Craigslist Table: Finally Painted

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I have finally finished my Craigslist table!  I debated over painting it a bold, bright color, but in the end I went with my trusty standby, Krylon Dover White.  I love the bright pop of white - my living room really needed it I think.

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Here's a before photo, I just love all the detail in the table.

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Another before shot:

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Before painting, I used this primer by Valspar.

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And here's what it looks like right now in my living room:

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I still haven't added any accessories.  I sort of got sick of everything in my living room and took it all out and am slowly bringing things back in.  The bare look is actually sort of refreshing.  I was so sick of all my pillows that I sold them at a garage sale we had in May.  I have fabric to make news ones...I just need to find some time and get sewing.  I am going to attempt to add zippers to the pillows.  Anyone have any good tips or know of helpful tutorials?

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In other news, today is my Dad's 60th Birthday - Happy birthday Dad!

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I couldn't resist adding a few photos...

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{ Dad's First Holy Communion, 1958 }

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{ High School Graduation, 1969 }

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{ Dad & I in front of Mighty Mac, 1979 }

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{ Linking this post to Finding Fabulous & Just a Girl & Funky Junk Interiors }

Tasty Tuesdays: Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

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Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

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I love a good wedge salad.  This was the first time I've made blue cheese dressing and I have to say I see no reason to ever buy it in a bottle again.  This just tasted so much better!

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I searched online and found this recipe for the dressing. I changed a few things like using fresh garlic instead of powder and the amount of blue cheese.

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Ingredients for Dressing:

- 3 ounces blue cheese or blue cheese crumbles

- 3 tablespoons buttermilk

- 3 tablespoons sour cream

- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

- 1/4 teaspoon sugar

- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

- salt and freshly ground black pepper

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In a small bowl, mash blue cheese and buttermilk together with a fork until mixture resembles large-curd cottage cheese. Stir in sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and garlic until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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{ Recipe yields (6) 2 tablespoon servings.  Whole milk may be used in place of buttermilk for a milder flavor. Dressing may be refrigerated in an air-tight container for up to two weeks. }

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Ingredients for Salad:

- 1 head of iceberg lettuce

- 4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

- 1 tomato, chopped

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Cut lettuce into wedges.  One head will be enough for 4 - 6 nice size salads.

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Top lettuce with tomatoes and bacon.  Spoon dressing over top and top with additional blue cheese crumbles, if desired.

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Now it's your turn...what did you cook this week?

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{ Please add a link in your post back to this post or add the Tasty Tuesdays button to your post which can be found on my sidebar.  Thanks! }

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I have a great giveaway going on right now from Shabby Apple...click HERE to enter.

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Crazy Days of Summer: Yellow

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Happy Friday!

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Today I am taking part in a photo challenge hosted by Alicia of Project Alicia and Kristi of Live and Love out Loud.  The theme this week is:  Yellow.

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When Alicia posted about the challenge this week and mentioned the theme, I immediately thought of this field of weeds.  I rent a plot at a community garden and this week when I went to check on my plants, the fields surrounding the plots had erupted into fields of yellow.  I don't know what type of weed this is, but boy, it's everywhere!

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Have a great weekend!

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Shabby Apple Giveaway!

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When I was contacted a few weeks ago by Shabby Apple wondering if I would be interested in having a giveaway, of course I said yes!

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Here's a little bit about Shabby Apple (taken from their website):

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"After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren't buying the right dresses, but that designers weren't designing them. Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else."

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{ L to R:  Trade Winds Dress, Seven Seas in Seersucker Dress, Lost at Sea Skirt }

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Like me, you might know Shabby Apple for their beautiful and stylish women's dresses.  But they offer so much more, including, swimwear, maternity clothing, and even clothing for the kiddos in your life like these cute little girl dresses .

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But, this giveaway is all about Shabby Apple Jewelry!

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The Giveaway: 
One 33 Shades of Green reader will win a piece of Shabby Apple jewelry of their choice!

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Just a few of my favorite items:

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{ Avery Amozonite Earrings }

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{ Kai Necklace }

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{ Pompeii Earrings }

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{ Light as a Feather Necklace }

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{ San Remo Turquoise Ring }

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{ Fontana Earrings }

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How to enter:

1.  Mandatory Entry:  Head over to Shabby Apple and leave a comment telling me your favorite item.  Does not have to be jewelry - chose any favorite item from their site.

