Shore Dreams and Beautiful Things

New Palms and California Shutters

2012-02-19T22:22:00.000-05:00

Here's a pic of our new Cali shutters! I love them! The two potted palms were a wonderful surprise gift when they were brought home this weekend. I could fill the entire house with them.

I recently picked up Pottery Barn over-sized knit pillows. They are the BEST EVER - SO soft and perfect for a little mid-afternoon siesta.

Laurelle

Daydreaming...

2012-02-10T21:12:00.000-05:00

Laurelle
Images from Pinterest

Nature's Ice Sculptures

2012-02-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

The most gorgeous ice walk by the lake. Who says the beach can't be beautiful in the winter?

Laurele

Niagara On The Lake - Ice Wine Festival 2012

2012-01-31T18:14:00.000-05:00

3 days, 9 vinyards. Lots of sipping and savouring, while making beautiful memories.

Riverview Cellars Estate Winery offered homemade cinnamon-cranberry biscotti and fruit skewers dipped in Belgian chocolate with Cab Franc icewine. Heaven!

Breath-taking views at Chateau des Charmes and icewine glazed mini cheesecakes with a red ice cocktail.

Peller Estates homemade icewine marshmallows roasting over an open fire.

The Shaw Club Hotel and the neighbourhood.

Laurelle

The Power of Thought

2012-01-24T17:57:00.001-05:00

I had a beautiful experience with my Grade 9 Health and Phys Ed class (all girls) a couple of weeks ago. It had to do with the power of thought. There is a Japanese scientist/alternative doctor (Dr. Masaru Emoto) who believes that human consciousness, thought, and emotion affect the molecular structure of water. He exposed water to concentrated thought and photographed the crystals (see the link below, a clip from the documentary What The Bleep Do We Know?).

Love and Gratitude:

Video Clip

The girls and I had a discussion about the power of positive thinking. If the earth and our bodies are primarily water, then our thoughts and feelings have a direct impact on the state of our environment and on our own personal health. We can create our own well-being. I gave my Gr 9 girls waterbottles and markers. They got so excited and spent an entire hour colouring. It was magical.

I love how one girl wrote "Wight (weight) doesn't matter."

Laurelle

Woven Storage

2012-01-07T17:45:00.001-05:00

I love earthy, natural, woven storage, such as a simple seagrass basket. Inspiration for this month's organizing:

Laurelle xo

Wishes for 2012

2012-01-04T18:50:00.001-05:00

Savour every moment.

Feel joy in the littlest of things.

Surround yourself with the beauty of nature.

Breathe deeply and nourish your soul.

Happy New Year,
Love Laurelle xo

Images from Coastal Living Capture the Coast

Still

2011-12-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

I've been quiet and still lately. About a month ago, my little guy's soul wanted to move onwards. Bear was a blessing in my life. He was, and still is, the greatest gift. Through this little cat's wisdom and unconditional love, I have learned so many invaluable lessons. He also touched the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to know him. I feel tremendous gratitude for being able to love and be loved by such a beautiful soul. I love you, Bear.

with Love and Gratitude,
Laurelle

Take Me To...

2011-11-22T07:00:00.003-05:00

... this gorgeous 6,000 sq ft beach front estate in Malibu, California. This 5 bed, 7 bath also has a 1,200 sq ft rooftop deck with spa, bar and BBQ.

Laurelle
All images from Dream Homes Magazine

Pumpkin Muffins

2011-11-20T09:13:00.001-05:00

After a walk outside on a gorgeous fall day, I was craving a hot cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin. Here's the simple recipe I put together:

INGREDIENTS:

1 3/4 cups organic whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup organic raw sugar
1/2 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup milk
1 cup organic pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
unsalted roasted pumpkin seeds to sprinkle on top

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line and lightly spray 12 muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and spices.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the pumpkin, sugars, oil, milk, eggs and vanilla.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently mix together.
5. Use an icecream scoop to measure out 12 perfect portions of batter for the muffin cups. Sprinkle each one with a few pumpkin seeds.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack.
7. ENJOY!

Niagara-On-The-Lake October Weekend

2011-10-30T21:05:00.002-04:00

A recipe for a perfect weekend: Beautiful weather and a tour of 4 Niagara-On-The-Lake wineries which included behind the scenes experiences and private tastings. Add to that a walk through the neighbourhood and good coffee. Yum!

Laurelle

Inspiring Autumn Ideas

2011-10-21T10:11:00.002-04:00

Fall treats on the beach.

Harvest vases

Cool Idea : Pumpkin cooler

Petite peeking pumpkins. So cute!

In honour of my BFF who moved to South Carolina - a pumpkin carved with a palm tree and crescent moon, representing the state flag.

Pumpkin wreath

Laurelle
Image 1 Coastal Living; Image 2-3 LCBO; Images 4-7 Souther Living

Morning Run

2011-09-15T22:03:00.001-04:00

So... it's been awhile! I had to take a little hiatus from here and ground myself. This is the view from ground I've been running on:

Will be back VERY soon...
Laurelle

Take Me To...

