Late week musings and fall is in the air!

Good morning everyone. Hope you have had a good week. Mine has been crazy busy and I have to admit I am glad its nearly over. Busy day today making candy sushi for a school fair this weekend and I absolutely cannot wait until Sunday....I plan to stay home in my pjs all day, reading, catching up, cooking, doing whatever I please! I need a day like that desperately.......how's your week gone?
 I am happy to announce the lucky winner of one of Anita's beautiful creations from the post on Monday. Congratulations to Mary Casey of Painting and fine art. Please email me with shipping info and thanks Anita for your beautiful giveaway.

Giveaway result:

64  painting and fine art October 15, 2012 11:48 PM  number 4 is so pretty! Thanks for such a cute and creative

The most exciting thing around here lately is that the loggia is done!! So excited and it came out so beautiful. For now we placed a table and four chairs we have owned there to have something but eventually we are going to put the new furniture out there (to be ordered on Monday) and use that stone table and add wicker chairs to it and place it more the corner. We still need lighting but its done and its very exciting. I cannot wait to start using it......

Here's some of what I have in mind......

It's starting to look like fall around here.....absolutely beautiful time of year and with the abundance of trees in our area, I must say its like a magical spell has been cast and its just breathtaking at every turn. It really just started happening a few days ago but I have enjoyed trying to capture a little bit of it on film, here's what I got....so far. I assure much more to come as things really rev up!

Cooking and baking are practically synonymous with the word holidays. I fell over seeing these delectable goodies. I am considering a holiday cocktail party, seeing these scrumptous treats has me leaning towards doing it but then again its my stomach talking not my head which knows how much work/stress it can be. Have to think about that one but feast your eyes on these!  I mean seriously if these won't put you in the holiday mood, what will?

Opening the door to my heart...so cute!

Whoa! Bring on the milk!

Colin Cowie (husbands and boy would love the mini versions of their favorites)

Too cute

Holy cow! Caramel apple cake...oh yea!

Peter Callahan

Gorgeous beef wellington

Now that I have you hungry......sorry, they were just too special to not share! I am excited, going see this movie tonight, The eye has to travel about Diana Vreeland. As soon as I had read about it, knew I had to see it and its playing in my neck of the woods. Diana Vreeland was a remarkable pioneer and this movie celebrating her life and contributions looks fantastic!

Two books I just ordered and cannot wait to get...do you have them? What do you think? They both look like winners, hope they don't disappoint!

On a fashion front...I looooove boots. Every year add a few to my collection. I have had some for years and years, cannot part with them. These are the ones I an currently coveting. The good news is they are all stunning and available in my size, the bad news is they are all from Gorsuch (favorite company) and now I need to narrow it down..........

No your eyes to do not deceive you, that IS fur and these are the J Mendel version of wellies!

Announced a frequent buyer program for my online store which is effective until Dec. 15th. Click here to visit yesterdays post if you didn't see it. (it has the details)

Last tidbit, hot off the presses, my guest room started to get done. I am overjoyed with how the crown/carona has come out. Granted the bedding, pillows and windows are not done. And the tiebacks I ordered haven't come in but I had to share a sneak peek, taken with my iphone last night. I will have an entire photo session with my camera when done (the colors aren't great here) but I was so happy with it wanted to show you one in progress shot....

That's about it, this is a short post (for me at least) just wanted to say hi and share whats new and exciting over here. What are you up to this weekend? Hope whatever you do is enjoyable and wonderful. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Mid week musings and a Bavarian bread board giveaway!!

Hi everyone! So hope you are having a wonderful week. Today is another random musings post about a  whole lot of things...kind of all over the map. Its a great day for me  to chat about this and that, which I am getting quite good at I must say:) So lets get going shall we!Hopefully you got to visit me at the guest post over at Belle on Heels yesterday on bistro kitchens and saw my Bavarian bread board giveaway. To enter just visit my online store and come back here and tell me a favorite item or two...that's it! I will announce a winner on Friday. Moving along.......
House biz....So excited to show you my almost completed powder room! Honey onyx countertop went in, sink and faucet coming in today. At last we are nearly done. Waiting on mirror and chandelier and then this baby is a wrap! I really love love love the way it turned out. Its all I hoped for. So, take a look.......

