Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Gallery Wall Inspiration and Ideas

One of the projects on my Fall DIY and Craft List is to work on a Gallery Wall for the area above our family room couch. Though Fall has thrown a wrench in some of my plans with a crazy schedule, sick kids, and "budget constraints," I've still had the project at the back of my mind. I have a few new things and some ideas, but bringing it all together still needs to happen. Today, I've got a great round-up of Gallery Wall Ideas and Inspiration for those of us who need some home decor help!
Gallery Wall Inspiration and Ideas

Please remember to Pin from the original sources (listed under the photo) so each person gets credit for his/her own work; thanks!

Here's a fabulous Gallery Wall Template:


Love this grouping of white frames:


Over the bed!


Neat scrolling frames:
Source: somewhatsimple.com via Amanda on Pinterest


Nice way to fill up empty space in a hallway:



How cool is the framed monogram?



Fabulously pulled together:


In a colorful nook:


Above a board and batten treatment:


Tips and Tricks:


Erin used "heirloom" photos, which is what I'm thinking:



Melissa is great at mixing things up without looking cluttered:


How to hang 'em:
Source: flickr.com via Amanda on Pinterest


A great guide for layouts:



How creative!



Up the stairs:



Another fab template:


She has a spot that can be switched out for a pop of seasonal fun:


Nice and symmetrical:


Tips for a stylish family gallery:


Love this "grid":


Do you have a gallery wall in your home? Any tips for us?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 


Monday, October 22, 2012

Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread Recipe

We're in full Fall fever here in Virginia. The maple trees on our street are transforming into glorious painted canvases of crimson and orange. The weather is still a bit warm, but with Halloween decorations inside and out, I've been baking Fall treat recipes. Today, I want to share a recipe for Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread with you. The beauty of this recipe is that you can leave the chocolate or butterscotch chips altogether (or one or the other) and still have a scrumptious autumn recipe to treat your family with!
Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread, from Serenity Now


The original recipe is for plain pumpkin bread, but I doctored it up this time. I've had this much-loved recipe in my files for so long that I'm not sure where it came from, but it's hand-written so I am guessing a friend shared it with me. Like pretty much everything I share here on the blog, this one is easy to do at home! You can follow the recipe for a simple (but delicious!) loaf of pumpkin bread, or something a bit more sweet.

Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups unsifted, all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. double acting baking powder
1/2 t. all spice
2 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 (16 oz) can of pumpkin
*Optional: A handful of butterscotch chips and/or a handful of chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9 x 5 loaf pans.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, double acting baking powder, all spice, and cinnamon. Mix with a spatula and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and oil. Add the eggs, water, and pumpkin. Beat well.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients and stir until just blended.
5. This is where you can play with the recipe. I chose to make one plain loaf of pumpkin bread and one extra sweet loaf. I poured the plain batter into the first loaf pan and set it aside. I added a bit of plain batter to the bottom of the second pan and then sprinkled a few butterscotch and chocolate chips on top. I added the rest of the chips to the remaining batter, mixing well before pouring it over the existing mix in the pan.
6. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

The key to this bread is not to overdo it with the chips. I love me some chocolate, and I usually disregard measurements for chocolate chips, just dumping them in at will. But pumpkin bread is already pretty sweet, so I just wanted to add some chips to add a little pop.
Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread, from Serenity Now
Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Pumpkin Bread, Serenity Now blog

The girls love to have a slice of pumpkin bread for breakfast with some eggs and a banana!

I shared another variation of pumpkin bread here at Serenity Now if you're interested: Nutella Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread!

Does Pumpkin Bread say "Fall" to you?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or even a +1 for Google+. 



Sunday, October 21, 2012

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

*Don't forget to check out this weekend's Lilla Rose Giveaway!*

On Saturdays and Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.

~Fall Decorating via Starr Circus
Fall Decorating

~Winter Wool Purse Sewing Tutorial via Nap Time Creations
Winter Wool Purse Sewing Tutorial

~Heath Cake Recipe via The Cannary Family
Heath Cake Recipe

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Highlighted Weekend Links--Share Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. More Features on the way tomorrow! And don't forget to enter this week's Giveaway (from Lilla Rose).

