waffles from scratch

Lately I have gotten into the habit of using my bisquick mix when whipping up a batch of waffles, usually to save on time, either because have slept waaaaay in and I have to hurry and get breakfast on the table before it's lunchtime, or we are about to be late for church. Last Sat. morning convinced me that the extra 5 minutes it takes to make waffles from scratch is more than worth it. Instead of the usual gulping down of the dry/ bland bisquickies with a glass of milk and half a bottle of syrup...the waffles were moist and tasted good even without butter and syrup. David and I just couldn't stop " mmmm-ing " over them. Infact I was impressed enough that I haven't forgotten (and it's Tuesday) how much I want share this recipe with you:

Waffles From Scratch-
(from The Taste of Home Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

1) In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine egg yolks, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

2) In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter

3) Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Top with confectioners' sugarand fruit or serve with syrup. Or in our case, fresh strawberries and real whipped cream.

Yeild: 4 waffles(about 6 inches)

Inspiration Friday.

{ Flea Market Fancy }

Flea Market Style is perfect for those of you who have a knack for always finding a deal. What could be more fun than to search high and low for the perfect vintage/second hand things to fill your home at garage sales, flea markets, thrift or antique stores? Think of it as a more relaxed way to do chic . I appreciate the elements of character that highlight Flea Market Style. It's a fresh approach to recyling and an often more afforable way to dress up a home. Undoubtedly a pleasing to the eye, often showy way to prove one man's junk is truly another man's treasure.

For More Inspriation Friday check out these lovely spots: Life in the Low Country , Across The Pond, The Cottage Nest

Inspiration Friday

But it doesn't neccissarily have to be on a Friday...in fact there is this lovely little bloggeress I know that that does her inspirational posts in the middle of the week. So then with out further ado, here are, in no certain order are this weeks links to Inspiration Friday Posts:

The Cottage Nest

My Cozy Home

Across the Pond

The Value of Cheerfulness

Please if you have done a Inspiration Friday post I'd love to add you to this list. Just leave me a comment here or over at my "home" blog.

I plan to make this a weekly column.

Introducing, Inspiration Friday...

It's a weekly posting that I have come to find many, including myself enjoy.

And I have been so inspired by their inspirations that I have decided to join in the fun.

I will be posting my Friday Inspirations here.

You are more than welcome (please do, pretty please) of course to do so as well!

For some delicious Inspiration Friday eye candy, check these lovely spots out:

The Cottage Nest, My Cozy Home, Southern Heart, Across The Pond,

and be inspired.

Okay Ladies:
Please share your favorite things for spring:

Here are some of mine:
Lots and lots of color (especially partial towards robins egg-blue and the vibrant color of tulips, daffodils and ranunculus), vintage aprons and bicycles, polka dots,
ric-rac ribbon, birds, nest, egss, grass grown in terracotta pots and anything paisley...

Easter Traditions...

Something I have been thinking about a lot lately is how much I want to establish meaningful traditions for our little family. To me, Easter should be one of the most celebrated, happiest holidays of the year, because of the Hope, Freedom and New Life it stands for.

Please share your favorite Easter Traditions...

And it was a delightful little affair...

We did in fact end up having a party in honor of little Miss Annabelle Lucy's first birthday this past Saturday, after having cancled and rescheduled, TWICE. My parents were there all the way from ID. which was a treat, to say the least. Mom and I whipped out this pretty party banner last minute. We were both so thrilled with the way it turned out and I would love to make more to sell in a my very own online shop at a place called Etsy.

It is still hanging over the table in my dining room and find myself still so enchanted by it that I may end up leaving it there forever.

As you can see, our little party was a complete with pink tulips, cupcakes, a soft yellow with polka-dots, " floo-fee" dress and a bunch, a bouquet of sorts ,if you will, of beautiful " guests" all laughing and eating jelly beans.

And I must make mention of all the lovely little presents, like the oh so cute, wee girly pink car shown below, a so sweet gift from Annabelle's lovely Great Auntie Kris.

It was a smashing success if I do say so myself.

(THANK YOU MOM!)

Sugar and spice and everything nice

A few days ago, ok a few weeks ago, on Valentine's Day

my daughter and I had a few friends over to decorate cupcakes.

Olivia and two little friends, a sister and brother,

and their mother came over to celebrate this love-filled day with us.

The night before Olivia and I made chocolate cupcakes

(because what is Valentine's Day without chocolate?)

and sugar cookies. The morning of we made the frosting, in two different colors.

And had the most fun putting the sprinkles and decorations into little bowls

and setting the table with them.

Our friends arrived and we quickly set about to decorating.

Each little one received their own frosted cupcake on a little plate to decorate

and as soon as the added their sprinkles and m&m's,

they promptly smooched the cupcakes into their mouths,

ate all the frosting and a little of the cake

and then ran off to play upstairs!

So, my friend and I got to do what we had actually wanted to do all along...

decorate the cupcakes and cookies ourselves. :)

All in relative peace and quiet, I might add.

Here are the results.

Not the most beautiful or magazine worthy for sure,

but delicious nonetheless.

A memory from my childhood...

As I little girl I remember blissfully daydreaming over the contents of a catalog my mom used to get called Victorian Papers. And just the other day while surffing the internet I somehow happened to run across their website. Talk about bringing back memories from all those years ago... and frilly, girly, ones at that!

A clever crafting/storage idea...

