Thinking Too Much

I think too much. I am a pleaser. I want everyone to be happy. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I often over think if something I do will hurt someone's feelings. How do you find balance. When do your feelings become more important than someone else's (and even thinking that thought and writing it out makes me feel guilty).

Mamma's Spicy Chicken and Shrimp...Watch Out Auntie Pastas

It's not your typical New Years Day Meal, but I feel like this little piece of Nacogdoches Goodness making it's way into my kitchen is a sign of what an awesome year it is going to be!

Ingredients:

1. 2 (8oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts
2. 3 table spoons butter
3. 20 medium raw shrimp, peeled, tail removed and cleaned
4. 1 cup fresh button mushrooms
5. 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
6. salt and pepper to taste
7. 3 cups heavy whipping cream
8. 1/2 cup Romano cheese grated
9. 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
10. 1 teaspoon Tony's
11. 16 oz dry penne pasta

Directions:

1.  Brine chicken in four quarts water, 1/3 cup salt and 1/3 cup brown sugar for at least one hour in fridge.

Season and grill chicken until done. (We seasoned ours with paprika, dehydrated onions, seas salt, and Italian Seasoning)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool chicken and slice into bit sized pieces.

Add butter to a large saute pan on medium heat.  Once butter is melted, add shrimp, sliced chicken, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Saute mixture until shrimp and mushrooms are cooked.

Add the cream, Romano cheese, cayenne pepper and Tony's.  Let cream reduce by half while stirring frequently.  Mean while, cook pasta al dente according to package directions.

Drain excess water, toss cooked pasta with contents of saute pan and serve!

New Bedroom Makeover: Mix Matched Beddig and DIY Headboard

I am in the process of decorating our extra bedroom that has been empty for the last year.  I was not planning to do anything with it for a while (what I really mean is I was holding out in the hopes it would become a nursery), but with the purchase of our new tempurpedic mattress, the old mattress has found itself a new home.  I've decided to go for the neutral look in the room and focus on different textures ( again what I'm not saying is this was the look I was going for and had in mind when I bought the awesome vintage style crib last March):  soft, course, satin, raw silks and leather.  I found the duvet cover at Bed Bath and Beyond and  mixed it with several different pillows from three different bedding sets.  I scored the curtains at Wal-Mart and the lamp at Hobby Lobby as well as the ribbon I've used on the curtains, pillows and lamp to tie it all together.  (Please excuse the blue paneling which will be next on the makeover list!)

After putting it all together I starting thinking about what type of actual bed I wanted to put in the room.  I really like the look of the Tufted Headboards from Pottery Barn but man oh man, they run about $800.00.  So Saturday night I started thinking, "I can so make that headboard," and Sunday I did!

Materials Needed:

1. Particle Board (60"x35" for a Queen Headboard)

2. Foam Mattress Pad (Two twin sized)

Three:  Faux Silk 63" Lined Window Panel

4. Covered Buttons (Seven)

5. Spray Adhesive

6.  Seven Washer Rings
7.  Seven Tiny Bolts
8.  French Clutch Hanger
8.  White Twine
9.  Two Yards of White Felt
10.  Jigg Saw
11.   Drill
12.  Staple Gun

Step by Step Directions:

Step One:  Draw Silhouette of the Headboard

Step Two:  Cut Outline with Jig Saw

 Step Three:  Measure for Placement of Buttons (15" Apart) 

Step Four:  Drill Holes

Step Five:  Cut Foam to Contour of Headboard

Step Six:  Spray Adhesive Board and Foam Together

Step Seven:  Stretch Felt and Cover Foam.  Staple to Back of the Board

Step Eight:  Iron Curtain

Step Nine:  Stretch Material and Staple to Board

Step Ten:  String Twin Through Bolt

Step Eleven:  Pull Twine Through Front of Material and Hole in the Board.  Tie off with Washer and Pull Tight.

 Step Twelve:  Cover Buttons with Material and Attach to Bolt

Step Thirteen:  Screw Brace onto back of Headboard

Step: Fourteen:  Screw Brace onto wall and Hang Headboard

 There you have it, four hours of your time, plus $79.11 in materials equals the look of an $800 makeover!