2011-07-29T23:06:00.001-04:00

...this grand 5 acre coffee estate in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.

Ocean views, pool, spa, and freshly roasted coffee ALL DAY, EVERY DAY from the 4 ACRES of producing Kona coffee trees!!! I die!

Laurelle
Images from Dream Homes Magazine

All Things Pineapple

2011-07-26T07:00:00.006-04:00

I'm obsessed with pineapple, in all its sweet/tart perfection. I also love pineapple as the symbol of hospitality, warm welcome and friendship.

Tommy Bahama

Bed Bath and Beyond

Yankee Candle Co

Bath and Body Works

I even stumbled upon pineapple flip flops!

Roxy

Billabong

Laurelle

Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread Recipe

2011-07-24T19:15:00.001-04:00

I was craving something tropical and sweet made with my favourite fruit (pineapple) and this moist and flavorful creation totally hit the spot. It's a perfect summer morning breakfast with coffee, or served warm with vanilla bean ice cream and fresh sliced pineapple.

Ingredients (I used mostly organic)

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup mashed bananas (3 small)
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened dessicated coconut
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple
Sweetened dessicated coconut to sprinkle on top (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Butter two 8 or 9 inch loaf pans (I split the batter into two, instead of making one tall loaf)
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar and butter, then stir in almond and vanilla extracts.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baing powder and baking soda, then stir in unsweetened coconut.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in diced pineapple.
6. Pour batter into loaf pans, sprinkle tops with sweetened coconut if desired, and bake for 40-45 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean).
7. Serve, share and enjoy!

Laurelle

Virginia Beach

2011-07-20T19:34:00.003-04:00

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Virginia Beach where I was maid of honor for my gorgeous BFF's wedding. There is nothing more rejuvenating than the ocean and a beautiful sunset.

Beach wedding bliss.

The beautiful bride designed and created our stunning foot jewllery. Beach weddings render footwear completely unecessary.

The view along the main boardwalk in Virginia Beach.

Private hotel beach.

View of the ocean from the balcony.

Evening bevy of choice for the trip. I swear someone channelled my essence when they named this wine. If you haven't tried Moscato, go get a bottle or four right now. Very sweet, gulp-able, and dangerous.

Morning bevy and chill spot of choice. We learned an important lesson my friends; put on sunscreen even if it is only 8am and you don't think you need it. It is never too early for coffee and never too early for sunscreen.

Breathtaking...

Laurelle
Images my own.

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T17:15:00.001-04:00

Enjoy some good food and sunshine today!

I need a vacation like nobody's business. I'm ~~inhaling~~ sipping white zinfandel as I get organized to leave for Virginia Beach on Monday. Can't. Wait.

Laurelle

Images from LCBO Food and Drink, Style At Home

Killer Key Lime Cheesecake Recipe - Cheesecake Factory Inspired

2011-06-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

It doesn't get any better than this, my friends!!! Inspired by the tart and sinful key lime cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, this recipe is truly phenominal in a can't-put-the-fork-down kind of way.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup graham crumbs
5 tbsp melted butter
1 cup plus 1 tbsp organic sugar
3 pkgs cream cheese (250g each)
1 tsp pure vanilla
Juice from 14 small key limes (approx 1/2 cup juice)
3 eggs
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine graham crumbs, melted butter and 1 tbsp sugar in a bowl until moist and crumbly.
3. Press the crumbs onto the bottom and slightly up the sides of an 8" springform pan.
4. Bake the crust for 5-6 minutes and set aside.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, 3 eggs, lime juice and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
6. Pour the filling onto the crust.
7. Place a baking dish filled with an inch of water on the lower rack of the oven.
8. Bake for 60-70 minutes until the top becomes slightly golden.
9. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Enjoy!
Laurelle

Flip Flop Favourites

2011-06-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

I would spend every day of my life in a pair of flip flops if I could. It doesn't truly feel like summer until I can slip my feet into a pair.

Havaianas:

Roxy:

J Crew:

Tory Burch:

Diane Von Furstenberg:

Reef:

Okulai:

Laurelle

Images and Flip Flops from: Nordstrom, Town Shoes, Macy's, J Crew

Take Me To...

2011-06-03T21:39:00.000-04:00

...this gorgeous country estate in Napa, California.

I am in love with the 100-year-old wood ceiling beams that sit atop incredibly spacious rooms, flooded with sunlight. With a wood paneled library, pool and swim-up-bar, outdoor kitchen and fireplace, wine cellar and 5 acres of Chardonnay vines, (I die!) it might make up for not being on the water. $5,890,000.00 to purchase this wine lover's/entertainer's dream.

Laurelle
Images from Dream Homes Magazine

Waterfront Walk

2011-05-31T10:48:00.000-04:00

May was super busy and I enjoyed every minute (so much so that I am only squeezing in one post on the last day!) Here are some photos from a day spent with a beautiful BFF.

I anticipate posting MANY outdoor photos like this in the upcoming months...
Love Laurelle

Apple Crumble with Brandy Creme Anglaise

2011-04-26T23:50:00.003-04:00

Mmmmmm......

