Red is usually a given on Valentine’s Day, but I combined it with pink, grey and white for a fresher, more modern feeling.

The rose print on the tablecloth adds to the romantic mood.

Hot pink roses take centre stage, as they should.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Thanks again to Chef Busy Bee for  sharing another wonderful recipe with us this week!  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, her recipe is also something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a lovely homemade gift.

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Homemade Granola…..A Gift from the Heart… Pay it Forward

By Busy Bee

“Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort.” – Norman Kolpas

A little about me… I am a jack of all trades… a cook, a baker, a quilter, a mixed media artist, a crafter, a creative soul. But truly, my passion is food… I love everything about it…. eating it, smelling it, thinking about it, touching it, seeing it, cooking it, even shopping for it. Some people eat to live, but I live to eat. I really think food can fill your soul… it can tell a story, it can speak words of love, it can make you happy. There is no greater love letter than a meal prepared for the ones you love. I think these are lessons I learned at my mother’s table. I remember so vividly coming home from school, sitting at the table with her and a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a divine after school snack. I try to recreate these kind of memories for my little bees. It is amazing to me when they come home after a hard day at school and are in bad moods (we all have bad days), how a simple snack of baked bananas with almonds and a little agave syrup and whipped cream can transform them, and in turn, the energy in our home.

So long story a little less long….granola. After my own hard day and bad mood, my dear friend Ms. Big (big smile, big heart, big love) recently gave me some homemade granola. What a treat for me, because I don’t really have many people that fill my soul with food. Ms. Big always seems to pick the perfect moment to give me something thoughtful, delicious or delectable. Of course, I went right home and sprinkled some granola over some greek yogurt for a mid day snack…. delicious! Heaven… but wait… what was this delicious burst of sweetness that I’ve never had in granola? Butterscotch chips… genius!

I have always made homemade granola. I usually make granola to clear out my overflowing pantry of half and quarter filled packages of nuts, dried fruits, and other yummy surprises. But you better believe I made a special trip in search of butterscotch chips to add to my next batch.

Sunday afternoon in my kitchen, my Baby Bee was in the mood to do something, so we set out on the task of making granola. We took a lot of things out of the pantry and got to work. I usually read one or two recipes from the internet to get an idea of proportions, but then mix and match to come up with my own version. Baby Bee offered to write down the recipe as we mixed and matched.

My favorite granola is tropical… pieces of dried pineapple, coconut, and my secret ingredient…. lightly sweetened banana chips.

And as a tribute to Ms. Big, we had to add butterscotch chips. The key to granola is to add what you have. Take this recipe, or any other and keep the liquid-oat ratio the same, but substitute and change ingredients based on what you have or like.

Here’s the recipe, and a sweet picture of Baby Bee’s attention to detail and amazing note taking skills.

Coco-Loco Granola (coco for the coconut, and loco for all the crazy extras we added!)

1 C of banana chips broken in small pieces (slightly sweetened – usually available in the banana section or bulk section of your grocery store)
1/2 C shredded coconut or chopped coconut strings
3/4 C dried pineapple
1/4 C gogi or wolf berries
1/4 C dried cherries
1/4 C flax seeds
1T chia seeds
3/4 C sunflower seeds (roasted and unsalted)
1/2 C chopped almonds
1/2 C shelled and hulled pistachio nuts
6 C gluten free oats (was planning to give some back to Ms Big, who is gluten free, but regular oats are fine too)
1/3 C butterscotch chips
1/4C maple syrup
1/4C warm/hot water
3T coconut oil, melted
2 t vanilla extract

Whisk maple syrup, water and melted coconut oil together. Add vanilla extract. You can add a little extra syrup if you prefer a sweeter granola, but I like mine less sweet and can always add honey, maple syrup or agave to it when am eating it.

In a large bowl, mix oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, gogi berries, dried cherries, dried pineapple, coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachios and butterscotch chips together. Mix well and then add liquids. Mix to coat oat mixture well.

