Random thoughts from an incoherent mind

Spring Dreams

2012-02-09T10:30:00.001-05:00

I really shouldn't write this post. I really shouldn't write it because I know the minute I press publish post, somehow, someway, it will most likely start snowing...better yet, it'll be a snowstorm of blizzard-like proportions. I have, however, been known to be a rebel from time to time, so I'm going to write it anyway.

I don't mind Winter, and I don't mind snow. That being said, we are experiencing a particularly mild Winter this year and now that the holidays are over, I'm kind of enjoying this milder weather. The only problem I'm having is that I'm beginning to wish for Spring. It's this mild weather that's making me wish for it far earlier than I know I should.

It could be dangerous, but here I am, risking it all, to take you into my Spring Dreams.......

Country Living

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Gina on Pinterest

Source: google.ca via Gina on Pinterest

Southern Living

Source: arosynote.blogspot.com via Victoria on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via irisistible on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Lynn on Pinterest

Do I dare click that publish post button? I'm certainly not ready to wake up from my Spring dreams yet.

Cupid's Arrow Tablescape

2012-02-06T16:15:00.003-05:00

I wasn't planning to do a tablescape for Valentine's Day because I don't own Valentine's Day dishes. I know, hard to believe, but true.

Then suddenly, it dawned on me. Why do I need to have specific Valentine's Day dishes in order to do a Valentine's Day tablescape? I can pull this off without them! The challenge was on and here is what I came up with.

I used my Pier 1 red salad plates that I've had for years. Cream dinner plates from Better Homes & Gardens (Walmart) last year. Heart boxes from Michaels. Cloth napkins from Bed, Bath & Beyond...a steal at $1.50 for 4, on clearance. Gold flatware is "borrowed" from my Mom. It's called Cellini Romanesque.

My Dee Foust Cupid from last year. I love this guy! Gold candleholders purchased quite a few years ago at Michaels.

And there you have my Valentine's Day challenge tablescape. Big hugs to each of you!

I'm linking to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Big Pom Pom Flower Tutorial

2012-02-02T08:14:00.004-05:00

So many of you have asked & here I am, ready to answer...with a tutorial!

As many of you know, I made this ruffled lamp shade last year.

This is the tutorial for how to make the Pom Pom flowers that I used on that lamp shade. Yes, I can hear them too...the angels are singing.

Now bear in mind, I am not a master tutorial giver, ok?

Also, I do not want to hear a single snicker at the condition of my dry-and-badly-in-need-of-a-manicure hands, ok? It is winter in New York, afterall.

I'm feeling a little sassy today, can you tell?

Now that we've got that squared away, here we go!

1. Gather some supplies:  fabric, scissors, hot glue gun, a round shape to use as a template.

In case you might like to know, I used Osnaburg for my lamp shade flowers.  The Osnaburg fabric was great because it has a tendency to fray which was the look I wanted with the lamp shade. Today I'm using this purple cotton because hey, I just feel like it.

2. Trace & cut several circles (about 10) from your fabric. The size of your circles depend on how big you want your flowers to be. The circles shown here are roughly 2 inches in diameter. Your circles do not need to be perfectly cut. Sometimes it's fun not being perfect.

3. Take one circle and place it in front of you to use as the base of your flower. You will glue all the other circles to this piece.

4. Take another circle and squish it up at the center, so it looks like this.

5. Add a bead of hot glue to the tip of the squished up circle.

6. Stick glued piece to center of circle base.

7. Repeat with the rest of the circles, gluing them to cover the circle base. Eventually you will have something that looks like this.

I don't really have a set number of circles you need to glue down. I just keep gluing and filling in until I think the flower looks full enough, covers the circle base & is shaped to my liking. In other words, I just wing it.

I think these Pom Pom flowers are great because you can use them in home decor, for pretty headbands, purses, or even for jewelry.

If you should have a question, need me to explain, clarify, or talk you through it, do not hesitate to ask me. I do realize that tutorials often get confusing. I shall do my best to help you. I aim to please. Yessiree, I aim to please.

I thank you all for visiting today. Now run off and adorn your home and/or self with some Pom Pom flowers, k?

Linking to:
Potpourri Party at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Clever Ways to Save Energy

2012-01-31T08:00:00.004-05:00

Today, I have a guest post for you. I would like to welcome Christina Johnson.....

Source

Christina Johnson works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the NYC rentals market. She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.

Clever Ways to Save Energy

Article submitted by Christina Johnson

The former days of merely recycling and composting have been replaced with the modern ways of going green. It is now an entire movement shaping the ways people choose to build their homes and businesses. It influences the resources people use and the cars they buy, but it has also gained a negative reputation for being overly expensive.

It is possible to save the environment while saving money! You and your family can go green without spending too much green. There are many ways you can lower your energy consumption, thus reducing your carbon footprint, without going broke over it. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Use CFLs:
Replace your incandescent energy suckers with compact fluorescent light bulbs - specifically choosing CFLs that are Energy Star certified. Even by only focusing on the light bulbs you use most often, you save up to $100 per year on your energy bill. If you have children too young to reach the light switch or your household frequently forgets to turn out the lights, consider getting motion sensors or timed switches. The key is to keep all unnecessary lights off as often as possible.

Major Appliances:
The hardest workers in your house also happen to be energy monsters: your stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer and furnace. Add in a dishwasher, and you’ve got the entire gang. If you’re preparing to replace any out-dated appliances, be sure to choose a new, Energy Star qualified machine. If this isn’t in the budget, follow these simple steps to save energy and money: wash your clothing in cold water choosing a detergent formulated specifically for the lower temperatures; instead of using the heated dry feature on your dishwasher, open its door to let your dishes air dry; and finally, hire somebody to professionally maintenance your dryer and furnace. The little effort that goes into a good cleaning, will help your appliance last longer and work more efficiently.

HVAC Check-up:
Along with having your appliances checked over, be sure to have your HVAC system serviced every two years. In addition to changing your filters frequently, this will allow your heating and cooling system to run smoother and cleaner.

Low-Flow Update:
While water rules such as turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth help save energy, you can take it a step further by updating your kitchen and bathroom to low-flow faucets. While it doesn’t reduce your water pressure, it does reduce your water consumption - by as much as 50 percent. As easy as screwing the new head into place, this tip is especially great on your monthly utility bill.

Small Changes, Big Impact:
Simple household checks and changes create a major difference in your energy efficiency. Check windows and doors for leaks, and verify your attic and basement are well-insulated. After all, we want to keep our preferred temperature indoors. Go extra green and plant trees in your yard. Not only will you improve your air quality, provide shade in the summer, and block wind in the winter, you will also be giving directly back to the earth making it more beautiful. Finally, when you are remodeling your home, be a picky shopper and only choose furniture that was built using sustainable materials. If you are repainting your walls, steer clear of high-VOC paints that pollute the air with harmful gases.

The changes you make to your home are mostly small and relatively inexpensive, but they create a high, positive impact on the environment. Additionally, they save you money in the long run. What have you and your family done to go green? Please share!

Thank you for an inspiring article, Christina.

I'm afraid to admit, that I don't always give a conscious effort to being green. My husband and daughter are especially good about it, and after reading this, I would like to follow their example.

A happy day to each of you!

Win-Win

2012-01-29T10:00:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was a lucky girl. As a person who hardly ever wins anything, I somehow won two giveaways within days of each other!

The first:

Kelly at Coastal Cottage Dreams was having a great giveaway. She was giving away some art work letters.

Aren't they fantastic?

I had to take a close up shot of the letter "A". I love it with the rusty old key attached to it, don't you?

I haven't figured out where I will hang/display them yet, but I look forward to finding a place.

If you aren't familiar with Kelly's blog, Coastal Cottage Dreams, see here. Kelly shares alot of pretty vignettes and excellent recipes on her blog. She is moving into a new home and I'm sure she will have a lot of home improvement projects on the way to inspire us all.

The second:

Mariaelena of Cottage Living--from Beach to Burbs had a giveaway sponsored by Uncommon Linens. I won a pillow & two lavender sachets.

Aren't they wonderful?

Mariaelena has double the fun....a home & a beach cottage to decorate. She is always sharing fantastic transformations and awesome projects. She recently painted her kitchen cabinets and they are divine! If you'd like to see what she's up to at Cottage Living--From Beach to Burbs, see here.

Thank you Kelly, Mariaelena and Kristin too. You sure know how to make a girl happy!

Be Mine

2012-01-26T08:23:00.006-05:00

Valentine's Day is not a holiday (can it even be called a holiday?) that I go all out and decorate for.

I do have a few touches that I like to add here & there. My dining room hutch was the recipient of some of those touches.

I have had these bears for quite a few years now. I have often thought of getting rid of them but since I don't have much in the way of decor anyway, I just keep them. Well....that and the fact that there's a girl bear & a boy bear, which reminds me so much of my daughter & son, so it's kind of hard to part with them when I use that sentimentality.

Some Dollar Tree heart picks that I added to a white pitcher. The wooden hearts were one of my first Valentine's Day purchases as a newlywed a whole lotta years ago, made by a coworker's Mom.

Did you notice the little boxes next to my dish of fleece hearts? (Fleece hearts can be seen here.) Let's get a close up....

These sweet little boxes were made by my friend Melonie. She painted the cute owl and bird and decorated the boxes. Look what they have on the inside....

Cute or what? Mel has an Etsy shop, see here.

The wreath was inspired by my friend, Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage. This girl has been on a felt flower making frenzy! She provides excellent tutorials on how to make a whole garden full of felt flowers, so she's your go-to girl should the need arise.

Here's a better shot of the wreath...

And that, my friends, is my dining room hutch decked out for the day of love. As always, thanks for the visit. See you soon.

Joining:
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Valentine's Day Hearts

2012-01-22T17:46:00.009-05:00

I have been noticing pretty fabric hearts everywhere...on blogs, on Etsy, and of course, on Pinterest.

Once again, I, better known as the girl who can't sew, decided to throw all caution to the wind and make some fabric hearts.

--I used fleece because that's what I had on hand.
--I watched a couple of You Tube tutorials that taught me how to sew a whip stitch & blanket stitch by hand.
--With my own two hands, the girl who can't sew, came up with fleece hearts that I'm pretty happy with.

Wanna see them?

I sewed each little pearl & bugle bead on by hand. I may have gone cross-eyed in the process, but I did it. lol

Not necessarily perfect, but I love them anyway.

Have you made any fun crafts in honor of Valentine's Day?

Thanks for visiting me today. I do appreciate all of your visits & kind comments.

