8.30.07

Yesterday was one of those days where I had tears in my eyes and felt sick to my stomach all day.

These are my wood floors before I painted them black....yes I said black.

This is round one of an intricate staining process. I wanted dark wood floors and that's exactly what I have....really DARK wood floors. Grant about had a heart attack. These beautiful white oak top grade floors covered in black deck stain.

You might think, oh a little dark floor would be pretty. Did I mention I covered almost the entire house in dark wood floors. And please no comments about dust prints. I know, I know, it'll show dust.

Once the staining process is finished it will be a beautiful deep dark brown with a tint of deep red. I'll let you know how it goes.

8.28.07

One of the upstairs bathroom tile. I wanted white grout like in this picture but the world talked my into gray. I hope I don't regret that.

8.21.07

Floyd Landis (2006 Tour De France winner)

We went to Leadville CO, last weekend to watch my dad ride in the Leadville 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race. This was at 4:00 in the morning, 10,000 feet up. It was just the beginning of the 12 hour day. But hey that's the life I've chosen as a pit crew member.

8.16.07

One of my favorite paper companies is 'letterspace'. They have cute cards and even cuter gift tags. I just ordered a bunch for the new craft room. Since I don't make crafts I have to buy them. Completely worth it.

www.letterspacepaper.com

8.15.07

I wish I could have a wedding every five years.

8.06.07

I've been back and forth with this Anthropologie bed but I think I'm going to do it. A new house always needs something old. (Well it's not actually OLD but it looks like it).

8.02.07

House update:
The trim and casings will go on Monday. The wood floors have arrived and are acclimating. They delivered and installed the wrong front door. Cabinets are being made. Tile is being ordered. The first coat of stucco is on. It's moving pretty smoothly.
I would love to do a bathroom like the one in the picture, but in order not to drive myself mad with endless possibilities, I'm telling myself to create the foundation, then as the years come I can let my creative juices flow. So I'm trying to stay simple and clean. Which is my favorite look so it's working out well. Plus I don't think Grant would like a pink bathroom. But if one day he changes his mind, he owns a painting company so a little dash of pink would be an easy add!

8.01.07

PUMPKIN BLISS CUPCKAES

The Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp., plus 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 cup sugar
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
¾ cup orange juice
Preheat oven to 350°. Line the muffin pans with liners or spray them with baking spray. Sift together the flour, spice, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, pumpkin and eggs, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the oil and the orange juice until the batter is smooth. Add the flour-spice mix to the pumpkin mixture and fold together until well incorporated, but do not overmix. Bake 20–25 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Creme Cheese Frosting
4 oz. unsalted butter at room temperature
8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese at room temperature
1 tbsp. pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla (we use and recommend Nielsen-Massey)
5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar Cream the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat. Add 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar at a time and continue to beat frosting for about 5 minutes.

Trust me, fall is the last thing I want to think about on this dreaded August day- but I found this pumpkin cupcake recipe from a posh New York bakery and wanted to share it with all of you because they look so tasty. Print it and save it for a breezy fall day.