Design From Head To Toe

Bedrooms can be so beautiful; the beds and elegant accessories. But to me, the beauty can always be amplified by an amazing headboard.

 

http://www.juliettesinteriors.co.uk/images/detailed/12/JI009850b.jpg

 

This gold gilded headboard gives a touch of elegance and prestige to what could have been an otherwise average looking room.

 

As you can see, you can add a lot of impact to your bedroom with a decorative headboard.

 

 

Take Care,

 

Leanne.

Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

Veggie burgers; there are so many varieties out there. Some are great, some are good, and some are...not so great. Although I love steak and other meat products, sometimes I get a crazy craving for a veggie burger.

Here's a great recipe that I found for homemade veggie burgers made of sweet potatoes and chickpeas.

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2013/04/vegetarian-dinners-under-450-calories-slideshow?slide=9#slide=10&_a5y_p=712263

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups dried chickpeas
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 small sweet potato, peeled and grated
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, soak chickpeas in 4 cups water for at least 12 hours and up to 24; drain well. 
   Heat oven to 375°. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
    In a food processor, process chickpeas, tahini, black pepper, baking powder and 3/4 tsp salt, scraping down sides as necessary, until mixture holds together when pinched, 2 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Stir in sweet potato. 
   In a second bowl, combine cucumber, onion, dill, vinegar and remaining 1/4 tsp salt; set aside. Form chickpea–sweet potato mixture into 4 burgers; place on baking sheet; cover tightly with foil; bake 20 minutes.
    Remove foil; coat burgers with spray; bake until crisp and golden underneath, 20 to 25 minutes. Flip burgers; coat with cooking spray; bake until crisp on other side, 10 to 15 minutes.
    Serve burgers with dilly cucumbers.
   
   
   Nutrition Facts: 
   338 calories per serving, 10 g fat (1 g saturated), 50 g carbs, 13 g fiber, 15 g protein
   
   
   
   

Take Care,

Leanne.

30 Day Arm Challenge

I'm loving these 30 day challenge routines. With that being said, here's one that I found for arms.

http://shrinkingjeans.net/2013/07/30-day-arm-challenge/

So here are the exercises for this challenge:

Push-ups

Plank
Chair Dips

When you look at the routine's calender you will notice that, for example, day 1 says "5/15s/5". This means that you will be doing 5 push-ups, followed by a 15 second plank, which will then be followed by 5 chair dips.

Another thing to note is that you will be doing 2 sets of each of these exercises for days 1-15, and then increase to 3 sets for days 16-30.

This is such a great workout. Not only are you targeting your arms but you are also working multiple muscle groups at the same time; arms, core, chest, and back.

Take Care,

Leanne. 

Floor Plan At Your Fingertips {Floor Plan Light Switch}

Ever get home so exhausted that your brain feels fried and you can't seem to turn the right lights on in your house (more of an issue if you have multiple switches placed together)? Or, you've just moved in to a new house or apartment and haven't quite memorized the light switches yet?

If so, there's a new sensory light switch that can help.

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/12/23/best-of-yanko-design-2011/

Light switches customized with the floor plan of your home that you can simply touch the areas of your home to control the lighting. 

Such a cool piece of technology. I want these installed in my future house!

Take Care,

Leanne.

Best of Both Worlds {Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream}

What's your idea of the ultimate dessert? You know, the best of both worlds; your two favourite desserts rolled into one?

The following recipe is my two favourite things rolled into one amazing dessert: strawberry ice cream and cheesecake.

http://www.somethingswanky.com/strawberry-cheesecake-easy-ice-cream/

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 - 14.5 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 - 8 oz. tub Cool Whip
• 1 - 8 oz brick of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 15 Golden Oreos (approximately half of a package)
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 - 21 oz can Lucky Leaf Strawberry Pie filling

Directions:

1. Use a hand mixer to beat together the sweetened condensed milk, cool whip, cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth. Set aside.
2. In a food processor (or using whatever crushing method you prefer), process the Golden Oreos and 1/4 cup butter together until crumbly (should clump together though).
3. Dump the crust "clumps" into the middle of the ice cream batter, don't stir.
4. Pour the Lucky Leaf Strawberry Pie Filling over the crust "clumps." Use a large rubber spatula to gently fold the filling and crust into the ice cream batter. You should only need to use 2-3 strokes. You want swirls, and it's easy to over mix and combine everything instead if you're not careful.
5. Pour mixture (this will mix it up a little bit more too) into a standard loaf pan and freeze for at least 4 hours (overnight is best).

