Wednesday, June 30, 2010

We Love These 4th Of July Cupcakes


Chocolate 4th Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 oz.) box devil’s food cake mix with pudding in the mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup (1 stick/4 oz./113g) margarine, melted
3 eggs
1/2 cup marshmallow creme (from 7 ounce jar)
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups fresh strawberries, halved
1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions
Make the cupcakes the day ahead. Prepare and bake as directed on package using water, margarine and eggs. Cool at least one hour or until completely cooled. Cover and refrigerate.

Place marshmallow creme in small microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 10 – 20 seconds, until softened. Beat heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add slightly cooled marshmallow creme; continue beating until stiff peaks form.

Frost cooled cupcakes with whipped cream mixture up to two hours before serving. Arrange 2 strawberry halves on top of each frosted cupcake. Place 3 - 5 blueberries around the strawberry halves. Keep refrigerated until served.


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Red White and Blue Ice Cream Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 batch white cake batter*
Red and blue food coloring
1 batch vanilla bean ice cream (I used homemade, straight from the ice cream maker as it is very easy to top the cupcakes)
Fresh strawberry slices and fresh blueberries

*Note: A full recipe of cake batter could make a TON of these cupcakes. I only made 24 because I don’t have more cupcake pans or room in my freezer for more, but you could make extra with the full batch of batter (or bake an extra cake layer for fun).

Directions:
Preheat oven and prepare white cake batter as directed. Line two cupcake pans with foil liners. Divide the cake batter into two separate bowls, coloring one half with red and one half with blue food coloring. Drop approximately two tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner so that you have 12 red and 12 blue cupcakes. Bake in the preheated oven until the cake is baked through and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Baking time will depend on the cake recipe you use, but for me it was about 10-11 minutes.) Allow to cool in the pans to room temperature. Then freeze for 15-30 minutes.

Once the cupcakes have frozen slightly, fill each cupcake liner to the top with vanilla ice cream. Freeze until firm and ready to serve. Just before serving, top the blue cupcakes with fresh strawberries and the red cupcakes with fresh blueberries.

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blueberry-cupcakes-4th-july.jpg

Flag Cupcakes

What you need for this recipe

1 package (18- to 19-ounces) yellow cake mix
1/3 cup applesauce
3 egg whites
3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 roll red-colored rolled fruit snack (from a 4.5-ounce box)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix with applesauce, egg whites and 1-1/4 cups water for 30 seconds on low speed, then 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon cake batter into 24 (2-1/2 inch) aluminum or paper lined muffin cups.

  3. Evenly divide 1 cup of blueberries onto tops of batter; do not stir.

  4. Bake cupcakes following package directions; remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

  5. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spoon onto cooled cupcakes; spread to the edges.

  6. Unroll fruit snack and, with a sharp knife, cut into strips 1/8-inch wide by 2-inch long. On half of each cupcake, arrange strips, trimming each to fit.

  7. Arrange remaining 2 cups blueberries on the frosting on other halves of the cupcakes -- about 10 blueberries per cupcake.
This red, white and blue flag cupcake recipe makes 24 servings

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Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Want an easy dessert idea for your Independence Day picnic? Just make cupcakes in an ice cream cone instead of using a cupcake liner. Frost and decorate with festive sprinkles, and you have an instant party! Children really like these because they are easy to hold.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Fabulous 4th Porches

Hello! I just love the 4th of July and decorating for the 4th. Here's some fun inspiration for your front porch this 4th! Enjoy!

{via Flickr}


{via Home Companion}


{via Home Companion}


{via Country Living}


{via Country Living}

{via Country Living}

Monday, June 28, 2010

A Finer Quilting Project


{via Country Living}

Happy Monday, everyone! This week is going to be a fabulous week. And can we think of a better way to end the week than a 4th of July celebration? We must admit, the 4th is our favorite holiday, filled with many traditions and memories that make our hearts sing!

We're going back to our roots this morning and challenging everyone to take on the project that we are excitedly getting ourselves into. We're going to be making patchwork quilts. Now don't be frightened, we aren't pretending to be amazing seamstresses or anything. We are making frayed patchwork quilts--the kind that don't overwhelm me and only involve being able to sew a straight line and cut slits in the fabric.


Here are some pictures I rummaged up to get us in the spirit. Stay tuned, I'll be posting pictures of our fabric shopping adventure and post a tutorial of how to make the quilts.

{via Country Living}

{via Country Living}

{via Coastal Living}

{via The Lovely Room}

{via Coastal Living}

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Lets Take It Outside


Hello finer friends! It's finally the weekend! Make sure to stop by today to catch our 20% off upholstery sale! There's sure to be something for everyone!

Today we wanted to share with you our recent love affair with terracotta pots. They are the perfect color and add the perfect dose of charm to any indoor or outdoor space. Here's some terracotta eye candy for you. Have a great weekend, all!


{via Real Simple}


{via Villa Anne}


{via Real Simple}


{via Martha Stewart}


{via Better Homes and Garden}


{via House and Home}

Friday, June 25, 2010

Sale Into Summer! Two Day Event June 25-26


Come visit us Friday, June 25th - Saturday, June 26th and mention this add to get 20% off any upholstered piece you choose! Can't wait to see you there!

