Imperfectly...Perfect

The hidden sisters love painting rooms. And lucky for us, {The big sister} lives in a house that is 80+ years old, with many imperfections. Walls and doorways and molding that aren't quite straight...which makes painting a forgiving endeavor. These imperfect walls make it easy to dive right in and paint a whole room...no fuss and worry about straight edges and perfectly taped lines. Living in an old house has its challenges and its blessings.

We recently repainted the dining room. After a few years of a sunny yellow, we chose the color the room was when we originally moved in eight years ago, Relaxed Khaki by Sherwin Williams. The color is crisp and clean. The white trim is Cabinet & Trim White from Dutch Boy.

 The color does wonderful things for the room...making the ceilings seem high and makes the show poster art in the room standout.
Here's to hoping the furniture will be painted soon and we can share the whole room...

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment we want to pause, savor and remember. 

Inspired by soulemama

Share a link to your moment in the comments!

Small Style {2}~Hanna Andersson Dresses

My little girl loves to get dressed. Sometimes more than a few times a day...
She most often chooses dresses, and thanks to a very generous grandmother, most of them are sturdy cotton ones. I love dresses that let her live like a child...running, playing, getting sandy or muddy...and washing well. And she loves ones with vibrant colors and that twirl...and this Hanna Andersson dress is just that! {This photo appeared in an earlier post here}

Dress~Hanna Andersson

We are linking up to Mama Loves Papa today!

A Pop of Spring

Here at hidden sisters, we love making things fresh...especially with color. This pop art  inspired collage is a modern inspiration for spring.

This project will make a photo like this:

Look like this:

To make your own:

1. Choose a digital picture with a good image of the face or object you'd like to use.
2. Upload the photo to the free photo editing site, http://www.befunky.com/
3. Crop the image using the 'Crop' feature, under the 'Edit' setting.
4. Under the 'Create' setting, choose 'Artsy Effects', and choose 'Cartoonizer'. (Here, you can play around with the other options as well. Find one you love!)
5. Save the image to your computer.

Now, that you have the image (or images) you'd like to use, it's time to make the collage.

1. Go to http://www.picnik.com/
2. On the 'Home' tab, choose 'Upload' and upload your photo(s).
3. Then from the 'Home' tab, choose 'Collage'.
4. Drag and drop your photos onto the collage board (we chose 4x4).
5. Save the collage.

You can print it yourself or have inexpensive 8x10" prints done at http://www.walgreens.com/ (you can upload the photo to their site and pick it up an many locations in one hour or have it mailed to you).

Hoping these cool images bring a smile everyday to loved ones!

Devouring: Cucumber Slices with Thyme Chickpea Puree

Recently we hosted a gathering with wine and tapas.

Take a peek at one of our favorite {and easiest} appetizers we made.

Cucumber Slices with Thyme Chickpea Puree

{recipe source here}

What you need

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 small garlic clove

1 tablespoon olive oil

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 English cucumber, sliced

1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, cut into small strips

What you do

1. In a food processor, combine chickpeas, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, oil, and 1/4 cup water; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and process until combined.

2. Dividing evenly, dollop chickpea puree onto cucumber slices, top with a roasted red pepper strip and thyme leaves. Serve immediately.

{Time Management Tip: We made the topping ahead of time, put it in the fridge, and then right before friends came over we sliced up the cucumber and added the topping.}

Fresh with a kick.

The perfect spring appetizer.

A Full Basket

For I remember it is Easter morn,

And life and love and peace are all new born.

~Alice Freeman Palmer~

Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees

Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

The hidden sisters hope you find a basketful of good wishes this Easter day!

Listening: Scars on 45~Give Me Something

This  song by Scars on 45 has been on replay on the hidden sisters playlist for a bit...and we were excited to see their new video for the song, too! You can hear other songs we're loving right now here or by clicking on the 'Playlist' tab above. Happy Saturday!

Small Style {1}~Tractor Shirt for A Little Girl!

As the days become nicer, we've been spending more time in the green grass. With an older brother who loves tractors, trucks and construction equipment...my little girl was tickled pink when I got out this Farm Chicks t-shirt for her! {I purchased it last summer from The Farm Chicks store...which sadly is no more.}

shirt~farm chicks

jeans~hand-me-down from big brother

boots~hatley

We are linking up with Mama Loves Papa today for Small Style! 

All Your Ducks In a Row

Springtime always seems to be the season to get all of your ducks in a row,

whether it be with filing taxes, cleaning house, or sprucing up the yard.

Seeing these cute little Easter Meringues all lined up is sure
to leave you feeling quite accomplished as well.

