home tour

November 6, 2018 By Melinda 4 Comments

Countdown to Christmas Cookies!

Yes, I have to admit that I am one of those people who starts to listen to Christmas music early in the season. For this reason, and many others, I was more than excited to take part in my friend Kristen’s, from Ella Claire Inspired, Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange!

I decided to not just share a cookie recipe, but a tradition as well. This tradition has not just played a role with my own family, but one that I fondly grew up taking part in myself.

What is it you ask?

The Countdown to Christmas Cookies of course!

My two sisters, brother, and I always received little treats on the days leading up to the Christmas holiday. Beginning on December 1st we would wake up to a cookie and a small treat. As a child it was something that I always looked forward to and knew that I would one day incorporate into my own holiday traditions with my children as well.

In Christmas’ past, I have placed the cookies and small Christmas treats in a small white paper bag. I hung them on a piece of twine in the playroom for the children to be greeted with in the morning.

Very soon, this tradition will be making its appearance again and I for one am looking forward to it!

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Countdown To Christmas Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp of Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups of All-Purpose Flour

Method

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Place butter in a bowl and beat until smooth.
Add the sugar and mix until combined.
Add eggs one at a time mixing well
Add the vanilla, salt and baking powder and mix
Mix in the flour one cup at a time and mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Divide the dough into 3 discs and roll each one out.
Freeze for 10-15 minutes and cut out your cookie shapes.
Bake 6-9 minutes.

Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this cookie exchange, for more holiday inspiration and delicious cookie recipes.

{MORE COOKIES FROM THE EXCHANGE}

The Perfect Soft Gingerbread Cookies by Ella Claire | Classic Sugar Cookies by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Plaid Sugar Cookies by Craftberry Bush | Buttery Shortbread Cookies with Icing Sugar by A Burst of Beautiful | German Chocolate Cake Cookies by City Farmhouse

Cranberry Orange Walnut Tassies by Inspired by Charm | Eggnog Gooey Butter Cookies by Julie Blanner | All Natural Orange Almond Cookies by Tidbits | Choco-mallow Peppermint Cookies by Summer Adams Designs | Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies by Love Grows Wild

Paleo Chocolate Cranberry Cookies by Nesting with Grace | Raspberry Gingersnap Sandwiches by anderson + grant | Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookies by Rooms for Rent | Large Thumbprint Cookies by So Much Better with Age | Rum Balls by Tidy Mom

Countdown to Christmas Cookies by House 214 Design | GF + DF Gingerbread Sugar Cookies by Zevy Joy | Christmas Shortbread Cookies by Boxwood Avenue | Double Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nest of Posies | Almond Sugar Cookies by My Sweet Savannah

M&M Peanut Butter Cookies by Sweet C’s | Rustic Granola Cookies by Farmhouse on Boone

June 7, 2017 By Melinda 5 Comments

A Touch of Summer

There is a feeling of ease when it comes to summer, isn’t there? Spring is a very busy season, with the welcoming return of light and warmth. In summer, nature slows down a bit and subtlety becomes the new path to take.

When April from House by Hoff and Krista from The Happy Housie asked me to join them and 25 other bloggers in The Seasonal Simplicity Home Tour, I couldn’t resist the invitation! I was so excited to share how I add a nod of summer to our home.

If you are joining the tour by way of my talented friend Abby from Just A Girl and Her Blog, welcome and thank you for joining us. Now, let’s get started!

I like to begin decorating for the seasons starting at our front door. It is the first moment you see when you visit our home and it sets the feeling for what is to come when you open it.

I decided to try my hand at making a wreath of my own using a wreath form, floral wire, and the most beautiful rosemary branches from Rose Bredl. In the winter season I place emerald green boxwood wreaths against my painted black door and I absolutely love the contrasting colors. I thought the rosemary branches would provide a similar effect. What do you think?

This time of year means the local farmers markets are up and running. I love to visit the busy scene on the weekends, find inspiration, and stock up on local foods. There is just something about the sun shining on a beautiful day, seeing some of the familiar faces of my neighbors, and trying the goods of people who put a lot of care into their products.

