Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Recipes

Thursday
Aug / 28 / 2014
Comments 59

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake combines two of my favorite flavors into one epic dessert recipe! You’re going to love it too!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

After spending much of this week working on my basement stairwell, I needed a break from painting. I had the overwhelming urge to bake this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake even though I’m doing everything in my power not to go into full-on “fall baking mode.” It’s tough, but I’m trying to wait until September. (Yes, IBC’s Third Annual Fall Cookie Week will be happening in September.)

As you may know, I’m rather fanatic about the flavor combination of chocolate and peanut. (I know some of you share that love, too.) This cake is the perfect late-summer / early-fall dessert. Right? Eh, who am I kidding, I could eat this anytime of the year.

How to Make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

One thing I love about this cake is that it’s incredibly simple. It’s made in a fluted tube pan, and it’s drizzled with a peanut butter glaze. Seriously, there’s nothing fancy here, but the final result is stunning. I love when rustic and homemade can still look like a million bucks! That’s my kind of baking.

I’d also like to point out, that when you make this, only fill your pan 3/4 of the way full. Depending on the size of your pan, you may have some extra batter. I made the mistake of filling mine almost to the top. Bad idea, Michael. Bad idea. Major spillage, smoke, and an oven to clean. So, do as I say, not as I did.

Don’t throw that extra batter away, however. Make some cupcakes, peanut butter cake, or a mini loaf. Use it all; just don’t try to squeeze it into your fluted pan. Okay?

Well, that’s it. I’m off to deliver this cake to friends and family. The temptation to eat the whole thing with a ginormous glass of milk is way too tempting.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Like this chocolate peanut butter cake recipe? You’ll love these too!

What do you think? Do you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate as much as I do? Will you give this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake a try?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Recipe:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cake, chocolate, chocolate cake, peanut butter

Servings:

Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Chocolate - Peanut Butter Cake #peanutbutter #cake #recipe #dessert

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This Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake combines two of my favorite flavors into one epic dessert recipe! You're going to love it too!

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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter - softened
2 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups milk
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate - melted and cooled
1 cup creamy peanut butter

Peanut Butter Glaze:

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
4-5 tablespoons half & half - or enough to achieve a thick drizzling consistency

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Then grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Then, in a stand mixer (or large bowl and hand mixer) beat butter on a medium speed for one minute. Slowly add the sugar and beat until combined. (About four minutes.) Next, slowly add the eggs, one at a time. Scrape the bowl as necessary. Beat in sour cream and vanilla.
Once incorporated, add the flour mixture and milk alternatively until just combined.
Transfer half of the batter (3 1/2 cups) to a medium bowl. Then, stir in the melted chocolate. Stir the peanut butter into the other half of the batter.
Using a separate spoon for each batter, alternatively drop spoonfuls of the chocolate and peanut butter into your pan. Use a knife or spatula to swirl the batter together. Do not over mix. (Fill your pan 3/4 of the way full. If batter remains, use it in another smaller pan or for cupcakes.)
Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, remove from the pan to continue cooling.
In the meantime, make your peanut butter glaze. In a bowl with an electric mixer, combine the powdered sugar, peanut butter, and enough half & half to create a thick drizzle.
When your cake is cooled, drizzle with peanut butter glaze.

Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 773kcal • Carbohydrates: 92g • Protein: 14g • Fat: 41g • Saturated Fat: 19g • Trans Fat: 1g • Cholesterol: 97mg • Sodium: 429mg • Potassium: 376mg • Fiber: 4g • Sugar: 63g • Vitamin A: 716IU • Vitamin C: 1mg • Calcium: 150mg • Iron: 3mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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How to: Polish Brass

DIY

Wednesday
Aug / 27 / 2014
Comments 4

Okay, it’s no secret that brass and gold are coming back in when it comes to home decor. Anyone who reads IBC knows that I have a tiny obsession with the trend. I really have been doing my best to control my urge to put gold and brass everywhere.

While gold and brass are trendy right now, they’ve obviously been around for years. A lot of our favorite home decor stores carry new brass accessories, but you can also pick up some fabulous antique / vintage items for a steal. Whether you’re shopping at a thrift store, antique shop, or online, keep your eyes open for all things brass. And when you are looking, don’t be dissuaded by a little tarnish. Most vintage pieces may appear weathered, dirty, and dull at first glance, but with a bit of elbow grease and polish they can look like a million bucks!

I recently found this set of brass andirons for my fireplace. I paid $25 for the set.

As you can see, they have been well-loved and used. I wanted to get them cleaned up, so I thought I’d take you through my process for polishing brass.

You’re going to need a few things:
Bar Keeper’s Friend
brass polish
rags
scratch-free sponge
tooth brush
a little muscle

Before I start polishing, I like to clean the piece. Bar Keepers Friend is the best for this. As both a cleanser and a polisher, it’s a great way to start the polishing process. I use these scratch-free sponges from Scotch Bright with the Bar Keeper’s Friend. With a little water, just scrub away.

Keep in mind that neither the cleaner nor the polisher is a miracle worker. You’re going to need to put some muscle in to it to get your piece sparkling.

You can use a toothbrush to scrub any tight areas you can’t reach with a sponge.

Once, thoroughly cleaned, dry off your piece. Then, using a clean rag, apply the polish. Again, use some elbow grease. The more you polish the piece, the brighter it will shine. As before, use a toothbrush to get into any areas you can’t get into with your rag.

I like to leave the polish on the piece for a few minutes until it starts to dry. Then, using another rag, rub the polish off. After that, rinse your piece in water.

At this point, the brass probably won’t be perfect, but you should notice a huge difference. Depending on the amount of tarnish, you may may need to repeat this process a few times.

Again, the more muscle and time you give it, the better the results.

For these andirons, I went through this process two times.

As you can see, there’s a big improvement from where I started.

Now they look pretty incredible, right?

It probably wouldn’t hurt to polish them one more time; however I was happy with the results. As much as I love perfectly polished brass, I find that minor imperfections add character and charm.

Other things to keep in mind when polishing…
Sometimes brass pieces come apart to make polishing easier. Especially candlesticks.
When cleaning and polishing, turn your piece upside down, so you don’t miss anything.
It’s probably a good idea to wear gloves when using the polish. Also, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area, and avoid touching your eyes.

You’ll probably need to polish your brass items annually. After the initial cleaning, future polishings should be much easier.

That’s it! I hope this little “how to” will encourage you to look for vintage brass items. You can get some fab deals if you’re wiling to give pieces a little love when you get them home.

If you liked this project, check out my Paint Dipped Brass Candlesticks:

Click here for the tutorial!

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Caramel Apple Martini

Recipes

Tuesday
Aug / 26 / 2014
Comments 30

Easy and delicious, this Caramel Apple Martini is one of my favorite fall cocktails. The best part? You only need three ingredients to make it!

I realize that I’m focusing on fall a little early, but I hope you’ll forgive me. It’s my favorite time of year, and it seems to go by way too quickly.

Caramel Apple Martini:

In the fall, one of the most comforting flavor combinations (other than pumpkin with almost anything) is caramel and apple. As we head into autumn, I plan to gobble up as many of these fall flavors as possible. That’s why today, we are asking up this Caramel Apple Martini!

Because of my love for all things fall, entertaining at this time of year is something I greatly look forward to. From the cooking to the decorating, hosting a get-together is an opportunity to do many of the things I love. And one of these is coming up with a unique cocktail.

Inspired by the season ahead, I developed a Caramel Apple Martini for my first (and maybe every) fall gathering.

How to make a Caramel Apple Martini:

When it comes to cocktails, my rule of thumb is to keep things simple. Using only a few really good ingredients makes everything easy and allows the flavors to shine. I’m showing you this recipe with two different rims.

One is caramel; the other is cinnamon sugar. While both are delicious, I prefer the caramel.

Simple and so-o-o good!

This has quickly become one of my favorite new drinks. It’s a little on the sweet side, so it would pair very nicely with a salty appetizer. It could even finish up a meal as a substitute for a sweet dessert.