Spread out on parchment lined cookie sheets and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 8 minutes.

Remove granola and cool. Add cooled mixture to large bowl. At this point, add the crumbled banana chips and any other loco extras (for us it was freeze dried raspberries, strawberries and blueberries).

And as Baby Bee says, “and Voila! Coco Loco Granola. Tip: it goes well with Greek yogurt.” Also goes great with milk, over ice cream, or any other way you like your granola.

Store in airtight container. Granola in mason jars always makes a wonderful, thoughtful gift that can feed a soul. Will pay it forward to my dear friend Ms Big.

xoxo Busy Bee

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Molten Lava Cakes (& the Super Bowl)

When Life Gives You Lemons… make a hearty winter soup!

Today I’m feeling inspired by the wonderful combination of colors in this family room. I love the blend of warm and cool tones as well as the eclectic mix of furniture, lighting and accessories.

The art over the fireplace really ties it all together and may well have been the starting point or inspiration for the cheerful palette of the room.  This is actually a great tip to keep in mind when trying to pull a room together. So, if you love the color story in a piece of art, fabric or a rug, use it as a tool to help you co-ordinate the colors in your entire room.

Recipe for Molten Lava Cakes:

8 oz semi sweet chocolate
3/4 cup butter
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 8 ramekins or muffin tins

1.  Melt chocolate and butter in microwave (30 second intervals and stir until melted)

2. Combine eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla

3. After mixed and frothy, lightly whisk in chocolate mixture

4. Fold in flour

5. Divide in ramekins and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min.

(Ovens vary, but a shorter baking time gives you more “lava” in the middle and baking them longer makes them more firm inside.)

To serve, sprinkle with powered sugar and raspberries.

Below, Busy Bee writes about how these scrumptious treats have become a Super Bowl tradition in her home…

8 oz semi sweet chocolate
3/4 C butter
3 large eggs
1/2C sugar
1/2t salt
1t vanilla extract
2/3C flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 8 ramekins or muffin tins

1. Melt chocolate and butter in microwave (30 second intervals and stir until melted)
2. Combine eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla
3. After mixed and frothy, lightly whisk in chocolate mixture
4. Fold in flour
5.  Divide in ramekins and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min.

Sprinkle with powered sugar and raspberries.

Happy Super Bowl!

xoxo Busy Bee

At the 2013 Interior Design Show last weekend, there was an abundance of design to take in. In my previous post we took a look at some of the furniture on display and today I’ll show you a small sampling of the beautiful art.

(Below) I fell in love with the work of Randall S. Orr (randallsorr.com) whose art is made with BC Cedar, limestone plaster and iron filings.  When I asked him if he wanted to be in the photo, he said, “In a way I already am”.  You could really tell that he put his heart and soul into his art.

This plant sculpture by the David & Chico show is actually a real chair. Wouldn’t this be a great conversation piece in a foyer?
Karim Rashid designed this funky skin for a KIA car display.  Imagine cruising around town in this!

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If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to take a look at these:

Toronto’s 2013 Interior Design Show

Toronto’s 2012 Interior Design Show a Hit!

Bloom Lounge Chair

I visited the Interior Design Show in Toronto this weekend and, as always, it was filled with inspiration.

It was a thrill to finally meet face to face with the Bloom Lounge Chair (above) at the Emily Quinn booth. I’ve long been intrigued by Kenneth Cobonpue’s whimsical flower-shaped chair but this was my first time seeing one in person.  In magazine photos the petals have more folds and frills and the chair somehow seems more alive but still, it is incredibly imaginative, impressive and surprisingly comfy.

At the same booth, I fell in love with this luscious light fixture.  Resembling a white peony suspended upside down, I can’t imagine anything dreamier.

Cocoon Home Furnishings had an eye-catching display featuring a blast of tangerine.

