The High Low Project

Today is the big day!!! The episode of The High Low Project will be on today at 2:00est on the HGTV channel. 

Here is a quick preview. 

I love this little couch. It so soft and comfortable. And there is nothing I love more than some faux fur so that pillow is totally me. 

 

It's so bright and colorful. Even the flowers matched! 

It's definitely my favorite room in the house. 

Everyone tune in and watch. And don't tell me how dorky I am! I am already super embarrassed to watch. In fact I will be traveling and won't be able to watch! 

So let me know how it is :)

XoXOXxo

Stephanie 

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Kitchen

I think this is the most used room in the whole house. I cook and bake in here, it's also where most my dance parties happen! It's the heart of the house. 

It was also the first room that was renovated so I don't know why I never posted it before. Maybe because it's not exactly 'finished' in my eyes. I've been looking for the perfect vintage wall cabinet. I haven't found it yet and I don't want to buy one from IKEA, yet. But this is the kitchen now. 

When the house was bought I wanted to replace the backsplash. So I took down the old one and this is what I found. 

Omg gross!!! And yes, that is black mold. It was awful. We got it professionally removed and started building the kitchen back. 

New insulation new mold resistant drywall. Everything. Then I went to Ikea and got cabinets and put them together myself. I saved a lot of money putting them together myself verses buying cabinets that were already put together. And all the boxes fit in my little car :) 

I also got this great farmhouse sink and wooden chopping block countertop at IKEA too. 

I put up small subway tile as the backsplash..... This is what it looks like to live in a construction zone. HA. 

 

Then the other side needed to be finished off.....

 

Hahahahaha. This is DIY home renovation at its finest. But hey, it worked ;)

I still have to get that cabinet but other than that it's finished! I even put in the dishwasher :)

The microwave was also taken down off the wall and I put these shelves  up. 

This kitchen definitely took some blood, sweat and tears. But I think it came out alright. 

Now I'm going to get it dirty and bake some delicious desserts for Thanksgiving, yum! 

XoXOXxo

Stephanie

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Dining Room

Since the episode of 'The High Low Project' that I'm going to be on will air soon (November 30th!!!) I figure I would finish posting the renovations I've done to the house.

That and I'm kinda running out of projects to do, if anyone needs help, with ANYTHING, let me know! 

The dining room was one of my first projects to start in the house. I figured that room needed the least amount of work done to it. I just painted the trim and sanded and stained the floors. 

The trim was a awful color it kinda reminded me of Creme Brûlée that has some mold on it :-/

So I found this amazing inspiration photo and decided to go to work! 

It took me about 2 weeks with all the taping and not to mention having two insane little boys running around..... 

I also painted the inside of my china cabinet pink. I mean PINK! I went to the hardware store with a Barbie pink in mind. Like, if they had a paint color there named Barbie, I probably would of bought it. 

Then came along the painted yellow piano and the D.I.Y curtains . 

Throw in my heirloom quilt as a table cloth and you got my dining room :) 

Too bad it's never used. Now it's more used as a place to put my luggage and clothing ;) 

Ugh I'm so disorganized. Hahaha. You should see my actual closet, it's a mess. 

Have a good weekend :)

XoXOXxo

Stephanie

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Adventure Time

The only good thing about the kids being home from school is that you can do fun things during the week. We went to a park in Hoboken on Monday. This park in on a man-made island between New Jersey and Manhattan, it's awesome! I felt like Peter Pan and the lost boys playing in Neverland!

I climbed to the top of the slide because I had to get these pictures.... 

Best views of Manhattan :)

Then we walked across the street from the park to a restaurant, Little Town, it was so good! The kids got corndogs and cheeseburgers and I got everything bagel breaded chicken fingers, you got me at everything bagel, super delicious. The kids wanted to get shots of milk but I had to say no ;)

While we waited for the food (the worst part about taking kids to a restaurant) we played Skee-Ball!! 

  

Then on Tuesday Dylan and I went to Brooklyn :) everytime I'm in Brooklyn I have to go to my favorite pizza place in my old neighborhood, Carmine's. 

It is the most perfect pizza ever....

I definitely ate 3 slices before getting back to New Jersey.... Oops :-/

While we waited for the pizza Dylan got to ride the pink pony..

