Ladies Night - Easy Bake Tutorial

The other day my daughter invited some friends over to play, and we had such a blast together. Have you tried easy-bakin' lately?

First, I've got to say I never had an Easy Bake oven as a child. I guess my sister and I wanted one at some point in our chilhood, but who knows? We had many toys and dolls, but not THE Easy Bake oven. So, eventhough my mother probably never pictured it like that, this has been a great present from her to both of us. We are learning, little by little, how to increase our recipes. My daughter's actually thinking about setting up a bakery here, and selling all of our wonderful creations to her friends. She's not joking about it. She's even got the logo ready.

Anyhow, here an easy recipe we tried with her friends that fun day. I'd like to share it with you 'cause it is very simple and non-messy (something not guaranteed with other recipes, so beware!).

Simple Easy Bake Cake

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{Makes two layers}

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

5 teaspoons sugar

3 teaspoons vegetable oil

8 teaspoons milk

optional:

chocolate chips, crushed nuts, dried berries

food coloring

Stir together ingredients until batter is smooth and colored.

Next, pour 3 tablespoons of batter into greased and floured cake pan.

Bake for 15 minutes (oven must be preheated).

Mmmhhhhh! Smells good, tastes good. Yummy!

(And the best is you don't have to spend the big bucks on Easy Bake mixes ;)

Enjoy!

With Chefs like these, who wouldn't want to play kitchen?

Sharing with:

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Made by You at Skip to My Lou

Toot your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home
Get your Craft on Thurs at Life as Lori
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Victory of the Week at Design-aholic

It' Complicated - Set Design

My husband and I have just found our dream home. It's a Spanish-Style Ranch in Santa Barbara. I'm getting the feeling you might be familiar with it?

Of course, it's owned by Meryl Streep's character in Nancy Meyers' latest film It's Complicated.

I warned you not to get me started on the subject.

Someday this week, my husband and I went to the theaters to see It's Complicated. Both of us are HUGE Nancy Meyers fans. We've seen all of her movies. And we love'em all. Actually, The Holiday (with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black) is one of our all-time favorites. So, as soon as the movie hit the theaters in our hometown, we had to go.

It's Complicated tells the story of a successful divorced woman (played by Meryl Streep) who's having a kitchen renovation (as well as having an affair with her ex-husband and her architect). Her house, especially her kitchen, plays a huge role in the movie. This is were Jane (Streep) entertains friends and family.

 Why she wants a renovation is still a mistery to us all. This is a dream for all cooking-lovers out there (one of such, my husband!).

Everything you need to make a wonderful meal is there, right were you need it.

This casual yet sophisticated style is also shown in Jane's bedroom.

Production designer Jon Hutman worked with set designer Beth Rubino to create enviroments that help tell the characters' story and match with their personalities.

There's a casual elegance in every room.

I love the tub's luxury mixed with the casual air in the vanity set. Did you notice the mismatching drawers?

Meyers is a design lover herself, something that probably runs in her genes, since her mother was a designer herself. The palette was chosen with Meryl's skin complexion in mind, the light colors accenting her beauty.

Jane's bakery is another food-lovers' paradise. Just ask my husband!

 

The details in the movie go as far as the bread display in the bakery. The design team worked closely with food stylist (from Julie and Julia) Susan Spungen.

You all know how much I love gardens, and this house gave me such delights. Take a look at the gardens and outdoor areas.

I love the topiaries and the pots just sitting there. By the way, wouldn't it be so relaxing to sit by that bench?

See why this is my dream home? This potting shed is amazing! I would love to work my garden here.

More pots and pretty garden stuff.

As every good cook, Jane has this gorgeous edible garden. Fresh and ready.

This is not everything. The house has a swimming pool too. And there are great sets from other places, like the place where the party is held (with beautiful hanging lanterns all over the place. So gorgeous).

Everytime a new scene appeared, my husband and I would just look at each other and sigh!

I guess most of you have seen the movie by now, so please, share your thoughts and ideas! Were you also swept away by this house? Do share!

(images from Remodelista and Traditional Home)

Getting the Dirty Job Done -Part II

So, it's no longer a dirty job, but it's still the second part of the project. And it's still a little messy.

As I was telling you in yesterday's post, immediately after the sun came out, I got my hands ready to continue working on my latest project. I know you people have it figured out, of course. After all those inspirational pics from here and here, it's obvious I've been working on our balcony make over.

You probably know my plans for the Eugenia trees too.

That's right. I made a topiary. Actually, I made TWO topiaries. Wo-hoo! So if you're wondering how to make a topiary, you're in the right place.

How to Make a Topiary

tutorial

1. Start with a straight-center plant or tree.

I used Eugenias, but Boxwoods and Bay trees are also useful. You can even use a citrus tree.

2. Remove lower branches with garden scissors.

Work your way from bottom up.

3. Groom the topiary,

cutting off leaves or branches standing out.

4. In case your trunk is thin, place a thin stick into the soil next to the trunk and tie them together.

(In my case, this wasn't necessary)

5. Enjoy!

Before:

After:

Sigh. Isn't it lovely?

