Yumminess {Homemade Mac n Cheese]

I confess:  I've been in a funk since I dropped My Girl off at college last week. *Sigh*  Thank goodness my teaching year gears up again on Monday to help me snap the heck out of this!

For her "last supper" at home, My Girl requested this delish mac and cheese dish that came to me from my friend Harriet. Since you busy wives and moms are readying for back-to-school and football weekends (War Eagle! Go Dawgs!), I thought I'd share it with you. It's truly a crowd pleaser and is a regular request around here.

Harriet's Mac and Cheese

1 lb rotini pasta, cooked and drained

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 cups shredded cheddar (or colby jack-- our fave!) cheese-- 3 c in casserole, 1 c on top

2 1/2 cups milk

3-4 tbs butter

Coat 9x13 baking dish with butter.  Add beaten eggs and milk to cooked and drained pasta.  Mix well.  Add mozzarella cheese and 3 cups of cheddar (or colby jack) to pasta mixture and stir.  Pour into dish, cover, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Uncover, add remaining 1 cup cheese on top, and bake additional 15 minutes until melted.

Enjoy...

You're welcome! :)

Coming soon: my Mom Cave/home office update, new Willow House decor, and a new "I Can't Resist!"

Linking up at Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up.

 

Happy Cooking!



Sneak Peek at the Southern Living Idea House

More of this match made in heaven ~ Southern Living and Ballard Designs. :)

Don't you love checking your inbox and finding surprises?  I was so excited to have emails from both Ballard Designs and Southern Living about their partnership in the Horseshoe Bay Idea House.  Southernliving.com is featuring 101 design ideas from this gorgeous home, along with more videos:

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/idea-houses/idea-house-kitchen-00417000074824/

So everyone take a peek!  Can't wait to hear your thoughts and favorite ideas and features from the 2011 Southern Living Idea House. :)  Happy looking!



What a Coat of Paint Can Do {Family Room Update}

Hey there, everyone!  Whew, we made it to Friday!  It's been quite a week around here and will wrap up with a high school football scrimmage tonight (yes, Friday night lights around here!).  Tomorrow, we take the boys and friends up to Lake Rabun for a last hurrah on the water before school starts on Monday.  I, for one, can't wait to prop my feet up with a chilled beverage, how 'bout you?

Anyway, on to a fun project update!  Remember this forlorn little guy??

I scored this little wooden desk a loooong time ago for a song and he's done good work for me as a side table in our family room.  I couldn't believe all the stuff I found when I cleaned out the drawers, but that's another post all together!

This is a cool little piece, but had some chips in the wood here and there and the top has a nice long crack in it-- all of which adds character and made me feel fine about painting instead trying to repair/refinish.  I also wanted to get rid of some of the BROWN in my family room.  It was a wood piece on hardwood floors, next to a dark brown suede sofa.  Blah!!  So in my ongoing quest to lighten and brighten the family room I tried some left over paint from the kids bathroom redo two years ago. But I knew right away it was too light-- I wanted lighter, but I also wanted a pop of color. 

One coat of Martha Stewart's Salt Water and I knew I was on to something! No, I didn't prime (bad painter/blogger/diyer).  I usually am diligent about that, but I can also be impatient, and I was on a timetable before we were leaving town, soo... no primer.

I also decided to recycle the hardware.  Turns out it was 2 different sets of knobs!

I didn't care-- nothing a coat of brassy gold spray paint can't disguise!

And here's the new and improved little guy...

Okay, sorry about the lamp cord hanging down... (bad blogger/diyer/photographer) but what do you think? 

I turned it with it's back against the wall instead of against the arm of the sofa and that's opened up the space some, too.  I love the way the room feels so much brighter now!!  I have another painted piece under the window that I will match up to this one so that will help, too.

Ahh, much better. :)

Let me know what you think!  Happy weekend, friends... any projects on your list or will you be chillin' like me?

Linking up at Mrs. Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday
and the Weekend WrapUp at Tatertots and Jello
and at Susan's Metamorphosis Monday {Between Naps on the Porch}
and Beth's Tutes and Tips Tuesday {Home Stories A to Z}!

Shopping on Saturday {Don't Be Jealous}

Well, I did it.  Dropped my little girl off at college yesterday.  I can't even describe all the ups and downs of the day, but she's there, she's settled, and hopefully enjoying her first day of Rush today!  Between that and the 5:30 a.m. shuttle runs to football practice, my brain and body are fried!

But you're in for a treat today, because I went shopping on Saturday and took my camera along on this very exciting outing!  You know how I looooove the Home Decorators Collection catalog?

Don't hate me!  Just opened in Alpharetta, Georgia on North Point Parkway.

They had a fun scavenger hunt for all their customers plus drawings for $500 gift cards.

Get your outdoor groove on.

love my refurbished desk, but this one had me drooling.

