The Gaither Kitchen: Cinnamon Toast

We have been under the weather here at The Gaither House for the past week.  It honestly seems like everyone has had their turn at this nasty head cold that is going around.  Yuck!

This past weekend I was on the the tail end of my cold, but Scott was just really starting to feel bad.  On Friday night he started to reminisce about when his mom would make him cinnamon toast.

So, I started asking questions because I could tell immediately this was a childhood fave.  Basically, "Mama Gaither" would take a piece of toast, cover it with butter and sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Then pop the toast in the oven under the broiler, where Scott said they would then stare at the oven to make sure it wouldn't burn! So cute! 

As Scott was taking in some much needed extra sleep Saturday morning, Fiona and I were up with the birds for playtime.  Then it hit me, I can totally make cinnamon toast and hopefully make the husband feel a little better.  Now, if you know me, I always have to mix things up a bit.  So, I of course turned to Pinterest to check out a couple different variations of this much talked about Cinnamon Toast.  I decided to go with a variation from my fave Ree Drummand of The Pioneer Woman.  She's pretty amazing in my book!

Here's what you'll need!

2 Sticks of Butter

3 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 cup Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

16 Slices of Bread

Now, let make some yummy Cinnamon Toast!

First, soften your butter!  I just popped the two sticks of butter into the microwave for about 15 seconds.

Then just helped the melting process a little with a fork. 

Next, mix in your sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

Once you have all your ingredients in your mixing bowl, give them a good stir until all are blended. 

Next, you guessed it! Lather those pieces of toast up! 

Once you have your toast covered in this sweet goodness, pop into your oven to bake on 350 for 10 minutes.  Then turn the broiler on to really toast it up for about a minute.

This recipe yields 16 pieces of Cinnamon Toast.  We did over indulge, but there was NO WAY just the two of us could devour all 16 slices.  So, we saved the leftover mixture for Sunday morning.  Just pop it back into the microwave for 15 seconds and give it a good stir.

And there you have it!  A super simple and crowd pleaser recipe to cure the childhood craving and help get over the yucky sick blues!

Gifts for Him

I don't know about your family, but in our family, it's the men that are the absolute hardest to shop for.  Even as I sit here racking my brain on gifts for the guys in my family I am still kinda clueless.  What I do know are these timeless gift ideas are always a sure win.

Kiehl's Men's Starter Kit

Braided Belt

Timex Watch

J. Crew Robe

Cuff Links

Ugg Slippers

T. Anthony Duffel 

Sauvage by Dior

Fun Socks

What are your go to items when shopping for the fellas in your family?

Leave your gift ideas in the comments below and HELP ME OUT!

Happy Thursday and Happy Shopping!

DIY: The Perfect {Inexpensive} Bookshelf

A few months back I was on the hunt for a simple gold bookshelf.  I found that so many I loved were around $250 and up!  This just seemed a little crazy to me.  So I decided this gold bookshelf I was on the hunt for was now going to turn into a DIY.

After removing the gold element from my search I started to find several reasonably priced shelves that a can of gold spray paint would do wonders with.  I ended up purchasing the Vittsjo Shelf from Ikea in white for just $49.  

Next to dress this plain Jane up to her full potential.

A trip to Lowes for a few supplies and we were ready.

Shelf * Contact Paper * Pretty Scissors * Gold Spray Paint * Primer

Now that we have all the items, it's time to make this doll come to life.

I think it's totally up to you if you want to assemble before or after you paint.  I decided to assemble first, then spray.  Once I had the shelf together I started with the primer.  Even though the shelf was white, I still like to prime as it helps your paint adhere better.  Once the primer was dry, it was time to paint this beauty gold.  In the end I used almost 2 cans of paint.  It never ceases to amaze me what a can of paint can do for a lifeless piece.

The three middle shelves are glass, but the top and bottom are solid, some type of faux wood.

I decided to dress this piece up just a touch more by wrapping the top and bottom shelves in marble contact paper.  Seriously, this made the entire look of the bookshelf!

And...there you have it!  

I couldn't be happier with the end result.  Sometimes I find it's the DIY pieces in our home I adore the most.  They just feel a little bit more special to me.

Gifts For The Hostess

Our calendars tend to fill up fast over the holidays with casual family dinners, intimate parties with our closest friends, and large lavish soirees.  No matter the size of the gathering you will attend this holiday season, it is always a good idea to have a hostess gift on hand.

