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.

Our Nursery/ Guestroom

The center piece of Annabelle's Room is deffinately the beautiful Red Crib that Aminta so lovely painted and then handed down to us after Nelson was finished with it...

We just love how cheerful it is!

Baby cribs.....what style inspires you?

I love baby cribs, I think that it can be both beautiful and fun. My son's crib was something I picked-up at a second hand store, it was a very dingy old looking blue. My hubby and I decided on a cherry red color to repaint it. We weren't sure if it would work, but we gave it a try. Afterwars it was one of the most beautiful cribs we had ever seen.....imagine, an old crib, with all the little detailing, painted a beautiful cherry red. Gorgeous! We had decided on a cowboy theme for Nelson, so it fit perfect with all that we had gotten. Made a pretty crib, a handsome crib.
I don't have any photos of this crib, but maybe Chelle wouldn't mind putting one on for me? You see, after Nelson out grew his crib, we passed it on to his new little cousin Annabelle......what fun! It fits the bedroom and little miss Anniebelle so very well.
This time around we found a pretty little crib at the second hand store. It was a pretty shade of minty old fashioned green. It would have matched the more antique green (Amy Coe) bedding that we decided on, but we both thought that it would make it too girlie. So I painted it a color called "beautiful brown eyes". It turned out very nicely. I will post a picture of it (if I can figure it out!!!lol).
I thought that it would be fun for each of us to post a picture or so of the cribs that we think are beautiful......what is your style of baby crib?

More Loved Home Spaces

I haven't mastered how to add multiple pictures to blogger.com so I had to do another post to show you the rest of my pictures. I hope you don't mind. We just repainted our kitchen last week and we finally love the color. It's the third time we've repainted it in three years. It will deffinitly be the color of my next kitchen too.

Loved Home Spaces

Ok, I'll go first. :) Here are a few pictures of my home. I've finally gotten it mostly like I want it to be, now that we have it on the market to sell. The bedroom and the kitchen are my favorite rooms. I love the color. I do know that in my new home the colors will be going with me. Turquoise in the bedroom, green in Olivia's room, lavender in the kitchen. Maybe a yellow room and a pink one too. I hope you enjoy them.

A Visit to Your Home

Please share pictures of the favorite places in your home/room.

Maybe it's a nook or crany,

it could be a entire room,

or a throw pillow,

or a vase on the table full of a bouquet of flowers from your yard,

or a favorite framed picture, or painting,

maybe something you love the color of.

Big or Little

Simple or Exquisite

Just some ideas.

Be as creative as you wish.

That is what this blog is all about.

Recipe for:

BLUEBERRY SCONES

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
7 Tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Additional sugar for topping
2/3 cup butter1 large egg1
1/2 cups half & half1
1/2 cups fresh or unthawed frozen blueberries

Instructions:Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease two large baking sheets. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar. With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Separate egg, placing egg white in cup, and yolk in a small bowl. With fork, beat egg yolk; stir in half & half. Add yolk mixture to dry ingredients and mix lightly with fork until mixture clings together and forms a soft dough. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface, and knead gently several times. Gently knead in blueberries. Divide dough in half; pat out each half into an 8-inch round, and cut each into 8 wedges. Place scones on greased sheet. Pierce tops with a fork. Brush with reserved egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 15-18 inches (okay, try minutes) or until golden brown.

I made these yummy scones for Sat. morning brunch. David just raved about them. I think he ate 5, so they must have been good! But then, he is crazy about blueberries! I have a feeling I'll be making these again, upon request - and soon.
I was really impressed with how well they turned out. I am going to stash this recipe away to my " serve-at-the-future-bed-and-breakfast-that-we-are-going-to -have-once-our-kids-grow-up" file...

Simply Sensational Strawberry Shortcake

Thought this would be a good chance to debut on this lovely blog.. :) I love Summer-y Recipes!














