new floors!

We've been doing some new things to our house... getting as much as we can completed before the baby.

One of the major projects is new wood floors:

This was early this month:


And this is now:







We're ALMOST done. We just need to get a new threshold for under the door. We had some issues earlier - water/rain/wind was leaking through under the door, so, we had to get new plywood put down. But now it's all fixed!
All we have left is the threshold for the stairs, the transition from the bedroom carpet, and bathroom floor to wood floor (in the hallway).
I'm so very happy with all this! :) it looks just wonderful!

(also posted at http://www.steveandnicoleplus1.blogspot.com)

decorating style?

Here's a fun little quiz...

your decorating style

Colorstrology

http://www.colorstrology.com

This is pretty neat.

You can find out your birth color.

Click on your month, then click on your day (gray dots on the top).

My color is Riviera (Pantone 17-4027)

What is your birth color?

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

I made these new cupcakes... I got the idea from some Chocolate Malt Cookies...

So, I went to the grocery store... bought some chocolate malt powder and some whoppers.



From 125 best cupcake recipes by Julie Hasson

Oven: 350degrees

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter - room temp
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
2 tbsp malted milk powder - i used chocolate, if you don't want it as rich in chocolate, try vanilla.
1 cup whoppers (5 oz box will be enough, unless you want some to snack on too ;)




Always mix your dries first. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
In a large bowl, mix sugar, butter and eggs.
In another small bowl, mix milk powder and milk. Add in the dries slowly with the milk mix to the sugar bowl.

Mix by spatula or wooden spoon of the whoppers.

Bake for about 20 - 23 minutes.


chocolate fudge icing
1-1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup coco powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temp
2 tbsp chocolate cream liqueur
1 tbsp milk
pinch salt

I actually put more milk in -- about another tbsp in. It was still pretty rich.