Diet Cherry Limeade

Oh yeah.  Sunshine day.  Diet Cherry Limeade.  With a cherry on the side.  It's gonna be a good good day.

A Little Mary Stitchery

 

This sweet Mary fabric was at Walmart.  Have you seen it?  I used some of it and made this little hoop for my friend Darla and gave it to her when she came to visit.  I thought it looked like us.  :)

Dear Friend

I have been so blessed the past two weekends.  Last weekend my sister and three dear friends from home came to visit me.  And this past weekend another sweet friend came as well!  Talk about lots of love coming my way!  We had such a nice time together.  This sweet friend introduced me to a couple things that I love.  My coffee addiction began with her.  When our kids were babies and toddlers we would get together and drink coffee and let them play.  Now our kids are much older and we still get together and drink coffee.  Wonder how many cups we have consumed over our years together as friends?  Thousands I am sure.  But most importantly, she introduced me to Jesus.  I watched her as a young wife and mother knowing in my heart that she had something that I did not have.  Joy... unspeakable joy....that lived deep within her.  I wanted what she had!  And, she graciously shared Jesus love with me. 

The Washstand

 Remember when I told you about my little washstand that my mama gave me?  I had mentioned that I was going to have my hubby work on her a bit since she was rather "sick."  As you can see from her before picture.  She was not very pretty.  Well.....it was a little more than he felt he could do to make her sturdy.  So, I called my friendly fantastic ever-so-talented carpenter fellow and he came over and took her back to his workshop and repaired her for me.  She is solid as can be now! 

 Here she is all painted and prettied up.  I used the original hardware that was on her.  Don't you just love that little beadboard door? 

And here she is with the mirror that went with her in my mothers childhood home.  My mother and I have been talking about this little stand since I have been working on her.  She told me it used to be in her mothers kitchen when she was a child.  They did not have indoor plumbing so the wash basin sat on the top of this in the kitchen by the back door.  My mother would wash her little hands standing at this.  The hooks on the mirror held their towels.  She even remembers getting her mouth washed out with soap at this little washstand for being sassy!  I can not begin to put a price on this little piece of furniture.  It means so much to me! 

Gift From Mama

I have mentioned before that the UPS and Fed Ex fellows stop at my house usually every day due to my husbands job.  I don't get packages...unless I order something....which I rarely do.  My sister had told me about a really cute picture she had bought at Target.  So, off I trotted to Target to check out this picture!  Alas, my Target did not have that cute picture.  But, a few days later...the UPS fellow came to my door with something in a Target box.  Hummm.  And, it had MY name on it.  Happy Dance!  Happy Dance!
When I opened it I found this adorable picture inside.  My mama had sent it to me "just because."  Was that not so sweet of her?  I promptly hung it in my "studio" so I can admire it every day.  If you are interested in the artist and finding some of her sweet work, here is her website.  THANKS MAMA!!!  I LOVE IT!! 

Pals

This weekend three of my friends from my hometown, and my sister, came up to visit me.  They arrived at dinner time Friday night and left this afternoon.  I miss them already!  We had a lot of fun together.  I wish I could have made time stand still for awhile so I could of had more time with them.  We had laughter of the greatest proportion.  We had food of great proportion.  We had sleep of very little proportion.  But, we can catch up later.  We solved all the problems of the world this weekend.  Nothing like a group of women to do some major problem solving. 

I wanted to make them a little gift for coming to see me.  I came up with these little embroidery hoops.  I added a couple yo yo's in colors I thought they would like.  And stitched a little love on them.  I think they liked them.  Just a little something to put in their homes so when they see them, they will reflect on our time together and know how much I cherish their friendship and love.  And how very much I miss them.

