{images via Crown Point}

If you’ve got kids I bet you’ll want a good supply ...]]> When deepening a pantry you’ll have to decide what foods take priority and where you want to begin building up. Start with the goal of having at least one month’s worth of food-stuff for your pantry. It’s all a very personal choice dependent upon your needs. I always make soup and use fresh veggies, so you will not find Campbells Soup or canned corn in my pantry.

{images via Crown Point}

If you’ve got kids I bet you’ll want a good supply of mac ‘n’ cheese in there. Below I have listed just a basic frame from which you are welcome to work from. First, I suggest obtaining two extra of items that are things you don’t want to run out of such as: paper goods like toilet paper, napkins, towels and cleaners such as dish soap or dishwasher detergent, laundry soap and bath soap.

{images via House Beautiful and Crown Point }

Second, I like to have a few extra bottles vegetable oil, extra virgin olive oil, REGULAR olive oil -so many people buy only extra virgin olive oil and don’t realize that extra virgin has an incredibly strong taste that you don’t always want in every recipe. Now that I have said that you’ll notice that most recipes differentiate between regular olive oil and extra virgin. Most at home cooks do not. They assume extra virgin is just “olive oil” and pour away. Try having both at home. I promise your food will taste better. *wink wink*

{images via Country Living and Crown Point}

I like to keep various pastas, noodles, rice, oatmeal, in large airtight containers that have a wide mouth. I leave a scoop inside each container. It makes for very easy use and even easier clean up. Just be sure to date the container when you throw away the original packaging.

{images via Martha Stewart}

You’ll find canned or dry beans and canned tomatoes (both whole tomatoes and Italian style) in my pantry. A jar of honey, lemon curd, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, a few jars of minced raw garlic, garlic and tomato paste. I also don’t know what I would do without at lease 4-6 boxes of organic chicken broth and 2 boxes of beef broth hidden away.

I am always sure there are dried fruits – apricots, prunes, raisins – and a variety of nuts on hand. This way you’ll always have an interesting mix to chop up and add to a salad or to put out as a quick appetizer with cheese, crackers and cocktails. You should also have selected nut-butters stashed away. I like to have almond and a few jars of peanut or hazelnut butter in the pantry. I also like to have several jars of preserves on hand for recipes and morning toast, to sweeten dressing or to add to bakery recipes. American Spoon Foods are my favorite. I will usually have a few of their salsas, spoon fruit and red pepper jelly in the pantry.

{image source unknown}

These baking supplies are needed to bake just about anything: extra baking soda, an extra baking powder, extra pure vanilla extract, almond extract, flour, cornmeal, different sugars, chocolate chips, dried coconut, a few box mixes, brownies, blueberry muffin mix, a few cake mixes. I’d deepen the bakery section of the pantry further when possible.

As a baking side note, I like to have at least two pounds of butter in the freezer. If you see flour or other bakery goods on sale, buy it and rotate the oldest package to the front to be used first. Be sure that everything is dated so that nothing does not go bad.

{image via House Lovely}

If you wanted to deepen your pantry as quickly as possible, it will be necessary to go through the recipes you use the most often. Decide how much you want to deepen your pantry for each food item. Continue purchasing the items until you have the amount you want and then rotate, rotate, rotate. Remember to use the oldest and place the newest in the back of the shelf. Otherwise, I suggest when building up (or deepening) your pantry that you do it a little at a time as your budget allows.

{image via Foodista}

A kitchen stocking note: one of the blogs I follow suggested gifting the bride and groom with some quality kitchen ingredients as their wedding present. A few bottles of wine, a selection of spices and a few nice bottles of cooking oil would be brilliant if the couple likes to cook or if you know they plan to cook together as newlyweds. While a lot of people live together before the wedding, the fact is that many are both setting up house and getting wed within the same breath. Weddings are really expensive. Spices are ultra-expensive too! I know the last thing I wanted to do right after we got married and moved in together was try to figure out how to outfit my spice cabinet properly within a reasonable budget.

