Frames, frames and more frames or wait...maybe a shelf???

I'm starting to get that itch where I want to make a big change to a wall in our home but, I'm not exactly sure what it is I want to do.  I'm thinking a wall of art mixed with snap shots or perhaps even some sort of shelving or maybe even a mix of both.  We don't have a lot of space in our 1950's track home, but art and photos on a small wall makes for big impact and I'm loving all of these ideas...

via Desire to Inspire

via Pottery Barn

via Natalie Merrillyn

via Jones Design Company

via In the back of the Galaxy

The gift of a child

I am at a loss for words this morning as I scroll through the pictures of those taken so tragically at Sandy Hook elementary this past week.  I think like many I am holding Kingston and Chelsea a little tighter, kissing them a little longer and saying I love you more often this weekend then perhaps I did just a couple of days ago.

I think this saying says it all...



My thoughts and prayers are with all the families who are struggling with this horrific loss.
Apryl

Douglas or Noble...what's your Christmas tree style?

Our family has changed our "tree style" over the years.  We were once a douglas fir tree family, as this is what I grew up with.  My grandmother always said "there is too much space on a noble, they look spindly" and as a child I agreed.  I loved the fullness of the douglas and every Thanksgiving we would go to the tree farm and they would cut down the tree we had picked out the Thanksgiving before.  This was something I looked forward to every year.  However, I think it was about eight years ago when I saw a decorated noble and fell in love with how beautiful the ornaments and bulbs hung so perfectly from its branches and I thought decorations don't hang from the branches of a douglas like they do on a noble they lay on the outside of the tree sort of flat all around and that is when my love for the douglas fell to the wayside and the noble become our family tree of choice. 

Do you have a tree tradition?  Each year we get one or two new ornaments to hang and whenever we travel we always grab an ornament from our vacation destination being sure to write the date on it somewhere and then as we decorate we reminisce of all the places we have been.  There are no white lights in our house and definitely no flocking.  We do not have a theme to our family tree however, I know many that do.  I have one friend that each year decorated her tree with all snowmen and another friend had a flocked tree covered in white lights with all vintage rose colored ornaments.  I remember one year as a kid my mom decorated our tree with white lights and red bows tied all over it. 

A Christmas tree is very personal and very much to each her own.  What is your Christmas tree style?  Does your tree have a theme?  White or colored lights?  Flocked or not? Tinsel or colored garland? 

Whatever your Christmas tree style, I hope you are enjoying this holiday season.

Merry Christmas,
Apryl

A noble tree

 via Southern Living  

A douglas tree

 via Juniper Ridge

Christmas Crack...an addicting holiday treat!!!

Well the name of this recipe is probably not the prettiest description however, it is the most realistic. This tasty treat is so addicting you need to give it all away immediately after baking or you will eat it all yourself.  Believe me when I say that I know this from experience.  Thank you Kristin for introducing me to this amazing concoction of deliciousness. 

Did I mention it is a piece of cake to make?

Here goes...

Ingredients:
Saltines crackers (1 sleeve or so)
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 cups brown sugar
12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
Chopped mixed salted nuts (you may need to chop yourself)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400°

Lay crackers side by side in a 10"x15" cookie sheet with an edge. 

Bring butter and sugar to a boil and continue boiling until it comes to the soft ball stage (you are at the soft ball stage when you drop a small amount of the sugar syrup into a bowl of cold water and it forms a soft flexible ball)

Pour toffee mixture over the crackers.  Bake for 5 to 7 minutes (keep a close eye so it does not burn).

Remove from oven.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips letting them melt for a minute before spreading with a knife.  Sprinkle with nuts.  Let harden and cool (I put mine in the fridge for the afternoon) Break or "crack" apart and viola...Christmas Crack! 

I'm baking up a new batch in a day or so but I'm changing it up with some white chocolate chips and some crushed up candy canes for a little Christmas Crack a la peppermint bark...this should be over the top crack-a-lishous!

Enjoy!!
Apryl

A personalized cup O' joe...

I am a huge fan of homemade gifts and with my dear friend Pinterest (yes it will be the death of me)...I found this crafty idea pinned from one of my favorite blogs Lemonade Makin' Mama and decided it would be perfect for personalized Christmas gifts.  My handwriting is atrocious but, I guess imperfections are the beauty of something homemade (well that's what I'm telling myself anyway ha ha). 

