Vinyl Siding for our Garage

Well, I thought I would put a Home-Wrecker post in the middle of all my food posts, so I'll put in the garage siding project we did in September!

Our garage was getting pretty bad, I was literally peeling off paint in pieces as big as my hand.  The 'nails' were starting to rust and show through the paint as well.  Our first thought, was to save money and scrape/sand/paint the whole.damn.thing.  Yes, we were seriously considering this.  And then we talked to my dad and he assured us it really wouldn't be all that bad to just put vinyl siding on the garage for now.

We eventually want to do the whole house, but really can't afford that right now.  Between our house and garage, there were 4 different types of siding on it.  Yep, 4!  Wood siding on garage, cement board stuff on the back door area, small area of vinyl siding on the front of the garage around the door, and the whole house is aluminum siding with a faux stone facade on the front.  Needless to say, we want to continue pulling this house into the 2000's.

So we took measurements, I drew a diagram of the sides/front/back, wrote down how many outside corners, inside corners, J-channel, starter strips etc we would need, and off to get prices!  Dad convinced us we could do the garage ourselves and could do it in a weekend.  My husband was skeptical and didn't want to mess anything up by doing something wrong, but in the end, we convinced him to do it ourselves!  I brought home some samples and a price quote from a local place and we both thought about going with a green.  Currently, the color scheme was/is brown/white, so we wanted to liven it up a bit.  We decided on Mastic Mill Creek in Scottish Thistle color.  I went back to the store, and placed the order after we double checked our numbers.  It was delivered a few days later!

Along with this project, we decided to replace the 2 windows on the sides as well.  They were literally falling apart with the rest of the garage, so we picked out some nice vinyl slider windows from a local bargain place for home remodeling.  Approximately $70 each, couldn't get a better deal than that.   We did have to frame in the new windows because of the sizes, but no big deal according to Dad!

So, one weekend, my dad came out to rip out the windows and put the new ones in and assess the rest of the project.  That morning, it was pouring rain, I was really bummed, but I had to go to work and hoped that the rain would let up for my dad and my husband to get some work done.  They got both windows in and half of the East side sided. Then, the next weekend was the big weekend.  He and my mom came out and brought the family dog too!

Getting started was a little slow, had to get the corner pieces, J-channel and starter strips on which takes the most time, have to make sure they are level otherwise it will not work out well in the end.  Once all that is in place, the siding actually goes up pretty quickly.  The tricky part came when we got to the back side of the garage, the peak.  Now, we have 2 garage doors, one on the front and one on the back, so the back side took longer to make sure that the right and left of the door was even going all the way up.

Once we got to the peak we all had a job.  Dad and I were on 2 separate ladders, my husband was making the angle cuts and mom was supervising and getting any tools needed etc. 

To this day though, we have not finished the front of the garage.  It is a tiny bit problematic because of the inside corner meeting the rest of the house (that we can't afford to put siding on yet).  So, the J-channel is up around the garage door, but that's about it.  We also need my father-in-law to come out and work on some electrical, the main power line comes in right in the front of the garage so it's in the way for new siding anyways.  

But for now, enjoy the pictures!  I love it so much, cannot wait until we can do the rest of the house though!  

(sorry so long, I get long-winded sometimes!)

Also, for reference, the whole project cost less than $1,000.  :-)

North side/Back of garage before any work done

West side before any work

South side/front of garage

East side before any work

East side with new window and half new siding!

Left side of the front of garage,
that pipe is the electrical line
feeding the garage

Started the west side

North side prepped for trim pieces and siding

West side half done

Pooped puppy hanging out in the shade

This pooped puppy was under-foot.... :-)

North side/Back of garage, no it's not uneven,
just more was up on the left side than the right

East side completed

West side completed

We did put up some composite/pvc type trim around
the door, but after I took this picture

 

Broccoli and Rice Bake

I have also made this dish a few times and it too is deliciously yummy!

