Corned Beef and Cabbage

Hi there. Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's been a while, but I'm back. I took a much needed break to rest. During the hiatus, I traveled to the British Virgin Islands and made a huge career change - I'm now working at the corporate office of Lizard Thicket, an Atlanta-based clothing boutique. Check us out online. We just released some adorable things for Spring! The first day of Spring is this Wednesday, so be prepared to bust out your mint and peach (they are the hottest colors of the season).

It's been so long since I had the time to make a Sunday night meal and as it's St. Paddy's, I made the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage in honor of Adam's Irish heritage. I grew up on this dish and remember many Sunday afternoons eating it after church. I wanted to update the recipe so I turned to the Pioneer Woman's website, Tasty Kitchen. The site is full of fabulous recipes and I used my own spin on it. Although it takes about 4 hours to cook, it's easy and delicious. Enjoy!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

prep/cook time: 4 hrs; serves 2

Ingredients

• corned beef (I purchased one at Whole Foods big enough to serve 2)
• water
• 1 tbs dijon mustard
• 1 tbs yellow mustard
• 1 tbs spicy brown mustard
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 head of cabbage, quartered
• can serve with roasted red potatoes

Directions

Place corned beef in a dutch oven and add water until the meat is fully covered. Bring to a boil on stovetop, then reduce to a simmer on low. Simmer for 2 hours. Mine started floating after about 15 minutes of simmering, so I had to add a burger press to weigh it down...you want the meat to be submerged in the water the entire time. While that is cooking, mix the three mustards and brown sugar together in a small bowl.

After 2 hours, cover a jellyroll pan with foil and place corned beef into the pan. Add several ladles of corned beef broth from the dutch oven into the pan - this is called a "wet bath". Baste the meat with the mustard mix and place in the oven on 275 degrees for 2 more hours. Baste with mustard mix half way through. Add a third layer of mustard mix, then turn the oven to broil and (watch the meat) for 2-3 minutes. Don't let it burn.

To cook the cabbage: when there is about 30 minutes left on the corned beef, bring the beef broth in the dutch oven to a boil and add the quartered cabbage. Add salt to taste.

Once corned beef is cooked, cut thin slices against the grain and serve with cabbage. Drizzle any leftover mustard mix over the slices.

It's so easy and yummy!!!! I hope you enjoy making and eating this as much as I did. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

Proud in 2013

It's hard to believe 2013 is in full swing! Another year has come and gone. 

Wishing you many proud moments this year!

Simple, easy Christmas arrangement

Adam and I host our families for a Christmas Eve dinner every year. This will make our fifth (er, maybe sixth) year doing it. After dinner we head to our church for the candlelight service full of lessons and carols. We've made it a tradition and it's easy for us because our moms bring the food - we do a huge pan of the Pioneer Woman's lasagna, salad, and bread. Simple as that! This year is no different and we can't wait to host everyone tomorrow evening.

I always set the table different each year. This year I bought some large white hydrangea stems (just 3 for $6.99 at WF), and some chrysanthemums (7 stems for $6.99). Whole Foods had some great greenery and Christmas berries, but sheesh...they were so darn expensive.

Want to make some arrangements for your holiday table? Buy a few white stems of hydrangeas and another smaller flower for variation. The hydrangeas have a large head which takes up a ton of space - meaning you won't have to fill your vase with more flowers. I like the spikes of the chrysanthemums agains the delicate, large stems of the hydrangeas. Instead of wasting money on Christmas berries (seriously, they were $19.99 for a few stems), look around your yard and trim a few spring from a holly bush, magnolia tree, or evergreen. Heck, do what I did and cut some branches from the backside of your Christmas tree.

I chose 2 large, yet squatty cube vases. Keep in mind you don't want anything too tall because it will block everyone's view from each other. You want to keep the conversation going without having to use a machete to see!

I placed 2 handfuls of small river rocks that I found at Lowes in the bottom of the vases. From there I cut the hydrangea stems to where the base of the head just hits evenly with the top of the vase. You don't want it too tall or short so cut a little at a time until you get the right height. From there add the greenery on the edges around the whole vase. Then, add the chrysanthemums in any holes that you see.

For the berries, I added fake ones that I had leftover from my decorations. I found mine at Hobby Lobby for .79 each (plus 50% off).

I think my arrangements are pretty nice and they were less than $10/each.

What are some of your holiday traditions?

{SEVEN} 12 Days of Pinterest

Day #7...

{TEN, NINE, EIGHT} 12 Days of Pinterest

The weekend caught up to me...

Day #8

Day #9

 Day #10

I hope your weekend was as good as mine. We celebrated some sweet friends at their engagement party in Macon. This countdown to Christmas is really starting to stress me out... It's almost HERE!

{ELEVEN} 12 Days of Pinterest

Day # 11...

 

 

 

via Pinterest.  

