Speed decorating?

Leafing through the latest issue of Midwest Living (a fantastic magazine that focuses on home, garden, travel and dining in the - you guessed it! - midwest), I came across a small feature captioned "3 Lessons in Speed Decorating". Per the article, one can "make over a room in a matter of minutes" by following the three tips provided. While the listed ideas are fine ones for freshening up any space, thinking about the concept of "speed decorating" left me feeling more than a little disheartened, as I have been making over a room for a bit longer than a few minutes. Actually, I have been working on it for more than a few days, or even a few months. Okay, I will confess, it's been a damn year!

The space in question is our guest room and it was just over twelve months ago that I decided a re-do was definitely in order. No longer utilized by its previous teenaged tenants, the bubblegum pink walls, chocolate brown accents and funky mod decor that delighted my stepdaughters was not exactly in sync with my own design sensibilities, to put it mildly. I preferred that the room reflect the look of the rest of our home, being a somewhat traditional but also slightly transitional design, mixed with a dose of classic cottage style.

Unfortunately, my Pottery Barn taste is severely hampered by my KMart budget. Nonetheless, I set out a year ago to redecorate our guest room. I cleared the room and felt inspired. I am an HGTV addict, so I know how to go about such projects and I told my husband the room would be done in a couple weekends, give or take. Turns out, my timeline was a tad overly optimistic. A year later, at least the room is close to done.

The obvious initial fix for the room was paint, always a cheap way to transform any space. However, contrary to all the design authorities out there, I will never call painting "easy", because I frankly find it to be a royal pain in the ass. In my situation, repainting is also not "quick", primarily because I pick paint as if I'm choosing my last meal. Deciding upon the wall tint for the guest room was a prolonged process involving much indecision and agonizing scrutiny of a pile of paint samples I had toted home.


After the room sat bare for a couple weeks, I finally ordered up some paint, and got the walls done in a long but tedious weekend, slathering the existing pink paint with a gorgeous taupe shade. The end result was a perfect color...light enough to be cool and soothing in summer, but just dark enough to be warm and comforting in winter.

I was thrilled...game on! My plan, and a good one, was to use the existing brown velvet drapes and valances, which would be gorgeous against the taupe wall color. A quick change of bedding and - voila! - the room should essentially be done, more or less on time.

Unfortunately, after seeing the room empty, we came to the unavoidable conclusion that the carpeting was totally trashed. Stained beyond repair by grease, food, drink, mud, dirt and all the other assorted grunge that a trio of teen girls and a tribe of their friends had tracked in over time, the carpeting had to go. Another month passed while I obsessed over those ridiculously small pieces of carpet on sample boards and, once a color was picked, there was still the major problem of paying for a room of carpet. Flooring was certainly not in the original design budget, but a timely income tax refund thankfully solved that problem a week or so later.

With new paint and carpet finally in place, the room was now ready to decorate and I figured that I could get it finished in no time. Inspired by photos in several design magazines and catalogs, I decided that bedding in a bright, almost chartreuse, green would look very fresh against the taupe walls and deep brown drapes, although I realized I may tire of the bold color in a couple of years. Couple of years? Try a couple of days. The comforter and shams I had purchased went back to the store within a week, and I went back to the drawing board in terms of bedding.

Another color inspiration finally struck a couple months later while I was aimlessly tooling through Walmart. There, a display showed a rich paprika red coverlet with deep brown accents. I already possessed the brown drapes, and the deep red looked great mixed with the chocolate color. A sale enabled me to get a coverlet, shams, and two mix and match throw pillows for around 75 bucks, a total steal. (Thank you, Sam Walton, wherever you are.)


After the bedding delay, I thought the makeover was back on track, until I went looking for a light fixture to replace the dated white ceiling fan in the room. Initially, I desired a chandelier, but each one I found was either too big, or too small, or too expensive, or not the right finish. Feeling a bit like the Goldilocks of home decorating, I continued my search for a lighting fixture that would be just right. I finally found a period-style ceiling fixture in antique bronze with an alabaster glass shade at a great price (which, for me, meant under fifty dollars). Let there be light!


