The BLOOM GIRLS

Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:28:00 +0000

I have a new favorite go-to chocolate dessert! I say new, because I have blogged about my favorite chocolate go-to recipe before….here. This recipe is different in that it can be prepared a day or two in advance and actually tastes better, whereas, the Molten Cake is best consumed shortly after removing from the oven.

Most of the ingredients are normally items you’d have in your pantry or fridge. The only thing I had to buy was the heavy cream.

First up: The Torte

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a springform pan by buttering and placing parchment paper on the bottom. Next wrap the outside of pan with foil to waterproof it.

Melt 16oz. of chocolate (I used 8oz. Ghirardelli 60% chips leftover from the holidays and 8oz. of Nestle semi-sweet chips), 2 sticks of non-salted butter, and 1/4 cup of amaretto (ok to omit or use your favorite liqueur) in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, use a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir constantly, until smooth and creamy, set to side.

Meanwhile, combine 8 eggs, 1/4 c. sugar, 1 teas. vanilla and 1/2 teas. salt in large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until frothy and almost doubled in volume, about 5-10 minutes. Next, fold 1/3 of the egg mixture into chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula. Repeat until all of the egg mixture has been folded into chocolate mixture.

Pour batter into prepared springform pan placed in a roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides. Bake until cake is slightly risen and edges are just beginning to set, approx. 40-45 minutes. Remove the cake from roasting pan and cool to room temp on wire rack. Remove foil and place in fridge overnight. Again, the cake is better if allowed to set overnight.

While the cake is baking, prepare the:

Raspberry Coulis

First up, prepare a simple syrup by combining 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add a 12oz. bag of frozen raspberries and 1 1/2 T lemon juice to the syrup. Bring to a simmer and cook until berries are very soft, approx 8 minutes. Make a slurry by sprinkling 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch over 2 teaspoons of cool water stirring to dissolve. Pour into raspberry mixture and cook until sauce thickens, approx. 3 minutes.

Strain raspberry mixture through a fine-sieve to remove the seeds. I use the back of a spoon to help push the sauce threw. Next, do a taste test or two or three just to make sure it’s GOOD. Then if you have any left, pour the pure raspberry goodness into a bottle and pop in the refrigerator.

The following day……

Dark Chocolate Ganache

Heat 28grams of butter and 3/4 c. of heavy cream in a small saucepan. Bring just to a boil.

Add 227 grams of chocolate (I used 1/2 dark Ghirardelli and 1/2 Nestle semi-sweet) to a mixing bowl. Pour boiling cream/butter mixture over top of chocolate and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth and if desired add 1 tablespoon of liqueur. I used a coffee flavored liqueur.

Remove the torte from the fridge and unsnap the springform pan, place the torte on a wire rack sitting on a cookie sheet.

Pour the ganache over the torte letting it pour over the sides as you smooth out the top. (Pic is orange-ish…the ganache is actually a beautiful dark chocolate color.)

To add a little Valentine’s Day touch, I made a stencil by cutting a circle of parchment paper using the bottom of the springform pan as a template. I then folded the paper as if making a snowflake and cut out a little heart for the top and after unfolding it cut one for the center and voila…..A sprinkle of powdered sugar and then slowly remove the paper lifting it straight up.

My slices are on the ‘larger’ side and honestly, I, the chocolate lover that I am, cannot eat an entire piece. It’s a perfect dessert to make a day or two before a party and can serve up to 16.

Be sure to check out all of the other fabulous recipes at Foodie Friday hosted by Designs by Gollum.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Bloom Girls!

Nola

You are Invited!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:29:00 +0000

The Bloom Girls are thrilled to tell you about a super fantastic event happening this Saturday, January 9th in Atlanta. Design guru Eddie Ross will be hosting a TEA at Two: An Art and Framing Workshop sponsored by Larson-Juhl, a leader in the world of custom framing and design and YOU ARE ALL INVITED!!!!

The tea party and workshop are free for bloggers and just $10 admission for non-bloggers. To attend, send an email to Jaithan at jaithan@eddieross.com.

(Shadow boxes with sterling silver pieces styled by Eddie Ross)

When deciding whether to drive from Nashville to Atlanta I had to consider the pros and cons….here is my list.

Pros….

Tea and chilled wine
Delicious catered treats
Meet Eddie Ross
Framing Workshop
Making new friends
FREE for bloggers

Cons….

Zero

Photo above from Lauren at Pure Style Home.

I personally cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon, can you? For more information on the fun happenings this coming weekend go here.

Please be sure to go to Between Naps on the Porch for Susan’s Metamorphosis Monday party. Susan continues to amaze us each week with her unlimited creativity and beautiful home.

Karyn and I look forward to meeting you on Saturday!

Nola

Atlanta’s Amazing Bloggers! They can cook, they can craft, they can tablescape and they can EAT! (Holiday Luncheon)

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:24:00 +0000

We were privileged to enjoy the company of some of the Atlanta area bloggers on December 11th for a fabulous holiday luncheon! Come on in and join us!

Step into the Foyer….

Come on through the entryway to the dining room…

See this little church, it is made of card stock and cut from the cricut. My dear friend Angie made the front step. In honor of the 30 minutes it took her to fashion this tiny little step, I wanted to make sure I pointed it out to you!

Past the Powder Room

Past the Butler’s Pantry…

Through the doorway into the kitchen and keeping room…

The Food was marvelous! Everyone brought something to share and I can not tell you which thing was my favorite because these ladies all outdid themselves!

Shrimp Pasta Salad, Chicken Salad packed with walnuts and juicy grapes served with croissants, Watergate salad…

Rich Creamy Quiche filled with ham, bacon, spinach, red pepper, mushroom, Swiss cheese…etc Yummy!

The BEST homemade bread on the planet! Lemon Rosemary…. I ate two pieces!! At least :)

Brie and Fig/Walnut Topping…Amazing!

Sandi brought a mouthwatering salad and these adorable marshmallow treats! Robin’s Cake Balls :)

Susan made an amazing chocolate Trifle and I can’t believe I did not get a picture of it! If any one of you ladies did get a picture, please send it to me so I can add it!

