The ultimate DIY party - Troup S'mores! Iris's 7th Bday Party!!

I know friends.  It's been a while.  A long while.  I've been standing with Texas women, as many of you know.  When the fight is hard, and the cause is important, it is sometimes worth the sacrifice.

But....I am a mostly mushy Mommy (still a "Mommy" although I'm sure I'll graduate to "Mom" soon), and when Iris came home from 1st grade with Girl Scout flyers, she insisted, "I don't want to be in the Girl Scouts and sell cookies.  I want to start my OWN girl and boys club!"

As her 7th birthday drew nearer, she could only think of getting together with her pals and having a real club.  Voila - The S'mores!!!  

This is at the finale after they'd created their sashes (faux suede and iron on banding from Joann's Fabrics), earned their badges (iron on, of course!), had a contest to pick their name (Troup S'mores), roasted weenies and hamburgers and veggie burgers (you know me!) and made and enjoyed their very own s'mores!  Plus, camp fire stories in the tent by John Hewlett, you remember him.  There's video of that for those who would like it later....

The party invite photo from Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom.

The inspiration.  Minus the injuries.  Okay, Miss Kitty did scrap with 9 month old Sabine --- :(

The cake.  I did my own recipe, and we grabbed the "log" and "fire" idea from pinterest here - basically, smash up jolly ranchers, and melt them on parchment paper on low in the oven for 10 minutes, then cool in the fridge and break them up for the fire.  The "logs" are those yummy pepperidge farm chocolate cookies.

The sashes.  Thank goodness my Mom saved me in a pinch.  I got the fabric out 3 hours early, and realized.... I need a home economist.  Elaine to the rescue!  We used a faux suede material and the fabric tape you iron on - I recommend sewing before if you want them to last - might take a day of prep, but well worth it.  I'm going to have our Marmie sew up Iris and Sam's.  

The name nominations for interested parties:  007 (Ryder's nomination),  BFF's (Coco's nomination), Ranger 99 (Orion's nomination), Hot Dogs (Scout's nomination), S'mores (Iris's nomination), and Cheese Burgers (Sully's nomination). 

The styrofoam board is Iris's creation for a name nomination board. 

Iris's welcome sign to the Troop!

My 7 year old!  Iris T. Nicholson, working on Pinwheels for Peace to earn her Peace badge!  Print outs & directions here. 

And, below the butterfly bracelet project for the butterfly badge.  Project print outs & directions here. When you move your arm, they REALLY do fly up and down like a butterfly.  We did Blue Swallowtail and Monarch butterflies which are migrating through our yard and TX on the way to Mexico right now.  

If you are interested in some Daisy, Brownie, or Girl Scout ideas for a party or troop, this is a nice little site. 

Our faux fire for camp fire stories and hangin' out

And, making s'mores!  



















After the party, we updated their sashes with their names.  We are excited to see fun S'mores adventures ensue with the new troup after the party.

Her Daddy is so awesome, he even made smores pancakes Sunday morning for the kiddos!

Coveted...seeking design objects I'm obsessing over

There are those things you discover on a journey to redesign your space, covet like nothing else, and cannot imagine not having.....

For me, those are these gorgeous sconces; the Antony and Eye sconces from French designer Serge Mouille.

I saw them, pinned them, and couldn't get them out of my head.  You can see why....I mean, it's perfectly clear, right?

As this bedroom design comes together bit by little bit, I thought....these are modern perfection, bringing black into the white white space and perfect to go above the white built in side tables to perch on either side of the deep kelly green velvet tufted headboard that I'm closer and closer to deciding I will make, the perfect focal feature of the space.  Only today, did I actually realize they are (choke me - $2050 each!).

Damn middle age design angst!!  If only I were a rich, gay guy and not a middle class mom, I would just do it.

I originally was thinking a pair of the Robert Abbey pharmacy style brushed bronze lamps on either side of the bed ala this:

But, now, I've just got the Mouille Eye on the brain.  Nothing else seems to compare (ahem)...

So, we remember what we are dealing with: blank canvass bedroom freshly painted Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace (taped space represents side table/storage/bench built in):

Here is my color inspiration for the headboard:

Pretty with the Phillip Jeffries raffia I'm obsessed with for the bottom 1/3 of my white, white walls, right?

I'm also on the hunt for the perfect pairing of vintage botanicals to go above my black with gold painted butterfly armoire like these below I spotted on One King's Lane a few weeks back, but not $800.  Naturally, I'm drawn to the irises most....

Design wanderlust for my dreamland bedroom....

My Bedroom Makeover...Green? Yellow? Brass? Black?

A few more images that inspire me for this room - LOVE them both.

This green bedroom has just the amount of black and green touches I'm looking for.  I love the bed skirt which I hadn't considered.  I was going to go with a diamond matelasse box spring cover like the one below and lower my bed to the floor (about 2 1/2 inches lower) to meet the built-ins bed stands/benches with storage I envision on either side:

                                                                   {Potterybarn}

                                     

So, you remember my Missy Elliott reno work.  Here are the seventy year old uglies I was dealing with and learning how to repair and camouflage to work on my DIY budget.

See here and here to catch up cause this momma is too tired to replay ;)

So, terrified, I started painting... Chantilly Lace, here we go!  That pit at the bottom of my stomach looking at white on white on my pretty (although who knows how old) warm yellow that somehow always seemed neutral to me was making me seriously wonder about my choice.

So, here is the before.  Ignore junk on floor on the left (not part of the room!)  Notice tape where built-in benches/side tables are meant to go.  Yes, I am standing in the closet. 

The curtains now look dingy!  We were planning on replacing them with similar white, white gauzy curtains (hopefully from Ikea) and are going to raise the rods (which were handmade by the former owner customized for the window) to make the room look larger.  This, with lowering the bed a few inches, and adding 26X26 Euro shams ($30 including tax for 2 online!) - which came in and I am thrilled with, will work with the effect. After the photo below, I spent 5 hours painting the ceiling.  I have to say it was TOTALLY worth it.  Makes the room look like painted perfection and now, makes me want to paint all of the ceilings.

Behind the bed, I am considering either making a tufted green headboard or great artwork like these from Wisteria.  They would match my black armoire with gold painted butterflies and work well.

This mirror would move to the dresser area on the right.  My childhood dresser will be Craig's Listed and something similar to this in it's place.  Something warm and with a history.

Above is the photo of the base boards and doors painted Chantilly Lace and bottom is the walls as well.  Makes my off white frame look dingy, eh?  I have a matching frame that I'm about to put photos in for the other side and am either going to spray paint both flat white or black.  Haven't decided.  The grasscloth wallpaper will be on the bottom third of the room.

Since these photos, the bed has been lowered so it will fit in to the same height as the built in end tables/benches and the ceiling has been painted.  Next step for the weekend = raise the curtain rods.

Lowered bed + raised curtains + euro shame + chantilly white walls = larger, more peaceful bedroom.

Okay, okay....I know it is very blank canvas right now.  Layers, layers, layers....Next big step...hire the carpentar, build the tape lined side tables/benches/storage spaces.  

Now, off to the yard and planting with Everything Boy!

Two kid tested veggie recipes! Sweet potato beans with greens & veggie enchiladas

So, this week I kid and family tested two recipes.  Ones I've tripped over on Pinterest.  Here is the recipe for sweet potato beans with greens.  I had it once, loved it.  Tried it twice, and now it is officially Sam approved.  And, although my husband is not a fan of sweet potatoes, the beans and greens are so tasty, he loved it as an entree for lunch.  SUCCESS = I do not have to cook 3 different meals for 4 people so, this is a big success for me!

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Beans and Greens

Serves 4

4 sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (4-inch) sprig fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups (or 1 can) cooked and drained white beans
6 cups kale, trimmed and sliced into ribbons
Juice of 1/4 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Scrub the sweet potatoes and prick them in a few places with a fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake until soft all the way through, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Start the beans and greens about 15 to 20 minutes before the sweet potatoes are done.

In a wide, deep saucepan with a cover, heat the olive oil over low-moderate heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary sprig, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add the beans and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the kale, cover the pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the kale is soft. Remove the rosemary sprig, stir in the lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve, slice each sweet potato lengthwise and push on the ends to open up the middle. Spoon the beans and greens into the center.

I was feeling so good that I tried for two and found these stacked roasted veggie enchiladas.  LOVE them!!!  And the 3 pickies in my family loved them too!  See evidence below.  Mike ate every last bite. I made it exactly as is but added carrots and tomatillos to the mix and used less cheese.  Also, I used Ana's Salsa which I love!  If you live in Texas, you can pick it up at HEB in the produce section (because the ingredients are natural).  They are my radio client, the sweetest couple, and live right here in Austin.  Anna worked in the school district and used to make salsas for Christmas presents.  It's one of those once in a million success stories, and the salsa is delish!  

Here's a photo pre-bake and before the last cheese spread:

Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

ingredients:

1 poblano chile, cut into matchsticks
2 red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks
1/2 head of cauliflower, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium onion, halved and slivered
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
3 T heat-safe oil like grapeseed or coconut
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups homemade or store bought salsa/pico de gallo
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 big handfuls)
9-10 corn tortillas, halved (try making homemade tortillas!)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend)
sour cream and thinly sliced scallions (green onions) for garnish, if desired

directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a large shallow roasting pan or rimmed cookie sheet.

Place poblanos, red bell peppers, cauliflower, sweet potato, onion, and corn kernels onto cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the cumin and minced garlic over top. Add a generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper, then use your hands to mix everything together. After everything is coated well, spread the vegetables evenly in the pan. Roast for 30-40 minutes until vegetables are tender and begin to brown in spots. Stir or shake the pan every 10 minutes for even roasting. Remove pan from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Prepare an 8x8x2 or 9x9x2-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, stir the cilantro into the salsa. Spread 1/4 cup of salsa into the bottom of the baking pan. Add a layer of tortilla pieces, to completely cover the salsa. Top with 1/3 of the vegetables, a handful of spinach, and 1/3 of the cheese. Make a second layer of tortilla, salsa, vegetables, spinach, and cheese. Top with with a layer of tortillas, salsa, vegetables, and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

Let it sit for 5 minutes and cut into squares. Serve with sour cream and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.

BUEN PROVECHO!

Salty Sow Style Roasted Brussels Sprouts & basil pesto recipes to die for

The other night I was just craving the Salty Sow roasted brussels sprout leaves I'd been missing since Mike's 40th birthday.  And, I had the biggest, juiciest heirloom tomato which practically called out for some pesto, salt and pepper, and a smidge of parmesan.  A few googled recipes later and voila!!

Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Author: Amanda Maguire

Recipe type: Side Dish

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  10 mins

Total time:  20 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Brussels Sprouts
• 1 Tbs. Olive Oil
• 2 Tbs. Braggs Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce)
• 2 Tbs. Pure Maple Syrup
• 2 Cloves Garlic, crushed

Instructions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. To make the dressing, whisk together olive oil, Braggs, maple syrup, and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.
4. Prepare the brussels sprouts by chopping the ends off. You’ll want to chop about ⅓ of the stem side off.
5. Peel off the leaves and place them in a large bowl.
6. Pour the dressing over the brussels sprout leaves and toss to combine.
7. Transfer to your prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until nice and crispy.

Notes

You’ll want to keep a close eye on the brussels sprouts after about 5 minutes in the oven. There is a fine line between perfectly crispy and burnt.   

Ingredients
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese
Directions
Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

Copyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. 

And, the best part was the next night, I LITERALLY made a 1 minute meal.  I just put together some penne pasta (Mike had cooked al dente for the clan), a little shaved parmesan, pine nuts, and the yummy basil pesto and, then (sorry John Hewlett) nuked that sucker 1 minute in the microwave.

And... YUM!  The presentation isn't so pretty, but it was SO delish!!  That pesto recipe is the bomb!

Enjoy amigos.

The Inspiration....

I'm taking a little rest 9 days after all bedroom heavy lifting prepping and painting.  I'm actually holding off painting the walls out of terror.  Yes.  Terror.  Not even fear.

I know it will take a little time to make my vision for the room happen, and we will be living in a very, well, white space until the "vision".   The paint is Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace which is white white.

I look at what's been done so far and feel so much satisfaction in the work.  Not perfect, but pretty darn good.

My inspiration really does come from this room by Sarah Richardson.... 

  

...mixed with a Wisteria catalogue that arrived at the house last year featuring this Phillip Jeffries African Raffia wallpaper on the top part of a living room walls with white wainscoting on the bottom. 

Like Missy E, I think I'll just reverse it! White on top, raffia on bottom--- Okay, I listened to a lot of Hip Hop and Rap while working, mostly Missy Elliot, Eminem, some old school LL Cool J, and Beastie Boys.

So, here are some rooms that I like when I think of what I want in color and texture:

                                                            {image via Sarah Richardson}

 {Tommy Smythe}

Love the brass mirror, the dresser's warm wood, and black and brass lamp, plus all artwork and masculine ram horns or whatever those are

 {image via Tommy Smythe}

I know it's a closet, but black, white, gold, brass = love

{Tommy Smythe - the man and his room}

LOVE this brass mirror and the gray with black.  Mike actually has an old brass bald eagle lamp (AT his office, of course!) and I can't let him see this or he'll say I love it and bring it home to live :0

Now, it is glaringly apparent, I am having a Richardson-Smythe attack.  One, so feminine.  One, so masculine.  In design that is.  I go back and forth over the accent color - yellow or green.  Yellow or green?

I DO know, I want white with some black, brass and warm wood, and an accent color through pillows.

On either side of my bed there are two large window and two that are on the opposing wall, an "L" of windows.  I currently have off white gauzy curtains on L shaped iron rods hand forged by the previous homeowner who took a class and made them.  I want built in side tables/seat benches with storage underneath that actually aren't built in but can come away from the wall.  

Something like this, but, of course it's not a kitchen nook:

Picture something similar to this on either side of the bed.  Originally, I wanted white linen textured seat cushions that would have black cording along the edges, but in case they are too difficult to wash (bleach the white, NOT the black).  

These are pillow ideas for the window seats:

Or, something like these if I go yellow:

"Is it worth it, let me work it...This the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta." Can't help it, Missy Elliot's in my room makeover head!