I love this house. Peter and I are not moving and we’re not in the position to buy a house (yet), although I can’t help but look at some of the fabulous houses that are on the market right now. This one is a ways out of our price range for a starter home but I love the Victorian style.
Isn’t the delticate wood work absolutely swoon-worthy? And look at this porch. It’s fabulous!
Our first house will be much more of a fixer-upper but I’ll take this as inspiration any day. If you are in the market for a beautiful home in Grand Rapids, Michigan then check this one out.
Images courtesy of Realtor.com
I strongly associate fall with pumpkins, simply because they’re everywhere. Children are taking pictures in pumpkin patches, people are carving them for Halloween, and Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie. With all of that pumpkin floating around, it’s a great time to put it to other uses. After reading somewhere that pumpkin can be used as a substitute for butter or oil, I couldn’t help but put that knowledge to the test. We tried it over a year ago with some sugar cookies that Peter and I like to make and the cookies have since become a staple in our household. Here’s the recipe:
- 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix all the ingredients together until the batter is consistent.
Wrap the dough in Saran wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours.
Roll out dough and cut with cookie cutters or flatten into small circles. Use cooking spray and extra flour to prevent cookies from sticking.
Bake cookies at 400 degrees on a greased pan for about eight minutes or until golden brown.
While the cookies are in the oven, start to make the icing. Pour a large amount of powdered sugar into a bowl and slowly add small amounts of amaretto until you reach a thick consistency.
Note: The amaretto dissolves the powdered sugar quickly, so it’s important to only add a little bit at a time to avoid a gooey mess.
The pumpkin in the cookies makes them fluffier than regular cookies. This recipe combines a childhood favorite with a more adult icing. Plus, they must have more vitamins than regular sugar cookies!
Which ingredients do you like to swap?
This just might be the coziest kitchen I’ve ever seen. Everything about it is just so cottage chic. I love the white cabinets that allow you to peak in at the wine glasses, the dark pulls on each of the drawers, the copper pitchers, the black and white tiled floor, and, most of all, the dark wooden countertop. It’s sheer beauty.
Image courtesy of Martha Stewart.com.
I’m sitting at home, wiped out from a migraine that I had this morning and I feel so unproductive. It kills me because I stayed home from work today and there are so many things that I want/need to get done but I hardly have the energy to write this post. I did some knitting for awhile, watched a lot of TV online–which I almost never do– and now I’m waiting for Peter to get home from his class or my dad to get in town. Migraines. I can’t believe how many people get them. They’re debilitating and frustrating and somehow there’s no cure for them. The migraine is gone now but my body is just wiped out. I can’t wait to feel alive again. To get things done.
I’ve suffered from migraines for years now. At one point in my life I was getting them about five days a week. You don’t realize what that’s like until you’re just in bed, unable to do anything for weeks on end. Luckily, now they’re much fewer with further between, but I still long for the day when they are completely gone. In all my experience with them the one thing that I’ve found to consistently help me is taking magnesium pills. This is another one of my mother’s tricks. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer so it helps all those tiny muscles in your head and neck relax without having the extreme effect of prescription muscle relaxers. I’m also a fan of a heating pad and relaxing essential oils. Note: I am not a doctor nor do I have any medical training so please consult your doctor before you decide that any of this is right for you.
For those of you who suffer from migraines, are there any natural remedies that make you feel better?
I am in love with the wallpaper in this bathroom. It reminds me of an awning in a Parisian cafe. What an elegant way to unwind from a stressful day! I especially love the copper tub that accompanies the wallpaper. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tub like that. How beautifully unexpected. I only wonder–do you think the metal in the tub would get so hot that it would be uncomfortable on your bare back?
Image courtesy of White & Wander.
