Sweep the Floor

While I'm not particularly fond of this expression when it comes to food (like pizza)...it IS a little catchier that "Raid the Cabinets" which is essentially what I did when I created this meal. We were (and still are) WAY overdue for a Calandro's trip, so we had to either get really creative in terms of food...or order out. Well, glad I did [get creative] two nights ago because the meal turned out kind of amazing - not to toot my own horn. I actually think I just got a little lucky. Either way, here's what I did:

- 2 cans of drained cannelloni beans
- ~2 cups of chicken broth
- 1 can of fire roasted red bell peppers
- salt/pepper
- 3 garlic cloves
- Tony's seasoning
- Fresh basil leave
- Curry powder
- Finely chopped red onion

Stir all of this over the stove for ~20 minutes on medium heat. You're not cooking any meat, so you really can't go wrong, but twenty minutes seemed to work perfectly for me.

DIY - Felt Flower

Happy Thursday! If you read yesterday, you may remember that I mentioned a tutorial for the little felt flowers that were attached to the wreaths that are for sale. Well - this is it! These little flowers are perfect for so many things. Just wreaths, for example: you can use these flowers to use as accessories for wreaths for Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mardi Gras, Easter, summer, birth announcements, etc. Speaking of birth announcements and babies, how cute would little light blue or pink felt flowers look in a faux bouquet or strewn across a table at a baby shower? Purple and gold at an LSU game? 

So - to make them yourself, you'll need:
- Felt Squares
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun (and glue)
- Patience
- 1+ glasses of wine

Directions:
- Pour a glass of wine
- Cut a circle out of the felt square
- Sip
- Cut circle from outside moving inward in a spiral motion (staying ~.75 to 1 inch from the outside)
- Begin cutting a wave pattern on the outer edge of the spiral all the way to the end
- Sip
- From the outside of the big spiral to the inside, start rolling and hot gluing along the way
- Cover the bottom with the extra little circle of felt
- Finish your wine because you are done!

These felt flowers are for sale at only $2 per flower! Email us at TheMendedNest@gmail.com!

DIY - Christmas Wreath!

Greetings! Yesterday, I was asked to make a Christmas wreath for a dear friend, and before doing any research at all, I said of course! I love wreaths; not only are they beautiful (at least most of them), but also very important to society. I mean, without them, how could we possibly know what season it was when driving down the street? Christmas? Easter? Fall? Mardi Gras? Think of the chaos.

After saying yes, I did a little research on Pintrest, and discovered wreath ideas that I had never seen before. Originally, I was going to make out out of Christmas tree branches, holly, etc. However, I loved the more modern/2011 versions I saw on the website, so I decided to move in that direction. Again (and to be totally clear), I completely credit Pintrest.com and the awesome people on there who take the time to share their ideas!

So here's what I did...

- Purchased round wreath (I couldn't find styrofoam, but that would be ideal)
- Covered in strips of linen fabric to create an earthy look
- Wrapped (twice) yarn around the wreath. Any pattern would look great (stapled in the back to hold in place)
- Once complete, I made all of the yarn roses (tutorial coming soon...hopefully tomorrow!)
- Hot glued them onto the wreath
- Added the holly for a little extra kick

What do you think? I love it and (as always) want to make one for myself. However, more than that, I want to make one for YOU! If you're interested, please email us at TheMendedNest@gmail.com! Note: there are many color/yarn/fabric options available.

Price: $47 + tax

Ornament Tradition

Every Christmas growing up, my mom (Jeri) would give my brothers and me a special ornament to remember each holiday season. Not only did it help us start our own collection for when we moved out on our own, but it gave us something special to look back on the fun times we had decorating the tree with Christmas music blaring in the background. There were usually tears at SOME point, but all I remember is the laughter, fun, and love.

Beau and I have carried this over into our Christmas each year, and I'm so happy we did. The tradition is so dear to my heart, and it's something we'll do when we have children of our own. Like I previously mentioned, each time you pull one of these out of your Christmas box, you'll be able to reminisce on each Christmas season. If nothing else, It keeps your tree from having boring, matching green and red ball ornaments!

Friday Finds - The Laundress

My friend, Matt showed me this website, and I am in LOVE. I feel bad cheating on Mrs. Myer's, but this is just too awesome. It's so chic, "New York", and sophisticated. AKA - it's so fancy, y'all! This would look so great in a pure black and white bathroom, don't you think? See Below for the description I pulled from the website. Happy Friday!

"Lindsey Boyd and Gwen Whiting, co-founders of The Laundress®, created this eco-chic line of specialty detergent and fabric care to take the chore out of doing laundry. Frustrated with dingy white t-shirts, ruined items from the dry cleaners and chemically treated cashmere, they researched and developed their own solutions to simplify and master the fine art of laundry. “We knew about 90% of our items that were all labeled dry clean only were washable” says Boyd. “We knew we could eliminate the need for expensive dry cleaning with toxic chemicals, we just needed the products” says Whiting. They value the importance of properly cared for clothing and home linens so they formulated the most effective ingredients for each specific fabric need with their favorite scents to create a sophisticated, efficacious, green and easy to use collection."

