Thursday, June 30, 2011

S+S chow: Memphis style ribs + creamy dijon dill potato salad

For those of you who are hosting a fabulous soiree for the 4th of July, we have the perfect menu planned just for you! This holiday calls for messy BBQ and fabulous sides. Who doesn't love moist ribs and some creamy potato salad? Well maybe vegetarians wouldn't love the moist ribs so much...this recipe would not be for you, but the creamy potato salad is! We know that this menu will be making an appearance at our 4th of July party and we hope it will be at yours as well! Yum, yum, yum. 
Memphis Style Ribs via Better Homes and Gardens
Ingredients:
4 
to 5 pounds pork loin back ribs or meaty pork spareribs
1
 tablespoon paprika
1 1/2 
teaspoons brown sugar
1 
teaspoon ground pasilla or ancho chile pepper
1/2 
teaspoon salt
1/2 
teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 
teaspoon dry mustard
1/2
 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 
teaspoon celery salt
1/4 
teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/8
 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2
 cups hickory or oak chips
1/2
 cup cider vinegar
    2
 tablespoons yellow mustard

Directions:
1. Trim fat from ribs. Place ribs in a shallow roasting pan. In a small bowl combine smoked paprika, brown sugar, pasilla pepper, salt, coriander, dry mustard, garlic powder, celery salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the rub mixture. Generously sprinkle remaining rub mixture over both sides of ribs; rub in with your fingers. Cover dish with foil.
2. Bake ribs, covered, in a 350 degrees F oven for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until very tender. Drain off fat.
3. At least 1 hour before grilling, soak wood chips in enough water to cover. Drain wood chips.
4. For mop sauce, in a medium bowl whisk vinegar into yellow mustard; stir in the 1 teaspoon reserved rub mixture.
5. Sprinkle wood chips over medium coals in a charcoal grill. Place ribs on the grill rack directly over the coals. Grill, covered, for 10 minutes or until ribs are browned, turning once, and brushing occasionally with mop sauce. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Add wood chips, according to manufacturer directions. Place ribs on grill rack. Grill as directed above.)
Creamy Dijon Dill Potato Salad via Food Network
Ingredients:
3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 stalks celery
1 cup mayonnaise
1 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup tightly packed chopped fresh dill
1 to 2 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon grainy or regular Dijon mustard


Directions:
1. Put the potatoes in a big pot with enough water to cover by 1-inch. Season with salt and bring the water to a boil. Cook just until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes.
2. Drain the potatoes and return them to the uncovered pot off the heat. Let them sit until almost room temperature. (Cooling them in the warm pot will get rid of any excess water in the potatoes, and that's good.)
3. Meanwhile, cut the white parts off the ends of the celery stalks. Cut the stalks in half lengthwise, then across into 1/4-inch slices. Stir the celery, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining ingredients together in a serving bowl large enough to hold all the potatoes.
4. When they're cool, cut the potatoes into 1-inch pieces, add them to the bowl as you go. Stir gently until all the potatoes are coated with dressing. You can make the salad up to a couple of hours in advance. Keep covered at room temperature. Don't refrigerate or the potatoes will lose their rich, smooth texture.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Favorite Room Feature: Sheridan French

Today our favorite clothing designer, style aficionado and hysterical commentator is sharing her favorite room with us. We are talking about none other than, Sheridan French. Sheridan has the most unique and amazing eye for fashion which does not fall short of incorporating the entire color wheel of neons. We just can't get enough. We absolutely adore Sheridan and we know you will too!

Hi readers! I was tickled to bits when S+S asked me to do a Favorite Room Feature. I absolutely adore interior design - and adore our home! - so being able to share a part of my world with you was a real treat. I hope you like what you see!

My first thought was to share our living room...
BUT I have already featured it on my blog a number of times {see the Before and After here if you are interested}, and others have blogged about it as well, so I wanted to do something really fresh for you guys. That lead me to our...

Kitchen!

Our kitchen is where we spend most time as a family. It is definitely the center of our home. Breakfast with the kids {ok so I took away the TWO high chairs for the picture and wiped the baby food off of the table/floor/walls/door handles/fridge....you get the idea} is how we start the day, with the dogs going wild around and around and around the table, Biz reading news on his iPad, Big Squish watching Wall-E on mine his, me trying to teach Miss Munchkin how to eat pureed bananas though most end up on my face...it is beautiful chaos! I love our kitchen :) 

The details are really phenomenal if I do say so myself! Ohhh the backsplash. I think about proposing to it all the time. The tiles are antique and were imported from France. I swear I discover a new animal every day. My favorite is the mother swan with her little baby. Heartsies. The faucet over the range for filling pots is also extremely handy.