What you need...

1.  A dishwasher and microwave safe mug (I found a 2 pack at Homegoods for $4.99)

2.  A ceramic paint marker (I used a DecoArt glass paint marker purchased at Michaels with my 50% off coupon)

Trying making something homemade this Christmas, I promise it will make your Christmas gift giving that much more special.

Happy Wednesday.
Apryl

Per the DecoArt glass website wipe down your mug with alcohol to remove

fingerprints.  I didn't read that until after I had already made two

mugs...it made no difference.

Decide what you want to write and write away.

(don't worry if you mess up it wipes off and you can try

again and again and again.....)

Once happy with your creation let it air dry for approximately 8 hours

then bake in a non pre-heated oven at 375° for 40 minutes and

viola your gifts are ready.  

Pumpkin spice candles, gourds, linen napkins, the good china....

Our Thanksgiving is going to be sized down a bit this year, but I will still be decorating our dining table with candles, gourds, pine cones and mini pumpkins.  I'm loving all these beautiful options below, they are getting me into a very thankful mood... 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Apryl

via Bunches and Bits

via Better Homes and Gardens

via Studio Ten 25

via Country Living

via Country Living

Quinoa "The Mother Grain"

A few months ago my husband "Mr. Fit" asked if I knew anything about quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) as he heard it was a "super grain" containing high amounts of protein and amino acids and apparently it didn't taste bad either.  He is a health nut and eats a pretty regimented diet so he asked if I could read up on it.  After a bit of surfing I found a lot of info all pretty much stating the same.  Although the Incas called it "The Mother Grain" it is technically not a grain at all but the seed of a green leaf plant related to spinach and chard.    Quinoa contains vitamins E and B, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, copper and phosphorous.  Due to its slow-releasing carbs it helps maintain blood sugar levels.  For those who are sensitive to wheat or gluten, quinoa is a wheat and gluten-free food and is also said to be good for those who suffer from migraine headaches due to the magnesium.

I substitute quinoa for rice, but you can also use it in recipes that call for bulgar or couscous as the texture is similar.

Thanks to Wendy over at the Cook Quinoa blog here is the easiest way to cook this "super food."

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
1.25 cups water or other cooking liquid

Instructions:
I buy my quinoa in bulk at Sprouts and it is unrinsed.  So as per Wendy's instructions I rinse for at least 15 minutes then drain and rinse in a strainer. 

Bring liquid and quinoa to a simmer then cover and reduce to low.  Cook for 30-35 minutes.  Remove from heat letting it cool for a few minutes then fluff with a fork and you are ready to go. 

I have found a ton of quinoa recipes on Pinterest and believe me now that "Mr. fit" only wants quinoa instead of rice I'm on the hunt for some good ones.  Not sure I will use in my baking though...I like my goodies to taste good not healthy ;).

Apryl

Kitchen obsession

Five years ago we remodeled our kitchen and at the time my obsession was dark cherry wood cabinets of which I still think look beautiful in my home however...as I peruse through Pinterest I realize that every time I save a kitchen to my "comforts of home" pin board it seems to be an all white kitchen with splashes of color.  The color splash may be a wooded island or perhaps bright accessories but for the most part white. 

Looking back I think I would still go with my dark cherry cabinets despite how much cleaning they require as you can see every speck of dust, grime or fingerprint and due to this Murphy oil soap is my dearest and closest friend. 

In any case, here are a few kitchens from my Pinterest board that I'm truly obsessing over...

Enjoy your day!
Apryl

via Country Living

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful

via Canadian House & Home

Salsa Chicken

Wow where does the time go.  I have been so busy with life that our blog was stashed in the corner for a bit.  Now that life has calmed down a wee bit (just in time to rev up for the holidays) I thought I would share one of the easiest weeknight dinners ever and I do mean ever. 

I started making this accidentally a couple of years ago when I came home and had nothing to fix the fam for dinner.  I dug around and found a jar of Trader Joe's 3 pepper salsa (sadly they have discontinued) and decided I would dice up some chicken, mix it all together and pour it over rice and voila dinner would be served.   It was an instant hit and took all of about 20 minutes.