{DIY} :: Custom Message Board

Hi there! Happy Friday! 

Need a little DIY inspiration? Remember the Weekend Project Series that I started? 

Well I finally get to show you the project. It took forever to get the fabric order in. Thank you to those who gave your input on the fabric selection. I ended up choosing the Braemore Konya Ikat in Pond from fabric.com. Just be mindful of their long order processing and shipping. They aren't in a hurry there.

Plus, to be honest, I am a little behind on blogging...

So what was I using the fabric for? A custom message board! I have this small space under my kitchen cabinets that collects paper, cards, and invitations. We were making a cork board out of wine corks but I didn't like the look of it and it was too small for the space. I couldn't purchase a store-bought message board because this area was a unique space, so customizing one was a must!  Here is the DIY How-To:

Custom Shape Message Board

Materials Needed:

• Wood Panel or Particle Board
• Cork Tiles (found at Michael's)
• Cotton Batting (thin, basic kind. Found at Hancock Fabrics)
• Decorative Fabric (i only needed 1 yard, but measure your project first)
• Nail Heads Used for Upholstery (found at Lowe's in the hardware section)

Tools Needed:

• Pencil (and string if you do a round shape)
• Measuring Tape
• Circular Saw
• Palm Sander or Sand Paper (course grit)
• Hammer
• Staple Gun

So here was the plan: I measured the space and decided on a shape:

Then, using a piece of wood shelving that I had laying around the basement, I measured, traced, and cut the wood to the right shape. Obviously the blade of a saw doesn't cut round shapes, so I did the best I could. You can use a palm sander to soften the edges if you choose to do a similar shape.

After it was cut into the correct shape, I attached the store-bought cork tiles. They were easy to cut down with a box cutter so that it fit perfect to the shape of the board. I just used the double-sided tape that came with the cork tiles to attach it to the wood. You could also use hot glue or Elmer's.

This what the board looked like after attaching the cork.  At this point, you want to move to a clean working environment, which is why I moved from the basement to upstairs.

I ironed the fabric and the batting and laid both face-down on a clean surface, then laid the wood on top close the edge (cork side facing down). I left about 2 inches on the sides.

Using a staple gun, staple the edges of the fabric to the board as you pull tightly. 

The curved edges were a little tricky.

After you have tightly stapled the fabric around the entire piece, cut the extra fabric.

At this point, this is what it should look like.

Finish with nail head trim. I purchased a pack of 20 nail heads at Lowe's for a little over $2. Make sure to have a few extras because some will break if you hammer them too hard. It took me about 3 packs to complete this board. Space the nail heads accordingly and tap them [lightly] into the board using a hammer.

 

This is the completed project! Not the best photo, but you get the idea.

I was recently commissioned to make one for a friend to give as a Christmas gift...she wanted to use natural canvas and I really love the way it looks with the bronze nail head.

Is your nest in need of a custom message board? 

It's the perfect DIY project for a rainy {or fingers crossed, snowy} day.

{TWELVE} 12 Days of Pinterest

I'm hopping on the "gift guide train" and featuring 1 gift idea for the next 12 days... all featured via Pinterest. 

Day # 12...

Idea on the horizon...

I will soon have a TWO week break from work and I AM SO EXCITED!!! 

Between Christmas festivities, cleaning/organizing my house, catching up on blogging, and Milly Mandarin,  

I will be doing something involving this...

and this...

 

and this...

Any guesses?!

 

A must read!

I recently polled my closest girlfriends to see what daily devotional they were reading. Desperate for motivation to get back into my quiet times, I quickly ordered from Amazon, Jesus Calling, which was recommended by 2 friends.

I'm on day 2 of reading it and both mornings I've been astounded by how amazingly perfect each message is for my life. God has a funny way of making things like that work, huh?

Today's message starts out, "I'm taking care of you...every detail of your life is under My control...everything fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me and are called according to My design and purpose..." It goes on to explain that we can try to figure things out but events that happen in life and God's plan is bigger than any human understanding.

The scripture readings associated with each day are short and easy to understand how they relate to the message. It lists 2-3 scriptures all over the Bible (new and old), which tests my knowledge of where Job, 2 Corinthians, and 1 Peter are located.

Read these: Job 42:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:7; and 1 Peter 5:7.

Need a new quick, easy, and perfect daily devotional? Get the book! It won't disappoint.

What are you doing?

Just made a list of things I want to do in the next few weeks...

 

Ice Skating
Gingerbread House Making
Dog Treat Baking
Christmas Movie Watching
Christmas Light Looking

...just to name a few.

What are your Christmas traditions?

Home Tour Today on Puddleduck Paper Co.

I'm super honored and thrilled to be featured on Somethings blog home tour today. The mastermind behind Somethings blog and Puddleduck Paper Co., Mattie, is such a sweet, adorable soul. 