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350*

1-10.75 ounce can of Cream of Broccoli or Cream of Chicken condensed soup
1 1/4 Cups of Milk 
1 8oz carton of Sour Cream
1 tsp dried Basil
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Black Pepper
1 16oz package of frozen cut Broccoli (I use the Broccoli florets because you don't get the stem pieces) 
1 1/2 Cups uncooked Instant White Rice
1/2 Cup shredded Swiss cheese (I use Mozzarella)

1.) Preheat Oven to 350*

2.) In a large mixing bowl, mix together; Soup, Milk, Sour Cream, Basi;, Salt and Pepper

3.) Stir in Rice and Broccoli (I find it easier to do the rice first, then broccoli)

4.) Spoon mixture into an ungreased 9x9 baking dish

5.) Bake covered (tin foil works good)  for about 65 minutes or until heated through

6.)  Uncover and sprinkle with shredded cheese of choice, cover and let stand for 5 minutes before serving

ENJOY

Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I have made this a few times now and it is so very yummy!  I will post the recipe as it is written, but since I only cook for 2, I just mix the ingredients together in a size that I need.  I don't "1/2" the measurements or anything, I just do a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 375*

6 Chicken breast halves (apparently, recipe uses bone-in chicken, I use boneless chicken breasts because it's easier)
1/2 Cup Ricotta Cheese
1/2 Cup shredded Fontina or Mozzarella Cheese (2 ounces)
1/3 Cup grated Parmesean or Romano Cheese
2 tsp. snipped fresh Basil or 1/2 tsp dried Basil, crushed
1 tsp. snipped fresh Oregano or 1/4 tsp dried Oregano, crushed  
1/4 tsp. Lemon-Pepper seasoning (I didn't have any on hand the first time, so I just omit this each time) 
2 Tbsp Butter or Margarine, melted

1.)  Get out a baking pan large enough for as many chicken breasts you are preparing.  I prefer a glass baking dish. 

2.) Preheat your oven to 375*

3.)  Mix together all ingredients (except for butter and chicken) in a bowl.

4.)  Take a sharp knife (not a serrated knife) and make a pocket in the biggest part of the chicken breast.

5.)  You can try to 'spoon' the mixture in the hole, but you will most likely need to use your fingers to get it in there, it will be messy

6.)  Stuff all chicken breasts and place in baking dish

7.)  Brush melted butter over chicken breasts

8.)  Place in oven for 45-55 minutes (until no longer pink, cooked til done)

9.)  Cheese stuffing probably oozed out, but it is very yummy!

 
ENJOY!

Retail Ramblings

First and foremost, I love my job.  I enjoy the work I do and (most) of the people I work with.  With that said, sometimes myself and my coworkers get a little (okay, a lot) irritated with some of the ridiculous crap we have to deal with.  So without further adieu, enjoy some ranty retail ramblings.

1.)  If I have on a name tag, carrying a walkie-talkie on my jeans with paper and a pen stuffed into my back pocket while stocking shelves......Please do not ask "Do you work here".  Because OBVIOUSLY I do work there, I don't just wear a nametag for the hell of it.

2.)  If you are at the check-out, and change your mind about purchasing an item, HAND IT TO ME and tell me so.  Don't mutter something to your friend about not wanting it and then put it in the candy bin right in front of my face.

3.)  If we ask you if you need help with anything, please understand it's my job, don't get all pissy that I am 'bothering' you.  Also, if you do need help with something, we don't need to hear a life story and a bunch of misceallaneous unimportant information.  Tell me what you need and let's go find it.  I have a million other things to do in addition to customer service, shelves don't stock themselves.

3b.)  If I am taking you to an item you are looking for, please don't stop and look at other things on the way.  If I am in front of you I have no idea you stopped, then end up waiting for you at our destination, thus wasting my time.

4.)  STOP STEALING SHIT!!!!  My god, people wonder why prices get out of control, it's because people steal shit.  I am sorry you can't afford whatever item are trying to steal, please just don't do it.  If you get caught.....well......then you deserve your punishment.

4b.)  If we suspect you of thievery, and you are guilty, just give up and leave.  Basically, if you come to customer service with non-receipted returns claiming they were gifts and no-one was at customer service when you walked in the door, you better believe that sounds fishy as hell, and we will do floor counts of your items and review video.