Linking to:
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Valentines Party at Cheap Crafty Mama
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes
Winter Blues Wednesday at DIY by Design
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show it Off Thursdays at The Ornament Place

Winter Snow Tablescape

2012-01-18T15:12:00.002-05:00

Considering the fact that we now have snow on the ground, I thought it would be nice to put together a Winter Snow tablescape. Come on in for a mug of hot cocoa and a cupcake.

Dessert plates & mugs from the Oneida Factory Outlet. Silverware from Christmas Tree Shop. Dinner plates (or chargers as I'm using them here) are my everyday Corelle dishes.

I love the colors in this plate.

Ivory and silver berry picks along with some glittery snowflake picks from The Dollar Tree make a pretty centerpiece.

I snatched the silver snowflake candleholders off of my Winter mantel.

Mmmm....cupcakes.

So come on and join me. It'll help take the chill off, I promise.

My daughter & I are going to the theater tonight (we're seeing Mamma Mia), so I'll link up later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Sharing with:

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

My Style Report

2012-01-16T15:12:00.003-05:00

I just have to give my 2 cents on the Golden Globes, as if my opinion matters. lol

I love, I mean really love, award shows. The little girl who played with "Fashion Plates" as a kid (remember those?), has never stopped loving fashion.

I have to say, this year, I wasn't wowed by a whole lot of gowns. Most celebs looked pretty, but few really stood out. Here are some of my favorites:

Jessica Alba

The ladies of The Help, Viola Davis

and Octavia Spencer

Pretty and age appropriate, Ariel Winter

Claire Dannes (although I did love this more from behind than front)

Charlize Theron

Emma Stone (at first I thought maybe a tad too old looking for her, but it's soooo gorgeous nonetheless)

So there you have it, my 2 cents worth. I can't wait to hear what they'll have to say on the Fashion Police tonight. They can be vicious, for sure, but I like to watch it anyway.

Ciao friends....

The Tale of the Tablecloth

2012-01-13T08:03:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, things just don't work out how I planned them.

You see, we have a round end table in our living room that belonged
to my in-laws.

It has taken a beating over the years. However, since the table was from Ethan Allen, I just couldn't bring myself to paint it. And truthfully, the table is sort of ugly anyway and paint might not have improved it that much.

Instead, I found a pretty burlap tablecloth on Etsy. Before Christmas, I decided to treat myself & order it. (I also sent my husband to the glass place to have a round glass made for the tabletop.)

It arrived late last week and upon opening the box, I got a little worried. It seemed alot bigger than I thought it would be. It was, in fact, a little too big. It was also, in fact, bulky with a capital B.

My husband scoffed at it and asked, "You like that ugly burlap thing?" I, of course, declared my love for all things burlap.

I think the bulkiness of the cloth along with the fact that our two couches pretty much blocked the whole table anyway, made this tablecloth business seem foolish. (This is the corner where the table usually sits.)

With my husband's comment echoing in my head, along with the price tag of the cloth & glass top on my mind, I was determined not to panic.

I decided to move the table into the other room. It fit perfectly and I feel like it really belonged in here all along.

Don't you agree?

So, you see, despite my long drawn out story....Sometimes things don't work out how I planned. Sometimes, they surprise me & work out even better.

Happy weekend!

Linking to: Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Winter Blues Wednesday at DIY by Design
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Paper Snowflake Tutorial

2012-01-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

When I posted my Winter mantel a few days ago, several of you requested a tutorial of how to make the paper snowflakes that I used in my banner. I'm no tutorial expert, but I'll give it a try.

Do you remember making paper snowflakes that looked like this when you were a kid? (From notebook paper no less!)

I remember seeing pretty snowflakes, ones that were round or star-shaped, but could never figure out how to make them. Remember we didn't have the internet back then!

Just before Christmas, one of my students gave me a snowflake that looked like the one above. Grateful though I was, it stirred up my old childhood wish to make pretty snowflakes.

Needless to say, I finally learned how to make them (some 30 years later) and once I got started, I couldn't stop!

Ok, tutorial time, get ready for lots of pictures. It's very dark here, so I apologize for the quality.

Step 1. You need to start out with a square piece of paper. I made all sizes, but this one is 8" x 8".

Step 2. Fold this square into a triangle.

Step 3. Fold the triangle over again into another smaller triangle.

Step 4. Make sure the point of the triangle faces down, like so.

Things might get a little tricky for the next few steps, but hopefully the pictures will help you.

Step 5. Take one side of the triangle and fold it over one-third of the way.

Step 6. Take the other side of the triangle and fold it over again.

Step 7. Turn the piece over to the back side and cut off the pointed ends.

Step 8. Now take your shape and just start cutting rounded shapes, triangles, deep V's, whatever you like. Just be careful not to cut away all the edges.

This is what mine looked like when I was done cutting.

Step 9. Gently open your shape and see your pretty snowflake creation! This is the fun part because you never know what you're going to get.

You can make all different sizes and styles just by altering all the little cuts you make. Like they say, no two snowflakes are alike.

Have fun and see you soon!

Winter Mantel 2012

2012-01-08T18:07:00.007-05:00

Our weather has been absolutely all over the place lately.

Last Monday, we had a few inches of snow.
By Tuesday night, we had temps in the negative numbers.
Wednesday, showed us a high of 5 degrees.
Saturday, we had a high of 47 degrees. 47 degrees. In January. In Central New York.

This Winter is becoming one of the craziest ever!

All that weather talk aside, it is indeed Winter and time for me to share my Winter mantel with you.

I tried to keep it fairly simple, although simple is not always best for this large mantel.

I was so excited to have recently learned how to make paper snowflakes that weren't rectangular in shape, I had to play around and make that banner.

No matter what the weather, I hope you have a warm (& cozy) day!

Linking to:
A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Homemaker on a Dime for Creative Bloggers Party & Hop
DIY by Design for Winter Blues Wednesday
Potentially Beautiful for Winter Mantel Party
52 Mantels for Thursdays are YOUR Days

Lightening Up

2012-01-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

As a child, my Mom always left our Christmas decorations up until Little Christmas. Little Christmas is what we called it, but I have seen many of you refer to it as Three Kings Day. It is also known as The Epiphany. It takes place on January 6 and celebrates the visit of the Three Kings to Baby Jesus.

As an adult, I hesitate to say, I have never left my decorations up until Little Christmas. I just prefer to have everything packed safely away while I've got the extra time off between Christmas and New Year's.

As much as I love having my home decorated for the holidays, something about lightening things up afterwards is really appealing to me.

Lightening up makes me happy!

I hope this first week of the New Year is a wonderful one for each of you. Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:

Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Let's start the New Year right

2011-12-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite holiday movies is Holiday Inn. Bing Crosby sings this song to Marjorie Reynolds and I wanted to share it with you.

The lyrics are:

One minute to midnight
One minute to go
One minute to say good-bye
Before we say hello

Let's start the new year right
Twelve o'clock tonight
When they dim the light
Let's begin

Kissing the old year out
Kissing the new year in

Let's watch the old year die
With a fond good-bye
And our hopes as high
As a kite

How can our love go wrong if
We start the new year right

I could not get the video from You Tube to embed, but if you have 50 seconds to spare, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUqFYPkZg2g&feature=related

Wishing you good health and much happiness

in the New Year!

Happy 2012!

The BIG Post of 2011

2011-12-29T07:54:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, I recapped some of my posts/projects from the past year.

I spoke of my BIG post of 2011.

Can I just say that I am surprised,
                                            shocked,
                                                amazed,
                                                     flabbergasted,
                                                               perplexed?....well, I think you get the idea.

Back in August, I got the idea to cover a lamp shade. An ordinary, old lamp shade that I had sitting in the basement.

With a few yards of trim from Joann Fabric and a glue gun, I created a pretty lamp shade that I was very happy with. I accented it with some little fabric flowers that I had made and that was that.

When I posted about it, I didn't go into great detail about how I made this lamp shade. There was no fancy tutorial. Afterall, I'm no crafting goddess and honestly, it was ruffled trim and hot glue, nothing more.

This post received, to date, 22 comments. The reason it is called my BIG post of 2011 is because according to my stats, at present time, this post has received some 15,701 page views!

Can you believe it? I can't. I nearly fell off my chair they day I discovered it had 3,000 views. I could never have imagined over 15,000 views!

Now this may be the norm for some of you girls, but for me and my little blog, it's a huge surprise. As the post continues to grow, I can't help but giggle and think..seriously? What exactly has made this so popular?

I haven't the faintest idea! That being said, I am thrilled and flattered beyond belief.

So that, my friends, is my BIG post of 2011.

I would like to take the time to say that I am grateful for each & every one of you who follow/read my blog. Thank you for sticking with me. You have no idea how much I treasure each of you!

Here's to a spectacular 2012!

Looking back at 2011

2011-12-27T08:25:00.003-05:00

So here we are, at the end of 2011. Was it me or did this year just fly by?

I'd like to take a look back at some of my posts/projects from this past year. I should name 2011 as "The Year of the Project" as I did more than ever before. Ready for picture overload?

(Clicking on the links will take you to the original post.)

In January, I made this wreath for Valentine's Day.

In March, I was pretty proud of my Spring mantel because I made my own Pottery Barn copycat sign.

In June, we had a complete remodel to our bathroom. I love our new cottage bathroom.

In July, the projects were plentiful, but I'll just mention a few. I made a subway sign for my daughter's room. I painted an ugly, old desk with chalk paint and I added shelf edging to my kitchen cabinets for some cottage charm.

In October, my Aunt Gen recovered my dining bench and I threw a Yankee baseball birthday party for my son.

Recipes and tablescapes were scattered throughout the year...Snap, Crackle & Pop, Monkeying Around, and Homespun Christmas were a few of my favorite tablescapes this year.

Looking back, I have to say, it was a great year and a productive year! There is one post however, just one, that I haven't mentioned. I'm going to give it a separate post because I'm just silly like that. It's my biggest one of the 2011, so stay tuned.

I hope you are enjoying this last week of 2011 and as always, I thank you for your visit.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T08:16:00.000-05:00

With my to-do list ever growing (tons of cooking on the horizon), this will most likely be my last post before Christmas, so with that....

I would like to wish each and every one of you,
my sweet blogging friends,

a very Merry Christmas!

I hope your holidays are filled with lots of laughter

and lots of love.

May the magic and joy of Christmas fill your hearts

every day of the year!

Much love to you,

My Favorite Christmas Room Decor

2011-12-19T18:18:00.006-05:00

This little room that sits next to my dining room is a favorite of mine. I never know what to call it though...sitting room, dining room, living room...what is it exactly?

I always love to decorate for Christmas in this room. I think it's the soft colors that I enjoy. It's restful after having so many traditional reds and greens in the rest of the house.

Let's take a look, shall we?