The Viking oven and range are fabulous. It is gas and I always feel so old fashioned when I cook on it. I mean, I think I felt that way...it's been so long since I last cooked I can't remember! {Kidding ;) I cooked meat loaf last night actually. Gold star.} I keep my copper tea kettle out on the range all the time, regardless of whether I use it or not. It was a wedding gift and I love seeing it every morning. 

I love the chicken wire on the cabinets!! Again, I am just taken back in time when I sit and stare at them. It makes me want to go buy a farm! 
Farmhouse sink and GORGEOUS blue lapis countertops and backsplash behind the sink. J'adore. Mucho.

On either side of the sink are four curved shelves that are filled to the brim with family photos and special treasures. Makes washing dishes a bit more bearable to be able to look at those ;) 

Just adore the window latches. European to the core.
This is my view out into our back yard from above the sink. 

One of my favorite items that is regularly in the kitchen are these two bottles of tequila. They are empty now...oops...but Biz and I picked them up in Cabo two years ago. They are beautiful to leave out just for decoration, but the best part is that you take off the tops and poof! Instant candle holders!! 

The other side of the kitchen not shown in the first photo holds my favorite piece of furniture I have ever bought...
A cabinet straight off of Anthropologie's website!
I swear we are keeping Justin's in business...

There are swinging doors on either side of the cabinet that lead into the dining room. I just HAD to show you the other side of the doors - officially the dining room doors - as they are exquisite beyond words and I will cry myself to sleep for 46 days straight after we move and they are no longer mine.

Thank you so much for reading! You are more than welcome to come feel cozy in my kitchen any time. Swing by my blog, The Southern Eclectic, for more fashion and interior design fun {and cooking and babies and dogs and more!} I would love for you to enter my current giveaway to win your choice of clothing from my Spring 2011 Collection - visit my website here to see! - and go here for the giveaway and how to enter.

Thanks again for having me ladies! Loved every second of this. Mwah!


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Party in a Post: 4th of July Celebration

For those of you that have decided to host food, drinks and fireworks at your abode for the quickly approaching 4th...this post is for you! We have selected festive trimmings that are sure to make your house the most festive on the block. What 4th of July celebration would be complete without oversized poms, decorated straws, free printables and burger baskets? I mean really! Some of these items are order only, so act fast as we are 6 days out! I mean after all, you are throwing a birthday party for America...you have to make it good. 
1. This drink stirrer diy is super simple and produces fun results. Serve your drinks in a mason jar, add a ribbon stirrer and you are good to go. 
2. The felt garland could be ordered or easily reproduced, it would make the perfect trimming for your party. 
3. Ikea never disappoints. We love the look of this galvanized lantern. For $6.99, whats not to love?! Add a few to a tablescape or suspend them from the ceiling with patriotic ribbon. 
4. Paper straws  make any drink more fun.
5. Must. Make. Flag cake. The tutorial is amaze and that cake is sure to be a winner. 
6. What a fun idea to display your potato salad in clear plastic cups for a quick-grab individual serving. We found these darling gingham napkins to accompany the meal. 
7. How American? Burger baskets and basket liners. Yes, please! We would love to serve up a good burger in those baskets, or maybe some ribs? We also spied these condiment bottles and think they are oh so darling!
8. Decorate with firework lookalikes using these patriotic poms. If your feeling crafty,  make your own. This pom diy is fab!
9. Last but not least, we adore these free 4th of July printables. That's right, we said free. Go getcha some.

Hopefully you find something that tickles your fancy and adds the perfect pop to your 4th of July soiree! A menu that is sure to be a crowd pleaser is on the way for chow this week. Happy Tuesday!

Monday, June 27, 2011

monday musings: must love dogs decor

So as you all are aware of, we are crazy about our dogs. I mean come on, they are a part of our families! We are loving the incorporation of our furry friends into home decor. Whether it be from wall decor, knick knacks or statues, we are dying over it all! Our doggies are quite the interior designers and they are ready to have some input in stylizing some rooms. 

Dog silhouette wall paper. Love it or leave it? We absolutely adore it. Especially in a small space like a powder room. How divine does it look with the intricate and vintage gold mirror? Pretty divine. That is how divine. The contrast of the bright flowers with the black and white room just really adds the right amount of punch. 
{apartment therapy}
So once upon a time, there was a statue in an antique store in Winston Salem, NC that was shaped just like this one. It happens to resemble Stella completely. I absolutely loved the statue but decided to wait to get it. Then one day, I realized I couldn't stand to live without it and I needed it in my life. I returned to the store to find out they had sold it hours before to another gentleman. This picture definitely rubs a little salt in the wound. But hey, its good to see that there are others out there. Such a cute addition to an already darling bookshelf. Jeal. Ous. 
How stately is this oil painting of this dog? Love the dog. Love the frame. Love the thoughtful placement. We are thinking this would be adorable of our girls! 
{decor pad}
Ever since I saw this picture from a visit to the High Point Market, I have been drooling over those mini schnauz heads. Seriously drooling. While I cannot seem to find these exact schnauz wall busts, I found something similar which you can see here. If anyone knows where to find the schnauzies shown, please let me know. Consider this as a flyer you would see for a lost animal. That's how bad I need these. MISSING: Mini Schnauz heads.
{Effortless Style}
DIY doggie silhouettes. Adorbs. What a cute whimsical feel added to this cool vintage and industrial room. Follow the link for the amazingly easy and awesome tutorial. You and your pups will not be disappointed. 
{diy ideas}

