Antiquing Around Chicago for Spring Open House

A set of pink and gold etched cups and saucers- imagine them with Strawberries Romanoff!

A 25 Volume Set of John Galsworthy - 1932 Nobel Prize for Literature

I love the white and gold bindings.

Pretty set of etched wine glasses with unusual stem.

Sugar and creamer with my initial!

Chocolate set in pretty turquoise and pink- ready for an Easter table!

Our spring open house is next weekend, March 9th and 10th and we are so so so excited. We have such exciting merchandise in the store right now and it is really selling quickly, especially the antiques. So to get ready for next weekend, yesterday I went out to gather some more antiques for the upcoming event and found over 300 vintage pieces for the store! My SUV is loaded to the top with gorgeous china, crystal and home decor. It was an especially good day for gold and white china which works with everything. All of these finds will be unveiled next Friday, along with Joy's antiques from Savvy City Farmer! This is going to be a great event - don't miss it! And as usual I found a few things that I can't seem to part with - yet! So I'll just enjoy them for a while!

Bathroom Vanities- Time for a New Look!

Today I am sharing with you a few fun ideas for the sink areas in your home that are quick and give immediate rewards! We have just received some of the most beautiful linens at Romancing the Home. It's important to embrace the motto " linens are OK if they are wrinkled" if one is truly going to enjoy them! Use them every day, throw them in the laundry and don't worry about the ironing! Beautiful colors and textures make these hand towels extraordinary. Pairing them with gorgeous scented candles or our new scented floral bouquets from Paris makes an intoxicating vanity, a place you use every day! And use those crystal pieces you have put in some forgotten cabinet - as pretty vessels for toners, cotton balls and jewelry!

Crepe Cake filled with Chocolate Ganache and Orange Marmalade

My daughter in law was in town last weekend and she has a definite sweet tooth. I had been wanting to try a version of a crepe cake for a while and decided that it was perfect for dinner with her. I made a simple chocolate ganache using equal parts heavy cream and milk chocolate (about 9 oz. each for this recipe) and used Stonewall Kitchen's Mimosa Jam for the orange marmalade. Fresh Market sells a delicious frozen crepe that is already made, so I took the lazy road and purchased 3 packages of them for the cake. To assemble the cake, you simply spread about 3 tablespoons of chocolate ganache on a crepe and then about 1 tablespoon of the orange marmalade is spread over the chocolate layer. Repeat the steps until all the crepes are stacked on top of each other. Then refrigerate until ready to serve. This cake has 18 layers and still was not as tall as I had wished. While these crepes are very good, the next time I would make homemade crepes from our cookbook "Romancing the Home Entertains", as they tend to be a little more "cake like" in texture and thicker. I garnished the cake with long stem strawberries that I purchased at Costco. I sliced them in half, dipped them in chocolate and rolled them in pistachios. They looked so pretty on the cake! My family really enjoyed this treat! I will be joining http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ for Foodie Friday. Check out the other people joining the party for some foodie inspiration!

Lunch in a Divine Kitchen

Every time I visit Mariterese's home in the city, I feel like I am transported to another country. I think it's a combination of her daily use of her best things for every meal and the eclectic style of her home. Truly, the woman can make a grocery store muffin look like a million bucks by just serving it on a beautiful plate and giving you a linen napkin! She really uses all of her beautiful crystal and china for every meal - no saving it for special occasions at her home. I love that about her. We designed this kitchen to have a warm eat-in area and created a bistro atmosphere with the aged mirrored screens mounted on the wall behind the table. Wonderful prints of antique French silver pieces are mounted to the screens. A French parquet table sits with a black tapestry settee and French arm chairs. Normally the table is graced with a bouquet of feathers and architectural candlesticks. But today Mariterese's husband has sent her flowers for her birthday that are gorgeous . For our lunch, she has prepared a "one plate wonder" of roasted asparagus and tomatoes on a bed of fresh pasta and tomato sauce that is lathered with goat and Parmesan cheese. It was delish! And true to her beautiful style, a gorgeous napkin (a new one from Romancing the Home) and vintage mother of pearl flatware are used to enjoy this wonderful lunch. Where else could one dine so divinely? Happy Birthday Mariterese!
Today, I am joining http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to check some of the inspiring tables.

Romantic Tastings- Our Party Continues

Our romantic tastings from the Romancing the Home team.

The table is staged and ready for the sweets!


Dried roses are used to enhance the romance of the table.

Rose biscuits from France peek out of a silver biscuit box.


Katha's berry tiramisu in beautiful aqua compotes.


Penny's Swedish Cream- a tradition during the holidays in her family.



Beautiful macaroons brought to me by Jill.




Amy's pretty little chocolate bites embellished with sugar hearts.

Candy's cinnamon chocolate bread pudding in crystal compote.




Christine's fresh tangerine valentini's.


Jill's chocolate raspberry pot pies.


Laurell's sugar garnished trifles.



Linda's homemade pizselles.

Lynda Sue's Salted Caramel Cheesecakes for everyone to take home.

Twelve little (well maybe not so little) sweet bites of deliciousness- all made by the Romancing the Home team. For our store party last Sunday, each of the girls made one savory and one sweet dish. Today, I am sharing the sweets with you ( if you missed the savories, check out our last 2 blog entries). All were divine and looked beautiful on our silver and crystal table. And as if we didn't have enough to eat, Lynda Sue made Salted Caramel Cheesecakes in a Jar and sent everyone home with a sweet treat for later!

French Countryside Tastings

Our table with all the wonderful morsels to try!

Penny's Grandmothers Olive Dip in Endive


Laurell's beet napoleons

Linda D's Provolone Torta

Roasted Corn Salad with Lime by Linda D.

Dried Apricots filled with a Walnut Stilton Butter and Pistachios by Lynda Sue.

Boeuf Bourguignon in a Petite Puff Pastry Shell by Lynda Sue

Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Caviar on Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
by Julie

Curried Carrot Soup with Savory Biscotti
by Julie

Grilled Zucchini filled with Garlic Boursin Cheese, Parsley, and Red Peppers
by Katha

Roasted Cauliflower Soup and Savory Biscuit by Jill

Lasagna Cupcakes
by Christine
Muffalotta Baquettes by Amy

Rustic Crab and Brie Bread Pudding by Candy

As I promised yesterday, I am sharing with you the incredible little bites of deliciousness that the Romancing the Home girls prepared for our party Sunday night. One was transported to Europe, either Tuscany or Provence- both work for me! It was served on a table that used many of the new things from our spring merchandise assortment at the store. We will be having a Spring Open House on March 9th and 10th to feature these new items, along with a very special guest, Joy from SavvyCityFarmer.blogspot.com, who is bringing an incredible load of antiques for your shopping enjoyment! More details and excitement to come for that event!
Today, we will be joining http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ for Foodie Friday! Take a look at the delicious pictures that she featured from last week's party, especially that red velvet parfait!