tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63600361807124401302024-02-19T19:14:51.122-05:00Sadie PrissAmy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-45298290419631765372014-03-08T19:13:00.000-05:002014-03-08T19:13:53.108-05:00LEGO Superhero Birthday PartySo it has only taken half a YEAR for me to get around to it, but I am finally posting photos from Henry's 4th birthday party. He had a fabulous time, of course, and recently asked to go back to Coppermine Fieldhouse for his next birthday. And the invitations and decorations have been extremely popular in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SadiePrissSoiree">Etsy store</a> (especially around the time the new Lego movie came out in February).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSG_w3MVibwhIPAC5MPticVi7Q39rYbIN3AJ_jMXQoIdaJcjam7r_aLLKq_neTiAhgHQlRxLPPjyMzC8xsHVXuNSixcL48j4IzsmTjS6laP7fiy5G6lOvyt_e3Z2i7IpRwKChsJrS_S0/s1600/LEGO+superhero+birthday+party+invitation+WM+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSG_w3MVibwhIPAC5MPticVi7Q39rYbIN3AJ_jMXQoIdaJcjam7r_aLLKq_neTiAhgHQlRxLPPjyMzC8xsHVXuNSixcL48j4IzsmTjS6laP7fiy5G6lOvyt_e3Z2i7IpRwKChsJrS_S0/s1600/LEGO+superhero+birthday+party+invitation+WM+copy.jpg" height="462" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:: You can find the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/158304932/superhero-birthday-party-invitation?ref=shop_home_feat_1">invitation</a> in my Etsy store :: </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favor bags and labels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Henry's favorite things were in the favor bags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:: You can find the small party <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/160988721/superhero-birthday-party-printables?ref=shop_home_active_20">decorations</a> in my Etsy store. :: </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:: The large<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/159882227/superhero-birthday-party-poster?ref=shop_home_active_3"> posters </a>are in my Etsy store as well. :: </td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-29436900728865232492013-01-10T22:11:00.003-05:002013-04-18T19:45:56.903-04:00Mod Batman Birthday PartyNa Na Na Na Na Na Na Na.....BATMAN!<br />
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I know...I know.....It's way overdue, but here are the details from my son's 3rd birthday party back in September.<br />
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Here are the invitations. They are currently available online in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SadiePrissSoiree">etsy store</a>. I wanted a more modern, customized take on the standard Batman design. I played with the colors a little to get something a little lighter and brighter than the usual bold blue, black, and yellow.<br />
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I bought the <a href="http://www.paperpresentation.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PPN&Category_Code=INV_POCHETTE_A4">A4 Pochette</a> from Paper Presentation in black, lined it with black dot paper and mounted the invitation inside. I printed custom stickers for the outside of the pouchette to hold it closed.<br />
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I also purchased the <a href="http://www.paperpresentation.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PPN&Category_Code=A7B">outer blue envelopes</a> from Paper Presentation. I loved these invitations!!! Are they cute or what? How am I going to top these next year?<br />
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The decorations from the party...<br />
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I found this number "3" letter, already white, at Hobby Lobby. I just stapled ribbon to the back for hanging and printed a Bat Signal to glue onto the front.<br />
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I designed a few 18x24 signs that I printed and mounted onto foam core board. The cupcakes were from a local grocery story, Graul's. They always come through for me! I take a design and the ladies in their bakery replicate it exactly. I've used it for all of Henry's birthday parties with great results!<br />
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I always knew one day I'd find the perfect party to match my favorite <a href="http://www.fishseddy.com/browse.cfm/2,102.html">Fishs Eddy dishes</a>!<br />
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The black zig-zag bags also came from Paper Presentation. I used the for the favors and just attached a label to the front.<br />
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The favor bag contained fruit snacks and some basic Batman items I found at Party City.<br />
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I also printed some of the graphics at a small scale and framed them as subtle decorations in the living room and dining room.<br />
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Each child at the party got their own Bat cape and mask. I purchased the masks at Party City, but made the capes. I used blue plastic table cloths and adhesive velcro. I just traced out the shape, based on a cape my son already had, and simply cut it out of the tablecloth. Then I just stuck the velcro, which I cut into squares, at the neck of the cape. Honestly, this was a total trial effort with the capes. I fully expected the velcro to never hold, or hold for a little while and then peel off. It never happened. That stuff is surprisingly strong...and sticky!!!!!<br />
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I also converted the basement into a make-shift Bat Cave.<br />
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And finally, a few photos from the party!!!!<br />
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The birthday boy enjoying his cupcake!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Batman was more than happy to pose in full costume for his thank you card!!!!!!</span></div>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-23065856764586143962012-04-26T11:15:00.002-04:002012-04-26T11:15:21.751-04:00Mod Elephant Baby ShowerI know I've been MIA for a little while, but it's only because I've been so busy!!! I'm finally getting around to doing a quick little post about a baby shower I helped throw for my sister-in-law a month ago. Since she knew she was having a boy, I worked up a mod elephant theme that I thought would be fairly inexpensive to pull together and then also come up with some DIY decorations that could withstand being packed up and traveling to the shower. I live in Maryland...the shower was in Virginia Beach. If you're interested in using the invitation or some of the printable decorations for a shower you're hosting, please visit my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SadiePrissSoiree">Etsy shop</a> . I will be very happy to work with you to customize colors and text!<br />
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I made this really simple wreath for the door using crepe paper streamer and a little tulle. I used a metal circle form from the craft store and used the same technique I used <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/09/loopy-lou-lou.html">here</a> to attach the streamer and tulle to the form.<br />
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Since the shower wasn't at my home, but the home of one of my sister-in-law's friends, I wasn't exactly sure what I would need for decorations or how things could be attached to surfaces. So, I made paper pinwheel "flowers" for vases. I printed out signs that could be placed in simple frames and set on tables. I also did a poster (18"x24") that I mounted on foam core board and just set on the mantle. I also created a few sections of pendant garland and used one of them along the fireplace mantle.<br />
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I purchased a few yards of coordinating fabric and used them as runners or table cloths. Instead of hemming them, I just trim the edges with my pinking shears, which leave a zig-zag edge that doesn't unravel.<br />
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For the favors, in an effort to stick to a pretty tight budget, I used large baby food jars (washed and dried, with labels removed) and filled them with M&Ms that matched the shower colors. I also painted the lids solid white. You could spray paint, but I just used a semi-gloss craft paint and applied it with a brush.<br />
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I got the<a href="http://www.thenester.com/2012/03/hosting-a-girls-weekend.html"> idea</a> for this balloon centerpiece just a few days before the shower. The original post didn't provide much detail for how to make it work, so I just made it up as I went along. I started by tying two balloons (just blown up with air, no helium) together with a 2 foot length of twine and then draping them over the light fixture and let those form the bottom layer of balloons. I did that about 3-4 times. As they started stacking up on each other, (with a little help from the husband on duty) we started shortening the length of twine between the balloons until we had covered the light fixture entirely.<br />
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Below is a close up of the elephant "flower" arrangements that I used around the kitchen/dining room and living room. Some landed on the food table, others were used on the mantle, coffee table, and with the favor display. For these decorations, I just used small, square gift boxes from Michaels. I assemble them, and fold the lid down inside the box. I used regular yarn to decorate the outside of the boxes. I just hot glued one end to the back of the box and wrapped the yarn around about 6 times, then cut it, and glued that end on the back of the box too.<br />
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Then I made two small tissue pom-poms, and one small tulle pom-pom for each arrangement. I cut the elephant shape out of contrasting card stock, cutting out two elephant shapes, in mirror image, for each arrangement. I then glued them together with a wooden skewer between the two pieces of paper. I trimmed the wooden skewer down once I was ready to put the arrangements together. So, with the elephants on sticks, and three pom-poms (which have sections of wire as "stems"), I pulled the stems and stick together and wrapped them with regular tape (the same way you would wrap flowers together with floral tape for a bouquet). Then I placed the arrangements in the boxes. I secured the arrangements in the boxes by creating a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274335/marthas-flower-arranging-secrets/@center/867185/flower-arranging#/231667">flower frog</a> out of clear packing tape across the top of the boxes, which only required two strips of tape per box. I punched a hole with scissors in the center of where the two pieces of tape overlap and stuck the stems of the arrangement down into the box. You can add rocks or something heavy to weigh down the boxes if you think they may get bumped or knocked over.<br />
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And finally, just a few photos from the shower. It was a great success and everyone had a fantastic time. We had great food and played a few fun games. Kristi received lots of cute baby things for her little one!!!<br />
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-81352914276888136762012-01-25T09:30:00.000-05:002012-01-25T09:30:00.298-05:002012: A Cake OdysseyWhile looking for a new cooking or craft project to kick off the new year, I came across something that was the perfect combo of both crafts and cooking. The recipe for <a href="http://www.momofuku.com/restaurants/milk-bar/">Momofuku Milk Bar</a>'s Birthday Cake in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307720497/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d2_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1SDMM6ZAF6JGGEXVWCSR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">Milk Bar cookbook</a> by Christina Tosi (the pastry chef) that I picked up back in December. I purchased mine in NYC, but I've seen it at Barnes & Noble too. The recipe is intriguing for various reasons, like the use of (strange to me) ingredients like glucose and citric acid. I was most drawn to the challenge of creating a layer cake that you bake in a sheet pan, then cut out the layers, and stack them with the support of acetate sheets. Feeling scared? Think it's too complicated for you? It's not. And it's TOTALLY worth it. Every single minute of effort is SOOOOO worth it.<br />
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Because I work full-time and have a child, my free time is fairly limited. I tackled this cake project over two nights. Well...let me back up just a minute, maybe more than two nights. Before I started the cake, I had to get all of the ingredients and other supplies which involved more than just a trip to the grocery store. Most of the ingredients were basic stuff like eggs, butter, sugar, etc. However, I didn't have cake flour, grapeseed oil, glucose, citric acid, or clear vanilla. In the end, I picked up the glucose at a local cake decorating supply store (check the baking aisle at Michael's too). If glucose scares you, then you can substitute corn syrup (she notes this in the recipe). You can find cake flour and grapeseed oil at most any grocery store. I had no luck finding clear vanilla (I just used my regular brown-colored vanilla) or citric acid, but will keep an eye out for those. I can't say that those two missing ingredients made one difference in the taste or appearance of the cake. I picked up the cake ring, a large round metal cookie-cutter looking thing, that you use to cut the cake layers out of the sheet pan, and then use to form the base of the cake, at <a href="http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-12828/Aluminum-Cake-Rings">Sur la Table</a>. You can also order them on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Parrish-Magic-Line-Aluminum-Cake/dp/B0032JSEJK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I29GNOWIWKYC8Q&colid=2O7A5EJV2LUGQ">Amazon</a>. I purchased a sheet of acetate (clear plastic) at the local art supply store and cut out two 3"x 20" strips. You can buy these plastic strips online, but for the cost of the strips and the shipping and the fact that this is not my business, it was easier to just go the art supply store route.<br />
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So, back to the cake. The cake is made up of four separate recipes: the crumb, the icing, the cake wash, and the actual cake. I made the crumb and the icing the first night. They were very simple and quick. After I made them, I put each in their own air-tight container and placed in the fridge. To use the next night. I think Christina Tosi notes that the icing will keep for a week in the fridge and the crumb up to a month in the freezer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Cake crumb</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crumb straight out of the oven. It's perfectly sweet, salty, and crunchy.</td></tr>
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The next night I baked the cake. It's a pretty standard recipe, but you really must follow her instructions carefully. If she says you need to let the mixer go for 8 minutes, then you need to make sure that happens. Same thing when she says only let it go for 30 seconds. The cookbook has a great introduction written by Tosi that lays out how she arrived at this job, these recipes, and her reasons why you need to do what she says. I figure she's a renown pastry chef in NYC, not me, so I was very careful to follow each recipe to the letter--which is something I rarely do.<br />
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Once the batter was ready, I spread it out on a parchment lined quarter-sheet pan. The recipe calls for sprinkles and you can use any color combos you want. I was making this around the time we were celebrating the Baltimore Ravens' football team in the playoffs, so I figured purple, black, and yellow sprinkles were appropriate.<br />
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Straight out of the oven.<br />
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Once the cake has cooled, you cut two of the three layers out with your cake ring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlijish_LN0AnltlRbQfry07LcT_3ADl_q0EgqSBZ5t0FR6or53fChDwdDOf_yWaVtL0qvpQWlZkt6RTNdF6Y6l3neCnPq5-EXDmNkDT4ASwKkeYIUhyphenhyphen70Uot5ncjnnYM-xMvV-dPFZ4/s1600/cake+cut+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlijish_LN0AnltlRbQfry07LcT_3ADl_q0EgqSBZ5t0FR6or53fChDwdDOf_yWaVtL0qvpQWlZkt6RTNdF6Y6l3neCnPq5-EXDmNkDT4ASwKkeYIUhyphenhyphen70Uot5ncjnnYM-xMvV-dPFZ4/s640/cake+cut+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir27MAwt3zLxXWlGRM2nUzjIHGTNRlE3PeG4U_Vs2E6pS7SdZbMqsU68-elaNXUFaJ1LeoiPpJxbnBWmnzyeL-ssN61NH531NFUNMIPhKYVnUb8j-yPy-oviS9Lc5KFgp7dZZPcXOCbC4/s1600/cake+cut+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir27MAwt3zLxXWlGRM2nUzjIHGTNRlE3PeG4U_Vs2E6pS7SdZbMqsU68-elaNXUFaJ1LeoiPpJxbnBWmnzyeL-ssN61NH531NFUNMIPhKYVnUb8j-yPy-oviS9Lc5KFgp7dZZPcXOCbC4/s640/cake+cut+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You use the left over "scrap" cake to form the bottom layer of the cake.</td></tr>
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So now that all the parts of the cake were ready, I could finally begin to assemble. This is where that fourth recipe comes in...the cake wash. It's just vanilla and milk, so that one's not complicated at all.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GiKLrYqBMTS01OtGDKnzzeNYbAQL-Pn1vI7VwmHxwccvJyLGid_qU0dUNWSx96-OdgJSfw2U-w4iINfC2RXB3xxTICzGNXrm5AYlb5WhG9bbV-uHv_lN0-YDZ70i6TB9nGbX7tCTpIk/s1600/set+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GiKLrYqBMTS01OtGDKnzzeNYbAQL-Pn1vI7VwmHxwccvJyLGid_qU0dUNWSx96-OdgJSfw2U-w4iINfC2RXB3xxTICzGNXrm5AYlb5WhG9bbV-uHv_lN0-YDZ70i6TB9nGbX7tCTpIk/s640/set+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is my set up: I lined a regular 8" cake pan with parchment. Then I put the cake ring in the middle, and lined the ring with one of the two strips of acetate.</td></tr>
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You form the bottom layer of the cake, as I mentioned, with the scrap left over from cutting out the other two layers. So I just pressed the scrap pieces of cake into the round until I had a layer that was flat and about the same thickness as the other layers.<br />
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Then I got all excited about assembling the cake and forgot to take photos! So after the bottom layer of cake is in place, you brush the wash over it, then a thin layer of icing, sprinkle some of the cake crumb, then another thin layer of icing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ7kZ-DMCB6NnLZTTtyQbCly4lUWHrFNatjZse7feBaqMhgoS7VuflBJXr5IN7loiKoX3co1ajvql4bFCpsi33_NKb9Sv9UQho6K0_65-bITkNInQdhj4bOunmolgTi3L-9r7rbRJcas/s1600/layer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ7kZ-DMCB6NnLZTTtyQbCly4lUWHrFNatjZse7feBaqMhgoS7VuflBJXr5IN7loiKoX3co1ajvql4bFCpsi33_NKb9Sv9UQho6K0_65-bITkNInQdhj4bOunmolgTi3L-9r7rbRJcas/s640/layer+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the first layer, before you put the layer of icing on top of the crumb.</td></tr>
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Then you put one of the cut-out cake layers in place, after you add the other strip of acetate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpEyBHWqD-K33AyxkcNaeFi5hYMcqDl58dNZqJ92QZJlQHmUnl1tfOQwJ2HAEdBu3gCOOg6Qq62hBHwL993RG78I4oDE1OmYCYv-WyrmZSi22j2fd18WsV5P68KyQ6WIDSyZftDG3wHE/s1600/layer+3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpEyBHWqD-K33AyxkcNaeFi5hYMcqDl58dNZqJ92QZJlQHmUnl1tfOQwJ2HAEdBu3gCOOg6Qq62hBHwL993RG78I4oDE1OmYCYv-WyrmZSi22j2fd18WsV5P68KyQ6WIDSyZftDG3wHE/s640/layer+3c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then you do the wash, the icing, the crumb, and the icing again. Place the last cake layer on top of that, do the wash, the rest of the icing, and place the remaining crumb all over the top, or just in the center (which is what I did). And you have this:<br />
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The cake then goes in the freezer for 12 hours (minimum) and can keep in the freezer, well wrapped, for 2 weeks. About three hours before you serve it, place it in the fridge to defrost. And viola!<br />
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I must say, that in the beginning I had doubts that all this effort would be worth it for a 6-inch cake (I manged to get 12 slices out of it, so it's share-able). I was wrong. Very, very wrong. It was definitely worth the effort and it's good to know that I can whip this thing out if I need to (with a little notice) for birthdays or any other reason. The cake has the texture of angel food cake, light and fluffy, but with the flavor of a perfect vanilla cake. I think the wash adds just the right amount of moisture. As I mentioned, the crumb is perfectly crunchy, salty, and sweet. The icing is divine! I would make the icing for use on any other cake. It's a combination of buttercream icing with a little cream cheese and a touch of sea salt. Put all of those things together...the light, moist cake with the sweet, salty crumb, sandwiched between the creamy icing and it's perfection. Tosi definitely knows what she is doing!<br />
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Since I don't want to be sued, I can't post the recipe here. But someone else did, so you can read that <a href="http://kitchenhealssoul.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-momofuku-milk-bar-birthday.html">here</a>. Or you can just buy the book. It provides recipes for almost everything they serve at Milk Bar. From compost cookies, blueberries and cream cookies, to their famous crack pie and cereal milk.<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-64996135095950009662012-01-04T09:30:00.000-05:002012-01-04T09:30:00.596-05:00Cheers!Happy 2012 everyone! Here's hoping that it's a fabulous year!<br />
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I'm not sure what this may indicate about the new year, but I'm going to go ahead and start this year's posts off with one about delicious alcoholic beverages.<br />
