tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70526535484796593292024-03-13T00:04:18.734-04:00Playful PiscesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-19553378857526217732010-10-25T09:37:00.000-04:002010-10-25T09:37:35.108-04:005 in Five updateThe update is a few days overdue, but I finished my 5 in five!<br />
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1. Here's my fall banner...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI7I15_EI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/LLImCVXbSd4/s1600/Fall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI7I15_EI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/LLImCVXbSd4/s400/Fall2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I said I was only going to use stuff I already had to make these projects, and it turned out that I just enough burlap and fall-ish ribbon to make this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI6Vm8ruI/AAAAAAAAAZM/63mC2r-gRBc/s1600/Fall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI6Vm8ruI/AAAAAAAAAZM/63mC2r-gRBc/s400/Fall1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I hung it in the office just for the photo because afternoon light is tough for pictures at my house. But actually, if you picture the twine with clothes pins on it instead of pennants, that's #4 from my list - my inspiration "wire." :)<br />
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2. Halloween silhouettes<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI5-chRhI/AAAAAAAAAZI/eQjEeKbwj74/s1600/HalloweenSilhouettes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI5-chRhI/AAAAAAAAAZI/eQjEeKbwj74/s400/HalloweenSilhouettes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Easy! I've had these frames laying around that my parents were getting rid of, and they were perfect for this project. I originally wanted to use newspaper for the background. I tried a couple different things to get it to look old and yellowed. First I used coffee grounds, but that looked like someone stepped on it with muddy shoes. Then I tried staining it with tea, but that hardly did anything at all. So instead, I printed out some old handwritten letters I found <a href="http://www.theantiqueimage.com/?p=455">here</a>. I found the silhouettes online and cut them out of black card stock. And the cool thing about making these was that I figured out I really can use those little five and ten minute pockets of time; I made these while dinner was cooking Monday night.<br />
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3. A yummy, autumn inspired treat...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI7vl8vdI/AAAAAAAAAZU/9lkUZV1qV_k/s1600/GingerPumpkinCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TMLI7vl8vdI/AAAAAAAAAZU/9lkUZV1qV_k/s400/GingerPumpkinCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ginger-pumpkin-bread">Ginger pumpkin bread</a>, another Martha Stewart winner. I'm such a Martha junkie. The recipe was for two loaves, so I got to bring one to work and share the love. This was so good! And an awesome side benefit of #5, organizing my food mags. I didn't get through them all - I was too distracted by all the delicious looking recipes. But I did make a small dent, and I found a fresh batch of new recipes for dinners last week.<br />
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Most of the time, when life seems so busy and work leaves you feeling tapped for resources, the last thing you'd think you'd want is to add more to the to-do list. But this little challenge of simple, bite sized projects totally took the focus off of looming deadlines and time pressures, and instead was a fun way to get recharged, be creative and celebrate the season. Mission accomplished.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-29424461685655201082010-10-15T16:07:00.000-04:002010-10-15T16:07:08.479-04:005 Projects in 5 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLhbU8sEgII/AAAAAAAAAZE/vJghUBsq_S8/s1600/5InFive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLhbU8sEgII/AAAAAAAAAZE/vJghUBsq_S8/s400/5InFive.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />
Earlier this week, I found myself in a funk. This is the story of me getting out of it. :)<br />
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Work's been super busy, and about to be busier. I work for a magazine doing graphic design, so when work is crazy, I come home creatively tapped and officially pooped. I get poopy when I'm pooped - what can I say, I like (and need) energy to do things - home things, fun things, life things. I read a post just last week at re:find Joy, about how important it is to <a href="http://www.refindjoy.com/refind-joy/2010/9/30/fly-by-night.html">stay inspired</a> when work uses up all your creative juice for the day, and I know I'm not the only one who can relate to this. It's totally understandable that sometimes, at the end of the day, I don't really want to do much more than collapse in front of a few episodes of House. The thing is, too many nights of that don't leave me feeling better, and it's because it doesn't give me what I need to feel... balanced. So then, what's a girl to do?<br />
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Yesterday morning, I got to work and found that the piles had literally grown overnight. I just couldn't start the day like that. I mean, at the very least, I had to find my keyboard. So, I found some stuff around the office, and built myself a makeshift desk extension so I could feel like I was not physically buried in the stacks surrounding me. I cleared off my whole desk. I came up with some sort of mock filing system, just to feel like there was some order to the chaos, and already, I felt like I had a better handle on things. And underneath all the stacks of papers on my desk, I found this little reminder I jotted to myself when I first saw it on <a href="http://whenigrowupcoach.com/blog/">When I Grow Up</a> a few weeks ago. I really needed to hear it again yesterday; it was the only thing that would quiet the voice in my head going, "But I just. can't. DO it all."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLesxHFYGYI/AAAAAAAAAZA/LbTkJmAyeo0/s1600/BelieveInYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLesxHFYGYI/AAAAAAAAAZA/LbTkJmAyeo0/s320/BelieveInYou.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">{<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/52270125/must-believe-in-you">Must Believe in You</a> by jenzet} </span></span></i></div><br />
That little reminder changed totally shifted my perspective. I wasn't going to get anything done feeling all overwhelmed and under-energized. So what I decided to do was give myself a little creative challenge. Non-work related, non-chore related. It was actually inspired by a post that came through my reader, from Ashley's Thrifty Living, who's doing <a href="http://ashleysthriftyliving.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-projects-in-10-days.html">10 projects in 10 days</a>.<br />
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Okay, so ten projects might be a little much for me, but I decided I'd do 5 projects in 5 days, using only things I already have. I have an overabundance of <i>stuff</i> at home and projects filed away on a mental list. So this is my challenge for the next five days. Even just thinking about it gives me more energy. Maybe I'll get five done, maybe I'll get one done, but either way, this is such a better alternative than succumbing to The Funk.<br />
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These are my five projects:<br />
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1. Make an autumn banner like I've been seeing all over the place. Everybody has one, and I want one! So cute.<br />
2. Make some framed Halloween silhouettes<br />
3. Make some kind of yummy, autumn-inspired treat<br />
4. Hang the twine for my inspiration wire (No, this didn't get done on Saturday. Productivity gave way to spontaneous napping.)<br />
5. Organize my recipes/foodie mags. Well, start to.<br />
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I'll let you know how it goes! I hope everyone has a lovely weekend :)<br />
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P.S. When I told J what I'm doing, he said he wanted to do it too! Although he did warn that his projects probably wouldn't be fun and crafty. More like cleaning out his truck...updating his iPod... hey, whatever works! If anyone's out there and wants to join the fun, leave a comment, I'd love to see what you're doing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-85044309856808707622010-10-09T14:52:00.000-04:002010-10-09T14:52:27.265-04:00Fall is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLC41E0M6TI/AAAAAAAAAY8/N5KylAq80jI/s1600/Pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TLC41E0M6TI/AAAAAAAAAY8/N5KylAq80jI/s400/Pumpkins.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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Today, I'm decorating for fall. I'm probably way behind as far as the retail stores and most of the blogosphere is concerned, but that's okay. I appreciate the jump-start they take; it gives me time to warm up to the transition of the coming season, and usually I'm all about fall starting the minute Labor Day weekend comes. But I've been working on other things, so I'm all good with being a little late to the party. It is only the 18th day of autumn after all, and to be fair, this past week was the first time temperatures have dropped below 90 in my corner of the world. But today, I'm decorating for fall! I'm ready for cinnamon scents and caramel covered treats and sweaters at night.<br />
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Last night I had a buzz of ideas happening - nothing huge really, but things I knew I wanted to do today - hang the twine for my inspiration wire, bring some order back to my office so it can feel like my sanctuary again; clear out a nice big drawer for my paper supplies so I can get to them whenever I want without digging through closets... and decorate for fall. So today, the usual list of Saturday morning chores is taking a back seat. I actually changed <i>back</i> into pajamas after washing dishes and walking the dog, and decided this morning I'm going to indulge myself. I spent the morning enjoying a bowl of Rice Krispies and discovering some new inspiring bloggers, and now I'm going to put on some Rodrigo y Gabriela, unpack all my fall goodies and start celebrating my favorite season. Happy fall!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-40852175457733023282010-10-08T16:15:00.001-04:002010-10-08T16:18:23.264-04:00Picture windowMy latest project is finally finished! All it took was a little focus and determination not to get distracted by the next shiny thing (which is tough to do when pumpkins and leaves are happening everywhere!) <br />