Enjoy!

Take Care,

Leanne.

Know Your Abs

Everyone wants to work their abs to get a flatter or more toned stomach, but do you really know which muscle groups within your abdominals you are working with each exercise?

If you do, that's great and very helpful, but if you don't, here is a guide to know what areas you are working each time you do these popular exercises.

http://imgur.com/gallery/D1R4n

A lot of trainers suggest that you visualize the muscles that you are working in order to maximize the effectiveness of your workout. With this guide you will be well on your way.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Walking On Water {Glass Floor}

How would you like to say that you've walked on water?

By placing glass tile flooring over a pond or pool you can!

http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/realestate/content/realestate/2009/04/03/Aqua_Liana_Foyer_RGB.html

Check out this entryway situated over a pond on the home's property. This is so cool. Also, check out the cool light fixture and the beautiful staircase.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Tiramisu

When I was about 10 years old my Dad brought home a dessert that was unfamiliar to me and told me to try it. When I asked him what it was he said "Tiramisu", and from that point on I knew the name of my new favourite dessert!

I loved the creamy texture, with the soft cookie layers and a hint of coffee.

Here's a quick & easy recipe for this delicious treat:

http://mintyskitchen.blogspot.sg/2012/07/tiramisu.html

Ingredients:

15 sponge fingers

250 mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)

300ml thickened cream 

1 egg

120g caster sugar

1 cup espresso coffee + 2 tbsp caster sugar

1/4 cup marsala / kahlua / tia maria liqueur

cocoa powder 

Directions:

• In a metal bowl, combine the egg and caster sugar.  Beat well to combine.  Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water (ensure that the bowl does not touch the water).  Beat the egg until thick and pale.
• Remove bowl from the double boiler and continue beating until the bottom of the bowl feels cool.
• Add in the mascarpone and beat until combined or smooth.  
• In a separate bowl, whip thickened cream until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold into the mascarpone mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Combine espresso coffee and the liqueur.  Stir until sugar has dissolved.  Set aside to cool.
• Dip the sponge fingers in the coffee and line the bottom of a baking dish.  Spread one third of the chilled mascarpone mixture over the sponge fingers.  
• Repeat this process and finishing with a layer of mascarpone mixture.  
• Cover with clingwrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. 
• Before serving, dust  cocoa powder over the top.

Enjoy!

Take Care,

Leanne.

Upper Body Blast

When I work out and am focusing on my upper body (arms, shoulders & back), it feels natural, and is a habit of mine to also work my core on the same day.

Here's a great workout that's quick, effective, and works all of the muscle groups from the waist up!

http://www.fitsugar.com/Workout-Posters-28687300?spi_source=www.fitsugar.com&fullscreen=true&spi_campaign=tagalert&slide=2&image_nid=28687310&spi_medium=email

I will be doing this later today, and I encourage you to give it a try too!

Take Care,

Leanne.

Two-Toned Home

Two-toned accessories aren't always a bad thing...unlike bowling shoes.

Add visual interest and an unexpected pop of colour to your home by painting a few accessories (one or two in a room) in a two-toned colour scheme.

http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2013/03/coral-grey-book-shelves/

Take this bookcase for example; using a muted/neutral colour for the exterior and adding a bright and exciting pop of colour to the interior. This creates an added appeal to the room and can make a boring piece of furniture interesting. I would love to do this with a black exterior and a teal interior.

Use your imagination, the colour combinations are endless. 

Take Care,

Leanne.

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

Ever since I was a kid, I had a food obsession with mozzarella sticks served with marinara sauce for dipping. There's something about the crunchy coating with the gooey cheesy inside that makes an amazing appetizer, and in my opinion one of the perfect finger foods.

With that being said, here's a great (and easy) recipe that I found to make your own homemade mozzarella sticks:

http://noshingwiththenolands.com/mozzarella-cheese-sticks/

Ingredients:

16 string cheese sticks

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. Emeril’s Essence

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups panko crumbs

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Canola oil for frying

Dipping sauce

19 oz. can tomato sauce

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper or to taste

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

Emeril’s Essence

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together for Emeril’s spice. You will think of a million things to put it into.

