Simple Goodness

Earlier this week, I was craving some simple comfort food. With the weather gloomy and snowy and spring apparently far away, something a little extra special was needed. How much better can you get then a simple bread pudding? Bread, milk, apples and cinnamon. Yum! 

For some reason  I came home from work with bread pudding and apples stuck in my head. I wasn't sure where I got the idea, but a quick look through my cookbook collection and I discovered Brown Betty is a type of apple bread pudding. The main difference being there is more apples in it then bread.

 I decided to go with a traditional bread pudding and add one chopped apple (we needed all that carb goodness!) and vanilla extract. We have a local bakery that we buy our bread at and it gets stale quickly, but makes divine bread pudding!

When you need a simple basic recipe one can always count on Betty Crocker! This edition is from the late 1950's.

The Great Sofa Slipcover Project (part 2)

Well Friends, I did it! The slipcover is done. It was a bit of a longer project then anticipated, but well worth it! I am so pleased with it!

 What do you think? Doesn't it brighten the living room a ton? A perfect spring update! I think I am going to also update the accent pillows. Still looking around for the the right fabric though.

 After much debating, swatch draping and some hard thinking, we were surprised to realize we loved the natural fabric look. I didn't think it would look very good with the walls, but surprisingly it does.

We ended up buying Unbleached Cotton Drill at JoAnn Fabrics because we loved the texture and weight. And it was on sale for just over $3 a yard! The one downside is that it is only 40" wide and shrinks to about 38". It worked out nicely though as I used the fabric lengthwise and three widths worked perfectly.

We decided to keep it simple and skip piping. I love the clean look!

I also updated our poor squashed back pillows with new square 26" x 26" pillows. Camilla over at Assortment inspired us to try this. We love how much cozier it makes the couch! So nice to snuggle in with a book!

 I wanted the slip cover to not have a "skirt" and to look a little more like it wasn't a slip cover. So on the front bottom edge I sewed velcro and then stapled velcro to the bottom edge of the couch, this keeps the edge tidily tucked under. ( A little idea I borrowed from Ikea!)

 The fabric is a bit wrinkly, but isn't that one of the charms of a slip cover? We also figured out it does a lot better not put in the dryer, that tends to set the wrinkles in.

So what do you think? Do you like the new look?

The Great Sofa Slipcover Project (part 1)

Oh I am so excited! This weekend we have cleared the calendar and are embarking on a sewing adventure. Yes, I am going to make a slip cover for the sofa! I have been planning this for almost a year and am so excited to finally be getting it done! As you can see, I got a jump start and made the covers for the back cushions last weekend.

I will be back soon with all the details and (hopefully) finished pictures!

Have a good weekend friends! You know where I will be!

Vintage Kitchen Inspiration

Here are a few vintage kitchens from Antique Home. I think I have mentioned this website before, they have a fabulous collection of house plans and interiors from the 1900-1960. One of my favorite place to go for inspiration! 

I loved seeing how kitchens changed over the years. From simple and functional in the 20's to colorful, modern and efficient in the 50's.  

These two 1920's kitchens are mostly concerned with a functional and sanitary place to prepare meals. Not a lot of cupboard space, but massive sinks with hot and cold running water!

This 1934 kitchen is a little warmer. Still not much cabinetry and did you notice the ice box by the back entry? Easily accessible for the iceman. I love the breakfast nook, a favorite in the 20's and 30's.

The 1940's brought big changes to kitchens, lots of new materials like Formica and plastics. Color everywhere and modern appliances like the dishwasher!

I love how so many kitchens included places at the counter where you could pull up a stool and work. Something that would be nice in today's kitchens.

For the 1950's it was more of the same, more bright bold colors, efficient features like pull-out cutting boards, drying racks and a more compact work triangle.

This one was one of my favorites! 

I hope you enjoyed this inspiration, visit Antique Home for more!

Sprouting

It is that time of year when a bit of green growing something is longed for. We have at lest another two months before the bulbs outside will bloom. For now we have a pot of hyacinths and crocus in the window.

We bought the bulbs in the fall to force, but just left them in the (unheated) basement since then. Last week when we poked them in the pot they had already started sprouting. Hopefully we will get flowers!

Kitchen Updates

I am not sure if it is the weather or the time of year, but I have been ready tackle projects and make some changes! Unfortunately, there has been a lot going on and little time to get projects done.... So I dream and hatch ideas and obsess a bit. The kitchen has been my latest obsession. I have been dreaming of all the things I could do to make it better, all the things I would love to change, how I could incorporate a cute idea from the internet.....

Then all of the sudden I realized what I was doing and took a step back. My kitchen is cute, it is functional, bright and sunny, very vintage (which I love!), and a whole lot bigger then the little apartment kitchen we were crammed into a year and a half ago. Of course there are a few things I would like to change and a few small projects on the list, but that doesn't mean I need a whole new kitchen!

These pictures are the newest change in the kitchen (which actually happened in November!). We decided the kitchen needed a little color and since the cupboard doors are so plain, a little interest and texture.

 So I unscrewed the hinges on the doors over the stove and gathered all of my favorite vintage kitchen things! An improvement don't you think?

My glass pitcher collection...... tin cake carrier.........

 favorite Pyrex bowls......

 vintage canisters which hold cookie cutters.......

I love to dream, but sometimes the dreaming gets a little out of control!

So I will enjoy the new look and be happy with the kitchen............For now.....

Blog Updates

Have you noticed there is a new page up? I now have a house tour page! (Pages are at the top of the blog under the header picture.) There I have pictures of all the rooms in my house including before and after links. 

I also have added a list of my favorite blogs in the right sidebar. In case you are looking for some additional reading, those are my recommendations!