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I was so excited to take pictures of it, I couldn't wait till it was hung on the wall, but here it is...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK8MMKgHXyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/-A_oUnTKXJ4/s1600/PictureWindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK8MMKgHXyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/-A_oUnTKXJ4/s400/PictureWindow.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
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How's that for a picture window! Well, technically a door. About a year ago, one of my neighbors was getting rid of this door, which I guess was from a hutch or something. (Check it out, I actually remembered to get a before pic!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5ws0AbFCI/AAAAAAAAAYk/IWVfg3yHRvk/s1600/DoorBefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5ws0AbFCI/AAAAAAAAAYk/IWVfg3yHRvk/s400/DoorBefore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I couldn't pass up a perfectly good door. So I subtly (not really) carried it home while I was walking my dog, and smiled-and-waved when people drove by looking at me sideways. What, it's a perfectly good door! And so it sat in my garage until, finally, one day I got my light bulb.<br />
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<i>Bing! </i><br />
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Remember I said I found these words at a yard sale...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyoOaFAKI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LizcCtfSO-c/s1600/Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyoOaFAKI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LizcCtfSO-c/s400/Words.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well I don't know what made me think of it, but I held them up to the panes and they were just the right size. I thought it would be so cute to get pictures of the girls to go with the words, and make a pretty, happy picture frame for their bedroom.<br />
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I picked out a soft pink paint and I thought it would be a nice touch to make it look old and weathered. I found this awesome <a href="http://jengrantmorris.blogspot.com/2008/07/distressed-letter-tutorial.html">distressing tutorial</a> and it worked great! After a light sanding, we lit a tea candle or two and spread a thin layer of wax on the wood, like this...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wqmrFpAI/AAAAAAAAAYY/qDe4o2ENADw/s1600/Waxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wqmrFpAI/AAAAAAAAAYY/qDe4o2ENADw/s400/Waxy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then we painted. This is after one coat. I almost left it this way because I liked the way it looked all brushy and uneven, but I decided to do the second coat anyway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wutISA1I/AAAAAAAAAYs/gHCCUSat0h8/s1600/Painted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wutISA1I/AAAAAAAAAYs/gHCCUSat0h8/s400/Painted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When it comes to the distressing part, the wax makes it so easy to scratch the paint right off. There's no right way to do it, so being the direction-follower that I am, this was actually a good exercise in imperfection for me - recklessly "defacing" a freshly painted door. (Hi, my name is Lynn and I'm a recovering perfectionist.) Sunday morning, before my coffee, before my brain was awake enough to stop me, I took one fingernail and scratched it. There was no turning back after that, and I think it came out just right!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wsHbzSKI/AAAAAAAAAYg/lHaXYWtTYSE/s1600/Distressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wsHbzSKI/AAAAAAAAAYg/lHaXYWtTYSE/s400/Distressed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All that was left to do was mount the photos. After I cut them down to size, I needed some filler to keep them pressed against the glass. The amount of foam board I would have needed was going to cost a small fortune, so instead I improvised using a few sheets of craft foam in each panel. It worked like a charm, and it was a major time saver because they were already the right size. Bonus!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wtiOR9qI/AAAAAAAAAYo/-GgccDJvCnw/s1600/Foam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wtiOR9qI/AAAAAAAAAYo/-GgccDJvCnw/s400/Foam.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />
I left a few panes photo-less because I'm a fan of negative space. It would have been way too busy if every spot had a photo in it. We trimmed a couple of sheets of poster board to allow for the "holes," then tacked it on with thumb tacks to hold everything in place. And voila! A beautiful, personal piece of art.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK8MMKgHXyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/-A_oUnTKXJ4/s1600/PictureWindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK8MMKgHXyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/-A_oUnTKXJ4/s400/PictureWindow.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wvWMI7fI/AAAAAAAAAYw/jyjZErw-SS4/s1600/Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5wvWMI7fI/AAAAAAAAAYw/jyjZErw-SS4/s400/Top.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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I'm so so happy about how this whole idea and project came together. I even made a pretty wallpaper from the words that inspired it. I know I only have like two readers, but I wanted to share it anyway :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5yfRuvCII/AAAAAAAAAY0/bL9DRortlYA/s1600/Wishful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TK5yfRuvCII/AAAAAAAAAY0/bL9DRortlYA/s400/Wishful.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Wish, love, hope, dream, smile. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-53586551286572344242010-09-11T13:15:00.000-04:002010-09-11T13:15:40.718-04:00Photo shoot, my creative goal for the weekI'm so lucky to have so many friends who are talented, creative, ambitious and always willing to be soundboards for my randomness. Last week, I met up with my wonderful and amazing friend, Mariah (<a href="http://onethreadthatwinds.com/">One Thread That Winds</a>), to toss around some ideas and projects that have been swirling in our busy minds, inspire each other and get motivated. We met at <a href="http://www.infusionorlando.com/">Infusion Tea</a>, which is also home to ArtisTree Co-op, a group of local artists who sell their handmade products in the shop. If anyone is local in Central Florida, you need to go check it out! They have so many cute things in there - jewelry, stationery, hair accessories, baby clothes, adorable aprons. Being surrounded by all this beautiful crafty stuff, it was just the right place to hang out for creative conversation. Plus they have yummy baked goods and every blend of tea imaginable. But I digress.<br />
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I've been feeling a little stuck lately, not for lack of ideas, but more like too many ideas and not enough time - or really, not enough time management. Turns out Mariah's been going through some of the same things. So before we left, we decided we'd be goal partners. Every week we'll call each other one goal we intend to work on that week - could be anything from cleaning out a craft closet, to finishing an almost-there project, to taking a first step on a new idea. Big or small, doesn't matter, just anything that moves us forward.<br />
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For my first goal, I chose photography. I got a new camera for my birthday and I was soo excited about it, but the poor thing has been completely neglected. I feel like I need to apologize to it or something every time I leave the house without it. A few weeks ago, I came up with a photo project I wanted to do for the girls' room. I thought it might be too ambitious for me. Mainly because I'm a procrastinator and I don't know how to break things down into baby steps. But now that their room is coming together, it was the perfect photography assignment.<br />
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A few weeks ago I bought these words at a yard sale for 25 cents each...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyoOaFAKI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LizcCtfSO-c/s1600/Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyoOaFAKI/AAAAAAAAAYA/LizcCtfSO-c/s400/Words.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I thought it would be cute if I took pictures of the girls to go with each of the words, so we had a little photo shoot last weekend. <br />
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I wouldn't call myself a people photographer really; I get camera shy <i>behind</i> the camera, as if that makes any sense. And with kids being so...mobile, and stuff, and me not being all that familiar with the (8,300) settings on my camera yet, I was a little worried I'd bomb it. I remembered this post I saw on <a href="http://www.theidearoom.net/">The Idea Room</a> a few months ago by <a href="http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/06/photography-with-kristen-dukehow-to-get.html">Kristin Duke on candid photography</a>. She has a list of favorite prompts she likes to use to induce those special candid moments without being "posed." I love that idea. I made myself a cheat sheet of words to shoot candidly by, and I think I might just pin it up somewhere because they're fun words just to have around.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuovEUPzzI/AAAAAAAAAX4/VlNNBTCeo8U/s1600/CandidWordsofKristinDuke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuovEUPzzI/AAAAAAAAAX4/VlNNBTCeo8U/s400/CandidWordsofKristinDuke.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Want one? Have one!</div><br />
Well I have to say, I don't know what I was worried about. These girls are so beautiful, it's almost impossible to get a bad shot of them! I gave them a few prompts here and there, but for the most part, I just let them do their thing. They had so much fun, and so did I. Here are a couple of shots... omg they're so cute I could eat them with a spoon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyrYxaytI/AAAAAAAAAYI/9ZCOg7wm81c/s1600/smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuyrYxaytI/AAAAAAAAAYI/9ZCOg7wm81c/s640/smile.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuythKUyrI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/R22S3Jt2TrQ/s1600/wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TIuythKUyrI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/R22S3Jt2TrQ/s640/wish.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
