Loving this recipe from a Great Friend from AtHome America. Wanted to share it with you all. I think it would look great in this dish from AHA. Very fall feeling. yummmmm....

ANTIPASTO PIE

½ lb. boiled ham

½ lb. Genoa salami

½ lb. provolone cheese

1 8oz. jar roasted red peppers

½ cup marinated artichoke hearts (optional)

7 eggs

½ cup parmesan cheese

3 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. Spray the sides and bottom of your At Home America Kitchen Essentials Poppy Oversize Baker or Green Mountain Falls Stoneware, Rectangular Baker/Server with cooking spray.Roll out one crescent roll package into a rectangle & place in bottom of baking dish. Layer half the ham, salami, provolone, peppers (and mashed artichoke hearts if using) on top. Beat 3 eggs with ¼ cup parmesan and pour on top. Roll out another crescent roll package into a rectangle & place on top. Add another layer of remaining half the ham, salami, provolone & peppers. Beat another 3 eggs with ¼ cup parmesan and pour on top. Roll out final crescent roll package into a rectangle & place on top. Beat 1 egg & brush on top. Prick top with fork.Cover with loose tent of foil. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-20 minutes until brown and bubbly.Let sit 1 hour before serving.

Adding a Touch of Fall

Fall is that special time of the year that we all look forward to. The days are becoming shorter and cooler – right now I could use a little cooler, how about you? I just love the color that appears like magic with the Fall season. The pumpkins, gourds, pinecones and beautiful leaves that are changing right before our eyes!!!

Use these wonderful colors to welcome friends and family into your home by expressing your own individual style. Set the tone with a room filled with the soft glow of candlelight and warm fall accessories. Invite an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and cherished memories!!!

The newest colors for Fall are Boysenberry and Tarragon. Now for those of you who may be wondering…..Purple and green!!! Did you know that every room should have a touch of purple? Freshen up and lighten up with some great new colors in your home for the fall. Don’t be afraid to use color. You could paint just one accent wall to add that color, or if you are a little more timid then try introducing a color through your accessories. Add a throw, a few pillows and maybe even change up the curtains or drapes to add that splash of color. Color can make a huge difference in a room. With Fall and the great hues that come naturally this time of year – it is a good time to take the plunge and try some colors that you don’t usually use. You may be surprised at the outcome. One hint I recently read was to use just one color palette for your main living area and then try to pull colors from that into the other rooms in your home with flowers, throws or even a clock.

Something else that brings fall into our decorating is layers. Using layers on the floors, adding a rug even one on top of your carpet. Adding extra touches to your window treatments, with muslin, or other fabrics that can be twisted around your curtains and tassels can make a room more interesting. Table runners, placemats, & quilts can turn your table into a great showcase. Add your favorite things from Mother Nature and you have an awesome tabletop. Pumpkins, leaves gourds and candles can be highlighted on the mantle as well as the table using the same items and it really pulls the two rooms together.

Now don’t forget to change up the doorway. This is probably the most fun this time of year, as you can add those pumpkins and mums and instantly feel like you have come into a new season!!! Make the wreath on your door this year with pinecones and other things. Take the family on a hike through the woods, gather some wild grapevine and let everyone make their own wreath. Now add some embellishments from Motor Nature and what a fun way to welcome guests to your home!!!

If you would like a little help with Fall accessories and scents, please visit our website at www.athome.com/patdempsey for some great ideas on how you can change things up a bit this fall.

Pat Dempsey, Sr. Executive Director
AtHome America

Decorating with Shelves

Have you ever thought of using your book shelves for more than just books? These very functional pieces can be a great resource for a wonderful decorating scheme for any room. Think “outside the shelf”, so to speak, Or should I say “Outside of the Book”. We all have some built-ins, bookcases, shelves or even decorative wall ledges, in our homes and there are as many ways to accessorize shelves as there are things to accessorize them with.


There are so many different types of shelves, they correspond with just as many items that you can focus on while decorating with those shelves. Maybe it is your favorite collection that can be highlighted on a mantle shelf – one that looks like crown molding. Or maybe you have some old quilts that have been handed down in your family. A really fun way of displaying them is to fold them neatly and lay them on the shelves of the book case. Taking another shelf and highlighting a family member who made them, would add a fun touch to your display.

