Bedroom Inspiration

For our wedding Dave and I registered for a bed set that reflects our desire to decorate in a natural, earthy, and rustic style.  Both of us have a love for Aspens, so we are taking our cues from the duvet and pillows to turn our bedroom into a grove of color and texture.

It's a work in progress!  One of our priorities this winter is to replace the furniture so that it all matches and fits in with the feel we are going for.  The green walls that came with the house will definitely stay as it is the perfect shade to compliment the yellows, ivories, and reds that I want to bring into this room.





The next step will be to move most of the framed photographs into the hallway above the stairs: every single one is from what we like to call 'B.C.', or 'Before Chris' and we both agree it's time that the bedroom became 'ours'.  Something along these lines has caught my eye, only without the wall quote and perhaps a more streamlined approach to the frames.

                                                            

Back to the bedroom!  Currently we have two art pieces hung that are my color and theme inspiration: the first is one of Dave's favorite Aspen shots.   He had it printed on stretched canvas.

The second is a piece I made using fall leaves from our first trip together to Yosemite National Park.  I pressed them in books for several weeks, made high-quality photo copies of each, cut them out, and then used modge-podge to tack them onto a piece of canvas.

Here is a closeup of the bed set.  I love the natural feel of it and the texture.

We're thinking about a wedding photo montage above the bed - a series of 3 vertical photos or one giant landscape, however we've got time to think about it since we don't have our CD just yet.  Over the dresser on the South wall, I'm thinking a great piece would be one of those metal tree art displays.  Our mall here has local artists who make these, and some of them have been heated in such a way that the metal also turns colors of red and yellow - I wish I could find a good inspiration photo of one to post here!

I am loving the idea of these birch bark candles, and with all the river rocks I have left over from the wedding I'm sure I can make a fitting display.  What I'm wondering is if this is something I can DIY?

Once I get myself to a fabric store I'm going to see about making a red table runner for the dresser and maybe a matching throw pillow or two.  Like I said, it's a work in progress but at least for now it's nice to get it out on paper!

The End of an Era. . . .

Dave and I are in the process of finalizing our wedding album design with our photographers, and I have to say it's been bittersweet.

Going through the photos we chose for the album, I find myself tearing up as all the emotions from that day come rushing back.  Our photographers did an amazing job capturing our day, and being able to see our wedding from  the 'after' perspective is nothing short of incredible.

I'm also a little sad too, because once this album is done it truly is the end to what has been an incredible experience; the final task signalling that our time as bride and groom have come to an end.   I enjoyed planning our wedding so very much; the year we spent looking at photographers, and venues, and dresses, and decor. . .it went by so fast and I'll admit it was difficult at first to move past it once the wedding was over.  In the final days leading up to the wedding I was on another planet, so very very happy yet in complete denial that we were there.

I have to say though,  knowing that life isn't about flowers and programs and fonts and veils, that above all I love being married.  I can't be too sad that our wedding is now a memory, because it means that I have a wonderful and amazing husband to spend the rest of my life with, and for that I feel so lucky and blessed.

This is not the final product, but darn close if you want to take a look.  Our album is going to be printed on thick pages in a square leather-bound cover.

http://www.sharberphoto.com/darkroom/share/?n=Chris_and_Dave_

Beautiful Story

I was really touched today by an interview the Today Show had with the parents of a 6 year old girl who died of cancer.

This beautiful child, without her parents knowing, had been cutting out paper hearts and writing love notes on them.  She tucked them away in books, under furniture, behind photo frames. . .all written to her friends, family, pets.  Her parents are still finding them around their house, and right now have three boxes full of these handwritten love notes.

I find this to be deeply profound. . .I'm not necessarily a religious person, but reading this I have to believe that God gave her enough love for a lifetime, but not enough life to use it up.  She had just a few short years to dole out all the love and inspiration that she could, and her outlet was these simple paper hearts.

Something to think about on those days when you are questioning your faith in life. . .

Pumpkin Bars

I love love love to cook; the kitchen is definitely one place in this world where I am in my element.
In honor of fall, my favorite October treat: Pumpkin Bars.  I made these a few years ago, and staring at the recipe it became obvious that they were lacking something.  The addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips is my doing, and it brings 'yummy' to 'simply amazing'.  Don't turn up your nose until you try it!  

 These are super easy to make, a huge hit at parties, and extremely addictive.  Most ingredients are pantry staples, with the exception of the canned pumpkin and chocolate chips.

I recommend using high-quality name brand pumpkin and chocolate for these!

PUMPKIN BARS 

2 cups all-purpose flour (I always use unbleached)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

4 beaten eggs

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin (get a high-quality brand, make sure it's pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie mix! ! ! !)

1 cup cooking oil (you can substitute plain applesauce for a low-fat version)

and the secret ingredient:

1 package of semi-sweet Girhadelli chocolate chips

**Note:  you can substitute 2 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon and cloves if you wish.

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Preheat oven to 350.  If you used applesauce instead of oil, grease your pan.  If you used oil, do not grease the pan. I use a 11 x 15 glass pan (large cake/baking pan).  You can probably use a slightly smaller one if you don't have a large one.

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves.  Stir in the beaten eggs, pumpkin, and oil/applesauce until combined.

Fold in the chocolate chips :)

Spread into your baking pan, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Snow Day!

Well my husband is going to have a devil of a time getting home today.  I love a good snow day, but can't truly enjoy it until I know that he is home and not out trying to battle ski and commerce traffic on a busy mountain highway.

I woke up this morning to winter wonderland: the snow has been coming down non-stop since last night.  Right now our deck has 10" - 15" or more in places. . .fluffy, white, beautiful snow. . .

Chloe loves it too - she has to plow through anything over 6", and bounds up and down to make her way

Meanwhile, I'll just try and stay warm.  I'm sacrificing looking cute in the name of staying cozy: I have on two shirts, a fleece vest, fuzzy socks, and my much-too-big blue track pants.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Loring Blog!

My husband and I got married on July 12th, 2009. This blog is my inspiration: an outlet for our nesting, work, and amazing relationship!