EAST MONTGOMERY

SPRING BLOSSOMS

2010-03-31T09:26:00.003-04:00

Last week I bought a flat of pansies, a couple small trees, some daffodils and some brown twigs and pussy willows. For about $70 my outside looks kind of ready for spring. Still lots more clean up to do but it's a start.

I love how the pussy willows and twigs made everything look a little fancier and richer.

Hope you enjoy the wonderful spring/summer weather we all seem to be destined to get.

HAPPY EASTER!

CHALKBOARDS

2010-03-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

FYI to all the chalkboard lovers in blogland. There is a product out there that works like a paint marker but you use it on chalkboards. Have you've ever been in a grocery store that has their produce priced on chalkboards. I've always wondered how they got it to look that certain way. Well I think it's these pens. I saw mention of them on another blog which linked you to a site and they were going for $20 something a pack. I found them at Michael crafts for $12.00.

They write really easily and come off with a paper towel, water and a little elbow grease.

Here's the pack. They also had fluorescent colors. The package says you can mix the colors to make new ones. Haven't tried that yet but sounds fun.

We are going to Disney at the end of April. I just started our countdown yesterday. So excited. Just wondering if it's possible to loose 30 lbs in 29 days????

THRIFT STORE BARGAINS

2010-03-17T11:37:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite thrifting spots is my local Goodwill. I never walk out of there empty handed.
On a recent trip I found a few things that found a new home in my downstairs bathroom.
I spotted this little caddy and for $2.97 I couldn't pass it up. At the time I didn't realize that it would find a perfect home on the back of my toilet. It fits paper hand towels perfect and is a good home for the soap and cream. My pedestal sink provides no room to put that type of stuff on it so I'm always looking for someplace to put it. I also found this metal stand for $12.00. It was cream with blue stones but I knew it would work perfect as a toilet paper/towel/anything holder. I just gave it a couple coats of spray paint and instant organization.

Here's a view from the door. Doesn't the caddy match the walls perfect. It was meant to be!

LIGHTEN UP

2010-03-10T09:15:00.005-05:00

I've been trying to lighten things up in my kitchen. Someday I will get a new one but for now I have to work with the wood cabinets and sage green tile. My first instinct was to add red so I took that idea and ran with it. Everything was red. Below is a corner in my kitchen (this pic is from Christmas)

I don't know if it's spring fever or what but I have been longing for a more lighter look. So I took pretty much everything that was red and made it cream. Thank God for spray paint. This is the same corner now.

It makes me giddy just looking at it. Is that normal?

I found this hook at Homegoods and this kind of started the whole cream faze. I love it for it's style but also function. I use to hang my towel on the stove handle and it would slip off onto the floor everytime I was cooking. Talk about driving me crazy. Problem solved!!

Few more changes to come in the kitchen to take it a step further. I have the supplies just need the time. Hopefully soon.

ALL DOLLED UP

2010-03-03T10:02:00.002-05:00

Here is how the herb boxes turned out. I had hubby hang them and I went to town dolling them up. I just went thru the house and found some plates etc to put in them. I am in love with them!! I think they make such a statement. I think it will be fun to decorate them throughout the seasons. Happy Hump Day!!

MAMA GOT LUCKY!

2010-02-23T11:25:00.002-05:00

I was definitely feeling the winter blah's last week and felt some retail therapy would do the job. Man was I right. I headed to my local Marshalls and there before me were these.

I just about screamed right there in the aisle. I have always admired them over at The Lettered Cottage. Actually saw them at a TJMaxx over the summer and passed on them. What was I thinking?

Recently TLC had a giveaway featuring them and I so wanted to win them. I didn't but was contemplating buying them from the site she referenced. They were going for something like $45. I don't even want to tell you how much I STOLE these for.

$14 and some change. WAHOOO!! I left that store with a huge smile on my face and proceeded to Barnes and Noble. There I found the Flea Market Style mag that everyone is talking about. What a banner shopping day for me!!

Still tweaking where I am hanging them and of course on the hunt for things to put in them. More to come!

ADDING SOME VALENTINE FLUFF

2010-02-02T14:13:00.003-05:00

It is a dreary day here today and snow is in the forecast. UGH! I've had enough of this weather. Because there was no sunlight my pictures are really poor (It could be my photography skills but I'd rather blame the sun!)