{image via Martha Stewart}

Keep in mind that while it is always good to have extra Sea Salt, Kosher Salt and Pepper on the pantry shelf that other spices do not keep longer than six months without losing flavor. It is not realistic to keep the same jar of nutmeg from one winter holiday to the next. Buy your spices in the smallest jars that your store sells and don’t buy new until you have nearly run out.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Around the House, Cooking and Food

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Shiny, crisp bread crust = brush before you bake with a beaten egg

Yellow, shiny bread crust = brush dough before baking with only the egg yolk

Dull finish with a crisp bread crust = brush unbaked loaf ...]]> Believe it or not, there is a method to achieving the perfect bread crust. Shiny, dull, sweet, or crisp ~ today I am sharing tips of bread crust. The next time you bake bread, follow these helpful hints and you’ll get the exact type of crust that you desire.

Shiny, crisp bread crust = brush before you bake with a beaten egg

Yellow, shiny bread crust = brush dough before baking with only the egg yolk

Dull finish with a crisp bread crust = brush unbaked loaf with 1 Tablespoon arrowroot. As an alternative, you can use cornstarch or flour. FYI: 2 tbsps of all-purpose flour is equivalent to 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder and 1 tbsp of cornstarch can be substituted with 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder.

Sweet bread crust = brush with barley malt or maple syrup

Other Notes for Recipe Substitutions:

For old fashioned recipes that call for margarine, you can substitute vegetable oil. 2 cups of margarine is equal to 1-2/3 cups vegetable oil.

1-1/3 cups of sugar converts to 2/3 cup of maple syrup. Why make the conversion, you ask? Maple syrup is an excellent substitute for sugar. It is high in trace minerals like zinc and manganese. It can assist in heart health and in balancing cholesterol levels. If you’re going to have sugar in your diet, why not incorporate something that is health-supportive rather than white sugar which is a highly refined product that has been processed with bleach, (Chlorine bleach – I am not making this up!) and has no known health benefits?

Images via ABCD Design, How to achieve a perfect bread crust.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food

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A few weeks ago, I gave a tutorial on ABCD Design that seemed to be a hit with all who read it. I figured since many of you don’t make it over to ABCD on a regular basis that perhaps I should teach you how to arrange flowers in a glass container here on EADL!

First, it helps to have the right tools for flower arranging. A Swiss Army knife, a set of stem cutters, and some clear floral tape will ...]]>

A few weeks ago, I gave a tutorial on ABCD Design that seemed to be a hit with all who read it. I figured since many of you don’t make it over to ABCD on a regular basis that perhaps I should teach you how to arrange flowers in a glass container here on EADL!

First, it helps to have the right tools for flower arranging. A Swiss Army knife, a set of stem cutters, and some clear floral tape will get you started on the right foot. If you want details on what, why, and where to buy – I covered the tools of the floral trade here.

First, select the flowers. Second, decide what type of container is appropriate for the flowers you selected. I found these fabulously girly mauve and gold containers at Jamali Garden. These pretties didn’t break the budget, ($13 a piece) and they coordinated with the color palette of the apartment perfectly. (see above)

Let’s get started, shall we? Get out your flower arrangement tools and place them on your work table. You’ll also want a garbage can for scraps, leaves, and stems. You may want to roll out some paper on the floor and table top for easier clean up afterwards. As a matter of fact, I often stand upon the paper that the flowers came wrapped in when I am working. Now let’s and prep your containers…

To get started: fill the container 2/3 full of water. Tepid water works best. If you want the flowers to burst open quicker, slightly warmer water will help. Use a towel to dry around the edges of the vase and then tape a grid over the top of the container. Be sure to leave at least a quarter to a half an inch of tape over the edges. Run another circle of tape around the edge to secure your tape that is creating the grid over the top.

