Home Decorating/Interior Design - Tips & Ideas

DECORATION FOR SEA-THEMED ROOM

By Monica Resinger

Spring Homemaking Tips By Monica Resinger of Creative Home http://creativehomeezine.netfirms.com

Fill decorative see-through glass containers (such as a small fish bowl) about a quarter of the way full with beach sand. Add seashells, feathers, driftwood, starfish or other beach findings and you have a quick, easy decoration for a sea-themed room.

AN EASY WAY TO CLEAN MINI BLINDS... I just did this recently and it worked really well. On a sunny day, lay the blinds in the grass and spray with a hose. Fill a bucket with soapy water and use this and a soft brush to wash the blinds clean. Rinse and do other side. Let dry right in the lawn.

LAVENDER TEA BREAD Take advantage of your blooming lavender and make a tasty quick bread.

3/4 cup milk 2 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers, finely chopped, or 3 Tbsp. fresh 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 6 Tbsp. butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs

Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Heat milk with lavender almost to a boil, then let steep until cool. Mix flour, baking powder and salt together in bowl. Cream butter, gradually add sugar, then eggs, one at a time, beating until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture alternately with lavender milk, in 3 different batches. Mix until batter is just blended, do not over-beat. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan 5 min., then remove to a wire rack to cool. When completely cool, ice with a powdered sugar glaze made with 3 Tbsp. milk and enough powdered sugar to make a thick but still runny paste if desired. Garnish with sprigs of fresh lavender around cake, or sprinkle additional finely chopped lavender on glaze before it hardens.

Monica Resinger is the Editor of Creative Home Ezine, a fun ezine packed with homemaking tips, inspiring articles, recipes and themed content from folks just like yourselves - its readers! After each twice-weekly issue, you'll surely be inspired to organize your home, cook mouth-watering recipes, entertain your friends and family, beautifully decorate your home and much more! Don't miss another issue - join now! Send a blank e-mail to: CreativeHome-subscribe@yahoogroups.com