Taking a short blogging break!
Going to be enjoying "Autumn" at it's finest!
Lord willing, will be back to blogging this weekend! :)
How beautifully leaves grow old.
How full of light and color are their last days.
"Jack 'em Up"
Monday, September 26, 2011
If you've watched
"Say Yes to the Dress - Atlanta,"
you've heard the familiar phrase by consultant Monte,
"time to jack 'em up."
That comes at the moment when the bride has found THE dress,
and Monte is called in to style and complete the bridal ensemble with the perfect accessories.
I felt like Monte this weekend,
as I embellished a few pumpkins,
"jacking 'em up to be, ol' so cute!"
Started with small pie pumpkins, and stickers...
Pumpkins were "styled" to be given to co-workers and friends.
An initial for their last names was used for each.
Used two styles...polka dots & zebra.
Cut strips to make a simple bow....
Bow constructed using wire --- cut long enough to go around the stem of the pumpkins...
Easy bow with just strips, no loops...
Bow attached to the top of the pumpkin.
If it slides on the stem, dot it from behind with hot glue, where the stem and wire meet.
And below, we have the "jacked up jack-a-lanterns."
That's somewhat of a pun, huh? :)
Made two of the larger version, for myself and a close friend.
Linking Post up to:
Metamorphosis Monday @ Susan's, Between Naps on the Porch Blog
Amaze Me Monday @ Carrie's, Dittle Dattle Blog
Masterpiece Mondays @ Mary's, Boogie Board Cottage Blog
Wickedly Creative Fall Ideas @ Lindy's, itsy bitsy paper Blog
Wow Us Wednesdays #33 @ Kim's, Savvy Southern Style Blog
Good Deal??? Not so much!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
As much as I love thriftin',
there are times, what I think is a super deal,
isn't so much of one when I get home and do a little research.
Case in point...
The fruit motif lamp.
Paid $10.00 for it at the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.
Needed fresh paint and a lamp shade.
A day later, I saw one very similar at Home Goods,
for $29.99 -- brand new, with a lamp shade included.
Unfortunately, my Good Deal, wasn't so much of a good deal, after I paint and add a shade.
Oh well, you lose a few, but win many --- in thriftin', that is! :)
The ivory vintage metal wall lamps were a Habitat For Humanity find, as well.
More Recent Finds...
Below, glasses and vases found at the Salvation Army and Domestic Violence Benefit Thrift Store.
And a great large Italian Pottery piece for $1.50.
Much better deal!
So, for those of you that also thrift...find anything interesting this week???
Bringing Smiles Along the Miles
Friday, September 23, 2011
"When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile!"
-Anne Byrn
And smile is just what I did,
when my sweet girl brought home these delectable,
beautiful cupcakes, from college last weekend.
She knows just how much her mom loves a good cupcake,
and these were heavenly.
The bottom two were S'mores and the top cupcake in the righthand corner,
was Reese's Cup, (perfect marriage of chocolate and peanut butter.)
And the one bought just for me from Gigi's in Raleigh,
was called, "Wedding Cake."
And today on her way home,
she picked up a box of Peanut Butter MoonPies for her dad,
and a box of Chocolate Mint for me.
She is spoiling us rotten!
Sure do love that girl of mine! :)
She gets that thoughtfulness from my side of the family! "wink - wink!" ha!
Keeping It Quick, Keeping It Simple
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Nothing better than a simple project
to add a little extra hmmmphhh to your decor!
Old Footstool Makeover
Materials Needed:
~~ Spray Paint ~~
~~ New Fabric ~~
~~ Staple Gun ~~
The brown wood stool was spray painted black, a year ago.
It's been patiently waiting in the garage --- in the infamous "to-do" heap.
Used a remnant of pale yellow and ivory large checked silk.
Puckers aren't quite as prevalent in person.
Placed next to the TV Armoire...
Another quick and simple project...
Purchased the Calendar of Parrots off of Ebay.
Each monthly beautiful large print was perforated, separating the calendar section, intended for reframing.
Frames found at AC Moore ... 55% off a few weeks ago.
Replaced a couple of large, long tropical prints that were getting a little faded.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
-- Albert Einstein
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Linking Post To:
"Sharing Your Creations," at Kristen's Blog, Kristen's Creations
~~ and ~~
"Keep It Simple," at Barb's Blog, Grits and Glamour.
