Summer Sale! Clearing out : )

Late night trip to IKEA last night = cinnamon rolls this AM. Ordering fall inventory today... So, clearly the cinnamon roll is necessary for getting me in 'cozy' mode. 😉

A photo posted by JennySteffensHobick (@jennysteffenshobick) on Jul 14, 2015 at 6:36am PDT

 This week it is hot, hot, hot in the midwest...  This was my insta from this morning - pretending it is a chilly fall day : )  It is time to clear everything out and make room for new fall goodies coming mid-August (ish).  Almost everything is on sale - some up to 50% off.  Go wild.  Stock up on ribbons, tags, cards, candles, pastry tips, throws and anything else you can find.   I've included a couple of screen shots below of the sale page - but there are much more, too!

Shop the Summer Sale, here.

See the entire Summer Sale, here.

Finishing an Unfinished Kids Table & Chairs

This past Christmas, Santa brought Emma a set of tables and chairs.  I'm so glad he picked this particular set because I'd been searching all over for a children's table that would feel right in our new house.

I am not a big fan of factory finished furniture and it seems the Children's Furniture industry is filled with it.  I remember looking for Emma's nursery furniture and feeling like every nursery in America looks exactly the same and it is an easy hole to get sucked into.  I had held out on purchasing a pre-finished (options being white or pink paint... or espresso brown...) to hold out for something that felt old - but wasn't a rickety antique.  I'd hoped to find a solid wood, real farmhouse looking table that was scaled down for kiddos.

Santa did a great job!  However, I think Santa ran out of time during the very busy and hectic Christmas season and didn't get a finish put on the table. Or maybe Santa knows how particular I can be and knew I'd want to select the stain/paint color myself?

Emma loved it exactly as it was (as this was the way the elves made it) and was very reluctant for me to change it in any way.  After a little coaxing and promising she could help, we put on a Natural Walnut stain and a Satin Polyurethane finish.

I found the exact table and chairs Santa brought us.  They are almost half the price of the finished versions available at Pottery Barn, etc., but you do have to finish yourself.  It took Emma and I about 1 hour to stain, then I put 3 spray layers of polyurethane over the course of 24 hours.  It was very little hands-on time.

Unfinished Toddler Table

Unfinished Tot Chairs

This is the table post-stain.  Before I stained it, I did a light sanding with fine sand paper.

I brushed it on with a bristle brush and wiped it down to remove excess.

Spray Polyurethane (satin) is a must for any furniture that has turned legs or spindles.  Such a time saver and a much more even finish.  I recommend 3 coats with a couple of hours drying time in between.

Minwax Satin Poly
Old Masters Natural Walnut

These are the chairs mid-stain, pre-spray.

Now the table is all finished and lives between the hearth room and the kitchen.   You can see it is almost the very same tone as the big dining table.   It appears lighter in the photo, but they are almost the exact color, giving the room great balance.

Emma eats her breakfast here, watches TV, colors, paints, does play-doh and puzzles, all right here.  

The extra chairs have found homes throughout the house - this one Emma uses as a step-stool in the powder room.

This one is tucked under the counter for her to use when we're baking.  Instead of an eye-sore, the chairs add a little bit of charm wherever they are.  They work great as a step-stool for me, too : )

For me utilitarian beauty is all about making every single corner of your house functional and atheistically pleasing.  

So, just because this is the kids table, doesn't mean it can't be as charming and full of character as the rest of the house, right?

Emma's already set several tea party tables here.  I can't wait to set it for holidays - I can already envision the Thanksgiving paper turkey (or sugar cookie?!) placecards : )

Blackberry Peach Cobbler Cake

We have a prolific amount of blackberries around here.  My Dad's blackberry bushes are in full swing and producing buckets and buckets of blackberries daily.   Lucky for us, Emma can eat buckets and buckets of blackberries each day - her favorite berries.  No doubt that her love started 3 years ago in this photo when we baked "Mrs. Ross' Blackberry Cobbler" for Mike.  : )

This cobbler recipe has popped up on Insta a couple of times this summer as a favorite of many readers.  It is still one of our favorites, too, and I make it often with combinations of fruits and berries - whatever we have.   I also use an array of flavors to enhance the fruit, too.  Sometimes vanilla bean paste, sometimes almond extract.  It is a really flexible recipe that you keep in your back pocket and turn anything into a great dessert.

