Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Thanksgiving TableScape 2010

The most popular subject on my mind during the holidays is creating a tablescape. Crazy little things like that make me happy. I'm a classic housewife, totally rocking the role.

I used MANY of my supplies from last Thanksgiving to create this table: my large supply of dried wheat and plants, burlap, glasses, and place cards. BUT, I made some changes to make all the same stuff NEW.

THIS YEAR'S TABLE 2010:


LAST YEAR'S TABLE 2009:
(for all the details on this particular setting, see here)
This year I swapped the muted sage green of last year for a rich plum purple. I still maintained the earthy, neutral colors though. Deep purple is one of the most UNDER-USED colors of fall. However, it adds such depth and spirit to the traditional colors of the season. I used plum cloth napkins and plum purple ribbon around each glass.


Each glass is wrapped with plum purple ribbon...

and finished with a real baby acorn.
For the setting, I found these love-at-first-sight
urban farmhouse chicken wire plate chargers
from Pottery Barn.
Mmmm, yes please!

I've already been using them in some of my fall decor this year as well.


The count your blessings place cards are a FAVORITE of mine. As you may have seen, I used these in last year's table also. To change it up this year, I removed the ribbon ties and used mini clothespins to attach to the plates instead.



Below are bits of wooded whimsy.
My little squirrel candle is from Pottery Barn.
This is just a friendly reminder of
the bountiful harvest season.



Extra touches...
Jars with anything are on my radar this year.


For the centerpiece I re-invented
my centerpiece from last Thanksgiving.
Below is my dried wheat centerpiece
from last year, 2009:


I borrowed a few sections of wheat and dried plants
to create the centerpiece for
this year, 2010.


More jars and chicken wire for an
urban farmhouse style.



Under the wheat jar centerpiece I have a handmade burlap table runner that makes me SMILE. I've collected a handful of treasures from Sweet Cottage Dreams etsy store and love each handmade thing. This continues the urban farmhouse table with the heavy burlap and tattered ruffles.


The last tiny detail is the menu board. I've always double loved making menus for events and holidays. It's a tradition I started 10 years ago when I first got married! I don't have our Thanksgiving menu made yet, so this burlap check box is a fun alternative to cover the blank slate.


I've found many little uses for these tiny clothespins!
And I used purple chalk ink on the zinc board.

That explains the table
...end to end. {wink}

Wishing you blessings on your Thanksgiving.

Make your holiday beautiful.

Inspiration,
love,
fullness,
and creativity
thrive under beauty.




Ideas for kids and Thanksgiving coming soon...




This post is linked to: Domestically Speaking, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, Passionately Artistic, DIY Fall Festival, Days of Thanksgiving, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Green Interior Design from the Expert


Secrets are mysterious and exciting...and are also one of my favorite things. So when Lori Dennis contacted me with the offer to read her NEW book before it was even published or for sale on the shelves, I jumped at the chance of receiving the inside secrets that were not yet released to the big world.


Lori Dennis is a savvy and smart interior designed who specializes in Green Living.


She has been recognized on HGTV and various other media platforms as an interior design authority. Her firm is one of the leading companies in green interior design. Lori has a heartfelt passion for treating our earth gently and conserving our valuable land's assets. She couples that passion with her precise knowledge of interior design in her new book, GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN.



You ask,
"What does GREEN mean?"

Lori answers,
" Green is a term used to describe products or practices
that have little or no harmful effects
to the environment or human health."

Lori also shared:

"Over the last few years, the eco friendly buzz was mostly about driving hybrid and electric cars but there is a much bigger problem we should have been addressing: man made buildings. Homes and offices account for about half of the energy use worldwide...

A green home is one that uses less resources, energy, and water than a conventional home. It has better indoor air quality and is healthier for the people living in it."

These are the convictions and facts that breathed life into her new book, GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN.

Hollywood Hills home designed by Lori Dennis:



As I read Lori Dennis' book, I was most impressed with the vast number of resources she offered. She has done all the homework and research for you. Everything you need to know about creating a green home or space is contained within the pages of this new book. No detail is left out. You'll learn about creating a green effect with your lighting, paint, accessories, appliances, cleaning, landscaping, and more.

I want to share a handful of my favorite tips I learned from Lori when decorating your home sweet home.
Consuming is the enemy of conserving our resources. The goal of the following tips is to teach us to consume less as we appoint our homes.

IDEAS

-Reuse what you have. Reinvent. Make old things new again.

-Buy the best. (This has always been a conviction of mine. If you buy the best, you only buy once)

-Purchase things that are easy to clean. Dirt and dust shortens the lifespan of items.


The last treasure I learned is simple but so true, I couldn't agree more! She quotes the furniture company, BoomUSA. They say, "Everything should be functional and beautiful.". I double love that wise advise! It's the perfect secret for home decorating.




In closing, my favorite eye candy from her website:

How cozy and real is this library/dining room?
I want to copy it!