To the left, on my vintage blue dresser, is my mercury glass collection. I know I've already shared this with you, but I wanted to include it again since it's part of this room.

To the right, are my white wire shelves. I added some bottle brush trees, ornaments, a glittery bird and of course, more mercury glass.

I fell in love with these ornaments, from Hobby Lobby.

On my end table, I have this sweet Christmas cottage. I paired it with a bottle brush tree.

And finally, we have my coffee table vignette.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my favorite little room decked out for Christmas.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you are stress-free this week as we wait for the big day to arrive.

Linking this to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-16T07:38:00.001-05:00

Back in October, I won a giveaway of 25 cards from Shutterfly on Debby's blog, Cozy Blanket.

Tyring to get a jump start, I promptly took photos of my kids and ordered my cards.

I have to say, I am really pleased with how they turned out.

I wanted to thank Debby for hosting the giveaway and Shutterfly for providing me with such wonderful quality cards.

Happy Holidays!

Homespun Christmas Tablescape

2011-12-14T23:04:00.005-05:00

One day, I received a coupon in the mail from Coldwater Creek. It was a coupon for $25.00 off any purchase. Always looking for something new for the wardrobe, I happily went to Coldwater Creek for a little retail therapy.

It was just one of those days. I liked lots of clothes, I tried lots of them on, and I hated all of them. As I was getting ready to admit defeat, I turned around & saw....dishes. Yes, I said, dishes! There were these adorable Christmas plates wrapped up with a bright red bow. Well, it didn't take me but 5 seconds to realize that I should buy them. They were a set of 4 for $29.95 and with my coupon, I got them for $4.95.

My husband is still trying to figure out how I went to a clothing store & managed to come out with dishes! LOL

Getting to the point of this post, here they are in my homespun Christmas tablescape.....

I love the irregular round shape of these plates.

Tablecloth, several years ago, Target
Green dinner plates, Oneida Outlet
Red salad plates, 15+ years ago, Pier 1
Green bubble goblets, several years ago, Target
Ornament place card holders, last year, Michaels

Napkins, last year, Joanns
Green flatware by Cambridge, Home Goods
Gingham flatware, many years ago, Spiegel

After Christmas last year, I found this red gingham star tree topper at Hobby Lobby. I couldn't resist the gingham & bought it for a few dollars. I had no idea what to do with it, until now. I added a silver star from Target, a Dollar Tree candle, some greenery & fake snow to a tin basket for this centerpiece.

Couldn't resist one more picture with the sun shining!

Can't believe Christmas is almost here!

Linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

A New Space to Decorate for Christmas this year

2011-12-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

One of my happiest home improvement moments of 2011, had to be our new cottage bathroom. If you haven't seen it and would like to, click here.

Now that I finally have an updated space, I couldn't resist adding a little bit of Christmas to it.

As the clock ticks speedily towards Christmas, I hope that you are enjoying all the goodness that the season has to offer. See you soon!

Christmas in my Kitchen

2011-12-10T11:31:00.001-05:00

Blogland has been buzzing with all the wonderful parties going on. I've been trying to keep up with it all, joining in and also visiting everyone, but let me tell you, it's been hard! My son has been sick all week long, so that hasn't helped matters either, I guess.

I'm sharing Christmas in my kitchen today. I don't decorate a whole lot in the kitchen because my kitchen is kinda small and also because there's a whole lot of cooking & baking that goes on in here.

I added a small tree, my baker's tree, if you will.

There are cute ornaments on this tree, like this pastry stand of goodies.

My nephew bought me these glass snowmen bakers (set of 3) from Williams Sonoma last Christmas.

What baker's tree would be complete without a red stand mixer?

I added a few Christmas pieces to my glass door cabinets, a gingerbread house & a couple of snowmen. The red & white polka dotted trim that I added this summer, see here, is still going strong!

This little gingerbread girl sits on the countertop.

On my kitchen table, I have this Santa Claus centerpiece that I've had for ages. (I think it's starting to look that way too!)

I hope you have enjoyed Christmas in my kitchen. Watch out though...flour will be flying around here real soon!

Linking to:

Click on picture to take you there!

Christmas Sentiments Tablescape

2011-12-07T17:23:00.002-05:00

Amidst all the chaos of the season, I just had to put together a Christmas inspired tablescape, because what's a little more chaos on top of everything else?

Votive candleholders were purchased years ago at Target. Goblets were a new find at a local consignment shop, 4 for $8.00, I snatched them up quickly!

I'm calling this the Christmas Sentiments tablescape as that is what my salad plates are named. They are by Casa Moda and each has a different sentiment.

Merry Christmas...

Wish...

Joy...

Peace...

I love these dishes. Blue dinner plates from the grocery store, red chargers & napkin rings from Michaels. Napkins from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Flatware from Christmas Tree Shoppe.

For my centerpiece, a red pillar candle paired with an old candle ring from Michaels sit atop a milk glass compote. Simple, yet festive.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me today.

I'm linking this to:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Tip Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

2011 Christmas Mantel, Snow Fun

2011-12-06T07:24:00.001-05:00

I had so many ideas for my mantel this year, I had a hard time deciding what to do.

I had planned to use a painting done by a friend of my Mom, a painting of a vintage Santa Claus. I had purchased blue beads, a large bow, and wooden letters to spell "believe". I was all set.

That is until Thanksgiving evening.

As I was readying the house for decorating the next day, my husband said, "You know, that picture of that guy creeps me out."

That guy??? He's a vintage Santa Claus!

Friday morning, I got up to decorate having no idea what I was going to do with the mantel. I wouldn't want to hang "that creepy guy" and scar everyone for life!

Having no intentions of braving the crowds for something new on Black Friday, I decided to use what I already had on hand for my mantel.

Snowmen!

I have amassed quite a collection over the years, although I don't always display them. This year, they got the royal treatment up on the mantel.

A few close ups...

I thought it only fitting to craft a ~~snowball~~ pom pom garland.

So there it is, my Snow Fun mantel!

Linking to:

My Uncommom Slice of Suburbia for the Christmas Blogger Block Party

I can't wait to see all the fabulous mantels that will be shared...I hope you join in on the fun!

The Christmas Copycat

2011-12-04T10:06:00.001-05:00

As I'm sure many of you know by now, Debbie of Debbiedoos is kicking off the Christmas Blogger Block Party with a magazine copycat challenge.

I decided to copy this photo from Better Homes & Gardens' book, Celebrate the Season 2010.

My copycat...

It's always alot of fun to try my hand at Debbie's copycat challenges. Pop on over to Debbiedoo's to join in on the party and thanks for stopping by today.

The Christmas Crafting Bug

2011-11-30T08:15:00.002-05:00

I don't know what it is this year, but I've been bitten by the Christmas Crafting Bug. My mind is just loaded with ideas and there's not enough time to make them all.

I did, however, get one such craft project completed. It was quick & easy.
I needed a new wreath for my back door.

Enter an old wreath, some Deco Mesh & a snowman.

Not having any real clue what I was doing, I managed to come up with this.

So tell me, has the Christmas Crafting Bug bitten you this year? If so, what are you working on right now?

I hope to have other projects to share with you soon and more Christmas decor as well. It's been gloomy here, so I'm waiting for a bright day to take more photos. (It's also been unusually warm...59 degrees yesterday! I don't like it. I want cold & snow!)

Happy Wednesday!

Linking to:

Tiptoe Thru Tuesdays at Crayon Freckles

The sparkle of mercury glass

2011-11-27T20:57:00.003-05:00

Several years ago, I fell in love with the look of mercury glass. I love to decorate with it all year round, but at Christmastime, it's especially fun.

I spent the whole of Friday decorating for Christmas and decided to group all my mercury glass together.

There's just something about it grouped and sitting atop my blue vintage dresser.

Here's an interesting story. Both of my sisters were helping me decorate on Friday. As we gathered my mercury glass, we found I was lacking one piece to make it look complete.

No problem, we thought. We'll all go shopping and find something to add to this.

About an hour later, the mail came. With the mail, was a package from Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage. I had won her giveaway.

What did I win?

Well, a very sweet angel made of mercury glass! Can you believe it? Not only was Shannon's giveaway perfect, but apparently she has perfect timing as well!

Pretty cute, huh?

Do you think maybe I should raise her up a little?

Anyway, can I just say if you haven't checked out Shannon's blog, Fox Hollow Cottage yet, you won't be disappointed when you do. Shannon decorates beautifully and she has a lively personality you'll enjoy.

OK, I'll be back to share more of my Christmas decor with you soon.

Linking to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

A Day of Thanks

2011-11-22T20:55:00.000-05:00

This gives new meaning to the words "turkey dressing," doesn't it? LOL

I have been so crazy busy getting things ready for Thanksgiving Day. I'm sure many of you are experiencing this same whirlwind of craziness. There's just so much to do.

I thought I would take this time to wish all of you a very happy & very blessed Thanksgiving Day! I have so much in my life to be thankful for. You, my sweet friends, manage to make me smile each & every day and for that, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts

2011-11-17T15:51:00.002-05:00

I've had this recipe for quite a few years & decided it was finally time to give them a try.

What can I say? They are yummy, simple to make, and a perfect Fall or Thanksgiving treat.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts

2/3 cup (about 15) crushed gingersnap cookies
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1 cup 100% pure pumpkin
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons sour cream, optional (I did not use)
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Paper-line 12 muffin cups.

Combine cookie crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Press scant tablespoon onto bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Bake for 5 minutes.

Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract in a small mixer bowl until blended. Add eggs; beat well. Pour (or spoon) into muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (25 was perfect for me). Cool in pan on wire rack. Remove tarts from pan; refrigerate. (After refrigeration, I removed paper liners.) Garnish each with a little sour cream if you wish.

Place chocolate chips in a small, heavy duty plastic bag. Microwave on high power for 20 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag, squeeze to drizzle over tarts.

Makes 12 servings.

I hope you enjoy!

Linking to:

Potpourri Party #12 at 2805
Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

A Touch of Thanksgiving

2011-11-15T07:45:00.004-05:00

I don't have alot of Thanksgiving decorations, but I thought I would share with you what I do have.

This is my dining room hutch. The topiaries are from Michael's & I've had them for many years. The pilgrims were a TJ Maxx purchase last year. I made the subway art last summer, here.

I filled some of my apothecary jars with Fall related goodies.

I liked the centerpiece that I used for my Turkey Tablescape so much, here, that I decided to use it as my everyday centerpiece.

I had to include this picture. This is one of the shelves of my entertainment center. For every holiday, I try to work my kids' old books into the decor (on the shelves, in a basket, in a bucket, etc.) See that book that says "I can read!" Yeah, doesn't matter that they're 13 & 10 years old now, they still get excited every time I take out their old holiday books. I guess it's become a fun tradition that I never planned.

