House Lewis

Florists and Caterers and DJs...oh my!

2009-09-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm starting off on a new adventure...

Yes, motherhood is a huge adventure, but I guess God has a few other adventures in store for me as well. After many years of learning the ropes of the event planning industry, I have decided to step out on my own and start an event planning company. Bluebird Signature Events is in the works and will be up and running in a matter of weeks (Don't try searching for the website just yet. My fabulous web designer is working on it. Thanks Josh!).

My background is incredibly varied with corporate events to private parties to weddings, so Bluebird Signature Events will be available for coordinating it all. However, this year I'll be primarily focusing on weddings. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love, but to have the freedom to create a schedule that will work with my little guy. God is good!

Because of all of these changes, my posting here on House Lewis will be postponed for the time being. I'll have a blog on my company website where I will post about events I've been working on, share party and decor ideas, and all that good stuff. I'll also still be posting on my family website as well.

Check back in a couple of weeks and I'll leave a post with my company website so you can all follow me there. Thank you for all of your love and support!

We Made It...well sort of

2009-08-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

We've said farewell to our life in the city and have begun to dig our way out of the mountains of boxes to begin this next phase of life. (Thank you to all of the family and friends who helped make this move possible!) Although the condo is now empty, we're still not done moving. We ran out of time to use the moving truck, so we ended up dumping all of the smaller boxes in my parents garage (Thanks for letting us take of a bay of your garage!). We plan on using a trailer next week to haul the rest of our stash to our storage unit.

It has recently become a dream, and maybe a goal, to have professional movers move all of my things for me. I have a strong dislike for packing up, hauling around and unpacking. It has brought on an urge to purge anything extra we may have lying around. I can't even tell you how many times over the past few weeks I've said to Adam, "Have you been using that recently? Let's donate it." (Thank you to the Salvation Army for your pick up service. You are wonderful, and if you come by in another week I'll have another bag of goodies for you to take away.).
Well, I thought I would leave you with a little inspiration for the day. I think these ice cream cone cupcakes would be adorable for a kid's birthday party. I found the recipe over at Papery and Cake ry. Check out their website and you'll be inspired!

Cardboard, Newspaper and Dust Bunnies

2009-08-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

I am writing this as I sit on the floor surrounded by cardboard boxes, stacks of newspapers and a gazillion dust bunnies. That's right. We're moving! Our lease was up so rather than sign on for another year, we decided to pack up and take over my parents upstairs (that they so graciously offered to us) while we await the arrival our little one. Life is a little crazy at the moment.

So please excuse my lack of blogging this week. I need to get back to packing up our stuff and cleaning up the dust bunnies that appeared out of nowhere when the furniture was moved around. On to the next adventure!

A Weekend By The Sea

2009-08-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

Recently Adam and I decided that we would take a weekend trip down to the Oregon Coast to visit his family that was in town. We had family from Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Arizona all in one place! So we piled into the car along with our dog Duke, Adam's brother Alex and his new bride Kellie, and their dog Riley.

The car was full and we were ready to go. After about 5 hours of driving, 6 bathroom breaks, handfuls of snacks, multiple cds and a game of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire...we were finally there. It was such a fun weekend. We had a bbq with all of our family on the first night. We stayed with Adam's cousin Rebecca, her husband, Chris, and their adorable son, Fisher.

The next morning we walked to the beach and then spent the afternoon with all of the family. Unfortunately we had to head back that evening. Our trip home took longer because we made a side trip to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. All I can say is...yum!

It was such a fun weekend and a rare oppotunity to spend time with our extended family.

Adam and I...I love this man :)

Alex and Kellie, The Newlyweds. Such a beautiful couple!

The newest addition to the Lewis family, Kellie. (Oh, my hair was a frizzy fright that day!)

My dog, Duke, has "little dog syndrome". He's only 7 pounds, but he thinks he's enormous! The big dogs, Jack and Riley, had a lot of patience with him on this trip.

Rebecca and her adorable son, Fisher. This little boy has the greatest facial expressions...have I said that he's adorable yet?

This is Adam's grandpa, Maurie. He was quite smitten with Fisher as well.

This is Evalue, Adam's grandma. She has such a fun personality and I loved being able to spend time with her.

Wedding Whirlwind

2009-07-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oh my neglected blog readers...thank you for your patience! The wedding in California was just beautiful! The bride was stunning and looked just like Cinderella. It was such a sweet time of catching up with old friends, celebrating the new couple and tearing up the dance floor.

The wedding day was a sweltering 103 degrees! This heat called for a way to cool down. Since we were in our dress-up clothes, running through a sprinkler wasn't an option. However, an In and Out chocolate milkshake did just the trick! Oh yum!

What's your favorite moment at a wedding? Mine is watching the groom's face as he sees his bride walk down the aisle. Priceless! The picture above captures all of the joy and happiness of their day. Congrats Katie and Mikey!

The next few days were filled with Disneyland, California Adventures and Universal Studios. What a blast! We were determined to fit it all in, and I think we actually went on every ride we had hoped to go on. We got home just in time for my brother-in-law's wedding. There's more to come on that wedding...I'm just waiting for the pictures, so stay tuned. :)

The Happiest Place On Earth

2009-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm hopping on a plane and heading down to California for a wedding and three fun filled days in Disneyland and Universal Studios. Don't worry I'll say hi to Mickey and Minnie for you! See you back here next week!

How Does Your Garden Grow

2009-06-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

I dream of having a garden. Someday I'll go out in the evening and pluck fresh veggies to serve for dinner. I'll cut bouquets of flowers to decorate my home. And I'll let the grass tickle my feet on a hot summer evening. However, for the time being I live in a condo where space is a bit limited. That's why these contained "grass gardens" from A+R are so much fun. They add a little green to a small space. And just think, mowing the lawn is as easy as snip of the scissors!

I think I owe you an explanation...

2009-06-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

For the past few months my blogging has become pretty sporadic, and I thought it was about time I offered an explanation...We've been busy growing our family!

This is Baby Lewis' first picture from a few weeks ago. Our doctor asked Adam if he was the dancer in the family because our little baby has got some moves! During the ultrasound he or she was moving all around and looked like they were shaking a hula hoop. It was adorable and we were glued to the screen!

Baby Lewis is due to make their grand appearance on December 20th and we could not be more thrilled! I've started another blog for all of the baby updates, so this blog will still stay dedicated to entertaining, style, inspiration and creativity (just don't be shocked if the posts are a little less frequent! Ha!).

A Modern Day Robinson Crusoe

2009-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of TreehousePoint)

With the economy in it's current state and travel expenses being quite costly, many families are looking for ways to enjoy their summer a little closer to home. If you live in the Seattle area make sure you check out Treehouse Point. You literally can sleep in the treetops while enjoying the beauty of being surrounded by nature. Just don't be surprised if you're woken up in the morning by the birds who are nesting right outside your window! They offers two treehouses, a deluxe cabin tent ("glamping" anyone?), as well as two suites in their main lodge. Treehouse Point also opens their doors for events like weddings, rehearsal dinners and is looking into hosting educational events for elementary school classes. It's only 22 miles outside of Seattle, but I'm sure it will feel like you have stepped foot into another world.

Going To The Chapel Lingerie Shower

2009-06-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the pictures from Kellie's lingerie shower last weekend. Kellie's colors for her wedding are red and teal, so we took those colors and ran with them. The theme was "Going to the Chapel", although we maybe should have named it "Going on the Honeymoon" because Kellie is officially stocked and ready to go for the honeymoon!

Tissue paper flower balls in different sizes were hung from the ceiling. They are really easy to make, and directions can be found here. It's a cheap decor item and they make such a big statement.The inspiration for the buffet table was a wedding tablescape designed by Amy Atlas. We were so excited to find that one of my favorite party stores carried these gigantic balloons in red! Talk about a statement! These balloons measure over 3 feet wide and we had to borrow a van to pick them up. "Going to the Chapel" hung on a ribbon over a table filled with the bride's favorite desserts.

One of the things that the bride had hoped to incorporate into the wedding reception was the couple's love for milk and cookies. Unfortunately she wasn't able to do this, so we surprised her with the treat at the party. My husband made Chocolate Chippers, a family recipe that has been passed down through generations. The cookies were packaged in clear cellophane bags with red sizzle pack. A local graphic designer made the "Cookies & Milk" label, which we then sewed onto the bag. Milk was served in an old fashioned milk jug kept cool in a galvanized bucket of ice. Adorable!

One of the desserts served at the party was cheesecake cut into circles and served in a thick muffin cup. They were topped with a drizzle of cherry pie filling...which just happened to fit perfectly with the color scheme!

We played a hilarious dvd game testing the bride's knowledge of her groom. Thank you to Callie and Brianne for all of their work in putting it together! The second game we played while Kellie opened her gifts. All of the girls had to decide on a name for the outfit. Like "Sexy Panther". Ha! The names were written on a card and then during the honeymoon the groom will select a card, and that's the outfit the bride will wear. Everyone got really into this game and came up with incredibly creative names.

Everyone was sent home with take out boxes filled with more of the bride's favorite treats. I think we were all on a sugar high by the end of the night!

It was such a fun night full of laughs, good friends and sexy lingerie! Less than a month until the wedding!

The Five Minute Centerpiece

2009-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I had the honor of co-hosting a lingerie shower for my soon to be sister-in-law, Kellie. I planned it with the help of her sister and another bridesmaid, and I can safely say that we had just as much fun planning the event as we did on the night of the party.

The bride's wedding colors are red and teal, so that set the foundation for our color scheme. The evening was a screaming success and I'll share oodles of pictures tomorrow. For tonight I just wanted to give a small preview with a diy for the centerpiece we used on the buffet table.
I am on a budget and don't have a lot of extra dough to spend on decor, so I got crafty and searched my house (and my mom's). The vases and candles were items we already had on hand. I think it's a great idea to invest in 3-5 similar looking clear glass vases. You'll always be glad to have them on hand. 3-5 is a good number because in decorating you always want to group odd numbers of items together. It's more pleasing aesthetically to the eye.

I tied red and teal ribbons around the vases and filled them with bright colorful flowers. To give some height to the grouping I used a white cake stand that I already had on hand. So simple. So chic. So quick!

Fun Find Friday

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photos courtesy of Timothy Liles)

Oh my goodness I am in love with these crayons! A prefect combination of two of my loves: accessories and art. Thanks to See Saw Designs for a great find!

Rent a Goat

2009-05-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

As a kid, this is the time of year that my sister and I would go through our yard gathering up all of the piles raked up by my Dad. It was back breaking work that could be considered borderline child labor (haha...just kidding Dad!).

All of you homeowners who have a lot of yard work to tackle I've found a solution, Rent a Goat. These really are quite amazing animals. You've heard that goats will eat eat just about anything, but these beauties can clear out 1-2 acres of weeds and vegetation in about 3 days. The goats will even eat through thickets of of blackberries!

A company that offers the service of 250 goats in both Eastern and Western Washington is Healing Hooves, LLC. Shepard and owner, Craig Madsen, will bring the goats to you and you're set up for eco-friendly weed control. So put down the garden gloves and call for a goat!

Wordless Wesnesday - Unofficially Summer

2009-05-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Tim Irving)

Move Over Amy Atlas

2009-05-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Trophy Cupcakes)

You've heard me talk about my love for Amy Atlas. She is incredibly creative and her designs look oh so delicious. Unfortunately, she is based in New York so my chances of sampling her fare are slim to none. However, Jennifer Shea, is a creative confectionery genius in my own backyard. She and her husband own and operate a cupcake store called Trophy Cupcakes. Her cupcakes are melt in your mouth pure deliciousness. The continual line of customers is a testimony to how good her cupcakes are.