Some final notes:

At first, I wasn't sure I had bought the right kind of tree for the project. Topiaries in my inspirational images seemed young, with thin trunks. I was looking for that at the nursery garden, but topiaries aren't very popular around here. I guess I could have bought a new bush or tree, and trained it to grow as I wanted it. But I couldn't wait for it to grow up to the point I needed it. I wanted a topiary NOW.

The girl at the nursery adviced me to take this tree, and in the end, I'm happy with the results, though I would have rather gone for a slimmer trunk.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.
Stay tuned for the complete balcony makeover coming soon!

Sharing with

Strut your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Get your Craft on Thurs at Life as Lori
Show off your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Remodelaholics Anonymous at Remodelaholic
Victory of the Week at Design-aholic
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts
Making the World Cuter
Make your Monday at The Twice Remembered Cottage
Craft Schooling Sunday at Creative Jewish Mom
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Toot your horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Getting the Dirty Job Done -Part I

The rain finally stopped today, and the sun actually came out for a couple of hours during the afternoon. I had to take full advantage. As soon as I could, I got my hands ready to work on my recently unfinished project. The dirtiest project ever.

I do not lie. As shameful as this may be, I give you the evidence:

Oh, yes! Things got pretty ugly around here. But let me start from the beginning.

Two days ago, I went to the nursery garden and bought myself the following:

Two wheeled bases.

Two very large terracota flower pots. (Yes, those are my shoes).

And...

Two Eugenia trees.

Wanna take a closer look?

Lovely, huh?

I was anxious to get home with my Eugenias.

I got home and showed everything to hubby. He didn't believe their size, and honestly, I didn't either. I don't want to get you tired with it again, but turns out the plants were indeed large for our house size. And they were heavy. Both the Eugenias and the terracota pots.

Hubs is very supportive. He gave me thumbs up and helped me get them off the car.

We didn't know where to begin with. I wanted to pass the trees to their pots back in the garden, so I didn't make any mess inside the house. HOWEVER if each plant was sooooo heavy by its own, how would we (or more precisely he) take them upstairs to the Master Bedroom's balcony, where they were intended, once inside their equally heavy pots?

Seemed like there wasn't much of a choice.

Hubs took everything upstairs, and the dirty job began.

True. There was a knife involved.

Eventhough the lady at the nursery told me the pots were perfect for the plants, the Eugenias didn't fit. There was no way of putting them inside. My husband, being the practical man that he is, brought the scariest and sharpest knife from the kitchen (sort of like a butcher's) and I proceeded to cut away what didn't fit. Both trees are heavily rooted, so I had to cut some roots too. Ouch! But in the end we did it. At least we were half-way thru.

By the way, the pouring rain I was telling you about begun that very same night (two nights ago). I guess you can imagine what the mess turned out. But it was so much fun. Thank God I thought of the wheeled bases.

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Fireflies and jellybeans Show off your stuff party

More on Plants: Herb Gardens

There's another idea wandering my mind every so often: growing my own herb garden. Sigh. The whole idea is so romantic. Growing my own little garden somewhere in my own little house, flavors and smells fresh and ready for any craving we get. Mmmmh hhhmmm. Watching my husband make us a tasty pizza, working it all together. Using my herbs, from my (ok, our) garden.

{photo from No Reservations movie, 2007}

My ideas on our herbal garden are clearer everyday. Ok, allow me to be honest. They're totally clear to me now (I think you all will like it!).  I'm planning on working on that when the rain allows me (surprisingly for all of us, it has poured for the last couple of days non-stop --NOT common here).

In the meantime, I enjoy inspirational pics. These are the ones I liked the most.

Will you look at those planters?! Am I the only one who hadn't seen these?

{both images via the balcony gardener}

So unbelievable! These planters even made me consider changing my herb garden idea. Wouldn't they look amazing over the kitchen counter, next to a window? That would be really fresh and ready for cooking. I've got a crush on them. Designed by UK designer Patrick Morris, they're a little out of our reach. 35 dollars for a planter. Well worth it. But still out of our reach (I would also have to pay for international shipping, so thanks, but no thanks).

{in the garden today}

A timeless classic. Pots by the window.

{martha stewart}

Who better for this beautiful twist on the window version? I love you, Martha Stewart. You and your genious, creative ideas.

{living etc}

I love this stair. But I would need space, and you know I'm short on that.

{the balcony gardener}
Another traditional, and pretty idea. Little balcony container. Perfect for lack of space. By the way, LOVE The Balcony Gardener. Beautiful and simple ideas. If you live in UK it's a must.

{centsationalgirl}

Once again, Kate pulls it all together. Gorgeous pots.

So tell me pretty please, which are your favorite ideas for herb gardens? Are they really so easy to grow as they say?

On other things, did any of you see It's Complicated? That Nancy Meyers sure knows how to tell a story. But don't get me started right now. It's late and I'm waking up early. Besides, that movie deserves a post all by its own.

Good night y'all.