DIY Cooking at Home

About a year ago, I posted about this genius idea by 517 Creations , and I've finally got around to showing you how mine turned out. Lemme just say...this is a winner! Totally easy, a little time-consuming but not in a frustrating-why-did-I-take-this-on kind of way, and very inexpensive. Oh, and in case you were wondering, this is the other pencil-transfer technique project I alluded to in my post about my Z Gallerie Eye Chart Tray Knock Off . I used it for my Toolbox Turned Planter , too. Brace yourselves, this may not be the last time I talk about this even though you're probably sick of it by now. So here's my version of the DIY Growth Chart. This isn't where we actually have it hanging, but the lighting at its permanent spot is horrible, so I stuck it here for its photo shoot. Anyway, we've used it a few times already to mark the girls' height, and we love that it's a moveable record of how they grew so that if we do ever move again (God help u...

Who would've guessed these vases were purchased at a thrift store? You know those dime-a-dozen glass vases florists use? I've received a ton of 'em over the years and was starting to feel like a hoarder until Live Gorgeously showed me their potential. Ashleigh has really outdone herself with the color choices here. They are, indeed, gorgeous, wouldn't you agree? Now I may just have my own idea for how to use some of these vases, but I've gotta work out the details. If it turns out, you'll be the first to know!

Unfortunately, my birthday cupcake wouldn't hold as many candles as it needed to be an accurate representation of how old I am today, but a birthday cupcake I did have, with my two favorite girls in tow. If I may be so (ehem) humble...I'm going to honor my old-ness with a post containing blogging tips for those of you just getting started on this online adventure. I don't profess to be an expert on blogging, but I have learned a few things. Admittedly, my learning curve is a bit steep, but nevertheless Home Made Modern has made a few strides this year. I've gained some more followers, been featured on some amazingly successful and drool-worthy blogs such as Teal & Lime , Better After , and Tatertots & Jello , and have increased my traffic quite a bit. I still have a long way to go before I reach my goals, though, so here are some tips and tools I'm going to continue using or put into practice for the first time to make this next year my best blogging-ye...

I've seen scrabble tiles used for magnets and jewelry...but never as art! What a great idea by allons-y kimberly . I bet you could use real wood, too, that's been stained. And then use the pencil-transfer-technique that I swear, works for so many projects it just isn't funny. In fact, you're probably starting to wonder why I won't stop talking about it. But nevermind, this is a fab idea for creating some DIY, peronalized wall art...how about giving it a try?

I have Wren over at For the Love of Lillian to thank for this little tidbit. She was kind enough to nominate Home Made Modern for a Liebster Award. Ever heard of it? Apparently, "liebster" means "dearest" in German; the award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers as a means to give encouragement and kudos to the authors of said blogs. Can I just say, this couldn't have come at a better time? I've been striving to gain more followers for quite awhile now, and though I love blogging just for the creative outlet itself, I'm often frustrated by how hard it seems to be to get people to read it since I would love to turn it into a money-maker some day. I figure, I take time away from my family to devote to blogging...it would be nice to for blogging to give back to my family in some way. Anyway, I checked out For the Love of Lillian , and it is so well-written and full of love and intention that I plan on making Wren's blog a part of my reg...

I'm in love with the technique of transfering images and graphics to stuff using just a pencil! I told you how I did this with my toolbox turned planter , I've also used it to create a growth chart (which I'll share at some point), and now I've just transformed a tray using the same process. So easy! I found some old TV trays at a garage sale for 50 cents each so I snapped them up because I love spray painting these old trays for so many uses. (Hmmm...I smell a post idea.) Anyway, the inspiration for this project came from the tray I had seen on Z Gallerie , pictured above. And here's mine: Z Gallerie Knock-Off: Eye Chart Tray Nap Rating = 2 naps (factoring in dry-time) Tools & Materials Tray (could be metal or wood) Sandpaper Spray paint in cream or white Access to a photocopier (possibly) Pencil Painter's tape Sharpie or other permanent marker like this one Spray sealer Steps Lightly sand your tray if it has chipped paint or rust on it. Wipe it ...