I wasn't going to go overboard for Valentine's Day this year. I needed a break after all that Christmas, but then I opened up my bin and started placing things around and next thing I know it's all over.

Here's a few pictures of how it looks. I added new words that will stay up all the time now. Was trying to come up with something fitting for my Dining room. Thought that this is the place we celebrate holidays and special occasions with family and friends. Perfect. I still love my metal plaque and the idea that I can change it with every season/holiday. I love the Vday picture I chose.

I got these cupcakes from PIER ONE this year. Really inexpensive and so cute. I'm thinking of getting some of the Crayola Model magic and making cupcakes for other holidays to decorate with. I'll put that on my ever growing craft list.

Girlie-girl found me taking pictures and wanted to get in on the action.

Have a great week and stay warm!

ADDING SOME NUMBERS

2010-01-17T21:39:00.003-05:00

I love the all the images I see in the magazines and on the blogs where numbers are added. I had picked up these 2 pitchers a Goodwill last week and thought they would be perfect to update with some numbers. I called my friend Kim who has the cricket and she was nice enough to whip these up along with some word for my wall (hope to get them up this week).
The numbers are my wedding anniversary. October 26th. Surprisingly that was Hubby's idea. So sweet. I love how they came out and hope to keep fresh flowers in them always!! Way to dark. Still playing with the new camera. Taking a class in Feb so hopefully these pictures will improve.

Happy Monday!

INEXPENSIVE PILLOW

2010-01-10T14:13:00.008-05:00

I saw this idea over at Brighton Cottage's blog http://brightoncottage.blogspot.com/ She was having her cousin Carolyn guest post.

I started out with 2 black placemats from Walmart. They were 1.98 each. I got this burlap strip (I think it's used in upholstery) and the letter decal from Joann's Fabrics. That cost me about 3.00. So easy just had to iron the letter on.

I sewed the burlap strip to the one placemat then sewed around the edges leaving the one smaller side open. I stuffed it with some FREE blanket snow stuff I had left over from Christmas. It was actually in the trash and I had to go fish it out when I came up with this idea.

I stuffed it then sewed the final side and voila I have a stylish pillow for approx 7.00. I love it. Even Hubby commented on it when he saw it.

Here's the view looking into the living room. I got a new fancy camera for Christmas so am playing with it. From the looks of this picture I need to play some more!

I am so excited. I have a round coffee table sitting in my garage just waiting to be put together and painted. That is the next project. Just have to finishe getting those darn Christmas decorations away so I have some room to work.

A CLEAN SLATE

2010-01-01T10:38:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

I rang in the new year in bed with a snoring husband by my side. We had a nice dinner, played Wii games and rented The Hangover once girlie girl went to bed. Very enjoyable and relaxing.

I look forward to all the endless possibilities this year has to offer. Still working on the resolutions but for now just enjoying the idea of a new beginning and clean slate.

IS IT HERE YET?

2009-12-23T09:34:00.006-05:00

The exhaustion has set in. I am counting down to tommorrow at 5. That is when my guests are due to arrive and whatever isn't done by then isn't going to get done and I will just have to accept that. Until then I will be assuming the role of crazed mad woman.
In between wrapping, cleaning, some minor cooking and general craziness I found time to make some tassles for gifts. Thanks to The Nester http://www.thenester.com and her Tassle Ebook.. They were so easy and such fun to make. It is truly addicting. I think I actually dreamed about tassles last night.

I found the Santa ornaments at Crate and Barrel. The other supplies were from Michaels. I am not sure which I am giving and which I am keeping. I'm having a hard time deciding. I hope to make more for a party I have on Monday but that will have to wait until after the big day.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!

I MADE IT MYSELF

2009-12-16T10:11:00.002-05:00

I always like to do some sort of crafty project as Christmas presents. This year I decided on these cute embroidery hands. I saw this in the May issue of Country Living and it's from a fellow blogger myplumpudding.blogspot.com I will have to go ck out her site after I'm done posting.
I took the embroidery hoop and painted it the color I wanted. I traced the kids hands with pencil onto what I guess they call embroidery fabric. Then I started stitching and this is how they came out. Def not perfect but very cute.

