with what I’ve done!

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for…or at least the moment I’VE been waiting for:

Our New Office

I removed the sliding closet doors which were unattractive and kept falling off whenever you tried to open them. I realized the closet is usable space and decided to add a few things such as a wall mounted ‘to be filed’ letter bin, my inspiration cork board, a chalk board ( I painted an old picture frame, spray painted the glass with chalk paint and viola!), and hung up a peg board for more storage. But, I need your help! What should I do with the peg board? I would love for you to comment and either provide a link to a fun idea or offer up one of your own!

To help get the business organized, I went through all the files and separated them accordingly which allowed for me to use the label maker. I LOVE the label maker!

And I hung up the wall mount letter bin and labeled each slot, ‘to be filed’ and ‘magazines.’

For the pre-existing bookcase, I eliminated about half of the books that we kept on there. These will be incorporated into the giant bookcase we will get for our basement refinish project which will be featured in the future! I added more storage boxes to keep my craft and project supplies organized and a couple baskets for additional storage.

and a cute basket for storing gift bags and boxes…

Aside from the trim, I also added reclaimed barn-wood shelving behind my desk (which I made), a few bright pictures, and a burlap letter M (in which I also made and is the first initial of D’s last name…one day mine, hint hint wink wink babe).

So there you have it! It goes to show, even a few subtle changes can make a room look completely different!

I still have a few more things to add to the room but those are for future projects not too be rushed! ie: Find the perfect rug, refinish a new office chair for my desk, and install shelves for D’s side of the office. I’ll update as I go, I promise!

I’d love to know what you think!

Remember, Bullfrogs and Bullfrogs is on Twitter and Facebook! Come on over and follow us there too!

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I’ve linked this post to the following:

 Also linked up here at Ask Anna.

Filed Under: DIY and Crafts Tagged With: , , ,

sneak peek: our reclaimed barn wood shelves

January 26, 2012 By 17 Comments

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to finally show everyone the final product of our office makeover this coming Monday. I wanted to give you a sneak peek of the reclaimed barn wood shelves I made. I’m pretty happy with them and the whole office!

Here you go! And don’t forget to check back on Monday, January 30th for our big reveal!

(you may noticed but we had to off set the brackets a little because of the stud location. But all said and done, they are exactly what I was hoping for!

I’m linking up over at Tatertots & Jello so come on over and look!

and over at Sugar and Spice!

also at The Shabby Nest

as well as Fingerprints on the Fridge

and last but not least, Miss Mustard Seed

 Wait! One more… Five Days…5 Ways

and here too Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Candice Creations, and Flamingo Toes!

Filed Under: DIY and Crafts Tagged With: , , ,

14 days of L.O.V.E – design, dinning + diapers

January 24, 2012 By 5 Comments

Oh man I am so excited about this. Starting on February 1st, Taryn over at Design, Dinning, and Diapers will be kicking off her first ever big 14 Days of Love event and guess who is going to be a part of it? You got it! On February 13th, Bullfrogs and Bulldogs will be featuring a top secret special Valentine’s Day surprise for my sweetie. I can’t share too much info with you all because well, it’s a surprise for D to tell him how much I love him. I will, however, tell you that it involves some of those beautiful pieces of reclaimed barn-wood I got last week at Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage.

The line up for this little love party is pretty fabulous as well. Take a look!

I have to admit, I feel pretty honored to be a part of such an amazing list of bloggers! If you haven’t checked them out, I seriously suggest you do so.  I will provide the direct links below so it’s easier for you.

The Frugal Girls

504 Main

Southern Lovely

Real Housewives of Bucks County or as seen here on a Feature Friday

Thrifty Decorating

How to Nest for Less

Sew Dang Cute Crafts

Amy Day to Day

Just a Girl

Crafty Scrappy Happy

House of Hepworths

Lauren Darlings

 

Design, Dinning, and Diapers will also be featuring their very first link party and Taryn invites all of you to join in on the fun beginning Wednesday, February 1st! So mark your calendars and check back here and over at Design, Dinning, and Diapers for more on all the fun!

Do you have a special surprise for your sweetie? Leave a comment and share! Or better yet, leave a link  and share with all of us what you got going on!

 

Filed Under: Blog Love Tagged With: , , , , ,

no bake vegan chocolate torte with coconut whipped cream {gluten-free}

January 22, 2012 By 8 Comments

Since last October D and I have been transitioning into a more plant-based diet eliminating meat and diary from our meals and snacks. It’s been fairly easy other then the whole dessert aspect that is. Let’s face it. I crave rich chocolate goodness on a regular basis and like many, was a little fearful of what to expect from any dessert with the word Vegan in front of it. Would it taste good? Would I get the same satisfaction that I once did from dairy based desserts? These questions often entered my mind and to be honest, it was hard to fully accept a Vegan diet knowing that I would have to say good-bye to my love affair with sweets. Since I am still new to Vegan baking, I needed a little help and came across this recipe:

No bake Chilled Double Chocolate Torte.

