dining with style :)

I recently acquired a fantastic traditional solid oak table from our local consignment shop!  It is AMAZING!  It seats 6+.   It is a lot more traditional than I normally go for asthetically, but I fell in love! :)

Then my mission became having a stylish table!  I picked a tablecloth that had some pizzazz, created some tableclothes, and added some fantastic accessories. 

I still need to make napkins, but so far, this is what I have put together!

and this is a close up :)

the placemats I made!!  I bought solid turquoise placemats from World Market, they have some fantastic home decor!  Then I hit Jo Ann's to pick up some supplies!!  I purchased ribbon in two different colors and sizes.  I also bought felt in orange, pink, and green.  Andi helped me make a pattern for flowers (which is based off the tablecloth).  We cut the flowers out of felt- and seriously, if you're working with felt use SHARP scissors...seriously it works WONDERS!!

Andi showed me the LIGHT.  If you're working with ribbon use a magic product called Frayed Out!  Oh yeah, no frayed edges :)

Everything on the placemat was handsewn.  I'm not sure if that's the best use of time but eh, you live and learn :)

I have more blogs ready, but I left my camera in Indy.  As soon as I get it back, be prepared for a blog-a-palooza!!!

for now that is all... Happy Crafting!!



Sugar makes me happy...

I've been craving fruit pizza, a friend brought it over once upon a time.  I improvised a little.

Check these babies out!!

It's simple to make these!!  First, make your favorite sugar cookie.  If you're short on time grab a sugar cookie roll fromt the grocery store.  Slice it REALLY thin, around 1/4" to 1/2".  Cook them so they are BARELY  done.  Let them cool.   Spread some delish  strawberry cream cheese(I don't even usually like cream cheese, but really, it's a must!).  On top throw some of your favorite fruit! 

I alternated between sliced and diced strawberries and kiwis.  The sliced looked prettier, but the diced fruits were more practical for the cookie!  Start to finish it takes about 20 minutes!!

BAM!  Here's your next party food.  And it's healthy-ish.  It's got fruit, right!?! Next time- I'm going to try strawberries and pears.  YUM!!

Enjoy :)

Snowed In!

Let's take a walk down nostalgia lane...  Remember those days when we triumphed when we heard we had a snow day??  I'm not saying I don't now- but it's definitely different.  Snow days meant that you could spend the entire day with your friends because most of them lived on your block. 

Now, snow days mean being stuck inside.  Did I mention I get cabin fever if I don't get out of the apartment at least once a day??  It's been a day and a half.

Here's what my snow day consisted of...

Oh yeah, snow up to my knees.  I wanted to build a snowman but sadly it wasn't packing snow.  Casey wouldn't play in the snow with me...something about not having snow boots.  Personally- I think he was being a wimp [JUST KIDDING CASER! I mean, kind of :)]
Then I decided we needed some fresh baked goodies so then this happened...

I was pretty excited because I thought the day was passing quickly.  Quick glance to the clock and it was only 1 p.m.!!  Ahhhh what was I going to do?!? 

So of course, I read a book.  Best and easiest way to pass time for me.  I read Renegade  by Lora Leigh.  Now, I won't say it was a waste of time- because I don't believe books are a waste of time.  It was good to pass an afternoon with, but I don't think I'll be reading it again.   I just read a Romance/Mystery/Fashion series.  I can say I was definitely entertained.  The series is called "The High Heel Series"  by Gemma Halliday.

I'm also looking for more books ideas if you have any!

So to pass the rest of the evening...I'm going to try to get Casey to play Michael Jackson on the Wii or maybe some Donkey Kong!! 

Happy Snow Day!

the most important meal of the day...

...seems to be one of the most difficult to make.  I've been wanting to try a tea ring recipe that I snagged out of a cooking magazine YEARS ago.  Last Sunday- I actually prepared to tackle this obstacle.  I had a trusty side kick-my lil cousin Ashley. 

Why did I wait so long to make this recipe??  Well, because if I don't eat pretty much right away when I wake up- I turn into Oscar the Grouch and this recipe has a rising time of 1 hour! 

