via instagram

If your kitchen is anything like mine then it’s probably one of the hardest working rooms in the house.  All of us, including the dog, are in and out of there all day long.  Making meals for now or later, eating, cleaning, working, entertaining, …  It seems like most of family life happens in the kitchen.  And of course the party always ends up in the kitchen too.  So the trick is to keep it tidy and put away, but also to have the stuff you use be easily accessible.

Big Box Store Furniture Goes Shabby-Chic with Chalk Paint®

gonna try something new

I’d love to say I’m one of those funky, cool chicks that shops vintage and antique, and pokes around flea markets on the weekends.  But sadly, that’s not true.  I’m a full-on suburban mom who hangs out at the big box stores like Superstore, IKEA and Costco.  And while I’m there I buy everything from milk to dishes to furniture.  So now my house is home to a lot of big box store furniture which seemed practical and functional at the time, and came at a decent price point. 

Beach Vacation Memory Jar

memories…

Have you ever been lucky enough to be on a tropical beach vacation in the winter?  If you follow me on instagram you saw that we went this past Christmas break.   And within a few days back in this polar vortex it was hard to remember the warm breeze and sand between our toes.  So how to bring those warm, sunny, sandy memories back, and keep them around for awhile?   Here’s what Miss Personally did:  make a memory jar to preserve a piece of the holiday.

Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup

easiest grocery shopping ever

I love it when you can create a whole meal around a single vegetable.  Makes planning and grocery shopping so much simpler.  Four minutes in and out of the grocery store.  Buy a cauliflower and dinner’s practically done.  Add some spices (already in the spice drawer),  some stock (already in the pantry or freezer) and some bread (if you’re out of bread, it practically makes itself in a breadmaker).  See?  Creamy curry cauliflower soup, with a side of bread, practically on the table already and you hardly had to think about it.

Kate Spade Inspired Planner {using duck tape}

kate spade wannabe

I love Kate Spade.  And all her stuff.  All stripey and polka dotty, exuding class and sophistication.  I’m pretty sure she’s a lot like me.  Maybe.  Or not.  A girl can dream, can’t she?  But I really did want one of her planners this year.  One that looks like it has lots of shopping dates and girls’ lunches in it.  This large black stripe one actually.  But the thing is…well…it’s shockingly expensive.  And anyways, I’ve always used this planner because the inside layout matches the way my brain works.  Which is pretty helpful in a planner, wouldn’t you say.  But it’s QUITE unattractive.  So what’s a crafty girl to do?