Dixie Lights

Oooo! I'm loving this Dixie Cup Garland. You can find complete instructions over at the beautiful blog, Hey, Gorgeous. It always wonderful to find something inexpensive that looks so rich and modern.



Here's a photo-collage from Hey, Gorgeous. It was so beautiful I just had to share.

 

Dish of the Week

Blackberry Jam



Photo from here

We are totally "blessed" to have blackberry bushes in our back yard. For most of the year they are torture but when late summer comes around.....Mmmmm! But they still scratch up my hands when I pick them.

So far I've only made a pie with them and it was so delicious. I gave a bunch away to my mom and now I have 2 bowlfuls waiting for me to turn them into freezer jam. I may have to make bread too.

Baby On The Brain

Why?

Because I'm going to have one!!!

Another little boy.

 I always thought I was more of a little girl-type-mom but this will make 3 boys and only 2 girls, and they are almost grown up.

 Good thing we're already stocked up on Legos and Hotwheels. 

Photo from here

Camping And Abstract Art

I wanted to share some of our pics from our camping trip with you. The Idaho scenery is simply amazing. I love knowing that all this beauty is in my backyard.

Lake Cascade
I could wake up to this view everyday.

Our campsite. Not much shade but it was still fun.

My 4 yr old loves to find my camera and take pictures. I like to think of them as abstract art. 

This is the "Tent" Collection.

.

Dish Of The Week

                     Frozen Hot Chocolate!                   

This is how I make it through the day. 

It's been so hot here and I've eaten so many popsicles my mouth is stained purple (cause I love grape:). I showed my daughter how to make frozen hot chocolate and we've been in frozen heaven ever since!

We use a very basic recipe but there are really fancy recipes out there. Like this one. I'm sure it's good but when you need a fix and you need it quick, use this recipe:

1 c fat free evaporated milk

1/2 c chocolate syrup

1/2 t vanilla

3 c ice

Blend it all up and you have a whole lotta yummy!

I think I got this recipe from the awesome JSP.

I'm starting a regular weekly post called "Dish of the Week". I needed a way to share all the yummy recipes I find. Most will probably be some sort of dessert. You're just going to have to deal with it!

Happy Monday!

Can't believe summer is coming to a close. Did I get everything done that I needed to? Not really. How about you? Was it the summer of your dreams? Hope so!

Hope you get that last camping trip in or that last bike ride or that last picnic. Whatever you need to do before summer is behind us, I hope it's full of sun and memories!

This pic makes me think of summer.

Photo from here

Getting Crafty

The kids are going to be heading back to school soon and I'm so happy!
Don't tell them I said that.
When school starts and the weather cools I get in a crafty mood. Here are some cute projects I'm thinking about...

Photo and instructions found here

Photo and instructions found here

Photo and instructions found here

Picker Sisters

Have you watched the Lifetime series Picker Sisters yet? Well you totally should be watching! I watched 2 episodes last night and I'm hooked. They travel around the U.S., mostly in the South, scrounging for hidden treasure in the form of old, junky stuff. My kind of girls. They have great ideas a handy man to help them make them happen.

 (Where is my handy man who will do whatever I ask? Oh yeah, I don't pay mine.)

This show is worth the time and it will get you way inspired to do some "picking".



Photos from here

Stick Up

I was flipping thru my current edition of Elle Decor and saw a little article on Payton Cosell Turner. She designs wallpaper and wall designs using regular, everyday stickers. They are stunning and beautiful and so fun! I love the close ups with everything from monster trucks to tennis balls.
So amazing!



Photos from here

Great Outdoors

We're going camping this weekend!
 I haven't been yet this year so I've been looking forward to this for a while. Probably since March. Our camping will not be like this, but it's fun to imagine!

Photo from here

Photo from here

Photo from here

Have a great weekend!

Classy Donuts

There is a use for everything!

Love this idea. Now I need a place to use it. 

Galvanized pedestals available here

Summer Freebie!

I found these sweet free printable tags today. They are the perfect tag to summer.

Thanks, Eat, Drink, Chic!



Go here to print some tags for your summer goodies.

Maybe A Little More Country Than Rock n' Roll

But it will still rock!

This is our super ugly wall. Semi-covered in the worst wallpaper ever to come out of the 80's and semi-covered in plaster. I am not peeling off all the rest of this wallpaper!

This is a pile of reclaimed wood that will cover the wall.

 I'm super excited!!!!

Completed photos to follow soon.....

Making a Change

Hi! I'm back. For good.

And I need to do some changing around here! Since I have moved and am no longer in my beloved Parma I need to change the name of my blog. It is a sad thing, but has to be done.

So, I need your help! I need a name. A good, solid name. One with character and zip and sparkle.

And what fun would a name-change be without a contest? With prizes?!

Give me ideas and I'll give prizes! I have a lot of stuff left over from my reception that I have no where to keep and it is too good to just store somewhere.

 (And I know my hubby would be really happy to get rid of some of it:)

You want pictures of what some of the prizes are? Well, ok.....

These are the little urns I used for my centerpieces.

As much as I love this yellow set, I'm willing to let it go. For you, my lovely readers!

This is one of the many cross-stitch samplers I made.