A Tour of 504 Main

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Front Door = Home Page

Living Room = Writing, General Conversation, Giveaways

Kitchen = Recipes and Entertaining

Design Room = DIY, Craft, Creative Endeavors

Neighbors = Blog Roll and Buttons {under construction}

If you have any questions, email me:

holly504main@yahoo.com

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Too Good To Eat Off?

I {heart} this project so much I am jumping on The DIY Show Off''s blog to join the Fall Festival


Do I dare tell on myself...OK why not...A year ago I was checking out the local craft store and saw this really striking project...a glass silhouette plate. I fell in love because I {heart} silhouettes. Of course I had to make it...and this was the one project I had only a couple of the supplies for (which is too surprising for even me to believe!). I bought all the necesary supplies with the intent of going home to make thousands of plates...for everyone...NEVER HAPPENED.

Fast forward one year...a stack of glass plates, a bunch of paint, and I still {heart} silhouettes. I broke out the goods. I am having a little (very little) Halloween soiree and I said to myself, "Self, let's make some platters and dishes with a Halloween theme?" (I always love the answer myself gives to me!) So, here is the result and the DIY scoop.

Too Cool DIY {SPOOKY} Silhouette Plate
This plate can be customized with a monogram, a special motif…pretty much anything you want that can be done in silhouette style. If you want to check out a sample of a cool monogrammed plate (I am making one for the kids to use on their Birthdays), go to Hip, Stylish & Totally Cool Weddings- a glam guide for the savvy bride.

I tried to crackle the skull plate...don't do it...not my fave result.

Supplies

1. Glass cake plate (you could do it on a bigger plate, but the smaller works better for the cake)
2. Enamel paint in black (paint for glass...make sure it is opaque)
3. Paint brush
4. Enamel spray paint in white (or your choice of color)
5. Clear acrylic sealer in gloss
6. Design, such as a monogram, silhouette, motif
7. Masking tape
8. Permanent marker with fine tip (Like a Sharpie)

Directions

1. Clean: the back of the glass plate with soap and water, a cleaning solution, or rubbing alcohol to get it really clean.
2. Design: Search for free clip art, silhouette clip art on the Internet) of just “blow up your monogram/initials in any word processing program to the size you want and print it out. I actually used Microsoft Publisher, made a text box that was 4.5 x 4.5 and typed my “L” into it. Then adjusted font style and size until it fit in the box (and thus on the plate) they way I like it. NOTE: It may be necessary to print “mirror image” so that the letter, etc. is pointing the way you want.
3. Cut: Trim up the paper to be a size that is easily taped to the plate.
4. Tape: Using masking tape, affix the image to the front side of the plate, centered or placed however you prefer. (see photo below)
5. Trace: On the back side of the plate, use a permanent marker (such as a sharpie) to trace the outline of the design.Remove image and tape…it will be easier to see the outline better.
6. Paint: Begin painting with the black paint, within the outline of the image. Finish painting and leave to dry completely. (see photo below)
7. Clean: When you know it is all dry, gently clean the back of the plate again to get any smudges, etc. that may have gotten on the plate during the black painting layer.
8. Prep: Cover a well-ventilated area with newspaper, paper bags, or a drop cloth and set your dry plate on it with the backside (painted side) facing up.
9. Spray: With even strokes, spray the white paint. You may need to let it dry and spray again. (see photo below)
10. Let dry completely. DO NOT put the painted side down, stack the plate, etc. until you finish the next step with the sealer...it will chip!
11. When dry, again, using protective covering for your work area, spray the back with the acrylic sealer.
12. Let dry completely…and Voila! A super cute silhouette plate!

Yes! You can eat off of this plate...all the paint is on the back.

I recommend gently handwashing it.

See bottom of the post for Tips!
Here are some photo of the process.

Step 4 and 5

Step 6

Step 9

Tips

1. Patience is key. This DIY is not hard if you have patience. If you don't (like me), it is easy to smudge and chip the plate. AGAIN LET EACH LAYER DRY COMPLETELY!
2. Let each step of the painting process dry thoroughly (seriously I cannot say this enough).
3. Do not move your plate while spraying the color on the back…until it is dry.
4. Do not move the plate while spraying the sealer on the plate…until it is dry.
5. If any paint gets on the rim or front of the plate, it can be removed with a gentle rubbing...I used Goof Off to get off a stubborn area. This should be done after sealing.
6. Pick your deisgn based on your artistic level. For example, I have a bold hand, so fine details were not in the cards for me, but I have seen one with finer details...AMAZING!

If you try this…Let me know, I’d love to see a photo!

Click here for the link to the orignal (video) instructions (not made by me or anyone I know from Beverly's Arts and Crafts!)

Have Fun!

Holly

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Grab a Cocktail and Join the Party!

