My January Mantle

My January Mantle

I have been having fun decorating my fireplace mantle. Since this is the first time I have had a fireplace, I have realized how fun it is to decorate it!

How do you decorate for January?  What colors best fit cold weather (ok it was 80 degrees yesterday, here in Phoenix) and no major holiday.

My Christmas decor was silver and cream.  Here is my Winter Mantle.  I am still in love with the silver, and I decided to tie in a blue color, keeping some of the silver elements.  I think the colors are perfect for January.




I started with my Great-grandmother's vintage table runner. I just love the blues, greens and browns in the table runner. I draped it across the top, since I don't have a distinctive mantle.

I added my Great-grandmother's vintage blue vase.  I pulled some tan berries (that I used for my fall decor) to tie in the runner with the rest of the decor.

Before I had a fireplace, I had no idea how much fireplace tools are.  I fell in love with this Tool Set from Crate & Barrell.  But, for $199, it wasn't in the budget.  I kept my eye out at many different stores, but either didn't like the style or price tag.

 

I was thrilled to find some great deals.  I went to my local antique stores and Goodwill in search, and score I found some great deals!

I would love to hear your thoughts.  Have you found some great deals lately?  Where is your favorite place to find deals?

Linking Up!

Tater Tots & Jello Classy Clutter

Bridal Clutches - I was featured!

Bridal Clutches

I had a few more views on my Etsy site today, the Sweetest Memory and I took a look at where all the traffic was coming from.  I saw a new source today, Swann Soirees. 

When I visited their page, I was so excited to see my Bridesmaid Clutches included with some very talented designers! 

That's me under #7! 

It makes my day when others enjoy the designs I create.

The credits and Blog can be found here: Swann Soirees

I have never talked about my Etsy shop here on the blog.  I create bridesmaid and bridal clutches to coordinate with your wedding colors and style.  I love

Here are a few of my designs available.  These are also perfect for a date night, mother of the bride or groom, prom or other formal event!

My most viewed clutch: Elegant Ivory and Champagne Clutch

Smoky Pink with Rhinestones Clutch

Single Flower with Rhinestones or Pearls

Dramatic Ivory Clutches

When you order for your bridesmaids, each clutch comes tied with tulle and a blank note perfect for gift giving!

I am inspired by custom inquiries that push me to create new and better designs.  Right now I am working on a hair piece that will coordinate with a clutch, a clutch with a large bow and many, many more!

Know anyone getting married?  I would love if you shared my information.  Thank you!

Sweet Inspiration - Patriotic 4th of July

So thrilled to have hit 200 followers this week!  Thank you so much!  To celebrate for the month of July, Blog Readers can save 20% OFF ALL ready to ship items in my Etsy Shop HERE.  Just use PATRIOTIC20 at checkout!

In celebration of 4th of July, I wanted to share some of my favorite patriotic things from fellow bloggers and Etsians.



Gorgeous party - Backyard BBQ featured on Celebrations at Home

Patriotic Paper Flowers by Live Laugh Rowe



Amazing Cake by Glorious Treats



Lovely Paper Confetti Rocket by Alpha Mom



Gorgeous Patriotic Setting.  Posted from Tumblr, artist unknown.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful 4th of July! 

The home of the brave, the land of the free.  Thank you to all the men and women who work so that we may be free.

Foodie Friday - Roasted Beet Carpaccio Salad

Roasted Beet Carpaccio Salad 

by Resident Chef James Wood

What is your favorite way to make beets?  What salad would you like to see next?

Linking Up:

Foodie Friday - Mac and Cheese

FOODIE FRIDAY!

Mac and Cheese

by Resident Chef James Wood

Happy Friday Everyone,

This week I will be making my version of mac and cheese. If you are on a diet, you might want to pass this one up…. even using it as a side dish might be deadly!

Anyways lets get to it, this is a pretty simple recipe and is really not that hard to make.

First off, here is your list of ingredients…

1 pound of Rigatoni
1 pound of Bacon (diced, cooked and reserve the fat)
2 cups of Whole Milk
4 ounces butter
8 ounces Sour Cream
4 ounces Cream Cheese
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cup of Mexican Cheese Blend
1 Yellow Onion (diced)
5 clove Garlic (chopped)
1 bunch Parsley (chopped)
Juice of one Lemon
1/4 cup AP flour
1 cup of panko bread crumbs

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

1)Cook off Pasta, Strain and Return to pot

2) Cut bacon into strips (I just take the whole pound, lay it down and cut it)

3)Place bacon into a medium sauce pot with 1/4 cup of water
and turn on medium low heat, stirring occasionally to render the bacon

4) While your bacon is cooking, prepare the rest of your ingredients…. Onions, Garlic, Parsley, etc…

5) When your bacon is done cooking scoop out and place on a paper plate to absorb excess fat.

6)Melt Butter in the bacon fat

7)Add onions and the garlic and cook until translucent

8) Add flour and stir constantly for 4-5 minutes making sure not to let flour burn to bottom of the pot

9)Add milk, cream cheese and sour cream and stir in until smooth

10) Using a stick blender if you have one, blend until smooth or transfer to blender and blend until smooth.

11) Add the rest of your cheeses, 1/2 the parsley, bacon and the smooth sauce to the pot and then stir until incorporated.

12) Put mixture into greased ramekins and top with panko and parsley then spray top with pan spray

13) Last, Bake in the oven for 20 minutes and serve

I served mine with a grilled pork chop and a salad. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Foodie Friday - Pizza Night!

FOODIE FRIDAY!

PIZZA NIGHT
by Resident Chef James Wood

Greetings,

If there's one food I think I could eat everyday for the rest of my life it would be pizza!

I will include how to make my dough and the step by step procedures to prepare this weekly tradition in my house.

For the dough

1 cup luke warm water

1 package of red star fast acting yeast

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

For the Toppings.... Now that's completely up to you. Just remember... Less is more when it comes to topping pizza. I like light and flavorful, not a heavy greasy take out style pie but that's me.

Step 1

In a mixer add water, yeast, olive oil, salt and sugar and let sit for about 3-5 minutes so the yeast can bloom.

Step 2

Add the A.P. and whole wheat flour and mix for about 90 seconds to 2 minutes.  It should look like this when ready.  (notice how it just stopped sticking to the bowl, that means its ready!)

Step 3

Place on board and shape into a tube, then cut in half.

Step 4
Knead the dough into balls.

Then place the balls into 2 presprayed containers and spray the top of the balls as well. Put lid on the containers and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours until dough has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 435 degrees.

Stretching/Rolling the dough:

Step 5

Spray 2 pizza pans with pan spray then place the balls in flour and pat them off and place them in the middle of the pans.

Step 6

Stretch the dough with your hands or roll out with a pin if you don't trust yourself. Then drizzle with olive oil.

Brush oil to evenly coat the crust and bake for 7 minutes.  I like to season mine with salt and pepper.

Topping your pizza:

Now that you have a blank canvas you can go nuts with whatever you like, seriously get creative and post what you made.   It's fine to use tomato sauce in a jar that's what I do in a pinch.

I put roast chicken, caramelized onions, bacon, artichoke hearts and tomatoes on mine because it's my wife's favorite. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes and you will have a gourmet pizza at a pauper price of just around $4/pizza.

 

Say good bye to pre fabricated and hello to fresh.

Cheers and have a great weekend!

James Wood

cookinwood@gmail.com

James with his wife Lisa.