My husband got a new grill this spring, and let me tell you, we've been enjoying the fruits of his labor. I bought a pork tenderloin the other day, and even though he'd never grilled one before, he took to the task in undaunted fashion. The results were delectable. Grilled Pork Tenderloin 2 pound tenderloin 2 T. pepper 1 T. salt 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 2 T. olive oil Combine the pepper salt and garlic powder in a small bowl. Rub the tenderloin all over with the olive oil, then coat it with the spices to create a crust. Sear the meat over high heat for about six minutes per side. Remove from direct heat and grill for about 12 more minutes. Let it rest for about five minutes before slicing. On the side, we had some leftover roasted veggies that I mixed with orzo and fresh parmesan, salt and pepper. Bon appétit!

This simple update is brought to you by Bullfrogs & Bulldogs . Her plant pots were already cute, in my opinion, but if you've just got some terra cotta lying around, get out the spray paint first. I think I'll just spray mine white. Since summer is already half-over, though, I think I'll just wait to plant them with a bunch of herbs next year. Isn't it fun to make stuff, pack it away, and then get it out a year later? It's like Christmas! I like to shop clearance aisles and do this, too.

It's an absolute certainty that our mailbox was the saddest on the street, if not in the whole neighborhood. It was totally askew, had a weathered post (but not in a cool way) and the house numbers were not only dated, they were hardly readable. It was, in a word, an eyesore. But not anymore! A new post, a new box, and a few plants improved things quite a bit. Granted, the plants are still puny but the tags promised they'd grow 2 to 3 feet, at least. (Must remember to water them!) Now our curb has some appeal.

Hey there! I've got a great summertime appetizer for you today. I say it's great for hot weather because there's nothing in it that will go bad quickly in the heat, like mayo. And it's even fine to eat at room temperature if you leave it out for a bit at a party or something. Our good friends Glenn and Dale introduced us to this yummy-ness at their beach house in Avalon, New Jersey, and now I make it all the time. Cowboy Caviar 1 lb. dried black-eyed peas 2 c. Italian salad dressing 2 c. diced green pepper 1 1/2 c. diced onion 1 c. chopped green onion 1/2 c. chopped jalepeno peppers 1 3 oz. jar diced pimento, drained (I've left this out before when I forgot to buy some, and it was still delicious, just not as colorful.) 1 T. minced garlic salt and Tabasco sauce to taste Soak peas in water overnight. Drain. Transfer peas to saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat with the lid slightly off. Reduce heat and simmer until tender....

Good morning! Thank goodness for a break in the heat! I spent a glorious afternoon on Sunday lounging on our new-ish patio furniture with a book and a margarita. It was nice to relax after our big Fourth of July bash...no yardwork, no food prep, no trips to the party store. Just some much-needed R & R. Anyway, my siesta was made that much better by these pillows I made a few days earlier. If you haven't noticed, indoor/outdoor fabric is a tad uncomfortable, and the type of patio pillows you can get at places like Target are so stiff. Not exactly lounging-material. So, even though these aren't weather-proof, I prefer them. I just tuck them in a deck box when it looks like rain, and the rest of the time they're under the umbrella which should protect them from sun damage. As I've mentioned before, my sewing skills aren't stellar. Which just should prove how easy these are, if I'm willing to attempt them. And I did both in less than an hour so the...

I must admit, I almost dismissed this craft idea from Less Than Perfect Bliss as cute....but how would I ever use one of these little pockets? You know me, if I'm gonna take the time to make something, it's gotta have a practical, or at least decorative, use. Oh, and in case you're wondering, decorating perfectly fine-looking appliances like stand mixers with appliquéd covers is NOT what I'm talking about. Anyhoo, take a look at this post and you'll find inspiration for how to use these buttoned up cuffs, like giving one to your child for his lunch money or her crayons. Tomorrow I'll show you how I used the rest of a shirt to make some pillows for our deck!

We are knee-deep in party preparations for our annual Fourth of July bash, but I wanted to show you this great way to customize a dollar store frame. Thanks to Today's Fabulous Finds I'm going to be scouring flea markets and dollar stores for tons of cheapo frames so I can make them look this fab. What an awesome idea!