staples engineering print bandwagon......

Trending.... i have seen so many wonderful posts on photo prints (staples) oversized engineering prints... & i have to admit i was smitten ... i could think of a bazillion things i wanted to do... one was i really didn't like the view from one of the windows downstairs.. at first i was going to put a framed print to obstruct the view which is directly looking into the side of a neighbors house.. then i got an idea, what if i could find a photo of a window view overlooking a city or a park.
voila,
i found a photo of a window over looking a city park... (the black window is a photo)...
the first pic shows the sun shining through...  this pic was taken in the evening.. i simply propped the mounted photo inside the window seal.. and created my perfect view.  the back of the mounting is white & from the outside simply looks like a shade...
after that little project, i was so happy with the outcome i moved onto my kids photo's... i cropped their pic & saturated the color to the left for b&w ... sent it to staples... mounted them on foam board...
i hung them in the stairway with double sided tape, and added a couple of large branches.  I'm not a crafty person & this was simple... i just wanted to share a couple of projects i have been working on this winter..

till next time.....

what katie ate

Katie Quinn Davies... i have been a huge fan of her blog forever. she had me hooked; with her photography. her photo's inspire me on every level, after all isn't that what art is all about... connecting, inspiring, moving.. i'll be honest, i judge a book by it's cover. if the cover doesn't pull me in, or connect with me on an inspirational or personal level, i just move right along....her blog made me a katie fan...and i always have to try the recipes she posts on her blog.. hoping above all hope it would turn out as beautifully as hers... (it may not have been as visually appealing) but it was delicious. she posted this video on her blog.. i thought... wow, this girl does it all & does it ALL amazingly well.. here is a glimpse of her style..
her beautiful blog..... http://www.whatkatieate.com/what-katie-ate-recipes-and-other-bits-and-bobs-on-sale/....

and it just so happens ... she created a cookbook.. "what Katie ate"..




another one of my favorite things......


windows with a view........

no work today.....a snow makeup day (at school) & since we haven't had snow...  i am still in my pj's at 10:00..& i am NOT complaining.... before i start my to do list...... i wanted to show you my newest "windows with a view" (faux).. remember the post... with the view of central park (photo in the window)....
well... i loved this window view so much... i created another one... i winter scene... if i can't live in NYC in my dream brownstone... i will at least have the VIEW....





window art.... window views... creating my own personal space.... one little window at a time...

it's a beautiful day in Atlanta ..the sun is shining, we have had so much rain the past few weeks. i think i am going to enjoy the outdoors today, & (maybe) start painting the picket fence.... in february!!! yes, i have spring fever.......

enjoy your day.....

..... no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies....

today was one of those ," i want to stay in bed & pull the comforter over my head" days.. i hit the snooze button 3 times before i gave in... i could smell the coffee brewing downstairs & that was my motivation to leave those soft pillows i was clinging on to ...
surprisingly, i made it to school on time.... walking "rocky" at 5:45 while holding on to my cup of much needed coffee.... & running upstairs... to start my morning routine ...  I made it out the door by 6:30.. that was quite an accomplishment ...

on the drive home this afternoon.. i called my youngest daughter who informed me she was cooking dinner tonight.... how sweet was that !... a dinner cooked for me in the middle of the week..... family (sit down) dinners are a special time at our house... because it is almost impossible to get us all together ... our schedules literally collide most of the time... 

while changing clothes this afternoon...  (erin was cooking away in the kitchen)... i could smell the sauces...floating up the stairs.. i thought of the oatmeal no bake cookies, the kids loved when they were young... i could whip them up in no time... why i thought of those bites of chocolate, peanut buttery oatmeal cookies.. i don't know... but, i did. & i knew the girls would love them.... after dinner & dishes...
i put the butter in the boiler, the sugar...milk... & erin knew....


big smiles from my pretty girls....

cookies ....not an extravagant dessert, not a tart, pie or layered cake... just a wonderul little bite of chocolate ... a cookie... one from years ago... one that i am glad i rememberd....

No Bake Cookies

•4 ounces butter or margarine (8 tablespoons)


•1/2 cup milk

•2 cups sugar

•1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

•3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter, optional

•3 cups quick oatmeal or rolled oats

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Place chocolate chips, peanut butter (if used), oats, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Combine the margarine, milk, and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 full minute. Combine the hot mixture with the oatmeal and chocolate chip mixture; stir well. working quickly, drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or parchment paper. 

blogging...& inspiration...