You also could easily mix up a big batch of this and allow your guests to shake up a martini whenever they’re ready for another glass. I also like the fact that you could make this into a kid-friendly mocktail by just shaking up some apple cider and serving it in a rimmed glass. Great fun for the younger folks!

Now, go grab these ingredients and get shakin’!

Are you as ready for the colors, scents, and flavors of fall as I am? What excites you most about the golden days of autumn?

If you liked this fall cocktail, you’ll love these:

Caramel Apple Martini Recipe:

Caramel Apple Martini

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: caramel apple, fall cocktail, martini

Servings:

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Caramel Apple Cider Martini | Inspired by Charm for Red Envelope

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Easy and delicious, this Caramel Apple Martini is one of my favorite fall cocktails. The best part? You only need three ingredients to make it!

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Ingredients

2 ounces Apple Cider
2 ounces Caramel Vodka
1 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
Sliced fresh apple caramel, and / or cinnamon sugar for garnish.

Instructions

Rim your martini glass with caramel or cinnamon sugar. To get the cinnamon sugar to stick to the glass, dip the rim in a little apple cider, then the cinnamon sugar.
Combine the apple cider, caramel vodka, and butterscotch schnapps in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.
Pour mixture into the rimmed martini glass and garnish with a slice of fresh apple.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 230kcal • Carbohydrates: 13g • Protein: 1g • Fat: 1g • Saturated Fat: 1g • Sodium: 3mg • Potassium: 58mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 12g • Vitamin A: 1IU • Vitamin C: 1mg • Calcium: 5mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Wanderlust Gallery Wall

DIY, Interiors

Friday
Aug / 22 / 2014
Comments 33

I’m happy to report that the gallery wall in my living room is complete! As you may know, I’m on a mission to get art on the walls of my living room and office. A couple weeks ago I decided to create a large drama-filled gallery wall above my sofa in the living room. (Click here for the details on the frames and how I hung them.)

The theme for this new gallery wall is wanderlust – places that I’ve visited and places where I want to go. One of my goals for the year is to travel a bit more. I’m always on the hunt for inspiration, and traveling seems to be a wonderful way to soak in the personality of a place. To help make my travel goals a reality, I’ve teamed up with Carnival Cruise Lines to share a few posts on IBC over the next few months. From cocktails to gallery walls, I’ll be sharing ideas inspired by some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.

To get my wanderlust gallery wall started, I used several photographs that I took myself (you may recognize the images from my trips to Ireland, California, and Oregon). I also purchased a couple on Etsy. Ultimately, I’d like to fill the entire wall with my own photography. I’m hoping that will be possible with some of this year’s travel plans.

I’m all about creating artwork that is personal. Using my photography is a great way to create inexpensive artwork that is meaningful.

I use Photoshop Lightroom to edit all of my photos here on IBC. It’s a less -expensive and less-complicated version of Photoshop. I played around with the colors, brightness, and saturation to make my pictures look a bit more artistic and colorful. I also tried to choose pictures that would complement my current decor.

In the photo above the image on the left is the altered image. As you can see there is more color in the sky, the wood in the dock is more visible, the sky is more colorful near the horizon, and the image is sharper.

Once I had my photos printed (I used Walmart), I laid them out on the floor to get an idea of where I wanted them on the wall.

After that, I loaded up the frames, and in no time my gallery wall was complete.

I took a picture as I was making progress with filling my frames. Remember last time I mentioned I ordered bright white mats instead of the off-white ones included with the frame? Can you see the difference? I prefer the bright white mats so much better. It works better with the room and makes the photographs pop!

Now, for the finished wall!

What do you think?

I was a little bit nervous about using my own photography. However, once it’s matted and put behind a frame, it’s amazing how professional it looks.

What I particularly love about this gallery wall is that I can change it whenever I’d like. While I’m certainly pleased with the gallery wall as is, when I travel to new destinations, I can add new pictures to keep the wall feeling fresh and inspired.

Speaking of new destinations, as I was checking out the Carnival site, one of the places I’m most excited to visit is Belize (located in Central America off the Caribbean Sea). My friends and I were recently talking about planning a vacation, and Belize was one of our top choices. However, getting there is a little more complicated when you’re not arriving on a cruise ship. So, visiting with Carnival is going to be ah-mazing. Belize, puh-lease!

How are you loving my wanderlust gallery wall? If you could hop on a cruise ship, what places would you want to visit?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS SPACE, CHECK OUT THE LINKS BELOW:

A New Couch – Sectional
Rug and Blinds
Hanging Rattan Chair
Coffee Table Styling
Paint Colors
Other Living Room Sources

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Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Recipes

Thursday
Aug / 21 / 2014
Comments 13

These Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats make a delicious meal or appetizer. I love stuffed zucchini and this recipe is one of my favorites because it’s loaded with flavor!

I’m fairly certain that 90% of the recipes here on IBC involve dessert or buffalo chicken. I can’t help what I love. It’s a problem.

Anyway, I hope you won’t be mad for long because these Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats are bangin’! If you like buffalo chicken and want to find a way to get more veggies in your diet, look no further. Also, with a couple substitutions (light dressing and low-fat cheese), this recipe can be fairly healthy. I opted for the full-fat version, however, because that’s how I roll.

This recipe is my brainchild after seeing lots of stuffed zucchini recipes on Pinterest. It’s a quick and easy meal that will certainly satisfy.

And if you like this stuffed zucchini recipe, then be sure to check out my Zucchini Houdini. It’s one of my favorites!

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats:

The recipe starts off with cooked chicken breast. My favorite way to cook chicken is to put it in a sheet pan and sprinkle it with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. I bake it at 300 degrees F until it’s cooked through. This keeps the meat nice and moist. Depending on the size of the breast, it will take about 20 minutes.

While the chicken is baking, slice your zucchinis in half lengthwise and hollow out each half with a melon baller. You’ll want to save about 1/2 cup of the zucchini for your filling.

Once the chicken is cooled and cut up and the zucchinis are prepped, you’re ready to mix everything together and bake!

For the filling, I used blue cheese dressing. I also added some blue cheese crumbles. If you don’t care for blue cheese, what’s wrong with you? Ha! Just kidding. If you prefer, use ranch dressing and omit the crumbles.

Grab all the details and ingredients for this stuffed zucchini recipe below.

Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

Here's what you'll need:

2 zucchinis
1 pound cooked chicken, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 carrot, shredded
1 rib of celery, diced
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)
3 tablespoons buffalo sauce
3 tablespoons blue cheese (or ranch) dressing

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking oil. Set aside.

Cut each zucchini in half horizontally. Then with a melon baller (or spoon) carefully scoop out the center of the zucchini. Reserve 1/2 cup of the center and dice it up for your filling.

In a bowl, mix together chicken, flour, salt, pepper, carrot, celery, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, blue cheese crumbles (optional), buffalo sauce and dressing.

Place zucchini, hollow side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Fill the boats with your buffalo chicken filling. The filling should be heaping. Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until the zucchini have achieved desired softness.

Want more buffalo chicken inspired recipes? Try these:

I used celery and carrots in my filling as they go really well with buffalo chicken. However, if you have something else on hand, use that. You could even use a bell pepper or tomato for your “boat” if zucchini isn’t your thing.

Other than that, you’re good to go. Now you can whip up a batch of these Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats in your own kitchen. Hope you enjoy them!

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A Year of Pie: Berry Cup Pies

Recipes

Tuesday
Aug / 19 / 2014
Comments 11

Ever since I started A Year of Pie back in January, one of my goals has been to make cup pies. I’m not sure if there really is such a thing, but I got the idea from the television series Pushing Daisies, which premiered back in 2007. To be honest, I never watched the show until a few years ago. Now I highly recommend it. I’ve watched both seasons of it at least a couple times. It’s that good. Kristen Chenoweth is in the series, and she’s hysterical.

Anyway, the main character owns a pie shop, and his girlfriend suggested that he add cup pies to the menu. In essence, a cup pie is a pie in cupcake form. Hence the name, cup pie.

Adorable mini-pie goodness. I mean, what’s better than a single-serving pie? (Maybe a regular-size pie? I have eaten a whole one in a single setting, but that’s another story.)