What about something you are passionate about? Shelves are a great place to highlight that passion. Maybe you have painted a great landscape or taken a wonderful photo while on vacation. Instead of just hanging it on the wall, why not highlight it by placing it on a shelf?

Do you enjoy the beach during the summer? Then using a shelf or two to highlight some wonderful shells, starfish, or even a lighthouse or two – is a fun way to capture some of those wonderful summertime moments and have them live on in your home for months to come.

You might want to think about grouping items with like theme, color, shape or texture together. You might also want to think about grouping some photos together on shelves or mantle instead of around the room on the wall. This can make more of a statement than when scattered on the wall.

Hooray for the Red. White & Blue!

Yes, I love the 4th the July and I love taking time to bring the Celebration of this great holiday to all aspects of my home. I like to think of it as a fun way to show my patriotism. How about you? What are you doing this weekend to show off your love for the USA!?!

You can get started outside. Maybe you want to plant a few flowers around the yard that bloom with Red, White & Blue blossoms. I love making a planter right by the front door. What a welcoming signal for all your friends. I also have always had a flag poll in the front yard and love flying “Old Glory”, not just this time of year but you will find it flying all year round at our house. Now, if you have a front porch – this would be the next place for some great Red, White & Blue decorations. Most of us have a chair , swing or glider on that porch so I would encourage you to think about how you can add some color there too. Maybe take a quilt or pillow in these great colors and add them here. If you have a small table be sure and put some cut flowers. Something that I have enjoyed in the front of my home over the years and especially at this time of they year, is candles. I love those big old jars that you can get with pickles, etc in the. When they are empty they are perfect for candles. These make great, safe luminaries. Just put some sand in the bottom and then add red, white or blue candles. Now take some rag ribbon and tie it around the top of the jar. I put one on each step going up to my front door. It really adds a festive touch.

The last place out front is my front door. Let’s not forget about that. I have a huge metal star that I like to put on the front door. But I have also been known to use a wreath with touches of Red, White & Blue. Ok, so one last thing that is fun to use in front of the house, are those wonderful buntings and banners. I have often hung one right by the front door, or on the railing of the porch. Are you getting the picture? Everyone will be able to see that your home is Saluting the 4th of July!!!

As you move indoors, there are many ways to keep those wonderful colors going throughout your home. The mantle of the fireplace is great place to show off any memorabilia that you may have. This may also be a perfect spot for an old photo of someone in your family who has served in the Armed Forces of our country. There are even lots of patriotic garlands that you could use here as well. You might want to have a special print that you highlight at this time of year. Maybe you would replace one that is already hanging on your wall with it. Don’t forget to add those wonderful red, white & blue candles throughout the house.

Now another way I like to use that patriotic spirit this time of year, is with my food. What about taking one of your clear vases or glass bowls and layering a beautiful dessert with blueberries, strawberries and pudding? This makes a very special and eye appealing addition to your 4th of July décor. Pull out all the stops this 4th of July. Invite your family and friends in to enjoy and celebrate our Freedom!!!

Check out my website for some great sales going on during the month of July. Many of the items I have mentioned can be found there.
www.athome.com/patdempsey

Top 4 Decorating Styles for 2009

What Decorating Style are You?

Do you know what your “Style” is? Many of us have trouble discovering what style of decorating we have in our homes. I often hear people use the term “Eclectic”. I think they decide on this because they really aren’t sure and think this will give them a license to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Remember that your style does not always have to be in every room in your house. You can change styles in your different rooms. Check this out to see some hints on how to find your style.

How do you find your Style???
1. Do you have Multiples of items around your house?
2. Are you hanging on to something just “because”?
3. Where do you shop for things for your home, flea market where anything goes or the same store all the time?
4. What is hanging on your walls right now? Is it a poster, print or canvas and what style is it?
5. What was the last thing you bought on an impulse?
6. Is there one piece that is different in your house? Maybe you love it and are just afraid of changing your style?
7. Where do you love to spend your time on vacation? What is your favorite room in your house?

Modern Country
Modern Country combines a more traditional country décor with modern trends that will result in a very comfortable and stylish decorating style. Mixing your favorite collection with both traditional and trendy elements makes it definitely have a more modern feel.

Classic Chic
Creamy soft whites and pale blues can turn your room into a comfortable, casual look using vintage accessories and comfortable furniture. Think of visiting with your grandmother, snuggled in comfortable soft furniture with fresh flowers and the soft scent of candles in the room. Classic Chic balances elegant things with old and worn accessories.