The new quote on my chalk board reads:

I made apple crumble with abandon. I didn't measure a thing. Here's what I think I did:

In a bowl, combine:
6 apples, cut into wedges
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp each cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg
3 tbsp raw, organic sugar

In a separate bowl, combine:
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup raw, organic sugar
1 cup oats
1/2 cup organic all purpose flour

Transfer the apple mixture to a buttered baking dish and top with the crumble mixture. Bake at 375 for approximately 45 minutes or until apples are tender and crumble is golden.

The recipe for the Brandy Creme Anglaise (which is ridiculously good) can be found here. The original recipe calls for bourbon.

Laurelle

Open The Shutters

2011-04-25T14:15:00.000-04:00

... and let the sun warm your heart.

Laurelle
Images via Coastal Living, House Beautiful and House and Home

Dear Winter,

2011-03-26T19:25:00.004-04:00

I thought we had resolved our differences. I used to revel in the romance we shared, nestled together under cozy knits, warm coffee in hand. But you know I wasn't able to commit. The magic that used to dazzle me every time I pulled on my riding boots is gone. I long for Hope and the promise of spring. Your cold shoulder has me yearning for turquoise waters, blue skies and sun-kissed warmth. I'm afraid I am trading in my cold feet for flip flops.

Sincerely,
Laurelle

Images from Coastal Living Magazine

Please Excuse Me...

2011-02-20T09:28:00.003-05:00

... because I've temporarily disappeared from the face of the earth. I finally landed my dream job. The offer came two days after my last post. I have subsequently been busting my tail, but with a Cheshire Cat grin plastered across my face. And, of course, I've been doing a little celebrating.

So please excuse my sporadic appearances while I get my feet a little wet. And feel free to join me with a glass of champagne.

Laurelle
Images: Martha Stewart and Cortis Images.

A Room With...

2011-01-29T14:05:00.002-05:00

A ~~View~~ Shoe

A little YSL love today.

I am head over heels in love with the glossy navy painted wall. This bedroom is incredible.

With a classy pair of iconic YSL navy platform sandals.

Equestrian comfort

With gorgeous YSL riding boots.

Elegant Ralph Lauren Home bed and upholstery.

with drool-worthy YSL black platform Mary Janes. Must own.

Laurelle
Room Image 1 - 2 Decor Pad, Room Image 3 Elle Decor, Shoe images from YSL.com

Niagara Ice Wine Festival

2011-01-27T23:13:00.007-05:00

Last Sunday, when it was -20, it was the perfect day (note sarcasm) to explore Niagara-On-The-Lake's Ice Wine Festival. This was one wintery adventure worth taking.

Sampling glasses at Inniskillin are made of ice. How cool is that? Mittens a must!

Ice bar

Frozen vidal grapes = incredible flavour.

So beautiful.

Boutique shopping.

Outside the Vineyard.

Ice piano in the middle of Queen Street.

More Queen Street beauty.

Warming up with some Balzac's organic coffee.

Laurelle

Colour Crush: Red

2011-01-22T19:05:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I have a confession. I haven't taken down my Christmas tree. Shameful, I know. It is on the agenda for tomorrow. Or the day after. Once the holidays are over, the tree (artificial so I can't kill it) usually comes down within two weeks, but the red accents stay until the end of February.

Passionate, energetic, warm, cheery...

Laurelle
Image 1 - 2 House and Home, Image 3-5 Decor Pad, Image 6 - 7 Coastal Living

Winter Magic in TO

2011-01-15T08:35:00.001-05:00

So pretty...

Laurelle

Amy Butler Designs

2011-01-09T14:39:00.001-05:00

I fell in love with Amy Butler's line of organic bath towels (which I got here) and then discovered that she is a talented designer/artist with a whole line of products that are the epitome of all things girlie girl and beautiful. Her website is gorgeous!

Bath towels

Beach Towels

Handcrafted Rugs

Desktop Collections

Eco Tableware

Pillows and Bedding

Fabrics

Handbags

Wrapping Paper

I could go on and on: stationary, wall art, wallpaper and sewing patterns. The photos (taken by her husband) are stunning. So pretty! Perusing her website made me yearn for spring!

Laurelle
All images from Amy Butler Design

All Things Awesome

2011-01-02T20:41:00.010-05:00

Happy New Year! A friend of mine gave me "The Book of Awesome" several months back and I've been meaning to post about it. It seems quite fitting today. It is filled with a compilation of simple but awesome moments. With the arrival of the new year, one of my personal goals is to slow down, destress, and enjoy the beauty in the simplest of things more often.

One small example of "awesome" is when a friend comes over to share an incredible and difficult (if not impossible) to find bottle of 2006 Masi Corbec! Yum!