With summer coming to a close and the days for fresh berries waning, I thought I’d share a few variations for whipping up cup pies. If you prefer. you can use your own favorite pie recipe and just make it in a cupcake pan instead of a regular pie dish.

I started with IBC’s go-to pie crust. This time, I mixed the dough by hand and added in two tablespoons of honey. I used the honey because that’s what they did in Pushing Daisies, and it’s another layer of flavor. One batch of dough makes enough for twelve cup pies.

I tried four different berry fillings (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry) and three styles of crusts (regular, lattice, crumb). The filling recipes are basically the same with the exception of the berry. Feel free to stick with a single kind of berry or mix it up like I did.

To cut the round crust, I used a bowl with a diameter of about 5 inches. This size circle of crust fit perfectly inside the cups of the cupcake pan. Also, I sprayed the inside of each cup with baking spray just to make sure things came out easily.

I like to prepare both the top and bottom layers of crust before mixing up my pie filling. I find that the longer the pie filling sits, the runnier it gets. Not preparing it in advance helps to cut down on the filling running over.

And don’t panic; you will have some juice leak from your cup pies. It’s a bit challenging to get the two crusts together perfectly, so you will have some holes between the two crusts. Just let your cup pies thoroughly cool before removing them from the pan, and no one will notice that the filling has run over a bit. – I actually like the rustic look.

I will admit that these are a bit more challenging than putting together a regular pie. So if you are new to pie making, I suggest getting comfortable with baking a regular pie (I’ve added a few links below.) before moving onto these.

I am so pleased with how my Berry Cup Pies turned out. I can’t wait to try making some of these for fall. Do you feel brave enough to give these a try?

Also, what other pies would you like to see in my A Year of Pie series?

Berry Cup Pies

Here's what you will need:

1 IBC's Go-To Pie Crust (made with the addition of 2 tablespoons of honey)

Filling: (You'll need to double this to make 12 cup pies.)
2 1/2 cups berries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons instant tapioca
1 tablespoon butter, cut into small cubes
(For blueberries and blackberries, add a dash of cinnamon)

1 egg, beaten
Coarse sugar for dusting

Crumb topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter, room temperature

Begin by rolling out your chilled crust on a lightly floured surface. You'll want the dough to be fairly thin. Cut out dough using a circle cutter or bowl that is roughly 5-inches in diameter. In a lightly greased cupcake pan, place each dough circle into a cup. Continue to cut out circles for the top of your pie or strips to make lattice.

Next, prepare your crumb topping in a bowl by mixing together the sugar, flour, and butter until you get small crumbs. Set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

For the filling (You'll need to make two batch of the recipe above for 12 cup pies.), place berries, sugar, zest, juice, tapioca (and cinnamon, if applicable) in a large bowl and lightly toss together. Divide the filling evenly between 6 of the cup pies. Place a few cubes of butter on top of each filled cup pie. Then put on the top crust and tuck the edges (as best you can) into the bottom crust. Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Using a knife, cut a small ventilation slit into the top of each cup pie.

Alternatively, you can create a lattice crust with strips of dough. Follow with egg wash and coarse sugar. Or you can simply add about a tablespoons of crumb topping with no additional dough on top.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned and the juices are bubbling. Allow the pies to cool completely before attempting to remove from the cupcake pan.

Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

A YEAR OF PIE RECIPES:

Apple Pie with All-Butter Crust // Bite-Sized Peanut Butter Pies

Mixed Berry Slab Pie // Double Cherry Bullseye Pie

Blackberry Crostata // Strawberry Hand Pies

Go-To Pie Crust //Blueberry Cream Pie

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DIY Paint Dipped Basket

DIY

Monday
Aug / 18 / 2014
Comments 21

Hey, everyone! Happy Monday! Thank you so much for all of your help last week with my curtain decision. I actually decided on a panel and placed my order. I’m expecting the curtains to arrive this week, so I’ll be sure to give you all of the details once they’re here. I’m crossing my fingers that I made the right choice.

Today I just wanted to share a fun, easy, and colorful tutorial with you. In addition to my posts here on IBC, I write for a few other blogs. One of those blogs is MyColortopia. I usually post there once a month and cover everything from selecting a paint color palette to using accent colors to choosing wall colors. It’s a fun space where I get to talk color.

Recently, Glidden challenged me (and my MyColortopia blogging buddies) to create a quick project using their paint. I didn’t do this project with the intention of sharing it here on IBC, but I was pleased with the way it turned out and wanted to make sure you saw it.

Basically, I took a basket I purchased from Target last fall and gave it a paint dip treatment with some Grab-N-Go paint in Red Delicious. As much as I loved the basket the way it was, this added a fresh pop of color and pizzazz.

To share the quick tutorial, I’m using a new-to-me platform called Snapguide. It’s a fun little program for quick and easy tutorials like this. I’m not sure how often I’ll use it, but if it’s something you like, let me know in the comments and I can try to incorporate it more.

Anyhoo, you can check out my quick little project below:

Check out How to Create a Colorful Paint Dipped Basket by Michael Wurm, Jr. on Snapguide.

What do you think? Have you ever paint-dipped anything in your home?

While I do write for MyColortopia, this is not a sponsored post. I just thought the project turned out cool and wanted to share it here, too.

CHECK OUT MORE Paint Dipped Projects here:

Paint Dipped Brass Candlesticks
Gold-Dipped Mason Jars
Paint Dipped Pumpkins

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Basement Stairwell Makeover: The Before

Interiors

Wednesday
Aug / 13 / 2014
Comments 4

For the past several posts, I probably spoiled you with all of the pretty pictures. Be warned: that ends today (but hopefully only for today).

This month all of us on Lowe’s Creative Blogger Team have been challenged to tackle a basement project. Although I haven’t really started any work, I’ve already made at a few trips to Lowe’s for supplies.

The space I’m making over is the little stairway that leads from the main floor of my house to the basement. I’m pretty sure I’ve only showed this space one other time (back when I had my exterior doors replaced). As with most makeovers, things tend to look bad at the beginning and much better at the end.

I’ve been wanting to repaint this space for the longest time, and thanks to this particular Lowe’s Challenge, I’m finally going to do it! When my house served as a B&B, the door to this space was always closed. Now, that it’s my home, it’s open all of of the time because the litter box for my cats is in the basement. Not only do I see this space every time I go to the basement, but I see it whenever I walk through this area.

Here’s the plan. Basically everything will be repainted – ceiling, walls, woodwork (currently gray), and even the floor (currently red). Painting isn’t so terrible. However, there is a lot (and I mean a LOT) of prep work that must be done before I can paint. And, as you know, I hate prep work, so it’s going to a bit of a nightmare. Lots of the molding needs fixed, holes filled, tons of sanding, etc.

For some reason, the previous owners painted the woodwork and trim gray when the rest of the house is white. They also used a high gloss paint. So, in addition to sanding, I picked up some deglosser to help prep the surface for the white paint. The floor will get deglosser, too. Then, after a coat of primer, I should be set for painting.

Regarding colors for the space: I picked out two from Valspar. For the walls, I went with Green Highland. For the floors, I chose Cathedral Stone. The trim and wainscoting will be white like the rest of the house. These colors look great together and work well with the rest of the colors in my home. The floor color also blends nicely with the carpeting in the hall.

I have some crown molding left from my master bedroom project so I may put molding in the space as well. I’d like to eventually put it in the main hallway, so I think that will help to tie everything together.

In terms of decor, this will probably be pretty low key. I’d like to get some art work and maybe a few hooks to hang coats. And of course, a super cool sconce to replace the one barely hanging on the wall.

That’s the plan, friends. As much as I dread all of the work, I’ll be so happy to see it finished. Plus, I’m excited to be taking you along on yet another makeover adventure.

What new projects are you working on in your home?

And don’t forget, for even more ideas, visit Lowes Creative Ideas. You can also sign up to receive their free Creative Ideas Magazine, which is loaded with inspiration! There’s also a magazine app so you can have inspiration on the go!

This post was created as part of my collaboration with the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Network. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Hanging Chairs and Taking Names

Interiors

Friday
Aug / 8 / 2014
Comments 25

Okay, so I’m not really taking names, but I am hanging chairs.

