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Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Christmas around the House

beautiful christmas home decor, the altered past blog

Sharing a little of the Christmas decorations I've added to our home.  Have you finished decorating yet?

snow globe picture, vintage toy truck, christmas decor, the altered past
The snow globe picture I posted about here

I don't think I ever finish decorating.  My brain is always coming up with more ideas than I'm able to complete.  Guess I can always save those for the next year.

christmas home decor, kids snowman craft, the altered past

There are some things that must be used every year in the Christmas decor.  This is a little snowman that my youngest daughter made when she was just ten.  It's the Mad Hatter from the latest Alice in Wonderland.  I used to make altered snowman for my etsy shop back then and she wanted to make one too.

vintage ice skates, christmas home decor, the altered past

antique crock with greenery for Christmas decor, the altered past

christmas home decor, the altered past

antique crock with greenery, christmas home decor, the altered past

beautiful christmas home decor, the altered past

The decor in the foyer include a pair of vintage ice skates, a "SNOW" sign, and an antique crock with greenery.

christmas home decor, plaid bow, the altered past

dropcloth and aqua velvet christmas stockings, the altered past

king charles spaniel needlepoint pillow, christmas home decor, the altered past

I typically stay away from the traditional reds and greens of Christmas because they usually don't fit with my decor.  This year, I was dead set on using red and green tartan.  I love all tartans if you didn't notice my from tartan throw post :)  I found this needlepoint pillow earlier this year at the thrift store.  Its colors and design contain just enough blue to tie everything together.  (I have a thing for needlepoint pillows too!) 


christmas home decor, greenery and gold balls on chandelier, the altered past

christmas home decor, coffee beverage station, vintage santas, the altered past

christmas home decor, vintage santa cup, beverage station, the altered past

christmas home decor, beverage station, the altered past

christmas home decor, plaid ribbon lamp shade, the altered past
Just a simple tartan ribbon added to a lamp shade

christmas home decor, vintage silver punch bowl, the altered past

christmas home decor, ironstone tureens, putz house, the altered past

Thank you for stopping by The Altered Past and spending a little time with me as I share some Christmas decor.  I've got a little more to share later...the front porch and the shed.

God bless!
Angie


I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY
STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

A Coffee Bar for Your Kitchen



If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw the adorable, vintage truck my hubby bought me for an anniversary present.  It's a cream-colored 1959 Ford (according to my brother who is an expert on these things).  


I knew with a truck bed like that, it had to hold something.  Something like sugar and creamer in my coffee area.


I think it fits nicely with the "Lunch Now Being Served" sign from World Market.  


The galvanized pedestals were made from buckets and old pie pans (tutorial here).  They stack perfectly under the cabinet to hold K-cups and sweeteners.



If you happen to be a serious coffee drink like me, I have to tell you about this machine.   Ever since I first saw "You've Got Mail," I've been in love with the idea of having a real, at-home espresso machine.  You know the scene where Parker Posey comes running into the kitchen and is telling the espresso machine to "hurry, hurry, hurry!"  And later, Tom Hanks says she makes coffee nervous, lol!  I love that movie.  Ok, I digress :)

(borrowed this from Between Naps on the Porch.net)

As if that wasn't enough, later I was reading Edie's blog, Life In Grace, and saw her amazing beverage area.  that's it.  I knew I had to have one. (By the way, Edie has an amazing set up and shares it in her hospitality ebook.)  So, the searching and the saving-up began.  

I've had this one for a couple of years and I l-o-v-e it.  I researched several websites and read several reviews before purchasing this.  It is an investment, but well worth it.  I got this one from Whole Latte Love.  Their website offers video tutorials for making all sorts of coffee based drinks as well as machine maintenance.  They're the bomb!  

If you love your lattes and cappuccinos, with the Gaggia Brera you can make them just like the coffee shops.  A good machine and a quality coffee bean make all the difference.  The Brera model is a super automatic...meaning with the touch of a button, the beans are ground, pressed, brewed, and then dumped into a bin.  All you do is push the button and wait about 30 seconds for delicious espresso.  It also has a Pannarello steam wand to froth milk or to dispense hot water for tea.  I'm telling you, it does it all.  I use mine every day.  It takes up very little counter space and the water take and grounds holder are both accessible from the front.  Something I learned to look for in a machine. 



Whole Latte Love has an Amazon store so you can check it out, I have found that these machines are a little cheaper through Amazon and if you have prime, that's free shipping!  

Here's a link to the Gaggia Brera like mine:

By the way, if you're spending a few dollars every day or every other day like me, this machine actually paid for itself within a few months.  (My husband wouldn't quite word it like that but hey, I did the math and it's true!)

If you're wondering about the best coffee bean, I do buy Starbucks Espresso Roast from the grocery store (with coupon!) or Lavazza from World Market.  They really tastes the best when it comes to making espresso.  

So, whadda ya say?  Wanna grab some coffee?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

(The Amazon link is an affiliate link but the opinions are 100% mine!)

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY
STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

Friday, September 12, 2014

Decorating for Fall with a French Bottle Rack


I love fall and I love decorating for fall.  I like to add a touch of red, gold, and orange all over the house.  


The (reproduction) french bottle drying rack that I purchased a couple of years ago is one of my favorite things to change with the seasons.  It sits on the corner of my kitchen island.  I really wish it was shorter so that it would fit underneath my cabinets beside the coffee maker, but it's not so it's home is on the island.

A pumpkin fit perfectly on the top (with the help of a small plate covered with leaves).  The next level also holds a couple of smaller pumpkins (again on a small plate covered with leaves).  Twist a couple of fall berry garlands around the sides and add a wreath around the bottom and you're set.




I hung my black and white monogram mugs on the rack.  Ready to grab when you need a cup of hot apple cider.


Of course, you're going to need a cinnamon stick in your hot apple cider.  Must have!




A couple of apples because they just look so right.  



Beautiful!  I'm ready for the cooler weather now.  Bring it on!  Watch over the next few weeks as our Fall Blog Tour continues.  September is definitely time for fall decorating, recipes, and crafts.

As always, thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie