More Sara's House - Down on the Farm

I spent the summer watching season 3 of Sarah's House, where she remodeled, added on to and completely decorated an old farmhouse in the country. My favorite part? The bathroom with the yellow antique tub, soft muted greys and buttery yellows and oh my those curtains! I found a similar fabric, except with blue accents instead of grey, and wish I had an excuse and a good room to use it in.

Photos via HGTV

Bench Me

This bench has brought up some very good questions, like: "Can I please have this fantastic bench?" and "Could World Market be any more fabulous?" and "How is this bench only $130???"
Lattice-Back Garden Bench from World Market, $129.99

Patio Inspiration

Summer is just around the corner, and I have been trying to think of ways to spruce up our little patio. I'm feeling really inspired by this patio I saw in last month's Sunset magazine. And the best part? Everything was done for under $600 by stylist Jennifer Barguiarena. Instead of a metal door for the table like Jennifer used, I'm trying to find an antique door and put a piece of glass on the top. Or this Ikea table with some mismatched chairs.

Materials:
4 ceramic pots (30 inches) on sale from Jackalope Pottery – $334
4 bamboo poles and plastic pipe from a hardware store – $31
Canvas drop cloth and tent hardware from the Home Depot – $30
Sheet metal top from a supply company – $33
Folding chairs from eBay – $64
Old door (table top) – $0
Pipe table legs from a hardware store – $76

A dropcloth with a grommet at each corner forms the top; it’s attached with S-hooks to lag screw eyes at the top of each pole. Each pole is inserted into a 2-ft.-long plumbing pipe (2 inches in diameter), secured in the pot with gravel.
Total: $568

Artificially “age” pieces: An old table with nicks and patina has character; it sets the stage for a relaxed space. “I wanted to create the beautifully aged look of an old zinc bar on the cheap,” says Barguiarena, who nailed sheet metal onto an old door and aged the metal with salt and vinegar.

Shop in hardware stores: A painter’s drop cloth makes strong, durable tent fabric. And plumbing pipes plus a part called a bell reducer make convincing table legs.

Keep it flexible: All but the pots are lightweight and can be moved easily, clearing the deck for another look or a different kind of party.

All photos via Sunset Magazine

Love this show: Sarah's House

This weekend I discovered the awesome show Sarah's House on HGTV. Designer Sarah Richardson and her hilarious and talented "design sidekick" Tommy Smythe redo old houses and transform them into move-in ready, fully decorated masterpieces, with each episode showing them working on a different room. Here were the results of a mid-century split back style home they worked on. Can I move in now please?

Living room

Kitchen

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Guest Bedroom

Tween Room

Photos via Sarah Richardson Design

DIY - Pretty framed corkboard project

Um, I am so doing this for my office. Which is my new little pet project right now. DIY corkboard project by Emily @ Timeless Paper.

From Emily: "This weekend I handmade a cork board for my office studio space. I used the Ung Drill decorative frame from Ikea with paint left over from my kitchen."

• background paint color: Slate from Restoration Hardware

• pattern paint color: Graphite from Restoration Hardware

• cork roll from Staples

• foam board recycled from previous project

Via Inspired Paper

From the personal library of Me

When I was younger, I adored going to the library (still do). I always wished I could have my own library due date cards for my books at home, and tried several times to make them. Due date cards inside library books have died along with the card catalog, and its one thing I will sorely miss. When I saw this Personal Library Kit from Paper Source, the little wannabe librarian in me rejoiced. Pockets, cards, a date stamp, an ink pad and a pencil - what more could a bibliophile ask for?

Craft Room Inspiration

So I can't really have a whole craft room (more like a 'craft corner' or a 'craft closet'), but these photos are great inspiration for my little project. In fact, after seeing this craft closet, I've decided that doing this in my office/guest room will be the best use of space and storage. Where/how do you store all your crafts? Where do you do your crafting?

Craft closet via The Project Girl

Porter lateral file cabinets from Pottery Barn and

Porter Smart Technology hutch from PB

'Craft corner' from Home Designing

Heather Bailey's craft room via The Project Girl

Bedford Project Table set from Pottery Barn

Can this be my office? Please?!

My dream office - not too stuffy, still functional, so adorable, and I'd still able to have the room as a guest room!

From Pottery Barn Teen

I ♥ these Valentine's Treats and DIY's

I am a macaron fan (addict?). I tried pretty desperately to incorporate them into our wedding, but no one else got it - "You mean macaroons? With coconut??". Now they are a huge wedding trend. Sigh. But I digress... I still have a huge spot in my heart for them, and these Heart Macarons from Williams Sonoma are the cutest, sweetest confection a girl like me could receive for Valentine's Day (are you reading this husband??)

Heart Macarons from Williams Sonoma, $29

And these adorable DIY bag templates via Twig & Thistle would be the perfect things to give lovely Valentine's treats in.

This treat bag template reads "Happy Valentine's Day - Made with Love"

And this brownie bag template reads "Valentine's Day - Homemade Chocolate Brownies - Sweets for the Sweetest Day - 02.14.10"

Pop some homemade heart-shaped brownies inside a glassine lined paper bag and you have the cutest presents for friends or family.

Cookbook: Kilee's Gluten Free Cooking

My sorority sister Kilee has published the cutest cookbook, Kilee's Kitchen: Everyday Favorites with Gluten-Free Options. I know personally from my friends who have been diagnosed gluten intolerant or with Celiac disease how difficult it can be to eat healthy yet yummy food for yourself, not to mention serving others. Every recipe in Kilee's book is either gluten-free or lists gluten-free alternatives. It's full of healthy comfort food as well as food you could serve at a dinner/cocktail party to impress your friends who never need to know its gluten-free and healthy... unless they're into that. :)

From Kilee: "I love cooking! I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance last year and had to adapt my cooking style to exclude all wheat, soy sauce, and so many other ingredients. This did not stop me from making all the foods that I love. I just played with new ingredients and changed my recipes to be gluten-free yet delicious. If you make any of my recipes, no one will ever guess that they are gluten-free!"

