Last post....September 24th??

This is just further evidence that I lose interest in things too quickly.

The best fall dinner!!!

Crap, it's been a while since I have posted. Since this blog was created to share my findings of all things that please our senses, I have to keep reminding myself that other things do exist besides home decor, interior design, and fabric samples. My lack of posts is mainly due to a few projects that have been keeping me very busy....one being organizing all of my hundreds of recipes into a binder w/plastic sleeves, dividers, labels, blah blah blah.. I am crazy and my new fat book is awesome!

Last night I made the best fall dinner ever!...even though it was like 105 degrees yesterday. I ripped this recipe out of one of the many Williams-Sonoma catalogs I have and could not have been more pleased with the finished product, so I must share it!!

Kerchief Pasta with Caramelized Squash and Fresh Herbs

Seasoned with fresh sage and parsley plus a hint of nutmeg, this warming pasta dish is perfect for an autumn supper. A sprinkling of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese adds the finishing touch. To prepare a vegetarian version of this dish, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Ingredients:

9 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 kabocha or butternut squash, 2 1/2 to 3 lb., peeled, seeded and cut into
1-inch dice
2 Tbs. sugar
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 Tbs. finely diced shallots
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 Tbs. minced fresh sage
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 lb. fresh pasta sheets, cut into 2-inch squares (click here for fresh pasta recipe)
1 oz. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Directions:

In a braiser over medium-high heat, melt 3 Tbs. of the butter. Add the squash in a single layer and cook, without stirring, until browned underneath, about 6 minutes. Stir the squash and cook until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes more. Add the sugar, broth, salt and pepper, cover and cook until the squash is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates and the squash is dark brown and glazed, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the squash mixture to a bowl.

In the same pan over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 6 Tbs. butter until light brown spots appear, about 2 minutes. Add the shallots, nutmeg and sage and cook, stirring constantly, until the shallots begin to soften, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and parsley. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the squash.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta and the reserved cooking water to the squash mixture and toss to combine.

Transfer the pasta to a warmed large, shallow bowl and sprinkle with some of the cheese. Serve immediately and pass the remaining cheese alongside. Serves 4 to 6.
Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.


Now I must say that I did not make my own pasta (I used a box of farfalle) and I also added two chopped grilled chicken breasts to the final product. It really was fabulous!!

I need to live here!

I am completely in love with a home featured in the September issue of Metropolitan Home! My husband may want to kill me, yet again, for wanting to change some things, but what can I say...I am always inspired to make a few adjustments in our decor. Initially the cover blew me away because of the chairs. I think I need them in my life. Then once I got to the feature article, I squealed. Architect Scott Joyce has done an outstanding job of transforming this space while designers Susan Young and Tory Polone added their fantastic touches. Take a peek at just a few of their inspiring rooms and then be sure to grab the September issue of Met. Home to see the entire article and more photos! [Photographs by John Ellis]

Inspired by a radish??

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I were walking through the produce section at our favorite grocery store and I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped! He thought I was hurt or something, but no, I came across a watermelon radish for the first time! The thing was beautiful!! Just gorgeous! I wanted to buy a handful of them because I was so inspired by them! He looked at me like I had lost my mind and said, "You are inspired by a radish?" Yes, dummy. I am!!! I can find inspiration in just about anything! So we had a brief argument about purchasing a few radishes and compromised. I took a photo with my phone. Not exactly the best, but still pretty good. Just look at the colors:

Then it hit me! Just a few hours earlier, I was going through photos on my laptop and was remembering this delicious cake my husband got for my last birthday!....decorated with the same colors!
Finally...this is the weirdest part...
I was wearing this green dress and making blueberry/raspberry smoothies and looked down and gasped again!

+ = more inspiration!

While I know 'pink and green' is nothing new as far as a color combo, I decided that three hits in one day was a sign that I needed to make something. I'm not quite sure what, but perhaps I will paint over the canvases in our guest room.

Addie Kate Creations!

When it comes to announcing the birth of your child, who really has time to sift through proofs, make corrections, and then assemble the product and mail them out? By the time you finish, the announcement is old news and then what's the point?

Addie Kate Creations was born as a result of this very frustration and disappointment and has made quite the name for itself! The owner, a friend of mine, "...wanted to create a business that would allow me to provide a better experience for other moms. I designed Addie Kate Creations with the vision that ordering announcements would be a convenient, stress free experience." And she did just that and more!!

In addition to birth announcements, Addie Kate Creations has designs to fit all of your invitation, holiday greeting, and save-the-date needs! There are even magnet, full-service mailing, and print at home options! What more could you possibly need?