My home is stop #3 of the week. Follow her and check it out!

Don't Give Up On Me Yet!

Hi there! Have you been wondering where the heck I've been lately?! 

Head on over to this site to find out why I've been M.I.A. on the TBC blog. But don't give up on me yet. 

I have posts lined up for the future and you won't want to miss out on the fun.

Coming soon... 

A DIY project that will leave you you thinkin', "dang, this girl got skills!", and fun home project reveal that's been years in the making {there is a clue somewhere in this post...can you figure it out?}

See y'all soon!

I Can't Resist...

I can't resist posting about this new adorable Etsy shop, Cheekadee Handmade that I recently discovered via Facebook. I love a fellow "social entrepreneur" {as my friend Laurel called me}.

Check out how cute these little guys are:

 Linden the Fox

 Olive the Owl

 Willow the Fox

Princess Peony the Pig

Which one is your favorite? 

I just can't decide.

Monograms and Giving Back

Good Morning and Happy Thursday!

I know I've been a little M.I.A., partly due to the launch of Milly Mandarin. I'm so proud to say that I've been able to raise close to $400 for the Alzheimer's Association so far with my online auctions. I also just went to Market and bought a ton of cute Fall pieces that will be for sale starting on Sunday, 9/23. 

I'm not the only one in the family doing great things to raise money for Alzheimer's research and awareness. Adam's cousin, Michelle is also fundraising through Initial Outfitters.

Most of you may know about my family's experiences with the disease, but my husband's family is also touched by it. Adam's Grandmother is currently suffering and it breaks my heart each and every time I see her. Like my grandma and papa, she is declining each day with her memory and to be quite honest,

IT'S JUST  NOT FAIR! It's not fair that not only is she suffering, but the rest of the family is too.

When you visit and they don't remember who you are. When you bring up a memory like a past Christmas or birthday and you can see the confusion on their face. When you see how frustrated they get when they  are searching for the right word to say and they can't remember it. All of those experiences are devastating. 

I think what hurts the most (totally singing Rascal Flats in my head now), is that there is no cure! Nothing. The researchers continue to find possible medications to prevent but nothing has been found to actually cure the disease. The scariest thing is 1 in 8 older American's have the disease (5.4 million).

Funding for research and programming is very important. The association has many programs to assist with educating caregivers and loved ones of those who have the disease. If you know anyone with the disease,go online and see how you can get help! www.alz.org

Now, stepping down from my soapbox....

Michelle sells the cutest accessories from Initial Outfitters, which is an "at home party" company similar to Stella&Dot, Thirty-One, {dare I say} Tupperware. The best part about it is you can also host online parties and still buy things without attending a party. Most of the items are monogrammed or personalized and they make perfect gifts!

Please look at some of the amazing things available:

 Michelle made this adorable frame with her and her husband's initials. She bought a barnwood frame from  Hobby Lobby, covered it with burlap, then added her woodcut monogram that she bought from IO. The initials come in unfinished wood so you can paint them any color you want. There are various font choices and single letters too.

The monogram necklace is so HOT right now! I'm not sure if you've seen them on anyone, but IO's selection is great. You can choose the font, acrylic color, and chain too. The options are endless.

 

 These 2 photos are more examples of the monogram woodcuts. Many people use them on wreaths for the front door. I love the "house divided" Auburn/Alabama one above {it's football season, y'all!}. Too cute.

  Have a boring black mailbox? Make it super-cute with a vinyl decal. Also available through IO. Think of putting one on your iPad cover, cell phone, notebook, lunchbox, I can go on and on...

Layering necklaces is a new look for Fall and I can't get enough of it. Like the classic look of silver monogrammed jewelry? They have options for layering long and short chains, big and small pendants, and tons of charms. 

Michelle will be giving proceeds of her online party to Alzheimer's Association. Even if you currently aren't affected by the disease, consider giving back to those who are. Buy your Christmas gifts or splurge and get something for yourself!

To shop, visit the link below. Click on "shop now", then the Alzheimer's online party.

www.initialoutfitters.net/michelleneef/

Launch of a New Business Adventure

Dear Friends and Family,

I recently set out on a new side business adventure and I’d love for you to be a part of it.  I often find myself looking for ways to give back to organizations, especially one that is close to my heart, the Alzheimer’s
Association. Many of you know that I lost both my Grandma Brown and Papa May to Alzheimer’s. Wanting to raise money in a “unique” way, I decided to use my love for fashion to help the cause. That’s where Milly Mandarin {an online boutique that gives back} was created.

Milly Mandarin will sell the latest accessories that you see in any retail store. The difference? I will give 100% of the profits to a charity. During the month of September, the featured charity will be the Alzheimer’s Association. Because I know that you too have organizations that you are passionate about, different charities will benefit each month. So what are you passionate about giving back to? Email me to feature your
organization.