Retro
Celebrate the 1940's and 50's with vintage style. If you love bold colors, shiny chrome, and vivid patterns, you’ll love the vintage look. In the kitchen, think 1950s with sunny yellow, jadeite green, and checkerboard floors. Red and white with a punch of black applies well to this vintage look.

Tuscan Style or Mediterranean
This warm, comforting style can be modified to suit your house, condo, apartment, town home…whether you live somewhere in the hot south, in cool, damp climates or the bitter cold, everyone can transform their favorite spot into a Tuscan getaway using warm tones with lots of wrought iron accessories. Imagine Italian grapes ripening on the vine and drowsy heat radiating off ancient stucco walls. Tuscan decorating style speaks of a rustic life lived in red earth, Mustard Seed and Simply Sage colors, accented with rustic iron pieces artfully twisted into utilitarian forms.

How and Where to Hang Art on your wall

How & Where to Hang Art on your Walls


If you're not sure how high to hang art (prints, photos, posters, collectibles, etc.) on your walls, maybe these ideas will be helpful. Just follow along and before long your walls could look like something out of a designer magazine
You may have heard that you should hang artwork so the center of the picture is at eye level. Well that is a good thought, so hold on to it for a minute. But if you are confused, especially if you’re 5 feet tall and everyone else in your house is so much taller. Then for whose eye level does this rule apply to. Is it the same no matter what size the art is? What about a grouping or if you are hanging it over a sofa?
This is the rule of thumb. Approximately 60 to 65 inches from the floor to the center of the art is a place to start. It may be the perfect place to hang your particular piece of artwork, or it could look terrible. How do you know? Well try by starting to think of the artwork you are hanging as it relates to everything around in the room. Whether you hang a framed picture over a sofa, on a stairway wall, or in the hall, each of these spaces will have elements to consider.
So, right about now you are probably thinking “Thanks a lot”, that was helpful. So let’s look at a few more things that could help you find just the right place to hang that artwork.

10 More Tips for Hanging Art
1. Will you mainly be standing in the room (as in an entryway or hallway)? Does the room have faulted ceilings or is two stories high? If so, it may make sense to hang artwork a bit higher than the 60-65 inch center starting point.

2. Will you typically be sitting in this room? Maybe it is a dining room, family room, or office. Hang pictures a bit lower here so they can be enjoyed while sitting. Try sitting in a chair and have someone hold the picture against the wall, moving it up and down so you can see how it looks.

3. If you are hanging a large framed print or grouping over a sofa or sideboard it will look better when hung so the bottom of the frame is positioned 6 to 12 inches above the top of the sofa back or tabletop.

4. Is your artwork very small. In that case, consider hanging it in a group of other objects.

5. When working with a grouping of pictures or objects hung on a wall, think of the grouping as one large picture and relate the bottom of the entire grouping to the furniture underneath it.

6. What if you are hanging a tall vertical picture, panel, or poster? In this case, it may be better to think about placing the art so that the top one-third area of the picture is near eye level. However, the actual height of the piece will determine the best position on the wall. Again, have someone hold it lower and higher as you see what looks best.

7.Be sure and think about the proportion of the item to the wall it will be hanging on. A small picture hung on a large wall can look out of balance. Look for narrow walls (such as the spaces between two doorways or windows) and consider hanging two or three small pictures in a vertical line. In this case, treat the center picture as the center of the grouping.

8. If you’re hanging artwork by itself, cut paper templates to size each piece of art and attach the paper cutouts to the wall with painter’s tape. This will give you the option to stand back and see how the artwork’s size relates to your room and your furniture. Move the template up and down to find the perfect spot prior to hanging the picture.

9. Another way to see how it will look is to clear the floor below where you will be hanging it. Now lay the print(s) or items out on the floor as you would if they were on the wall. When you step back you can see how they will appear on the wall.

10. Remember odd numbers of items if you are grouping smaller items together. 3,5,7, keeps it more balanced.

Now don’t be afraid to hang things on your wall. Be sure and lay it out before you pick up that hammer. But remember that you can also put a little spackling on the wall if you don’t like it. It is not the end of the world. Be brave – you can do it, I know you can.

It’s Time for A Summer Makeover in Your Home

Summer is such a relaxing time and a time that welcomes something new. Warmer weather calls for a change in your home's decor. Update your home by bringing in sheer fabrics, pretty florals, and garden elements. Check out these "Top 10" ways to make over your home for Summertime!

