FOOD: Lemon Cakeballs

I made these for a Baby Shower awhile back... these cakeballs are SO easy to make.

I was always hesitant about making some, but when I saw the recipe... I thought, "How hard can it be?"

Fortunately, not hard at all!

A little messy yes.

But, hard... NO!

LEMON CAKEBALL RECIPE

1 box Lemon Cake Mix

1 tub Lemon Frosting

2 packages of Almond Bark

1 package of Colored Candy Melts {I used yellow}

• Prepare cake according to package. Let cool completely.
• Break up prepared cake in a large bowl.
• Add the tub of frosting and mix well {I used my hands}.
• Form into balls and place on a lined cooking sheet.
• Place in freezer for about 1 hour.
• Melt Almond Bark according to package instructions.
• Dip frozen cakeballs into melted almond bark and place back onto lined baking sheet to harden.
• Once cakeballs are harden, prepare yellow candy melts and drizzle on cakeballs to decorate.

The possibilities are endless. 

I have made this recipe with strawberry cake mix and frosting. They were DELISH, too! 

These cakeballs are quite moist and VERY rich... They are sure to cure any sweet tooth craving.

ENJOY!

WITH PURPOSE: Dwell with Dignity

I can't wait to share with you some exciting and amazing news!

And for you Dallas peeps out there: 

a chance to view, admire and purchase some FANTASTIC pieces and designs... 

all for a GREAT CAUSE!

If you haven't already heard of Dwell with Dignity.... let me share with you:

Dwell with Dignity is a non-profit group of Interior Designers and volunteers dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty. They provide and install home interiors for families that include furnishings, art, bedding, kitchen supplies and food in the pantry.

Beginning October 11th, Dwell with Dignity will host their Fall Thrift Studio.

What's a Thrift Studio you ask?

It is a a bi-annual 30 day pop-up shop created to provide financial viability and fundraising for Dwell with Dignity through selling the overstock of donated, gently used furniture, housewares, accessories and high end designer finds to the public. All proceeds benefit the future work, growth, organization and structure of Dwell with Dignity!

Each Thrift Studio has a cast of fabulous designers that design and install vignettes using items from Dwell with Dignity's warehouse as well as items they have donated from their own inventory.  All the items are for sale to help Dwell with Dignity support families escape poverty and homelessness.

And this fall, you will be seeing this piece...

Raspberry Beret - Original Abstract Acrylic on 48" x 48" Canvas by JoJo

FOR SALE at Dwell with Dignity's Thrift Studio!

And that's not all.... there is a preview party.

Tickets go on sale in just one week... September 3rd.

PREVIEW PARTY:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

Tickets go on sale September 3, 2013

Thrift Studio

Dallas Design Center

1250 Slocum - Suite 280 - Dallas

October 11-November 9, 2013

Tuesday-Saturday : 10AM-5:30PM 

To find out more and to see the entire list of the designers, check out this page. 

And while you're at it.... stay in touch with Dwell with Dignity on Facebook here.

Below are some vignettes from the Spring 2013 Thrift Studio event... 

simply GORGEOUS!

vignette courtesy of Square Foot Studios

vignette courtesy of DJ Lucy Wrubel for Peacock Alley

vignette courtesy of One Kings Lane

vignette courtesy of IBB Design Fine Furnishings

vignette courtesy of Studio Ten 25

I am honored to be a part of the Fall 2013 Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio!
I can't wait!
Come and check it out!

All vignette images by Lance Selgo of Unique Exposure Photography.

WORDS: Laughing

TGIF?

I DO have a wonderful event to attend tonight.

I AM heading out tomorrow to the beautiful wide-open country for a weekend get-away.

It IS my birthday on Sunday.

TGIF!

And thank God for the wonderful people in my life I will be sharing this weekend with... people who make me laugh -- A LOT!

Have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY and a 

FABULOUS WEEKEND!

ROCK the RED

As mentioned in this post, I have donated this piece to be auctioned off at an event tomorrow night.

3 Years - Acrylic Abstract on 36" x 36" Canvas

But there are other things going on as well...
like choosing an outfit... to ROCK the RED in...
gulp!

So, I put together a couple of RED accessory inspiration boards.

1/2/3/4

1/2/3

Nothing like swooning over some good designers and their accessories to get you inspired!

I'll share with you later what I actually ROCKED!

