Notes on my new site

Monday, January 31, 2011

Look Whoo-hoo's having a baby! Clair Lee, that's whoo!

Owl cupcak
Saturday afternoon, the women who love my dear friend Clair came over to celebrate the nearing
arrival of her baby boy Seth! We themed the party around adorable owls using a poppy color scheme. Since before Christmas, a few of us have been emailing food ideas and decor DIYs back and forth and the outcome was too cute. From the Duncan Hines inspired cupcakes to the twiggy votive favors, there were small touches of cuteness from many helping hands.

twiggy votive favors

Mama Clair and sweet friend Sam!
little birdie hanging toy
from the Tree Top Play Gym
made great decor!
Becca decorates a little onsie with fabric pens


Love note to Clair and Seth


thank you cards

Craving Word Scramble & Diaper Cake Count prizes

Hand crochet owl for Seth made by Sam

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Cafe Latte Creamer

Is delicious and I feel it's the best one (of 30+ flavors including seasonal)! I've also googled coupons and found one on their website for $1.50 off any creamer. Okay, once again I'm distracted on the computer and procrastinating!


< Also, get ready to see a lot of this little guy in the next post to come...

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A font we can believe in

Recently, I've been been using Gotham typeface in most of my projects. When I used it in a logo with the color pallet red, white and blue I thought hm... I've seen this before? Googled Gotham typeface and the following images popped up... entertaining.



Figured it out yet?



Saturday, January 22, 2011

Steak and Greens

Thank you Paula Deen and more importantly thank you my dear mother-in-law Lynn!! David's mimi, Lynn, has outfitted me with two great cookbooks the past two christmas's. Last year I was working in the kitchen with Ina making buttermilk mashed potatoes for New Years. And this year, I'm working with Paula and started off with down right incredible Steak and Greens. During Friday night Esther bible study, a precious time with precious friends in the Lord, we absolutely devoured this recipe.  


Ingredients
Seasoning mix in a small bowl:

    * 1 tablespoon paprika
    * 2 teaspoons kosher salt
    * 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
    * 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    * 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    * 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    * 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    * 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
    * 1 teaspoon ground ginger


Steak and Greens in a large soup pot:

    * 1 1/2 pounds (or more) round steak, thinly sliced
    * 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    * 2 cups chopped onion
    * 1 box beef broth
    * 3-4 bunches of green leaves chopped (collard greens, kale, swiss chard)
    * Steamed white rice, for serving
    * 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour mixed with milk (if you've can, make a little gravy mix by adding some meat grease to this and stir up before adding it to the soup pot)

Directions:

Mix seasonings for seasoning mix together in a small bowl. Slice meat in strips and put in large soup pot. Sprinkle ONLY 2 to 3 tablespoons on sliced steak, tossing to insure the meat is covered. Reserve remaining seasonings for later use.

Make your flour/milk/gravy mix. I had some gravy left over from meatballs (ground beef fat, milk and 1tbsp flour). Paula says: "In a cast iron skillet, add flour over low heat. Brown flour, stirring occasionally to avoid burning, about 5 minutes."

Paula says: "Heat heavy 5-quart cast iron pot; over medium heat, add oil." OR add oil to the meat in your soup pot. Brown seasoned meat for 2 or 3 minutes (don't overcook), turning once. Add onion and gravy/flour/milk mix. Pour 1-cup of broth, add remaining seasoning mix and stir to combine well. Cook, scraping bottom of soup pot for 5 to 10 minutes. Add remaining beef stock and greens and bring to a boil. Then immediately, lower the heat and cook for 45 minutes. 

Paula suggests serving this with creamy grits, rice or boiled new potatoes. And friend Katheryn suggests corn bread. Yumm! We had it with rice.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

DG4 5 Month Awards

David Ruff Grant IV has passed the 5 month mark and been awarded the following:


Grandpa G's First Place Grandson

Most Fashionable Holiday Ham

MVB 2010: Most Valuable Baby

Jumper with most Potential

#1 Eager Eater of Gooey Cereal for January 2010!



Monday, January 17, 2011

wallpaper your desktop

I was recently reminded (by my sister and brother in the law) that to remove wallpaper from a wall is back-breaking work and could kill a person! So, I'm brainstorming a different way to deck David's room with maps. Think I'll just buy a bunch of old maps. If you have some - send them my way! So, moral to the story, feeling an inkling to wallpaper - change your desktop background!