This time I used blackberries and peaches.

I chunked up the peaches (skin on!  I like the flavor of peach skin) into 1" -ish pieces.

I forgot to take a photo with the melted butter in the bottom - but don't skip that step!  It makes the edges caramelized and chewy.

You can see how the butter goes around the sides of the batter.  Yum.

I also forgot to take a photo before serving.  It was hot.  I was hungry. 

We served it with vanilla ice cream in big latte cups.

Is there anything better than cooked blackberries with a buttery cake?

Berry & Peach Cobbler Cake

1 stick butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar 
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
3-4 cups of fruit sweetened to taste

Melt butter until it starts to brown.

Pour half in baking dish.   I like to use a shallow pan like this tart/quiche pan.
Place fruit on butter in baking in baking dish.
Mix flour, sugar & baking powder with milk.  
Pour over the rest of the melted butter.

Bake about 30 min @ 350 degrees. 

Indigo Woodblock Print Napkins & Pillows | Restocked Hanging Baskets, Seagrass Carafes, Kitchen Brushes & Tumbler

I have a little mid-summer treat for you - I've restocked many of the most popular items from the summer collection (seagrass carafes, tumblers, throws!) and some all-time favorites (hanging baskets and kitchen brushes!).  In addition, I've added some new items that I hunted down for my own home and wanted to share.  

Woodblock Print Pillow Cases & Napkins

When we moved into our house I had a vision of an eclectic mix of white and blue pillows.  I thought they's be relatively easy to come by, but after a bit of looking it seemed like I would have to go the custom (very expensive!) route.  Almost at the end of my rope, serendipitously, I came across a small company in Massachusetts that create these woodblock print linens with the exact color and patterns I'd been after.

What's more, all of these products are handmade in collaboration with a group of independent artisans, designers, and crafters in India.  During production, multiple generations of families work on all steps such as block-making, dyeing, printing and stitching. The goal is to develop a sustainable source of income for these families and ensure that the cultural heritage of hand block printing continues to flourish.

Woodblock Print Pillow Cases, 20" Square Cases $45 each (cases only)

Woodblock Print Napkins, Set of 4, $32

Left to right : Trellis Print, Petite Flower Print

Left to Right : Large Paisley Print, Trellis Print & Petite Flower Print

All of the cases are 20" and require a 20" Square pillow insert.  Let me know if you need a resource for the inserts - they are easily found.

I love how they've freshen our hearth room.  Blue and white is my favorite color combination; it is so seasonless and classic.  I can't wait to incorporate more rusts and muted colors with them for Autumn.

They give the room a very comfy and relaxed feeling - exactly what I want this room to be.  

Now, onto the restocks - Seagrass Carafes are back... again!  They sold out in just a couple of hours both times I've restocked.  So, here we go again : )

Fleur de Lys Tumblers

And because I didn't even have one left for my own front door, Willow Hanging Baskets!

Kitchen Brush Collection - I'm planning these for several housewarming gift for friends.

My personal favorite tea towel - Window Pane Plaid

I have used this Napkin holder (with napkins!) so much this summer - and received so many compliments.  This Napkin Box and the rest of the Classic Collection have been restocked.

And, finally, the Unbleached Blue Linens that are perfect for casual summer entertaining.

I have a couple of DIY house projects to share with you in the next couple of days and a new recipe or two.  Enjoy restocking!

Our 4th of July in Photos | Page from Our Scrapbook

Here's a little photo tour of our festive 4th of July weekend.  While we bounced from one festive activity to the other all weekend long, I only had my camera out on the morning of the 4th before our Donuts and Decorating party.  Emma loved having her cousins in town to celebrate and to be silly with.

Hope you enjoy this unstyled real glimpse into a fun morning at our home with friends and family : )

Decorating supplies ready for wagons and bikes.

Pre-Parade adult drinks : )

Breakfast/Donut Bar Menu :

Cheddar & Chive Egg Strata
Bacon (baked in the oven)
Fruit Platter
Donuts
Homemade Biscuits and Whipped Butter
Mimosas
Bloody Marys
Coffee

Hydrangeas and Flags - doesn't get any more "summer" than that.

"Wow, my legs are getting hot from peddling!"  Emma

Heneghan Girls

Cousin Love :)