Extra Noodles

No matter how hard I try, when I cook spaghetti for my family, I can not make the exact amount of noodles we can eat.  There is always extra and I hate to throw them out.  My mother has a pasta salad recipe that I love.  It is sweet and savory.  I take the extra noodles and what ever veggies I have on hand in the fridge and put them in my salad.  For this one I used cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumber and green olives.  Sliced them up and added them to the noodles.  For the dressing I use equal parts of three things you probably have on hand all the time.  Canola oil, white sugar and Cider Vinegar.  The amounts of them I use depends on the amount of noodles I have left over.  For this small amount I used 1/8 cup of each of the three.  If I have a lot of noodles, I may use 1/2 cup each.  That part you have to play by ear.  These are the spices I use....

Parsley flakes, Nature's Seasons (love this stuff for lots of things!) and garlic powder.  Just a few shakes of each....no set amount.  Whisk together with your oil mixture until the sugar is dissolved and pour on top of noodle/veggie mixture.  Then chill.  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy. 

I would love to hear what you do with your leftover noodles.  Please share! 

Sniff Sniff Sniff

The window was open this afternoon in Michigan.  Whoot Whoot!!  Of course, that brought the "kids" to the window to sniff the smells outside.  Sophie the doggie was really enjoying herself.  Can you see her resting her little chin on the window sill?  They both sat like that most of the afternoon.  Enjoying the warm sun and the breeze. 

Yellow Stains

Yesterday was a sunny day in Michigan.  I thought I would take advantage of it and get some Spring cleaning done.  I decided my kitchen curtains needed cleaning!  They had some yellow spots on them and I was not quite sure what it was.  So, standing in front of my washing machine I began adding soap and Borax and a little bleach and a little baking soda.  The next thought I had was...."Wow...I hope I am not creating some sort of chemical reaction in my wash and I am going to blow the lid right off my washing machine!"  I had to remind myself that I was not making soup.  :)  I cook like that....add a pinch of this...a dash of that.....have a little taste to see what else it needs then adjust accordingly.  Seems that my soup turns out better than my wash.  The yellow stains are still on my curtains.  Drat!

Mom...I Need A Pie

So my Monday began like this.  A phone call from youngest daughter from school.  "Mom...today is pie day at school.  So I need a pie here by 10:30 if possible."  Ummmm......yeah.  She had told me earlier last week she needed one today but I forgot to write it down and she forgot to remind me.  She suggested going to the bakery on the way to school to pick one up.  How considerate of her.  But, I did have a pie crust in the fridge.....and brainstormed as to what I could fill it with.  I went with a Chocolate Chip Pie.  I thought 7th grade kiddos would like that hopefully.  It is cooling right now on my window sill.  The window is cracked even though it is under 40 degrees here at the moment.  Can't wait until we can open the windows and doors for real! 

Here is the recipe I used if you would like it.  It comes in very handy with the words..."Mom, I need a pie."

Chocolate Chip Pie I

Rated: Submitted By: Mirelle Dean Photo By: littlemisschocolate Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 1 Hour 20 Minutes Servings: 8

" This pie is very rich with a cup of butter, a cup of chocolate chips, a cup of sugar and a cup of chopped walnuts. And there 's a few other tasty ingredients. They all bake up famously into a delicious 9-inch pie."

Ingredients:

2 eggs 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup butter

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2.	Beat eggs until frothy, add sugars and vanilla.
3.	Melt butter or margarine, and add to sugar and egg mixture.
4.	Stir in flour until well blended.
5.	Mix in walnuts and chocolate chips.
6.	Pour into pie pan and bake for 1 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 3/14/2011

Not So Bad

For some reason, laundry does not seem so bad when I look at this little yellow bottle with a sweet bear on it.

Sadie Hawkins

My daughter has a Sadie Hawkins dance tonight.  She asked this sweet fellow.  They dressed up as Michigan State Fans.  He brought her purple daisies.  Awwww.  He certainly won some points with me tonight...I mean any boy that brings my daughter daisies has to be a winner in my book!  I pray they have a wonderful time tonight!

What Are You Reading?