(Photo courtesy of Trophy Cupcakes)

These pictures are from a dessert table she designed as a wedding gift for Entertaining and Lifestyle Expert Kelley Moore. The desserts were from Trophy Cupcakes, Curio Confections, Honore, Lisa Dupar and Crush. At the reception my hubby and I piled high a plate of sweet treats and devoured each and every one. If you're ever in Seattle, put Trophy Cupcakes on your must visit list. Yum!

Bringing Out the Fairy Godmother In Us All

2009-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

How many of you have an old bridesmaid dress or maybe a prom dress wrapped in plastic and shoved in the back of your closet. I know I have several, and while they are fun to keep for sentimental reasons why not consider donating them to a good cause? Recently I came across an incredible organization called The Princess Project. It's a non-profit that gives underprivileged teens an opportunity to wear a beautiful dress to prom. The girls are allowed to keep the dresses if they choose, but are encouraged to return them so other girls might have the opportunity to wear them.

This got me thinking if there are any programs similar to this in the Seattle area. I found The Ruby Room. Their boutique is located in Seattle and is stocked with dresses from size 0 to 30. A personal shopper assists the girls in finding a dress that is perfect for them. They not only carry dresses, but also shoes, purses, accessories and wraps.

If you don't live in the Seattle area, The Ruby Room has a link of similar non-profits across the United States and Canada.

Just think of the difference you could make in one girl's life when she has the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress and spend the one night playing the part of a princess.

*On another note, just wanted to apologize for my lack of posting as of late. Life has suddenly become wonderfully crazy but I hope to get back into my normal posting routine soon. Thank you for your patience and for continually checking in for updates!

Hello. My name is Kyla, and I am a Chocoholic

2009-04-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Theo Chocolate)

To say I love chocolate is a bit of an understatement. I love chocolate, and that is why I love my friends at Theo's Chocolate. Their chocolate confections are organic and fair trade. they are also one of a handful of locations that work with the chocolate from the"bean to the bar". All of this results in the highest quality, tastiest chocolate around.

Theo's has always opened their doors to customers who want to take a closer look at the chocolate making process by offering tours (and tastings!) of their facility. Now they are taking it a step further and offering lasses in the Theo Chocolate Academy. Chocolate lovers can learn about everything from the origins of the beloved cocoa bean to the history of chocolate to the secrets of the factory. Classes are $30 and are offered throughout the spring. Check out their website for more details

Wow, I don't think I could have used the word "chocolate" any more in this post!

Daring Bakers Challenge - The Most Decedant Cheesecake Ever!

2009-04-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

In college, my roommates and I used to trek down to The Cheesecake Factory to treat ourselves to a delicious slice of cheesecake. The Oreo cookie and carrot cake were fan favorites. The April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake as the Challenge. Since I LOVE cheesecake, I actually had trouble deciding what flavor would be my inspiration for the challenge. My solution...let Hubby choose! I sent him to The Cheesecake Factory website and told him to pick his favorite. He chose "Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple". The menu describes it as "creamy cheesecake swirled with caramel, peanut butter, Butterfingers and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups". Sounds decadent, right? Oh my! I decided to make this dessert for Easter to share with the whole family, and also to ensure that I wouldn't singlehandedly eat an entire cheesecake on my own!

Well I had my inspiration, so I got to work. Here's the layering I used: I started with a crust made with the gluten-free chocolate cookie wafers. I used Newman's O Gluten-free cookies. I scraped out the creamy filling because I didn't want my crust to be to hard. I crushed a Butterfinger candy bar and sprinkled that on the cookie crust. The next layer was the cheesecake, and I stuck to the recipe for this one. I topped it was a layer of chocolate ganache (see recipe below), crumbled Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and a drizzle of caramel.
Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake:

crust:
2 cups / 180 g graham cracker crumbs (or the chocolate wafers)
1 stick / 4 oz butter, melted
2 tbsp. / 24 g sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

cheesecake:
3 sticks of cream cheese, 8 oz each (total of 24 oz) room temperature
1 cup / 210 g sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup / 8 oz heavy cream
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. vanilla extract (or the innards of a vanilla bean)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.

2. Mix together the crust ingredients and press into your preferred pan. You can press the crust just into the bottom, or up the sides of the pan too - baker's choice. Set crust aside.

3. Combine cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand-mixer (or in a large bowl if using a hand-mixer) and cream together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add heavy cream, vanilla, lemon juice, and alcohol and blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Pour batter into prepared crust and tap the pan on the counter a few times to bring all air bubbles to the surface. Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. If cheesecake pan is not airtight, cover bottom securely with foil before adding water.

5. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, until it is almost done - this can be hard to judge, but you're looking for the cake to hold together, but still have a lot of jiggle to it in the center. You don't want it to be completely firm at this stage. Close the oven door, turn the heat off, and let rest in the cooling oven for one hour. This lets the cake finish cooking and cool down gently enough so that it won't crack on the top. After one hour, remove cheesecake from oven and lift carefully out of water bath. Let it finish cooling on the counter, and then cover and put in the fridge to chill. Once fully chilled, it is ready to serve.

Pan note: The creator of this recipe used to use a spring form pan, but no matter how well she wrapped the thing in tin foil, water would always seep in and make the crust soggy. Now she uses one of those 1-use foil "casserole" shaped pans from the grocery store. They're 8 or 9 inches wide and really deep, and best of all, water-tight. When it comes time to serve, just cut the foil away.

Prep notes: While the actual making of this cheesecake is a minimal time commitment, it does need to bake for almost an hour, cool in the oven for an hour, and chill overnight before it is served. Please plan accordingly!

Chocolate Ganache
Note: Because the ganache hardens as it cools, you should make it right before you intend to use it. Please be careful when caramelising the sugar and then adding the cream. It may splatter and boil. I placed a piece of foil over the pan and poured the cream into a hole in the middle of the foil to prevent splattering.

Ingredients:
4 Tb granulated sugar
2/3 + 1Tb heavy cream
5 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
3 Tb + 1/2 tsp unsalted butter softened

1. Make a caramel: Using the dry method, melt the sugar by spreading it in an even layer in a small saucepan with high sides. heat over medium-high heat, watching it carefully as the sugar begins to melt. Never stir the mixture. As the sugar starts to melt, swirl the pan occasionally to allow the sugar to melt evenly. Cook to dark amber color.
2. While the sugar is melting, heat the cream until boiling. Pour cream into the caramel and stir thoroughly. Be very careful as it may splatter and boil.
3. Pour the hot caramel-milk mixture over the dark chocolate. Wait 30 seconds and stir until smooth.
4. Add the softened butter and whip hard and fast. the chocolate should be smooth and shiny.

I actually had trouble with leaking from the water bath, but after allowing the cheesecake to sit in the fridge overnight that crust held together perfectly. Everyone raved about the dessert and Easter, and even declared it the "best cheesecake they had ever tasted". This delicious recipe is one that I will definitely make again, at another family event because I'm sure I could have polished off about half of the cake if given the chance!

Save the Earth

2009-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Earth Day and Arbor Day is on Thursday. In addition to planting a tree, my challenge for you is to begin thinking of ways you can help keep our earth green and clean. If everyone made one change in their life in an effort to go more green, think of the difference that would make. (Photo courtesy of EcoSumo)
Perhaps your change can be something as small as using a reusable Nalagene or Sigg bottle instead of a disposable plastic bottle. It may seem like an insignificant change, but consider these facts (Info is from Earth911 and Reusable Bags):

-8 out of 10 water bottles become landfill waste

-Plastic bottles can take up to 1000 years to BEGIN to decompose once buried

-If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week, they would save 24 million bottles from being land filled. One month on the same plan would save 112 million bottles, and one year would save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill

-Imagine a water bottle filled a quarter of the way up with oil. That's about how much oil was needed to produce the bottle

So take minute to think about the changes you can make in your life to become more green, and realize that you really truly are making a difference.

War on Plastic

2009-04-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Just a short post for the day about a product I recently found. Creative packaging can often times make or break a product. Here is a great example of creative packaging that makes A+R Store's "War on Plastic" reusable shopping bag stand apart from the rest.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Here Comes the Sun, Da Da Da-Da

2009-04-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l outside. In true Seattle fashion, people have been breaking out the shorts and the flip flops and have been flocking to the nearest park or any outdoor area in hopes of soaking up as many sun rays as possible. I feel a bit like a mole coming out from underground and have become suddenly aware of how pale I am...if you are going to look at me you should put on sunglasses first. It's that bad.

In honor of the sun, hubby and I flared up the BBQ for the first time this year. Oh yum! It was an amazing meal. We ate with the door wide open.

The best part of the meal were these potato wedges. So easy and so delicious! Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper (this will ensure the wedges won't stick to the pan and helps make clean up a breeze). Scrub the potatoes very well and cut into wedges. Put into a bowl and mix with olive oil, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Mix well and then lay potatoes, skin side down, in a single layer on the jelly roll sheet. Bake in the oven at 390 degrees for about 25 minutes. You want them to start turning golden and to get a little crispy.

Pull them out and sprinkle with truffle salt. Truffle salt isn't for everyone, but I happen to think it is spectacular. It adds an earthy flavor that is very unique. Serve the potato wedges immediately with a side of ketchup (or ranch dressing in our house).

I hope all of you other Seattlites have been enjoying the sun while it lasts!

Wordless Wednesday - Sweet Puppy

2009-04-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning up my photos and came across this one of my sister's sweet puppy, Bauer. Look at those eyes!

Eggcellent Design

2009-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

With Easter just around the corner, eggs are all around. Eggs don't have to be limited to those left by the Easter Bunny. They are in good, or should I say "eggcellent", design as well.(Photo courtesy of Nigella)

Nigella Lawson is not only a fabulous chef, but she also has an incredible line of kitchenware. These mixing bowls are made of heavy duty ceramic, and the egg shape makes them easy to use for beating and pouring. Perfect for your next omelet!

(Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

The economy has made everyone become more focused on their finances. These modern piggy banks by Rare Device put a whole new spin on protecting your "nest egg".

(Photo courtesy of Velocity Art and Design)

I love the beautiful crackled design of these vases. Frosted glass is interlaced with black glass strands. Filled with cheery yellow daffodils, they would be perfect for the Easter dinner table.

(Photo courtesy of Mudpuppy)
These beautiful handmade bud vases are wrapped in a knot less net made out of Irish waxed linen thread. Classic, clean and simple design.

Pretty In Pink

2009-04-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my mom and sister co-hosted a bridal shower for one of my sister's longest and dearest friends. They have been friends for years and years. When it came to selecting a theme for the shower it was a no brainer...PINK. It's the bride's favorite color, as well as the color scheme for the wedding.

They rented linens from Choice Linens. When they heard about the theme, the owner quickly went into the back and brought out a new linen that was perfect for this event. It was a crinkled silk linen in bubblegum pink! It found it's place at the party as the foundation of the buffet table.

Tulips in various shades of pink stood with graceful elegance in silver vases. Flowered tea cups gathered over four generations were stacked. Candles were lit. The stage was set.

As the guests arrived, they were served a glass of pink punch from a silver tray.

Games were enjoyed, old friends reacquainted, and delicious food was devoured.

