Is orange the new color trend?

I'm really excited about the new colors at pottery barn. I have been noticing orange being used a lot lately. Maybe it has been around a while, and I have just started noticing it, that's pretty typical of me. I usually come on board when a style is on it's way out.

There's nothing like the challenge of trying to find something that has been discontinued. Anyway, I just got the new catalog last week, and have already made a trip to pottery barn and made a couple of purchases for my living room. I will post pictures of those later. But, I am really coveting the Serafina Floral Duvet and shams with the burnt orange pick stitch quilt and shams. Melissa is in need of a change in her room, and I think it would be perfect for her. She is liking it too, so maybe orange will be in our future.

German Blitz

This is an old family recipe. I'm not really sure where it originated from, but it is a family favorite, and very simple. They are kind of like a crepe, we like to fill them with fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with powder sugar. You could probably use berries too if you like.

German Blitz

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1 1/3 cup milk

2/3 cup sour cream

mix all ingredients together. Preheat and lightly grease griddle over medium heat. Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter onto griddle. Cook for about 1 minute or until tiny bubble start to form. Turn the pancake over and continue cooking for about 1 minute. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice. Roll and sprinkle the outside with more powdered sugar and lemon juice.

Love that 50's pink tile

Liz at Mable's House also ponders the question of what to do with that 50's pink tile in the powder room. Like her, I also fell in love with the pink tile in question. Wish I could take credit for my bathroom above, but the previous owner took advantage of the pink and brown color combination in it's highth of popularity. I'll have to say it is one of my favorite rooms in the house, how sad is that :) I also love the pink bathroom that Liz is thinking about from Real Simple in their article Save the Pink Bathroom. I think it would be perfect in her space. As much as I love my powder room, It is a little unpractical for our family. We really could use two sinks... and a shower would be nice. So until the time comes for a renovation, I am going to enjoy my pink tile.

coconut cupcakes

www.barefootcontessa.com


I just love the barefoot contessa. I have even met her at a food show. She was there
signing her books, and promoting her food products. She is exactly how she is on
TV, nice, and just a normal person.
Being the fan that I am, I do have all of her cookbooks, they are really my go to books.
Some of our favorite meals are from her recipes. I don't think I have tried one that my
family did not enjoy, including these coconut cupcakes. I have made them from scratch,
and from her box mix, which I have to say is incredibly easy. Both are delicious. I made
these little beauties from her boxed mix last week for my daughters graduation party.
They were a huge hit. Who doesn't love a cupcake? And they were so much easier to handle than a cake. If you want to make these from scratch you can find the recipe
at food network, Enjoy!

Real Simple Cleaning

Have you seen this book yet from Real Simple magazine?
I highly recommend it. Aside from the great cleaning tips, the house featured in this book is incredible. It was just what I needed to motivate me into getting back into my spring cleaning (now summer cleaning) mode. Or maybe it's the never ending cleaning mode, because it never seems like I am finished.

white kitchens

Photo: Tria Giovan; Designer: Suzanne Kasler
southern accents

I love white kitchens with stainless appliances. They just seem clean, almost sterile to me. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, and that's ok, I like other styles too. There is just something about white that makes my heart sing. It doesn't stop there either, I also love white bath towels, white paper towels, white table linens, white dishware, white slipcovers, white baseboards, and the list goes on. I tend to be a minimalist, I have a feeling my love for white may be linked. Don't get me wrong, I love color in other rooms, but there is just nothing better than a clean, white, simple kitchen.