My Top 11 Awesome Moments

1. Feeling festive when I see the first few houses put up their Christmas wreaths and lights.

2. Spotting the first new green buds that appear on the trees in the spring.

3. Turning the wall calendar page and, equally awesome, starting a fresh new journal.

4. Taking the first sip of coffee in the morning.

5. Finding a prime parking spot with no effort on a busy day.

6. The smell of fireplace.

7. The first bite of dessert.

8. Giving yourself a manicure and using your awkward hand perfectly.

9. Great little uplifting conversations with strangers while out running mundane errands.

10. The congratulations hug when you get all giddy hearing someone's fantastic news.

11. The long thank you hug when you feel tremendous gratitude and appreciation and words just can't express it. Hugs rock.

What awesome little moments will YOU be enjoying in 2011?
Laurelle

French Door Love And A Happy New Year

2010-12-31T11:26:00.005-05:00

I have always been fond of French doors. While I was perusing some gorgeous photos, I decided that this is the perfect post for today. The words I'd use to describe how French doors can enrich a home's interior can also be used to describe my hopes for the new year.

I'm wishing you a year that is elegant, stylish, beautiful and dreamy (yet also functional)

Wishing you a fantastic view of your very own little corner of the world...

Wishing you everlasting sunshine in your home and in your hearts.

XO
Laurelle

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

2010-12-30T17:53:00.001-05:00

These are by far the BEST ginger cookies. Ever. Better than Starbucks in my opinon! I added finely chopped pieces of candied ginger and I also added some chopped Black and Green's organic ginger dark chocolate bar.

2 1/4 cup flour
1.5 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup salted (yes, salted) butter
1 cup golden brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped candied ginger (optional)
1/2 cup chopped dark ginger chocolate (optional)
granulated sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 F. Sift dry ingredients together, stir, and set aside. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy (I used a hand mixer) and then mix in egg and molasses. Add dry ingredients to wet, and mix well. Stir in candied ginger and chocolate. Form into 1.5 inch balls then roll in granulated sugar. Place on a cookie sheet 2" apart, then pop into the oven on the middle rack for 7 to 8 minutes. Don't overbake - they are meant to be super chewy. Let cool slightly before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Laurelle

Brandy Balls

2010-12-30T11:36:00.001-05:00

These are easy, no-bake, and seriously boozed up. They remind me of the moist rum balls that I had as a treat when I was a kid. So delicious, especially for the holiday season.

1 box vanilla wafer cookies (2-3/4 to 3 cups, finely crushed)
1 cup pecans, toasted
2/3 cup brandy
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 tbsp good cocoa powder
2 tbsp honey

After toasting the pecans (350 F on a cookie sheet until lightly browned and fragrant), place them in a food processor with the vanilla wafers and pulse until finely crushed. I like my brandy balls moist and smooth. Another option is to finely chop the pecans instead of adding them to the food processor if you want a bit of texture. Next, add the cocoa powder and confectioners sugar and stir until combined. Add the honey and brandy (you could also use rum) and mix well. Form 1 inch balls and roll in chocolate sprinkles (or chopped nuts) and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Laurelle

The Kitchen Rooster

2010-12-29T11:11:00.003-05:00

I've always liked the rustic and inviting feel of ceramic kitchen roosters as statement pieces. My wonderful parents found one for me for Christmas (from The Added Touch in Oakville as a set of two). He is EXACTLY the kind I was looking for (cream, and not too large as I live in a Toronto city condo). Needless to say, as I unwrapped, the rest of my family responded with sideways glances and wrinkled brows, as not many knew of my rooster obsession. Rather handsome, isn't he?

Other roosters worth admiring:

Laurelle
Images from (in order): My own, Decor Pad, Country Living (2), Coastal Living, Architectural Digest and Pottery Barn.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T13:24:00.004-05:00

I honestly had every intention of writing prior to the holidays. I blame it on the hustle and bustle of the season. I'm sending Christmas greetings from my home to yours. Happy Holidays everyone!

I got this cute plate as a gift from my parents years ago.

View from the top of the Eaton Centre while having lunch earlier this week.

Merry Christmas!
Laurelle

Take Me To...

2010-12-12T21:23:00.002-05:00

...Paula Dean's Savannah Beach House in Tybee Island, Georgia. While I can't say I'm a huge Paula Dean fan, this beach house which is available for rent via Mermaid Cottages would be a dream vacation for those like me who a) love to cook and b) love the beach. It is a short 4 blocks away from the sand and surf.

For the Christmas season, the house is decorated with all the festive trimmings to help celebrate the holidays.

The beach house itself is lovely!

And of course, the pantry also comes stocked with cookbooks, spices, sauces and inspiration.

Laurelle
Images from Mermaid Cottages

I'm Loving: Roman Shades

2010-11-26T23:46:00.002-05:00

I am seriously obsessed with roman shades. These would make for an incredible DIY project. I found a link on the House and Home Website and also one over at Martha Stewart's website. I believe I've found my future bedroom project.

Laurelle
Image 1-5 Decor Pad; Image 6-7 Elle Decor; Image 8-9 Canadian House and Home

Feeling Festive

2010-11-20T09:21:00.001-05:00

It's starting. I can feel it. I put away my fall decor and am now starting to replace it with holiday glimmer. Some inspiration arrived in the Holiday Food and Drink and Traditional Home magazines:

Laurelle

Breakthrough

2010-11-13T09:44:00.003-05:00

I haven't been on here as much lately. Not because I don't want to. I just needed to put my energy into revisiting and mapping out my personal goals. It truly is time for me to only focus on my dreams that I want to see come to fruition. The mind is powerful enough to tackle it. It's time to get rid of the self-imposed negative pressures. This is something we ALL should be doing. I need to stop and appreciate the roses more often. I need to be bold.