The favorite game was writing a love poem for the bride and groom. Each person was given a lovey-dovey word like "cuddle". They were also given a not so romantic word like "garden gloves". Each guest was then asked to write a poem incorporating both words. Some were funny, some were heart felt, some were off the wall, and all were incredibly creative!

As the party wound down, guests were encouraged to fill a clear cellophane at the candy bar which was filled with pink and white sweet treats.

Oh what a fun afternoon we all had! Congratulations Katie and Mikey, we wish you all the best!

Playing With Paper

2009-04-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always impressed at what people can create with scissors, paper, glue and a little (ok, a lot!) of patience. Brooke Meyenberg of Little Retreats is the creative force behind these darling designs. Each item is handcrafted, and each is unique. Here are a few of my favorite creations (but they are all fabulous!).

Since weddings are on my mind lately as I am getting geared up for the wedding season, I immediately saw the stylish numbers above and thought they would be perfect for table numbers at a reception. Or for this year's Annual Women's Tea (Mom, if you're reading this take notes :)).

The letter/animal cards would be so sweet in a nursery!

And don't even get me started on how adorable I think the bird cage is! The little pale yellow bird brings spring into even thee dreariest of places. Ahem...my desk! Hang them in a window, on your wall, where ever your little heart desires.

Style Without Breaking the Bank - Easter Centerpiece

2009-04-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of BHG)

This week's installment of "Style Without Breaking the Bank" is all about your Easter tabletop centerpiece. Easter is such a special time to gather friends and family around your table, and you don't have to spend oodles to make a statement. Every day I see more and more flower buds beginning to open signifying the start of spring. I love having fresh flowers in the house as well this time of year, but they can be expensive.

Now you may gasp at what I'm going to tell you, but carnations are a perfect flower for a bold, tight packed centerpiece. I know...gasp! When packed in a tight arrangement, carnations can actually give the appearance of garden roses for a fraction of the cost. The picture above is a perfect centerpiece for your Easter table incorporating pale pastel Easter eggs and tightly packed carnations displayed on a cake stand pedestal. Below, you'll see an elegant alternative using small paves of dusty pick carnations in silver julep cups. I hope you are inspired to grab some carnations and a few containers from around your home, and see what you can come up with!

(Photo courtesy of Chelsea Hixon featured on Totally Tabletops)

Wordless Wednesday - It's Almost Wedding Season ( I love this photographer!)

2009-04-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Michele Waite)

Almost Wordless Wednesday - The Beauty of Decay

2009-03-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

There is something strangely beautiful in old, decrypted buildings. There is history and a story. These photos by Numi Thorvarsson are of abandoned buildings in Iceland.

Grab Your Crayons and Color Your Walls

2009-03-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of 2jane)

Paint-by-number art is back in a whole new way. Channel your inner artist and grab your crayons, markers or paint pens. A super creative company, 2jane, has created a line of wallpaper strips that are also paint-by-number. Bold graphics can be colored in as much or as little as you like. I think these would be perfect for a kids room. How many kids would love to be told, "Go color your walls."? I know I would have loved it!

(Photo courtesy of 2jane)

Here's another creative product from 2jane. These lace decals adhere to windows giving privacy to any room while still allowing full sunlight to shine through. They could also be used on glass cabinet doors. The decals come in a variety of styles that give an elegant touch to any room. To install, simply add water and adhere.

Introducing Spring 2009

2009-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Mr. Christian Louboutin)
Happy first day of spring! Here is a little eye candy from Christian Louboutin's spring 2009 collection

I Hope You're Wearing Green!

2009-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Betty Crocker)



	Print these coupons...





	About Concordance™

Well on this St. Patrick's Day I haven't found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but I did find a delicious Irish Soda Bread recipe. This bread is perfect to go along with your corned beef, cabbage and mashed potatoes (dyed green with food coloring of course!). Soda Bread is a very quick and easy bread that freezes well. This recipe is from Ms. Crocker.

3 Tb. butter softened
2 1/2 cups flour
2 Tb. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup raisins
3/4 cup buttermilk

1. Heat over to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheet.

2. Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in raisins and just enough buttermilk so dough leaves side of bowl.

3. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Shape into round loaf, about 6 1/2 inches in diameter. Place on cookie sheet. Cut an X shape about 1/2 inch deep through loaf with floured knife.

4. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with butter or margarine, softened, if desired.

Oh the Weekend!

2009-03-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo by HouseLewis)
I'm going here this weekend. I'll be curled up next to the fire with a good book and a cup of cocoa for the majority of the weekend. Ahhh...relaxation.

Wordless Wednesday - There may be snow in the air, but spring is in my heart!

2009-03-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Kim Cornelison)

Chicken Pot Pie with a Side of Girl Scout Cookies

2009-03-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo by HouseLewis )

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday, and to celebrate my sister, dad and I combined efforts to make dinner. My contribution was homemade chicken pot pies. They were D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! The recipe I used is below. The original recipe is intended for making a large pie in a 9x13 dish. However, I wanted to serve mine as individual servings in ramekin dishes so I made some alterations. To see the original recipe check it out here.

Tonight I made 4 more pot pies with the leftover filling. I made a 1/4 of the crust recipe and decided to only make crust for the tops of the pies. I also used whole wheat flour. It was a healthier option and tasted really good.

The next time I make this dinner I'll probably make only 1/2 of the recipe. The full recipe made enough for about 13-14 ramekin size pot pies! My sister had the great idea of using the extra filling for a soup...yum! (Note: 1/2 of the crust recipe was enough for 7 ramekins with crust covering the inside and the top of the pies.)

Ingredients

Crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
3 sticks frozen unsalted butter, cut into small bits
1/2 cup ice water mixed with 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Sauce:

1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (plus a little extra)
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon ground sage
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Filling:

1 (8-ounce) box frozen green peas
1 1/2 cups sauteed button mushrooms
2 cups cooked, diced carrots
3/4 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup diced celery
4 medium potatoes, parboiled and diced, with the skin on
1 (8-ounce) box frozen pearl onions
About 7-ounces chicken pulled off a cooked rotisserie chicken
Nonstick cooking spray

Glaze:

2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon water

Directions

To make the crust: Mix flour, salt and butter together until well combined. Slowly add in water/vinegar mixture until dough comes together. Dump out onto saran wrap, mold into two balls, cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Dump out the dough and form 2 balls. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large saucepan, heat the butter until foamy. Add the flour, whisking constantly until blended. Remove from the heat and whisk in the stock, cream and milk.

Put the pan back on low heat until the mixture has thickened. Add more flour as needed, but you don't want the sauce to be too thick. Taste for saltiness. Whisk in sage, nutmeg, salt (if necessary), and pepper. Remove from the heat, and in a large bowl, combine with the vegetables and chicken. Set aside.

Fill oven-safe ramekins with the chicken and sauce mixture.

Roll out the crust and cut a circle slightly larger than the ramekin. Place on top of the chicken mix. Crimp the edges with your fingers.

Mix the egg yolks, cream and water to form a glaze and brush on the top of the pies.

Place in the oven and cook for about 30 minutes (If needed, increase oven temp to 400 degrees F). Cook until the crust is golden and slightly crunchy. The filling should be bubbly.

Let pie rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Oh yeah...The side of girl scout cookies! My mom gave me some girl scout cookies and I put them in the freezer to try and stop myself from eating them. This was not a good idea because the darn cookies just taste even better when their frozen!

Happy Happy Birthday, May All Your Dreams Come True!

2009-03-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Happy Birthday Mom!

I LOVE you!

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Style Without Breaking the Bank - You Light Up My Life

2009-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

A key fundamental in design is that lighting can transform a space. It can set the mood, it can make a statement, and...it doesn't have to break the bank. Pendant lights in particular have the ability to give the "Wow" factor to a space. Here are three spin offs of designer pendants that you can make at home.

Below is a designer shade (I apologize but I can't find the original source of the designer shade.). It's kind of a beautiful mess of felt swirls. Design*Sponge has a great (and EASY) d.i.y. for this fun pendant light. The only items you'll need are a $9.99 lamp from Ikea, white felt, scissors and a hot glue gun. The d.i.y. knock off is created with layered white felt circles.

Designer

D.I.Y

(Photo courtesy of Design*Sponge)

Hanging colorful drum pendants is a great way to add interesting color and texture to a space. Sometimes that pop of color is all it takes to wake up a room. The designer picture are shades from Room & Board, and each shade costs $449.00! The d.i.y. picture is a drum shade that has been transformed into a pendant light. The appropriately named "Lampshade Lady" gives clear how-to steps for creating this piece of art. Make sure you take note that she recommends the use of an electrician for installation!

Designer

(Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

D.I.Y.

(Photo courtesy of The Lampshade Lady)

The final example is a spin on the modern shades that are constantly gracing my the local Design Within Reach storefront windows. They are modern, fresh, work in almost any space, and they will cost you $435.00. The d.i.y. is an incredible creation from Instructables. Using a stencil, you trace and cut out pieces that you fir together in this grown up version of a old school geometry project.

Designer

(Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach)

D.I.Y.

(Photo courtesy of Instructables)

Chocolate Cups

2009-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've been salivating as you wait for the promised how-to for my chocolate cups. In the last Daring Baker's challenge, the Chocolate Valentino, I created these chocolate cups to hold coffee ice cream. Oh yum! I wish I had some now! They were quite easy and can be used for so many different treats. I'm already planning a dessert for berry season!

So here goes...start by placing paper cups in your muffin pan. Melt chocolate in a double boiler. The amount of chocolate depends on how many cups you're making. I would say you need an overflowing handful per muffin cup. Using a kitchen paint brush, paint a THICK layer of chocolate on all sides of the muffin cups. If it's not thick enough the cup will fall apart (no worries if it does. Just re-melt the chocolate and try again).

Once you have your cups covered, place the muffin pan in the freezer for about 20 minutes. After they are fully chilled, carefully pop out the hardened chocolate and peel off the paper. Fill with whatever your little heart desires...
And enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday - In the Mood For Travel

2009-03-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Cori Kindred)

Daring Bakers Challenge - Chocolate Valentino Cake

2009-02-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's the end of another month, and you know what that means...time for another Daring Baker's Challenge. When I first saw the challenge I read "chocolate" and "ice cream", and I immediately knew I was going to love this challenge.

The February 2009 challenge was hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef who have chosen a Chocolate Valentino Cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.

We were given an incredible amount of freedom with this challenge. We were able to choose the type of chocolate used for the cake (dark, milk, white, etc.), and we could choose whatever ice cream recipe our little heart desired. I decided to use milk chocolate for the cake, and I made a delicious coffee ice cream.

Where to begin...well let's get started off with the cake recipe:

Chocolate Valentino

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
16 ounces of semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
5 large eggs separated

1. Put chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water) and melt, stirring often.
2. While your chocolate butter mixture is cooling. Butter your pan and line with a parchment circle then butter the parchment.
3. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and put into two medium bowls.
4. Whip the egg whites in a medium/large grease free bowl until stiff peaks are formed (do not over-whip or the cake will be dry).
5. With the same beater beat the egg yolks together.
6. Add the egg yolks to the cooled chocolate.
7. Fold in 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and follow with remaining 2/3rds. Fold until no white remains without deflating the batter. {link of folding demonstration}
8. Pour batter into prepared pan, the batter should fill the pan 3/4 of the way full, and bake at 375F (I used a 9in. cake pan and then cut smaller cakes out of it)
9. Bake for 25 minutes until an instant read thermometer reads 140F/60C.
Note – If you do not have an instant read thermometer, the top of the cake will look similar to a brownie and a cake tester will appear wet.
10. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes then unmold.
Once my cake was done, I cut out 2 inch circles and squares. I stacked two pieces of cake together and decorated it with chocolate. I either painted on melted chocolate to create a hard chocolate shell, or I used thick chocolate shavings. Add a little powdered sugar, and Oh Yum!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream! Coffee ice cream to be exact. The recipe I used was from Simply Recipes. Check out the recipe here. The cup that is holding the ice cream is made of chocolate too! Since this post is already getting lengthy, check back next week for a post on how to make them.

