Wordless Wednesday {Sherwin Williams "DIMINUTIVE PINK"}

Commona My Kitchen {Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp}

You all know that I'm a huge fan of Ina Garten {The Barefoot Contessa}. Not only is she a World Renowned Chef, but she hails from my neck of the woods. I love her North East sensibility and many of her recipes are similar to ones that I grew up with. 

I've made Ina's Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp before, but it was a tad too sweet for me, and there wasn't enough "crisp", in my opinion. 

So, I've adapted my own version of her original recipe.

Year of Change Designer Challenge JULY {Plate Wall}

First off, I'd like to thank my co-hosts in The Year of Change Challenge. While I was off on the East Coast and then dealing with a glitch in my health, they've been maintaining the schedule and have been incredibly patient with my absence. This lady is grateful and pretty humbled to have such amazing (not to mention incredibly talented) friends. 

This month’s Year of Change Challenge was to makeover an area we have neglected. We wanted to show that just addressing one task (say, that you may have put off for a bit) can have a big impact.  My 'to do' list that I've been neglecting, pretty much is like 100 tasks long. I just jumped in with one easy wall hanging project, that was fun and quick! 

In addition to the usual crew {Suburban Bitches, Life on Virginia Street and Rosa Beltran Design}, we are also joined by our guest designer, Paige, from The Pink Clutch!

Our basement is a bland, kid area...chock-full of kid stuff...keyboard, tv hang out area, toys, books...you get the picture.  A few years ago, while still living in Tulsa, I found a few vintage (1950's and '60's) souvenir plates and started a little collection. I thought this was the PERFECT spot to hang them. I love using plates as wall art.

Using just your standard $1.99 plate hangars, I hung them in an a-symmetrical formation. I love free-form hangings, but the main reason why I hung them in this fashion was so that if my collection grows, I can easily just fill in and add easily. 

Now, stop over to each of the other Year of Change Designers (Suburban Bitches, Life On Virginia Street, Rosa Beltran Design & The Pink Clutch) to see the projects that they've accomplished around their homes this month!

Commona My Kitchen {Cilantro Ranch Dressing}

This is hands down THE BEST green ranch dressing. I've tried several versions (some were too mayonnaise-y, some were too cilantro-y, some just weren't all that good. I've tweaked them to come up with my own version. Quickly throw all ingredients into your blender, blending until combined. Let sit in a mason jar, covered with the lid or plastic wrap,  in your fridge for a couple of hours (to thicken up). Use within 3 days.

Wordless Wednesday {Sherwin Williams "Retiring Blue"}

Well, hello there! {how can it be the end of July?}

Yes, I'm back from being silent for quite some time. Since the start of Commona My House, I haven't missed more than a few days here and there, so this was a big step for me to skip my posts with you...but over the past month I've had a few issues with my health and well, that had to come first. 

A few posts ago, I discussed the growing epidemic of Lyme Disease, primarily linking the danger of invasive Japanese Barberry to the infestation of ticks, {ticks that are more often than not, infected with Lyme Disease}.

Well, isn't it ironic... I came back from my time in CT with a little souvenir: Lyme Disease. {Yes, I want to insert crazy emoticons here, but I'll refrain from doing so}.

A surge of antibiotics and I'll be fine, but I've needed a little time to get back in the game.

Thanks for hanging in there with me! I'm happy to be back!

If you follow me on Instagram, you've kept up with some behind the scenes snaps of mine {like the ones below: No Makeup Monday, Here is the Lock, and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp} that I'll be sharing details of soon here on the blog.

XXXOOO,