Hello March and hello friends –
March isn’t rolling in like a lion thus far. Temps are supposed to be around 70 today. But who knows? Could change like lickety-split. Regardless of what temps roll in today to the end of the month, I’m counting on March rolling out like a lamb and gently launching us into spring.
Super-duper fun read today!
Beginning with:
STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP
Once again (!) Stephanie hooks us up with cool, DIY innovative ideas of things + pieces just waiting in a thrift store to be discovered, loved and become statement pieces here and there in our homes. Welcome to the family, sort of thing!
I don’t happen to own an old suitcase – but now I’m on the hunt! I love the vintage look of them. And the beauty of another piece of eclectic added to my home. Same goes for a basket with a moving handle. Superness!
Genius, Steph!
DO I LEARN BY WATCHING OR DOING?
My answer is both. I learn by watching and then doing. The 2 work in tandem for me. You?
LOVE THE OLD FARMER’S ADVICE
This particular piece has made its rounds on the internet over the years, but I never tire of the Sage wisdom and like a refresh from time to time. I think this time around my favorite take-away is “If you think you’re a person of some influence, try ordering someone else’s dog around.”
GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE MELT
Is indeed, extraordinaire. Brie cheese instead of Swiss cheese or Cheddar cheese. Lots of Dijon mustard + the magic ingredient is the jarred red roasted peppers (found in most grocery stores on the shelves with pasta sauce). We served this numerous times at Hippie Cowboy as a sandwich special guest – not on the menu – available only on specific, special weeks. We prepared it via a panini machine, but I’ve also made it via the skillet method (think grilled cheese) and it’s absolutely fabulous either way. Chips or tater tots on the side are yum, however, a cup of potato soup (Progresso canned is easy and thumbs up for this side companion). Enjoy!
THANKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH US
On this first day of March + sharing + engaging.
GRATEFUL!
STEPHANIE’S CHIC
ON THE CHEAP
Hi there Dudes and Dolls –
Today’s column is short and sweet because work and my personal days are crazy busy this week.
Having said that …
I love these little cute DIY shelves I found on line. They are great for storage and decorative at the same time. Thrift stores are a great place to find old suitcases and baskets.
I would attach both of these kinds of pieces to the wall by directly screwing them in from the inside with a sturdy screw and a screw gun.
PIC #1
Old suitcases are so cool! I love the idea of using one as an open storage area … especially in a small bathroom where storage is limited. I would attach the shelves inside by simply gluing light weight wood to the inner sides ((I really like E6000 glue)).
PIC #2
Easy Peasy … a basket with a moveable handle to hang a towel on. I would jazz this up a little more by adding another fun item other than just towels in the opening part of the basket. Maybe a cute dish with highly scented soaps to keep your bathroom smelling fresh; and I would also put something on the top like maybe a plant or a cool bowl to stash some goodies in.
Happy Friday!
Welcome March!
~ Stephanie’s Chic on the Cheap is exclusive to Daymaker Readable Art
Send questions or comments to this episode’s comments!
QUICK QUESTION
DO YOU LEARN BY WATCHING
OR LEARN BY DOING?
AN OLD FARMER’S ADVICE
- Life is simple when you plow around the stump.
- A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
- Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
- You cannot unsay a cruel word.
- When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
- The best sermons are lived, not preached.
- Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good and honorable life, and then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
- Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
- If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
- The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every morning.
- Always drink upstream from the herd.
- Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
- Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
- If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.
- Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God.
- Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
~Author Unknown ~
from my collections of old emails
GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE
SANDWICH EXTRAORDINAIRE
A grilled ham and cheese sandwich like none other. The choice of Brie cheese + Roasted (jarred) red peppers is absolutely fabulous! Serve with a hand full of potato chips, tater tots – or, best yet, a cup of potato soup. Serves 4-8 depending on serving half sandwiches or whole.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 + TBSP butter
- 8 slices of country style bread
- 1 pound smoked ham, preferably apple wood smoked, sliced deli thin
- 1/2 pound of Brie cheese, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
- 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, slices
HERE’S HOW TO ASSEMBLE:
Butter 1 side of each bread slice, then put 4 slices, buttered side down, on a work surface. Top the bread slices with the smoked ham and then the Brie cheese, distributing them both evenly. Top the cheese with a second slice of bread, buttered side up.
PREHEAT A SANDWICH PRESS OR PREHEAT A NON-STICK SKILLET ON THE STOVE TOP UNTIL HOT:
Lightly oil the skillet or sandwich press.
Place 2 sandwiches on the sandwich press, close and cook until nicely browned, 3-4 minutes. If using a a grill pan or skillet, place as many sandwiches in the pan as will fit without crowding, cover with a weight (a second skillet works well; put a big can of tomatoes in the top skillet it it’s not heavy enough), and cook until nicely browned on the first side, 2-3 minutes. Turn and cook until the second side is well browned, about 2 minutes longer (weighting it down). Repeat until the all sandwiches are toasty and browned.
Remove sandwiches from heat and transfer to a work surface. Remove top slice of bread from each sandwich. Spread the underside of those slices with the Dijon mustard. Top the melted cheese/ham with slices of the jarred roasted peppers.
Replace the bread slice, cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately.
~ Hippie Cowboy recipe box
Love The Old Farmers Advice…so true!
Hi Stacy –
Agreed – the Old Farmer’s Advice is timeless.
Thank you!
What clever ideas from Stephanie! Thinking of where I can incorporate them. . .
Love the old farmer’s wisdom. Such good rules for living.
Fantastic twist on the grilled ham and cheese sandwich: elevated taste with Brie and Dijon. Mmmm mmmm good!
Happy weekend!
No kidding, Carol. Me, too!
Great ideas and I think I have spot a couple places here that I will incorporate them — once I find the proper piece of vintage luggage.
Thank you!
Daymaker’s words of wisdom, “Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer” was a great piece of info. I have one that links to it. Quaker Proverb: “Don’t speak unless you can improve on silence.” I get a kick out of 4 women, obviously a variety of ages, that take their work break and head for our neighborhood. Because our street is low traffic they walk rather rapidly 4 abreast right down the center of our street. Often I’m in the front garden and can hear them coming. Question: Guess whose talking? Answer: All of them are talking at the same time. I will say this, they are happy talkers.
Hi Marty –
Great shared story of the 4 women doing their chatter box thing.
I know when Peter and I used to walk — sometimes we’d chat and sometimes we’d just walk in silence and enjoy the birds or whatever chirping.
I heard or read somewhere once that not only “Silence is Golden” but it’s a comfort place where you know someone so well (as in heartbeat) that no words are necessary.
I like that.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Love the cartoons made me smile????
Hi J —
I love the Speedbump cartoons, too.
Full of catch ya off your guard laugh or 2.
Thank you!
Stephanie’s idea for old classic luggage is great. Who would believe finding a use for an old suitcase on the wall. Or as some people once upon a time called a suitcase a GRIP.
Indeed, Marty, Stephanie’s idea of the old classic luggage is great.
What I didn’t know was that old suitcases “Once Upon a time” was referred to as a GRIP!
Love it!
Thank you!