From Left to Right: Sandi (http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/), Karyn (http://thebloomgirls.com), Rose (http://santamakersjourney.blogspot.com/) Susan (www.betweennapsontheporch.blgospot.com), Robin (http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/), Empty Chair – Sue who is taking the picture (http://rue-mouffetard.blogspot.com/) and Nola (www.thebloomgirls.com)

A huge thank you to Susan with www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com, Michael at www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com and Julia over at http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/12/10/hooked-on-holiday-house-tours-party-time/

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and The Bloom Girls are Alive and Well!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Happy Holidays to you all!

We have been very remiss in regards to posting in the past few months! There has been a lot going on and we have so many stories to tell so stay tuned, they are on their way! It’s like we were too busy to stop and post! We are still getting the hang of the “post as you go” system!

Karyn has recently hosted a baby shower for her oldest daughter to celebrate the impending arrival of a grandson in January . Also, her family took a trip on the Polar Express and toured the Smokey Mountains for a week.

Nola has spent the last two months (and a zillion hours) as a general contractor/designer/painter/shop girl on an upscale boutique clothing store.

The Bloom Girls hosted a Holiday Blogger lunch last week in Atlanta and had a wonderful time with old and new friends !

Look for these stories and pictures…coming soon!

Bless you and yours !

Five and FANCY !

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:53:00 +0000

Madison’s Birthday was NOT celebrated with a “party”, it was a SOIREE! I made the invitations and mailed them out three weeks in advance.

One of Madison’s favorite books is “Fancy Nancy” by Jane O’Connor. If you are not familiar with these books, they are precious! To “Nancy” the fancier the better! Our goal was all things “Fancy”!

The table was set with Hot Pink and plenty of ‘Fancy” extras! (I glued rhinestones on all the plastic flatware…)

A hot pink Eiffel Tower of course! I even found Eiffel Tower cups! Now how cute are those??

I made a beautiful crown for the Birthday Girl!

The trimmings were POSH down to the last detail! (That’s “fancy” for FANCY!)

There were different “stations” for the girls to visit:

Our special boutique where they received pearls and a feather boa. And they had their picture done in the “Fancy” chair once they were all “fancied” up!

My hairdresser came and gave the girls all “fancy” up-doo’s complete with glitter and topped off with a tiara!

Don’t they just look adorable ! They were all so still getting their hair done!

We had a station for make-up and face paint as well as manicures and fancy nail charms!

The last station was “La Posh Patisserie” where they decorated a tiara shaped cookie. They loved this and working with all the “fancy” sprinkles & sparkling sugars!

And what Patisserie would be complete without CAKE! And CUPCAKES!

Each one of the toppers was hand made from fondant. The cake is covered with home made marshmallow fondant. I had a blast making these!

The Birthday Girl! Time to blow out the candles!

And for the FANCY FINISH we made Parfaits! (That’s fancy for ice cream sundaes)

There were also plenty of “fancy” snacks for all the guests! (Mom’s included")

Homemade chicken salad, princess party snack mix, carrots & dip, fancy fruit ka-bobs…

Posh Pink Punch

Merci – Please take a party favor bag!

I used stamps for the Oooh-la-la and the Eiffel tower and Voila!…made Eiffel Tower white chocolate lollypops!

The ONLY boy admitted to the Party! Hiding behind his stolen balloon!! (Colin – my grandson!!)

Bon Jour!

Thank you to Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting another fabulous Tablescape Thursday!

Thank you to Michael at Designs by Gollum for hosting another delicious Foodie Friday!!

Have I told you lately that I Love….Craigslist?

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:06:00 +0000

I can’t believe it has been so long since my last post! August was crazy busy, but not too much so to prevent me from doing a little thrifty shopping.

Isn’t she darling? Imagine my surprise when I saw not one, but two listed on Craigslist. Better yet, they were in like new condition and the fabric was something I could live with. It doesn’t get much better than that!!!

I contacted the seller as soon as I saw them. But it wasn’t until a few days later after running into the Thomasville store to inquire about pricing that I called the seller to schedule an appointment. The Thomasville retail price is $2400, they were on sale for $1250 EACH. The chairs on CL were posted for $400 for two and I ended up buying them for $300. Score!!!!

Thank you Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hostessing this weeks Thrifty Treasures.

Have a wonderful Labor Day!

Nola

Concert Table – A la Spontaneous!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:59:00 +0000

My tablescape is very late in getting posted but oh well we had a chance to do something fun and we took it!

My husband was given some tickets late this afternoon to an awesome venue in our area! It is an outdoor amphitheater with wonderful acoustics! We love to attend concerts here but have not been to one in over 2 years! We were lucky enough to have been given 6 seats so we invited some of our best friends to come along with us.

This theater is one where you bring a picnic and set up a tray table or if you are lucky like we were, your tickets include a table that is set up and ready for you to decorate and use. Since these tickets were very last minute I did not have time to do my usual catering that I would have done. Costco and Publix were my best friends today! I purchased some wonderful roast beef and cheese at the deli and a bowl of fruit salad from Publix. Then ran to Costco and bought this marvelous Greek pasta salad they make, a shrimp appetizer, some assorted cheeses, croissants, cheesecake and some roses.

I literally flew home, put together some roast beef and cheese croissant sandwiches, cut up the cheeses and packed the cooler with all the food and wine. Grabbed a white tablecloth and runner, plastic flatware, paper plates and napkins. Threw together a flower arrangement and we jumped in the car to head toward the concert! (We had so much food it did not all fit on the table at the same time so some of it is not pictured)

Fabulous Fruit Salad from Pubix

My quick flower arrangement (Just some roses and greens thrown into some floral foam!)

Fresh Mozzarella from Costco and tomatoes from our garden drizzled with olive oil, basil and pepper and adorned with Greek olives.

Awesome cocktail shrimp – yummy!

Everything worked out great! The one thing that I was not able to use were my candles. There had been some new rules put into place since the last time I attended a concert, no "open" flames allowed. You could bring candles but they had to be contained. Apparently someone set their hair on fire a few years ago so they put some new rules in place! Not knowing this I had brought this awesome candelabra for the table but did not use it. It worked out fine because we had so much food there was no room on the table for all of it. Unfortunately I did not get very many pictures, we were rushed getting set up and we were MUCH too hungry!