You’re ready to start placing your heartiest stems in the vase. These will create the structure that will keep your flowers in place. Start arranging them in a clockwise fashion. Remember to cut a fresh end on the flower stem (always on an angle so it will drink properly) right before you place it into the vase. Place one stem in each outside portion of the grid that you created with tape, laying each consecutive stem upon the one that was placed before it. Like this…

It looks great just as it is, doesn’t it? You could continue to fill the arrangement out with a few more of the same bud -or- add a second variety of flower. For these arrangements, I decided to use Cala Lilies. When introducing another type of flower to the arrangement remember this: if you use it up high in the design, also use it down low in the arrangement. There should be variation in the height of the flower to keep your eye moving around as you look at it.

I never like my arrangements to look too perfect – they are from nature after all – nature has movement, and looks natural! For that reason, I like to place my tallest stem off center slightly to the left or right. The rest of the flowers work off of that off-center, “center” point. Does that make sense? (It might help to look at the diagram above.)

So there you have it – how to arrange flowers in a glass container. Do you have any questions that I can answer?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Entertaining

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Well, the Holiday season is upon us! Have you started your gift shopping yet? I can’t help but feel painfully behind. At this point, I have only purchased one gift. Heck, I haven’t even gotten to designing a holiday card yet. Yikes! Never fear, I have a feeling I’ll get a few more holiday prize purchases under my belt starting on Wednesday…

The Real Simple Pop-Up shop is expecting up to 10,000 visitors a day, and I will be one of ...]]>

Well, the Holiday season is upon us! Have you started your gift shopping yet? I can’t help but feel painfully behind. At this point, I have only purchased one gift. Heck, I haven’t even gotten to designing a holiday card yet. Yikes! Never fear, I have a feeling I’ll get a few more holiday prize purchases under my belt starting on Wednesday…

The Real Simple Pop-Up shop is expecting up to 10,000 visitors a day, and I will be one of them! It will be the largest retail store in Rockefeller Center this holiday season. The Pop-Up Shop will selling more than 180 products from their December editorial gift guide, picks from Real Simple staffers, and items from sponsors like Kodak – many of which will come with exclusive Real Simple Pop-Up Shop prices. Cool, right?

As you may recall, I have been asked to be a guest contributor to the Simply Stated Real Simple blog during the holiday season. (For my first contribution, I shared one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes: How to make Russian Tea Cakes) I’ll be not only shopping at the Pop-Up, but blogging, tweeting, and chatting with the shop customers and readers of ABCD Design.

If you’re in or around the City, please make an effort to pop-in to the pop-up! The Real Simple Pop Up Shop will run from 10am until 10pm each day between December 1st through the 6th. It’s located in Rockefeller Center at 10 West 49th Street, at 5th Avenue.

They’ve got all sorts of fabulous guests lined up for the coming days. At lunchtime on Wednesday, Real Simple Food Director, Allie Lewis Clapp will be on hand to discuss ‘Fast and Delicious Holiday Finger Foods.’ On Monday the 6th, eventiste Marcy Blum will be teaching us ‘The Essentials for Impromptu Holiday Entertaining.’ These are just two of the events that caught my eye – here’s the entire schedule.

Did I mention that Real Simple will be giving out prizes all week? Each day they have got something fabulous lined up. Let me tell you – these Real Simple people are possibly more generous than Santa himself! A brand new Kodak Play Touch Video Camera arrived on my doorstep last week with the idea I’d catch the Pop-Up fun in action. Quick, can someone say vlogging?!?! (Thanks Kodak!) If the prize I’ve been gifted is any reflection upon the gifts Real Simple is giving – you had best hurry yourself over to Rockefeller Center.

You know what is better yet? I’ve got 10, (yes, TEN!) prize filled goodie bags to give away to readers of ABCD Design courtesy of Real Simple. FYI: I’ve had a sneak peek of the gift bag contents. I must admit they’re quite awesome. Hooray for holiday prizes!!