Hairs Cut (Re-post)

"Hey, Man. How are you? Would you like a drink? Whiskey or PBR?"

This is what I hear last night at as I'm walking into Gaudet Bros. for my much needed haircut appointment. So, as Micah Nickens (owner) finishes up with another client, I do just that. I love running a little early because it gives me a chance to walk around his studio, enjoy the Big Band Pandora station, and check out the new art work that is constantly being refreshed. 

Located right in the heart of the Garden District, Micah's studio shares a space with an ajoining art studio. One of the things Beau and I love about coming here is that when we step into his space, we step out of Baton Rouge, and into a hole-in-the-wall NY studio. (not $300 per cut NY studio with glass and chrome everywhere -  think funky/swanky SOHO). Dressed in cuffed jeans, Dock Martins, a button up with rolled sleeves revealing his tattoo sleeve, bow toe and/or suspenders, and fedora, Micah is a breath of fresh air - the "anti-frat-guy" look which has become all too popular in BR (the frat guy look, I mean). 

However, regardless of how he dresses or what his studio looks like, we cannot speak highly enough of Micah as a stylist OR person. Everyone who either Beau or I have referred to him has called afterward and said how much they love him and their hair. Obviously, we're never surprised - it's why we keep going back. As the stylist for NOLA Fashion Week, you'd think Micah would be booked for months, but that's not his style. He doesn't advertise in 225, on billboards, or anywhere else - for the most part, it's all word of mouth. If you knew him, you'd know he's much too chill for that. That's why we love him - he has the skills of the best, but the attitude of the quintessential guy next door - if you happen to live in SOHO in a studio apartment at $3000/month.

Hands down - Gaudet Bros. is one of the best kept secrets in Baton Rouge. For more information, please check out Gaudet Brothers on Facebook - or click here.

Fajitas!

Cheap and easy: Two of my favorite adjectives...for food. With Beau's freelance keeping him busy at least three hours every night, and my Mended Furniture projects taking up most of my time, we're finding less and less time for food and more and more excuses to order out. Both for the waist and wallet, this is doing wonders, so I've been trying different recipes that won't take forever to cook, and that are cheap and that don't come frozen. In this particular case, I tried to spice things up with chicken fajitas!


1. Season and bake the chicken breasts (~20 minutes at 400 degrees)
2. While chicken is cooking, season and sauté white onions and bell pepper, allowing the onions to brown and soften (season with salt and pepper and a little Tony's. OR add taco seasoning - it gives it a big 'ole kick)
3. When ready to serve, heat up tortillas, add light sour cream, the chicken, and the veggies
4. Before wrapping the tortillas, toss on a touch of your favorite salsa.
5. Enjoy those chicken fajitas!!

I love this because the whole meal only takes about 20 minutes (the time it takes the chicken to bake). Everything else can be completed white it's already in the oven. Also, clean up is a breeze, too. Just get your maid to do it...and by maid I mean you. Cheers!

Photography - Cupcakes and Cream

A few weekends ago, I ran into an old friend from high school at a wedding that Beau and I attended. I knew from Facebook that she was in culinary school, but I had no idea that she also managed a cupcake shop on Sherwood Forrest (and another location in Denham Springs) called Cupcakes and Cream. Short story long, I also happened to know owner of the shop from working at Hello Sushi, and they were wanting to put together a lookbook for Nottingway Plantaton so brides can have and see the option of using them in the place of (or with) a traditional wedding cake.

The point of all this is that The Mended Nest was asked to photograph the cupcakes and to help them create a lookbook/portfolio of their cupcakes. They saw some of our pictures from the blog, and decided to use us instead of a true professional photographer, and I'm so happy they did. They're both super nice and extremely easy to work with. Best part of all - they loaded my down with cupcake after cupcake! My favorite - Red Velvet with the cream cheese icing. I mayyy have to drop by again for some completely made up reason just to get some more! Make sure to check them out sometime soon! I think it's a GREAT alternative to a traditional cake  - especially at a birthday party. No plates or silverware to clean, PORTION CONTROL, and at the same time, no one gets to little piece (especially you)!

Pumpkins Out, Tree In

Howdy! Well I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week - Beau and I certainly did. I'm sure we gained a collective 30 lbs at least! Not only did we go to Covington for my family's dinner, but we also attended two friends' Thanksgiving parties. The food at all three - OMG! Thank God all that eating is over, and I have a solid month of working out/running before Christmas feasts begin...or maybe just more eating.


Well, Friday morning, Beau and I went down to Louisiana Nursery to pick out our Christmas tree! Clearly, we didn't waste ANY time (I joked with Beau saying that we got it so early that it'll be nice 'n dead by the time Christmas comes!) Last year, Beau and I traveled to Covington to cut down a tree from a Christmas tree farm, but since we were just there for Thanksgiving, we opted for less driving and to stay in EBR. It was so nice decorating - it's one of my favorite parts of Christmas! We turned the lights down, had seasonal candles burning, Christmas music on, and we pretended like it wasn't 75 degree outside. Happy Almost-December!