Remember that this is a "Chocolate Valentine", so I gave my parents and my sister and brother-in-law these yummy cakes for a Valentine treat. I think if I hadn't given away some of the cakes I could have eaten them all! They really were incredibly rich, delicious and down-right decadent!

Wordless Wednesday - The Photographer I'm Now Obsessed With...Rodney Smith

2009-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photos courtesy of Rodney Smith)

Chocolate + Coffee = Yum!

2009-02-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo a HouseLewis Original)

Most days I have two little treats. The first is a cup of coffee with a little cream and sugar in the morning. I prefer to sip while sitting in a chair overlooking the morning fog on the lake...but my desk chair overlooking my morning emails will have to do. My second treat is a piece of chocolate in the afternoon. It's the perfect pick-me-up as the day begins to drag.

The other day while working on another cooking project (which you'll hear about very soon), I decided to make a combination of these two treats and created chocolate covered coffee beans. They were so simple and SO delicious!

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

1/2 cup whole coffee beans
3/4 cup chocolate chips

1. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (or if you're like me and don't have a double boiler, boil water in a sauce pan and melt chocolate in a glass bowl placed on top of the sauce pan).

2. Pour coffee beans into melted chocolate. Stir until coated.

3. Remove and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Separate beans as best you can so they are not touching.

4. Place cookie sheet in the fridge for 20 minutes and then enjoy!

5. Store in an airtight container.

Style Without Breaking the Bank - If SJP Can Do It, So Can I!

2009-02-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

In Margaret Russell's book, So Chic, she features the glamorous and stylish homes of "the other half". "So Chic answers these questions and unveils the beautiful and luxurious homes of these trendsetters. This gorgeously illustrated book presents a rare glimpse into the world of high-style interiors and offers up an impressive array of the ravishing homes ranging in locale from Manhattan to Marrakech to Malibu."

Sarah Jessica Parker's house in the Hampton's is one of the homes explored. The picture above is her living room. Take a look at her coffee table...all of you Ikea lovers just saw that it's two Lack side tables pushed together! The clean lines and high lacquered finish are the perfect pairing to the plush sofa, and at $12.99 each they definitely don't break the budget.

Books Aren't Just For Readings Anymore

2009-02-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Noriko Ambe)

A new exhibit is going to soon be filling the halls of the Bellevue Arts Museum. Dozens of artists, both local and international, will show off their craft in Book Borrowers: Contemporary Artists Transforming the Book.
"This exhibition highlights artists exploring, questioning and expanding the inherent quality of the book...Each piece is a sacrifice, a destruction of one sacred object to give birth to another.", Bellevue Arts Museum website.

(Photo courtesy of here)

Brian Dettmer is one of the artists that will be showing his art in the exhibit. He alters media in what are often referred to as "book autopsies". The idea is that the artist can transform the book to reveal a new message. The show runs from 2/24-6/14. if you're in the Bellevue, WA. area make sure you stop by to check it out.

Wordless Wednesday - Sproost Quiz

2009-02-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Sproost)
Take this quiz at Sproost, to define your decor style.
(I was 60% Vintage Modern, 30% Modern Elegance and 10% Cottage Chic.)

Style Without Breaking the Bank - What's On Your Walls

2009-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Domino Magazine)

Do you believe in love at first sight? Well I do because I have first hand experience. The second I laid eyes on this wallpaper by Cole and Son, I was twitterpated. The lines, the pattern, the modern way of bringing the outdoors inside...I love it all. It's sold at Rose and Radish for...gasp!, $195.00 per roll. My visions of a woodland inspired guest bedroom were thrown out the window.

(Photo courtesy of Ikea)

On a recent trip to Ikea, I found a budget friendly answer to my birch tree obsession. These curtain panels, called Anno Unni, are sold at $29.99 for a pack of two. I think these would look great hung on the wall as a backdrop to the bed.

(Photo courtesy of this blog)

As further inspiration, I found this great room that was created by a French designer. She installed birch trees right in her living room. While this may be a bit much for the typical home, wouldn't this look perfect at a cabin? So cozy!

Style on the Cheap

2009-02-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

With the economy in its current topsy-turvy state, home decor and entertaining has often been pushed to the back burner. I'm here to tell you that it just doesn't have to be that way. In the next few weeks I'll be sharing some ways that you can decorate your home, entertain your friends and just be downright stylish all without breaking the bank. So stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday - I'm Ready For Spring!

2009-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Shelby Nycole)

The Month Of Love

2009-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since this is the month to celebrate love, I thought I would share with you a new love of mine. Landlocd is a new jewelry line created by Venice, California based designers Brock & Jess Tucker Mayeux. Each piece is created by hand from gold, bronze and steel. My new personal obsession is the Kir Royale ring, shown above. It's modern, but perfectly timeless. This may not be the typical love celebrated this month, but you can't tear a girl away from her accessories!

Wordless Wednesday - Love Is In The Air

2009-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Keep Calm Gallery)

Daring Bakers Challenge - Tuiles, Tweels, Toolies, Tulles

2009-01-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

Well I'm not sure if I ever learned how to pronounce this months challenge, but let me just start by saying...Chocolate mousse and a crisp cookie. What could be more delectable after a holiday season full of heavy, rich food?! This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day! and Zorra at 1x unruhren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from the Chocolate Book by Angelique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

We were given the option of creating a sweet or a savory tuile. I'll share both recipes with you and then tell you about what I did.

Recipe:
Yields: 20 small cookies/6 large
Preparation time batter 10 minutes, waiting time 30 minutes, baking time: 5-10 minutes per batch

65 grams / ¼ cup / 2.3 ounces softened butter (not melted but soft)
60 grams / ½ cup / 2.1 ounces sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar (7 grams or substitute with a dash of vanilla extract)
2 large egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
65 grams / 1/2 cup / 2.3 ounces sifted all purpose flour
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet

Oven: 180C / 350F

Using a hand whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (low speed) and cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste. Keep stirring while you gradually add the egg whites. Continue to add the flour in small batches and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not over mix.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with either butter/spray and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This will help spread the batter more easily if using a stencil/cardboard template such as the butterfly. Press the stencil (I cut out a stencil from a cardboard box) on the baking sheet and use an off sided spatula to spread batter. Leave some room in between your shapes.

Note: Word to the wise, DO NOT underestimate how thin you need to make these cookies! They need to be spread out paper thin in order to become crispy after baking.

Bake cookies in a preheated oven (180C/350F) for about 5-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Immediately release from baking sheet and proceed to shape/bend the cookies in the desired shape. These cookies have to be shaped when still warm, you might want to bake a small amount at a time or maybe put them in the oven to warm them up again. Or place a baking sheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable.

If you don’t want to do stencil shapes, you might want to transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip. Pipe the desired shapes and bake. Shape immediately after baking using for instance a rolling pin, a broom handle, cups, cones….

Nougatine:
From Michel Roux: Finest Desserts

5.1/4 cups / 500 grams sliced almonds
(or 4.1/3 cups/500 grams slivered almonds)
3.1/3 cups / 660 grams sugar
4 tbs / 60 grams butter (optional)
2 tbs oil (vegetable, sunflower, peanut)

Makes 2.3/4 lbs/1.2 kgs! (This is the yield of the recipe given in the book, feel free to downsize!)
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Preheat oven: 180C/350F

Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Cook the sugar in a heavy based saucepan over low heat, stirring gently and continuously with a spatula, until it melts to a light golden caramel. Add the almonds and stir over low heat for 1 minute, then stir in the butter until completely absorbed. (This is not essential, but will give the nougat an added sheen) Pour the nougatine onto an oiled baking sheet.

Shaping: place a baking sheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable. Work with one piece at a time, of a size appropriate to the shape you want. Roll out each piece on a warm, lightly oiled baking sheet or lightly oiled marbled surface. It is essential to work quickly, since the nougatine rapidly becomes brittle. Heat the nougatine in a microwave oven for a few seconds only to soften it if needed.

Roll the nougatine into the appropriate thickness for your desired shape, but never thicker than 1/8 inch or 3 mm. Quickly cut out your chosen shapes using cookie cutters, or the blade or heel of a chef’s knife. To mold the nougatine, drape it very rapidly over the mold so that it follows the shape and contours. Leave until completely cold before removing from the mold.
Or, cut out and using your fingers or a knife, push into folds or pleats… use as a basket, twirl round a knitting needle..

Nougatine based shapes can be made two or three days in advance, Keep them in a very dry place and do not fill with something like a mousse more than 2 hours prior to serving.

Chocolate Tuiles
Michel Roux’s Finest Desserts
Makes 30
Preparation time: 15 minutes!

9 oz/250 grams dark or white couverture or best-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup/75 gr slivered almonds, toasted and cooled

Temper the couverture, and stir in the toasted almonds. Place the template on a sheet of rodoïde (or use a clean sheet of sturdy plastic such as a folder) and fill with about 1 tbs of the mixture. Repeat the process a little distance away from the first one. As soon as you have 5 tuiles fit, slide them onto a mold or rolling pin (side of a glass) to curve. Let cool completely, lift tuiles off the plastic only after the chocolate has set and just before serving, so that they keep their shine.

Savory tuile/cornet recipe
From Thomas Keller "the French Laundry Cookbook"

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons (65 grams/2.1/4 ounces) all purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt (= 2/3 teaspoon table salt)**
8 tablespoons (114 grams/4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened but still cool to the touch
2 large egg whites, cold
2 tablespoons black sesame seeds

In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the softened butter until it is completely smooth and mayonnaise-like in texture. Using a stiff spatula or spoon, beat the egg whites into the dry ingredients until completely incorporated and smooth. Whisk in the softened butter by thirds, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary and whisking until the batter is creamy and without any lumps. Transfer the batter to a smaller container, as it will be easier to work with.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make a 4-inch hollow circular stencil. Place Silpat on the counter (it is easier to work on the Silpat before it is put on the sheet pan). Place the stencil in one corner of the sheet and, holding the stencil flat against the Silpat, scoop some of the batter onto the back of an offset spatula and spread it in an even layer over the stencil. Then run the spatula over the entire stencil to remove any excess batter. After baking the first batch of cornets, you will be able to judge the correct thickness. You may need a little more or less batter to adjust the thickness of the cornets.

There should not be any holes in the batter. Lift the stencil and repeat the process to make as many rounds as you have molds or to fill the Silpat, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between the cornets. Sprinkle each cornet with a pinch of black sesame seeds.

Place the Silpat on a heavy baking sheet and bake for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the batter is set and you see it rippling from the heat. The cornets may have browned in some areas, but they will not be evenly browned at this point.

Open the oven door and place the baking sheet on the door. This will help keep the cornets warm as you roll them and prevent them from becoming too stiff to roll. Flip a cornet over on the sheet pan, sesame seed side down and place 4-1/2 inch cornet mold at the bottom of the round. If you are right-handed, you will want the pointed end on your left and the open end on your right. The tip of the mold should touch the lower left edge (at about 7 o'clock on a clock face) of the cornet.