I miss living in Brooklyn sometimes but it's nice to still be close. 

XoXOXxo

Stephanie

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Birthday Weekend

This past weekend was my birthday, Friday to be exact and I spent it in Philly with some of my favorite people. On my birthday night one of my best friends, Anthony, and I got dinner at The Continental restaurant. I woke up wanting lobster mac and cheese so I was determined to get it. Haha. 

Anthony and I have known each other since we were about 8 or 9. He lived down the street from me growing up annnnd our birthdays were 4 days apart. We were destined to be friends for life ;)

And almost 20 years ago we had a birthday party together. I'm pretty sure it was a Barbie birthday too. Looking back, I feel kinda bad. HA. 

But almost 20 years later our birthday is a lot different, now we can drink ;)

I mean, who else is gonna take selfies with you outside the bathroom?! Your best friend! That's who!

Gooooooood times :) 

Then Monday morning rolls around and I wake up to Dylan telling me he peed in the bed, that I was sleeping in with him. So I torn off the sheets threw them in the washer and got Logan off for school. Only to get a phone call less than an hour later to come pick him up, he had a mild fever. He has been home from school for the past two day :-/

So reality set in really quick after the birthday weekend. 

XoXOXxo

Stephanie

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Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies

This week I have been baking my little butt off. First were the Fruity Pebble cookies now it's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow cookies and as you may be able to tell they are exactly the same I just use different cereal. 

Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
Makes fifteen to twenty

Ingredients
16 tbsp. (2 sticks) room-temperature butter
1¼ c. granulated sugar 
2/3 c. light brown sugar, tightly packed
1 egg
½ tsp. vanilla extract 
1½ c. flour 
½ tsp. baking powder 
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. kosher salt 
3 c. Cornflake Crunch
2/3 c. mini chocolate chips 
1¼ c. mini marshmallows

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugars; cream together on medium-high 2-3 minutes. With a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl, then add egg and vanilla and beat 7-8 minutes.

2. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and soda, and salt. Mix just until dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute. (Do not walk away from the machine during this step or risk overmixing.) Scrape down sides of bowl.

3. Still on low speed, paddle in cornflakes and chips until just incorporated, about 30-45 seconds. Paddle in marshmallows.

4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a 2-oz. ice cream scoop, portion 1/3 c. dough at a time onto pan. Pat tops of dough domes flat. Wrap pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 1 week. (Do not bake room-temperature disks — they will not hold their shape.)

5. Heat oven to 375°. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, arrange chilled disks a minimum of 4 inches apart. Bake 18 minutes, until cookies are browned on edges and just beginning to brown toward the center. Cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. Leave them in oven for another minute or so if they still seem pale and doughy on the surface.

6. Cool cookies completely on pan before moving them to a plate or an airtight container for storage. At room temperature, cookies will keep fresh for 5 days; in the freezer, they will keep for 1 month.

Cornflake Crunch
Yields about four cups

Ingredients
5 c. cornflakes 
½ c. milk powder 
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
9 tbsp. butter, melted

1. Heat oven to 275°.

2. In a medium bowl, with your hands, crush cornflakes to ¼ of their original size. Add milk powder, sugar, and salt; toss to mix. Add butter; toss to coat. (As you toss, the butter will act as glue, binding the dry ingredients to the cereal, creating small clusters.)

3. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, spread clusters and bake for 20 minutes, at which point they should look toasted, smell buttery, and crunch gently when cooled slightly and chewed.

4. Cool completely before storing or using in a recipe. Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the crunch will keep fresh for one week; in the fridge or freezer, it will keep with one month.

First make the Cornflake Crunch. Put the Cornflakes in a large bowl and  crush with your hands. Then add the milk powder, sugar and salt. Toss to mix. 

Then pour in the melted butter. 

Mix around and pour on a baking sheet. Bake at 275° for 20 mins. 

Now make the cookie dough. 

Whip together the butter and sugars 

Add in the egg and vanilla 

Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 

Then add the cornflake crunch and chocolate chips. 

Scoop out cookie dough and freeze. Then bake at 375° for 20 mins. 

These are the best cookies ever. They definitely take all day to make but they are soooo good. 