So here it is...Salsa Chicken

(1) jar of salsa (I use TJ's garlic chipotle salsa)

(1) package of chicken tenders

Rice (I use jasmine or basmati) or quinoa

Directions:  Dice chicken into bite size pieces, season with salt and pepper and brown in olive oil.  Once chicken is cooked add entire jar of salsa and simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. 

Scoop on top of cooked rice and enjoy. 

This dinner tastes especially yummy when scooped up with a chip. 

Enjoy your day.

Apryl

We need to change our homes air filter...who knew?

Did you know that it is recommended that we change our homes air filter every three months? 

Air filters protect our homes heating and air conditioning systems allowing them to work more efficiently as well as improve our homes indoor air quality. Filters help trap dust, pet dander, pollen & dust mites to name a few.  If you have a loved one with allergies or asthma you should definitely change them as suggested on the packaging to help reduce attacks. Also note that pleated filters trap more dust then flat panel filters, as the pleats actually create more surface area for the particles to cling to. 

I typically only change our filters with the time change which means only twice a year (spring and fall) instead of the four times it is recommended...yuck. I just pulled our filters down on Friday and I'm disgusted at how dusty they are and have once again promised myself I will change them by February.

Check out our old filter next to the new one.  GROSS!

Please go get your new filter or filters before you turn that heater on for the winter.  Filters are pretty cheap and the reality is, you don't want all that muck circulating through your home.
Apryl

Before your open house...

Before your Realtor holds your open house, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.  Remember, buyers often times can't see past your "stuff" to see the beautiful bare bones of your home. 
Example...if they open a linen closet and it is stuffed with towels and sheets with no possible way of adding even a hand towel, they will think "this home has as little space as we already have" and they will move on.  However if you remove some of your towels allowing them to see the back of the cabinet and make the space tidy and organized the buyer will then think "wow there is so much space here". 

Another place buyers want to see space is in the kitchen.  If your counter space is being used by your toaster and coffee maker and other such appliances, the buyer will think "how can I cook in here, there is no counter space?"  Even if your kitchen is small, just by putting away the small appliances and cleaning off the counters you now have a kitchen that feels larger and a space that someone else could see themselves cooking Thanksgiving dinner in.   Also...don't forget to remove all those lovely pictures your sweet children have stuck to your fridge, as you want your potential buyer to see your lovely stainless steel fridge (or other) and not Billy's art collection.

Let's chat bathrooms...put all those glorious bath products in the cabinet (organized of course) leaving the shower looking spacious and clean.  Stash the flat iron and other such necessities that you may normally leave on the counter and make sure you empty the trash can.  Remember, the bathroom is typically the smallest space in your home so it needs to be tidy to catch your buyers eye.

Closets need to be cleaned out.  Think of it like this, you are moving out of this house so why not get some packing done and if need be a trip to the Goodwill done now.  A clean closet with space on the floor, shelves and hanging rack tells the buyer this house has plenty of storage space.

De-personalize...yes we all love our family photos and have them throughout our homes however when selling it is best to pack up the majority of frames and knick-knacks leaving room on shelves, tables and walls.  By doing this, it allows the buyer to visualize their personal items in the home instead of analyzing your items. 

When we were house hunting we went to view a home that had a cute little beagle...not.  The beagle rushed at our daughter and our poor Realtor stepped in front of her and was bitten.  Not good.  We left without even looking at the house.  So please, please, please if possible take your pets with you for the day or leave with a neighbor as a bitten buyer is a sure fire way to loose a sale.  Also put the litter box, doggie beds, toys and all things pet in the garage for the day and of course turn on your Scentsy so your home smells inviting and not like Fido.

When your home is for sale you may not get much notice from a Realtor that your home is being shown, so a good thing to do each day before you leave is have a "junk" box that you can toss the mail you haven't looked at or whatever you have laying around on the counters into and stash to review later.  That way your home is viewing ready at all times. 

These are just a few open house basics that can help you get that sold sign up faster and get you packed a bit in the process.

Apryl

via HGTV Remodels

via Better Homes & Gardens

Via HGTV

 designed by Susan Anthony

via Real Simple

via Martha Stewart

A little baking 101

Seeing as tomorrow is the first day of November and the holiday baking season is around the corner, I thought I would share a little baking 101... 