Fold the bottom of the cornet and around the mold; it should remain on the sheet pan as you roll. Leave the cornet wrapped around the mold and continue to roll the cornets around molds; as you proceed, arrange the rolled cornets, seams side down, on the sheet pan so they lean against each other, to prevent from rolling.

When all the cornets are rolled, return them to the oven shelf, close the door, and bake for an additional 3 to 4 minutes to set the seams and color the cornets a golden brown. If the color is uneven, stand the cornets on end for a minute or so more, until the color is even. Remove the cornets from the oven and allow to cool just slightly, 30 seconds or so.
Gently remove the cornets from the molds and cool for several minutes on paper towels. Remove the Silpat from the baking sheet, wipe the excess butter from it, and allow it to cool down before spreading the next batch. Store the cornets for up to 2 days (for maximum flavor) in an airtight container.

My hubby and I both have a sweet tooth, so the sweet crispy tuile was a no-brainer. I made a round stencil that was about 4 inches in diameter. I also made a heart shaped stencil (Valentine's is just around the corner ;)). The cookies can be molded around just about anything. The rounds I molded around a highlighter. Who knew you could mix office supplies with baking!

Once the cookies were made I needed something light and fluffy to accompany them...mousse! Here's a variation of a recipe from Simply Recipes:

Chocolate Mousse:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter, diced
1 cup cold heavy cream
3 large eggs, separated
1 tablespoon sugar

1 Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.

2 Combine the chocolate, butter, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. To test, dab some chocolate on your bottom lip. It should feel warm. If it is too cool, the mixture will seize when the other ingredients are added.

3 Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they are foamy and beginning to hold a shape. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until soft peaks form.

4 When the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, stir in the yolks. Gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream. Fold in half the whites just until incorporated, then fold in the remaining whites, and finally the remaining whipped cream.

5 Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes. If you wish, layer in fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (The mousse can be refrigerated for up to a day.)

Using a frosting tip, I fill each cookie with the mousse. The rest of the mousse I piped into a glass cup to accompany my tuile hearts. Although the result wasn't my prettiest creation, it was very delicious.

Wordless Wednesday - What Are You Wishing For?

2009-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo Courtesy of Shelby Nycole)

Magnificent Modern Marvels

2009-01-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

My hubby and I took full advantage of the sunny Seattle weekend last week with a trip to Pike Place market. After stopping to take several pictures and to eat a scrumptious piroshky at Piroshky Piroshky (I now understand why the line is always out the door at this shop. Yum!), we then headed into a couple of shops in the area. One of my favorites is Inform Interiors. They have a mix of wonderfully creative modern furniture. Two items caught my eye that I have seen online and in catalogs, but had never seen in person:

Ecosmart Fire:

(Photo courtesy of EcoSmart Fire)

These fireplaces are not only environmentally friendly (they fueled by renewable green energy) and require no installation, but many of them are portable. Use the fireplace as a divider between rooms or add one to your bedroom for a romantic glow. And I can now tell you from personal experience that these modern marvels give out a lot of heat. Who wouldn't want a toasty fire about now to warm you through the rest of the winter months?

Brent Comber Alder Cubes:
(Photo courtesy of Brent Comber)

These beautifully organic cubes are made of alder trees and a smooth, clear finish. They are created by Brent Comber, a relatively local designer from Vancouver, Canada. He finds much of his inspiration from the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Comber is a truly creative designer who uses sustainably harvested wood, and is often wood leftover at sawmills or found on the ground after forest clearings or construction.

Feeling the LUV!

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak,
but the echoes are endless."
-Mother Teresa

Thank Brooke over at Jackaroolove for showing all of the love today! She tagged me with a Blog LUV Award. How exciting! If you haven't been already, you have to check out her blog. Her creativity will blow you away!

Now it's my turn to hand out a few awards. Here is a random assortment of some of my favorites...

1. Totally Tabletops
2. Bread and Honey
3. Tastefully Entertaining
4. Poppytalk
5. Orangette
6. Millers Meet Sacramento
7. Skylark
8. At Home At Home
9. How About Orange
10. Oh Happy Day

Honorees please follow these instructions and share the LUV!
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of here)

This isn't just any old bookshelf. This image is the work of Seattle local Isaac Layman. He has composed this piece of art with several digital snapshots of the objects that surround him everyday which he has then melded together to create an intense shot not able to be seen with the naked eye. "Layman also photographs from the same viewpoint many times, focusing the camera at different depths, bringing multiple areas into focus in order to heighten or confuse the sense of space inside a given scene.", says the Lawrimore Project. It may not seem like art to you, but it might just make you look differently at a sink full of dirty dishes...

Making History

2009-01-20T18:52:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)
Whether you agree with his policies or not, today is an important day for our country. Happy inauguration day!

By the way, does anyone know where I can get a hat like Aretha Franklin's?

Stick It To Me

2009-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Canadian Family Magazine)

This is a new spin on common fridge decor. It's a new creative way to display what's going on in your life. From your kids artwork to the invitation for your next shindig to a newspaper slipping to pictures of your friends. You can buy these silver trays at almost any antique store and sometimes at thrift stores. Simply mount to the wall using a couple of screws (you'll want to pre-drill a couple holes into the tray before mounting), and use your favorite magnets to display the items.

If you're feeling extra crafty and creative, here are some adorable magnets from How About Orange that you can make at home. This craft will make you think twice about tossing out your old catalogs!(Photo courtesy of How About Orange)

Wine Know

2009-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

In the past couple of years my husband and I have learned to love wine, and to love learning about wine. From taste to tannins to texture to smell, no bottle is the same. Here are a few ideas for how to learn more about wine while having a great time with friends. So grab a few bottles and a few close friends, and get ready for a fun night!

Winerd

Three bottles of wine make for a fun night at any occasion. That is the basis of a board game called Winerd that's moving through the wine lovers community. Answer wine trivia questions and participate in blind taste tests to win the game. Each game includes a game board, 300 questions, 12 challenge cards, four game corks and a taste test notepad. Winerd makes wine "fun and accessible to everyone".

Le Nez du Vin Aroma Kits

Every wine is defined by its aromas. These aroma kits from Williams-Sonoma were designed by French wine enthusiast Jean Lenoir. Each kit contains 12 glass vials of essential aromas to help you refine your palate and expand your tasting vocabulary.

Blind Taste Testing

Seattle local, Totally Tabletops, rents out these fabulous black wine glasses. Cover your wine bottles in a paper bag, pour into these glasses and have your guests guess the wine based solely on taste and smell. You'll be amazed how much you'll learn and how much fun you'll have doing it!

I'm Back...Well Almost

2009-01-09T22:41:00.001-08:00

I've made it this far through this cold and flu season without so much as a sniffle. Unfortunately, my computer hasn't been so lucky. It caught a terrible virus that put it out of commission for several days this past week. Thank you so much for your patience as I get back in the swing of things. New posts will be posted next week, so be sure to check back soon!

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

2008-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday most of the Northwest was covered in a blanket of powdery white. My hubby and I ventured out on foot to the grocery store so I could spend the afternoon making homemade Challah bread. It's such an easy bread to make, but you'll be sure to impress people with this golden braid. My favorite recipe is from the Betty Crocker's Cookbook Bridal Edition.

With blizzard warnings in affect over most of Western Washington, I'm staying home again instead of slip sliding around on the roads. So I'm getting cozy with a cup of tea, watching non-stop Christmas movies and probably working on my next knitting project.

I am going to be spending Christmas in Alaska this year, so I'll be taking a short break from blogging. Don't worry though...I'll be back in the new year!

Merry Christmas!

Time Savers

2008-12-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I often find myself crashing into bed at the end of the day wondering where my day went. It's filled with working, shopping, wrapping, cleaning and packing. In the all the hurried-ness it's often hard to find any time to spare. The folks at 5min.com understand how busy our lives are and they have come to the rescue. With 5 minute long videos, you can learn anything from how to go green for the holidays, how to apply your makeup for the Christmas party, or how to cook the perfect Christmas dinner.

They cover topics other than the holidays as well. With 20 different categories you could learn something new every day of the year!

I love to read, but often it's hard to find the time to do it. DailyLit.com is a great solution. They email you short, customized installments of the book of your choice (they have over 800 titles to choose from). This means you can read it at your desk when you check your email, on your iphone as you ride the bus in to work, or pretty much whenever or where ever you want because it only takes a few moments of your time. Don't you just love technology!

Wordless Wednesday - What Your Favorite Christmas Movie?

2008-12-11T11:01:00.001-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Teach With Movies)

Birthdays on the Brain

2008-12-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of 1-800-Flowers)

My husband's birthday is this weekend, and with not one but two birthday dinners to plan...I most definitely have birthdays on the brain. I came across this super cute flower arrangement on my of my favorite blogs, At Home At Home. Believe it or not, this flower cupcake is from 1-800 Flowers! I normally don't like carnations, but when they are bundled tightly like this I think it looks quite modern (not to mention they are easy on the pocketbook!).

If you're in the crafty mood, this is an easy gift you could make on your own. Head over to The Container Store had pick up one of their small Zig Zag Pots.

Then pick up a bundle of your favorite color of carnations and a package of birthday candles from your local grocery store. Make a sweet little birthday note to glue on a toothpick. Put it all together and you have a homemade birthday gift that they will be sure to love.

The Countdown Has Begun!

2008-12-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up every day in December held a new surprise. A treasure. Sometimes small, sometimes big. These special treats were from our advent calendar. It was a snow covered house made out of paper boxes. Every day my sister and I would take turns opening the box for that day. Some days there would be a yummy piece of candy, and other days there would be the first clue to an intricate scavenger hunt leading to a holiday book or toy of some sort.

The advent calendar is special not only for the treats it brings, but also it's a daily reminder to have joy throughout the entire season. They originated from the German Lutherans who would count down the 24 days of Advent with a simple chalk mark. Now we are a bit more modern and detailed in our design. There are SO MANY creative options out there, but here are a few of my favorite advent calendars both to purchase or to create:

(Photo courtesy of Kaboose)

Santa's Advent Beard: A classic. Fill in Santa's beard with one cotton ball each day.

(Photo courtesy of Skip To My Lou)

Little Birdie Advent Calendar: A modern twist, and a fun DIY project.

(Photo courtesy of Target)

Gift Advent Calendar: A gift a day keeps the doctor away...

(Photo courtesy of Target)

Mirrored Advent Calendar: Add a little glamour to your day.

(Photo courtesy of Alpha Mom)

Paper Cup Advent Calendar: Now I realize this is a calendar for November using leftover Halloween candy, but use some red and green tissue paper and you're good to go for advent.

The Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition

2008-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight the streets of downtown Seattle are going to be filled with the sounds of carolers gathering to sing in The Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition. Over 40 singing teams compete, and prizes are awarded for collecting the most donations, best and most original performances. The 22nd annual event raises funds by donation for the Pike Market Senior Center and the Downtown Food Bank. If you live in the Seattle area, come down to Westlake Center and Pine Street (between Third and Seventh Avenues) and celebrate the season at this unique and outrageously fun event.

Bring On The Christmas Decorations!

2008-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Back when I was decorating our home for fall, I talked about these simple glass containers. For October and November they were filled with pine cones, beaded mini pumpkins and leaves.

This weekend instead of crashing into a turkey induced coma, once we got home from a fun and family filled time at the cabin, I set my i pod to shuffle in the holiday genre and got to work decorating for Christmas. I slowly pulled my decorations out of their boxes as if I were opening up a treasure chest. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved decorating for the holidays, and that is something that has never changed.