As you may have guessed from my recent posts, I’m on a mission to complete some projects in my house. Why I picked the middle of summer to do this is beyond my own comprehension. However, things are getting finished, so I not going to complain.

In addition to putting a few things on the walls in my living room / office (which I’m making progress on), there are a few other small tasks I wanted to tackle. The first one is filling up a corner behind the island in my office. I went back and forth about what to put in this area, but couldn’t get the thought of a hanging chair out of my head.

Hanging chairs have been popping up all over the blogosphere lately, and I was ready to embrace this trend. Let’s take a look.

I think one of the first spaces I saw one indoors was via Emily Henderson (my design goddess).

image source

I’ve also spotted hanging chairs on A Beautiful Mess a few times.
image source

Apartment Therapy.

image source

And Oh Happy Day.

image source

Despite my initial indecision, the choice was really simple. A hanging chair in the corner of my office was the solution to my empty space.

Voila!

While this corner is still lacking artwork and a big punch of color, I’m totally in love with my hanging chair.

I ordered this one from Serena & Lily. Thus far, I’ve been extremely impressed with the quality. And, as you can imagine, it arrived in a huge shipping box., probably the biggest I’ve ever received.

I used a heavy duty eye-hook to hang the chair from the ceiling. After using a stud finder to locate a stud, I drilled a hole and screwed the hook in. The chair included a rope, so in less than fifteen minutes, my chair was hung and feeling amazingly sturdy. I assume there is a weight limit, but the chair has no problem supporting me.

I’m hoping to style it up a bit with a more vibrant pillow and maybe a sheepskin throw. I’d also like some sort of small table and lamp under the window. I’m on the hunt!

All-in-all I’m super excited about my new hanging chair. I can’t wait to snuggle in it with a cup of coffee and my laptop in the morning or a glass of wine and a magazine in the evening. It’s the perfect little spot.

What do you think of the hanging chair trend? Would you take a swing?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS SPACE, CHECK OUT THE LINKS BELOW:

A New Couch – Sectional
Rug and Blinds
Coffee Table Styling
Paint Colors
Other Living Room Sources

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Decorating with Air Plants

DIY, Interiors

Thursday
Aug / 7 / 2014
Comments 12

Hey there, friends! Sorry I’ve been MIA for the past two days. On Tuesday I celebrated my 31st birthday. You might recall how much I hated turning 30. Well, 31 wasn’t all that exciting, either. Oy vey. I’m actually working on putting together a post about that, so stay tuned. Anywho, I’ve been making steady progress over here at IBC Headquarters. Despite the disaster that exists in basically every room of my house, I’m getting there.

Today I’m just popping in to share a little project with you. As many of you know, I have a bit of an obsession with air plants. However, I really never know what to do with the little buggers. Literally, for the past month they’ve been in a pile on my window sill. Not attractive. On one of my recent trips to HomeGoods, I found these amazing weathered candlesticks, and they reminded me of a air plant display I saw at the Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Into my cart they went. Not too bad for $30.

When I got home, I popped them on my mantel and covered them with air plants. Within a few minutes, my air plants had a purpose. I also had a pretty cute new mantel display.

What do you think?

That’s one mess tackled. I’m off to see if I can accomplish a few more small projects today. Do you love air plants as much as I do? What do you do with yours?

Oh, in case you’re wondering, I purchased 90% of my air plants from the The Air Plant Shop. They have great products and are super kind. (This is not a sponsored post. I’m just a big fan.)

Have a fab day!

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Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers

Recipes

Friday
Aug / 1 / 2014
Comments 29

These Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers are so simple to make with just four ingredients! They are certain to be a crowd pleaser!

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeñoo Peppers:

I interrupt the latest IBC painting / decoration streak to bring you a fabulous snack: Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers. Because seriously, who doesn’t need a snack.

A couple weekends ago, several of my friends and I attended a surprise wedding in Vermont. As with most celebrations, there was an array of yummy food. Lisa, who is a chef and friend of the couple, cooked her heart out.

I was so impressed with the appetizers she created that I could hardly wait to get home and try them myself. (I also want to point out that in addition to being a fine cook, Lisa can chug an entire bottle of beer while doing a split in under three seconds. I saw it with my own eyes. Twice.)

Of the many tasty morsels Lisa concoted, one of the hors d’oeuvres really stood out — jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and Craisins and wrapped in bacon. I kid you not. Talk about a taste bud explosion.

It’s kind of like that SNL skit in which Melissa McCarthy had a Hidden Valley Ranch party in her mouth. This time, however, it’s a bacon-wrapped, cream cheese and Craisin-stuffed jalapeño party in your mouth.

Yeah. That good.

How to Make Stuffed Jalapeños:

Plus, you know my style. This little snack is ridiculously easy to make and only requires four ingredients. (If you can remember the name of the recipe, you can remember the four ingredients.)

Of course, you don’t really need a recipe, but I will be giving you one at the end of this post. Here’s the run down. Cut the jalapeños in half and remove the seeds along with most of the fleshy white interior. That’s where the heat is. Oh, and wear some plastic gloves while doing this. Trust me.

Then, fill up the jalapeños with the cream cheese and Craisin mixture. Wrap them up with bacon and pop them in the oven. The final step is to stuff your face (after allowing them to cool slightly).

I like to precook my bacon a bit. This helps to ensure that the bacon is fully cooked by the time the cream cheese mixture is nice and hot. I usually cook bacon in the oven, but you can certainly precook it on the stove if you prefer.

That’s it. Seriously.

If you liked this appetizer, you’ll love these:

And, for those of you who are thinking, “Oh, I don’t like Craisins, I’ll just leave them out.” Please don’t skip them. The Craisins add a fruity sweetness that is simply dynamite with all of the other flavors happening here. In fact, you will probably wish you had added a few more to the cream cheese. I did.

Anywho, I’ll be back tomorrow with more home updates. I really hope you enjoy these! The official recipe is below. See you soon.

Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese and Craisin Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers

Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer, bacon, craisins, cream cheese, stuffed jalapenos

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Pin It!

These Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers are so simple to make with just four ingredients! They are certain to be a crowd pleaser!

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) thick-sliced bacon
8 - 10 medium jalapeños
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese - softened
1/2 cup Craisins

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and set a wire cooling rack on top of it. Lay out the bacon evenly. Bake for about 8 minutes. (The bacon will not be fully cooked; this is just to get it started.)
In the meantime, prepare your jalapeños by slicing them in half. Then remove the seeds and white flesh with a spoon. (It's highly recommended that you wear gloves during this process.)
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese and Craisins. Then use a spatula to fill the jalapeño halves with the cream cheese mixture. The cream cheese should be level with the top of the jalapeño half.
Next, wrap your filled jalapeños with the partially-cooked bacon. Depending on the size of the jalapeño, you can use a whole slice of bacon or cut it in half. A whole slice is recommended. Just tuck the bacon into itself or the jalapeño to keep it tightly wrapped.
Place your wrapped jalapeños back onto the wire cooling rack in your foil-lined baking pan. Return to the oven set at 350 degrees F and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked.

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Master Bedroom Painting is Complete

Interiors

Thursday
Jul / 31 / 2014
Comments 12

I’m not sure if you can tell, but the paint was still wet when I took these pictures.

At about 7 pm today (Wednesday), I finished painting my bedroom! For whatever reason, this room (unlike my closet) was extra difficult and time consuming to paint. From patching the ceiling to other issues around the room, I thought I’d never get it finished. I persevered, however, and now it’s complete. Yay!

I managed to clear everything out of the room and throw a few things on the bed to get some quick pics to share with you. Now that I’m looking at these photos, the space reminds me of a really cheap motel room — complete with a wire hanging from the ceiling. I know it doesn’t look like much at this moment, but this is when the magic and fun start to happen.

Thank you so much for all of your help with selecting a light fixture for this space. You left loads of helpful and encouraging comments after Monday’s post. Well, I pulled the trigger and ordered a light fixture. I’m not going to tell you which one I chose, but you can bet I’ll be hanging it as soon as it arrives and sharing lots of snaps here.