There is still time if you want to attend the Red Dress/ Red Tie Reception.... here is the information:

Join me and my Go Red for Women Passion Committee members for our annual Red Dress/Red Tie VIP Reception in support of the 2013 American Heart Association Dallas Heart Walk event.  Come and enjoy appetizers, auction items, raffle prizes, and more!

Confirm your attendance today! https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/549103391816852/

FOOD: Healthy Banana Blueberry Bread

I'd like to share with you a recipe I morphed from about 5 different recipes created:

HEALTHY BANANA BLUEBERRY BREAD! 

And when I say healthy... I mean

whole wheat.... oats... fruit.... low sodium... low fat.... no added sugar {Truvia was used}....

YUMMY!

And not bad for your thighs.

And believe me, this bread IS yummy! It actually got a huge stamp of approval from the hubsters... as actually being something he assumed I purchased at the bakery. Whoah.... that's a huge compliment {on a healthy bread}!

It all started with the standard pathetic looking mushy bananas.

Most of you know how this story ends..... typical fate of said bananas = Banana Bread.

No different here.

But, I looked in my fridge and I had some blueberries I wanted to use too.

So, I changed it up a little bit and added a few other companions to the mix!

INGREDIENTS

3 mashed very ripe bananas

1 cup blueberries

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/4 cup Truvia

2 1/2 tsp sodium free baking powder {Featherweight}

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 egg whites

1 egg

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Sift together all dry ingredients {except oats}.

3. Add oats to dry ingredients and mix together until well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce, eggs and bananas.

5. Add blueberries to the wet mixture.

6. Gently mix the wet and dry ingredients together and pour into a greased {spray with Pam} loaf pan.

I added some blackberries to the top of the loaf.

7. Bake for approximately 1 hour at 350 degrees.

{Check with toothpick to verify loaf is baked all the way through.}

ENJOY!

Store bread in refrigerator for a couple days {if it lasts until then}.

HEALTHY BANANA BLUEBERRY BREAD! 

Your thighs can thank me later...

unless....

of course you eat this warm bread with some vanilla ice cream....

.... then.... not so low fat. Ha!

INTERIORS: Soft and Gorgeous

HAPPY MONDAY!

To start your week off on a FABULOUS note, I thought I would share with you some gentle, soft and GORGEOUS interiors to browse...

Tamara Mellon

Elle Decor

FRANCESCO LAGNESE

Eric Piasecki

Pinterest Image

Yep.... that last one makes me SWOON, too!

Have a WONDERFUL start to your week!

WORDS: Get it Done

Words can be very very powerful...

I have an exciting project coming down the pike.... and when I'm worried about what others will think of my work, I remember this quote by Andy Warhol.

Afterall, if painting is a passion of mine, why let worry and thinking get in the way?!?!

JUST GET IT DONE!

So, this weekend.... I will be doing just that.

Painting, painting and more painting!

Whatever you have going on this weekend, have fun GETTING IT DONE!

PRINTABLE: Madonna Word Art

So, I have this friend who loves Madonna.

And when I say love..... it is L-O-V-E.

She has this large piece of art in her office....

See?! L-O-V-E

Gorgeous with all the flow of color... I really like it.

We had talked awhile back about doing a simple piece to complement the Madonna artwork....

and this is what we came up with!

I created the print in several color options to work with her existing piece. 

She chose the magenta print to display.... great choice.

And now.... for the even more exciting part?!

FREE Word Art Printable

Cuz, I am TOTALLY nice that way!

Afterall, who couldn't use a little Madonna in their work space?

My Office Space

And here is a little inspiration of an office space TOTALLY Madonna worthy!

Source

Gotta LOVE that desk and the floor --- SWOON!

Linked up at Thrifty Decor Chick.

CRUSH: Sarah Briggs Jewelry

I have just increased my physical stock in jewelry this weekend.

Thankfully... my favorite jewelry designer, Sarah Briggs, was at the Dallas Contemporary! I loaded up on her pieces.

Seriously.

Loaded up!

Here is a shot of my newly collected stash.

Some vintage pieces utilized with modern pieces and some completely modern pieces.

I LOVE this stuff!

As you can see in EXHIBIT A and B.
Two recent photo shoots I've done for projects.



Seriously, this girl is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

And... she is SUCH a sweetheart.... with an adorable baby girl and wonderful husband. I love visiting with her every time I add to my collection. And my dear hubby has actually joined in on the fun and ordered from her --- for a Valentine's Day gift surprise!