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, tips and tricks, home decor, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far.

~Foyer Reveal via Two Story Cottage
Foyer Decorating

~DIY Crepe Paper Pinwheel Party Circles via Crafty Texas Girls
Embellished Crepe Paper Pinwheels (Party Circles)

~French Onion Soup (Crock Pot Recipe) via The Crafty Cowgirl
French Onion Soup (Crock Pot Recipe)

Friday, October 19, 2012

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

*Don't forget to enter this week's Giveaway from Lilla Rose!*

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:
Serenity Now Features
sources listed below

~Headboard to Craft Nook via Fancy Frugal Life

~No Sew "Sonjia" Scarf via Simple Simon and Co.

~No Sew Halloween Table Runner via petite Party Studio

~DIY Door Spice Rack via Shanty 2 Chic


~And Me? This week featured:
Serenity Now Features

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Lilla Rose Hair Accessories (and Giveaway)

With the holidays approaching, it's time to start thinking about fun ways to dress up your everyday look. My newest sponsor, Bambi from Lilla Rose, has a site full of lovely hair accessories for any woman or girl...and she's giving away a FREE Flexi Clip to one Serenity Now reader! Keep reading to find out more about Lilla Rose and to enter to win.
Lilla Rose Hair Accessories

If you're new to Lilla Rose, they offer stylish, feminine hair accessories that are still practical and affordable! The lovely "hair jewelry" that Bambi offers on her Lilla Rose site include Flexi Hair Clips, Bobby Pins, Hair Sticks, Orings, Hairbands, and You Pins.

The Flexi Clips (you can win one today!) are beaded wire clips that flex to fit your hair. They come in a variety of sizes, styles, and finishes:
Lilla Rose Flexi Clips

I love the sparkle in the Hair Bands!
Lilla Rose Hair Bands

I think the Bobby Pins and You Pins are a pretty and simple way to dress up your hair:
Lilla Rose Bobby Pins and "You" Pins

Bambi was kind enough to send a Flexi Clip to the T house for a test run. I chose the Flexi Mini in the Princess Tiara style because I wanted to try it out in the girls' hair. The clip arrived with instructions on how to use it (and they even have videos on choosing a size and how to use them!).
Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Mini

I think this finish will go really nicely with any of my girls' dressier clothes...these clips really are great for women and girls. This particular clip will give Michaela Byrd's Christmas dress a longer "life." She can wear the Flexi Mini instead of a Christmas bow and have a winter look instead of a Christmas one!
Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Mini


With the wonderful pricing on these hair accessories, any choice would be a perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas...start planning now.

Bambi is offering a Serenity Now reader their choice of a Free Flexi Clip (valued at $16 or less). 

*Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Get your party hats on! My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is scheduled as usual for tomorrow morning (8 am ET), so be sure to swing by with your best post of the week.

Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, party ideas, tips and tricks, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.
Weekend Bloggy Reading


Disclaimer: I received a Flexi Hair Clip as part of a review package for this post. All opinions, however, are my own.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Griswolds Are Back!

It's that time of year again! "Mr. Griswold" broke out the faux grave stones, and the skull garland, and the twinkle lights. We have a nightly show of Halloween splendor that rivals Disney's Electric Paradel, just across the street from our house, and the girls are thrilled.

Excuse the grainy iPhone pic. I snapped this last night as I returned from a Moms' Night Out (bowling!), and I was scared I'd get caught!

Our neighbors' (whose real name is not "Griswold", in case you are wondering) Halloween decorations used to drive me crazy with the gaudy, but having kids makes me see the fun side. The girls go nuts when they see Mr. Griswold toting boxes of lights across the yard because they know that Trick or Treating is that much closer.

And, if I'm being honest, Trick or Treating is that much closer for me too. I do love the left over Halloween candy. The girls are thrilled...and maybe I am too. 

Do your neighbors ever drive you nuts?

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