Well, they now have company.

While we were at  Pier 1 Imports, San spotted the cheeseburger shakers and I found these adorable white bird shakers that we just had to have.  They were cheap – under five dollars for each pair, so we felt the urge to purchase them.  I have a feeling, since we both love food and quirky things, we will probably be collecting these.

This led me to wonder how people display different collections.  I looked for some inspiration online and came up with ten tips.

Tip #1: Utilize a staircase to show off any collections that can be hung from vintage floral prints, to stamps, to mirrors, to records.  The key is to get your collection in a place it can be seen and admired.

Elizabeth Martin Design

Tip #2 and #3: Reuse cake stands and other raised containers to house collections such as seashells, coins, or anything that should be laid down instead of hung.  Also, combine collections to add interest and save space.

Country Living

Tip #4: Make use of your current space and mix your collection in.  Mixing a collection into a bookshelf is not only eye-catching but also functional.

Source Unknown

Tip #5: Piling collections like rocks or other stackable items into tall cylindrical glass containers allows the collection to be moved easily for placing in other areas and can easily be added to.

  Country Living

Tip #6: Really let a collection shine by making it a contrasting element in a room.  If the collection is very neutral, showcase it in a room with bold walls or in a cabinet of a contrasting color.  Like the photo below, if the collection itself is striking on its own, let it shine by setting it against a blank backdrop.

Keith Scott Morton

Tip #7: It’s pretty hard to miss a collection that takes up a large portion of a space.  By letting a large collection fill an entire wall it’s just asking to be noticed!

Cottage Living

Tip #8: If you can’t use the wall, try the ceiling!  Some collections just ask to be hung like pretty pots and pans shown in the image below.  Be creative!

My Home Ideas 

Tip #9: If you can’t hang the collection itself, try displaying it in shadowboxes to not only keep the pieces safely in tact but also to add even more visual interest.

Better Homes and Gardens

Tip #10: If your collection is hard to display for any reason, perhaps you could make something out of it to show it off.  The key here is to find a way to do this without in any way harming the items and also in a way that allows the newly created piece to come apart if you ever wish to do something more with the collection.

Ready Made

If none of these tips suit your fancy, there are also pieces of furniture designed to showcase collections such as a shadowbox table.  The possibilities are endless!

So, this Thursday I’m asking: What do you collect (if anything) and how do you display it?

It zips close much like a clutch purse closes with a mouth that opens very wide but closes and folds (I don’t know how else to explain it), so it can hold a lot and is easy to get into but folds up to close really nicely.  I couldn’t find this exact purse online, but it’s a Liz Claiborne New York purse that is fabulous in my opinion.  San can’t make fun of me for buying a new purse every couple months since I haven’t purchased a new on in almost two years.  I’m hoping this one will last a long time – I love it!

What kind of purse do you carry?

Once again, I needed another hearty meal to pump more protein into my body and thus prepare myself for midterms next week.  This recipe is perfect because it uses just seven ingredients (all things most people have on hand) and it can feed one person for a whole week or a large family.  I got this recipe from Recipe Zaar.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 8 ounces sour cream (I used light sour cream which tasted the exact same for fewer calories)
• 4-6 slices Velveeta cheese (I used mild cheddar cheese slices and shredded mozzarella cheese – not pictured) 
• elbow macaroni noodles (use approximately 3/4 of a box)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (I used garlic powder and just eyeballed the salt and pepper amounts)
• salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Start preparing the ingredients by chopping the onion.

  Then slap that meaty block of hamburger deliciousness into the pan.

Then throw the onions on top. Sprinkle a little garlic powder or salt.

Then more salt – it’s delicious!

Then the pepp-ah!

While that’s all cooking on about medium heat and you’ve broken it up and mashed it all together, add about 3/4 of your box of macaroni to some boiling water.  Follow the directions on the package.

A few minutes later, the hamburger should be fully cooked.

Add the can of tomato sauce and mix it all up.

Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and add the sour cream.  If you want, listen closely to the squishy sound of the noodles and sour cream mixing together – it’s a heavenly sound.  Trust me.  Try it.

