I had the very, VERY distinct pleasure of meeting two of my favorite bloggers yesterday! The always funny, smart and oh-so-good cook, Amy from Ms.ToodyGooShoes and the sweet and uber talented Cindy from the lovely blog, Cloches and Lavender.
But wait, that’s three people including moi, so who’s the other young lady you might ask? That’s Audrey, Cindy’s bff and hopefully soon-to-be blogger. It was such a pleasure meeting ALL of them!
I drove down on Monday morning from Massachusetts and spent the day/night with a friend in NY, then on Tuesday morning took the 35 minute drive to New Jersey, where we met for lunch at a restaurant Cindy choose (good choice Cindy!). The staff were oh so patient, took our pictures, and let us sit there for three hours while we did a lot more gabbing than eating!
But no get together would be complete without food, right?! Amy gave each of us some of her delicious rugelach, and I can tell you first hand, they are FABULOUS! I confess I ate four on the way home. I just couldn’t stop myself!
Cindy gifted each of us with one of her beautifully designed flower pots, and tucked some chocolate treats inside. Did you know she’s the Queen of decoupage? Well, she is, so stop by and see her creations, ok?
Remember my Vermont post? Lots of people mentioned I should turn some of the pictures into canvas prints, but with a log cabin, the proper wall space is always a challenge. Then I remembered this spot above our doors.
That’s Charlie on the right, an old french style phone and a simple red vase. Nothing really goes together, so I figured that’s a good spot to put some prints and bring in a more cohesive feel. (Sorry Charlie!).
Before you check out the ‘after’, I want to call your attention to the beam and notice the black iron piece below it. Now you can look below.
I cloned it out because I wanted to get an idea of what it would look like if I painted it brown. The black has always bothered me. I’m also thinking I may get anywhere from 1-3 more prints. Odd numbers look better to me, but I’m not sure if a total of five prints would be too much, or if I should just get one more for a total of three. I’m leaning toward one more and take it from there. I can always add more. What do you think?
Last but not least, here’s our sophisticated Halloween costumes (note sarcasm). We went to a chili/chowder/chocolate cook-off, so we thought these would be appropriate. 😉
In other news…
I made chocolate lasagna for the cook-off, and it was a disaster! Why? Well, for one, we brought it to the clubhouse an hour before the start of the event, so by the time things got underway, it looked more like chocolate soup. Seriously, it was GROSS! The other thing is the recipe called for Cool Whip, but I always prefer to make my own whip cream. I think the texture of the whip cream was too soft, and the Cool Whip would have held things together better. It’s actually good though. Really good. So I’ll make it again, but I won’t make those mistakes again.
It’s beautiful out today, and we’re heading out for a bike ride now. How’s the weather by you?
Red Rose Alley says
Doreen, I’ve never heard of chocolate lasagna before. It sounds like something right up my alley. : ) Your costumes are so cute and festive. It’s nice that you got together with a couple of your blog friends. I always think that’s awesome when we meet our blog sisters. I have met only one. She actually owns a vintage shop in So. Cal, and I used to go in there all the time. There are a few friends that I’d love to meet though, especially since we talk on an every day basis hehehe. This is a nice gift from your blog friend, Cindy.
Happy November, Doreen.
~Sheri
kim says
Doreen
It looks like you had a blast meeting your blogging girlfriends!
I think that must be a special time to actually sit down and get to know the person behind the blog.
You and hubby look so cute in your Halloween outfits!
take care-Kim
Doreen says
Yes, it was definitely a fun day Kim! Thanks for the compliment about the costumes. I had fun making them too :).
Jemma says
Doreen,
This is actually a dream of mine, to meet some of my dearest blogging friends. But for now phone chats will just have to do.
I am very happy for you that you were able to meet up with these talented ladies.
Cute, cute, costumes. I am certain you a great time!
xo
Jemma
Doreen says
One thing to consider is meeting up at a blog conference with some of your blog buddies. There are a few scattered about the country so you can pick one that is sort of centralized for everyone to attend. The advantage of that is you get to spend more time together than just a few hours and maybe even pick up a tip or two from the classes at the conference.
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
That’s so cool Doreen! Looks like it was a lovely lunch!!
I agree with you about the prints. They look so nice up there – but I liked groups of odd numbers and I also think 5 may be too much. Three would be perfect. 😉
I absolutely LOVE that you went as a whoopee cushion!! That is just so darn awesome!! The photo of you two made me absolutely giggle out loud. You’re totally the fun nut I think you are – and I just love that. xoxo
Blessings my Friend.
Kim says
How fun! I am hoping to get together with a few blogger friends in the near future for a meet and greet! Looks like a ton of fun.
