Basement Help

Okay, so I showed you our basement last week.  And while there are a ton of things I love about it - there are a few things I don't like.  First - it is always dark down there.  No matter how many lights we have on, it doesn't get really bright.  The second thing is how much attention is focused on the TV.  Yes, our TV is huge, but I wish that people would notice other things in addition to the TV.

So - I was thinking that there is a solution that might solve both of these issues, but Nate and I disagree, so I need your opinion.

 First here is our TV wall straight on... again - dark.

 

I was thinking it would be so fun to add a pattern in white on that wall.  The white would brighten the basement up, and the stencil pattern would detract a little bit from the TV. Maybe.

#1 - via here

#2 - via here 

#3 - via here

#4 - via here

#5 - via here

#6 - via here

#7 - via here

#8 - do nothing

What do you think?  I have 2 favorites... but want you to vote.

Turkey Fry

This past weekend I successfully completed my first fried turkey.  It was amazing.  Pops has always gone the creole/cajun route and the turkeys have always gone over well.  We used creole butter marinade with some cajun seasoning over the outside of the turkey.  We used peanut oil to fry the turkey.  The oil is getting super expensive ($40+). Dad found it for about half the price of other places at a farm implement store.  Be on the lookout!

The turkey takes about 3-1/2 minutes per pound so we threw in some appetizers before we got started.  We tryed jalapeno poppers and cream cheese wontons this time.  They turned out pretty well, and it only takes ~2 minutes.  Awesome!

The last time we fried a turkey at home, we tried some funnel cake.  It was delicious.  We haven't perfected the "look" but I'm working on it.

Meg and I have decided to throw a fry party.  Everyone brings something to fry, Meg and I will supply the turkey.  Let us know who is in.

Team Bethenny

Do you watch Real Housewives of New York? Now that Rock of Love is over it is the reality show that I most look forward to. But who decided that Kelly was a good addition to the cast this year - I mean true: she does provide some entertainment - but really. If you are going to cause drama, you should remember that you caused it - if you watched the episode from Tuesday, you would know what I mean - not even remembering the fight with Bethenny. Of course, like any good cat-fight, it has people talking - I am claiming right now that I am on team Bethenny (Even if she has a huge jaw and spells her name funny!)

Paint Problems

So - as you know we are re-doing are dining room (technically- it is doing our dining room for the first time - since we didn't do anything when we moved in). Nate and I went back and forth on if we should paint or not - and decided on not. We needed to do some touch up with the current paint job - so went and got the paint matched. As we were doing the touch ups Nate and I realized that our dining room actually has 2 different color walls. Seriously, we have lived year for nearly 2 years - and never noticed...
So now we are going to be painting the dining room. Nate and I are both leaning towards a mustard yellow - I am just worried how it will look with our wood trim (I wish it was white - but that is too big of a project for me right now).
Anway, below are some of the pictures of the yellow that I am leaning toward...



I also have white spots in here for some comparison - and trying to decide if maybe I want the clean white look. If you notice the spots below the outlet above - that is the result of us not realizing that we had 2 different color walls.


This is the view of what you would see when you first come into the house.


Last- this is a close up of the yellow with our new dining chairs, the console table and the window trim...I am a little nervous that it will be too much....

Please help - let me know your opinion.