Somewhere along the way I found this book series.  I could not put the first book down and am now onto the second book in the series.  There are four books total.  The story is set in England and is really such a good read.  I really think I should have been born in this era.  There is something so enchanting about it. Beautiful gowns, horse drawn carriages, stone cottages with beautiful rose gardens......ahhhhh.  Can't you picture it?

Anyway, I am giving this series a thumbs up if you are interested in something wonderful to read and you would like to travel back in time to the 1800's in England.

Sentimental Me

My Grandparents.....

My mother recently gave me a wash stand and mirror that was in her childhood home growing up.  The wash stand is in pretty rough condition.  My husband is going to try and fix her for me.  She needs some help with her top and sides and bottom and drawers.  And, her knob fell off as well.  She's a mess!  But, as I told you before...I am a sentimental gal.  And just knowing that the wash stand and mirror were in my sweet Grandma's kitchen means so much to me.  I wanted to show you the mirror I finished today.

Thankfully, I took a "before picture" of the mirror to show you.  I had to refer back to that photo to remember how to attach the hooks.  Who would of thought blogging could of saved me today.  :)

I look at my reflection in this old mirror and think it is amazing that my Grandfather (whom I regret I never had a chance to meet) and precious Grandmother looked at their own reflections in this very same mirror.  It makes me wonder what my Grandfather would of thought of me.  He was a gentle man I am told.  He was a carpenter by trade.  My mom thinks he probably made this mirror. Would he be proud of me for bringing his creations out again and using them?  I have to believe he would be.  I am so thankful my mother gave this to me.  I better go get a Kleenex.  Sniff Sniff.....

When I Was A Little Girl....

This was my little dresser when I was a little girl.  I had a canopy bed that matched as well.  With a Holly Hobbie bedspread.  It was awesome!  My mother sold my bedroom set to her sister, my aunt, a very long time ago.  When my Aunt and Uncle downsized, my sweet Aunt asked me if I would like to have my dresser back.  I am a very sentimental soul and I said "Yes!" without a second of hesitation.  I think my poor husband said..."What are you going to do with that?"  I had no idea...I just knew that I wanted to have it back since I remembered it as a child.  This is what I remember about this dresser.  I was around 8 years old and I could not reach the top drawer.  So, my mama left it empty.  But, what I put in it was a different story.  My grandfather used to come over and bring me treats as a child.  One day he brought me a Hershey candy bar and I hid it in the top drawer of this dresser.  A secret place.  I guess I thought that if I could not see what was in there...no one else could either.  A child's simple mind I suppose.

I decided this past week,during my paint-a-thon, to paint my little dresser.  My favorite color....Pink!  Now she is living in my sewing room where I can see her every day.  I can reach the top drawer now, so it is filled with more of my treasures.  But not chocolate.  :)

Blogging Desk

 

Several years ago I bought this desk for our computer from Pottery Barn.  Just a simple desk with two small drawers.

Decided that it would look so much better painted.  So, I dug out a can of paint I already had in the basement from another project and began.  Of course there was coffee involved.

And of course he was involved.  I told him he was the supervisor of this painting project.  He likes to be in charge.

But then he decided to lay down on the job.  What a slacker.  I threatened him with a pink slip but he was not getting back up until after his snooze.

And here is my little blogging desk today.  I also made her a little skirt to wear to hide what is underneath.  CORDS!  Ugh!!  And the printer and speakers.  I made three little skirts, for the front and both sides, and hung them with tension rods.

Much better.  And, the tangled mess of cords are hidden from sight. 

I also painted the chair to match.  I am really on a painting kick at the moment at my house.  It is pretty bad when Beth at Home Depot asks me what I am up to today.  We are on a first name basis now.  :)

The Room

I am close enough to being finished with my daughters room to show you what we have done so far.  We may do some "tweaking" here and there...but for now it is done and she is happy with it.  Which makes this mama very happy.

Here is the bed and builders brown wall color before.

