New Year's Eve Party Tips

Another year gone..it happened so fast! Let's ring in the new year with friends and family in a festive way.

You can do this yourself. Get some wine glasses and go to any office supply store and by adhesive numbers and put them on. Representing the countdown to the New Year.


Decorate your tablescape with clocks. Here they did it with a silver and crystal theme but it can be done eclectic with different types of clocks and plates.


I absolutely love this! Instead of on your dinner table what about having the branches and flowers on a buffet with the hors d'oeuvres.

It has been great this year writing this blog and sharing with all of you. I wish you all a very prosperous, healthy and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from Modern Earth Design

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas from us here at Modern Earth Design.

Christmas : Neighborhood Get Together

Can I just say I love where I live! We have been living in our home for about 2 1/2yrs and we've said hello to our neighbors in passing but have never really had a conversation with them. While out training for the "couch to 5k" my neighbor came up and gave us an invitation to their house for a neighborhood get together. He said that since more people have moved into the area it would be nice to get to know each other.
When we got there I was completely taken up with their home. So beautiful! I tried to take pics with the phone camera (which just let me know that I really need to buy a good camera..hmm) but not all of them came out since it was dimly lit. I will share with you the ones that did..


I loved how they used the cheetah print ribbon with the traditional aspects in the roping going up their staircase.


Table for hors d'oeuvres .. simple, rustic elegance.


Dessert table (more cheetah print).


And there is my handsome husband!
Btw..you can click on the pics to see them better : )

We had a wonderful time! Maybe this will inspire some of you to have a Christmas open house in your neighborhood. Thanks so much Jeff and Jane.

Christmas: Our Family Tradition

It started off with my sister giving

me this..

Our first ornament as a married couple. We got that in December 1999. I got to thinking how cool it would be to have an ornament represent what was going on in our lives each year and for each person and new person's to come along. I would like to share some of these memories with you all.

This is my oldest daughter's, Destiny, on her 2nd Christmas. It was a major one since that year she got a little sister..so traumatic for her.. lol.


This is the ornament that represents me pregnant with the little sister ;)



This one was a part of a major transition in our lives..it brought us closer together.

Here is one of our son..family complete.

Every year we go and pick a new one that represents us and it goes on the family tree. Then when the kids have their own homes they get to take the ornaments that have been collected for each of them and can start their own tree with memories.

I want to encourage each of you to start traditions with your family. Create memories that will last a lifetime.

Time For Giving

I was on Twitter several months ago when I came across a comment about a little girl who has cancer. My heart was immediately moved and I decided to contact her mother, Laura.

Little Atia was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her family is so strong and brave as they love and support this precious one. Here is the link to read more about her story http://www.chicagoparent.com/magazines/chicago-parent/2010-december/advice-humor/when-your-child-has-cancer

The good news is we can help this family and others that have children with cancer.
Project Ladybug and the founder Dina Manzo (from the Real Housewives of NJ) are partnering with Atia's family to raise money. Please join them in Chicago @ The Hyatt Regency. We should all show our support. When we all join hands we can help a family & a child beat this disease. God bless you all.

Modern Christmas Trees

I like new ways of decorating for the Holidays and what better way than to jazz up the Christmas tree. Check these ideas out...

Love the color scheme..crisp and fresh. A weathered urn for the base is so unique.


An acrylic Christmas tree for those of you who are minimalist. Really like this one..no clutter : )



Upside down..interesting..


Here's a plywood "Green Christmas Tree". I love how it was put with mid-century modern furniture.


Most of all we cannot forget about the "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree".



Thanks to southernliving.com
inventorspot.com
thisnext.com
thecheekycafe.blogspot.com

I Am Thankful For...

I am thankful for my kids...

I am thankful for my husband...

I am thankful for our church..



I am thankful for family and friends that have been with us through this trying but amazingly blessed year. This year has brought us down to the basics of what really matters and I am truly so grateful.


May all of you have a wonderfilled Thanksgiving!

What's On Your Plate: Apple Pie

On Thanksgiving people come to your house knowing they will get a certain dish that they won't get anywhere else. Maybe it's such a hit because it just has your touch. Well, on Thanksgiving people stop by just to have some of my apple pie. I am going to share the recipe with you.

Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie:

yield: Makes 8 servings

Crust

• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup frozen solid vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons (or more) ice water
• 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Filling

• 3 1/4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Topping

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• Vanilla ice cream

PREPARATION:

For crust:
Mix flour, salt, and sugar in large bowl. Add butter and shortening; rub in with fingertips until coarse meal forms. Mix 3 tablespoons ice water and vinegar in small bowl to blend. Drizzle over flour mixture; stir with fork until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 30 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch; turn edge under and crimp decoratively. Refrigerate while preparing filling and topping.

For filling:
Mix all ingredients in large bowl to coat apples.

For topping:
Blend first 5 ingredients in processor. Add chilled butter cubes; using on/off turns, cut in until mixture resembles wet sand.

Toss filling to redistribute juices; transfer to crust, mounding in center. Pack topping over and around apples. Bake pie on baking sheet until topping is golden, about 40 minutes (cover top with foil if browning too quickly). Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until apples in center are tender when pierced and filling is bubbling thickly at edges, about 45 minutes longer. Cool until warm, about 1 hour. Serve with ice cream.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cinnamon-Crumble-Apple-Pie-108650#ixzz168WjLTKy

What's On Your Plate? : Thanksgiving

Good Morning!
I decided to share a previous post I wrote from a couple of years ago on one of the dishes I make for Thanksgiving.  It deserved to be posted again because it is flat delicious!
Enjoy!



 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I know like many of you we are all getting our recipe lists in order. I thought it would be great to share some recipes with all of you. So, I will be posting more often as the Thanksgiving Day approaches and letting you know what will be on my plate..yum : )



Oh, these are so good!!!! Cheddar, Bacon and Fresh Chive Biscuits. Believe me these are so easy to make and take no time to cook. They are so delicious that you will have to make a good amount of them cause you can't eat just one.

Here is the recipe:

yield: Makes 12
active time: 25 minutes
total time: 55 minutes



6 thick-cut bacon slices
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus melted butter for brushing
2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1 3/4 cups chilled buttermilk
Honey (optional)


Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop coarsely.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter cubes. Blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Add cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and chopped bacon; toss to blend. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly (batter will feel sticky).
Using lightly floured hands, drop generous 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto prepared baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.
Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Brush biscuits lightly with melted butter. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or at room temperature with honey, if desired.


Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cheddar-Bacon-and-Fresh-Chive-Biscuits-357231#ixzz15kgs0vi1

Happy weekend and happy prep time for the countdown to Thanksgiving!

Can It Be?

My husband and I bought a home about 2 1/2yrs ago and we have been in renovation mode ever since. I love seeing the changes from what was to what it can be.



There's my little guy helping his Daddy : ) This is our family room with some remnants of the old carpet that was old and dirty. I told my husband I wanted hardwood floors and hardwood floors I got. ; ) Did he have a task at hand because not only did he have to remove the carpet from that room but every room on our main floor. Do you think that was too much to ask? .. at least he was up for the challenge


The room finally cleared out and ready for hardwood.



The first boards go down and the excitement is electric!


He is so proud! Hickory!



Then issues with a sloping floor but my superman fixed it.






I think he did a great job. Hardwood finished!

Can what was ugly be beautiful again? I sure think it can. We are definitely on the process of doing so for this diamond in the rough.

P.S. Pottery Barn giveaway @ urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com

Natural Creativity

A couple weeks ago my in-laws came down from Canada and it was a wonderful visit. It was a beautiful fall day, Nanny and the girls picked up some fall foliage and made these fall bouquets.

How nice would these look at a Thanksgiving table setting. You could even write the name of the person on a fall leaf.



OR...this idea I fell in love with while I was in Chicago yesterday at one of my favorite stores Anthropologie..

Aaahhh..love! This was made out of scrap paper. How about this as a table runner..hmmm.

Be inspired.

Gourd-geous Orchard

It was such a beautiful fall day and knowing the weather here would be changing soon we had to go to the orchard. The kids were so excited.

They probably had a hundred mums lining the walkway..vibrant with color.



Inside the store they sold so many kinds of jams and salad dressings that you wanted to try them all : ) . As we looked around we saw some cool things..


I am in love with these firepots!! I have one outside on my table and usually the gel lasts for about a 3hr burn time. So cool or should I say so hot : )



These pumpkins are made out of velvet, really nice when the light hits it.



This was amazing! Gourds that were shaped like swans! Loved them.





The apple gourd came home with me : ) I couldn't resist.