I'm linking this to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Home Sweet Home #41 at The Charm of Home

Breaking Dawn

2011-11-13T11:31:00.001-05:00

In honor of the release of the movie, Breaking Dawn this coming Friday, I thought I would share with you the Twilight Party I had for my daughter back in 2009 when the first movie (Twilight) was released.

Olivia & her friends were/are huge Twilight fans, so I tried my best to impress them. At the time, there really wasn't alot of merchandise out there, so I had to get creative.

The table all set in the red, white & black theme (OMG, I'm glad those green walls are gone, I hated them!)

Anyone care for an Edward bar?

The part that really surprised my daughter...I made all these signs and hung them all over the house, including the bathroom. You should have heard the girls squeal with delight when they found a sign.

A Twilight vignette complete with a life sized Edward Cullen. Every party needs a life sized Edward! Just saying. A life sized Jacob Black wouldn't be too shabby either. ;D

The cake was really difficult because I had to make it myself. The baking wasn't the problem, it was the decorating. I managed to find that sugar image online, but I had a terrible time adhering it to the cake. I'll never attempt this again. The girls didn't mind though, just so long as they got a piece with their favorite character on it!

Only the Twihards drink "The Nectar of the Volturi" aka Hawaiian Punch. Oh boy, did the girls get a kick out of that!

The girls insisted that no Twilight party would be complete without a little vampire baseball!

So there you have it...Olivia's birthday party 2009 done Twilight-style! Just looking at these pictures makes me smile & wish I was giving the party again. I've got so many more ideas I would like to use.

Thanksgiving Turkey Tablescape

2011-11-09T17:23:00.002-05:00

Every year, we host Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Dinner is usually for 13 people. I always want to do so much with the table, but sometimes having enough of everything for 13 people poses a problem for me.

It is not a problem, however, to tablescape for my family of 4.

I started by using my matelasse as a tablecloth. Glasses from Christmas Tree. Green wine glasses ~~stolen~~ borrowed from my mother. Bronze chargers & pearl handled flatware from Target. Green flatware from Home Goods.

I bought these turkey plates at TJ Maxx a few years ago. At the time, I purchased all they had in the store, which was 12. I needed 13, but I bought them anyway. Luckily, the following year they had the plates again and I was able to buy another box. Now I have 16 altogether.

Green dinner plates are Better Homes & Gardens from Walmart. I have at least 16 of these in various colors (green, orange, eggplant). Napkins from Tuesday Morning. Wicker placemats from Pier 1.

The turkey is from Joann's a few years ago. The tray was a Southern Living Home purchase. I had the pinecone candle holders for quite a few years & I think they came from Coldwater Creek of all places.

I hope you enjoyed my Thanksgiving tablescape for 4. Now if I could only figure out how to set the table for 13 on Thanksgiving, I'd be all set.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me today.

I'm linking this to:

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Dreaming of Snow, Pinterest Style

2011-11-06T19:43:00.000-05:00

I know there has got to be something wrong with me.

I'm dreaming of snow. Beautiful, fluffy, white snow.

Since we haven't received one single snowflake here as of yet, I decided to get my fill via Pinterest.

Source: flickr.com via Lynette on Pinterest

Source: tribes.tribe.net via Alessandra on Pinterest

Source: papernstitchblog.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Sharon on Pinterest

Source: blueeyedyonder.blogspot.com via Gina on Pinterest

*Sigh* Snow can be so perfectly dreamy.

(In April, when it's still snowing here and I start incessantly complaining about the neverending snow, and you show me pictures of your beautiful Spring blooms, feel free to go right ahead and remind me of this post, ok?)

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

2011-11-01T08:27:00.001-04:00

I have to admit, some time last week I started wishing for Thanksgiving. I really couldn't wait to have Halloween over & done with.

Now that it is officially November 1st, (and yes, I have already packed away my Halloween decor) I can turn all my attention to thoughts of Thanksgiving, ~~that is until Christmas begins to creep up on me!~~

So I've been scouring the internet for pretty Thanksgiving ideas and thought I'd share some of them with you.

I love this centerpiece...a pedestal dish of pears flanked by roses.

My Home Ideas

The colors of this tablescape are so vibrant, I love them.

Country Living

I love this vignette and wish I had a large vintage scoop so I could copy it.

Better Homes & Gardens

Another pretty table.

Better Homes & Gardens

White is always pleasing.

Better Homes & Gardens

Now that the cobwebs have been swept away & the ghouls retired for another year, are you having thoughts of Thanksgiving?

Watch Out for the Halloween Copycat!

2011-10-30T19:27:00.001-04:00

It's that time again.

What time you ask?

Time for a magazine copycat challenge with Debbie of Debbiedoos!

I took my copycat from the Grand Dame herself, Miss Martha Stewart.

I had to laugh because I could have sworn this was last year's magazine, but I was sadly mistaken. Very sadly mistaken.

Would you believe it was Holiday Halloween 2007?

Have I really had it that long?

Have the last 4 years passed so quickly that I thought that only 1 year had passed?

Is it really that big of a blur?

What's wrong with me?

Ok. Ok. Sorry. I'll get back on track.

The inspiration ala Martha:

The copy ala Me:

Now I've said before I'm not exactly talented at this copycat thing, but it is fun nevertheless.

These are oranges, hollowed out. I then took an Xacto knife & carved faces. I filled the oranges with vanilla ice cream, added a curly q of green wire to the top & there you have it...a fun little ice cream jack-o-lantern!

Ok, run on over to Debbie's now to join in on the copycat fun! Ok?

Happy Halloween!!

When Your Mom Loves the 80s

2011-10-29T22:20:00.001-04:00

When your Mom loves the 80s, she makes you listen to 80s music.

She regales you with stories of the fun she had in the 80s.

She astonishes you with her knowledge of 80s trivia, 80s movies, 80s history and of course, 80s fashion.

She has talked to you about everything from Cyndi Lauper to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, from the Miracle on Ice to BandAid.

You have heard it all.

Now if you are any normal teenager, you might just roll your eyes. You might want to scream when your Mom brings up random tidbits from this decade.

But then there are teenagers who, unbeknownst to their Mom, become taken in by the 80s,swept away if you will.

Teenagers who see something like this on Pinterest, and squeal with delight:

Source: 9gag.com via Gina on Pinterest

As that 80s loving mother, you are amazed when your teenager tells her friends that she would rather not see the new Footloose movie because, "Why would anyone think they could replace Kevin Bacon?"

As that 80s loving mother, you think, "Oh mercy, what have I done?"

I didn't see it coming. I'm surely not stuck in a time warp. I've changed with the times, I just have a fondness for the 80s, that's all.

When that teenager tells you she wants to dress up as Madonna for the Halloween dance at school, you have to embrace it, right? After all, are you not the one who instilled this love of all things 80s in her?

So tell me, how did I do?

Ok, I did give her Madonna's mole. It was a necessary detail. That earring in her left ear? Yeah, it's authentic...mine, circa 1985.

(Look at that smile....she just got her braces off last week.)

Now oddly enough, I didn't keep my rubber bracelets. Luckily, I was able to find some online, 48 of them to be exact!

I made her strike this pose ala Madonna from her Lucky Star video.

(On a side note: I had to laugh because she was worried about being inappropriate by wearing the rosary beads. I had to remind her that she is not Olivia, she is Madonna. LOL)

She tells me this was her most favorite costume ever. It's probably best I don't comment on that!

Linking up at:

The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up

A Halloween Tablescape

2011-10-26T15:43:00.010-04:00

With October 31st quickly approaching, I couldn't miss the opportunity to set a fun Halloween table.

I apologize for the wrinkled tablecloth. It's a glossy plastic on the other side & I couldn't iron it with high heat for fear it'd melt!

Let's see, the pumpkin bowls are from Christmas Tree Shop. Black Flatware from Target.

My Debbie Mumm Halloween plates. I love these plates. I've had them for at least 10 years, well before I ever heard the word "tablescape." Orange dinner plates were a Dollar Tree find this past summer.

The Frankenstein plate is my favorite one in the set.

Green mercury glass pumpkin from Tuesday morning. I used some of my kids' Goosebumps DVDs to add a little height to the candle.

Green bubble goblets from Target.

I'm linking this to:

The mother of all Tablescape parties...Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.
Open House Thursdays at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Falling for Crafts at One Artsy Mama

I'm sure that Halloween happiness will be in abundance at each party, so go check it out!

And as always, I appreciate each & every one of you & your sweet comments.

NY Yankees Baseball Party

2011-10-24T08:12:00.005-04:00

My son turned 10 a few weeks ago and decided he wanted to have a Yankee baseball party.

Always one for a party, I started brainstorming ways to make his party fun & creative.

I ordered these amazing invitations from Fun Invites on Etsy. I received so many calls about these invitations...the guests were fascinated by them.

For security reasons, I smudged out our address.

I hung a "clothesline" of baseball cards.

Here is the tablescape I came up with:

Oh how I wish you could have seen my husband's face when I told him I wanted that green indoor/outdoor carpeting stuff. I know he was thinking, "Oh no, she's lost her mind!" When he found out it was going to be my tablecover, I knew he secretly loved the idea.

We had Grandy's Slam Peanuts and Jeter's Jacks. Of course, we had to have Baby Ruth bars. (Although I do know they were not actually named for The Babe.)

Gardner's Seeds.

What Yankee party would be complete without Mo's Closer Punch #602?

It was hard to come up with an idea for decorating a basic bundt cake. Scrapbook supplies to the rescue!

C.C. Sabathia's Cupcakes.

Here is the table with all the food including Posada's Pizza, Swishalicious Chips & Dipalicious, Teixeira's Tenders and Cano's Corn.

Honestly, my son just stood in front of the table and stared. He was speechless. My daughter said I should be an event planner. The guests (98% Yankee fans...there's always 1 or 2 Red Sox fans lurking about) adored it, so I think I pulled it off.

It was a celebration fit for any Yankee fan. Now if they could have only won the ALDS and made it into the World Series, our celebration would have been even happier!

Linking to:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Mummy Dogs

2011-10-21T08:05:00.003-04:00

I'm a recipe junkie. Not only do I have tons of cookbooks, but I also have a folder full of recipes that I've pulled from various magazines over the years.

This is a recipe that's been in my folder for quite a few years. I finally decided to give it a try. So for fun on Halloween last year, I made Mummy Dogs for dinner.

They may not have turned out perfectly, but my kids didn't seem to mind. They got a kick out of them.

(If you want to try your hand at these, the one of the far left is the one to aspire to.)

