These sweeties make me want to start baking – but that isn’t really a birthday activity, is it?

Growing up with the last name Cupp, I always had a soft spot in my heart for cupcakes. You can’t go wrong with 4-5 bites of sweet cake goodness, can you? The biggest bummer is that I have never been one to like icing or frosting. I know, it’s a horrible thing – right? These pretties from Martha Stewart just might change my mind!

3 Comments » Posted by ABCD / Personal and Uncategorized

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Excuse the mess, I am trying (again) to claim ABCD Design since they won’t let me simply change the url for my blogspot.

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There are so many lovely images to be seen in the blogisphere (is that a word?!?) every single day. I can’t believe I did not stumble onto these inspirational places at an earlier date. The interior design image below comes from this pretty interior design post. Oh, how I love colorful books in white bookcases and I adore the mix of old and new – perfecto!

While you’re over at Automasim poke around and take a peek at her other blog posts. I am pretty sure you’ll like what you see. I know I will be back to Automasim – over and over and over again!

Next, hop over to the Plush Palate. Crystal and I “follow” one another on Twitter – but embarrassingly enough - I have never stopped in at her blog. The other day she caught my eye with a tweet about white spaces, I clicked over … and well … I am hooked! Check out these lovely rooms:

Now, for the very best part … The Plush Palate has launched a Plush Side Project! All white, oh-so-dreamy rooms.

ABCD Update: Fall has totally hit Northern Michigan with temps topping out at 65 degrees. I am loving it – the only bummer is that I only have summer clothes with me here. *Remember* everything we own is in storage, somewhere in the Bronx! Gaaack. We TOTALLY THOUGHT we’d be set with a new job for Mr. D by this point! As part of this weekend, Mr. D and will be looking at a bit of real estate. Fact is, we were lucky to sell our NYC apartment when we did. The two of us love it up here so very much, and the second home market here in Northern Michigan is absolutely crushed. The real estate here is reaching lows we have not seen in our lifetimes. If Mr. D ends up going to school come January, we’ll have a place to go hang out during “Summer” vacation. If he ends up taking a job in NYC (or elsewhere for that matter) we’d still have a place to take golfing/skiing vacations and to stay when we want to see my family at holidays. The rest of the time we can rent it out to weekenders. If it is purchased “right” it may prove to be a very good investment. Nothing is set in stone yet, we’re just checking our options out. Sure would be fun for me to have a new personal design project!

Okay that’s the update – If you’re looking for a yummy new salmon recipe, pop by EADL. I posted it this morning. Don’t forget to try this delicious “Sunday Brunch” recipe, remember to start it on Saturday afternoon to make things easier in the a.m. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend ~ see you Monday!

2 Comments » Posted by ABCD / ABCD Design Inspiration and Dream Decorating and Interior Design as Inspiration and Personal and Uncategorized

… Hello everyone …

When I started ABCD Design nearly two years ago, I had no idea what html was or techrorati or what any of this “blogging stuff” was about. I taught myself how to do everything regarding posting on the blog, subscritions, etc. Well, it turns out that I still have A LOT to learn! Please read this message, as it pertains to all of you who help to make ABCD Design a fun place for me post my daily sketches and inspiration.

I have recently set up a re-direct from my blogspot address. For the longest time blogspot would not let me re-direct to www.abcddesign.com. For the last few weeks, I managed to set up a re-direct set up but I am afraid I have lost the people who subscribed to abcddesign.blogspot.com! I have no idea if those readers can even get this message. Will you leave a comment if you are a subscriber to the old blogspot address?

If you’re reading in a reader and did not update your url subscription when I switched servers back in January – PLEASE, do it now! www.abcddesign.com.

If you subscribed via e-mail to my old blogspot address, please re-subscribe to www.ABCDDesign.com. There is a pretty little box in my sidebar where you can enter your address. I also will make an effort to figure out why the e-mail subscriptions take all the way until 9pm at night to end up in the mail boxes of my e-mail subscribers. I find it hard to believe that it is as simple as not being “high up” on the “google crawler” list.

Reading in a Reader?
To my embarrassment, I just learned that ABCD Design doesn’t look pretty when you view it in a reader. Since I do not view blogs that way and my web designer didn’t bring up the issue, I have been in the dark about my photos being cut off on the right hand side. BOO to that! Being a gal who insisted on BIG photos for the oohs and aaaah factor, this is incredibly upsetting to me.

Reading on the Web?
I also learned that ABCD Design appears differently on different screens. Not only to the fonts look different, but sometimes the design is all a mess! For instance, the word “subscribe” falls onto two different lines on certain screens. This is very concerning.

Please – had I known that these issues existed – I would have looked into it months ago when I switched from blogger to wordpress. Being a designer myself, I am very into the aesthetic appearance of this blog and I am completely beside myself. Had I known that different screens would produce such different looks, I would have made different choices. I PROMISE I will get all this ugly formatting fixed up ASAP!

Please remember!!! If you’re reading in a reader and did not update your url subscription when I switched servers back in January and would like to continue getting ABCD Design in your reader – please, do it now – www.abcddesign.com.

Thanks for your attention. Hang tight, and please stick with me. I will get to smoothing out this mess straight away.

2 Comments » Posted by ABCD / Personal and Uncategorized

My mom introduced me to this yummy carrot recipe several years ago on a September visit to Harbor Springs. Since then, I have made them throughout the winter when carrots seem to be the only fresh vegetable that looks good in the market. I made them last night and was reminded that these carrots make a spectacular side dish during any season! This is such a tasty dish that I have also been known to add them to the Thanksgiving menu.

Ingredients
2 pounds carrots
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (I like to add a *smidge* more, I love pepper!)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or flat-leaf parsley

Directions
Peel the carrots and cut them diagonally in 1/4-inch slices. You should have about 6 cups of carrots. Place the carrots, 1/3 cup water, the salt, and pepper in a large (10 to 12-inch) saute pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and cook over medium-low heat for 7 to 8 minutes, until the carrots are just cooked through. Add the butter and saute for another minute, until the water evaporates and the carrots are coated with butter. Off the heat, toss with the dill or parsley. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

1 Comment » Posted by ABCD / Uncategorized and totally delicious dishes