I loved the vignette below for many reasons.  First of all, the bright, fresh color is so appealing during this dark, gray time of year.  Second, they’ve hung a rug on the wall for display purposes, but you can get an idea of how beautiful a loosely patterned wallpaper could look in this type of setting in your home.  Finally, the gold accents and round mirror add a softness and elegance while the stunning orchids are the icing on the cake adding an artful, exotic injection of nature.
Another furniture store, Casalife, was featuring a mid-century vibe with teal and gold.

Also at Casalife, some innovative shelving and modern coffee tables:
Urban Barn stores always find a way to make me smile, and their display at IDS13 was just as much fun.  These cloud mobiles caught my eye right away.  I don’t think they’re for sale, but wouldn’t they be perfect for a baby’s room?

This Spring they’ll be bringing in some outdoor furniture in bold colors like this purple bistro set.  So cute!

An assortment of wasabi colored accessories will be arriving in stores in about two weeks.  If the emerald trend is too much for you, this earthier tone might be the way to go.

A huge part of my attraction to the Interior Design Show is the artfulness of the displays.  Take, for instance, this tall, colorful stack of pillows – it’s like a work of art all on its own!
There’s much more of the Interior Design Show to share, so stay tuned, I’ll be posting part two later this week.

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In other news, the winner of the Happier at Home giveaway is Nicole at Scrap Me Baby!

Also, a huge thank you to Our Life in Action for giving me a Blog on Fire award!  It’s greatly appreciated.

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OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE:

Toronto Interior Design Show 2012

New and Notable at Urban Barn

Along with numerous other talents, my good friend, Busy Bee, is a wonderful chef who graciously agreed to do a guest post here today. I must tell you that I’ve eaten some of the most delicious food at her kitchen table, she’s shared many wonderful recipes with me over the years and she’s even used her magic to help me salvage some disasters in my own kitchen.

So, it gives me great pleasure to share her post, including a recipe for Avgolemono, with you here. 

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AVGOLEMONO
The sub arctic winter chill that has descended upon us in Michigan has left me wanting to hibernate. If I was a real bear, this would be good, but as a mama bear, not so good when the cubs come home cold, starving and also craving something warm and delicious in their bellies. Why not use lemons, which are in season in some parts of the world, but readily available and fresh in January in Michigan?

Avgolemono, or Greek chicken, rice and lemon soup is one of my family’s favorite hearty winter meals, with a lightness from the lemon that promises a delightful and cheery burst in your mouth and stomach.

I start by creating an easy chicken stock (you can also use pre-made stock). I used a half-eaten roast chicken made by my mother-in-law. The roast chicken deserves its own post, and no one makes a better roast chicken than my mother-in-law. A store bought rotisserie chicken works well too.

I filled a large stock pot with the chicken (carcass, skin, and any extra meat), two onions, peeled and chopped in half, 3 carrots in chunks (if you use organic carrots, just wash well, and don’t bother peeling), and 4 celery stalks chopped in a few pieces. Oh, and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt. I brought the pot to a boil, then turned down the temperature and simmered the stock for a couple of hours.

I then took out the chicken carcass and excess skin in one bowl, and took out all the cooked vegetables and put it in another bowl. I took off all the meat I could possibly salvage and shredded the meat ( just with my hands), and threw it back into the stock. I then took the bowl of veggies and puréed them in the blender (you can skip this step and dump the cooked veggies, but my thought was why not use them?). I added the purée to the stock. At this point, you can add more water and salt to taste. I increased the temperature and added 2 cups of rice (white long grain is traditional, but I used brown rice because it’s better for you). The rice cooked in the stock for about 20 minutes.

You can skip the first two steps if you are using premade chicken stock, but if you have never made homemade stock, this is a great opportunity to try it! And it is very delicious! If you are skipping the homemade stock step, then heat 8 cups of stock in a large stock pot. Add chopped chicken breasts and the rice at this time, and let it cook for 20-25 minutes until both the chicken and the rice are cooked.