With that dilemma solved, another one quickly took its place. The white painted wood furniture previously in the room looked just awful with the new color scheme, and so I informed Scott that we needed to purchase a new piece or two in the deep stained wood tone I was envisioning. That idea was immediately shot down on the basis of budget (or lack thereof). Thankfully, I recalled that an old rattan writing desk and chair of mine was gathering dust in my mother's basement. When I went to retrieve the desk, I began eyeballing the dining room furniture that was also being stored at chez mom. Necessity is definitely the mother of invention, and it occurred to me that I could use a dining room sideboard in lieu of a dresser, since storage was not an issue in the guest room. Another design issue resolved, albeit half a year into my "quick" room makeover.

Accessorizing took another six months. (Insert heavy sigh here.) Small but critical, accessories can add up quickly in cost, and I was forced to shop for mine over time, looking for bargains to help decorate the space. A lamp on clearance at Lowe's was my first buy.

Just peachy!

After discovering the beauty of bundt cakes a few months ago, it seems the obsession has not ceased. My initial, and amazingly successful, efforts at making these cakes all focused on the chocolate variety, as detailed here and also here. Although I subscribe to the theory that there's really no such thing as too much chocolate, I recently decided that it was due time to branch out a bit in my bundt cake experimentation.

With spring in the air, the warmer temperatures and sunnier days seemed to call for making a cake that was lighter and brighter, perhaps one featuring fruit. Back to the Internet I went, and my search turned up several options that fit the bill. In the end, I opted to try the Peach Pound Cake recipe that I found in the southern food section of About.com. For once, I managed to follow a recipe as written (save and except the fact that I used faux buttermilk, made by combining a half cup of milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice).

While the peach bundt cake is made from scratch (as opposed to starting with a mix, which I usually favor due to time constraints and general laziness), it could not be simpler. The recipe does have one little "cheat", being that it calls for canned peaches. This, however, is a good thing, because even if decent fresh peaches were available, I simply refuse to expend the effort involved in blanching, peeling, pitting and slicing the fruit, as required when using peaches in their natural state.

It took no time at all to mix up the batter, and my minimal effort was rewarded with a cake that turned out to be truly delicious.


The recipe does not call for any type of glaze or frosting, and I can vouch for the fact that, taste-wise, none is needed. Served plain, or perhaps with a dusting of powdered sugar, this cake would be a wonderful substitute for a coffee cake at breakfast or brunch. With a dollop of whipped cream (or, in our case, more like a wallop of whipped cream), it makes an awesome dessert. Enjoy!


Peach Pound Cake (from About.com)

1 can (29 oz.) sliced peaches in heavy syrup
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspooon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup reserved peach syrup

Heat over to 325 degrees. Coat bundt-pan with a butter and flour-type baking spray. Drain peaches, reserving 1/3 cup of the syrup. Chop peaches finely and set aside.

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking power, salt and baking soda. Blend dry mixture into the creamed mixture, alternating with buttermilk; fold in reserved 1/3 cup of peach syrup and the chopped peaches. Spoon into prepared baking pan. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes (possibly less for a dark, nonstick-style pan), or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted near center of cake.

Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto serving plate to cool completely.

April showers bring May flowers...

or so the saying goes. However, in northwestern Ohio, our April this year has so far been remarkably warm and dry. For the most part, our current weather is a welcome change from the cool and rainy Aprils we typically experience in these parts. But I actually find myself wishing for a day or two of drizzle because, aside from helping along the May flowers, a bit of rainy weather would give me the chance to sport around in these adorable rubber boots.

I picked up this spiffy black and white pair at Meijer a few weeks back for about twenty-five dollars. They are super comfortable and totally waterproof. Although my closet already contained various pairs of footwear lined with Gore-Tex that provide extremely functional rain protection, I simply could not resist the fun polka-dot pattern and classic design of these boots.

