9.29.2010

{ mister lonely }

There is only one month until, Halloween!  I put up my first Halloween decoration…

Isn’t he just so cute…

lonely ghost

My poor little ghost just looks so sad by himself on the mantel… Although I’ve dreaded saying goodbye to summer, I’m excited to decorate for this season.  Hopefully he won’t be lonely for long! 

9.28.2010

{ Man Cave Update }

We’ve been working hard on our basement project… The old ceiling tiles are down and the “new” ceiling has an entire coat of paint.    

We went with a Behr Ultra Grey for the walls.  They really compliment the Man Cave Army, IU, and Colts memorabilia better than the originally planned blueish-greyish.
Here’s a preview of the painted walls and some furniture in the basement!

New House Updates 034 New House Updates 036 New House Updates 037  New House Updates 031New House Updates 039  New House Updates 041

9.27.2010

{ Football Parties and Tailgate Wars }

A Bungalow Project LOVES the Indianapolis Colts!  We went to the “Manning Bowl” and had a blast!

ColtsGiants2010 029

I took my “famous” brownies.  The guys we tailgate with just tease me and say they are “famous” because that’s how we met.  I made these brownies, they ate one at our tailgate, and they’ve requested them every game since!  I also made cute Colts Football cupcakes this game. 

Here’s a quick glimpse of our tailgate…

 ColtsGiants2010 003ColtsGiants2010 006ColtsCupcakes 

We had a pizza, chips and salsa, and of course some drinks. But… my tailgate food definitely got shown up by the newbie tailgate guy. He brought a grill out and made bacon wrapped shrimp, kabobs, wings, blue drinks, and more…

Here’s a glimpse the tailgate guy grilling and of his awesome tailgate display:

ColtsGiants2010 011  

So, I’m getting ready for the next tailgate.  Here are some football party and food ideas, and recipes that I came across:

A super cute idea from Suddenly Frugal...

Football Party Food Guacamole Football Field Dip

Football season traditionally means tailgate time, play-off parties and a table of unhealthy dips loaded with calories–70 per tablespoon for spinach dip and a whopping 90 per tablespoon in buttermilk ranch. With Americans deriving an estimated 30 percent of their daily calories from outside traditional meals, the trend in party fare is to serve healthier options. At just 25 calories per tablespoon, adding pre-made, all-natural guacamole to the party line-up makes a game-time winner.

The Recipe:
Wholly Guacamole Gridiron Game Time Dip
Prep: 30 minutes 

Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- ½ cup red bell pepper
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 2, 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed / drained
- 2 tsp fresh chopped jalapeno peppers
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 14 oz Wholly Guacamole
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 bag tortilla chips

Instructions:
1. Melt butter in skillet; add peppers and onion. Cook over medium heat until onion is softened. (4 minutes). Stir in beans, jalapenos and cumin. Cook until heated.

2. Transfer 1 cup of bean mixture to a food processor, process until smooth. Return blended mixture to remaining mixture and stir to combine. Spread onto an 11×8 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

3. Just before serving, layer over the bean mixture: salsa, cheese and top with Wholly Guacamole.

4. Spoon sour cream into reseal-able plastic bag. Snip off small corner and pipe sour cream lines over the guacamole to resemble yard markers on a football field.

Another idea from tiny prints

superbowl-party-inspiration-board

And probably my favorite Tailgate “Design Board” at The Party Dress!

Superbowl-2010-small

And one more awesome design board from divine party concepts

(I especially like the blue drink and football whoopie pies!!)

superbowl

I think I’m ready to win the next tailgate wars!! :)

9.13.2010

Living Room: {Before & Almost After}

Prior to owning this home, I had not an ounce of decorating sense (some of you may argue that I still don’t quite get it). But, we think we’ve got the basic pieces now and just have to chose paint colors and seasonal decorations. I’m so excited to show you all our living room with real furniture in it!!

 

The Living Room Before

LR1 

Empty Living Room

LR2

 

Our Living Room Today

New House Updates 008The Fireplace MantleNew House Updates 012 Craftsman Bookshelves with books, family photos, candles, Gracie Naranjo Pottery, and my Great-Grandmother’s flower vase. New House Updates 019 More books & photos… New House Updates 020 Fireplace with Craftsman bookshelves.New House Updates 021Bookshelves full of books, photo albums & more! New House Updates 022 My Mema’s McCoy Vase era 1940s, Gracie Naranjo Pottery from my mother in law… New House Updates 023 

Hope you enjoyed the changes!!

p.s. Thanks for Stopping By! ~N.E. & Riley!

New House Updates 026

9.02.2010

Back to Life: {After New Mexico}

Mr. E and I just returned and settled back in to our routine after a wonderful road trip to New Mexico.  We had a wonderful time, and I even managed to take “a few” photos of the culture and cute little houses! New Mexico or Bust 2010 021

The Southwest has the most incredible sunrises!  This photo was just outside of OK City.  We love our Indiana sunrises, and we felt right at home here!New Mexico or Bust 2010 004

I hope you enjoy the culture, arts, nature, and history of new places like me! Most of the photos here were taken in Truth or Consequences (aka Hot Springs & T or C.  And yes, it’s named after the old game show), Hillsboro, Hatch, and Old Towne Albuquerque. 

     New Mexico or Bust 2010 035 New Mexico or Bust 2010 037 

New Mexico or Bust 2010 038 New Mexico or Bust 2010 053 New Mexico or Bust 2010 062 New Mexico or Bust 2010 065 New Mexico or Bust 2010 069 New Mexico or Bust 2010 071  New Mexico or Bust 2010 082New Mexico or Bust 2010 081 New Mexico or Bust 2010 086 New Mexico or Bust 2010 101 New Mexico or Bust 2010 102 New Mexico or Bust 2010 105

New Mexico or Bust 2010 103  New Mexico or Bust 2010 110 New Mexico or Bust 2010 112 New Mexico or Bust 2010 113 New Mexico or Bust 2010 119 New Mexico or Bust 2010 126  New Mexico or Bust 2010 175 New Mexico or Bust 2010 181 New Mexico or Bust 2010 186  New Mexico or Bust 2010 188  New Mexico or Bust 2010 191 New Mexico or Bust 2010 193 New Mexico or Bust 2010 194 New Mexico or Bust 2010 195 New Mexico or Bust 2010 200 New Mexico or Bust 2010 202 New Mexico or Bust 2010 206 New Mexico or Bust 2010 208 New Mexico or Bust 2010 209 New Mexico or Bust 2010 211  New Mexico or Bust 2010 221