Easter Meringues
{orignal recipe found here}

What you need
4 egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
20 drops yellow food coloring
1 cup mini chocolate chips
2 sandwich baggies

What you do
1. Preheat oven to 225°F.
 2. Beat egg whites in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until frothy.
Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium-high. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form.
Beat in extract and food color until well blended.
3. Fill 2 sandwich baggies with mixture. Cut a small hole at the tip of each bag and gently squeeze mixture onto to cookie sheet sprayed with no stick cooking spray in desired shapes
{we chose ducks to go with our Easter theme}.
Add mini chocolate chips as needed.
4. Bake meringues for 45 minutes.
Turn oven off. Let meringues stand in oven 1 hour or until completely cooled.

Simple and sweet.

What makes you feel like you have all your ducks in a row in the spring?

Devouring: Oatmeal Breakfast Squares

Confession: {The Big Sister} is not a big breakfast eater. Unless it's a big Sunday sit-down affair, with blueberry pancakes, hash browns, eggs, bacon, and doughnuts, and, well...not something that can be easily done everyday. So, instead of ignoring breakfast and risking a 'mother-meltdown' by ten in the morning, I've been on the hunt for easy *and* tasty things to enjoy during busy mornings. This recipe tastes wonderful and can include a variety of healthful additions...flax seed, chia seed, cranberries, dried fruit...anything your heart {and health} desires! I often cut the bars and refrigerate for an on-the-go morning. {Another confession: I sometimes add mini-chocolate chips...almost as good as a chocolate croissant for breakfast...almost...}

Oatmeal Breakfast Squares

2/3   cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

3 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup gluten free flour (I use gluten free girl's mix from this post)

1 cup add-ins (raisins, flax seed, chia seed, chocolate chips, etc)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix all ingredients except oats, flour and add-ins with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in oats, flour and raisins.
Spread dough in ungreased 13x9 inch pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into  squares.
{Adapted from Betty Crocker Recipe here}

Rabbits & Beatrix Potter

Inspiration nudges in the most benign of places...like the Easter candy isle...

Where I found this adorable box of Peter Rabbit Candy for 99¢. And I was reminded of all the wonderful stories and art from Beatrix Potter from my own childhood.
And how these little candies might live for a day before being eaten by Mister McGregor {or my own little ones...}

"Jemima Puddle-duck was not much in the habit of flying. She ran downhill a few yards flapping her shawl, and then she jumped off into the air. She flew beautifully when she had got a good start." Beatrix Potter

"I have made many books about well-behaved people. Now, for a change, I am going to make a story about two disagreeable people, called Tommy Brock and Mr. Tod. Nobody could call Mr. Tod "nice." The rabbits could not bear him; they could smell him half a mile off. He was of a wandering habit and he had foxey whiskers; they never knew where he would be next." Beatrix Potter

"Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries; but Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!"

 "I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!" Beatrix Potter
To learn more about Beatrix Potter and her stories, visit here.

Listening: Lindsay Ray ~ Float On

We are loving this dreamy song...perfect for daydreaming away a spring day.

little indulgences

 It isn't very often that {The Big Sister} finds herself with uninterrupted hours without little ones. So, on a quick trip home, with a sweet mother-in-law keeping the littles for a bit...she indulged.

A quiet cup'o'joe with her little brother and her sweet baby niece...

A quick trip to the makeup counter...

An easy pick-up lunch, eaten in the park by the house she grew up in...

A haircut to brighten things up for spring...

And then home, to enjoy her little treats for herself!

How do you indulge yourself when you need a little break?

Anchor Me Back Down

This simple little shadow box is the perfect way to remember who helps anchor us

when all the world seems to be spinning round.

Lyrics from Mindy Gledhill's song Anchor.

What we used

shadow box frame

{we repurposed an old one we had laying around}

scrapbook paper

wooden anchor {purchased at JoAnn's}

EKsuccess silver tag stickers

What helps anchor you back down when the world seems a bit mad?

Tiptoeing Through the Tulips

A blustery spring day brought the Hidden Sisters

 out for a tromp through the tulips.

We grabbed our rain boots...

...and after a quick stop at the coffee shop we were on our way.

A beautiful day in the fields awaited us...

filled with {mostly} blue skies...

...and row after row of bountiful blooms...

...with pops of color everywhere we looked.

Even the littlest members of our clan found something to enjoy...

...and marvel.

It felt so good to get out and enjoy the beauty of this season.

What adventures has spring taken you on?

Peep Nests

With the arrival of spring we can't help but begin dreaming

of sweet sunny days, painted eggs and Easter surprises.

These peep nests are the perfect spring treat.

What you need

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1/2 cup butter
1 package mini marshmallows
1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 packages Easter Peeps
jelly beans or robin egg candies

What you do

1. Make a batch of Rice Krispie treats

2. Fill cupcake tray with paper liners

{we sprayed ours with non-stick cooking spray too}

3. Fill each cupcake liner with a scoop of Rice Krispie treats

{make sure mixture is still warm during this step}

4. Top with peeps and Easter egg candies

Best enjoyed sitting in a sunny spot in tall green grass

What does the arrival of spring leave you dreaming of?

This tutorial is shared on The Stories of A to Z today!