This one is for my Mom And this one I did for my girlfriend. It's purple, the picture doesn't show the color very good.

Really easy, really inexpensive (got all the supplies from ACMOORE) and I hope a real keepsake.

I hope to do one for myself but that will be a winter project.

CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR

2009-12-14T16:44:00.005-05:00

I thought I would join in The Nester's House Tour and show some of my decorations. I had hoped to do this earlier but the day got away from me so here I am as the house is getting dark taking pictures. Not the best but they will have to do!

Santa greets you as you walk in the front door. This is my entryway.

I got this large white container at Target over the summer. I think it's a beverage holder. I love changing it up every season. Summer had lemons, Fall had pumpkins. One of my favorite items!

We don't have a fireplace and mantle to hang our stockings so a few years ago I saw something similiar and thought it might work. Found this ladder at a craft fair. It does the job.

Every year Girlie girl sits on Santa's lap. I wanted to display in a nice way so I bought some inexpensive frames and fabric. The fabric is hot glued to the paper that they frame came with and he picture is taped. So simple and I love the results.

This is a secretary that I got from Craigslist over the summer. This is def my favorite piece of furniture. I have found that the more stuff I cram into the shelves the better it looks.

This is my break front in the dining room. I ordered the BELIEVE from a friend who is doing the vinyl words. Still waiting for a few snowflakes to finish it off. The large picture is actually tin and the picture is magnet so I can change them out with the seasons. I have to do a future post on this piece. It's just to cool.

Kitchen shelf that I change up every season/holiday.

Little cabinet in the kitchen. I just got the Santa and Mrs Claus this year. They are kissing salt and pepper shakers from Gooseberry Patch. So cute.

Here's a view from the hallway into the living room. I'm loving my red furniture with Christmas.

I didn't get a good picture of the tree so will have to show that on another post.

Now I am going to attempt to link up to The Nester. Wish me luck, I am completely computer illiterate

BETTER THAN SCRATCH

2009-12-13T15:41:00.002-05:00

It's a rainy day here and girlie girl announced she wanted to make Gingerbread cookies. I have never made them from scratch and didn't think today would be the best day to make my first attempt. There is so much still to be done. More shopping, decorating, cooking and at some point some cleaning. Wanted to keep things nice and easy to insure a happy experience.
I found this at the grocery store and figured it was worth a try. So easy!!!
We rolled out the dough and used some cookie cutters we had. She especially liked the mini ones. We had lots of fun decorating with sugar glitter. Let me just tell you that stuff gets everywhere. I'll be cleaning that up still in January.

Yummy right out of the oven

Here's the finished product. They are pretty good tasting.

This week we'll try the sugar cookies!!

Hope everyone is relaxing and gearing up for the last full week before Christmas.

NOTHING LEFT BUT THE COOKING

2009-11-24T20:05:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting here relaxing waiting for my inlaws to arrive for the holiday. Everything is done. Food is purchased. Table is set. House is clean. Even the serving dishes are decided on and I went a little crazy and marked each one with a sticky note telling us what goes in what. All that is left is the cooking. Thankfully I won't be doing much of that. My mother-in-law has perfected the turkey cooking so why mess with a good thing

Here are some very poorly taken photo's of my Thanksgiving/Fall decorations.
I got this piece from Craigslist for $50. I had to do some minor tweeking with paint and new molding up top. I love how it turned out and I can't wait to decorate it for Christmas.

Girlie-girl helped me set the table. We counted all the plates, forks, knives etc. Thought it was a good opportunity to do some practice math. She also practiced her writing skills by doing the place cards. I am going to keep them. I know years from now it will be such a joy to pull them out and remember when.

I usually don't go crazy with table decorations. The food is the main event and it requires alot of room. I found these for $3.50 at a produce place. I thought they were nice and would be good to use for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Here's the final table, before I put on all the serving pieces. Right now there isn't a clear space on the table. My mouth is watering just thinking of all the good food that will be there in a couple days

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

LITTLE THINGS GETTING DONE

2009-11-16T09:08:00.003-05:00

Each year our town has a annual Holiday parade the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year hopefully will prove to be the best. The forecast is predicting Sunny and 60 degrees. In years past we've had to sit thru rain and frigid temps. Most of the kids never last long enough to see Santa make is appearance. After the parade we have a bunch of friends and family back for a party. Because of the party and also hosting Thanksgiving dinner I like to really decorate for Thanksgiving. I've been collecting things over the years.
I got these boxes a few years back for Halloween. I love them.

