Slipcover Delight

Making a trip to ikea soon. . .getting a new slipcover for the sofa! thoughts?:

Some of these are fabulous but a bit too crazy for my new "streamlined romance" look:

At the end of the day, I will most likely take the road often traveled and go with the less is more approach equaling one of these:

BTW-anyone else having problems with blogger? Seriously, I edit something and it shows up completely differently on screen. Way wierd.
Anyway, be back tomorrow with Etsy recommendations, so please be there for that.
Its almost Friday, yay!

rAnDom pHoTo #3:It's almost the beachy time of the year!!! This one's my favourite big brother a looong time ago. Love how the photographer caught the rays of light just a bit in the edge of the photo, don't you? This makes me smile from ear to ear (his cheesy grin usually does).

Makin Me VERY Happy!

Where have I been and why did I just now find out about this company?

Homemade Biscotti
Made this last week, its fabulous - I promise!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure almond extract (if using almonds)

-or-

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (if using other nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips)

1) Position an oven rack so that the biscotti will bake in the middle of the oven, preheat to 300F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside

2) In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and whisk to mix well. Add the eggs and extract and mix till it becomes crumbly. Stir in the nuts, fruit or chocolate yummies.

3) Transfer the mixture to a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead the dough until it comes together. Transfer to the lined baking sheet and shape into an even, flat rectangle (about 6x9")

4) Transfer the baking sheet to the oven & bake until the dough is lightly golden and feels firmed when lightly touched in the center with your fingertip (about 50 minutes).

5) Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack and cool for about 15 minutes

6) Peel the dough rectangle from the parchment paper and transfer it to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, first slice off and discard the rounded edges of the 2 shorter sides of the dough to make straight sides. Continue slicing the rectangle into slices about 3/4" wide. Lay the slices, with one of their sides down about 1" apart on the lined baking sheet.

7) Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the exposed sides of the slices are golden (about 20 minutes). Remove the sheet from the oven, turn biscotti over and return the sheet to the oven. Continue baking until the other exposed sides of the biscotti are golden (another 20 minutes).

8) Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool completely.

Variations:

Substitute chocolate chips, dried currants, raisins, dried blueberries, or sour cherries for the chopped nuts

Enjoy!!!

fAvOuRitE aRt: part 3Rene Francois Magritte - what a lovely name, huh? I adore his works, but this one is my absolute fave!

50 Ways to Celebrate Life Every Day!

I was given this website in a email forward from a friend not too long ago and I just have to tell you, I think its a wonderful post! So, on Sundays - the day of thankfulness and rest, I thought I'd pass it on (along with a few pictures I've found for the eye candy effect). I've altered some parts of it, so I really do urge you to view the original post so that you get 2 perspectives of the 50 ways. If you get a chance, be sure to check out the rest of Marelisa's blog - you'll love it I promise!

Ok, here goes:

1) Have afternoon tea "alfresco"-the park, a coffee shop, your back porch, etc.

image found here

2) Go for a bike ride

image found amongst the massive computer file, and the owner has been lost to memory :( help please if you know the source!
3) Plant flowers

image found here

4) Enjoy the company of a child

image is my bff K8's of the most perfect child on earth - please don't copy!

5) Renew a relationship with someone you've lost touch with. Thanks to Facebook this gets easier every day!

image found here

6) Frame pictures of loved ones and place them somewhere everyone who enters your home or office can enjoy!

image is mine (me & my bff Lizard) - please don't copy!

7) Blow bubbles!

image found here

8) Eat a deliciously fabulous, gooey, chocolaty brownie and savor every bite!

image AND RECIPE found here

9) Arrange flowers

image is from another lost owner :( if its yours, please let me know so I can give props to the gorgeous arrangements!

10) Give someone you love a gift "just because"

Etsy is of course, my favourite place to find such an item - here's something I'm considering for a very special bff - from Scarlet Beautiful

Ha Ha - that's all for now ladies and gents. You'll have to check back next Sunday for the 2nd set of 10. . .isn't that just like me to leave you thirsty for more! See you soon! Have a wonderful Sunday!

Fashion Inspiration

Remember that fabulous part of Domino Magazine that showed how to turn an outfit into a room? I miss that.

Here's my inspiration for the apartment re-decorating:

All photos from Luisa Beccaria's Spring Collection

Friday ROSES!!!

"From the thorn bush comes forth the rose"

old Jewish proverb

Poet's Summer's Spring Bird's Charm Bracelet $59.99:

The Mason Jar's Vintage Crepe Roses $3.00:

Andy's Eye Candy's Pink and Green Rose Set $10.00:

"It is at the edge of the petal that love waits"

William Carlos Williams

The Cottage Cupboard's Soft Rose Clutches $30.00 each:

Peaches for Me's Tangerine Rose Ring $8.00:

Dirty Sanchez's Rose Colored Soap $6.50 btw you HAVE to read her descriptions on the products, absolutely hilarious!!!:

Divine Rose's Yellow Dangle Earrings $24.00:

"A life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no roses"

author unknown

I'm crossing my fingers that my darling bff Kate will have a little girl at the end of the summer so I can help dress her up in lovely little items like Nuxie Made's beanies $28.00:

Bella Sera Design's Birthday wish card $3.25:

MyissaG's crocheted shower puff $6.00 - can't wait to order one of these!!!:

High above the valley of Quito

an old man and his bride grow roses

Red and yellow, white and golden

to him, they are precious as children

Their daughter, she moved to America

One more break in the tower of Babel

She has a son that they've never seen at all

They're praying that they raised her well

On the mountain high they will live and die

As time just slips away

And the children grown

in the God they know

As time just slips away

A man, his bride, his children and his roses

Planted in faith

and Watered in tears

honey, that's all they have

and they're happier here

than any of my friends back home

They met Jesus and they really know him

Now I'm back at home

all alone

and I'm trying to find my thoughts

of that old man so inspiring

and the TVs always on

and the phone, it won't stop ringing

These bills, they keep on screaming

I'm paying for the things

we never really need

Wonder what he's doing right now?

Maybe walking through his simple field

thinking about how

God has blessed him so

A man, his bride, his children, and his roses

Caedmon's Call - "The Roses"

I heart this look soooooo much!

Newest inspiration from the Satorialist :

So stylish, so Spring, so comfortable, and so so cute!!!