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
Sounds like such fun! I love decoupage, so will have to check her out. I was thinking, with your walls, you might think about getting a piece of plywood and painting it and putting several framed prints, etc., on. It replaces not having a regular wall, and I think would break up the wood look of the log cabin. You could always do it in various places and I think it would shake things up with all that wood.
Brenda
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
So wonderful for you to meet those 2 great bloggers…and Cindy’s friend. Glad you had a great time…I had a blogger’s brunch at my home last week….had such a great time!…
Cecilia says
Isn’t it great to meet with blogger friends? Sounds like y’all had a greAt time!
Hm, get one more print then see if you need more.
Your costumes are hilarious. Love them. Boo on the chocolate lasagna disaster – live and learn, hm? Hope you are having a great week!
Hugs,
Cecilia
Doreen says
It WAS great Cecilia!
(You should have seen the back of the costume) lol
handmade by amalia says
What a fun post, Doreen. It must be so great meeting with other bloggers and looks like you had a great Halloween.
Amalia
xo
Feral Turtle says
That’s really nice that you met these lovely ladies! Looks like you had a great time. Chocolate lasagna! Hmmmm sounds very interesting. Did you post the recipe and I missed it?
Doreen says
Hi Karen! Great to see you here! I didn’t post the recipe. It’s all over pinterest if you’re interested in checking it out.
Cindy says
Doreen, first thanks for the shout out. You biscotti and Amy’s cookies are almost gone, YIKES, going to the hips baby. They were both fabulously delicious. Hope to do this again.
I like the idea you had about the artwork and poor Charlie, did he find another home or bit the dust? Your cabin is amazing.
Your costumes are so cute. Your face almost disappears it is so small, LOL.
I’m so HAPPY we met and I adored talking up a storm with you both. I think and hope Audrey takes the leap.
Cindy
Doreen says
Hi Cindy, Glad you liked the cookies and you’re so right…Amy’s rugelach were sooooo good! Charlie is my granddog, so he’s in Singapore with his mommy/daddy. You can read a little about him via my sidebar, where there’s also a story about our Bichon, Bubbles, who is now in doggy heaven :(. (you can’t comment there as I turn off comments on old posts).
xxx
Sue says
It looks like today is our last nice day of 70-degree weather. I like the idea of just 3 and adding more later if you need to. I love that you met up with some bloggers in real life Doreen. That is the thing about blogging…it makes for some awesome friendships across the land.
kelly says
Oh, it’s so neat to see all of you out for lunch together! You’re lucky to live close enough to meet up. I laughed at your cute and creative Halloween costumes. I’ve never seen anyone go as a whoopee cushion before. You are my first! Ha Ha.
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Oh Doreen how fun you got to meet up with Amy and Cindy. Two of my favorite bloggers. Looks like you had a great time all together.
Kris
Pat says
I love your log cabin and can understand the difficulty finding wall space to hang things. As far as the “shelf” area you have already started, I would put as many prints there (even overlapping some a bit and using different sizes) as will fit – similar to what you would do to a mantle or galley wall shelving. That can be your art gallery just the same as if it were lower and on a wall. In the end, do what looks right to you and it will be perfect.
Debbie from MountainMamaOnline says
I LOVE THOSE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES!!!!! I nearly spit my lunch out while reading this post when I saw those adorable costumes. You’re a riot, lady!! 🙂
Benita says
LOVE those costumes and am so glad you were able to have lunch with some blogging friends! It is always an extra special time together! Never heard of chocolate lasagna, but I’m always game for anything that contains chocolate!!
Doreen says
Hi Benita! Hope things are calming down a bit?!
Have you met fellow bloggers? You’re right…there’s never enough time to gab when you get together, right? lol
Chocolate lasagna is really good, but definitely not a pot luck recipe, which I found out the hard way :(.
Jane says
So cool you got to meet up with the bloggers–I’m going to check them out. I think I may have recently started following Amy. Great gifts, too! I’ve met quite a few bloggers and love every one of them.
Great idea with the pictures, Doreen, they are right at home in your cabin. I would definitely add more, you had such a great variety and they are all stunning. Two suggestions, if you took any pictures with your camera turned, as in vertical shots rather than horizontal, they would look great staggered like that. Or—you could combine these prints maybe with some winter, summer or spring shots of your favorite places. When we were in Tennessee, hubby met a photographer and bought three of his prints, two of the same cabin in the summer and winter, then a picture of a path in the woods during fall. All three look wonderful together although we haven’t decided where to hang them.
I really need to get out and enjoy these last few weeks (days) of good weather. My bike is at the lake. 🙁
LOVE the costumes—you look like a fun couple! My daughter in law makes something similar to the chocolate lasagna and we can’t leave it out, it goes back and forth to the freezer between servings. Would love to have your whipped cream recipe!
