ta-da.

Okay, so I've tried to get away from blogging about every. single. little. thing that nugget does.  However, when something really good comes along, I have to blog.  This was NOT was I was going to blog about today, but again, too good to keep to myself...

Today, he has not taken a nap.  The 15-minute-after-nursing-while-laying-in-my-arms nap doesn't count.  So, I fed him some bananas (I keep finding leftovers on his nose, cheeks, fingers,...), and then, put him in his crib...after awhile he was still lightly crying, so I went in there.  I had some of his clean clothes to put up, so I talked to him while I was putting tiny pants, shirts, and bibs away.  Then, I turned from his closet, and there he was...just SITTING there.  Then, he started grinning like, 

"Ta-da."

My heart skipped.  I got all happy/nervous/excited/sad at the same time.  I just stood there saying, "Oh my goodness.  Oh my goodness."  Then, I thought should I move to try to get the camera?  Will he topple over as soon as I leave the room?  I HAVE to try to get a photo.  Ugh, I have to open the door...Will he get distracted?  Ok, I'm going for it.  

"Mason, stay put."  Did I just tell my son to stay?  

Thank you, self, for keeping the camera in the guest room next to Mase's room.  

I rushed back in - SWEET, he's still SITTING.

I used auto flash, auto without flash, and manual...I snapped about 8 before he started trying to fly (flapping his arms and squealing) and toppled over.

Anyway, here's the best one:

So, that was intense.

Happy weekend.

-S

fall football.

little boy football.

To kickoff our start to fall, the husband, the baby, and I went to a football game Saturday mornin'.  The Dad of the little player we went to see went to school with Michael.  They go way back.  I think this was one of their only games in Clarksville, so we had been planning to go as soon as we heard they would be in our neck of the woods.  The 3 of us scrambled to get ready and out the door...10 a.m. came early and fast with a nugget who is teething.  We made it though and got to see sweet, little Malaki play in his green and gold.  I couldn't get over how cute the tiny players are on such a big, high school field.  It was fun to watch...and imagine Mase playing, but that will be awhile. :)

Anyway, I picked some of my favs from the many photos we took that mornin' and edited them with a "warm" filter - gave them more of a fall feel. :) 

Hope you enjoyed your first, cooler weekend...

-S

father+son

mase-o.

halftime handshake.

can you see mase's mullet??!

father+son
yes, the husband sported his VINTAGE
{ha!}
green & gold jersery.

i love this photo.
just call me luke bryan.

in the stands.

mase's first football game.

jr. pro football at its best.
tummy time & paper-scissors-rock.

daddies w. their boys.

no meat mexican black bean lasagna.

Here's my end-of-summer recipe!  Ha!  Posting it on the first day of fall. :)  

NO MEAT Mexican Black Bean Lasagna!

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can of whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed

2 (10 ounce) cans of diced tomatoes w. green chilies, drained

*VERY important to drain all of these!  Trust me - I've skipped doing this before, and it will make a BIG difference!

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin (I usually use about a teaspoon or even a little more...)

8 (6 inch) corn tortillas (sometimes I use the bigger ones!  if you do, then you'll only need about 4)

Mexican-style cheese blended - I usually use whatever we have in the fridge...I tend to get a little cheese happy, so maybe several cups??

*

Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray...sometimes I forget this step!  No biggie!

In a large bowl, combine your beans, corn, and tomatoes.

In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and cumin.

Place 2 tortillas (or if you're using the bigger ones, just fold one in half) on the bottom of the loaf pan.  Spread about 1/3 cup (rough estimate - just wing it) of ricotta mixture over tortillas.  Top with about 1/3 cup (again, wing it!) of black bean mixture.  Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with cheese.  REPEAT THESE STEPS 3 TIMES!  I usually end by putting one or two tortillas on top...they get nice and crunchy!

Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through and your cheese has melted!  Enjoy!

yo-ho-ho.

Is that not the sweetest pirate or what?  That's my nugget after his mid-day snack - notice leftover banana mush on the bib.  Since it's National Talk Like a Pirate Day, I figured he and I would celebrate.  I did my best pirate impression (hints why this is a picture and not a video), which he thought was pretty funny.  Thank goodness or else I would have felt like a goob.  

My little pirate has been up pretty much all day, so my hands have been full.  However, I wanted to take a few minutes to post this while supper is cookin'.  

Enjoy the rest of your night...and don't forget to channel your inner Johnny Depp. :)

-S

busy, fall, & baby.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

We are super busy around here.  We've started some hardcore cleaning throughout the house...I'm taking 3 graduate school courses (books and highlighters are randomly everywhere)...Our SEVEN month old - enough said.  Gearin' up for the holidays.  It's just a busy time, so sorry for the lack of posts!

Anyway, with my previous blog, I would post a lot about our little boy.  I know - some of y'all miss it, but I do still try to post pics on my personal FB account, as well as use the old school method of emailing pictures.  I created a {2012} FB album, which I thought would be easy to just throw pics throughout the year, tag people, and share.  However, every time I upload pics, it says I've uploaded to the month of "June."  I don't know what's going on.  I have to go through this crazy, ridiculous process of adding pics to my wall then moving them to the album.  I'm pretty frustrated with it, but whatever.  I try to throw some pictures on there whenever I have a few minutes.  My love-hate relationship with FB continues.

