~dear lillie~

Dear lillie, you are the best.

Not only do you make fabulous t-shirts for us girls,

but you also have the most beautiful home. You are so very talented.

I heart silhouettes.

And could your little models get any cuter?

Screen printed tees to match mom, love it!

And you even blogged about me and my little home!

Savannah and I are now the proud owners of these lovelies.

Everything you get your hands on turns to gorgeous!

Where am I going with this you ask?

Well, one of you will be the lucky recipients of one of dear lillies

woman's screen printed t~shirts!

Hip hip hooray!

Please leave me a comment on this post and I

will pick a random winner one week from today!

xoxo

~dear anthro....~

I would like the following.

thank you.

xoxo

~my wreath, completed~

~I did it~

I made my wreath!

But first I wanted to show you this photo of a little fall vignette in my kitchen.

I got this little silver trophy cup from Cindy, queen of tarte, and filled it with orange dahlias.

Pretty simple, just the way I like it. Now, onto the wreath.

I am not good at giving tutorials, so at the end of this post

I will share some other people's tutorials

that you might find helpful.

I totally winged it.
I used pages from 3 different vintage sheet music books.
Some were more weathered then others, but I like the mix.

I actually used more straight pins than hot glue, folding each sheet into thirds, only creasing it at the ends to pin it in.
{I told you I was horrible at tutorials}

It took a lot longer than I thought and it used a lot more pages than I thought, but I did not burn my fingers, probably thanks to the low temp glue gun.



I also got really inspired and made this sign out of an old door I had laying around.

I added a bunch of crows for the season and this cool architectural piece that I got from Cindy , that I turned into a candlestick.

{can we say run on sentence?}

I think it needs a bit of color.

I will probably try bringing in some fall leaves or just add a few mums, maybe a little orange pumpkin.

You can find some great tutorials

here

and

here

and

here

and

here

xoxo

~I'm going to try it~

I know you've seen them before.

I think everyone except me has made one.

So today I am on a mission.

I am going to make me one of these gorgeous paper book wreaths!

{image via simple joys paperie}
This gorgeous one hangs in this lady's entry.


And I love this one! How clever to hang it from a door!
Oh I can't wait to get burn my fingers with that hot glue gun!

Wish me luck!

I'll be sure to show you the finished product!

xoxo

~what's for dinner?~

This is one of my favorite fall meals.

~ Moroccan-Style Stuffed Acorn Squashes~

super easy to make, delicious, and healthy!

Ingredients
Serves 4
2 medium acorn squashes (about 2 pounds), halved and seeded
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 pound ground chuck (95 percent lean)
Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup bulgur wheat
2 cups water
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place squashes, cut sides down, in a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. Bake until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a 4-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, a pinch each cinnamon and nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer beef to a bowl or plate using a slotted spoon, keeping as much cooking liquid in the pot as possible.
Add onion, and cook until slightly translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add remaining teaspoon salt and the bulgur, and stir to combine. Add water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork, and add reserved beef, the raisins, parsley, and pine nuts.
Scrape out baked squashes, forming -inch-thick bowls, and fold flesh into bulgur mixture. Divide among squash halves, and return to oven. Bake until warmed through and tops are browned, 12 to 14 minutes.

Then, onto dessert.

Although I have yet to try these

{we are baking them shortly though!}

they look amazing!

~Ina Garten's Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting~

Makes 10 cupcakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup canned pumpkin purée (8 ounces), not pie filling
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Maple Frosting (recipe follows)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped Heath bars, for serving (2 1.4-ounce bars)
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush or spray the top of 10 muffin tins with vegetable oil and line them with 10 paper liners.
2. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined.
3. Divide the batter among the prepared tins (I use a level 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop) and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
4. Spread the cupcakes with the Maple Frosting and sprinkle with the chopped toffee bits.
Maple Frosting
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon Boyajian Natural Maple Flavor
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth. Stir in the maple flavoring and vanilla extract. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

happy baking!

xoxo

~I'm back, a winner, and a favor~

Well hello friends!

I'm back.

Computers and I do not get along sometimes, and this was one of those weeks.

Thanks for being so patient.

I go through withdrawals if I don't post everyday.

{I am now on a new medication for that, just kidding}

I get ancy and start doing things like coloring my own hair.....

then having to take a day off from what

I had planned, to go to the salon and get my hair fixed....

apparently purple/grey hair is not in style right now, who knew.

So, a couple of things.

First, I thought I'd share a few of my new favorite photos via Suzie Beezie.

These photos make me want to crawl into my computer and jump right in.

{Oops, that must be the new medication talking, sorry.}

Those pillows are fabulous though, right?

I want to announce the winner from the fine art photography giveaway.

If you write the blog

dandelions cottage

you win!!!

Send me a quick email and I will forward it along to the nice folks over at riveting art!

If you are a etsy seller who would like to do a giveaway on my blog, please feel free to email me!