Mummy Dogs

Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
Hot dogs
Mustard/Ketchup

For each Mummy Dog, cut one dinner roll in half. Roll each half into a 22-24 inch rope. Wrap one rope around hot dog from bottom up 4 and 1/2 inches. Cut a 1 and 1/2 inch piece off of the second rope and set aside.

Then wrap the second rope around the hot dog from the bottom up 4 and 1/2 inches going the opposite way. Wrap the 1 and 1/2 inch piece around the top of the hot dog.

Place Mummy Dogs on a sprayed baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, cool slightly and add mustard eyes. Serve warm with mustard/ketchup.

I hope you enjoy!

A very happy weekend to all.

And the UPrinting Winner is...

2011-10-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

I apologize for keeping you all waiting.

The winner is.................

Congratulations Debby and thank you, everyone, for entering this awesome giveaway.

UPrinting Giveaway Last Call

2011-10-20T08:11:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder.

There is still time to enter my UPrinting giveaway.

Please click here for details and to enter.

I will be drawing a winner later today.

The Revival of the Bench

2011-10-18T07:21:00.006-04:00

I've always got a long story to tell, so please bear with me a bit.

My in-laws have always had beautiful furniture. My mother-in-law (whom I miss dearly) would very seldom ever buy anything she saw in a showroom. Her furniture pieces were mostly custom made.

When my husband & I were first married, we bought his childhood home from his Mom & Dad. They were building a new home & they left us some of the furniture that they weren't going to use.

We inherited their old kitchen table, chairs & bench, which were custom made & so darn heavy. Granted, this was not my style at all, so we bought a new set immediately. For some unknown reason, we still kept the old set in the basement. For big parties & holidays, we would bring up the extra chairs & the bench for additional seating. Having the extra set in the basement proved to come in handy.

This summer, I had an epiphany. What if I used the old bench with my current dining room set? (This set is not the one I purchased as a newlywed.)

Hey, not too bad. She certainly goes with my table.

Ok, but she is slightly beat up.

(Excuse that photo, I must have been doing jumping jacks while taking it.)

Hey, I know! What if I covered her with a slipcover?

Oh yeah, I don't sew. :(

But my Aunt does & maybe, just maybe, she'll make a slipcover for me!

Oh Aunt Genevieve, you are the best!! I was absolutely awe struck when I saw it. It turned out much prettier than I even imagined.

I armed her with fabric & a general photo of what I wanted it to look like...nothing more. I guess I don't have to tell you that her version is one million times better than the one I showed her in the photo. She's a perfectionist.

Now, if I could only train my family NOT to sit on the bench for fear of them ruining it. : D

Have a great day my friends and please don't forget to enter my UPrinting giveaway....see here!

Linking to:

Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence
Home Sweet Home Friday at The Charm of Home

UPrinting Giveaway

2011-10-16T10:22:00.003-04:00

Time for another giveaway!

My question today is:

If you were given a supply of postcards, what would you use them for?

Do you have a business or an Etsy shop you'd like to promote?

How about something more personal, like using them for the fast-approaching holiday season?

However you might decide to use them, UPrinting can meet your needs!

UPrinting offers online printing at it's very best. Today, they are generously offering:

100 Postcards for One (1) Winner
5" x 7"
14pt Cardstock Gloss
No Folding
Front Only Printing
2 Business Days Print Turnaround Time *Free Shipping
Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only

Sounds pretty sweet, huh?

And...
"Did you know that UPrinting.com uses vegetable and soy-based inks with lower levels of VOCs than traditional petroleum-based inks to reduce harmful carbon emissions? This helps protect both the environment and our employees!"

Now let's get onto the rules:

Leave me a comment on this post for one entry.
Let me know if you are a follower/become a new follower and I'll give you a second entry.

I'll draw a winner on October 20th.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a postcard for hosting. All details must be received by October 31, 2011 to qualify. Winners are allowed to win only once in a six month period.

Ramsign Winner

2011-10-15T14:40:00.004-04:00

It's time to draw our Ramsign Winner!

My trusty assistant....(boy she's gonna hate this picture, but I think it's cute)

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style...today is your lucky day! Hurray!

Kim, I just need an email address & Ramsign will be in touch with you.

It's a cold & rainy Saturday here in NY. I'll be settling in with a cup of tea & this, which just arrived:

I love Matthew Mead's book-azines so I can't wait to enjoy this one!

Later tonight, my daughter somehow (and I'm not sure how) talked me into taking her to see this:

This'll be a birthday evening for me to remember. LOL

I hope you are all having a perfect Saturday.

Touche' Pottery Barn

2011-10-14T08:01:00.001-04:00

Pottery Barn...that mecca of home decor. We all love it. We are all inspired by it. We are all prone to copy their ideas, putting our own spin on them.

Would you agree?

Several weeks ago, I got to thinking about my Christmas mantel. Hmmm...what can I do this year? So being the ~~dork~~ organized person that I am, I started sketching ideas so I won't be the "deer caught in the headlights" clamoring to come up with an idea for the mantel at the last minute.

I had a cool idea...involving a tree branch & some letters. (I won't share my sketch with you for fear that Carmelina from Creative Carmelina read this post. She's an amazing artist.)

I even prepared my husband, asking if he thought we could hang a tree branch from the ceiling over the mantel. (His reaction? Priceless.)

Anyway, yesterday I received my Pottery Barn catalog in the mail. It's a happy mail day when their catalog arrives.

And there right on page 91 was 90% of my idea!!

How did this happen?
Was Pottery Barn looking at my sketches?
Were they in my head?
Snooping around in my house?
Pottery Barn copied me for once?????

This is an outrage I thought! How dare they!

For all the times I copied them, most recently here in the Spring, I guess it's time to say,

" Touche' Pottery Barn, you got me!"

(Disclaimer: This is meant to be a fun post. I am not that demented that I think Pottery Barn actually copied my ideas. All in good humor.)

Have a most wonderful weekend friends!

Don't forgot to enter my Ramsign giveaway! I'll be drawing a winner sometime tomorrow.

Fall Leaves Tablescape

2011-10-12T17:02:00.005-04:00

I would like to share a Fall tablescape with you today, but first some words to set the tone...

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

~George Cooper, "October's Party"

This table was done quite inexpensively, I hope you enjoy it.

Green & brown napkins both from Pier 1, found on clearance, I believe just over a dollar each. Napkin rings from Kohl's and I want to say they were 38 cents each.

Dinner plates from Dollar Tree. Flatware is Gibson from Christmas Tree Shop. Now I'm not sure the price exactly, but I believe it was less than $10.

Leaf plates from Christmas Tree Shop. They came in 4 different colors.

Glassware from Dollar Tree.

Wicker candle holder is something I bought in the summer of 2010 while on vacation. Leaves from Hobby Lobby. Little leaf dishes from Target, again on clearance, a few years back.

I will be linking this up at:

Savvy Seasons by Liz for the Autumn Arrives Party

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Thank you for stopping by today and for always leaving kind words. I really appreciate all the friendships I have made through blogging.

Just a reminder:

If you haven't entered my Ramsign giveaway, please click on the picture in my sidebar or click here to enter. I'll be drawing a winner on Saturday!

Halloween Favorites

2011-10-10T19:13:00.002-04:00

Every year, I can't wait to take out my absolute favorite Halloween decorations.

My vintage looking Dee Foust pumpkin heads have stolen my heart!

I'll be linking this up to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Fall into Fall at DIY by Design

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me. I really appreciate it.

PS-Please click here if you would like to enter my giveaway.

Ramsign Giveaway

2011-10-09T18:01:00.000-04:00

I have seen Ramsign products all over blogland and I've always loved them.

Imagine my surprise when they contacted me to have a giveaway, right here on my humble little blog!

Ramsign is a Denmark-based company that manufactures classic enamel signs.

Ramsign is offering a free house number sign from 1 digit and up to 5 digits to one of my lucky readers! There are 5 different styles to choose from.

"Only Ramsign offers real old fashioned, hand stencilled signs, featuring original design, thick and glossy enamel, 30-year warranty, excellent service, free delivery, and money back guarantee."

How could you go wrong with that?

Please go to http://www.ramsign.com/ to take a look at all this company offers. They even have an impressive photo gallery that you might enjoy.

I was thinking...who says you have to use the sign outdoors? With all the creativity floating around, I'm sure one of you ladies could come up with an ingenious idea of how to use one of their signs in a different way, should you choose. I bet that'd rock all of blogland!

What I think is really great too is that Ramsign ships worldwide, so this giveaway is open to everyone!

Now, let's talk a few rules:

1. For one entry, please leave me a comment on this post.
2. For a second entry, please leave me a separate comment if you are a follower.
3. For a third entry, please post about this giveaway on your blog. Just be sure to let me know you did (in case I miss it).

(Oh & please leave me an email address if you don't have a blog so that I can contact you should you be a winner.)

How about if I draw a winner on October 15, which happens to be my birthday? That way I'll spread a little love on my day. Sound good?

Good luck!!

Double Digits

2011-10-08T21:57:00.000-04:00

Today, my son turned double digits...he's the big 1-0 now.

We had a bowling party for him with his school friends this afternoon and a family party this evening.

It was a terrific day but right now, I am partied out.

Is my little angel really 10 years old already?
Happy Birthday to our sweet, tender-hearted comedian....we love you!

Have a nice evening friends and I'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway!

Apple Cake

2011-10-06T08:01:00.001-04:00

The baker in me loves this time of year. Desserts made with apples or pumpkin are the epitome of Fall goodness.

Today, I would like to share an apple cake with you. I got this recipe from Taste of Home.

Adams County Apple Bundt

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups plus 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/3 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 medium tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Confectioners' sugar, optional

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, 2 cups sugar, oil, eggs, orange juice, salt and vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined. In another bowl, toss apples with cinnamon and remaining sugar.
Spread a third of the batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan. Cover with half the apples. Repeat layers. Spoon remaining batter over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Just before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Yield: 12-16 servings.

Hope you enjoy!

October in New York

2011-10-03T22:19:00.000-04:00

If I had to pick a favorite season, it's no mystery that I'd pick Autumn. If I had to pick a favorite month, I would pick October.

October in New York is beautiful.

This photo was taken several years ago. We aren't at our fall foliage peak yet.

Today I got an email from Anthropologie that said....

Welcome to the finest month.

A month of cooled winds,

warmed hearths

and leaves underfoot.

What can I say? Perfectly said.

Please Help Me Solve a Math Problem

2011-10-01T09:23:00.006-04:00

I really shouldn't be on this computer.

You see, I've got a mess in my house right now. Things are everywhere. I made the mistake of taking the Halloween decorations out & I'm overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed to the point that my daughter has a soccer game this morning & I'm not there watching it because my house is a wreck (and I never miss a game).