(Note about this item:  we don't directly accuse anyone of funny business, we have business practices and policies to handle situations where we suspect theft) 

5.)  If our bathrooms need servicing, please tell us.  I use the bathroom ~1x per shift on most days, and nothing is worse than really having to pee and there is no toilet paper, no paper towels etc. and that I have to restock the bathroom while trying not to pee my pants.  Yes WE clean our bathrooms nightly and restock as needed, but seriously, if there is no TP left on the rolls just say something and we will take care of it ASAP.

6.)  I am sorry, we do not carry coupons in the store.  So please, I don't want to hear your sob story about how you need a coupon for a $1.00 soap.  We have an extremely generous coupon policy, you can come back later for your $.20

7.)  Please don't trample all over rugs and bathmats that are for sale.  Where have your shoes been?  Where have other peoples shoes been that have walked all over the same floor you are walking on?  It's gross if you really think about...

8.) If you are returning something, it is my job to ask why you are returning it.  We are not going to refuse the return, so for the love of god, if it is broken, missing pieces/parts, you just plain don't like it, not the right color, what have you, JUST SAY SO.  We want the freaking truth!

8b.)  Sidenote though: if you return something saying that you just don't use it, and it is clearly been used, over and over and over again, we will give you a major side-eye and you are being ridiculous for returning something you obviously used a lot.

9.)  Please DO NOT tell me how to do my job.  I have been properly trained, I get paid to do this, I KNOW what I am doing.  If by some chance I don't, I have managers that can help me.

10.) If announcements are made that the store will be closing shortly, or that we are closed, please bring your purchases to the front right away.  WE WANT TO GO HOME!

11.)  Get off your damn cell phone!  It is extremely rude to cashiers when you are on your cell phone having random/weird conversations.  Call them back in 5 minutes and don't be rude to me.  If you're not paying attention, maybe I'll just ring in an extra item for you.... (just kidding, i wouldn't actually ring in something extra) But seriously, put the phone down for the 5 minutes or less it will take me to get you cashed out.

12.)  Get your shit organized and exit the line quickly when you are checking out.  There are people waiting behind you, stop holding up my line!

13.)  If you feel the need to give me exactly $.99 or whatever the change is, if I have my hand out for the coins, put them in my freaking hand, not on the counter!!!


I am sure I will come across more during my shifts, but I think this is a pretty extensive list.  If you work retail and have any other ridiculousness, leave me a comment! 

Chocolate Chip (Candy Cane) Cookies

Around the holidays, I take my chocolate chip cookie recipe and add crushed candy canes to it for a minty taste!  This is a standard chocolate chip recipe so you can make minor modifications to it such as using walnuts, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or as my title suggests, candy canes!

Preheat oven to 375*
Baking time is 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Sugar
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar--packed
3/4 cup Dark Brown Sugar--packed
1 1/2 cups Crisco/Shortening--packed
2 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Water
4 Eggs
5 cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Salt

Chocolate Chips, PB Chips, Walnuts, Candy Canes, etc

1.) Preheat oven to 375*

1a.) If making Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Cookies, mash up candy canes first and set aside.  This can be accomplished in a few ways.  a.) Double or Triple ziploc baggie and rolling pin or meat tenderizer  b.) small manual food chopper  c.)  Food Processor or Blender

I have used all 3 methods, and this time I used my Ninja blender.  This was far easier than the other 2 options!  However, it did make it into more of a dust instead of small pieces, but the cookies still came out great and it was no big deal!
 
2.) Mix together Flour, Baking Soda and Salt in large measuring cup; set aside
3.) Add all 3 sugars and Shortening to mixing bowl and start blending
4.) Add Vanilla, Water and Eggs and mix well

5.) Slowing add in Flour mixture until all gone
6.) Once dough is well mixed, stir in chips/nuts/candy canes and mix well

7.) Place 1" rolled balls of dough onto baking pans

8.) Bake for 4 minutes, then switch racks and bake another 4-5 minutes
9.) Move to cooling racks, once ready to store, place a piece of bread under a small piece of wax paper in the bottom of container, then fill with cookies.  The bread will keep the cookies from getting hard/stale.  You will notice that the bread will be rock hard after a few days.

ENJOY!