1. Lighten Up!
Do you have velvet drapes or a heavy corduroy sofa? Now is the time to change them out for lighter looking alternatives. Remove the drapes and replace them with airy sheers. Slipcover the sofa or chairs with paler tones or florals.

2. It’s all about the Front Door
Make the first impression the best impression. What can you add to your entry way or front porch that shouts Summertime and Livin’ is Easy!!! Some new planters, how about a great wreath for the front door. As you enter the home, have some signs of Summer welcoming those who enter.

3. Change the Focus
If your furniture is centered in front of a fireplace, think about ways to rearrange the look for summer. Change the focal point away from the mantel to a view of a garden, placing the conversation grouping to take advantage of the garden scene just outside. You could hang a special quilt like the one on page 31 of our catalog. What about transforming a wall with a photo gallery.

4. The First Impression

Summer Time living often gets your family moving out doors maybe out to a porch or deck, but even if your home does not have a porch or deck, you can get the same look and feel of a porch inside. Introduce a few garden chairs, accessories, and floral fabrics into your great room. You’ll feel like you are outside every time you’re in the room.

5. Add Life to your room
Lanterns everywhere, Candles & more candles, and Words can make a great addition to every room in your house. Get rid of those dusty silk flower arrangements. Bring in fresh green plants & flowering pots. Did you ever have a Beta Fish? These can really bring the outdoors inside. You can put them in your favorite vase. These things can make your room feel light and fun after the long wintery months . Cut flowers can make such a great impact as well. Add a single stem to a group of different size and shape bottles. There are many ways ways to add fresh floral touches to your room.

6. Time to Re-Accessorize
You can add a little personality and get a fun new look with something whimsical. Maybe it is one of those great “Words” that are so popular right now or some personal photos. It might be time to take it up a notch & rework your accessories and makeover your shelves. Clean winter dust off the shelves and begin to replace objects with an eye toward keeping the look light. Bring out your floral china or white ironstone, set up a collection of pitchers or glass, and include plants and picture frames as well. The sky is the limit with your collections. You can go from the “beach” to “Retro” very easily just by changing a few of your Accessories in a room – it will give it a totally different look.

7. Think Words
Add a little inspiration to your room with some fun “words”. They can tell a great story or just make someone smile. These can be used inside or out in any size. Personalize them to your own family and beliefs. Words are the hot new accessory.

8. Organize It
Baskets are a great way to de-clutter your room. Look for ways to stay organized during the busy summer months. When your home is overwhelmed with clutter it may not feel inviting. So time to get things organized and cleaned up for the summer months. You can find some great things to help declutter at some of the home stores around. Don’t forget those shelves can look cluttered too.

9. Your Fireplace isn’t just for Winter
Now is the perfect time to sweep away the ashes of winter fires and start fresh. The fireplace looks great with silk plants, an arrangement of candles, or even a few family pictures. Think of something totally off the wall and put it in the fire place. It will turn some heads and get a fun response from your visitors.

10. The Power of Paint
Freshen up and lighten up with some bright fun new colors. Don’t be afraid to use color – you can always paint over it if you don’t like it. But it can make a huge difference in a room.

If you need a little help with any of these areas be sure and check out the sale going on at my website www.athome.com/patdempsey The attic is the place to be. Some of these items will not be there after June 30th.

DECORATING QUIZ


Are you ready for a change??

Would you like to make one or more rooms in your home into an area that you and your family would really enjoy spending time in this summer?

What room would you like to decorate or redecorate?

What types of things will you enjoy doing in this room?

Do you have a “Theme” in mind? Wondering what that Theme might be? Here is a little help in that area.

a. Maybe it is time to Dream a little Dream – take a moment to think about your favorite “place” and what it is about that place that makes your mind drift there. How can you bring that “place” to your living area? Is there a color that reminds you of this place? How about a smell, or maybe a particular thing like shells, or lighthouses, how about an America Flag? Get the idea? Is it outside or inside?

b. Another way to come up with a Theme is to think about something that you enjoy. Maybe it is old quilts, could it be clocks, or stars? Could you make that the focal point of your new room?

c. What was your last impulse purchase? Could it be that is the direction you should be going in? Maybe you were trying to tell yourself something.


Do you have a color already picked out?

