Living Room Inspiration for My Mother

Living Room Inspiration for My Mother, originally uploaded by findingcalminchaos.

I came across an ad in Elle Decor Magazine that featured the floral print in the middle. It was shown as a bed spread on a bed with a dark plum leather headboard, with throw pillows in rich velvety fabrics in dark plum, sage green and orange.

I right away thought of my mothers Living Room. The walls are sage green, and she has a dark plum leather sectional. I think orange is the missing link! Somehow, these jewel-toned colors remind me of her.

All of the items pictured can be found on Etsy, with the exception of the center fabric (but there are some similar substitutes), the orange pitcher (flickr photo) and the birdcage (also flickr). The "Dream" sign is made with a vinyl decal, so I'm thinking some other wording would be more suitable: welcome, family, etc...

Wedding Inspiration- Lilac and Buttercream

My creation, originally uploaded by findingcalminchaos.

Row 1: Fan Program, Reception Tables, Fruit Picks
Row 2: Bouquet, Centerpieces, Lanterns
Row 3: Candy Buffet, Seed Sachets, Bike

Wedding Inspiration- Lavender and Brown

Wedding Inspiration- Lavender and Brown, originally uploaded by findingcalminchaos.

Row 1: Hair Flower, Boutonnieres, Wedding Sign
Row 2: Bridesmaids, Groom, Bouquet
Row 3: Details, Window Frame, Chalkboard Menu
Row 4: Tarts, Cake, Lanterns

Saturday Dream

I paused from my Saturday chores and sat down to browse the 'net with a cup of coffee and a peanut butter/chocolate bar, and came across this, via {frolic!}:

I LOVE this! How fun would it be to have a shop like this- with flowers for sale in the front, and a coffee shop/ bistro in the back. There is probably a reason why this isn't done (at least I have never seen it), but I think it would be totally fabulous. I especially love the lights.

Winter Wedding- Pink and Black

Winter Wedding- Pink and Black, originally uploaded by findingcalminchaos.

Row 1: Table setting (MS), bouquet (MS), shawl (etsy seller deciduoussoul), ring pillows (MS)
Row 2: Wishing tree, couple (MS), mini cakes (MS)
Row 3: Photo booth kiss (I think found via snippetandink.blogspot.com?), cake (theknot.com)
Row 4: Ties (MS), favors (MS), barn (from flicker), garland (via tenthousandonly.blogspot.com)

Ack! I somehow managed to loose all the link info as I was putting together this board. I did my best and I apologize for missing links!

Wanted to try to do a winter wedding in pink. I think the black accents off-set the feminine hue, and some of the other elements- wool shawl, knit pillows... bring in a feeling of warmth to combat the season's chill. I think this would be fun to do for a February/Valentine's Wedding instead of the traditional Valentine's Red....

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

The small details of Christmas seem to have gone by the wayside this year... It feels like there just isn't enough energy once the day-to-day tasks of dishes, laundry, diapers, meals, etc. are done! I love the Christmas season, and have a whole entire closet of embellishments to show for it. I usually love decorating- two trees (one real, one not), the porch, and nearly every room of the house gets some festive touch. Then, there is the shopping, wrapping, baking and entertaining! So fun! This year... not so much. The real tree, that I usually love to decorate "my" way, has only a few ornaments, that the kiddos pulled out and put on when the tree went up. The "fake" tree just got put up yesterday, rather haphazardly, and is looking a bit sad. And that's it. No stockings, garlands, candles, trees, wreaths, etc. The wicker furniture hasn't even been pulled off the porch and put away for the winter! Luckily my sister and a friend came over on Saturday and did some baking! We "cut back" drastically in the gifts department, and haven't even begun to wrap. (Although the task isn't nearly as overwhelming as some years!) I so look forward to hosting a Christmas brunch for my parents and my in-laws, a tradition I started when we got married, and yet I just couldn't pull it together this year.

What's my excuse? Not sure. Could be that I am now a Mom to 5 busy young ones. Could be that I am 8 months pregnant for our 6th little love. Could be that the tight budget just hasn't allowed for it this year.

And yet, Christmas is here. I am enjoying listening to Christmas music throughout the day and into the evening. The tree(s) seem to look just as magical, especially at night, even without all the details. The childrens' programs were as special as ever. And I am so grateful to be surrounded by an awesome bunch of friends and family. And thankful to have been blessed with an awesome man I call my husband, and our beautiful children.

Merry Christmas.

Must Try.....

From Coffee, Cake and Chocolate via Design Crush

I have always been a fan of an old family favorite known to me as Butter Tarts. However, I have often wondered if they could be even better without the raisins. (I know, I know. You'd hate to have an ounce of anything remotely healthy added to an indulgence, right?) When I stumbled across these, I knew I must try them at some point this holiday season. They look and sound devine...

Caramel Tarts
Pastry
1½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
125g cold butter, cubed
1 egg yolk
½ tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsps iced water

Caramel
395g can sweetened condensed milk
75g butter
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsps golden syrup
3-4 tbsps flaked almonds to decorate

To make the pastry, place the flour, butter and sugar into a food processor and process for 20-30 seconds until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk, vanilla essence and water and pulse until mixture comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

To make the caramel, put all the ingredients in a saucepan (except almonds!) and stir over a medium heat until combined.

When ready to bake, spray 2 Texan muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray (or whatever size muffin pans you have). preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is about 2-3 mm thick. Using a 9cm cutter, cut 12 rounds from the pastry and press them gently into the bottom of the muffin pans. The pastry should come up the sides about 1cm. If using smaller pans, adjust the size of the rounds accordingly.

Spoon the caramel into the pastry shells, filling almost to the top. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and bake in the lower part of the oven for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden. they may need a shorter cooking time if using smaller pans. Cool for 10 mins before lifting out onto a cooling rack.

Source: Foodtown magazine, June/July 2008