Inspiration Tuesday...

 Good Tuesday! Today is a day when I am in need of inspiration. When in need of inspiration I turn to one of my MANY obsessions...Pinterest. These are all different projects that I found on there and have totally gotten the creative juices flowing! Enjoy!




                                            So Fall...and so simple! Burlap anniversary pillow

                                                         I just love this color combo

                                            Most definitely going to attempt the "Days until plaque"...good for all occasions

                            This idea is simple yet brilliant! We have mail all over the house! great solution!

Guestroom progress

Happy Monday my friends!

 I caught up on lots-o-projects this weekend! Can't wait to share them all!

In an earlier blog I described what I was working with in regards to our guest room. ( Pic above)

So...I set out to update it a bit! It needed some color and some decent looking accessories ASAP!

I recycled and old frame and that sweet pirate picture that I showed you in an earlier post and set out to make a memory board. I covered the painting in cork and then picked up some fun fabric from Hobby Lobby to finish it off.

   

I cut the fabric roughly to the size of the canvas/ cork board and pulled it tight before fastening it with a staple gun on the backside of the canvas.

 

Here is my new memory board in it's new spot in the guest room. I am debating on if I should mount the memory board or just keep it leaning in the nightstand? I still need to get some cute tacks for it!:) The room STILL needs some more detail and color...but this is a start! The entire nightstand/ memory board cost me a whopping $45! It feels so good to be able to re-use items and oh yeah...save some cash!

Have a great week!

Natalie

My love affair with spray paint...

Hello!
I have been busy TRYING to put together some pieces for our guest room. We are basically using Jeff's left over furniture from his apartment days...it WREAKS of bachelor pad. There are several black pieces...black curtains, black headboard, black bed spread and smokin' hot black glider chair! GLORIOUS...I know!
We decided the best way to work with what we already had was to go for a industrial/ city scape type of theme, but were seriously laking in materials to make that idea work!
Enter...The Nightstand...dom...dom...dom...

While you can't tell from the picture below...this nightstand once housed Jeff's salt water fish tank as well as a bunch of random and somewhat disturbing items. It was an oak cabinet that had been stained a dark cherry color.
I had to work on this bad boy little by little. I took my handy dandy electric sander to it and stripped it down to bare wood. It had SEVERAL dents and scratches that I then had to putty...before re-sanding. After the entire thing was stripped I set out to Westlake to pick up some primer, paint and protective top coat.

I opted to go with Rust-Oleum...flat gray and Hammered metal to create the 2 toned industrial look.

I am pretty happy with it!

I still have to figure out exactly where I want to put it in the room...but I am very happy with the way it turned out! I am also worked on creating a memory board to match it. You can see that I also chose to spray it with the same hammered metallic paint.

This frame once held this timeless pirate painting below...such a shame to see it scrapped! ( She says dripping with sarcasm)

I will post a picture as soon as this little project is done!
Happy Hump Day!

Chalk it up...

Chalkboards are the DIY project dejour...so of course I had to jump on the band wagon! I took a piece of furniture wood that Jeff had left over, sanded it, primed it and painted with 3 coats of this magic stuff!

This is how it turned out...I used it as my Labor Day menu! I need to frame it in...but I think it turned out pretty well!

Happy Monday friends!

Cupcakes anyone?

Still riding the baking train at the moment! Made these little babies a while ago for a gathering...and they were a hit! Not only do they taste good, but they are simple to make and present well! Enjoy!

                                                              Strawberry Cakesters

What you need...

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs (room temperature)
• 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a small knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in their pans over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, before tapping out to cool completely. 

 

Icing...

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• pink food coloring

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream margarine and shortening until light and fluffy. Add salt, vanilla, confectioners' sugar, food coloring and milk. Beat well.

Easy as pie

Dear friends...

These last couple days in Kansas City have me in a Fall state of mind! It has been wonderful out...and has got me really excited! In anticipation of one of my very favorite seasons-I have broken out some Fall recipes!

This Dutch apple recipe is every bit as delicious as it looks...and...simple! It has quickly become a holiday staple for my little family!

Enjoy! Bake and be merry!

For the crust-

1 pie crust
1 lg. egg yolk, slightly beaten

(I don’t bake my own crust…judge me all you like…but I just don’t have “the touch”! LOL!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush bottom and sides of crust evenly with egg yolk; bake on baking sheet until light brown, about 5 minutes. Remove crust from oven.

The yummy filling

5 1/2 c. fresh, peeled, sliced cooking apples
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Combine sliced apples, lemon juice, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well and spoon into crust.

Golden and Glorious topping

 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter

Mix remaining flour, brown sugar and butter with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle topping mixture evenly over apples. Bake on baking sheet until topping is golden and filling is bubbling, about 50 minutes. Cool thoroughly on wire rack (at least 4 hours). Serve at room temperature.

Serves 7-9

Dreamy outdoor living spaces...

Our neighborhood sits on a lake and when I am out walking the dogs I can't help but notice how gorgeous some of our neighbors back yards/ Decks are...and so original!

I love how cozy this one feels...and I love the idea of having decks at different levels!

I dig how this one manages to be minimal and still appear really comfy! love the furniture! The plants provide a nice pop of color on the neutral palate!

                                                   This is our new patio set! I love it and I think it is a step in the right direction for our deck overhaul! I love fall...and love the idea of having my coffee out here all wrapped up in a blanket...

Our big debate right now is...to screen in the porch, or not to screen in! Thoughts!


Have an inspiring Tuesday!!!