Over the past week I’ve also been trying oodles of curtain options. I’m pretty sure I ordered between twelve and fifteen different panels to try. (I’m going to have to set aside a full day to make returns.) Right now I have it narrowed down to two, but a few more are still on the way. Hopefully, they will all be here next week so I can get your opinion. (Speaking of curtains, click here if you are curious as to why there are a bunch of nails above the window.)

Other than that, as soon as the paint dries, I’ll be ready to start making this space come alive! And for those who missed it before, this wall color is Rock Candy by Sherwin Williams. (You can reference all of the interior paint colors I’ve used in my house here.)

Because I want to share something delicious with you today, head on over to BHG’s Delish Dish blog to check out my latest post. I took one of their recipes and jazzed it up to create these delicious Arugula, Asparagus, and Pea Bruschetta.

I kid you not, they are to die for and so easy. Perfect for a party or, if you’re single like me, a weeknight dinner. Check out the recipe here.

That’s it for this Hump Day! Enjoy the rest of your week.

FOLLOW MY BEDROOM TRANSFORMATION:

The Before / Inspiration
New Crown Molding
Paint Colors and Plan
Light Fixture
The Closet is Now a Closet
Bedroom Progress
Master Bedroom Painting is Complete (You are here!)

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Inspired by Charm Paint Colors

Interiors

Wednesday
Jul / 30 / 2014
Comments 35

I’ve been meaning to put together this post for awhile. Since I’ve been painting lately, I figured now was an opportune time.

People often ask about the paint colors I’ve used in my house. I thought it might be helpful to have a central location where folks can reference paint colors. This information will appear as a post today, but I will update it as I add and/or change colors. I will also create a button on the side bar so that you are able to easily reference this post whenever you may need it.

Because questions about items in the rooms may also arise, I will link a few related posts below the room colors. If you notice something is missing or you’re curious about something I don’t have linked up, just leave a comment below and I will link it if I can. Sound good?

So, without further ado, grab your party hats and paint brushes and let’s get this painting party started.

Kitchen

1. Fireweed (shutters) // 2. Heron Plume (walls) // 3. Moderne White (cabinets)

Dining Room

1. Dior Gray (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Greenfield (cabinet)

Front Entryway

1. Banana Cream (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Commodore (rug)

Office

1. Aloof Gray (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Rosy Outlook (rug)

Living Room

1. Lighter Mint (accent wall) 2. Aloof Gray (main walls) // 2. Sensible Hue (around mantel)

Hallway

1. Angora (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Rock Candy (bedroom walls)

Back Entryway

1. Elation (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Cathedral Stone (floors)

Master Bedroom

1. Rock Candy (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Loyal Blue (bed)

Master Closet

1. Rock Candy // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Ellie Gray (curtains)

Guest Room #1

1. Reserved White (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Black Magic (bed frame)

Guest Room #3

1. Shoji White (walls) // 2. Extra White (trim) // 3. Slate Teal (accent wall)

All of the trim throughout the house is Extra White (right out of the can) by Sherwin Williams. It’s their ProClassic trim paint in semi-gloss. All of the walls are a satin / eggshell finish.

I hope this answers your painting questions. Again, if there are additional details you’d like, please leave your questions below. Happy Painting!

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Progress in the Bedroom

Interiors

Monday
Jul / 28 / 2014
Comments 32

Hey there, friends! I hope you had a truly wonderful weekend. It’s hard to believe it was the last weekend in July. Where is the summer going?

It was a pretty good weekend here. On Saturday my friends and I visited Tasting In the Wilds, a local wine and beer festival. We try to get there every year and always have a fabulous time.

I didn’t play all weekend, though. I’m pleased to report that I made some progress in my bedroom. As with my closet, this room needed crown molding, so I cut and installed that on Friday.

Also, I decided to move the ceiling light. When this home was turned into a B&B, walls were added so that closets could be repurposed as bathrooms. The result was that a couple of the ceiling light fixtures were off center. Because of the planned location of the bed in this room, it drove me bananas, so it had to be moved.

Moving the fixture meant that I had to patch a rather large whole in the ceiling. I spent most of the weekend patching, sanding, waiting for the spackle to dry, and cleaning up the dust. A dirty job, but someone has to do it.

I was hoping to at least get the ceiling painted, but it just didn’t happen. So, I’m now planning on carving out some time this week to get the entire room painted. Then, I can finally move onto the fun stuff!

While this isn’t too exciting, nonetheless it’s progress.

Also, I’m trying to figure out what light fixture to get for this space. I’d like something a bit different that is light and airy. Right now I’m considering these two: this Gold Capiz Chandelier from West Elm or a large (left), round capiz shell pendant from Restoration Hardware (right). Again, the color palette for this space is jewel tones.

I like both. I’m obviously attracted to the gold one because you know me and gold. A friend of mine said it was too feminine, but as you can tell from my existing style, I don’t really care too much about that. I prefer blurring those lines when it comes to decor.

Let me know what you think. Have you been loving any particular light fixtures lately that you think might look fab in my new space? I love picking out lighting, so it’s killing me I don’t already have something for this space. Help!

FOLLOW MY BEDROOM TRANSFORMATION:

The Before / Inspiration
New Crown Molding
Paint Colors and Plan
Light Fixture
The Closet is Now a Closet
Bedroom Progress (You are here!)

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The Closet is Now a Closet

Interiors

Friday
Jul / 25 / 2014
Comments 11

Last weekend I didn’t make much progress in my bedroom since I was out of town. Then, I spent most of this week playing catch up and working on a few other projects. This weekend I do plan on getting back to work in my bedroom and hopefully making some headway in the actual bedroom portion of the space. Stay tuned for updates next week.

However, despite not getting much done in the actual bedroom, I did manage to accomplish something in the closet. In fact, it’s now actually starting to look like a closet. Let’s take a peak inside, shall we?

Yay! There’s actually a closet! For the first time in almost 6 years, I have a real functioning closet. Well, almost.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I purchased the elfa system from The Container Store. I went for the white on white. Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the shelving system. It looks fabulous and seems to be well made and super sturdy. I was able to completely customize it for my space and needs. Definitely a winner. Definitely happy with my purchase.

However, as with most things, there are a few drawbacks. First, it’s kind of pricey. I’m totally glad I went for it, but it wasn’t cheap. Secondly, given the price, I was surprised that a few of the metal pieces were scuffed up or scratched. I would expect things to be in perfect condition. I’m going to give The Container Store a call and see what they say, but still it’s disappointing. And finally, I wish there were more options for the actual closet rod. Small details, but I would have loved to have been able to get it in a matte black or gold. Right? I also wish the drawer baskets came in more options as well. Maybe a different color or a natural weave. Those small details would take this to a whole other level of awesomeness. I may DIY something down the road, but for now, it’s all good.

All that being said, I’m super pleased with the system and happy I made the purchase.

I installed it myself, and the process was amazingly simple. You install the top rail, and then basically everything hangs off that. I would have been finished in an hour or two, but I made a mistake and hung the system a bit too high. Once I had about 75% of it installed, I realized my mistake, took the whole thing down, and rehung it about three inches lower. It was only a few inches, but it made all the difference.

It wasn’t too much of a problem, though. To remedy my mistake, I just patched a few screw holes and touched up the paint.

Either this weekend or next week I’m going to go through all of my clothes and fill up some trash bags for Goodwill. Once my purge is complete, I’ll start filling up the system. It will be so nice to have all of my clothes in one location.

Since I don’t have a lot of closet space elsewhere in my house, I’m going to get some garment bags and totes to store out of season clothes in the basement. All-in-all, I should have plenty of space.

I thought I’d throw a few things on the system, just to give you an idea of what it (and the color scheme for the room) will look like.

Pretty sweet, right?

Well, it’s back to work on my room. Here’s hoping things go as planned. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! I’ll meet you back here on Monday.

FOLLOW MY BEDROOM TRANSFORMATION:

The Before / Inspiration
New Crown Molding
Paint Colors and Plan
Light Fixture
The Closet is Now a Closet (You are here!)

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A New Gallery Wall

Interiors

Thursday
Jul / 24 / 2014
Comments 18

I’m sure you’re thinking it’s about time. I have delayed hanging anything on my walls in my living room / office for quite some time. Well, after inspiration struck last week, I’m breaking out the hammer and nails.