My big Math problem today is this:

When you decorate for Halloween, do you add Halloween to your Fall decor, or do you subtract Fall first, then add Halloween?

I think if I could calculate this problem correctly, I could get a better handle on this mess.

In an effort to show my work, here is my dining room table right now & it represents just a fraction of the total mess. (Oh, the Math terms are flying today!)

Any suggestions from all you wise tutors?

At long last...The Cottage Bathroom Reveal

2011-09-29T08:27:00.015-04:00

Oh yes, I bet you have all forgotten by now. It may have taken forever (the reveal, not the actual reno), but I am proud to say that I am finally ready to share the newly remodeled bathroom with you!

I posted about our bathroom here, but the general details are: it is very small (I literally have to take pictures from the hallway), it is the only bathroom on the 1st floor, and it is a full bath.

We started with a 1933, lavender & black tiled bathroom.

The contractors completed gutted the place, right down to the wood lathes.

Everything was plaster--at least 3 inch thick plaster. As a matter of fact, the contractors swore they would never take on a job like this again. The demo was back-breaking. (Believe me, I'm not knocking plaster. I like plaster. My husband loves plaster. He hates our new "sheet rock crap walls" as he calls them.

Are you ready?

I'm telling you for hours...days...hell...even weeks afterward, I would stand in the bathroom, look around & smile.

Honestly, I have to say my husband was wonderful about this whole project (less the sheet rock, of course). I have a tendency to get out of hand & act as though money is no object. He usually has to reign me in. This time however, he let me run. Oh girl could get used to that!

I had a hard time deciding on what I wanted, but I knew I wanted beadboard. I also knew I didn't want a modern shower with glass surround (although the contractor tried to talk me into it), I knew it would never work in this old house.

I knew I wanted this shower curtain. It's Sophia, by Laura Ashley.

From the curtain, I picked a wall color. It seemed a no brainer to go with a Laura Ashley paint...Summer Nightfall.

Lots of back & forth about whether to go with a pedestal sink or vanity. Because the bathroom is so small, a pedestal sink seemed the logical choice. However, since this is the main bath on the 1st floor (where the master bedroom is located), we really needed the storage of the vanity. We ordered this KraftMaid baby.

Our biggest problem was the radiator. We thought we would remove the old radiator. Hubby went with measurements to the heating store and the salesman ordered us a new, smaller model. Of course, when it came in, it didn't fit. We wanted to scream.

It was too late at that point to do anything (like put a baseboard heater or put the heat in the floor). So we had to take the old, original, million-ton radiator (affectionately called, Old Ironsides) have it sandblasted & then powder coated. Needless to say, it went from ugly to somewhat attractive. (I wish I had a picture of its original state.)

I spent weeks trying to find something for this wall, with no luck. I kept thinking a painting or print was what I wanted. When I found this shelf on Etsy, I loved it & knew this would work perfectly. (I still need to play around with the shelf display though).

There she is. Before & After.

Our Cottage Bathroom.

Linking to:

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Potpourri Party at 2805
Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspiration Friday at At The Picket Fence
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Fall in Love at Decor to Adore

My Fall Mantel 2011

2011-09-26T08:00:00.009-04:00

It's fall mantel time & I couldn't be happier. Something about all those rich, warm colors makes me very happy.

Let's see...the scroll shutter thingys I've had for years. I believe they came from Michaels. They were white, but once my family/living room walls went from orange to beige, they no longer showed up. Instead of having them collect any more dust in the ~~warehouse~~ cellar, I spray painted them brown for use with my fall mantel.

I found this neat wall centerpiece when we went on vacation to Vermont. On the ride home, we stopped off in Lake George, NY & I found it there. It was filled with red geraniums, but I knew I would want to change them. Someone obviously made it out of an old shuttered cabinet door & stapled burlap pockets on it. Pretty ingenious...I wish I thought of it! Metal birdhouse from Christmas Tree Shops.

I made the Fall banner from felt.

My wire cloche filled with pumpkins. The metal pumpkin candle holder next to the cloche is dear to me...my daughter brought it to me at the hospital when my son was born, October 2001.

Wooden candleholder & ceramic pumpkin both from Hobby Lobby.

And there she is...my fall mantel 2011!

I'm glad you visited me today. I'm going to link this up at:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Layla's Fall Mantel party at The Lettered Cottage
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Fall into Fall party at DIY by Design
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Fall Decorating Party at Hooked on Houses
Autumn Arrives Party at Savvy Seasons

I'm sure the creativity will be flying at each of them...so go check 'em out!

Fall Decor in the Dining Room

2011-09-23T17:04:00.001-04:00

With Fall being my most favorite season of all, I got a jump start on my decorating...early...like in the first week of September before we went back to school. Why I have not shared any of it with you is a mystery. So why don't we rectify that right now by visiting the dining room, shall we?

Instead of using the same decor in the same places, I tried to mix things up this year. Some of the pictures may not be the best...we have had such rainy, gloomy weather lately. I can't remember the last time we saw the sun shine.

This is the centerpiece on my dining room table. I bought this old tool box at an antique store 2 years ago to use as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving (see here). I've made it part of my Fall decor this year because I really do love that box.

I moved my Fall subway art to the dining room this year. I added the pumpkin topiaries (which usually sit on my mantel) to the hutch. Simple, but I like it.

What I refer to as the "clock tower".

A little something on the chandy.

A little matching something on the mirror.

My dining room decorated for Fall. Sorry, again, about the light. Sunny skies are not in the forecast & I didn't want to hold off any longer sharing these with you.

It's getting close to the time where I start adding my Halloween decor. That's always fun.

Have a wonderful weekend & hopefully the sun will be shining in your neck of the woods. I'm hoping to catch up on my blog reading. I've fallen behind & I hate when that happens!

Stay tuned...Fall mantel coming up next week.

Linking to:
Fall Decorating Party at Hooked on Houses

Under the Spell of Stitch Witchery

2011-09-18T21:38:00.004-04:00

I had a hankering to change some of my living room pillows for Fall. Now I know two things:

1. I have too many unused pillows in my cedar closet.
2. My husband is not too pleased with my collection of unused pillows.

I gave it some thought & decided maybe I could just cover the existing pillows so that way there won't be any added to the cedar closet collection & he'd never know.

Great idea!
Great idea turned bad!
I don't sew!

I decided to search some blogs for inspiration. I chanced upon a tutorial for no sew pillows...hmmm...this sounds good. (I used Kate's tutorial @ Centsational Girl.)

I needed some sort of fusible web to make the magic happen. Stich Witchery was the product I skeptically picked up at Michaels.

Oh my goodness, why have I never discovered this until now? I mean, I always knew there were products like these on the market, but I never knew they actually worked and better yet, that I could actually make them work! (And, no I haven't been paid to tout the wonderfulness of Stitch Witchery.)

Coming from the girl who always wishes she could sew, this may be one of the greatest inventions ever!

Flying by the seat of my pants since I didn't really know what I was doing, I knew I wanted to use big felt leaves on the pillow.

I came up with this pillow cover:

Now I know I have alot to learn yet (I did make it a tad too large) but honestly, I never thought it'd turn out at all, so I'm happy with it.

After making that pillow, I was addicted & had to make another one. I had made felt rosettes a few days before, (tutorial here) not knowing what I was going to do with them.

Would they look cute on a pillow?

You bet!

I added a brown throw & now the wicker chair that sits next to my fireplace has this new fall look.

Do you have any craft projects in the works for Fall?

Linking to:

The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up
The DIY Showoff for DIY Project Parade
Crayon Freckles for Tip Toe Thru Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Have a pleasant new week!

Wall Decor Metamorphosis

2011-09-15T08:03:00.004-04:00

I had empty wall space in my newly remodeled bathroom. (The reveal is coming soon...really) I needed something, but it couldn't be too big. Of course, I couldn't find anything that I liked.

Then one day, I found this online & quickly ordered it, thinking this was exactly what I was looking for.

When it arrived, the white frame was distressed with red. Deep blood red. Hmmm, I didn't notice that in the picture. Not a problem though.

I took a teeny, tiny paint brush & with the blue wall paint, I painted over all the red.

It looked fine & my husband hung it up for me. I was pleased...

...until about a week later. Something was just not right. I couldn't quite pinpoint it.

Then it hit me!

When entering the bathroom, you saw the side view of this picture. That candleholder sticking out reminded me, oh please forgive me for being crass, of a male appendage. It had to go! I asked the hubs if he would be so kind as to remove the candle holder part. He really got a kick out of it when I told him why. Men!

He took the candleholder off & back on the wall it went, just the picture, no candleholder. I was pleased...

...until about a week later. Something was not right, again.

I decided the blue that I had so painstakingly painted was annoying me, so I told hubs to spray paint the frame all white. I also asked him to pop out the picture part.

I covered it with some fabric (osnaburg). I bought 2 fabric rosettes from etsy (see here), added some pearl beads to the centers & glued them to the fabric board.

And now, I am happy to report, I am pleased as I finally have it right!

That poor picture has been through the ringer. It may seem I'm crazy, but I hope I'm not alone. You have all done something like this too, right? ;D

Linking to:

French Country Cottage for Feather Your Nest Friday
2805 for Potpourri Party #3
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

The Copycat Strikes Again

2011-09-13T07:56:00.001-04:00

The wonderful Debbie of Debbiedoos is having another Magazine Copycat Party. After not being too successful with this challenge last time, I decided I'd give it another try. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.

I found my photo in Autumn with Matthew Mead. (By the way, have you seen this book-azine? It's wonderful, I highly recommend it.)

This is the particular photo I tried to copy:

Here is my copycat:

I opted for a leaf stencil instead of a ghost stencil.

Not quite as bad as my first copycat challenge, yet I think I still have quite a bit to learn. I wish I had cropped in closer. Oh well.

C'mon over to Debbiedoos & join in on the copycat fun!

10 years...Never Forget

2011-09-11T06:30:00.001-04:00

When we went to Vermont in August, we stopped at a few places on the drive home. One of those places was the New York State Museum in Albany.

I hadn't been there since I was a kid. My husband & children had never been. Suffice it to say, we all enjoyed the museum very much.

There was, however, one part that I think really affected my husband & I.

The World Trade Center exhibit.

2,973 senseless fatalities.

Having never been to Ground Zero, this is probably the next closest thing. (Sorry, I realize my photos are not the best quality.)

Actual candles & paper roll with prayers & tributes found at Ground Zero.

A destroyed door off an NYPD police car.

Engine 6.

Some of the steel framing from the buildings.