Woooo-whoooo!

It is my turn at Willoughby's Blog Style Cocktail Party.

A BIG thanks to Willoughby for inviting me and for hosting

this FABULOUS cocktail party for bloggers.

I have been introduced to so many new blogs.

It has been great fun...Yipppeee!

So go on over, grab a cocktail (or a coffee)
 and join the party at This Stop Willoughby!

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What's Hiding in Your Closet?

My Paternal Great-Grandmother

When it comes to my past and mementos from it, there isn't much. Many (well you could even say most) of the older generation passed away long before I could even begin to realize how important their stories were. I do have a few items which mean a lot to me...a hope chest, some gumball machines, a quilt, but one of my most treasured possessions is a family album. All you scrapbookers out their would just pass out if you saw it - sticky pages in a three-ring binder - but it works and frankly I have thought about transferring the photos, but some of them are simply stuck, perhaps forever.

Recently, my son was asked, as part of the Cub Scout pack, to be a part of the flag salute at a city council meeting (yeah, the one where they flipped a coin to decide who was going to be mayor). Oh, this kid LOVES (could not use {heart} there..he would kill me...too girly!) being a Cub Scout, so even though we were leaving in a couple of days and I had not packed at all and we had about 2,000 things already going on, we some how made it to the council meeting so he could be a part of this ceremony. I am glad we did, he was so proud.

This got me thinking about one of the photos in my treasured album. A simple photo of two kids holding the American flag and saluting. It is so All-American (which I {heart}!). I wish I knew the story behind the photo, but alas, I never will.

So, I ask what is your most treasured heirloom or memory? How do you hang on to your pieces of the past (the good pieces...this is not therapy!)? I would love to hear your stories.

Enjoy!
Holly

PS - Some fun Halloween stuff coming. Yeah, I know, could I wait any longer?!

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Unquestionably Good Pumpkin Bread

Once upon a time, I was a fashion designer, and I worked for a man with very questionable ethics. He also employed some other men with very questionable ethics. The first year I worked there, one of the questionable men came into the design room with packages for all of us. For the most part, my rule is beware of questionable men bearing gifts, however once I (well, all of us who were working in the design room) opened the package, we forgot about his questionable traits...for a little while....

...for inside this package was some of the most divine pumpkin bread I have ever eaten. Truly spectacular....so much so that this incident happened 15 years ago and I still make this bread regularly (I think about the source of the recipe as little as possible). So, since I am very into pumpkins and we all have to eat, I thought I would share it.

This recipe makes a ton (not literally, duh!) of bread or muffins. It is a great recipe for bake sales, teacher appreciation days, and other big group events. Now, if you read the story, you know this recipe did not originate with me. I have the original recipe this man gave me, but have no idea where he got it from. So, there you have it...he cannot come after me anyway... his questionable ways caught up to him!

Unquestionably Good Pumpkin Bread
Combine:
3 cups sugar (the original calls for 4 1/2, but I reduced it to 3 and don't notice a difference in taste)
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce or oil (use the applesauce, I do!)
6 eggs or equivalent egg substitute
Beat above well...
Add 1 cup water
Beat again

Sift together:
5 1/4 cups flour (I use white whole wheat or a combo of whole wheat and white whole wheat)
2 1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (add more if you like cinnamon)
2 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 1/4 tsp. (or to taste) ginger (optional)
2 1/4 tsp. (or to taste) pumpkin pie spice (optional)
3 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Add to mix and blend

Add:
1 Large can of pumpkin

Optional add-ins:
1 1/2 cups raisins or nuts or a combo
or
1 1/2 cups mini (or regular) chocolate chips
or
1 1/5 cups dried cranberries and pecans

Grease loaf pans and fill 2/3 full
Bake at 350 for 1 hour
or
Line muffin tin with cups (or grease cups) and fill 1/2 to 2/3 full
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Yield:
3-4 regular size loaves
10+ mini loaves
Lots of muffins! Just realized I never counted...oops!

Last time I made this, I yielded 2 large loaves, 4 mini loaves, and 2 1/2 dozen muffins.

NOTE: I am very "into" making recipes healthier...but have not tried using any other sugar substitutes or flour substitutes (I think brown rice flour would work well)...maybe later....for now, I am just enjoying some Unquestionably Good Pumpkin Bread and hope you do too!

Enjoy!
Holly

P.S. You may notice I use Jules's photo in (probably) way too many posts, but she is there and a good prop and Joe doesn't like taking pictures!

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Home Sweet Home

In my mind I am a world traveler....unafraid to jump on a plane and take off to a fascinating destination at a moments notice. In reality, I am a homebody. And, yes, a week ago I proclaimed I {heart} L.A., and I do...but I love HOME!

