innovations in light.

Here's a project my sister and I embarked on together. She painted a lamp for her apartment, and I painted a lamp for my house...twice. I cannot even begin to explain the level of unattractive 80'sness that revolved around these lamps before they had a makeover. Each one was a thrift store find for about $3.  Unfortunately, I don't have a before picture of my lamp, but here is my sister's before.

 and during the process...

and my lamp painted the 1st time...

Why the transformation from the 1st attempt? I kept it like this for several months.. but I am currently introducing some new bolder colors into our living room and it didn't make the cut.

lamp thrifted. gold chevron shade from Target

lamp thrifted. black and white shade from Target.

bloom.

 My rosebushes have been blooming like crazy for at least 3 weeks! I cannot get enough of the blooms! I have been putting them in anything I can.  bottles,vases,cans...

italian cream cupake recipe

You will need:

5 eggs

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

2 cups of sugar

5 egg yolks

2 cups of flour

1tsp baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1 bag shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

 

 1. Separate 5 eggs, and cream 1 stick of butter.  Add in 2 cups of sugar and beat until smooth. Add in 5 egg yolks and beat well.

2. whisk together 2 cups of flour and 1tsp of baking soda, add to the cream mixture alternatively with 1 cup of buttermilk

3. Stir in 1 tsp of vanilla, 1 small bag of coconut, and 1 cup of chopped pecans

4. Fold in 5 stiffly beaten egg whites.  

5. Bake on 350* 18-20 min

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
1 stick butter softened
1 pkg cream cheese softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 tsp of salt
2 tsp of vanilla
1. beat together cream cheese and butter, add vanilla, gradually  add sugar, and then add salt.

pineapples

any cool lids lying around? Sometimes a nice glass jar or something breaks, and you are left with a lid. Just put one on a cool can and you have some instant fun storage!  This project was actually created by my mom and I just had had to share her neat idea.  I found that it can be great for cupcake liners- they just slip right in and don't get crushed. 
Thanks Mom!

10 little birds...

My parents just recently got 10 baby chickens to raise for eggs! They are so precious and I never knew how fascinating watching these little things could be.  AND here's a recipe for a twist on the traditional haystack... nests!

CHOCOLATE/PEANUT BUTTER NESTS

1 cup(5 ounces) semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cups (4 ounces) chow- mien noodles or pretzel sticks
1 1/4 cup slices almonds
eggs- almond or peanut m&m's
sweetened coconut
powdered sugar

1.Line baking sheet with wax paper
2. Using a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth, gently stir in noodles and nuts.
3. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto paper, make an indention in the top for eggs. Sprinkle nests with powdered sugar and coconut, then place eggs!
4. Let clusters set about 1 hour

DIY for you: Turquoise Necklace

For this project you will need:

*turquoise beads, and any other beads you would like to add.
* jewelry pliers
*head pins, and jewelry loops found on the jewelry/bead aisle of you local art store
*chain (mine was thrifted)

1. Gather your supplies

2. Insert 1 head pin into the bead you are using.

3. Using your jewelry tools, snip the excess wire and using the pliers bend the wire to a complete loop.

4.You can attach onto chain with the loop you just created, or attach a jewelry loop to it like I did.  The loop makes for easier removal, if you ever want to switch out the chain.

strawberry cupcakes/ berry cream cheese frosting recipe

Strawberry Cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting:

*1 3/4 cup cake flour

*1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

*2 cups sugar

*1 tbsp baking powder

*1 tbsp sour cream

*3/4 tsp salt

*2 sticks of butter cut into cubes

*1 cup whole milk

*1tsp vanilla

*4 large eggs

* about 6 strawberries, finely chopped

* 2 tbsp strawberry jello mix( the powder, not actual jello:)

1.Preheat 325, mix flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined. Then add butter until just coated.

2.Whisk eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients in 3 parts, let each mix until incorporated. 

3. Add strawberries and jello mix. Mix until combined.

4.bake @325 for about 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

This recipe makes about 32 cupcakes.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:

*1 pkg of cream cheese

*1 stick of butter

*3-4 cups powdered sugar

*2 tbsp of flour

*3 strawberries, finely chopped, and smashed.(if the chunks of strawberries are too big- it won't fit through the piping bag.)

* 1 tsp vanilla

*pinch of salt

1. soften cream cheese and butter, beat together in mixer, add in strawberries, vanilla, and salt.

2. slowly start adding in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time,then the 2 tbsp of flour, beating after each addition.

I made these for my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!

I also painted for her a rendering of my parents home...

And made her a version of this necklace.. which you will see in my next diy project!

diy for the home: geometric re-painting

 

I had an old painting that I was not a fan of and my original plan was to paint over it completely.  Upon further consideration I decided to try a few other things first- sort of giving this thing its last chance...

1. The painting I started with

2. I taped off some geometric shapes with painters tape.

3. I covered it completely in dark blue paint and removed the tape! 

 

 

Don't have an old painting you are ready to part with? Create your own painting underneath with the intention of painting over it.  I'm liking the result for now, so it might stick around a little longer...

home inspiration: decor or store?

A common mistake I make when it comes to decorating is sometimes trying to hide things that show my life. I always feel like I need all enclosed storage. Our current house makes that rather hard sometimes and so I have been forced to come up with some solutions that store, but also are an enjoyable part of my home!

Don't be afraid to display and turn storage into art or a piece of home decor!Here's some things that I chose to use as art rather than hide in a closet.

  

3 ways to make a cookie sandwich.

Here's 2 easy cookie recipes and 3 simple frostings that   I made this weekend- perfect for any cookie combination!
 carrot cake cookies & cream cheese frosting
chocolate cookies & chocolate chip mint frosting/ vanilla buttercream

CARROT CAKE COOKIES:

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 stick unsalted butter
1 tbsp sour cream
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 jar of baby food carrots
1/2 cup of rasins

1. preheat oven to 375*
2. sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon
3. with electric mixer cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy
4. add egg, beat to combine.add baby food carrots, sour cream, shredded carrots, and raisins.gradually add flour mixture until dough is combined.
5. scoop cookies into 1" rounds on parchment paper, dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and press each cookie.
6. bake about 10-12 min

 CHOCOLATE COOKIES:

1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 stick butter
1 large egg

1. preheat oven to 375*
2. sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, powder, and salt
3. with electric mixer cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy
4. add egg, beat to combine, add sour cream and gradually add in flour mixture, continue beating until dough is combined.
5. scoop cookies into 1" rounds onto parchment paper, dip bottom of a glass in sugar and press cookies.
7. bake 10-12 min

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
1 stick butter softened
1 pkg cream cheese softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 tsp of salt
2 tsp of vanilla
1. beat together cream cheese and butter, add vanilla, gradually  add sugar, and then add salt.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MINT FROSTING:
1 stick of butter softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of vanilla
2 tsp of peppermint extract
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
1.beat together butter, vanilla, peppermint extract. gradually add powdered sugar, then add salt and choc chips. add more mint extract to taste.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM:
1 stick of butter softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1tsp of salt
2 tsp of vanilla
1. beat together butter, vanilla, gradually add powdered sugar, then add salt.