Friday, June 24, 2011

S+S chow: creamy avocado chicken salad

So we are in the full swing of Summer folks, and its beyond hot and humid. As of late, all we can seem to bear is light fare. Colorful and fresh veggies have been on our must have list, especially avocados. You name the meal, we have included avocados in every way this season! From guacamole, to sandwiches, to chicken salad....woah!? Chicken salad you say? Umm yeah. That's right. We have the most amazing creamy avocado chicken salad recipe to share with you. Eat seconds...after all its full of veggies. Right? Nom, nom, nom.


Ingredients
1 cup chicken breast, cooked and shredded
¼ cup corn
¼ cup black beans, rinsed and drained
¼ cup green onions, chopped
¼ cup tomatoes, diced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
¼ cup corn chips, crushed
2 tablespoons white vinegar
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
Salt to taste
2-4 avocados, sliced in half with pits discarded

Directions
In a medium bowl, toss the chicken breast, corn, black beans, green onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and corn chips together. Add the vinegar and mayonnaise to mixture and toss to coat. Salt to taste. Spoon salad into halved avocados. Serve immediately with a spoon and fork. Enjoy!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

get the look: kate spade inspired tablescape

From the moment we laid eyes on this tablescape we were sold. It's simple and chic with the perfect touch of whimsy. We knew we had to recreate the look immediately! Although we have no upcoming soirees to plan for we thought maybe one of you would enjoy the sources we found- we'll just call it a party in a post! 



Did you know finding a pink linen tablecloth is next to impossible?! Ya, we didn't either, but seriously, it is. We opted for that gorgeous pink linen fabric at under $12 a yard. The bow napkins could be easily re-created with black ribbon following these directions. We think a ribbon cake would make a festive centerpiece! Follow the tutorial and create one on your own or contact your local bakery. Add a few bud vases filled with some fluffy flowers, sprinkle some sugary gumdrops on the runner and you are ready to play! 

It would be so simple to mix up the colors in this beauty to match any parties style! Make it navy, red and teal for a chic 4th of July bash! Hmm... maybe we do feel a party coming on.. 

So, what do ya think? Would you like to see more parties in a post?? Do you have any looks you're dying to recreate? Do tell!!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Favorite Room Feature: Dwellings by DeVore

Bethany at Dwellings by Devore focuses on amazing DIY projects. We are talking amazing. Pretty sure we need at least one of all of her finished projects. Her master bedroom is no exception to that rule. Prepare to be dazzled. Take it away Bethany!

First, a huge thank you to Sadie and Stella for having me here!  Today I would like to share with you a favorite room in my own home, my master bedroom.
I wanted this space to be comfortable, chic, and relaxing.  As with most of the rooms I design, I started out with an inspiration piece.  In this case, it happened to be this pillow from Target.  I think it's always great to find some sort of fabric, artwork, rug, pillow, etc to pull a room together.  It's amazing how you can design a whole room based on a small thing like a pillow. 


We got our dresser, armior, and nightstands from a friend for F-R-E-E!  It needed some major TLC, but nothing a sander and a new paint job couldn't fix.
Before...

I chose to paint the nightstands in a bold color to give them a little more dimension and to keep everything from looking too "matchy" or like a set from a furniture store.  It's a great way to give things a more collected look, like they were gathered over time.

AFTER




I kept the original brass hardware because it suited the piece so perfectly.


I'm a huge fan of DIY and this room is not lacking in that area. There's something so rewarding about doing something yourself and saving a ton of money in the process! Here are a few DIY's I did to pull our master bedroom together.

These lamps were made from glass vases from Goodwill and ended up costing a total of around $10 to make!


The canopy above our bed was made from IKEA curtain panels and two curtain rods (also from IKEA) mounted to the ceiling.  It was a simple DIY project and makes a big impact for little cost.



My mom is a fabulous DIYer and refinished this chair for us...




All in all we love our master bedroom.  It's serene and comfortable and the perfect place to catch some shut eye after a long day's work.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

pin it to win it.

Alright dear readers, it is time we make an announcement, our Pinterest boards are FINALLY up and running! It's taken us awhile to jump on this bandwagon but now that we've joined the club, we're addicted and we just can't get enough. Yes, like Blackeyed Peas song. But seriously, come find us, here!