1 cup milk, divided
1/4 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
3 Tbsp. sugar
2-1/4 cups dry all-purpose baking mix for biscuits
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
4 cups sliced strawberries
1/3 cup sugar

PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Mix 1/2 cup of the milk, sour cream and 3 Tbsp. sugar in large bowl with wire whisk. Stir in baking mix until just blended. Spread evenly into greased 9-inch round cake pan. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until top is golden brown. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.

MEANWHILE, combine dry pudding mix and remaining 1/2 cup milk; blend well. Gently stir in half of the whipped topping until well blended. Mix strawberries and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl; set aside. Slice cake in half horizontally to make 2 layers.

PLACE bottom cake layer on serving plate; top evenly with half of the strawberry mixture. Spread with pudding mixture; top with top cake layer. Spread with remaining whipped topping; top with remaining strawberry mixture. Serve immediately. Store leftover shortcake in refrigerator.


This recipes is from one of my favorite resources this summer the new Kraft Food Magazine. I am always getting things like that in the mail, but this one is cute, yummy, practical, and always delish....

Check out there website
Some of our other favorites on there is the Bruschetta Steak, Shells with Tomatoe & Basil, Banana Split Cake, and lots more.

Strawberry Lemonade

Serves 2
Before squeezing juice from the lemons, roll them on the countertop, applying gentle pressure with the heel of your palm. This will really get the lemons’ juices flowing and make it easier to squeeze them.


1 pint strawberries

8 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons superfine sugar

8 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Seltzer waterwater


1. Purée strawberries and 2 teaspoons sugar in a blender. Set out two glasses, and spoon 3 tablespoons of the resulting strawberry purée, 4 tablespoons sugar, and 4 tablespoons lemon juice into each glass. Stir the lemonade, and add ice. Top off the glasses with seltzer water. Add more sugar if desired.

Greek Picnic Salad

Here it is....I can take a hint pretty well, huh?

GREEK PICNIC SALAD

Combine:
6 Ripe TOMATOES, chopped
2 GREEN BELL PEPPERS, seeded and diced
1 RED ONION, diced
2 CUCUMBERS. seeded and diced
1/2 cup chopped FRESH PARSLEY
1/2 cup sliced RIPE OLIVES
1/4 pound FETA CHEESE, crumbled

Place in a workbowl of a food processor or in a blender:
1/2 cup EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
2 Tablspoons LEMON JUICE
2 Tablespons WINE VINEGAR
1 1/2 Teaspoons DIJON MUSTARD
1/8 teaspoon BLACK PEPPER
2 cloves GARLIC, minced

Process until well blended and toss with salad ingredients. Marinate for 30 minutes.

Favorite Summer Recipes

I was thinking it would be fun to do a summer recipe swap.

Perhaps it's something you especially love to make in the summertime...

Maybe it's something crisp, or refreshing...

I especially love cold and tart things,

such as Strawberry Lemonade , on these hot sultry days-

and anything fresh-veggie,

like my Moms amazing

Greek Salad.

Hint,hint, mom...

dreamy bathrooms

What's Your Style?

I think that most of us on here like the country/cottage look, else wise, why would we be here? :) I found this quiz in a decorating book that I've been rereading in preparation for putting our house on the market and I thought it would be fun to put it one here.

What's Your Style?

If your feeling wishy-washy about which cottage look you like best, these questions will help you put your dreams into words and ideas.

There are no wrong answers to this quiz. In fact, you might discover you like a lot of different cottage styles. Many other homeowners do too. That's why you're apt to find seashells in a landlocked farmhouse and Native American prints in a lakeside cottage. So enjoy the questions, think through your answers, and be ready to experiment with your cottage style.

My favorite color scheme for decorating is.....
a. Based on the colors found in a favorite piece of fabric.
b. One main color, plus one or two accent colors.
c. Monochromatic with multiple shades of a single hue.
d. Blues, greens, neutrals, and other colors from nature.

If I could hang any chandelier it would be...
a. One with crystals and beads and lots of detailing.
b. A simple iron shape with curves and scrolls that looks handmade.
c. An over sized round or square lampshade hung like a chandelier.
d. A lantern-look fixture that reflects its oceangoing past.