The glass containers were actually the first thing I decorated. I filled them with an assortment of faux snow, crystals, faux cranberries, glitter stars, gold ornaments and beaded fruit. I have collected these items over the years, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Start with faux snow and ornaments, and then add whatever fits with your own personal decor.

Decor tip: If you're using large containers and don't have enough items to fill them with, twist up tissue paper and put it in the middle of the container. Surround the paper with your decorations until it's completely hidden. This will allow all of your decorations to be seen.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

2008-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Norman Rockwell)

Daring Baker's Challenge - Caramel Cake and a Sugar High

2008-11-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well friends, I successfully finished my second Daring Baker's Challenge. I was thrilled when I found out the challenge was Carmel Cake because of my love of anything caramel, and because it would be a perfect surprise for my Dad's birthday which was in November. If you can't stand the thought of eating another dessert after the smorgasbord of food consumed over Thanksgiving, then make the cake and give it to a friend just so you can experience the delicious smell of browned butter and caramel that fills your home. Thank you to our fabulous hosts for November's challenge: Dolores, Alex and Jenny .

The original recipe comes from Shuna Fish Lyndon. We were given quite a bit of freedom with the recipe, so I decided to make a layered 9 inch cake. I had also been warned about the sweetness level of this cake, so I made some alterations such as cutting down on the sugar content and adding salt.

The first step is to make the caramel. You'll end up having extra caramel left over, so you can use it for other tasty treats or use it to sweeten your morning tea.

Caramel Syrup:
-2 cups sugar

-1/2 cup water

-1 cup water (for "stopping" the caramelization process)

-In a small stainless steel saucepan, with tall sides, mix water and sugar until mixture feels like wet sand.

-Brush down any stray sugar crystals with wet pastry brush.

-Turn on heat to highest flame.

-Cook until smoking slightly: dark amber. (Boil about 6-7 minutes. Once you see a slight change of color, pay close attention because the sugar can burn very easily. I burnt my first batch by trying to reach too dark of a color. However, a darker colored caramel syrup will help cut the sweetness factor is the end product.)

-When color is achieved, very carefully pour in one cup of water. Caramel will jump and sputter about! It is very dangerous, so have long sleeves on and be prepared to step back. (I put a piece of foil with a hole in the middle over the saucepan to prevent any caramel from jumping out. this worked very well.)

-Whisk over medium heat until it has reduced slightly and feels sticky between two fingers. (The consistency should be like maple syrup.) {Obviously wait for it to cool on a spoon before touching it.}

Caramel Cake with Caramelized Butter Frosting:
-10 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

-1 1/4 Cups granulated sugar

-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

-1/3 Cup Caramel Syrup (see recipe above)

-2 each eggs, at room temperature

-splash vanilla extract

-2 Cups all-purpose flour

-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

-1 cup milk, at room temperature

-Preheat oven to 350F

-Butter one tall (2 – 2.5 inch deep) 9-inch cake pan. (I used 2 9-inch cake pans, and divided the batter between the two pans.)

-In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth.

-Add sugar and salt & cream until light and fluffy.

-Slowly pour room temperature caramel syrup into bowl.

-Scrape down bowl and increase speed.

-Add eggs/vanilla extract a little at a time, mixing well after each addition.

-Scrape down bowl again, beat mixture until light and uniform.

-Sift flour and baking powder.

-Turn mixer to lowest speed, and add one third of the dry ingredients.

-When incorporated, add half of the milk, a little at a time.

-Add another third of the dry ingredients, then the other half of the milk and finish with the dry ingredients. {This is called the dry, wet, dry, wet, dry method in cake making. It is often employed when there is a high proportion of liquid in the batter.}

-Take off mixer and by hand, use a spatula to do a few last folds, making sure batter is uniform.

-Turn batter into prepared cake pan. (if using two 9-inch pans, fill each half full.)

-Place cake pan on cookie sheet or 1/2 sheet pan.

-Set first timer for 30 minutes, rotate pan and set timer for another 15-20 minutes. Your own oven will set the pace. Bake until sides pull away from the pan and skewer inserted in middle comes out clean. (If using two 9-inch pans, cook for about 25 minutes.)

-Cool cake completely before icing it.

-Cake will keep for three days outside of the refrigerator.

Caramelized Butter Frosting:

-12 Tablespoons unsalted butter

-1 pound confectioner’s sugar, sifted (I cut this down to 3 cups.)

-4-6 tablespoons heavy cream

-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

-2-4 tablespoons caramel syrup (see recipe above)

-Kosher or sea salt to taste (Start with 1/2 tsp. and add to your desired taste)

-Cook butter until brown. (Browning the butter will cut down on the sweetness factor, and adds a flavor that is incredibly delicious!)

-Pour through a fine meshed sieve into a heatproof bowl, set aside to cool.

-Pour cooled brown butter into mixer bowl.

-In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, add confectioner's sugar a little at a time.

-When mixture looks too chunky to take any more, add a bit of cream and or caramel syrup.

Repeat until mixture looks smooth and all confectioner's sugar has been incorporated.

-Add salt to taste.

Note: Caramelized butter frosting will keep in fridge for up to a month. To smooth out from cold, microwave a bit, then mix with paddle attachment until smooth and light.

To assemble, place one layer of the cake on a cake stand. Drizzle with caramel syrup and place second cake on top. Smooth a thin layer of frosting over entire cake. Spread crushed almonds or pecans on top of cake, and decorate edges using a pastry bag and your favorite tip. Sprinkle a small amount of sea salt on top of nuts (the pairing of the savory salt with the sweet cake is a great combination). I placed the cake in the fridge and pulled it out just before serving. The result was a dense, cool cake that everyone loved.

As I mentioned earlier, I made this cake for my Dad's birthday so I wanted to add an unexpected punch of color as a topper on the cake. Since so much of this cake is about playing with sugar, I decided to make Stained Glass Caramel from Tartelette to continue the sugar fun.

Stained Glass Caramel Windows:
-1 cup sugar

-2 1/2 Tb water

-various food colorings

-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

-Drop a few drops of food coloring onto the paper. Do not touch them, swirl them or move them.

-In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and water, do not stir and bring to a boil over high heat.

-Continue to boil until the caramel reaches the soft crack stage or 140C - 285F on a candy thermometer (do not let it turn color).

-Immediately pour over the parchment paper with the food coloring.

-Take the baking sheet with your hands and move it left to right, right to left to move and swirl the colors.

-Let set until completely cooled. Break pieces of your desired size to decorate the cake with. The stained glass adds a fun structural element to the cake. Overall, it was a hit and every last bit of browned butter goodness was gobbled up!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo Courtsey of Joseph Holodook)

Over the river and thru the wood,

To grandfather's house we go;

The horse knows the way

To carry the sleigh,

Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

Over the river and thru the wood,

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes,

And bites the nose,

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,

To have a first-rate play;

Oh, hear the bell ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!

Over the river and thru the wood,

Trot fast my dapple gray!

Spring over the ground,

Like a hunting hound!

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river and through the wood,

And straight through the barnyard gate.

We seem to go extremely slow

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood --

Now Grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for fun!

Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Wordless Wednesday - I'll be spending Thanksgiving here...

2008-11-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

Can You Capture Thankfulness in a Jar?

2008-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Hub Pages)

To most it would look like an old Pringles jar wrapped in pretty wrapping paper...and they would be right, but to me and my family it's much more. This is our Thanksgiving Thankfulness Jar. It began a long time ago, and each year on Thanksgiving it's pulled out again and set in a place of prominence. Throughout the day guests write what they are most thankful for on small strips of paper. At the end of dinner we pass the jar around and take turns pulling the strips of thankfulness out and reading them aloud. Each year we add to the jar, so mixed in with our current thanks you'll find the things we were thankful for over the last 10 years. It becomes a beautiful time of remembering, gratitude and recognition of the many blessings in our lives.

Beachfront Wedding Weekend

2008-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtsey of J. Garner Photography)
Remember this beachfront wedding I went to this summer? Well, I'm heading down to Portland tomorrow for another Oregonian wedding. Have a fabulous weekend my friends!

Put Your Blessings Into Writing

2008-11-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Each of us is blessed in incredible ways, but often the things we should be thankful for go unnoticed in the busyness of life. Many years ago I started a thankfulness journal as a way to remember all that I have to be thankful for. At the end of the day I'll sit down and write out five things I have to be thankful from that day. Some days I have to think quite hard and may come up with something as silly as "My coffee tasted extra delicious this morning". Other days I have to pick the best of the best for my top five. Every now and then I'll flip through my pages of blessings. You can't help but feel overwhelmed with all of the blessings that have been poured on you.

Wordless Wednesday - Karlee's Wedding Inspiration Board

2008-11-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

(Photos clockwise from top right)
green, white and black tabletop ; classic Audrey ; packaged favors ; ribbon bound programs ; black and white invitations ; petal covered cake ; white carnation bouquet ; black taffeta bridesmaid dress ; Edgewater Hotel (selected wedding venue)

Thanksgiving Tabletop

2008-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

This year my parents are hosting Thanksgiving at the cabin. The entire extended family will gather in the cozy house, most likely with the snow falling outside and a blazing fire inside. My mom has asked me to help with the decorations, and given the rustic atmosphere we have decided to decorate using nature as our guide. Here is the inspiration board for this festive affair:

-I love using textures in design. The feathers bring a soft, elegant layer to the tabletop. View the pheasant feather centerpiece here and the place setting here.

-These place cards create the affect of falling leaves scattered across the table.

-Given that my maiden name is Johnson, the Johnson Brothers plates are perfect for a family gathering. My mom has a collection that has been in the family for years.

-This centerpiece is created with many layers. Carmel colored felt, rich satin ribbon, scattered leaves and a pedestal full of miniature pumpkins and gourds.

Giving Without Spending a Dime

2008-11-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

This season is all about being thankful for the blessings in your life, but it should also be a time of giving to those who are less fortunate than you. Unfortunately, in this tough economy it’s often hard to find the extra cash that most of us think is necessary to help those in need. Well I am here to tell you that you can help those around you without spending a dime! Here are few ideas:
1. Offer to rake the leaves in the yard of your elderly neighbor.

2. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Operation Nightwatch, located in Seattle, is one that I have served at in the past.

3. Donate your old winter jackets to a shelter such as the Union Gospel Mission

4. Call local hotels and ask for donations of soap and shampoo to give to local shelters.

5. Schools are low on resources and many kids can't afford school supplies. Ask local retailers to donate supplies to a school in their area.

6. Volunteer! Find a program that fits your gifts and your passions, and serve!

Here are some of my favorite Seattle volunteer and donation opportunities: Treehouse, Ronald McDonald House, YMCA, Agros International, Seattle Children's Hospital, World Concern

Comfort Week - All Time Favorite Comfort Food

2008-11-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart)
What is "comfort week" without some comfort food?! Well today I'm going to share my all time favorite comfort food recipe with you, but I'm cheating a little and not using a picture I took myself. I made this meal recently, but it was eaten before I took any pictures! Yes, it's that good!