The simple styling of the boots is certainly nothing new, having been worn for decades by the sensible yet fashionable country set, as well as school children everywhere. The style first became vogue over a century and a half ago in Great Britain, where the boots are known as "wellies", named after the first Duke of Wellington, whom is said to have to first conceived the design.

Originally made of leather, the more modern rubber style became popular following the two World Wars, during which the Hunter Boot company produced huge quantities of the boots in rubber for British troops who needed to keep their feet dry in the flooded trenches and muddy battlefields of Europe. Following that, the civilian population began purchasing the rubber Hunter boots for normal wear, due to their practical nature and affordable price.

While the basic design is certainly a classic, the looks of these sturdy boots have received a welcome facelift as of late, and the boots are now being sold in a variety of bright colors and prints by various manufacturers. My black and white beauties are one example. Another, pictured below, belong to my friend Angel, who ordered this ultra cool Burberry pair around the same time I was contemplating the purchase of mine. Great minds think alike, it turns out. Angel's boots feature a funky graffiti-inspired design in combination with a spin on the classic Burberry plaid, although their designer pedigree of course means that they came at a bit higher price than my bargain buy.

The stylish options do not end there. For purists, Hunter Boot Ltd. still offers their traditional style for both men and women, but now available in a wide range of cool colors. For anyone desiring the Hunter styling at a much cheaper price, Target sells a great replica, in a rainbow of solid colors, for around twenty-five bucks. I also dig this kicky argyle boot from Gabriella Rocha and, although I don't do bows myself, I happen to love this pair from Kate Spade. Finally, in the now-they've-gone-too-far category, it turns out that that the Hunter boot company has hooked up with Jimmy Choo, who is selling this design for the fashionistas out there who lack common sense but not cash.

Design musings aside, I do know one thing for sure. Whenever the weather here in Ohio turns to rain and slush, although it may now require waiting a season or two, Angel and I will be running around dry, comfortable and looking rather chic in rubber boots. We definitely think we're onto something. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder that the most stylish of fashion choices are usually the most classic, simply tweaked in a fresh way to bring them up to date.

On the road again

Back at home for just three days following nearly a week spent in Texas and New Mexico, we packed our bags again yesterday and, after work, headed for Columbus (Ohio's capital and my favorite city in the state), where the plan is to combine business with pleasure for a couple of days.


Work brings me to Columbus on a fairly regular basis and, after trying out several downtown hotels over the last few years, the Doubletree Guest Suites on South Front Street is definitely my hands-down favorite. This nicely kept all-suites hotel offers great accommodations, each with a large living room, a work and dining space that includes a wet bar with fridge, microwave and coffee maker, in addition to an adjoining, but separate, bedroom and bathroom area that is equally spacious. All of the suites feature huge floor to ceiling windows that let in fantastic light, and a few choice rooms facing Front Street offer great views of both the Scioto River and the gorgeously restored historic building that houses the Ohio Supreme Court. In my experience, these premium rooms can be easily reserved with adequate advance notice, at no extra cost.




While perhaps not the most exclusive place in town, the Doubletree's downtown location cannot be beat, the staff is super friendly and helpful, and the connected garage makes parking a breeze. The Doubletree's prices are extremely reasonable and quite frequently the least expensive of all hotels in the downtown Columbus area. (To be fair, I should note that my stays are usually at a crazy-cheap government rate of eighty bucks per night, but a phone call to the hotel directly has scored the same or similar rate even when I have not been staying for business purposes.) The wireless is free, each room comes stocked with bottled water, Wolfgang Puck coffees, an assortment of fine teas, as well as some fabulous Neutrogena bath and body products (all complimentary), and every guest upon checking in is presented with a huge, warm and delicious chocolate chip cookie. Need I say more?

Well, actually, I must, because on this visit we have discovered yet another reason to love this hotel. And that, of all things, turned out to be their chicken wings. Yes, chicken wings, the appetizer staple on chain restaurant menus across America and the most ubiquitous of bar foods, a dish that is too often presented overcooked, slimed with ridiculously greasy sauce, and usually suffering from the fact that the kitchen started with poor quality chicken parts that were not properly trimmed.