I love furniture that is...
a. Inspired by 18th-century design. I'm drawn to the curves and added detail.
b. Rustic and hardworking with classic lines. This furniture looks better with wear.
c. Clean lined and modern. I like simple lines and a spare feeling.
d. Simple with a worn painted finish.

I would decorate my mantle with...
a. A gilded mirror and a bouquet of white roses.
b. An architectural fragment.
c. Three modern vases or metallic pots.
d. Seashells or twigs in a glass cylinder.

When I walk into a fabric shop, I'm drawn to...
a. Lush florals and toiles.
b. Classics, such as stripes and checks, in a limited range of colors.
c. Solid-color fabrics with wonderful textures.
d. Durable fabrics, such as denim and ticking.


My most prized collection includes...
a. Transferware plates, platters, and tureens.
b. Folk art and oddities, such as carved toys, old maps, and concrete urns.
c. Hand-thrown pottery with soft glazes in cream, mocha, and celadon.
d. Nature's objects, such as shells, branches, and pine-cones.

My favorite vacation would be...
a. Traveling in the south of France.
b. Driving on back roads across the United States.
c. Checking out city art museums.
d. Hiking in the mountains or walking on the beach.

My dream house is...
a. A cottage filled with architectural details.
b. A farmhouse with high ceilings and wraparound porches overlooking the garden.
c. A city loft with open spaces and industrial finishes.
d. A casual cottage by the water's edge filled with nature's soothing colors.

Mostly A's: You love the look of European cottages and would be happiest in a place where you can combine your love of collecting with beautiful fabrics and colors.
Mostly B's: Vintage architecture suits you perfectly, whether it's a farmhouse or a bungalow. You're ready to embrace the past and update it for today.
Mostly C's: You're torn between living in a modern loft and loving cottage style. don't fight it. Cottage ingredients are perfect for softening the hard lines of a contemporary structure. But restrain your cottage outlook to make sure the space feels right for today.
Mostly D's: You've never gotten that favorite vacation getaway out of your mind. Bring the feeling of the lake, sea, or woods home to your house. This livable look offers comfort and ease, the perfect ingredients to make any day seem like a vacation.

Can't pick? Don't worry if you want to pick more than one answer for the questions. It's possible to mix and match and still create a cottage that lives with style. You'll find a lot of examples in the pages that follow.

Quiz taken from the book, Better Homes and Gardens New Cottage Style. Decorating ideas for casual, comfortable living.

and More Kitchens

Do you have a favorite kitchen to share?

What about your own?

More

Your favorite (dream) rooms or houses...etc.

Here are a couple of my dream/magazine kitchens:

-bright and green, two things I very much like in a kitchen:

Love the warmth and color of this one...

and the crisp and clean white set off by bright accents of this kitchen:

and I am partial to the cupboards and knobs of this kitchen...

Clothes for kids and kids-at-heart

I love Oilily! Now, I must admit I've never owned a single item from Oilily. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure how to pronounce the world "Oilily."




But the clothes! They are bright and vivacious, full of personality and brilliance and fun, for boys, girls, and women. I love Oilily clothes. Someday, if I have a very large bank account, I might splurge and buy an Oilily piece. Hmmm....maybe I should search for Oilily clothes on eBay......

Now come on everyone...pretty please...

I am just so curious to hear about your favorite things....

Polka Dots...

As you may already know, I am a unashamed lover of Polka-Dots...so much so that I had a polka-dotted wedding dress, well it was not as tacky as it sounds...more along the lines of Dotted Swiss than polka dots...

Anyhow, I openly admit that I adore anything Polka Dotted...

pajama's, curtains, pots, sheets, cars, journals, shoes, cards, underwear, etc.

I am a true Polka Dot junkie...

( once upon a time (before Annabelle, that is) David and I were even going to open up our own drive through espresso and name it

Polka Dots Coffee, and paint the little building in robin's egg blue with, yes, brown Polka Dots...)

And This is my photo tribute to them.