Getting Ready for the 4th

What are you doing for the 4th of July?  We’re having our annual 4th of July BBQ … so I’m updating outdoors with a bit of Red, White & Blue.

Switching out our regular pillow for red and blue ones…

Have a fun and safe 4th of July with your family and friends!

Read Full Post »

Handmade Vintage Chalkboards

My girlfriend and I co-hosted a surprise birthday party for our husbands last weekend.  (They are friends from college and celebrated milestone birthdays within a week of each other.)  So much fun!!!  But, the planning started months in advance.

As we discussed the theme and decor for the party, we decided to use chalkboards on all of the food and drink tables.

It was too expensive to buy vintage chalkboards, so I decided to make them.  It turned out to be a fairly easy project.

After reading many blogs and talking to several people that make & sell vintage chalkboards, here are my “comprehensive” directions for DIY Chalkboards …

Materials:

• Empty picture frames
• MDF (1/4 inch) – available at hardware stores
• Chalkboard Paint – also available at hardware stores
• Primer (recommended;  I used gray spray primer)
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Glazing Push Points
• Chalk & Soft Rags

Directions:

1. Select the frames you wish to use.  I picked up four frames at our monthly flea market for a total of $12.   Most of us can probably re-purpose old picture frames we have around the house.
2. Have the MDF cut to fit the size of your frames.  (Measure carefully!  You want to make sure your boards will fit snugly in the frames.  If your frames still have the glass or cardboard back, these make great patterns.)  Most hardware stores will custom cut for free.  I even went back to Home Depot twice to have the large boards cut into smaller pieces. 
3. It’s best to prime the MDF.  I used a gray primer spray paint, since I was using black chalkboard paint.  Once the primer is dry, lightly sand the MDF with very fine grit sandpaper.  Use a soft cloth to wipe away all dust.
4. Paint the primed MDF with chalkboard paint.  I used a disposable sponge roller and painted three coats.  (I wrapped the sponge roller and paint tray in Saran Wrap and placed them in the refrigerator between coats.  This way I only needed 1 roller and didn’t need to clean out my paint tray.)
5. When the boards are completely dry, you need to “season” them, so you can wipe off the chalk writing and reuse your chalkboards.  Season the boards by using the side of your chalk and rubbing chalk all over the entire surface of your chalkboard.  Wipe off all chalk dust with a soft cloth.
6. Paint, distress, wax or glaze your frames, depending on the desired look you want to achieve.  (I sprayed my frames white, using white spray paint that I had on hand.)  Be sure to paint in a well ventilated area if you are using spray paint.
7. To secure the chalkboard MDF into the picture frames, you can use Push Points to secure the board to wood frames using a large screw driver or metal putty knife.

I ended up with four large framed chalkboards and several other non-framed boards (including a very large board that we used at the party to display messages from guests that couldn’t be with us for the party and a long skinny board with a “thank you” message).

I spent $41 on the entire project … I couldn’t have purchased one framed chalkboard for that price!

Read Full Post »

Easter Treats

What kind of treats & desserts are you making this Easter?  There are so many delicious recipes and cute ideas!

Here are some of my favorites from my “Happy Easter” board on Pinterest.  (Sorry, I’m not around this Easter, so I’m not making any fun Easter Treats!

If I were hosting Easter brunch or dinner, I would make this Strawberry Meringue Cake (Southern Living).

Not sure that I would attempt either of these cupcakes as they are bit too detailed for my ability.  But aren’t they beautiful?

These cupcakes are more suited to my baking/decorating ability.

Easter sugar cookies are a tradition with our family.  We’re skipping this year, but we’ll be sure to decorate our bunny, carrots, and egg cookies next year.

Here’s my all-time favorite sugar cookie recipe.  They are the best tasting sugar cookies!   I promise!

Read Full Post »

Chocolate Almond Bark with Sea Salt

For our Christmas party, I made two new desserts — both from Bon Appetit.  And, both were a hit — with our party guests and our family.

This chocolate almond bark with sea salt is very rich — a little goes a long way!  It’s easy to make and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week!  That’s great when you’re planning a big party or, you’re looking for an interesting dessert to give to friends & neighbors.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Sugar

1 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter

1 1/2 cups roasted Marcona Almonds (not in oil)

1 lb. good-quality dark chocolate (62% – 70% cacao), finely chopped

Coarse Sea Salt (for sprinkling)

Directions:

1.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or foil.

