Patriotic Tablescape

Just a few more days until we celebrate Independence Day!

I can't wait!

It's always a joyous time of food, family, friends, FUN and FIREWORKS!

So, that means I need to get myself in gear and plan a tablescape for our 4th of July meal!

If you recall from my Christmas Tablescape, I like to utilize things that I have on hand.

Actually, I have 3 very simple steps in creating a quick, cheap and BEAUTIFUL tablescape.

1. Determine your color scheme and theme.
2. Pull dishware and napkins from your hosting arsenal.
3. Shop your house for accent pieces.

So, for this tablescape... the color and theme {Step #1} was easy. Independence Day and red, white and blue!

And when I mention your "hosting arsenal" {Step #2}, I am talking about everything that you have collected or stored through the years for special events, hosting AND your regular every day wear.

I have white plates, clear glasses and solid contemporary silverware as our daily... every day.... wear. I will use them ALWAYS in my tablescapes... it's just a matter of mixing up the other items.

In my "hosting arsenal", I have chargers! 

But, only a few essential colors: silver, gold, wood, yellow, and red.

I also have cloth napkins: red, blue and brown.

And I have a few table cloths and runners... but, just a few since I am quite limited on storage space. So, I try to make everything... count!

I found these IKAT salad plates at HomeGoods. They were only $1.99 each! So, I grabbed all 12 available. Surely, I have enough storage space for 12 little salad plates? Of course! I have used these puppies A LOT in the year that I have had them.

Lastly, shop your house for accent pieces {Step #3}.

I knew I wanted to use my IKAT runner and salad plates, I thought it would be great to utilize some of my blue willow pieces since they coordinated with the color scheme!

And, I had to use some of my paperweight collection... the blue ones, of course!

Although, most of my tablescape items are pre-owned, I do occassionally find something I want to add to the mix. I found these tissue pinwheels at Target in the dollar spot.  I used a large gumdrop that I had from making the lemon cupcakes last week and I printed off a little flag and used a red pen to add some delightful dots to the message! PERFECT!

I also used my clear bubble paperwieghts and faux diamond pieces {left-over from our Indiana Jones Themed b-day party} to line the table runner.



Not bad!

We plan to have the meal inside... cuz the Texas summer heat is just unbearable! But, we will have drinks and night time snacks out on our balcony while we wait for the fireworks to go off!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!
and
God Bless America!


I plan to link up at the following:

SUNDAY: Under the Table and Dreaming, Nifty Thrifty Things

MONDAY: Home Stories A to Z, Midwestern Girl DIY

TUESDAY: Not Just a HouseWife, Tip Junkie

Put a Little Gold in Your Life

It's so funny that I use to gag over anything brass or gold.

Now? It's a total different story. I LOVE brass and gold accent pieces. That brilliant blingy luscious goodness just speaks to me. 

If you look around my home, you will see a complete mixture of metals. I have industrial steel paired with brass. Black wrought iron mixed with brass, wood and stainless steel.

I love to mix metals... and I love adding gold accents to that mixture.

Especially, gold leaf!

But, gold leaf is somewhat expensive and pretty messy with all the left over gold flakes everywhere.

But, I found my solution: Rub 'n Buff Gold Leaf!

I had this candlestick that I wanted to Gold Leaf.... and I thought this would be perfect!

You can find the small Rub 'n Buff tube in Gold Leaf {or many other metal colors!} at any craft store for around $4.

Yes, that is it to create a COMPLETE transformation!

You only need to use a small amount and it will cover a pretty large surface.

Just squeeze an amount on a dry soft piece of scrap fabric or use a super soft paper towel {that's what I did}.

Then rub onto the surface of your item.

That's it!

EASY PEASY!

And no little flakey mess to clean up!

It looks so glam with the black laquer bamboo mirror and accent table.

LOVIN' all that brilliant blingy luscious goodness! 
It just speaks to me!


Linking up to Hot Fun in the Summertime over at Bliss Ranch!

Lightly Luscious Lemon Cupcakes

I don't know what it is with me lately.

Me and this cupcake thing...

First, Margarita Cupcakes

Then, Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes {not posted - sorry}

Then, Maple Syrup Bacon Cupcakes

and now... Lemon Cupcakes.

AND... I am SO not a fan of baking!

So, I truly don't know what is with me lately!

I like cooking. It seems to be more of an art-form than baking. Baking is more of a science. You HAVE to follow the recipe. And even though, I am a Rocket Scientist by trade, the LAST thing I want to do is be all scientific in the kitchen!

But, my kiddo LOVES cupcakes.

My kiddo LOVES parties.

I LOVE my kiddo.

Hence, all this cupcake/baking nonsense!

With gumdrops on top!

So, now the story for this cupcake...

the Lightly Luscious Lemon Cupcake.

I actually did become creative!

I blended a whole bunch of recipes and got brave with some ideas of creating a light lemon cupcake for a party {for the kiddo... of course}. I think it worked!

