Rose Sugar Shortbread

 I took the rose sugar I had created and used it in this recipe.  You could make this shortbread with other flavors of sugar too.  The original recipe used  1 tsp. of finely chopped sage leaves mixed with the sugar listed below in the ingredients. Recipe source: The Herb Quarterly Summer 2010.

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened 

Place an oven rack in the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Sift flour and salt into a medium bowl.   Then mix in your 2 tbsp. of rose sugar or whatever sugar you desire.  Add the butter and stir with a fork to make a soft dough.  Gently pat the dough into a 9x9 inch baking pan.  Prick all over with a fork and sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of rose sugar and sprinkle evenly over the dough.  

Bake the shortbread until lightly golden, 20 to 30 minutes.  Cut into 1x3 inch fingers while the bread is still quite warm, then let it cool completely in the pan before separating.  makes about 27 fingers.

 Enjoy!

Sherry

I will link this to:

Friday Food at Mom Trends

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
Thriving on Thursdays  at Domesblissity
On the Menu Monday at Stonegable 
Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays

Changes at out House...

Being so focused on the interior of my home has left our outside a bit less than desirable.  When we moved into our house, we set priorities &  so the poor outside had to wait.  We fell for our house because it has a large, private back yard...  the back of it sort of turns into a mini forest and a stream runs behind our fence. 

I like that the woods in the back feel really natural and a little out of control (wild roses, honey suckle, clematis, black berries & a ton of other things spill out the edges of it into our grass) but I've always imagined that one day it would be a tad more manicured & purposeful...

{See how crazy it gets back there??}

Last year (and the year before) we made a few garden beds around the yard like the one below for dwarf holly (which looks sooooo much like boxwood) and herbs...

  But we never edged them properly and they've gotten a bit out of control... 

{Here's the beginning of our vegetable garden last year...  THAT's how we edge....  It's more like:

me- "Hey Dav, let's make a veggie garden today."  (I've never mentioned this but I actually call my husband "Dav"...  an old college joke where we used to call him "Daveed" and "Dav" stuck)

him- Big sigh... "Okay."

And he starts digging...  But before he can finish, I'm in his way planting stuff and saying, "Forget about the edges... And don't worry about turning up all that dirt.... Yeah, it's fine that it's clay."

SO... as a result, my garden beds are full of weeds and the grass runs right into them.  I sort of have Scarlett O'Hara's "I'll think about that tomorrow" attitude with my yard. 

{Can I tell you how much I love this fabric???!!!!}

BUT we found some great guys through a friend & got a superdeal on having our entire yard edged & mulched.  I AM OVER THE MOON!!!!  They came yesterday and went to town...  They're back today and are working on edges like this:

{not my yard...  image from finegardening.com...   They're still working so I'll post pics as soon as I can}

I am soooooo  excited.  Then...  we were at our friend-neighbor's house borrowing a wheelbarrow for the guys and she mentioned she was planning on getting rid of her kids' swing set now that they're getting older and so they gave it to us!!  My 4 year old is giddy beyond belief. 

...And....  (ok, truly nesting here; I have issues) I think I'm ready to change up our downstairs family room again...  I love the blue that's on the walls but I've always felt that it doesn't really fit with the feeling of our house & surroundings (with the blue walls and some of our accessories, it feels kind of coastal...  I originally had it REALLY coastal with this old painting... 

But it was driving me crazy...  so I switched pillows & accessories to ones with more of the green I crave:

{the room's pretty trashed in this pic...  sorry!}

...But I stole the rug, educational chart & lamp for other areas of the house & now my room's back to blank and blue... 

I'll be a little sad to say goodbye to the blue walls but I think I'm ready for the change.  We're keeping all of our furniture and I'll just rearrange rugs & artwork we already, have but the big change will be painting it white...  I sort of want it to feel more like my boys' playhouse:

I want it to be a more casual version of what we have upstairs & I'm hoping we can buy the paint today.  (I am aware this is nuts to do with our life/ schedule right now...  but I'm okay with that.)  Will be back with pics!!


If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Spa Night...It's a Sane Thing

Every summer I have started this little ritual where Friday night is Spa Night.  You show off more skin in the summer, your toes are peaking out of your sandals, and the schedule seems to go at a slower pace; so, there is time for it .   It is just something I do for myself.  My husband says, "You do what?"  "It is Spa Night dear, never mind you wouldn't understand." 