...And this space is perfect peace.


GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN will be released on November 23, just in time for holiday shopping. To secure your copy at a
lucky price you can pre-order at Amazon.

Happy Healthy Decorating.




Photos and video used from LoriDennis.com. These views were completely my own opinions, not those of Lori Dennis, or any other.

This post is linked to: Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Plump Pumpkin Part 2: festive food for fall

I've spent so much time in the kitchen recently! I feel my blog has transformed into a cookbook. I will be doing a post on NEW interior design from an expert that's appeared on HGTV soon but first...MORE pumpkin yum-o.

Last year, I saw these adorable little pumpkin cakes in Southern Living. I don't have the pumpkin-shaped cake pans, so I used my small bundt pans and crossed my fingers that the completed project would imitate a pumpkin. I cut off the bottoms and flipped on top of the upside down cake...and it worked.


I made the stems and leaves from caramel square candies. I popped the candy in the microwave for 5 seconds, then used a rolling pin to flatten them. Using a paring knife, I was able to shape the stem and leaves.


These make ideal Thanksgiving gifts
for friends and neighbors.

The next pumpkin-shaped dish is a big cheese ball I made from a Gooseberry Patch cookbook. Any other Gooseberry Patch lovers out there? This has cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and blue cheese. I rolled it in nuts and paprika.


The stem is from a real pumpkin!
I popped it off, washed it, and placed it on my cheese ball.
To save on time,
you can purchase a cheese ball and put a stem on it.


Ready for a harvest party.


Enjoy the bounty of the season.

For a collection of Pumpkin Desserts,
see part one.

NEW ideas in Interior Design
from an expert who has been
seen on HGTV coming soon...



This post is linked to: Seasonal Sundays, Days of Thanksgiving, DIY Thanksgiving, Seasonal Sundays, Not So Homemade, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, DIY Showoff FALL PARTY, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Plump Pumpkin: Easy and charming fall desserts

Pumpkin is one of my MOST LOVED ingredients to bake with. I have three different little plump pumpkin desserts to share.




Tiny Pumpkin Pudding Cups

This first one is SO VERY easy, it literally takes 5 minutes. These are super simple! Kozy Shack (my favorite pudding people) offers a seasonal pudding/pie filling for the fall.


1. Scoop the filling into mini pastry shells.

2. Whip up some whipping cream
and use a pasty bag to pipe on puffy dots of cream.

3. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.


4. Ta Da

Next...

Mini Personal Pumpkin Pies

Again, super simple! Depending on how much time you have you can make a pie crust or use one of Pillsbury's ready to go crusts! Cut the crust to fit the small pie ramikens. Using the Kozy Shack Pie filling, fill ramikens. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes until done. EASY.



I used fall cookie cutters to shape extra crust
and used them to top the mini pies.

I also ground cinnamon and sugar over the top before baking.


These Personal Pumpkin Pies were after school treats for my 3 boys! It's always more fun to enjoy a personal-sized dessert.

Ready to dig in outside on a crisp fall day.



Last Pumpkin Dessert...


Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Ebelskivers


The previous desserts were super easy...this last one...not so much. My mom and I spent an afternoon making Ebelskivers for the first time. Ebelskivers are a Danish treat. They are shaped like an inflated puffy disc. I am an Ebelskiver newbie and this recipe resisted us the entire way through! But I'm ready to try them again, so keep watch for another Ebelskiver post, {take 2} hopefully soon.




Williams Sonoma sells the special pan needed to create these delicious treats. Working quickly to cover the cheese filling with batter as the puffy discs cook and are ready to be turned...


Plump Pumpkin goodness for sweet tummies.
Now go break a sweat,
because these treats
aren't low cal.

For pumpkin-shaped food,
see part two.





This post is linked to:Days of Thanksgiving, DIY Thanksgiving, Not so Homemade, DIY Showoff FALL PARTY, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A Collection of Cozy Autumn Baked Treats

Last season I shared a post about my kitchen cabinets as I rubbed some pretty on to make them both functional and pretty. These cabinets are my baking center! This is the ideal time of year to clean out your kitchen baking shelves and get them fresh and ready for seasonal and holiday baking. If you're prepared it makes being in the kitchen more enjoyable. It's FASTER to work in an organized space. It doesn't take long to wipe down, re-stock, and line up your shelves. Plus! It's a great project to do when it's too brisk outside and the cozy indoors are more enticing. Enjoy creating a baking center in your sweet kitchen.


To see more details on these baking cabinets,
see this previous post.

Baking Shelves all ready for baking season...


I added pretty labels to all the powders...




I wanted to share a collection of fall flavors that promote the cozy warmth of the season using fall favorites: pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, maple, and more. To see full recipes and details, click on the titles below.





More {pumpkin} recipes coming soon...


Enjoy,



This post is linked to: Days of Thanksgiving, DIY Thanksgiving, Not So Homemade, Holiday Hookup, DIY Showoff FALL PARTY, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up