As I alluded on Tuesday, this huge blank wall above my sectional has finally been filled. And although it’s not quite complete, it’s well on the way.

Check it out.

Pretty fabulous, right? It immediately added loads of drama.

As you can tell, there is no art in the frames. I’m working on that. The goal is to fill these frames with my own photography. The theme is wanderlust. Beautiful places / spaces that I’ve visited or want to visit. I assume the pictures will continue to change until I find the perfect balance. I have a few of my own pictures that are being printed, and I ordered a few online. I think I have about nine. Once everything arrives, I’ll give you an update.

I got these frames from Target. I really love the wood element in the space. It goes very well with my floors, coffee table, and work island.

The only thing that I didn’t realize about these frames when I ordered them online is that the mats are off-white. Since this space is all about bright white, I have already ordered some replacement mats (from Matboard and More). While the off-white isn’t a total disaster, I think the new mats will work much better in the space.

Hanging the frames wasn’t too complicated, either. It just took some math, time, and patience. This was my diagram for figuring out the measurements.

To briefly explain: I first took a measurement of the width and height of the wall. This allowed me to find the center point. After that, I measured the frames. Then I determined how much space I wanted around each frame. I knew I wanted a little more space around the outside of the entire set. Once I had all of my numbers in place, I started with the center top frame and worked out from there.

Once you have a few frames in place, it gets much easier. Pay close attention to where you hang your first frame. Measure and remeasure around all the sides to ensure that it’s perfectly centered before moving on.

Thankfully, I was able to get everything hung fairly evenly and level. If you’re tackling a project like this by yourself, just take your time, measure twice, and use a level. I also found it helpful to have frames with the hanging hardware already attached. This made things consistent when it came to hanging them.

I’m excited about getting the photographs in the frames, but I’m loving how the gallery turned out. It looks great from every angle – even looking in the mirror. (Please pardon my bare mantel. It needs some attention.)

Well, that’s one wall (almost) down. Several more to go. What do you think of gallery walls? Have you created any in your home?

For more details about this space, check out the links below:

A New Couch – Sectional
Rug and Blinds
Coffee Table Styling
Paint Colors
Other Living Room Sources

THIS POST HAS 18 COMMENTS
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Rummy Cherries (Alcohol Soaked Gummies)

Recipes

Friday
Jul / 18 / 2014
Comments 3

These Rummy Cherries (Alcohol Soaked Gummies) are a fun adult treat for summer entertaining. They are easy to make and delicious too!

Happy Friday! I’m currently on my way to Vermont to attend a little house warming party for a friend who recently bought a home up there. My friends and I packed into a car yesterday to make the 9+ hour trip. (I’m actually writing this post on Wednesday, so let’s hope the trip went well.)

Anyway, in addition to some of my Out-of-this-World Corn Dip, I thought I’d make a fun treat to bring to the party. Since it’s hard to travel with cocktails, I decided to concoct an alcoholic treat of a different kind.

Rummy Cherries!

If you’ve been following IBC for a while now, you may remember I posted about Rummy Bears / Worms (or in our family, Wurms) in a Weekend Wanderlust last year.

Basically, you soak gummy candy in alcohol for about 24 hours. So simple, totally delicious, and a really fun for any party.

Any gummy candy will do. We’ve used gummy bears, gummy worms, gummy coke bottles, and now gummy cherries. You can also use any kind of alcohol; I’ve used rum and vodka. Based on my experience, I think the vodka is a bit stronger tasting than the rum. However, some folks prefer that. One of my favorite combinations is gummy coke bottles and cherry rum. They are like little Cherry Cokes.

If you’re wondering where to get unique gummy candy, check your local super market or super store. I also just discovered that Amazon sells them in five pound bags. Sweet!

Anyway, I’m going to give you a recipe, but they are pretty self-explanatory.

That’s it!

These do have a short shelf life, so you’ll want to eat them up at the party. FYI: If you leave them in the sun, they will melt. If this happens and you put them in the refrigerator, they will turn into one large, jar-shaped gummy.

As you can guess, your friends and family are going to get a kick out of them. Give them a try and let me know what flavor combination you like the best in the comments below.

Also, I know this goes without saying, but these are an adult treat and should not be consumed by anyone under the legal drinking age.

All right, I think that’s enough for today. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday when I’ll be revealing my little antique dresser makeover.

Rummy Cherries (Alcohol Soaked Gummies) Recipe:

Rummy Cherries

Here's what you will need:

Gummy cherries
Cherry rum
(Feel free to use any combination you like.)

In a jar or plastic container with a lid, toss in your gummy candy, then top with your liquor. You'll want the gummies to be completely covered. Let them sit for 24-36 hours at room temperature. If possible, give them a quick stir every couple of hours to prevent them from sticking together. If the gummies seem to have soaked up all of the liquor, just add a splash or two more when you stir them.

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My Bedroom: Paint and a Plan

Interiors

Wednesday
Jul / 16 / 2014
Comments 22

Well friends, one room of my bedroom is now painted!

Can I get a collective, “Yay!”? As you can see, I opted for yet another gray. I seriously can’t help myself. I’m loving gray. This particular one (which looks like a pale blue in some light) is Rock Candy from Sherwin Williams.

Originally, I intended to paint this room almost white like some of the inspiration pictures I shared with you way back when. When I picked this color, I thought it was going to be a bit closer to white. However, it’s not, but I still absolutely love it.

As I mentioned above, it’s a bluish gray. In most of these pictures it looks blue, but at different times throughout the day, the color seems to change, and that makes me happy, too.

In addition to sharing the new wall color, I thought I’d let you in on my plans for this space. As I told you, this room is going to act as a dressing room / closet. On the large wall to the right of the window (which is the same wall as the picture below to the left of the door), I’m going to hang a closet system. I actually already ordered the white / white Alfa system from The Container Store. There will be a couple drawers and a place for hanging clothes.

The wall with the dresser will stay as is, but get some fabulous art. I may try to squeeze a chair on that wall, too.

I need your help, though. This dresser came with the B&B when I purchased it. It’s an amazingly well-built piece, but the finish needs a little love. I’m not sure whether I should keep it or opt for something new.

I had a dresser like this one from West Elm in mind. Something a bit more mid-century modern. But I was also thinking about painting the frame of this old dresser white while keeping the drawers wood. Do you think that is overdone? I don’t know. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

The weird little closet (where my clothes are currently hung) between the actual bedroom and changing room is going to be turned into shoe storage. I’m going to fill the small space with shelves so I can neatly tuck in all my shoes. There should also be room for a few baskets for belts and things like that.

The little blue stand in the picture is one of my favorite antique finds and will be used as a night stand in another guest room. The small wall behind it will get a full-length mirror.

Then the wall to the left of the door to the hallway is going to get some wall hooks. This is where I can hang clothes that aren’t quite ready to be washed or hang clothes when planning outfits.

I have a really cool light fixture (which I’m hoping to share tomorrow) that I bought over a year ago for this space. Below that, I want to find a tufted storage ottoman. Something like this or this. Ideally, I’d like it to have some storage. I’m on the hunt, so if you have sources, please share below.

And that’s the plan, man. Obviously I need to find curtains (I have some samples on the way) and a fabulous rug (I’m thinking about this one.).

I think I mentioned this before, but the color scheme for this room is somewhat inspired by jewel tones. I actually found this print the other day from a fab Etsy shop (which is currently on vacation.)

Gemstones via Katie Vernon on Etsy

The purples, blues, emeralds, and maybe a pop of the magenta are the colors that I’m going for in this space. Pretty, right?

After having limited closet space for the past several years, I’m desperate for this room to be completed. Once I finish up a few of these details (hopefully by next week), I’m going to start installing the molding in the actual bedroom. Then I’ll be ready to paint that area.

So what do you think of the plan and color scheme?

Follow my bedroom transformation:

The Before / Inspiration
New Crown Molding
Paint Colors and Plan (you are here)

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Beginnings of a Guest Room

Interiors

Tuesday
Jul / 15 / 2014
Comments 3

Somehow in the midst of one project, I decided to start another. Seems logical, right? I guess my creative / DIY mojo is going full force, so I might as well take advantage of it.