I always want to keep them up for Thanksgiving and have thought about painting the other side. I finally took the time to do that. I think it turned out okay. I'm not loving my turkey but it will do.

I have a few more things to finish up on and then hope to show pictures of all the fall/thanksgiving decorations on Thursday.

I feel like I will finally have them all tweeked just in time to take down and start on Christmas. Oh well, really most of the fun is in the actual decorating not the finished product.

SEASONAL CHANGES

2009-11-13T15:55:00.003-05:00

Today brought rain, wind and girlie-girl coming home early from school sick. I predict H1N1 has come to visit.
Since we were unexpectantly stuck home for the afternoon I got to work on some of the things on my forever growing TO DO LIST.
Here is a picture of my beloved Ektorp couch from IKEA. We've had it for about 5 months now and I love it. We bought it with the canvas slipcovers and I also got red slip covers which were on sale. I planned on putting them on during the winter months.

It seems winter has arrived!! Here's what the couch now looks like. I love how cozy it makes the room feel. You can't tell from the picture but the fabric is a corduroy, really nice. It was so easy to switch over and just when I get bored with this it will be time to switch back.

Lots more projects to do and if my prediction is right looks like alot of them will get done in the next few days.

Happy Weekend!

THE BEAUTY OF FALL

2009-11-04T09:39:00.006-05:00

The best part of raking leaves is the playing in them. Girlie girl and I were out yesterday having some fun. I did the raking and she did the jumping.

We have a huge tree in our front yard. Gives us great shade in the summer and provides us with lots of leaf raking in the fall. I think last year we had at least 13 leaf bags when we were finished. Looks like we will be starting that chore in a few days!

I saw a version of this on the cover of Midwest Living. I loved it so attempted to copy it. Just used a Sharpy marker for the wording. Turned out pretty good. Looks like my pansy's could use a drink.

I DID IT!

2009-10-26T09:04:00.002-04:00

I did it. I painted the wall with chalkboard paint. Hubby was in a good mood one night last week so I sprung it on him. Honey, sweety can I paint this wall? He quickly said yes. I was like who are you and what have you done with my husband? Not that he is difficult all the time but we sometimes don't see eye to eye with my decorating ideas. So I took the plunge and I love it. It's fun and whimsical. I'm sure we will have alot of fun with it.

COUNTDOWN CALENDAR

2009-10-19T09:10:00.003-04:00

I've heard that Halloween is becoming the next biggest decorating holiday next to Christmas. I believe it, from what I've seen in the stores and on all the wonderful blogs Halloween has gotten big! They even have a halloween version of the advent calendar. I got this at The Christmas Tree Shop. I love it - so cute and Girlie girl loves updating it every morning. I'm sure you could make one of your own but for $6.99 who can beat it! 12 days and a wake up to Dress up day!

Have a great Monday.

NOT BRAVE ENOUGH YET

2009-09-15T16:05:00.004-04:00

I love all the blogs I see that have been brave enough to paint a wall or large section with Chalkboard paint. I feel I have the perfect spot but I lack the courage ( and possibly the ability to convice hubby) to go for it. I recently bought Peel and Stick chalkboard from Lillian Vernon. It came with 4 9"x12" panels. The packaging says you can remove and reposition. I was going to use them in the family room for girlie girl but found something else for there so I've had these in my bin to use eventually. Today I thought I would stick them in that perfect place and see how they look. Of course they don't take up near the amount of space but it's still a good for a test run for painting the whole wall. I like it (sorry my picture taking is so poor. We'll see what hubby says when he gets home and maybe I will add chalkboard paint to my list of TO DO's.

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

2009-09-09T16:17:00.003-04:00

Today marks 2 momentous occasions. Girlie-girl started kindergarten and I celebrate a birthday. A few tears were shed as I waved her good-bye at the bus stop. Nothing to worry about, she loved her first day. She's getting so big. On the other hand I am still trying to love the idea that I am a year older. It's growing on me. Of course the presents, cake and cards helped.

