kitchen Archives - Feathers in Our Nest

New Kitchen Backsplash

September 28, 2016 by Aliesha

This summer I decided to do a little “upgrade” of our backsplash in the kitchen!

I’ve been wanting to tile it forever, but I decided to do this low-budget solution instead of waiting for who-knows-how-long for real tile. I’m really happy with how it looks!

I used thermoplastic panels that look like glossy white tiles. (Exact product) I was able to cut the panels with kitchen shears and a utility knife (around outlet/light switch holes) I glued them up with this, and everything has stayed where it should!

It took me two afternoon naptimes to complete this project. I think it was time well spent!

We love how it transforms the kitchen! Yay for inexpensive upgrades like this!

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Recipe Organization (& a Wedding Gift Idea!)

June 5, 2014 by Aliesha

When I shared photos from my kitchen a couple months ago, I said I would also share my recipe storage system!

I have recipe boxes for recipe cards as well as two notebooks that I use for recipes I’ve printed out from the web. I try TONS of new recipes, so I wanted to be able to take notes on the recipe and decide whether to add it to my binder or to toss it.

One binder has main dishes and soups.

The other binder has sides & sauces, yeast breads, quick breads, breakfasts, desserts, and miscellaneous.

For the tabs, I used the cheap write-on tab dividers and made hand-written washi tape labels.

I carried this concept into a gift for a friend who recently got married!

I know she loves to cook, so I made her a recipe storage notebook. I started her off with about 25 recipes, but she can add more!

I designed a cover (cute kitchen graphics from here!) and a label for the spine and slipped the pages into the notebook. (The notebook is red, but there is a clear pocket on it.)

Instead of hand-writing the tabs, I printed out the categories, cut them out, and glued them on the divider tabs. I also made a table of contents/title page for right inside the cover.

The categories for her notebook were: appetizers, breads, breakfast, desserts, main dishes, side dishes, snacks, soups, miscellaneous, and reference.

I put a few of my favorite recipes into each category to get her started!

In the reference section, I found some helpful printable kitchen charts (just by googling) and stuck those in too.

I know I love my recipe binders, so I hope she enjoys her gift as well!

What’s your method of storing recipes?
I used to keep all of mine on cards, but eventually it was just easier to print them out. (Sometimes I also just cook from my Kindle or phone without printing the recipe until I know it’s a keeper!)

If you like this idea, feel free to pin it for later!

New Kitchen Curtains

June 4, 2014 by Aliesha

After living in our home for four years, I finally made some curtain valances for our kitchen! I am not a seamstress at all, but I try to at least make curtains since custom curtains can be really pricey!

It’s super simple to make this kind of valance. Just cut your fabric to the size you want (mine worked out perfectly so I was able to get 2 panels out of one 45″ wide and 2 yard long piece of fabric). Hem all four edges, then attach curtain clips to the top edge, then hang on the rods. That’s it! It took me an hour to make the panels and iron them, and then Tad hung the curtains for me (which took another 30-45 minutes).