Terrarium Love

Last week I took a class from one of my favorite local spots, Petal Play Design on how to create a table top terrarium. A group of us ladies where welcomed with a glass of wine, folksy tunes to set the mood and sights of natures wonderment! 

Always admiring a table top terrarium, I was excited to create a earthy masterpiece of my own. We where giving options of plants and figurines for our glass structures. I of course flocked to the gnome as "keeper" of my terrarium but others went the jungle route (hanging gorillas and tigers), animals on the farm (cows, sheep, and goats), and some took a little bit of everything (more is more)! 

By the end of the night we where all admiring each and every masterpiece and wishing we could make terrariums for every corner of our homes (I think I am going to do it anyway). Ha 

Thank you Petal Play for this opportunity and I am excited to see what type of class you are cooking up next!

Music Video Tuesday....1 Day Late:

      

I first would like to apologize for the day late music video. It has been busy and hectic and the blogging portion took a tiny break these last few days. "Rather late than never" this video by Beach House gives you a glimpse into a lackadaisical world that I would give an arm and a leg to be a part of right now!!! Please enjoy

SALE!

New pieces added to our SALES! May great options of frocks and tops under $25.00 (say, what?)!!!

See HERE

I Heart These Things

Sometimes you need to step back from the chaos and find that "thing" or in this case "3 things" that help to calm you down. Both Gretta and I needed some ME time. In Gretta's case, she wanted to spend a few hours playing fetch where I wanted to sit back and sip some tea in my new mug while flipping through the glossy mag pages. 

Gretta won. I sipped half of my cup of tea and then had to play, walk and tire her out the rest of the afternoon:)

Since I am going to be moving soon, I was excited to read Dominos- Small Spaces addition. Great ideas and cool concepts all packed into 60 pages!

Recipe: Pea and Cheese Crostini

Ingredients: 

1 French baguette cut into 1/4 inch slices

2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for crostini

Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

2 cups shelled fresh or frozen peas (I used frozen)

2 ounces finely grated Romano cheese- equals a 1/2 cup

2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon 

2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese

pea shoots to garnish

Fresh lemon juice for garnish

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Pour enough olive oil on a baking sheet to coat the cut baguette. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake until crostini are toasted and crisp, about 15 minutes, turning crostini halfway through.

 Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add peas and cook until tender then rinse and drain. Rinse with cold water. 

Transfer cooled peas to bowl, lightly mash with a potato masher or fork. Add olive oil, cheese and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.  

To serve: Top each crostini with about 1 tablespoon of ricotta, a few teaspoons of peas and a few leaves of pea shoots. Drizzle with olive oil and some lemon juice then serve.

This recipe was sooooo tasty, I had some for lunch and dinner and can not wait to make it again soon......real soon! A light and very clean tasting dish that was simple and fast. What else can you ask for in a appetizer?

Music Video Tuesday

       

David Bowie is back with a whole new album and a few new videos as well! I would of posted the NEW but I just had to do a flash back to a video that helped my adolescent self learn to dance. The worst part is that I still hold these moves near and dear to my heart (Ok, my legs just like to move this way). Ha 

Enjoy a oldie but goodie from the forever great David Bowie:) 

Funny Note: While I was searching for my music video, I read in someones comments " If any vampires are reading this, can you please bite Mr. Bowie so he can last forever"! Well said. This cracks me up!!!

In the Spirit of Green: Etsy Finds

St. Patricks Day is almost here and in the spirit of green we picked out favorite Etsy finds! Handmade and Vintage goods, each pick has played at our heart strings....so much so, that I may just have to purchase one of these sweet finds!

Handmade Leather Clutch, Vintage Ring, Vintage Sequin Dress, Handmade Knit Scarf, Handmade Tote, Handmade Hat, Succulent Shoe

Recipe: Coconut Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, divided

2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon table salt3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature1 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract3 large eggs, at room temperature1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk, at room temperature, divided1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread the coconut in an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the coconut is golden brown. Don't walk away, it can burn VERY quickly. Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack and let the coconut cool while you prepare the rest of the recipe. Keep oven temperature.

Spray an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until very light and fluffy, about 8 minutes (scrape down the bowl as necessary). Stir in the vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixer on low, alternately add the dry ingredients in three additions and 1 cup of the buttermilk in two additions, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, mix in 1 1/4 cups of the toasted coconut until evenly distributed. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl with the spatula to make sure all of the ingredients are well combined.

Transfer the batter to the pan and spread in an even layer (it will almost completely fill the pan). Bake for about 1 hour, or until a thin knife inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Remove the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool for 1 hour before turning it out to cool completely.

To make the glaze: Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of buttermilk with the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth - the mixture will be thick. Pour the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup toasted coconut over the cake.

We Love Mid Century Design

When it comes to interiors I tend to mix and match time periods, but my new obsession is Mid Century. 

A little modern with the simple very clean lines yet eclectic with the amount of color. You can add a Mid Century piece into every type of room whether it is a pillow, piece of art, chair, pottery, etc....

Recipe: Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

Brie Cheese

Maple Bacon

Fig Jam

Fresh cut Bread

and 

Butter

I had a sweet tooth and it was lunch time.....what do I do? I am too mature and responsible to eat cupcakes and chips for a meal, but what could I make that would satisfy the sweet and salty urge? 

Ding ding ding.....Grown up grilled cheese!

It is simple. Take the fig Jam (the sweet), cook some maple bacon (the salty), slice a few pieces of brie cheese, combine on toasted bread and you have grilled cheese that will make your taste buds explode with excitement!

Snow Falling on Me

In the Midwest it is a gamble of how the seasons will actually be. Winter can sometimes feel like spring, spring can feel like fall, and summer can be a crazy mix of chilly windy days to days that make you sweat doing absolutely nothing. 

This past winter was a little disappointing when it came to crisp white snowfall, but then yesterday 10 inches appeared and it was like being inside of a magical snow globe! A white feast for the eyes:) 

I just love days like this......and then quickly I am over it and waiting impatiently for summer. Ha ha