Here’s where the magic started! In a separate bowl, I beat the eggs with a whisk. I then added the juice of 3 lemons (2 if you like a more subtle lemon flavor) and whisked together. I slowly added a ladle of the soup and continued to whisk, repeating this step one or two times. Doing this ensures that the egg stays smooth and doesn’t scramble in the soup. I slowly added the egg/lemon/stock mixture to the pot of soup and mixed well. The soup began to thicken and cooked for about 10 minutes, never coming to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste, garnish with fresh parsley and serve with some crusty bread and green salad.

Truly yummy! My 9 year old (who loves soup) told me he had to go for a third helping. And the icing on the cake? When my 7 year old (who does NOT love soup) came up to me after dinner, hugged me and said, “that was the best soup I ever had. Thank you!” So when life gives you lemons, make avgolemono!

Ingredients:

Leftover roast or whole rotisserie chicken, or 3 boneless chicken breast, chopped
8-12 cups water
4 carrots cut in half
4 celery stalks, cut in half
1-2 large onion, peeled and cut in half
2 bay leaves
5 whole black peppercorns
2 tsp. salt
1-2 cups rice or orzo pasta
3 room temperature eggs
Juice of 2-3 lemons, strained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Add first eight ingredients to a large stockpot. Bring the water to a rapid boil, lower heat to medium low and simmer partially covered for approximately an hour to an hour and a half.

Remove the chicken and vegetables to a bowl and carefully strain the broth through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Return the strained broth to the stockpot and bring to a boil.

Add the rice or orzo pasta and cook, uncovered for approximately 20 minutes until tender.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the egg-lemon mixture. Using a whisk beat the eggs until nice and frothy. Add the lemon juice in a steady stream while continuing to whisk.

When the pasta has finished cooking, turn off the heat. Ladle about two cups of broth into a bowl or large measuring cup. Slowly add the hot broth to the egg-lemon mixture while continuing to whisk. This will temper the eggs and prevent them from curdling once they are added to the hot broth.

Stir the egg-lemon mixture into the pot and heat over very low heat for approximately 5 -10 minutes until heated through. Be careful not to boil the soup once the eggs have been added.

Adjust your seasoning for salt and pepper and add more as desired.

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Thanks so much, Busy Bee, it looks and sounds delicious! We’ve been living in a deep freeze in Toronto this week, so I’ll be trying it out this weekend for sure.

I’ve been doing some much needed freshening up around our house this month. We’ve been long overdue for the basics – some fresh plates, pillows and towels – and, for once, the sales going on have aligned with my needs.

I found a beautiful set of bone china dinnerware for eight (bowls, mugs, dinner, salad and appetizer plates) at Home Outfitters for a steal. I’m so glad to get rid of the worn out set and I love the way the new ones look stacked in the cupboard.  I still have the old ones in the basement as I’m wondering if I can transform the plates into some sort of art.  If any of you have tips or ideas for this, I’d love to hear from you.

I also found some queen-sized feather pillows reduced from $100 each to $20 and bought a pair.  Why they were ever selling for $100 I’ll never know, but they’re fresh and have a great shape and I’ve been having sweet dreams on them for a few nights now.

Last, but not least, was a new set of bath towels as the old ones had really seen better days. Although I chose them to help brighten up the bathroom and help it look better, there’s nothing like the feeling of a fresh, fluffy new towel when you come out of the shower.

So, the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom have each been injected with a little dab of freshness and it feels great.  They’re simple pleasures which are all the more enjoyable because I didn’t have to break the bank to buy them.

Speaking of simple pleasures, I’m giving away a copy of Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin.  If you’d like to enter, you can find out all the details in my last post.

Have you been freshening up your space? Plates, pillows, sheets and towels are great places to start, especially at this time of year when all the White Sales are going on.

A couple of months ago I started reading Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin and I posted about it here.  As I said back then, rather than a “how-to” book, this is more like a memoir of nine months in the author’s life as she goes about making her home life happier.