The concert was Christopher Cross and America! Do you remember them? Christopher Cross had hits like “Sailing and the theme from the movie Arthur". America had 30 albums and hits such as A horse with no name, I need you, Ventura Highway, Sister Golden Hair …. It was a blast from my past, I have to say. All but one of the band members has been with America for over 35 years! I was laughing at the fact that I could sing almost every word to some of the songs (that I have not heard for YEARS) but I can not remember simple things like where I just put my keys! Amazing!

We had a great time getting together with friends! Sometimes last minute surprises are the best!

Well I am tired, way too full and my tablescape is very late getting posted but I had fun!

Have a blessed week!

Karyn

Thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting TableScape Thursday! She is celebrating her First Year Blogoversary, so head on over and pay her a visit! She is a very talented lady and a wonderful person!

Black & White is always right! – Corporate Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:04:00 +0000

Last Saturday night we hosted a dinner party for 17 people from my husband’s work. It was a mixture of fellow employees as well as customers who are all involved in the same project. I had to set two tables to handle the crowd! I set them entirely different since I did not have enough matching dishes for both tables.

I had everything planned out to the letter and of course, even the best laid plans go astray! The party was set to start at 6:00 PM but a group of guests showed up at 5:00 PM! I was kind of thrown off my groove and had to run upstairs to shower and dress before I was finished setting out the appetizers. (Or taking ANY pictures!) I had to re-create the tables to take pictures.

Please click on pictures to see in their entirety (Some of the pictures are showing only one half of the scene)

I wanted something that looked Corporate/Professional but would not be boring or incorporate any colors/elements that would be offensive to some of the (out of the country) guests. I chose the classic black, white and silver combination with champagne roses.

The China is Mikasa Platinum and Glasses from Southern Living

I alternated Silver and Black Placemats and Chargers as well as flatware. This is my solution to not having enough place settings of either and I think it makes it more interesting!

Napkin rings are from Pier One a few years ago

Champagne roses are a great addition to any table. They are very rich looking and compliment any color scheme

For more inspirational tablescapes, pay a visit to my friend Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch. Each Week she hosts the wonderful Tablescape Thursday event and provides a forum for all the talented bloggers to create, share and inspire!

Blessings to you!

Karyn

Metamorphosis Monday – Screened Porch

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:29:00 +0000

My husband and I built our home about 4 years ago. When we chose the house plans, we made some modifications to it, one of which included a screened in porch. My late parents had a screened in porch and we enjoyed it so very much that I considered it a “must have” in our new place. I could enjoy the outdoors without having to share my space with blood suckers :)

(I am one of those people who the mosquito's can not get enough of and my daughter Madison has terrible reactions to mosquito bites. It drives us indoors for most of the summer months. I know there is bug spray, but too much deet can’t be good for you!)

Well the house was built, we moved in, and our first summer came around and guess what? I STILL could not sit outside, even on the screen porch. They did NOT screen in the bottom of the porch, so the darned miniscule vampires were coming in through the decking underneath! I was so bummed!

The other issue we had with the porch was that it sits on the west side of the house. Everyday when the sun set, it was unbearable to sit out there for even a few minutes. (like the proverbial ant and magnafying glass!) Anytime we wanted to have dinner out on the porch we had double trouble, mosquitoes and the blinding sun!

BEFORE:

Well this transformation is a joint effort in which my husband got the “HOT” part of the job. Bless his heart, he spent 4 days after work in near 100 degree weather, adding screening to the decking underneath. (I do not have before and after pictures of this project and I wish I did! It was such allot of work!)

The porch furniture belonged to my parents and is very old but still in very good condition. I wanted to “update” the look a bit so decided to re-cover the cushions. I bought the upholstery fabric at an awesome discount store near my house. I bought 20 yards (About $140 total) I still have enough left to make a nice table cloth for the metal table (near the fountain) or napkins etc.

AFTER: Please click on pictures to see the entire photo.

We have a few fish in the fountain!

To cut down on the heat and glare we added some light curtains to the equation. (Ikea - $149 – this includes shipping because my local store has not had them in stock for at least 3 months and had no ETA. I called their phone order dept which is in Seattle)

You can see that closing the curtains really cuts down on the glare!

We are amazed at the transformation already!

We are still working on some finishing decor touches (rug under the table, artwork for the brick walls, etc) but the foundation has been laid.

Here are a few pictures of the porch at night…

It is a work in progress but I wanted to show you all how different it looks already! Wow it is amazing what you can do on a budget if you try!

Have a great week! Blessings to you and yours!

Karyn

Thank you to Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting another Marvelous Metamorphosis Monday!! Click on the link above to see more amazing transformations!

Dinner at Dusk

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Welcome to another awesome Tablescape Thursday hosted by our friend Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch!

Tonight dinner is being served on the screened porch! I want the table to be pretty but not overly fussy.

First I dug out my plastic (yes! I did say plastic) Chargers and plates that we use when we eat outside, (Target – last year) along with some placemats and napkins to match
(Homegoods – last year)

I added flatware purchased from Ikea
earlier this summer.

Crystal Glasses that belonged to my parents just to bring in just the right amount of class!

Skyview!

A beautiful candle –lit lantern adds just the right touch of ambiance and with its combination of wood & iron, it complements ANY decor!

(We only have a few of these left over at the Boutique so if you are interested in one please e-mail or post a comment)A few more little touches completes the look I am after.

A few votive candles scattered around, a couple of miniature faux flower arrangements as well as fresh white roses at each place setting.

Now I just have to cook dinner!!

Blessings to you and yours!

Karyn

Powder Room…Under Construction….

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Recently, I started a renovation project reconfiguring a powder room in order to add a shower. My elderly mother is no longer able to take steps and we have no facilities on the first floor for her to shower when she comes for overnight visits.

The powder room is a mere 45 square feet (5’ x 9’); fortunately a bit larger than most powder rooms, but still a tight squeeze.

First - the toilet and sink had to be moved to other areas in order to make room for the shower.

Sorry, no before pictures….this picture is after the plumber installed the plumbing for the shower and re-plumbed for the toilet and sink., both had to be moved to other walls.

I selected a white 36” x 48” Kohler cast iron shower receptor. (Pic from Kohler) I really like the weight and feel of the cast iron receptors and price wise they are comparable to installing a concrete shower pan and tile. There is no grout to clean and no future leaks or cracks to contend with.

