Florida House Tour Video

I'm taking a break from packing (5 days til we move!) to post a quick update on our progress.

First order of business: the house is rented! We got a call from a nice couple right after we listed it, they came to see it the next day and made an offer that night. Big sigh of relief. After the papers were signed a few days later, we got straight to packing and prepping the house.

When we were touching up the paint, this started to happen:

Unfortunately, none of our paint colors match anymore (maybe from sitting out in the humid garage?) so we had to repaint 90% of the house which has sucked up a lot of our time. 

I'm still working in the studio so we haven't touched that room yet, but we're still on schedule for the movers to come Friday so it's been relatively stress free.

Here's a shot I just took of the living room:

So weird to see empty walls again!

Before we moved a thing, we decided to go ahead and shoot a house tour video as a way to preserve the memories. It's also a chance to clear up any confusion on the layout if you guys ever wondered how the rooms flowed together. And it's the first time anything has ever been on video so we thought it would be a fun little time capsule.

Disclaimer: Some of the shots were out of focus and I had to reshoot them, so you'll see a few funky edits/sound changes. Don't mind my blabbing, this wasn't rehearsed at all so some commentary may be redundant.

And with that out of the way, I'm trying to soak up as much of Florida as I can before we say goodbye. I took some time off work this afternoon to enjoy one last beach trip...

I'm really gonna miss this place.


I'll be back with an update once we arrive in California!

Fall Table Setting with Burnt Orange Gourds, Gold Candles & Natural Linens

This is the first of four Fall table settings I'm going to share this week.   I'm using my favorite basics, mixing and matching them with seasonal pumpkins and gourds, then accenting with candles from my Fall Color Collection.

  I love this one - it is a brighter and more colorful table than I typically do.  In years past, I gravitated toward the heirloom pumpkins that come in the pastel colors like white, light blue and green.

 

 This year I've been drawn to this rich, deep orange color mixed with gold candles.  I'm also in the process or making two different shades of orange linen pillows... coming soon.

The natural linen napkins with the grey and black stripes are the perfect way to bring in a neutral accent to help tone it down a bit. 

I filled the Warm Wood Berry Baskets with mini pumpkins - I also think these would look fabulous all the way down a long table, too... maybe the kids table for Halloween or Thanksgiving?!

As you can see, just outside our dining room table is our porch (one of my favorite things about this house).  I've added orange mums to my rustic Napa Home & Garden pots.

I like the mum a little oversized, planted in a smaller container - I think it gives it an elegant shape.  

Centerpieces don't have to be flowers and they don't have to be complicated.  I use this bowl every season (Match Pewter - a wedding gift... remember it filled with pansies in the spring?) - try to find a good staple piece in your home that you can transform each season. 

I am obsessed with this new round board I got at Nell Hills (a KC favorite).  It was only about $25 and I've already used it in 10 different ways... you'll be seeing a lot of it : )  And, of course, my favorite class candle holders from Target - they hold pillars and tapers.

With all of the bright colors, the plain white plates that I've had for years (Williams-Sonoma Pantry) look great.  The glasses are my favorite from Sur La Table.

Stay tuned this week for more table setting ideas using simple accents and seasonal pumpkins and gourds... such a fun challenge to transform the same things into something different each day.

Fall-izing the Blog + Featured Fall Products

I've been Fall-izing!  As you can see, I've updated the header to include some of my favorite produce, colors and products of the season.  We haven't done our official pumpkin patch trip, but we have picked up just a couple at the market in the last couple of weeks.  Emma loves looking at all of the piles of colors each time we go to the grocery store. 


Fall Entertaining Guide (left):
To Fall-ize the blog, I've updated the Fall Entertaining Guide I created last year.  It contains photo links to all of my Fall recipes, table settings and decor ideas.  You'll also be able to find some of these links in the sidebar to the right.  I'll continue to update both of these as I add new recipes this season. 

As I had transitioned to in the past, all of my recipes indexes can also be found in the links on the right, on Pinterest.  It is the easiest way to keep a visual index that is up-to-date... and I know almost everyone is familiar with Pinterest, so it is a natural solution.   Be sure to follow my "Fall" Pinterest Board too, where I'll stash everything that is inspiring me this season.





As I announced last week, I added some new products to my store.  Here are some of my favorite new essentials for Fall :

Warm Wood Berry Baskets

These berry baskets have warmer hues than the typical baskets - they are the perfect little container for packaging fall treats.

One of my favorite ways to use these are as a Breakfast Hostess Gift with Banana Bread, Honey Butter & Coffee Beans.

10 for $10

Tablet + Le Pens

This is the best little gift for yourself - a great way to get organized.

Le Pens have been my favorite for years.  In college I used the navy, but now I'm a fan of the grey.  They are thin and elegant, with a tiny felt tip.  You may have seen them on Martha Stewart's desk.  She's also a huge fan.  In fact, she gave her design editor, Kevin Sharky, an entire case of these grey pens for his new office.

