Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mad About Gardens - Shabby style

Spring is such a nice season to start having breakfast or lunch in your garden! Small or big it doesn’t matter.
Shabby Chic is the style that looks good and doesn’t require much work. Let wild flowers grow but not overgrow. Put natural element together but absolutely NO PLASTIC and enjoy it as it is.
Nice soft cotton seat covers on the bench, a candle holder, and an old table and the look is done!
Here’s just a tiny selection of inspirational photos. I love them!

 Via Flickr
 Via Unknown Sorry!


 Via: myshabbyroseblog.blospot.com







Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mad About Pancakes

I came across in my daily reading to a great post on Daisy Pink Cupcake and I thought to share it. Who wouldn’t love to have a pancake picnic?

At home, we try to make them once a month to have a Sunday pancake breakfast or in special occasion like birthdays and I confess to prefer chocolate on it than Maple Syrup.
After those beautiful images, I’ve added an easy recipe to follow. For more visit Blueberry Pancake Recipe.
Also for more great photos like these, visit Once wed.


Talk soon,
Jess
Servings: About 6 (3 pancakes per serving)
RECIPE:
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups low fat milk or buttermilk (you can make a substitute for buttermilk by adding 1 tbsps. white vinegar to each 1 cup of milk)
- 4 tbsps. vegetable or canola oil
- 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose *flour
- 2 tbsps. sugar
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt


Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and vegetable oil. Beat with a wire whisk until foamy. In another mixing bowl, measure the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, then mix thoroughly with a fork. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat with the whisk until all ingredients are moistened and the batter is just smooth - do not overbeat!

Set the batter aside for a few minutes to allow the baking powder to work - the batter will rise slightly in the bowl and form a few bubbles on the surface.

Heat a griddle or large, non-stick frying pan to medium-high. To determine whether the pan or griddle is hot enough, drop a small amount of water onto the surface. If the water sizzles and jumps, the pan is ready to go.
Pour batter in small amounts (about 1/4 cup) onto the griddle. Work in small batches - the pancakes will spread out as they bake. When the surface of the pancakes begins to bubble and the edges appear dry, flip the pancakes with a spatula. Cook for another minute or so, until the edges are completely done and the pancakes are golden brown.
Transfer finished pancakes to a serving plate and keep warm. Serve in stacks with butter or margarine and warm maple syrup. This recipe can be easily doubled (or halved) as needed.
These pancakes are delicious as is, but if you are in a more adventurous mood, try adding a cup of fresh blueberries, a handful of chocolate chips, or a diced banana or apple. As an alternative to maple syrup, try a warm fruit compote as a topping, or sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Winner is.....

EMMA!
The name was randomly picked by my colleague this morning.
I really hope you like it! I'll be contacting you today.
For the others, I'll enter another giveaway soon. If you wish me to enter one of your giveaways fell free and I'll be happy to promote it!
Have a good day

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Shabby Chic Kitchens - how to

Hello,
on Friday my kitchen top broke and I'm really not happy considering that it has only 6 yrs. To cheer me up I decided to look for shabby chic kitchens inspiration. Unfortunately it won't give me back my kitchen (not shabby at all :-( ) but it made me think about something else.
Here some tips on how to create one from Ehow and a nice selection of pictures.

How to Create a Shabby Chic Kitchen



  1. Step 1
    Take a good gander at your kitchen. Consider the existing style in terms of wall color, cabinets and other details. Also take notice of the size and unique layout of the room. Determine if there is enough floor space to accomodate additional pieces or wall space for cabinets or shelves. If not, begin thinking about how you could alter the existing look to achieve a more rustic feel. New paint and certain paint effects along with the right accent pieces will help change the look of the area.


  2. Step 2
    Measure the floor and wall space. Also measure windows in case you get new treatments. Write down this information along with a wish list of kitchen items. From canisters to cup towels, think about the types of accessories that will develop the shabby chic feel.


  3. Step 3
    Search your house for forgotten home decor items. Shabby chic style utilizes less than perfect pieces, so check the garage for discarded items deemed as unpresentable. They may be the perfect display piece for a shabby chic kitchen. Also consider how a new paint job may give new life to a neglected treasure.


  4. Step 4
    Create your color palette. When going for a country cozy feel, consider all white. Shabby chic style allows for mismatched color and follows no hard and fast rules. Typically the cottage feel is defined through the use of lighter colors. Soft pastels convey country comfort, but when it comes to color, there are no hard and fast rules. As long as the exterior finish is worn, any colors may be used.


  5. Step 5
    Delve into the details. Incorporate materials like wood with iron, iron with glass and pay no mind to its condition. Chips, cracks and other signs of age are desirable defects. Kitchen linens should look homespun. Display embroidered hand towels and old fashioned oven mitts. Display tin canister sets, delicate sugar bowls and other precious glassware. Without over-cluttering counter tops, develop the shabby chic feel through clever display of hand-picked items. Salt and pepper shakers, coffee mugs and other functional kitchen items are opportunities to play up the rustic motif.


  6. Step 6
    Select the right furniture. A chunky French-style wooden table provides the perfect accompaniment to a shabby chic kitchen. Give solid wood tables and chairs another coat of paint, let dry and then sand the piece to show layers of color. Also consider white washing for a country farmhouse feel.

    Tips



  • Hit garage and estate sales for authentically aged pieces. Look for wrought iron, tin, wood and wicker pieces.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Last week to enter my Givaway

Dear all,

just a little reminder about my giveaway. Only 1 week left. Click here to enter and you'll be redirected to the original post.

A special good luck to my baby for his operation...I love him so much!

Have a great week end!

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