Next up, I hired an electrician to rearrange the wiring for the light fixtures and outlets to accommodate the new configuration. We then installed tongue and groove bead board and crown moulding on the ceiling. I like the look of bead board and it was less expensive ($90) than hiring a drywall person to repair the damage from the rewiring The shower area was roughed-in and blue board was installed to replace the drywall. The vanity area is on the right and not wanting a pedestal sink I began a search for a small cabinet no more than 19” deep and 30” wide to fit the space. I was thrilled when I spotted this little cutie ‘on sale’. It is perfectly sized at 18” x 29”.

Presenting my Thrifty Treasure for the week.

I sawed off the top and took it to a marble fabricator to use as a template. Don’t cringe, she’ll be beautiful with a little paint and a new marble top.

Because the vanity top is only 18” deep it needed a tiny sink to allow room for a faucet. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I think (pray) this little Compass sink by Kohler is going to work..

I used bright white glazed wall tile for the shower. It’s inexpensive and offers a huge variety of specialty pieces. Perfect for detail cuts to frame out the window and seat. I worked on this tile project for two weeks. As mentioned in a previous post, I butter each piece individually, plus cutting is extremely time consuming. I painted Redguard (a waterproofing membrane) around the window as well as the shower area. The window frame will be painted the same as the trim after the tile is grouted and sealed. Any suggestions on a window treatment will be most appreciated. There is a set of steps leading to our guest rooms right outside.

This coming week I plan to grout and seal the tile, finish the trim, stain the ceiling and paint the walls and trim. I received a call yesterday and the sink (special order) has arrived. I will pick it up and take it to the marble man so he can finish the vanity top. I hope to be able to call the plumber by Thursday.

I will post my progress next week on Susan’s at BNOTP Metamorphisis Monday.

Thank you Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hostessing this weeks Metamorphisis Monday and Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hostessing this weeks Today’s sThrifty Treasures.

Thank you Gina for hostessing Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Have a wonderful week!

Nola

Quinoa Salad

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:27:00 +0000

A healthy alternative to rice or cous-cous, Quinoa (keen-wa) is a grain packed with nutritional value, read more about it here.

My favorite way to enjoy quinoa is by preparing a salad using cooked quinoa, black beans, garbanzo beans, corn, red onion, green pepper, red pepper, garlic, grape tomatoes, broccoli, olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper to taste.

Be sure to head on over to Michael's at Designs by Gollum for this weeks Foodie Friday. Then be sure to checkout Ann's Food on Fridays by clicking here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Nola

Fireplace Mantel Bargain and Tile Hearth and Surround

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:35:00 +0000

In need of a mantel for our family room/play room I started searching the internet for inspiration. My original plan was to find a picture and take it to a cabinet maker to replicate. Instead I found The Mantel Shoppe and noticed they were having a 'clearance sale'.... two days later I was driving down I-65 toward Trussville, AL in a rented pickup truck. Not only was the trip a success, it was a pleasure meeting the owner and his staff; they were the nicest folks. I'm all about buying American made products and especially from a family owned and operated business.
So what did I buy??? This is a pic of the Williamsport from The Mantel Shoppe's website. My new mantel didn't look so pretty! I bought one of the showroom displays that had been horribly disfigured with a really bad faux marble paint finish. But the bargain hunter in me couldn't resist., they marked her down 60%! I saw a diamond in the rough and knew there wasn't anything a little paint and caulk wouldn't fix. I felt it was missing something, so after a little coaxing they gave me a wood carving to place in the center. Within minutes my new mantel was loaded up and we were on our way to Nashville.

Here's the blank canvas I was working with...... I built up a 4" hearth out of 2x4s and plywood. The 2x4s framing the box are to attach the mantel. I didn't want to spend a lot on tile, so I selected a simple 6x6 porcelain tile for $4.25 per sf for the hearth and a stone harlequin pattern with a black dot for the surround which ran around $18 per sf.

After layout, I started the tile on the hearth. For straight cuts where the edge is covered I used my 20" Brutus tile cutter. It's handy and I can keep next to my work area.

For years I mixed my own thinset and it was the part of tile installation I disliked the most. I now use premixed thinset. It is more expensive, but the time it saves mixing and with cleanup makes it worth it.

When working on walls and with small pieces I like to butter each piece of tile. I know the 'pros' can slap on a huge area of thinset and throw down several pieces at a time, but I find it messy and I enjoy doing each piece one at a time.

I set the tile directly on the plywood and did not use backer board or underlayment. This is suitable for a small area like a raised hearth as it will not be walked on and there will not be as much expansion or contraction. I used bullnose pieces around the top perimeter of the hearth. They give the top edge a nice finished look and they are not as sharp as cut edges. For more detailed cuts or for a nicer edge I use a wet saw. I bought this saw over ten years ago and it has been a lifesaver. Like many projects...it's all about the tools....
After the hearth was tiled, I trimmed the fireplace box with carbonized black Schluter trim. This gave the surround tile a nice finished edge Once the surround tile was set and dry, I sealed the stone before grouting. The Stone Enhancer and Sealer not only protects and seals the stone, but enriches the color giving it a wet look. Doing this step before grouting not only protects the porous stone from abrasive grout and possibly altering the color, it also helps clean up after grout. Ready to grout...

For me, I like to work with no more than .25% of a bag of grout at a time. I do not work fast enough to use up the grout before it dries out when working with a bigger batch. I like to clean as I go; it takes longer, but eliminates the extra work cleaning dried grout off of the tile...which is not fun!!! I buy $1 bowls from DG to mix the grout in. They are clean and easy to work with. I always have two 'grout' sponges in a clean bucket of water before starting.

Once the grout was dry I caulked the joints between the surround and hearth and between the Schluter and tile on the surround using grout matching caulk. Next up....the newly painted mantel was set in place.
I used a finish nailer to attach the carved wood scroll piece to the blank square.

The base trim needs to be cut down to accommodate the new mantel and nailed back on the wall. I am very happy with the way it turned out and very anxious to decorate it. I have not decided what to hang above the mantel. All suggestions are much appreciated!!!

Thank you Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hostessing Today's Thrifty Treasures and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hostessing Metamorphisis Monday!

Have a great week!