With all the richness and incredible taste as those with dairy, this Vegan version certainly does not lack. I served it the other night when we had some friends over and there wasn’t a crumb left of anyone’s plate.  Oh, and you will never believe what is used to get the smooth, creamy texture! Keep reading to find out!

 

No bake Chilled Double Chocolate Torte

Adapted from Oh She Glows

What you will need:

For the crust:

2 cups pecans

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla or almond extract

A pinch of sea salt

For the Mousse:

2 cups avocado flesh (yep, you read that right. Avocado is what gives it that smooth, creamy texture)

1/3 cup nut milk of your choice (I used coconut milk)

2/3 cup pure maple syrup

2-3  tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp arrowroot powder (used as a thickener)

A pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (I used a little of both)

1 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, melted

1/4 cup cocoa powder

How to make it:

 

For the crust:  Oil a pie baking dish. In a food processor, place pecans and pulse until crumbly. Add the remainder crust ingredients and continue to pulse until desired consistency. I preferred mine to be finer but others may like a little crunch.

For chocolate mousse: Put all mousse ingredients in food processor (minus the chocolate chips) and mix until smooth and creamy. Next, melt your chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave and add to the mixture in the food processor and continue process until well blended.

Final touches: Scoop the mousse into pie dish and smooth the top out. Place in refrigerator or freezer to harden up. Pull out right before serving.

Coconut Whipped Cream

What you will need:

1 can of full-fat coconut milk

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1-4 tbsp coconut flour or tapioca flour

1-2 tbsp vanilla extract

How to make it:

1. Chill coconut milk overnight in refrigerator

2. Open can and remove liquid from the top and pour the cream into a chilled mixing bowl

3. Beat coconut cream with a hand mixer until thick and fluffy.

4. Add vanilla, flour and powdered sugar a little at a time until it meets your desired taste.

Enjoy!

 


 

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , ,

hello? is anyone out there?

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

via

 I’ve been lying in bed for the past three hours wide awake. It’s about 4:30am and I can’t for the life of me fall back to sleep. After tossing and turning, reading in bed for awhile, doing a little meditative breathing exercise, and having one slight panic attack that I’d never fall asleep again,  I decided to just get up, come downstairs, and see what was going on in ciber-land. Not a whole lot at this time of night/morning to be honest.

I fear what my day is going to look like. My plans of going on a long run, heading to Architectural Salvage for barn-wood for my shelves in the office, and stripping an old nightstand I purchases for $5 thrifting probably are going to be postponed due to finally falling asleep at 9am.   Man I really dislike insomnia. Especially when I have plans.

So now I sit here watching my cat, Oliver, sleeping soundly, curled up in a ball on top of my paper organizer that sits on my desk. The little bastard. Why can’t I be a damn cat? Seriously, they can fall asleep at any given moment. Better yet, why can’t I be a dog. Cat’s are nocturnal after all. Sometimes our dogs sleep 22 hours in a day. Sounds like heaven to me.

So I ask, is anyone else out there?

I use to have insomnia a lot as a kid and I would lie awake consumed with thoughts of being the only person in the world awake (kind of like how I am feeling right now). That was right before I’d sneak downstairs and have a little sippy-sip of the old orange flavored Triaminic. Don’t judge, you know exactly what I’m talking about. But seriously, why do they make children’s nighttime cold medicine taste like candy? Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind a little sippy-sip of that right now. Anyway, little did I know that there were a whole lot of people out there in this big ol’ world who were in the middle of their day. But what did I know? I was like 6 years old at that time. My world was pretty small then and I firmly believed everyone else was fast asleep.

My world is a whole lot bigger now though, with things like a job, a house to take care of, and a lot of errands that wont get themselves done. So insomnia, I beg you, don’t return for a long while.

Wait, I think I’m getting sleepy.

Filed Under: Life in General Tagged With:

reclaimed wood shelves: my top 5 choices

January 18, 2012 By 4 Comments

D and I LOVE reclaimed wood. Like, L.O.V.E the stuff big-time. If I could, I would have as many pieces as possible in our home made from the stuff. But it can be pricy unless you salvage the wood and build the item yourself. Well, here is where I had another lightbulb moment! I’m the daughter of a carpenter and I’m sure SOME of his master skills rubbed off on me. We shall see…

I’m starting with Reclaimed Wood Shelves for our office and seeing where I can go from there. We have a blank wall space behind my desk as seen here:

Looking at this photo makes me cringe. I am so excited for you all to see the final project once it is finished (it’s taking me a little longer then expected).

 

In the meantime, here are my Top 5 Favorite  Reclaimed Wood Shelves:

One: Not Just Your Housewife: Floating Reclaimed Wood Shelves w/Drawer

Source

Two: Ana White: Industrial Chic Reclaimed Wood Shelves

Source

Three:Design Sponge: Floating Wood Reclaimed Turned Modern Shelves

Source

Four: A Well Traveled Woman: Rustic Reclaimed Wood Shelves

Source

Five: That Village House: Reclaimed Wood Pocket Shelves

Source

Which one do you like the best? Do you have any other recommendation of fun reclaimed wood furniture or shelves? I’d love to know!