To enter to win: comment on this ABCD Design blog post and (if you’re on Twitter) tweet mentioning the #RSPopUp hashtag and @abcddesigns in the same tweet. I’ll randomly select 10 winners next week and announce them over on ABCD Design. Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

{Images via the Simply Stated blog}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 7 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Holidays

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Wow – the last few months have been an incredibly busy time! As you might recall, we bought a house about 90 miles outside NYC way back in June of this year. I spent the Summer playing ‘General Contractor.’ I oversaw the weekend house renovations while the Mr. stayed in the City to work. Summer wound down and our kitchen cabinets hadn’t arrived yet. At the end of August, we bit the bullet and moved our things from storage into ...]]>

Wow – the last few months have been an incredibly busy time! As you might recall, we bought a house about 90 miles outside NYC way back in June of this year. I spent the Summer playing ‘General Contractor.’ I oversaw the weekend house renovations while the Mr. stayed in the City to work. Summer wound down and our kitchen cabinets hadn’t arrived yet. At the end of August, we bit the bullet and moved our things from storage into the kitchen-less country house.

I arrived back in the City sometime during the month of September. I never quite got settled in the weekend house. Come October, we received our lease renewal in the City. The landlords had their head in the clouds. They raised our rent an ungodly amount. So much so, I was I was given no choice but to take on the task of finding us a new apartment. For three weeks, I saw everything on the island of Manhattan within our price range. I must have viewed – I dunno – at least 45 different apartments – if not more!

I spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for a new place for me and the Mr. to hang our hats while we’re in the City. The good news is that we found a place that feels more like home than I ever could have imagined. It’s a little one bedroom that is nestled in an opulent vintage New York mansion. My impression is that we are not getting neighbors, but something more like housemates or (dare I say?) new family members. I stumbled into something truly exquisite.

We moved in the City this past Monday and the kitchen arrived in the country on Wednesday. I’m up to my eyeballs in moving boxes and dust every which way I turn my gaze. I must admit, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed – all at one time! The new City apartment is all the way Uptown. It’s a brand new start for us in more ways than one.

I’m so happy that we left the Financial District. For me, it will always be inextricably linked to that year that we spent waiting with baited breath for our next step in life to present itself. From Fall of 2008 through the Spring of 2010, we had such a stagnant, uncertain feeling. Much of that time was spent in the FiDi, just a few steps from Wall Street. For those of you who know the story, I am sure you’d agree that it’s all quite ironic.

I am currently in country watching the cabinet installers do their thing. Of course, that project has had it’s own issues. The Mr. invited family for Thanksgiving and we’re nowhere close to having a completed kitchen. I am aching to get back to the City and hunker down there. Seems it would be easiest to get settled in the City since it’s small and completely renovated. Have you ever just wished that there were two of you to do your job? I feel that way right now. I am torn as to which task to tackle first.

All this life excitement, moving, and disorganization has been reeking havoc on my ability to sleep. I’ve been waking up in the wee hours in a bit of a panic. I just want to be in a place that feels like home so darn bad! I guess I just need to remember to take things one step at a time. Eventually it will all come together, right?

{All images credited to Country Living Magazine}

The images in this post came from a digital sketch book post I wrote on ABCD Design called ‘Crushing on Country Collections’ where I gave tips on displaying collections in your home. Please stop by for some helpful hints!

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 4 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Decor

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As Summer wraps up, my mind turns to cooking on the grill. What recipes should I try to squeeze in before the leaves fall to the ground and it’s too cold to go grill something up in the yard? Since I have been a Big City dweller for the entirety of my adult life, this is the first time that I have had access to cooking on a grill. What a Summer it has been!! And while I am still ...]]>

As Summer wraps up, my mind turns to cooking on the grill. What recipes should I try to squeeze in before the leaves fall to the ground and it’s too cold to go grill something up in the yard? Since I have been a Big City dweller for the entirety of my adult life, this is the first time that I have had access to cooking on a grill. What a Summer it has been!! And while I am still basically following my vegetarian diet that I started last December – I can’t help but look at these grilling recipes and say I am not tempted – don’t worry, I included some grilled vegetarian options below too!

Lemon-Garlic Lamb Kebabs with Feta Dipping Sauce and The Perfect Burger with All American Topping Combinations.

Pork Tenderloin with Soy, Ginger, and Lime with Sauteed Snap Peas with Scallions and Radishes – doesn’t that combination sound absolutely lovely? And for those who are going meatless, what about the Balsamic Portobello Burgers with Bell Pepper and Goat Cheese?