Nola

Ice Cream...For Adults Only!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:03:00 +0000

I am having tons of fun this summer creating ice cream recipes with my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. I bought it two years ago at WS and fortunately got a second freezer bowl as a bonus. I used it a couple of times the first summer and it didn't make it out of the pantry last summer. A few weeks ago I dusted it off and we went to work...... I have two new favorite flavors....Mocha Chip and Black Cherry Amaretto. I love the subtle hint of alcohol from the liqueur.

It's got to be a healthy snack if eaten as a banana split...right????

Recipes

Mocha Chip Ice Cream

1 c. whole milk

2 c. heavy cream

3/4 c. sugar

1 t vanilla

1 1/2 T. instant coffee or espresso

1 1/2 T. cocoa powder

4 oz. dark chocolate (chopped)

2 oz. almonds (chopped)

(note: I used 6 oz. of chopped Hershey's Nuggets Special Dark Chocolate with Almonds)

1 shot of coffee liqueur (optional)

In a medium bowl use a hand mixer or whisk to combine the milk, sugar, espresso(coffee) and cocoa powder until the sugar and coffee are dissolved, approx. 1-2 minutes on low speed. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl and turn on the machine. Let mix until thickened, about 25-30 minutes. Add the chocolate and almonds during the last five minutes of freezing. The ice cream will have a soft creamy consistency. Transfer to an air tight container and place in the freezer for two hours to ripen.

Next up is my version of Ben and Jerry's Cherry's Garcia...it is delicious!!!

Black Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream

1 c. whole milk

2 c. heavy cream

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 c. chopped/pitted black cherries

1/4 c. amaretto

1/3 c. chopped almonds

1/3 c. chopped dark chocolate

1T. lemon juice In a small bowl, combine the cherries with 1/2 c. of sugar, amaretto, and lemon juice. Allow to macerate for 1-2 hours. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or whisk to combine the milk and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, approx. 1-2 minutes on low speed. Stir in the heavy cream plus any accumulated juices from the cherries and vanilla. Pour mixture into freezer bowl and turn the machine. Let mix until thickened, about 25-30 minutes. Add the cherries, chocolate and almonds during the last five minutes of freezing. The ice cream will have a soft creamy consistency. Transfer to an air tight container and and place in the freezer for two hours to ripen.

Cost Saving Tip: For chocolate, I check the candy aisle to see what's on sale. The Hershey's Nugget's Dark Chocolate with Almonds worked perfectly for the Mocha Chip Ice Cream.

Thank you Michael and Designs by Gollum for hosting Foodie Friday and Ann for hosting Food on Friday's!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Nola

A THRIFTY METAMORPHASIS MONDAY - Flower Girl Dress

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:27:00 +0000

A Beautiful Flower Girl Dress on a Budget!

Aimee and her best friend Caroline (The Bride) Two of my daughters, Madison and Aimee' Madison was a flower girl in a wedding last weekend and had the time of her life! The bride is my daughter Aimee's best friend Caroline. We seached for several months for the "perfect" flower girl dress. Having a limited budget I could not afford to purchase an expensive dress from a Bridal boutique but I wanted it to be perfect for Caroline's wedding. While shopping one day at a local consignment shop, we found a $230 dress with the tags still on for $39.99. It was too big and not exactly what we wanted but I could see the diamond in the rough! Luckily I can sew and I have a wonderful friend who can alter just about anything! We waited until about a week before the wedding to do the alterations because we didn't know how much she would grow in the few months before the wedding. The bridesmaids were all wearing chocolate brown with cream accents. The dress I purchased was a solid cream color so all I had to do was add a few touches of chocolate brown and viola! Perfect!!

Front of Dress: BEFORE

Back of Dress:BEFORE

Front of Dress:AFTER
Back of dress: AFTER
I had issues finding shoes that would work and tried about 7 different stores. Again, I could not afford to spend a ton on a pair of shoe the child would wear one time! I finally paid $7.99 for a can of metallic outdoor spray paint in a "Hammered Look" brown and sprayed her white ballet flats she wore for Easter. Perfect! She looked Amazing! (All for less than $50.00 !!)

At the end of the evening (about 11:45 pm) and keeping in mind that for two days we had been running non stop (bridesmaid luncheon, rehersal, rehersal dinner and then all day "wedding day") Madison comes off the dance floor (where she has been virtually non stop since 8:00 pm) and says to me "Mommy, I am so tired I am about to pass out, I have to get out of this dress!" I took her up to our hotel room, got her pj's on her, she brushed her teeth and climbed into the bed and said "wasn't that so much fun, I was dancing with Caroline and...." she fell asleep mid-sentence! A great time was had by all!

A great big Thank You to Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch for hosting another Met Monday and Rhoda for hosting Thrifty Treasures at her beautiful blog, Southern Hospitality.

MINI DOOR METAMORPHASIS

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Welcome to my mini metamorphasis!

This is my front door BEFORE. The picture was taken from the spiral staircase looking down to the inside of the door in the foyer. The door is much larger than it really appears here and I had to stand on a huge ladder to complete my metamorphasis!

My father's favorite verse in the Bible was from Joshua 23 verse 15. "Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

My father was one of the wisest men I have ever known. He was a devoted husband and father and loved the Lord with all his heart. He actually died in a car accident driving home after working a Christian retreat (Tres Dias) in another state.

I wanted something that would be remind me every day of his wisdom and the legacy he left. I chose to create this verse which was cut out of vinyl and just "clings" to the wall. If I ever decide to move it somewhere else, it will peel right off and will not leave a mark! I see this verse every day and it affrims what my family believes and is a wonderful reminder of the values my father passed on to us.

This is the door AFTER:

Thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Cloche Party with Marty!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:54:00 +0000

Our Friend Marty over at A Stroll Through Life is having a Cloche Party! Come on in and join the fun!

My Cloche was inspired by one of my favorite Disney movies. Can you guess which one?

Beauty and the Beast! I cut this rose from our garden and attached it to the inside top of the cloche so it would "float"

Cloche's are so awesome and can be used in such a variety of ways. I love using them on buffet tables as they are functional as well as decorative!

If you are in the market for one, head on over to the Bloom Girls Boutique!

We also have some awesome dessert stands that are great for tablescaping!

Blessings to you and yours for a fabulous Weekend!!

Karyn, The Bloom Girls!

Window Box and Mirror.....

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:53:00 +0000

I have two thrifty finds for this weeks Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. One of my thrifty treasures has gone through a little transformation and is perfect for Metamorphisis Monday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on a Porch.