Jane x
Doreen says
Hi Jane! I love your ideas about the photos and yes, I have at least one vertical shot (the red barn) that I want on canvas so I’ll start with that and go from there.
I really don’t have a recipe for whipped cream. I kinda just wing it. I usually just use a pint of heavy whipping cream and add maybe around 1/3 cup confectioners sugar. I don’t like it to be too sweet so that’s a personal choice of course. When it’s almost finished I add about a tablespoon of vanilla. Easy!
Have a good weekend my friend!
xxx
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
Hi Doreen, I’ve been away touring colleges the last couple of days, and it was so nice to come back and see this post about US! I so enjoyed our lunch together, and there’s no doubt we could have gone on talking for hours! Your biscotti were delicious (note the past tense), and I love the pretty flower pot from Cindy! Hoping that we gave Audrey enough encouragement to go for it and start blogging! About your prints – I’ve always read that odd numbers are best in decorating, so I think three would look great. And the costumes? Hilarious! You guys have a great sense of humor!
Doreen says
I agree Amy…a few more hours together would have been nice :). We polished off the last of your cookies last night with some friends. Sooooo good!
I have a feeling Audrey is gonna pull the trigger, and I think she’ll be awesome! I’m over at Junk Chic today (I forgot to mention it the other day) so stop by poor favor.
xxx
Nana Diana says
Hi Doreen!!!!
I just saw you spotlighted over at Kris’s blog and realized I had not seen a post from you in a LONG time. So, I checked my feed and the link does not work anymore. Anyway, I put you on my sidebar so I don’t miss your posts from now on.
LOVED your feature. You did a great job there and I read every word! xo Diana
rue says
A whoopee cushion? LOL Only you 😉
I’m glad you had a great time meeting bloggers. Know I know who Amy made the rugelach for. I met bloggers only one time and it was AKWARD to say the least, although it wasn’t my idea. They were shocked that I’m not all peaches and cream and also about a little vice I have that most people hate. I’m sure you can guess what that is 😉
I like the pictures up there and I would add more, but then again, I’m a more kinda girl.
xo
rue says
Know I know? I really need to spell check… ugh
Cindi says
Very cool that you got to meet your blogger friends!
I’m such a hermit that I doubt it will ever happen but it’s so nice they you all had such a great time!
I vote for a total of 3 prints. The ones you have look perfect in your home!
Love your cute costumes
and sorry to read about your chocolate lasagna but I’m sure it tasted wonderful anyway!
XOXO
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
You two look ridiculous and I bust out laughing! 🙂
I have Amy’s rugelach recipe printed out from a week or so ago to add any missing ingredients to the grocery list and make some next time I am in the baking mood 🙂
Doreen says
Ridiculous was exactly the look we were going after LOL. And Deb, you should have seen the back of mine ;).
Julie says
Hi Doreen,
So happy you were able to meet with Amy and the other blogger. You all looked like you had a fun time!
You and your hubs look so cute in your costumes! You both look so happy together.
Congrats too on being featured at Kris’s blog.
Wishing you a wonderful week.
Julie
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
It must have been so fun to meet other bloggers!
Dewena says
Hi Doreen, that is so nice that you and Amy and the other girls got to actually meet up! I’m sure you could have talked all day. And I’m off now to go and read your spotlight post at Kris’ blog!
Chocolate lasagna is new to me but anything chocolate is something I’d have to try. I’m so glad you turned your Vermont pictures into artwork for your home as they were excellent!
Vickie says
How fun to meet up with blogger friends! It sounds like you all hit it off and had a great time.
I love your Halloween costumes! Love your sense of humor. :o)
And your autumn prints look fabulous against your log walls. Well done!
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Hi Doreen! It’s been too long since I’ve visited (Issues at home and work). I missed you and your fabulous posts that always put a smile on my face. I love it that you got together with blogging friends. That’s so cool! I’d love to do something like that. I think 3 pictures would look good up there and you’re right the black metal thing definitely needs to go, it’s too distracting. You and fisherman look adorable in your costumes. Sorry about the chocolate lasagna, but it does sound scrumptious. 😀 xx
Doreen says
Hi Vashti! Good to see you hear, and I hope the issues you were/are having aren’t too serious! :(.
I have three pics up there now and it looks better, and I’m thinking even a couple more in different sizes might be good, but we’ll see.
You should definitely try to get together with some of your blog friends Vashti, maybe even attend a conference if you’re able.
xxx
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
No, the issues aren’t too terrible but they can make my life a bit chaotic at times. I’d love to go to a conference. I’m definitely going to try as soon as I can. <3