Wedding Cakes

I think this one is very elegant

and very modern

This one is just fun

And this one is unique

And I would just like to dig into this one!

And this one was mine! :)

All Wrapped Up

For some reason, I have been thinking about wrapping paper today. That probably shows my state of mind... At any rate, there is so much that can be done with wrapping paper, and I thought I would share some of the possibilities.Centsational

Take an old kitchen cabinet and turn it into a piece of artwork using modge podge and paints.

Family Fun
Create cheap and lovely Christmas ornaments from heavy wrapping paper.

Microsoft
Embellish average cork coasters.

Here are some other ideas thanks to Better Homes and Gardens.

1. Cut 4-inch squares and rectangles from several coordinating papers and arrange the pieces into a pleasing collage. When you have the final arrangement, glue everything to white acid-free matboard. You can mat and frame your design as colorful and inexpensive artwork.

2. Wrap a clear glass vase with paper bands to match the blooms. Tape or glue the ends securely. This technique will work with any square, rectangular, or tall cylindrical vase.

3. Cover acid-free matboard and use as a colorful mat for existing artwork. Or try the technique in #1, using a collage of paper patterns glued to a picture's mat.

4. Snip 3-inch-wide bands of paper and roll them into party napkin rings. Or try decoupaging or gluing decorative papers to sections of cardboard tubing (such as paper toweling tubes) to use for more durable napkin rings.

5. Trace cookie-cutter shapes onto patterned papers, cut out, punch a hole in each top, and use as holiday tree ornaments or gift tags. Or glue pretty papers to card stock, then cut out the shapes for a sturdier version of this idea.

6. Use pretty papers under glass -- as a tray insert, underneath a glass tabletop, or between two sheets of glass sold as a picture frame in art stores.

7. Slice a piece of paper for a bookmark, add a grommet at the top, and thread a ribbon through.

Apple of My Eye

I can't get over how cool it has been this weekend, and the leaves on my poor little dogwood are starting to fall. All of this is making me think that Autumn is coming sooner than later. Despite my love of summer, there are some things I enjoy about this cooler season. One of these things is caramel apples. Here are some of the tastiest looking pictures that I could find. I can't wait to actually make some of my own!Country Living
These are by far my favorite! I even love the cake stand :)

Feeling Much Better Now

Sorry for the lack of posts this week; I have been feeling a bit under the weather. Despite my allergy attack, I was able to keep going. Here are three tips to beat allergy season:

1. Drink lots of hot tea. I have basically been living on this for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When I have a sore throat, I cannot drink anything cold, so this was perfect. Plus, I got to try out our new tea infuser from IKEA. My favorite particular tea has been jasmine. It just tastes like what a garden would smell like... in a good way.2. Get lots of sleep. Almost everyday after school I have come home and taken a nap. I usually never take naps after school, even though I would really like to, but this week it was a necessity. I also went to bed around nine every night. Thanks to those extra hours 5:30 a.m. didn't seem too bad.

3. Finally, wear your pajamas and watch the shows you normally wouldn't have time to watch. This week, I passed up some opportunities to hang out with friends because I knew I wouldn't be much fun. Because of that I got to finally see an episode of Color Splash on a Saturday night. We usually don't get in until at least midnight, and the show is usually long gone, but last night I just laid on the couch and enjoyed being "sick."
David Bromstad

So next time you feel under the weather, grab some tea, your pajamas and fall asleep on the couch watching your favorite show. Until next time...

Knock, Knock

I was thinking about changing some of the door knobs on in my house. and I found some really fun ones. Some of them are actually very affordable and lets not forget that they are so pretty. Here they are...

Bedzine

Plumo

Wattle and Daub

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Not literally, but if I was, I would have to have at least one of these:

Steamline Luggage

Steamline Luggage

Saltbox

Saltbox

Warm Up to Fall

1. Paint the backs of insides of bookcases a warm color.Decor Pad

I know this isn't painted, but I still love the exposed brick.
Decor Pad

2. Add a festive fall quilt to the back of your couch.3. Place logs by the fireplace instead of leaving them outside.

Apartment Therapy
Elle Decor

4. Use pumpkins as a centerpiece or put a basket of fall fruits and vegetables in a bowl on the table.
















































5. Use the bounty of the season. Hollow out an eggplant, pumpkin or gourd and add a beautiful flower arrangement in jewel toned colors.Martha Stewart

6. Switch out summer themed lamp shades and add some that are chocolate brown, black or gold.S.R. Gambrel

7. Bring the outside in. Use a tall vase to display branches from your backyard.

S.R. Gambrel

*Ideas thanks to Woman's Day

Chocolate Tea Bread

Delicious chocolate powder

Pre-baked bread

Post-baked perfection :)

And here is the recipe:
Chocolate Tea Bread from the Yankee Hill Inn Bed and Breakfast
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup butter or shortening
2 eggs
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder.
In a separate bowl, mix the butter, eggs, applesauce and water. Combine with the dry ingredients.
Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
Pour batter into pan. Bake for one hour.
Cool for five minutes, then turn onto a wire rack.

Pretty in Pink

Porter House Designs

Southern Accents

Blissfully Domestic

Blissfully Domestic

Country Living

Martha Stewart

Country Living

A Step Above the Rest

European Library Stairs

I know this isn't decorative like the others, but it is very neat engineering.

Glass Stairs

Try not falling down these! They can be found at the Gray Hotel in Milan.

Patrick Jouin