My mom gave me this set of vintage Pyrex mixing bowls a while back, and I’ve been wanting to display them in our glass cabinets. The only problem is, being up on a high shelf, you can’t see all three bowls or the aqua blue retro-looking detailing very well. And ya’ll know how I love a good “Martha blue” accent. I needed to find a solution.

So, I went to Michaels and picked up two blocks of green Styrofoam - the kind you use for floral arrangements. Two micro-seconds later… Bada bing bada boom! I didn’t even bother unwrapping the Styrofoam because otherwise, it would eventually flake off and make a mess.

By adding the Styrofoam blocks, not only do you get to see the retro detailing, but it also adds height and more visual weight to this section of the cabinet. It’s an easy fix, and it solves two problems at once! Holla.

• Give our patio furniture a facelift
• Cover, mask, or otherwise hide the ugly air conditioner
• Establish a dedicated “grilling area” on the patio
• DIY doormats for front and back doors
• Pressure-wash the exterior of the entire house
• Create an “entry area” in the carport
• Build a ramp for detached shed
• Paint the stair rails in carport
• Repair the cracks in the carport floor
• Treat or paint carport floor (maybe?)
• Construct or repurpose a large(ish) planter for the patio
• Plant something and actually keep it alive
• Organize and “beautify” the attached shed
• Repair the door to the crawl-space
• Do some minor landscaping
• Scrape and paint the carport ceiling
• Replace the light fixtures in the carport

Whew! With our very busy schedules, that’s one hefty list. It’s also very likely we’ll end up adding even more projects over the next few weeks. Nevertheless, we’re determined to tackle it with a vengeance and get it done, item by item. To light a fire under us, we’re going to give ourselves a deadline for the grand ‘ole Spring/Summer To-Do List of September 4th. Yes, 2012. And hey, since we’re posting it, there’s even more pressure, right? Right ; )

How about you, what projects do you have on your Spring/Summer To-Do List?

You know those nights when you’re super busy, your brain is going in a million directions and the question “what are we doing for dinner?” seems to just creep up at the most horrible moment possible? One of our favorite fast, cheap, quick and easy meals is what we call, “Peanut Butter Ramen”. I know that probably sounds absolutely disgusting, but it’s actually really good! If you like Thai food, actually, even if you don’t like Thai food, you need to give this concoction a try…

1 Package of Ramen Noodles (any flavor is okay, but we recommend Chicken)
2 Tablespoons of Chunky Peanut Butter
1 Tablespoon of Soy Sauce
2 Teaspoons of Sriracha Chili Sauce (found in the International food section)
1 Thinly Sliced Scallion for Garnish (optional)

Start out by prepping the Ramen Noodles as directed on the package. Once it’s finished, drain most of the broth – only leave about a tablespoon or two. While the noodles are still hot, add the chunky peanut butter. Once the peanut butter is melted completely, add the soy sauce and Sriracha and stir until everything is evenly combined.

This is the point where Greg likes to add more Sriracha but let me warn you, it’s HOT. Call me a whimp, but I stick with 2 teaspoons.

Garnish with a few slices of scallions and you’re good to go! If you want something a little extra, add some grilled chicken. Make sure you eat it while it’s still hot!