Marvelous Monograms

Who doesn't adore a monogram? We've collected some fab monogrammed pieces, at all price points, that would make any room sing. We will take one of each, please! 

Monday, June 20, 2011

monday musings: pom poms

This post goes out to all of you pom pom enthusiasts...and we do not be mean cheerleaders. We love the youthful and whimsical feeling these accessories bring to a space. Whether it be adorning furniture, window coverings, making an appearance at a soiree or even decorating your neck...we can't seem to get enough of the poms. They bring in unexpected pops of color and are the perfect addition to stylize any space.

So this room is a nursery. Lucky, lucky, ducky baby. How amazing is this space? Pretty amazing. This reminds us entirely of an Anthropologie catalog. The multi color poms suspended from the ceiling, absolutely make this space. Adore the sock monkey on the bed. His fabulous-ness definitely competes with that of the poms.
Insanely fun space. From the window...to the wall. Pretty sure that is a Lil Jon song. But seriously, the window coverings are insane. Dramatic cobalt blue velvet drapes trimmed in magenta pom poms? Amazing.
We are loving this canopy bed accessorized with pom pom curtains. This is such a unique use of the pom and we are loving the creativity here. Although utilized in a neutral shade, it adds depth to the room with the dramatic pleated curtains. We love the monogrammed linens as well. Obviously.
A little pom curtain diy for all of you brave Martha Stewart's out there. Literally, this diy is from Martha herself. What a fab use of the pom curtains. Very thoughtful placement, creating a private little office space in a smaller room. 
We had to incorporate party poms into this post. I mean come on. Suspended from trees in an outdoor space? This is gorg. Talk about whimsical. This looks fairytale-esque. Yes. That is a word. These would be simple to recreate with loads of tissue paper. 
So here are some poms for your neck. We are obsessed with these necklaces. So obsessed, that we decided to follow the awesome tutorial listed below. The tutorial creates a single strand pom necklace, but we decided to be brave and recreate the multi strand look shown below. We will share with you all soon. Needless to say, we have a lot of pom trim hanging around the house. 
Again, another diy for all of you crafters out there. What a fun decoration for a fabulous party. Again, has a very Anthropologie like feel to it. This could be great for any event. Loving, loving, adoring.
So what do you all think? Are you into the poms as much as we are? Have you found any fun diy's to share with the group?

Friday, June 17, 2011

S+S chow: summer fruit sangria

Image via William Sonoma

Sangria screams summer to us! There is nothing better than a cool glass of sangria on a summer evening while cooking on the grill, so refreshing! We are crazy about red wine sangria but this white wine recipe from Martha is to. die.

Ingredients:
1 Peach, 1 Nectarine, 1 Plum {Halved, pitted and sliced into 1/2-inch wedges}
16 Cherries {Pitted}
3 Tablespoons Peach liqueur
1 Bottle dry white wine
4 cups ginger ale

In a pitcher combine all of the fruit, liqueur and white wine. Chill for 1 hour or up to overnight. To serve, add chilled ginger ale and ice. Enjoy!

Have a fabulous summer weekend S+S lovers!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

painted treasures

We have all been there: Old furniture piece, needs some loving, has good bones and potential. Why does my description sound like a personal ad? Solution: Paint that bad boy. Give it a fun color and make the old feel new again! 

So we have a few painted furniture projects on our horizon, therefore we thought we would share some fun after images from all of you talented bloggers. We cannot wait to share our afters!

Absolutely divine piece. This truly looks like it would be on some sort of furniture show room. OBSESSED. I don't know what the before was like but I am blown away. 
 Vintage Revivals
Absolutely adore this desk. The contrast of the stark white and the shocking hot pink is absolutely fabulous. Incredible color and incredible shape. What better way to balance it off than a lucite chair? 
 Effortless Style
What a cute dresser! The legs are to die for! So shapely. Again, I sound like I am answering the personal ad that I previously wrote above. I need a weekend. 
Who is dying over this color? We are. Adorable remake of some vintage bedside tables. The obviously had great bones and just needed a little pick me up. 
The chinoiserie feel to this dresser is obviously fabulous. A nice coat of red made this dresser extremely fabulous and chic. This has become a statement piece for any room and we just adore it.  
Turquoise entryway table!! This table has amazing detail and also packs an ethnic feel. Styled thoughtfully with that insane Pier 1 mirror. I have wanted that mirror going on more than a year now. Maybe I should just break down and buy it.
Love the remake of this retro dresser. We love how the adorned the top of the piece with an intricate greek key design. So chic!
 Centsational Girl
What is not to love about this dresser? There is such a vintage feel to it and you have to know it has a lot of history. Add a wild and fun color and it is on its way to make more history!