1. West Elm Diffuser

2. Animal Wine Stoppers

3. Monogram Wine Stopper

4. Mark and GrahamWine Tote

5. Coaster Set

6. Anthropologie Cheese Board

Remember, your hostess put a lot of time and energy into creating a memorable evening.  

Spoil her (or him) a little and you're sure to be the first wine glass topped off! ;) 

Cheers! 

Hello Old Friends and Happy December

Well hello there friends!  It's been a while.  Far too long if you ask me!  Blogging with a little one has been almost next to impossible while also working full-time! However, I am still extremely determined to figure out the whole work-life, mom-life, blog-life balance.  So let's not waste another second.

December has always been one of my favorite months to blog simply because I get to share so many pretty things with you all and dream a little.

Today I'm sharing 3 items I'd love to see under the Christmas tree this year with my name on them.

First up, the Crosley Turntable.  Honestly, I don't care what color it is or any real specific features.  I just want to drop the needle in the grove and hear amazing music.

Next on the lists, what good is a record player without the vinyl?

Albums on the left can be found at Crate and Barrel.  Pick up my faves on the right from Urban Outfitters.

Last on the list...a new wallet! I have this black Coach wristlet that somehow turned into my permanent wallet and it makes NO SENSE at all!  Ok, pre Fiona it made perfect sense (to me that is), but now I need easy access when paying for things and juggling Miss Fi.  

The Henri Bendel Organizer Wallet would be a dream!

What's on your list this year?

Looking for more Delightfully Chic?  

Follow along as I share daily happenings on our Instagram feed. 

Sunday Sanctuary: Delightfully Chic Home Office

Scott and I both have our own offices in our home and somehow I ended up with the smaller of the two!  Say What?  In all honesty there was something about the coziness of my office that really appealed to me.  It just felt right.  As I've said before I have been working room by room to redesign each space in our home.  My office has been so low on the list, but after Fi was born all of her wonderful distractions started to pull me away from blogging and my visions for Delightfully Chic.  I immediately knew I had to move the office up on the priority list to help keep me focused and inspired.

In order to de-clutter my thoughts, recharge my batteries and get this project underway I removed every single item from the office and started with a fresh coat of paint.  I went with one of my favorite colors, Decorators White by Benjamin Moore.  Then I pulled back in the items I knew I still wanted in the office.  My desk, chair, and stool from the original DC collection. That was it! Everything else will be finding a new landing place.  Now what?  Well, I plan to change the curtain rod, light fixture, purchase a new computer, add in wall art, plant life, and anything else that inspires me. 

Here a few spaces that inspire me and follow my vision for the new Delightfully Chic office.

(inspiration images via pinterest) 

As more progress is made I'll make sure to keep you all posted and of course share the finished product once completed!

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Sanctuary: The Redesign of The Gaither Dining Room

Happy Sunday!

In years past, Sunday Sanctuary was part of our weekly series, but with the hustle and bustle of life I have unfortunately gotten away from weekend posts.  I have found myself missing this series and decided to bring it back as I still continue to work and learn my new rhythm of life as a full time working mom, wife, and blogger.

So, let's not waste anymore time and kick things off.

Scott and I moved into our new home two years ago this November.  Our dining room is one of my favorite spaces and we started to pull this space together, but knew that it was only a temporary design.  The table and chairs have been passed down from Scott's family and are true antiques.  The table was passed down to Scott's sister Caroline and we were more than happy to "store" until she was ready to move into a home of her own.  This past month Caroline tied the knot and her husband Zack and her now live in Charlotte.  So, we said goodbye to the table (the chairs were passed down to Scott) and now we are officially ready to start the design of our dining room.

This was a pic I snapped last spring and gives you at least an idea of what we are working with.

Things I love about this space:

The China Cabinet...This piece was actually my parents that they purchased when they were first married.  Scott, my bff Rebecca, and I refinished this to white when we first moved in.

The Wainscoting...I am huge fan and it was one of many things I love about our home. 

Things that make my skin crawl:

Carpet! YUCK...I am so not a fan of carpet and I'm even less a fan of carpet in a dining room!  However, as long as we have a shedding four legged furry friend in the house...the carpet in all spaces that we still have it in will stay.  I made the agreement with Scott that as long as our big boy Lucian is in the house we will wait to replace any carpet or flooring.  Why I agree to such things is beyond me!  Lucian is limited to 3 rooms in our home (laundry room, kitchen, and family room) but somehow those tiny little hairs travel. 

