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Friday Randomness

First week back and what a whirlwind! I love getting back into the swing of things and starting on some new projects. Very fun and totally distracting from all the drab weather we're having. I have lots of random things to share today.

First, I got this for Christmas, and I love it!! I've been making all kinds of healthy things in it, including this "raw"corn chowder.

I have been so inspired by all the healthy things you can make with this gadget. I decided to have some friends over for an impromptu "Spa Lunch" yesterday. I kicked off our lunch with a detox lemon/ginger tea . . .

And I used those fabulous disposable linen napkins I mentioned in my Christmas Gift Guide. They are wonderful for parties since they make everything feel so special. Notice the contrasting hemstitch on these. If you would like a roll of your very own, click here.

Using the Vitamix, I also made a roasted garlic and Jalapeño hummus. I served it with rice crackers and carrot sticks. Total yum.

Then, for the main course I made a chicken/broccoli/asparagus pasta with a spicy cream tomato sauce (again with the Vitamix). Here is a picture I took before adding the pasta and sauce to mine.

Here's the table setting I did for the occasion . . . I removed the leaves from my dining table to make a more intimate setting for our lunch.

I did keep the cloches, but made one change. I found these faux succulents locally at the Lamb's Ear when I was shopping for accessories with a very cool client on Monday. We picked up several fresh new items for her space and I just had to have a few of my own. The price point on these is crazy good. I used them under the third cloche, along with the primrose from New Year's Day under the other two. They look totally real.

In addition to our yummy lunch, I finally got my island lighting hung. I'm so pleased with how it turned out! I think they are a nice compliment to the drum shade in my breakfast room, and finally I have more light in my kitchen.

Here's another view. Also, I used the silicone dipped bulbs. They soften the light in such a great way and add a level of sophistication you just can't get from a bare bulb. Locally, you can pick these up at Little Hardware in Mountain Brook Village, or click here for some of your very own.

More random news, last weekend, my daughter and I were together for a girl's weekend (the guys took a father/son hunting trip). So, like most girls after several rounds of movies, popcorn and ice cream, we decided to re-arrange our family room.

We left the wing back chairs and skirted ottoman in place, but opened up the game table and placed it in the center of the room and reconfigured the seating area. We tend to have movie nights during the cold weather months and enjoy playing games or even snacking at that table during the movie, so I thought it would be fun to center it in the room.

We also pulled in the "x" bottom stools from the living room for even more lounging. This seems to be Lottie's new perch. It had been so long since I had do a redesign in my own space that the changes feel really fresh.

I also got my January issue of Birmingham Home and Garden, and it is a show stopper! The entire issue is devoted to modern spaces, and every last one of them is stunning. I have to stay I think it is my favorite issue to date! They also included my predictions for 2013 design trends in their "Tastemaker's Predictions" section. Totally made my day! You'll have to pick up an issue to get the inside scoop.

This week, I read a fantastic post by the oh so talented Carla Aston, on How to Decorate the Top of a Cabinet (and how not to). Love the images she included in this post.

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I also discovered a fabulous team of artisans who are making custom stamps, and just fell in love with this one. It will be arriving in the next week!

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OK, so how's that for some randomness on a Friday! Happy Weekend everybody. M.

Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining

Since working on the lake house project, I've been sourcing lots of furnishings for outdoor spaces. I thought it would be helpful to share some thoughts on what to think about when designing your outdoor spaces as well as entertaining in these fabulous spaces.

Create an Indoor Room - Outside

To really create a high end outdoor space, you need to think about creating a space that feels like a room. That means pulling in lots of furnishings that can withstand the weather of being outdoors while still feeling cozy and comfortable. Consider cushions and pillows in an outdoor fabric. These days, there is a huge variety of fabrics that look and feel like indoor fabric but with the durability to withstand the elements. They even make an outdoor velvet, if you can believe it! Also, accessories such as baskets, iron, and even ceramic all hold up well in the weather and create the feel of a room.

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Outdoor drapery panels also add to the feeling of a private room. If your outdoor fireplace is inside a covered area, drapery panels are a wonderful addition. They soften the look of the space and create privacy while protecting your furnishings from the elements.

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Make It A Destination

What makes guests congregate to certain areas of your home? It's all about what you do to create an inviting destination. When hosting a party, consider opening your side gates to the area and lining the pathway with candles or lanterns. Also, two main things that draw a crowd - food and beverages! Make these available outside so guests have a reason to move to that area.

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Create a Unique Menu Tailored to the Outdoors

If you have an outdoor fireplace, take advantage of it and serve a menu that's unique to this setting.

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Here are just a few ideas to add to your list. How about some "chestnuts roasting on an open fire"?! I'm serious! How cool to greet your dinner guest with a bowl of chestnuts freshly roasted in your outdoor fireplace?

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Or you could consider something a bit more hearty and roast some kabobs for a tiny pre-dinner bite.

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And don't forget about dessert. Yes, you could do the simple standby of Smores' (they never get old people!). But you can take them to a whole new place.

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Talk about the perfect excuse to retire to the outdoor fireplace after dinner!

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Proper Lighting Is Essential

Don't forget to include some candles. While the fire itself is a wonderful source of light, candles add lots of atmosphere and can really elevate the experience for your guests, especially in the winter months when it gets dark so early in the evening.