As soon as I make these cookies my friends devour them all. I think I got to eat one. Hahahaha. But having my friends enjoy my cookies makes me happy :)

XoXOXxo

Stephanie 

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Fruity Pebble Marshmallow Cookies

It my birthday.... Week ;) yaaayyy!! So I'm also making it Awesome Cookie Week! So it will be like it's everyone's birthday :)

I'm starting with the most fun cookie and that's the Fruity Pebble Marshmallow Cookie. Now your probably telling yourself, 'come on, that can't be a real cookie' but I assure you, it is. And it's actually in my favorite cookbook, so I'm not even making it up. 

This recipe is a little more difficult but it's definitely worth it. 

It has 2 steps... Make the Fruity Pebble Crunch first!

Fruity Pebble Marshmallow Cookies
Makes 12 - 17 cookies 

Ingredients
16 tbsp. (2 sticks) room-temperature butter
1¼ c. granulated sugar
2/3 c. light brown sugar, tightly packed
1 egg
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1½ c. flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. kosher salt
3 c. Fruity Pebble Crunch - see below

1¼ c. mini marshmallows

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugars; cream together on medium-high 2-3 minutes. With a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl, then add egg and vanilla and beat 7-8 minutes.

2. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and soda, and salt. Mix just until dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute. (Do not walk away from the machine during this step or risk overmixing.) Scrape down sides of bowl.

3. Still on low speed, paddle in Fruity Pebble Crunch until just incorporated, about 30-45 seconds. Paddle in marshmallows.

4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a 2-oz. ice cream scoop, portion 1/3 c. dough at a time onto pan. Pat tops of dough domes flat. Wrap pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 1 week. (Do not bake room-temperature disks — they will not hold their shape.)

5. Heat oven to 375°. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, arrange chilled disks a minimum of 4 inches apart. Bake 18 minutes, until cookies are browned on edges and just beginning to brown toward the center. Cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. Leave them in oven for another minute or so if they still seem pale and doughy on the surface.

6. Cool cookies completely on pan before moving them to a plate or an airtight container for storage. At room temperature, cookies will keep fresh for 5 days; in the freezer, they will keep for 1 month.

Fruity Pebbles Crunch

Makes 2½ cups

2½ cups Fruity Pebbles - ¼ (17oz) box 

¼ cup milk powder 

1 Tbs. sugar

¼ tsp. kosher salt 

6 Tbs. butter, melted

1. Heat oven to 275°.

2. In a medium bowl, with your hands, crush fruity pebbles to ¼ of their original size. Add milk powder, sugar, and salt; toss to mix. Add butter; toss to coat. (As you toss, the butter will act as glue, binding the dry ingredients to the cereal, creating small clusters.)

3. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, spread clusters and bake for 20 minutes, at which point they should look toasted, smell buttery, and crunch gently when cooled slightly and chewed.

4. Cool completely before storing or using in a recipe. Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the crunch will keep fresh for one week; in the fridge or freezer, it will keep with one month.

Pour Fruity Pebbles into a bowl and crush-

Add milk powder, sugar and salt. Mix and then add the melted butter.

Mix together and spread on cookie sheet. Bake at 275° for 20 mins. 

Set aside to cool. Now make the cookie dough :)

Whip together butter and sugars- 

Add egg and vanilla- 

 

Mix for about 8 minutes. Then add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 

Add Fruity Pebble Crunch and Marshmallows- 

Scoop out cookie dough and freeze. 

Bake at 375° for 20 mins. 

  

It like a delicious, buttery, crispy (but still gooey) piece of heaven :)

Enjoy!

XoXOXxo 

Stephanie

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Spooky Scary

Yesterday day was Halloween, yaaay!!! I took the kids trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. This was the first year I've been able to take the kids trick-or-treating, ever! Last year we were attacked by hurricane Sandy and Halloween was canceled, and everyother year I've lived in a city.

So this year was really fun! The kids dressed up as Little Pirates, of course they had to match. 

At first they didn't know what we were doing, I told them 'go up, ring the doorbell and say trick-or-treat' they asked me why?!

After the first house they were running from door to door. They had a blast!

Then we came home and had some delicious homemade Mac and Cheese. We also cuddled up and watched 'Monster university' and how could we watch that without having some matching cookies ;)

Hands down, Halloween is my favorite holiday! I hope you had a great Halloween too and got lots of candy :)

XoXOXxo

Stephanie

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