I never go anywhere, I don't spend any money, I just pull out the scrubs, lotions, and manicure supplies and I take care of me.

I don't get away, ever.  The kids are still here and I still wait on them; it's unavoidable. 

This is just one of those little things I like to do for myself.  It is a sane thing.   Do you have any summer rituals?  Is there anything you can enjoy more during summer's slower pace?

Sherry

I will join: 

Show off Your Cottage Monday  at The House in the Roses  

Seasonal Sundays  at The Tablescaper
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Say G'Day Saturday  at Natasha in Oz
Sunday's Best Party  at My 1929 Charmer

Home Sweet Home #64

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This is for all the Mothers out there who work so hard to raise their families.  Take a break and step into my yard for a moment today.  I have a funny story about this photo shoot today.

I have set my table up and every time I step outside I keep hearing this buzzing.  Sounded like a lot of flies.  I just ignored it and kept right on creating my table, working with the lighting, and getting the angles just right.

Just about when I am done with my table ( I had been out there around 30 minutes)  a little honey bee lands on it and takes an interest in my roses.  Then it dawns on me that the neighbor who raises bees had a hive of bees leave the nest last year and they took up residence in our hollow tree.  So, the light bulb goes on and I look up and see the bees swarming. 

They were flying wildly all around the tree and buzzing in and out of the space above my head.  The buzzing was very loud.  How did I not remember this?  I'm way too focused on styling this table.

So, they have buzzed off now and very few bees are going in and out of the tree.  No harm done.  I am glad they appreciated my table and since they are now gone I will invite you over to a much quieter table.

Now I would like to highlight some of the posts that caught my eye last week at Home Sweet Home.  So many great ideas!

Terry at Forever Decorating  showed off her pretty brick borders.

 Judy at JBigg's Little Pieces  showed off the most beautiful lilac table. 

 LDH at With a Grateful; Prayer and a Thankful Heart   showed off recycled light shade as flower pots. 

Gail at Gail's Decorative Touch  made this apron out of a French grain sack.  Isn't this cute! 

Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!   It is wonderful to have you here! 

Sherry

I will join these ladies today:
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays

Pearls and Lace Thursdays  at Faith, Grace, and Crafts

Home and Garden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life 

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

My Room in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

April has been a super-busy month so I'm a little late on sharing ,but I am thrilled about the article published in this month's (April's) Better Homes & Gardens Magazine!   The photo shoot took place last May in my room, at the 2011 DC Design House and my good friend, photographer Helen Norman took the photos. 

{The little aqua "one line a day" book is now mine & I use it to record funny things my kids say & little family stories.}

Here's a really pretty shot of the window seat we had custom-made by our go-to builders, CarrMichael Construction with custom layered cushions fabricated by Paul David Designs (our workroom, who we absolutely love.)

{The window seat is a mix of fabrics by Peter Dunham Textiles who generously donated their fabrics for the showhouse and some of my new fabrics.  The distressed silver llama sconces were donated by Porta Romana.}

Here's a shot of most of the room which shows off the grasscloth walls & diamond-patterned sisal rug (by Stark, fabricates by the Carpet Customizer)...

The article is by BHG editor Joanna Linberg {who is one of the kindest & most genuinely sweet people I've ever met} and I love how she broke everything down for the article & delved into the concept of "perfectly imperfect ." 

She listed a few of the must-haves I like to include when designing a room:

The oversize painting is by my good friend John Matthew Moore and I arranged the leather parsons desk (by Edelman Leather) so that was askew from the painting for a slightly "off" and more casual look.  I tucked the glass lamp with bright green tin shade (donated by Stray Dog Designs) right next to the painting to compensate for the assymetical desk arrangement.  I'm always really awkward in photos by myself and so I curled up in one of my Madhatter Chairs & it made me feel much better.  :)  The curtains are my Happikat in black & white and the Fabric on the back of the chair is by Michael Smith.

Here's a page they included at the end of the article about botanicals (which you know I'm pretty much obsessed with) and I'm loving the black backgrounds on a few of the botanicals & that pattern on the journal.  (#3)

The article itself includes all of our resources, but I want to be sure to mention that we borrowed antiques & artwork from some of our favorite local shops:  John Rosselli, Spurgeon Lewis and German Favorite Antiques.  Being a part of the DC Design House, which benefits Children's Hospital in Georgetown, was really such an amazing experience & through it, I made friends I know I'll have for life.  The 2012 House is open right now, so if you're in the area, be sure to go check it out!!