Do you ever read NY times (Townies) opinionator? I have to admit that is one of my favorite  (winter induced) pastimes... I could sit for hours and savour the stories of lives in cities like DC & NYC, short stories, with a small window into the lives of some city dwellers.. stories of neighbors, or introducing you to their city thru their eyes.  that is what i have loved so much about blogs... sharing,  virtual penpals... you get to know people you would otherwise never have known, to see towns and cities, lifestyles, decorating, recipes & the photography,   real people, real lives.. what is not to love?
my house is and has always been a hobby, or a work in progress.  one of my passions is distressed wood. the beauty in the worn and weathered, as a matter of fact  my garage currently resembles a "hoarders paradise" a hod podge of future  little treasures.. .. frames,benches, shutters, shelves that i have discovered during my (sister & me) excursions, that are patiently waiting for my attention, ready for a coat of chalk paint & sand paper...
but, for the past few weeks i have been in hibernation.. the cold damp weather has diminished my ambitious-ness.. my creative energy is instead spent making soups & baking breads.. not so good for the waistline i might add...(i will deal with that little issue in the spring).as for now i am counting the days until spring..opening the garage doors and painting, glazing, sanding  with the scent of freshly mowed grass (natural aromatherapy).. Ahhh, grass, leaves, flowers, picnics, movies on the lawn..


today is laundry day, steam cleaning (my new favorite) pocket steamer... trader joe's, and dinner with the fam... pulled pork with cole slaw. =amazing.. as a am dashing around balancing my cup of coffee .I am not being very productive. can you tell i am not motivated?, i blame it on the weather... :)


my steamer is steaming, gotta run... until next time...







long weekends.......



i had a  4 day weekend.... the first 3 days... i ran full steam ahead.. organizing files, emails, cleaning... trying new recipes... yesterday i ran a few errands, called my local cable company and argued my case of (increasing my bill  $40.00 a month)... for the same service.. ...i lost....  

on a happy note.... i met my daughter for lunch.. did a little shopping.. my mini vacation will be over tomorrow.. so... today

..... there has been a lot of this.....
and this......



and more of this.....




this afternoon .. i am staying in...dinner & movies...  meg ryan movie day (adore her)...along with a crock pot of texas chili and fritos...
but for now.. it has nothing to do with errands, or a never ending task list... i am laying back.. listening to my my favorite (oldie)... al green.. let's stay together.... i have had a voice crush on him since high school....... and it has NEVER diminished... his voice will always stop me in my tracks.... ...
back to school tomorrow.... so for now... i am going to enjoy a free day... and relax...



and listen to Mr. Green... amazing.




my attempt at Andy Warhol.......

are you ever at a loss for gifts???.... i always try to make gifts personal... something that reflects the receivers personality, or interest... & honestly, there are times when i am at a total loss...
i have 2 men in my family that are creative spirits..... Mike my very sweet brother in law, who loves music... he has his own studio in his home... he writes, plays guitar & sings... i was at a loss..... i wanted it to be special, something i would create.  Then i thought of art... personal art that would capture him at his finest...in his element... doing what he loves......



I took a photo of him in his music room...... and worked in photo shop to create my (attempt) at andy warhol.... i cropped the photo and did a little magic.... after i completed by editing i sent a copy to staples and they printed the poster, I dry mounted it, framed it w/o glass, and covered the print in mod podge for the oil canvas finish..... as it turned out... it was perfect... and he loved it!!!!  it now hangs in his music room....

i did the same thing for my nephew jonathan... he loves art... he loves contemporary art...attempt #2...




Success....

they were unique, personal and they definitely captured both of their personalities.... the mod podge finish is perfect.... ( in true andy warhol style)  .... :)

i just wanted to give you a great gift idea for  (the hard to buy)  people in your family....

today i am headed into the city to visit IKEA..... and atlantic station with my daughters... where shopping is an event.... walking from Ikea to atlantic station is not an easy task... thank heavens for the bus (trolley) to and from atlantic station...

Cori vows she is moving to atlantic station after graduation, as she walks around the lofts claiming which apartment is hers....
 



 you have to admit... they are beautiful...

