Birds of a Feather

I love my master bedroom (haven't seen the before and after? Read more here). But it was really lacking something on the walls. To be fair, up until recently my whole house had lacked something on the walls, but still.

During my lunch breaks I have taken to frequenting the local Goodwill to see what is going on in the world of low-priced donated goods. Occasionally I will find something interesting --- most notably a ceramic frog dancing with three hens.

Nothing really of use though until last week. I ran across this pair of peacocks.





They are more like dioramas than anything else. And ideal for the master -- very original, a great pop of color on the dark gray walls, and I love anything that has birds on it. Add to the potion that they were just $20 for the set, and I have some fancy new art on the wall next to my closet.

We're back in business

It has been almost two months since my last real blog post, but I am back to blogging. Time to get excited.

And what better what to get started than with a question from a loyal reader. This letter comes from Abby:

I just painted a bookshelf. It's a small wooden shelf that I painted with acrylic paints.

I feel like I need to put some sort of sealant or top coat on there for protection, but I don't know what kind. I don't want to sit a plant or anything on there for fear of scratching the paint.

Any advice?

Well, Abby, it just so happens that I have some advice for you! You need a few thin coats of polyurethane to round out this project.

Painting furniture is a great way to repurpose a tired bookshelf or add some life to that bland nightstand. In fact, I added a few coats of white paint to a sideboard that became my dresser (read about it here).

Sealing with polyurethane gives painted furniture a nice shine and improves durability. You can choose from either satin, semi-gloss or gloss depending on the look that you are going for. Just apply a few thin coats, lightly sanding between each. If you want a more in-depth tutorial about painting furniture, Bryn Alexandra has a great post you should check out.

Thanks for the great question, Abby. Would love to see a picture of your bookshelf when you are finished!

Any other readers have a burning question for me? Leave a comment below and you could be the next reader featured on Musings. Who could ask for more?

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

Tips, Tidbits & Tricks: Marinating

Break out the charcoal! It's warm enough to grill (or bake, broil, etc. in the house). Check out these tips about marinating.

- Marinades should be a balance of oil, acid and spices or other flavorings.

- If using wine in your marinade, use red rather than white. Red helps preserve the tenderness of the meat.

- Cut of meat particularly tough? Tenderize it with pineapple juice, which has powerful enzymes that break down proteins in meat.

- Use a syringe to pump meat full of flavor--- the marinade works from the inside out and prep time can be shortened.

- Don’t skimp on the vinegar! It breaks down the meat’s connective tissue and protects against putrefaction.

- To cut potentially cancer-causing hetrocyclic amines (HCAs), marinate food in an acidic marinade. The acid can reduce HCAs as much as 99% according to the American Cancer Research Institute.

- Marinades aren’t just for proteins. Mix up a tasty batch for your favorite veggies. Marinate for 15-30 minutes before cooking.

- For easy mixing and marinating, put all your ingredients in a Ziplock bag, close, and shake! Then just add the meat or veggies to the bag for a delicious dish with minimal clean-up.

- Marinades that include a high percentage of salt help increase juiciness (combines the benefits of marinating and brining).

- Sugars help food brown during cooking which further develops flavor. Try honey or brown sugar.

Marinade recipes:
Ginger-Sesame Marinade

Garlic-Citrus Marinade

Classic Marinade

Happy Friday!