this winter thing

i'm actually beginning to really love winter.

well, this winter.

don't you love those snowy & sunny days?

the afternoons can be blinding, it's wonderful.

winter & lake & best friend & hunters

ahh.

kranskekake

i married a norwegian.

& have embraced my new inherited culture by baking a kransekake.

yes, this german made an 18-ringed almond cake to see if i could.

i could!

& yes, it's supposed to resemble a beehive.

i bought special pans & lots of almonds.

ok, actually i cheated.  i didn't buy a lot of almonds, i didn't grind a lot of almonds.

i bought almond paste instead.  if you're looking to make a kransekake, i highly recommend not spending laborous hours grinding almonds.  it's the traditional way, sure, but it really wears you down & makes baking not so fun.

i thought this cake was really fun to make.

not too hard with pretty cool results!

& the taste is right too.

i followed this recipe, but there are many others.

*re*color your world

colors pretty much sums us up, right?  you're an autumn, you're a spring.  you decorate with rich & warm colors or cool & serene ones.  if you're like me, half of your wardrobe is a specific color and as hard as you try to "branch out," you can't.  because it's your color.

in the line above is "my color" & the colors i like with it, oh and some bold accents too.

i'm going to have a solo painting party & change our walls from white to not so white.  i will always love white, but when every wall of your house is white you start to question whether your house is clean or just sterile.

so in an effort to rejuvenate, i'm bringing more color into my world.

am i being a little silly and overly dramatic about paint colors?

probably.

new year

i'm excited for this year.

i like even numbers, two is my favorite.

so 2012 suits me.

resolutions?

*i suppose, possibly, make something of this blog, possibly.

*start & complete (emphasis on complete) house projects.

*gosh, worry less. worry less! starting now.

*calm-ify, simplify & be inspired to create more.

(art! from the art major! yes, yes.)

*travel more than last year, odds are in my favor!

*gain a green thumb? & learn to bake bread... well.

*wear red lipstick in the daytime, confidently.

*notice & take note of the good things.

*see dear friends more.

*be more fly.  

(& bring back the word "fly.")

here's some more.

more happiness in 2012. definitely.

via

to-copy-list

Hey, out there.

Here's a few things I've been wanting to "copy," um, so that I don't have to pay so much "dolla-dolla-bills-ya'll!" (Had to stick a Bridesmaids reference in there.)

felt garland

via the inspired room

wood picture hangers

via potterybarn

(I may use vintage door knobs, wood/ceramic/glass)

linen-covered cork board

via potterybarn

(This could be a fraction of the price if DIY)

patterned slipcover

great if you have pets & also are too timid to commit to patterned furniture

framed text

easily changed for holidays & inexpensive

plate shelving

i'd like to take the shelf & rail look into a wall system

architectural chair railing

used to frame & extend ceiling

playful office organization

paint works wonders, via the inspired room

perfect kitchen

open shelving, farm sink, butcher block, colored cabinets & wainscoting backsplash, via the inspired room

christmas cookies

i will honor christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year long.

charles dickens, the christmas carol

This weekend I made sugar & spritz cookies with my grandma.

She takes cookie making very serious and has orders that must be mailed out on time to all my cousins.  Dozens & dozens cranked out and off to the post office.

We have fun.

Her supply of colored sugars & sprinkles will last generations, so I'm looking forward to more cookies to make... and eat!

I was there for the good company, but managed to enjoy the fruits of our labor as well!