 

Filed Under: My Top Favorites Tagged With: , , , , ,

my word of the year

January 16, 2012 By 6 Comments

Today over at The Lettered Cottage, Layla is having a little link up party and for those who choose to partake are suppose to pick one word that describes their intention for 2012. I decided I wanted to join the party because I truly believe that setting intentions helps you accomplish your goals. As various words flow through my mind, one keeps coming up over and over.   My Word of the Year for 2012 is:

Source: Pinterest

Ah, this word is so scary to me, always has been. To trust. What does it even really mean?

To me, fully trusting means to let go and allowing yourself to be in a vulnerable position. It means giving up the control and having faith that I am exactly where I am suppose to be and that the grass  isn’t greener on the other side. It means that life is good and the people I have in my life are there for a reason and love me for me.

I’ve always had a hard time trusting. Trusting in myself and in others, so how am I now, at 31years old, suppose to magically begin to let go and have enough faith and be totally vulnerable?

I’m not quite sure but I know that this is the year. This is MY year to begin the journey, to walk down that road, and to learn to trust.

This is my year to throw caution to the wind, to say yes and believe in my decision. To listen to that little voice inside, you know the one, it likes to tell you the truth but we too often don’t like to listen. But this year I will. I will trust in that voice and I will trust in others.

source: Pinterest

Trust

Do you have a word that comes to mind that symbolizes your intention for 2012? I’d love to hear what that may be.  Send me a little email or better yet, leave a comment and let your intention be known!

 

Filed Under: Life in General Tagged With: ,

design the life you want: lynne knowlton

January 13, 2012 By 2 Comments

Today’s Feature Friday is a blog that is a little of this and a lot of that, a woman who is courageous and chooses to take on life by finding the funny in absolutely everything. Design the Life You Want, is a blog by Interior Designer Lynne Knowlton, but the reasons I love her blog go so far beyond that. Lynne has one of the most honest and humorous outlooks on life I have come by in quite some time. She is kind of like an insta-best-friend by the way she let’s you into her life as well as responds to yours. She writes by the seat of her pants, exactly what’s in her heart and I believe that is the ticket, she’s honest and real.

So here are 10 reasons why I read Lynne’s blog and truly believe you should too!

10. She makes me laugh out loud

9. She is easy to relate to

8. I really enjoy her style of writing

7. She has an adult tree house…I mean, come on, how cool is that?

6. She lived in Paris, my all time most favorite place in the world. Take me with you next time wont you, Lynne?

5. She has some of the most creative blog post titles I’ve seen. ie: How to be a Blog Hussy

4. She is as authentic as authentic can be

3. She puts herself totally and completely out there for you to get to know.

2. She chooses to look cancer straight on and tell it to Kiss Her Ass.

And drum roll please….

NUMBER ONE… She has a beautiful soul that shows through her writing. She’s one of the good ones

 

Some of my favorite post are: Have a Dream? My goal is to have our house published~oh how dreamy that would be, Up in the Tree house with a Friend, Dear Cancer, You Can Kiss My Ass,

So come sit in Lynne’s tree house over at Design the Life You Want!

Filed Under: Life in General Tagged With: ,

office organization inspriation {how’s that for a tongue twister!}

January 12, 2012 By 6 Comments

I just finished painting the trim in the office white. WHOA! That was quite the task! But, it looks 110% better and I am daydreaming what the whole house will look like with a lovely shade of white framing the windows and walls. I can’t tell you what a difference the white makes. It’s bright, it’s cheery, and when I walk into our office, I get all warm and fuzzy inside because it doesn’t look like a scary dungeon anymore.

As I start to wrap things up in here {still have a few days of sorting, filing, labeling, and touch ups to do}, I still need to think of a few organizational ideas for some of the loose odds and ends. So, what else do you do when you need help?  I sat down today to do a little  cruisin’ through ciberland looking for some ideas to incorporate into my own plan. I thought it would be fun to share some of the office spaces and craft rooms I’m gaining some inspiration from.

Cubby Unit with Old Mason Jars: We all know how much I love Mason Jars. If you don’t remember you can read here! I’d love to incorporate something like this for all the odds and ends I can’t find a home for. I think it’s the perfect spot for buttons, loose nails and whatever else that is small and I need to store.

Source: Nest of Posies

Pottery Barn Daily System: I have to admit, I’m obsessed with this whole look and want to recreate it exactly. But instead I’m taking bits and pieces from it. But if I could, I’d snap my fingers and magically every single aspect {including the reclaimed wood wall} would be in our office. But I guess that’s why they have stylist, right?

Source: Pottery Barn

Frames on the Wall: Let’s face it, I have way more wall space in this house then I even know what to do with. Isn’t this a clever and pretty way of hiding it while adding color and your own personal touch?

Source: Primitive & Proper

Wall Organizer: This is an awesome idea for storage of extra pens and ribbon! All made from scratch with a little wood and stain for next to nothing. I like the sound of that!

Source: The DIY Files

If you have some fun ideas you’d like to share send them my way! And I’d love to know, what is your favorite part of your office or crafting space?

Filed Under: My Top Favorites Tagged With: , , , ,
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