On this particular visit local breads and eggs found their way into my basket at the market. I thought they would be a wonderful addition for a summer breakfast outside on the patio.

I gathered different “serving” pieces that I have collected over the years to hold the bread, eggs, and butter. It just makes the everyday feel a bit more special. Of course it is not something that I do all of the time, but I thought a nice summer weekend with my family was the perfect reason to use it.

I love to decorate my home in a way that just feels like me. If you have any interest in learning how to do the same I am teaching a FREE 5 day email course called, “Finally Decorate Your Home”.

If you doubt yourself when it comes to making decorating decisions for your home and/or you feel overwhelmed by all of the choices available in making those decisions this free course is for you.

In this free course you will be introduced to the step by step process I created that teaches you the right way to making decorating decisions for your home. It is a framework that will teach you how the feeling you want to create in your home (hint, it has a lot to do with your personality) has specific patterns, textures, colors, collections, finishes, etc., that will communicate it best. Making decorating decisions for your home becomes easier and something that you are happy with for a long time.

Okay, now it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy our beautiful breakfast with my family. A simple summer morning that is made special with what might be little effort, but effort that can create some of life’s biggest moments.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my home today. If you have any interest in learning the same process I use to make the decisions I do for my home please sign up for my free 5 day email course, “Finally Decorate Your Home”.

Please be sure to visit the next stop on the tour with Kristy from Robb Restyle. Also, don’t forget to check out all the home tours throughout the week!

Monday

House by Hoff / House of Wood / Refresh Restyle / Cassie Bustamante / That’s My Letter

Tuesday

The Happy Housie / Simplicity in the South / at HOME with the barkers / Sincerely, Sara D.

Wednesday

Nina Hendrick Design Co. / The Wicker House / A Burst of Beautiful / Paint Me Pink / Town and Country Living

Thursday

At Charlotte’s House / Just a Girl and Her Blog / House 214 Design / Robb Restyle

Friday

My Fabuless Life / The Turquoise Home / Erin Spain / Place of My Taste / Cherished Bliss

October 19, 2016 By Melinda 1 Comment

Fall Home Tour Ideas

I find that there is a process that goes along with decorating for a season, holiday, etc. For me it generally starts with an inspirational piece and this year was no exception. This Fall was inspired by the kitchen copper I have accumulated from my parents over the years. There is something special about the color, simplicity, and history of the pieces. I actually enjoy cleaning it! There is great satisfaction in seeing something go from dull to stunning with not much effort.

If you have visited any of my previous home tours you know that I always like to start my decorating on the outside. I believe the elements I choose should begin there and set the tone for what you will be greeted with when you walk inside.

Here you see the copper tone pop on the corn glittered with gold on the front door. I also chose to work with purples, greens and whites this year. I was so excited and surprised to walk into a sea of white pumpkins at my local nursery last week. I didn’t think I would be able to find real pumpkins this early!

Truth be told, I have an amazing mother who has taught me so much about taking care of a home. I told her my thoughts on wanting to use gold glitter on corn and walnuts for my fall decor and she surprised my by doing it herself. She truly is the best!

You are greeted with the copper as soon as you enter the kitchen. I adore it so much that I may keep it up all year round!

Food is something else I like to use to decorate my home when possible. The colors are in such a pure and natural state that you truly can not go wrong with them. There is also so much variety to choose from, it’s inexpensive and you can eat it. You can’t go wrong!

You can find the glitter covered walnuts my mom made me in the birds nest. We found the nest in the backyard a few years ago. I like to place different items in it for decoration. Before the walnuts made it in I had a pie bird sitting displayed in it.

Simply said, I love to fill my kitchen with meaningful pieces. I am in this space a lot and I want to enjoy it when I am in here.

My fall mantle was fairly simple. I took some branches from the yard for some height and added some brass and copper tone accents. I loved the gold edges of the pages of the books. I decided to turne them around, so we could appreciate the color.

My mudroom received a little fall detail with the addition of gold glittered pumpkins!

I have created a free 5 day email course “Finally Decorate Your Home” to help get you started feeling home.

Take care! Melinda

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