Backed Into A Corner

Have you ever backed yourself into a corner, got stuck in a groove that isn't really a groove but more of a thin crevice that stifles you?  Well that's just what I feel like I've gone and done.  I became obsessed with all the home reno programs on TV, the Better After Blogs, the arty blogs.  I love crafting, I love making good stuff from old stuff nobody wants...and that's good right?  It is, and don't get me wrong I love each and everyone of my arty blog friends, my crafty blog friends and my 'how to make a silk purse from a sow's ear" blog friends.  But somewhere in all that I lost 'me'. 

Tonight I was hopping around blog land, putting off working up the energy to do the ironing and I happened upon a new (to me) blogger Catie from Catie's Corner.  I read her post about how she met her hubby, their whirlwind romance and how she moved to Canada.  Catie confessed how she had been blogging for ages and yet not really shared anything about herself much, and how vulnerable she felt about doing so.  Her love story wasn't all that dissimilar to mine, and I too left my homeland  to live in Canada with my soul mate.  Her 'about me' said her blog was about "everything from DIY projects, to cooking and anything else I feel like talking about". 

Lately I have struggled to post anything on my blog monthly, let alone daily or weekly, and for that I felt guilty and disappointed that, as my ex mother-in-law liked to point out, I never really stuck with anything for long.  And tonight it hit me.  I had been soooo busy trying to be the artist blogger, the make something from nothing blogger, the popular go to place if you want to know how blogger that I forgot to be me!  When I started this blog I chose the name carefully....Life's Simple Pleasures.  My intentions were to share anything dear to my heart, anything positive, inspiring, beautiful...and real.  And yet I fell into the trap of trying to be one thing, of only ever posting about stuff I made completely forgetting all the other good stuff in life!  Consequently when life got busy and the painting/crafting/making slowed down I had nothing to post.

So thank you to Catie, for giving me a little nudge, for inspiring me to get back to the real me!  I joked that maybe we should start a linkey party thingamabob about our love stories (although I haven't a clue how to do one - linkey party that is), but my next post is going to be My Personal Love Story.  It will be difficult, like Catie I feel vulnerable...but I want to share it because it's real and it's me. 

Hi, welcome to Life's Simple Pleasures.  My name is Ro and I'm back....

Cool White Doors and Hot Chilli

Well, you'll all be pleased to know the cabinet doors are finally white, although I discovered that my technique when using aerosol spray paint, coupled with the poor spray pattern of said spray cans, didn't give me quite the finish I wanted.  So I will be patient and tackle them with regular gloss paint and a brush this weekend!   I am so wanting to show some pictures but  then I really want to go for a big reveal when I have done the backsplash and the table, and *hugs Lovely Man* the banquette that Lovely Man says he will build for me!  So, for now at least, both you and I are going to have to be a little patient.  The banquette may be a little while in the making as right now we are in limbo somewhat.  Lovely Man's father is in the final stage of CA Pancreas and it's a tough time for all and all the harder that we are so far away.  However, we are taking each day as it comes and trying to do the best we can.

I found a product by Murdesign for the backsplash,  it is a paintable sheet a bit like MDF with the pattern carved into it.  You simply paint it ALL over (Back, front & sides) put it up and then use whatever paint technique you want to finish it.  The lovely people even e-mailed me step by step instructions on how to paint it to get the look I want!  How cool is that?  So I promise I will take some pics and share the cabinets and the backsplash very soon, but the big reveal may take a little longer!

Now I have to tell you about this wonderful recipe I found via Pinterest for the most amazing taco seasoning! The title was Cool White Doors and hot Chilli after all!   For years I have been buying various packet mixes, usually they are either far too hot or have no heat/taste at all!  So when I found this recipe from Perry's Plate I was really keen to try it and I have to say it is totally, utterly fabulous!  What's more I made the bulk version and keep it in a mason jar which saves me money and it's there ready to use whenever I fancy.  So far I have used it to season chicken, peppers and tomato for fajitas and added it to ground beef, kidney beans and tomatoes for a Chilli con Carne. 

Source

Now I would just add a precaution with this however.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use this in the fajita version and then put them on a plate, on a tray and hand over to your Lovely Man.  I did, and the result was one beige carpet (which thankfully was earmarked for replacement) with a huge area covered in chicken, spices, tomatoes etc. etc.  Although we did our best to clean it up there is still a huge scar!