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I pinned the recipe for a <a href="http://www.fashionablybombed.com/2011/12/flashback-friday-back-to-90s.html">Snowtini</a> on Pinterest a few weeks ago, hoping I would get a chance to try it out over the holidays. Well, I did try it out. In fact, I tried out a whole pitcher of it on New Year's Eve and it was delicious. Next to <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/08/bacon-jam.html">bacon jam</a>, this may be my new obsession.<br />
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Here is the original recipe, and my adjustments.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b>Snowtini</b></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Makes 2</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">1/3 cup coconut cream (should be settled at the top of a can of coconut milk) </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">¼ cup marshmallow creme--<i>I used about half a jar, so probably more like 1/2 cup</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">3 tablespoons vanilla vodka--<i>I doubled this because I didn't use the other alcohol the recipe calls for</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">3 tablespoons white chocolate liqueur--<i>I couldn't find this in time for my New Year's Eve test run, but have it on hand now and I can't wait to use it next time!</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">2 tablespoons half and half--<i>I just used milk I had in the fridge</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">1 miniature bottle of Malibu rum--<i>I didn't use this and probably wouldn't. Unless you have it or just love it, you get plenty of coconut flavor from the coconut and the coconut cream</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">¼ cup coconut</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">2-3 tablespoons sugar--<i>I omitted this, it was sweet enough with the marshmallow creme and coconut cream</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">1/8 teaspoon salt--<i>also omitted this</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Ice</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">1 package of Hostess Snoballs to garnish-<i>-I couldn't find these (but will look again next time I go to the store), so I used a powdered doughnut hole</i></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Add all ingredients to blender and blend, Baby, blend!!! Keep adding ice until you get a nice, slushy, snow-like consistency. Garnish with Snoballs!</span></span>
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This is the BEST snow cream you will ever have! I sprinkled a little coconut on top for fun. And then I drank it ALLLLLLLL!!!!<br />
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I guess to counter the Snowtini, now would be a good time to share my favorite hot chocolate recipe. I have been obsessed for a <u>very</u> long time with replicating the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2007/02/19/cocoa_flows_at.php">hot chocolate</a> at <a href="http://thecitybakery.com/">City Bakery</a> in NYC. I've tried all kinds of recipes that promised they were the real deal, but they weren't. Not even close to the smooth, rich, and thick chocolate heaven that is City Bakery's hot chocolate. And I'm not the only one obsessed with drinking their insane chocolate "soup"...there are tons of <a href="http://patandlindsay.blogspot.com/2011/02/hot-cocoa-dragons-magnolias.html">others</a> (and <a href="http://brookeandphilsbigadventure.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-new-york-city-winter-drinks.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.glenwoodnyc.com/manhattan-living/city-bakery-nyc-hot-chocolate/">here</a> are just a few) out there on the interwebs who feel the same way.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgfuB_SaiJBVUCnNzUK9DFhH-aBL2P6b2BC0MmWWPSHwR6Uw6FMnmbbqGvub1vBC34R8w4YVtL7qOoxqzDkTx0wbEoec_WZUaUVitFbZ3dWcqzB6RPBmzJ6SUe9cl7l92GjY-4MjxFwY/s1600/citybakery_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgfuB_SaiJBVUCnNzUK9DFhH-aBL2P6b2BC0MmWWPSHwR6Uw6FMnmbbqGvub1vBC34R8w4YVtL7qOoxqzDkTx0wbEoec_WZUaUVitFbZ3dWcqzB6RPBmzJ6SUe9cl7l92GjY-4MjxFwY/s640/citybakery_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2007/02/19/cocoa_flows_at.php">Gothamist</a>.</td></tr>
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I wasn't even looking for it (in fact, I'd given up) when I saw Paula Deen's <a href="http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/work_a_holics_hot_chocolate/">Work-a-holic Hot Chocolate</a> recipe in a cookbook I own. I knew the recipe stood a chance when I realized you make vanilla custard and add chocolate to it...and I was right!!! I know the thickness may be too much for some people, so when I made it at the<a href="http://www.sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-holidays.html"> holiday brunch</a>, I added a little more milk just to thin it down a little (just a little...to me the charm is in its thickness). The night before the brunch (since I didn't want to be stuck at the stove making hot chocolate), I made three batches and put them in the fridge in air tight containers. Then, as guests wanted hot chocolate, I heated up half a batch at a time with a little milk so it wasn't quite as thick. I also had a little Godiva Chocolate Liqueur to add for those who were interested in kicking things up a notch!<br />
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<h2 class="kv-ingred" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Paula Deen's Work-a-holic's Hot Chocolate</span></h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vanilla Custard:</span></h3>
<ul class="kv-ingred-list1" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tablespoons cornstarch</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 1/2 cups milk, divided</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup sugar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 large egg yolks</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hot chocolate:</span></h3>
<ul class="kv-ingred-list1" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7 ounces (2 chocolate bars) semisweet chocolate, chopped-<i>-I used semi-sweet chocolate chips</i></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup milk, boiled</span></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Directions</span></h2>
<div class="instructions" style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div class="instruction" style="line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 9px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sprinkle the cornstarch over 1/2 cup of the milk in a small bowl and whisk to dissolve. Add the sugar and egg yolks and whisk well.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 9px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over low heat, bring the remaining 2 cups of the milk and the vanilla bean just to a simmer. Remove the bean, scrape the vanilla seeds into the milk, and discard the bean. Gradually whisk the egg yolk mixture into the milk.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 9px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cook, whisking often, until the sauce comes to a full boil, about 3 minutes. If using vanilla extract, stir it in now. Strain through a wire sieve into a bowl. Serve warm.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 9px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Add to the vanilla cream the chopped chocolate chunks and a boiled cup of milk. Mix until smooth. Any flavor can be added- raspberry, cinnamon, holiday ginger spice, marshmallows. The semi-sweet chocolate can be substituted with milk or white chocolate</span></div>
</div>
<br />
And I guess I should go ahead and warn everyone that I received 9 cookbooks for Christmas this year. NINE! Until I can come up with a new craft project or decide to redecorate a room, there's going to be lots of cooking. So for my co-workers who read this...you've been warned. Start doing your extra sit-ups now!<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-13281799708957226642011-12-19T22:07:00.001-05:002011-12-20T10:15:21.291-05:00Happy HolidaysI'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2012! This will be my last post of 2011, so I thought it would be best to round out the year with photos of lots of delicious food. We hosted a brunch this past weekend for some of our friends. Despite worrying about having about 40 people in my tiny house at one time, and hoping that I would be able to cook enough food for all of the people who came, I think it was a great success. I know that we enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with many people, some of whom we haven't seen at all this past year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBlZi4MylTNvn5bk6UzrGa3nH27bbTl_nuTCcU8wWEv7c3g7vF4usgft0lHO59JhqbVz3M5q9lKV-aWXmwBYs8FOwYxQ9pkCL-BHAFMfIhTWBzwdQBJYR4Y4yfku-zy5jZ8AYl6A_-NU/s1600/IMG_1276a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBlZi4MylTNvn5bk6UzrGa3nH27bbTl_nuTCcU8wWEv7c3g7vF4usgft0lHO59JhqbVz3M5q9lKV-aWXmwBYs8FOwYxQ9pkCL-BHAFMfIhTWBzwdQBJYR4Y4yfku-zy5jZ8AYl6A_-NU/s640/IMG_1276a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found those plastic reindeer at Michael's and just spray painted them white. I just need 6 more to round out the set!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVMFyOydvSRM2LSm7XAZG9AlnoTSYaQcApvSep4KzLvouelb4cPmmiUsAME2v7BhdKkCmh6U-gGe6mKOOPsRUlonqIt9zosvKgc-J42go7XKgA_d10-wzBgjNnYLXf_Y_cwZ9egRomaI/s1600/IMG_1277a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVMFyOydvSRM2LSm7XAZG9AlnoTSYaQcApvSep4KzLvouelb4cPmmiUsAME2v7BhdKkCmh6U-gGe6mKOOPsRUlonqIt9zosvKgc-J42go7XKgA_d10-wzBgjNnYLXf_Y_cwZ9egRomaI/s640/IMG_1277a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I figure it's best to start with photos of the desserts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The menu included <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweet-potatoes.html">sweet potato brownies</a>, ginger molasses cookies, <a href="http://momofukustore.com/cookies.html#">cornflake marshmallow chocolate chip cookies</a> (from Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook), and apple cider doughnuts from <a href="http://www.weberscidermillfarm.com/">Weber Farm</a>.<br />
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We also had a mix of fruit, biscuits, croissants (I attempted to find country ham for the biscuits, but apparently it's illegal to sell in Maryland because I couldn't find it anywhere!), <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/08/bacon-jam.html">bacon jam</a> (of course), <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/08/baked-grits-are-best.html">baked grits</a>, and two different breakfast stratas. I use the basic recipe for a strata from <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/sausage-strata-with-cheddar-cheese-and-sun-dried-tomatoes.html?cm_src=RECIPESEARCH">Williams Sonoma</a> and then just make up my own vegetable or meat mixtures (I also cube the bread instead of just placing the slices in the pan). I made a veggie strata with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach, and then a meat strata with italian sausage and sun-dried tomatoes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you love those little amputated arm sign holders from <a href="http://www.fishseddy.com/browse.cfm/4,2837.html">Fishs Eddy</a>? I DO!</td></tr>
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And here are a few photos from the party...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry doing the dreaded "cheese" smile for the camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We told him to say "boogers" in this one. Much better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87kLJELBur2ayIUd_tilpkkd49FfK1gRlELDJIFdmP1-MW3QewAbnSA8REoAXMj_kdkQtWA1dV2SHN6o4s-5ZWwBMM3gyHP6cZ543hXDYpzID2-bWp66QSHLmdE8ZTlHewItEcjdUYT8/s1600/IMG_1328a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87kLJELBur2ayIUd_tilpkkd49FfK1gRlELDJIFdmP1-MW3QewAbnSA8REoAXMj_kdkQtWA1dV2SHN6o4s-5ZWwBMM3gyHP6cZ543hXDYpzID2-bWp66QSHLmdE8ZTlHewItEcjdUYT8/s640/IMG_1328a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of our friends have kids, and they're all the same age, so that really worked out well. They all played really well together and the damage to the living room was only temporary.</td></tr>
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And to just throw one last craft project in the mix, I thought I'd share these really cute and very <a href="http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting/Articles/Holiday-Gifts-for-Teachers">easy gift bags</a> I found on Pinterest. I don't have the Fiskars machine or punches to cut out the shapes, but since I only had to make 6 of these for Henry's "fwiends" at daycare, I figured I could manage to cut them out by hand. Are they cute or what?<br />
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Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!!<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-12110749787107611842011-12-15T09:30:00.000-05:002011-12-15T09:30:01.992-05:00Merry NYC!I had the pleasure of taking a quick trip to NYC over this past weekend. I was only there for a little over 24 hours, but I covered as much ground as I could! I did check out a few new places, in addition to my usual haunts. I always stop by <a href="http://www.fishseddy.com/">Fishs Eddy</a>, <a href="http://www.c21stores.com/">Century 21</a> (I went to both the original store downtown and the new one near Lincoln Center), and <a href="http://www.strandbooks.com/">Strand</a> bookstore. I took a few trips to other places I haven't visited in awhile, like <a href="http://www.jamaligarden.com/">Jamali Garden</a> in the <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/the-flower-district-midtowns-lush-passage/">Flower District</a>, where you can find anything you could ever need to decorate for the holidays (or any other reason/season). Here are some photos I snapped with my iphone:<br />
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I spent way too much time at the <a href="http://www.bowerykitchens.com/">Bowery Kitchen Supply</a> store in <a href="http://www.chelseamarket.com/">Chelsea Market,</a> mostly talking myself out of buying tons of pots and pans that I'd have to lug around the the city for the rest of the day.<br />
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I did check out a few new places too. If you've never been to the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/">B&H Photo</a> store (I've ordered online from them for the past 10 years), you should go...if for no other reason than to check out the <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2009/05/11/the-ultimate-tech-store-bh-photo/">Willy Wonka-style</a> operation in place once you step inside the doors. It's possible that B&H has the best and most efficient customer service of any retail location in Manhattan (outside of some of the luxury retailers on 5th Avenue). I also went to the <a href="http://www.doughnutplant.com/">Doughnut Plant</a>, which has finally opened a location within a short walk of a subway stop. There is little I can say to truly describe how delicious the doughnuts are at the Doughnut Plant. They have the standard flavors that you might expect, and then they roll out seasonal varieties like gingerbread and pumpkin in the fall/winter. They are fresh and are lightly coated with a delicious glaze, some that even ooze with cream cheese or chocolate when you bite into the cake. They're not your typical filled doughnuts.<br />
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I also tried a new pizza place called<a href="http://forcellaeatery.com/"> Forcella</a>, located on Bowery near the western edge of the East Village. I learned all I needed to know about this place after I read the word "fryolator" in the review in <a href="http://nymag.com/restaurants/reviews/underground/forcella-pizzarte-2011-12/">New York Magazine</a>. I went with the friends, who I was staying with on this trip, and we shared one of the fried pizzas, the standard margherita pizza, the bruschette, and the meatballs. And then we hauled our stuffed selves to <a href="http://www.momofuku.com/restaurants/milk-bar/">Milk Bar</a> for dessert. Good thing I spend lots of time walking when I'm in NYC.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brick oven at Forcella.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMR3FmR4Dc6IZitxSu85MYCVi5U8pXtWZEjwBnpe0YtlZz7-jJjmT9iu-Lj4Wu8MIayRbvmb9AssNVUNws5gDR5o2X9UNo4aQ52XmQ3jx_MW3f3mBd-tnYdewiHxt2OVUGYeC4XwXWSU/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMR3FmR4Dc6IZitxSu85MYCVi5U8pXtWZEjwBnpe0YtlZz7-jJjmT9iu-Lj4Wu8MIayRbvmb9AssNVUNws5gDR5o2X9UNo4aQ52XmQ3jx_MW3f3mBd-tnYdewiHxt2OVUGYeC4XwXWSU/s640/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Montanara Pizze Fritte at Forcella. A gorgeous fried pizza.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also finally made it to the hipster mecca that is the <a href="http://stumptowncoffee.com/location/manhattan/">Stumptown</a> cafe in the Ace Hotel.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jYx-uoHCFEUS1t6TuvIfYwrWUV9pbDPkTngzAe8rd9qp0kG6MnoCE5tFvoU_hGByKB5oyTUz3Uoc-LPYkdqH95hicLHXtUvDf_R_94j16bPbWe0Pl7nRcFKfRr_lBd0HNnLfaYAh0Zk/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jYx-uoHCFEUS1t6TuvIfYwrWUV9pbDPkTngzAe8rd9qp0kG6MnoCE5tFvoU_hGByKB5oyTUz3Uoc-LPYkdqH95hicLHXtUvDf_R_94j16bPbWe0Pl7nRcFKfRr_lBd0HNnLfaYAh0Zk/s640/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stumptown in the Ace Hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_abHMFxvyezBx33x0wfAKD7ldCNxmE4VvXWjXjOGgvv3UGoMNC4GiLoNlwaC-RkxSD7MR46LK-Z_5AInwUhvkj6Ti40DWHyvyXYf3DbBlZwz1IOs8dz4ygMCDw5B84jvFl4oOyO0lPM/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_abHMFxvyezBx33x0wfAKD7ldCNxmE4VvXWjXjOGgvv3UGoMNC4GiLoNlwaC-RkxSD7MR46LK-Z_5AInwUhvkj6Ti40DWHyvyXYf3DbBlZwz1IOs8dz4ygMCDw5B84jvFl4oOyO0lPM/s640/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cappuccino at Stumptown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great trip, and as always way too short. Here are the rest of my photos from my strolls around the city:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAPe8wwm0RbLj4fXv2eZc7ZVF3X_Kg3Y5MVS1gPeSCRTGZAjU838WTG2y_6hWeg647wl7AKM0pm-nKB-vO8_0XdnS6rXklCV3VwUpA3QrCy_VlgoJcisk30m0qIXATQ_npcqMqDimoPk/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAPe8wwm0RbLj4fXv2eZc7ZVF3X_Kg3Y5MVS1gPeSCRTGZAjU838WTG2y_6hWeg647wl7AKM0pm-nKB-vO8_0XdnS6rXklCV3VwUpA3QrCy_VlgoJcisk30m0qIXATQ_npcqMqDimoPk/s640/IMG_1155.JPG" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Chelsea Hotel, which is the site of the new Doughnut Plant location.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbBWHDfvs7y1bpy7DGTqmIuSSjcZ4CcGngJNJ6e-lkyA4amotD_z0FtoAaVCcvzcm7nlSVYCpuIXQ-P7rapyuHWCgqyiYq6ezHnUlDKXSxdDCYDoMVuMg4qY_opg9d0ZlWTzmFW01Jv8/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbBWHDfvs7y1bpy7DGTqmIuSSjcZ4CcGngJNJ6e-lkyA4amotD_z0FtoAaVCcvzcm7nlSVYCpuIXQ-P7rapyuHWCgqyiYq6ezHnUlDKXSxdDCYDoMVuMg4qY_opg9d0ZlWTzmFW01Jv8/s640/IMG_1160.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2cc-gtwD1U6EV5EjS3QwQBej2IJj_0sCZ-cx9hF_1WXxLUEVhNXB37C3fvdC0DIKldWoh5xGQMfaJvJZjdPMAppNQ6ajhtZpiMH0ZnIHZrlyidyIhCjmm-dlxvKUJwy3Okh6-vmfbIc/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2cc-gtwD1U6EV5EjS3QwQBej2IJj_0sCZ-cx9hF_1WXxLUEVhNXB37C3fvdC0DIKldWoh5xGQMfaJvJZjdPMAppNQ6ajhtZpiMH0ZnIHZrlyidyIhCjmm-dlxvKUJwy3Okh6-vmfbIc/s640/IMG_1158.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had the Blackout and the Chocolate Chip Cookie.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc_WgttJaGDvpuvuIru4yQMK9ijwAUoytrehYwy9p1Osf28yFvfuYpCBnYtbcbBewFWrN6vbfBuyVGAMzIODF8oDYNjT7vhlroZ7rSwwUb3iJsbCVGqg1eLPBJfEoeBA7UQxtMt4h3GQ/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc_WgttJaGDvpuvuIru4yQMK9ijwAUoytrehYwy9p1Osf28yFvfuYpCBnYtbcbBewFWrN6vbfBuyVGAMzIODF8oDYNjT7vhlroZ7rSwwUb3iJsbCVGqg1eLPBJfEoeBA7UQxtMt4h3GQ/s640/IMG_1156.JPG" width="432" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19x0olYTzg3B3zBKULvmhwVtCWJKXQ1Bl955AozNbtcssG0UakAmzFwP8bp5sfJ7MvYZorajIW9VVP_fX5O28Kirvju3QKW4TZmGJq9g2j5GjwHe-KTzgEut16AdkBRHrleqWa4pJnRo/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19x0olYTzg3B3zBKULvmhwVtCWJKXQ1Bl955AozNbtcssG0UakAmzFwP8bp5sfJ7MvYZorajIW9VVP_fX5O28Kirvju3QKW4TZmGJq9g2j5GjwHe-KTzgEut16AdkBRHrleqWa4pJnRo/s640/IMG_1157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun details inside the Doughnut Plant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRFJPw5MwjYPq-OMZcXMiM85Hz6nkmkIy515N4AJAr-UUA3OstYd8_ucpxhWSVs8iFQIH_L5d6yULrpolI9xJMTOo3mSqAlVJUMbyhKINy44FOOHT1YK0FQytEn8n54GYOTUyRoIoFnw/s1600/IMG_1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRFJPw5MwjYPq-OMZcXMiM85Hz6nkmkIy515N4AJAr-UUA3OstYd8_ucpxhWSVs8iFQIH_L5d6yULrpolI9xJMTOo3mSqAlVJUMbyhKINy44FOOHT1YK0FQytEn8n54GYOTUyRoIoFnw/s640/IMG_1159.JPG" width="388" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuccXxqEvNPi0OKoM5FTFOSfMr97w3m27olTS1noeLv54c7FHUgVNzJ3Zjyci0p5zGpY6ObK0qTpZZUFTbuBppdjStjlh0YOLWp2-oYDczSM6tMUnouH5X9BLr3DeA3OO2JkShLpiU7iI/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuccXxqEvNPi0OKoM5FTFOSfMr97w3m27olTS1noeLv54c7FHUgVNzJ3Zjyci0p5zGpY6ObK0qTpZZUFTbuBppdjStjlh0YOLWp2-oYDczSM6tMUnouH5X9BLr3DeA3OO2JkShLpiU7iI/s640/IMG_1163.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "Christmas Tree" in the Chelsea Market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof8GxjqzkeeDAxVccc6WM3QxD_S2rY1oFPpiLkTSU-DB4rSwducxT0ZrTs_4Hnppz_1cW2ZjRZgNu_Yxx3GDMHwRjvY5Ek-XlxKgq4ykBQ-cRhpq3rUXClykEdrqntlTeFS-WOeIHkoQ/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof8GxjqzkeeDAxVccc6WM3QxD_S2rY1oFPpiLkTSU-DB4rSwducxT0ZrTs_4Hnppz_1cW2ZjRZgNu_Yxx3GDMHwRjvY5Ek-XlxKgq4ykBQ-cRhpq3rUXClykEdrqntlTeFS-WOeIHkoQ/s640/IMG_1166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chelsea Market</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ijo_qIfuVQKqGrpyjt_30KFjt8TfN6mAJ9clURnnCBX40kD6_RkL5PH2w1IpTVjhmxhoObAqwxoQVi-GEWG4qZoKoBNaB79Xtpy18tzp-hLSlkEGlJgaJOS6xYwz9QPFFMlEBo2gJGA/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ijo_qIfuVQKqGrpyjt_30KFjt8TfN6mAJ9clURnnCBX40kD6_RkL5PH2w1IpTVjhmxhoObAqwxoQVi-GEWG4qZoKoBNaB79Xtpy18tzp-hLSlkEGlJgaJOS6xYwz9QPFFMlEBo2gJGA/s640/IMG_1173.JPG" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Astor Place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnRUA3_t0udJ8WCz_WvBBGpCpb3TNJ5g6ffHZVQp6ayQ6_ARE8fO-IEcAagLJoyGZFmTlmjbSshK4MkkLLTbm6E0fWQbuJxcDEZM5JSiHAienG1L4wOpiRjZdPKSRoYlGrZtvXLMccbo/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnRUA3_t0udJ8WCz_WvBBGpCpb3TNJ5g6ffHZVQp6ayQ6_ARE8fO-IEcAagLJoyGZFmTlmjbSshK4MkkLLTbm6E0fWQbuJxcDEZM5JSiHAienG1L4wOpiRjZdPKSRoYlGrZtvXLMccbo/s640/IMG_1180.