Crib turned Porch Daybed

I cannot tell you how happy I am to have this daybed complete. It's been over a year since I decided to do it and I don't know what took me so long.  

I followed these suggestions and sawed about 9 inches off the legs. We also added a piece of plywood under the mattress to reinforce the seat so adults could sleep sit on the daybed. Instead of making a cover for the mattress, I decided to use a crib sheet. Thank you, Target.

The daybed is in our sunroom and it is the perfect place to curl up with a book. The girls love playing on it, and I'm sure there will be a few naps on it this summer. All we need is a few more pillows.  

Herringbone Painting {diy}

I saw this painting on Pinterest knew that I wanted to make one of my own. The girls helped me paint the canvas and I used this tutorial as a taping guide. I love the bright colors on my dark wall.

Have you ever been inspired by a painting on Pinterest? 

P.S.Some of my other Pinterest inspired projects, washi tape birdhouse and fabric pumpkin. 

Ten on Ten {June 2013}

Ten on Ten: take a photo an hour for ten consecutive hours capturing the ordinary beauty in your day to day life. 

{light and delicious} Strawberry Cake

Strawberry season is in full swing here in Pennsylvania and it makes me so happy.  They are a family favorite.  After strawberry picking yesterday, the girls and I made a light and delicious strawberry cake.

I make this cake every summer because it is simple and I always have the ingredients on hand.  I love the cake plain, but it is great with ice cream too.

Strawberry Cake
adapted from Martha Stewart 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch pie plate. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.

Put butter and 1 cup sugar in the bowl and mix until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk, and vanilla. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Transfer batter to buttered pie plate.

Arrange strawberries on top of batter, cut sides down and as close together as possible. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 45 minutes. Cool, serve and enjoy. 

Do you have a favorite strawberry cake recipe? 

Crockpot Cheese Tortellini {freezer meal}

It has been a while since I shared a freezer exchange meal.  So I thought I'd share one of my favorite meals from our May meal exchange.  It is a simple freeze and dump crock pot meal that fills you up.

Crockpot Cheese Tortellini

1 small bag of fresh spinach

2-14.5 oz cans of Italian style diced tomatoes, drained

8 oz cream cheese, diced

1 pound ground sausage or chicken/turkey sausage

4 cups chicken broth

1- 19 oz bag of frozen cheese tortellini

1. Brown the sausage and put the first five ingredients in crockpot or bowl and stir. 

*If freezing, put the sausage mixture in a freezer bag and freeze. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.*

2. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

3. Add the tortellini during the last 30 minutes of cooking. 

4. Enjoy!