Do you know why we need baking powder and baking soda when we bake?  These two items are leavening agents and are added to our baked goods to help the batter rise.  When both are used in one recipe the baking powder does the leavening and the baking soda neutralizes the acid and adds tenderness.  Also, to avoid holes in your batter, you should always sift the two into your dry ingredients before you add to your wet ingredients. 

Now how do you know that your baking soda and baking powder that you purchased last year are still good?  Here's how you can test to make sure they are still doing their jobs in all your holiday baked goods?

Testing baking powder:  Add a teaspoon of baking powder to a few tablespoons of warm water, if it bubbles it is working and the more bubbles the fresher it is.

Testing baking soda:  Use white vinegar instead of warm water.  The soda should bubble and foam if it's fresh. 

I hope this little tid bit of info helps you make the most delishious goodies this year. 

As a side note, my dear friend Linda has let me borrow her book about all the useful things to do with baking soda, so I will be sharing some of those helpful hints once I get through the book.  You wouldn't believe all the things you can do with baking soda...who knew.

Happy baking.

Apryl

Transfer a photo to wood

In my quest to be creative and thanks to Pinterest, I have found a fondness for transferring pictures onto wood.  It is so simple to do, adds a personal touch to snapshots and can also be a wonderful sentimental gift.  When I saw this picture my daughter had snapped of her and her brother, I knew I would be transferring it.  I couldn't help myself, I just love this pic.

I hope this tutorial inspires you.

What you will need:

A photo printed with a laser printer. Cheap copy paper is fine. Remember, if you want the transfer to look exactly like your picture, you will need to mirror the pic when you print it. 

Piece of wood.  I have used scrap wood I have hanging around, but this time I purchased a block from Michael's.  I like the block as it stands alone.

Gel medium:  I found mine in the acrylic paint section at Michael's (don't forget your coupon).   

Mod Podge:  I was out of matte finish so used my gloss, but think matte would have looked nicer...next time.

Acrylic paint:  You only need paint if you want to add color to your border, but the natural wood is lovely too.

Apply your gel medium with a foam brush evenly over the area where your

picture will be placed.  Try not to spread it on too thick, as it causes bubbles that are

hard to get out and if you spread it to thin, your picture won't transfer completely. 

So just a nice even amount and you will be fine.  

Lay your paper photo side down over the area and gently work all the bubbles and

creases out.  I have a Mod Podge tool, but your fingertips actually work better.

Note your paper will be a little damp so be gentle, you don't want to tear your pic. 

Now here comes the hardest part...waiting for it to dry. 

I usually wait overnight, but it only takes a few hours if it's warm.

Once it's dry, take a wet sponge or cloth and soak the area.  I know it sounds strange, but

I promise this is what you do.  After it is really wet you will then use the

tips of your fingers to rub the paper off.  You will do this process several times. 

Once you think your picture is transferred, it will dry white again and you will start over. 

Did I say this was simple?  It really is, just a little elbow grease that's all. 

keep going.....

almost done....

paint and seal

now admire.

See I told you it was easy.

As a side note, if you are giving as a gift you can always sign the back of the wood. 

Or like I did in this case (sorry no pic) I had my kids sign it. 

Great Christmas gift for grandparents hint, hint, hint.

Enjoy your day.

Apryl



Lemon loaf LOVE

Hello all.
What a weekend...our house was hit by the flu bug and it didn't want to leave.  We are finally on the road to recovery and I'm feeling up to posting this delicious recipe I tried a couple of weeks ago.  If you have ever tasted the Starbucks lemon loaf, you are going to fall head over heals for this recipe.  Please note that I made it for a group of friends who also happen to be avid Starbucks customers and I was told it tastes better...jus sayin', but you can make it for yourself and be the judge.

Lemon Loaf:
(makes 2 loaves)
1 lemon cake mix (I used Dr. Oetker Organics from Sprouts)
1 large box instant lemon pudding mix
1 cup water
4 eggs
1/3 cup oil
zest of 1 lemon

For the Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all of the ingredients for the loaf together and pour into two greased loaf pans and bake for 30 minutes.

While the loaves are baking mix together the ingredients for the glaze.  Once the loaves come out of the oven, pour the glaze over the hot loaves.  Let cool or refrigerate and then ENJOY! 

It's feels like fall outside today and a slice of this with a cup of coffee would be so perfect right about now.
Enjoy.
Apryl