As I was driving, I was thinking about my home. My home is the rolling golden hills of California and the crashing waves along the coast (my favorite part of the drive is between Ventura and Carpinteria where you drive right alongside the Pacific Ocean). It is the busy streets and glamour of Los Angeles. Most importantly home is the foggy little peninsula and the house with the purple door.

My home isn't perfect (I gave up on that in favor of my sanity...and apparently blogging)...it needs a new master bathroom (Can you just imagine saloon doors? OK, they are gone now, but they were there!), the kitchen tile is atrocious, the grass is a little brown, and there is plenty of dog hair to go around.

Yet, when I drive up to the house, I hear the "sniff, sniff" at the door waiting for me, my favorite picture hanging on the wall, the smell of my favorite candle, and again all is well with the world....my world. The one where my kids make messes and laughter, where I stay up too late, and where, when the sun sets on the deck, it is pretty darn near perfect...especially if chocolate chip cookies have just finished baking in the oven!

What welcomes you home?


Just for fun...
This is what I see when I get off the big highway and on the little highway that takes me to the peninsula...just look and see if you see what others see...

P.S. Sideshow Doug took this photo...he and his lovely wife Melissa were the ones who first noticed it.

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Sunday Stealing

It is Sunday Stealing time. Go to Sunday Stealing to play along...

This ABC meme is from a blogger named Maggie from Mind of a Mad Woman.

Sunday Stealing: The ABC's of Meme

A- Advocate for: Kids

B- Best Feature: Eyes

C- Could do without: Barney, attitude

D- Dreams and desires: Contentment and Margaritas, followed by a Mocha

E- Essential items: Makeup, Mochas, the perfect dark jeans

F- Favorite past time: apparently blogging

G- Good at: being cynical and crafty

H- Have never tried: to snow ski

I- If I had a million dollars: Spend a little then invest it...that is my accountant husband speaking!

J- Junkie for: Magazines, books, Internet, paper/office products, scrapbook supplies

K- Kindred spirit: (crickets chirping)

L- Little known fact: Named after a carburetor (is that how you spell it?)

M- Memorable moment: Birth of my babies (I know, expected, but I remember every moment and word)

N- Never again will I: Say "Never!"

O- Occasional indulgence: S'mores

P- Profession: author/wedding planner

Q- Quote: "Second place is the first loser." Don't know who said it...guessing a football coach or something.

R- Reason to smile: Munckins (especially when they are sleeping...or laughing)

S- Sorry about: Overscheduling and complaining (I don't have anything to major to complain about)

T- Things you are worrying about right now: Finding time to do it all, raising my munckins correctly

U- Uninterested in: Football and celebrity crap

V- Very scared of: death

W- Worst habits: biting nails, drinking too much coffee at all hours

Y- Yummiest dessert: Mud Pie

X- X marks my ideal vacation spot: Maui

Z- Zodiac sign: Aries

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While I Was Away...More Awards

I may leave town more often if things like this continue to happen...

While I was sunning (not really, it poured rain, but it doesn't sound as good) myself in L.A. and my hubby was powerless (really no electricity) in PG, I received two awards. Wooooo-whoooo! Yes, thank you, I will give myself a little cheer.

First up, Tattoos and Teething Rings honored me with the I Give Good Blog Award. I just love it! She has some really terrific and timely posts happening over at her place and it a great commenter...so if you have not already done it...go check her out!

 

The rules for accepting the award are that I must pass it on to four more blogs. There are so many blogs that I LOVE and bloggers that I LOVE, so this is not easy. I figure the best way to spread the love is to pass it on to some othe rnew bloggers...so they can spread the love. I have selected this ladies and gentleman for many reason, so just go check them out.

Cynthia at Running with Letters

Matty at Matty Thoughts

Holly at In the Kitchen with Holly

Laura at My Best Day Ever

 

And the story continues...

Erin over at The Mother Load honored me with the Honest Scrap Award. I am totally blown away. If you have not checked out her blog, you must do it...insightful, funny and witty!

The rules of this award require me to list 10 things you may not know about me. So here it goes:

