Screened Porch - Moroccan / Bohemian / Fresh Hippie

Spring is in the air! Birds are chirping, ice is melting, roads are terrible, cars are getting stuck in the mud... that's spring in Vermont for ya, and I love it! I also love the idea of decorating the screened porch :) Last year we used the porch a few times here and there, but not enough! This summer I am going to make sure we maximize our time in the fresh air.

So this spring, since I can't afford anything else, I am going to decorate the screened porch. My budget for the entire room is $400. Think we can do this? YES! Because thank the universe it's garage sale season :)

THE THEME

As I've already told my friends, I am totally digging the Bohemian - Moroccan look. It's a decor style that I haven't played with much. I have overdone the New England beach theme, and while I totally love it, I just don't see it working in the porch.

The actual structure of the porch is a dark wood. I do NOT want to paint it, that would require a lot of touch ups for the rest of my life so that option is out. There isn't too much light that comes in, as it is on the shady side of the house, so I'll need to achieve a more fresh hippie look. To do this I plan to play primarily in my favorite greens, blue and turquoise, while bringing in funky purple, maroon with orange and yellow patterns. The fun part is the room can be super colorful! I just don't want it to end up being dark.

So I have a fun collection of decor pictures on my Pinterest.

THE LAYOUT
Here is the porch now. All it has is a plastic picnic table and two awesome wood benches.

So my plan is to ditch the picnic table, keep the benches for extra seating and make the room more of a lounge. I'll put 2 love seats around a low coffee table with an end table at their corner joint. Then I'll incorporate some more seating by adding 2 chairs in the corner with a small table between them. I have plans to make this table by creating a unique mosaic top on an old junk table I have at the shop, but we shall see if I find the materials and the time.

I'll also need a rug, some curtains, a pendant lamp and lots of incense :)

So now you know what I'm up to! I'm going to be back on here blogging and blabbing about our home and fun parties that I plan to have a BLAST hosting this summer! You are all invited! I just ask that if you come up to see me in Vermont that you stop by my store in Williston. You don't even know what you're missing!

www.furnitureconsignmentcenter.com

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

This delicious dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, soy-free, sugar-free and egg-free!

T's Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
1 cup water
1/2 cup quinoa
3 large yellow peppers
3/4 pound lean ground beef (90+% lean)
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
1 cup spinach/kale
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
olive oil
paprika, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper

Directions
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. In a separate saucepan, toss the spinach and/or kale in some olive oil until it is tender. Meanwhile, cut peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, mushrooms and spices over medium heat. Add the mixture, the greens and the diced tomatos to the quinoa, and spoon into pepper halves. Place in a baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until peppers are tender.

And there you have it! I know I haven't blogged much but I hope to get back on here with some of my recipes I'm cooking up, as well as the home renovation Mike and I will likely pick back up as it warms up here in VT! Happy spring :)

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers