My Big Girl Bed

Today is delivery day for my "Big Girl Bed" (king size!). This beautiful piece of furniture is the Bedford Sleigh Bed from the Aspen line. I am so attracted to the scrolls on the headboard, and I can't wait to have it to finish off our master bedroom!

After years of setting my phone, books, magazines, etc, on the floor, we are finally getting nightstands! They have a built in nightlight and a breakfast tray.

 The dresser has a built-in jewelry box in one of the drawers, and are all cedar lined.

A bedroom set is one of the biggest investments you should make in your home. Although you need to pay for quality, there are simple ways to make the most of your investment.

First, compare prices. I found this set for 65% less than what I originally saw it for in my local furniture store. In addition, I asked the salesman to work with me on the pricing, and got and extra 5% off. If you would prefer to buy it at a specific store out of loyalty, get a quote from another store in writing, and any store will honor it.

Second, don't be afraid to ask for free delivery! This is the easiest money you'll ever save, because most stores are more than willing to offer free delivery to ensure a sale. Remember-it never hurts to ask!

This may seem like a lot of work to shop around, but remember grandpa's old saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned"? When was the last time someone paid you $3670 to shop? Exactly.

Design Your Valentine

 I just died when I saw these adorable Valentine chocolates by 'Love in Chocolate' on Rue La La! They are so original, yet would be SO easy to make!

 Mix drizzle and confetti sprinkles to make an intricate display.

 Cover everything from fruit to graham crackers for the big day of love. Just heat melting chocolate in a sauce pan on low heat, dip, and lay on wax paper! SO EASY!

 Fortune cookies are a breeze to dip!

Craigslist Find- Bassett Bookcase

Did I mention I love Craigslist? That's an understatement. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Craigslist! Last weekend I saw this bookcase and fell in LOVE... The piece was from Bassett furniture, and the man selling it thinks his wife paid about $1,000 for it. Well, I'm pretty sure his wife was pulling the wool over his eyes, because anything similar would run about $3-4,000 at Bassett. He was asking $275 for it, but knowing me... I gave him $150 and not only did he deliver it to my door, but he carried it into the room for me!!

 I found a gorgeous model for this next picture.... ;) Just kidding, it's my husband.

 We moved the compass to the window and it looks really neat as you drive up! I pulled an ottoman from one of the bedrooms to cover a little of our cheap ikea desk we are still looking replace...but as long as we have one beautiful piece of furniture in the office, the rest can wait!

Craigslist Find- Iron Sleigh Guest Bed

I LOVE Craigslist! I could sit for hours just digitally rummaging through other people's houses, looking for gold. Here was my find yesterday:

Out of only these 2 photos, I decided I needed this bed for my guest room! He was asking $100 for it, I offered him $50, and he agreed without hassle. It was easier than walking into a furniture store-not to mention about $400 cheaper! I picked it up a day later having no idea what it was going to look like...

If I say so myself, I got lucky! I LOVE it! I can't wait to see the room all decorated with my $50 centerpiece. I'm thinking sky blue walls with black accents.....

How to Make a Wreath

I've been on the hunt for quite some time for a beautiful spring wreath. I had such specific visions of what this wreath would look like, I decided to make it myself!

I found this wooden wreath at the dollar store! Good start! Then I found these hydrangea plants at the dollar store. With this much material for a total of $9, I couldn't not make it....

Start your wreath by placing a rough draft of which flowers you would like and where you like them. Leave the bunches all intact, stems on, until you get a rough idea of the look you want.

If you buy a silk bunch of flowers from the craft store or anywhere, the heads of each stem just pop right off. Use these heads to get the precise placement of all your flowers.

Place a small amount(about the size of a pea) of hot glue on the end of the stem of the flowers, and place them on the wreath. Hold for 5 seconds, and dot an extra bit a glue around the stem to secure it further.

Start with your largest flowers(hydrangeas and/or peonies work great) and work down to your smallest. It may sometimes be easier to cover the whole wreath with your large flowers and insert your smaller ones into the full space.

Make the look more modern by adding unexpected elements such as branches or feathers.

 Make the look more country by adding fruit!

 Work bit by bit around the circle until the whole wreath is covered.

 Wreath: $1

Flowers: $9

Total Cost of the Exact Wreath I had Envisioned: $10 :)

New Year, Refreshed

There are many things that attracted me to my home: high ceilings, large windows, taupe tile and cherry wood finishes. These things that I love about my home are the same things that make it just a little sterile and cookie cutter. This may sound like a bad thing, but these create the perfect canvas for my personal touches. I have spent the last year deciding on furniture for the house, and this year will be full of painting, personalizing, and warming it up. I have a list of projects to work on this year, and am so excited to take my blog readers on the journey of creating the home where I will raise my children and spend the next decades of my life. 

The Cookie Exchange: Part Two - Frosted Peanut Butter Bars

Frosted Peanut Butter Squares


30 min

15 min

3 dozen squares

INGREDIENTS:

Cookie Base

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup butter

1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Frosting
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons butter
3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk


PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:


Cookie Base

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
2. Beat peanut butter and butter in large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add brown sugar. Beat until well blended. Beat in eggs.

3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Combine milk and vanilla in small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk mixture alternately to peanut butter mixture at low speed. Beat until well blended. Spread in prepared pan.

4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Frosting

1. Beat peanut butter and butter in large bowl at medium speed until blended. Add powdered sugar and 1/3 cup milk alternately at low speed. Mix until blended. Increase speed to medium. Beat until fluffy. Spread on cooled cookie base.

Drizzle

Piece of Cake Buttercream Frosting

My favorite recipe for buttercream frosting is easier to make than stopping at the grocery store to pick some up! I have gotten so spoiled by this simple confectionery bliss, that store bought frosting tastes like chalk to me now! I'm a life-long advocate for cake mix, but when it comes to frosting, there's just nothing like homemade!

Piece of Cake Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup softened butter or 1 stick

1/4 cup milk

3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 tbs. real vanilla extract

Your choice of food coloring

 You can use this buttercream frosting on anything from cakes, cupcakes, cookies, whoopie pie fillings, and fun designs! Add a little extra milk to make your buttercream frosting smoother, or a little more powdered sugar to make your buttercream frosting easy to work and design with!

 Add 1 tbs. cocoa to make your buttercream frosting a creamy chocolate frosting, and 1 tsp. instant coffee to make it a rich mocha buttercream!

 Add 1 Tsp cinnamon for spiced muffins or cupcakes.

Classic Creme Brulee

Alright, wipe up your drool and give it a try! Creme Brulee is one of those things that looks intimidating, but it's oh-so-easy! And since you can make it ahead of time, creme brulee is the perfect solution to dinner parties. I found these adorable new ramekins at the dollar store, so it was the perfect excuse to break out my favorite creme brulee recipe. I was only cooking for two, but be sure to at least double this recipe with any additional people(or if each person wants a few to themselves like me!).

Ingredients:

1 C heavy cream
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 Tbs granulated sugar
1/2 Tbs vanilla

granulated sugar for shell topping(about 4 Tbs.)

I started with my REAL vanilla from my honeymoon in Cancun. I can't tell you enough how much I prefer real vanilla over imitation. You'll find that your baking goes to a whole other caliber! Look for real vanilla at discounts stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, or Tuesday Morning next to the spices.

In a heat resistant mixing bowl, beat 2 egg yolks with 1Tbs real vanilla until blended. Add 2 1/2 Tbs sugar and mix well.

Boil cream on medium heat until it starts to bubble on the edges.

Pour cream slowly into egg mixture.

Mix well, and you have your creme brulee batter!

Pour your creme brulee batter into ramekins that are set inside a baking pan.

Pour the boiling water into the pan, around the ramekins.

Lightly cover pan with tin foil, and bake for 25 minutes.

Creme Brulee is ready when the batter sets into a gel-like form.

Refrigerate for 2 hours, and then pour about 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar on top

Use a blow torch to melt the sugar, or put under the broiler until sugar is lightly browned.

You now have perfect classic creme brulee, ready to serve! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 C heavy cream

2 egg yolks

2 1/2 Tbs granulated sugar

1/2 Tbs vanilla

granulated sugar for shell topping(about 4 Tbs.)

Start by boiling 4 cups of water to be used for baking later on. In a heat resistant mixing bowl, beat 2 egg yolks with 1Tbs real vanilla until blended. Add 2 1/2 Tbs sugar.

In a medium sauce pan, boil cream on medium heat until it starts to bubble on the edges.

Pour cream slowly into egg mixture. Mix well, and you have your creme brulee batter!

Set ramekins inside a baking pan and pour your creme brulee batter into the ramekins. Pour the boiling water into the pan, around the ramekins. Lightly cover pan with tin foil, and bake for 25 minutes.

Refrigerate for 2 hours and remove for sugar shell topping. For the creme brulee topping, pour about 1 Tbs sugar on each ramekin(tap the edges to spread the sugar evenly). Broil on the top shelf or use a blow torch until golden brown on top.