At the risk of sounding anti-American, but for the reasons I just described, I must admit that it has been several years since I have been possessed with the urge to order up a serving of chicken wings. But last evening, after checking in and quaffing a few cold beers at the Doubletree, Scott and I needed a quick dinner before falling into bed and so we ended up phoning in a room service request that included their Buffalo-style wings.

While Columbus is chock full of awesome eateries, I knew from past experience that, if time or situation demands it, the restaurant at the Doubletree does not disappoint. Last night was no exception, as we were rewarded within twenty minutes by dinner delivered to our suite, a meal that included a very decent Caesar salad for me and a well executed burger for Scott. But, oh my goodness, the wings!

The chicken wings we had impulsively ordered were the best either of us had ever tasted...large but well trimmed, they were perfectly prepared. Big and juicy, with meat that fell off the bone with just a nudge, the wings were beautifully dressed in a sauce that tasted, as it should, of hot sauce and butter, but that was also balanced in terms of flavor and consistency. The sauce was ideal...spicy hot but not to the extent that it left our lips burning and, while Buffalo-style sauce is by definition full of butter, the Doubletree's wings were nicely messy but not in the least bit greasy.


We are so completely hooked on these wings and, since dinner last night, have mentioned them again and again. If I possessed the necessary attributes, including time and patience (as well as a deep fryer), I would attempt to recreate these babies at home. As that is not the case, we have yet another reason, among the many, to look forward to future trips to Columbus and stays at the Doubletree.

More from New Mexico

It is with good reason that New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment, and Scott and I are thoroughly enjoying our stay in this intriguing state.

For our New Mexican vacation, we have based ourselves in Las Cruces, located in the south-central part of the state. Southern New Mexico sees far less tourism than the northern part of the state, an unfortunate fact for the many visitors who miss out on all this region has to offer, but lucky for those of us who have figured it out, and then largely have the place to ourselves. Having previously had the chance to visit the very popular destination of Santa Fe, four hours to the north, I personally found that area to be both overpriced and overrated. Las Cruces, on the other hand, suits us perfectly.

Meaning "the crosses" in Spanish, Las Cruces was named (or so the story goes) for the multitude of wooden crosses that dotted the area in the 18th century, marking the graves of would-be settlers who had been slaughtered by the Apache Indians. Today, Las Cruces is a small city of 90,000 or so much more friendly residents, home to New Mexico State University and also a strong agricultural community, with the Rio Grande river providing the irrigation necessary for crops like pecans and chile peppers to grow in the desert climate. On the subject of climate, the weather here is practically perfect, with lovely warm temperatures and something like 350 days of sun per year.

In our three days here, we have taken advantage of the fabulous weather and spent lots of time outdoors. Two days ago, we drove fifty miles northeast to White Sands National Monument, where huge dunes of snow-white gypsum sand cover a mind-blowing 275 square miles of land. This amazing area was formed over millions of years, as gypsum deposits in the nearby mountains were dissolved by rain and snow, then washed down to a large dry lake bed below. Once there, the hot and dry climate served to evaporate the moisture, causing crystals of gypsum to form, which the strong local winds then whipped into tiny particles of sand. Those same winds then moved the sand slowly across the desert floor, with more and more dunes continuing to form over the ages. Today, the dunes are still moving, some at an annual pace of up to thirty feet.

Visitors to White Sands can take a scenic drive through miles of the giant dunes and, if desired, can park along the way as we did, to get out and explore the sand on foot. Climbing atop the massive dunes and walking out into the endless fields of sand is a rather surreal experience, as one takes in the views of nothing but waves of pure white sand as far as the eye can see, juxtaposed against the bright blue New Mexican sky, and it is certainly an experience that should not be missed.




