I'm a Little Chef!

A Little Chef vintage oven owner that is!

A few weeks ago I went a little crazy and bid on one of these cute ovens on ebay.  I've been yearning for one ever since I saw it on Elaine's blog Sunny Simple Life.  

I would find them quite a bit on ebay but either the condition would be terrible if the price fit or if the condition was good the price did not fit my budget.  

Well this little cutie is in really good condition with a small exception.....do you notice it?

Honestly I didn't see it and kind of forgot about it when I bid on it.  (Although the seller very clearly disclosed what was wrong with it.)

Not sure if she's going to stay here on top of my kitchen bookcase, but she's there for now and I like her!

Well....I gotta' ask.  Have you ever started yearning for something you didn't even know existed once you saw it on someone's blog?  I'd love to know what!  (Although, maybe I don't because then I'll go check it out and then I'll start wanting it too!  Worker Bee would not approve!)

And all the pictures for my post tonight were taken by.................drum roll please..............my new iPhone!!!!

I love it!  Now when I'm on the go I can quickly take pics for my blog (like the ones from Target the other day) and take pictures at school.  I even used it to do a quick bit of research on something I saw at the thrift shop yesterday before I bought it.  In the few weeks I've had my new friend I can't imagine what I did before - especially my calendar.  

Thanks so much for buzzing in to visit!  

Your visits always bring a smile to my face.

P.S.  I'll be announcing the Mary Engelbreit giveaway winner tomorrow!  And it's time for the Giveaway Palooza to continue with Giveaway #3!

P.P.S.  I'm linking up to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home!
P.P.S. Oh and by the way, anybody have an extra oven handle for a Little Chef oven?  LOL

Target Is My BEEloved!

What is it about Target?  How does it seduce me every time I enter its red doors?  Why do things just hop into its fun red carts?

Well, you would be proud of me this time.  I resisted.....for now.

You see, although it's gray and foggy and dreary here at Sweet Bee Cottage today, I found some things that will make you start dreaming of spring and summer (like you aren't doing that already) and how much fun we're going to have in our yards this year!

First, I found all these colorful lanterns!  Turquoise and white and lime green (my personal fav these days) and red and black.....aren't they fabulous?  I know exactly where I would put them.  But, as I mentioned before, I didn't buy any of them.  I know.  You're shocked.

And then in the same area were these gorgeous plates and bowls - made out of plastic.  (Are they still called melamine?  Am I showing that I grew up in the 70s and that's what we called that plastic stuff?)

Don't you love the colors?  The quality seemed quite nice on these beauties.  They have a little rope edging and a wavy texture.  Oh my...I really do like these.  Dinner plates were $3 each and salad plates were $2.  Can't remember the cost of the bowl now.  And you know what?  These didn't hop in that red cart either.

 Next I found these beautiful green glasses!  They were plastic/acrylic too!  Aren't they pretty?  But do you think drinks would look funny in them?  Like green milk?  Something to think about.  

 And then.....hidden away on an end cap (can you tell I worked retail in college?) were these adorable birdhouses, planters, and pitchers.....

 with garden gloves and tools to match!  Love them!  Maybe it's that bright green backdrop that grabbed my attention, but I think I better tell Worker Bee where he can go shopping for me for Valentine's Day!  

Although Worker Bee?  If you are going to shop from my blog for me I better get specific.  I really, really, really, really, really, really like the dishes. 

Really.

I should mention all these pictures were taken with my new tool/toy!  I'll have to show you that soon.

Thanks for buzzing by!  I'm making Manhattan Clam Chowder for dinner tonight and I better get it started.  Worker Bee's been asking for it for ages now.  It will be a fun treat!

Oh and don't forget to enter both of my giveaways!  #1 ends tonight!  

Oh and P.S.  I DO love Target, but I love Worker Bee more.  (And that's probably why none of those ended up in my cart.)

P.P.S.  Have I mentioned my nephew works for Target?  He's one of their designers.  He had some fabulous things for Christmas.  Did I blog about any of them?  No!  I should have!  Sorry nephew - or should I call you Target Bee?

Getting Worker Bee Organized

I LOVE getting things organized!

I have to confess that I'm not always great at keeping things organized however.

