Friday Inspiration: Stamped Cookies

There are a lot of different cookie ideas out there, but to keep things simple, I'm going to share only one today. One that I've never thought of, but an ingenious idea, if you ask me! The photo says it all, but you'll find more information and a recipe at Scullery Made.

Such a sweet idea, don't you think? Any firm cookie dough that doesn't spread too much would work. I may try this with my Swedish Pepparkakor Recipe.

Time to get baking!

Inspiration Friday: 5 Achievable Goals for Every Urban Homestead

Many believe that to homestead it's necessary to move out to the countryside and live on a few acres. If it were only possible for everyone, I think it might be heaven on earth! My heart goes out to all the urbanites who crave for some space to fulfill their homesteading desires. Sometimes we just need to "bloom where we are planted".

Besides bringing some immediate joy, focusing on what you CAN do will put you ahead of the game if you ever realize your dream to make that "move to the country". I was just listening to a video clip of Eliot Coleman who mentioned that at one time, 1/16th of the land inside Paris was covered with urban gardens. Wow. Imagine how that would transform a vast area of cement and buildings! If that's possible in a grand city like Paris, it's possible in your corner of the world.

If every single home practiced just a few things in order to grow SOME of their own food, it would revolutionize lives. There's lots one can do in a community, but what can you do in your own apartment?

1. Grow balcony gardens. There are so many ways this could be done, but unfortunately, few utilize the space that they DO have! To help you out, I've created a pin board with just photos and links for Balcony Gardens. Before you begin, just check your HOA and city's ordinances to verify what you can and can't do in your small space. 

Inside Urban Green 

2. Keep a worm hive. Compost kitchen scraps and make nutrient rich soil for potting plants and window boxes to grow more food. This can be placed in a corner of a balcony, on a porch, or even in a laundry room. If you manage it really well, you could even put one in a closet. I find mine stays odor free unless I don't lift the lid. (These can be purchased as well since most apartment dwellers don't have access to wood working tools.)

MiaU and One20Farm

3. Put up your own food. By utilizing farmer's markets, urban homesteaders can build up their own larder. All you need is some canning and dehydrating equipment as well as some storage space, which can be found just about anywhere. Even a temporary wall unit will work and create that pantry feeling on one wall of your dining space.

Design Sponge

4. Install an indoor clothesline. There are several ways to do this, but an indoor clothesline is green, keeps you from being in the laundry mat as long, prolongs the life of your clothes, and allows you to be less "dependent" on electricity. And it gives you that "line dried" feeling to your clothes. Not much space? It can even be hidden in a cabinet!

Just About Home

5. Add a skill. Many homesteading skills are things done right inside the home. Utilize your library or the internet and pick one thing to master this coming year. Here's some ideas to get you started...

• making soap 

• candle making 

• bread baking

• fermenting foods

• spinning and knitting

• sewing

• learning herbal remedies

• growing mushrooms (another balcony idea!)

• culturing dairy products (including cheese!)

Just because you're living in the city, doesn't mean you can't live a homesteading lifestyle. Yes, you may be limited, but the time invested in these 5 areas certainly aren't wasted. Your family will experience the benefits immediately and you'll be that much more connected to the land. 

Inspiration Friday: Pantry Screen Doors

Sugarpie Farmhouse

I really appreciate how one photo can inspire a whole room design or how a single accent piece can transform a space. Like a screen door on a pantry... it really changes the look of a kitchen. And while it helps to separate spaces (between kitchen and storage), it changes the entire perspective and draws the eye to the mystery beyond the screen.

So despite the fact that it's autumn and cooler temperatures prevail, I'm on the hunt for that special screen door, not for the porch, but for my pantry door.

This Old House via The Kitchn

Fancy or plain, they all appeal to me...

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Country Living

The Bella Living

This is one of my favorites... it's from the Lettered Cottage and they have a tutorial on switching it out...

Learn How to Transform a Room with a Screen Door

At the moment, I actually have a pocket door on my pantry opening. Perhaps something like this? Maybe we'd actually close it more if it looked this good. However, I have found that pocket doors, handy as they may be, stay open almost 99% of the time due to the traffic coming in and out.

Goodbye City Life

Here's a solution for a mini-pantry; really just an alcove converted.

Country Living via The Kitchn

Okay... let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what I'm REALLY looking for... I think. When I see these, memories flood over me and I swoon a bit...

Round Top Antiques Fair

Victorian Casino Antiques

I'd settle for anything in reasonable condition (willing to do a little work on it) in the right size (or could be trimmed down to 32.5" x 79"), preferably in black or a neutral color (but negotiable), for the right price. I thought I found it last weekend, but the owner of the antique shop was using it for display and wouldn't part with it. {Sigh... I wouldn't have either!}. Besides being EXACTLY the right dimensions, I adored the hardware cloth in the top portion. A little work down below and it would have been perfect!

Do you know how scarce antiques are in California?

Perhaps you have one in storage?

Inspiration Friday: Rolling Pins

So... continuing our Inspiration Friday along the lines of baking...

Let's talk rolling pins.

Without a doubt, I do most of my baking in the fall. Any wonder I regularly gain weight at this time of year? I know you get that... it's a natural nesting instinct, right? Cool weather, more time indoors, a high need for coziness...

I don't have a rolling pin collection or anything, but I do have a few different pins... a french rolling pin, a standard pin (where did that one go?), a couple of smaller rolling pins, and a... hmmm... I don't know what to call it. A tortilla pin? Basically it's a 1" dowel rod that I mostly use to beat bags of ice when I'm having a get together. It's seen better days, for sure.

ethanollie

For a while, this smattering of pins has been stashed in a drawer under my baking center, but frankly, it isn't working that well for me. When I designed the house and kitchen 10 years ago, my intent was to have a "baking center" with everything easy to access and several regular baking items hanging, at the ready.

Yeah... that didn't happen. Life. Priorities.

Cozy Little House

Onward and forward...

I'm reworking that space now and looking for the best way to "display" my pins on the side of the cabinet that surrounds the baking space. Whatever did we do before Pinterest?

Do You Love Him Loretta?

Sadie Olive

So, how can one display these humble wooden cylinders of flakey pie crust fame? Let me count the ways...

shesagoodgirl via Junk Market Style

Re-found Objects

Amy Azzarito via Design Sponge

thekitchen.com

Frog Goes To Market

Savvy City Farmer

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You know... rolling pins are really other objects in disguise...

Olive Blogs

seelamade

Harbour Breeze Home

Blue Bird Heaven

Sometimes, it's just fun to see how everyday objects can be beautiful and delight!

Blue Cardinal

Just curious... how do you store your rolling pins?

Inspiration Friday: Baker's Twine

Hmmm... I'm having a serious crush on baker's twine. For some reason, it grabbed my attention about 2 years ago as I stood in the craft isle and Martha Stewart's mini spool of the red and white twisted yarn caught my eye. Perhaps it's the simplicity of it all that I love so. Or maybe it's because the candy cane stripes just seem so festive. Either way, I present my humble ode to baker's twine for your enjoyment today... drool away...

Note: links to photo credits and more great information are located beneath each picture.

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all through the house...

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Wrapping it up with craft paper...

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Or not... newsprint works just fine!

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Just by itself, it's still great!

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Now is the time to secure your purchases in time for the holidays.

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Thank goodness it's not just for Christmas!

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Little things make a big difference.