Preacher Cake
Friday, September 16, 2011
Just wanted to share a delicious recipe found online at
called the Preacher Cake.
Very good --- perfect for a cool, fall night!
Preacher Cake
-1 1/2 to 2 cps sugar (may cut to 1 1/4 cps...I did)
-2 cps all-purpose flour
-2 eggs
-2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt
-2 tsp vanilla
-1/2 cup nuts
-1 (20 oz) crushed pineapple (undrained)
FROSTING:
-1 (8 oz) softened cream cheese
-1 3/4 cps powdered sugar
-1/4 cup butter
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/2 cup nuts
-2 tsp vanilla
1. CAKE: Combine dry ingredients; add remaining ingredients, and mix by hand. Bake in a 9x13 prepared pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (I cooked mine for 25 minutes, any longer and it would have been too done!)
2. FROSTING: Mix well and spread on the cake in pan. Enjoy!
3. If you would like to save calories, instead of using the frosting, just sprinkle top of cake with a bit of powdered sugar.
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Baking a Fresh Apple Walnut Cake and Chocolate Cream Pie this afternoon,
for Sunday Dinner Company after church tomorrow.
I'll share those recipes soon!
And as much as I love to bake, does everything always come out just right???
...NO!
The Nutella Brownies, below, attest to that.
I was making them for a Care Package to send to Ashley,
but unfortunately, they are JUST as HARD and dry as they appear in the picture.
...not sure what went wrong...
Sadly, they ended up in the trash!
Fall Arrangement Refreshed
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
So super excited that Autumn is officially only 9 days away!
My favorite season of the year!
Love the weather,
and the richness of nature displayed in splendid magnificent colors!
It's still warm, here in NC, but I have started transitioning my home towards Fall just the same.
{If I waited for much cooler temps...I'd be infringing on Christmas!!! ha!}
My fall decorating began with an arrangement,
that was inspired by the very talented Pat, from Back Porch Musings.
I sighted the beautiful arrangement in her post, "Compelled," posted on 8/29/11.
Loved the tall rooster piece and rich colors she used.
I had many similar components to Pat's arrangement on hand.
Started with an old arrangement of flowers.
Purchased a new foam base, and a few fresh colors from Hobby Lobby...50% off.
Combined them for a "topper" for my rooster base.
{The front side below}
{A view of the back}
Gathered a few other fall pieces to assemble a vignette.
And the vignette is complete...
"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns!" ~George Eliot
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Linking post to:
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style, by Kim
Share Your Creations at Kristen's Creations, by Kristen
and
A Dilemma
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The yard sale'n bounty has been pretty fruitful the past two weekends!
That's a good thing! :)
So, here's my dilemma...
My intentions were to rent a booth in an Antique/Flea Market Mall at the end of the month,
and I've been buying and storing stock over the summer.
BUT, I'm continually tempted to keep most of what I've found, for myself!
Like the chair below --- $10.00!!!
Found the perfect spot for it as soon as I got home.
And, I already have a vision for the perfect makeover!
The little silver tea cups and saucers, brown tea pot, and Japan figurine were 10 cents each!
The green glass candleholder was .25!
Pot has a slight surface crack, but for 10 cents...couldn't pass that one up!
The brass tray, prettier in person...another keeper!
Already on my kitchen table -- part of a fall vignette! {$1.00}
Tea cups and saucers were dirty, but I worked on one set and think they will clean up easily and nicely.
Does anyone have any info on these pieces?
The price was right on these two, too....25 cents each!
Large metal wall basket...$1.50.
~~ potential keeper ~~
Cute rabbit planter --- a tempting keeper, but I have one similar.
A vintage purse with wooden handles and mother-of-pearl buttons, very clean inside.
Have a friend who collects these...will probably be keeper for a Christmas gift.
{$2.00}
Resisting the urge to spray-paint these, and use them as accents under a few pictures.
Entertaining Season is coming up, these will come in handy...keepers below.
But for $1.00 -- brand-new -- how can I not?
So I have a question, for anyone who might read this post and have experience with booths...should I pack up and wait until the Spring, or dive in and open up shop now???
Concerned that the coming winter months may be really slow. The Antique/Flea Market Mall is not far from the Interstate. Thinking that may be a plus....
decisions....decisions....
more dilemmas!
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Linking post up to Southern Hospitality Blog.
Visit Rhoda for more 2nd Hand Finds!