Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Banana Bread Recipe

Hi all!

2 posts in 2 days.....WHA?  I know, I know it's craziness! ;)  Lots of prayers for those in the eye of Sandy.  While we are only getting cold weather and lots of wind we stayed inside yesterday and I decided to make banana bread as a yummy snack for M.


I love this recipe because I most always have the ingredients on hand and it is simpler than others I have come across.  The bad thing is that I have no idea where I got this recipe because I have been making it for over 10 years.  Oops!

Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup bananas (I use 2-3 medium over ripe)

Directions:
Stir together and pour into a well-greased 4x8x2 1/2 inch pan.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 min or until browned.  Cool on a rack.

I love to eat it with a cup of coffee in the morning or with tea in the afternoon.  I usually microwave a slice for 20 seconds or so in the microwave because it's so delicious warm!

Enjoy!


Monday, October 29, 2012

Fall Update

Hi all!

We have been so busy traveling and hosting company that I have been MIA.  My mother-in-law bought me a great fall runner for our dining room table and I finally got it ironed and on the table.  I also added a few cream hydrangeas to the white ones and I think it helps add in a bit of fall.  I love when a few small changes can make a big difference!




I just got the supplies to work on a centerpiece for the table.  I'll be back with that when I'm finished!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Guest Post: Fall Decor in New York and Brooklyn on a Budget


Autumn in New York and Brooklyn is a season to celebrate in your home. Do not merely resign yourself to the long shadows of chilly days. Instead, bring some of fall’s warm, rich light indoors to enjoy in your interior decorating plans.

The best thing about the season is the plentiful array of colors already available outside that you can bring in and highlight for color accents. Gather up some of the colorful leaves from your front stoop and line them inside a clear, square vase. Use an acrylic sealer to coat them for sticking, then use a battery-powered tea light inside to illuminate. Kick up the DIY project a notch by adding lighted twigs you can buy at a neighborhood crafts store or might come across at a New York street fair. Tuck your display into a corner for an instant mood light to cast shadows that play off your houseplants.


Living in Brooklyn you realize quickly that trendy chic ideas are found everyone from doorstep interior, residents put their own flair that allows New York City it’s own classy flair, separate from this chic art district. For example, the multiple flea markets in Brooklyn can really be the start of a craft project weekend to transform your interior. Stroll around and look for maybe some candlesticks with round, flat tops, and then spend the afternoon spray-painting them in warm, autumn colors. Glue the candlesticks to the bottom of small, flat-bottomed crystal glasses that you could find in any antique shop in New York, and put them at varying heights on your mantel or on a sideboard. You can fill the glasses with tea lights or alternate with tea lights and candy corn for a Halloween party effect. You might luck into finding a deal on cranberries at a farmers market in Hell’s Kitchen and use a handful as decorative filling, alternating in layers with almonds or other light-colored nuts. 







Easy changes that also are budget-friendly include introducing a warm, snuggly throw on your couch along with pillows in autumn shades of brown and gold. Cinnamon candles can help give a homey scent, particularly after a long evening commute on the subway. Simmer some cinnamon sticks in water on the stove for instant fall potpourri ambiance. 





Remember that the secret to economical seasonal makeovers can focus on sights and smells in your home. New candles and updated accessories that reflect the season can be a quick way to transform your interior from summer to fall. Secondhand stores, flea markets, antique shops and even the corner grocer can inspire new ideas and create a quick spark of radiance to embrace the changing season.

Source

Alexandra is a travel enthusiast who loves to write about fashion, beaches, food, and the wonderful things in the world.  She provides her own insights on vacationing to the blogosphere.  If you would like to learn more about her, follow her @alexsjourneys or visit her blog alexsjourneys.wordpress.com 


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Few Small Bathroom Additions

Hello!

I wanted to share a few updates to the guest bathroom upstairs.  Our home is a 4BR 2.5BA house so that means we have a master bathroom, a powder room downstairs and a guest/kid bathroom in the hall upstairs.  Since M is still little and doesn't really need a bathroom of her own yet (we bathe her in our big jacuzzi tub) the hall bath is basically only used for guests.  However, when I painted it Behr's version of Silver Sage (same as the master bath) I wanted it to feel a bit feminine for when she does use it.  All you have ever seen of it was a DIY roman shade.  It's horrible to photograph because the toilet and shower/bath are in one room and then 2 sinks are in a separate room.


I got some Rifle Paper Co note cards for Christmas with the intention of framing them in this bathroom. However, I couldn't find a frame I liked until recently when I ran across these:



I also added a metal tray I had lying around and a few soaps in a jar, a candle, and of course some cotton and q-tips.



I have been eyeing the zinc letters  from Anthropologie forever and since we now have an Anthro (yay!) I finally got one and hung it today!



Here is the art near the other sink, which is behind the door as you walk in.  Once we have another kid my plan is to get the letter of their initial and put it above this sink to delegate who's sink belongs to whom.


Nothing earth shattering but it feels nice to have a few things on the wall!  

Side bar: I hung the M by myself which is kinda a big deal because I refuse to hang things that need more than one nail b/c I'm horrible at measuring and such.  I decided to give the whole painters tape measuring thing a try and it really worked!  Let me know if you don't know what I'm talking about and I'll do a tutorial.  It literally took 5 min and I got it right on the first try.  Seriously.....this is amazing news (#can'thanganythingwithout25holesinthewall).

Have a good day!


Friday, October 5, 2012

Monster Eyes

I tried out an idea I found on Pinterest this last weekend I thought it was pretty cute.  You take paper towel rolls and cut out eyes and then put glow sticks in them.  That's it!  We have a large bush in front out our house, so it was perfect.




We plan to do it again on Halloween!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Caramel Apple Bar

Jacob and I had a group of friends over this weekend and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out an idea I saw on Pinterest.  I had fun making a caramel apple bar and I used this recipe to keep my apples from browning and it really worked!


We had caramel, chocolate chips, nuts, and 2 kinds of sprinkles


I also made a caramel cheesecake dip with crushed graham crackers and it was delicious



Delicious!


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