I was away this past week at an outdoor education site with group of 40 teenagers. Lots of fun. And I'm not saying that sarcastically. While I was there, I had an afternoon off to spend by myself, so I went for an hour long run. It was incredibly cleansing. We are in transition between seasons and while the landscape isn't considered as lush and breathtaking, the views were indeed gorgeous. It's all about perspective. By the time I got back, I felt a little lighter in my heart and in my step.

Laurelle
Photos taken throughout my run.

Take Me To...

2010-11-05T23:24:00.002-04:00

...this gorgeous Spanish Colonial estate located in La Jolla, California with spectacular ocean views. The coolest feature? The bomb shelter converted into a wine cellar. There are no pics of this though, which is perfectly fine since I'd spend my days above ground (after retrieving a bottle of course) enjoying the water and sky.

Laurelle
Images courtesy of Dream Homes Magazine.

Colour Crush: Chocolate, Chestnut and Cinnamon

2010-10-31T19:28:00.000-04:00

While I still tend to gravitate towards light and airy, these gorgeous shades of brown are rich, warm and inviting. They are definitely inspiration for a potential future project...

Laurelle
Image 1-3 Decor Pad, 4 - House Beautiful, 5 - Coastal Living, 6 - Elle Decor, 7 - House Beautiful, 8 - Traditional Home

Photography for the Gastronome

2010-10-29T23:56:00.002-04:00

It is no secret to those who know me that I am obsessed with photographing food, both from my own kitchen, and also from local restaurants. What I lack is the knowledge and equipment of a professional food photographer.

While perusing the pages of the August 2010 edition of Food and Drink, I discovered that the newest "point and shoot" cameras now have a setting called "Cuisine Mode." How perfect is this for a novice like myself? I also came across a good article on amateur food photography, which can be found here. I now have a voracious appetite for this new technology. It all sounds so yummy, doesn't it?

Laurelle
Retro cam photo from crazyegg.net, Aug 2010 Food and Drink personal scan.

St. Jacob's Market

2010-10-26T19:17:00.003-04:00

Drive over an hour for a remarkable farmer's market? You bet.
St. Jacob's is well worth it.

First stop? To fuel up, of course. We didn't even make it past the first vendor. Good thing they were selling pierogies.

Next stop? To source out the sweets. It took me 1.3 seconds to spot the vendor selling freshly made doughnuts with cinnamon sugar. I must find me one of these lovely doughnut fryers!

Again, I am glad this place is not within walking distance. It could prove dangerous to my backside. Can someone please explain my obsession with photographing doughnuts?

Post gluttonous doughnut behaviour, we set out to shop the produce. I only managed a picture of the apples as my arms quickly became occupied with an obscene amount of vegetables.

After making two trips to the car with food, we made one last stop in town at The Cake Box. This was our third "pit stop" for sweets. I must learn some restraint. But I digress... This little shop is adorable. How awesome is that Chanel bag cake? Here, you can enjoy a cupcake with a cup of coffee or loose leaf tea and stretch out with some trashy tabloids which they provide. This is guilty pleasure heaven. Will definitely go back.

Laurelle

Dutch Apple Pancake

2010-10-22T14:52:00.001-04:00

This is so easy and elegant! And so good! I slightly altered the William Sonoma recipe found here to be healthier.

Ingredients:

1 apple, cored and cut into 1/2" slices
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs, room temp
1/2 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
confectioner's sugar for dusting

1. Butter a 9" ovenproof pan/pie dish
2. In a fry pan over medium heat, melt 1 tbsp butter. Add the apple, cinnamon and sugar and saute, stirring occasionally until the aple softens and browns. Set aside.
3. In a bowl, using a whisk, beat the eggs. Add the milk and whisk until blended. Sift the flour into the mixture. Add the olive oil to the mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the battle into the prepared pan and arrange the apple slices on top. Bake until the pancake is browned and puffed up, about 30 minutes. Dust with confectioner's sugar and serve immediately. Serves 2-4

Laurelle

Your Style at Ethan Allan

2010-10-16T11:40:00.001-04:00

I am not normally a fan of magazine or online quizzes that attempt to define some aspect of my personality. However, I will make an exception for the style quiz over at Ethan Allan which can be found here. Of course, I took it 7 times to check for consistency because I question things that present themselves as so final and conclusive. Yes, I know it’s just a style quiz. But why do I need to fit neatly into some sort of decorative box? I oscillate between a desire for flowing white curtains, delicate ribbons and wisps of lavender… to wanting to paint an entire wall black. And that’s perfectly fine. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

As it turns out, my style over at Ethan Allan is primarily “estate” which they define as “an eternal American summer. Sporty. Charming. Breezy yet cultivated. A union of antique inspiration and geometric clarity. Civilization in peaceful coexistence with robust outdoor life. In the main house or the guest cottage, effortless elegance.” Pretty accurate description of my general preferences. My secondary scores fell closely behind into the category of “loft” and “glamour." What’s your style?