Lightly Luscious Lemon Cupcakes

Yield: 20-24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 25 minutes | Bake Time: 25 minutes

Cupcakes:

2 ½ cups cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

½ lb {2 sticks} unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup Truvia

1 cup sugar

2 eggs at room temperature

Zest of 1 large lemon

Juice of 1 large lemon

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 Tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup of buttermilk {I used non-fat milk and distilled white vinegar to make the buttermilk. Combine 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar and then adding milk to equal 1 cup, let sit for 5 minutes, stir and then there is your buttermilk!}

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese softned

1/4 cup butter

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups confectioner sugar

CUPCAKES
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan.

2. In mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter mix until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each.

3. Mix cocoa and lemon juice to form a paste.

4. Add the cocoa paste to the sugar mixture and mix well.

5. Sift flour and salt together.

6. Add flour mixture to the creamed sugar mixture alternating with the buttermilk. Blend in vanilla.

7. In a small bown combine baking soda and vinegar. Then add to the mixture.

8. Fold in the lemon zest.

9. Pour batter into cupcake liners. The batter will be thick.

10. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

11. Remove and cool completely.

FROSTING
1. Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, zest and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy.

2. Add confectioner sugar, beat until creamy.

Makes approximately 3 - 4 cups.

Frost cupcakes and ENJOY!

Since the cake flour is used, the cupcakes are quite light. The buttermilk brings out the lemon flavor, but in a very subtle way. These are not the standard moist and heavy lemon cupcakes... and I like that.

The frosting is my favorite part. And although my husband was able to eat the entire mound of frosting first... I took it easy because with all the cream cheese and sugar, it was rich for me.

But, all in all, these cupcakes were a success!

The party was fun!

And although, I am not a fan of baking.... I WILL BE MAKING THESE AGAIN!

I plan to link up at the following on

WEDNESDAY: Savvy Southern Style, Home Happy Home, My Girlish Whims, Lil' Luna, Creations by Kara

THURSDAY: The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Ivy and Elephants, Confessions of an ADD Housewife

FRIDAY: Tater Tots and Jello, Serenity Now, At the Picket Fence, A Little Knick Knack, The Shabby Nest

SUNDAY: Under the Table and Dreaming, Nifty Thrifty Things

MONDAY: Home Stories A to Z, Midwestern Girl DIY

TUESDAY: Not Just a HouseWife, Tip Junkie

Joyful Additions

I had mentioned in a previous post about my latest Craigslist Adventure.

Bottom line: We got a SUPERB deal!

I offered less than the asking price and she gave it to me for less than my offer! Unheard of?!
I think pretty darn close. It was like the Craigslist Angels were looking after me... the choir was heard singing bold praises as the money exchanged hands and the piece was loaded into the SUV.

So, what is it you may ask?

Why.... this beauty....

Yes! My very own Vintage Dorothy Draper Style Chest!

A knock-off... but even these are valuable and gorgeous!

I had to replace the pulls. They weren't the originals and they were really off... concerning style and scale.
I found the perfect ring pulls online at Lee Valley.

PERFECTO!

It fits wonderfully in the newly updated space, which I talked about here.

Now, I just need to do a fresh paint job on it and then it will be beyond-perfecto!

Just in time, too! This chest provided some needed storage for our other joyful addition....

coming soon....

I am such a tease.

Bearing Fruit

We are approaching 10 months since we moved into our Double-Wide in the Sky.

I can't believe it... time has gone by so quickly!

A LOT of exciting things have happened:

• I served as an extra on the new television series "Dallas"
• Decorating business has kicked off
• 1 year of school has come and gone
• Plus... much much more

A LOT of entertaining has gone on:

• Birthday Parties
• Christmas Parties
• Baby Showers
• Mad Men Season Premiere Party
• Plus... much much more

A LOT of growth has occurred:

• some growth has been painful
• other growth has been joyful
• and then there is the very difficult growth that takes place too...

But without getting all too sappy and heavy on you... there has been some standard normal growth... not only from the HERB GARDEN we have growing on our balcony... but of... well, fruit!

I am plant {or fruit tree} sitting while my parents are waiting to move into their new home. And I was given the opportunity to take care of an Orange Tree and a Lime Tree. Yes, seriously! These aren't full grown, but they are BEARING FRUIT!

This is the orange tree. It has 3 oranges currently on it and several buds! The largest orange is about the size of a lime. I'm so excited that I haven't killed these trees... but to actually be bearing fruit... HOW exciting!

And this is one of the limes from the lime tree. It has about 5-6 limes growing, the largest being the size of a marble... but still.. HOW EXCITING!

Here's hoping that those grasshoppers that have been seen on and around my plants won't do any damage.

And here's hoping that my balcony garden in the city will continue to flourish, blossom and BEAR FRUIT!

And lastly, here's hoping that the rest of the growth that takes place won't be so difficult.
I guess I will choose to embrace all the growth and changes that are yet to come my way.....

Linked up to Thrifty Decor Chick!

Maple Syrup Bacon Cupcakes

My guys love Maple Syrup.

My guys LOVE bacon.

