DIY Easter Centerpiece: Macaron "Paint" Palette

With the Easter holiday just one week away, I thought it would be fun to share a simple DIY for a macaron "paint" palette.  I created this centerpiece originally for my oldest daughter's Art Party, but a friend recently suggested that it would also make a lovely, somewhat unexpected addition to an Easter feast tabletop.  The timing of her comment was perfect as I was already planning on making one for my friend Ashley, who is both a baker, food lover and artist.  I haven't put together an original birthday gift like that in some time, and I was again reminded of the satisfaction that comes with making something.  

Supplies are minimal, although somewhat specialty--a wood paint palette, macarons in varying hues and buttercream for "glue".  The wood paint palette was $6 at a local art supply store (I suggest calling ahead as not every store I phoned carried this item in its classic, wooden form).  I procured the macarons from two different local bakeries--one that baked more subtle, pastel hues and another that focused on more intense flavors and colors (Le Panier and Bakery Nouveau in Seattle).  If you don't live in a city where you can find such sweets so easily, consider ordering them from bakers on Etsy (this one looks top notch!). The prices are the same as, or cheaper than, what you will find in an actual brick and mortar bakery so that's good news.  You'll need about 10 macarons for the palette, but consider buying a few extra, just in case.  In the end you can always eat them if you don't use them! 

Once I adhered the macarons to the palette, I knew I couldn't go back and rearrange.  So, first I laid them out on the tabletop in the approximate shape they would take on the palette.  This simple step gave me a chance to move colors around, eliminate a few shades entirely and essentially figure out what looked best together.

The "glue" was simply one stick of butter creamed with 1 cup powdered sugar...that's it!

A tiny dollop is all you need to secure the macaron to the palette.  Be sure to place it delicately on the palette to avoid crushing its thin, outer shell (speaking from experience!).  I propped the pictured macaron paint palette on a pedestal cake stand, but you could also turn a vase upside down and use that as a stand in a pinch as well.

In the end you'll have a beautiful centerpiece that you can eat for dessert and enjoy thoroughly.  Add a paint brush if you'd like and consider flanking the centerpiece with simple bouquets of tulips in similar hues.  Save the eggs for the hunt!

A La Modo, An Affogato + a Favorite Dress

I see hints of sandals, cropped pants and other springlike attire on my instagram feed, but today in the Pacific Northwest it rained steadily throughout the day.  And while pedicured toes and sunglasses are not yet required in these parts, we do have the perfect backdrop for cozying up with a good book and a cup of Dark Hot Chocolate Affogato.  This liquid dessert is fairly new to my repertoire, but it's fast become a favorite--particularly on days like this.  I highly suggest treating yourself to a cup if you are experiencing similarly chilly weather!

Also, I have been steadily working on an exciting project that I am anxious to share with you soon.  Just give me a couple of weeks to wrap things up!  One little hint: it has to do with my growing pie box business, which was recently rebranded and copyrighted.  Rachel Jones of Black Eiffel created the logo and I am so pleased with it! Rachel is amazing.

And one last note that's style related...last year I purchased a cap-sleeved maxi dress from the Gap that I basically lived in all summer.  It's machine washable, comfortable and perfect with a pair of gladiators.  I recently noticed their sister company, Old Navy, if now offering an almost identical dress (at least in appearance...can't vouch for the fabric just yet), for half price this season.  For those of you experiencing warmer Spring weather, you could easily wear this right now.  I just had to share this favorite with you!

Real Life Home No.19 - Lynne of Sugar City Journal

Over a year and a half ago, I featured some gorgeous snippets of Lynne's eclectic, well-curated home in a mini-real-life-home-post.  At the time, she mentioned she was about to embark on some major renovations, so we decided it would be fun to share some additional views into her space after those projects were complete.  Because as anyone who's ever renovated anything knows, these things take time and they pretty much take over your life!  I've been anxiously awaiting the "after" photos and am really excited to share them with you here.

For those of you just tuning in, this series showcases living spaces decorated by people who are not formally-trained interior designers; people who mix new finds with antiques and secondhand pieces from Craigslist (or the like). People who have figured out, on their own, what looks and feels good in their living space, be it a free-standing home, an apartment, or in one particular case, a tower :)




Lynne used to blog at the well-loved Sugar City Journal, which she co-authored with her equally talented sister-in-law, Melissa.  However, these days she is blogging in a brand new space that reflects a slightly different direction, yet is still Lynne through and through.  There is a time and a season for everything in life and I am just thrilled that Lynne is now sharing her fine art skills with us, as well as all the witty anecdotes about parenting and the like {that we know and love her for}.

Note: if any of you teach art lessons in the classroom, be sure to check out Lynne's art lesson plans. She's spearheaded an art docent program in her children's school and is an excellent resource for any volunteer in the arts.

A wallpapered nook, a weathered map and a sheepskin throw keep things warm and inviting on the main level. And, oh how I love an open floor plan...

One of Lynne's favorite aspects of the renovation was replacing the aging carpet with wood floors.  They look incredible here in her new, farmhouse-style kitchen.  The open shelving and pot rack are my favorite details. 

For those of you curious about materials, Lynne actually chose soapstone for her kitchen counters. However, if had the opportunity to choose all over again, she mentioned she would definitely go with a matte black granite or quartz.  The look would be similar and her counter tops would be more durable.  

A fantastic dining room, that is more multipurpose than stuffy; which I love.  One time I had a formal dining room in one of my living spaces and it was rarely used.  I often thought, `why didn't I make this into a studio?  or an office?  or a library'.  Well, Lynne is already a step ahead!  Her dining room is clearly used on more than one occasion.

Aaah, and the master bedroom...isn't it lovely?