Black Friday!

Hello All! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and now you're laid up on the couch, watching TV in blankets with a (cozy fire) with the family. Or - if you're like us - up at 7:30 to whining dogs, already went out for a walk, breakfast (leftovers) have been shoveled down, and now you're working on laundry, sweeping, and all other misc. house duties. Fun.

Were you one of those crazies who have been in a line since 9pm last night to get all the good 25% discounts at BestBuy and Target? Well, (unfortunately) no one is lining up at The Mended Nest's front door waiting for our furniture, (or bringing us their's to refinish) but that's okay...maybe one day. For now, we're happy to announce that if you email us today, we'll give you a 30% discount on all furniture that you bring to us to refinish! (We would do some selling, too, but we've sold everything in our inventory!

Make sure to contact us today! TheMendedNest@gmail.com

Gobble Gobble, Y'all

A honey butter basted turkey that's been rubbed with thyme, sage, and rosemary, stuffed with an apple sausage stuffing. I've said enough. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

(And thank you Stephanie for the turkey!)

White Light Night

This past Friday, we, and a bunch of our friends, attended MidCity's White Light Night. "White Light Night celebrates local and area arts while providing a safe, festive evening for thousands to meander about the MidCity area [in Baton Rouge]. The visitors renew the vibrancy of the local art scene while shopping for the upcoming holiday season [while enjoying live music at every location]."

Everyone met up at our house on Capital Heights (since we're on outskirts of Midcity) for a couple glasses of wine. Then, we headed over to join the fun, starting at our friend, Chef Don Bergeron's store for great food, more wine, and a little socializing. Don's store is in a prime location for the rest of the shops, galleries, and restaurants that participate so we didn't have to travel too far afterwards. White Light Night really is one of my favorite parts about living in the MidCity/Capital Heights area. There's so much culture and inspiration (at least compared to other parts of Baton Rouge). Unfortunately, I could't capture it's essence with the pictures it took. It's hard to snap pictures with a glass of wine in hand...the whole evening!

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

I Certainly cannot claim this as my own - in fact I completely stole the leaf idea from Pintrest, but I'm still super excited to pass it on to y'all! Let's start with the napkins. This is great, especially if you're cooking for tons of people, because you won't have to run out and buy a million napkin rings. Simple take a square napkin, pinch the middle and pull up (you'll have all four corners dangling). From here, lay it down so the middle, where you pinched, faces you and the four corners face away. Finally, tie a simple bow using a piece of hemp. Done!

The leaf with the name written in gold paint pen is one of the best ideas ever. Certainly handwriting names on a card or getting them printed is also a great option, but this is just so unique and unexpected...and basically free (just the cost of the paint pen). Based on experience, your Thanksgiving guests will absolutely love it! I hope you like these ideas. Enjoy your time off from school, shortened work weeks, and time with friends, family, and loved ones.

Oyster Party!

This Saturday, Beau and I headed out to my hometown (Covington, LA) to meet up with my whole family at Mawmaw's (Jeri's mom) for oysters! We usually have this get-together every year right before Thanksgiving, and I love it! Fried, grilled, and especially raw, I love oysters pretty much anyway you can serve them. I'm sure many of you looking at the pictures of the raw oysters are getting a little squeamish, but don't knock it 'till you try it!...and even if you HAVE tried it, still don't knock it! Mmm..my mouth is watering for a Saltine cracker, raw oyster, and a little cocktail sauce...OR a piece of homemade toast and butter, raw oyster, and mignonette sauce. Heaven! (Especially when you wash it down with a Stella!)

Yummy Eats @ Burgersmith

Holy crapola! Beau, our friend, Ryan, and I were in MUCH need of a hangover cure after Saturday night, and since I had just gone to Fat Cow, we decided to switch it up and try Baton Rouge's newest burger spot - Burgersmith. Y'all, we're hooked. Starting with the decor and atmosphere - with exposed air-conditioning ducts, finished concrete floors, modern wood grain, and simple metal chairs, it has that industrial, loft, or warehouse vibe which I absolutely love.

Now the food....Oh. Em. Gee. I don't know if it was just because we were all in dire need of some greasy eats, but we all thought it was craaazy good. Beau and Ryan both had burgers - Beau had the Filet Burger, and Ryan had the USDA Certified Organic Grass Fed Beef Burger. You want to talk about it?! I opted for something a little different: The Cajun Bratwurst Sandwich. It was a chicken breast grilled with cajun spices, topped wit alligator sausage, grilled onions, "Smith sauce", and creole mustard all on a toasted gourmet bun. Please try this sandwich. PLEASE God, try this sandwich! To make everything even better, they were all served with garlic and butter fries. For dessert, we all got ice cream...because that was completely necessary. And now I have to workout on MY Sunday!

Please, please make it a point to try out Burgersmith. You will NOT be disappointed!