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Kitchens & Baths

August 22, 2012 by Shanna Hatfield

If, like me, you love to look at photos of gorgeous kitchens and bathrooms and dream about what could be at your own home, there’s an amazing new magazine you need to see.

Hearst Publications recently introduced  Kitchens & Baths, a new collection with the best of the best from Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Country Living, and Woman’s Day, that gives you all the information you need to make your dream room a reality. A variety of style options – from classic and country to contemporary and eclectic – are covered as well as ideas on everything from complete renovations to some easy touch-ups. Kitchens & Baths is a great resource to help you get the look you want.

 The magazine offers a plethora of ideas and inspiration as well as photos showcasing how real homeowners turned their formerly drab spaces into beautiful places with step-by-step makeover tips.

A product guide offers tips in the latest and greatest home appliances, cabinets, tiles and more.

 Bright pops of color bring a touch of whimsy to this kitchen.

Clean and simple lines make even the smallest bathrooms look airy and open.

My favorite photo in the magazine was this kitchen with the barnwood island. It looks exactly like something one of my Grass Valley characters would have in their kitchen. I absolutely love it!

From glorious kitchen makeovers to beautiful bathrooms that made me want to say “Calgon, take me away,” Kitchens & Baths is a wonderful escape, a fabulous planning tool, and fantastic resource for ideas.

Some articles include topics such as “how to make the most of every square inch in your kitchen” and “simple solutions for a clean, clutter-free vanity.”

The last page offers a timeline for what to do and when to do it if you are planning a project (be it remodel, construction, etc.)

If you love home ideas and beautiful photography of kitchen and baths, definitely check out this latest Hearst Publication.

Kitchens & Baths is available for $9.99 and can be purchased at your local supermarket, newsstand or bookstore. A digital edition is also available at Zinio.com or Nook.bn.com. For even more photos and inspiration, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hearstspecials and on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/hearstspecials.

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, Home and Garden, Home Decor, Kitchen Tools | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Summer Tunes Party Theme

August 21, 2012 by Shanna Hatfield

With school starting, Labor Day around the corner and summer drawing to an end, think about hosting an end-of-summer party.

Make it fun and casual with a barbecue or a simple make your own theme (like pizza or tacos or even deli sandwiches).

Give the party an Ode To Summer theme and have all your guests send you one or two of their favorite songs (either a list or links).  Play all the tunes and let guests vote on their favorites.

The music will add a fun, festive flair to your party and keep things lighthearted.

As a finale to the evening, grill summer fruit on the barbecue or have a fire pit to make S’mores.

The main thing is to gather with friends before the busy days of school, routines and then the holidays approaches. Take a laid-back approach  and enjoy time spent together.

She Who Is Humming ‘In The Good Old Summertime’

 

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Breakfast Burrito

August 17, 2012 by Shanna Hatfield

Captain Cavedweller likes to make breakfast burritos.

They are not for the faint of heart.

Yesterday he whipped one up so I took a few quick photos of the process. Start to finish, takes less than five minutes and they are pretty tasty (but don’t tell him I said that!).

Ingredients

Slice pre-cooked sausage thinly and brown in a skillet.

While the sausage is browning, whisk eggs with milk.

Add in some spices. CC uses Mrs. Dash.

Pour eggs in with sausage and scramble.

Then scoop into a tortilla shell.

Sprinkle with olives and shredded cheese.

Wrap and devour! (Someone got in a hurry to eat their breakfast and wouldn’t let me take more photos, sorry!).

Breakfast Burrito

2 pre-cooked sausages

3 eggs

1 tbsp milk

1/4 cup shredded cheese (CC used colby-jack)

1 tbsp. olives

salt, pepper to taste

seasoning to taste

Thinly slice sausage and warm in a skillet on medium heat. Whisk eggs with milk and seasoning then pour over sausage. Scramble until eggs are set. Scoop into a flour tortilla and top with olives and cheese. This will make three burritos (or two really big ones).

You can also add in sour cream, ranch dressing or salsa if you like. (CC doesn’t like, so his is the plain-jane model).

She Who Would Like One of These for Breakfast

Posted in Breakfast, Captain Cavedweller, Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Recipes | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Quilt that Love Made

August 15, 2012 by Shanna Hatfield

My niece posted this photo on facebook yesterday. It shows not only her super-cool bed, but a bright colorful quilt.

A quilt my mother made for her birthday.

Nothing out of the ordinary there. A gift from a grandmother to a grandchild.

Except my mother is nearly blind.

Mom asked Amanda a year ago what fabric she’d like for a quilt and Amanda went to a fabric store where she lived and had them call the store where my Mom lives to make sure she got the right fabric. Then Mom set out on a year-long adventure of making this quilt.

It would be a daunting task for a lot of people, especially for one who is 80-years-young who can barely see. Mom had to give up driving about 20 years ago. She stopped being able to do a lot of handiwork about ten years ago and these days her vision is very limited.

But it didn’t stop her from tackling this quilt project. My other niece helped her cut out the quilt pieces, but Mom sewed them together, going more by feel than by sight. I happened to be there the day she pinned the top to the batting and bottom lining, reminded again of my inability to learn the art of quilting. Mom sat for months with a large hoop in her lap, quilting by hand the entire thing, one stitch at a time.

Is the quilt perfect? No. I think my dad was even recruited to help with it a bit to get it done in time for Amanda’s birthday.

But that’s okay. Amanda loves the quilt and knows, faults and all, that it was made by her grandma just for her.

A promise fulfilled.

Every stitch made with love.

And that is what really counts.

She Who Cherishes Her Own Quilts Made by Mom

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