Or these West Coast Grilled Vegetable Pizzas and Tofu Kebabs with Cilantro?

I found all of these delicious recipes on Martha Stewart‘s website. And if you’re in the market to purchase a grill for next Summer, I wrote a post about selecting an an eco-friendly grill that you might like to check out.

What are you going to grill up before Summer is over?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · Comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food, Outdoor Life, Recipes

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The first set of boxes that I unpacked -after our move last weekend- were my notebooks from the chef training program at the Natural Gourmet Institute. (I completed the program during the Spring and ...]]> After two months of renovations, we moved into the house last weekend! We still do not have a working kitchen, that should come sometime in October. I have been up to my eyeballs in unpacking fun. Sorting through boxes, getting reacquainted with all my worldly possessions.

The first set of boxes that I unpacked -after our move last weekend- were my notebooks from the chef training program at the Natural Gourmet Institute. (I completed the program during the Spring and Summer of 1999 -Eeeeks! I am getting old!) The Natural Gourmet is focused on health supportive cooking. The curriculum focus is to prepare whole foods; mainly vegetarian meals prepared with seasonal, local, and organic ingredients, whole grains, and natural sweeteners. On occasion, we had classes that introduced meat preparation. We discussed the pros and cons of eating wild vs farmed fish, various ways to prepare hormone and antibiotic-free chicken, and ways to prepare organic egg dishes. They were teaching us how to be locavores – before it was trendy. Such foresight they had, no?

Gravad Lax is a traditional Scandinavian method of curing salmon with salt, a little sugar, and dill for a few days. There is no cooking involved. The salt will simply “cook” the salmon for you in the refrigerator. I assure you, once you’ve had homemade Gravad Lax, you’ll pass on anything other than the real deal. The recipe that I am sharing with you today is adapted from Anne Willan’s La Varenne Pratique, with more health supportive ingredients in place of some of the originals.

Homemade Gravad Lax Recipe
What you’ll need from the market…
To cure the fish:
3 Tablespoons coarse salt
2 Tablespoons maple granules (you should be able to find these at markets like Whole Foods)
12 crushed black peppercorns
1 large bunch of dill
2 thick wild salmon fillets that are the same size, about 12 ounces each

Sauce Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons dry mustard
2 Tablespoons rice syrup
3 Tablespoons chopped dill

Method:
1) Sprinkle the salt, maple granules and peppercorns on the cut side of the salmon fillet
2) Cover with sprigs of dill, using the entire bunch.
3) Lay the other fillet on top, cut side down and head to tail so that the fish is an even thickness.
4) Set a heavy board or weighted plate on top of the salmon. Cover loosely and refrigerate for at least two days. Turn the salmon over every twelve hours. Baste with the juice that is drawn out by the salt.
5) Drain the fish and discard the seasonings and dill. The salmon will keep for 1-2 days in the fridge.

Scandinavian Mustard Sauce Recipe
Method: Make a paste with the 2 Tablespoons dry mustard 2 Tablespoons rice syrup. Stir into the 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise. Add 3 Tablespoons chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Recipes

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Image via Athleta

The Organic Cotton Senorita Dress from Athleta. They come in the most delicious, organic colors. The dress comes ...]]> I don’t know about you, but I spend most of Springtime fretting about when the weather is going to teeter over 70 degrees. It must be my Swedish heritage, because I fare much better in frigid Winter weather. When the ladies of EAD asked me to share the items that get me through Summer, several comfortable, body cooling-items came to mind…

Image via Athleta

The Organic Cotton Senorita Dress from Athleta. They come in the most delicious, organic colors. The dress comes to just above the knee, they’re super comfortable, flattering and machine washable. The Senorita Dress is so versatile. I wear them to clean around the house, to the farmers market and dress them up when we go out to dinner. I purchased two last Summer and they are the first thing I reach for on a hot day. Casual, Summer perfection! *FYI: they’re on end of Summer SALE right now!*

Image via Athleta

I have also been wearing my Shapeable Poolside Sun Hat quite a bit. I am the type who gets sunburn through a window on a Winter day, so the wider the brim, the better! I like this sun hat because it’s crushable. You can pack it in a suitcase or bag and re-shape upon arrival.