I saw this at Pottery Barn and thought "how neat" a crafting cubby for those of us who have no extra space in our house. The only problem (besides the price, although it is on sale for $199.99 instead of 299.99 right now) I have run into is that not only is all the floor space in our house used up already but the wall space as well. When David gets home tonight I think I will ask him what he would think of building a addition on our small home. It's either that or a giant hanging craft center...:)

Signs of Spring...

I must be in the mood for spring because today I:

1. Wore capris

2. Had a iced coconut latte

3. Let Annabelle crawl all over the front lawn

4. And planted sweet pea seeds

Now all we have to do is wait, and hope for the best.

Storage & Display

Leslie, right now I have this book checked out from the library. And it's on sale at Pottery Barn with free shipping right now for $14.95! It's got so, so many cute and " Stylish solutions for organizing your home."

Come on Domestic Ladies...

Its a cry for help. I have always had a craft room/office now as I make room for baby I am having the hardest time finding a way to put my stuff up that will still be useful and not be too much of a chore to use.

So can you will you, show me how you store your inspiring tools, or simply storage ideas that inspire you???

As it looks right now, its going to be spread in bits all over the house, and just the idea of that, drives me batty!!!

I heart you.

Happy Valentines Day to each one of you truly lovely, inspiring, domestic-at-heart ladies!

Birthday Invitations and the First batch of Valentines...

Our valentines and the big birthday party preperations have all been put on hold until my small daughterie is done being under the weather. We are in the middle of our 5th full day of dealing with a very naughty flu bug that has made itself quite at home in Annabelle's little tummy. Add a bunch of teeth that are trying to make an appearance and you have one very miserable baby and one very distraught Mommy. I am comforted by the thought that this too shall pass. And sooner rather than later, would be nice. In the meantime, here some pictures for you of my latest projects in progess.

And

Taken from a vintage 1925 Better Homes and Gardens...

I Want to Build by Chesla C. Sherlock

I want to build a house to endure. A house of generous size and low-flung roofs, caressed by the gentle shade of great trees, where Permanence and Strength shall be reflected. A house where little voices may babble in the ecstasy of babyhood, and grow to the full blush of youth, and, in the fullness of Time, come to maturity and age, and grow old, and nod, and sleep. A house where my children's children shall be nourished and fed and protected by these same walls which have sheltered and protected me.
I want to build these little lives which have rooted in the garden-soil of my soul so that they, too, shall endure. Build them so that they shall know the glory that Love is, the joy that Happiness is, the peace that Contentment is. I want to root them in the eternal truths and nourish them with the true ideals of usefulness and service. I want to build them unafraid-gentle as the daisies nodding in the fields, sturdy as the rock-ribbed hills, strong as Love.
I want to build a garden where Loveliness dwells. A garden where the lingering pictures in Memory's eye come into being and all the dreams I have dreamed of Paradise nestle at my feet in my own door-yard. A garden where mine enemy dare not come lest he, too, be charmed into forgiveness! A garden where the divine laboratory of Eternity lies in my hand and speaks in untold tomes the delights, the mysteries, the wonders of the Hand behind it all.
I want to build a home where Love will dwell. A home valued not by the dollars it cost, or the richness of materials or furnishings going into it so much as by the happiness it has created. A home which has grown dear and near because of the stress and storm it has weathered, the tears it has dried, the smiles it has caused. A home where patience and effort and denial have brought their treasures of happines and contentment and peace. A home where Love comes like the fluttering dove, and perches and dwells- unwilling to search elsewhere.
I want to build a home!

Compliments of the lovely Andi over at Tales of a Crafty Mama

Sugar & Spice....

Well being that my home and my mind are converted to all things Girl and knowing so many of the ladies around here have girls of there own, I thought I would share a project I just worked on. I was in a boutique and saw those adorable little hair bows, shocked at the price I eyed and thought I will make my own. So off to my jars and baskets full of ribbon I made a couple this afternoon.....

I can't even wait to see if she has hair! Thought some of you mommies of little girls would want to make some of your own!

Rhinestones
Flowers

Buttons

Ribbon

Use your imagination... I can't wait to stop by the craft store.. I have some ideas.. and these will look great in her closet on a little ribbon message board, clipped right on.

Following up on an inspiration...

So here is the cover for my very own " Scrap Scrapbook"

as my very own, very dear Mom calls it.

The papers I used come from My Minds Eye, a company with the most adorble papers, etc.

Their line, Wild Asparagus is a favorite of mine.

The first chapter in my Scrap Scrapbook is titled

My Favorite Things...What you see here are the beginnings of that:

I hope to soon add "chapters" on

Color, Ideas, Rooms, Decor, and Quotes.

I have been working on this little inspiration notebook late at night, after Annabelle and sometimes even David are tucked into bed. Such a nice way to unwind, surrounded by little snippets of beauty, sipping a cozy cup of tea, the voice of Nat King Cole, softly filling the room. I Often a feel a chill of decadance sweeping over me, followed by a nice long sigh of satisfaction.

I saw this post today and I got so excited.

Now my stack of tid-bits, scraps and clippings will have a place to call home.

I am telling you, this lady has INSPIRED me.

Inspiration...

It's a brand new year and I am longing for some creative spark...

Please share with us your any particular, favorite or beloved domestic/creative outlet...

From paper to ribbons and buttons and scrapooks, to decorating and color...

It could be your latest favorite recipe, or household organization tip...

Maybe it's a product or line that you have recently found and come to love...

Maybe you a book full of beautiful ideas to recommend...It could even be a question.

The sky is the limit here, we are simply looking to showcase

your thoughts, ideas and inspiration.