I had the tablets custom printed with a simple label-style header on a natural (just slightly creamy) cardstock.  I love the heavier weight paper because when I tear it off to take the list with me, it doesn't get crumpled and messy.   I designed the size to fit perfectly as a label (similar to my wedding party welcome bag) for my medium cello bags.

The set comes with 1 tablet + 4 le pens for $12.
*Due to high demand, these will not ship until 10/3.

My Everyday Candle in a Mini Latte Bowl

I had these custom poured by a local artisan.  She created this most amazing scent that contains all of my favorite things - red currant, quince and the slightest hint of orange blossom.  I burn this candle in our home on a daily basis - it is so soft and sophisticated.  It is the kind of candle that makes you want to breathe deep and relax into a cozy corner.

I had them poured in a mini latte bowl (from Anthropologie) that can be used after the candle is gone.  I love anything with a double use.  This is my Everyday candle, but I'm also going to introduce a new scent each season - if you get each candle, you can create your own little collection of mini latte bowls.  They are perfect for everything from individual desserts to holding dijon on a buffet.

$14

Natural Linen Napkins with Grey & Black Stripes

These are my favorite new essential for fall.  The natural linen is such a beautiful color - especially with the grey and black stripes.  I'm loving them on my table right now... they give it just enough of a cozy, rustic element that I love for Autumn.  Don't be afraid to use them - they soften beautifully after washing.  I've included a photo of the tea towels (made in the same material) after being washed, and before being ironed.  Of course, you can press them each time, but I love the soft, casual look straight from the dryer.

Set of 4 100% linen napkins, $32.

Fall Color Collection of 12" Taper Candles

I picked these colors just for Fall - warm and natural colors that go great with the season's pumpkins and gourds.

These Taper Candles are so special.  The quality and craftsmanship is unmatched.  I first learned about Creative Candles from years of browsing through Martha Stewart Living - beautiful tables set with these stunning candles in the most sophisticated colors.  It turns out that these candles beloved by Martha are handmade in a 50-year-old factory 1 mile from my house!

Each candle comes with a strip of beeswax to be used to help fit the candles in any holder and holds them perfectly straight.

Set of 2 packaged in a clear & brown box, $10.50

Natural Linen Tea Towels

In our home, I love to change out little accessories and accents with the change of the seasons.  Tea towels are my favorite way to add a seasonal touch to my kitchen.  The natural linen of these towels is such a beautiful color for Fall - especially with the grey and black stripes.  I'm loving them in my kitchen right now... they give it just enough of a cozy, rustic element that I love for Autumn.
Don't be afraid to use them - they soften beautifully after washing.  I've included a photo of them after being washed, and before being ironed.  Of course, you can press them each time, but I love the soft, casual look straight from the dryer.

Set of 2 100% linen towels, $24.
*Due to high demand, these will not ship until October 4th.

Today, I took the morning and put together four different table settings using various combinations of my Fall products mixed with different shapes and colors of pumpkins and gourds.  I'll be sharing them over the next couple of days to help inspire your Fall Table Settings.  Here is a sneak peak of how our table is set right now.

New Master Reveal: Before & After!

This reveal isn't quite as finished as I had anticipated it would be (I still had plans to add swing arm style library lamps and hang some wall accessories), but since we decided to move last week, this is as done as it will be!

Here's what we first started with three years ago:

And how the room looked for 2+ years as my office:

The transition to master bedroom...

And here it is today, all ready to be packed up...

I really love our cozy little bedroom and am sad to leave it so soon, but I hope to create a similar look in our new master once we're settled in. Our furniture is coming with us so we'll just have to see how everything works out in the next house.

If you missed any of the transformation posts, here's a recap:

Renovating the closet
More renovating the closet
Adding recessed lighting
New paint & plank wall
Moving in
Salt dough wall decor
Salt dough wall decor, part 2
$50 Gallery Wall
DIY linen & lace curtains
DIY blackout liner

Here's the source list breakdown:

Wall color: Valspar's Urban Sunrise

Closet color: Valspar's Mark Twain House Ombra Gray

Curtains: DIY

Artwork: Ikea/DIY

Headboard: DIY

Mirror: Craigslist/DIY

Bedding: Target sheets/pillow/bedskirt, Ikea comforter

Rug: Ikea

Dresser & End tables: Ikea/DIY

Bamboo shades: Amazon

Lamps: Ikea

Fan: Amazon

Accessories: Antique stores, Target

Nautical wall accessories: DIY

 

And as always, you can also head over to my house tour page for a source list for every room in the house.


That's it guys—the last and final "After" in this house *sniffle*. It has been a great run and I've learned so much over the past three years. I feel a lot more confident going into the next house with some DIY skills under my belt and ready for bigger and better projects. Bring it on!