ONE LUCKY GIRL

2009-07-05T17:30:00.006-04:00

I am lucky enough to have grown up having a family shore house at the Jersey shore. I've spent almost every summer weekend there since I was a kid. My grandparents bought the house about 40 years ago. It was a great house but it got old so about 7 years ago we (as in my Mom and Dad) knocked it down and built new. We now can use it year round. We've had holidays, family reunions here and it is great.

We have water on both sides of us, a canal on one side with a boat and the inlet on the other. We are all still amazed when we look out and see what our view is. This weekend Hubby took Girlie girl on the waverunner for the first time. My heart was in my throat while I watched them leave the dock. I was waiting on the other side of the house to see them go fast. She loved it. I heard her yell FASTER!! She is definitely her father's daughter.

Here's a few pictures above. I was hoping while my computer cousin was visiting us over the wknd he would help me figure out a easier way to post pictures. He mentioned something about another program but we ran out of time so for now I'll just have to deal with it taking me forever to post and today they are just all over the place. Someday I will be a computer savvy. Either way I am one lucky girl!!

BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS

2009-06-24T20:57:00.009-04:00

I can't tell you how much all your blogs have helped make my recovery bearable. I am now 3 weeks into it and getting antsy. Only 3 more weeks to go. As I sit on the couch each day I look around the house and think of all the things I want to do. Changes and updates I can't wait to make. For now I will follow doctors orders but look out when I am all better. Paint, fabric, new furniture. Lots of things will be going on!!

So for now I thought it would be a good time to work on some lists and any computer stuff. Girlie-girls birthday is the end of August. She wants a Cowgirl party. There is a great Internet site http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/ Anyone can go on and post there kids parties. Some are awarded 1st/2nd etc place. It's all organized into themes and there are some great ideas. I've found so much already and can't wait to get it all going.
For now I thought I would post some pictures from last years birthday which I did post on that site. The theme was Fairies Tea Party. I had a great time planning it. Everything turned out great and most importantly Girlie girl loved it!!

We set it all up in our front yard under a big tree. I borrowed the
Ikea tables from friends along with a couple tea sets. We made
place cards and bought tea party plates etc from the party store.
I had princess music playing and the girls feasted on PB&J, PB and Fluff, Cream cheese. I used a flower cookie cutter to cut them all
out.
Each guest got a set of pink fluffy fairy wings and a pink butterfly net.

For games we took the game Ellafun and placed it inside this cardboard
tube Hubby found at work. I painted it to look like a tree trunk with a little fairy peeking out. The girls all tried to catch the "fairies" as they came out.

We also played pin the wings on the fairy. I just took some foam core and
painted the fairy (glad to see my college art degree being used) Had some
old fairy dress up wings that I put velcro on.

This is my favorite picture of the day. That is girlie girl on the left with her cousin. So precious with their little fairy wings on.
Hope you enjoyed. I am getting all sentimental about Girlie girl growing so fast. Wish I could stop time but for now I am off to try to find cowboy boots and hats on the Internet.

BEST LAYED PLANS

2009-06-10T21:44:00.002-04:00

Oh I had such good plans for my blog, my house, my summer. Well I just needed to get past some minor surgery last Wednesday. Well my minor turned into major. Had one cyst on my ovary that turned out to be more than one and some other fun things. So I am now sitting here with about an 8" incision in my lower abdomen and strick doctors orders to lay low for 6 weeks. UGH! That seems like a lifetime from now.
I am still trying to wrap my head around it but I intend to make lemonade with these lemons. I will soon be more mobile so I plan to do lots of sewing in a new craft room I plan to do (I should say have my brother do) I am going to finally organize all my photo's online which should result in lots of before and after posts on my blog.
I will say that all your blogs have saved me from long days of watching all the truly stupid stuff on TV. Thank god for my computer.
I'll be back soon!

UGH!!

2009-05-27T09:56:00.002-04:00

Hubby is back to work thank god but now my computer is sick. It's at the doctors now so I have no way of posting pictures etc. Today I am at a friends to borrow her computer so I can do bills (what fun!)
Of course I am taking some time to browse all my favorite blogs and as usual have seen so many good things.
Hopefully computer will be better by next week and I hope to get some good posts going. First on the list is to update the picture of my house. Need to show how pretty it looks in summer, at least how pretty it will look when I get some time to go out there and plant some things. Just never enough time in the day, week, month.
Hope everyone has a good week. I'll be back soon!