First up, a free wrought iron wire window box given to me by a friend. It was rusting and needed to be sealed. The picture above is after a coat of primer. I then painted it white and I'm seriously regretting not painting it black. Hmmm....

After hanging it on the front porch I planted white vincas and pink impatiens. I had purchased larger plants, but I misjudged how much space there is. So, I went back to Home Depot and bought the little six packs. I had only a tiny bit of green spanish moss and threw it in just to see how it would look and I think it gives it a more finished look, so I'll have to buy more this week. The plants were the only thing I had to purchase; everything else I had. Total project cost: $24.46. I am anxious to see how it grows out!!!

Here is the thrifty find that I am most excited about. I found this beautiful antique mirror on Craigslist for $45. It is almost five feet tall and I love it!

Thanks to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hostessing Today's Thrifty Treasures and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hostessing Metamorphosis Monday. .

Have a wonderful week!

Nola

Afternoon Tea at Nola's

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:10:00 +0000

It is a beautiful day for afternoon tea on my front porch. Not exactly tea at The Ritz, but special occasions such as that can be recreated and for a fraction of the cost. (You can read more about The Bloom Girls taking Afternoon Tea at The Ritz below).

Afternoon Tea Menu

Blueberry ~ Cranberry ~ Black Tea Blend with Lemon

Tuna Sandwiches on wheat toasted with Arugula and Tomato

Egg Salad Sandwiches ~ Cucumber Sandwiches with Ranch and Cream Cheese

Apricot and Cranberry Scones with Strawberry Jam

Fruit Tarts ~ Cream Puffs with Chocolate ~ Fresh Fruit

I prepared the scones. The desserts are from Whole Foods.

Fresh baked apricot and cranberry scones. My favorite are strawberry scones, but I haven't found a reasonable source for dried strawberries....they are so expensive!!! I love clotted cream on my scones, but find thickened yogurt a suitable and healthier alternative. I planned on serving it and had some of my favorite, Stoneybrook Farms French Vanilla , thickening in the refrigerator, but I ate it!

Tuna sandwiches prepared with a tsp. of mayo, tsp. of caesar dressing, red onion, s/p, arugula, chopped grape tomatoes.

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Karyn prepared Cucumber Sandwiches for our luncheon at Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch. I used her recipe of one package of ranch dressing mixed with 8 oz. cream cheese for the spread. She garnished hers with fresh dill from her garden and they were delicious!!! Not having any fresh dill, I sprinkled mine with a little parsley.

Teapot and teacups from Homegoods. The teapot I bought years ago on clearance for $2.00. I purchased the teacups and saucers recently for $2.99 each. Did you notice the little s/p shakers? They went on a trip with me over Easter and I snapped photos of them the entire time we were gone....even on the airplane. I was preparing for Susan's party, but I dropped my camera on the last day of the trip!!!
The blue and white plates were purchased at a Spiegal auction years ago for $1. I don't even know if the Speigal catalog is still in existence. I use to love their catalog!!!
Pillow covers from Aix-en-Provence. If I remember correctly, they were 2 for $10. Inside are down pillows forms from IKEA, they are super nice and less than $6 a piece.

My afternoon tea wasn't tea at The Ritz, but it was equally as special. I am so grateful for my home and the many blessings I have and now I have the memories of both occasions. I love to dream about and anticipate many more adventures whether abroad or at home in Nashville.

Read about The Bloom Girls taking Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Itinerary

Flight departs Dublin 7:15 PM ~ arriving London Heathrow 8:45 PM.

Go through customs.

Collect bags

Rent car

Dinner at McDonald's (I know....)

Drive to hotel in Knightsbridge.

Our first clue things were about to go south should have been when the directions from the car rental station to the hotel in Knightsbridge took six full pages. Karyn and I left the driving up to our 'younger' traveling companion, Julie, as she had already chauffeured us through Ireland and was now quite adept at driving on the 'wrong' side of the road.

An hour or so into our "short" drive to the hotel and after getting lost numerous times, we were stopped by a police officer for going the wrong way on a one way street. The police officer asked Julie to step out of the car, she immediately began sobbing uncontrollably. The police officer reluctantly began to hug her in a consoling manner as she was telling him every detail about our trip from the moment we departed Nashville. After several minutes of discussion, the officer hurriedly directed us on how to turn around and sent us on our way....without writing Julie a citation. We finally arrived at the hotel and got snuggled in for the evening around 3 AM.

Why the stop in London for ONE day? To have Afternoon Tea at The Ritz......

Group picture in the lovely loo at The Ritz.

The Palm Court at The Ritz.

Afternoon Tea Menu

Your choice of a selection of Black, Green, Oolong or Scented Tea.
Smoked Salmon Sandwiches ~ Ham Sandwiches ~ Chicken Sandwiches ~Cucumber Sandwiches~ Mature Cheddar Cheese Sandwiches ~ Egg Mayonnaise and Cress Bridge Roll
Freshly Baked Raisin and Apple Scones with Devonshire Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve
Assortment of Afternoon Tea Pastries ~ Ritz Chocolate Cake

There is no picture taking allowed in The Palm Court, so Julie snapped these pictures with her phone camera. The service was very simple, but lovely. It is extremely formal as one might imagine. I was most surprised that men attended...it's quite frou-frou.

It was all delicious, but the scones and Devonshire clotted cream were TDF!!!!

Now is a good time to mention that I had around three hours of sleep the evening before.....

I want to send a special shout out to:

Thank you Julie at Hooked on Houses for hostessing this weeks Hooked on Fridays.

Thank you Michael at Designs by Gollum for hostessing Foodie Friday.

Thank you Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hostessing Tablescape Thursday.

Thanks Melissa at The Inspired Room for hostessing A Beautiful Life.

Go get a cuppa coffee or your favorite beverage, sit in your comfy chair and go visit the blogs of these ladies....they are delightful!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!!!

Nola

Stuffed Shells

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:59:00 +0000

An Easy but Impressive Italian Dinner!

To compliment the Twilight tablescape from last week, we chose Italian Shells for our dinner party. This is an easy but delicous dinner and all the members of the dinner party gave it rave reviews! We added a simple salad, garlic bread from the freezer section of the grocery store and a wonderfully impressive but easy dessert ! Make sure you don't miss the video at the end of our small dessert making Diva!

