Every year I try to perfect my Thanksgiving turkey and try new tips and tricks. We're out of town visiting family this year, so I won't get to make my turkey for Thanksgiving...but I think I'll still cook one when we get home just so we can enjoy the leftovers! :)

 
 

Source: marthastewart.com via Mary - on Pinterest

Doesn't Martha produce some beautifully photographed turkeys? And delicious recipes, too!


Some tips that have worked out great for me so far:

1. Find a great roasting pan that you love. I purchased the largest, deepest, sturdiest pan I could find a couple years ago and I'll never go back. I like it so much more than the electric roaster that I used to use.

2. Take a stick or two of butter and smear it underneath the skin as well as on top. This helps with browning as well as a juicy breast.

3. Injecting the turkey with flavor. Last year I purchased an inexpensive plastic turkey injector from the grocery store and I LOVE it! This helps to produce a juicy breast as well as some added flavoring. I think this year I'll experiment more with spices in the injector.

4. Placing a melted butter-soaked cheese cloth over the turkey breast while cooking. I found that this gets in the way of browning a beautiful turkey, but helps a lot with tenderness. I learned this last year. If you place the butter under the skin as mentioned in #2, then the breast will brown rather quickly and you can add the cheese cloth after the browning takes place.

5. What's your secret?

I'd love to hear from you! Do you have any tips or tricks that I can try?


Lots of love,
Mary

Thanksgiving is less than one week away and you're probably finalizing your decorations and meal plans. I've seen so many amazing ideas for painted pumpkins this year and just love the thought of incorporating them into Thanksgiving table decor.

Source: perfectlyimperfectblog.com via Samantha on Pinterest

I've been seeing a lot of golds and neutrals lately! Perfectly Imperfect made the cool color of blue so warm and cozy with her combination of neutrals. I wouldn't have guessed to put these colors together, but it works SO well!

Source: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Check out the detail on these puppies. And oh how I just love polka dots!

Source: createlovegrow.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Or you could use a simple stencil design.

Source: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com via Morgan on Pinterest

What great ideas! Also, such a fun way to get the kids involved.


*Please note: Inspiration photos have been posted from Pinterest and all link back to their original source. Please click on each individual photo for further ideas and tutorials.


Lots of love,
Mary

As many of you know, we're expecting our third child (first boy!) in late March. Since it wouldn't be wise to buy yet another crib set, we've decided to move our two girls into the larger extra room to share and bump them up to twins, while we recycle Gabby's crib for the new baby. With that said, I now have two rooms to plan and execute prior to March (deep breath).

So I've decided to share this process with you in hopes to keep me honest and on track. I hopefully will be posting weekly updates with my progress. So here are my thoughts on the girls' room:

Source: decorpad.com via Mary - on Pinterest

Don't you just LOVE polka dots? This is my first bit of inspiration. I plan to paint large polka dots about the same scale as above  -- but with more subdued colors.

This is what the room looks like today (for lack of a better pic).

Meet your basic, boring, empty room. Talk about a blank slate!

And here are my drawn up plans:

All furniture has already been purchased but just about everything will need to be painted.

Source: designdazzle.blogspot.com via Mary - on Pinterest

The walls are currently a shade lighter than the above pic and the dresser & hutch combo we have from Adi's bedroom set has a lot of the same styling detail as this one. Her dresser is currently off-white, but this pic made me think it would be nice to add some soft pink to the detailing -- just to freshen things up a bit.

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I found this monogram that Centsational Girl painted on some clear plates and instantly thought of the girls' beds. I knew I wanted to personalize them with maybe the first letter of their name, but I saw this today and it was just perfect. I'll be imitating some version of this on the beds for sure!

Source: carlasdeleon.blogspot.com via Mary - on Pinterest

And then we get to book storage. We're in desperate need of some book organization and I've been ogling versions of the infamous toddler book wall for ages now. It's in the plans for this room. Not sure if we'll build one or purchase at Ikea (I've seen it done with frame shelves and spice racks), but one way or the other, it'll get done. Also, did you see the stripes on the ceiling in the above photo? Do I dare? Will it be too busy with the polka dots? I'll have to see as everything comes together.

Source: blissfullydomestic.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I just liked this photo! So girly and these are the colors we'll use aside from the brown. :)

Source: blogs.babble.com via Mary - on Pinterest

And finally, I'll need to create some form of artwork display space. I'm digging the above inspiration pic. The symmetry and white classic frames make each piece all the more special! I may, however, just frame cork and leave the glass out so that we can interchange favorites. Adi colors on a daily basis and I know she would just love this!

So what do you think? I definitely have my work cut out for me. I'm so very excited yet overwhelmed at the same time.

Here are my to-do's:

• Crown molding install
• Paint polka dots
• Sew drapery
• Paint beds
• Paint nightstand
• Update dresser and small table/chairs (paint)
• Find or make rug (may involve paint)
• Install book wall
• Create artwork display wall
• Address lighting issues

*Please note: All inspiration photos have been pulled from Pinterest and link back to their original source.

Lots of love,
Mary



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