Unwrap cheese sticks and cut them in half. Using three bowls for dipping, place the flour and Emeril’s Essence in the first bowl. Beat the eggs with the milk in the second bowl and then in the third bowl add the panko crumbs, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Now start to dip the cheese sticks. First in the flour, then egg and finally panko. Place them on a cookie sheet and freeze for 20-30 min. I think I may keep some of these in the freezer. Great appetizer for kids and adults alike. Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a small sauce pan and add the garlic and saute for 1 min. Add the tomato sauce, red pepper, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 15 min. Heat a few inches of the canola oil in a wok or large deep frying pan. Place sticks in the oil and fry to golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry them in batches. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. Serve with the tomato sauce immediately.

Enjoy!

I cannot wait to make these rather than getting them store bought for my next family dinner. Fresh is always better than frozen.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Running Back to The Basics

I've decided it's time for me to start running again, but I know that my cardio is no where near where it used to be when I could run for 45 minutes no problem.

With that being said, I thought that I'd make today's post about a beginners' training guide to running that I found on the amazing fitness blog Back on Pointe.

http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/image/30935207464

Follow the week-by-week guide; starting from running short intervals and gradually working up to a full 20 minute continuous run.  I hope you find this as helpful as I do if you're looking to start running.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Built In Aquarium

This post is for all of my friends and family who love aquariums and marine life.

I've been to multiple fish & aquarium stores and while there are some pretty impressive tanks out there (many with built-in units that look similar to entertainment consoles), nothing is as cool as having your aquarium built into your home.

http://www.shipwreckcovecustomaquariums.com/aquarium_photos.shtml

If you have an alcove or partition wall like in this image, you are already off to a great start. Personally, I would want to have a floor to ceiling aquarium, or at least something twice the size of this one.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Crockpot Strawberry Jam

Growing up, I was lucky enough to live next to a farmer's field that had a wild strawberry bush at the corner closest to my driveway.  I remember spending afternoons playing with my sister and occasionally stopping for a snack from these bushes, and because of that, my summer is never complete without having fresh Ontario strawberries for snacking, or even better, for homemade strawberry jam.

With that being said, here is a quick and easy recipe for strawberry jam, that is perfect if you are like me and don't have a canning kit at home, or just do not have the time to make jam in the traditional way:

http://www.the-lady-wolf.com/2012/06/strawberry-jam-in-crockpot-recipe.html

Ingredients:

2 lbs of strawberries all cut up 
4 cups white sugar 
1/4 cup lemon juice (I think to keep them looking red) 
Crockpot, high setting, 2-4 hours depending on size of strawberries.

Directions:

1. Set Crockpot to high and combine all ingredients together & let cook for 2 hours.

2. Mash strawberries until only little chunks remain (or larger if you'd prefer)

3. Continue to cook on high for 1 more hour.

 4. Carefully pour mixture into containers (I used jars from the dollar store) and let cool to room temperature.

5. Once cooled, place containers in fridge to cool over night and thicken.

Wake up & enjoy!

I cannot wait to buy some strawberries from the farmers market next week and give this a try!

Take Care,

Leanne.

No Equipment Workout

When looking up fitness routines I see a lot out there for people with a gym membership, or at the very least, a decent collection of at home fitness equipment such as; dumbbells or resistance bands. But what about those individuals out there that don't have a gym membership or weights at home?

No worries, you can use your body weight! Here's an effective whole body workout that uses only your body weight: no equipment needed.

http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/post/17948153079/heres-another-bodyweight-workout-for-your-whole

Once I'm done the 30 day squat challenge I will be trying this routine.

Take Care,

Leanne.

Ladies Laundry Room

When doing laundry sometimes it can be more convenient to put your delicates in with everything else rather than washing them by hand; call it laziness or lack of time but I know I've done it.

Now I know that most washing machines do have a "delicates" cycle, but for those weeks when you may only have a few delicate items to wash this laundry room sink makes life that much easier.

http://www.qualitybath.com/UploadedImages/smImage/cachedir/DelicairLaundryBasin_beauty.jpg

This laundry room sink is small but deep, and is complete with a jet system to gently clean your delicates. What a genius invention!

Take Care,

Leanne.