fretwork love

i am absolutely loving the cover of atlanta homes and lifestyles magazine this month because of the amazing fabric covered walls.  my heart sang when this magazine came in the mail and i saw the lovely cover. 

 

{image – atlanta homes and lifestyles}

the michael devine fretwork fabric that womack jowers used on the walls is to die for.  don’t you love it too?!!!

LiveJournal Tags: atlanta homes and lifestyles,michael devine,womack jowers,fretwork

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes

My family did not grow up eating sweet potatoes and we definitely did not have sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving.  And quite frankly, I don't really care for them.  But as many of you know, when you get married and start a family of your own, you adapt to new traditions.  One of which, in my case, is sweet potatoes.

This past week, we spent Thanksgiving with my Mom and her new (as in just got married a week ago) hubby, Allen.  Like I said before, Mom and I don't do sweet potatoes, but we wanted to make sure we kept our guys happy so we added sweet potatoes to the menu.  Rather then doing a giant sweet potato casserole that would only be eaten by 2-3 people, we opted for another solution - Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes.  And let me tell you, these were a big hit!  If you are looking to add some sweet potatoes to your holiday entertaining menu, I highly recommend you give these a try!

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

Cinnamon, to sprinkle

32 small marshmallows or 16 large ones cut up

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Place sweet potatoes in a deep baking dish and poke several holes in each one.  Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until tender.

Meanwhile, cut your two tablespoons of butter into four equal pieces.

Cut each sweet potato down the center (length-wise).  Be careful not to cut all the way through the potato.  Place one piece of butter inside each potato.

 

Next sprinkle each potato lightly with cinnamon (as much or as little as your family likes).  Then sprinkle the inside of each potato with one tablespoon of brown sugar.

If using large marshmallows, cut them into pieces.  If using mini-marshmallows, then just skip this step.

Divide marshmallows out and place 1/4 in each sweet potato.  Place sweet potatoes back in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Remove sweet potatoes from oven and allow to cool slightly.  Place sweet potatoes onto serving platter and enjoy!

If your family really enjoys sweet potato casserole, they will definitely enjoy this recipe.  Try this easy recipe on a weeknight to go along with your family dinner.  Super-easy and super-delicious!

{ Center Piece }

I thought I'd change things up a bit for the holidays.

I took down our chandelier for the Boutique

and kind of like this look for the 

Christmas Season

it was simple, easy, & free!

I still have room for plates on either side of the sled, so I could also use the sled to place the food on.

I might even try to suspend the sled from the ceiling!

Wish me luck!

Time for Me: Part 1 – Skin Care and enter to win $100 Visa gift card

For the last almost three+ years I have either been pregnant or nursing.  Yes, that’s right.  I had my daughter Savannah and then when she was 7 months old I found out I was pregnant with my younger daughter Matilda.  Two weeks ago I finally got my body back.  After 15-months of nursing my daughter Matilda, I finally decided it was time to wean.  I’d definitely say weaning was a bittersweet time for me.  But all and all, I think it’s a little bit more on the sweet side.

Click here to read more and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card.

{ Holiday*Shopping }

* Just in time for Cyber-Monday *

I'm offering $3. shipping on any of the items listed below.

Happy Shopping 

vintage look fluer d'lei

dispenser bottles

{perfect for olive oil, hand soap, or maple syrup}

great for the chef

or

entertainer on your list

$15. each

*

Fluffy Soft 

Snowman/women pillows

$25. each 

or

2 for $45.

*

Tote Bags

starfish or seahorse

lamp

cow

deer

chalkboard

all totes

{perfect for teacher, neighbor, girlfriend} 

$15. each

*

 Pine cone door hangings 

{with yummy Cinnamon smell}

green toile

black white & red damask

brown & white gingham

$12 each

I'll be listing new items each day this week.

With different specials each day.

  So, be sure to check back for some more goodies each day

Shoot me an email if your interested in any of the items shown here.

I'd be happy to ship them out to you, or deliver in your nearby.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a quick post to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

Gosh, I sure am thankful for those two little faces in the above pictures.  I can't imagine my life with out them.  It's probably cliche to say, but having children is like having your heart walk around outside your body.  What a great joy they bring to our lives!

And I am definitely thankful for this man........The Cottage Papa!  What a truly magnificent father and partner.  So thankful that he chose me to be his for life!

I hope you all enjoy your turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and whatever else your Thanksgiving feast consists of.  But most of all I hope you enjoy your family and friends and take time to snuggle and hug your loved ones!  They're what life's all about, right?

Thank you so much for reading The Cottage Home!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

guest post at a curated lifestyle

today i’m guest blogging over at a curated lifestyle while capella gets geared up for the atlanta homes & lifestyles christmas house.  i’m showing some of my favorite fall-inspired interiors so head on over and get in the fall mood.  click here to go to the post.

i hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving wherever you may be.  Safe travels to everyone.

LiveJournal Tags: guest post,a curated lifestyle,atlanta homes and lifestyles,christmas house

{ Handmade Christmas Crafts }

here's a taste of what you'll see at the 

Holiday Boutique

see you there!