Tuesday, August 30, 2011

365 Challenge: 5.5-5.11

Pretty flowering trees just outside our apartment

Me? Plant seeds? We'll see how this goes...

I may not have a green thumb, but at least my gardening gloves are cute!

Childhood memories <3

On a lovely evening walk with my husband

Make a wish...

hehe


Be sure to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

*** This Giveaway is now closed ***

The wonderful designers at Shabby Apple have offered Lovely Little Nest readers a dress giveaway!! The gorgeous dress up for grabs is the Mariposa Grove:


I chose this lovely dress for its vibrant color and beautiful petal details along the neckline. I just wish I could have it for myself!

To enter this giveaway:

{1} Stop by Shabble Apple and leave a comment on this post with your favorite item

{2} For an extra entry, blog about this giveaway and post a link-back

The giveaway is only available to US residents. All entries must be submitted on or before Sunday, September 4th, 11:59pm EST.

Shabby Apple is also offering a 10% off coupon to all Lovely Little Nest readers that will be good for 30 days! Just enter littlenest10off at checkout. Be sure to peruse all of their lovely merchandise!

Good luck! :)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Dying to Paint

We live in an apartment. A nicely sized apartment with vaulted ceilings, crown molding, granite countertops...and boring, WHITE walls.

OK, so they're technically off-white. But it KILLS ME that we haven't painted them! We painted almost every room in our old apartment and were so glad we did...until it came time to priming them for future tenants. Needless to say, my husband made me agree that I would not, under any circumstances, ask him to paint our new apartment.

Wahhh! I wish we had painted. I know it would have taken a TON of work, but there is nothing like charcoal  walls to make a dining room feel romantic or pale aquamarine walls to make a bathroom feel like a spa. *sigh*

Now, we are slowly beginning the process of house-hunting, which means painting our current apartment is definitely not an option. So, I suppose I'll have to be content with lusting over my fellow bloggers' gorgeous, painted homes:


Love the painted ceiling

That teal wall is killing me!

We know I am a sucker for anything gray {and I love that B&W striped rug!}

What about you? Do you have any beautifully painted rooms for me to covet?


P.S. So, I live in Eastern Pennsylvania, and in case you haven't heard, we are expecting a Hurricane. Unless I am swept out to sea, be expecting a giveaway from Shabby Apple on Monday!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Delaware

The husband and I live in Northern Pennsylvania, just 15 minutes from the Delaware border. Here, let me translate that for you into a little Math equation:

Delaware + Minimal/No Taxes = HOUSE HUNTING!!!

We're not seriously shopping yet {AKA we don't have a realtor}, but it's been fun browsing on zillow and trulia! Here's to dreaming of having a home where I can finally paint my front door...


What about you? Loving your apartment? Ready to get a house? Already own your own home?


P.S. Stay tuned for a {fabulous giveaway} Monday morning!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

365 Challenge: 4.26-5.4

pretties just outside our apartment

easy peasy date night in with the husband

homemade birthday cream puffs for ben! they took for-e-ver but were totally worth it!

my Kindergarteners' handiwork

brother-in-law at the Phillies game, representing my favorite beverage

Ben and his dad, just before the following day's 14 inning game...my mother-in-law decided to watch a chick flick and have dinner at Five Guys instead...I'm definitely glad about that now!

some fun sodas I got for ben ~ we are very proud of where we live :)

my new-to-me car!!! Oh frank, how I love you!

a beautiful early moon

Be sure to stop by my photography blog to check out a recent maternity session I shot!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Lovelies

Just a few home interior pictures I stumbled upon for us all to drool over on this lovely day...






Seriously, how fun is that navy/turquoise combo?!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

365 Challenge: 4.14-4.25

So....I'm a Little behind on my 365 Challenge posts...

Thermos, gifted to Ben by my sister, thefted by me. ;)

Still can't believe my little sis is 24!

Corner of our Master Bedroom

Hot Dog! Lunch with Benj at Jimmy Johns.

Newlyweds at a cute little bar in Media, PA.

My Kindergarteners' little plants are finally growing!

Buds, about to bloom.

Spring lovelies

I heart America

Unfortunately, this sandwich did not taste as good as it looked...

Easter brunch at Mendenhall Inn

A pretty bed of tulips near work


P.S. Check out the new Maternity session pics I just posted at Natalie Wagner Photography...

Yum Yum Sauce

There is this heavenly dipping sauce that they have at most Japanese restaurants. I've heard it called shrimp sauce, white sauce, seafood sauce, but at our favorite take-out Japanese restaurant in Lynchburg, Virginia {Osaka's}, they call it "yum yum sauce" and it lives up to its name! We drown our rice/chicken/ice cream {not really...though it might be worth a try!} in this delicious sauce. Unfortunately, since moving to the Philadelphia suburbs, we've found a few sauces that have tasted similar, but none that have really compared with the incredible, zingy favor. So, I've scoured the internet in hopes of finding a similar recipe that can fill the void. Here is a recipe that seems like it might actually come close:

Japanese White Sauce
1-1/4 cupHellmann's mayonnaise *
1/4 cupwater
1 teaspoontomato paste
1 tablespoonmelted butter
1/2 teaspoongarlic powder
1 teaspoonsugar
1/4 teaspoonpaprika
dashcayenne pepper

Using a fork or a whisk, blend all ingredients together thoroughly until well mixed and the sauce is smooth. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.

The sauce will NOT taste right if you don't let it sit overnight. And please don't try to substitute ketchup for the tomato paste! The water is needed to bring this to the right consistency. 

I don't know how long this keeps in the refrigerator; I've kept it 7-10 days, but I always wind up eating it all before 10 days so after that - anyone's guess.

* Hellmann's is called "Best Foods" west of the Rockie Mountains. Use other mayos at your peril - many cheap brands make the sauce taste too much like mayo. 



http://www.japanese-steakhouse-white-sauce.com/white-sauce-recipe.htm

I love that you HAVE to use Hellmann's mayo. You know I'm a condiments label snob. ;)

This pic was taken on our last trip to Osaka's. Do you like his fake smile? This was probably the 85th picture I'd taken that day, so I can't say that I blame him. ;)

Are there any must-have foods/sauces/drinks that you can only find in one place? Have you ever attempted to make it yourself? If so, how did it turn out?
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