Image via Coolibar

During the Summer months, I always have a Sandalwood fan in my purse. At $0.65 a piece, I can’t help but beat the heat in the NYC Subway with my own wind-chill factor. *Just last week, I went to an amazing interior design event at the D & D building. Nate Berkus, S.R. Gambrel, Laura Kirar, and Jesse Carrier were all there to sit on the panel. It was a hot and steamy night in NYC, not to mention, many of my interior design idols were gathered in one room – You bet I pulled my fan out to create a wind chill effect!

Image via Amazon

I have two favorite shoe styles for Summer in the City. During the day, I love my Gizeh Liquid Gold Birkenstocks.

Image via Birkenstock

And at night, (or when I want a slightly more sophisticated, streamlined, but still comfortable look) I like to wear my nude color, kitten heel, Martha Davis peep toe mules. So cute and super comfortable for walking around!

Image via Martha Davis

Now that I have covered my wearable Summer must haves – I’d like to talk little about must haves for the home. First of all, one must have a fabulous iced beverage dispenser. For my own use, I selected the Simplicity Collection beverage dispenser from Chefs Catalog. I like it because the dispenser doesn’t need to sit on the edge of the counter top. I recently did a review of glass iced beverage dispensers on ABCD Design. If you’re in the market for one too, you might like to take a peek at all the different options I found!

Image via Chef’s Catalog

And in the kitchen? I adore my Cherry Me Apron by The Hip Hostess. Because really, you can’t get any more Summery in the kitchen than dressing up in a kicky sheath apron!

Image via the Hip Hostess

Don’t forget to freshen up your kitchen counter top with these good looking vintage style pantry storage tins. (I am considering them for our new kitchen in the country house!) Even though it’s dreadfully hot outside, the weather will soon turn and you’ll find yourself wanting to bake breakfast scones and muffins!

Image via Stylish Stuff

And last, but certainly not least, in the Summer I think it is imperative to keep a case of Veuve Clicquot 1/2 bottle splits on hand. It’s so refreshing to have a wee-bit of icy-cold champagne at the end of a long, hot Summer day – without having to commit to drinking an entire bottle – Unless, of course, you want to! *winkwink*

Image via City Wine Cellar

So tell me: What items get you through the dog-days of Summer?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · Comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Entertaining, Fashion, Life

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Boy, has my day in the life done an about face recently! Those are birds you hear chirping …and yes… that is a breeze through the open window. It’s about 6am, the sun has risen and I am wide awake. A mere 90 miles from New York City ~ but it might as well be a world away!

I roll out of my bed onto the sawdust covered floor. I am achy from sleeping on my budget-friendly Ikea mattress. I rub ...]]>

Boy, has my day in the life done an about face recently! Those are birds you hear chirping …and yes… that is a breeze through the open window. It’s about 6am, the sun has risen and I am wide awake. A mere 90 miles from New York City ~ but it might as well be a world away!

I roll out of my bed onto the sawdust covered floor. I am achy from sleeping on my budget-friendly Ikea mattress. I rub my eyes, grab my laptop and head out to the barn (in my pajamas!) to make espresso. Why is the espresso maker in the barn, you ask?

As part of the house renovation, we ripped out the kitchen in order to do the flooring – which means everything I eat is either grilled or I grab something to eat while I am out and about. For the last 45 days, I have been camping at our new house and overseeing the tradesmen who work on the renovation project. Each week, it’s something new. First it was two weeks of pure demolition work. Then it was a week of radiant heat concrete flooring. I was inspired by glossy white floors, so that is exactly what we went for when we installed ours.

Each morning, contractors and tradesmen show up about 7:30 am. I am one double espresso into my day by that point. I have been sitting out in the garage, doing my good morning tweets and making an effort to put together a blog post for ABCD Design.