So how can you “shop for a cause” and support me? Milly Mandarin will hold weekly facebook auctions where items will be posted at 12:00pm EST every Wednesday.  To shop, simply comment on the item photo with “SOLD” and your PayPal email address. All items are on a first come, first served basis. If you win, you will receive a PayPal invoice via email, which should be paid within 48 hours. Your item will be shipped within 2 business days. Keep in mind, you must “like” Milly Mandarin’s page on facebook in order to participate and see the latest auction items.

Please forward this information to your family and friends. You can also suggest that your facebook friends “like” Milly Mandarin’s page. I want my efforts to be successful and I appreciate your support.  The first auction will launch next Wednesday, September 12th at 12:00pm EST.


You can access the Milly Mandarin website or link to the online auction through the tabs at the top of this blog. How will you give back?
                                               
To find out more, visit www.millymandarin.blogspot.com

To shop for a cause, visit www.facebook.com/millymandarin

Thank you for your love and support!
Jana

Oh, How Pintersting: TBC Pins of the Week

With SEC gameday kick-off TOMORROW, I am excited to start my "Oh, How Pinteresting" series off right with Auburn (and UGA) inspired Pins of the Week. 

all pins via Gameday Southern Belle

Brown Beech Mushroom and Chicken Stir Fry

Adam sent me a couple of mushroom inspired recipes and I  just had to try the stir fry. This recipe passed my 2 per-requisites:  #1 it was so stinkin' easy and #2 it was really quick to make.

You may have trouble finding brown beech mushrooms, but your specialty organic stores like Whole Foods or Fresh Market should carry them.

Brown Beech Mushroom and Chicken Stir Fry

prep time: 15 minutes; serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
•  black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
• pinch of brown sugar
• 1 pkg Brown Beech mushrooms, separate and trim ends
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce (I substituted hoisen sauce)
• thinly sliced green onions

Directions

Slice chicken in very thin strips. In a bowl, marinate chicken with soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, cornstarch, and sugar for 15 minutes on the counter or store overnight in refrigerator.  

Heat a wok or saute pan over high heat. When hot, swirl in cooking oil. Add chicken slices, stir fry for 2-3 minutes, until chicken is just about cook through (timing depends on thickness). Turn heat to medium, then add garlic and ginger to wok or saute pan. Stir fry until fragrant (it will smell so yummy), about 1 more minute. Add in mushrooms and hoisen (or oyster) sauce. Bring to a simmer, cook for 230 seconds. Dish out and garnish with fresh green onions.

I served this over brown minute rice that takes 5 minutes to cook. I also added thinly sliced onions and sauteed them with the chicken...up to you.

Enjoy!

{not a food photographer so I borrowed this from the internet}

Weekend Project Series {No. 1}

My crazy Summer weekends will soon be coming to an end as football season starts this weekend {hooray!}. This means more time at home since we will be watching the games or making day trips to Athens.  So that frees my weekends up a little and I have a HUGE list of small projects to get done around the nest. What better way to hold myself accountable than to post about them and share with you.

Stay tuned for many small weekend projects to come.

Project No.1 

{I won't reveal the project until I'm finished}

Project Hint: the project will include wood, fabric, nailhead trim, and will be displayed in the kitchen.

 Here is where you come in....I need your help deciding which fabric to use. Based on the clues above, and the current sofa pillow fabric which sits adjacent to the project location, please select which fabric you like best.

Thanks for your help!

Lusting for Rattan

My love for Bohemian things is really ridiculous. Last weekend a neighbor a few streets over was having a yard sale. As any normal person would do, I jumped in my car and slowly crept by as I was surveying her goods.  Mostly junk (which they usually are), but then I spotted the one treasure in the pile... A pair of rattan peacock chairs, similar to the ones below:

I felt like God was shining down on them as the Heavens opened up with Angels singing. I wanted those chairs so bad. The only problem, is my husband would have disowned me if I brought in one more piece of furniture that we didn't have room for. So I passed, but have been thinking about them ever since.

I don't think rattan is just for outdoors. They work inside too, adding texture and warmth to any room. 

Here are some rattan beauties to lust after:

this one is gorgeous with the sheepskin throw and pop of salmon.

via

 via

these two loves are from Ikea, believe it or not.

via

both of these are from a store in Atlanta that I love, pieces.

 via

can't go wrong with a bold color. Spray paint an old rattan chair to make new again.

 love the yellow or turquoise options. 

via

 

 this one reminds me of an old-school papasan chair. I remember my bff in high school had one and I thought it was so cool.

via

there are so many fabric options you can do with this one. 

it would work in a n indoor or outdoor space.

via

all three of these are from Anthropologie. Not cheap, but certainly lookers.

via

 if I could fit one of these on my porch, I'd definitely get it. I would swing for hours.

via

Would you use rattan in your home? Tell me where.