I got to play with some new Photoshop actions, and holy cow I could spend hours messing around. So that's my goal for this week, edit the pics and have them printed so next week I can start on the painting part of the project. Stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-3309436229805617632010-08-27T16:18:00.000-04:002010-08-27T16:18:45.593-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/SrgAVvhteAI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Gz3NfxDNRzs/s1600/Bunkbeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/SrgAVvhteAI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Gz3NfxDNRzs/s400/Bunkbeds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
So excited these bunk beds are finally here! Can't wait to decorate the girls' room!<br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
A raspberry delice, from Mon Delice bakery. It was a delicious puff pastry filled with some kind of raspberry sweetness and topped with fresh whipped cream, which sadly, I didn't take any pictures of in it's pretty, white bakery box before I ate. {sigh} But there will definitely be a next time. Soo good.<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
A guy on line behind me at the grocery store buying only wine and roses. Aww, sweet.<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
The Spectrum, Coffeehouse, Classic Rewind, Octane, and any of the other 151 channels on Sirius, since my Hero got my receiver hooked back up. Ahh, musical variety, and commercial free!<br />
<br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Fall is just around the corner and my favorite autumn-scented candles and potpourri are filling the stores. Pumpkin spice, fall harvest, cinnamon, caramel, apple orchard...good enough to eat. <br />
<br />
Happy last-Friday-in-August!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-28101233024412387882010-08-20T15:25:00.001-04:002010-08-20T15:26:53.363-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TG6g-YAwDlI/AAAAAAAAAXo/bRt7bGLe0zQ/s1600/stationery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TG6g-YAwDlI/AAAAAAAAAXo/bRt7bGLe0zQ/s400/stationery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
All kinds of goodies in the bags of paper supplies I picked up at a yard sale. Four big bags for $4. Cards, tags and envelopes in every shape and size. Total score!<br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
The delicious, comforting aroma of sauteed garlic. Reminds me of my daddy's cooking.<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
A playlist made from this list of <a href="http://www.positivelypresent.com/smileworthy-songs.html">smile-worthy</a> songs.<br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
Chocolate bacon. We heard at work that this is a "wedding trend," and my boss has been dying to try it ever since. Honestly, it's really not bad.<br />
Also...mimosas on a Tuesday night! Thanks babe!<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Quite ready for Happy Hour :)<br />
<br />
Here's to a lovely weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-54722799476378971712010-08-06T16:12:00.000-04:002010-08-06T16:12:39.113-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFxedU9gsZI/AAAAAAAAAXg/uXvb1JzjjFM/s1600/AquaOcean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFxedU9gsZI/AAAAAAAAAXg/uXvb1JzjjFM/s400/AquaOcean.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
The ocean on Sunday looked like something from a movie, vibrant aqua and crystal clear. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! Actually, the beach could have stood in for all five senses this week, it was just that good.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Flattered at having <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnbonnie/3887950622/" target="_blank">one of my flickr photos</a> faved by <a href="http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/" target="_blank">Creature Comforts</a>. I have no idea how she found me, but I'm drooling over her <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/creature_comforts/" target="_blank">photostream</a> and her <a href="http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> now... and I'm totally digging the fact that she faved me! <br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
As far as New Yorkers are concerned, when you say <i>pizza</i>, Domino's doesn't even qualify. Now, their Cinna-stix on the other hand, I could eat by the truckload.<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
Infomercials in my sleep. We fell asleep watching TV, so I wound up dreaming I was doing <a href="http://www.zumba.com/us/" target="_blank">Zumba</a> and loving it! Talk about subliminal advertising. When I woke up to <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/body-gospel.do" target="_blank">Body Gospel</a> (<i>"Combine the power of your faith with your desire to lose weight...Let the spirit move you..."</i>), I thought for <i>sure</i> I must be dreaming, but no...this is for real. ?! <br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Um. Can I say "the beach?" Sorry, must have had my nose off this week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-48506738688257758472010-08-05T09:51:00.006-04:002010-08-05T10:19:44.132-04:00Luggage tags and a birthday cardThis post is a bit belated, but before we get too far into August, I have one more July birthday project to share. This one was for my bestest friend, Dawn. Dawn has been an inspiration me in more ways than I can count. She's forever growing, expanding, and celebrating her latest, well-deserved success. She's been there through it all, ever since we became insta-friends 13 years ago, and I'm so grateful for her friendship, the memories we've created together, the crazy adventures we've had, and for the beautiful woman she is inside and out.<br />
<br />
One the many things that adds to Dawn's fascinating character, is that she never stands still for too long. Whether it's a new degree, a new job or a new hobby, she always has something new and exciting in the works. Right now, she's planning a trip to Morocco and Spain, and I decided to make her a pair of cute luggage tags to celebrate her journey. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFm_wYZ__KI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/De57DwOfZvU/s1600/casablancaposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFm_wYZ__KI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/De57DwOfZvU/s400/casablancaposter.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
Whenever I think of Morocco, I can't help but think of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and that exotic, 1940s elegance of Casablanca, so that sparked my inspiration for the design. I also came across these cool old tags at <a href="http://freshvintage.typepad.com/freshvintage/2007/09/youre-probably-.html">Fresh Vintage</a> that she scored on an ebay auction...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRH1Mj9lbI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Lqx6ux-dOWg/s1600/VintageTags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRH1Mj9lbI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Lqx6ux-dOWg/s400/VintageTags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I love the colors, the funky shapes, the simple illustration, the fonts... I just love me some vintage.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, with a little fusion of ideas, I came up with these: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRIBCbnUiI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ERbbDzUPA5s/s1600/LuggageTag006_blur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRIBCbnUiI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ERbbDzUPA5s/s400/LuggageTag006_blur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I started with some vintage travel posters of places she's been, like Australia and (of course) NY, and the places she's planning on going. I downloaded some <a href="http://www.brusheezy.com/Brushes/1496-Old-Postage-Stamp-Brushes">old stamp brushes</a> for Photoshop to give it a parcel-y feel, and created a shipping label so her cargo can always find it's way home safely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmS6f4pHFI/AAAAAAAAAWo/He0sZ0j7ep4/s1600/LuggageTag012_blur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmS6f4pHFI/AAAAAAAAAWo/He0sZ0j7ep4/s400/LuggageTag012_blur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On the other side, I used an <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/mellowmint/22019.html">old map texture</a> in the background, and added her initials on top.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRIFozPu2I/AAAAAAAAAWg/_QVCD8QafIg/s1600/LuggageTag013_blur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFRIFozPu2I/AAAAAAAAAWg/_QVCD8QafIg/s400/LuggageTag013_blur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The tag itself is actually a manila folder. I couldn't find any manila tags in quantities less than 100 (well, I probably could have if I didn't wait till the last minute for everything), but I also needed to be able to print some of the graphics directly on the tag, like the map and the postal stamps. So I printed it on the folder, cut out a custom shape for the tag and "scrapbooked" everything together. Luckily, we have a laminating machine at work so I was able to laminate it for free. I think it was a little too thick though, because it took about seven passes through the laminator and I still couldn't get it to seal off right up to the edge. Oh well :) The silver rings are binder rings, which I had (98 of) left over from another project. They're easy to open and close so I thought they'd work perfectly to attach the tag to a suitcase.<br />
<br />
<br />