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace Church. From this angle you would never guess this little church is in the middle of the city.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfsXhHJfQsiYBgEQFrCBes7Bw0I6bKzZ79IOpV8vEGQFqQTPCNh0J4y_gvDPVZpubAh8BkuSndhdhscBnoci-03sqW_Po0SD2OTqrvgNkQkUKaxkzh5UZpJz0etxnqCQUMS9qzHhnsH0/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfsXhHJfQsiYBgEQFrCBes7Bw0I6bKzZ79IOpV8vEGQFqQTPCNh0J4y_gvDPVZpubAh8BkuSndhdhscBnoci-03sqW_Po0SD2OTqrvgNkQkUKaxkzh5UZpJz0etxnqCQUMS9qzHhnsH0/s640/IMG_1185.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloomingdales.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgoV5mgLQMtLmq7dCDBI5jshODa1jthaWW3xQ8iR221TzAERa8LCZruyODkmc5yl6ZeHk_HRChBl5ALEu9ednPtu7lut4KLxPAjwjpGFqxmn49afkgLoLlcDFY-08l0ZU__JmsX49ZOY/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgoV5mgLQMtLmq7dCDBI5jshODa1jthaWW3xQ8iR221TzAERa8LCZruyODkmc5yl6ZeHk_HRChBl5ALEu9ednPtu7lut4KLxPAjwjpGFqxmn49afkgLoLlcDFY-08l0ZU__JmsX49ZOY/s640/IMG_1188.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lady Gaga window displays at Barney's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE03oLUMrH2hKJoQ1rYyrBpAMSk2J7zWErUW23BvdLkkfWWgTHhngoU7NNxM-PvBV2xEz401bl2KLZKjpoPU7PaAvkD4FigGI0oNLWQUImqJQTJWj_v1gwidJ10KLnpDwhPR5eJhywQzU/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE03oLUMrH2hKJoQ1rYyrBpAMSk2J7zWErUW23BvdLkkfWWgTHhngoU7NNxM-PvBV2xEz401bl2KLZKjpoPU7PaAvkD4FigGI0oNLWQUImqJQTJWj_v1gwidJ10KLnpDwhPR5eJhywQzU/s640/IMG_1189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFOF1ou9RuKRCk-2zMPtC4QBTZYY2t-SCkNkhYV4APm0YYgCexzm3CODrRVnCf39pLVL8b7Ip3BYGM0qojcVJ0ItGJ8b_ReBekLDNTZslv_zh-exS2fsh3FHrczhA99NVPvcNpy78ci4/s1600/IMG_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFOF1ou9RuKRCk-2zMPtC4QBTZYY2t-SCkNkhYV4APm0YYgCexzm3CODrRVnCf39pLVL8b7Ip3BYGM0qojcVJ0ItGJ8b_ReBekLDNTZslv_zh-exS2fsh3FHrczhA99NVPvcNpy78ci4/s640/IMG_1191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RRiPGdO2645gc7ypntEwWPNzUAOL-PtHBpE307dTVk7Z-RA1t88P0Jt7xaLOJRCervUFB7aO-2jD2hEW7V7Z_euMQ8hAEen_SzEO3Ul6Qi7wqvaMOZXotnkndLXGn60_mvSVbL2QrjE/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RRiPGdO2645gc7ypntEwWPNzUAOL-PtHBpE307dTVk7Z-RA1t88P0Jt7xaLOJRCervUFB7aO-2jD2hEW7V7Z_euMQ8hAEen_SzEO3Ul6Qi7wqvaMOZXotnkndLXGn60_mvSVbL2QrjE/s640/IMG_1195.JPG" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Plaza.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn3Tl6oRkH10UBiMrj1M4J0AEoK4PCBvmRvHOxhs6uWLd5La0yo6mJBtAicVq77kXZbcAU9EIrR7hzSf0dGp-nBgUBMeCSuhSwgAC0gGN1d4rCnOKJZv83Jk87tFrFczMo2ZZSY74wvQ/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn3Tl6oRkH10UBiMrj1M4J0AEoK4PCBvmRvHOxhs6uWLd5La0yo6mJBtAicVq77kXZbcAU9EIrR7hzSf0dGp-nBgUBMeCSuhSwgAC0gGN1d4rCnOKJZv83Jk87tFrFczMo2ZZSY74wvQ/s640/IMG_1204.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Times Square...looks like an alien invasion down there--which is why I usually avoid it altogether.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoCj-us3sa4zASUbj-1iF-kI7_yEif2YMKbr9qqhD_z3IzT69ZAhaUnV1NecX3kd94i2ZAgHjwb5vZAILuAUbCts2gZtWnbLi1-Ige6DH3c0ltkLvrGx_Vavfvz9UwpfJhbqSZuij3AE/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoCj-us3sa4zASUbj-1iF-kI7_yEif2YMKbr9qqhD_z3IzT69ZAhaUnV1NecX3kd94i2ZAgHjwb5vZAILuAUbCts2gZtWnbLi1-Ige6DH3c0ltkLvrGx_Vavfvz9UwpfJhbqSZuij3AE/s640/IMG_1207.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbus Circle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX591XoGWxzSLBFG-kHqSgANEyLmyzF_G7vp4yOyBsi5hMBRTnMhIzS9if5w99OQ7W3iehnvd17X3Y6lUmgBCLDqPQbv2E0PuNOxzZg9AiOspdYKRh8wLPpY4KGyl1Kf35uMCVWPH0XQc/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX591XoGWxzSLBFG-kHqSgANEyLmyzF_G7vp4yOyBsi5hMBRTnMhIzS9if5w99OQ7W3iehnvd17X3Y6lUmgBCLDqPQbv2E0PuNOxzZg9AiOspdYKRh8wLPpY4KGyl1Kf35uMCVWPH0XQc/s640/IMG_1208.JPG" width="406" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Yorker Hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRuCBkPqBhc2xKZOGpRmvAD1EGHPicG7Njy2EyIUtq3X59DbK6h6Q3agY_IAdNBt5OfCFPmeQS_Qew_qXT0u6dedMxs9CpOX9YIK4S3lxevrwhVQg-a367n7uJ_TlluxrZ6GcouDaPlo/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRuCBkPqBhc2xKZOGpRmvAD1EGHPicG7Njy2EyIUtq3X59DbK6h6Q3agY_IAdNBt5OfCFPmeQS_Qew_qXT0u6dedMxs9CpOX9YIK4S3lxevrwhVQg-a367n7uJ_TlluxrZ6GcouDaPlo/s640/IMG_1209.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macy's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUz0geTAHUtJGWIPG-QuKdqa8FUkhB7rLYrc1CwHSycyVJSCTSUuK_gP3Uxi5CquFUf8OvnVCAEjbQdONCzNRGnHjD0pwMFNBqnqArjhIxU7ayUrY9YQZkvA8Tjw5NEsjjEGQw1SXMk/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUz0geTAHUtJGWIPG-QuKdqa8FUkhB7rLYrc1CwHSycyVJSCTSUuK_gP3Uxi5CquFUf8OvnVCAEjbQdONCzNRGnHjD0pwMFNBqnqArjhIxU7ayUrY9YQZkvA8Tjw5NEsjjEGQw1SXMk/s640/IMG_1214.JPG" width="402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ace Hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-nVIq6lVpH5815Dmx3LSQhyyFifDFCL2-1NPY2V290sCgi_zEpCc9njlMnIgFOk_Hs74SRYyPchS6SUWNGImffaIjz4YI5FBh7YoLkTgTW4LKUVKp2eA0gxi8HMP6FjXttrkYOXqxho/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-nVIq6lVpH5815Dmx3LSQhyyFifDFCL2-1NPY2V290sCgi_zEpCc9njlMnIgFOk_Hs74SRYyPchS6SUWNGImffaIjz4YI5FBh7YoLkTgTW4LKUVKp2eA0gxi8HMP6FjXttrkYOXqxho/s640/IMG_1215.JPG" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flatiron Building...one of my all time favorites.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLNWFSzDKazSM5txxxDhuAoizDhevDHYoF_Zndg_K8M8NHwGoueeVuOCwNaCOk2Bj1U_mnsb6hMrueHLHWHEcjLVBtAdIwFg6MJ_Hg5uhoQJS_dcWbyRQb_reJY50ocW0NH_iMuDTAOg/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLNWFSzDKazSM5txxxDhuAoizDhevDHYoF_Zndg_K8M8NHwGoueeVuOCwNaCOk2Bj1U_mnsb6hMrueHLHWHEcjLVBtAdIwFg6MJ_Hg5uhoQJS_dcWbyRQb_reJY50ocW0NH_iMuDTAOg/s640/IMG_1217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatiron.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoKq2OkyXb6MWM8NKWHgqzTMpx4BH8ezCP70M0j2VyUnNQAdzisvksGQP2VW8hWyC4lJnCmNtxUJuAaBIfIBjRpG8752o5U13d32XnPjqyehREYiug54T0opH9aQ27VXToLFAZBsJ8eA/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoKq2OkyXb6MWM8NKWHgqzTMpx4BH8ezCP70M0j2VyUnNQAdzisvksGQP2VW8hWyC4lJnCmNtxUJuAaBIfIBjRpG8752o5U13d32XnPjqyehREYiug54T0opH9aQ27VXToLFAZBsJ8eA/s640/IMG_1218.JPG" width="394" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatiron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiwzGCEqjv1WyzoYC2a80WCfE1vB4A7K6OX-Xa47WYYicOc-5AQy-8zT0J1VutXbM3JuXedLmyXqlIQT__hnXa2OXbSTCJeRRyQ3qEfXUfrEVeFdKnsz7OH5c61trlKI6em8pgQF0Om4/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiwzGCEqjv1WyzoYC2a80WCfE1vB4A7K6OX-Xa47WYYicOc-5AQy-8zT0J1VutXbM3JuXedLmyXqlIQT__hnXa2OXbSTCJeRRyQ3qEfXUfrEVeFdKnsz7OH5c61trlKI6em8pgQF0Om4/s640/IMG_1219.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art installation in the front windows of the Flatiron Building.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9chd6I7Ufo6YZ3PBw8NEIheng-D02vlh0EdWege9hse81tTHWPLZ1l2KGgjj9yMpH9J2_wZizgcKdZ7yKKlw61N9fNRGyveHQCD2L2jshO7K9HLBwblOIxB95Go1R3RZ6ZY0CSm-zDCM/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9chd6I7Ufo6YZ3PBw8NEIheng-D02vlh0EdWege9hse81tTHWPLZ1l2KGgjj9yMpH9J2_wZizgcKdZ7yKKlw61N9fNRGyveHQCD2L2jshO7K9HLBwblOIxB95Go1R3RZ6ZY0CSm-zDCM/s640/IMG_1231.JPG" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My other favorite building, the Chrysler Building.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGavgfLnOhcLpioaH1CDLj1j7_Rd7a8pRGOY8O0VTTvTLol16Zqr4vYCoudDRqeLKU_r2QfhHE6V4-hzcJ-dPcwKWISUlIg3okMPlZClIbwKokfETunh6OFeRQRZw0hor1bbGu0G735U/s1600/IMG_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGavgfLnOhcLpioaH1CDLj1j7_Rd7a8pRGOY8O0VTTvTLol16Zqr4vYCoudDRqeLKU_r2QfhHE6V4-hzcJ-dPcwKWISUlIg3okMPlZClIbwKokfETunh6OFeRQRZw0hor1bbGu0G735U/s640/IMG_1235.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockefeller Center.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqr2k0bpo9DdfWVSml8pp03N6cO3jlmy3ADbXphGrrgzq20MDW7opLoTMpJRK7wLhejMjoVEKZU39CUz054JCeIRJA69bH15_eBWENCJtq6Ky6GmW2YsfLZNlYlksvq8i-0WnStMeiUQ/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqr2k0bpo9DdfWVSml8pp03N6cO3jlmy3ADbXphGrrgzq20MDW7opLoTMpJRK7wLhejMjoVEKZU39CUz054JCeIRJA69bH15_eBWENCJtq6Ky6GmW2YsfLZNlYlksvq8i-0WnStMeiUQ/s640/IMG_1237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-83985309366248268792011-12-08T09:30:00.000-05:002011-12-08T09:30:00.580-05:00Holidays at TerrainMission accomplished!!! I managed to visit <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/styers">Terrain at Styer's Farm</a> once each season in 2011. Yay me! I just love everything Terrain. The nursery selection, all of the unique home decor merchandise in the retail store, and the cafe is delicious. I love all of the little details. I think that's what really draws me in...no detail is left undone. Every time you turn a corner you find another lovely vignette of natural materials used in beautiful and creative ways. I posted about my visit in the <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/03/terrain.html">Spring</a>, <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-have-tiny-little-problem.html">Summer</a>, and <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/10/whole-lot-like-autumn.html">Fall</a> this year. So without further ado, here are photos from December 3, 2011 of Terrain in all of its holiday glory...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6WWccMefdzIsItaqfu7Gjh4Kdmh9DdekaK-yxdDzbJ7kS5C0SAzkuy-aL4b7UzPNoh5AVZclxDI2ia0eUZDLu2N09qzNsVxkGy68WQv_Sx_UYGCLLbiipPNu3rKbcWwsD6vgqIlA1dM/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6WWccMefdzIsItaqfu7Gjh4Kdmh9DdekaK-yxdDzbJ7kS5C0SAzkuy-aL4b7UzPNoh5AVZclxDI2ia0eUZDLu2N09qzNsVxkGy68WQv_Sx_UYGCLLbiipPNu3rKbcWwsD6vgqIlA1dM/s640/IMG_1008.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBD94lUmsdCaxV1Rm4r5N_21suP9-K9N5dB68fgbRgTKRVWik99C5-nKwN3AxL_6uEKdDfhzZAEfb8Hdjz8aUNkFxhyphenhyphenKPQWsICOAclXKuG0x2owjXDjgxsWhcHWRDdwiOqmDxqaJxaKY/s1600/IMG_1018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBD94lUmsdCaxV1Rm4r5N_21suP9-K9N5dB68fgbRgTKRVWik99C5-nKwN3AxL_6uEKdDfhzZAEfb8Hdjz8aUNkFxhyphenhyphenKPQWsICOAclXKuG0x2owjXDjgxsWhcHWRDdwiOqmDxqaJxaKY/s640/IMG_1018.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every tree was perfect.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVrWoLRSr8YZWhGeyHGdz8RRbJ94DljdwEcODiXtyW_8ykf65K1ensiexx9nDYiLqDkc8b2jP1W610xVUZ4p7QneVOONgTkyvXwWxgvnJNn-PkNsgxzgOL55e3JPafz339g151_CkmRI/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVrWoLRSr8YZWhGeyHGdz8RRbJ94DljdwEcODiXtyW_8ykf65K1ensiexx9nDYiLqDkc8b2jP1W610xVUZ4p7QneVOONgTkyvXwWxgvnJNn-PkNsgxzgOL55e3JPafz339g151_CkmRI/s640/IMG_1025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the cedar garland under the roof eaves. It's like green icicles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVdp8beW-SM6gdLmhfVgpIGfHAncjDaRi34sIK4_1wpJkVLqbLlTjGE4HIlB08MG0XrJWd2uM9Jfpk6UzrEM_il0kK0i3dU2M2ljorF8JnzC8l0pjE27-FRXyhWQfH8mUqUQbiaZZ3sA/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVdp8beW-SM6gdLmhfVgpIGfHAncjDaRi34sIK4_1wpJkVLqbLlTjGE4HIlB08MG0XrJWd2uM9Jfpk6UzrEM_il0kK0i3dU2M2ljorF8JnzC8l0pjE27-FRXyhWQfH8mUqUQbiaZZ3sA/s640/IMG_1026.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't stop taking photos of this window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the natural cotton they incorporated into some of the decorations. It seems to be the hot item right now!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQdt2gQ6b3e7U3V8DFQsr9DYK10CFwI0StUdEVzr_6LbStSA_dXP0S3P6un3Hwnd2fN261grzIQy6FlloqbsKs1sxKZ6ILpoB80aNlrSQMGR_-bVKzv2C3LUdW28t9vRP8sN0YgjKNww/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQdt2gQ6b3e7U3V8DFQsr9DYK10CFwI0StUdEVzr_6LbStSA_dXP0S3P6un3Hwnd2fN261grzIQy6FlloqbsKs1sxKZ6ILpoB80aNlrSQMGR_-bVKzv2C3LUdW28t9vRP8sN0YgjKNww/s640/IMG_1055.JPG" width="396" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnGg53b0H5j_VAaojCA7Gk9LLvUkSEw5Y_ML3FwUvkzcKiNUOMMEcULzCiiUhsKiS-V1J1tvQLoaShFuVzKroNTdYYboI_9phj5i1-ef41Xugkdjmpr_PZOe93xWTll6xnLiGNfU40_o/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnGg53b0H5j_VAaojCA7Gk9LLvUkSEw5Y_ML3FwUvkzcKiNUOMMEcULzCiiUhsKiS-V1J1tvQLoaShFuVzKroNTdYYboI_9phj5i1-ef41Xugkdjmpr_PZOe93xWTll6xnLiGNfU40_o/s640/IMG_1057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the monotone colors in this cookie and baking themed display. I love color coordinated displays!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8lgnPMChYBMql8BgC9jCT4TROkz6ANK0QAMxJfwWZMnuLUtXHVYMT-GI1fvOXRcE1kiecP8r8ifUehSAA1RRWzIl0l47s-XxSoBddf_edLj8Dd1VL9lXE0SNQwzhlBHHnxj7rOsjnDc/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8lgnPMChYBMql8BgC9jCT4TROkz6ANK0QAMxJfwWZMnuLUtXHVYMT-GI1fvOXRcE1kiecP8r8ifUehSAA1RRWzIl0l47s-XxSoBddf_edLj8Dd1VL9lXE0SNQwzhlBHHnxj7rOsjnDc/s640/IMG_1060.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also really love the jingle bell garland.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUSW9yTGx3mln__zIrF3zKWsDG-soVL4klTU8nQsKbV12fpjTfOkIxNVQKXOPZTvxB_qw9LgXorRwKtsZzSxovaDLqiYLk37GR16MoZfX4qe1t0M_uJDSWt6As3dH7UdJRpIw3VlCG7E/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUSW9yTGx3mln__zIrF3zKWsDG-soVL4klTU8nQsKbV12fpjTfOkIxNVQKXOPZTvxB_qw9LgXorRwKtsZzSxovaDLqiYLk37GR16MoZfX4qe1t0M_uJDSWt6As3dH7UdJRpIw3VlCG7E/s640/IMG_1061.JPG" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a really neat DIY chandelier made out of wreck canning jars and draped with cotton "snow".</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5xXzKrEvpeyf_tfz57hi7sQuoYYEWGjbE2mDEGIBn-UB2OkAiA32pdh0wRtYjTxmPoEzjpxBM6N-cgiDjpCxugaDpzzzjxpWHoqjv5f6d3jqkl1hyphenhyphenWerpMPTZM3bYhYIfkA3Ff7Go3k/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5xXzKrEvpeyf_tfz57hi7sQuoYYEWGjbE2mDEGIBn-UB2OkAiA32pdh0wRtYjTxmPoEzjpxBM6N-cgiDjpCxugaDpzzzjxpWHoqjv5f6d3jqkl1hyphenhyphenWerpMPTZM3bYhYIfkA3Ff7Go3k/s640/IMG_1062.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXWekVGf_ohLyaDvJUThOHSCDM3Gdq2d1NEhNbrW7uAY-VquBES5UXBlmvGDPpS6VUM-Rb3-gGkYzBubS0qyvjXkkGK_VSdvOwAf7WBLQit1q3O1wPsC6n0NTRpPx5XkJQTMhPB4lYOw/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXWekVGf_ohLyaDvJUThOHSCDM3Gdq2d1NEhNbrW7uAY-VquBES5UXBlmvGDPpS6VUM-Rb3-gGkYzBubS0qyvjXkkGK_VSdvOwAf7WBLQit1q3O1wPsC6n0NTRpPx5XkJQTMhPB4lYOw/s640/IMG_1064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many, really cute, mini dioramas made out of holiday decorations and live materials. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb-eK-rmHhHtlRAIjBhGqO6ncdHlSEaQplljY9dbjK35USV_xlAbdUa20IWizrK3NKOqJhBA8zwoN9MceUzK8Kx1xWm4mXL5pUQ20aBauPRDAvTnza6IpnzgHGFNmqJUiHvhE5ryEUVg/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb-eK-rmHhHtlRAIjBhGqO6ncdHlSEaQplljY9dbjK35USV_xlAbdUa20IWizrK3NKOqJhBA8zwoN9MceUzK8Kx1xWm4mXL5pUQ20aBauPRDAvTnza6IpnzgHGFNmqJUiHvhE5ryEUVg/s640/IMG_1065.JPG" width="354" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-52XyjYCM9hh0Kl2rYlHcntaAxUfFjFwCc0rxfcgEE53bqyiRQlIGhJp4MBTjlLVQeZOUcr_o8VHvhAS_sMNSfWcVrulLcU04Q2qE1a-Rx2p07QtGReRve4m2Z1wPIcvWENs9KrFpbo/s1600/IMG_1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-52XyjYCM9hh0Kl2rYlHcntaAxUfFjFwCc0rxfcgEE53bqyiRQlIGhJp4MBTjlLVQeZOUcr_o8VHvhAS_sMNSfWcVrulLcU04Q2qE1a-Rx2p07QtGReRve4m2Z1wPIcvWENs9KrFpbo/s640/IMG_1067.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite tree. Maybe it's the Southern girl in me who is drawn to the cotton!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxbo-tZpVsOFv9gpbxj9vowlIyleelyrX7zoZylcLh8HZEbINs7VaxnDIuTVNGxo8q4sU6bbpPtBOTiF1tcJTrdpdPW_WAhPII17aSOIoShx68Rd6sfh_cefuFRzDEzvrhVWnG9JwM5s/s1600/IMG_1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxbo-tZpVsOFv9gpbxj9vowlIyleelyrX7zoZylcLh8HZEbINs7VaxnDIuTVNGxo8q4sU6bbpPtBOTiF1tcJTrdpdPW_WAhPII17aSOIoShx68Rd6sfh_cefuFRzDEzvrhVWnG9JwM5s/s640/IMG_1068.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXqF6oXu3ddxssxjmk_rZz7lTcBZ1Ww9peQ2vfIDb1N9AZJprxMH9FL2dd7lCIWj1sLpDGb3rOoa9Hj50Gsxe1L3SGfBRRYFAvZpoS7jDxF1GZbm1pzLoRLN0EoGDyRnxja-wPKAzhwM/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXqF6oXu3ddxssxjmk_rZz7lTcBZ1Ww9peQ2vfIDb1N9AZJprxMH9FL2dd7lCIWj1sLpDGb3rOoa9Hj50Gsxe1L3SGfBRRYFAvZpoS7jDxF1GZbm1pzLoRLN0EoGDyRnxja-wPKAzhwM/s640/IMG_1083.JPG" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you want to knock on the door to see if you can come in and sit by the fire?</td></tr>
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Needless to say, it was hard not to return home and re-do all of my Christmas decorations. I had to buy something while I was there (and I did buy lots of other stuff) to add into what I already had going on at home, so I just added something white to the dining room:<br />
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And, just for fun, I put together these really quick desktop wallpapers from my Terrain photos. Merry Christmas!<br />
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-14696796792028219222011-12-06T09:30:00.000-05:002011-12-20T11:55:04.267-05:00Deck the HallsAfter much debate on which route to go....red? red and celedon green? just green? add in some plaid? oooo! plaid!!!....I ended up going all white this year with my Christmas decorations. I haven't gone all white in probably five years, so it was a fun change.<br />
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In the dining room, I kept the white table cloth and the natural colored (Pottery Barn) runner I had out at Thanksgiving.<br />
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I had three white ceramic pine cones from Crate and Barrell (purchased last year) and added two more Smith and Hawken pine cones that were similar (found at Target this year). Added some faux greenery and pine cones. I purchased the mercury glass votives at Target (they also have them at Crate and Barrel and West Elm). The little silver tree behind the candlesticks is from Anthropologie a few years ago.<br />
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On the sideboard, or buffet, I added a little faux greenery and filled my apothecary jars with faux snow and small, clear glass ornaments. I found the green (not live) tree at Ikea and placed it in an off-white planter I used to use on the front porch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ornament is from Pottery Barn.</td></tr>
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On my demi-lune chest I switched out my more colorful plates on the plate stand with off-white ones and added a beaded garland (from Pottery Barn a few years ago....I think I even found it at the outlet). The woven balls in the white ceramic basket usually spend the year on the buffet but I moved them to this table and added some cute silvery ornaments and faux greenery.<br />
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I didn't do too much in the way of decorating in the kitchen (it's too small to do much of anything, anyway), but I did hang a simple, natural looking wreath (from Michael's...I think it's really supposed to go around a candle) on the glass door. I also threw in another of those cute little trees from Ikea.<br />
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I continued the white in the living room, and kept the decorations fairly minimal. With a toddler, it's still hard to add things to low, side tables because you'll come back later to find your lovely beaded silver decoration riding in the back of a Tonka truck.<br />
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Unfortunately, I don't have room for a full tree in my living room (without removing serious amounts of furniture, for which I have no place to store...even temporarily) so for most of the time we have lived in this house I've had this faux tree that I place on the sofa table in front of the bay window.<br />
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This year I placed the tree in a white pot from Ikea, which gave it a little more height but most importantly, I think it will keep the little guy from being able to pull it off the table. I use the round glass bowl to collect Christmas cards (that's why it's empty except for a random photo ornament that I need to re-hang). I filled the bottom of the glass bowl with three strands of white pearl garland that I didn't want to put on the tree because I thought it was starting to make it look to fussy. The lovely pruned rosemary tree I received as a hostess gift at Thanksgiving needs to reside in this area to get the sun it needs, so I just placed it in a neutral basket until I can think of a more creative way to deal with it.<br />
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On top of the bookcase, I wrapped my multi-colored antique books in coordinating paper. I pulled over these two small vases (from Crate and Barrel) that were in the kitchen and added stems with gray berries from Michael's. <br />
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For my "mantel" (top of the TV cabinet), I added faux greenery and two neutral trees (I think they're both from Target). In my large mercury glass vase, I added tree branches that I had my husband clip for me. I also had him spray paint them white while he was out in the yard and then I placed three silver snowflake ornaments (from Wal-mart and left over from my <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/11/pottery-barn-inspired-winter-wreath.html">Pottery Barn-inspired wreath</a> project) in a cluster to one side.<br />
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I even put up a decoy, can't-be-destroyed, tree for Henry. I placed it in his very messy kitchen area.<br />
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Outside, I kept with the neutral theme.<br />
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I added a silver snowflake from the Smith and Hawken outdoor Christmas collection at Target. And hung my <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/11/pottery-barn-inspired-winter-wreath.html">Pottery Barn-inspired snowflake wreath</a> on the front door.<br />
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In the charcoal gray planter, I placed lighted willow branches (from Target a few years ago) and some pine boughs I snipped from a tree in the alley behind our house. I forsee that tree getting lots of "pruning" in the near future.<br />