The recipe says to use an 8”x10” baking dish, but all I have is a 9”x13” one, which worked fine, there were just some small gaps when I laid everything out, but layering everything fixed that.  Spread half of the meat mixture on the bottom of the dish.

Then lay out half of the pasta mixture.  Listen to the sound again.  Try to resist eating it all right now.

Then break up two slices of cheese and lay them on top.

Since I used a bigger casserole dish, I also added some mozzarella cheese to fill in the gaps.  Plus, I used light sour cream so I’m allowed to use those saved calories somewhere else, right?

Then repeat.  Slide it into the oven for twenty minutes… 

Take it out and then eat it all in one sitting!  I told you I needed protein – didn’t you believe me.  No, I’m kidding, it’s supposed to serve four to six.  I’m going to eat it for six days, so it works out perfectly.

Here it is on the plate.  MMM-mmm!  It’s good!  Seriously, this should be any parent’s go to recipe when they are limited on time and want to rely on whatever they have on hand.  It can be easily modified as well, with tomatoes, peppers, Mexican cheese, ricotta, you name it – you can add it!

What’s your go to recipe when you’re limited on time?

This post is a part of Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

You see, these images keep popping up in my browser of amazing dining rooms and in-kitchen dining areas that use something a bit more unconventional than chairs.  Benches seem to be a great alternative to matching dining sets and I am definitely on board to try this out…that is, as soon as I have a dining area!

Here’s some inspiration photos.  Try to pay attention to how these can work in every style of home.

Houzz

My Home Ideas

Coastal Living

Houzz

Decorpad

Houzz

Decorpad

Source Unknown

Houzz

  Michael Partenio

Houzz

My Home Ideas

Country Living

Southern Living

Houzz

Whether they are built in or freestanding, these benches make a statement and turn even the most elegant room into something cozy that invites gathering and conversation. I find benches to be the perfect alternative for someone who may not want the uniform look of matching chairs but at the same time don’t want all their chairs to be mismatched.  Throwing a bench in to the mix allows for different fabrics, colors, wood tones, etc. to come into the room without being too startling or planned.  They are also perfect for kids who love to cram themselves right next to other people and also love anything out of the ordinary.  I grew up with my mom always having a settee against the wall but pulled up the the round kitchen table.  I never thought anything of it then, but now I have realized how innovative and creative that really was!  Props to you, Mom, for inspiring me!

What do you think – would you like to be benched?

Stainless Steel Spice Rack

Not only is this a very chic and organized way to house spices, but they usually come with the spices included which overall is much cheaper than buying all the spices in the store upfront. 

Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, 3 1/2-Qt.

What cook doesn’t want one of these?

 Clovers Plate from La Plates

I found these amazing customizable monogrammed plates on a giveaway at Little Green Notebook.  They are so cute and would make me appear to be so much more sophisticated than I really am.  Maybe I would host a dinner party!  They are amazing!

KitchenAid, Artisan® Series, Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

San has been drooling over the 6-quart professional-grade KitchenAid mixers for a couple years.  I don’t think I would ever need one that powerful (he is a pastry chef), but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want one at all!

White Ramekins

There are hundreds of great dishes I could use these to make – desserts, individual mini soufflés, etc.  They’re even great to keep small candy in and to use to decorate with.  I want some!

Pretty Tea Kettle

Spode "Baking Days" Bakeware Collection

Yes, please!

Chicago Cutlery Bamboo Cutting Board

San and I stand in awe whenever we see this cutting board.  They are so pretty and exactly what I want to be cutting my vegetables on!

Curvy Glass Water Pitcher

I have no intention of buying a glass pitcher right now because I don’t really have a use for it – but I’m always look in the cooking section of department stores.  I’m really picky – I want one with this exact silhouette – it must bring out my femininity or something.

 Cute Canisters

Asymmetrical Olivewood Salad Bowl

I need to stop myself – I could go on for days and days!  Looks like I have a lot to dream about over the weekend! 

What kitchen appliances or accessories have you had your eye on?