Everyday with Hubby.

2009-05-20T16:39:00.004-04:00

So as I am sitting here devouring all my favorite blogs and wishing I could completely redo every inch of my house I remind myself that I to have a blog and gosh darnet I haven't posted in like forever. I have to blame it on my change in routine. Hubby's union went on strike about 3 weeks ago. (they just settled and are back to work Yay!) So there went my normal days. When I got up in the morning he was there and when I went to make lunch he was there. Now I did enjoy him being home and really miss him now but man did it throw me for a loop. I am def someone who likes order and schedules but I didn't realize just how much I need that. Having him home changed everything. We did get a few more major things done but what I found really hard was just finishing my normal everyday stuff.
Right now getting ready for a long weekend at the Jersey shore. It will be fun but I am so looking forward to next week when it's just me and girlie girl doing our thing. Bring on the cleaning supplies, laundry etc. I think I will enjoy it for at least a day!

PROBLEM SOLVED

2009-04-28T14:36:00.002-04:00

Problem: The hubby thinks there are too many pillows on the couch when he goes to sit down and watch TV. I sometimes have to agree with him but I like the look when no one is sitting so I won't get rid of them.
Solution : Buy a cute basket from Homegoods that looks great in the room and provides a nice spot to throw pillows in other than the floor (previous solution)
I think we will all be happy now!

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

LIFE IS GOOD

2009-04-16T12:15:00.003-04:00

The sun is finally shining here in the northeast. We had 2 days of rain after a not so nice Easter weekend. That rain brings me down but I am motivated today. I got up nice and early this am and got to work. My house is now clean from top to bottom. Okay I took the easy way and feather dusted but at least it's done and the bathrooms are even clean. It's been awhile since the house was all clean at once. Love that feeling. I also took some time to tweak a great find I got recently at TJMaxx. See the cute little birdcage below. It was 6.99 - I couldn't pass it up. I loved the gray patina but it really doesn't go with my scheme so I spray painted it cream. I love it. So as I sit here in my clean kitchen, listening to the last load of wash in the dryer and bite into my peanut butter and jelly sandwich all I can say is LIFE IS GOOD!

DOORS TO ADORE

2009-04-07T13:07:00.004-04:00

I am joining the DOORS TO ADORE party that ask Kari and Kijsa are having today. Check it out at http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/ Here is my front door all decked out for Easter. The door definitely needs to be painted black. Just have to convince my husband this is a good idea. He thinks black says morgue. He doesn't know what he is talking about. It will take a little more coaxing but I'll get him over to the dark side soon.

2009-04-04T20:38:00.002-04:00

BEFORE

AFTER

This is my entryway or foyer. The long table was a leftover from our old house. We used it as a couch table. It fit in the foyer and served a purpose for a couple years. I knew I wanted a bedroom dresser to take it's place. It took some time searching but I found it at a great 2nd hand store near my house. Was $65 then got marked down to $35. Either price was a good deal. It was meant to be. I didn't take a before picture but it was just a natural wood. We have alot of woodwork and a hall tree opposite this so I wanted to paint it something that would pop. Red is my accent color thru out the livingroom/diningroom so I went with that. I'm very happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to use the drawers for storage. I also am looking forward to changing up the display on top. I've been busy decorating for Easter and we are hosting dinner tommorrow for my hubby's family so I am going to have lots of pictures and ideas in the next few days.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

SOMETHING NEW IN THE DINING ROOM

2009-03-29T21:00:00.008-04:00

Over the weekend we got a new addition to our dining room. I don't love the color of it but what it holds is pretty darn cute.

We got a bunny. His name is Ella. It's not a boys name but you try convincing a 4 year old otherwise.

Oddly enough I didn't even blink my eye when we moved it into the dining room. Definitly doesn't go with my decorators motif. Although I did get a red table to match my accent color in that room. I keep thinking I will eventually paint his cage a different color but for now I am just enjoying the joy girlie girl is getting by having her new pet.

