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{Homes of the Rich & Famous ~ Diane Keaton}

>> Thursday, April 29, 2010

 

Actress Diane Keaton's home is of a Spanish Colonial Revival Style..This expression of style is related to both history and environment. Some find this style as "Cold" or "Un-inviting."  I find it Intriguing and full of History...Have you ever read the book Ramona written by Helen Hunt Jackson?  Yah...kinda like that! Check out the artful arrangement of her dish pottery collection...Amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao, doLLs & kEnS!



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{Birthday Shout Out ~ Heather}

>> Thursday, April 22, 2010



Today is the birthday of one of my very special friends...who also happens to be my sister-in-law! Happy Birthday Heather...Can't wait for the weekend to do it up in style! Hope you have your outfit ready...lol!
Oh, btw...This is a pix of me and my 2 besties...That is Heather on the left and my BFF, Justine on the right...I love these girls!

Ciao, doLLs & kEnS!



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{Circus Inspired Nurseries}

>> Tuesday, April 20, 2010



I am in the mists of planning 2 really big parties...Yes, Yes...I enjoy party planning too..lol! First my son will be turning 3 and I am planning the biGgEst CarnivaL party....soooooo, exciting! I will be posting a few pix of all my great finds and simple projects.  Second, I am planning a Baby shower for a very special friend...So while both of them are taking up alot of my spare time...They have been the inspiration for my next post....Circus themed Baby Nurseies!






Sooo, sweet...Ciao, doLLs & kEnS!



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{Happy Monday + Staging Day!}

>> Monday, April 12, 2010


Hope everyone had awesome weekend! Well I'm off for a Staging day...It's a 3000sq ft. home in a beautiful neighborhood in Toronto. I found this cute simplistic photo of a beautifully staged property...Thought I'd share it. Have a happy Monday doLLS & kENs!


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{Yellow Madness!}

>> Friday, April 9, 2010



I just love the color yellow. Look at how this front door screams "Welcome!"...In 2009 it really jumped on to the scene in a powerful way...I mean, it was everywhere...In fashion trends & home accessories (I feel are the most important ones, anyway!) Well guess what...This color is not dead...This season, it's back for yet another round. I can't wait to rock some more yellow and gray outfits...Oh oh oh...yellow and hot pink, Yellow with black and white...hummm, yellow and turquoise...I'm even feelin' yellow and chocolate brown...yeah babyee!!!
Check out this Interiors...












Yah, that's what I'm talking 'bout!!
Ciao, doLLs & kEnS!



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{Easter Weekend wrap up}

>> Tuesday, April 6, 2010


So, I hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday...We sure did!
The kids had a blast...So much gOodiEs!
Anyhow, we tried out that fabulous cupcake recipe, I posted and here are some pix...


Baked cupcakes...muffin tops cut off.


A few ingredients...


An assortment of candies for embellishment...


Yummmm...the icing....My daughter put in the perfect amount of food coloring...
Such a pretty color!


Awwww, my beauties!


The finished product...
Great job, babies!


There goes my princess on her new Easter gift...Love you, babe!


Ciao, dOLLs & kENs!


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{Easter Cupcakes}

>> Friday, April 2, 2010

Try these Oh so yummy cupcakes over the weekend...My children and I will be trying out this recipe also...Happy Good Friday!
  • Prep Time: 15 min   Level: Easy  Yield: 1 cupcake

Ingredients

1 vanilla cupcake, recipe follows
About 1/3 cup White Fluff Frosting recipe follows
Green coconut grass, recipe follows
6 small candied malt balls (2 yellow, 2 pink, 2 white)
1 yellow chick peep
White Airhead candy

Directions

Frost a cupcake with fluff frosting. Press a circle of coconut grass on top. Nestle the malted eggs on top of the grass. Gently press the peep onto the center of the grass. Cut the white Airhead into a 1/2 oval shape; trim one side so it has a cracked egg jagged edge. Place egg next to chick.

Vanilla Cupcakes:

  • 2 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 2* cake flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup cupcake tins with paper liners. (To avoid cupcakes sticking if they overflow slightly, lightly spray the tops of the pans.) Put tins on a baking sheet. Set aside.
Process sugar and butter in a food processor until very creamy, scraping sides as needed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add the milk, water, and vanilla and process to blend.
Whisk both flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients, in 3 batches to the wet, pulsing, and then scraping batter off the sides of the processor as needed after each addition. Process until the batter is very smooth and pourable like pancake batter, about 2 minutes.
Evenly pour the batter into the prepared cups, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Bake until the cakes are just firm and spring back when gently pressed, and the tops are golden, 18 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly in tin, and turn out of tin when cool enough to handle. Cool cupcakes completely on a rack before frosting.
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy

Fluff Frosting:

  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
  • Pinch fine salt
Whisk the milk and vanilla extract together in a small bowl.
Slowly beat the butter and sugar, in another medium bowl, with an electric mixer until incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula.) Add the fluff and salt and reduce the speed to low. Add the milk and vanilla mixture, scrape the bowl down, and mix until fully incorporated. Raise the mixer to high and beat briefly until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Frost cupcake immediately.
+

Coconut Easter Grass for Cupcakes:

  • 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid green food coloring
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid yellow food coloring
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a mesh rack on top, if available.
Put coconut in a shallow bowl. While tossing with a large spoon, add food coloring drop by drop until the desired color is reached. A little more green than yellow makes a pretty grass color. Add a few tablespoons water to moisten the mixture and help disperse the color evenly. If the color is too dark, add additional water, as needed, to dilute to the desired color. Drain the coconut in a sieve or strainer.
Spread the coconut in an even layer on the rack, or directly on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. Use immediately, or store in covered container for up to 3 days.
Cook's Note: Food coloring can be messy and can stain your skin. To prevent this, wear latex gloves. You may find it easier to color the coconut in a large zip top plastic bag, tossing it to color evenly.
Yield: 2 cups coconut grass

Let me know how yours turn out...
Ciao, doLLs & kEnS!
xoxo



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