I cannot even put into words the feeling that overcame us by looking at all of this. My husband & I were literally speechless. I struggled to hold back tears.
Just seeing all the destroyed items, everyday items, found at the sight was heartbreaking. This exhibit was more powerful than I could have ever imagined.

I guess the only thing I can say is, we must never forget.

(I found some really amazing photos of 9/11. If you're interested, go here).

God Bless America!

Le Love, Sweet Le Love

2011-09-09T08:02:00.000-04:00

Yes, sweet le love for Le Creuset!

This little beauty is mine, all mine!

I have wanted one of these braisers for the longest time. I saved up for it & although I experienced a few seconds of panic right before I clicked on the "process order button," I can honestly say that all panic has left me. I love it...it's like my little piece of cooking heaven. It cooks beautifully & cleans beautifully.

What more can a chef wannabe ask for?

Back to School Tablescape

2011-09-07T15:11:00.002-04:00

Since our first day of school begins tomorrow, I decided to put together a little tablescape in honor of it.

It has been a beautiful summer, we've done so much & I've gotten so much done as well. But sadly, in my eyes, summer is now over.

I've had the placements for many years. The apple dishes are from Christmas Tree Shop. Green plates are Pfaltzgraff. Yellow dinner plates from the grocery store. Napkins from Pier 1. Flatware is Cambrige found at Home Goods. Glasses from Target.

I found the bus shaped chalk board at Joanns. The bag came from Dollar Tree.

Hey...wait a minute! Aren't I missing an apple from the above photo? I thought I had three.

This is what I found in the kitchen. Sheesh, stealing apples from the tablescape! My goodness, my children are sneaky! :D

I'll be linking this up at Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch, for her fabulous Tablescape Thursday. Also, I'm linking to Sherry's Open House Thursday, although Ann of On Sutton Place is graciously hosting this week. Have I confused you? :D

Thanks so much for visiting & for all the kind comments...you are the best!

Excuse Me, Mr. Parsley Lover

2011-09-05T07:15:00.000-04:00

Recently, with a pot of homemade sauce simmering away on the stove, I set out to make meatballs.

I love summer because I am able to grow my own Italian flat leaf parsley & just hop out my back door for fresh parsley whenever I wish.

On this particular day, as I grabbed a handful of the herb, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw this:

I am no bug lover so upon closer examination (yet with one foot ready to run should he attack me) it appears that this fellow enjoys eating parsley. He has eaten all the leaves off that stem.

Honestly now. Do all caterpillars eat parsley or have I discovered the only one who finds a feast in Italian parsley? I've been checking for him for several days now & he is still hanging out on that same spot of parsley. Weird.

Since he obviously loves parsley, of the Italian flat leaf variety, perhaps I should name him Carmine? Carmine the Caterpillar, mio amico. Si?

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-09-02T21:28:00.002-04:00

Jane and Leo at Cottage at the Crossroads have nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks so much Jane & Leo!

Here are the rules associated with accepting this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs.

Seven things about myself. Hmmm. I always hate this part because I can't really ever think of anything interesting to say.

1. I love to watch Christmas movies in the summertime.

2. I have 2 older sisters & 1 older brother. I was "the baby" & spoiled rotten!

3. My husband & I are 2 days apart. We were born at the same hospital. In those days, they actually kept mothers in the hospital a bit, so I'm sure we met as newborns! lol

4. I was a cheerleader in high school.

5. I put peanut butter on my pancakes.

6. I have met celebrity chefs Sara Moulton, Giada DeLaurentiis & Paula Deen.

7. I love 80s music & have Sirius radio for my car just so I can listen to the 80s station.

Phew! That was rough. See, I told you, I'm just not that interesting.

Thank you again to Cottage at the Crossroads. Have a pleasant weekend. (Ugh! Back to school starting for us next week.)

The Great Pillow Pile Up

2011-09-01T09:41:00.000-04:00

I've got a little ranting to do today, so I hope you will bear with me.

Why, I ask again, WHY do I even bother to put pillows on the couch?

Everytime I walk in the living room, I find this:

I have spent the last 2 months picking pillows up off the floor!

And...if they're not thrown all over the floor, I walk in to find this:

Ahhh yes, the great pillow pile up!

I can only guess that this is obviously done by some poor person who knows that mother is getting angry picking pillows up off the floor. This is obviously the work of someone who thinks that piling them up semi-neatly, will make me less angry. Or perhaps, just perhaps, this person has actually tripped over the pillows strewn about the floor & decided to pile them up out of the way to avoid injury.

I don't know the answer to this aggravating dilemma. I don't know if I've got the heart or energy left to find out the answer.

Please, for my sanity, just tell me...do you have pillows on your couch? Do the pillows sit there, all perky & pretty, or do you find them thrown all over the floor? I will listen to any sage advice you may want to provide.

Thank you for your time.

Beadboard ala Blogland

2011-08-29T07:40:00.001-04:00

I find one BIG problem with blogging. There are so many wonderful & creative ideas out there, it's hard not to copy all of them.

This idea, however, is one I've wanted to copy for some time....my family room entertainment center. It always gives me stress.

1. I think it's just enormous.
2. I am constantly struggling to prettily arrange the shelves.
3. I don't completely hate the piece, so I keep it around. Crazy?

I always thought the dull wood background was a huge source of my struggle. Nothing ever shows up against it.

Enter blogland. Enter beadboard. Enter the idea that has been done thousands of times.

My hubby assisted with this project & honestly, he was shaking his head & rolling his eyes the entire time.

Once it was completed, what did my wondering ears hear? He actually said, "I like it. It looks better." Hmmmm.

Score one for blogland!

Linking to Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch:

A Flower Mosaic

2011-08-26T08:15:00.002-04:00

Just thought I would share a collage of some of the pretty flowers that have bloomed in our yard this summer.

Everything has really flourished this year, especially my hydrangeas. I have never had so many blooms on that bush in all the 11 years I've owned it.

Today, my daughter & I are going to spend the day shopping. Just we two girls. We're both looking forward to it. I can't help but wonder how many more years before she no longer looks forward to shopping with her mother.

You know what?

I don't want to even think about it. I'll just cherish the moment now.

A pleasant weekend to all..and if you are in the path of Hurricane Irene...I pray that you will be safe.

Sunflower Tablescape

2011-08-24T09:15:00.005-04:00

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch is one of my most favorite parties in all of blogland! Seeing so many amazing and creative tablescapes make me very happy.

Today, I'm sharing my Sunflower Tablescape.

Tablecloth & napkins from Kohls. Napkin rings, a steal, from ebay. Blue flatware by Cambridge.

Little square sunflower dish from Christmas Tree Shop.

Sunflower plates also from Christmas Tree Shop. Blue dinner plates from the grocery store, of all places!

My glass candleholders from Hobby Lobby last fall. My sister let me borrow the giant sunflowers.

I had always thought to pair sunflowers with rich, fall-like colors but I found that I really liked the summery blue with them just as much. Who knew?

I'm linking up to Tablescape Thursday.

Fourteen (14) days until we are back to school/work & I'm trying to savor every last drop of summer. I hope that you are all doing the same.

The Little Pear Tree that Could

2011-08-21T20:14:00.003-04:00

When I was growing up, we had a HUGE pear tree in our yard. That pear tree always served as home plate when we played ball or home base for tag.

I remember my father would give all the pears he harvested to my uncle because we very seldom ever ate them. (Hmmmm....why didn't we eat them?)

When I was in high school, my father & brother decided to chop down the pear tree. I honestly don't know why they did this. (Maybe it was too much of a hassle dealing with so many pears?)

When we bought our home 11 years ago, there was a small pear tree in the yard. You cannot imagine my delight at seeing that tree! I guess all the childhood memories came back to me of playing in the yard & always having a pear tree standing tall alongside us.

About 7-8 years ago, in early fall, there was a wicked thunderstorm that split our poor little tree in half. My husband wanted to take it down, but I refused. No way was he taking out my little pear tree!

Somehow, this little tree still managed to thrive & bear fruit. Delicious, juicy fruit at that. Somehow, over the past years, without our even knowing it, it has grown a new tree alongside what is left of the old one.

Can you see that the trunk looks old to the left, yet new to the right?

Lots of sweet, juicy pears.

I think we're just about ready to start picking. I am so grateful that we didn't tear this tree down after that thunderstorm. It's kinda funny, but it has become the "little pear tree that could" and I cannot wait to enjoy its bounty!

Caprese Pasta Salad

2011-08-17T10:31:00.000-04:00

I made this salad for a cookout that we had recently. It was very well received so I thought I'd share it with all of you. I believe it came from the Food Network magazine.

Now might be a good time to admit that I, personally, did not try this salad. Brace yourselves for this declaration....I don't like tomatoes. I know, I know, terrible, isn't it? They look so delicious, but as they enter my mouth, no, can't do it. (Somewhere my Italian ancestors are crying out in horror. LOL)

I'm taking a gamble here sharing something that I haven't tried, but like I said, it was well received by my tomato loving family.

Caprese Pasta Salad

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 shallot, minced
1 small clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
2 pounds mixed heirloom tomatoes, cored, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 pound pasta, such as campanelle (I used this), penne or fusilli
12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (if you're anything like me, you'll have to clench your jaw tight not to eat all of this before it hits the salad! lol)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (I used less)
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, shallot and garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt & pepper. Add sugar, if desired (depending on the sweetness of your tomatoes). Add the tomatoes and gently toss. Marinate at room temperature, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. (I like mine al dente) Drain in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking.

Add the pasta and mozzarella to the tomato mixture and toss. Stir in the basil and lemon zest, and season with salt & pepper. Refrigerate, tossing occasionally, until serving.

Good, simple ingredients & a cinch to make. What's not to love? (I won't answer that.)

At the Movies

2011-08-15T13:34:00.001-04:00

We've gone to the movies twice in the past week. Isn't it funny how sometimes there isn't a single movie you would want to watch & then suddenly you feel like you want to see everything that's playing?

My daughter & I saw Crazy, Stupid, Love last week. We both loved it. It was funny, it was cute & it had a surprising twist. It was alot of fun.

Surely, my Gleek couldn't possibly have The Glee Convert Movie showing & not see it. So we had to go. Somehow, my daughter even managed to talk her dad & brother into coming along. (My poor husband, the only male in attendance over the age of 13! lol) Anyway, for a Glee fan, it was an awesome movie. My hubby & son even admitted to enjoying it.

So tell me, what have you seen at the movies lately?

A trip to Vermont

2011-08-12T10:28:00.002-04:00

We've been away for a couple of days. We took a small trip to Vermont. What's in Vermont you say?

Well, Ben & Jerry's, of course!

The factory tour was fun & interesting. No photography was allowed in case we were all Haagen Dazs spies! :D

Oh what I had to do to get the teenaged daughter to pose for that. She's really ready to scream behind that smile.