Locations:

Salt Lake City
7817 South Highland Dr
Salt Lake City, UT
(801)453.9888
Hours: 10am-6pm

Pleasant Grove
285 East State Road
Pleasant Grove, UT
(801)701.0603
Hours: 10am-6pm

Meadowbrook Farm Tour: Country Color All Over

Browsing urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com yesterday, I stopped dead in my tracks upon seeing the photos of the Meadowbrook Farmhouse designed by the lovely, Teresa Meadowbrook. I must admit that I was afraid of really colorful pallets until I saw this home. I have no fear anymore, people. I have no fear!


The exterior of her Lovely Home

The kitchen that makes everyone's heart skip a beat..



With a dining room that makes our hearts flutter..


Hope you all have been inspired to bring more joy into your home through the use of color. Stop into the stores today to find your perfect color transforming pieces today. Can't wait to see you there!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Rachel Ashwell Does The Outside Space Best


The freedom of love in the sand. No boundaries. Lovely love. -Rachel

The queen of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell, has stunned us yet again with her talent in creating lovely outdoor spaces. Don't we all wish that our outdoor living area looked like these? Oh, Rachel, how you have inspired us all to create an outdoor oasis of our own!


You'd want to curl up in this hammock for hours in the late evening reading a book
while the hums of crickets play in the background.


A whole new take on outdoor living. Who would have thought that outdoor sleeping
would be so dreamy!


Rachel proves that anything can be slip-covered

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Dress Up Your Cabinet: Wallpaper

Wallpaper Wonders!

We feel so inspired today to run out and buy several rolls of wallpaper after collecting these lovely photos of wallpapered cabinets. What a beautiful way to add that last, irresistible touch to a cabinet. We are in love!


{via Katy Elliot}


{via Apartment Therapy}


{via Country Living}


{via Mlle Magpie}


{via Berry Reinvented}


{source unknown}


{source unknown}


{source unknown}

Make sure to visit us in our Pleasant Grove and Salt Lake stores to browse our great selection of linen cabinets and hutches--perfect for wallpapering!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Candles and Ambiance

Candles have a great way of creating a perfect ambiance. Browsing through some pictures today, I have compiled some fabulous "candle" inspired pictures for you. And who would have thought to incorporate them so much in the outdoors? I believe every outdoor dinner party would not be them same from here on out without them. Enjoy, all, and have a fabulous Tuesday.



Monday, June 21, 2010

We're Loving: Painted Furniture

Painted Furniture

Everywhere we look--as of late-- we are seeing beautiful painted furniture. So here's the scoop thanks to our friends at ehow on how to paint furniture. Make sure to stop into the stores to find one-of-a-kind furniture you can paint at home, yourself!

Painting Furniture

1) Set up your work area in a well-ventilated place with nothing around that could produce flames or sparks.
  • Step 3

    Remove drawer pulls and other hardware. Place the furniture on a layer of newspaper or a disposable drop cloth.

  • Step 4

    Sand the piece of furniture until smooth with sandpaper or liquid sander. You may need to sand the furniture two or even three times, starting with relatively rough sandpaper (100 grit) and moving on to progressively finer grits (150). Wear gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask.

  • Step 5

    Remove any residual sawdust with a hand vacuum, brush or a tack cloth - you don't want to wet the wood.

  • Step 6

    Apply a coat of either white brush-on or gray spray-on water-based primer, depending on the size and area of the piece of furniture you intend to cover.

  • Step 7

    Allow the primer to become dry to the touch; this usually takes 1 to 2 hours. If you're not sure, read the recommended drying time on your can of primer.

  • Step 8

    If the primer coat looks spotty or thin, apply a second coat and allow it to dry.

  • Step 9

    Sand any rough areas.

  • Step 10

    Add a coat of water-based paint. Brush it on with even strokes, going in the direction of the wood grain. With spray paint, make slow passes with the can 8 to 12 inches from the wood surface. Allow the first coat to dry.

  • Step 11

    Add a second coat and allow it to dry overnight.



  • 2) Remove drawer pulls and other hardware. Place the furniture on a layer of newspaper or a disposable drop cloth.
  • Step 4

    Sand the pie


  • 3) Sand the piece of furniture until smooth with sandpaper or liquid sander. You may need to sand the furniture two or even three times, starting with relatively rough sandpaper (100 grit) and moving on to progressively finer grits (150). Wear gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask.

    4) Remove any residual sawdust with a hand vacuum, brush or a tack cloth - you don't want to wet the wood.

    5) Apply a coat of either white brush-on or gray spray-on water-based primer, depending on the size and area of the piece of furniture you intend to cover.
    6) Allow the primer to become dry to the touch; this usually takes 1 to 2 hours. If you're not sure, read the recommended drying time on your can of primer.
    7) If the primer coat looks spotty or thin, apply a second coat and allow it to dry.
    8) Sand any rough areas.

    9) Add a coat of water-based paint. Brush it on with even strokes, going in the direction of the wood grain. With spray paint, make slow passes with the can 8 to 12 inches from the wood surface. Allow the first coat to dry.
    10) Add a second coat and allow it to dry overnight.

    {via Cote de Texas}


    {via Oliveaux}

    {via Alicia B Designs}

    {Via Simply Natural Decor}


    {via Making Limecello}


    {via Gaitain Interiors}