Archive for 'Home' Category

Blueberry Muffins with Butter Crumb Topping

My best friend left her comfortable job in finance a few years ago to follow her passion of enrolling in pastry school.  Some people might find this endeavor a little risky, but if you know Michele, she’s all about taking calculated risk.  Lucky me, I’ve gotten the joy of taste-testing some of her experiments which [...]

Condo Gardening

Pffftt–if you can even call it that!  If you live in a condo, or other shared space, you know how difficult it is to do anything to your little half a square inch of property without someone from the board of directors giving you a hard time. (Which is precisely why I joined the board [...]

In this issue of Happy Elf Digest…Christmas Cookie Baking!

The joy and festivities continued yesterday with a full day of serious cookie baking.  My mom came with three huge laundry baskets (that’s what she travels with–not suitcases or bags.  Laundry baskets.) full of baking artillery.  Sheet pans, hand mixer, about 37 lbs. of flour and sugar, and of course a Pampered Chef cookie press.  [...]

Christmas Wreath-Making at New Pond Farm

Something really strange is going on with me that I can’t quite explain.  It started with the festive tree decorating in my living room.  Then Dino caught me singing Christmas carols in the shower.  And I mean singing with gusto–not just humming under my breath.  And now, wreath-making!  It’s almost as if a jolly elf [...]

A Harvey Kind of Christmas

It’s no secret that I have a reputation for being a bit grumbly around the holidays.  But I think my heart may have grown three sizes this year!  All right, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration.  In any case, I’m making an attempt at being jolly this year as evidenced by the Christmas wonderland [...]

My attempt at plantkeeping: Homemade Terrarium

Despite the fact that Etsy has beaten the terrarium trend to it’s last breath, I wanted to make my own attempt.  Some weeks ago when Dino and I were perusing the giant Stormville Tag Sale, I had my eye on this deliciously decaying terrarium–it was empty of plants at the time.  Unfortunately the person selling [...]

My Creative Space–Part 1

My home studio is hugely gigantic.  I live in a 2-bedroom condo, and the second bedroom is my studio.  I could work in the basement, but there is no window, it’s colder than hell (yes, my hell is a very cold place!) and there’s a kitty litter box that totally kills the vibe, you know?
Every [...]

Vintage Apothecary Design Inspiration

Sorry about the sour mood from yesterday.  I’m not quite over it, but I realize I’m not supposed to get so personal on this here l’il blog of mine, so let’s forget I ever mentioned it, shall we?
I drowned my sorrows with a scooter ride to get a cappucino of epic proportions (and more than [...]

Bathroom Renovation for $500

Doesn’t it figure that I can’t find any before pictures?  Shoot.  Well try to use your imagination here…when I bought my place every single wall was painted ace-bandage beige.  Dino was not yet living here so I picked all the paint colors on my own.  In an effort to spruce up the upstairs bath (which [...]