The Lighting Fixture... Somebody please tell me why anyone would chose this fixture for their dining room?  One thing I loved about our established home was all the updates the previous homeowners had completed prior to our purchasing.  As we agreed on many of their decisions and updates the lighting fixtures in several rooms I would have NEVER selected.  I see an elegant chandelier of some sort in this space and not this super out of place fixture.

Here are a few looks that inspire me and point me in the direction I want to go...

(above images via pinterest)

As I start the search for the perfect dining room table and chairs (our current chairs will be relocated throughout our home) our first plan of action is the lighting fixture.  Stay tuned for updates and follow along on the Delightfully Chic Instagram page to see the progress.

Hotspot: Press Coffee + Crepes

European Inspired.

Carolina Made.

Four simple words to describe the latest coffee shop to hit Alamance County.  Press Coffee + Crepes opened its doors on Monday and is quickly becoming the talk of the town.  On Tuesday "Sweet Mama", Fiona, and I had the chance to try out some delicious coffee and amazing crepes!

From the moment we walked in we were greeted with a bubbly smile by Sabrina who is a total ray of sunshine.  She gave us a full rundown of the offerings to help us make our decisions. 

I originally asked for a hazelnut latte, but after a quick chat with Forrest, the barista, I went with a latte having equal parts of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla...OH MY DELICIOUS!  Forrest has officially introduced me to my new morning coffee of choice. 

While studying in Paris I indulged far too often in wine and crepes! I actually had never had a crepe until I visited France, but it quickly became one of my favorite guilty pleasures.  Press offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and sweet crepes.  We tried the "Down Home" crepe filled with ham or bacon (you make the call), egg, and local hoop cheese and of course the always classic banana and Nutella filled crepe.  Both were delicious. 

 The decor offers an urban feel with exposed bricks and pipes.  I love when a business goes into an older building and brings it back to life while leaving the "history" in tact.  I think I will always be a fan of this look.

  

While I was having my little moment with my yummy latte and crepe I noticed Jason, the owner walking around the shop chatting with and getting to know his customers.  THIS solidified what I already had quickly discovered...I will be a regular and I will spread the word of Press.

You just can't beat a big city feel with a small town heart!  

Make sure to visit Press in downtown Graham and stay connected with this new found treasure via facebook and instagram.

The Gaither Kitchen: Avocado Basil Pesto

Every summer we grow basil in our garden.  Not only do I love the fresh taste of the plant, but also how amazing the leaves smell!  Picking fresh basil is actually something I really enjoy simply because of the aroma.  On Monday I decided it was time to make use of the leaves and have a little garden to table in the Gaither Kitchen.

I am trying really hard to keep my "cheat meals" to a minimum as I work to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. So when I had a craving for cheese ravioli with pesto I knew I had to cut somewhere.  I found this healthy avocado basil pesto recipe from one of my favorite blogs, Ambitious Kitchen and knew this was what I wanted to try.  So what makes it healthy?  Most pesto recipes call for a fairly good amount of oil, so in this recipe we are going to replace the oil with avocado.  I'm a huge fan of avocado.  Whether you are having it in a salad or on a sandwich or by itself with a splash of fresh lime juice, this fruit provides you with healthy fats and we should all be a fan of that.   

Avocado Basil Pesto

Here is what you will need...

{Note: I made minor modifications to the original recipe}

1 Cup of fresh basil leaves

1/2 of a large avocado 

2 tablespoons of pine nuts

1 1/2 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice

4 tablespoons of water

1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheeses

In your food processor, add your basil, avocado, pine nuts, garlic, and lemon and lime juice.  Pulse for about 20-30 seconds.  Next add in your water and pulse again until consistency is smooth.  Pour your pesto into a dish and mix in 1/4 cup cheese.  I personally prefer the three cheese mixture instead of only using Parmesan.  The cheese blend and avocado is actually what I think makes this pesto really stand out from the others.

Once you have mixed in your cheese you can pour over your pasta or store your pesto in an air tight container for up to 2 days.  

And, there you have it!  I would love to know if you try this recipe- comment below and let me know what you think!