Check out her stuff on Etsy and Facebook.

Image from Sarah Briggs Jewlery Facebook Page

Her pieces are not only creative and GORGEOUS... but, for ladies like me who have had their ears pierced since they were 3 months old {proof I'm Latina}... they are light weight! So, I can wear large beautiful earrings that won't tear my earlobes... PERFECTION!

Sarah Briggs

Do you have a particular designer you just love for jewelry?
Share with me!

WORDS: Refuse to be Average

I am an introvert.

Those who know me, may not think so... but, I really am.

I can speak at an event, with over 300 people, with ease and grace and work a room from person to person with laughter and exuberance... but, I LOVE to just be home in my pj's ** alone ** sipping on hot tea {or a glass of fine red vino} in complete silence.

But, I also have this fire inside me. Something that I was born with.... a drive that has to be God-given.... an energy that is, at times, other-wordly. It's as if it has been speaking to me since I was in my mother's womb, "Refuse to be average"...

Eva Black Design

It's at the times when I step out of my comfort zone.... when I refuse to be average... that my HEART SOARS! 

It's hard to step out of my comfort zone. But, I love it when I do.

My kiddo is stepping out of his comfort zone today.
He is also an introvert.
But, his HEART SOARS and his SPIRIT SHINES when..... he is on stage.

Today, he will be playing the role of James Trotter in "James and the Giant Peach" in a production for Acting Camp. My mama heart is bursting with joy and pride!

BREAK A LEG, KIDDO... and

LET YOUR HEART SOAR!

FAB FABRICS: Chinoiserie

On one of my recent Pinterest searches.... I found this lovely fabric, mirror, lamps, coffee table, wall covering, and couch combination.

I just LOVED it!

Pinterest Image

Warm, soothing, interesting.... and GLAMOROUS!

And then on one of my recent Flea Market trips... I found this LOVELY vintage piece of fabric from GP & J Baker called "Emperor's Robe".

So, I thought it would be fun to share with you a few other GLAMOROUS and LOVELY Chinoiserie Fabrics in decor.

Decor Pad

Chinoiserie Chic

Pinterest Image

Have a GLAMOURSLY WONDERFUL Monday!

Odds and Ends

I thought I would share with you a gallery of some odds and ends from my life this past week or so...

Building my arm with silver fabulousness!

Here are just a few shots from the photo shoot completed for the feature of my Glam Office over at The Office Stylist.

You can also get the answers to some very interesting questions like....

Where did the inspiration of your office space design come from?

Check out my answer HERE!

A shot of our foyer looking into our living room.

I have also been working on commissioned artwork like this large piece here!

"Material Girl" - Commissioned 48" x 60" Abstract on Canvas

I have been loading up my space at Lost...antiques with more FABULOUS FINDS!

Check out this gorgeous vintage fabric I used to reupholster a vintage bench. Simply FABULOUS!
You can always follow my latest finds and artwork pieces on my Facebook page: Floor 24 Designs

Vintage GP & J Baker's "Emperor's Robe" Fabric  

See.... odds and ends... ODDS and ENDS!

But, now I am enjoying a little get-away to prep for the upcoming Homeschool year!
Not to mention.... the quiet!

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!

Easy DIY Artwork

I have been knee deep creating new artwork this week {I'll share pics later}.

It has involved A LOT of paint.... but, I thought I would share a sweet and simple little DIY art that even the most artistically challenged should be able to complete!

Let me explain.... I typically don't put pictures in picture frames. I know crazy, right? But I really like to put art in frames. And the more ornate the frame, the simpler the art.

So, here is a step by step of the quick and easy artwork created for this frame.

I used only items I had on hand.

SUPPLY LIST

Black Cardstock

Gold Texture Paper

Adhesive

Scissors

Frame

1. Cut black card stock to size of the frame.

2. Cut gold paper smaller than the black cardstock.

3. Tear off the edges around the parameter of the gold piece of paper.

4. Tear 3 strips of gold paper.

5. Adhere the gold strips of paper onto the black cardstock.

6. Frame and you're good to go!

I just LOVE how this turned out!

The gold paper echos the gold in the frame.

Simple but VERY elegant.

Easy Peasy... and under 10 minutes!

The options are endless with this type of simple artwork. Different colors and types of cardstock and paper. You could use maps, old books, hymnals, dictionaries, etc, etc.... endless possibilities I tell ya!

Have you created any pieces of artwork lately?