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In keeping with my renewed interest in photography, and improving my skills, I played around with some shots of all the twinkling holiday lights. Like a zillion other people, I saw<a href="http://unskinnyboppy.blogspot.com/2010/12/oh-christmas-tree.html"> this post </a>on Pinterest about taking photos of your tree and how to capture the glow of the lights so I thought I'd give it a whirl too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWYsbzrHdeiYY0OBQvdTfa7DLCHkhoDK-LOVv9ZnUcH_ahsN-s_18DlIFiNDqbyCzBRlL2Oi6IlAPhNXpt-FQRyyCBCWVZ4vO7O6-fVgZf4lLuw8r7epWfQP7agmKEtLlLbr3jDnxn7w/s1600/IMG_0977a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWYsbzrHdeiYY0OBQvdTfa7DLCHkhoDK-LOVv9ZnUcH_ahsN-s_18DlIFiNDqbyCzBRlL2Oi6IlAPhNXpt-FQRyyCBCWVZ4vO7O6-fVgZf4lLuw8r7epWfQP7agmKEtLlLbr3jDnxn7w/s640/IMG_0977a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, I even captured some of the starbust lights! You don't have to buy that starburst filter for your camera lens after all.</td></tr>
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I also attempted to capture a photo of my toddler gazing at the lights on the tree. This is what I ended up with:<br />
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I did get this though:<br />
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I also played around with the same technique outside. Unfortunately, we have a street light out front and that light, sadly, has a really gross orange tinted light.<br />
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So, there you have it! Decking the halls for 2011 has been accomplished. Now, I suppose it's time to move onto being jolly. Fa la la la la!<br />
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Be sure to check out a small<a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/12/holidays-at-terrain.html"> update </a>I made to my holiday decor after a recent trip to Terrain at Styer's Farm and after our <a href="http://www.sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-holidays.html">Holiday Brunch</a>!<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-6205274316062252272011-12-01T09:30:00.000-05:002011-12-01T09:30:01.904-05:00Point and ShootThis is the first post in a long time that isn't going to be about cooking or crafting. I had a little fun over the weekend pretending to be a professional photographer when a friend wanted a few shots of her family for Christmas gifts.<a href="http://www.jerusalemmill.org/"> Jerusalem Mill village</a>, just across the Baltimore County line in Harford County, was the setting. And I guess I knew I was on the right track, when I showed up at about 10am last Saturday on a perfectly partially sunny day to find four other actual professional photographers shooting all over the place.<br />
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I wish I had more time to work on my photography skills, and maybe get back to shooting fully manually all the time, but lack of brain power (full time job, toddler, crafting and cooking, etc) sometimes leads to shooting with those little camera presets. I also want to do a better job of photos for tutorials and other projects I post on the blog. Lighting is always an issue, since it's usually 10pm when I'm doing these things. I'm going to work on improving those in the future. I find lots of inspiration online from other<a href="http://unskinnyboppy.blogspot.com/2011/11/power-of-pinterest.html"> non-professional photographers</a> who enjoy playing around with their cameras as I do, as well as from <a href="http://monicareidphotography.com/blog/">others</a> who are professional and who are amazing.<br />
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So here are my shots....<br />
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And then after I got seriously carried away in Photoshop...<br />
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I think they (the "before" shots) turned out pretty well! And I can see how easy it could be to use Photoshop for evil instead of good. In my defense, I never get to do anything fun in Photoshop at work and I rarely have the time to go nuts with my own photos.<br />
<br />BUT before you leave, be sure to check out a fun <a href="http://www.jpfiction.blogspot.com/">new blog</a> by one of my favorite 6 year olds. It promises to be VERY entertaining.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubH8QSs_gereJEPXy4PgLqpAoLgkSaxSRx-gFU5m5-H5OUCNqemaniLrQYXxgsOJ_DTsS8EgKHhSCu4eIlZ-yCHdtjAc3prPVdI0eqzKSt-7E_buXTA1kV_h27aPm2WfEyuQ_akIJUnk/s1600/jpfiction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubH8QSs_gereJEPXy4PgLqpAoLgkSaxSRx-gFU5m5-H5OUCNqemaniLrQYXxgsOJ_DTsS8EgKHhSCu4eIlZ-yCHdtjAc3prPVdI0eqzKSt-7E_buXTA1kV_h27aPm2WfEyuQ_akIJUnk/s640/jpfiction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am six years old. I have a blog. Check out my saw.</td></tr>
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...maybe even a little scary. I'm pretty sure that you'll learn something.<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-81663285466369517022011-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:30:01.955-05:00Small ThingsI just thought I'd share a few DIY Christmas gift projects I worked on over the weekend. These are fairly simple and inexpensive crafts that make great gifts for the holidays!<br />
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Clay Gift Tags<br />
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I haven't tried anything with clay (of the earthen or polymer varieties) since an art class in college. I'm not so good with modeling clay into something like an animal or a specific shape. I'm lacking that gene along with the ability-to-do-math-gene. I CAN roll clay out flat and cut it with a cookie cutter and stamp it with something. Like a cookie! Oh yes, I know about cookies!!!! Following this<a href="http://www.elmstreetlife.com/2011/11/diy-reusable-gift-tags.html"> tutorial</a>, you too can make these cute little tags that you can use for gifts or ornaments (or gift tags that are ornaments!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just purchased two blocks of white Sculpey polymer clay. I pulled out other things I have my craft supplies like stamps, ink pads, paint (not pictured), clay tools. </td></tr>
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I bought a cookie sheet at the Dollar Tree that I could use only for the purpose of baking this clay. You don't want to place it on a surface that you would ever place food. The same rule applies for the tools you use. I cut mine out with a set of round fondant cutters I found in the cake decorating aisle at Michael's. I used craft stamps for the initials and other decorative elements on the tags, and a straw cuts out a perfect hole for ribbon to tie them onto a package or to hang.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After baking.</td></tr>
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Once they cooled, I decided to use paint (same technique as the tutorial), to add a little dimension to the tags. Using very little paint on a dry brush, I filled in the impression left by the stamp, and then with a dry towel wiped away the excess.<br />
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I used silver jump rings that you use in jewelry making, to make it easier to attach ribbon to the top. This is totally optional because you could run the ribbon through the hole with no problem.<br />
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Girls' Headbands and Hats<br />
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This is a project I just made up as I went along. I need a few gifts for little girls and thought I could use some things I already have to embellish store bought hats and headbands. I snagged the hats and headbands at Walmart. The hats were about $1.30 and the headbands were four for about $3.<br />
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I pulled the bow and pink flower off the headbands and then attached leftover rolled-rose flowers I made a year ago for another project.You can find a tutorial for making the flowers <a href="http://mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-rolled-flowers.html">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also pulled out some feathers and the feathery yarn shown at the top of this photo. </td></tr>
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I wrapped the feathery yarn around the side of one of the headbands. I just glued it on either end to the headbands.<br />
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Then glued the flower on top of that.<br />
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I did the same for these:<br />
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For the hats, I sewed the rolled roses, in groups of three, directly onto the hats. I put a small piece of dark pink felt on the back side of the roses (inside the hat) and pulled my stitches from the roses, through the hat, and then through the felt so the stitches wouldn't pop through the woven fabric.<br />
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And that was it! Some very cute gifts that only took a little bit of time, but I hope they'll be looking very cute on a few little girls this holiday season.<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-5725202570007103842011-11-22T09:30:00.001-05:002011-11-22T09:30:02.149-05:00New Thanksgiving TraditionsWith only a few days to go, I thought I would share some of the fun Thanksgiving ideas I've found on Pinterest, in case you find yourself with tons of time on your hands and wish to take on a new recipe or two, and maybe even a craft project!<br />
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My decoration is minimal this year. I've stuck to neutrals and used my <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/10/velvet-pumpkins.html">velvet pumpkins</a>, pine cones, and candles for my centerpiece.<br />
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With my little guy, slightly more aware of holidays this year, I thought I should try to incorporate something into the decor for him (and that he can play with too).<br />
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I found the idea for the <a href="http://creeksidelearning.com/2011/11/15/thanksgiving-play-set-craft/">Pilgrims and Indians</a>, shown above, on Pinterest.<br />
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They were really easy to make. I just collected toliet paper cores (you could use paper towel cores too). For the set above I used four toliet paper cores for the adults and cut one core in half for the child. I just wrapped the cores in scrapbook paper, hot gluing it onto the cardboard core. I just drew the faces on with a Sharpie marker. And I just sort of winged it with the hats for the pilgrims. I figure these things are likely to last about 3 minutes in the hands of my 2 year old, so I didn't feel the need to spend too much time on them.<br />
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Now, on to more important things....alcoholic beverages. Check out this delicious holiday beverage that you could serve hot or cold.<br />
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Another Pinterest find, I followed <a href="http://whatkatieate.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-4th-of-july.html">this recipe</a> for the Apple, Ginger, and Cranberry Vodka Cocktail. I had vanilla vodka at home so I used that and it was fantastic. When that runs out I'll probably be making these with bourbon. I'm planning to drink them all day long.<br />
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Finally, I have fallen in love with<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-salsa-50400000117032/"> this recipe</a> for Cranberry Salsa from the November 2011 issue of Southern Living. Is this the prettiest salsa you've ever seen or what???<br />
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The recipe is very simple. Rise a bag of cranberries. Cut up a navel orange (zest it beforehand), then coarsely chop candied ginger.<br />
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Also chop 2 jalapenos, and some cilantro (the orange zest is in the middle below).<br />
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Throw the cranberries in your food processor until they're nicely chopped and look like this:<br />
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Place the chopped cranberries in a bowl. Next, put the other pre-chopped ingredients with a cup of sugar into the empty food processor until they're finely chopped and blended together. Stir them into the cranberries and voila! You're done! Leave in the fridge at least 2 hours, or overnight, and enjoy with tortilla chips (or anything else you desire to dip into it).<br />
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I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving!!!Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-20228467679437240132011-11-17T09:30:00.000-05:002012-12-31T12:01:28.751-05:00Pottery Barn-inspired Winter WreathNow that Halloween is over it's time to get in high gear for the holidays, so November is my prime holiday crafting time. If possible, I generally prefer to have all of my holiday-related crafting done before Thanksgiving. It helps with the whole "sanity" front I try to maintain. If I could, I'd do all my holiday cooking in July and my crafting in March. I like to enjoy the time from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. I actually enjoy Christmas music and decorations, going to holiday parties, wrapping gifts, and watching all the random Christmas movies on TV. I'm glad that Pottery Barn had their holiday catalog out before Halloween this year. It was very considerate of them to take my crafting <strike>insanity</strike> schedule into account. I was just flipping through the catalog when I saw this wreath:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeClz-UwfbDDeVPJmW19wKz3lZVNuT2oVClYxq1TMUfLUeBj7mxDrsJgsRzXFEqUrs2kpmzy_CMx6kDQ_8xkr0ciksxGKvnUour_sbA-FDziKRFzjNLdxcuNKJUqiH22zQJRhpNuMitQ/s1600/pottery+barn+original+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeClz-UwfbDDeVPJmW19wKz3lZVNuT2oVClYxq1TMUfLUeBj7mxDrsJgsRzXFEqUrs2kpmzy_CMx6kDQ_8xkr0ciksxGKvnUour_sbA-FDziKRFzjNLdxcuNKJUqiH22zQJRhpNuMitQ/s400/pottery+barn+original+wreath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pottery Barn <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/jeweled-crystal-wreaths/?pkey=cwreaths-holiday-decor">Jeweled Crystal Wreath</a></td></tr>
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So pretty!!!!<br />
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And for only $70 you can have a 13-inch one! Hmmm. Yeah, I think not. I'm pretty sure I can make that for less than $70. <br />
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This wreath really appeals to me (in addition to being GORGEOUS) because of its neutral color and theme. I usually go with seasonal wreaths, in lieu of holiday wreaths, on my front door. So my winter wreath goes up from the day after Thanksgiving through the end of February.<br />
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So, in order to make some gorgeousness happen on my front door for less than $70, this is what I did:<br />
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I bought a wreath form at Michael's. I should have measured it, but I think it's about 14-inches or so.<br />
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Then I took it apart.<br />
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Using wire cutters, I just clipped off the inside wire ring and the outside wire ring. It was pretty easy because they were held by wire pieces that were just bent around them.<br />
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And painted it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, I didn't actually "paint" it. I started this project and then realized I used all my silver spray paint on the <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/11/master-bedroom-makeover.html">curtain rods </a>in my bedroom. So I found a silver Sharpie and used that. I just wanted to make sure that the front of the wire was silver, and not green, in case it would show through the snowflakes once they were attached.</td></tr>
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For the snowflakes, I just went in search of ornaments. Knowing I would need about 12 (I ended up using 11), I tried to find snowflake ornaments that didn't cost a fortune. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to post about my $70 Pottery Barn-inspired wreath, which cost only $100.<br />
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The silver starburst ornaments at the top are from Dollar Tree. The <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/holidays/christmas-ornaments/dimensional-snowflake-ornament/s676104">snowflake ornaments</a> in the middle are from Crate & Barrel (they were too cute to pass up) and were $3. And the metal snowflakes on the bottom are from Target. I think they were $2. So for the ornaments, about $25 or less. The wire wreath form was about $3 (I had a coupon). I can safely say, I made this wreath for less than $30.<br />
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After removing all the tags and string or ribbon from the ornaments, I hot glued them to my wreath form. I also used thin gauge floral wire to wire them securely to the wreath form. Since they were oddly shaped and they weren't being glued to a flat, wide surface, I felt that reinforcing them with a little wire wasn't a bad idea. So about 10 minutes later, I had this:<br />
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My wreath isn't as delicate as the original Pottery Barn inspiration. I had a hard time finding beaded snowflake ornaments that were less than $6 each. So, I just decided to select ones that I liked, within my wreath budget (trying not to go over $30). Right before I made the wreath, I got the new <a href="http://www.westelm.com/shop/holiday/?cm_type=gnav">West Elm</a> holiday catalog in the mail, and I think that may have led to my more mod-style ornament selection. I'm in love with those starburst ornaments and thankfully they had those babies at the Dollar Tree!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr0zSZ7T2mRJ8dLbKYzS0nT5NUVv8SShhHr6acD1HH5u95scbV6KclF9cbijANciRSJyuSt7LcopF0aABSXi14gN5eCT7SAOeU3taS2s-MkvjPGdbC1mO98WW5fWzg32wuO-Jq_TxFhs/s1600/Picture+002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr0zSZ7T2mRJ8dLbKYzS0nT5NUVv8SShhHr6acD1HH5u95scbV6KclF9cbijANciRSJyuSt7LcopF0aABSXi14gN5eCT7SAOeU3taS2s-MkvjPGdbC1mO98WW5fWzg32wuO-Jq_TxFhs/s640/Picture+002a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is on my front door!</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-29403106767221990762011-11-15T09:30:00.000-05:002011-11-15T09:30:00.403-05:00Socky the SnowmanFor the holidays this year, it looks like most of my gifts are going to be food-related. Specifically, it looks like I'm going to be making a TON of <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/08/bacon-jam.html">bacon jam</a>. Unfortunately, while bacon jam will keep in the fridge for a few months, it's not something I'm ready to start making in mass quantities just yet. I only have a few other gifts to make for people who would really prefer I give them something handmade than store-bought. So, on pinterest (of course), I saw these:<br />
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They're not the usual Sadie Priss-sort of craft, but it's a gift for someone else. Someone who collects snowmen. And the tutorial (which is very easy to follow) is <a href="http://thenshemade.blogspot.com/2011/01/sock-snowmen.html">here</a>. So this is what I did, to end up with these in less than an hour...<br />
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Following the <a href="http://thenshemade.blogspot.com/2011/01/sock-snowmen.html">tutorial</a>, I bought cheap white men's socks at Walmart and two pairs of cute ankle socks ($1.50 each) at Target.<br />
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To make one snowman, I cut one white sock and each of the blue socks (per instructions in the tutorial). I did this same thing to make the snowman with the gray sweater and hat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white sock is the body, the sock that is open at both ends is the sweater, and the sock with just the heel cut off is the hat.</td></tr>
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I did sew the end closed (this step wasn't in the tutorial but I had a hard time trusting that the rubber band would hold all that rice FOREVER), and then wrapped it with the rubber band to hold it tight.<br />
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Filled it with rice, then held the top together with a rubber band, and then also stitched the top closed. Obviously, I have trust issues with rubber bands.<br />
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I added one sock to the body as a little snowman sweater, and the other as a hat. And tied with string, as directed.<br />
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I added (with hot glue) tiny black buttons for eyes and a few buttons down the front of the "sweater". I also colored the end of a bbq skewer with a orange marker and glued it on for the "carrot" nose. And just to be safe, I hot glued the hat onto the head of the snowman. It fits pretty tightly, but I will have to eventually ship these boogers so a little hot glue never hurts!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywUolg9xceviwxaDlxP2KT5QDZ2VoLsFDCo6JlNhxl5FCdcwhAQlTBd0NANPBoVii44QjXD3nwg2ZKkA6xjg-Oiel7Ryaa_x8r-vEs_p5PvUIAb0NhNJy-Ovx9ct7LS1PwltYvig_I-o/s1600/IMG_0409a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywUolg9xceviwxaDlxP2KT5QDZ2VoLsFDCo6JlNhxl5FCdcwhAQlTBd0NANPBoVii44QjXD3nwg2ZKkA6xjg-Oiel7Ryaa_x8r-vEs_p5PvUIAb0NhNJy-Ovx9ct7LS1PwltYvig_I-o/s640/IMG_0409a.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue is cute but that gray one is my favorite!</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-3787840238917582622011-11-10T09:30:00.000-05:002011-11-10T09:30:04.458-05:00Windows 2.0As I mentioned a few days ago, on my master bedroom update post, the curtains were a partially completed project. I bought them, I unpacked them, and then I hung them with no ironing or hemming, knowing that an upgrade was going to happen immediately.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPwwocDR7RkDYwgPFzK-UJOaE2F8QKglG2sDUp9K9muowU_pEvT-bsFb4oDKrs05N1mOwUqedhaaAtQKoKPzyK9qXlleUFpV0INGx7n0zRNrfCWijGIzxaqsr-I1JtKv4Q8obf5xFt34/s1600/IMG_0113aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPwwocDR7RkDYwgPFzK-UJOaE2F8QKglG2sDUp9K9muowU_pEvT-bsFb4oDKrs05N1mOwUqedhaaAtQKoKPzyK9qXlleUFpV0INGx7n0zRNrfCWijGIzxaqsr-I1JtKv4Q8obf5xFt34/s640/IMG_0113aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All wrinkly and blah.</td></tr>
