Annad Dendy's Blog

Every cook should know how to make a simple side salad and lemon vinaigrette. It's the easy side dish to pair with just about any entrée, comes together in 10 minutes with simple ingredients , and is incredibly versatile. Let me show you how it's done. Start with a base of greens. We went with spring greens, but I also love spinach as a base, as well as thinly sliced kale, arugula, and romaine. Simple Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette from Minimalist Baker →

With the start of a new year, it seems like one of the first tasks we look to is making space for productivity and fresh inspiration. A home office is one of those things that so many of us would benefit from, but can't seem to find the square footage for. The good news is that whether you have just one small corner of your den to work with, or an entire designated room, you can carve out a workspace that's all your own just about anywhere you can place a desk. (Sourcebook-1) First, Consider the Purpose of Your Office Space Before choosing a spot to set up, it's important to ask yourself what you'll need to accomplish in your office area. Will you need a lot of room for organizing and storing files? Or will you simply need a spot to park your laptop? Knowing this will help you determine how much space to budget for. (Sourcebook-2) Choose Your Space + Lighting Ideally, natural light would be key, so look for an open space near a window first. If that isn't an option ...

Last month we shared how refinishing the floors at the duplex made us feel like we turned a major corner at a house we've been renovating for over a year (remember when it looked like this ?!). And now we are firmly in "the fun part!" You know, where you get to start bringing in rugs and light fixtures and furniture and accessories so it goes from looking like a construction zone to an actual home. It's THE. BEST. Especially after months and months of expensive improvements that you don't even see when the drywall goes back up (like plumbing and electrical upgrades). So let's just get right into it. Behold, this wall of the left side's master bedroom that we pretty much rebuilt from scratch: bench / similar light / similar rug / walls: SW Spare White / doors: SW White Truffle That rug is the one we originally bought for the pink house's living room ( you can see it there in this post ) but it often looked too dark paired with our dark sectional. B...

Bathroom remodeling is filled with difficult decisions, and sometimes the first ones are the hardest… like what to let go and what to keep! We shared some ideas with you recently , and now we're back with part two, via The Recorder Online , to help you decide what to keep when you remodel your bath! Tired of the tub? We relayed the advice about what to do with your jetted tub – namely, get rid of it. But that doesn't mean just ban the bath! Think twice, or even three times, before you consign a cast iron, claw foot bathtub to the dump. This type of vintage fixture is likely to be harder wearing than any modern bath and never goes out of style. The outside of a clawfoot tub can often be painted to match your other decor. And the inside, if it has seen better days, may be a candidate for reglazing. Don't get sunk at the sink! Even if your sink is functional, it can be… well… less than ideal. Who else hates it when the bathroom counter is a-slosh with water? After every. Singl...

We went out last night to pick up a tree. The kids were bundled and the packing blanket was in the back to protect the roof. This is the first year both of the kids are super jazzed about the holidays. Curran (4.5) is excited for new toys and allllll the colorful, tacky decor. I am told every day that the white lights we have on the house are NOT festive AT ALL. Cleo is excited about whatever Curran is excited about lately, so anytime we see lights (trees, wreaths, fake reindeer, whatever) squealing ensues. It was cute at first, and now it's just… loud. But truly, I love it. The first few years of parenting are so much work, with few of those personal connections where you actually get to see your children as a people. The more I get to know them, the more I like them. Even the complicated, emotional parts. Anyway, their excitement is infectious, and their Scrouge McWhite-Christmas-Light-Preferring mother is even considerin...

An Iris Wi-Fi Smart Plug is a very helpful smart home device that allows you to manage and oversee lights, small appliances and electronics from your phone. It's also a great first step toward smart home living. These devices will allow you to test and see the benefits and convenience of turning your house into a smart home. Learn how Wi-Fi Smart Plugs can make your life easier below.   1. Toggle lights on and off or use a schedule to keep the house looking occupied while you're away.   2. Let the kids know it's time for homework by switching off the TV or games console.   3. Left your curling iron on again? Let Iris switch it off for you, all from your smartphone.   4. Tea time! A smart switch can boil the kettle without you lifting a finger.   5. As cooler weather sets in, start humidifying the bedroom from the comfort of your couch.   6. Can't wait for some waffles? Start the iron as soon as you wake up so it's ready to go when you are.   7. Control night lights...

Hello friends!  I hope you've all had a great start to 2019!  My kids are going back to school tomorrow (today when you are reading this!) and we had such a nice break.  I'm really sad to see it end this year!  We spent Christmas at home, then went to Utah to visit family, came […]