I also want to take a minute to re~introduce you to my friend Margo.

Margo owns a cupcake company called Pinkabella Cupcakes.
You can read about them here.
Anyway, she is competing for the 2010 Best of Western Washington
desserts and is currently in first place!
She has 2 local stores, one in Redmond at Redmond Towne Center and one on the 3rd floor of Bellevue Square. If you are local, you have got to try one of her cupcakes, they are seriously to die for!
Cupcakes businesses are popping up right and left it seems like. You can believe me when I say I have tried many different cupcakes in my life and Margo's Pinkabells cupcakes by far are the best! Not only does she have the best flavors, but they also do a ton of donations and donate a large portion of their profits to children of the nations.
If you wouldn't mind taking a moment out of your busy day to vote for Pinkabella Cupcakes here, she would be so grateful.
Thank you so much and I will be back tomorrow!
See you then, xoxo

I'm having Technical difficulties I'll be back soon! Internet down

I

~color without commitment~

With the changing seasons I find myself craving a bit more color.

No, I am not going to paint my walls bright yellow,

but I am however injecting bits and pieces of color throughout my home.

They are pieces, like these flowers,

that can be moved from room to room,

and either tossed out or put away in a cupboard

when I start craving neutrals again. I love the color of these dahlias.

Looking at them makes me smile.

They remind me of my Grandpa too,

he grew dahlias and they were his favorite flower.

Even something as simple as an apple

can provide enough color on a all white table setting.

I have filled my tiered kitchen basket
with fruits and even added some fun gourds for autumn.

I just loved the color of these pears.

And.....

I bought my first pumpkin of the year!

I actually got it a couple weeks ago.

My husband always rolls his eyes at me when

I bring home pumpkins so early in the season,

but I love them,

I can't help it!

The dahlias are almost the exact same color as those pears!

Do you add more color to your home this time of year?

Don't forget, you still have time to sign up for my giveaway below!
xoxo

~a fun project to do with the kids~

A few days back while it was pouring down rain outside,

the kids and I decided to do a little project.

I got the idea from Pottery Barn where they sell a set of 4 chalkboard rocks for $16.00!

OK, seriously, this project was super easy and FREE! First we gathered rocks from around the yard, this was the fun part for the kids.

Then Cody washed them off inside in the bathroom sink

{which plugged it up with dirt so I recommend doing this part outdoors with the hose!}

Then, instead of using chalkboard paint, we used what we had on hand.

Here is what you will need for this rainy day project:

1} rocks

2} black paint

3} yellow paint, or any other color of your choice

4} paintbrush

5} lots of newspaper

The kids painted all the rocks and we set them by the fire to dry quickly.

I painted on the words the kids gave me, in this case, spooky words.

While I did this part the kids painted other rocks to look like pumpkins.

So, there you have it.

Not too fancy, definitely not Pottery Barn, but fun to make!

xoxo

~fine art photography giveaway~

I know how you all like giveaways~

{who doesn't?}

One of my wonderful advertisers is generously giving one of you a set of these 4

5 x 7 prints which will be properly matted with backing board & sealed in a clear plastic sleeve.

Head on over to the right hand side of this page

and click on the riveting art link and check out their wonderful etsy shop.

Then come back here and leave me a comment.....

that's it!

I will announce a winner on this Friday!

xoxo

~welcoming fall~

As much as I love the lazy warm summer months,

I have to say that fall is my favorite.

Yes, I enjoy all the Seattle rain,

listening to it hit the skylights while I am inside all warm and comfortable.

I live for the occasional thunderstorm and truly am a homebody at heart.

I could curl up on the couch and watch movies with my hubby all day with the flames blazing in the fireplace.

The crispness in the air, and the sound of football on the TV.

The kids soccer games, the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks.

Yep, I love it all!

I tend to stay home a lot more this time of year, baking, organizing, and relaxing a bit more. The kids are back in school and although that means more projects, sports, etc., it also means curling up in bed at noon with a good book and taking long walks.

If you like this season as much as I do, I know you will enjoy these photos.

This one is probably my fave.
I love watching the leaves change color, and collecting them in this window box is just fabulous!
{I love how it is propped up on a bench!}



The colors are just amazing.

Seriously?

Look at that color combo!

So, don't hate the cooler mornings and crisp afternoons, welcome fall with open arms!

photos by suziebeezie and maryfuffle.

xoxo

~Anjou Pear Crisp with Oat Streusel Topping~

I thought I'd share a recipe with you that I made for dessert tonight.

You can use anjou pears like I have here,

or you can use bartlett pears too. We served it with vanilla ice cream and it was fabulous!

If you like pears, you will love this recipe.

Happy fall baking!

On a side note, I'd like to thank all of you for the sweet comments on my friend Jodi's home. She is over the top excited you all like it so much!

She also shared the wall color with me,

so if you are looking for a good grey,

try out Dolphin Fin from Behr.

xoxo