My guys LOVE cupcakes.

Hence, Maple Syrup Bacon Cupcakes! {Trust me.... they actually are GOOD... seriously!}

So, to share further my boys' love of the pig meat...

They have this cute little banter with one another.

It goes something like this:

"I love you."

"I love you AND I love bacon!"

And this is how this little Father's Day idea came about.

First I made a card for the kiddo to give to his daddy...

THE FRONT:

THE INSIDE:

Maple Syrup Bacon Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 25 minutes | Bake Time: 25 minutes

CUPCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, slightly softened and cut into chunks
2 Tablespoons of bacon grease
2  cups pure Maple Syrup
3 egg yolks, at room temperature
1 egg at room temperature
1 ½ cup milk {I used 1%}
1 cup of chopped toasted walnuts

MAPLE SYRUP CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
12 ounces of cream cheese, softened

Cooked and drained crumbled bacon for topping

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

3. In an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and bacon fat until ribbon-like.

4. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the maple syrup.

5. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until uniform in color {about 3 minutes}.

6. Add the egg yolks and egg one at a time to the mixture and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed.

7. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on slow speed until all is incorporated.

8. Stream in the milk to the mixture. Stop the mixer and add the remaining flour mixture and then mix until everything is combined. Scraped down the sides of the bowl, as needed.

9. Fold in the walnuts.

10. Fill the prepared cupcake pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans half-way through the baking time and bake until toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

11. Allow cupcakes to cool for 15 minutes then remove to a cooling rack. 

12. FROSTING: whip butter on medium-high speed of an electric mixer using the whisk attachment until completely smooth. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined. Reduce speed to medium-low and gradually add the maple syrup and powdered sugar, mixing and scraping the sides of the bowl, as needed, until all is incorporated. Be careful not to overbeat the frosting or it will lose structure. 

13. Frost cupcakes and garnish with crumbled bacon pieces.

I also utilized the cupcake toppers I created. I just printed, circle punched and attached to large toothpicks. 

These are truly AMAZING cupcakes!

They would make a phenomenal addition to any Father's Day Brunch... or just a sweet and different special treat.

Hope you enjoy!

I plan to link up at the following on

TUESDAY: Not Just a HouseWife, Tip Junkie

WEDNESDAY: Savvy Southern Style, Home Happy Home, My Girlish Whims, Lil' Luna, Creations by Kara

THURSDAY: The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Ivy and Elephants

FRIDAY: Tater Tots and Jello, Serenity Now, At the Picket Fence, A Little Knick Knack, The Shabby Nest

SUNDAY: Under the Table and Dreaming, Nifty Thrifty Things

MONDAY: Home Stories A to Z, Midwestern Girl DIY

Father's Day Card

Less than a week until Father's Day!

Do you have your shopping done?

Or your crafts completed?

Or anything even planned?

Well, I have A LOT planned.... but this week I need to complete some of the shopping and crafts.

This morning I completed one of 2 cards!

The SHIRT AND TIE CARD to complement the shirts and ties he will be receiving from us. Don't worry I didn't spoil any surprise gift {we do have one of those}.... we always get him shirts and ties. He wears them every day to work. So why not?

But, that doesn't make for a true gift. Kind of a little like the socks and underwear my parents would get me for my birthday. It made sense to my mom cuz my birthday always fell at the beginning of the school year and that's when she purchased new socks and underwear. But, somehow that does not quite constitute as a TRUE gift. Does it?

Anyway.... here is how I made the SHIRT AND TIE CARD for the hubby.... to complement his not true gifts.

SUPPLIES

8 1/2" x 11" cardstock for shirt

Patterned cardstock for tie and handkerchief

2 Buttons

Paper to print sentiment

Glue Dots

Scissors

Marker

1. Fold solid cardstock in half.
2. Draw tie outline onto the patterned cardstock with marker.

3. Use scissors to cut a 2" slit on both the right and left side of solid cardstock about 1" down from top.

4. On the inside of the card, cut the remainder of the top off and discard that portion.
5. Cut tie and handkerchief out of the patterned cardstock.

6. Fold over the left and right side of the slit to create a collar.
I did not crease my folds, this gave it a more 3 dimensional look to it.

7. Glue buttons to the collar and glue down the tie, ends of the collar, handkerchief and sentiment.

Now, I have to go purchase the ingredients to try my stab at Maple Syrup Bacon Cupcakes.

If it turns out, I might have some more goodies for you to check out!

Stay tuned...

I plan to link up at the following on

MONDAY: Between Naps on the Porch, Craft-o-maniac, Home Stories A to Z

TUESDAY: Not Just a HouseWife, Tip Junkie

WEDNESDAY: Savvy Southern Style, Home Happy Home, My Girlish Whims, Lil' Luna, Creations by Kara

THURSDAY: The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage

FRIDAY: Tater Tots and Jello, Serenity Now, At the Picket Fence, A Little Knick Knack, The Shabby Nest

SUNDAY: Under the Table and Dreaming, Nifty Thrifty Things