Decorating Tailgates and my family Pizza receipe

The next few months are ALL about Football. Seriously, my two boys play, and if we aren't attending a game, we are watching a college or NFL game on TV.
Last week I instagramed a photo of my mantle, complete with both my boys teams represented.

These banners are readily available at all the craft stores and Target too. Just be creative with how you incorporate the team colors.

An easy idea for a snack for tailgating is any treat like, candy, popcorn, pretzels and decorate these little brown paper bags with stickers and Team name. I found these at HobbyLobby.

These mason jars are great for drinks at your tailgate. The lids are good to prevent spills and bugs. The colored straws can coordinate with your team colors. You can even add white tape to mimic the laces on the football.

Here are a few great examples to check out

This one courtesy of piggyback parties.com

This is courtesy of creative home.mohawkflooring.com

Finally, the FOOD. I'm sharing with you my family's homemade pizza receipe. It is great for a tailgate because it can be made the day before, easily transported, and SO TASTY!

Purchase the fresh dough from a pizzeria or food store. I buy two at a time as two will fit on one baking sheet. Take them out of their baggies and sit them, separately in a bowl covered with a towel and let rise. 

Take a baking sheet  and spread with alittle cornmeal. Spread the dough, after it rises, square n thick. Two will fit on one large pan. Cover and let rise some more. For the sauce I use whole tomatoes in a large can. Break them up with your hand. Then in a pan sauté some garlic,onion,parsley,oregano and a few fennel seeds. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, salt n pepper. Add some grated cheese. Bring to a boil then simmer on lowest setting. You want it thick, so do not cover it. 

Back to the dough, make little indents in the dough with your finger, as it will help the sauce grab onto the dough. After sauce as simmered for at least an hour, spread on the dough ,and spread grated cheese over it as well. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then follow dough directions on the package for temperature. When it looks like it is almost done, move to the top rack in the oven for a few minutes, you want the sauce to be dry. Let cool and cut with a scissor or a pie cutter. Enjoy! It transports easily in a container to your tailgate. 

ESSENTIALS

ESSENTIALS
I am offering something new for the upcoming months when we all start to think about little projects we want to tackle before we start entertaining and enjoying our homes for the upcoming holidays and dare I say, colder months ahead. I know that I nest big time during the upcoming months.
So I am offering this:
To help with ESSENTIALS such as, but not limited to:

Dressing a bed: blanket, duvet or spread, pillows, throw, skirt, sheets

Setting a table: dinner, lunch, holiday

Change out decorative pillows and throw: change colors or style

Here is a pretty table set for a lunch, it has a early September feel. Love the colors in the table cloth. I used celery green napkins but you have other options to pull from the fabric. Stacking the plates gives height to the view, but it gives guests an idea that there are courses to look foward to during the meal.  I combined items I had at home already, with some new items.

Here is the same table but with a more Fall feel to it with velvet fabric pumpkins and leaf accent plates. I can customize the table to whatever your vision is. 

It is $50.00 for an Essentials project

Included is:

-e-consult or home visit if you are local. We will discuss budget, vision, etc.

- you will receive a plan and 1 revision

- source where to purchase, add items you already own

If you are local and want me to shop for items, additional charge will be added

Taking Appointments now. Email is damcraig@optonline.net. 

Hounstooth is named for a Hound's tooth, Who knew?!

My dog, Stella, was lounging on my houndstooth patterned pillow and I took a picture and thought it was clever as she is a Hound breed.  I then decided to do a post on Houndstooth and discovered the origin of the design.  Wanted to share with you.

The pattern originated in Scotland in the 1800's, as a woven wool fabric worn by Sheperds.

I don't usually like the pattern in any other color but black and cream or white, but this is fresh. It looks like a square that went off track. It was first called Sheperd's check or Dogtooth, and the smallest version was called Puppy tooth.  In the 30's it became a favorite pattern of Christian Dior. 

Here it is shown in a tile floor.

Accent chair

In caramel and black, cozy

Bedding 

Interesting focal piece for maybe an office or a bedroom

Love it paired with florals for a more feminine look.