And....well.....Worker Bee is even worse.  (Sorry Worker Bee, I called you out there AND threw you under the bus.)

Well, it was time.  Time to get Worker Bee's side of our closet organized.  

 Hey!  It doesn't look so bad....

Cue the ominous music....

Oh yes, I see danger lurking there in that bottom right corner....

Eeeeeeek!  Why is there a Trader Joe's bag in there Worker Bee? 

(Boy am I glad HE doesn't have a blog where he can point out all the mess on MY side of the closet!)

 How does all that junk fit in that tiny closet???

What happened to my pretty little bed?

Well after 4 ginormous bags of clothing Worker Bee donated,

we had this....

Now doesn't that look grand?

A nice big basket for shoes (uh...Worker Bee....why aren't there more shoes in there?  Are they out in the living room again?) and

all the shirts nicely sorted by type.

 Okay....I have to admit....I'm kind of proud of this idea.  I used foam door hangers I picked up at Michaels and cut a slit so it would go over the closet rod....

 so long sleeved knits are separated form long sleeve button shirts, which are then separated from polo shirts, and then those are separate short sleeve button shirts and so on and so on....

Ahhh......organized nirvana.....

 Then Worker Bee's sweaters are stacked nicely on that top shelf.  Worker Bee might be almost as addicted to sweaters as I am.  Although I'm exponentially more addicted than he, as in for every 1 of his I have 12 (or maybe more she confesses sheepishly).

 All his ties are hung neatly on a little peg rack.  (And really, Worker Bee, you couldn't get rid of the cheapy Christmas and St. Patrick's Day ties?  Those would have easily fit in those 4 huge bags.)

A nice handy hook for hanging his robe, pajamas, or whatever....

And one of our favorite inventions for tight closets.....stacking pants hangers.  Just clip them on and you can fit four pair of pants in the space of about 2 pants would take up on normal hangers.

Doesn't it look marvelous???

Next up....my side of the closet, Baby Bee's closet, the hall closet,the coat closet....I could go on and on, but it sure does feel good to have one closet tackled and done.

So what are you working on to get organized?

(And have you noticed?  Two projects done!  Yes, I know, none from on my sidebar, but those WILL happen someday!)

Thanks for buzzing by!

I've BEEn Cooking Again

Seems to be my only creative outlet these days....cooking that is......

Tonight (Sunday, we usually have Sewing Bee over for dinner) I made Chicken Noodle Soup.  

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....I hear the sighs out there.  Big deal, Chicken Noodle Soup....

But.....

I must declare.....

this is a most different and delicious Chicken Noodle Soup!  

Even Worker Bee (who IS a fan of my cooking, but not a fan of the untraditional) liked it!

Found the recipe on Country Living and here is my interpretation.

Chicken Noodle Soup with a Twist

•2 Tbl extra virgin olive oil

•3 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut crosswise into 1/3 inch pieces with rings intact

•Coarse sea salt to taste

•Freshly ground pepper

•7 cups chicken broth (I used the stock from Costco– I know they're not exactly the same thing)

•1 clove garlic, smashed

•6 oz wide noodles (I eye-balled it and ended up adding too many noodles, so measuring might be a good idea here)

•3 cups sliced roast chicken, skin on, breast meat (oh yeah, that's the best part – also picked up the roasted chicken at Costco – I love that Worker Bee works just down the street from one of our local Costcos – oh and I'm using the rest of the chicken to make chicken salad with lots of crunchy vegetables – um, I think I'm done now rambling about Costco chickens)

•2 cups frozen peas, thawed

•2 Tbl finely chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

Steps

1.  In a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil.  Carefully add the leeks in a single layer. 

 Make sure the rings don't unravel.  Reduce to medium-low heat, season with salt and pepper and cook 9 minutes.  Turn leeks, set heat to low (oops - forgot to turn the heat down more here), and cook until golden brown, about 9 more minutes.

2.  In the meantime, bring the broth and garlic to boil in a soup pot.  Stir in the noodles, cook, stirring every once in a while, until tender, but still firm, about 10-12 minutes.  

Discard garlic.  (Couldn't figure out how to remove the garlic at this point, so it stayed.  I thought about putting it in a tea ball or cheesecloth, but I got too lazy and didn't.)