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2.  Bonus Entry:  Become a fan of Shabby Apple on Facebook.  Then come back here and leave a separate comment for your bonus entry.

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The fine print:

*  Winner must live in the Continental United States.

*  I'll select a winner by random sometime on Saturday, July 2nd.

* Please leave your email in your comment if you do not have it linked to your google account so I can contact you if you are the winner.

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Discount:

* If you are not the winner, or can't wait to purchase your favorite Shabby Apple piece, use this 10% discount code:  33shadesofgreen10off.  Code will be valid for 30 days.
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Good Luck!

Tasty Tuesdays: Banana Cream Pie for Dad

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Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

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I am back from vacation and instead of enjoying beautiful Lake Michigan views like the photo below, I am back to work looking at piles of work on my desk.  Vacations are never long enough, are they?

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I didn't do any cooking on vacation last week, but on Father's Day I made my Dad one of his favorites: Banana Cream Pie.  I have been making this pie since I was a teenager, first from my Mom's trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, and now from my own copy.

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{ I searched for a link to the recipe online but I could not find it }

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Ingredients for pie filling:

- 3 medium bananas, sliced

- 4 eggs

- 3/4 cup sugar

- 1/4 cup cornstarch

- 2-1/2 cups half-and-half, light cream or milk

- 1 tablespoon butter

- 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

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Ingredients for graham cracker crust:

- 1/3 cup butter

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1-1/4 cup crushed graham crackers (about 18)

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Ingredients for meringue:

.- 3 egg whites

- 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

- 6 tablespoons sugar

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1.  Prepare graham cracker crust:  melt butter; stir in sugar.  Add crushed crackers; toss to mix well.  Spread evenly into 9" pie plate.  Press onto bottom and sides to form an even crust.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes or until edge is slightly brown.

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2.  Separate egg yolks from whites; set aside 3 of whites for meringue.

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3.  For filling, in a medium saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch.  Gradually stir in half-and-half.  Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly; reduce heat.  Cook two minutes more.  Remove from heat.  Slightly beat egg yolks with a fork.  Gradually stir in about 1 cup of the hot filling into the yolks.

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4.  Add egg mixture to the filling in saucepan.  Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat.  Cook and stir for two minutes more.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla and butter.  Cover filling and set aside.

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5.  Slice bananas and arrange over bottom of pie crust.

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6.  Prepare meringue:  Egg whites should have sat out at room temperature for 30 minutes before using for meringue.  In a large mixing bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until soft peaks form (tips will curl).  Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed about 4 minutes more or until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks (tips will stand straight up; test with a fork).

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7.  Pour filling into pie plate over bananas.

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8.  Spread meringue over filling.  Make sure to seal edges of meringue to pie plate.  Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.  Chill 3 to 6 hours before serving.

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What did you cook this week?

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{ Please add a link in your post back to this post or add the Tasty Tuesdays button to your post.  Thanks! }

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Tasty Tuesdays: Caesar Potato Salad with Sugar Snap Peas

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Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

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I hope your week is off to a great start.  I am gone on vacation this week so I am re-posting this recipe from Bon Appetit that I originally posted here.  I can't wait to make it again this Summer!

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Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 pounds unpeeled assorted fingerling potatoes or baby potatoes (such as white-skinned, red-skinned, and purple), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices

- 8 ounces trimmed sugar snap peas

- 1 bunch radishes, trimmed, sliced

- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

- 1/4 cup olive oil

- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

- 1 garlic clove, pressed

- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

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First, start by prepping the veggies.

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Boil potatoes until almost finished (about 10 minutes). Add sugar snap peas and boil for about a minute longer.

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.Drain and let veggies cool.  Add radishes and onions.

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Next, prepare dressing.

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In small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and garlic clove.  Whisk in Parmesan.

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Pour dressing over potato mixture and stir to coat.  Enjoy!

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I really need to make this again soon - it was so good.  See the original Bon Appetit here.

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{ Please remember to add a link in your post back to Tasty Tuesdays or add the Tasty Tuesdays button to your post. }.

Lake Michigan Here I Come!

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Today I am leaving to spend a week in a cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan.  I'm looking forward to family time and relaxing days!  Tasty Tuesday will be up and ready for you as usual on Tuesday morning. 

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Have a wonderful week!

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