ESTATE

LOFT

GLAMOUR

Laurelle
All images from Ethan Allan.

Fall Drive: The Hills of Headwaters

2010-10-11T22:59:00.002-04:00

The weather yesterday was perfect for a fall drive through parts of the Hills of Headwaters. I went a little camera crazy because the colours were absolutely g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s!

Coffee at Holtom's bakery in the Village of Erin. There was no way I was going to pass up on a homemade doughnut.

Hello my little lovely Boston Cream. Come to me.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Laurelle

Chudleigh's Apple Farm = Baking Inspiration

2010-10-09T22:25:00.003-04:00

This popular apple farm was packed with visitors last weekend even though it was raining and rather cold. And despite frozen fingers, the day at Chudleigh's was enough to inspire some home baked apple treats.

I went home with 5lbs of Toleman Sweet apples and serious cravings for sweet treats. I made baked apples marsala (found here). Insanely good. They almost feel healthy. Almost.

I also made a triple batch of multi-purpose butter cookie dough from the William Sonoma Food Made Fast series. I used one portion to make a rustic country style brandied apple and dried cherry tart (found here) and froze two disks for future tart endeavours. Gotta love easy and uncomplicated yet delicious recipes.

Laurelle

Perfect Pumpkin Cupcakes

2010-10-03T18:14:00.001-04:00

After picking up an adorable cake stand at Home Sense for $10, and fitting it with candy corn grosgrain ribbon, I was eager to top it with some pumpkin cupcakes. I perused numerous recipes, but didn't find one that was exactly what I was looking for - spicy, moist and fluffy with a cream cheese icing. So I created my own recipe which turned out wonderfully. The recipe is super easy and the results are seriously addictive.

Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
- Makes 30 mini cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 cup cake and pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp each ginger, allspice, nutmeg
1/2 cup salted butter (room temp)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Icing Ingredients:
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup salted butter
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line mini cupcake pan with paper liners. Spray lightly with olive oil so the cupcakes don't stick.
2. In a large bowl, blend butter, both sugars and eggs until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree and vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together cake and pastry flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until smooth.
5. Fill liners with batter almost to the top. Bake 16 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
6. To make icing, blend cream cheese, butter and confectioner's sugar until smooth and creamy.
7. When cupcakes are completely cooled, decorate with icing and sprinkles.

I'm absolutely in love with the decorative possibilities of this cake stand. The ribbon can be changed for any occasion and celebration, which makes it incredibly versatile and fun.

Laurelle

Wine Love

2010-09-30T22:51:00.004-04:00

Last week, my mother announced that she was very surprised I hadn't yet posted about wine. Not that I'm a massive booze hound, but I really enjoy my vino.

I guess I haven't written about wine because, well, I really don't know enough about it, other than I like it. A lot. I have a couple of books about the art and science, but to be perfectly honest, I don't know what the heck people do when they swirl their glass and comment on its legs. (Isn't this rather irrelevant and just about alcohol content anyways?)

How do people confidently identify all of the various tasting notes with one swig? Or one quick sniff of the bouquet even? Plums, violets, spice, pear, citrus, apple, vanilla, butter... I've even read that wine can taste like wet wool and farmyard. Thank you, but I'll pass on the latter.

How does one become a sommelier? I'd like to sign up for that. Who are these lucky individuals who make a living drinking wine all day? If this is you, please call me. We must do lunch. Soon.

While I'm by no stretch of the imagination what I would describe as knowledgeable, I do know what I like. So, my dear friends, here are four of them. I've enlisted the expertise of the LCBO to describe them.

Conundrum (Discovered this at the Food and Wine Expo many years back - Awesome name!)
$23.95
Peach, jasmine, melon, pear, vanilla, and grass intertwine in this multi-layered, well-balanced white, off-dry, and lushly textured.

Masi Tupungato Corbec Corvina/Malbec (A friend introduced this gem to me but it's hard to find) $30.00

Hints of baked fruit, especially blueberries and raspberries, with slight hints of cocoa. Rounded and full-bodied on the palate, good acidity with silky tannins, distinct flavours of cherries and delicate spiciness.

Oyster Bay Chardonnay
$18.95
Green apple, ripe peach, vanilla, light toasty oak and a note of tropical fruit. A dry, soft-and-creamy crowd-pleaser, with charming balance brought by a touch of acidity and toast.

Penfolds Shiraz Cab (Also discovered this at the Food and Wine Expo. This is the least expensive bottle. Penfolds Bin 389 is a lovely step up.)
$16.55
Cassis, eucalyptus, mint and herb aromas; dry, full bodied with smooth, rich, plummy flavours and a long, spicy finish.