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Back when I was <a href="http://pinterest.com/">pinning</a> things like a crazy person for changing up things in the <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/08/dining-room-saga.html">dining room</a>, I kept pinning photos of lovely neutral curtains with a little trim along one or both sides of the panels.<br />
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Before I started searching the internet for trim, I thought I'd check the local Joann's Fabric trim section especially since I had a 40% off coupon. I was thrilled to find that not only did they have a nice wide greek key-patterned trim, but it was in colors that would work in my new bedroom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6yfb4qE7D_EtfEw6WAmhmDhvzimSML6m6Or2RqIs9wifW1oUeQm-EupdsrCO8eokJ0NT9PTHEWDRpLsSh2bPl3_8xeSkj9cdYnLVxSEiFRoPQqmkGTLnZ-vVFA1wE-dfHAbQjwe4Lgs/s1600/Picture+006a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6yfb4qE7D_EtfEw6WAmhmDhvzimSML6m6Or2RqIs9wifW1oUeQm-EupdsrCO8eokJ0NT9PTHEWDRpLsSh2bPl3_8xeSkj9cdYnLVxSEiFRoPQqmkGTLnZ-vVFA1wE-dfHAbQjwe4Lgs/s640/Picture+006a.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A silver-y aqua greek key on a chocolate brown background.</td></tr>
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I needed 6 yards, so with the coupon, I got the trim for $23. I grabbed a little Stitch Witchery too (iron-on fusible webbing tape that you use to bond two pieces of fabric together), with a plan to iron that gorgeousness straight onto the curtains I bought at Ikea.<br />
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First, I had to hem the curtains. I wanted them a little long and to pool on the floor, so I just folded up the bottom of the panels about half an inch or so. I used the hemming without sewing (unless you want to) method, also outlined <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/twenty-yards-o-fabric/">here</a>. And <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/my-babies/">here</a>. The curtains from Ikea come pre-packaged with enough Stitch Witchery tape to hem each panel.<br />
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To attach the greek-key trim, I just ran two strips of the fusible tape (since I couldn't find the tape in a width that matched the width of the trim) along the inside edge of the panel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6aa0l4Z_aK24Ht3Ugs5vz0zMqus5ombV892lWJ_4FhGvtLeKc42gwHITtwklmkfAyiNff6mPJuzMzANDUt_O_TFSZY-k5psWhRt13Py-jk6htEs89CgtfvGc1TgYZuuE1ZzcUwySdi0/s1600/Picture+007a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6aa0l4Z_aK24Ht3Ugs5vz0zMqus5ombV892lWJ_4FhGvtLeKc42gwHITtwklmkfAyiNff6mPJuzMzANDUt_O_TFSZY-k5psWhRt13Py-jk6htEs89CgtfvGc1TgYZuuE1ZzcUwySdi0/s640/Picture+007a.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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Then, working in about 2-foot sections at a time, I held the trim in place while I slowly applied heat with my iron until it bonded. The trim is woven and a little thicker than ribbon or cotton fabric, so it took a few passes with the iron and a little pressure to get it to stick to the curtain. For the ends, I just let about two inches of the trim hang off the top and bottom of the panel until I was done applying the trim along the side of the panel. Once I was done with that, I turned the panel over, folding over the trim, and ironing to the back side using the fusible tape just as I did along the front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjYq81q3LviPXGYAFmSq4RrAYEeAnhq2n9itYFG6xj6V_eXZ5-EH0fYD6SL9pS5ef6Au-zabFkTDWz4irElkXu9tKlzunRx97ZWWti5lb88fJsikeyElbIwzu-kW7HU3Efv4PfkzIn10/s1600/Picture+010a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjYq81q3LviPXGYAFmSq4RrAYEeAnhq2n9itYFG6xj6V_eXZ5-EH0fYD6SL9pS5ef6Au-zabFkTDWz4irElkXu9tKlzunRx97ZWWti5lb88fJsikeyElbIwzu-kW7HU3Efv4PfkzIn10/s640/Picture+010a.jpg" width="434" /></a></div>
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It took about an hour and a half to do both panels, but that includes hemming the bottom and then ironing the curtains after the trim was attached. It was worth it! For about $40 I have these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJU39TADj4aMKR02oTyPhwY6kl1XG_z0-z3NTlD7fpD7oGfH5nyfmkWLoSIrBw3lbJp1Rj8OJLJATgq9GYlDYrw-T4JlDXvKFH6mB_Q5w39j3xMqhAE7TsIIHgcbDs7LxH-HQ9iOMmI4/s1600/Picture+015a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJU39TADj4aMKR02oTyPhwY6kl1XG_z0-z3NTlD7fpD7oGfH5nyfmkWLoSIrBw3lbJp1Rj8OJLJATgq9GYlDYrw-T4JlDXvKFH6mB_Q5w39j3xMqhAE7TsIIHgcbDs7LxH-HQ9iOMmI4/s640/Picture+015a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So dreamy...</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-72962372345434746082011-11-08T09:30:00.000-05:002011-11-08T09:30:01.873-05:00Whoopie!Whoopie pies are the new black. I'm pretty sure of this. They may even be the new cupcake. They're everywhere and I'm pretty sure they can't be stopped. I've never made them before and thought maybe I should. I mean, we are pretty close to Lancaster, PA, and those Amish folks do claim the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoopie_pie">whoopie pie</a> as their own.<br />
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Thanks to the awesomeness that is Pinterest, I found a link for Pumpkin and Maple Cream Cheese Whoopie Pies recipe <a href="http://bakeanddestroy.net/2011/10/pumpkin-whoopie-pies/">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjFoLUhqZLTwmBvPFx6xQ5AH3B21R-iB1otjNlXLmQn9uILf4GXU47TBWLx39p__qwzx5ryuN_jBmWy4d_sBKXo79MEQOnHhZRnZLJbgKAQalEtg3xupKwT2j50q0zhVUV7rS1fWbR_w/s1600/IMG_0256aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjFoLUhqZLTwmBvPFx6xQ5AH3B21R-iB1otjNlXLmQn9uILf4GXU47TBWLx39p__qwzx5ryuN_jBmWy4d_sBKXo79MEQOnHhZRnZLJbgKAQalEtg3xupKwT2j50q0zhVUV7rS1fWbR_w/s640/IMG_0256aa.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I must say, that not only did they taste fantastic, they turned out much prettier than I ever imagined!!!</td></tr>
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<br />I followed the recipe this time with only a few minor changes. I doubled the amount of spices (the cinnamon and ginger) and was pleased with the result. The cookies would have been bland (to me) had I not made that adjustment. My readers who tasted them can weigh in on that in the comment section!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixICyTDoMvBqmDIJoO3iSRaJUOVmykfIKeVyC4khxPR-ZevG2BHNrWErp8fnAJ5aP9Gpc2RtG3O3uG2VIo2UAKM6XKmfofv8TaPMsuV4vIIkAtSQA9_KCzY9DDUURXDAzHNbo1keMMdy0/s1600/IMG_0154a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixICyTDoMvBqmDIJoO3iSRaJUOVmykfIKeVyC4khxPR-ZevG2BHNrWErp8fnAJ5aP9Gpc2RtG3O3uG2VIo2UAKM6XKmfofv8TaPMsuV4vIIkAtSQA9_KCzY9DDUURXDAzHNbo1keMMdy0/s640/IMG_0154a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used my <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/oxo-cookie-scoop/?pkey=e%7Ccookie%2Bscoop%7C1%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">small cookie scoop</a> to put the dough on the pans. I knew using this method was the only way I stood a chance of getting cookies the same size. I just hoped it would also result in cookies with a rounded shape. Also, whenever I bake cookies, I ALWAYS use my Pampered Chef <a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=174&catId=9&parentCatId=9&outletSubCat=">baking stones</a>. ALWAYS. If I had <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/silpat-silicone-cookie-sheet-liner/?pkey=e%7Csilpat%7C3%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">Silpat Cookie Sheet Liners</a> I'd use those, but with the issues I have with my oven, I can't use a straight cookie sheet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zaYz-e3g_0TO9MLXEUAzh2e0sa13x7bTxDZs5ZhivTw9wg32tulCJ2Qsry9L9LdcX1tx93zuu4YhCGjIYSjsdfGJhQYjZX3nlFafZi5pM9q1tNZXpYUnFlm02M7nIKManNlQDAlxuiw/s1600/IMG_0158a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zaYz-e3g_0TO9MLXEUAzh2e0sa13x7bTxDZs5ZhivTw9wg32tulCJ2Qsry9L9LdcX1tx93zuu4YhCGjIYSjsdfGJhQYjZX3nlFafZi5pM9q1tNZXpYUnFlm02M7nIKManNlQDAlxuiw/s640/IMG_0158a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It worked!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY1uw_bxT5KyhWNgtbkXvOm6z304T7vXUrMnNquCMwKqtmgGmvCtaMMrrOZsAoRhDvJCvxLxDsynMqSzf-o2LnyJdZBYSVGgLfRzlzJe54N5rr4wBWNjoHu-4MwMDFl7-nEvp8TJFwwQ/s1600/IMG_0185a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY1uw_bxT5KyhWNgtbkXvOm6z304T7vXUrMnNquCMwKqtmgGmvCtaMMrrOZsAoRhDvJCvxLxDsynMqSzf-o2LnyJdZBYSVGgLfRzlzJe54N5rr4wBWNjoHu-4MwMDFl7-nEvp8TJFwwQ/s640/IMG_0185a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once I saw that the cookies looked perfect, I wanted to make sure I didn't make the filling look messy. So before I squished the two cookies together with the filling in the middle, I sort of formed it onto one cookie and smoothed the sides a bit. Then pressed the two together so the filling then just spread out in the formed shape.<br />
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Ta da!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQqxfeOGxHHJE1Rjxohq3cXIDJ1ISBYv1ovGZlzposkzUudZD2vVVrLvNnVbkEIuHgxxIwwf_FeZW2kOCBRwUJ7xEa3g9ldjuk4I5njtVk1AoAZCuMIl-5bv18I02DZ1OU11SLavVy8/s1600/IMG_0256a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQqxfeOGxHHJE1Rjxohq3cXIDJ1ISBYv1ovGZlzposkzUudZD2vVVrLvNnVbkEIuHgxxIwwf_FeZW2kOCBRwUJ7xEa3g9ldjuk4I5njtVk1AoAZCuMIl-5bv18I02DZ1OU11SLavVy8/s640/IMG_0256a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would absolutely make these again!</td></tr>
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In other, non-whoopie pie related news, I thought I'd share a little <a href="http://goanimate.com/movie/0vnfkvz016-0?utm_source=linkshare&uid=0H9gyNqgFlL0">cinematic masterpiece</a> created by my friend, <a href="http://www.playpending.blogspot.com/">Candy's</a> husband, who is obviously a skilled filmmaker.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKntP7AebXiyGwlSkqgLDgmi55dkg_B0DgJZy__2W22uVjP75jHThvVqZbUCf1bHf4KQiMyTrP33O8rual-mbneuVI_7q6CRDBeMtYaZbMnq04u26DF8fl9oWiloEfddI_bR7vGP2f0xc/s1600/amy+and+candy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKntP7AebXiyGwlSkqgLDgmi55dkg_B0DgJZy__2W22uVjP75jHThvVqZbUCf1bHf4KQiMyTrP33O8rual-mbneuVI_7q6CRDBeMtYaZbMnq04u26DF8fl9oWiloEfddI_bR7vGP2f0xc/s640/amy+and+candy+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet you'll never guess which phone is me!</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-74711980405219278042011-11-03T09:30:00.000-04:002011-11-03T09:30:04.731-04:00Master Bedroom MakeoverSo, it's taken a month or two but I've finally (almost) finished updating the master bedroom. We've lived in the house since 2004 and I never painted our bedroom. The color wasn't horrible, sort of a yellowy-beige, but it was kind of dull and boring. Then, thanks to our neighbors hacking down a huge maple tree in front of our house, the blazing afternoon sun began bleaching out my curtains and the coverlet on the bed. I bought them at Pottery Barn a few years ago and still love them, but I am kind of ready for a change.<br />
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BEFORE<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgUoXJwhrIa9_yghgCBzcBoFgkCRCI19pKHRKvqWhyphenhyphenCIfCg_B4zoiNqkN6OidzRlGWVWSG0ceoB8wlexs_ipAXrbIudKVFbQw75ND0vm5XegMD7M2cnpiSdT2sy2I9Kpn-2TSdbASG6o/s1600/IMG_9189a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgUoXJwhrIa9_yghgCBzcBoFgkCRCI19pKHRKvqWhyphenhyphenCIfCg_B4zoiNqkN6OidzRlGWVWSG0ceoB8wlexs_ipAXrbIudKVFbQw75ND0vm5XegMD7M2cnpiSdT2sy2I9Kpn-2TSdbASG6o/s640/IMG_9189a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have pretty decent bedroom furniture. It's only a few years old. </td></tr>
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I have lots of decorative items that I can work into the new plan. My lamps are neutral. The art on the walls is neutral. Unfortunately, despite the small size of my room (and the lack of storage anywhere else in my house for ANYTHING), all this furniture has to stay where it is. It's an insane amount of furniture for a small space.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOgV3qbz8EQgBdWQ74VXI1DcFVC4yzZCFV6FSMkGKWreWB7LWOADiRcuZnk3mx06-4WEye5UC_PpDMPDwwGWbTChwPBCfJuTaWHmuFldFRvA9Sgc4QEue1Eh9cM7wYMyhBfbtfJ0X-IU/s1600/IMG_9190a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOgV3qbz8EQgBdWQ74VXI1DcFVC4yzZCFV6FSMkGKWreWB7LWOADiRcuZnk3mx06-4WEye5UC_PpDMPDwwGWbTChwPBCfJuTaWHmuFldFRvA9Sgc4QEue1Eh9cM7wYMyhBfbtfJ0X-IU/s640/IMG_9190a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That bookcase on the left is here temporarily, but that may be "temporary" for 6 months to a year, not one week sort of temporary. I plan to paint it and move it into my son's room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCxU9-GI4H15FIm_gdGEhzHRcJduFrnPEKA3XzvhNfQ5DgPcc8WCBL6hGhOa9s0ejXVOGpv-oSEZEOHVExAvmMcuAANhFQGijnzl1qgHueg-Xyj0dzrkhk8E2osyvLBwh41TZUg1uXls/s1600/IMG_9192a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCxU9-GI4H15FIm_gdGEhzHRcJduFrnPEKA3XzvhNfQ5DgPcc8WCBL6hGhOa9s0ejXVOGpv-oSEZEOHVExAvmMcuAANhFQGijnzl1qgHueg-Xyj0dzrkhk8E2osyvLBwh41TZUg1uXls/s640/IMG_9192a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those funny hanging things at the top of the photo are the ceiling fan pulls (I should have cropped those out of the photo!).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB-rtWYu6d5nl8_yHd_nBvcpWMzg3kuyLj20uKvKDsm15H5znkeDiI8L_TqVxAq7vA0MDW7h2PMg6-LtaPQORBVuhiQZYP9bCX4WVOw3Syk9l4zVCOQTPwB3gzOkiqgjd9d7bOnXZikY/s1600/IMG_9194a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB-rtWYu6d5nl8_yHd_nBvcpWMzg3kuyLj20uKvKDsm15H5znkeDiI8L_TqVxAq7vA0MDW7h2PMg6-LtaPQORBVuhiQZYP9bCX4WVOw3Syk9l4zVCOQTPwB3gzOkiqgjd9d7bOnXZikY/s640/IMG_9194a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until I can get down to NC and scour the furniture outlets, this white marble topped table is my nightstand. I need to find one to go with the rest of the bedroom furniture (Broyhill's Charlestowne line...which is no longer in production). It was a table I had down in the basement, that happened to be same height as the other nightstand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
INSPIRATION<br />
<br />
I started mulling over color schemes back in August and pinned some lovely bedroom inspiration over at Pinterest. I noticed that most of the rooms I liked had grey walls. So thinking grey and knowing that I have entire room of dark furniture, along with little money to do anything along the lines of a total re-do, I started coming up with ideas to use things that I already have. Then lo and behold I received a <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/">Ballard Designs</a> Catalog in the mail about a month ago and saw these:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTA_MpN6w04qJUp3sege3h8uFU5F968OOLes9Xv-ok2r0tMJ_qvesG2x2UZ9Psh55ZDD6UydUOzSOOIVojmYSY6U_U7-U0fAewDKQHm0_AV-dRyZs1pEogVMusVtk0F5UQw_P4Oxre0E/s1600/ballard+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTA_MpN6w04qJUp3sege3h8uFU5F968OOLes9Xv-ok2r0tMJ_qvesG2x2UZ9Psh55ZDD6UydUOzSOOIVojmYSY6U_U7-U0fAewDKQHm0_AV-dRyZs1pEogVMusVtk0F5UQw_P4Oxre0E/s640/ballard+1.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of grey and dark browns. Not what you expect to be paired with gray. Also a little white. I like the addition of the terra cotta/rust color but I kind of have that going on downstairs already. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwu33dfsB2wPbiAa5trMeY6IDdMYnwcc05zEJzYrTXiogwWAYQ_JTMnWlnALcgT8uXQX9RTJkwbtXpJ2VlRHbUejWdrPqsxfzkggn_w5f_9C19WEBpe3rDj3IJ9glvC3NyurW_9EzkLk/s1600/ballard+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwu33dfsB2wPbiAa5trMeY6IDdMYnwcc05zEJzYrTXiogwWAYQ_JTMnWlnALcgT8uXQX9RTJkwbtXpJ2VlRHbUejWdrPqsxfzkggn_w5f_9C19WEBpe3rDj3IJ9glvC3NyurW_9EzkLk/s640/ballard+3.jpg" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another good mix of unsuspecting neutrals with a pop of color.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But it was this color scheme that caught my eye, because I knew I could make it happen on a budget (more on that <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/10/little-inspiration-goes-long-way.html">here</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttiLcESM5BFPK4AL_NgLvlEhbheM6_qLcS3pzv-8XLPHgfQJwdtbShi83Nxs8x6MQj7kQz_WIesjBW2Tl-fBjRgZ7YnUWkKSYyYxmdkPfFlc2FnDnVGqOsTzffgIaojEtHNsOCQ0QRYw/s1600/ballard+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttiLcESM5BFPK4AL_NgLvlEhbheM6_qLcS3pzv-8XLPHgfQJwdtbShi83Nxs8x6MQj7kQz_WIesjBW2Tl-fBjRgZ7YnUWkKSYyYxmdkPfFlc2FnDnVGqOsTzffgIaojEtHNsOCQ0QRYw/s640/ballard+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also noticed similar color palates in <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/">Crate & Barrel's</a> most recent catalog:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxkNUipm9nI63OsxyVVYb6MdJq0uXr1PH3s9JIjSJ4zcpRk-nuUhI0jjKANPxJ8AYw90_fmPCRTgIHRL1wtParzULySJEmHtCbU8L5PfswIRROJszRhdWGfgYhg1avf4mZtbGJfpLau0/s1600/cb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxkNUipm9nI63OsxyVVYb6MdJq0uXr1PH3s9JIjSJ4zcpRk-nuUhI0jjKANPxJ8AYw90_fmPCRTgIHRL1wtParzULySJEmHtCbU8L5PfswIRROJszRhdWGfgYhg1avf4mZtbGJfpLau0/s640/cb1.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc2VvCrVI60xEsmhe427aqRoiOyO0NuuPZkXzEfxPZZdILpOE8glwZlXNXGf-Yyyu-qbQMi0J21jbQUrbIF21iAz_WNE5Z9V3WJghm1D_etv6l2MSIOJTDt1eeDGPD2P8IR4jP10w25o/s1600/cb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc2VvCrVI60xEsmhe427aqRoiOyO0NuuPZkXzEfxPZZdILpOE8glwZlXNXGf-Yyyu-qbQMi0J21jbQUrbIF21iAz_WNE5Z9V3WJghm1D_etv6l2MSIOJTDt1eeDGPD2P8IR4jP10w25o/s640/cb2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGgk4aBpWvvED6roM-Jea9TDsU7VWRVQChx-J1NjE_Fmp3DiwJdNnCRCVA1mu_DTkUpm3a-m4tBIpuTnatIDt2nhZ7v9k-1jB1ICOhBw8JQZb3DLuRf1KRhhkI0aPBWolggoZTAotqtA/s1600/cb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGgk4aBpWvvED6roM-Jea9TDsU7VWRVQChx-J1NjE_Fmp3DiwJdNnCRCVA1mu_DTkUpm3a-m4tBIpuTnatIDt2nhZ7v9k-1jB1ICOhBw8JQZb3DLuRf1KRhhkI0aPBWolggoZTAotqtA/s640/cb3.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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So here is where I went with all of this:<br />
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AFTER<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-LAivigR90YQROniL24Ze3mCGHS8bDuTRvfYtf-eabR8GvMXVw9FgLOaVfWiTSkDf_TObqwwTc3EDTa5GXBJXZ4BchVYmLfbnGh08zRSt_cnjPiWrqtL7KGx0Yg_1D-kfhKanPDYf_c/s1600/IMG_0081aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-LAivigR90YQROniL24Ze3mCGHS8bDuTRvfYtf-eabR8GvMXVw9FgLOaVfWiTSkDf_TObqwwTc3EDTa5GXBJXZ4BchVYmLfbnGh08zRSt_cnjPiWrqtL7KGx0Yg_1D-kfhKanPDYf_c/s640/IMG_0081aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I painted the walls Graceful Gray (Behr paint). It looks a little darker here than it is in real life. In person it looks more like the gray shown on the walls in the <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Ballard Designs</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> catalog pages above (they obviously have a much better staff photographer).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFPug8MKgGtt4PxjtghlQpNmSsLZGlPGm-Z7REy4cAUc63MEC8eFHJG3VHbZAOK2hItaC0ufQKBRl00go0LaOZbhMXJA4LiVZOZB67aq-3BySwOt_JDO1cKltwZkgo3JszYJ4cVpYgLM/s1600/IMG_0110aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFPug8MKgGtt4PxjtghlQpNmSsLZGlPGm-Z7REy4cAUc63MEC8eFHJG3VHbZAOK2hItaC0ufQKBRl00go0LaOZbhMXJA4LiVZOZB67aq-3BySwOt_JDO1cKltwZkgo3JszYJ4cVpYgLM/s640/IMG_0110aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found these pillows at <a href="http://www.homegoods.com/">HomeGoods</a>. The front pillow has a pretty mix of gray and light aqua. The two rectangular pillows are a sage velvet. I purchased the white duvet and cover at Ikea (<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30046474/">Alvine Stra</a>). I already had the sage pillowcases and the aqua throw I used on the end of the bed.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1mRvO-A3mo6fcM9VSk7vD91LOPUYBa9nLUQl9qa1mSCgxonp164vwMQyLawiQc8Hlfbq1K-USAG7y7NnJUH3WyptR0UUTjtUllvsZOaqPlAL6Vdh5r84lOOeQQMyIwSftICKnOqcT7g/s1600/IMG_0088aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1mRvO-A3mo6fcM9VSk7vD91LOPUYBa9nLUQl9qa1mSCgxonp164vwMQyLawiQc8Hlfbq1K-USAG7y7NnJUH3WyptR0UUTjtUllvsZOaqPlAL6Vdh5r84lOOeQQMyIwSftICKnOqcT7g/s640/IMG_0088aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I painted the metal wall hanging, that was off-white and hanging above the bed in the "before" <br />photos, <a href="http://www.krylon.com/products/brushed_metallic/">Oil Rubbed Bronze</a>. I hung it above the dresser and then placed <br />the <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/09/anthropologie-inspired-art.html">Anthropologie-inspired piece</a> I made a few weeks ago in front of it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsJZTLrE_8iOX9RiTJf3dtPBXYkfLuFat_EOlO4aiBLrAzaVkFZv83c4RFefqacXyzVBEltTX7lnb5AMSFdDIE-uRlR0dp_KWL5LOP1pslsMxv-7jVT_r5ijkAo6rK5_5hFy0FBlhEc0/s1600/IMG_0096aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsJZTLrE_8iOX9RiTJf3dtPBXYkfLuFat_EOlO4aiBLrAzaVkFZv83c4RFefqacXyzVBEltTX7lnb5AMSFdDIE-uRlR0dp_KWL5LOP1pslsMxv-7jVT_r5ijkAo6rK5_5hFy0FBlhEc0/s640/IMG_0096aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing new to report here. I framed a piece of <a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/main.php?fl=0">Amy Butler</a> fabric in a white Ikea frame (something I already had) to the desk for a little more color. Please ignore wrinkly curtains, those will be remedied soon.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT2cn0RzPFXz5PVmv7DxiSHzSo91nJ2mN4rj_7sMgEnXBSPzgK-1_zqgKiDcN_xQxv1cGNvchqvns4-Bh-D4O-rK0JUpINLjZIT7FKlkd_Ss8JecOeHS_xiB_nukmvAhzBgIK39VTU6E/s1600/IMG_0116aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT2cn0RzPFXz5PVmv7DxiSHzSo91nJ2mN4rj_7sMgEnXBSPzgK-1_zqgKiDcN_xQxv1cGNvchqvns4-Bh-D4O-rK0JUpINLjZIT7FKlkd_Ss8JecOeHS_xiB_nukmvAhzBgIK39VTU6E/s640/IMG_0116aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_3dT3y6kUBuaHewhR9TbQ7a_ol1Y4EvVwcndByKGhoc1RNFUNkFTd1RLZ5gdk4JZ8Yn1AuDgUZOWFv2kGszdfv2YNaE-1z3zsr1Hj979i4_6CZyYLvliDHhdpKt7nWsGffNr35cUGSo/s1600/IMG_0098aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_3dT3y6kUBuaHewhR9TbQ7a_ol1Y4EvVwcndByKGhoc1RNFUNkFTd1RLZ5gdk4JZ8Yn1AuDgUZOWFv2kGszdfv2YNaE-1z3zsr1Hj979i4_6CZyYLvliDHhdpKt7nWsGffNr35cUGSo/s640/IMG_0098aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WqO4xR-Py2iRjM7A2Kw5M3RlZtkz8Lf0f37oFt-0aP4IVUNk3xhlhzJslIi3gzwagFB_F9eBmbDio1NEXP_LiQRbCXohokHyInS-rLn7N0bUbIo9EzeIiYsfDwK2p1RzfOOJDfJEW94/s1600/IMG_0107aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WqO4xR-Py2iRjM7A2Kw5M3RlZtkz8Lf0f37oFt-0aP4IVUNk3xhlhzJslIi3gzwagFB_F9eBmbDio1NEXP_LiQRbCXohokHyInS-rLn7N0bUbIo9EzeIiYsfDwK2p1RzfOOJDfJEW94/s640/IMG_0107aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, yeah, that ugly bookcase is still there. Something is getting ready to happen to make it less disgusting. I'm not sure what just yet, but it can't stay this way much longer. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DJP5mXCNTNuTLwjsTcNWcWmO1A9Eyf9dhUuRJFvWHTMJ8ClrNkO0d355b8-d6N52TXzeoojo3pu9ZqOVO73adCnCwFJ5jQVzV_0a_ps_FZPw559Jg5asM0jc87sVHGquOyNs3V4NGUA/s1600/IMG_0113aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DJP5mXCNTNuTLwjsTcNWcWmO1A9Eyf9dhUuRJFvWHTMJ8ClrNkO0d355b8-d6N52TXzeoojo3pu9ZqOVO73adCnCwFJ5jQVzV_0a_ps_FZPw559Jg5asM0jc87sVHGquOyNs3V4NGUA/s640/IMG_0113aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I purchased these white curtains at Ikea. I would post a link to them but I can't seem to find these on the website. They're plain white and it was $14.99 for both. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBExwR9ZLpn5Mp0hWtDpPHoMnN9uGAwmnB3DDh5a3hojuAvpPFdLOQ_uyTEhx6B59lugnkU0YrSVQR1sdFwRMk1gvWUBpvVH2h8Fvc7UKyHL5WOb8QGvFm8Jt9Xz6sgEfEOe0C08QqS8/s1600/IMG_0119aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBExwR9ZLpn5Mp0hWtDpPHoMnN9uGAwmnB3DDh5a3hojuAvpPFdLOQ_uyTEhx6B59lugnkU0YrSVQR1sdFwRMk1gvWUBpvVH2h8Fvc7UKyHL5WOb8QGvFm8Jt9Xz6sgEfEOe0C08QqS8/s640/IMG_0119aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spray painted my existing curtain rods Silver Nickel Satin, then popped off the old finials and replaced those with modern clear glass finials I also found at Ikea ($5.99).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQvibXOC2MmZeh0VDzmTg-9CDUOfFGxNchI_4XAObdQ0xyYljZvoqIZqwAZV5v_6_0IfPSC3x0N67OZVMi1Cx7S_whh1hPpKAt-TAyksyyfJZWPlVoF9J5hQR9dPaBzkzQTjYj32-Lc/s1600/IMG_0118aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQvibXOC2MmZeh0VDzmTg-9CDUOfFGxNchI_4XAObdQ0xyYljZvoqIZqwAZV5v_6_0IfPSC3x0N67OZVMi1Cx7S_whh1hPpKAt-TAyksyyfJZWPlVoF9J5hQR9dPaBzkzQTjYj32-Lc/s640/IMG_0118aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something has to happen with this thing. Do I upgrade the fan, like I did in the <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/09/fans-of-our-lives.html">kitchen</a>? It's nice to have a fan in my room in the summer. Or do I get a really pretty light fixture and just sweat in the summer?</td></tr>
