Just say 'Cheese'

I have a new obsession: cheese.

Actually, it's an old obsession, I mean who doesn't love cheese? Even lactose intolerant peeps can enjoy all of the fab goat and sheep's milk cheeses out there.

So, Mr. Peanutbutter and I have decided to do more than eat our way through our cheese craze. Yep, we're going to MAKE cheese. I've made mozzarella before which was really fun, good and easy to do. Why not take it to the next level?

We don't have cows, goats or sheep (maybe one day says Mr. Peanutbutter) but we do live near multiple farming communities and I've managed to find a way to buy raw milk. I'm so excited! We'll start with more mozzarella this week, and maybe try setting a hard cheese. In the meantime, I'm waiting for my new books to arrive from amazon.

American Farmstead Cheese by Paul Kindsedt

The Cheese Chronicles by Liz Thorpe

If you're curious about making cheese yourself, I highly suggest getting a starter cheese making kit. We bought Ricki's Cheese Making Kit which is a great buy, and is how I made my first batch of mozzarella.
Photos of our cheese extravaganza to follow soon...

Parisian decor...how I love thee

There is little about french decor that I don't like, but I must admit that I'm partial to the sometimes ostentacious style of the Parisian apartment.

I love antique mirrors with gilded frames mixed with teal velvet drapes, chaise lounges and funky black accents. (My recent lamp re-do was completely inspired by such decor) Maybe your wondering what I see in my little pea brain when the cogs start turning and I begin working on a new project? Well, I just happen to have some beautiful photos of various Parisian inspired living spaces to share with you.

I shamelessly borrowed these from Habitually Chic. I had to stop at 9 photos, but I could've posted thousands. I take so much inspiration from her blog, so please stop by and have a look around.

Budget decor: Parisian inspired lamp

Yes, blogosphere, I have been neglectful and I'm sorry. The thing is, I've been working very hard helping Mr. Peanutbutter with the upcoming open-house for his gallery/venue space The Bleu Monkey. Lots to do before this weekend (let's just say it needs a woman's touch).

We're working within a very tight budget, and I've been decorating the place with transformed alley finds and thrift-store buys. Today I finished this great table lamp that I thought I'd share with you.

Mr. Peanutbutter had found this very cool, but rusty old lamp. I didn't get a photo before I painted it, but here it is after a couple coats of black satin spray paint.
I bought a very simple white lampshade at a local decorator discount store, which I taped off with painter's tape and then spray painted gold.
I spaced each stripe with another strip of tape to make my stripes even. The lampshade that I used was a little bigger at the bottom than it was at the top, so I had to add a little more space at the bottom of each stripe. After I was done, I 'eyeballed' the whole thing and moved the stripes a little to make it all straight and even.


Next, was the spray paint. I just used plain old gold metallic spray paint and it worked just fine.

Tada!

This project has been listed on these fabulous blogs:

The Shabby Chic Cottage
Between naps on the porch
Beyond the Picket Fence

A soft place to land

Today's Creative Blog
My Backyard Eden