Friday, October 28, 2011

Foodie Friday

I LOVE PUMPKIN!
This looks divine.

Make Ahead Meals For Busy Mom's Pumpkin Coffee Cake
From Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
15 oz can pumpkin
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the inside of a tube or bundt pan with nonstick spray; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until well blended. Add the pumpkin and eggs and mix thoroughly. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Mix on medium speed until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl combine the flour, sugars, cinnamon, melted butter and walnuts. Sprinkle the streusel over the cake batter. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes. Slide a knife around the pan so the cake doesn't stick when removing it. Invert the cake onto a plate. Then invert the cake onto another plate, so that the streusel is on the top. Cool completely. Cover and store at room temperature.

(For two round cakes: coat two 8-inch rounds with non-stick spray and place a circle of parchment in the bottom. Divide the batter between the two pans, top with the streusel (x3) and bake for approximately 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.)

Not So Humble Brown Butter Icing: 

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
whole milk

In a small saucepan, heat the butter over medium low heat until fragrant and the butter solids are golden brown. Pour the butter into the sugar and combine with a whisk. Continue to mix, adding one tablespoon of milk at a time until you have a pourable icing.

Drizzle over the cooled cake, then abandon all dignity and begin stuffing chunks of it into your mouth.



AND....we can do this!


If you want help creating a lovely home, contact MD!
images from Pinterest


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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Black Doors and the Versatile Blogger Award

Interior designers 
Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt
hail from southern California and are the team at 
T&G Interiors, they now pen a blog by the same name.
They are new blog friends to me and have graciously passed on the Versatile Blogger Award.  Thank you so much!
Many of you have been readers of mine for a while and probably know more about me than you really want to but the rules of the award are:
 to be a gracious receiver and thank the one (or two) that presented to you and then link 15 blogs you love to follow for the award to go to next, and share 7 things about yourself. 

It's no surprise I love black, both in clothing and decor.  See post here on painting all (23) of the inside doors on 2 floors of my home black.
Every week I volunteer at a senior living facility and do crafts with some outstanding ladies full of wisdom and grace. 
I don't 'do' fake flowers, but love creating beautiful arrangements with natural elements or fresh flowers
I have a pet peeve of cords showing when decorating a room.  It becomes a game of how I can hide them.
I am a 'neat freak', not one to clutter or stack.  I stop at the garbage can between the mail box and the door to throw away most of what comes in the mail.
I believe in gracious manners and write notes of thanks or encouragement on lovely paper...promptly, to be delivered by the post person.
I can be found on my bicycle 2 or 3 times a week 
for 30 - 45 mile adventures with fab friends.

Thanks again to Julie and Danni, please go visit their blog 
T&G Interiors, they have a lovely eye for design.

15 of my 'go to' blogs are: 


If you would like help making your house into a lovely home, 
contact MD, we will work online or in person.


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Monday, October 24, 2011

Project Monday

Casa de Moore is preparing for the painter!
I am excited for a couple of reasons.  One - I get to choose the wall color, what you see is what I inherited three and a half years ago.  
Second - since I am used to moving every 2 or 3 years and that is not on the horizon, this feels like moving!  Everything  off the walls, out of bookshelves and hutches.  Third, I can move everything around and change up the wall art and furniture placement.  I love re-design!
I painted this black about 5 years ago, so it's going to get a spruce up!  Stay tuned....it's going to be crazy getting this place put back together before Mr. MD gets home this weekend!  Wonder if he'll notice?


If you would like help creating a lovely home, please contact MD.
We can work for you online or in person!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Foodie Friday

Fall is finally here! 
 This 'lemon and rosemary chicken' looks so yummy and perfect for a chilly night.
Mr. MD will be home soon and he will love this!
You all KNOW I LOVE hydrangeas.  Love this wreath infused with small white pumpkins and gourds!

I am sooooo loving this cooler weather!

Both images from Pinterest.
Do you want to make your house a lovely home?
Contact MD for online or in person design!
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Monday, October 17, 2011

Project Monday

Nothing says welcome more than a nice entry to your home.
Except when it looks like this.
Uggghhhh
It was either get to it NOW or wait until spring.  I missed my opportunity last spring and honestly I always go in my home through the garage and 'out of sight, out of mind'.
Once I got the goo on there and started scraping I wondered, 'now what have I gotten myself into?'  It was a 4 advil kind of night.
I tried to protect the hardware but the goo loosened the tape and I ended up taking it off, totally messing up the finish on the handle. Figure that out later, get to sanding.  I'm telling you, my right bicep is buff!  :)
I painted it the same color as the outside shutters...
and did a bit of antiquing of my own on the hardware.
I'm really pleased with how it turned out!


Do you want your house to be a lovely home?
Contact MD for online or in person design!

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Friday, October 14, 2011

Foodie Friday

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pumpkin Pie Trifle is so yummy.  I have made it the last two years and it's made with gingerbread.
This year I want to make it with pumpkin bread as the base since my family is not fond of gingerbread.
I'm also going to make them in individual servings!
It will for sure be a hit!

Have you brought fall to your house yet?
Go visit my friend Rebecca at Acanthus and Acorn for her quick tips on decorating your front porch.  Isn't her golden girl so sweet?  Oh and I love her flagstone porch too!

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Window Treatments

Window treatments frame a room and provide a beautiful finishing touch just as lipstick pulls your make-up together.
I prefer simplicity.
I am in the process of deciding just the right pleat and hardware for the living room.
I am contemplating no finial and perhaps a return rod. Would love your thoughts!
I adore goblet pleats.
Can't help but notice the beautiful millwork in this room too.
These softer pleats are pretty too.
Unconstructed simplicity.
I don't like valances or cornices, just simple straight lines with a puddle on the floor.
Covered or painted rods?
Perfection for an unobstructed view.
I spy Amanda Talley art!
Will someone please tell me where the money tree is so I can go pick just enough for one of her pieces of art?
This has nothing to do with what I am considering BUT I just love these roman shades and that they are lifted high above the windows and french doors.

images:  Domino, Suzanne Kasler, Bryan Batt, Mary McDonald, Veranda


Would you like to make your house a lovely home?
Contact MD for online or in person design!

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Silver!

I adore silver and am always on the hunt for interesting pieces.
My latest finds are these beautiful pots. The coffee pot was black when I found it and as I polished with love the fabulous patina began to come through.  The little spoons I have collected for years, they need a bit of polish!


The dust has been flying around Casa de Moore, Mr. MD has been out of town for weeks and will be home for the weekend and my son and his girlfriend are coming too!  Oh that sure makes for a happy mommy! 

What do you like to collect?


Would you like to make your house a lovely home?
Contact MD for online or in person design!
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Monday, October 3, 2011

Project Monday - Chalk Board Paint

My girlfriend was having a birthday and I wanted to do something a little different for her.
First to an arts and crafts store for a frame, then the local home improvement store to have a 1/4" piece of plywood cut to fit the frame and purchase the chalk board paint.
It really is simple to prime first, then 2 coats of the chalk board paint.
VOILA!!
I made me one too and it really works!
Of course I took her some flowers too....arranged in a mason jar!

Do you want your house to be a lovely home?
Contact MD for online or in person design!

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