When it comes to decorating, Lynne does an outstanding job mixing vintage and new finds in a way that looks both intentional, yet very natural.  She blends West Elm bedding, a thrift store lamp and a fantastic DIY project (the wallpapered headboard) for an eclectic look that is entirely her own.

Another highlight of the renovation was the master bathroom.  Once home to wall-to-wall carpet, this shiny and bright bathroom is now a haven for Lynne and her husband as they prepare for the day.  And as a mother of 4 young children, this respite is very important.

His + hers sinks...jealous! :)

The children's rooms are always my favorite part of Lynne's home tours.  She has the most incredible eye and melds youthfulness and innocence with stylish pieces {both new and vintage}, that can seamlessly grow with her children.  Easily, my favorite is the adorable, red stool with white piping.  Although the intricate headboard paired with the white linens is a close second...

I take that back...my favorite is this beautiful art wall :) 

Seriously though, aren't these rooms fantastic?  I feel incredibly inspired to create lovely spaces for my own children, on a budget--just as she's done here. 

At the end of this special, real life home tour, I want to share with you one last nook in Lynne's home showcasing her favorite new piece of furniture--a dark blue, velvet sofa.  An avid reader, this little space would not be complete without a stack of books (or two) close by.  In fact, if you are searching for literature recommendations for both children and adults, peek at her book posts.  Lynne is always introducing me to interesting titles and is very thoughtful about what she reads and shares.

Lynne, thank you for this beautiful home tour.  Totally worth the wait :)

If you're interested in viewing more real life homes, peek at these little gems.  Enjoy!

Real Life Home No. 18 - Annalise's 1946 San Diego Bungalow
Real Life Home No. 17 - Maria of Dreamy Whites
Real Life Home No. 16 - Chelsea's Michigan Farmhouse
Real Life Home No. 15 - Erin's Upcycled Hollywood Glam
Real Life Home No.14 - Nadia's Converted Barn in Vermont

Real Life Home No.13 - Dottie Angel's Mossy Shed

Real Life Home No.12 - Aunt Patty's sophisticated mid-century home
Real Life Home No.11 - Rubyellen of Cakies and her French-inspired flea market finds
Real Life Home No.10 - Julie's coastal home with reclaimed materials
Real Life Home No. 9 - Petra's Tower in downtown Seattle
Real Life Home No. 8 - Kayce's Nashville Home that's both Southern + sweet
Real Life Home No. 7 - Sara's colorful and eclectic Portland Home
Real Life Home No. 6 - Amy's Calming Neutrals in California
Real Life Home No. 5 - Lynne of Sugar City Journal and her whimsical details
Real Life Home No. 4 - Emily's gorgeous whites and woods in Dallas
Real Life Home No. 3 - Kirsten of Simply Grove's clean and textural Idaho home
Real Life Home No. 2 - Maria of Two Peas and a Pod and her white kitchen
Real Life Home No. 1 - My sister Cherilee's eclectic, mid-century home

Kelly Neidig Modern Landscapes

Every now and then I pop onto Kelly Neidig's etsy shop, in hopes she's added more paintings...particularly those painted in a style I saw her do often before she contracted Lyme Disease.  This week, I saw such a painting and my heart soared (see above).  I am taking this as a sign she is healing and feeling more herself, which is wonderful news.

If you're interested in seeing one of her pieces in a real space, I did show a little peek in this post.  I also mentioned her in a post about growing an original art collection on a budget awhile back.  Some of you may be interested in that topic as well!  

Have a wonderful week...I can't wait to show you another "Real Life Home".  What a fun series this has been!

Confessions from the Laundry Room

Hello!  My name is Stephanie and I hate doing the laundry.  In fact, today marks the first time in almost a year that I saw the bottom of my laundry sorter.  Who knew it was so dirty?  To celebrate this proud moment, I decided to share a few sentiments and one of my favorite laundry room setups.

Over the years, I've made several attempts at finding a solution to my laundry woes (which I imagine many of you share--at least that is what I'll tell myself!).  I've purchased attractive laundry sorters, fancy linen sprays, pretty bins to hold laundry soap and beautiful potted plants to add life and vibrancy.  Recently, I even hung one of my favorite paintings in the laundry room, in a last ditch effort to create an incentive to want to spend time in the laundry room.  My report card would indicate that not one of my attempts was successful.  I guess I see why my husband does his own laundry (not complaining!).  

Currently, my laundry style is to spend one or two days doing laundry nonstop (or so it feels), dumping all the clean clothes in a big pile on the floor.  Then, I sit down for an hour or so and fold, fold, fold; while my kids play around me.  And then there's the struggle to actually get the clothes put away...another issue entirely!  It's madness I tell you.

If you've found a solution for your family, would you mind either telling me about it, or including a link?  Would love to hear your thoughts and see if I can't nip this one in the bud :)

image via here   |   a great laundry room featured in the Washington Post here   

Baby Gray's 1st Haircut

When newly married, we knew a couple with a sweet, curly-haired child--a boy with a mound of curls that his parents couldn't seem to cut.  I am embarrassed to admit that I thought it was sort of weird.  But, now that I have my own curly-haired son, I totally get it (this type of situation is typical of parenthood, yes?).  It's so hard to cut!  Especially when you hear horror stories of curls never returning once they are cut.  They are just too darn cute to risk losing...

However, the time had come for my Baby Gray to receive his first haircut.  We held out until he was almost 2 1/2 years old, if you can believe it.  Things were really getting out of control (think: Greatest American Hero, the TV show), and being mistaken for a girl was starting to happen more frequently :)  So we caved...and his sweet auntie bravely took a set of shears to his head in effort to give his locks a little more shape. Here are a few quick snapshots from the experience...can someone please stop time?!