We almost missed this huge lantern when thrifting recently. There it sat, super dirty and full of cobwebs, looking sad and sitting on the dusty floor of our local thrift shop. It was the price tag that got out attention, $6.99 at Goodwill for a huge metal and glass lantern that is screaming for a
I am probably a bit of a cleaning nerd but I like to clean. Well, more the enjoyment over the end result perhaps than the process itself. This last weekend I took full advantage of the 3 day weekend and did some serious deep cleaning in our home. Lifting a layer of winter dirt
Even before breaking up with gluten six years ago, I had tried numerous times to create a crispy and sweet version of one of my restaurant faves. Each time it was ok, the sauce was pretty good but the chicken pieces were kind of……meh. Not great and I would eat it of course but not
We have had a long winter for the Pacific Northwest, and I don’t know about you, but I am SO ready for Spring. Everything coming to life, longer days, more sun and those first signs of blooms, little buds on the trees and beautiful blooms saying hello after so many months of being tucked away
I am SO excited to share this quick and easy before and after with you today. Sometimes a dramatic change is simple and does not involve any fancy tools or lengthy amounts of time to complete. And sometimes… With a little paint, and some dry time… A beautiful swan emerges from a dark old
Walking around my home with my coffee recently I realized that I have more second hand items than not. If you have followed twelveOeight for a while or you are new here (yay thank you everyone for your love and support!) you will probably see that my PASSION is to turn nothing into something
I love noodles, cover them in a million different sauces or leave them buttered with some parsley and you can count me in. And what’s better than combining a delicious peanut sauce with tender pieces of chicken? Well you could make it gluten free. And make it in less than 30 minutes. Now we’re
I must have a thing with strings of lights, layers of texture and dream catchers. Or a variation of one like the one we are making today. When I was sifting through my craft supplies and found this embroidery hoop, and a yard of lace fabric I begin thinking about some of the open
We use our slow cooker year round, in the summer a big pot of pork carnitas or baked beans keep the kitchen cool by avoiding turning the oven on. And in the fall and winter…well…it’s a slow-cooker-palooza every week and I find myself using ours at least three times a week if not more.
I graduated from High School in 1989. That puts me at 45 today, and while some things have changed so much, my love of rock t-shirts, all things Stevie Nicks, and dreams of travelling Europe with a backpack and train pass have never changed. I grew up on a small working farm, raised by my
The Portland area has a wonderful mini blanket of snow this weekend topped by some dangerous ice that is keeping my inside enjoying my coffee and fireplace today. So I have to admit, while I like to keep up on trends, my home is an eclectic mix of what I love. A mish mash of
I know I am not the only one who has struggled with their weight. That it’s not just about what size we are, but what we see when we look in the mirror. Who looks back at us and do we approve or make a list of everything that needs to change. Living in
The painting bug seems to strike at unexpected times. I would think of spring and fall first, as one you are purging and refreshing your space for warmer weather and the other getting cozy and bringing in warmth all around you. But right before Thanksgiving, not something I thought we would tackle. Until I
We just came up with this little number this weekend and I had to share. Not only is this a refreshing, crisp glass of apple pie with a kick, but this will keep those tootsies warm on cold nights too. I love a quick seasonal drink that I can throw together for friends to
We are going to make a day of it this year, with warm boots, mittens and lots of cocoa to find our tree. I cannot wait. Like, literally. So in the meantime Santa’s little dress workshop can still be full of Christmas cheer and working on lots of projects while I wait for late
Since returning to work full time, I have found that more than ever my home is the warm nest I look forward to returning to each day after work. And while I don’t have the time to accomplish large projects in the evenings and on weekends, I can little things on a regular basis that
Can you believe that it’s going to be Thanksgiving in just a few weeks? Neither can I. We were just knee deep in summer a minute ago it seems, and the wonderful holiday season has already arrived. Being that it is my favorite time of year I will take it however. I don’t know
Our garden began as a next year project. Then the kids brought home some parsley seeds. Knowing how busy work would be this summer, and still sticking to my we-don’t-have-time-to-garden-this-year plan, I agreed to the planting of the parsley. As you can imagine (and the reason I am writing about leftover zucchini and what in
I love jewelry. And other than my wedding ring my jewelry is usually from Charlotte Russe or Forever 21. There is something about buying a bunch of new bracelets and accessories to breathe some new life into your wardrobe. I have been in a huge style rut for a while now. A bad one.
Rice seems like an easy enough thing to make. For whatever reason, mastering how to cook rice has eluded me. I love it, it’s gluten free (yay, makes grumpy tummies happy) and easy on the budget. Enter my desire to make Spanish Rice. I thought it was the recipe, so I tried every single recipe
hi there !!
Welcome to twelveOeight! I’m Tanya and I am so glad you are here. If you are ready to start loving the home you have now, then join me on my mission. One thrifty project at a time we can make our today homes our dream homes.
Never miss a post! Subscribe to the newsletter for monthly updates and other special news.