Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Change In Perspective

Sometimes, all we need to do is change our perspective on what we see.

Hard to retrain our thinking patterns but it can be done. With all of the latest gadgets, texting at the speed of light and the internet moving at warped speed.....we are all quick to judge. Quick to make decisions, find fault or find the negative in what is around us.  It's easy to do.

Maybe, if we all slow down a little bit, take our time, and give thought to our judgments before we make them, we'll actually see things differently.

After all, who wouldn't want a wish over a weed?


Paula



Monday, September 28, 2015

Fun Checkered Coat Hanger - Mackenzie-Child's Like.

This fun little coat hanger went from drab to fab with a few easy steps.  This was an old oak hanger that the kids used when they were little.  It lacked any kind of charm and I almost threw it out.
I was looking at it the other day and thought...what can I do to make this look better?  What if I "check it up"?  So you know me, I pulled out my paints and started working away.
What doesn't look cute in black and white checks?  Then I changed out the hangers...
The gold ones were changed out with the whimsical black ones and re-attached with a small drill.
Then I started to work on the base..
A finishing coat of poly and she is all set.  
I think checks make anything look better.   What do you think?  Do you have something like this that could use a make-over?  Give it a try....you might be surprised.  

Paula








Friday, September 25, 2015

Friday Obsessions....

Antler pumpkin love....
Carmelized pear, walnut, camambert and arugula.... (OMG.....)
Little frenchie...
Great shirt for fall....
Lockley Lane entry...

Have a great weekend!

Paula



Thursday, September 24, 2015

Rejoice.....


Feeling joyful at the Pope's visit in Washington, D.C.

Paula


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Hello Fall...









....need I say anything else?

Paula






Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Apple Slab - A Fall Must

I posted this last year but after making it this weekend for friends, I thought I'd share it again.  Go get some Granny Smith apples and vanilla ice cream.... Happy fall!

Apple Slab - is so much better than apple pie!  Apple Slab is a home run. It has the same ingredients as apple pie, but it's more of a bar or slab with apple glaze.  It's gooey and moist and it makes a lot. You can take this to a luncheon, cookout, dinner, holiday party or just make it because your family is crying for a good homemade dessert.  And the best part.....it is easy!
Take 5 or 6 large granny smith apples.  Peel and slice thin. You want the apples to bake down when cooking.

Put your apple slices in a large bowl.  Combine 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 tsp of cinnamon, 6 TBSP of corn starch and pour this over your apples.  Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over this mixture and toss.

Let your apples sit for a little bit so the juice begins to fall to the bottom. Grease a long flat baking pan.  I use a 17x11 pan or a jelly roll pan.

Take two of your pre-made pie crusts. This is where we short-step the time it takes to make homemade pie crusts. Look, those of you that are true bakers and have time to roll out your crust and get flour everywhere - go ahead and get happy.  I've made it both ways and no one in my house, friends included,  can tell it's not a homemade crust when I use the Pillsbury crusts :).   Grease your pan and place the pie crusts so that they fit.  You might have to do some cutting and pasting....that's fine.
 Dump in your apple mixture, but don't pour out the juice!
You should have about 1/2 cup of juice....or a little more leftover in your bowl.
Put the two other crust pieces on top and pop this into the oven for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Then cover your slab with foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes.  You don't want the top to get too brown. Take out and let cool.

Once this has cooled down but still warm, add 1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar, 1tsp of melted butter to the leftover apple juice in your bowl.  If it's too thick, add a little milk.  Pour the apple glaze over the slab.


YUM!!!

Here is a recap of what you will need:

Filling:
5-6 large granny apple smith apples
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2tsp of cinnamon
Juice of a fresh lemon
6 tbsp of corn starch

Apple Glaze
Juice left over from the apple and cinnamon mixture
1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar
1 tsp of butter

Crust
Two boxes of Pillsbury Pie Crusts (four pie rolls)

So good warm, cold and yes, even with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Have a great weekend and remember to be kind.

Paula



Monday, September 21, 2015

Painting Wooden Pumpkins and Acorns

One of the things I love about fall, is the endless decorations you can make and create for a festive holiday home/work space.  You just need a little patience and some paint and you can pretty much create anything.
A client of mine gave me some wooden pumpkins and an acorn to paint.  They started out plain and kind of "eh" in the picture below.
I added colors that she uses in her home and brought in different shades for depth.  A little paint transforms these pieces in no time.

Who thought little boring wood pieces could be so cute!  Find your own pieces to paint, or let me paint them for you.  Check out my gallery to see different things I've done.  

Painting makes me happy.  Life is too short to limit possibilities. 

Have a great week!

Paula




Friday, September 18, 2015

Friday Obsessions.....

Layering paint colors.....
Long jackets....
Fabulous pasta....
Greens and silver...
Baby bully with blue eyes....

Have a great weekend!

Paula



Monday, September 14, 2015

Pumpkin Time....

Yes, it is that time of year!  The great thing about beautifully painted pumpkins is that you can put them out in September and they can stay through the end of December.  This is what my dining room looked like over the weekend.


So pretty and easy to do.  If you need help, you can click on this past Tutorial.

Go paint some pumpkins and have a great week!

Paula






Friday, September 11, 2015

Friday Obsessions....

 Fall Pumpkins....
Two Colors and Crackle....
Zucchini Pie....
Criss Crossed Sweater...
Little Frenchy.....


Have a great weekend!

Paula



Thursday, September 10, 2015

Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Are we ready for fall yet?  I know I am and with that comes sweet potato things!  I saw this recipe last night on Pinterest and thought...yup, I'm making this.  This is a super easy recipe found on Farm Flavor.  Whenever you can make something with a sheet cake pan, you know it's easy.  

Doesn't the picture make you want to make and bake this today?   

Fall can't get here soon enough.

Have a great day!

Paula












Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Vanity Re-Do

One of the things I have been working on lately is this little vanity for my sister-in-law.  When this came to me, it was old and worn and not in the best of shape. It was ready for a little love.
The great thing about chalk paint, is that you don't have to prep your wood - other than cleaning it off to make sure the dust and dirt is removed.  You can just pull things out and get started.
This vanity is actually going down to my niece who is in college so I thought it would be pretty in a pure white with a black stool.   I did a post on how to recover the stool here.


See what a little paint can do?  I did this in Pure White and did one coat of clear wax. So easy and simple and totally transformed.

Hope you have a great week.

Paula