Decor sites

I don't know about you, but I love "window shopping" for what I hope to someday fill my house with. In my imagination, my house is filled with the best cottage/shabby chic/country stuff I can find. And in my head I'll have plenty of time to repurpose stuff, too :) I always like finding new sites - so, in case you haven't run across these, here are some of my favorite "windows" to look at...

For great prices on Chandaliers and all kinds of lighting with a ridiculous selection (they also have rugs and furniture, but I'm not sure how those prices compare):

http://www.gallery803.com/Default.aspx --------------------------->

I want to be able to paint stuff, but really love that distressed look. I found a site that sells distressing kits! They obviously recommend cleaning what you're going to paint, but you don't have to strip off varnish or old paint for that matter. You can get the normal distressing kit which comes with one color and the instructions and tools to distress for $50 or the barnworn kit, which comes with 2 base colors and supplies for $95 (both cover 50 sq ft). Considering how much even unfinished furniture place charge you to paint and then age furniture, this is an easy way to save quite a bit of money... (they also have plaster kits, gilding, glazing, and stenciling!)

http://www.caromalcolours.com/

here's the link to the barnworn look (you kind of have to go to project ideas to get to it)

http://www.caromalcolours.com/Corner%20Cabinet.php

Now that you have paints, here are some unfinished furniture sites

This first one has FREE shipping on everything!

http://www.1unfinishedfurniture.com/

This next one is actually located in SLC, so you could just pick it up

http://www.thewoodconnection.com/

I love architectural elements. I don't know how much these guys charge for shipping, but they hvae some great stuff!

http://www.sa1969.com/index.html

A couple discount wallpaper sites (be aware you have to order in sets of 2 I believe)

This one has pretty good prices.

http://www.eadeswallpaper.com/index.php

this one has great prices!

http://www.discountdecorating.com/ddoecom/index.php

If you know of any others, please share! Hope you enjoy and don't end up spending too much time on them :)

Saints and Soldiers

I had seen this when it first came out, but saw it at the library and decided to pick it up again. I'm so glad I did! This is honestly one of the best war films ever! What is so great is that it has top notch acting (whoever knew Kirby Heyborne could actually act?!) , moving but not cheesy script, great camera work and directing, is suspenseful, has incredible sound effects especially given the paltry budget, doesn't sugar coat the violence, but it also isn't gratuitously gory.
It smartly eschews political overtones. It isn't anti-war or pro-war, but it also importantly doesn't paint the soldiers in a negative light. The conflicts and friendships that occur during the movie are compelling and believable. I would highly recommend this as a great date movie if you haven't already seen it, or even if you have. The guy will of course like it (it is a war film after all! there's guns, grenades, blood, etc), but I believe girls would too. (Or, maybe I'm just slightly odd... scratch that - of COURSE I'm odd, but I still think girls would enjoy this. at least smart ones) :) There's enough humor to keep it from being too dark, but not so much that you lose the emotion. In fact, I honestly believe that humor can be one of the strongest tools to get you to care about the characters and be more emotionally invested in their fate. Here's the trailer, I wish there was a better one. They did get "the movie guy" to do the voice over, but I think the trailer is one you would parody to no end, but it will at least give you a glimpse of the awesomeness that is this movie.

The Fringe

This is my new series I'm watching while I work. I'm a little torn as to what to think about it. I find the premise and storylines fascinating, the characters multi-faceted, quirky, loveable yet realistic, overall well executed. My only beef, I think, is that it can be a little over-the-top-in-your-face grotesque. Which is one of the main rasons I don't watch any of the C.S.I. shows anymore.

But, if you don't mind that stuff so much, this show is incredible.

Also on a side note I keep expecting Dr Walter Bishop ------------------>

to don a big fur coat and yell for everyone to "flee! flee for [their] lives!"

(100 points to anyone who gets the obscure reference, I'll even inc a pic) :)

Spiced Apple Pancakes

It was still pretty warm outside today, but from inside my cool house you might have thought it was Autumn (which is my favorite favorite season). So I decided to try a new recpie for Spice Apple Pancakes and had them with Potato-Zucchini cakes and center-cut bacon. Yum! On the pancakes, I just used cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (Ethan said our house smelled like "christmas") :) Also, the recipe says medium-high heat, but it burnt the sugar unfortunately, so I would try medium and for less time than recommended (just keep a close eye on it). Here's the recipes for both

Spiced Apple Pancakes (from Country Living website)

Makes 8 servings
Ingredients

2 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine
2 tablespoon(s) water
1/2 cup(s) sugar
2 tablespoon(s) sugar
1 1/2 pound(s) (3 to 4 medium) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges
3 large eggs
3/4 cup(s) milk
3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon(s) pumpkin pie spice or 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet, heat butter, water, and 1/2 cup sugar over medium-high heat to boiling. Add apple wedges; cook 12 to 15 minutes or until apples are golden and sugar mixture begins to caramelize, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, in blender or food processor with knife blade attached, place eggs, milk, flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, adding liquid ingredients to blender first. Blend until batter is smooth. (I just used a spoon to stir it)
When apple mixture in skillet is deep golden, pour batter over apples. Place skillet in oven; bake 15 to 17 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information(per serving)
Calories
210
Total Fat
6g
Saturated Fat
3g
Cholesterol
91mg
Sodium
140mg
Total Carbohydrate
36g
Dietary Fiber
2g
Sugars
--
Protein
5g
Calcium
--