Stuffed Shells

1 12 oz Pkg Shells
1 lb of either ground sausage or beef
1 small onion
2 garlic cloves
1 26 oz jar of herb tomato pasta sauce
1 8 oz container chive and onion cream cheese
3 cups grated mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
¾ ground pepper
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp oregano

Cook shells in boiling water until done. Brown ground meat, onion and finely chopped garlic until cooked – drain. Add sauce to meat and spread about ½ cup of this mixture into the bottom of greased casserole dish; set remainder aside until after shells are stuffed. Stir together the cream cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese. Add pepper, thyme and oregano and stir until well blended. Using a tablespoon, stuff each shell about ¾ full. Then place facedown in prepared plan. After all the shells are stuffed, pour remainder of the sauce on top of the shells.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top with remainder of mozzarella cheese and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Dessert - Pavlova

This amazingly light dessert is named after the Russian Ballerina Anna Pavlova and can be made with sugar free instant pudding as well as sugar substitute so it can be delicious as well as low calorie! The recipe I used was not the low calorie version :)

4 egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups milk
1 package instant vanilla pudding (4 serving size)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cups powdered sugar
Fruit about one cup of whatever you desire (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, banana’s etc)

Crust:

Beat egg whites and cream of tarter until soft peaks form, then add granulated sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon onto foil lined baking sheet (that has been sprayed with non stick spray) and shape into a circle. Form a kind of pizza shape with the middle being lower than the sides. You will be placing the filling in the center. Bake at 225 degrees for 1 ½ hours and allow to fully cool.

Filling;
Pour milk into bowl; add pudding mix and using wire whisk mix until thickened. Beat whipping cream until still peaks form, add powdered sugar and mix until blended. Fold whipping cream mixture into pudding.

Spread pudding mixture inside cooled shell, top with desired fruit and lightly dust with powdered sugar. Place in refrigerator until time to serve.

A Huge Thank you to my friend Emma who gave me this fabulous apron! If you want one like it head over to sass-a-frass.com !
Hugs! Madison

Click on Video Below to see the Diva with Dessert!

Thank you to Michael at Designs by Gollum for hosting another fabulous foodie Friday!

Personalized Heirloom Style Dress

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:17:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday ! I hope you are all having a great week so far!

Many of us have been affected by the economic downturn and unfortunately, I am no exception. I was laid off in early March. Since being laid off, I have decided that I can not live without the luxuries of life...like living indoors and eating.. :) In the true tradition of being a Bloom Girl, I am blooming where I have been planted. One chapter of my life has ended and a new one has started. I am trusting that God will provide and I have chosen to try the path of the "Proverbs 31" woman! Blessings to you all !

Do you need a dress for that special little girl in your life? Are you going to the beach this summer and need that perfect white dress for the classic beach pictures? If you said YES to either of these, I have the perfect answer!

Here is a picture of little Miss Madison modeling her new personalized monogrammed dress! They come in pink or white and in sizes 12 months to size 6. Choose from six different font styles and several thread colors!

Detail Drawnwork at hemline

These adorable little dresses are a cotton/ramie blend and have lovely drawnwork near the hem. They have buttons on the back. Please see below for font and thread color choices. If you are interested in ordering a dress, please e-mail bloomgirls@att.net. They sell for $42.00 + 4.98 shipping. (Far less than you would find in a specialty shop!)

Click here for font and thread choices
http://www.thebloomgirlsboutique.com/go/popup.php?pgid=1

Gift wrapping and direct shipping to recipient is available for $4.50 :)

Have a fabulous week !

Karyn

Antique Loveseat in need of Love.....

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:06:00 +0000

My mother rescued this little loveseat from someone's front porch and stored it in my parents' barn for years; I happened upon it one day while plundering (that's what my mom calls it). It came home with me that day I believe my love for brown and white began the day I was presented with my first horse, an Appaloosa named Little Brave. He looked very similar to the beautiful horse in this picture. After looking for weeks, I knew instantly when I spotted the fabric I was going to use to reupholster my neglected little loveseat.

Thanks to both Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hosting Today's Thrifty Treasures and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Have a great week!

Nola

Lunch on the Porch at Susan's and Summertime Tablescape

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Before I show you our tablescape for the week, I want to send a very special thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. A couple of weeks ago The Bloom Girls had lunch at Susan's house. As you might imagine, Susan is a consummate hostess and is equally as sweet and lovely in person. Picture above from the left: Nola and Karyn at The Bloom Girls, Catherine at Catherine de the Cups, Susan, and Sue at Rue Mouffetard. Rose (not pictured) with The Santamaker's Journey also attended, but had to leave early.

We had a potluck of sorts. Susan marinated chicken and steak and prepped other ingredients for delicious Kabobs. We had everything from appetizers to desserts; it was fabulous!!!

Appetizer table: Susan served a homemade Pico de Gallo with corn chips. Karyn made Cucumber Tea sandwiches and Turkey and spinach pinwheel Rollups.

Sue at Rue Mouffetard brought a beautiful loaf of homemade Artisan Bread. She was so sweet to bring a copy of the very easy recipe for everyone; I'm sure she will be happy to share with you.
Also on the menu: Tossed Salad made by Rose ~ Pesto Pasta from Sue ~ Corn Casserole from Catherine ~ Grilled Asparagus and Rice provided by Susan. To top it off, Susan also made a wonderful Pineapple-Rum beverage....very yummy!!!

Desserts were placed on Susan's sideboard in the dining room. Susan made a beautiful and delicious Peach Trifle with homemade Whipped Cream. To the left of the trifle are the Maple Scones and Lemon Curd that Catherine made. Sue made huge Strawberry Cupcakes. Unfortunately, I was only able to have a sampling of each after eating our fabulous lunch. I kept thinking about the array of desserts on my four hour drive back to Nashville later that evening.

Thanks again Susan for a wonderful afternoon.

It's starting to feel like summer.....

Over the summer I like to serve fruit and salads for dinner.

Since buying a complete set of Juliska is not in the budget, I have been looking for a set a white dishes at Homegoods and as many of you know, it is hard to find a complete set. So I didn't think twice when I saw a twelve place setting of Roscher Enchanted Olive.