*

So, I'm pumped about fall.  If you follow me on Pinterest (check it out here), you are already well aware of this fact.  I am addicted to everything about cooler weather.  If there was a state that had fall all year round, I would take root.  Boots, scarves, apple cider, hay rides, pumpkins, frost, bonfires, football....it's just a fun time of year, and this year is EXTRA special since it's our first fall with our nugget.

However, I don't want to neglect the last full week of summer.  I'm squeezing in all of the obnoxious, bright colored outfits I own, sporting my flippy floppies, and trying to whip up cooler, lighter meals in the kitchen.  One of my all-time favorite meals to fix is Mexican Black Bean Lasagna.  It is easy, meatless, and delish, so it's a hit.  I'm planning on sharing that recipe with y'all sometime this week, and hopefully, you can try it before fall gets here!

Thanks again for all the "likes" for the fan page, photos, posts, etc.  

Hope y'all have a fun weekend!  

-S

*

Here is a pic of our nugget on his 7 month birthday...He's gettin' to be a big boy!  Makes me sad...There is not a doubt in my mind I will cry at every major milestone.

barn sale.

Saturday, we all packed into the van and rode on over to Hartsville, Tennessee for The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale.  I have never been to that beautiful area of the state.  The weather was perfect to walk around a barn full of homemade stuff, vintage items, sweet people, and, of course, lots of hay.  I saw TONS of neat ideas!  The vendors had upcycled SO many items that we have stored away in our attic.  It made me want to get home, put some work clothes on, and dust off boxes AND boxes of stuff we have that isn't gettin' used.

Being in a creative atmosphere is so refreshing for me.  I guess it's my kind of spa.  

I had a really, really good time.  It sure would be awesome if Creek Junk could be there as a vendor next year.......Long-term goal, maybe? 

Mom took this...
and I love the picture of me w. my little boy,
BUT see that tall cabinet in the background???
It was a VERY good deal,
and I passed on buying it.
Ugh.
Now, I have to see it in this photo!!!

*Sorry there aren't a lot of pictures.  Sometimes the vendors prefer for you to not snap photographs of all their creative ideas that they're selling.  So, I typically play it safe and try to not be as snap happy as I usually am. :)

Fall mirror.

Ok.  I can't stand it anymore.  I've got to post this mirror.  I have yet to paint a clear coat on it...still debating on sanding a little here and there...maybe touching up more spots with black?  

I don't know.  

Besides all of that, here it is.  I had originally planned on just doing white, but I decided the black would be kinda different...I like it.  It's perfect for Fall.  I have it set-up in the front room, which I kinda like.  We don't have a full length mirror in our house (I know - I'm not the typical girl), so it's been nice for a change.  However, I am NOT keeping it!  It is for sale. :)  

GE antique.

I've been going through some old photos from a couple of years ago, and I came across these...Check out this antique that was in the basement of our previous house.  It was fully functional, too.  It took awhile for it to heat up, but I did bake some biscuits in it!  Would have LOVED to have taken this with us when we moved, but it was EXTREMELY heavy, which must have been why the other previous owners had left it.  Anyway, no idea what the new owners of the home have done with it...I kinda hope it's still in that basement where I'm sure it's been for many, many years still outlasting newer, trendier models...

the big easy breakfast.

Off work today and lookin' for a quick breakfast to whip together?  Try this.  You'll probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.  Thanks, Momma, for this fun and simple recipe! Happy Labor Day, Everyone! -S

*

The Big Easy Breakfast dish (starring all the bad stuff, eggs...cheese...sausage and named The Big Easy because it's EASY).

1 lb sausage

8 oz crescent rolls

2 cups grated Cheddar cheese

4 eggs, beaten

3/4 cups milk

1/4 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

Crumble and cook sausage...drain that bad stuff off.  Let your kiddos line the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish with the crescent rolls...sprinkle with sausage and cheese.  Let your other young'un beat the remaining 'stuff' together and pour over the sausage/cheese.  Let husband (or significant other) preheat the oven to 425 and bake for 15 minutes or until set.  Keep everybody away for 5 minutes, then cut into squares, give thanks and serve it up.....don't forget to run the dogs out of the kitchen!

-Melissa

mirror teaser.

I've been working on giving life to an old mirror that I found at a local, antique store.  It was on the second story of the store (therefore, not gettin' any looks), and it was marked down in price.  When I bought it, I thought that it wouldn't be too difficult to transform; however, it's taken a lot longer than I thought.  Other project people, can y'all relate?  Yesterday, I touched up a few more spots, and I'm waiting to paint a clear coat to complete it.  Once the sun comes back out, I'll haul it to the deck and finish it.  Until then, it's in pieces in our front room.  Anyway, here is a teaser...

Oh ya, this piece will be for sale. :)

*Like us on our Facebook page, Creek Junk.

-S

new place.

So, this is my new place.  

I'm not completely sure where this blog is gonna go or what exactly will be posted on a regular basis, but I think it will keep your interest.  Of course, my little man (about to turn the big 7 months here soon) will make several appearances.  However, this place will also have antiques, projects (I love me some before+afters), easy recipes, seasonal ideas, and that sorta stuff.  I had my previous blog for a little over 2 years, so it was time for a move.

Anyway, I'm going to treat my new place kinda how I treat our home.  It will be a constant work in progress.  You readers out there who live in old homes (heck, even new homes), you know what I mean...You work on your house piece by piece.  Nothing is ever "complete."  You just get to a good stopping point every now and then.  That's how I'm gonna roll with this.

Here we go, Creek Junk.     

-S