It’s usually about 10 am when I am returning emails that I get a call from the Mr. He’s working in the City all week long and wants to hear a step-by-step recount of the morning progress. Sometimes it’s a smidge frustrating as there is not a whole lot of progress by that early hour. Living apart from him in order to watch over the project is a necessity. However, I miss him a lot and can’t wait for this renovation to be over so I can see him on more than just the weekends.

Image via We Heart It

Speaking of which, none of the tradesmen work on Saturday and Sunday. I pick the Mr. up from the train station on Friday nights around 8pm. In the morning, we get a good breakfast and then we spend the day cycling. But that is an entirely different, and very painful story at that.

Back to my day! I answer any questions that the workers have, and do research on the next project in the renovation pipeline. All the while, I’ve had to think about a color palette for the house. When you’ve been away from your belongings for as long as I have, I am having a hard time remembering the exact tones and colors of the carpets and upholstered pieces we own.

I decided to play it neutral. I most likely would have done so anyway… I always tend to get my ‘pops’ of color from artwork, pillows, and accessories. We started the painting phase of our project last week right after I had a woodworker in to build a closet and add shaker peg board to the walls of our bedrooms.

Can you believe that the previous owners built the house with only one closet? This new little house is about 100 sq ft larger than our old apartment. Our last place had an entire wall of floor to ceiling closets. I’m going to need to get creative with storage, so we ripped out a wall and added a closet in the master bedroom.

*The photo above explains why I awake next to a pile of sawdust!* It’s never ending – I vacuum up one pile only to find another. Needless to say, I think being without a nest to feather for the last *nearly* two years has really allowed me to get my priorities in order. I am so excited to retrieve our things from storage on August 18th that I will go through any renovation stress to get there!

During the day, I run through the house and snap photos of our project as things change and evolve. When I am stuck on a decision, or when me and the Mr. don’t see eye-to-eye, I consult my interior design friends on Twitter. The great thing is that I’ll ask a question and have nearly 500 people willing to give their educated opinion from my 140 character description of the project in question. How cool is that?

The tradesmen leave the house anywhere between 4pm and 6pm. I freshen up, and make dinner. Then, it’s early to bed for another talk on the phone with my hubby. I recap the progress of the day, wish him good night and turn in.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 7 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Life

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Frozen Vodka Slush Recipe Notes: Prepare this recipe a day or two in advance so the slush can freeze and be extra ...]]> Each year, I make a huge batch of frozen vodka slush around Memorial Day. I keep it in the freezer for impromptu entertaining on our roof-top throughout the hot Summer months. I must admit, our guests are always thoroughly impressed when something so delicious is just waiting in the freezer for them and can be enjoyed at a moments notice.

Frozen Vodka Slush
Recipe Notes: Prepare this recipe a day or two in advance so the slush can freeze and be extra delicious when served. You also may want to double the recipe -yes, it’s that tasty- so pick up 2x’s the ingredients when you’re at the market!

Ingredients:
8 cups water
3 cups white sugar
juice of 2 lemons
juice of 2 oranges
one 48oz can of pineapple juice
one 12oz can frozen Minute Maid grapefruit juice
one 12oz can of frozen Minute Maid lemonade
26oz Vodka - I prefer Ketel One

Method:
First, make a simple syrup. Boil 8 cups water and stir in 3 cups white sugar. Continue to stir until the sugar incorporates with the water, for about 15 minutes. Let cool.

In a separate bowl, combine the juice of 2 lemons, 2 oranges, 1 48oz can of pineapple juice, 1 12oz can frozen Minute Maid grapefruit juice, 1 12oz can of frozen Minute Maid lemonade and 26oz Vodka.

Once the simple syrup is cooled, add the juice/vodka mix to the syrup. Stir and transfer into an air-tight tupperware container(s) with lid(s). Freeze.

When your guests arrive, stir the slush and fill the glass half-full with frozen vodka slush. Fill the rest of the glass with diet 7-Up. Enjoy!

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Posted in: Entertaining

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