Since I found all those paper supplies I forgot I had, I made her a birthday card, too. One of the things I found was a package of plain cards Dawn and I bought maybe 10 years ago. One day we decided to buy ourselves some Crayola watercolors and some rubber stamps, and we went to the park and painted cards for a few hours like little kids. Weren't we always getting ourselves into some random thing or another? Oh Dawn, you live too far away now!! I miss our shenanigans! {sigh} Anyway, that's what I used for the base of the card. I love that it has that little piece of history.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT4BfphDI/AAAAAAAAAWw/sb88sflXJBg/s1600/DBday10_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT4BfphDI/AAAAAAAAAWw/sb88sflXJBg/s400/DBday10_012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My other favorite part is the flower. I had this plain pink flower, but I thought it was a little blah so I added some embroidery floss to punch it up. First I poked a hole in it so I could attach it to the card later, and to hold it in place while I glued the thread on...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT7fVZvTI/AAAAAAAAAW4/RxJ3jFVClMQ/s1600/DBday10_014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT7fVZvTI/AAAAAAAAAW4/RxJ3jFVClMQ/s400/DBday10_014.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />
then, I took one piece of floss and looped it around and around, following the shape of the flower.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT9GBdteI/AAAAAAAAAXA/vMF5Qjx0BvY/s1600/DBday10_018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT9GBdteI/AAAAAAAAAXA/vMF5Qjx0BvY/s400/DBday10_018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When it was dry, I poked a hole in the card and attached the flower with a button and some pink floss.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT_srB49I/AAAAAAAAAXI/HjOIWIKxI4k/s1600/DBday10_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFmT_srB49I/AAAAAAAAAXI/HjOIWIKxI4k/s400/DBday10_009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And there it is, handmade with love and best wishes for a beautiful year ahead, wherever your journey takes you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFrIDbdgtlI/AAAAAAAAAXY/SmD2hjTntgw/s1600/casablanca-end-title-still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFrIDbdgtlI/AAAAAAAAAXY/SmD2hjTntgw/s400/casablanca-end-title-still.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span id="goog_1410225735"></span><span id="goog_1410225736"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-54360493733158495942010-07-30T22:31:00.000-04:002010-07-30T22:31:25.392-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFOJat9V6PI/AAAAAAAAAV4/DyriqkqL73s/s1600/StrawberryIcePop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TFOJat9V6PI/AAAAAAAAAV4/DyriqkqL73s/s400/StrawberryIcePop.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Ripe, red strawberries for the frozen yogurt pops. The grocery store was out of raspberries, so I improvised. Man were they good!<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
The Stand...well, the first part of it anyway. It's a million hours long.<br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
My Starbucks summer favorite, Java Chip Frappucino. I should master <a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/68066/copycat-starbucks-java-chip-frappuccino.html" target="_blank">the art of making this</a>.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Grateful for all the free stuff that's been coming my way: books, clothes, iPhone bumper (technically that won't be here till September, but free is free!)<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
It's been a loungy kind of week. It all started with Sunday night Sinatra, then there was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Only-Thrill-Melody-Gardot/dp/B001NESPHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280543109&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Melody Gardot</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/19-Adele/dp/B0018QOIXU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1280543161&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Adele</a><br />
<br />
Happy, happy Friday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-58821720968524597362010-07-27T14:49:00.000-04:002010-07-27T14:49:45.057-04:00Chocolate-Raspberry Frozen Yogurt PopsI've been slowly pecking away at <a href="http://playfulpisces.blogspot.com/2010/07/barnes-noble-on-budget.html">Throwing Out Fifty Things</a>, and one of the cool parts about it is finding things I completely forgot I had...like popsicle molds I bought eons ago to make <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/desserts/tequila-sunrise-ice-pops/" target="_blank">Tequila Sunrise ice pops</a> one Cinco de Mayo. Now, I can't leave the poor things neglected on a shelf while it's 97 sweltering degrees outside, can I? Of course not! So today I'll be making these:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_648307655"><br />
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chocolate_raspberry_ice_pops.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TE8cB0JesmI/AAAAAAAAAVw/MN7pC5J_5Y8/s320/ChocolateRaspberryPop.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chocolate_raspberry_ice_pops.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Chocolate-Raspberry Frozen Yogurt Pops recipe from Eating Well}</span></i></a></div><br />
<br />
And here's how I'm making out so far with my fifty things:<br />
<br />
1. A stack of board games<br />
2. An empty air mattress box<br />
3. A vase<br />
4. A bunch of crap from my night stand, including my <a href="http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/eyeglasses-donation.htm" target="_blank">old glasses which I can donate</a><br />
5. A box full of clothes (and a lot more to go)<br />
6. Sold an old computer. Free money, love that :)<br />
<br />
Six down, forty-four to go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-3831053949457105502010-07-23T14:35:00.000-04:002010-07-23T14:35:04.432-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TEnge4FpNzI/AAAAAAAAAVo/1E4bBEDAr6k/s1600/Waffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TEnge4FpNzI/AAAAAAAAAVo/1E4bBEDAr6k/s400/Waffle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
Two rounds of mimosas, <i>deLISHious</i> chocolate chip Belgian waffle and a couple of orders of Mary's Ta-Ta's (<a href="http://www.hamburgermarys-orlando.com/">Hamburger Mary's</a> grown up name for tater tots)<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
Cleaning out my night stand, I found a pile of summer recipes I tore out of magazines who-knows-when. No idea why they were in there, but now I can have fun making a menu for the week!<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
This is weird, but I was dropping eggs into water to boil and those streams of tiny bubbles coming out sounded like little chicks chirping. Vegan anyone??<br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
You know how, when your neighbors grill out, it smells SO GOOD you almost want to knock on the door with plate in hand? Well that smell was coming from our house this week, a lot, since we didn't have any afternoon thunderstorms to contend with. Empty plates welcome.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Ready to start recreating. REE-creating, REC-reating, either way. Happy Friday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-62747900495418000732010-07-16T19:00:00.000-04:002010-07-16T19:00:39.657-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TEDkDxblAEI/AAAAAAAAAVg/MSpwklWSMxU/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TEDkDxblAEI/AAAAAAAAAVg/MSpwklWSMxU/s400/Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
Like a Virgin, as performed by my Hero for a Cranium Humdinger. Hilarious!<br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
Shirby's homemade strawberry milkshake<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
A picture of the sunset I <i>would </i>have seen, if I had been the one to stop for groceries. <br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Fresh basil, one of my all time favorite scents. Instant happiness.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
A lot less sleep deprived this week<br />
<br />
<br />
Have a beautiful weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-39172373957679041532010-07-12T23:49:00.004-04:002010-07-15T08:36:52.324-04:00Barnes & Noble on a Budget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TDvXNcLjA_I/AAAAAAAAAVY/oin0X2ktcq8/s1600/stack-o-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TDvXNcLjA_I/AAAAAAAAAVY/oin0X2ktcq8/s400/stack-o-books.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcfox/14252597/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">{Photo: dcfox}</span></i></span></a></div><br />
Who doesn't love a wide-open Saturday? In between wonderful weekends of holidays, birthday parties and family functions came a whole day with nothing on the agenda. I had plenty stockpiled on the list of things I'd like to do "when I have time," but for some reason, I wasn't really feeling any of it. The only thing I knew needed to happen was planting our ridiculously fast-growing sunflowers in the ground. First thing in the morning, I went outside and started digging. If there's one thing I know after this attempt at "gardening" in Florida in July, it's that people in cooler climates have little to be jealous of this time of year. Wow. The heat was atrocious.<br />
<br />
Zapping my energy didn't do much for my lack of the direction for the rest of the day, so I accepted that, while some days are for expending, some are for absorbing, and this day was definitely of the absorbing kind. For anyone that hasn't read <a href="http://www.theartistsway.com/">The Artist's Way</a>, this is what Julia Cameron might refer to as needing to "fill the well," and the perfect thing I needed to fill my well was a nice afternoon in the A/C at Barnes & Noble, or Starbucks, browsing blogs on the free wifi while sipping a frozen coffee confection. Except that, really, the wifi isn't <i>free </i>- it's included with a $17 cup of coffee. Since I'm a bit broke at the moment, and I can't honestly think of a Starbucks within 25 miles, I packed up my computer and headed to the library.<br />
<br />
I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a geek. As a kid, I used to love summer reading clubs and the free events my mom used to take me to at the library. For as long as I can remember, I've loved coming home with a stack of books almost too big to carry, and this hasn't changed all that much. Without anything specific in mind, I wandered up and down the rows of books and pulled out anything that caught my eye, then spent the next few hours perusing the pages of craft magazines, cookbooks, relationship books, DIY, and who knows what else. I'd even snatched up a salsa DVD I spotted out of the corner of my eye. Welcome to my randomness! But somehow, it all seemed to fit that day.<br />
<br />
