DIY Coffee Bar

To say that I love coffee is an understatement. It's usually the first thing I grab in the morning. My treat during the day. And how I finish my evening. I may have a problem, but that's not the point of this post. 

Because I enjoy coffee so much, I've always wanted to have a special place in my home for my coffee maker, mugs, and such. Inspired by Pinterest, I set up my own Coffee Bar in my dining room. 

I opted to use open shelving (because 1. they're inexpensive, 2. they're easy to assemble, and 3. the shelving would be perfect for my project). I purchased my shelving unit from Lowe's. 

The "&" sign and gold-framed mirrors are from Burkes. The "&" sign was actually my inspiration for my color palette. I know...it's just black and gold, but when I saw that sign, it motivated me to tackle a project I'd been wanting to do for quite some time. You know when you see something, and think, "OMG! That would be perfect for this!" Well, that's what happened, and why I finally pulled the trigger on putting together my own Coffee Bar. 

I've seen so many different ideas on Pinterest. Most have lettering on the walls, spelling out something coffee related: cafe, java, latte, etc. I wanted something that said "coffee" without actually saying "coffee." 

I wandered through the craft section at Walmart, and ran across these frames with burlap centers. I knew I could transform them into something unique for my wall. Using my glue gun, coffee beans, and an old coffee mug, I crafted together what you see pictured below.

I'd purchased some coffee mugs from the dollar store. With a hammer, I gently tapped away at the mug trying to get a clean break. I wanted the mug to break so I could still have the side with the handle intact for my project. Well, that's easier said than done. I'd purchased 3 mugs, and didn't get a clean break out of any of those 3. I happened to have a solid black mug in my cupboard. That's the one that made the cut. I ended up cracking it just right to have a clean edge to glue on the burlap canvas. 

I glued the mug to the canvas first. Then I started gluing the coffee beans to the canvas next. I did this in small sections, making sure the beans were pressed securely in the glue and dry & set before adding more. 

Also in the craft section at Walmart, I found a wooden letter "S" (for our family's last name), and made a second piece of coffee art. I glued the coffee beans on first, again in sections, before glueing the "S" on top of the beans. 

I just LOVE how these turned out. The coffee mug is 3D with the handle sticking out, the beans smell yummy, and it's a unique piece that you won't find anywhere else. 

Here's another shot:

I found these additional prices at TJ Maxx. I wanted to have a sugar dish, and also a place for spoons. Under the metal shelf, I have a shallow bowl filled with biscotti. 

At this point, I didn't know where I wanted to keep my coffee and teas. I have a Keurig, so I have tons of those little k-cups...like A LOT. I've looked at the little k-cups holders/organizers at stores and online, but none of them will hold the amount that I keep on hand. Just to give you an idea, I like to purchase the 54-count variety pack of coffee k-cups from HEB for myself and guests. My kids like apple cider and hot chocolate. For those, I typically buy them in 18-count boxes. And, I like to have green tea available, too, for when I want tea. Just what I've mentioned, that's over 100 k-cups. You can see them just kind of tossed in the shelves. Not very pretty, and I need those shelves open for my mugs...

My solution for my abundance of k-cups is the boxes that fit in shelves! And I found some cute patterns that would match at Walmart from the Better Homes & Gardens line. I have a box for hot chocolate & cider, a box for teas, and a box for coffee. 

I use my coffee bar ALL THE TIME! I think I get more use out of my Keurig now than I did when it was on the kitchen counter. The kids use it just as much as I do. And now that my mugs are in the coffee bar, it opened up cabinet space in my kitchen. 

Oil-Free Hummus

Snack time!

I love hummus with fresh veggies or crackers, but store bought is often high in fat. Traditional recipes use oil.

While not all oils and fats are bad, as with anything, you should watch how much you eat. 

According to the American Heart Association, healthy adults should limit dietary fat to no more than 20 to 35 percent of total daily calories.  Knowing that there are 9 calories in each gram of fat, that means diets in the range of 1600-2000 calories, the recommended allowance for the day is between 36-78 grams of fat. 

Personally, I try to stay at 40g of fat per day. Whether I'm snacking or having a meal, I choose something that will not blow my fat allowance for the day. 

Back to the hummus. Since it's a food I enjoy, I wanted to find a recipe that would allow me to eat it and not feel guilty. After looking through a number of them on Pinterest, I came up with a version that suited the flavor I wanted to achieve. 

Here's my Oil-Free Hummus Recipe

•1-15.5oz can Chick Peas (drained and rinsed)

•2 tsp minced garlic

•3 Tbsp lemon juice

•1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce

•4 Tbsp water

•kosher salt (to-taste)

Add all ingredients to blender, and blend until completely smooth (pausing to scrape down the sides). 

Makes four (3.4oz) servings. 

Serve with crackers, pita bread, or fresh veggies for dipping. 

Curb Appeal

This post will be brief.

I wanted to share one of my DIY home projects. 

Today I transformed my front door. From what has always been very plain and ordinary, now has a colorful pop and a warm, welcoming feel. 

Here's what I started with...

See what I mean about plain? 

We've had so much rain lately. It's been a real task to keep the grass at bay. Plus, my weedeater is on the fritz. I had to pull the grass and weeds by hand to clean this up. 

Here's my completed makeover:

Here's my total cost of my front door makeover. 

Paint: $16 (purchased at Home Depot. I used BEHR, and chose the color "Mammoth Mountain")

Wreath Hanger: $3

Decorative Cross: $20 (purchased at Kirklands)

Plants: $32 (3 different types, 6 plants total, purchased at Walmart)

Planters: $46 (2 planters purchased at Walmart)

Potting Soil: $8 

Welcome Mat: $12 (purchased at Walmart) 

Total Cost: $137

This project took about 5 hours to complete. Not 5 hours of work...some of that time was allowing paint to dry.  

I put my first coat of paint on the door, and then as it dried, I headed to Walmart to get plants and extras for the porch. By the time I'd returned from the store, it was time to put the second coat of paint.  As that dried, I potted the plants and pulled weeds. Easy project for a Sunday. 

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