Pretty, pretty!

Sorry for the blurriness, I'm sure I was shaking with excitement over this rug!

Put your feet up!

Sweet dreams with these headboards.

Rugs!! Lots to choose from. :)

Helloooo, lover...

If you didn't want a Martha Stewart Craft Table before, you will now.

Dinnerware! Who knew?

Easy room makeovers possible with this selection of pillows.

Bring the outside in... wish my deck was screened so I could load up on these lovelies!

Loved the variety of mirrors.

And lighting! The white lamp is calling my name for my Mom Cave (think I could stencil this lampshade, too!)

Another gorgeous seating option.

Need dining room seating?

Barware?

A beachy chic side table?

New wreath for fall?

Or wall decor?

So exciting to have the actual storefront to visit! I was so impressed with the quality of the merchandise, the expertise of the staff, AND the fact that they have FREE shipping site to store.  Yay for us Georgia girls!!  There's a handful of other storefronts around the country (click HERE for locations) and hopefully they'll open up some more soon.

If you're ever in the area, let me know and I'll meet you for a shopping trip. :)

Coming Friday, my painted desk reveal and a question for you, too!

Happy Shopping and Happy Decorating!

Thinking "Beach..."

Good morning, friends! My alarm went off at 5 am so I could take my son to football practice at 5:30.  School hasn't started yet, but our schedule certainly has!  As the days are racing by, I'm feeling the urge to hold onto summer just a little longer.  Fancy Little Things is posting all things "beach" during August and I'm thrilled to be part of the fun.  Join me over there for this easy peasy beachy candle project.  Everytime I light these, I'm thinking "beach"...

Happy Monday!

July's Favorite Things {Day Late and Dollar Short}

Good grief, friends, I am STILL catching up after our "mac daddy" road trip to Texas!  We travelled 2700 miles in 10 days, squeezing in visiting and some fun among 46 hours in the car and not a lot of sleep.  Once we got home, I was immediately immersed in shopping and packing my daughter for college, shuttling to football practices, doctor's appointments, summer reading, and prepping to get back to teaching.  Ok, so those are my excuses for not getting this up sooner!  Thanks for forgiving me. :)

I have a little round up of my favorite things from July... hope you enjoy!

Dog Days of Summer...
If you read my personal blog, you might know that we had to put our sweet 16 year old pound puppy to sleep in June.  During our July travels we were blessed to love on the dogs of our friends and family.

Barnabus

Kona and Trooper

Honey

Chocovine.  Run, don't walk, to your local grocery store and pick up a bottle of this deliciousness!  Premium Dutch chocolate combined with a little Cabernet Sauvignon.  Super yummy chilled and sipped slowly. My new go-to hostess gift!  Visit their website to find out more.



Centsational Girl's Peacock Blue Bamboo Chest.  The photo says it all.  Gorgeous.  Click here for her blog post reveal!

Next week I'll be taking my daughter off to University of Georgia (sniff), but I'll be revealing the little wooden desk I painted a couple of weeks ago, so stay tuned.

What's your favorite thing from last month?

Happy Decorating!

Match Made in Heaven

Just back from travelling and now I've got to catch up, but first I gotta share this good news! I don't know about you, but when I heard that Ballard Designs was teaming up with Southern Living magazine to decorate the 2011 Idea House it was like hearing that Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged!  I've been a Southern Living girl my entire life and a Ballards Designs stalker (and outlet shopper) for most of my adult life.  To me this is an entirely logical (and exciting) partnership.

This year's Idea House is located in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, a gorgeous lake front community in the Hill Country. If you've never been to this part of Texas, you're missing out... book your trip asap!  In the meantime, we'll all be poring over and dog-earring the pages of the Idea House, right?

Because I'm a floor plan lover:


Look at all the courtyards!

Southernliving.com has some peeks at the construction process. Loving the use of salvaged wood in this house... seen on the dining room ceiling here.


Click over there to check it out if you haven't received your SL issue yet... the blue doors are divine!

AND, you can shop all the fabulous Ballards pieces they used in the Idea House HERE
.
Like...


This yummy Suzanne Kasler Seaglass lamp (did I mention I heart her?).  And...




This delish Ogden Mirror...  love the dreamy ocean blue. And...




This gorgeous and versatile Padova Accent Table (she's on my wish list!).  And...




These sweet little Bird Giclees (set of 6).  I'd love these for my family room Lighten and Brighten project!

Okay, but before you get to shopping, how about a $10,000 room makeover from Southern Living and Ballards Designs?   Click HERE for the details... in addition to the room makeover, you can win a trip to see the 2011 Idea House! I know I'm entering!  Now, should it be the master bedroom, the dining room, master bath....?

Happy Decorating, Idea House Drooling, and Sweepstakes Entering. :)  You're welcome!