For instance, I read some advice for couples to recharge their individual batteries every day, a little like filling the well. It's hard to give when you're all tapped out, and it's important, even if just for a few minutes a day, to have <i>you</i> space - go for a walk, listen to music, do yoga - whatever it is that helps you unwind. Then you're more refreshed and better able to handle the tasks that drain energy all day.<br />
<br />
I borrowed two issues of <a href="http://www.papercraftsmag.com/index.html">Paper Crafts</a> magazine, thanks to my friend Gail, who reignited my interest when she started her brand new <a href="http://www.simplyoney.etsy.com/">Etsy Shop</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.simplyoney.com/">Simply Oney</a>. Last week, I found boxes full of supplies I totally forgot I had and now I want to see what I can do with them.<br />
<br />
Speaking of uncovering forgotten stuff, I picked up a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Throw-Out-Fifty-Things-Clutter/dp/0446505781/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1278981215&sr=1-1">Throw Out Fifty Things</a>. I can't remember exactly where, but recently I read that the feeling you get from clearing out space and getting rid of old things is very similar to the way you feel from getting new things. This is good news for those of us in a recession. I don't know about everyone else, but the money trees in my backyard don't seem to bearing beaucoup fruit these days, if ya know what I mean. Might be the sandy soil or something. But instead of bumming out about not buying new stuff, I think I'd like to try getting rid of some old stuff and feeling a little bit lighter. Maybe I'll even enter the <a href="http://makeundermylife.com/summer-home-slim-down-challenge/">Summer Home Slim Down Challenge</a>. For inspiring ideas on simplifying and living lighter and with intention, check out <a href="http://makeundermylife.com/">Makeunder My Life</a> and <a href="http://smallnotebook.org/">Small Notebook</a>. <br />
<br />
For a day that started with little motivation, I'm happy with how I made out. That was the best zero dollars I've spent in a while. (Alright, I had 50 cents in fines, which the librarian kindly reminded me I didn't have to pay then. I paid it anyway.) Now I better go start practicing salsa for my So You Think You Can Dance audition.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-32213082398843488922010-07-09T16:44:00.001-04:002010-07-12T11:33:48.363-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TDZ_ZLHJChI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/lPjV0YqqkVw/s1600/SunflowerSprouts016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TDZ_ZLHJChI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/lPjV0YqqkVw/s400/SunflowerSprouts016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Amazed how fast these little sunflowers sprouted! They were planted on the 4th of July, and this was only 3 days later.<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
Shooting stars... one for each of us.<br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/pork-tenderloin-with-honey-butter">Pork tenderloin with honey butter.</a> <i>Mmmmm...honey butter.</i> I wish I could put this on everything.<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
Dirty Vegas, <a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/All+or+Nothing/31801887">All or Nothing</a><br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
I didn't know it was possible to smell something that isn't really there. Conjuring a scent isn't like closing your eyes and picturing your puppy. But somehow while I was busy working away in my little windowless office, my mind invented the smell of summer. Some blend of watermelon, cocoa butter, ocean air and sweet beach grass. I swear it was real as could be, and it smelled delicious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-8663048734751161612010-07-02T22:20:00.001-04:002010-07-02T22:38:24.227-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TC6eBvkbIZI/AAAAAAAAAVI/BUQixzKZaUQ/s1600/PRMPhotographyFireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TC6eBvkbIZI/AAAAAAAAAVI/BUQixzKZaUQ/s400/PRMPhotographyFireworks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillipmunafo/2729538817/in/set-72157606509304259/"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">{Photo: PRM Photography}</span></i></a></div><br />
) seeing (<br />
The most amazing moonrise over the water, framed by blue lights on the mast of a sailboat, and as if this perfect summer day deserved a grand finale, an unexpected and perfectly timed fireworks show.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
Ecstatic over catching up with so many old friends all in one weekend, AND catching my first wave!<br />
<i>"This is one of those moments you wish you could put in a bottle and save forever."</i><br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
Juicy cantaloupe and cottage cheese for breakfast.<br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Fresh, clean sheets<br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
<a href="http://www.playauditorium.com/">Auditorium</a>...mesmerizing audio-visual experience, and it's on my iPhone. I'm in trouble!<br />
<br />
Happy 4th of July!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-70190668232464399612010-06-23T21:08:00.000-04:002010-06-23T21:08:04.805-04:00Marble Magnets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCKvLSx3SiI/AAAAAAAAAVA/SZxLDIWMCBg/s1600/magnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCKvLSx3SiI/AAAAAAAAAVA/SZxLDIWMCBg/s400/magnets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Last week was my beautiful friend Sommer's birthday. Sommer <i>is</i> summer—warm, fun, cheery…she's like a burst of sunshine and the kind of person that makes you happy just to be around. Check out her blog, <a href="http://creativeproduce.blogspot.com/">Creative Produce</a>, and you'll see how cute she is! Just try not to drool on on your keyboard over those cake balls. She's super talented and one of the most creative people I know, and I knew she would appreciate a handmade gift.<br />
<br />
Since Sommer and the beach go together like summer and the beach, the theme was an easy pick, and I made her a set of pretty magnets with a vintage surf vibe. The idea for these magnets has been around for a while but they're so easy and fun to make, it's definitely worth sharing again. I found this <a href="http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets/">tutorial</a> several years ago on <a href="http://www.notmartha.org/">not martha</a> and I've made a few sets already. I always love how they turn out!<br />
<br />
All you need are some flat glass marbles, magnets, Mod Podge, glue and assorted pictures, papers, or fabrics or whatever you want to use. I went online to find some vintage-style surf and beach images. I found tons. I even found one that says "Seaside Bakery," which is perfect because she loves to bake! It's too bad I couldn't fit the part that said "Best Buns on the Beach!" I went to this digital scrapbooking site, <a href="http://shabbyprincess.com/">Shabby Princess</a>, that offers full kits you can download for free. The kits come with patterned papers, embellishments, alphabets and all kinds of digital goodies. There was so much to play with, I could have easily made 30 magnets. But who really needs 30 magnets? It was tough to do, but I narrowed it down to 12 so she wouldn't be opening the gift secretly thinking, "Cute but…who really needs 30 magnets?" I resized my favorites to fit the marbles and cut out little squares.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCJyeATe0uI/AAAAAAAAAUg/VcHig3lxlFc/s1600/squares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCJyeATe0uI/AAAAAAAAAUg/VcHig3lxlFc/s400/squares.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
These little squares make me happy, I don't know why—they're like mini Polaroid art or something. I glued the squares to the backs of the marbles using Mod Podge and let them dry overnight. Once they were dry, I trimmed closely around the edges and used Aleen's craft glue to attach a magnet to the back of each one.<br />
<br />
I like to package them in metal tins, 'cuz hi, they're magnetic. I found this one at Michael's and dressed up in a beachy bow. Isn't it cute??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCJyaocCoyI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/ebhGUE71tBM/s1600/gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TCJyaocCoyI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/ebhGUE71tBM/s400/gift.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I hope you like your magnets, Sommer! Happy Surf-day, I mean Burf-day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-11747834569300238732010-06-12T20:43:00.001-04:002010-07-13T09:14:22.344-04:00Take Me Out to the Ball GameMemorial Day weekend... the unofficial start of Summer, and what more American way to spend it than at a Yankees game? For my Hero's birthday, we planned a vacation to New York and I surprised him with tickets to the game. It was awesome! I was going to just stick the tickets in his birthday card, but I thought it would be more special if I made him one instead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQgaY9feJI/AAAAAAAAATg/T1bRFjELvD0/s1600/YankeesCard_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQgaY9feJI/AAAAAAAAATg/T1bRFjELvD0/s400/YankeesCard_front.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I went online and found all kinds of images to use. The <a href="http://www.life.com/archive/gallery">Life photo archive</a> is a great resource for every kind of historical photo you can think of.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQgclJB9HI/AAAAAAAAATo/9FPyW8rKA5I/s1600/YankeesCard_inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQgclJB9HI/AAAAAAAAATo/9FPyW8rKA5I/s400/YankeesCard_inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The photo of the field on the inside of the card is actually the view from the seats we'd be in! I got it from the Yankees site. Of course, <i>this</i> guy wasn't there the day they took that picture...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQkYcGuFuI/AAAAAAAAATw/SUrk3pG1FBo/s1600/HugeYankeesFan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQkYcGuFuI/AAAAAAAAATw/SUrk3pG1FBo/s400/HugeYankeesFan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This guy must have been the biggest Yankees fan I've ever seen...literally! Seriously, look at his friend next to him, normal size dude, and there's GIANT man. Thank God he moved finally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQmATpEsLI/AAAAAAAAAT4/nCEA-HQ4E1Y/s1600/Pitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBQmATpEsLI/AAAAAAAAAT4/nCEA-HQ4E1Y/s400/Pitch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wish I would have been able to take some pictures of the new stadium, but we got delayed on the train (good old LIRR) and we didn't get there till the 3rd inning, so we didn't get to walk around too much. We had a great time though, and I got to eat the best pretzel I might have ever had. I can't tell you how thrilled we were just to be home in NY, and to be there with the Yankees on his birthday?? Awesomeness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-58700429618512844442010-06-11T13:53:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:59:56.843-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBJ05si7gbI/AAAAAAAAATY/ZodNCJyiXnA/s1600/612cXcuICmL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/TBJ05si7gbI/AAAAAAAAATY/ZodNCJyiXnA/s320/612cXcuICmL._SS500_.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