Those of you who’ve been around these parts for several years may remember that awhile back I created a living room in one of my bedrooms. At that point, I had closed my little B&B and had intentions of keeping my gift shop open. The gift shop was where my living room and office is now. Not having a living room dowstairs at that time, I decided to make one of the bedrooms a living room. Make sense?

Before

Well, all of that has changed. Since I now have a fabulous living space where it was designed to be, I decided to turn the former bedroom/living room into a guest room for one.

My house seems very large, but given that it is an older home, the rooms are pretty small. When I ran my B&B, this room held a full-size bed which took up most of the space. Even when it functioned as my makeshift living room, I could barely fit in a love seat.

So, armed with a new plan, this small space is starting to get a whole new look.

This is just the beginning, so please bear with some of the ugliness / messes / undressed beds. I removed most of the furnishings that were in this room and brought in an adorable day bed (from here) and this amazing little coffee table (from here [the marble topped version that I have is currently not available online]). I’m planning for this room to function not only as a guest room, but also as a place for me to relax and unwind.

As you can probably tell by a few of the colors and accessories, I’m thinking about going with a teal, pink, and red color scheme (with a touch of gold of course) for a relaxed, tropical, 1950’s feeling. Or something like that.

The walls need art, the bed needs linens, and the shelves need to be reorganized and accessorized, but the space is slowly coming together.

Also, you may remember this little dresser from my bedroom. It was an antique find a few years ago. I decided to paint the top of it because the chippiness that I used to love was driving me bananas. Then after getting the top painted, inspiration struck! Now this piece is going to get a whole new look. Should I decide to keep a TV in this room, that’s where the TV will go instead of on the mantel.

Beyond that, I’m on the hunt for a rough and some fun accessories. Then this space will have a whole new look and purpose.

In case you want information about how this room came together originally. you can find that here:

Paint colors in the room.
That fabulous gold light fixture.
And my DIY shelves (aka shelves for cat yoga).
Bookcase Styling.

So what do you think of my plans for the space?

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Blackberry Rhubarb Cake

Recipes

Wednesday
Jul / 2 / 2014
Comments 3

Well friends, today I’m back with final rhubarb-inspired recipe. (You can check out all the rhubarb recipes here.) However, this time I’m taking a break from my favorite strawberry / rhubarb combo and testing out a different berry. Even though I really do like rhubarb on its own, there’s something about pairing it with a sweet berry that just makes it all the better. For this delightful treat, I’m pulling inspiration from this rhubarb cake recipe, but adding in some blackberries (and extra rhubarb) for even more flavor.

This cake actually reminds me so much of my past. From sweet treats at home, to a cafe I worked at during high school, rhubarb always found its way into muffins and cake. It’s such a unique flavor, and one you can only get certain times of the year. That instantly makes it special.

What I love about this recipe is that it’s insanely simple. I mean, seriously. So simple.

I also really like staple recipes like this one. If I have yet to convince you to give rhubarb a try, you can easily substitute any fruit or berry for the rhubarb and still have a super moist and delicious cake. This obviously is wonderful for an after-dinner dessert, but I find myself enjoying it most with a cup of coffee for breakfast. Perfection.

Let me show you how to make it.

Blackberry Rhubarb Cake

Here's what you will need:

For the cake:
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sour cream

3 cups diced rhubarb
1 cup blackberries (chopped if they are on the larger size)

For the topping:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Ground cinnamon for dusting

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch cake pan.

Next, prepare the cake. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, baking soda, salt, and flour. Then stir in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream until smooth. Finally, add in the rhubarb and blackberries. Pour into the greased cake pan and spread out evenly.

For the topping, in a smaller bowl stir together the sugar, butter, and flour until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over top of the cake; then dust lightly with cinnamon.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool (if you can); then devour!

You are really going to love this cake. If you happen to try it with different fruits and berries, let me know which combo you like best. I’m excited to try a few other flavors myself.

Enjoy and happy baking!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Margarita

Recipes

Monday
Jun / 30 / 2014
Comments 3

Hello, friends! I hope each of you had a fabulous weekend. I certainly did. This was actually the first weekend that really felt like summer. On Saturday and Sunday I was able to spend some time with my family at my dad’s pool. It’s hard to believe tomorrow is already July 1 and that this weekend was the first day we dipped our toes in the water this season.

Anyway, this week I’m wrapping up IBC’s unofficial rhubarb series with a cocktail today and one more sweet treat (hopefully) tomorrow. Once I post these two recipes, it’s back to projects around the house. As I mentioned awhile ago, my bedroom needs a fresh coat of paint and a new look, so I’m hoping to get started on that this week. I’m also in major purge mood. Over the last couple years, with closing my B&B and purchasing props for blogging, my house has becoming overrun with “stuff.” I’m hoping to take some time to clear the clutter as well. Not that you want to see that, but hopefully it will allow me to make progress on other areas of my home.

So that’s that.

As promised I would share a few drink recipes using the strawberry rhubarb syrup I made last week. First up, as the title of this post suggests, I’m going to show you how to make a Strawberry Rhubarb Margarita.

Then, at the end of this post, I’ll also tell you how to make a quick Strawberry Rhubarb Mimosa. Sound good? (Also, and completely unrelated, I’ll be linking up a Blue Margarita I made for BHG, too! So if you are looking for that, keep scrolling.)

I’m always on the lookout for new margarita recipes, especially in the summer. And I just love the way the strawberry rhubarb syrup works with this particular cocktail.

Let me show you how to make it.

Strawberry Rhubarb Margarita

Here's what you will need:
1 cup strawberry rhubarb syrup (recipe here)
2 cups white tequila
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup triple sec (I like Cointreau.)
1/4 cup orange juice
8 strawberries, diced
1 lime wedge and sugar for rimming the glass (optional)

Begin by running a lime wedge around the rims of four margarita glasses. Then roll the rims in sugar. Place an equal amount of the diced strawberry pieces in each of the four glasses; then fill with ice.

In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry rhubarb syrup, tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and orange juice by shaking or stirring.

Pour the mixture over the ice into the glasses. Sip and enjoy!

That’s it, friends. Fruity margaritas with a twist. Totally delish!

That drink is pretty simple. However, if you’re looking for something even easier, try this Strawberry Rhubarb Mimosa.

Just put 1-2 tablespoons of the Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup in a champagne glass and top it with your favorite champagne, sparkling wine, or Prosecco!

I usually like my champagne drinks garnish free, but this would look totally adorable with a strawberry on the side of the glass.

Easy, delicious, and totally classy.

Last, but certainly not least, if you’re sick of all of the strawberry rhubarb talk, give this Blue Margarita a try.

It’s my latest creation for BHG’s Delish Dish blog. You can find out what gives it this fabulous blue color and get the recipe here.

Now you’re stocked with three new cocktail recipes for summer entertaining. I’m off to get some things done around the house. Have an awesome and sun-filled week!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

Recipes

Friday
Jun / 27 / 2014
Comments 3

This Strawberry Rhubarb Cake is an easy-to-make recipe that’s perfect for summer entertaining. Because it’s a naked cake, it’s also super easy to decorate!

It’s IBC’s unofficial rhubarb week. On Monday I shared my recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup and mentioned it would be delicious poured over a cake. Well, I made that happen today! I’m showing you how to make this Strawberry Rhubarb Cake!

Gorgeous, right?

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake:

I’ve been wanting to make a cake like this for a while. If you read Posie Get Cozy, she’s always creating these beautiful cakes with icing just in between the layers and on the top.

Then, she delicately decorates the top with flowers and berries. I’ve always thought there was something so naturally perfect about those cakes.

They’re simple, but all of the colors and textures make them incredibly beautiful. Plus, they’re really easy since there’s no fussing with fancy frosting.

Anyway, I’m glad I took the time to try this recipe. It was the perfect one.

How to Make a Strawberry Rhubarb Cake:

For the cake batter, I just used a box mix: Pink Velvet. It’s new from Duncan Hines. Of course, you could use any box mix or your favorite from-scratch recipe.