Bed after with her new bedding.  She still kept the twinkle lights up on her bed.  I love the way they look as well.  And her new wall color.  It is a really soft mint green.  The pictures are taken at night so it is hard to get a true color...but you get the idea. 

Dresser before I painted it...

And dresser after.  With her cute mirror above it.

Some wall stuff we found at Hobby Lobby.  Both things were brown/black before and we painted them purple to match her room.  That is a battery operated candle.  It even flickers. 

And her pictures I made her the other day all hung up.  That's it.  One teen room.  Any bets on how long it will stay clean?  :)

Mirror Mirror

 I have been introduced to this gentleman.  Actually we have been enemies friends for a few months now.  Because of him, I am learning something new about the money God has blessed us with.  That being said....I am on a BUDGET.  So, I have been finding creative ways to make my house pretty and do it with very limited funds.  My daughter did not have a mirror for her room.  Hobby Lobby had some pretty ones (half off this week) and I knew that I could paint one to match her freshly painted dresser and it would be perfect.  Here is the before...with my frog tape in place already. 

And here is the after.  Much better.

Bedroom Art

When we moved here 15 months ago, my house was just built.  All the rooms were painted builders brown.  I am not a huge fan of builders brown....but I have lived with it for all these months.  Those who knew me in my previous life in Illinois, know that I loved to paint rooms.  It was an inexpensive way of changing the looks of a room for very little money.  And, I actually found painting to be quite relaxing.  I know...you can say it....I am a weirdo.  My daughters rooms have been begging me to put some pretty paint on their walls for awhile now.  I finally caved.  I began with oldest daughters room first.  I will show you the big reveal in a few days.   But I did want to show you some artwork I just finished for her new boudoir. 

 I bought two packages of 11 x 14 canvases from Michael's.  They were 50% off this week.  Total of $8.00.

 I found these wall stickers at Marshall's for $8.00 on clearance.

 I painted the canvases a light buttermilk color.  Then waited for them to dry and placed the larger sticker in each of the four corners.  Then randomly placed the butterfly stickers hap-hazzardly around.  I thought they were cute as is but could be MUCH cuter and frilly with a wee bit of lace around the edges.  Already had the lace in my stash.  Lastly, I put some glitter in the center of each butterfly for a bit of sparkle.

  I am really happy with the way they turned out.  For about $16.00 she is getting a very large piece of artwork for her new walls.

Just Some Dreaming Lovin

Remember the post about my dream of having a few sheep someday?  My sissy did something fun for me because of that post.  She is a lover-of-paper.  And fun little trinkets and scissors and stickers.  And things I don't even know what the heck they are called or what she does with them.

She lovingly made me the most darling dream hanger with a sheep on it no less!  Can you see him?

 It says "Once upon a dream" in the corner.

And, she also sent this magazine about raising sheep!  It is packed full of info on the little darlings.  Can you see the post it note she included on the magazine for me?  "Dream a little!" it says.  And that is certainly what I have been doing.  Thanks sissy...I love you and miss you very very much.  XOXO

A Little Behind

 I signed up awhile ago on Renee's blog to do her Christmas Sew Along.  So far I am lagging behind a wee bit.  Ahem.  The first month we were challenged to make a purse.  Have I mentioned before (a time or twenty) that my sewing skills are less than perfect?  But, that is not going to stop me!   Here is my bag/purse I finally finished.  It is pretty good sized.  It has some fun details like a little pocket on the front and some button love.  I even have a coordinating lining on the inside.  Fancy!!  I did have some help from my sweet friend Kathy...the sewing whiz.  She always gently guides me in the right direction and helps me fix my mistakes.  Right Kath?  :)  That rick-rack was a booger for me.  Aye Aye Aye.....

Here is the book where I found my pattern.  Hobby Lobby 40% coupon.  Gotta love that!

And, like I said before.  I never know what I will find when I turn on my camera.  Apparently this bag may also be used for a kitty carrying pouch.  In case you are in need of one.