Stud Sisters

We're waiting for the plumber, electrician and HVAC people to

come and do their thing but let me show you what's been going on.

The rough framing for the back porches has passed inspection so work

can now proceed to finish those up.

 

Inside, the new subfloor is installed.

 

On the window wall--this is where the stove was--the wall has been

pumped up with 2x6s.  This is not only to get a nice plumb wall... 

...but also to get the plumbing stack to from the upstairs

bathroom to the basement without having a bumpout in the wall

along with a nice bit of foam insulation.

You can see the new sill and header for the kitchen window that is being moved

up above counter height.  The new sink will be centered over this window.

 

 

All of the other studs are getting a 2x4 sistered alongside them.

Every single one.

 

 

None of the studs are vertical or on the same plane so

these 2x4s will correct that mess which should make

cabinet and countertop installation much easier.

 

Before the electrician comes to do the rough wiring, I

need to finalize my lighting plan.  It'll be exciting to have more

than one light fixture in the middle of the room!

Spiced Apple Pie | Fall Favorite Desserts

I haven't always been a fan of apple pie.  In fact, my first real apple pie moment wasn't until last year when I made this Apple Cranberry Crisp made with orange juice and zest along with cinnamon and nutmeg.  For me, the addition of the orange made everything work together so perfectly and it added a new dimension of flavor.  While baking, my house smelled like hot mulled cider - typically simmered with orange peel.  

With that recipe in mind, I created this classic Apple Pie recipe that is also laced with orange zest and juice.   You might remember I featured my "How to Make a Pretty Pie" tutorial and recipe last year before Thanksgiving.  We used that recipe and technique when making this pie - Emma helped me make and roll it out (which is so easy to make, by the way) even with the additional extra pair of hands and toes that seem to be becoming her favorite cooking utensil. 

If you've never made a pie before, it can seem daunting.  But, you really should try it.  It is so satisfying to make something so pretty, so comforting and so classic.  And the good thing about pies is the more rustic looking the better...

   Spiced

Apple Pie

New! Printable Recipes, here.

2 pounds Granny Smith apples

2 pounds Braeburn apples
1/2 orange, zested
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons to sprinkle on top
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 tablespoons of butter
My Easy Pie Crust Recipe

1 egg for egg wash

In the photos, I used my Natural Linen Tea towel (2 for $24) that are a new addition to my store for Fall.  I had a rush for orders on them last week when I first posted the photo, but will be restocked to ship more by October 4th.  You can go ahead and place an order now to make sure you get your name on a pair in this shipment.

Here are the dry ingredients for the pie dough mixed with the butter in my mini food processor - I had to make it in two batches - which worked great because I needed two crusts for a top and bottom. 

Again, the recipe is here :  "How to Make a Pretty Pie" tutorial and recipe

And here it has come together after the addition of cold water.



I found a great new use for the parchment sheets (that I carry in my online store, here).  You know how you are usually supposed to chill the dough before rolling out and baking?  The reason for that is so when the pie bakes, the butter is still cold and puffs up in the hot oven, creating a flaking crust.

 
Well, instead of refrigerating, then rolling, we rolled the just processed dough out onto the parchment sheet (while it was still nice and soft), then refrigerated it. 

 

I rolled both pieces of dough out, then stacked them on top of each other on a baking sheet to chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. 

Here is my mix of Braeburn & Granny Smith apples.  Plus 1 orange.

I hate peeling apples (and potatoes and carrots, for that matter) so I don't.  You can if you want, but I think by the time they bake in the pie, it doesn't really matter.  I like to slice them really thin so they stack nicely to create a tall layered pie.  When the thin pieces are stacked, they make each piece sturdy so it doesn't fall apart when you slice it.

Zest the orange, then juice.

Here are the apples tossed with the zest, juice, flour, sugar and spices.

After I took the dough out from the refrigerator, I rolled each piece a little more with the rolling pin to make it easier to manage, then flipped it and put it in the bottom.   Pile the apples in, then dot them with the butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes.

Top with the 2nd crust and crimp the edges.  Again, instructions for my crimping method are here : "How to Make a Pretty Pie" tutorial and recipe

I put 6 slits in the top using a small knife.  While I pinch the edges, Emma put her own tiny little pinches on the top crust.

Make an egg wash by beating 1 egg with a fork.  Brush the top crust with the egg, then generously sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, then cover with foil, reduce heat to 350 and bake for 30 more minutes.

I served this pie on a Sunday night after Braised Short Ribs for dinner... oh, did our house smell good.

As I mentioned in the previous post about our Sunday Night Suppers, as the air gets cooler I love to fix things that simmer on the stove or in the oven all day (like these Short Ribs).   What are some of your favorite feel good Sunday Night Meals?  I'm making my to-make list for Fall and I'd love to know your favorites.