Keep It Cozy

And last, but certainly not least, be sure to include lots of cozy blankets and pillows. There's nothing like feeling the chilly air on your face while cuddling up under a warm blanket.

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If you've ever sat around a fire with friends, you know it can truly be a magical experience - wonderful conversation, the smoky smell of yummy food, and the laughter of those enjoying the moment. Think about this when you're planning your next dinner party and include your outdoor fireplace in the plans! What a special experience to share with your dinner guests. M.

Project in Progress - Lake House Update II

Here's my second installment on the renovations to the lake house I mentioned in this post (if you need to get up to speed on all the details). The plans are complete, and the structure is really taking shape. One of the first steps - pouring a foundation for the structural beams.

This addition, is really going to change how my clients live in their space.

I love the plans the architect created for the addition. As you can see in this picture, they will retain a nice size deck that is open to the lake. It's important to have both screened porch and open decking to enjoy a view like this.

It's difficult to see in this picture, but there will be steps accessing the lake just to the left of the new structure. One other important change, the door from inside the home, will open into the screened porch. This may seem like an insignificant change, but the family room in this home is long and narrow, so any help we can get in creating additional space inside is welcome. I'll be showing you the inside space, and my design plans for both in a later post!

Also, the homeowner's have decided to spruce up the front door. As I mentioned before, they consider the lake side the "front" of the home, so I guess I need to call this next picture the "back" door as it is the door you enter upon arriving at the home. The plan is to give this door more presence from the street. I have no before pictures of this spot. In the picture below, work has already begun with the new "stamped and stained" concrete walkway.

This is a vey cool treatment that is quite affordable. We selected a stamp style and color to mimic slate. For more info on how this is done, click here.

After completing the concrete work, the structure is taking shape. It's amazing what a small addition like this can do for an entryway.

You will have to wait to see the finished product! Have a marvelous day. M.

New Year's Lunch and A January Spruce

I started taking my Christmas decorations down on the 26th. I'm telling you this NOT to sound smug. Hopefully, it will allow you a small window into my very Type A personality. If you are in the least bit inclined to OCD tendencies, you know by cleaning and clearing, it also clears your mind and allows you to be more productive. After the purge, the very predictable happened - the house felt bare and sterile. It happens every year. And every year I say, I'm so tired of all the decorations, I'm sure it won't feel bare this year. Since I was hosting New Year's Day lunch for my family, I needed to spruce a bit to make things feel fresh. Who wants to start the new year in a bleak, blah house for lunch?!

First, the menu (sorry I don't have any pictures of my own, my blogging break has made me very lazy!), this meal was so much easier to pull together than you would think. I love menus like that!

Hoppin' Johns

(served on a bed of creamy, buttery grits)

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Baked Ham

(you could skip this entirely as the Hoppin' Johns really felt like a main dish - if you added shrimp the to Hoppin Johns it would definitely be a meal)

Spinach Salad

with fresh blueberries, feta cheese (the recipe called for goat, but I only had feta), and black walnuts (I nixed the onions)

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Butter Biscuits

Mary B's Southern Made - I swear they taste just like my Mom's, but sooo much easier (sorry Mom!)

Banana Cheesecake

(from the Cheese Cake Factory and totally decadent)

I cooked the Hoppin' Johns from this recipe the day before and simply brought it up to temperature right before lunch. I made the grits right when I woke up, using 2% milk (instead of water) and added one stick of butter, salt and pepper. Then, I placed them in the crockpot to keep the consistency perfect for serving at Noon (thanks, Janet, for this fabulous trick!) For the ham, I picked up a fully cooked, spiral half ham (bone in) at the grocery. The morning of New Year's day, I made a slurry of coke and brown sugar and spread it on top of the ham (I really hate the honey baked ham glaze that comes with a ham). Then, I covered the ham in tin foil and cooked it for 1 1/2 hours at 275 (these directions are spelled out on the label of the ham). Since the ham was fully cooked, the oven is simply a way to bring it up to temperature and add an extra layer of sweet flavor. Also, I have to say, when you serve a ham, it looks very impressive. Truly, way more impressive than the energy exerted to make it!

The Table

So, for the table and the whole reason I started this post! I decided to keep the cloches I picked up for Christmas on the table. It think they are great for any season.

I've found, you can place anything under a cloche, and it seems to elevate it's importance. ~~I'm thinking of placing the toothbrushes of a couple of kids I know under these!!~~ I picked up two small primrose plants at the grocery (2 for $5) and used these along with the cloches.

One primrose, I repotted in a small square cement container I had on hand.

The other, I simply covered the pot with sheet moss and held this in place with a couple of strands of raffia (again, all things I had in my craft closest).

The paper white I received as a gift for Christmas (thank you, Cindy!). Then under the large container, I pulled out the shells I DIYed (is that a verb?) back in the Fall. They had nothing to do with the time of year or the menu, but the gold added a sparkle the table needed.

These few touches were enough to make the table feel fresh. Remember, you don't have to spend a ton of money, if you have a few basics to build from on your table.

I think this time of year, adding just a few fresh plants/bulbs helps to beat the blahs of the winter season. I love to see paper whites and crocus bulbs in containers - it makes me think of "fresh starts" and "anticipation of something new."