Month by month, she focuses on a particular area in her life and attempts to make changes which she hopes will invite more happiness into her home.  She starts in September by tackling her family’s possessions, then moves through the categories of marriage, parenthood, interior design, time, body, family, neighborhood and “now”.

Each month she makes three or four personal goals to improve these areas.  What makes it intriguing is that the goals are very specific to her family’s needs and not as predictable as you may imagine.  For instance, in October when she is thinking about how she can make her marriage happier, she decides to take driving lessons.  Likewise, in February when she is focusing on “Body”, she aims to “embrace good smells” and to try acupuncture.

It’s obvious that the author put a great deal of thought into her goals. She was clearly dedicated to making changes and it was quite interesting to read as she chronicled her progress.   While taking a peek into the workings of her life, I couldn’t help but contemplate the areas that are and are not working in my own life.  Focusing on one area for a month at a time has never before seemed realistic to me, but after reading about Gretchen Rubin’s experience I think it just may be the ticket to lasting changes.

If you’re interested in reading Happier at Home yourself, today I have a copy of this book to give away!

TO ENTER:

1.  Please leave a COMMENT on this post simply stating that you would like to enter the giveaway.

2.  If you don’t have a WordPress account, please leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you are the winner.

3.  Entries will be accepted until Sunday at midnight.  COMMENTS will be numbered in the order in which they appear and a random number will be drawn.

The WINNER will be announced on Monday, January 28, 2013!

*****

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Happier at Home

Be Your Own Decorator:  A Review

New Decorating Book:  a Review

HGTV.com

If you haven’t seen the HGTV 2013 Dream Home on Kiawah Island, you’ve got to check it out! Judging from the photos it’s a beautiful blend of elegance and comfort with great use of color.

The guest bedroom first caught my eye with its deep blue accents. As the main color in my own bedroom is a rich blue, I love seeing how they’ve worked it into this room. The wall color is also interesting and I’m tempted to get a tester of their shade to try on my own walls.

The great room looks comfortable and inviting, just the way a coastal retreat should be.

HGTV.com

With so many doors and windows, there’s an abundance of natural light flooding in as well as a wonderful view.

HGTV.com

HGTV.com

The kitchen feels quite modern with the green ceiling adding an element of surprise.

HGTV.com

The dining room flows from the kitchen.

HGTV.com

The master bedroom is lovely too, but its decor doesn’t speak to me in quite the same way as the guest bedroom does.  I would love to have that walk-out to a terrace though!

HGTV.com

The master bathroom has a lot to take in.  To me the stand-outs are the wall tile and the fabulous view of the lush grounds.

HGTV.com

The photos of this home are so fantastic that I can’t even imagine how lovely it would be in person.

The pink, orange and white chair above first caught my eye.  So fresh and fun, it would make a great statement in any room, but really so would any of these…  
This graffiti fabric would be great in a bedroom for a tween or teen.
The deep fuschia fabric on this chair sure would wake up my living room!

There are plenty of floor model sofas and armchairs to choose from at the outlet, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for you still have the option of selecting your own fabric and having something custom made.

I’m still going to be shopping around a bit more as I haven’t quite made up my mind yet but this definitely won’t be my last visit to the outlet.

In case you’re interested, the Sklar Peppler outlet is at 274 MacKenzie Avenue, Ajax, Ontario.

Did any of these chairs catch your eye?  The fuschia one is still on my mind.

HouseBeautiful.com

There’s a bounty of beauty out there in the world of interior design and I love soaking it all in.  Now that Fall, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas are over, there’s a wonderful freshness in the pages of the periodicals.  So, it’s time for another magazine round-up!

The December/January 2013 issue of House Beautiful showcases four incredible homes which represent “Soul”, “Soothing and Ethereal”, “Tried and True” and “Authenticity” in design.   In the photo above, the Barbara Barry designed dining room is just one of many amazing rooms in a home which is the epitome of soothing and ethereal thanks to Ms. Barry.