1. I wanted to be a wedding gown designer when I was seven…I still do, and hope to have that chance someday.
2. Patience is not one of my virtues (I skipped that line and went straight to the OCD line), so being a mom is the hardest thing I have ever done. I try every day to be a better mother. I love my kids more than everything and the sound of their laughter is the single best thing on earth.
3. I am a rules person, and people who preach the rules but then think the rules do not apply to them drive me insane. I think the idea of personal responsibility needs to be revisited. (That's my soap box for today)
4. I was a Big Sister in Los Angeles, and I loved it. I think Big Brothers/Big Sisters is one of the best organizations ever. I woudl love to do more charity work, but there is just not that much time right now...so instead fo time I donate coats/money/whatever I can do to help.
5. My father took mu future hubby aside after we got engaged and asked him if he was sure he wanted to do this because “My daughter can be a b****.”
6. My junior year english teaxcher told me I could write, but I didn;t care...I was goign to be a fashion designer. I skipped all that stuff...but since then, I have written four books and am on the fifth.
7. I have been on a few TV shows as a wedding planning expert. It was fun, but not all it is cracked up to be.
8. I always wanted to take piano, but never got to. Instead of $$ a month for piano, my parents spent $$$$$$ a year on ice hockey for my brother. Yes, I am bitter, and yes my parents know I am.
9. I love serial killer documentaries and TV shows. My husband tells everyone if he disappears I did it. Honestly, I wouldn’t do it yet, he needs more life insurance.
10. I refused to go to a concert until the Go-Go’s got back together, so when they did Lesley took me for my b’day. Since then I have only been to four adult concerts (Go-Go’s, Eagles, Garth Brooks x2). I have seen the Wiggles three times and Charlotte Diamond three times…aren’t you jealous?

 

Passing it on to:

Low Expectations

The McDonald World
Dirty Little Confessions
Tattoos and Teething Rings

 

P.S. I am having some serious computer issues...sorry it took so long to get this out and excuse any crazy typos or formatting....it has refused to save this post 4 times and I am DONE!

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Friday Fill-ins

Just got Home from an L.A./Monterey Road trip with the munchkins. Let's see if I can still type...

Good Trip, but soooo happy to be home, even if I just had to throw out a refrigerator full of food - no power for 2.5 days while I was gone!

Did I mention I was happy to be home...You may detect a theme here...

Friday Fill-Ins #146

And...here we go!

1. So are we going home yet?

2. HOME is what's up ahead.

3. I love to hang out on my deck.

4. Craziness of some sort.

5. I walk a long winding road with lots of loop-de-loops.

6. Sunshine is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, tomorrow my plans include shopping and Sunday, I want to scrap or craft!

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Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes!

My kids and I love breakfast for dinner...

my hubby, well, that is another story.

So, whenever daddy is working late or out of town,

the kids and I make breakfast for dinner.

Our absolute FAVORITE is Pumpkin Pancakes.

Yes, we all know I like to look at pumpkins,

but I love to eat them too!

I am not quite sure where I got this recipe.

I don't usually make up my own recipes,

but rather tweak them. Just as an FYI, when I googled

"pumpkin pancakes," a similar one came up on about.com

(click here for their recipe).

I have some yummy additions however! So, with no further adieu...

Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes

DRY

2 Cups White-Whole Wheat Flour (or all-purpose)

1/4 cup Ground Flax Seed (optional)

2 TBLSPN Brown Sugar

1 TBLSPN Baking Powder

1 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 1/4/ tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger (optional)

1 tsp salt

WET

1 egg

1/2 cup pumpkin ( canned or fresh...just be sure it is smooth)

1 3/4 cup milk

2 TBLSPN Vegetable or Canola Oil

A Very Optional Ingredient...

Chocolate Chips!...preferably mini-chocolate chips

(isn't everything better with chocolate!)

Mix the dry ingredients together

Mix the wet ingredients together

Add the dry to the wet, gradually

The batter is thick...and the pancakes are too.

Now, this part is very technical...

...Heat up the griddle/pan and cook like regular pancakes!

Makes about 8-10 depending on size of pancakes.

I add the chocolate chips prior to flipping.

Serve with your favorite toppings.

These pancakes are so good my kids

eat them for a couple of days like cookies!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

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I {Heart} L.A.

I truly do {heart} L.A.

You might think I am crazy, but this is my homeland...born and bred.

And, yes, that could also explain a lot...

So, I am off this week visiting L.A. and my family and friends.

We love coming to visit..it has been 4 years since we moved,

and I still really miss it...I know, call me crazy!

I thank you all for stopping by...please keep on coming,

but just so you know, the posts and commenting will be sporadic,

as my parents do not have wireless so I am sitting on a stool

with the Mac perched on to of a home copier,

praying I do not wake the kiddos.

Not sure what we are doing...

every time we visit my son asks to go to China Town...

Will we make it this time? Who knows?

He also likes to take Grandma and Grandpa

to Long Beach to play games at Shoreline Village

...yes that one is probably happening.

Disneyland is on the list, but we were just there.

So I am hoping the bribe of the new

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Book

and a round of miniature golf with only mommy

(Joe LOVES miniature golf)

will work instead...and I should be about $250.00 ahead.

I had a few posts already prepared...Pumpkin pancakes anyone?

See, I was just whetting your appetite with Sunday Stealing.

Regularly scheduled posting and commenting

will begin again at the end of the week.

Have a great week!

Holly...

Lost in L.A. and lovin' it!

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