Laurelle

Autumn Inspiration

2010-09-27T19:27:00.004-04:00

I had a really long day today. The mentally draining kind. You know the type of day that you wish you could have spent in bed, with a hot cup of tea and a good book? I desperately needed a pick-me-up this evening. And so, beautiful Autumn inspired photographs to the rescue:

Laurelle
Image 1 and 2 Style At Home, Image 3 Coastal Living, Image 4-6 Country Living, Image 7 HGTV, Image 8-10 Martha Stewart, Image 9 Pottery Barn.

Autumn Air

2010-09-26T22:24:00.005-04:00

Today, the crisp Autumn breeze was truly refreshing. It will soon be the catalyst for the dazzling colours I'm looking forward to admiring on the landscape. And, I think, for the first time, I'm mentally prepared for the cold. Maybe that's because I just read a novel that painted a romantic picture of cozy knits and hot cinnamon cider. And yes, maybe that romance will dissipate with the first frost, when I'll be left cursing the cold and dreaming about my flip flops. Maybe. But today, I really enjoyed the beauty of the season while having brunch with a girlfriend and walking along Main Street, Unionville.

We had brunch at The Blacksmith's Bistro, which has the most gorgeous lighting, almost like illuminated sunburst mirrors.

I must get over my irrational fear and learn how to properly poach an egg. So intimidating. But sooooo good.

Cute stores and beautiful architecture make for a great afternoon walk.

One of the bath and body stores carried... drum roll please... coffee scrub. I didn't know one could bathe in this stuff!

Laurelle

Take Me To...

2010-09-22T23:57:00.000-04:00

This MIND BLOWING dream home in Costiera Amalfitana, Italy. For me, the mere mention of "Italian villa" conjures up romantic images of authentic tagliatelle al pomodoro with a bottle of vino a la Eat Pray Love. I'm sold. Not only is this property obscenely massive (7 bed and bath, tennis court and 2 ports for boats), it also has a 'funicular' - a cable car that connects the road to the home and sea house. Oh my. There are NO photos available of this estate's interior. Do I care? Hell no. I'll take it, thankyouverymuch. I'll be spending my life on the terrace anyways.

Laurelle
Photos from Dream Homes Magazine.

DIY: Painting Ikea Furniture - Bookcase Makeover

2010-09-19T10:03:00.006-04:00

My humble Ikea Billy bookcases (purchased long ago on a single-girl-moving-out-of-the-house-with-parents’-help-budget) and TV bench have been screaming for a makeover for years. The original birch veneer had to go. I expected the process of painting something that is, well, cardboard, to be a hassle. It wasn’t. The only frustration that I really encountered was having to paint within a confined space that was already mid-renovation due to new flooring. Here’s the end result.

Here is the before photo:

Holy world of a difference!

First, I had to fix the Ikea Oops on one of the shelves.

This was a simple task, with a piece of melamine edgebanding that was ironed on. I am embarrassed to say that this is the only exercise my iron has had in months. Shameful.

Ikea Ooops corrected.

I love the look of bead board paneling. I had some cut to size at a hardware store to replace the original back panels of the bookcases. It was secured with nails and trim so that it would rest flush and secure against the shelving.

With the shelves and hardware removed, I roughed up the bookcases with medium grit sandpaper. Then, I applied 2 coats of Fresh Start primer, which was recommended by the lovely people at Benjamin Moore. It adhered beautifully and dried quickly.

I applied two coats of Aura paint from Benjamin Moore in Mascarpone with matte finish. It’s water-based with extremely low VOCs so it is not only phenomenal paint, but also environmentally friendly. For application, I used a 3/8” mohair roller.

Here is evidence that I clearly do not know how to pour paint.

Speaking of mishaps with paint… I ended up spilling about 2-3 cups of primer ALL OVER the old carpet, on a chair, and on my jeans. I managed to salvage my jeans, but not the carpet. Guess the carpet has to go.

Because I don’t really have much space in which to paint, I ended up painting the shelves themselves outside on my balcony.

This took longer than I would have liked, but was accomplished more comfortably with a little chemical assistance.

I applied white Alex caulk to fill the gaps, then touched up with paint.

And then I added Zinnia knobs from Anthropologie, regularly $8.95, on sale for $2.95!

And voila, my Ikea transformation was complete!

Full room view BEFORE (being dismantled mid-photo):

Full room view AFTER. So much better.

Laurelle

Giada de Laurentiis for Target

2010-09-16T20:56:00.005-04:00

I am sure many people watch this Italian beauty on the Food Network and adore her. I’ll admit, I’m one of the smitten ones. Yes, I know. She’s only a TV personality. I’m sure she has an invisible dream team ~~sweating~~ helping behind the scenes while the cameras capture her beautifully organized and effervescent ~~facade~~ self. It’s Giada’s seemingly effortless ~~illusion~~ ability to be a domestic goddess of home, husband and baby that has me completely mesmerized.

As a celebrity chef, her name alone will probably sell her product line at Target. While I’m not planning on buying her kitchen utensils or bakeware sets (saving my pennies for Le Creuset) I decided to try a box of pasta, a jar of creamy tomato sauce (made with mascarpone), and a bag of her coffee. Not bad at all. To be honest, nothing beats tomato sauce from scratch. But in a pinch, using a good jar of sauce can be a time saver.