On the drive back from White Sands, we visited Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and this wilderness preserve was also well worth the stop. A narrow, winding road leads six miles up into the steep and rocky foothills of the adjacent mountains and, once there, provides a look at some gorgeous natural scenery, as well as a panoramic view of the desert valley below. We took a stroll up one of the hiking trails to get an better look around, and were only sorry that time did not permit us to follow the trail all the way to the mountain pass at the top.



The following day, we decided to try a hike at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, which is New Mexico's newest state park, having opened in 2008 along the western bank of the Rio Grande. There, several trails lead through the river's flood plain and the "bosque", or river woodlands, that have formed along the flood plain, and allow a nice chance to look for wildlife and just generally enjoy the area. During our hike, we were thrilled to spot a roadrunner, and Scott even managed to get a decent photo before, true to its name, the bird sped off.

Having worked a little exercise into our day, we spent the afternoon in a far more relaxing manner, lounging by the lovely pool back at the condo, enjoying the sunshine and the eighty degree temperature.

As the sun was setting, the perfect end to a perfect day turned out to be a delicious pizza that we picked up from Lorenzo's, an extremely popular Italian restaurant just down the road in Mesilla.

Today, being Saturday, we spent an enjoyable hour this morning strolling the open-air farmers' and crafts market held weekly on the downtown plaza in Las Cruces, followed by brunch at the Mesilla Valley Kitchen, highly touted as serving the best breakfast in town. That reputation is definitely deserved, based upon the awesome burritos we were served, which were filled with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes, then topped with green chile and cheese.

Thoroughly stuffed, we made our way to the Mesilla Valley Mall to do a little more shopping. I loaded up on books and magazines at Barnes and Noble, to somehow be crammed into my carry-on in along with our prior purchases, including this beautiful southwestern-style cross, made of clay, that I thought made an extremely fitting memento of this city named for crosses.

Our trip comes to an end tomorrow, when we return to El Paso in order to catch a flight back to Ohio. While our visit here was ultimately far too brief, we still enjoyed a rich variety of wonderful experiences and, along with our souvenirs and photographs, we will be returning home with some excellent memories of the time we spent in the amazing American southwest.

There's no place like home...Part II

Just over a month ago, I raved here about a fantastic vacation home that we had lucked into renting in Naples, Florida. Fast-forward to yesterday afternoon, when my husband and I arrived at our latest home on the road, being a one bedroom condo located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where we will stay through the weekend. Happily, it turns out that our current digs, another online find through VRBO, are equally awesome.

Our condo in New Mexico offers a superb location, minutes away by car to everything in Las Cruces and within walking distance to historic Mesilla. The unit is situated in a spanking new two-story complex of intimate size, with a beautifully detailed exterior featuring southwestern-inspired design elements such as stucco-finished walls with curved corners, a tile roof, exposed wooden beams, and prominent metal work. Painted in warmed-up desert tones of ochre, rusty red and a dark sage green, the striking building (in another nod to southwestern style) is designed around a charming courtyard, in which nestles a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, yucca and other desert plants. This fabulous setting is costing us just ninety dollars per night, about what we would pay to stay in a basic room at a local Hampton Inn or similar hotel property.

But the bang for our buck really kicks in on the condo's interior. The place is nicely trimmed out with details like textured walls, a beamed ceiling in the living room, tile floors, wonderfully thick and nubbly carpets, solid wood cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel applicances, and antique bronze hardware and fixtures throughout. Even better, it is beautifully decorated with an eclectic mix of lovely furniture, fabrics, art and other accessories.





For us (and, I would imagine, for most people), this is truly a wonderful home away from home.

Dispatches from the American Southwest

Two days into a trip to Texas and New Mexico, we have quickly discovered that the southwest is truly an area like no other in our country, and we are thrilled to be here. Among the unique aspects of the region, we are particularly fascinated by the local topography (and the geography, geology and climate that combined to create it), as well as the area's art, architecture and cuisine.