Once the cakes were baked I poked holes in the top, then poured about 1/2 a cup of strawberry rhubarb syrup into all the little holes. You wouldn’t believe how most and flavorful this makes the cake. (I didn’t actually cut the cake for my pictures, but trust me on this.)

The frosting is one of my favorites: butter cream. Simple. Delicious.

I layered strawberries in the middle for something special.

Then for the top, I layered on more frosting and topped it with flowers and strawberries. Some of the flowers are from the store; some came from my yard.

I hate to keep saying this, but it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees this.

Want more strawberry rhubarb recipes? Try these:

Anyway, this Strawberry Rhubarb Cake is a super easy cake to make. Flavorful, moist, and totally adorable. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake Recipe:

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

Here's what you'll need:

1 box cake mix (I used Pink Velvet from Duncan Hines.)
3 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup (recipe here)
1 cup strawberries, sliced (extra for garnish)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Fresh cut flowers for decoration

Begin by baking your cakes according to the package directions in two 9" round cake pans lined with parchment paper on the bottom. (You'll need eggs, water, and butter for the cake mix.) Once baked, allow the caskes to cool in the pans.

When the cakes are cooled, poke holes in the top of each with a wooden skewer or fork. Then slowly pour 3/4 cup of strawberry rhubarb syrup onto each cake. Use a spatula, if necessary, to evenly spread out the syrup.

Chill the cakes for about an hour.

In the meantime, mix the butter cream frosting.

Beat together the butter until smooth. Then slowly add the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and as much of the heavy whipping cream as needed until you achieve the desired consistency.

To assemble the cake, removed both cakes from the round pans. Place a dollop of frosting on the first cake and spread it out evenly to the edges. Add a thin layer of sliced strawberries on top of the frosting . Place the second cake pn top of the first one and spread a layer of frosting on the top. Add the strawberries and garnish with flowers.

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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Recipes

Wednesday
Jun / 25 / 2014
Comments 12

A family favorite, this Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is a go-to dessert that’s bursting with the flavors of summer. I’m certain you’ll love this recipe as much as I do.

Yes, that’s right, today we’re making on of my favorite pies: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie!

Seriously, I can’t believe this wasn’t one of the first pies I made in A Year of Pie. It probably would have been if rhubarb had been available back in January when the series started.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie:

A couple days ago I kicked off an unofficial rhubarb week here on IBC so I figured it would only be appropriate to follow that up with Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

How do You Make Strawberry Rhubarb Pie:

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie has long been a staple in my family for any holiday function. From birthdays to Christmas to Thanksgiving, there is always a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie on the table.

Like most pies, making this Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is pretty straight forward.

Personally, I like to start with my homemade pie dough. You can find that recipe here. However, your favorite recipe (or even store bought if you must) will work too.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Tips:

Our family prefers the dough roll fairly thin.
Use fresh strawberries and rhubarb
Chop the strawberries and rhubarb into 1/2 inch sized (or smaller) pieces

I have come to appreciate and love this flavor as total comfort food. There is nothing that tastes more like home than Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

For that reason, my affinity for this pie may be stronger than yours will ever be. However, (pardon my language), this really is damn good pie!

How Do You Thicken Strawberry Rhubarb Pie?

There are various ways to thicken Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. However, I find the best thickener to be flour. I simply stir it in with the fruit and sugar. In fact, it’s my go-to for most pies?

If you are new to rhubarb, this is where I recommend you start. Once you try this recipe, you’ll be hooked. Unless you don’t like pie.

Then I basically give up on you. Cause seriously, who doesn’t like pie?

Can you freeze unbaked Strawberry Rhubarb Pie?

Yes, you sure can!

In fact, this is a great idea for serving pies all year long.

To freeze, you can wrap rhubarb pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag. I recommend baking and serving the pie within 6 months of freezing.

Also, once you have your pie crust down (and I’ll close my eyes if you want to use store bought), this pie is a cinch to make.

So you really have no excuse.

If you liked this pie recipe, you’ll also love these:

Plus, if there happens to be any leftover Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, it’s quite delicious for breakfast.

I’ve been known to have it with my coffee on several occasions. (And yes, I still add the ice cream. Life is too short not to.)

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe:

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dessert, pie, rhubarb, strawberry, strawberry rhubarb pie

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe #rhubarb #strawberry #pie #dessert #recipe

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A family favorite, this Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is a go-to dessert that's bursting with the flavors of summer. I'm certain you'll love this recipe as much as I do.

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Ingredients

1 Inspired by Charm Go-To Pie Crust
3 cups rhubarb - chopped
2 cups strawberries - chopped
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter - cut in cubes.

Garnish

1 egg - beaten
Coarse sugar for garnish

Instructions

Begin by preparing your pie crust. Roll out both the top and bottom. Place the bottom crust in the pie dish and set the top aside. (I like a lattice crust for this pie. You can learn how to create a lattice effect here.)
Next, preheat your over to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix together the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, flour, one egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix well and pour into the bottom crust. Sprinkle cubes of butter on top of the filling.
Place the top crust over the filling or cut the crust into strips to create a lattice effect. Crimp the edges to seal. Then brush the top crust with your egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake for 1 hour or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
Let cool before serving with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

You can find the recipe for IBC's Go-To Pie Crust HERE.

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

Recipes

Monday
Jun / 23 / 2014
Comments 10

I know. I did it again. Totally disappeared from the Internet with no notice whatsoever. I’m sorry about that. I have a somewhat good excuse this time though. I was in Ireland. Yep. Those of you who follow me on Instagram or are a friend of Facebook probably already knew this. I’ll be sharing more about that trip sometime this week. Stay tuned. I had the best of intentions for posting while I was traveling. I photographed six posts before I left and planned to do a little travel journal on a few of the days, but none of that happened. While my trip was beyond fabulous, I had anticipated a little downtime. However, it was a non-stop adventure of pub hopping and exploring the rolling green hills. So I figured, when life calls, you answer and worry about the rest later. Right?

Well, I’m back home and back online. Is anyone else seriously upset that it’s already June 23? Where did the month go? It feels like summer barely started, and I’m already dreading its end. What is happening?

Anyway, just before my travels my Mom dropped off a large amount of rhubarb from my grandparents’ garden. I love rhubarb, especially when it comes baked in something dessert related, even more so when it’s paired with strawberries. With this huge supply of rhubarb, I made four different recipes that I’m going to share with you over the next couple weeks. If you’re not a fan of rhubarb, what is wrong with you? Haha. I kid. If you tried rhubarb in the past and didn’t like it, maybe one of these recipes will change your mind.

I thought I’d kick off this unofficial rhubarb series with something pretty simple and multipurpose – Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup. It’s basically the delicious flavors of strawberries and rhubarb in syrup form. As you can imagine, this syrup comes in handy for drizzling over ice cream, pancakes, and cake. It’s also fabulous for cocktail making. (Don’t worry, a cocktail recipe or two will be coming soon.)

The syrup is made by simply cooking fresh strawberries and rhubarb with sugar and water.

You cook the mixture until all of the strawberries and rhubarb turn to mush and the liquid becomes thick. It’s almost like making jam. However, instead of keeping the pulp with the syrup, you stain the pulp out. What remains is liquid gold.

And isn’t the color gorgeous?

Like I said, pour this over vanilla ice cream, toss in some fresh sliced strawberries, and you will be in heaven. I’m pretty sure you could make some fabulous strawberry rhubarb salad dressing with this stuff,too, Or you could add it to Greek yogurt and granola, Or how about putting it on a piece of pound cake with fresh whipped cream. You get the idea. I’ll stop.

But seriously, go make this stuff. Like right now.

Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

Here's what you will need:

2 cups chopped rhubarb
2 cups chopped strawberries
3 cups water
1 cup sugar

Combine the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar and water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and summer, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is soft and the liquid has thickened slightly. This will take 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

Put a mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the mixture through the strainer. Use a spoon to extract any extra liquid from the solids.

Carefully pour the syrup in a clean bottle, cover, and store in the refrigerator. (If you'd like, hang on to any leftover solid fruit pieces. They are almost like a jam and are delicious on toast.)

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