Fall Inspiration

Today I wanted to share with you some pretty inspirational photos to help get you in the mood for the cool weather of Fall.  It's supposed to get down into the low 40's here in the South tomorrow so I'm looking forward to wearing a sweater or long sleeves!  Let's hope this cool weather stays around for a while now.

Images: 1. Hilda Grahnat  2. Stab stencil  3. How To: Simplify  4. little brown pen

Give Thanks + Gather

I've been looking around for some creative ideas for decorating for the Fall season and the holidays that come with it.  The other day I was perusing through the EmersonMade website to see what new items that had to offer and I found these linen table runners that would be perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday.  My favorites are the Giving Thanks and Gather runners.  I love their simple look and the directness of each of the words.  I think it would make your guests really think about the reason for the holiday.  Have you already started thinking about decorating for the Thanksgiving holiday?

Images: EmersonMade

Spiced Chutney

I been having lots of conversations lately with various friends and colleagues about canning and what they like to 'put up' during the fall months in preparation for Winter.  My grandmother used to can all types of things, my favorite being her Pear Honey.  I haven't ventured to try her recipe however but I am toying around with the idea of making some chutney.  I think it would be a great way to help me get into the mood for Fall, especially when the temperatures in hot, humid Alabama sure aren't helping very well.  This Spiced Plum Chutney that Amber made looks amazing and I can use these Chutney Jars from Terrain for storage!

Images: Amber...Bamberoo and Terrain

Orange Inspiration from Terrain

With fall just around the corner, I've been eyeing some new fall items at some of my favorite shops.  Terrain, the online garden shop is one of those places and I've seen lots of fun fall inspired items that I would love to order and that I've added to my wishlist.  Here are a few of my favorites.  I hope you have a very relaxing and fun Labor Day weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

Images: Terrain

Jme Pantry Collection

One of my new favorite products at my favorite kitchen store,  Williams-Sonoma, is the line of Jamie Oliver foods that is now available for purchase in the US.  I love that Williams-Sonoma decided to partner with Jamie Oliver to bring his line of gourmet foods to the US.  It had previously only been available for purchase in the UK and could not be shipped here.  Here are some of the items available in the new Jme Pantry Collection.  I've already tried the Fig and Honey Biscuits and the Seville Orange Marmalade and both are wonderful.  The English Breakfast Tea is next on my list and I love the cute packaging as well!

Jme Jams , $15; Jme Tea , $30; Jme Tea , $30; Jme Rosemary Olives , $25; Jme Seville Orange Marmalade , $20; Jme Mango Chutney , $17; Jme English Honey , $15; Jme Marvellous Mayo , $15; Jme One Mean Mustard , $14; Jme Biscuits , $9.95

Dream Kitchen

Lately I've been dreaming about the day that I can finally buy a house and decorate it.  I want a small cottage with a yard big enough for a dog.  Maybe a three bedroom so that I can have an office/craft room and a guest bedroom as well.  Here are some inspiration photos I've pulled together of ideas for decorating the kitchen.  I want neutral colors and open shelving so that I can display my vintage Fire King Azurite dishes and I want a big white farmhouse sink!  I think it's a great idea to start collecting ideas now because you never know when you might see something that you like and then when the time comes, you can't find it.  Enjoy!

Images: 1. Southern Living  2. Jessica Thuston via Southern Living  3. & 4. Samantha Pynn Interiors via Decor8  5. via Door Sixteen  6. Emma Balch via Design*Sponge

Happy Independence Day!

I hope you have a great Independence Day today and a wonderful July 4th holiday.  Use this time to celebrate the freedoms we have here in America and the things we take for granted.  Also use this time to be thankful for your family and friends and the blessings that God has given you.  I hope you also eat a lot of yummy food, listen to some rousing Patriotic songs and get blown away (not literally) by some amazing fireworks displays.

I plan on spending this day with my family and performing with a local community band in a July 4th concert, followed by fireworks.  See you back here next week!

Image: inchmark

Rifle Recipe Box

Today I am coveting the new recipe box at Rifle Paper Co.  The boxes are made from salvaged hardwood and take about three months to go from tree to finished box.  They are gorgeous the floral print box is on my wishlist along with these cute Rifle recipe cards. 

Images: Rifle Paper Co.

Cookout Cupcakes

We are having a cookout at work next week and I think I am going to try out these cupcakes I saw earlier this week over at Smitten Kitchen (recipe here). Don't they look absolutely amazing and a perfect recipe for a summer dessert. Oh how I love root beer floats!