There is a mix of fresh hydrangea and faux greenery in the centerpiece. I purchased two one-gallon boxwoods and placed them in the two green vases and covered the rim with green moss. I would prefer English Ivy, but have never had any luck with it.
Finally, after a light dinner of fruit and salad, I feel coffee and dessert are allowed.

Thanks to both Susan at Between Naps on Porch for hostessing Tablescape Thursday and Michael at Designs by Gollum for hostessing Foodie Friday.

Have a great week!

Nola

Twilight Theme Dinner Party….Dinner with the Cullen’s

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Thank you to Designs by Gollum for another fabulous foodie Friday event!

Welcome to this two for one Twilight post! Tablescape Thursday and Foodie Friday!

Today’s apropos Vampire dessert, Red Velvet Cake. A Southern tradition made famous by the movie
Steel Magnolias and perfected by the Waldorf Astoria chefs. The Twilight party is next week

(See below!) so be sure to check back next Friday for the Italian Dinner menu and recipes!

Ingredients
1/2 cup

butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces red food coloring
4 tablespoons cocoa (heaping)
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vinegar
Frosting
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter (must be butter)
Directions
Cream shortening, sugar and eggs.
Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa and add to creamed mixture
Add buttermilk alternating with flour and salt. Add vanilla.
Add soda to vinegar, and blend into the batter. Pour into 3 or 4 greased and floured 8" cake pans. Bake at 350°F for 24-30 minutes.
Split layers fill and frost with the following frosting.
Frosting: Add milk to flour slowly, avoiding lumps. Cook flour and milk until very thick, stirring constantly. Cool completely. Cream sugar, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Add to cooked mixture. Beat, high speed, until very fluffy. Looks and tastes like whipped cream.

Pull up a chair and join us, I promise you will not be “On the Menu”!

I have to preface this tablescape by letting you know that my daughter Aimee suggested this theme. This is ironic because she has never really “gotten into” the whole tablescape thing and for those of you who have been following this blog, you will remember me expressing the JOY I felt upon discovering an entire group out there who can appreciate this art! So When she suggested it to me, I gave her “the look” (and you know the one) and she said “What have you done to me?, you have me sucked into this now!” It was too funny! We had a blast working together to create this tablescape.

Aimee is having a birthday next week and so to celebrate we are having “Dinner and a Movie”. The menu will be Italian and we will watch the twilight movie afterward. We tried to incorporate elements from each book in the Twilight series into our tablescape and to create an ambiance in keeping with that theme. Enjoy your visit!

We made the invitations from heavy red cardstock, flocked black specialty paper, vellum and ribbon. I found the twilight font online.

I removed the personal details from the invitation. Sorry, but we can not guarantee the safety of uninvited guests!

Oh, you brought a snack!.... James

The glass bowls belonged to my mother and have roses etched into them. We used pieces of black lace between the red rhinestone charges and each bowl

We used my wrought iron candelabras to add that perfect touch of goth!

Red Stemware (Pier One) adds a touch of class! (Are you Thirsty?)

The theme of red, black and white was carried through out our design and apples represent the first book (Twilight)

One continuous piece of satin Red ribbon was tied around each napkin until it circled the table completely. (Eclipse)

Tiny Diamonds are sprinkled all over the entire table representing Edward in the sunlight

Cut black lace adorns the candelabras in the room

Red jewels scattered around the base of the candles glitter in the glow of the flames

The centerpiece is representative of the relationship between Edward and Bella.

Parrot Tulips (New Moon)

Place cards are embellished with the chess pieces (Breaking Dawn)

Two bottles of wine chosen especially for this event! I digitized the font that I found on the internet and stitched out the design on our wine towel with the boutique embroidery machine.

There are eight place settings , each member of the "Cullen' family is represented

A View of the entire room

To see more tablescapes from more amazing bloggers, please visit our friend Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch!

Finishing a Guest Room for Savannah!

noreply@blogger.com (The Bloom Girls) — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:47:00 +0000

We built our home with the intention of turning it into a Bed and Breakfast. That meant I had several guest rooms to finish and with limited $$$$. So I did the smart thing and responded to a post on Craigslist making arrangements for a young lady coming from Australia to study violin to stay with us for two months. Nothing like knowing a guest is coming in a month to get me motivated!! Honestly, the room was still dressed in drywall and subfloor. No bathroom, no paint, no lighting, etc.

This iron vanity was sitting in my garage. I had three of them made in San Miguel for less than $125 each. I painted it black and made the vanity top base from 3/4 inch plywood. Screwed on backer board and tiled the top. The sink is made of cast iron and is by Kohler (pricey). The Delta faucet was a display that I got for ($25) from a distributor going out of business. The mirror is IKEA ($15) and the light fixture is Costco ($27).

I wish I had before pictures, but I wasn't blogging then and didn't think about it. I tiled the wet bar area in the same tile as the vanity area. I had the custom base cabinet made for ($95). I painted it black and distressed the edges. My father helped me build and install the microwave cabinet/shelf above the sink. He also did the additional electrical needed to add a light over the sink.

I had all of the furniture except the headboard. So I constructed the frame for the headboard out of 2x4's and plywood. I glued 2" foam onto the plywood and then wrapped the entire thing with thick batting and stapled it onto the back. To cover it, I used a chenille fabric that I had left over from when I had a sofa reupholstered. The desk was purchased at auction and the chair (1 of 4) from Storehouse I got from Craigslist.

I grew tired of the chenille and decided to attempt a slipcover. I bought white denim on sale at Joann for $5.99 a yard and some inexpensive cording. At first I tried making it from just measurements and had a hard time. Once I removed the headboard from the bed and pinned the fabric and cording using the headboard as a form it all came together. I really like how it turned out and I like the fact that I can launder it.

So how did it go with my guest? Her name was Savannah Jo and she was delightful. She would stand out on the veranda and play her violin and sing like an angel. She had no transportation so I offered her one of our bicycles, thinking she'd never accept. Surprisingly, she did accept and rode it all over with her backpack on and her violin strapped across her shoulder. We went to lunch a few times and once I surprised her and took her to the Savannah Tea Room, she loved it.

My vanity is my thrifty treasure. Be sure to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hosting Thrify Treasures.

Also, be sure to visit with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphisis Monday.

Thanks to both Susan and Rhoda for hosting todays events.

Have a wonderful week!

Nola

P.S.....I apologize for the format. I think our blogger is possessed!