) hearing (<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/To-The-Sea/dp/B003NJPOAQ/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1276277875&sr=301-1">To the Sea</a>, new Jack Johnson. From the Clouds is instant happiness.<br />
<br />
) feeling (<br />
The difference between New York hot and Florida hot. <br />
<br />
) tasting (<br />
<a href="http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals/AllRecipes/SimpleMeal.do?mealId=2018&mealGroupId=1000">Chicken calypso with Island Peas and Rice</a> (I wish I took a picture of it!), and Carvel cake for dessert.<br />
<br />
) smelling (<br />
Sweet Pea Body Splash I totally forgot I had.<br />
<br />
) seeing (<br />
This quote, from two separate friends on the same day (think someone's trying to tell me something?)<br />
<i>"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."</i> ~Win BordenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-87421705716452848912010-05-14T15:35:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:59:56.844-04:00Five Senses Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-2lQ3aSTlI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rlp6C508kxI/s1600/Fritelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-2lQ3aSTlI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rlp6C508kxI/s400/Fritelle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I was inspired by this idea on one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.pinkofperfection.com/?s=five+senses+friday">Pink of Perfection</a> (and also on <a href="http://domesticfoolery.blogspot.com/search/label/five%20senses%20friday">Domestic Foolery</a>, <a href="http://abbytrysagain.typepad.com/abbytryagain/five-senses-friday/">Abby Try Again</a> and lots of others). I generally have a tough time remembering to "<a href="http://zenhabits.net/a-simple-guide-to-being-present-for-the-overworked-and-overwhelmed/">be present</a>." Whether I'm making mental to-do lists, walking down memory lane, or distracted with games on my iPhone, my mind is usually elsewhere while I go about my business. I think this is a sweet and gentle way to practice being more connected to the moment, and to appreciate the details that make life beautiful. <br />
<br />
Savored moments from my week...<br />
<br />
) smelling ( <br />
Freshly opened vanilla nut coffee, at 10:00 on a Friday night. I never do this.<br />
<br />
) hearing ( <br />
<a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Wicked+Game/29108707">Three Days Grace cover of Wicked Game</a><br />
<br />
) tasting ( <br />
Homemade <i>fritelle</i> - flat, panfried dough, kind of like pita with a hole in the middle. (How is this the first time my dad's ever made these for me??)<br />
<br />
) feeling ( <br />
Thrilled and grateful that a <a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1221435">small gesture</a> brought a lot of joy to a special friend of mine. <br />
<br />
) seeing ( <br />
Some awesome <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43927944@N08/sets/72157623449435575/">pictures</a> by an old friend, who I had no idea was a photographer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-67883347738178194142010-05-12T10:05:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:59:56.845-04:00Summer KickoffThe start of summer always reminds me of carefree days and lazy afternoons. Endless weekends spent at the beach with a cooler, a sheet, good friends, and maybe a guitar. It didn't require a big, complicated plan or a lot of money, and it didn't really matter if it was Wednesday or Saturday; we were just living for fun and freedom. Wouldn't it be nice if we could still look forward to summer break every year? We work hard, we deserve it! Maybe I'll suggest it on Obama's facebook.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's tricky to find opportunities to be spontaneous like that, as busy as we all are between work schedules, softball games, or just the daily obligations of life. But if you're like us, and you're lucky enough to have neighbors who make great friends, it doesn't take much to turn a plain-old Saturday into a good-old, carefree summer day. Instead of spending the day sitting in our respective houses "doing nothing," we decided we should throw a barbecue together at a nearby park. (You knew food was coming, right? When a bunch of Italians find themselves with nothing to do, they cook! And usually enough for an army.) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-iytCRt2OI/AAAAAAAAAS4/xme1HYHvbK8/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-iytCRt2OI/AAAAAAAAAS4/xme1HYHvbK8/s400/DSC_0017.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was as easy as it gets; we basically used what we were going to make for dinner anyway. They had ribs and chicken in the fridge, and we had steaks. She made a killer potato salad, and I made one of my favorite pastas from Martha's <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/everyday">Everyday Food</a> (the first ever issue, now falling apart and speckled with oil—the sign of a well-loved cookbook). It's not really a pasta salad, but I think it's just as good served cool, and I never pass up the chance to make it. Super easy.<br />
<br />
I love it when things just come together like that. It was an awesome way to spend an afternoon and a nice change of pace from the regular routine. Crystal Light and vodka was the bomb-diggity, too. No, really. Amazingly good, in a reeally dangerous way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-mz4Fmi3wI/AAAAAAAAATI/STHKpUBGohg/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S-mz4Fmi3wI/AAAAAAAAATI/STHKpUBGohg/s400/DSC_0036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Tomato and olive penne</b><br />
<br />
Salt and pepper<br />
1 pound penne or other short pasta<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced<br />
2/3 pound cherry tomatoes (2 cups), halved or quartered<br />
1 teaspoon oregano<br />
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)<br />
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced<br />
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley<br />
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving<br />
<br />
1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente, about 13 minutes. Drain.<br />
<br />
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring, until just golden, about 1 minute. Add the cherry tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring, until tomato juices run, about 3 minutes.<br />
<br />
3. Add to penne, along with olives, parsley, and 1/4 cup parmesan and toss to combine. Serve with more cheese if desired.<br />
<br />
YUM!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-40296823814138275972010-02-15T18:35:00.001-05:002010-06-14T22:00:55.213-04:00A Tea PartyWe went to my parents' house last weekend so my Hero could be their hero and set up their surround sound. I personally think it's hilarious that my parents even have surround sound, but whatever; I just hope they don't find the one button out of 2700 that will cause the surround sound to stop working and then press every button to fix it before they call us for tech support. Oh wait, that already happened. But I digress.<br />
<br />
While we were over there, my mom (who happens to be the best mom on the planet :) ) found these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nKIwhBBmI/AAAAAAAAARw/OMy7dhkJy-4/s1600-h/TeaParty001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nKIwhBBmI/AAAAAAAAARw/OMy7dhkJy-4/s400/TeaParty001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They're from my play kitchen when I was little! How cool is she for saving these for, what, 25 years? (Ok, could I feel any older right now?) {Sigh} My dad's a chef, so my mom wanted all my play kitchen stuff to look real, because that's just how cool she is. Would you check out those strainer spoons, how CUTE are those??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nKzAEMh7I/AAAAAAAAAR4/R59r0txtUao/s1600-h/TeaParty005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nKzAEMh7I/AAAAAAAAAR4/R59r0txtUao/s400/TeaParty005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I have all the flatware and even tiny cookie cutters. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nLP6aMo9I/AAAAAAAAASA/6TxKepedtnA/s1600-h/TeaParty006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nLP6aMo9I/AAAAAAAAASA/6TxKepedtnA/s400/TeaParty006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nLS5xAVpI/AAAAAAAAASI/Yy_eO0tXNbY/s1600-h/TeaParty004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nLS5xAVpI/AAAAAAAAASI/Yy_eO0tXNbY/s400/TeaParty004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I was so excited about these that I showed them to my neighbor and she totally flipped over them. She told me that her little girls have a whole tea set made out of real china, but they don't get to play with it much because, well, it's made out of real china. Within 90 seconds we were completely inspired to throw a surprise tea party. We'd make little finger sadwiches with itty bitty bread and the girls could bake tiny desserts in their Easy Bake ovens to bring to the party! Can I be seven again?<br />
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Valentine's Day was the perfect occasion but it was only a week away so I didn't have a lot of time or a lot of money. Believe me, if I did I would have been seriously dangerous! I did decide to make invitations so the girls would feel like the party was really special. They loved them! I even got a handmade card back from the Princess that said I was "so so so so so so so so cool" for inviting her to a tea party, before we even had the tea party. Isn't she sweet? <br />