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So there you have it! I have a few more projects to do in order to wrap this thing up. I need something to hang over the bed, and have been working on some ideas for that. I also need to upgrade the curtains a bit (the plans are already in the works for that to happen this weekend). Finally, I need to deal with the issues of the ceiling fan and that bookcase. All in all, I think I probably spent about $200 or so, which isn't bad at all for changing up an entire room!Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-12402887464764437392011-11-01T09:30:00.000-04:002011-11-01T23:36:55.911-04:00Party like it's 1802I picked up <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/books/03book.html?ref=books">The Bucolic Plague</a> (the book, not a disease) at the library not intending to enjoy it. I take that back. It wasn't that I was planning to read something I thought would bore me to tears, it's just that given the subject matter and the title, I just figured it was long-winded story of how you, too, can be a better person by buying and running an organic farm. I loved the book! Yeah, it has undertones of the trials and tribulations one may encounter when embarking on the task of becoming a gentleman farmer, but it is really a very well written and quite funny story of real life on a small farm.<br />
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I remember seeing the book in my local Williams-Sonoma back in the spring. Then earlier this week the Beekman Farm popped back on my radar when I was glancing through the recent issue of Country Living. T<a href="http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/the-fabulous-beekman-boys/the-fabulous-beekman-boys.html">he Fabulous Beekman Boys</a> are two guys from Manhattan who purchase a farm in upstate New York, and then commit to bringing the run-down farm and house (built in 1802) back to life. The book turned out to be very funny, regardless of whether or not you care about such things as heirloom plants or organic farming or killing your first Thanksgiving turkey with your bare hands. I really loved the tidbits that were planted throughout the book, which provide an insider's glimpse into the "real" Martha Stewart (Brent Ridge, one of the two men, is a former Martha Stewart Omnimedia employee). I will spare you of my lame attempt to highlight some of the humor and the charming tales of life down on the Beekman Farm, but it's worth your while to read an excerpt of the book <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/books/excerpt-the-bucolic-plague.html">here</a>. Farming eventually lead Josh and Brent to develop a very Martha-style omnimedia empire, developing a lifestyle brand called <a href="http://beekman1802.com/">Beekman 1802</a> which includes the website, books, blogs, forums, and a TV show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.beekman1802.com/The-Bucolic-Plague-BB3.htm">Beekman 1802 </a></td></tr>
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The Fabulous Beekman Boys have recently released a cookbook of heirloom recipes, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/140278709X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=joshkilmerpur-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=140278709X&adid=10VR5GT0HYSE0FPRMBE1&">The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook</a>. The recipes focus on using heirloom produce and organic ingredients, giving home-cooking a 21st century farmhouse spin. And, just in time for Thanksgiving, some of their recipes were featured in this month's (November 2011) issue of <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/">Country Living</a> magazine.<br />
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One of the recipes featured in the magazine was a Honey Apple Pie with Rosemary. I love rosemary and I love apple pie, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Since the recipe isn't posted on the Beekman site or the Country Living site, I can't (unless I want to get in sued) post the recipe here. After a little "internet research" I found that their recipe was VERY similar to this recipe (which I can post and link to since it's already been posted):<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/HONEY-APPLE-PIE-WITH-THYME-1275539">Honey Apple Pie with Thyme</a> originally posted back in 2006 in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/15/dining/152crex.html">New York Times</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 golden delicious apples, peeled and cored<br />4 granny smith apples, peeled and cored<br />1/2 cup honey<br />6 thyme branches<br />1/2 cup unsalted butter cut into small pieces<br />2 T instant tapioca<br />1/3 c light brown sugar<br />1/2 t ground ginger<br />1/4 t salt<br />flour for dusting<br />dough for 2 9 inch pie crusts.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice Golden Delicious apples and 3 granny smith apples into sixths.<br />2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring 14 cup honey to a boil. Let simmer about 2 minutes, until honey is caramelized. Add 3 thyme branches. Arrange half the apples in a single layer in skillet. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons butter over apples. Cook apples, turning until well caramelized on all sides, but not cooked through, about ten minutes. Scrape apples and honey mixture into a bowl. Add tapioca and toss to combine. Repeat cooking process with remaining honey, thyme, butter and sliced apples. Add a second batch of apples to bowl, combine. Discard all thyme branches.<br />3. thinly slice remaining granny smith apple and add it to bowl. Stir in sugar, ginger and salt<br />4. On a lightly floured surface roll out both crusts to a 12 inch circle. Place one crust in 9 inch pie plate. Scrape apple filling into crust and top with remaining crusts.<br />5. Bake for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350 and continue baking about 45 min. Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.</span></div>
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So, taking that recipe, here are my changes to make a Honey and Rosemary Apple Pie...<br />
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<i>Crust</i><br />
I didn't make the crust. If you want to make a pie crust and have time, go for it. I used a store-bought crust.<br />
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<i>Pie Filling</i> (this is enough to make one deep dish 9 inch pie or two regular 9 inch pies)<br />
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4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced</div>
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4 Honey Crisp apples, peeled, cored, sliced</div>
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1 cup light brown sugar</div>
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2 teaspoons cinnamon</div>
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1 teaspoon ground nutmeg</div>
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½ teaspoon ground cloves</div>
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2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary (I will probably use 3-4 teaspoons of rosemary next time...it wasn't rosemary-enough for me)</div>
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3 tablespoons instant tapioca</div>
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½ cup honey</div>
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2 tablespoons butter</div>
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1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water (this is the egg wash for the top of the crust)</div>
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Cinnamon and sugar (for sprinkling top of pie crust)</div>
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In a bowl, combine apples with brown sugar,
spices, and tapioca. </div>
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Add honey and stir until combined.<br />
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Preheat oven to 400. Place crust in 9 inch pie pan. Add pie filling to pan. And dot with 2 tablespoons of butter (not melted).<br />
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Place second crust over top of pie. I have a leaf-shaped cookie cutter that I like to use to cut out the crust for the top of the pie.<br />
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Brush egg wash over crust, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.<br />
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Bake pie on middle rack of oven .After 20 minutes remove pie and cover edge of crust with foil. Continue to bake until juices are bubbling 50 minutes more. Cool on wire rack.<br />
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The pie was fantastic! I loved the addition of rosemary, even if it wasn't enough rosemary for me. I'll play with it on the second try to see if I can add more rosemary without over-doing it.Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-43190467963729536722011-10-27T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-27T09:30:02.317-04:00Street foodThe street food trend just keeps growing. Everywhere I go, or look, there is news of a new food truck or a restaurant specializing in street food. Over the weekend, I went to <a href="http://www.paladarlatinkitchen.com/">Paladar</a> in the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole (primarily because there was a sign advertising a Rum Bar and I've had a cold and sore throat for over 4 days now and rum seemed appealing). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwvwAM7tlHmH5hQ56IO5zo76fSQrCIM1H88i7U_C0JH8W1-eUYeHhuvfY4gX33oK-z6GVq2hrTpPuACe0FAEE7RJr905dXemcthvNZW2LBetXp55VvxO_RUt4zFSBgFqGC93oMWq5HCM/s1600/rum+bar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwvwAM7tlHmH5hQ56IO5zo76fSQrCIM1H88i7U_C0JH8W1-eUYeHhuvfY4gX33oK-z6GVq2hrTpPuACe0FAEE7RJr905dXemcthvNZW2LBetXp55VvxO_RUt4zFSBgFqGC93oMWq5HCM/s640/rum+bar.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dark and stormy should fix things!</td></tr>
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The restaurant has a happy hour menu that features "Latin street food"...which is sort of a mix of all kinds of things that may not be actual "street food", but it's cute that they're catering to a trend. The black bean empanadas I had, along with an entire bowl of gucamole, were delish!<br />
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So on this topic of being surrounded by "street food" wherever I seem to go, I was in The Fresh Market recently and spotted this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-LVReP9RMl9H-Wq2yUhxG4-TEm9w6Ch9skByFpVQaMqFkcVE5Bqx4bGmLuEjO4Is3wE3URAuesJbzlU8QfMewxEYbc1aQ9wNKky748hJGdfWE52CUxYN_5Fk3uTGmk4ALTwTkn4Bw10/s1600/luc-600020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-LVReP9RMl9H-Wq2yUhxG4-TEm9w6Ch9skByFpVQaMqFkcVE5Bqx4bGmLuEjO4Is3wE3URAuesJbzlU8QfMewxEYbc1aQ9wNKky748hJGdfWE52CUxYN_5Fk3uTGmk4ALTwTkn4Bw10/s400/luc-600020.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucini <i><a href="http://shop.lucini.com/Cinque-e-Cinque--Savory-Rosemary/p/LUC-600020&c=Lucini@Cinque">Cinque e' Cinque</a></i></td></tr>
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Now even the pasta companies are joining the bandwagon. It sounded intriguing so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've had other products by Lucini and they were all very good, so I figured this wouldn't be a bust. Of course, I first had to Google the word <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farinata">farinata</a> </i>to see what exactly I purchased. It was described as a flat bread made of chickpea flour and is common in Italy, as well as southern France (where it is called <i>socca</i>). And as a logical next step, I searched Pinterest for posts containing the word <i>farinata</i> or <i>socca</i>. Most of the recipes used the baked farinata as a base for creating a sauce-less pizza.<br />
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This is what I did with mine:<br />
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Just one quick not about preparing the farinata...the directions have you placing the pan (I used a round metal cookie/pizza pan--with sides) in the oven first and then while it's hot pour the batter into the pan. Be very careful doing this. The directions don't mention that you might burn yourself as the batter sizzles when it hits the very hot pan. And make sure you pull the hot pan out of the oven and place it on a flat heat-resistant surface.<br />
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So here it is straight out of the oven (ignore the burned edges on the far side of the pan, we can blame that on my oven/me chasing a toddler around while it was baking and not being good about checking the oven). While it was baking I lightly sauteed a zucchini and some sun-dried tomatoes with pancetta.<br />
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Then I topped my farinata with the veggies, sprinkled it with parmesan cheese, and fresh ground black pepper (which was suggested in other recipes and on the package).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very tasty and apparently good for you too!</td></tr>
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Definitely give it a try if you spot it at the grocery store. The Fresh Market carried the rosemary (which I used) and a traditional variety, but a <a href="http://shop.lucini.com/Cinque-e-Cinque--NEW/c/Lucini@Cinque">fiery Tuscan chili</a> option is listed on the website. Buon appetito!<br />
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-31478750037374451852011-10-25T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-25T09:30:00.553-04:00Tasty CakeI've been avoiding this cookbook for an entire year. I avoided it at Barnes & Noble. I avoided it at the library. And then I caved. It's Fall and I'm all in my crazy Fall cooking and baking mode, so I couldn't resist.<br />
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It's a great book of southern-inspired desserts with a modern twist here and there. I need to make a point to visit <a href="http://bakednyc.com/">Baked</a> (FYI don't click that link if you're starving...it will be the end of you) next time I'm in NYC.<br />
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There is a Sweet & Salty Brownie recipe I want to try. And the Buttermilk Pie. Be glad I don't have a photo of the Double-Chocolate Loaf with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Spread. Then there are the Marshmallow Chocolate Cups. See...there is a reason I was avoiding this book!<br />
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So I wanted to try the Burnt Sugar Bundt Cake with the Caramel Rum Icing because I haven't made a bundt cake in a long time and thought I'd like to give it a whirl again. Amy Atlas posted the <a href="http://blog.amyatlas.com/2011/01/burnt-sugar-bundt-recipe-baked-explorations-book-giveaway/">full recipe</a> on her blog back in January. I won't go through a step by step, but I did take some photos of my progress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraMryeXA2Doy4WfxzXRKDGOSctw_GGwT1YyzYH5xIDV8L_eKms434aYCn71FHr3KsqXFH7hFNuknDMPPAtX-Nbd9ZD8LIjIQ6XFwgEe6NuhQXtBH39SkwD70Gs9oxvBx55MfAZcKd1Gg/s1600/IMG_9916a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraMryeXA2Doy4WfxzXRKDGOSctw_GGwT1YyzYH5xIDV8L_eKms434aYCn71FHr3KsqXFH7hFNuknDMPPAtX-Nbd9ZD8LIjIQ6XFwgEe6NuhQXtBH39SkwD70Gs9oxvBx55MfAZcKd1Gg/s640/IMG_9916a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you had smell-o-vision you would know that this batter smells like the buttery-est cake you have ever imagined. You could could just make this batter and set it out as an air freshener.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h7kK-0qsO8J_QQU21Nu24UnWekZGrbQkPyKy0lP3mectzNhNTFADSG_Q4HtvutoXLjDxdZADXNk4D7oqQ-ZmqtleiSdxB6CBuPm4MNgIK5tcyXitoRH85WzBwKMt2ytwL8uvkylbuG0/s1600/IMG_9918a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h7kK-0qsO8J_QQU21Nu24UnWekZGrbQkPyKy0lP3mectzNhNTFADSG_Q4HtvutoXLjDxdZADXNk4D7oqQ-ZmqtleiSdxB6CBuPm4MNgIK5tcyXitoRH85WzBwKMt2ytwL8uvkylbuG0/s640/IMG_9918a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the recipe, they say to "pour" the batter into the pan. That's not happening. It's insanely thick, so you just have to spoon it into the pan and then spread it out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvCOGS2o8n9DT0wP8hFHPxphn8Z0OUFbmSdkfXaPhAYtq-3uBeFzeiKJNjsBHwgfSJ_X_JhXLL5-PhCXZ9XUEqSkvh5Ehe0z2JvWobnzjOz60dYDph-am66SlHcoHSAq6JGiUzU9X-Pk/s1600/IMG_9922a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvCOGS2o8n9DT0wP8hFHPxphn8Z0OUFbmSdkfXaPhAYtq-3uBeFzeiKJNjsBHwgfSJ_X_JhXLL5-PhCXZ9XUEqSkvh5Ehe0z2JvWobnzjOz60dYDph-am66SlHcoHSAq6JGiUzU9X-Pk/s640/IMG_9922a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, let's take that extremely buttery, sugary cake batter and heat it up! Now the entire neighborhood is going to smell like the most delicious smelling cake you've ever imagined. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4uS8FUqiwqqOZ3l5_Slpdpd9_NG_gJXiXEIw8CQzliivb9WHdT6rE4bRLv_G87kwZ8Q5QvaTbhhQ47COq6Q7v5gZAwj3ALyNAV3slpI3j7AGUfZAewyRtfVpKqKA3yTkGnMPBI7c4I0/s1600/IMG_9928a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4uS8FUqiwqqOZ3l5_Slpdpd9_NG_gJXiXEIw8CQzliivb9WHdT6rE4bRLv_G87kwZ8Q5QvaTbhhQ47COq6Q7v5gZAwj3ALyNAV3slpI3j7AGUfZAewyRtfVpKqKA3yTkGnMPBI7c4I0/s640/IMG_9928a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my highly dysfunctional oven, it took this behemoth an hour to bake. And then I had to let it cool over night before I could even think of getting it out of the pan. The next morning it popped right out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaUZ_lgMSzxTiPf2FMhsTctvRfDufP5uJYLurgmSGWQqZTHBCkr-R3V_CywGjRmwR-gSkZFZ7RP23sW2-_2IKiyyZhgjO95mFQK6-E6USAHf6CFbc3xdpGgXmca54I0UneSUt8p7FbC4/s1600/IMG_9923a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaUZ_lgMSzxTiPf2FMhsTctvRfDufP5uJYLurgmSGWQqZTHBCkr-R3V_CywGjRmwR-gSkZFZ7RP23sW2-_2IKiyyZhgjO95mFQK6-E6USAHf6CFbc3xdpGgXmca54I0UneSUt8p7FbC4/s640/IMG_9923a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I definitely suggest making the caramel shards for the top of the cake. Not only are they a cool decoration to the top of the cake, they add a nice crunch too. I didn't have a silpat, as they suggest in the recipe, so I just used a piece of parchment paper (I was afraid to use wax because I thought since you're pouring boiling sugar onto it, the wax might meld into the sugar and that would be gross.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrWv1tNoQjxaKmGSJcwoBf4Bu9R1VLGl6jR6jE6Cchc1X8vV_l9R8c50tKnfti2qpUXg-lBIod9jamvPQGmwXq_IMhkySjznyetT2Crxt4JpgsfepUkr6CfGfyDNNha5SiH3Yr_Ys9Qc/s1600/IMG_9930a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrWv1tNoQjxaKmGSJcwoBf4Bu9R1VLGl6jR6jE6Cchc1X8vV_l9R8c50tKnfti2qpUXg-lBIod9jamvPQGmwXq_IMhkySjznyetT2Crxt4JpgsfepUkr6CfGfyDNNha5SiH3Yr_Ys9Qc/s640/IMG_9930a.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, here is the final cake! The icing was very runny because I set it out to warm up a bit (I made it the night before while I was baking the cake), while I was getting ready for work. By the time I got ready, after chasing around a 2 year old, it was not as chilled as it should have been so it ran down the sides of the cake. That is totally my fault. If you make the icing according to the recipe, it turns out nice and thick and would spread as perfectly as it is shown in the photo in the book (and on Amy Atlas' blog).</td></tr>