Don’t be afraid to add color to your room. Maybe it is through your walls or accent pieces. Popular colors right now are reds, darker blues and greens, but don’t forget about those yellow colors. Be sure to think about your Color Wheel and the relation of one color to the other. Also remember this little tip when working with a Color Wheel. Next Door Neighbors are Best. (those colors ne xt to each other on the wheel go well together. Family is Always Welcome (those colors in the same family.), Opposites Attract (colors opposite each other on the color wheel work well together too). Also thinking about Changing to some new colors, keep this in mind too. 60/30/10 Rule. What??? Yes, use one color 60% of the time in the room, add another color into the room with 30% and then put some pop in the room with 10%. You will be amazed at what this can do to your room. It really can make a difference.

What is your budget? It doesn’t take a lot to totally change a room around. Sometimes just a few pieces and a little ingenuity can make for a HUGE difference.

Think about how it would feel to enjoy this space with your family and friends!!!
Won’t you be so proud to show it off and to just RELAX in your new Room. Nothing like experiencing Real Life with Style!!!

Check out my website for some fun things that will add pop to your room. Have fun changing things around this summer. It feels so good when you put it all together.
www.athome.com/patdempsey

Yellow - is it the color for you?

Color is in the air and it’s time for some fun & inspiring touches to happen in our homes.
I know if you are like me – you are so ready for some warmer temperatures and probably to be done with all that rain and gloomy weather! Boy, it sure has been a long, hard Winter and a wet Spring!
There is no better way to liven things up around your house, than with a few little extra touches of color. It will lift your spirits for sure.
Did you know that yellow is the new “hot” color this year? Now you don’t necessarily have to paint your walls, but you can add those touches of yellow to rooms in your house in some different ways.
How about some yellow towels in the bathroom, along with candles, artificial flowers, maybe even a throw rug on the floor. You can even add a few yellow soaps. In no time, you can have a fun new feeling happening in that dull looking bathroom. Bathrooms can be one of the most difficult rooms in the house to decorate. Recently I saw the cutest idea for a bathroom and I wanted to share it with you. It was in a friends house and she had gone to a local hardware store and purchased a small section of picket fence. Now you see, she had 3 kids and there were always towels lying around on the floor. Does that sound familiar? You know how that is with the kids and even the husband? Well, you may be asking what does that have to do with a picket fence? She took that small section of picket fencing, painted it yellow and she attached it to the wall in her bathroom. She added a few cute stencils of butterflies and flowers on the wall above the fence. Now when her kids are through with the bath they hang those towels that use to go on the floor, on their new picket fence! They love it and the bathroom looks much tidier now! So with a very inexpensive item from the hardware store – she turned her bathroom into a Springtime showcase.
So you see how in now time at all you can take a few very inexpensive items and turn them into a whole new look for your room. Think yellow this year and see where it leads you.

Decorating with a Summer Flair

Let's get started. This is all new to me and so I am off on a new venture.
Over the past few years I have contributed articles to The Country Register
Newspapers across the US and most recently even to Canada. I thought this
would be a great way to share some of those articles and to get some more
great ideas from those of you who also are "decorating addicts".


With summer comes one of my favorite holidays of the year – the 4th of July! I am partial to this great holiday with its Red, White and Blue theme. There are many of us who keep these colors going in our home year round as a special way to preserve our heritage and show our patriotism.

This time of the year you can add a touch here or there of Red, White & Blue or you can change up an entire room. Flag buntings make a great window treatment as do just good ole fashioned flags. Swag them at the top of your window for a great look. Lots of light can still get through to add a bright touch to your room.

What about that front door? You can drape a small flag through your existing wreath to make it look totally different! Hang one over the rocking chair on the porch with a touch of red, white and blue in your favorite pillow! What fun. A great outdoor lantern can be made from a good ole pickle jar, you know the ones that hold a ton of pickles….Now put a little sand in the bottom and a big pillar candle. Tie a rag ribbon around the rim of the jar in red, white or blue plaid. What a great way to light up the walk way on those warm summer evenings. I like to use several to light the way for friends and neighbors as they come over for our 4th of July picnic!

Your favorite Star dishes can be used to hold some of your heirloom pieces in the room. Maybe some of your red geraniums from the garden would spice up the room. Can you picture this in your head? It doesn’t take much when it comes to this season to make a great statement and show off your pride in America!!! Hurray for the Red, White & Blue!!!