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I made favors with some wedding bubbles I found at Dollar Tree, 9 for $1, and dressed them up with rhinestone hearts and pink tissue paper. I even found doilies that were the perfect size for mini placemats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nMzLosiyI/AAAAAAAAASQ/_G5AFiEJ3tQ/s1600-h/TeaParty047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nMzLosiyI/AAAAAAAAASQ/_G5AFiEJ3tQ/s400/TeaParty047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nM4gWPc-I/AAAAAAAAASY/s2jQtCdz73o/s1600-h/TeaParty042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nM4gWPc-I/AAAAAAAAASY/s2jQtCdz73o/s400/TeaParty042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I searched the house for things I could use and came up with THE perfect thing for a tiny cake. I think this was my favorite part of the whole party. I keep this dish on my nightstand to put my jewelry in at night. And is it not perfect for this beautiful cake? I can hardly contain myself with its cuteness!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nN2CfC44I/AAAAAAAAASg/29B5i8ISbmk/s1600-h/TeaParty014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nN2CfC44I/AAAAAAAAASg/29B5i8ISbmk/s400/TeaParty014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had to put a real sized fork in the picture just so you could tell how small it is. Adorable!! But wait, look at this table....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nOU7uzdTI/AAAAAAAAASo/QJWbL3FpaqA/s1600-h/TeaParty015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nOU7uzdTI/AAAAAAAAASo/QJWbL3FpaqA/s400/TeaParty015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Do you see those teeny sandwiches? They have teeny tomato slices on them! A tower of heart-shaped marshmalllows, pink rose petals, it doesn't get more girly than this. The girls were in heaven! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nYwZhJ_UI/AAAAAAAAASw/F12VqaXf6rA/s1600-h/TeaParty020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/S3nYwZhJ_UI/AAAAAAAAASw/F12VqaXf6rA/s400/TeaParty020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was such a special party and they loved every minute of it. I think they'll remember it for a long time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-63129439272205244102010-02-08T13:36:00.000-05:002010-06-14T21:59:56.845-04:00Easy-cheesy Superbowl Snacks<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We had no plans for Superbowl Sunday, so my Hero invited our neighbors to stop by. Totally impromptu, last minute thing, and we had such a great time! I really couldn't have asked for a better night. I was thrilled to death that they enjoyed the food so much, because it was so simple and everything could be done ahead of time. We had a pretty standard-type spread but since it was only the four of us and their kids we kept it simple; we put out bunch of cold cuts ("lunch meat," for the southerners) for a do-it-yourself sandwich bar, cocktail shrimp, and I made six-layer dip and chili. They flipped over the dip and the chili, and I'm telling you they're both so easy, I almost felt like I cheated. I shared the recipes with her, and now I'll share them with you. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take any pictures of the food until it was half gone. Sorry! Next time.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>6-layer Dip</strong> (seven if you like guacamole*)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My aunt taught me how to throw this one together in two minutes. Okay, ten.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>Ingredients</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 can refried beans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 c. sour cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 packet taco seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">salsa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">small can of chopped or sliced black olives</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">green onions, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">shredded four cheese mexican blend, or whatever cheese you prefer</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>Directions</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Spread refried beans onto a platter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Add 1/2 packet taco seasoning to sour cream and mix well. Spread over beans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Create a layer with each of the remaining ingredients.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Done! Just make sure you have plenty of tortilla chips, cuz this stuff will go fast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*I've never made mine with guacamole, I guess you can add that before the sour cream layer? I don't think it matters too much where it goes :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, I hope I don't offend any "real deal" chili makers out there with this recipe, but everyone who's tried it loves it. Even I was never a huge chili fan, but this stuff is good! The recipe came, believe it or not, from a Marlboro Cookbook of 50 Winning Chili Recipes. I'm not recommending that anyone start smoking, but I do strongly suggest you try this chili!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Lazy Man's Chili Soup with Beans</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Bart Edwards, Athens, OH</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>Ingredients</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 lbs. ground beef</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 package ranch dip mix</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 package taco seasoning mix</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 can (10 oz.) tomatoes & green chilies (mild), drained</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cans (14.5 oz./ea.) tomatoes with onions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 can (12 oz.) chili beans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 can (11 oz.) golden, whole kernel corn, drained</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 package (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 package (8 oz.) sour cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 bag corn chips</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>Directions</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brown the ground beef in a large pot. Drain the beef and return it to the pot. Add the ranch mix, taco seasoning, drained tomatoes and chilies, tomatoes with onions, drained chili beans, drained corn and Tabasco sauce to the pot with the beef. Cover and cook on medium to medium-low heat for 35 minutes*, stirring occasionally. Remove pot from heat and spoon into individual serving bowls. Add 1-2 oz. of cheddar cheese and 1/2 -1 Tbsp. sour cream. Serve with corn chips. Serves 8-10.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*Just a note from personal experience: the chili is a little soupy after the recommended 35 minutes, so if you want it thicker, just cook it longer.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh yeah, and the football game? What a great game!! Not that anyone has any less respect for Indianapolis, but what a great story for New Orleans huh? First time to the Superbowl and they win! I love watching history be made. Congratulations Saints!! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-68410387289121722122009-10-20T19:04:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:59:56.846-04:00Halloween Blocks<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I found some adorable Halloween scrapbooking supplies at the Dollar Spot at Target. I don't scrapbook, but these were so cute I knew I had to find something use them for.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MLQir06I/AAAAAAAAAQA/vQi5QJlPqnQ/s400/Stickers.jpg" vr="true" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amanda at <a href="http://imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com/">Imperfectly Beautiful</a> makes these really <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7068241">cute blocks</a> (go buy some!), and I wanted to try to do something fun like that for Halloween. My Hero picked up a piece of 2x6 from Home Depot for me and cut it down into pieces roughly 7 1/4" long. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MOHsQWVI/AAAAAAAAAQI/LBatwnJ4dJ0/s1600-h/Blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MOHsQWVI/AAAAAAAAAQI/LBatwnJ4dJ0/s320/Blocks.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I used his awesome Dremel sander to smooth out the ends and the corners. (I love this sander, by the way.) Then I painted them with regular black acrylic craft paint, and they were all ready to be decorated.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MTTM_2cI/AAAAAAAAAQY/cdMi759xSZA/s1600-h/Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MTTM_2cI/AAAAAAAAAQY/cdMi759xSZA/s320/Painting.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MP35UbvI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Nrqspx1H3fA/s1600-h/BlocksBlack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MP35UbvI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Nrqspx1H3fA/s320/BlocksBlack.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I found one collection of <a href="http://clearlyvintage.blogspot.com/2009/09/vintage-halloween-images.html">free vintage Halloween images here</a>, and another great source for <a href="http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/#">vintage holiday images here</a>. Free! It was a tough choice because they're all so stinkin' cute, but I picked these four, resized them in Photoshop and used Mod Podge to mount the images on heavy duty black cardboard to give them a little depth.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MZ2FwzHI/AAAAAAAAAQg/yiwrwJlidA0/s1600-h/VintagePicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MZ2FwzHI/AAAAAAAAAQg/yiwrwJlidA0/s320/VintagePicks.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know how I've never used Mod Podge before, but this stuff rocks. I used it to adhere my scrapbook papers to the wood and then went to town embellishing them. A few hours later, and here's what I made!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MczeQ44I/AAAAAAAAAQo/d4dZtfnwSKs/s1600-h/Mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MczeQ44I/AAAAAAAAAQo/d4dZtfnwSKs/s320/Mess.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, besides the mess, these!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MeoaxUYI/AAAAAAAAAQw/ME590gAeSeU/s1600-h/FinishedBlocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MeoaxUYI/AAAAAAAAAQw/ME590gAeSeU/s400/FinishedBlocks.