2.  Combine sugar with 2 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan.  Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil and cook, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until caramel is dark amber, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Immediately add butter, whisk until melted.  Add almonds; stir until well coated.  Quickly transfer almonds to baking sheet, spreading out to separate nuts.  Let cool.  Break up any large clumps of nuts.  Set aside 1/4 of nuts.

3.  Stir chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted.  Remove from heat, add nuts from baking sheet and stir quickly to combine.

4.  Spread chocolate-nut mixture on same baking sheet, keeping nuts in a single layer.  Top with reserved nuts.  Sprinkle with salt.  Chill until chocolate is set, about 3 hours.

5.  Break bark into pieces and store between layers of parchment or waxed paper.

Do Ahead:  Can be made 1 week ahead.  Keep chilled.

LORI’S NOTES:

• I used Trader Joe’s Salted Skin-On Marcona Almonds.  I wasn’t sure they’d work, as they have the skin on, but they were great.  You need 1 and 1/2 bags (6 oz. bags).  I also used Valrhona Le Noir Amer 71% Cacao bars (from Trader Joes).
• In preparation for making caramel, I fill a 1-cup measuring glass half-full with water and place the pastry brush in glass – next to the stove – ready to brush down the sides of the pan.
• While the recipe calls to cool the chocolate-nut mixture for 3 hours, I found it easier to cut into pieces after 1 1/2 to 2 hours of cooling.
• Make sure you use very coarse sea salt.   The chocolate looks better with small, coarse chunks of salt.

Read Full Post »

Christmas Tablescape

We had our annual Christmas party on Friday night.  This year, I did a simple tablescape of greens and ornaments for our dining room table.  This is where we serve most of our food for the party.

Please ignore the crumbs on the tablecloth, as most of the pictures were taken the day after.

This year, I purchased the bundled greens (pine, cedar and holly) from Trader Joes along with red and pink roses from Costco.  I placed silver and red mercury glass ornaments in a glass pedestal and used my chandelier candlesticks (from TJMaxx – several years ago).

It’s one of my favorite (and easiest) holiday centerpieces yet!

Read Full Post »

Texas Sheet Cake

I don’t what it is about Texas Sheet Cake … but it’s always a contender as a dessert to serve when we’re barbequing with friends in the summer.

That’s what we’re making for the 4th.  It’s great served with vanilla icecream!!!  And it can feed an army!

2 c. Sugar

2 c. Flour

1 t. Baking Soda

1/2 t. Salt

2 sticks of Butter

4 T. Hershey’s Cocoa

1/2 c. Buttermilk

2 Eggs

1 t. Vanilla

1.   Combine the dry ingredients.  Melt butter and cocoa in a saucepan.  Add 1 cup of water.  Bring to a rapic boil.  Pour hot mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.  Add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.

2.  Pour cake batter into a greased rimmed cookie sheet (jelly roll pan).  Bake at 350 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes.

When the cake has cooled, make the chocolate icing.

Frosting:

1 stick of Butter

4 T. Hershey’s Cocoa

6 T. Buttermilk

1 box of Powdered Sugar

1 t. Vanilla

1 c. chopped Nuts, optional.

1.  Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Add cocoa and buttermilk.  Bring to a rapid boil.  Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Stir until smooth.  Pour frosting over the cake and spread to cover cake.

2.  If you wish to add nuts, sprinkle them over the tops immediately after frosting the cake.

Read Full Post »

Desserts for the 4th of July

There’s something about summer desserts that makes me smile.  Probably because so many of the desserts this time of year use fresh berries … strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more.

With July 4th around the corner, it’s a great time to use summer fruit in patriotic-themed desserts.

Is there anything better than a fresh berry pie with vanilla icecream?  I think not!  And how fun … to decorate the top of a pie with pie crust “stars and stripes”!

Strawberries dipped in chocolate are a simple dessert.  You can melt the chocolate (white, milk or dark) in the microwave in a pyrex measuring cup.  Dip the strawberries in warm chocolate, dip in colored sugar or sprinkles and then rest on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  You can also drizzle melted chocolate over the dipped strawberries to make stripes.