Our southwestern journey began yesterday with a flight itinerary that departed far too early in the morning from Dayton but that, on the upside, delivered us in El Paso by early afternoon. Other than taking advantage of a free night's reservation at the Remcon Circle La Quinta Inn on El Paso's west side, we had no other plans for the rest of the day, which we too frequently forget can be the very best way to travel.

Upon checking in at the motel, we discovered several terrific things. For starters, the beyond budget-friendly La Quinta (had we actually paid, it would have been under seventy bucks) was an all around awesome place. It was updated inside and out, the staff was super friendly, and our big and bright king room (with a huge bathroom) was not only spotlessly clean, but also came with several unexpected amenities like free wireless, a fridge and microwave. We also quickly discovered that the very pretty pool area was completely deserted and that fact, combined with the sunny and warm west-Texas weather, dictated that we do nothing all afternoon but sip cocktails poolside.

As the sun was setting, we realized we'd been up for nearly nineteen hours, and so we opted to grab a quick dinner at a Mexican place next door that I would like to call forgettable. Unfortunately, it was so horrendous that we are not likely to forget it anytime soon. But, live and learn...and perhaps the fact that there was not a single car in the parking lot at dinner time should have been our first clue. In any event, by the time we fell into bed an hour later, we were already laughing about the meal. (In my opinion, the top two things that any well-prepared traveler should not leave home without are flexibility and a sense of humor, although that can at times be easier said than done.)

We awoke the next morning to another gorgeous, sunny day and set off to explore the El Paso area. Our first stop was downtown, at the El Paso Museum of Art.


This museum, where admission is free, was a pleasant surprise. One of its five permanent galleries features Mexican art from the 17th to 19th centuries, which we enjoyed immensely. Another gallery holds European paintings dating from as early as the 13th century, and we were awed by the some of the Renaissance pieces that are over six hundred years old. Additional display areas featured more contemporary works, such as the sculpture gallery pictured below.


While downtown, we also stopped in at the Camino Real Hotel, located in an historic 1912 building. The main draws there were the impressive two story lobby, done up in polished dark wood and marble, and the fabulous Tiffany stained glass dome that tops the bar and restaurant area.

Following our downtown visit, we left the city behind and headed west to Franklin Mountains State Park to get a close up look at the spectacular local landscape. At first glance, the vast stretches of mountainous desert appear rather colorless and bleak, but we soon found ourselves completely amazed by its stark beauty. In the same pristine light that inspired Georgia O'Keefe to paint in the southwest, the subtle tans, browns and rusts of the rugged mountains and rocky land seem almost vibrant, accented as they are by the lovely sage greens and silver grays of the desert plants and then crowned by the brilliant blue southwestern sky. Photographs simply do not do it justice, but we still snapped away, hoping for some pictures that will, at least in part, memorialize the remarkable natural scenery we experienced first hand.





We then drove the short distance to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where we shall stay for the next four days. Awaiting check-in at our place of lodging, we spent the afternoon strolling the neighboring village of Mesilla. This little town is full of charm and, like so many places in the southwest, beautifully reflects the influence bestowed historically on this region by a combination of Indian, Mexican, Spanish and Anglo-American cultures. The buildings are centuries old, the people are warm and welcoming, and there were examples of the area's rich heritage to be viewed at every turn.

Through Mesilla, we walked and we shopped and we also made up for the prior evening's disastrous meal by dining at La Posta. This fun, funky and affordable restaurant, housed in an adobe building constructed in the 1840s, features some fine examples of the local cuisine.

Call it Tex Mex, call it Regional Southwestern, call it anything you want. But, please, combine perfectly prepared meat and/or beans, garnish with a few fresh and flavorful ingredients, serve it in, on or with homemade tortillas, and just don't call us late for dinner.

Our last stop of the day was at an amazing pottery yard that we stumbled upon, located on the outskirts of Mesilla.

There, the rows and rows of wares for sale were yet another wonderful example of the simplistic but stunning beauty that seems to be so representative of the American southwest. Following our first couple of days here, suffice it to say that we are very much looking forward to the rest of our stay.