She came down this morning before I did and I could hear her saying Good Morning Ella - cutchi, Cutchi Coo - So cute. Definintly worth the non traditional decorating.

LOVE THE TOILE

2009-03-24T13:16:00.007-04:00

LOVE THE TOILE. In my last house I had lots of black and cream toile. In this house I've traded that in for red and gold. This is one of my favorite pieces in my house. The best thing about it is the cost - about $15.00. The chair was from my parents house. I just spray painted it. Got the fabric from Calico Corners and started my first sewing project. The cushions turned out okay. Not the most professional job but it works. Whenever I look at this chair I smile! I love it!

Go check out http://prettyorganizedpalace.blogspot.com/ - she is having a toile party. Great ideas and inspiration.

ONE DAY A YEAR TREAT = NO CALORIES!

2009-03-16T13:38:00.003-04:00

I figure since I only make and eat Irish Potatoes once a year and on only one day they shouldn't count towards my daily caloric intake. Right? Sure! Here is a pretty simple recipe for them. Basiclly nothing in there is good for you but they are so good!!!

8oz block cream cheese (room temp)

1/4 lb butter (room temp)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 box confectioners sugar

7oz coconut

cinnamon

Cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Add 1/2 box sugar at a time. Add coconut last and blend well. ** add a few drops of milk if dough is to hard

Chill for 1 hour. Roll into balls (I used my melon baller to get a perfect size). Rechill until firm.

Yummy Yum Yum!!

Enjoy and have a Happy Saint Patricks Day!

TO CLEAN OR NOT NOT CLEAN

2009-03-12T21:42:00.002-04:00

Question for everyone. Before you go away for a weekend or week do you clean your house?
We are heading out of town this weekend so I spent most of my day cleaning the house. Making sure the bathrooms were nice and clean, things dusted and vacuumed. Just as I was finishing up the last chore, vacuuming the dreaded stairs, I started thinking. Am I insane? Why am I cleaning? We won't be here to enjoy it. Where was this cleaning machine last week when I kind of let the house go towards the end of the week and regretted it all weekend when the house was a mess and we were home to live with that mess. I feel like a switch goes off when I start packing that makes me have the energy and motivation to clean the house. I've been doing it for years so I doubt that any soul searching I do today will change it but I do think I am crazy and if you ask Hubby he thinks I am completely nuts. I know that on Sunday when I am happy to be home I will be even happier that it is a clean home.
So do you clean before you go away?

STRESS RELIEVER OR STRESS INDUCER

2009-03-10T21:02:00.003-04:00

Hubby found a new hobby. Puzzles. He says it helps him relax and relieve stress. Unfortunalty it's doing the opposite for me. I am glad he found something to do other than watching TV at night but does it have be positioned smack dab in the middle of my dining room table? It's been there since Sunday. When we bought the puzzle we also bought a puzzle stow away - suppose to allow you to roll up what you have done so far and not ruin it. I'm giving him until tommorrow night then I will be begging him to "ROLL IT UP"!

TWEEKING THE SHELVES

2009-03-02T09:43:00.002-05:00

BEFORE AFTER

Today we are getting some snow, maybe up to 6-8 inches. That's alot for us. So I've declared it a tweek the house day. Everything could def use a good cleaning and why not add in some fun with rearranging some things. Of course I am doing this in between playing Moonsand and answering the question from girlie girl "When can I go sledding?" (I'm leaving that for hubby to take care of!)

I've started in my dining room. Tweeking the pottery barn shelf. In the before picture I had alot of different things on it, pictures, knick nack, just stuff. I've been looking at so many of your blogs and I love all the collections of white you have. I thought it would make more sense to put some things on the shelf that you actually would use in a dining room. I am proud to say that none of the stuff is new, just went down to my knick nack storage and grabbed a few things. I don't have a white collection but my everyday plates are white (French Countryside from Mikasa) so they worked. I am really happy with how it turned out. I'd like to incorporate some more red accents and will look for some things in the future but for now it works. Now onto other areas in the room. More pictures to come.

FELL IN LOVE WITH A PLATE

2009-02-23T15:35:00.003-05:00

This past weekend I fell in love with a plate. My hubby and I took a much needed weekend away without girlie girl - hard to believe but the first ever since she has been born. We went to my in laws place in Fenwick Is Delaware. They are lucky enough to be in Florida right now.