Bigger is Better, sometimes

i stumbled upon this designer from California, Hilary Thomas. Her own home was featured in Tradidional Home magazine, and I wanted to share some of the photos with you. A theme thru some of the rooms is Oversized lighting which is just beautiful. There are very high ceilings in the home, both indoor and outdoor spaces.

I also really like the mix of wicker chairs with the slipcovered chairs. 

This foyer is so neutral, yet not boring at all. Love the lighting. 

So much to look at in this small shot. That chair is eye catching. Love the dark bookcases.

This room has so much to inspire us. That lampshade, the wood ceiling, the over stuffed monogram pillows, that pink desk and chair..

Hilary has a great shop on her blog site where you can find some amazing items. I love these finials. They add just alittle bit of character and unique style to a lamp. These are pretty and there are more styles to choose from on the site. Check it out, Enjoy!

The Dog House, not really

So my husband and boys have been working on a project that I wanted to share with all of you.
There are many posts out there about taking a shed and using it for more than just storage. We have a shed that my husband divided in half and finished off part of it as an outdoor hang out room.

So this is the shed. We purchased it from Kempton Sheds.Thsnk you Bill Smith. 

They added flooring and stained it. 

Some knotty paneling for the walls.

A place to store the surfboard and it adds alittle character to the room.

We had a hard time finding furniture because it is a small space, so my husband and my boys MADE the furniture. 5 chairs and a coffee table. 

I found cushions that fit, which was difficult as the chairs were larger than most standard seats. I added a few pillows and a throw. There is a TV on the opposite wall of the seating and it is on a swing out arm so you can face the TV outside if we are having a fire. The chairs can easily move to the grass area if we need extra seating. We need a few more items for the walls but I think it turned out awesome.Family effort. 

Getting ready for college..part 1 ..Decorate that Dorm Room

Our precious children leaving the nest to venture onto college campuses across the country. What an exciting time for them. I have sent two of my three children to college so fat, and I have learned a few  things along the way to make their home away from home as cozy and functional as possible. Thought I would share some of my favorite finds with you.
The bedding is very important. They will spend a lot of down time sitting on their beds or snuggled under the sheets. There needs to be a durable comforter or duvet cover to withstand the constant flopping on it.

 I highly recommend PBTeenbedding. I have purchased it for both children and the comforter and
duvet held up for all four years. They are running a big sale this week. The sheets are the best also

They are soft and durable.

These are 3x5 flags from Amazon. The flags, in whatever style you like, are a great way to cover a window with just a few tacks. Also they cover a lot of barren wall space easily. They are light and easy to hang on a cement wall with double face tape.

The beds in the dorms are not the most comfortable. I highly recommend using a topper. Bed bath and Beyond. They offer the variety and range in prices to give you many options. 

Organization is key with these small dorm quarters. This modular cubby system is from Target the canvas boxes cone in a varity of colors for both guys and girls. Different shaped boxes for different storage needs. Comes in a few stains depending on your taste. Holds up well.

If there is a closet, taking the doors off temporarily helps to gain access to the clothing. Adding organization inside the closet helps a lot. 

This bed received a fabric headboard and some personal details. Lots of pillows on the bed help to add comfort. Love the body pillow. Target has the, and also has covers in different fabrics. Enjoy decorating your dorm room with your student. With alittle thought it will be comfy and cozy and functional.

Trays..you know you have them

For those of you that know me well, I am not the best organizer. In fact, I really, really stink at it. BUT, I have found the Trays are a great way to make things look organized. Bringing items together and setting them in a pretty tray or basket gives the eye one place to go to and there is a sense of organization.

Acrylic trays are so versatile. These are from West Elm

These lucite colored trays

are great for a little pop of color. Also from West Elm.

This is a monogrammed tray we received as a gift. Add s few items and you have a great little centerpiece for a table. You can shop your rooms for items to corral on the tray.

This is courtesy of Better homes and gardens. Helps to organize all your cooking needs in one spot.

Love little make shift bars with the help of a pretty tray.

Collected treasures from the beach, all in one pretty rattan tray

Coffee anyone?

So functional and fabulous in a bathroom. Pull out those trays you keep stored away and enjoy them 

This courtesy of HollyMathis.com 

Hurry! Go find all your trays and put at least one of them to use today. Have fun creating!