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

by Rachael Ray

Ingredients:
1 pound macaroni with lines, such as tubatini or mini penne rigate
Salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, plus a few sprigs for garnish
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken stock
1 box frozen cooked butter nut squash (10 ounces), defrosted
1 cup cream or half-and-half
2 cups sharp cheddar (8 ounces), grated
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano, a couple of handfuls
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, eyeball it
Black pepper

Preparation:
Heat a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Salt the water then add the pasta and cook to al dente or, with a bite to it.
While pasta cooks, heat a medium heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the EVOO and butter. When the butter melts into the oil, add the thyme and grate the onion directly into the pot with a hand held grater or Microplane. Cook the grated onion in butter and oil 1-2 minutes, then add flour and cook together 1-2 more minutes. Whisk in stock, then combine with butternut squash until warmed through and smooth. Stir in cream or half-and-half and bring sauce to a bubble. Stir in cheeses in a figure 8 motion and season the completed sauce with salt, nutmeg and pepper. Taste to adjust seasonings.
Drain cooked pasta well and combine with sauce.

Note: I make a few changes to the recipe. I use basil rather than thyme and add cooked chicken. I also add a variety of veggies I have on hand such as mushrooms or zucchini.

In Rachael Ray's words "Yum-o!"

Comfort Week - W.W. - The Coziest Place in the House

2008-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Comfort Week - Candlelight

2008-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

This week we are talking about comfort, and one of my favorite comfort items is candles. There is something incredibly soothing to me on a cold rainy day to light a few candles throughout my home.

Skeem is a line of candles that I absolutely love. They come in beautifully designed, silk-screened glass containers that are filled with a soy/paraffin wax blend. I haven't found a scent that I don't like! My favorite is Clove Pomegranate. The best part is that after the candle has been fully enjoyed, the container can be used as a drinking glass.

(Photo courtesy of Skeem Design)

If tea lights and votives are more your cup of tea, then check out Glassybaby. This company is run by fabulous people who have a passion for beauty and design. Each candle holder is hand blown, and the are available in about 70 different colors. If you live in the Seattle area then you should check out their store and studio in Madrona. You can watch as the talented artists create these unique pieces of art. They have also recently opened retail space in University Village and Bellevue Square!

(Photo courtesy of Glassybaby)

Comfort Week - Heating Pad How-To

2008-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

As the weather starts to turn colder, I'm always looking for a way to get extra warm and cozy. I love wrapping a heating pad around my neck after a long day at work. However, I've never found one in as stylish a fabric or that smelled as good as the one I made. It may look complicated, but it can be accomplished in a few easy steps.

What you'll need:
-fabric (about 1/2 a yard)
-sewing machine
-iron
-thread and needle
-scissors
-rice
-your favorite essential oil (I chose lavender)

How to:
1. In a large bowl, mix rice with your essential oil. Add as much or as little oil as you prefer. Remember that the oil will smell stronger when you heat it up.

2. Fold the fabric in half (right sides together) and cut to your desired size. Note: I made mine bigger because I intended to use it more for my back rather then my neck.

3. Sew one short side and one long side with a 1/4" seam allowance.

4. Press seams apart and clip corners

5. Turn right side out.

6. Fill bag about 2/3 way with rice and essential oil mixture.

7. Hand sew the top to close.

Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute and begin to relax.

I Love Dirt!

2008-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

While in Maine I stumbled upon a boutique that was absolutely full of creative and unique merchandise. The book "I Love Dirt!" by Jennifer Ward caught my eye. It gives a fresh approach to getting your kids into the great outdoors. Its pages are packed with activities and conversation starters aimed at teaching your kids about nature and how to be good stewards of our surroundings. It is tailored for little ones, so if your kids are under ten you need to add this book to your must read list.

This book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

All The Colors Of The Rainbow

2008-11-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Ohdeedoh)

I love, love, LOVE this room! It has such a perfect mix of old and new, traditional and modern, bright colors and neutral. It inspires me to look at flea market/thirft store finds in a new way. So creative!

The Big Ugly Desk Chair

2008-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

My guest room is full of relaxing, soothing tones of beige, pale sage green, warm pinks and blues. It is a tranquil place that I love welcoming guests into. However, since we live in an apartment my guest room is also the office. So sitting at the desk, smack dab in the middle of the room is a big black ugly desk chair. I have been contemplating my design options, but with a tight budget getting a new chair is not in the cards. Then I came across this post from Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest.

They have completely transformed a plain old office chair into a much more stylish and chic version. All they have done is recover the existing chair with new modern fabric. I'm thinking I may need to make a trip to the fabric store!

Wordless Wednesday - Fun with Photos

2008-11-05T18:10:00.001-08:00

Photo Funia

Let Your Voice Be Heard

2008-11-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Go vote today!

Everyday Beauty

2008-11-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Something that I have come to love through my photography is finding beauty in the little details that are all around us everyday. It's easy to find beauty in nature, but what about in a city. There is so much beauty surrounding us, but often we fail to see it because we get consumed in the task at hand. Inspiration can be found in creative architecture, graffiti on a brick wall, or black metal grating on a city street. Thanks to Coco+Kelley for sharing a great project who's mission is calling after my own heart.

Urban Curators was started by six students who find inspiration in the unexpected. "The goal of the Urban Curators project is to engage the public in the celebration of the decaying urban environment, recognizing its inherent aesthetic qualities as well as the important role that it plays within our cultural habitat." (Urban Curators Mission Statement)

They have invited you to join in and take pictures of your own city. Even if you don't "frame" and photograph the city around you, do take the time to appreciate it as a form of art and beauty.

Tricks, Treats and Traditions

2008-10-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Tricks

Trick or Treat? That is the question of the day. On Halloween, most people follow the tradition of simply loading up the kid's bags with sweet candy treats. However, there are some who get their thrills by playing tricks. When I was a little girl of five, my sister and I had our first glimpse of the spooky side. We were both probably dressed up like princesses, and we were going about our duty of collecting as much candy as possible. Our bags were beginning to get heavy when approached "the house". It looked like a normal house. Glowing pumpkins on the steps and a festive scarecrow on the front porch. We didn't think twice as we strode up the driveway. We climbed the front steps in anticipation of being greeted with candy, but instead were scared to death when the scarecrow jumped up and tried to grab us! It was our neighbor dressed up complete with a pumpkin on his head! We ran screaming down the driveway. I'm pretty sure we didn't go back up to get the candy!

Treats

Here is a twist on my favorite classic Halloween treat, Carmel Apple Cheesecake. Yum!

Traditions

Tradition 1: Every year on Halloween we made a big pot of hot chili. I think this tradition started in part because the chili warmed us up before going out into the cold.

Tradition 2: In the weeks before Halloween we trek out to the pumpkin farm and select the perfect pumpkin. We carve , then we line our masterpieces up on the hearth and admire our handiwork.

Tradition 3: After gathering candy, we would come home and dump out our stash on the floor. We'd then divide it by type of candy, and were on a constant sugar high in the weeks to come.

Have a happy Halloween!

Daring Bakers Challenge - Pizza, Pizza!

2008-10-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

This month I took on a new challenge and joined the Daring Bakers. It's an online group that takes on a baking challenge each month. The rules are simple: follow the original recipe given to you, add your own creative twist, keep the challenge ultra top secret, and most of all have fun! For more info on this group check out there website here: The Daring Bakers.

Now for the challenge: This month we were asked to bake a simple pizza crust. We had to use a sauce of some kind, but the rest of the toppings were up to our imagination.

Oh yeah, they also told us we had to toss the dough and capture a picture of it. I quickly found that tossing wasn't my forte, but I sure had fun doing it. (Thanks Michelle for taking the picture! :))

Savory Pizza

The Dough: I'll have to get back to you with a link to the recipe. For one pizza crust I stuffed it with a tablespoon of basil and a small handful of sun dried tomatoes. This was a hit!

As promised, here is the recipe:

~ BASIC PIZZA DOUGH ~

Original recipe taken from “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice” by Peter Reinhart.

Makes 6 pizza crusts (about 9-12 inches/23-30 cm in diameter).

Ingredients: 4 1/2 Cups (20 1/4 ounces/607.5 g) Unbleached high-gluten (%14) bread flour or all purpose flour, chilled

1 3/4 Tsp Salt1 Tsp Instant yeast

1/4 Cup (2 ounces/60g) Olive oil or vegetable oil

1 3/4 Cups (14 ounces/420g or 420ml)

Water, ice cold (40° F/4.5° C)

1 Tb sugar Cornmeal for dusting

DAY ONE 1. Mix together the flour, salt and instant yeast in a big bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer).

2. Add the oil, sugar and cold water and mix well (with the help of a large wooden spoon or with the paddle attachment, on low speed) in order to form a sticky ball of dough. On a clean surface, knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and the ingredients are homogeneously distributed. If it is too wet, add a little flour (not too much, though) and if it is too dry add 1 or 2 teaspoons extra water.NOTE: If you are using an electric mixer, switch to the dough hook and mix on medium speed for the same amount of time.The dough should clear the sides of the bowl but stick to the bottom of the bowl. If the dough is too wet, sprinkle in a little more flour, so that it clears the sides. If, on the contrary, it clears the bottom of the bowl, dribble in a teaspoon or two of cold water.The finished dough should be springy, elastic, and sticky, not just tacky, and register 50°-55° F/10°-13° C.

3. Flour a work surface or counter. Line a jelly pan with baking paper/parchment. Lightly oil the paper.

4. With the help of a metal or plastic dough scraper, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (or larger if you want to make larger pizzas).NOTE: To avoid the dough from sticking to the scraper, dip the scraper into water between cuts.

5. Sprinkle some flour over the dough. Make sure your hands are dry and then flour them. Gently round each piece into a ball.NOTE: If the dough sticks to your hands, then dip your hands into the flour again.

6. Transfer the dough balls to the lined jelly pan and mist them generously with spray oil. Slip the pan into plastic bag or enclose in plastic food wrap.

7. Put the pan into the refrigerator and let the dough rest overnight or for up to thee days.NOTE: You can store the dough balls in a zippered freezer bag if you want to save some of the dough for any future baking. In that case, pour some oil(a few tablespooons only) in a medium bowl and dip each dough ball into the oil, so that it is completely covered in oil. Then put each ball into a separate bag. Store the bags in the freezer for no longer than 3 months. The day before you plan to make pizza, remember to transfer the dough balls from the freezer to the refrigerator.

DAY TWO 8. On the day you plan to eat pizza, exactly 2 hours before you make it, remove the desired number of dough balls from the refrigerator. Dust the counter with flour and spray lightly with oil. Place the dough balls on a floured surface and sprinkle them with flour. Dust your hands with flour and delicately press the dough into disks about 1/2 inch/1.3 cm thick and 5 inches/12.7 cm in diameter. Sprinkle with flour and mist with oil. Loosely cover the dough rounds with plastic wrap and then allow to rest for 2 hours.

9. At least 45 minutes before making the pizza, place a baking stone on the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven as hot as possible (500° F/260° C). NOTE: If you do not have a baking stone, then use the back of a jelly pan. Do not preheat the pan.

10. Generously sprinkle the back of a jelly pan with semolina/durum flour or cornmeal. Flour your hands (palms, backs and knuckles). Take 1 piece of dough by lifting it with a pastry scraper. Lay the dough across your fists in a very delicate way and carefully stretch it by bouncing it in a circular motion on your hands, and by giving it a little stretch with each bounce. Once the dough has expanded outward, move to a full toss.NOTE: Make only one pizza at a time.During the tossing process, if the dough tends to stick to your hands, lay it down on the floured counter and reflour your hands, then continue the tossing and shaping. In case you would be having trouble tossing the dough or if the dough never wants to expand and always springs back, let it rest for approximately 5-20 minutes in order for the gluten to relax fully,then try again.You can also resort to using a rolling pin, although it isn’t as effective as the toss method.

