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!