Images: Smitten Kitchen

Vintage Treasure: Metal Muffin Tin

Today I wanted to share with you a vintage treasure that I found while looking through my baking cabinet last night. I found this metal muffin tin that I got from my grandmother a few years back when she was cleaning out her house. I had completely forgotten about it and decided that it would be the perfect accessory on my desk to hold some of my craft supplies. Doesn't it perfectly fit my tapes, twine and address stamp? I love that it has the perfect amount of cubbies for each of my items. A very cute idea indeed!

tems in cubbies: Address stamp - Paperwink, Pincushion ring - Art Nest , Red Twine - Bake It Pretty, Japanese masking tape - PrettyTape

Images: vintage yankee

Pink Baby Shower

Over the weekend, a group of friends and I hosted a baby shower for a friend who has adopted the most precious baby girl. Our friends, Mike and Christie hadn't planned on getting their baby girl so soon, so when they got the call to come and pick her up, they didn't have anything ready for her coming home. We decided that we needed to have a shower for them so that they could get everything they could possibly need for their new bundle of joy. We put the shower together in a week and a half and I have to say, I think we did pretty well!

We decided to have what is called a Sip 'n See, where you come and meet the baby after it is born and sip on beverages. Since the time of the shower was in the morning, we decided to have light brunch hors d'oeuvres and two punches. We made Vanilla Petit Fours, Mini Cinnamon Rolls, Sausage Balls, Cheese Wafers, Tomato Basil Quiche, Lemon Tarragon Chicken Tartlettes and Fresh Fruit. Our punches were a Pink Lemonade Punch and Coffee Punch. We had so much fun putting it together and am happy to say that Baby Mallory got a lot of very cute things!





Images: vintage yankee

A Good Day

Today is my birthday and I'm going to celebrate me a bit so I'm delaying one of my Europe posts by a day. Tonight I am going to enjoy Ina Garten's wonderful Parmesan Chicken and Bruschetta for dinner (two of my favorite dishes) and an awesome coconut cake made by my mom (I promise pictures of the cake!). Hope you have a wonderful April the 8th!

Image: Citrushearts

Cupcakes and March Madness

I made these cupcakes last night for a St. Patrick's Day party I am attending this evening. Don't they look scrumptious?


So, what are your plans for the weekend? I am going to see Alice in Wonderland tomorrow with a friend and will also be watching A LOT of basketball. Glad to see my alma mater through the first round and on to the second! Good luck to everyone's teams and I hope your bracket looks better than mine does. Have a great weekend!

Picture: vintage yankee

Vintage Treasure: Yellow Shelf

This past weekend while I was out shopping at the flea market with friends, I spotted this cute yellow, metal shelf. The instant I saw it I knew I had to have it to hold my red salt & pepper shaker collection. The previous shelf I had was a boring white shelf and they were stuck on with a sticky putty so that they wouldn't fall off. Here they will be safe and I think that they yellow makes the red pop. Don't they look cute displayed on my new vintage find?

Picture: vintage yankee

Jamie's Italy

I was lucky enough to find a copy of Jamie's Italy this weekend for a steal at $6.39. I can't wait to try some of the amazing recipes. There are some great looking risottos and mouth-watering bruschetta recipes that will come in handy this summer when the tomatoes are ripe. I can't wait!

Limeade

Limeade, my absolute favorite sunny weather beverage (and it's green). There are many recipes for punches and -ade type drinks, but my favorite of all is Limeade. Actually, I just had a nice tall glass of it from one of my favorite Limeade makers, Zoe's Kitchen. I also enjoy a Cherry Limeade from Sonic's Drive-In every once in a while. But the best is whipping one up at home and my brother has to make the best homemade Limeade maker I know! Here are a couple of recipes for you to try. For those of you in snowy and cold conditions, maybe this will help you think of spring on it's way.


Rachel Ray's Limeade

101 Cookbooks' Blackberry Limeade

Epicurious' Ginger Limeade

Taste of Homes' Bottoms-Up Cherry Limeade

Martha Stewart's Sparkling Limeade

I especially love this picture in the vintage Kentucky Derby glasses. I bet my Aunt has some of these!

Pictures from Martha Stewart.

Jamie's in my home

This past weekend I finally purchased the newest cookbook that I've been drooling over for a while now, Jamie Oliver's Jamie at Home. Ever since it came out last year, I've been wanting to get it and try some of his recipes. This book centers around Jamie's garden and all that he grows and incorporates into his recipes. Each chapter is based on a vegetable or fruit and gives you recipes for each item and then Jamie's tips on how to grow that veggie or fruit.

I love this because even though I'm in an apartment and have such a small piece of ground right outside my door, I am going to try and grow some vegetables this spring and summer and I can't wait to read Jamie's tips for growing (even though he grows in Britain and I am in the Deep South). I'm looking forward to trying the Curried Cauliflower Fritters and the Tray-Baked Meringue with Pears, Cream, Toasted Hazelnuts and Chocolate Sauce.


Watch out tomorrow for the start of a new cooking project!