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I know better than to keep something like this around the house, so I took it into work to be tested by my official taste-testers. I had tons of compliments and about ten people told me it was the best cake they ever had. It was really good and definitely something I would make again for a special occasion, but it's not a quick cake to make with making the burnt sugar syrup, then the batter from scratch, the baking time, making the icing, the caramel sugar shards, and then assembling the whole thing. In other good news, they do sell some of the Baked cake mixes (but not this one) at <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/food/baking-mixes/?cm_type=gnav">Williams Sonoma</a> if you're interested in trying something but don't have half your life to devote to it. And while you're over at Williams Sonoma please also notice that they're now selling a <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sweet-potato-biscuit-mix/?pkey=cbaking-mixes">SWEET POTATO BISCUIT MIX</a>!!!!!!<br />
<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-41472277145302012092011-10-20T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-20T09:30:01.414-04:00Autumn EarringsTaking inspiration from two new Fall scarves I recently purchased (one on sale at Target and one at Nordstrom Rack), I pulled out my jewelry supplies and made a few new pairs of earrings. A few to sell, a few for upcoming birthday gifts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre7hWOx_8EgCj4xGoBYITB3aVQ40vZHQPqa3lJFoGq-PJPPZSKfo0_MBUCdaEq-C2qwx_1_w10-dIBhmfstjMm7JvdUDDBXqqtNQjpFCx7wMeBO6v2FbAJInRmGo84bYXxHtVfRCg8dk/s1600/IMG_9863a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre7hWOx_8EgCj4xGoBYITB3aVQ40vZHQPqa3lJFoGq-PJPPZSKfo0_MBUCdaEq-C2qwx_1_w10-dIBhmfstjMm7JvdUDDBXqqtNQjpFCx7wMeBO6v2FbAJInRmGo84bYXxHtVfRCg8dk/s640/IMG_9863a.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this really pretty pumpkin colored scarf at Nordstrom Rack last week. </td></tr>
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I really love using these long kidney wire earrings. Some people don't like them because the earrings are too long. I have a mix of sizes so I did a few of the standard long ones (1.5 inch) and a few using shorter ones (1 inch), that I purchased off <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61985198/33mm-kidney-wire-earrings-antique-copper?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=kidney+wire&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=supplies&ga_facet=supplies">Etsy</a> a few years ago. On a recent trip to <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/jewelry/base-metal-findings/">Hobby Lobby</a>, I came across these metal findings that look very organic and stem-like so I thought they'd be perfect with Fall colors.<br />
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I purchased this really cute leopard print scarf off the clearance rack at Target for $9.99! I like that it's light weight and a girl can always use a <a href="http://www.fashion-style.becomegorgeous.com/new_trends/fallwinter_20102011_leopard_print_trend-2625.html">little leopard print</a> and it's <a href="http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2011/10/10/ashlee-simpson-reese-witherspoon-leopard-print/">very popular</a> right now!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3096D9PNPHkxEtnQoXpj8objn-hfEnanQr0HcZhMyiiMq0YOo-5l92S4AZHpxay8CRZGI_d8lM4t-nXPildRnrS8P5DVEKROmYiiNndQE3o1M2LWOdVG2IumQ8MCu847GsowLRan4ak/s1600/IMG_9882a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3096D9PNPHkxEtnQoXpj8objn-hfEnanQr0HcZhMyiiMq0YOo-5l92S4AZHpxay8CRZGI_d8lM4t-nXPildRnrS8P5DVEKROmYiiNndQE3o1M2LWOdVG2IumQ8MCu847GsowLRan4ak/s640/IMG_9882a.JPG" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did a pair playing up the browns.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then with the black.</td></tr>
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I love them all! How am I going to give them away or sell them? Good thing I made two sets of each. :)<br />
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-51494619962768299322011-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-18T09:30:02.040-04:00A little inspiration goes a long way..I always look forward/dread the arrival of all the holiday catalogs from places like <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/">Crate & Barrel</a>, <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/">Pottery Barn</a>, and <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/">Ballard Designs</a>. While I love Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, it's usually in the Ballard Designs catalog that I find my most inspiration. Over the weekend I came across this page in the Late Fall 2011 catalog and fell in love with the color combination of the slate grey velvet with the muted aqua, tan, and sage green. So I'm going to use that to guide the update of the master bedroom (to be posted soon!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuyTg9MtaxyLHQXJGB7klBs6CECiq9LnkHqmc5KPgFBioS_VdrjBJAsNJ1FYAiHDExM_ir8FDr7_EvlCg20F7GdQLO0M1ciLbo9sFJ-qlothLJSfvLvGbfIpa4hIgw3nfctLl7wh8YTQ/s1600/catalog+bedroom+inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuyTg9MtaxyLHQXJGB7klBs6CECiq9LnkHqmc5KPgFBioS_VdrjBJAsNJ1FYAiHDExM_ir8FDr7_EvlCg20F7GdQLO0M1ciLbo9sFJ-qlothLJSfvLvGbfIpa4hIgw3nfctLl7wh8YTQ/s640/catalog+bedroom+inspiration.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go <a href="http://www.ballarddesignscatalogs.com/skin/entrymap/entrymap_Ballard.asp?SkinId=7.5.8.7&cm_sp=OND11-_-HP+Button-_-OND11D1">here</a> and torture yourself with all of their catalogs!</td></tr>
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So immediately, I started looking through the catalog to see what things I could find in stores like Hobby Lobby, Home Goods Target, or online, that cost less but would achieve the same look. I was able to find pillows and sheets at Home Goods (more on that later), and I'll be able to incorporate some of the blue items that I already have in the master bedroom. As I was walking around Hobby Lobby, I noticed that there are tons of Ballard-inspired items that you could get for half the Ballard price (or even less). Most of the store is usually 40% off and if it's not, you can sign up online for coupons and get coupons for things that aren't on sale. I'm not sure if they honor other coupons from places like Michaels or Joann's Fabric and Crafts, but I have a feeling they probably do. Another resource I stumbled upon recently is the <a href="http://www.save-on-crafts.com/">SaveOnCrafts</a> website. You can find all kinds of supplies to pull off a Ballard or even <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/">Terrain</a>-inspired decor.<br />
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I put together two quick collections of items I found at <a href="http://www.hobbylobby.com/">Hobby Lobby</a> and <a href="http://www.save-on-crafts.com/">SaveOnCrafts</a> that I thought I'd share. The Hobby Lobby website only sells a tiny sample of what you'll find in the store. It's well worth the trip to the store. You can spend WEEKS browsing through the goodies at <a href="http://www.save-on-crafts.com/">SaveOnCrafts</a>. It's probably a good thing there isn't a store. And don't forget <a href="http://art.com/">Art.com</a> for prints. I have really good luck finding things I'd never find at Target or Home Goods and it's generally much cheaper to buy the print and frame it yourself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zexQU8lSGk1Veh5RKgNjT9w2cT56KpZr6kKCINC803SE3XS_9aG3woFTxhlvdTfMoYgp3HbqKp2SxQKrUbg9C8N4N_oTLwHoKbl6JkPw4H4K7YeIeiFNLwBx7TL_pxqS0CxnvlblUhU/s1600/hobby+lobby+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zexQU8lSGk1Veh5RKgNjT9w2cT56KpZr6kKCINC803SE3XS_9aG3woFTxhlvdTfMoYgp3HbqKp2SxQKrUbg9C8N4N_oTLwHoKbl6JkPw4H4K7YeIeiFNLwBx7TL_pxqS0CxnvlblUhU/s640/hobby+lobby+1+copy.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Hobby Lobby and Art.com</td></tr>
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From Hobby Lobby…</div>
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1. Rectangle pillow with writing $29.99</div>
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2. Square pillow with writing $34.99</div>
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3. Set of 3 wire baskets $20.97</div>
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4. Brown glass (tortoise shell) urn $39.99</div>
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5. 20” round antique copper mirror $39.99</div>
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6. 14” round brown mirror $19.99</div>
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7. Fleur-de-lis $15.99</div>
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8. Square plaque $11.99</div>
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9. Glass pot belly vase $59.99</div>
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10. Metal lantern $15.99</div>
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11. 22” starburst mirror (only shown on website in gold but there
were silver ones in the store) $49.99</div>
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From art.com ….</div>
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12. Eruption, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pompeii</st1:city></st1:place>
by Elizabeth Jardine $63.99</div>
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13. Pompeian Teal by Elizabeth Jardine on sale! $11.98</div>
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I thought I'd throw together a few things that you could mix into your existing holiday decorations to pull off something very Ballard or Terrain-inspired this year.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TG1OraDF7iUtjvjmU3x3uuqz7UBf3OJmZv3bIuDGe_5aGinZ2309fpAUu-0KpIodYzFe9JPDbqfKDcAu00pg0IvHAD6Uzeaiocn2Xhj_vlJYnIhORpmjNCd2LCfnwUYi2xxd_2SV23A/s1600/save+on+crafts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TG1OraDF7iUtjvjmU3x3uuqz7UBf3OJmZv3bIuDGe_5aGinZ2309fpAUu-0KpIodYzFe9JPDbqfKDcAu00pg0IvHAD6Uzeaiocn2Xhj_vlJYnIhORpmjNCd2LCfnwUYi2xxd_2SV23A/s640/save+on+crafts.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From SaveOnCrafts</td></tr>
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1. Script roses 6 for $23.00</div>
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2. Wire pyramid cloches 2 for $29.00</div>
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3. Tin finial $30.00</div>
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4. Mercury glass apothecary jar $25.00</div>
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5. Driftwood tree $39.00 (they have the exact same ones in the Ballard Designs catalog)</div>
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6. Artichoke topiary $22.00</div>
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7. 3 wrought iron stars $28.00</div>
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8. Plaid linen ribbon 17 feet $15.99</div>
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9. Wired moss vine 6 feet $3.99</div>
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10. Silk bay laurel leaf wreath $19.00</div>
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11. 3 Preserved <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cypress</st1:city></st1:place>
wreaths $45.00</div>
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12. 11 feet Italian double-faced red velvet ribbon $20.00</div>
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13. Baker’s twine 60 feet $6.99</div>
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14. 12 white boxes $4.19</div>
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I hope to get the master bedroom painted soon so I can share some photos!Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-5343746154275382182011-10-14T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-14T09:30:02.347-04:00Fall DinnerI just thought I'd share a few recipes I used over the past weekend when we had friends over for dinner. Two are new and one is an oldie, but a goodie!<br />
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SMOKED PAPRIKA PORK<br />
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I tried the <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/smoked-paprika-pork-roast-50400000116206/">Smoked Paprika Pork Tenderloin</a> recipe that was in October's Southern Living magazine. I highly recommend it! Using the grill made things much easier than doing this in a crockpot or the oven, which is why I selected the recipe in the first place.<br />
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My adjustments to the recipe are:<br />
I used garlic powder in the rub instead of a crushed garlic clove.<br />
I added wood chips to smoke things up in the grill.<br />
I skipped tying the tenderloin up with string and it was fine. I don't think you cook it long enough to encounter an issue of the meat starting to fall away (and it's not on the bone to begin with...maybe these people just like tying things with string?). <br />
I also didn't make the BBQ sauce. I had some sauce from 12 Bones (in Asheville, NC) so I used that. I'm pretty sure any brown sugar based BBQ sauce you have or buy will be fine.<br />
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Tying things with string for no reason....making your own BBQ sauce...really people? I don't have time for that.<br />
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SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE<br />
I also thought I'd share my sweet potato casserole recipe, since friends often ask for it. The problem with those requests is that I don't really use a recipe. I mean, I think I did in the beginning, but now I just sort of make it up as I go along. Here is the closest thing to a <a href="http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/view2/sweet_potato_bake">real recipe</a> with measurements I could find.<br />
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Here is my Amy-style recipe:<br />
1. Wash and cut into half about 6-8 sweet potatoes (you want enough mashed sweet potatoes to fill about half of your casserole dish)...so you get about 4-6 cups of mashed sweet potatoes. If you cook too many, then you have some left to make <a href="http://sadiepriss.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweet-potatoes.html">sweet potato brownies</a>!<br />
2. Cook them in boiling water for about 20 minutes or so, until they're soft and the skin is loose but not coming off in the water<br />
3. Drain them and let them cool, then remove skins and mash them<br />
4. Whisk together two eggs. Add some vanilla. Some sugar if you want. You can add some milk too. Then start mixing in the sweet potatoes. I usually add some cinnamon and maybe some nutmeg.<br />
5. Grease a casserole dish. Spread out the sweet potato mixture evenly.<br />
6. In a separate bowl mix together about 2 cups of chopped pecans (you want to cover the entire top of the sweet potatoes in the casserole dish so you'll need this much), a cup of brown sugar, about 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour, some cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger (maybe a teaspoon of each depending on how "spicy" you want it). Then melt a stick of butter and pour it into the nut mixture until it's fully incorporated. Spread the nut mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in the casserole dish.<br />
7. Place in oven at 350 and cook for about 30 minutes. Until the edges are starting to brown. Just check it occasionally. You don't want the pecans to burn.<br />
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If you want to add the marshmallow on top, and I do this sometimes, I just buy the plain mini marshmallows (I do want to try spreading a layer of marshmallow fluff on top one time!). Sprinkle the marshmallows on top of the cooked casserole and put it back in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes. You really have to keep a close eye on the casserole under the broiler because the marshmallows burn quickly and you want them just lightly browned on top.<br />
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'SMORES<br />
I saw <a href="http://sweetenedwithhoney.blogspot.com/2011/10/smore-bars.html">this recipe</a> on Pinterest last week and thought I'd give it a try, but I'm not making marshmallow fluff or my own graham crackers. So I bought a jar of marshmallow fluff and a box of graham crackers. They now sell graham crackers in boxes with four sleeves instead of two and the graham crackers are already broken into squares, instead of rectangles. This was a HUGE break-through (thank you square graham cracker inventor) when it came to making these things a snap. You don't have to worry about breaking the graham crackers yourself, which will for sure end up in a mess and a bunch of broken-in-the-wrong-way graham crackers.<br />
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So, I just laid 8 crackers out on a cookie sheet. Spread marshmallow fluff on one side. Put another cracker on top and lightly pressed it together. I put those in the freezer for an hour or so. Then I came back, melted my semi-sweet chocolate chips (I did it in the microwave which works just fine, but you have to heat it carefully only a few seconds at a time and then open the door and stir the chips...then do that over and over again until the chocolate chips are fully melted and the chocolate is smooth) in a tall glass container (a pyrex measuring cup). I wanted something tall so the chocolate would be deep enough to dip the graham crackers straight down into and back out. Then I dipped them, and put them back on the cookie sheet (lined with parchment) for about an hour. After that I removed them and put them in a plastic air-tight container in the fridge. Unfortunately, I don't think the store bought graham crackers will last two weeks in the fridge like the original recipe suggests. I made them the night before and used them the next day and they were fine, but by the second day the graham crackers were starting to get soft, so I'd just suggest making them the night before or the day that you need them. They were really good!<br />
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-44598438084699848362011-10-12T09:30:00.000-04:002011-11-01T23:30:48.038-04:00Velvet pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDSPvbQfRvUzcrO1UIFhLQJNaVlulqdj42ph7ACBFRA1MzMq-19n7vnzYhqgihqOFOUjaVuuydwfq2M0gQNf8BBDeFbdmhkBVG7WVvP7znRFDGAz7wWs7g6pjZNBpWRPRJRScyK0LDg/s1600/fall-challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDSPvbQfRvUzcrO1UIFhLQJNaVlulqdj42ph7ACBFRA1MzMq-19n7vnzYhqgihqOFOUjaVuuydwfq2M0gQNf8BBDeFbdmhkBVG7WVvP7znRFDGAz7wWs7g6pjZNBpWRPRJRScyK0LDg/s320/fall-challenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I thought this project would make a perfect fall-inspired Pinterest project for the Pinterest Challenge on <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">Young House Love</a> this week!<br />
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Check out these really cute velvet pumpkins with real pumpkin stems. Are they cute or what? I was inspired by similar pumpkins I saw at Terrain last weekend and decided that instead of blowing $40+ on one small one, I could probably make myself an entire velvet pumpkin patch for less than $20.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrBc1PxlLHgUIlNnDKsf_Tk1mWHwRGH0wdGnAYgMiV30q3NY5i9JkK2I9zwfSUI39jOpq3JL-v-IN_kxJXFmgw1c6U-d-UiOiYM2zOQhvUn7AlG-1lS0eeyfwQBwJ9nIx2140qYE-ijA/s1600/Picture+024aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrBc1PxlLHgUIlNnDKsf_Tk1mWHwRGH0wdGnAYgMiV30q3NY5i9JkK2I9zwfSUI39jOpq3JL-v-IN_kxJXFmgw1c6U-d-UiOiYM2zOQhvUn7AlG-1lS0eeyfwQBwJ9nIx2140qYE-ijA/s640/Picture+024aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These are the ones that caught my eye at Terrain. They're beautiful. And <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/velvet-pumpkin/productID/941c2a0d-9404-4fe2-8968-c0c3eff64a40/categoryID/4aafdc88-0d27-4ec5-8e07-8aab7f4ef3e3">expensive</a>. They only sell the small one online. The large ones in the store were running about twice that price.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQqljgrtXjMloLeUPzjtif-PNgwEWzacPWby5K3u0fWz1VJLf-kTfw3FZWGVqeWbh4gFK-2aqswRb2nwdT0XE-slKnGX_Y2I6pMx6t6WU4-hpKWy9-3aZtLa0-TTFDO7Fd6kfVDWj0E4/s1600/IMG_9648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQqljgrtXjMloLeUPzjtif-PNgwEWzacPWby5K3u0fWz1VJLf-kTfw3FZWGVqeWbh4gFK-2aqswRb2nwdT0XE-slKnGX_Y2I6pMx6t6WU4-hpKWy9-3aZtLa0-TTFDO7Fd6kfVDWj0E4/s640/IMG_9648.JPG" width="408" /></a></div>
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So, I did a little exploring online when I got home. Check out the gorgeous color combos I found on Pinterest!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O2_87FUXz70PSGXaXqRcDG6FDsRdvj_qPHrBihzxy6MCOYIAybdRWPqkR9M1FXzY9rhlbMJ21AOFh6A12DzACxw9ET9RH57QblmjobWbQMkWKDZNC9qit6xzhCmpRuuXhlXI_KZS5-s/s1600/purple+group+velvet+pumpkins+hot+skwash+may.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O2_87FUXz70PSGXaXqRcDG6FDsRdvj_qPHrBihzxy6MCOYIAybdRWPqkR9M1FXzY9rhlbMJ21AOFh6A12DzACxw9ET9RH57QblmjobWbQMkWKDZNC9qit6xzhCmpRuuXhlXI_KZS5-s/s640/purple+group+velvet+pumpkins+hot+skwash+may.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hotskwash.com/">Hot Skwash</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ghrcOADFKiNSPsEdi7lRefKuuGaY61EsJSO4OH2KcZ5H2N0HSN66qGV3B1bPxSqRDByyJfKhzCZfFbswCeEbnw4gdniuw5k4N76vaZZLDEe55qfWz0oOkYNhb8PaoP6r4jom08i9V2k/s1600/hot+skwash+velvet+pumpkins+floral+spring+saks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ghrcOADFKiNSPsEdi7lRefKuuGaY61EsJSO4OH2KcZ5H2N0HSN66qGV3B1bPxSqRDByyJfKhzCZfFbswCeEbnw4gdniuw5k4N76vaZZLDEe55qfWz0oOkYNhb8PaoP6r4jom08i9V2k/s640/hot+skwash+velvet+pumpkins+floral+spring+saks.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hotskwash.com/">Hot Skwash</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9ESa4Ka18NIRnpwHVztKFniaEkRFeDiVCtAbPevPWew2u1qFxrXYhxCodnd7zlt3Kn0CRKtpHAbe6YyZoAeKApwzHR40rOEbU_Sipy5jzBRtfiq3spz9eL-mqwX7ZZqFUzjqR-FIDWI/s1600/hot+skwash+velvet+pumpkins+green+yellow+saks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9ESa4Ka18NIRnpwHVztKFniaEkRFeDiVCtAbPevPWew2u1qFxrXYhxCodnd7zlt3Kn0CRKtpHAbe6YyZoAeKApwzHR40rOEbU_Sipy5jzBRtfiq3spz9eL-mqwX7ZZqFUzjqR-FIDWI/s640/hot+skwash+velvet+pumpkins+green+yellow+saks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hotskwash.com/">Hot Skwash</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcNFqdq-SUr5g2PZNkWPD7vndXByCk2iSPswu5uajLgQc-xqLo4fbKj5fvJn0EllyeA60panHWQyhrhbKhkxWzCzLGCGt_v4Ymn9H6wKZFY2r2zr7gR2y7YBHocpEGoaLNB4Vnll9hNM/s1600/plush+pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcNFqdq-SUr5g2PZNkWPD7vndXByCk2iSPswu5uajLgQc-xqLo4fbKj5fvJn0EllyeA60panHWQyhrhbKhkxWzCzLGCGt_v4Ymn9H6wKZFY2r2zr7gR2y7YBHocpEGoaLNB4Vnll9hNM/s640/plush+pumpkin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.plushpumpkin.com/index.html">Plush Pumpkin</a></td></tr>