On Saturday I snuck away to visit one of my favorite stores The Country House. They have a great catalog and website www.thecountryhouse.com but that is nothing compared to the store, it's a site to see. It's almost visual overload. Should have brought a camera but forgot. I could have bought everything!! I restrained myself but did buy these plates. The Safflower salad plate. My girlfriend convinced me they would be perfect for my kitchen and the shelf I now refer to as "the thorn in my side". We'll she was right. They are perfect. I'll show more pictures of them in use on a future post. They were sold in a set of 4 for $50 - kind of steep for me but man they were worth it. I used 2 on my shelf and put the other 2 throughout the kitchen - I don't know what it is but they complete me!! and def complete my kitchen. Everytime I see them I smile! .

If you are ever in the area of Salisbury MD (near Ocean City Md) The Country House is a must see!

The joys of retail therapy!

BATHROOM CURTAINS * DREAM LIST

2009-02-18T21:13:00.004-05:00

Here is my finished bathroom curtain. I think it took longer to get my supplies set up and cleaned up than it did sewing it.

I need one of those wonderful craft rooms/areas you always see in magazines. I know many of you are lucky enough to have one of your own. Mine is a long way away. I planning to set something up in our unfinished, not very cozy basement but I can't see me spending any substantial time down there. For now I will put it on my DREAM LIST!! That list seems to keep growing and growing. Some of the things are attainable and some are truly dreams and will most likely remain that way. Do you have a DREAM LIST?

HOMEMADE SNUGGIES!

2009-02-16T12:47:00.002-05:00

I am still getting the hang of this blogging. I tend to go on and ck out all my favorites and then either run out of time to update mine or feel overwhelmed with all the great ideas and pictures that I feel my blog just isn't all that great. We'll I am trying to get over that comparing thing and am going to really start posting. I have a few ideas and that is half the battle.
Here is picture of my hubby and girlie girl. For valentines day I made them their own snuggies. We have all seen that commercial. For some reason it really appeals to men and kids. I have seen it many times and have never experienced any desire to buy one. I can't say the same for hubby and girlie girl. They wanted one and I thought what a great little project. I can't take full credit for it - Sarah at http://www.turnersoncloverlane.com showed one on her blog that she had made.
It took more fabric, money and time than I would have imagined or wanted but it was worth it - they both wore them most of the weekend!

VALENTINE'S CRAFTS

2009-01-30T11:20:00.004-05:00

I had some time to kill while in AcMoore so decided to stroll down the scrapbooking aisles. WOW - what stuff they have. I got some inspiration with some cute V-day paper I found so picked up some wood blocks and wood plaque. Did some painting and pasteing and this is what I came up with. I think they turned out okay. I swear I am my own worst critic. They do add some pizzaz to my V-day decorations and didn't cost much so I am happy with that!

FINISHING THE BATHROOM

2009-01-13T21:01:00.006-05:00

As with so many of the other rooms in my house the bathroom is "almost done". Thankfully all the changes we had to make were cosmetic . The bones were there - newer toilet, sink and tub all in good shape. We took down some peach tile and replaced with beadboard, painted the walls Benjamin Moore Dill Pickle ( the name made me pick it - I love it) and changed the light fixture and mirror. We still have to paint the beadboard but I'll be leaving that up to my brother who paints for a living. We call him wallpaper boy. He'll be coming in soon but for now I am going to get done what I can do myself and that is curtains. The window is high and very small so no need for anything more than something pretty. I found these 2 fabrics at Joann's - I like them both just not sure how the cream background will look with the white beadboard, floor, shower curtain. What do you think? Sorry the pictures are both pretty poor. I'll have to work on my photo skills.

START OF A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE

2009-01-08T20:56:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be finally starting this. For the past few months I have been hooked on quite a few blogs. Checking them out daily and basiclly getting what I call computer cramp in my right hand from scrolling down each page. I have so enjoyed all the sites I've checked out and vowed to start one of my own in the new year. What I have so far is so basic compared to what I've seen but I hope to change that in the weeks to come as I become more knowledgeable in the ways of blogging. This is the start of whole new adventure for me and I can't wait to experience it all.