 So if you're like me- eat a small snack prior to starting.  Seriously.

Everything was going swell with the recipe.  Easy- no glitches.  We let the dough raise, rolled it it flat added some cinnamon and sugar and rolled it into a log.  Then we sliced it into sections and formed it into a circle. 

Here is my trusty chef  Ash- she'll probably be out for blood after she finds out I posted this picture :)

So far so good right?!  We thought for sure it was going to be a glorious morning filled with cinnamon partries.  We popped this sucker in the oven set the timer, started on the homeade icing.  

And the timer goes off-  it's done and you should've seen how fast we jumped off the couch to run to the kitchen.  Did I mention I'm always starving in the morning?!

Looks Delish right?!  It does.  What's the problem you ask??!  Well the darn thing is SO thick it hadn't cooked in the middle at all.  It was a mess.  I added about half an hour of time in ten minute increments and it still wasn't cooking.  I then sliced it and put it on a cookie sheet to bake.  Pulled them out and they were BURNT!  Yeuck!!

Looks good, tastes too floury.  Next time- I'll subtract 1/2 cup flour, add 1/4 cup sugar.  Mutliply the cinnamon and sugar by a million.  Oh, and the tea ring??  Not again. 

Next time, I'll just slice them into rolls!

There you have it- our breakfast debacle!  Made for a funny morning and now I think I have  a better recipe for breakfast pastries! 

I'll let you know how it goes :)

in the mood to sew...

I need to get a list together of projects I want to do.  The problem is, I think of them at inopportune times when I don't have a pen and piece of paper handy. 

I figure if I write it down where all of you can see then I'll stay on track and maybe finish them.

You'll help me right?!  (This is where you give a very enthused YES!!!!)

1.)  Learn to Sew better.  There are quite a few projects I want to do, and many of them include dusting off my sewing machine.
         Jo Anns had patterns on sale for 99 cents!!!  I stocked up, I couldn't pass it up!!!  I got patterns for placemats, table cloths, napkins etc.  I was pretty excited because I'm already going to make chair cushions for our new table!!    I also got patterns for curtains, aprons, a dress etc!  I will master this sewing debacle, so if anyone wants to teach- I'm all ears!!

I also picked out fabrics for the dining room scheme.  It will be light orange and light blue with the neutrals as cream and brown.

Even better...here is a picture!!

and the pattern that I'm going to use is this one...the one at the bottomo left (black and white)

The table that we got is solid oak VERY traditional, generally not my desing asthetic, so I really wanted to but some whimsy into the design pattern and colors.  I'm trying to do an eclectic combination of prints and colors- so tell  me what you think!!

and a lasting thought, i breather quotes... 

 "Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier."

Let me introduce myself...

First off, let me first put it out there that I am technologically challenged. 

 Which, for my generation is a sad, sad thing.  I wouldn't expect anything other than the basics, unless by some miracle I can figure it out, or some tech-savvy angel appears to help me.  (Secretly, I'm hoping for the latter!)

If I had to categorize myself, I'd compare myself to a box of crayons.  I'm always colorful-joyful even.  And while there are similarities of color in your 64 count box, there are also polar opposites. 

 Let me explain.

I want to live on a horse farm.  I love the smell of grass, the great outdoors and I want nothing more than a wide front porch with cozy rocking chairs to spend the evening reading in.  This being said, you'd probably think I'm a country bumpkin...I'm not.  

As much as this side of me presents itself I am also pulled in a completely different direction.  I adore fashion, I like to take risks, and I really look like a crazy city girl on most days.  I can't stand to be alone, I'm energized by city lights and the intensity of the activities going on.

At this point, you're probably groaning, "Great, why is she telling me all of this?" 

 I'm telling you this because you should know if you follow my blog, you'll be following all my thoughts, habits, and ramblings.  One day, I may show you great recipes and crafts I'm working on.  The next it'll  be on fashion and fashion- pet peeves, and somedays you know what?  I'll ramble with whatever is on my mind.

There you have it, you've been warned, so follow at your own risk!

taraLynn