And, as silly as this is, opening up the pretty coral and turquoise packaging made me smile. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyways?

I meant to take a picture of the final garnished product, but all I captured was a half-prepared pan of pasta. Hunger dominated and it disappeared too quickly.

Laurelle

Orange Accents

2010-09-13T18:33:00.004-04:00

My favourite fall decoratie pieces: Sophie Conran by Portmeirion pitcher filled with orange mums.

Pillow love: Restoration Hardware Valencia Medallion pillows in red (which are more like terra cotta if you ask me) and Pier One embroidered Floral Vines pillows, which my co-worker pointed out and were EXACTLY what I needed. This girl should be a personal shopper.

A print entitled Autumn in Paris: Avenue des Champs Elysees. Hellooo escapism.

Cute little collection of vases on my coffee table.

And one remarkably large orange tabby. This 'decorative piece' is not seasonal.

Laurelle

Colour Crush: Orange

2010-09-09T22:08:00.004-04:00

I will admit to being guilty of (often, not always) associating orange with Halloween. I never really considered it a versatile year-round colour for a home. I say this because, in the past, it was challenging for me to find orange-infused rooms that I would be willing to live with for 12 months of the year. And while I personally still prefer to alter my accent pieces seasonally (very easy within 700 sqft), I am really loving these rooms. I think I'm more open-minded now, and not limiting myself to visions of jack-o-lanterns. Organic, spicy and energetic. I like.

I love every detail of this space from Martha Stewart, especially the wainscoting.

More Martha Stewart goodness in the form of retro window seats. Is this not the cutest little breakfast spot?

Ultra cool bedroom from Living Etc.

Perfect little office and window bench from Coastal Living.

Discovered this gorgeous room with a neat antique door headboard (so creative!) at House Beautiful.

And of course, gotta throw some William Sonoma Home pillows into the mix. Serious obsession.

Laurelle

Pina Colada Love

2010-09-06T22:28:00.001-04:00

The temperature here in Toronto has dropped significantly. I think I've been trying desperately to hang onto summer. Maybe that explains why I've been making pina coladas all day. And maybe I subconsciously hoped that if I made this signature summer bevvy, I could reverse the laws of cause and effect. I even garnished with cocktail umbrellas and maraschino cherries. Well, it's unfortunately still cold outside, but my thirst was quenched.

You definitely don't need to buy sugary and chemically loaded pina colada mix to make a good pina colada. The traditional recipe is simple:

3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz coconut milk (or .5 oz more for a creamier bevvy)
1.5 oz rum (I like Malibu)
4 large ice cubes
blend well (love my magic bullet)

I won't tout the benefits of coconut in a post about an alcoholic beverage. That just seems unfitting. But this is a heck of a lot better for you than the store bought mixes.

Happy hangin'-onto-summer,

Laurelle

DIY Magnetic Kitchen Chalkboard

2010-09-04T13:34:00.008-04:00

I finally got around to putting together my kitchen chalkoard. It started with a visit to Southwork Antiques in July where I purchased a frame that unfortunately came with a not-so-attractive print that I was eager to transform. Well, I got a little pre-occupied with putting in flooring and refinishing furniture (will post about this soon) that the chalkboard was tackled ever so slowly. Plus, I decided I had to have a chalk box as well. Here is the final result:

It all began with this:

I can't even find the words to describe how much I wanted to be rid of this print. The creepy guy pushing the swing gave me nightmares.

The process began with serious clean up.

And then I sanded it (through 3 colours of paint) until I was left with this:

Onto the partially-sanded frame, I dry brushed "Mascarpone" by Benjamin Moore. I totally fell in love with the colour and the name. It's from the Pottery Barn collection. Here's the room pic of the colour (on the doors) from Benjamin Moore's website:

I went to Rona and had a thin sheet of particle board cut to size. I used Rust-Oleum's Magnetic primer, which is a dark metallic black colour. The insructions stated that "subsequent coats will increase the magnetic attraction." So of course, being the Type-A that I am, I applied 7 coats. Probably not necessary. I'm sure 3-4 would have been sufficient. But I had to be sure. I waited 1 hour between coats. The next day, I applied 4 coats of Rust-Oleum chalk board paint with a small foam roller. I waited a week (recommended) before putting it into the frame. I have tons left over for more future projects. Yay.

In the mean time, I found a $4 wooden recipe box from Value Village that I transformed into my chalk box. I sanded and painted it, then roughed up the edges once it was dry to give it a distressed look. Then, because I was trying to do this on-the-cheap, I printed off the word 'chalk' on Word (see pic), cut it out with a blade, and then 'painted' it onto the box with a q-tip and toothpick. This part cost me $1 for the little bottle of black paint from the dollar store. If this is not the epitome of cheap, then I don't know what is.

You can see the original colour of the box on the inside.

Before using it, I conditioned it by rubbing the side of a piece of white chalk all over it, then rubbing that in with a cloth. And finally, I wiped it clean with a damp cloth.

Laurelle