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know which one is my favorite, I love how they all turned out...</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0Mgh5bj9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ULT5gtkjJr8/s1600-h/Clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0Mgh5bj9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ULT5gtkjJr8/s400/Clown.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aren't those polka dots perfect for that little clown? I had the ribbon left over from the lemonade stand. (One day there will be pictures of this lemonade stand, I swear.)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MiibgRmI/AAAAAAAAARA/HMGZSL9tn6c/s1600-h/PumpkinChoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MiibgRmI/AAAAAAAAARA/HMGZSL9tn6c/s400/PumpkinChoir.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This black and green ribbon was the only other thing I bought, $1.19.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MnQqDnDI/AAAAAAAAARI/xnh5ByRTLbg/s1600-h/Kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MnQqDnDI/AAAAAAAAARI/xnh5ByRTLbg/s400/Kitty.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The burlap was left over from a project a hundred years ago. And I made little bats out of ribbon. I love them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MpfeDABI/AAAAAAAAARQ/wwBnrlotA-0/s1600-h/Witch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/St0MpfeDABI/AAAAAAAAARQ/wwBnrlotA-0/s400/Witch.jpg" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This pretty orange bow came off a package of potpourri I bought. See, you never know when those bits and pieces come in handy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These were so fun to make, and cheap, too. The wood cost about $5, the Halloween papers and stickers cost $3, plus the ribbon... puts me at under ten bucks! Ain't no recession gonna keep me down!</span><br />
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</div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052653548479659329.post-23527028343491353942009-10-16T15:20:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:59:56.846-04:00Fall Decor<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I started unpacking my fall decorations pretty much at Labor Day (yes, I'm only now taking pictures of it, shhh). It seemed early to me then, but I have to say, I'm glad I was ready to start celebrating fall while it was still summer, because by October 2nd most of the fall stuff was already gone from the stores to make room for Christmas! Yikes! Seriously? I have to be honest, I'm not feelin' the holly jollies yet! Is it just me? I know the older I get, the faster time seems to fly by. It SO doesn't help when Christmas comes three months early. If you're trying to "live in the present," probably don't go into HomeGoods. :) Okay, that's enough of my soap boxing. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Without further ado, before everyone starts whistling Christmas carols, here are a few little things I did to start dressing up the house for autumn. Remember this cutie thing?<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2BOH1LlI/AAAAAAAAALA/zr_vrG3aVh0/s1600-h/Crate-Basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2BOH1LlI/AAAAAAAAALA/zr_vrG3aVh0/s200/Crate-Basket.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Look at him now! I just added some tiny pumpkins and Indian corn. I love it! (Are we still calling it Indian corn, or do I have to say criss-cross-apple...corn?)<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2WfhuW-I/AAAAAAAAALI/qGUoFM45fcA/s1600-h/FallBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2WfhuW-I/AAAAAAAAALI/qGUoFM45fcA/s400/FallBasket.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since I don't have a mantel, my dining room table is basically standing in. I would have set it up like a dining room table, with decorations down the middle, but usually the table looks like this:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti7XeR0AsI/AAAAAAAAANM/51XAH6mPt1c/s1600-h/MessyTable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti7XeR0AsI/AAAAAAAAANM/51XAH6mPt1c/s320/MessyTable.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Woah, how'd that get in there? What I meant to say was, we use this table for everything—homework, folding laundry, making crafts—we'd forever be shoving the decor out of the way. I wish I had a better idea, but for now it's sort of arranged as if it were a mantel. Silly, I know, but it still looks like fall.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2jkTHpiI/AAAAAAAAALQ/J0LIdEAiuZc/s1600-h/Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti2jkTHpiI/AAAAAAAAALQ/J0LIdEAiuZc/s400/Table.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love the look of a simple, leafy branch in a vase. If I still lived up north, my house would be filled with pretty branches, and acorns, and pine cones I collected outside. {sniff} Florida doesn't have a lot of natural bounty in the fall leaves department, so we have to improvise. I used a preserved oak branch. From the grocery store. Also from the grocery store, an infamous <a href="http://playfulpisces.blogspot.com/2009/09/frenzied-decorating-season-is-right.html">wheat bundle</a>. (Yes, it is real!) The pumpkins aren't. But I'm loving white pumpkins and had to have some. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A bowl full of gourds and some stray leaves. The little bird was on sale at Michaels; when I got to the register, it rang up even less than I thought. $1.19? I'll take two!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti8WprP9MI/AAAAAAAAANU/hylZZff9Eqo/s1600-h/Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti8WprP9MI/AAAAAAAAANU/hylZZff9Eqo/s400/Tray.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti9ENimJfI/AAAAAAAAANc/8X0PYDjA0UM/s1600-h/BirdTray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti9ENimJfI/AAAAAAAAANc/8X0PYDjA0UM/s400/BirdTray.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Someday I need to learn the secrets professional floral designers use to get that perfect combination of color, texture and shape to their arrangements. For now, I decided to try to copy the style of the pre-made arrangements at Michaels, and I wanted to do it without spending a ton of money. I found stems in the natural elements section that had nice variety and texture already combined, and they were 40% off. I picked a couple of tall ones and a couple floral and literally just popped them in this vase I already had. Not bad!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti30AOODjI/AAAAAAAAALY/PK1UA4XnY0s/s1600-h/FloralVignette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti30AOODjI/AAAAAAAAALY/PK1UA4XnY0s/s400/FloralVignette.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm also digging copper, a lot. I found this mercury glass-looking acorn at HomeGoods for $6. The small copper pumpkin came from Ross for a sweet $1.99! Love it! And the birdie twin. I wasn't kidding, I did take two.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4S56J_LI/AAAAAAAAALg/yEsP3Ov9c-o/s1600-h/Acorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4S56J_LI/AAAAAAAAALg/yEsP3Ov9c-o/s400/Acorn.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4pvXIhPI/AAAAAAAAALo/QQFxlcPybmU/s1600-h/CopperPumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4pvXIhPI/AAAAAAAAALo/QQFxlcPybmU/s400/CopperPumpkin.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's a side table in the living room. I think having a lot of one type of flower looks so dramatic. Probably could use a little height under the candles. I'll have to see what I can do about that.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4wca17zI/AAAAAAAAALw/5sB1jfhp3zo/s1600-h/SideTable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti4wca17zI/AAAAAAAAALw/5sB1jfhp3zo/s400/SideTable.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before I show the kitchen, there's a warning: The following image contains a graphic depiction of vertical blinds and may not be suitable for those with a sensitive decorating palate. They're ghastly. And broken. And the more broken they get, the happier I am because the closer they are to being replaced. Unless we want to suffer Florida afternoon sun beaming straight through the kitchen door. Which is unbearable, really, so that's not an option. Anyway, at least these cozy decorations have a place to live!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti49ONp08I/AAAAAAAAAL4/3fAlfIawlYg/s1600-h/LeafGarland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti49ONp08I/AAAAAAAAAL4/3fAlfIawlYg/s320/LeafGarland.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's a much better view without those horrendous verticals. No wonder they call them blinds. <br />
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</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti5tarqihI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Cfx5aKaQk1g/s1600-h/Cornucopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti5tarqihI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Cfx5aKaQk1g/s400/Cornucopia.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti57n5UjVI/AAAAAAAAAMs/wZ7m0TJGEnA/s1600-h/HarvestHollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti57n5UjVI/AAAAAAAAAMs/wZ7m0TJGEnA/s400/HarvestHollow.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6H4cx_1I/AAAAAAAAAM0/WYk1bt_d8wU/s1600-h/TwigLeaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6H4cx_1I/AAAAAAAAAM0/WYk1bt_d8wU/s400/TwigLeaf.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ahh, that's better. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm a sucker for holiday lights. They're like instant festive! I love their warm glow. Note to self to do a better job hiding that extension cord. I was standing on a chair to take these pics, and even though you can't see it from the ground, it bugs me now.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These are the shelves over our little coffee bar. I just tucked in some glass bead garland, more tiny pumpkins, some pine cones and leaves. Easy!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6VHfDF1I/AAAAAAAAAM8/xP4pe20v5L8/s1600-h/CoffeeBar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6VHfDF1I/AAAAAAAAAM8/xP4pe20v5L8/s400/CoffeeBar.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6cpCnC1I/AAAAAAAAANE/zQNXWtvRu0I/s1600-h/CoffeeShelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EJXZ46m0wbk/Sti6cpCnC1I/AAAAAAAAANE/zQNXWtvRu0I/s400/CoffeeShelves.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's all for now, I'm off to start planning Easter! Just kidding.... <br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1