And who doesn’t love a great cupcake?  You can make any flavor cupcake and frost with vanilla frosting.  Decorate the cupcakes with blueberries, raspberries and coconut … then arrange in a flag configuration.  Very cute!

And don’t forget … if you make the chocolate dipped strawberries, it’s great to use the left over melted chocolate and sprinkles for pretzel rods.  They make for a great “salty & sweet” snack!

Have fun with your plans for the 4th!

All pictures from Pinterest … you can check out my 4th of July Inspiration board here.

Read Full Post »

4th of July Tablescapes

Can you believe the 4th of July is next week?  I sure can’t!  Are you planning a BBQ?

We have an annual BBQ on the 4th, so I’ve been looking for tabletop inspirations.  (Remember, I have those GREAT 4th of July finds that I picked up from Target back in May).  Oh, how I love those $1 Target bins!!!

I love the use of the tin pails at each place setting … to hold the napkin, utensils and other goodies.  And, I LOVE the layering of while and red plates.

Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods are all great places to find cute plates on the cheap!  And you know you can often find painted tin buckets in the $1 bins at Target.

All of the pictures in the post are from my “4th of July” inspiration board on Pinterest.

To see the entire board, click here.

Read Full Post »

Beach Themed Tablescapes

I was browsing through Pottery Barn last summer and came upon this beautiful tablescape.  I asked the store manager if she would mind me taking a few pictures.  She welcomed me to take as many as I’d like.

I loved the clean, crisp look of the white linen.  And even better (after buying the white linen table runner), I had all the things at home to create a similar tablescape!

I’ve created variations of this type of tablescape for indoor and outdoor entertaining.  It takes some time to set up, but is really pretty.  There are many variations you can create using using white linens, white candles and sea shells.

Here I’ve used my “good ole bedspread” as the table foundation.  I added apothecary jars filled with shells, along with glass cylinders filled with sand, candles and a few shells.

This year in Pottery Barn, I snapped a few pictures of some of the beach-themed tables.

This one uses PB’s shell napkins and starfish napkin rings.

Love this one with the blue and white napkins and cute seashell salad plates.

When you see beautiful displays in stores, I would encourage you to ask if you can take a picture.  The worst that can happen is that they say “no”.  But, I usually find that they are happy to allow you to photograph their products and displays.  It often leads to more sales for them.  And you end up with great ideas & inspiration for your own tablescape creations.

Read Full Post »

Great Summer Finds @ Target

Well … I wasn’t really ready to be thinking about the 4th of July this past weekend.  But, when you see great stuff in the $1 Bins at Target — you must act quickly!

Can you believe that all the things in the picture above cost a $1 each?   We’ll be in town this 4th of July, so we’ll be having our annual BBQ and Swim Party.  I’m not sure how I’ll use all of the items from Target, but here are just a few ideas ….

The nylon pinwheels will be adorable marking the walkway to our front door.  They would also be cute stuck in flower and herb pots in the backyard.

The red, white & blue tin pails would be adorable:

• holding utensils (forks, spoons & knives)
• as containers for potted plants, herbs or flowers
• as serving bowls for nuts, M&Ms (red, white & blue), pretzel rods and other goodies
• holding straws or napkins
• with votive candles

The galvanized tin buckets can be used in the same manner as the red, white and blue tins.  However, I think I will use these all summer long.  They would be adorable filled with some sand and votive candles — lighting the walkway at night.

The red, blue and silver beads can be used throughout the house and patio to add festive touches.  Here are just a few specific ideas:

• As part of the centerpieces on the tables — draped on a table runner, wrapped around flower vases
• As fillers in apothecary jars
• In silver bowls — to add festive color

Now the floral and botanical plastic plates and serving pieces were not in the Dollar Bins (I wish!)  They are the Home brand at Target, and were very reasonable.  They remind me of the John Derian decoupage plates that I bought 15 or 20 years ago.

How fun to use them all summer long?!?  I bought the appetizer plates and some serving pieces — very fun for a party or family gathering.  I may end up going back and getting some dinner plates — mix and match.

This summer I’ll be sure to post some pictures of how I use these fun items.

Thinking of summer parties … FUN!

Read Full Post »