Here's the recipe for the Potato-zucchini cakes (very fitting since anyone with a garden has zucchini coming out of their ears) :) I originally got this from cooking light. Also, if you have a poor man's kitchen (like I do) I just used a cheese grater to shred the ingredients. I would also recommend washing any towels you use for this immediately or they'll stink up your entire house.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
3 cups shredded peeled Yukon gold potato (about 1 pound)
2 cups shredded zucchini (about 8 ounces)
1 cup shredded onion (about 1 small)
1/2 cup egg substitute (I used 1 large egg)
1/4 cup matzo meal (I used flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
4 teaspoons canola oil, divided

Preparation
Place potatoes, zucchini, and onion in a clean kitchen towel, and squeeze out excess liquid. Combine potato mixture, egg substitute, matzo meal, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and dash of pepper in a large bowl, and stir gently to blend.
Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a nonstick griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spoon about 1 cup potato mixture onto hot pan, spreading to a 6-inch diameter. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate; keep warm. Repeat procedure with the remaining 3 teaspoons oil and remaining potato mixture.

Nutritional Information
Calories:
242 (31% from fat)
Fat:
8.4g (sat 0.8g,mono 5.2g,poly 1.9g)
Protein:
8.3g
Carbohydrate:
34.6g
Fiber:
3.8g
Cholesterol:
0.0mg
Iron:
2.7mg
Sodium:
504mg
Calcium:
35mg

So basically one serving of each plus 2 strips of center cut bacon and you have a yummy meal for only 505 calories!

Walnut Bread

Instead of using a bread mixer as suggested (which I don't have) I just kneaded it on a lightly floured surface. This bread is soooo yummy! You can make 2 normal sized loaves, or split it into 4 smaller loaves.

Yield: 2 loaves, 16 servings per loaf

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup boiling water
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
6 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons canola oil
20.25 ounces all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 cups), divided
9 ounces whole-wheat pastry flour (about 2 cups)
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Cooking spray

Preparation
1. Place oats in a food processor; pulse 8 times or until coarsely chopped. Combine chopped oats and 1 cup boiling water in a medium bowl; let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes. Add buttermilk to oat mixture, stirring to combine. Stir in honey and oil. Add the oat mixture to yeast mixture; mix with dough hook attachment until combined. Weigh or lightly spoon 13.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3 cups) and whole-wheat pastry flour in dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours with salt. Add flour mixture to buttermilk mixture. Mix dough at medium speed 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic, adding remaining all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to sides of bowl. Add walnuts; mix at medium speed just until combined.
3. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)
4. Preheat oven to 400°.
5. Punch dough down; divide in half. Divide each half into 3 equal portions. Working with 1 portion at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), shape each portion into a 14-inch rope. Place 3 ropes lengthwise on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray (do not stretch). Pinch ends together at one end to seal. Braid ropes, and pinch loose ends together to seal. Repeat procedure with remaining dough to form another braid. Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
6. Spritz top and sides of loaves lightly with water from a spray bottle. Bake on center rack of oven at 400° for 28 minutes or until deep golden brown. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.

Nutritional Information
Calories:
150
Fat:
4.3g (sat 0.5g,mono 1.2g,poly 2.2g)
Protein:
4.1g
Carbohydrate:
24.1g
Fiber:
2.1g
Cholesterol:
1mg
Iron:
1.5mg
Sodium:
195mg
Calcium:
27mg

Spinach Pasta Soup

I normally don't like tomatoe soup (at least not Campbell's), but this is fresh and delicioso! Not to mention uber healthy. I like to serve it with either fish or a grilled cheese sandwich on sourdough bread. Orzo pasta, by the way, is found on the pasta isle.

4 C chicken broth (low-sodium)
1/2 C water
1/4 C plus 1 Tb tomatoe paste (no salt added)
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest (optional)
1/4 C orzo or pastini (I like more, so put closer to 2/3-3/4 C)
6 C (8oz) fresh spinach leaves only, patted dry
1/4 C green onions
salt and pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine broth, water, tomatoe paste, and lemon zest. Whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil. (Make sure you watch it, it always boils over when I cook it).
Stir in pasta, reduce heat to medium and cook 5-7 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
Stir in spinach and green onions, cook for 2-3 minutes.
To serve stir in salt and pepper.

Missing Alex Wong on SYTYCD finale

Now, don't get me wrong... tonight's finale performances were tremendous! I'm a huge fan of Lauren and Kent and Robert have grown on me a bit. But, in memory of he who would have won by a landslide missing due to injury... here are my 2 fave dances of his while he was on the show... and dangit, all the vids have embedding disabled! But, here are the links...


Twitch and Alex Hip-Hop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ_pVL_Df-I&playnext=1&videos=7WP96OcsFv0


Alex and Alison contemporary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxNbafuP6Gc&videos=7WP96OcsFv0