3.  Set aside a few leeks per serving for garnish.  

Add remaining leeks to soup, along with chicken, peas, dill, and cook for 2 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Scoop into bowls and garnish with the reserved leeks and dill sprigs.

Yummmmmmmmm....

Gratuitous glamour shot.....

And.....

it was good.

Have you tried any twists on traditional dishes lately?

And it just wouldn't be a visit to Sweet Bee Cottage if I didn't throw in a little something else.

See that aqua tray?  The aqua milk glass tray?  I wrote about getting it on Black Friday and I was going to sell it.  I really was. 

 Really.

And then....I just couldn't.  Clearly it was meant to me because all my regularly used vinegars, oils, and seasoning fit on it perfectly!!! 

You understand don't you? Right???

Thanks for buzzing in and I hope you take a moment to enter one of my giveaways!

P.S.  There's plenty of leftovers!  Lunch tomorrow at my house?

P.P.S.  Sharing this delicious recipe over at Sunny Simple Life.

Giveaway Palooza #2 - Very Vintage

There's been a lot of changes here at Sweet Bee Cottage - mostly good - don't worry - but my blogging time has become extremely limited due to these changes.  Since things have been fairly sporadic around here, I wanted to thank you for hanging in there with me with ANOTHER giveaway!  (I know, I know!  It's craaaaaaazy!)

For those of you that visit fairly often, you know I LOVE vintage!  I've even got a little etsy shop devoted to my vintage finds.  

Well, I've been saving a few finds JUST FOR YOU.

I know - you're dying to know what can I win?  What can I win?

Included in this very vintagey giveaway are:

1.  A vintage black metal tray with lovely coral and pink flowers.

2.  A pink Depression glass lidded dish.  (Honestly, I don't know what it was used for....maybe a sugar bowl?  I found a green one just like it that I'm keeping.  I'm using mine for jewelry on my dresser.  Any ideas?)

3.  A charming vintage hankie - lovely purple and yellow flowers on the border with a pink interior.

and

4.  A milk glass urn or compote.

So.....are you feeling my vintage vibe?

If so and you want to enter this giveaway than:

•leave a comment on this post AND a way to contact you

•for a second chance, post this on your blog, Facebook, or twitter and come back to leave a second comment

•open only to US and Canada due to shipping costs (sorry world)

•giveaway ends on Saturday, February 16 at midnight PST

Thanks so much for buzzing along with me - infrequently or not!

Oh and you'll never believe it, but I have ANOTHER giveaway lined up!
(For you counters out there, that's a third giveaway!)

 Hope you come back for a visit to check that one out.  

Sharing today with:

Beverly for Pink Saturday

Game Night

This weekend we had some friends over for Game Night!  We've been talking about doing it for ages and we finally did it.

Worker Bee and I cooked dinner, another Teacher Bee friend brought drinks, and yet another Teacher Bee friend brought dessert.

I found tons of great ideas on Pinterest....

But did I do any of them?  Of course not!!!  Instead we just had some good food and some good fun!

We made from my favorite slow cooker cookbook of all time this delicious Smoky Beef Chili with the most amazing (and simple) corn salsa as a garnish.  (Oh yes, I'm afraid I'm going to share a recipe....again.....please don't groan.  But it's just for the corn salsa - I think it would be fabulously delicious on any homemade chili.)

Corn Salsa

2 cups fresh or frozen (I used frozen white corn) corn kernels

2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

4 green onions, including green tops, thinly sliced

1/3 - 1/2 lime vinaigrette

Lime Vinaigrette

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbl white wine vinegar

1 tsp grated lime zest

2 Tbl fresh lime juice

1/4 c extra virgin olive oil

Toss well and indulge!

We built a nice cozy fire in our wood stove (it got below freezing that night)

 pulled out all the games,

and enjoyed our relaxing evening with friends!

We played Cranium, Catch Phrase, and the Game of Things.  I only won when I partnered with Worker Bee on Cranium.  Holy guacamole that boy is good!  That must be why he keeps passing that  Jeopardy online test.  

Can't wait to do it again!

Do you wanna' come the next time?

What games do you enjoy?  I'd love to know!

Thanks for buzzing in!  So nice to see you!