Chic Ideas for Room Dividers
May 11th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
If you are like me and live in a studio- just like ex boyfriends you have got to set boundaries. Defining space is a crucial part of separating out the different functional areas in your home and will create the illusion of having more square footage. Here are some easy (and cute!) ways to separate your space.
- Picture Perfect: Inspired by Apartment Therapy, drill holes through the top and bottom of picture frames (empty or filled with your favorite art or photos) and connect using fishing line or rope and hang. For a more polished look, purchase new frames (the dollar store or target are great places to go) and glue two back-to-back before hanging and paint any color you want.
- Love Compartments: This space-creator does double-duty as both a defining and storing piece. These free-standing bookcases from Ikea come in different shapes and sizes you can stack or use alone.
- The Naturalist: Line up four to five (depending how much ground you want to cover)large 2-3ft vases and fill with tall branches or grass to create a modern look. Branches- Ikea, Planters- CB2
- Blind Ambition: My personal favorite- install wooden or metal blinds to your ceiling and you get a versatile removable wall. Keep them open to create the illusion of space, close them for privacy, or draw them all the way up!
Baja Fish Rub + Fish Tacos
May 9th, 2009 § 1 Comment
This fish taco recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart is better than anything I’ve had at a restaurant and perfect for those sunny afternoons with friends that turn into warm summer nights. Serve with chips and mango salsa as an appetizer, grilled corn on the cob pieces tossed with lime juice and chili powder for a side, and sangria and mojitos to drink.
For the fish rub
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro, plus sprigs for garnishing
- 2-pound fillet of striped bass or red snapper, skin intact
- Lime wedges, for garnishing
Directions
- Stir together spices and salt. Mix in olive oil and cilantro. Use a sharp knife to make shallow slashes about 1 1/2 inches apart into the fish skin; transfer to a large dish and rub both sides with spice mixture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Cooking on the grill: Preheat a clean, lightly oiled grill to high heat. Place fish, flesh-side down, on hot grill. Do not move for 3 to 5 minutes, or until fish is opaque. Flip using two spatulas. Cook until fish flakes slightly when pressed, about 5 to 7 minutes more.
- Cooking in the oven: Preheat the oven to broil. Place the fish on a cooking sheet and cook on the top rack of the the oven and cook on one side for 3 to 5 minutes, or until fish is opaque. Flip using two spatulas. Cook until fish flakes slightly when pressed, about 5 to 7 minutes more.
For the tacos
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups monterey jack cheese, grated
- 1/2 cabbage, shredded
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 1 avocado, sliced small flour tortillas
Directions
- In a small bowl, mix the cabbage, salt and water and refrigerate for 30 minutes
- in another small bowl, mix the sour cream and lime (this is known as crema)
- on a plate, layer the tortillas with paper or cloth towels and microwave for 15 seconds
- set out the cabbage, avocado, crema, cheese ,tortillas and fish in separate bowls/plates and assemble away!
*Tip: You can prepare the fish up to a day in advance and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator to marinate the spices.
Party Playlist of the Month: Swanky Swing
May 7th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
This playlist is great background music when you want to add some swank to your party. This playlist will be the perfect mood-setter for:
- Great Gatsby Party
- Bridal Shower
- Mother’s Day Brunch
- Engagement Party
- Wedding Reception
Here’s the playlist:
- Louis Armstrong- Dream a Little Dream of Me
- Bennie Goodman- Stompin’ at the Savoy
- Ella Fitzgerald- All the Things You Are
- Billie Holiday and her Orchestra- Yesterdays
- Frank Sinatra- Fly me to the Moon
- Billie Holiday- He’s Funny that Way
- The Glenn Miller Orchestra- The Little Brown Jug
- Ella Fitzgerald- I’ve Got the World on a String
- Michael Buble- Come Fly with Me
- The Glenn Miller Orchestra- In the Mood
- The Andrews Sisters- Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
- Anita O’Day- Ain’t Misbehavin’
- Duke Ellington & His Orchestra- Harlem
- Frank Sinatra- I Get a Kick Out of You
BBQ Invitation for Evite or Paper Invites
May 7th, 2009 § 3 Comments
The sun has finally started to shine in Seattle and I can already hear the grill calling my name…
I created this design for a BBQ I’m hosting next month for the main image of my Evite (if you use Evite for your parties or get-togethers I think it always adds an extra sparkle if you design your own instead of using the templates.)
I have posted the image here for you to download and use in your Evites or print out- Enjoy!
For a printed BBQ invitation
- Print the image and instead of trimming with scissors, rip along the edges to match the vintage look.
- Rip a blank piece of white paper the same size as the design.
- Glue the design to the outside of a folded piece of dark red or red and white checked paper and glue the blank piece inside.
- Write the invitation details inside.
- With a piece of distressed twine, raffia, or black ribbon; wrap around the closed invitation and tie in a knot in the front.
Creative Baby Bouquet for the Mother-to-Be
May 6th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
Instead of giving your Mom-to-be friend or coworker real flowers, why not give her this cute bunch of baby clothes she can use? This was a great idea I got from Martha Stewart I made for my sister when she gave birth to my nephew.
Materials
- 5-7 items of newborn baby clothes (onesies, socks, hats, or bibs)
- silk rose buds (1 bouquet of large and one of small buds)
- floral tape
- paper tissue
- vase or metal pail
Instructions
- Roll baby clothes lengthwise into buds (for onesies and bibs fold inwards first to make into a rectangle)
- With the floral tape, start halfway down the clothing roll and wrap around and down about 4 times and secure
- Place in the middle of 3-4 stems of the small buds and wrap the floral tape around the bunch to attach the clothes bud to the silk bud stems
- Repeat this task with the remaining clothes buds
- Attach all of the buds to one another and the bigger buds by wrapping with the floral tape
- This will be a mess of floral tape at the bottom and that’s what the tissue paper is for! Cover up the bouquet like a real bunch of flowers and secure with a ribbon or place in a vase or metal pail.
Tip: if your friend is having a boy- never fear! Michaels and Joanne Fabrics carry blue silk flowers that go nicely with the blue baby clothes. And you can never go wrong with white!
Garden Party with a Vintage Vibe
May 6th, 2009 § 1 Comment
For next to nothing! This is a great party idea if you have a tiny budget to work with and want to throw a luncheon or shower. I hosted this one in a relative’s backyard and spent a total of about $50 on the whole thing.
What you need
- Fresh Flowers- pick them up day-of from a local market ($10)
- Chair Covers and Table Cloth- made from floral bed sheets (thrift store- about$2 each)
- Chair Sashes- made from a cut-up sheer curtain (thrift store- $3)
- Vintage serving dishes- go for silver and mismatched from a thrift store ($3-$8)
What’s on the menu
(click the links for the recipe)
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Caramelized Onion Tartlets
- Spring Greens with blue cheese, dried cranberries and balsamic dressing
- Sparkling French Lemonade
- Cucumber Mint Gimlet
Creamy Mac n’Cheese with a kick
May 5th, 2009 § 1 Comment
I made this for a “Back to School” party and turned it into appetizers by filling phyllo cups(find them in the freezer aisle with the pie crusts) with the macaroni before adding the breaded topping and baking.
Ingredients:
- 7 ounces macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup dry bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- In a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour.
- Cook for about 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly; stirring occasionally.
- Mix in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking until sauce is thickened.
- Add cooked macaroni and Cheddar cheese.
- Pour into 2 quart casserole dish. In small bowl mix together bread crumbs, butter and parsley; spread over macaroni and cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