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I found <a href="http://diycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/velvet-pumpkins.html">this</a> tutorial via a search on Pinterest. <a href="http://thelemonista.blogspot.com/2011/10/velvet-pumkins-101.html">This tutorial</a> is very close to the steps I followed (although read it AFTER I made my pumpkins). My only changes, to either tutorial (because the cutting and sewing steps are the same), is that I filled my pumpkins about half full with rice (I wanted them to be very stable) and then added polyfill, and that I glued the pumpkin stem onto the pumpkin. I didn't stick it inside the opening in the top, like the first tutorial. Instead, I glued it straight onto the fabric as described in the second tutorial. I went to Joann's Fabric & Crafts at lunch one day. They didn't have silk velvet, like used to make the ones in the photos above. They did have TONS of colors in crushed velvet (which I'm not a fan of, but since I had no other option I just went with it). I chose a black and light grey because they'd go well with my Halloween decorations and I wanted to do something other than an orange pumpkin. Also, I knew I wanted to make some in non-traditional colors to use in my dining room, but I thought I'd give a black and grey one a try to see how they look out of the crushed velvet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAEqwoOfMkzpoIQ-0M30X-9TpR0d7DLnKzzw5T-ExOkTYSsGIRrRfz8Qspwby020-7OkSCRKr_FzVn03Czpkg0vGTt9c9e5Jjyzvr7se7jL8Q7QU3EzNGzFopfzOUZqh67LRiUmcCui0/s1600/IMG_9705a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAEqwoOfMkzpoIQ-0M30X-9TpR0d7DLnKzzw5T-ExOkTYSsGIRrRfz8Qspwby020-7OkSCRKr_FzVn03Czpkg0vGTt9c9e5Jjyzvr7se7jL8Q7QU3EzNGzFopfzOUZqh67LRiUmcCui0/s640/IMG_9705a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just got a half a yard of the crushed velvet in each color ($3.00 in fabric total). A bag of rice (about $1.50). I had polyfill already at home in craft supplies.</td></tr>
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Getting the stems (if you want more than one) seems to be the most difficult part of this entire project. Look what happened to my Kate Spade purse when I went to the pumpkin patch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebCBxMoU8lJdMDx0MgJHRG_eOS6dk2eMuNbk3RAnmEZUcIShmkcJGo7AUxaXJPgRGUUOnbb_E1-OPQ66dHUs0tnr-HpyTl47M3pwr8FzKgm65hyphenhyphen8fTNlV9bfsGtxW9NWuP6cs1P2eIDM/s1600/IMG_9832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebCBxMoU8lJdMDx0MgJHRG_eOS6dk2eMuNbk3RAnmEZUcIShmkcJGo7AUxaXJPgRGUUOnbb_E1-OPQ66dHUs0tnr-HpyTl47M3pwr8FzKgm65hyphenhyphen8fTNlV9bfsGtxW9NWuP6cs1P2eIDM/s640/IMG_9832.JPG" width="498" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am probably the only woman in history to fill her Kate Spade bag with pumpkin stems. I just walked around the pumpkin patch and picked them up off the ground. Yay free stuff!</td></tr>
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If you can't find ones laying around your local garden or pumpkin patch, then you're going to have to buy pumpkins and murder them for their stems. Luckily I've been able to find very inexpensive victims at the local farmers market for only $1. I bought a few and removed the stems and left the pumpkins in the backyard for the squirrels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9prk-pnrN8JzBdsL5b9pIJ3leopV0WMSWeNm_cGTtzNETx3ftfIJ2-0V0o9UZlE70qrAtp6azP6hHCK1HutPmTtE6NTFj3Kvm4lAIhTxfe0_0vPXKpypDrLTrutPcgRMmiOlhR7WYimY/s1600/IMG_9706a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9prk-pnrN8JzBdsL5b9pIJ3leopV0WMSWeNm_cGTtzNETx3ftfIJ2-0V0o9UZlE70qrAtp6azP6hHCK1HutPmTtE6NTFj3Kvm4lAIhTxfe0_0vPXKpypDrLTrutPcgRMmiOlhR7WYimY/s640/IMG_9706a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought a cheap pumpkin and hacked off the stem. Grey stems are best because they look better and they're much easier to get off the pumpkin. I just cut out a square around the stem, popped it out of the pumpkin and then trimmed away the orange. This is much easier on a grey, or dried stem, than it was with this "green" one, but I had to work with what I could acquire on my lunch break!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxwba7EhghXt18TQHcJG5maIUKfAgHGBP0_O9wTGEPvCkifSGRDPYEkIF8h-M8f3oxqMXDWzqmC8xCv7sTXaYd1Qt-kVNLa3Iaa3rZ7cbXkwwUbkQY42z3jmHtedUPAG__VGBKgPTPeU/s1600/IMG_9708a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxwba7EhghXt18TQHcJG5maIUKfAgHGBP0_O9wTGEPvCkifSGRDPYEkIF8h-M8f3oxqMXDWzqmC8xCv7sTXaYd1Qt-kVNLa3Iaa3rZ7cbXkwwUbkQY42z3jmHtedUPAG__VGBKgPTPeU/s640/IMG_9708a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At home, I just cut a piece of the black fabric into a 20" x 20" square (to make about a 10" pumpkin), and then folded it into quarters to cut a rough circle. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaMwItuBUsHytGafbnv8PY1St_34Tq66Ql36o90dDCNT-2YArRYcZHpVvvHi7KSdgcOyQMxDXJgo6a-uERr9BioHyKxhc4lZbEfMg-OzSCu3PuqaziiQ7jMFz7iqdjhqY8gLXrCiL2oQ/s1600/IMG_9714a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaMwItuBUsHytGafbnv8PY1St_34Tq66Ql36o90dDCNT-2YArRYcZHpVvvHi7KSdgcOyQMxDXJgo6a-uERr9BioHyKxhc4lZbEfMg-OzSCu3PuqaziiQ7jMFz7iqdjhqY8gLXrCiL2oQ/s640/IMG_9714a.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gathered and stitched up the circle, as described in the tutorials I mentioned above. <u>Be sure to leave the needle and thread still attached.</u> Then I filled the pumpkin half way with rice. Like I mentioned, I wanted it to be stable and not like a cotton filled fabric ball. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfmOdVTl1hmore86xje5a4N619efkh_wsBCY8IyoOoXrO1Nu2RDF5MnX4ZMf0n-T-FtL8PhGt7gp865wZP1iXsr42zyst_g20vqL4dt8_bzJ2Buby_eVl7oxpBfb_dYu1ZJA2jHyZR8Q/s1600/IMG_9716a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfmOdVTl1hmore86xje5a4N619efkh_wsBCY8IyoOoXrO1Nu2RDF5MnX4ZMf0n-T-FtL8PhGt7gp865wZP1iXsr42zyst_g20vqL4dt8_bzJ2Buby_eVl7oxpBfb_dYu1ZJA2jHyZR8Q/s640/IMG_9716a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the rice, I added polyfill and then pulled the opening closed (with the the needle and thread that were still attached from gathering the edges) and tied it off. Because of the thickness of the bunched fabric, it didn't close all the way, so I ran stitches across the opening until it was pulled close. I chose to go this route because I noticed that some of the Plush Pumpkin and Hot Skwash pumpkins seem to have a "tufted" shape about them and I wanted that same look. I also suggest using button thread to make the gathers and then to pull it closed. Using regular thin thread may not be the best idea when you have thick fabric and you're pulling against it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEA5m_6vwaUyCZxz1g-W5AbWvU4eXgqD5eEQkBHJHLAxtAzIo_kdSP9rFfNKHQsDofqs2Gof4WLZbaPEaMb2Gk-VvNJICNvAiS5q2s6m8oW9aFC1-20yRfHcepwC5Ml6STQplzQnciA8/s1600/IMG_9718a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEA5m_6vwaUyCZxz1g-W5AbWvU4eXgqD5eEQkBHJHLAxtAzIo_kdSP9rFfNKHQsDofqs2Gof4WLZbaPEaMb2Gk-VvNJICNvAiS5q2s6m8oW9aFC1-20yRfHcepwC5Ml6STQplzQnciA8/s640/IMG_9718a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closed but a little polyfill was sticking through.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf3svPm_sP28lnPhWp3vyPGPVWnWbqDU1zeT74GtAIidz5krrTbiRfDN_0xTIukH-QSMHB4l4Pfmpsdk9HvbAAEgYMVajZ1NPg5qlReT7JlsLy54itaM7AhnAi98ZUY1oGdtV49GKzQU/s1600/Picture+024aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf3svPm_sP28lnPhWp3vyPGPVWnWbqDU1zeT74GtAIidz5krrTbiRfDN_0xTIukH-QSMHB4l4Pfmpsdk9HvbAAEgYMVajZ1NPg5qlReT7JlsLy54itaM7AhnAi98ZUY1oGdtV49GKzQU/s640/Picture+024aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product! I made one large black 10" pumpkin and two small 4" pumpkins. I just hot glued the stems onto the fabric. They seem to be holding just fine. I'm just careful not to pick them up by the stem.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmsbJRBADK8ixw5FhpYcAKgipApV_P3BUiKRmRl_JEfurSYiEt1s4wFai0BSwK779NlAEJ1H_O6FJbQoJjyNPNVuEKlvfKFdCo0Lpk3c-DZXcmM-KBZDfUT1xjtwkGISjqpbj01PXczo/s1600/IMG_9766a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmsbJRBADK8ixw5FhpYcAKgipApV_P3BUiKRmRl_JEfurSYiEt1s4wFai0BSwK779NlAEJ1H_O6FJbQoJjyNPNVuEKlvfKFdCo0Lpk3c-DZXcmM-KBZDfUT1xjtwkGISjqpbj01PXczo/s640/IMG_9766a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orange pumpkin is actually store bought. A friend who knew I was making these saw it at a local store and bought it for me. It's amazing how much the stem on that thing looks real (it's resin)! And it was definitely cheaper than the ones at Terrain too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I'll make a bunch in various neutrals for the dining room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started with six. I still need a few more. I'll get to those later this week.</td></tr>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360036180712440130.post-16310225140205112362011-10-07T09:30:00.000-04:002011-10-07T09:30:02.714-04:00Philadelphia ArchitectureSo, this is the final post about Philadelphia...I promise. I just wanted to share a few more photos I took while we were visiting. Please bear with me as I try to curtail my love of urban history by only torturing you briefly with a bunch of details. Philadelphia, as many know (or don't know), was laid out by William Penn in 1682. Penn was granted the land that is now Pennsylvania, by King Charles II of England, and he set out to create a city on the Delaware River were anyone could live, regardless of their religion.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i>He also planned that the city's streets would be set up in a grid, with the idea that the city would be more like the rural towns of England than its crowded cities. The homes would be spread far apart and surrounded by gardens and orchards. The city would grant the first purchasers, the landowners who first bought land in the colony, land along the river for their homes. The city, which he named Philadelphia (philos, "love" or "friendship", and adelphos, "brother"), would have a commercial center for a market, state house, and other key buildings.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Philadelphia">--Wikipedia</a></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6HqQHhZxLa6jvMOU0uUHtX1Qp-6xDrLJw63TfyIX2bbTCiNe7eOMPbU9YVsv5On-qJee0aoLLMOELN4SnHpDKZbIvqsD5upRvbc4khjpS5ZcVht1sLIqKpjtz8J54fwyKTFPvLIXOPk/s1600/1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6HqQHhZxLa6jvMOU0uUHtX1Qp-6xDrLJw63TfyIX2bbTCiNe7eOMPbU9YVsv5On-qJee0aoLLMOELN4SnHpDKZbIvqsD5upRvbc4khjpS5ZcVht1sLIqKpjtz8J54fwyKTFPvLIXOPk/s640/1682.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Penn's Plan for Philadelphia, 1682 (From MIT Libraries)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Penn sent three commissioners to supervise the settlement and to set aside 10,000 acres (40 km²) for the city. The commissioners bought land from Swedes at the settlement of<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicaco" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Wicaco">Wicaco</a> and from there began to lay out the city towards the north. The area went about a mile along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_River" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Delaware River">Delaware River</a> between modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Street_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="South Street (Philadelphia)">South</a> and Vine Streets. Penn arrived in Philadelphia in October 1682. He felt the area was too cramped and expanded the city west to the bank of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuylkill_River" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Schuylkill River">Schuylkill River</a>, making the city a total of 1,200 acres (4.8 km²). Streets were laid out in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_plan" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Grid plan">gridiron</a> system. Except for the two widest streets, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_Street_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Market Street (Philadelphia)">High (now Market)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Broad Street (Philadelphia)">Broad</a>, the streets were named after prominent landowners who owned adjacent lots. The streets were later renamed in 1684; the ones running east-west were renamed after local trees and the north-south streets were numbered. Within the area, four squares (now named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rittenhouse_Square" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Rittenhouse Square">Rittenhouse</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Circle_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Logan Circle (Philadelphia)">Logan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Washington Square (Philadelphia)">Washington</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Square_(Philadelphia)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Franklin Square (Philadelphia)">Franklin</a>) were set up as parks open for everyone. Penn designed a central square at the intersection of Broad and what is now Market Street that would be surrounded by public buildings.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i>--<a href="http://Penn%20sent%20three%20commissioners%20to%20supervise%20the%20settlement%20and%20to%20set%20aside%2010,000%20acres%20(40%20km%C2%B2)%20for%20the%20city.%20The%20commissioners%20bought%20land%20from%20Swedes%20at%20the%20settlement%20of%20Wicaco%20and%20from%20there%20began%20to%20lay%20out%20the%20city%20towards%20the%20north.%20The%20area%20went%20about%20a%20mile%20along%20the%20Delaware%20River%20between%20modern%20South%20and%20Vine%20Streets.%20Penn%20arrived%20in%20Philadelphia%20in%20October%201682.%20He%20felt%20the%20area%20was%20too%20cramped%20and%20expanded%20the%20city%20west%20to%20the%20bank%20of%20the%20Schuylkill%20River,%20making%20the%20city%20a%20total%20of%201,200%20acres%20(4.8%20km%C2%B2).%20Streets%20were%20laid%20out%20in%20a%20gridiron%20system.%20Except%20for%20the%20two%20widest%20streets,%20High%20(now%20Market)%20and%20Broad,%20the%20streets%20were%20named%20after%20prominent%20landowners%20who%20owned%20adjacent%20lots.%20The%20streets%20were%20later%20renamed%20in%201684;%20the%20ones%20running%20east-west%20were%20renamed%20after%20local%20trees%20and%20the%20north-south%20streets%20were%20numbered.%20Within%20the%20area,%20four%20squares%20(now%20named%20Rittenhouse,%20Logan,%20Washington%20and%20Franklin)%20were%20set%20up%20as%20parks%20open%20for%20everyone.%20Penn%20designed%20a%20central%20square%20at%20the%20intersection%20of%20Broad%20and%20what%20is%20now%20Market%20Street%20that%20would%20be%20surrounded%20by%20public%20buildings./">Wikipedia</a></i></span><br />
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I will stop with that because I could go on and on and on pointing out all kinds of interesting points in the history of Philadelphia that led it to where it is today....you've got the whole 18th century and Revolutionary War, our little friend Benjamin Franklin, etc. I'll leave you to your own devices with all of that. I trust you'll leave this post to immediately throw yourself into the depths of history. So from this point on, I'll just point out a few highlights of the cityscape I captured last week.<br />
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Philadelphia City Hall (statue of William Penn atop the tower), was completed in 1901 and remains the second tallest masonry structure in the world, as well as the largest municipal structure in the US.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcKC1wVNSvLDFujuv1hD4g7-Pd6u2LFJggDsHfDySE6ty5pKJeyQKoK9hIhMMphBy00xoNy2JxZuUzSfPDRQKp_uSarfe3vMuRiTGkI7dDN4v4Lo7D_swpVcbb9q5VgDJHyc8BxrQ98M/s1600/IMG_9475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcKC1wVNSvLDFujuv1hD4g7-Pd6u2LFJggDsHfDySE6ty5pKJeyQKoK9hIhMMphBy00xoNy2JxZuUzSfPDRQKp_uSarfe3vMuRiTGkI7dDN4v4Lo7D_swpVcbb9q5VgDJHyc8BxrQ98M/s640/IMG_9475.JPG" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Hall is built on Centre Square, one of the original 5 squares in Penn's city plan,and the building design allows for pedestrians to pass through the building from one side of the square to the other.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1SlQm1EzjsaU9Q2vvgvly2LH8S9gyr9DYGIItkfXMZPT4kJJ2quYS2e8Tw4s7N322GMkij6F-lM6zP9KGo8gZj1_V9X9V76CmGC2-HhzxIjnP4CaI3yyabtlC1NXtourNoFkrOGsJ6s/s1600/IMG_9472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1SlQm1EzjsaU9Q2vvgvly2LH8S9gyr9DYGIItkfXMZPT4kJJ2quYS2e8Tw4s7N322GMkij6F-lM6zP9KGo8gZj1_V9X9V76CmGC2-HhzxIjnP4CaI3yyabtlC1NXtourNoFkrOGsJ6s/s640/IMG_9472.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subway station at City Hall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nhe6E4PUxB7dLNMFoY2v183yaM1-RS5leoY2h7mKd0n1ik9k1R6H6k-8L5n4aJH-vsqmXEdwb_4qy_tU53LK3Ck0jUm05YeZkrQ1F-2PSRQru3d9Y1nR7Nst33_rY8aCnOYZSUSnFEc/s1600/IMG_9460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nhe6E4PUxB7dLNMFoY2v183yaM1-RS5leoY2h7mKd0n1ik9k1R6H6k-8L5n4aJH-vsqmXEdwb_4qy_tU53LK3Ck0jUm05YeZkrQ1F-2PSRQru3d9Y1nR7Nst33_rY8aCnOYZSUSnFEc/s640/IMG_9460.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Deco Building on the east side of City Hall.</td></tr>
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The area around Rittenhouse Square has tons of great restaurants and shops.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd4SSJ_0_sWwc7vTZZt0GzEHCd4iTBVICsykCFYX6Oyq5PYQeNpxvKoB5I3JrA5TFf5MO7C7DAIcpd5SkY4jWGWV4TmHg55y23teqFv7svNieHEz7BboId8diodh3Nt-hZ9Ka_hfQBDI/s1600/IMG_9453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd4SSJ_0_sWwc7vTZZt0GzEHCd4iTBVICsykCFYX6Oyq5PYQeNpxvKoB5I3JrA5TFf5MO7C7DAIcpd5SkY4jWGWV4TmHg55y23teqFv7svNieHEz7BboId8diodh3Nt-hZ9Ka_hfQBDI/s640/IMG_9453.JPG" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the European-style sidewalk cafe seating (with chairs facing out) I kept coming across in the city. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0KMvlWLWWBVqs6r0nR-enGowWP5YRrREPIsM52AFpgCItJQB6i65df48E9eOr1YQTbuIfXY-CALs3kISiLhDMnNyv-alUWl9EC2jk8dTE68uUL1aaAqXa6kKywE_zVjn-eTtq6L9wgM/s1600/IMG_9451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0KMvlWLWWBVqs6r0nR-enGowWP5YRrREPIsM52AFpgCItJQB6i65df48E9eOr1YQTbuIfXY-CALs3kISiLhDMnNyv-alUWl9EC2jk8dTE68uUL1aaAqXa6kKywE_zVjn-eTtq6L9wgM/s640/IMG_9451.JPG" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could find these signs for pedestrians on every block. They show your current location in the city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1gEvTkkldSfaUPUedpYdHOH6nyKG1niNIchTI4i-fsr6voblIVFgJJOAGIPT7ahyphenhyphenY9VEISRvlUzT3-7Vs5y8u79YtQDGfiHRIS-FrCo9OkIA2nbKyOIihBYCFEqksh6BfIBWKhBFSlY/s1600/IMG_9572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1gEvTkkldSfaUPUedpYdHOH6nyKG1niNIchTI4i-fsr6voblIVFgJJOAGIPT7ahyphenhyphenY9VEISRvlUzT3-7Vs5y8u79YtQDGfiHRIS-FrCo9OkIA2nbKyOIihBYCFEqksh6BfIBWKhBFSlY/s640/IMG_9572.JPG" width="414" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthropologie's autumn decor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjU4f_nEHBJ-GWZ3ccysAqqsp7MLgBNBnT3MF2qijSPqRasz2oKdgHV2TN2rux7mji5uX5bvOlc4v2R3OUcg-GX4mwfDEIhq2n2tyqAjUlonZwTpWwUUJ4FDSfHwK0Ly2sA0oCiDrQOB0/s1600/IMG_9587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjU4f_nEHBJ-GWZ3ccysAqqsp7MLgBNBnT3MF2qijSPqRasz2oKdgHV2TN2rux7mji5uX5bvOlc4v2R3OUcg-GX4mwfDEIhq2n2tyqAjUlonZwTpWwUUJ4FDSfHwK0Ly2sA0oCiDrQOB0/s640/IMG_9587.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthropologie's flagship store at Rittenhouse Square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPVVnfX6yiIdo5f_884LTZsPImxENzJ-JM2GLBQxOIdo-uqj54rPPdqv278H8KHtNwnL7UL72lpNxbjalQ8hIfhDnH8Ka7LR9uhfuY9I8TZY1968BVbq0P0aUBKT8BovTSFSBecIVU5k/s1600/IMG_9577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPVVnfX6yiIdo5f_884LTZsPImxENzJ-JM2GLBQxOIdo-uqj54rPPdqv278H8KHtNwnL7UL72lpNxbjalQ8hIfhDnH8Ka7LR9uhfuY9I8TZY1968BVbq0P0aUBKT8BovTSFSBecIVU5k/s640/IMG_9577.JPG" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-War Rittenhouse Plaza houses condos running from $500,000 to $3 million.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJrOgFCf9UzJSlIs-nqYeU5L8269fdNIFA-ISvN-9jXs-K0tmgwzeqpav6m7O_PacMt0q5Sq6h9n6bvRVrkg7XSN12afpCpJeykKoLoTttRfo4_BRr_gvfSRO6nlUecUucDyaoMMvmmU/s1600/IMG_9586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJrOgFCf9UzJSlIs-nqYeU5L8269fdNIFA-ISvN-9jXs-K0tmgwzeqpav6m7O_PacMt0q5Sq6h9n6bvRVrkg7XSN12afpCpJeykKoLoTttRfo4_BRr_gvfSRO6nlUecUucDyaoMMvmmU/s640/IMG_9586.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rittenhouse Square.</td></tr>
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And a few more photos a little further downtown, mostly along Walnut Street.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really wanted to eat here!</td></tr>
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a<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSttLI_FtI4gm3fcLscPu745zscne4zSvafM41aOyt1FQymoB3wT7BOs1euxhOh6F0eo6bA70XjFiXggn_4utrsnH9wdZKfXLE1fdQErfW7nNBgBLODcBcBbkMqSHN35wDMXy2aQxbFlI/s1600/IMG_9605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSttLI_FtI4gm3fcLscPu745zscne4zSvafM41aOyt1FQymoB3wT7BOs1euxhOh6F0eo6bA70XjFiXggn_4utrsnH9wdZKfXLE1fdQErfW7nNBgBLODcBcBbkMqSHN35wDMXy2aQxbFlI/s640/IMG_9605.JPG" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out those booths on the sidewalk!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Amy Trexler Mantayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394686523522606400noreply@blogger.com1