Enjoy your day....



a small addiction.......

lately... i have noticed a small addiction... my eyes zoom in on wood, anything made of wood that can be re-made or distressed or re-created.... yesterday, i stopped by an antiquey thrift shop while waiting on my youngest daughter erin to get off work... and there they were... bread boards.. i already have bread boards...


but... i couldn't pass them up... $2.00... i stood there thinking of all the uses for these unfinished pieces of wood... i thought of cookouts, picnic's, dinners... that is what i kept telling myself... i could see these beauties all lined up on a rustic picnic table ... outside, with strings of twinkle lights overhead.... serving cheese, yeast rolls w/ butter.... in a casual frenchy sort of way... that is my vision... in a thrift store, with $2.00 bread boards.... that needed cleaning...and..sanding...and staining... but, i loved them... i couldn't just pick one or two... i wanted them all... after all i had a vision... :)

so .... i brought them home & gave them a good scrubbing.......


and let them dry.....


and a little stain.....

 i think i made a great decision.... i love them all...  ... now to find a rustic picnic table & strings of twinkle lights... :)




am i ready for this?.......

.... ..yesterday... it really does seem like yesterday... i would rock my sweet daughter and sing every lullabye my mom ever sang to me.. i can see her looking up at me and putting her little fingers on my face as i was singing to my sweet baby girl.... the little pigtail girl...... ...dancing around the living room ...singing....  " i walk like an elephant" stooped over with her arm dangling like the trunk of an elephant....






..how can i go from that vision to ................................


my beautiful Loren has grown up.... she is graduating from college..AND. she is engaged!!  .... in the twinkling of an eye..."it happened" ... the dimpled face little girl...... became this beautiful woman....




I love you my sweet Loren.... and many blessings & much love to you & Devon...


(but to me, you will always be my little girl).....

-mom








...... british flapjacks

i have a dear friend Helene who lives in canada... recently she posted a photo on fb of her dutch babies... quickly i emailed her (she happens to be the worlds best cook/hostess extraordinaire)..& she replied within minutes... off to the kitchen with methodic intent.. to create my first dutch babies...
 a wonderful decadent comfort food.  she also sent me a scone recipe..(which was amazing).... i believe i am seeing a definite flour, egg, sugar pattern during my winter hibernation...
recipe swaps and my esoteric friends have filled my indexed cookbooks with tried and true... delicious foods i have never heard of.... especially recipes from other countries...
today i received another recipe from a friend  (carlene) who now lives in britain... british flapjacks..
did you know that if you ordered flapjacks in britain you'll get a granola bar made from oats and golden syrup?
of course i had to give it a try....




British Flapjacks

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces

½ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ cup golden syrup (i didn't have golden syrup.. i substituted equal parts corn syrup & honey)

2 1/3 cups quick-cooking oats (not instant or old-fashioned)

Pinch of fine salt

Crunchy salt, such as Maldon or fleur de sel, for finishing

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square metal baking pan. Combine the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup in a heavy medium saucepan. Stir regularly over medium-low heat until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
Add the oats and fine salt, and stir to evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and press it out in even layer.
Bake until the top is golden (the edges will be darker), about 20 to 25 minutes.
Transfer the pan to a rack, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Then cut into 4 squares, and cut each square into 4 triangles. (The mixture will still be soft and a little crumbly; just do the best you can.) Allow to finish cooling completely in the pan. (The flapjacks will firm up as they cool.)
Before serving, top with crunchy salt to taste.

the kitchen smelled of comfort, warm delicious comfort.....the british flapjacks were a hit at the najour house.. i forced myself to put the (remaining) bars in a sealed container... & out of sight...







.. easy like sunday morning....

saturday mornings.. i don't know why my body & brain never seem to work in sync.. i really want to stay under the cover, flip thru the remote control aimlesly as though i have absolutely nothing to do.. but NoOO... so, downstairs i come, with laundry in tow... and there to greet me is the sweetest little face "rocky" who is ready for his morning walk...
he doesn't seem to mind the facts of freezing temps. as I promise him, let me start the laundry & get the pour over dark roast coffee(my adrenaline)started, and we will head out for our (usually 5 am walk)but on saturdays i can at least see daylight..
as we come back into the house i can smell the laundry detergent coming from the laundry room & the coffee aroma floating around the kitchen. i find both of those fragrances welcoming in sort of a domestic kind of way.. waiting are the unopened stacks of mail, bills to be paid & an ongoing grocery list... which i will address as soon as i finish my coffee... enjoy your saturday!!!