Check it out for yourselves (you can preview the entire book!) or recommend it to a friend who is gluten-free.

Christmas Cookbook Bonanza

I have Christmas decorating recaps I want to post (a little belated, I know!) but I wanted to share my excitement over my Christmas Cookbook Bonanza loot that I amassed this holiday season...

From my Mom (we heart Ina Garten):

Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients

For my down-home cooking needs:

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

For my Gourmet side:

Gourmet Today: More than 1000 new recipes for the contemporary kitchen

For my Brit cooking fix from Cutie Pie Jamie Oliver:

Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals

Yep! I'm set for quite a while on the cookbook front!

Light the Menorah

This would make such a fab alternative menorah if you celebrate Hanukkah or if you just want some sleek wintery decor. I want this for my buffet table in the dining room! We have tons of manzanita bushes here in Central Oregon, so I think it would be a nice nod to our surroundings as well.

Manzantia Candleaabra from West Elm, $99

Bookcase makeover wishes

I want my bookcases to look this cool and chic. So I'm going to work on this. This is actually the exact same bookcase in my living room, but mine is brown.
Bookcase, "Lack" from Ikea. Photo via Lonny Mag - my new e-mag obsession by former Domino staffers and contributors. More to come!

Wallpaper it to me

When I was eight, we moved into a new house and my new room and bathroom were done in Adrienne Vittadini wallpapers that I picked out - floral bouquets with blue ribbons in my bedroom and blue stripes in my bathroom. I had good taste for an eight year old - lol. We only lived in that house for less than a year, but I loved every minute spent in my wallpapered palace. Done right, wallpaper can be so luxe - I love it when one wall in a room is wallpapered for an effect or a smaller space like a bathroom. Please see exhibits A, B, C, and D below to see what I mean.

Image via Inspired Goodness

Image from House Beautiful

Image from House Beautiful

Image from Domino magazine

A week?! Bad blogger

I haven't written in almost a week?! It's okay because only a few people have ever even read my blog. The slow cooker project is 4 recipes strong - I highly recommend the bbq beef sandwiches from SLSC cookbook and a slightly spicy queso dip that was of my own creation with some help from the hubby. We had to say goodbye to our first crockpot - the ceramic pot had cracked :(. We will miss you, Red. We made many good meals together. I'm not sure on the new guy yet - I don't like that the outside gets so hot it can burn you and be hard to transport. Guess you have to spend more than $20 to get one like that.

What's (Slow) Cookin?

I've had this Southern Living Slow Cooker cookbook for a few years and it's been collecting dust. My husband had been pretty much begging me to make some type of stew for weeks, so I grabbed my SLSC cookbook and made an amazing beef stew that we devoured. That recipe went so well, we've decided to try and make most of the recipes in the cookbook this winter. Tonight is BBQ beef sammies. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone looking for easy, hearty, yummy slow cooker recipes.

Southern Living Slow-Cooker Cookbook at Amazon

Chunky Beef Stew Recipe from SLSC Cookbook

This classic French braised beef, red wine, and vegetable stew is made simple and delicious.

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil

12 garlic cloves, crushed

1 (2 pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 cup dry red wine (something you wouldn't mind drinking! splurge a little, it's worth it!)

2 cups coarsely chopped carrots

1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth

1 tablespoon no-salt-added tomato paste (look for the kind in the tube in the Italian section)

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained (I like the kind with no added salt, Trader Joe's brand is great)

1 bay leaf

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over low heat. Add garlic; cook 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Increase heat to medium-high.

2. Add beef to Dutch oven; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from Dutch oven.

3. Add wine to Dutch oven; bring to a boil, scraping bottom to loosen browned bits. Add reserved garlic, beef, remaining teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrots, and remaining 8 ingredients; bring to a boil.

4. Transfer beef mixture to a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker.

5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 1/2 hours. Remove and discard bay leaf. Makes 6 Servings.

Enjoy!

Homekeeping Handbook

Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook

I recieved the encyclopedia sized Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook for my bridal shower, and have only consulted it once when we were moving I think so I could see her recommendations for packing boxes. I cracked it open today as I have been hit with the reality that our house is pretty much a disaster area. I say this with love and complete honesty - I live with a man who cannot a.) clean super well, b.) is a pack-rat (which comes from his mom, who never tires of loading us up with more junk which I then have to dispose of - it's exhausting!!) and c.) self-admittedly never learned how to organize, though I think he's just missing the gene. :) I am no super-duper clean freak either, though I have my moments and can be quite organized before it falls apart again - blame it on the A.D.D - yeah girls get it too apparently. It can be just exhausting to clean up after two people. Anywho, I got out the ol' Homekeeping Handbook for some tips (the whole book is tips) and am in the middle of a fall cleaning spree. It feels good. Now if the house can just stay clean...

DIY: Fall Family Tree

Such a cute, cheap and easy DIY idea for fall decor. This would be so lovely to have displayed on a sidetable when hosting a family thanksgiving.

Fall Family Tree DIY via La La Laurie

Pocket Pie Molds

Loving these pocket pie molds that come in apple or pumpkin shapes. It would be fun to make apple or pumpkin pocket pies with them, but I think savory fillings would be equally delicious.

Apple and pumpkin pocket pie molds from Williams Sonoma