Project Monday- Stories are Gifts

Inspired by their latest latte, Gloria and Carrie's friday prompt was "stories are gifts-share".
When I was a little girl I dreamed of making a grand gingerbread house every year for Christmas. Our family was never one for gingerbread houses, so I tried to make my own with graham crackers and peanut butter. My mom thought it was cute. Then I ate it. I recall building one with my cousin and siblings when we were older. But a gingerbread house was something I was always in love with, year after year.
So when my little girl turned three I turned my gingerbread dreams into our little tradition. Every year we build ourselves a gingerbread house. Some times we are ultra creative, other times a wee bit hurried. (ummm this year is definitely hurried!). Once we bought chocolate pebbles and made an edible cobble stone path way. We never really eat our houses, but we love making sure that it is edible.

 This years gingerbread house- we're still working on it!

 Last years gingerbread house, small and simple!

 And our first gingerbread house!

They seem so cute and easy, but it is really hard to pipe frosting vertically and keep it straight! Sometimes the directions suggest decorating the house, then assembling. I might try that next year, but I'm afraid I'll mess it up. While my dreams are still  grand, Celeste and I make small and simple houses. I take a picture every year, so it will be fun to see how our skills evolve.
If anyone is wondering why I haven't posted my before an afters for my desk yet, it's because I decided to do so more work on it. Here is a sneak peak! I hope to have my studio space put together by the end of this weekend, so I can do some more work for the grand opening of my Etsy shop this January.

On a Day Like Today....

Cool, and overcast just calls for some hot soup. Some hot tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwhich. Ohhh, the melty goodness of cheddar and gouda, I'm in heaven. Celeste and I are going to my Mom's today, she moved and we are going to check out her new place. Happy weekend!

So, what did you do at school today?

Well Mom, I colored my hair with markers.
Okay actually, what she said is her teacher told her to color her hair with a marker.
Well then, I am just going to have to call your teacher.
Actually, I just colored my hair because I wanted to.
Why?
Because I like to have it different colors. Are you mad at me?
No, your just expressing yourself.
So I can color more?

No, I'm not mad. Just don't do it again. And let me take some pictures.

You have to admit, she coordinated the color with her outfit well!
-XO. K

Gingerbread Cupcakes

 

And they are oh so delicious! Addicting really, I could probably eat them all in one sitting. So don't say I didn't warn you!

 Recipe:

Ingredients

Cupcakes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup water

Frosting
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter softened
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons milk

-Heat oven to 375. Line muffin tin with cupcake cups.
-In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, molasses and eggs. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and water. Spoon about 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup.
-Bake 15-18 minutes. Cool completely.
-Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, butter, lemon peel, cinnamon and vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, one cup at a time until smooth. Beat in milk, one teaspoon at a time, until spreadable.
- Pipe frosting onto cupcakes!

I omitted the lemon peel because I didn't have any on hand, but these little cuties are still delish! Recipe from Betty Crocker. Enjoy. XO K.

Project Monday- Self Portrait

I take a ton of self portraits, usually for my outfit posts, but this one was a wee bit challenging. I already do my outfits, so I can't just do that! I love taking self portraits in mirrors or other reflective surfaces, but that's typical, and I wanted to do something else. So what else could I possibly take a picture of myself doing? Lately I have been painting a lot, trying to get a series of paintings to open my etsy shop in January with. So I took some pictures of myself next to my easel, afterwards I moved in the new desk, so you can't stand next to the easel anymore. I can still stand in front of it though, so it's functional. I just need to put the handles back on the drawers and I will have to take my after picture of my new desk. I am so excited, now I feel my studio space is really coming together.

Simply Decorating

I just thought I'd take a moment to share our holiday decorating. I feel it's pretty simple, relatively similar to last year. We changed our living room layout around, so where the tree was last year, is now where our TV is. We don't have too much in the way of decorations, but I do try to get a little more each year. So, last week we decided to get some takeout and decorate!

It was a lot of fun, I just love how excited Celeste gets. She has a little pink tree in her room to, but that girl needs to clean it up before I take pictures! I also picked up a couple more vintage decorations this weekend, one of which is this lighted tree topper which I put on the shelf in my kitchen, it makes such a lovely glow. The other is some pink garland, but that will go in Celeste's room.

This year I also tried hanging some bulbs from my dining chandelier, I think it turned out pretty cute, but some beaded garland would definitely make it pop.  And Celeste and I make a gingerbread house every year, so we will probably do that next weekend. It is an experience, especially with an impatient sugar loving six year old!
See you tomorrow for Project Monday! -XO. K

P.S. I picked up a retro school teacher desk for $5 this weekend, check back for my before and afters!

Happy December- Recently Thrifted Ornaments + Stylish Blogger Award

A couple weeks ago I set out to buy some fresh flowers birthday party, only to find that what was once a neighborhood grocery store was now a thrift store. It really goes to show that I do not get out enough. Well this past weekend I decided to drop of my winter closet clean out at the new thrift store (though my secret motive was to check it out), and while it is new, I did find some really neat things. And no dishes either, which was a little disappointing because I love vintage dishes.
But I was so excited to find these vintage Christmas ornaments. They are light and dark blue mixed in the boxed, and about five are missing, but they were only 44 cents and they are oh so beautiful. I also picked up two vintage skirts, two skirts for Celeste, a couple vintage blouses, sweaters for myself and Celeste and a fun afghan throw. All this amazingly was $42!  
Well I am super excited to announce that Carrie over at Blume and Grow and also the co-author of Bubblegum Life has bestowed me with the Stylish Blogger Award! Thank you so much, I am so happy *blushing* 

By accepting this award I will complete the following:

*Thank and link back to the person who awarded me
*Share 8 things about myself
*Pay it forward to 8 bloggers I have recently discovered
*Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards

Eight things about myself:
*My favorite color is purple, ever since I was a little girl I love all shades of purple, it's just such a magical color. Turquoise is a close second though.
*I really love to garden (hence my blog title) but I have had no luck these past couple of years. I refuse to change my blog to moon in my dirt patch, so I keep trying!
*I love to paint in acrylics and watercolor, but sketching with a pencil is by far my favorite way draw.
*Scrapbooking is like a drug to me. Making a page always eases any stress or tension I may have, and buying new product is so exhilarating
*My favorite CD right now is Mumford and Sons, everything about it is so beautiful, the lyrics, the music, it's amazing and I can't stop listening.
*I love all things vintage, artwork, clothing, dishes, books, decorations. I've always had a fascination with the past. When I was little I used to wish I could have been born in the Victorian era because I loved their dresses!
*I'm scared almost everyday that my creativity won't translate into success or happiness, but I will never stop trying.
*I love to see how other people live and decorate their homes, I love apartment therapy's home tours. 

I love blogs, and there are so many fantastic bloggers out there. Here are eight blogs I have been enjoying lately:
*The Art Cupboard
*Curiosities
*Mixed Plate
*My Folk Lover
*1001 Ways to be More Lovely
*all buttoned up.
*The LuLu Bird
*sunshine and carousels 

And lastly I ordered all my shipping supplies and have completed some paintings for my etsy shop opening in January. Please check back to see my prints!

-XO K.