The cow mobile.

It's the flavor graveyard. Where all good flavors go to rest in peace.

The tombstones are funny & cute.

We have never been to Vermont and it is quite a beautiful place. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in the fall when all the green turns into glorious fall color.

I'm going to try to catch up on all of my blog reading if I can. (eek!) Not to mention my housework and we have a wedding to attend tonight.

A happy weekend to each of you...

Linking up at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.

The Liebster

2011-08-09T12:51:00.012-04:00

Dee of A Lapin Life has given me the something called the Liebster Award. I guess this award originated in Germany and highlights blogs with less than 300 followers.

I accept and now am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself.

Ok, here goes & I shall do my best not to bore you...

1. I married my high school sweetheart.

2. I am constantly making lists. Sometimes I have so many lists, I need a list to organize my lists!

3. As a teenager, I was always told I should be a writer.

4. I wish I could sew.

5. My whole family gets together every Sunday for dinner at my Mom's house. (and yes, it's like a scene out of the movie Moonstruck, but with lots more people.)

6. I really hate to fly and haven't since 1996!

7. I love the change of seasons. I don't think I could ever live anywhere that doesn't have a full change of season (and yes, winter & snow included.)

Assuming that you're all still with me (lol), thanks for stopping over. Thanks to Dee for giving me this award and here's to a pleasant week.

The Ruffled Shade

2011-08-07T12:41:00.010-04:00

I've been working like a busy bee all summer long. We've got approximately 30 days of summer vacation left, so I'm trying to make every day count.

I got an itch to cover a lamp shade. Something I've never done before but have seen done all over blogland.

So, I took this old shade that was hanging out in my basement.

I bought some ruffled trim at Joanns & started gluing.

Somewhere along the way, I found a tutorial for making pompom flowers. (I wish I could remember where) It didn't seem too difficult, so I got busy making a few.

And this is what I ended up with.

The shade was originally intended for my living room, but I really loved how it looked in the bedroom instead.

I love it when a project actually turns out well. Believe me, I've had my share of disasters.

Joining:

Roeshel at The DIY Showoff for the Project Parade
Stephanie at Under the Table & Dreaming for The Sunday Showcase
The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Karen at Goodbye City, Hello Suburbs for Workshop Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by today. Make it a good one!

Edited to add: If you would like to know how to make the Pom Pom flowers that I used on this lamp shade, see my tutorial here. Thanks!

Teen Room Refresh

2011-08-05T09:01:00.002-04:00

As you know, it all started with an innocent piece of subway art.

Then a consignment shop desk got painted.

A necklace hanger was made.

A headboard was purchased at an estate sale & painted.

Somewhere, somehow, without really meaning to, my daughter's bedroom got refreshed.

It went from this: (this is actually a year or two old, I never intended this refresh to happen so I didn't get a current before picture)

To this:

While she was away at Nike Softball Camp, I did some work. She knew I was refreshing, and after several texts, there were some things she wouldn't part with.

She insisted on keeping the paint color. (ok, I'll try to work with it)
She wanted to keep the sweet dreams decal over her bed. (ugh!)
She had to keep the dart board & her cork board. (double ugh!)
She had to have the pig lamp on her bedside table. (why, oh why?)
I was instructed not to touch her beloved books. (this was a given)

Details:

The day after she returned from camp, she made her own bed & look who she added to the mix, Kurt from Glee.

We still may remove her cork board & use those cork squares instead. I think we could make it bigger & give her more room for all her stuff. And yes, the board has some Twilight & Harry Potter, Yankees baseball, Lady Gaga & holy heck Batman, it's Barbra Streisand! lol What can I say? My daughter has eclectic taste.

I stole this ribbon chandy idea from Pottery Barn teen. It was crazy simple to make. She loved it & when my 2 nieces were visiting, they went crazy for it as well.

So that's my refresh. I do still need to tweak things here & there. Stay tuned though. There's a 9 year old younger brother who was not at all happy by this refresh. Beginning his room next week!

A Cheerful Addition to my Red Cottage Kitchen

2011-07-31T22:13:00.003-04:00

I saw these adorable shelf edgers on someone's blog. (I'm not sure who...maybe Elaine at Sunny Simple Life?) Anyway, I loved them from the moment I saw them.

I tried to resist, but after a few months they entered my conciousness. I did not hesitate to order them this time.

My cabinets went from this: (sorry I forgot to take a current before picture, this one is from last year)

to this: (sorry about the glare)

What do you think?

I actually giggled when I received them in the mail. I work at school & these are really just the border edgers the teachers use on their classroom walls & cork boards. Why have I never imagine their potential for perking up shelves?

I'm linking to:

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Sizzle Into Summer party at DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House party at No Minimalist Here

Go on over & check out these awesome linky parties & their gracious hosts.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2011-07-29T09:46:00.000-04:00

Can I just say something? I feel such happiness when I bake or cook something. Is that weird?

That being said, I haven't cooked or baked anything in quite some time. First it was Softball/Little League games, then All Stars, then intense heat & humidity where no one felt like eating, then my son's tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. I just haven't been in the kitchen at all. No dinners, no desserts...nothing.

Well, my son has finally made it through the 2 week recovery period & is able to eat solid food. Thank goodness! Not only did I cook dinner, but I had to make something sweet as well.

These peanut butter cup cookies were simple to make & oh so delicious! Perhaps even a tad too sweet, but we gobbled them up anyway.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
40 miniature peanut butter cups unwrapped (I put mine in the fridge after I unwrapped them. They were starting melt.)

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, salt & baking soda; set aside.

Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter & brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla & milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well. Shape into 40 balls and place each into ungreased mini muffin pans.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool & carefully remove from pan.

Recipe from allrecipes.com

Hope you enjoy! Have a fantabulous weekend.

Lighthouse Tablescape

2011-07-27T14:59:00.001-04:00

It's been a busy summer so far. I've finally put the paintbrushes down long enough to tablescape. Yippee!

Plain wooden napkin rings from Michaels. I adhered a starfish to each with a pop dot.

The blue chargers, from Lenox, were purchased inexpensively at a consignment shop.
The red dinner plates are from Pier 1, many years ago.
Lighthouse plates & blue bubble goblets are from Christmas Tree Shop.
My old red flatware (an engagement gift some 20 years ago.)

Lantern from Marshalls/Home Goods.
Lighthouse tea light holders from Christmas Tree Shop.
I can't remember where the lighthouse spreaders came from or the metal chair...I've had them forever.

Joining Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I really appreciate your taking the time to visit me.

Estate Sale headboard & it keeps on rolling

2011-07-25T18:56:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I do silly things.

For instance, my daughter has a perfectly good bed. But I went to an estate sale & chanced upon this headboard.

Ick!

Anyway, I really loved this headboard. So for $25.00, I bought it. Of course, I cleaned it up & gave it some Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White since I had it left over from painting her desk.

I then purchased some really pretty appliques from Etsy (seller, pjsw) to cover the peeling rose decal.

Now, I have this adorable headboard. Kinda cute, no?

First the subway art, then the desk, now the headboard...you can only imagine what I've been up to. If it turns out good, I'll share the whole room soon.

And....just in case you were wondering...I DID NOT wax this. I preferred to live dangerously rather than go through that again!

Linking this post to My Romantic Home's Painted Furniture Party.

Pretty hanging necklaces

2011-07-22T10:02:00.002-04:00

I can proudly say, another project finished! (Thankfully, I finished some projects before this crazy heat & humidity entered out lives.)

Some time ago, I noticed my daughter was not putting her necklaces in her jewelry box but leaving them out on a shelf. When I asked her why, she said because they're always tangling up.

Hmmm. I made a note to get her one of those necklace stand thingys that I always see in TJ Maxx...the kind to corral your necklaces.

Then I realized, where is she gonna put this thing?

Hmmm again. Maybe, I'll make her something that she can hang instead.

So I took some materials & set out to make a hanging necklace corral thingy.

First I painted the wood purple, then covered it in Annie Sloan's Old White chalk paint. I added some wooden flower appliques & my hooks, lightly sanded around the edges so some of that purple would show through & added a pretty purple ribbon.

I bought a hook from Hobby Lobby to hang it from & here it is, in her room:

Not too bad, huh?

Don't be alarmed by the cracks in her walls. You'd be cracked too if you were 78 years old & made of plaster! LOL

Linking up at Tatertos & Jello for the Weekend Wrap up Party

Have a wonderful weekend my dear sweet friends!

Chalk Paint Love/Hate Affair

2011-07-20T11:00:00.005-04:00

I've been playing with chalk paint and while I adore this:

I absolutely despise this:

That darn wax is kickin' my butt!

This desk was my first chalk paint victim. Purchased at a consignment shot, it was pretty ugly & beat up.

Enter Annie Sloan's chalk paint, in Old White.

I added some knobs from Hobby Lobby, lightly distressed the edges & there you have it. A much nicer looking desk for my daughter's bedroom.

The paint is pretty much all that it's claimed to be. It goes on well, covers well, no odor, doesn't drip, requires no pre-sanding, dries quickly...

...but let's not talk about the $#*&@^ wax! (And yes, I watched every stinkin' tutorial available on waxing and I still want to scream when I think of it! Grrrr!)

Linking up at:

Domestically-Speaking for the Power of Paint Party
No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party
Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday
My Romantic Home for Painted Furniture Party

Summer Cloche

2011-07-18T16:01:00.001-04:00

Miss Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life is hosting a Summer Cloche party, so I thought I would join in. For me, joining in means a challenge.

Can I tell you something? In all honesty, as much as I love cloches, I do have a hard time thinking of creative things to put under them. (That's the reason I say it's a challenge.) More often than not, my cloches are tucked away, waiting for inspiration to strike. Sad, I know.

The Summer Cloche party challenged me to think & here's what I came up with.

This wire cloche is one of my favorites. I paired it with a white pedestal dish & added a small pewter pitcher under it. I purchased that pitcher a few years back at an antique store & am amazed at how often I use it. I filled the pitcher with tiny yellow flowers.

Because Marty who is so talented with cloches (and vignettes too!) always has a few in her kitchen, I thought...hmmmm...why not? I brought my glass Wisteria cloche to the kitchen & placed it on a red dinner plate. I added my red mushroom tea light candle, some moss balls & of course, a garden gnome, to complete the display.

I really like having the cloche in my kitchen. It's something different for me & something I don't think I would have thought of without Marty.

Now, if I could only think of something for the other 4 cloches that sit idly by, barren.

At least I'm making progress...right?

Thanks for joining me today. I can't wait to see what great ideas you have for your cloches. Remember, I have 4 more cloches waiting for your inspiration!