I stumbled across I Love Typography yesterday and now I'm sporting this new desktop background here. I think all his backgrounds may say 'I love typography' but that just means 'I love fonts' and you don't have to be a designer to love fonts. So, go get you some fab designy background!

A while ago, I came across Kelly Medivitz's website, where she shares dozens of beautiful desktop backgrounds. I really should meet the girl, I love her work! And you might too.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Working on the computer...

... can be so distracting! I google 'sunbursts' looking for graphic inspiration for a logo I'm working on, and what appears but beautiful decorating blogs! I have now also searched 'Parisian chic' and bumped into this full house blog for a second time! So, it's fate and now that I'm distracted, I just have to share...

'Sunburst' google resulted in the full house blog tutorial for making newspaper mirrored sunbursts. Dang cute!
'Parisian Chic' google resulted in the full house blog pretty pics and a ruffled pillow tutorial. Hello! This idea is brilliant and should be simple.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Spaz baby in real time

I caught David making a wide variety of faces in his car seat and would like to share little spaz baby with you. He ends on a good note though, thumb sucking. This should get some smiles!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Map Bedroom Board

OKay, here's the board of ideas, I think this just may work. Thoughts?!

Map Bedroom

I've been trying to get a cozy vision for David's room decor. So far, it's a chocolate baby cave and I'm feeling I'd like to go a more vintage timeless direction. I mentioned to my friend and fellow blogger, Clair, that I was considering map wallpaper and she sent me a bunch of great ideas! I think I'll flip the bed, so the head board's in front of the window. And that window wall will have the map wallpaper. Thoughts?

LOVE this ivory nautical map wallpaper, it's my pick thus far
Then this blue grid map wallpaper is a bit more subtle
And then there's the inspiration rooms, always gotta have an inspiration room to refer to to keep the ideas from getting to crazy and missmatchedDavid's duvet cover is this
hmm... this may call for an olio board (found by Clair as well, she is so helpful!)





Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Holiday Road Trip 2010

went so well, I think there may be a Holiday Road Trip 2011 after all! There were times we'd never thought we'd make it (example: to Memphis, over 400+ miles from Chicago) and times when David made it seem he'd never sleep again (Christmas Eve in the arms of Mimi and Grandpa G) and times when we couldn't get the Corolla through treacherous terrain (Gatlinburg driveway), yet we made it and loved all the special times we had this holiday with friends and family.



Christmas morning at Great Grandmama's house in Jackson, MS with Grandpa G, Mimi, Uncle Matt and Aunt Seale. For David's first Christmas, I think the little guy did pretty well!
Present for David from mom and dadMonkey fashion accessories and outfits from Grandpa G and Mimi, sooo cute, Owl from Mimi and Grandpa G
Loved my flats from Seale!Thank you Mr.Grant (Santa) and Lynn for another special Grant Christmas! You guys just spoil us and we always LOVE every gift! If anyone ever wonders what little extras to get us for Christmas, just ask these guys. Great Grandmama Grant and her little great grandbaby David. David is named after Grandmama's husband, David Ruff Grant. Many years between these two, still best buddies.
David loves his Aunt Seale! She can always get a good chuckle out of him, even when he looks like the world is going to fall apart. Thank you Seale for hosting us for another lovely Christmas.
On to Chattanooga! Lunch downtown with Uncle Jacky and Aunt Cayte. So fun being together, so many laughs! This visit was especially exciting as we got to see the King's new home and all the hard work they've done to make it their own. Way to go guys!
Jacky got Cayte an awesome camera for her birthday and we did a very cute photo shoot with David. He's surrounded by a new bug friend from Jacky's mom, thank you!David's first visit to an aquarium, and our first visit to the Chattanooga Aquarium. That place was big, with big big fish. Didn't phase the man one bit.
Last leg of the journey, Gatlinburg Tennessee! We stayed in the Argo's beautiful cabin, 'Bearly Hidden' up in the foothills of the Smokies. Their cabin was a retreat into cozy rest, and even David liked our king size bed. GAME: Where's David?
Chelsey introduced David to fire! She and David shared precious time together this trip.
David and Taylor bonded like brothers. I think we could've left the man with the Franks and he'd have been right at home.
Out to lunch at an English Pub, Clair & baby Seth (due April 6th), Chelsey and David and I enjoyed a leisure afternoon together.

Final mileage count = 2,170








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