Was expecting wallpaper hanger to come this week but now he is away so hopefully next Wed. this will get hung, but here is the back bathroom in progress. Added one of my favorite silver planters from my shop to the vanity, and think it looks so pretty, what do you think?

Moving along to my guest room. Got the toile fabric and decided on a check which I then found out was back ordered 8 long weeks. Not happening. I like instant gratification so scoured for another back up. Found one which I actually like I believe nearly as much, so here it is. As we speak this guest room is about to go into production, and I cannot wait till its all done. You know I will be sharing! Draped the two fabrics over two pillows on the settee to give you an idea.........

Just finished That Old Cape Magic and have to say I really enjoyed it, its a definite recommendation, entertaining well written and a book you can finish in a weeks time.  I really like Richrad Russo's writing style....going to get his other books.

Speaking of books, last night ordered two new design books...have you gotten either? Have all of Charles and Betty Lou's books so happy to add these to my growing collection......

Posted about these before, and I must say they are heavenly good, worth posting about again..trust me! I am not saying they are diet friendly but I am saying they are what I would call 

"comfort cookies" :)

Ingredients for Pistachio cream cheese cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened 

1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened 

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1  egg 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

2  teaspoons finely shredded orange or lemon peel (optional) 

1/2 cup finely chopped lightly salted pistachio nuts

In a large bowl, combine butter and cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. If desired, stir in orange peel.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 7-1/2-inch-long roll (about 1-1/2 inches in diameter). Roll in pistachio nuts. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill about 1 hour or until dough is firm enough to slice. Or freeze dough for up to 2 months.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut rolls into 1/4-inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack; cool. Makes about 44 cookies.

Are you a makeup junkie? I am a former makeup hoarder. I used to buy it all the time, multiples and forget when I actually loved something......I bought them by the 3's and 4's to be assured I would not run out. I take the "high-low" approach, some things I spend a lot on because I feel its worth it, other things not as much. Was at a bookclub meeting and one of the girls brought a friend who was visiting her for the week who is an actress, she shared a few secrets from the makeup artists that she's worked with, one of which was the new mascara by Maybelline "Falsises"....so naturally I had to try it. Well shes right, its awesome! I was using Dior and Borghese's mascaras both which I liked, but this one I  like even better and its a third of the price. So...worth checking out.

Store updates......all new crystal hurricane candles are now up for sale. They are stunning, with four new added styles. Remember when the candle is gone, you can send back for a refill (1.00 an oz) but so worth it. By far my favorite candle EVER. 

This is a big one, 50 oz of heaven

This one even bigger, a new one 60 oz!

All three of these are the minis........

Also dough bowls continue to be a very popular item and with good reason, they are so beautiful and allow you bring a little bit of the past into your kitchen. I am so excited to have a new source from France who I met in person and I fell in love with this things. At the moment he had more of the small-medium sized ones which are so hard to find. So I bought what he had of the small rounds which are hard to come by and have 6 coming in and the sm-med. long ones (4 coming in). I am keeping one of each for myself, they are really beautiful and dark wood which is my personal fave. Here's a few pics. Email me if interested to theenchantedhome@gmail.com They are due here on Monday!

Also the gorgeous chargers that I had gotten in sold out right away. I unexpectedly got in a small batch. Announcing it here first, its first come first serve. They are sold in sets of 4's. I have approx 24 pieces. The prices are about 35% less than they are being sold for in many fine boutiques. Talk about dressing up a table!! Contact me here if you are interested.

Charger 1

Charger 2

Charger 3

Last bit of store biz....so excited to be carrying this fabulous line of monogrammed soaps, barware and cutting boards! You know I love a monogram on anything so this is very fitting for me to carry this line! Awesome for gifts and equally fab gift for yourself. Great price points (I will discount approx. 15% off retail). Best part...they turn these around in approx. 48 hours and are shipped directly to you! Doesnt' get better than that!  Here is a sneak peek at some of the fabulous items. Hope to have them up and for sale next week!

Finally on Belle on Heels yesterday, I announced a bread board giveaway! One lucky person will win it...all you need to do to be eligible is visit my shop and come back here and tell me a favorite item. Rememember, if you sign in as anonymous I have no way of knowing who you are...you must leave a first name and last initial. Ditto for those with just a first name, please include in your comment your last name initial.  I will announce a winner on Friday! So that wraps it up for today..........

Good luck and wishing you a fabulous day!! Thanks for stopping in.