Take a peek at a few of the designs from the gallery:

Girl Photo Birth Announcements

Boy Photo Birth Announcements

Multiples Birth Announcements

Halloween Photo Cards

Christmas / Season Greetings Photo Cards

Valentine's Day Photo Cards

Easter Photo Cards


Birthday Invitations


Save the Date Cards

Take a look around and if you still can't find something that fits your needs, don't panic! Addie Kate Creations will work with you to create a custom design card!

Addie Kate Creations

info@addiekate.com
(877)652-3930
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm MST

Fresh finds from Design Public!

Melamine Plates by jefdesigns Home for Design Public :

Marine Melamine Plates

Abstract Melamine Plates

Botanical Melamine Plates

I need a cupcake!

It's been a while since I have done 'Cupcake Friday', so since it's Friday, here we go! Take a look at these creations from Pink Cake Box!! Unfortunately they do not ship cakes, so if you are not in Denville, NJ, you are out of luck! Take a look, though, and perhaps a trip to Jersey will be in your future!!

Pink Cake Box, LLC
18 E Main St Suite 101
Denville, NJ 07834

If that wasn't enough to make you drool, be sure to check out the Pink Cake Box website and view their entire cake gallery!!

Introducing ABSOLUT® Los Angeles!

Last year I mentioned ABSOLUT® New Orleans when it came out and I fell in love!! Now my husband and I recently discovered ABSOLUT® Los Angeles, the second in a series of flavors inspired by great US cities. Delish!!! ABSOLUT® states, it's "blend of Acai, Acerola, Pomegranate, and Blueberry, is a nod to the city's trendy, environmentally forward,
and health-conscious ideals." Click here to learn how ABSOLUT® Los Angeles gives back! Be sure to check it out... if you're into vodka!!

I won something!

I never win anything!! Yay! As you know I have my blog list to the left and though it is quite extensive, I try to check all of them out at least once a week! Last week while checking in with The SoHo, a guide to food, fashion, and fun from the southern hostess, I entered myself to win a cookbook and holy crap, I won! :)

Savannah Classic Desserts

I can't wait to receive it and start baking some southern treats!!! Thanks again, SoHo!! Be sure to check out The SoHo for some fun finds and yummy recipes!

In love with pillows!

I have mentioned before that I have a pillow obsession, so it's no surprise that I have another post about them! I am all about somewhat neutral rooms with bright splashes of color, so when I came across these Decaf Plush pillows, I knew I would need to save them in my file...so why not share them with the world. Ha ha. I'm picturing these in a child's room or perhaps a nursery, maybe grouped on a couch or a little reading nook? Aren't they fantastic?

[Decaf Plush pillows shown above: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from Nursery In Style or available directly through Decaf Plush]

Flipping through this month's issue of Domino magazine, I came across this photo of a daybed filled with pillows. I love the look and would love to see something similar done with a mix of the pillows above!

[August 2008 issue of Domino magazine p. 98]

Phone book madness!

We have now received about 47 phone books and have only lived in our current home for about a year and a half. It is ridiculous. Do I really need a new one every month? Does anyone even still use the phone book? What a waste!

Anyhow, I came across my new favorite blog, Merriment, and giggled when I came across this entry! I had to laugh because it never occurred to me that there might be a way to use the pages, rather than simply tossing the phone books into the recycling bin. Check out this fantastic idea: Use the pages as gift wrap!

[photo taken from Merriment]

As if the mere idea of just using the pages isn't brilliant enough, how about using themes? Cakes and balloons for birthdays...you get the idea. Great thinking, Merriment!!!

You really must go take a peek at the post for more information and phone book gift wrapping ideas! Also be sure to check out the rest of her blog! This post has me wanting a baby boy! Enjoy!

Tiles...again!

[I'm back after my new puppy mommyhood break. Things are finally settling down and I'm back into a somewhat normal routine! I probably won't be posting as regularly as before, but will check in at least weekly]

So, moving right along...TILES!! Our master bathroom is rather blah and got us thinking how some beautiful tiles could really make it perfect! The same goes for our kitchen! Maybe a backsplash? We just want to add a little something to really make the spaces beautiful! I came across Hakatai while searching for some mosaic inspiration and I am a little speechless. The work is just beautiful! The photos will speak for themselves, so here we go:

Hakatai Enterprises, Inc.

I'm sure we are way off from starting a project like this, but finding inspiration is almost as fun to me as the actual finished product!