And finally, I turned 30 yesterday!!!!!  My 20s were over & I have to say they did not go out with a bang- 8+ months pregnant just doesn't put you in the partying mood ;) - but I will be sure to make up for it when I'm out of Baby #3 haze. 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Making Rose Sugar

Roses aren't usually the first thing you think of to bring in from the garden to the kitchen.  But, roses can be used for a variety of culinary purposes.  One way to use roses in your cooking is to make rose flavored sugar.  It is made exactly the same way you make vanilla scented sugar.

There are two methods to make the sugar.  I will show you this method first. (source: Mad About Herbs)

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh organic fragrant rose petals

3/4- 1 cup of white sugar

• I first chopped the white end off of the rose petal.   This part of the petal tends to taste bitter so I removed it.

• Next, I finely chopped the rose petals up.

• Next you need to place some sugar in a mortar and mix by pounding the petals into the sugar.

• If you want to serve the sugar with this gorgeous pink color you must serve it now freshly mixed.  It has the most fragrant smell just like the roses.
• After mixing place in an airtight glass jar for storage.

• The reason I tell you to serve it fresh is because the color turns brown overnight.  I made this last night and today when I saw it had browned I was disappointed.  It also smells more fruity. 

The other way to make rose sugar I found in The Herb Companion.  

• Take a clean pint jar with a tight fitting lid.   Fill the jar about 1/3 full with sugar, scatter a small handful of very fragrant rose petals over the sugar.
• Cover the petals with sugar so the jar is 2/3 full; add another small handful of rose petals and cover with sugar to fill the jar, leaving about 1/2 inch headspace.
• Shake the jar and place on a shelf in a cool dark place.  The sugar will be ready to use in 2 to 3 weeks and will become more flavorful with age.  As, the sugar is used, add more plain sugar, which will take on the fragrance in the jar.

Uses for rose flavored sugar:

1. Stirred into coffee or tea
2. Use instead of plain sugar when baking cakes, scones etc.
3. Sprinkle onto desserts, cakes, cookies, muffins
4. Use to make syrups or add to the rim of cocktail glasses

Note*  If you use this method, you can mix your white sugar with a pink sanding sugar and get the beautiful pale pink sugar.  

 Enjoy!

Sherry

I will link this to: 

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Friday Food at Mom Trends

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
What's It Wednesday   at Ivy and Elephants  
Thriving on Thursdays  at Domesblissity
On the Menu Monday at Stonegable 
Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays

Before & After: Client's Dining Room

Last year, we began working with our clients who were undergoing a major renovation to their home.  The renovation was a thoughtful reworking of the existing space with the only addition to the house's footprint being the new screened-in porch.  The entire floorplan of the first floor was reworked and my clients created a massive open kitchen with an attached dining room and entry out of what once was the kitchen, dining room, living room and entry.  The wife likes bold fresh colors & has slightly modern taste while the husband is pretty traditional so we were really after a blending of the two.

We did the full house but I thought I'd start out by sharing the dining room with you.  Here's a photo of the dining room "before" which was at the back of the house:

And here's the dining room now:

Like me, my client loves botanicals & we couldn't resist these two massive ones by Natural Curiosities.  I flanked them with large bright green lamps to balance out their size.  The trestle table is paired with lighter carved chairs and I love the detail on the seat backs.   We found the neutral Greek key rug at Stark.  On the table, I used modern garden cloches on the table filled with ferns and orchids.  

We had the existing sideboard laquered white and my client had the GENIUS idea of adding a wooden board painted with chalkboard paint to the top of it:

It looks like slate but was super-inexpensive.  (I know, I know, chalkboard is EVERYWHERE... but I still love it in enexpected places!!)  We had planned to use honed granite or concrete & I'm so happy she did this instead!!!  It's so convenient now to label food & drinks set out on the bar.

For curtains, we used an overscale blue paisley by Schumacher and throughout the house we used a combination of bright blues & greens.  This project was particularly special for us to work on for a number of reasons and the "big reveal" had me teary... I want to thank my clients so much for letting us into your home &  your lives. 

I'm off for the day- am having contractions and am heading in to doc to check it out & am doubting this is "it" but they make you come in anyway so we'll see.  I'll keep you posted!!
UPDATE:  I'm home from doc and all is good & contractions will be coming & going but they aren't painful enough yet to be very productive!  Will keep you posted & hopefully I still have a couple mroe weeks to go :)




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.