11. When the dough has the shape you want (about 9-12 inches/23-30 cm in diameter - for a 6 ounces/180g piece of dough), place it on the back of the jelly pan, making sure there is enough semolina/durum flour or cornmeal to allow it to slide and not stick to the pan.

12. Lightly top it with sweet or savory toppings of your choice.NOTE: Remember that the best pizzas are topped not too generously. No more than 3 or 4 toppings (including sauce and cheese) are sufficient.

13. Slide the garnished pizza onto the stone in the oven or bake directly on the jelly pan. Close the door and bake for abour 5-8 minutes.NOTE: After 2 minutes baking, take a peek. For an even baking, rotate 180°.If the top gets done before the bottom, you will need to move the stone or jelly pane to a lower shelf before the next round. On the contrary, if the bottom crisps before the cheese caramelizes, then you will need to raise the stone or jelly.

14. Take the pizza out of the oven and transfer it to a cutting board or your plate. In order to allow the cheese to set a little, wait 3-5 minutes before slicing or serving.

The Sauce: Mix pesto and Alfredo sauce and spread over the dough. This gave the pizza a rich, creamy base.
The Toppings: Arrange pulled cooked chicken and thinly sliced onion. I added variety by adding thinly sliced red bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes or basil. Top the pizza with a generous handful of mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sweet Pizza

The Dough: Same as the savory recipe

The Sauce: 2 T. melted butter, 2 tsp. cinnamon. Mix and spread over crust

The Toppings: 3/4 c. brown sugar, 3/4 c. flour, 1 T. water, 1/4 c. softened butter, about 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/3 c. oatmeal, 1/3 c. crushed almonds, thinly sliced strawberries. Set the strawberries aside, and mix all ingredients together. Add oatmeal as needed to get a crumbly texture. Sprinkle over the crust. Layer with sliced strawberries.

For an extra sweet touch: Mix 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar, 1/2 T. milk and 1/8 tsp. vanilla. Swirl the glaze on top of the pizza.

Note: It will smell delicious the second it comes out of the oven, but swat those hungry hands away because it tastes best once it has had time to cool down a bit.

Between the pizza, wine and good friends to share it with...a girl couldn't ask for much more!

Halloween Inspiration Board

2008-10-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a couple of days away. If you're throwing a bash, it's not to late to add a few special touches that will make your party even more memorable. Check out the links below for fun D.I.Y. ideas and inspiration.

-Ghoulish Glam Mood Lighting
-Halloween Spiderweb Cookies
-Pumpkin Treat Bags
-Spooktacular Bar
-Drill a Pumpkin
-Party Tub
-Spooky Stairwell
-Mummy Candy Holder
-Chocolate Rats

Sweet and Savory Pumpkin

2008-10-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's no big secret that I love pumpkins. My husband jokes that he's never known anyone who uses all of the pumpkin for cooking, and he says that if I wanted to I could even find a use for the stem! With so many delectable recipes for cooking with pumpkins, it was hard to choose only a few. However, here are some of my favorites and some I've never tried but they looked so scrumptious they've made my list of must tries.

-Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread
-Pumpkin Cake with Whipped Cream and Pecan Praline
-Pumpkin Cornmeal Muffins
-Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
-Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
-Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
-Penne-Wise Pumpkin Pasta
-Spanish Pumpkin and Bean Soup
-Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Most Important Meal of the Day

2008-10-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

"'When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,' said Piglet at last, 'What's the first thing you say to yourself?'
'What's for breakfast?', said Pooh. 'What do you say, Piglet?'
'I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?', said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. 'It's the same thing.', he said."
-A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh 1926

A short time ago I decided to take on a culinary challenge and attempt to make macarons. A foodie blog that I love, Tartelette, features these tasty treats quite often, and I thought that by following her skilled instruction I too may be able to make these challenging cookies. Well, my culinary adventure ended up being a culinary catastrophe! Instead of looking like Tartlette's puffy delights, mine looked like flat saucers.

But there is a happy ending for the creamy filling I had prepared. What was once intended to be sandwiched in the middle of the macarons, I used as a delicious topping to french toast. Since I rarely get to make breakfast in the morning, I enjoy serving it for diner from time to time.

I started by making homemade wheat bread. Bread sounds more intimidating than it should. If you have a good recipe it's fairly easy to make.

Whole Wheat Bread

1 pkg. dry active yeast

1 1/8 cup warm water

1 T. brown sugar

1 T. olive oil

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cup white bread flour

1 tsp. salt

In a large bowl dissolve yeast in the water, add the sugar and let sit 5 min. until it starts to foam. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir together. Scrape onto a lightly floured surface and kneed for 8 min. adding more white flour as needed to get a smooth elastic dough. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic and let sit at room temp. to double, about 1 hour. Punch, re-shape and rise to double, about 45 min.

Put in a lightly oiled loaf pan. Cover and rise to double, about 45 min.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 min. Deeply colored and sounds hollow by tapping the bottom. Cool on rack.

I then cut the fresh bread into thick, generous slices. Soak each slice in a mixture of eggs, milk, a dash of salt and a dollop of maple syrup. Cook on a griddle until golden. Top each slice of french toast with a spoonful of Cream Cheese Buttercream filling.

Cream Cheese Buttercream

1 1/2 sticks (170 gr) butter at room temperature

4 oz (120gr) cream cheese, softened

3 egg whites1/2 cup (100gr) sugar

2 Tb water

1 tsp vanilla extract

In the bowl of stand mixer, whip the egg whites until they have soft peaks. In the meantime, combine 2 Tb water with the sugar to a boil in a heavy saucepan and bring the syrup to 250F. Slowly add the sugar syrup to the egg whites. Continue to whip until the meringue is completely cooled. Slowly add the butter, one tablespoon at a time. The mass might curdle but no panic, continue to whip until it all comes together. Add the cream cheese, the same way, a little at a time until everything is smooth. Whisk in the vanilla extract, or paste or bean.

Festive Feathered Wreath

2008-10-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

I recently saw this fantastic feathered wreath while perusing my Pottery Barn catalog. The look is dramatic and a bold statement for Halloween, and my first thought was, "I could make that...".

Step one was to dig this simple wreath form out of my Mom's craft closet. Any wreath form will work. A cheap styrofoam form would actually work best because they are light weight, and you can get these at any craft store.

Step two was to pull out the dress up box to get my old black feathered boa that I wore to a dance in high school. I never thought I would find a use for it again! If you don't have a boa on hand, you can get them at craft or costume stores. Wrap the boa around the wreath (you may need more than one to cover the entire surface).

Here is my wreath hanging on my front door. With Halloween right around the corner, this is the perfect way to greet all of those trick-or-treaters who will soon be here!

Wordless Wednesday - Take Time to Notice the Small Things

2008-10-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Creative Letters

2008-10-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of letters. I love giving them just as much as I love getting them. There is something so exciting about opening up your mailbox and seeing a card, postcard or letter waiting there for you. This week I came across a few "cards" that take creativity to a whole new level.

(Photos courtesy of Fred Flare)

The Capsule Letters at Fred Flare are perfect for those of you who dreamed of becoming a secret agent when you grew up. Each capsule contains a scroll of paper on which you can scribble a secret message or simply tell a friend hello.

Jordan, from Oh Happy Day, shared her super creative invitations to a dinner party which are nearly identical to these capsule letters. Her cards are made with vintage glass capsules found at a flea market. These invitations definitely do a good job of setting the tone for the event. Now that is a party I would want to be invited to!

(Photo courtesy of Oh Happy Day)

(Photo courtesy of A+R)

The Carve Your Own Postcard from A+R is a grown up version of carving your sweetie's initials into a tree trunk or in a picnic table. This postcard is made of soft wood that you can carve with a key. You could get really creative and carve a more intricate design with a craft drill.

Pumpkin Wishes and Candy Dreams

2008-10-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Every year my family makes a trip to the local pumpkin patch and spends the afternoon selecting the perfect pumpkin. It's just not officially fall without a pumpkin sitting on my front porch. If carving pumpkins isn't your thing, you can still use pumpkins to decorate in many unique ways.

The top picture shows smaller pie pumpkins covered in a layer of glue and then covered in orange glitter. The sparkle adds a touch of glam to your tabletop. Setting them atop cake pedestals adds height and depth.

Wouldn't you love to have this display of painted pumpkins on your porch? The stacked benches piled with various sizes of painted pumpkins create a stunning display.

There are endless possibilities for decorating with mini pumpkins. Here they have carved a hole just big enough for a votive candle, and have placed a simple hurricane on top. You could also carve a smaller hole that fits a tea light candle.

(Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart, Jackaroo Love and Good Housekeeping)

Ok, so now for the Candy Dreams...

For the recipes, check out the following:

I Scream Ice Cream

Pecan Carmel Spiders

Scream Cookies

Glass Containers + Fallish Items = Instant Decor

2008-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

In my family room I have three glass containers that sit atop my bookcase. Each season I fill them with various items that reflect the time of year. This fall I filled two containers with plasticized leaves from Pottery Barn, beaded mini pumpkins and pine cones collected from the cabin. I poured shimmery black sand into the third containers and stuck a single orange taper candle in the center.

This is an easy decor project that anyone can use in their own home. All you need is an odd number of clear glass containers and a little imagination. Possible filler items for this season might include:

-a mix of gourds, squash and mini pumpkins

-pine cones and moss collected from your backyard

-leaves found either in a store or from a nature walk with your kids

-candy corn rather than sand at the base of a candle.

Whatever you do, have fun with it. Decorating your home sets the tone for the season and should be fun and not a chore.

National Boss' Day

2008-10-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Tomorrow is National Boss' Day, and if you have a great boss then this is a perfect day to say thank you. According to Wikipedia, "National Boss's Day is usually celebrated by presenting one's boss with a small gift or greeting card. It is also customary to treat one's boss with extreme kindness, very similar to a birthday." You could always get the "World's Best Boss" mug like the one that Michael on the Office holds near and dear to his heart. Or you could do something as simple as a card or extra smiles. I spend my day job in an office full of sugar lovers, so I'm saying thank with a plate full of my famous oatmeal cookies.

If you're self-employed and your own boss, take some time to thank and appreciate yourself. Go for a walk, add whipped cream on your latte or get a manicure.

Whatever you choose to do, know that you'll be making that person's day just a little brighter. Everyone wants to be appreciated.

New England Memories

2008-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

As promised here are pictures of our trip to New England. Some of my favorite memories include:

-Seeing the sites of Boston on the Freedom Trail

-Sneaking into Fenway and walking on the Green Monster

-Hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire

-Touring the coast of Maine

-Visiting Sleepy Hallow Cemetery and Walden Pond in Concord, MA

-Sitting on the deck at the cottage in Maine, drinking coffee with my hubby as the sun came up over the lake

All in all, it was a trip that I will never forget and I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to go.

Seashore, Autumn Glory and History

2008-10-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

I'm back! We had such a wonderfully relaxing and very eventful trip. I am full of stories to share and my camera is full of pictures to show you (356 to be exact, but don't worry I'll only show you the highlights). Until I'm able to download all of those pictures I thought I would give you a sneak peek tonight. Enjoy!

And We're Off!

2008-10-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I are off to New England for some much needed rest and relaxation. We'll be staying in a cottage on a lake in Maine. Picture the movie On Golden Pond and you'll get an idea of where we'll be. I'll be back next week with lots of pictures and adventures to share!