The Manhattan apartment designed by Alexander Doherty represents Soul – “rooms that brim with character and personality, reflecting lives well lived”.  Always a favorite color of mine, I’m drawn to the different shades of purple in the living room below.

HouseBeautiful.com

Best cover goes to House & Home this month. The Vicente Wolf living room is absolutely fantastic.  He’s a master of “quiet luxury”, one of the four trends they’re forecasting for 2013.

HouseandHome.com

The other trends on their radar are “Simple Scandi”, “Fearless Mixing” and “Nature Comes Inside”.  All trends come with great tips on how to get the look, like this inspiration board for “Fearless Mixing” where strong colors and patterns work together to make an extra bold statement.

HouseandHome.com

I really love the showstopping lamp, but at a whopping $4,167 it’s not happening.

Elle Decor is bringing us the best of their international editions this month. Striking homes from Paris, Gothenburg, Milan, Pantelleria, Breda, Moscow, Copenhagen and Barcelona are featured, and the variety is amazing.

In Barnaba Fornasetti’s Milan home, it’s another world.  Take a look at his Nuvole wallpaper in the photo below! The painted furniture is also incredible.  In this bedroom, the chair and chest of drawers are not just pieces of furniture, they’re also pieces of art.

ElleDecor.com

Here, Fornasetti’s living room wall features his collection of mirrors.

ElleDecor.com

Finally, in Style at Home, the eclectic foyer by Meredith Heron on page 38 nearly stopped me in my tracks. It makes me realize that for 2013 I’m craving drama in my own interiors.

Style at Home magazine

For drama with more subtle colors, take a look at Christine Dovey’s kitchen which is very romantic in soft pinks, golds and white. Incidentally, Meredith Heron also designed this room.

Style at Home magazine

Happy reading!

Christmas 2012

Yes, I’m well aware that it’s January 8th and Christmas is officially over but, truth be told, I’m not quite ready to take down the tree.  You might be surprised to hear that it’s not for lack of time, and that I’m actually not even much of a Christmas reveler.  It’s simply that I love having the tree with all its green branches, softly glowing lights and sparkling ornaments in the living room. I find it really brightens up our long, dark evenings.

The tree is right in our front window and I’m sure passersby are having a little chuckle at our everlasting Christmas, but I’m not perturbed.  In fact, I think I’ll keep it up for at least another week while I mull over what to put in its place.

Image found here

Happy new year to you all!

Are you enjoying the change of pace the holidays bring? I’ve been taking the opportunity to catch up on some much needed rest as well as doing some major organizing and cleaning. There’s still a lot to go through in the basement, however the top two floors are in great shape. Not the most exciting way to spend the holidays I know, but I feel as though I’ve gotten off to a reasonable start for 2013.

Things are in such great shape that I managed to pull out my acrylic paints again.  For some time, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at painting a person and here’s the result of my first attempt.

Davisville Design 2013

There was a lot to figure out as I’ve never before drawn a person or worked with skin tones, but I think that in the end it worked out.

Right now I’m feeling encouraged and hoping to do some more painting in 2013.

Do you have any grand plans for this brand new year?

Season’s greetings everyone!

I hope your Christmas was merry and you are enjoying the holidays.  It was a whirlwind month and I didn’t have much time to post but, now that there’s a lull in the action and I’m starting to recover, I thought I’d say “Hi!”.

This morning we woke up to this:

Needless to say, I am staying in today. I’d like to be under the covers with some chocolate and a good movie but instead I’ll likely be doing some long overdue organizing and clearing out while finding places for all the new goodies we received for Christmas. I feel as though I have to start the new year with things in order, or as close to it as I can get.

On another note, it’s so hard to believe that I’ve been blogging for a year now. It’s been quite the journey and I’d like to thank you all for reading my posts and following me, I truly appreciate it.

I wish you all the very best of the season:  Peace, Love, Joy and Hope.