as i mentioned on friday i attended my family union this past weekend. we usually have it at one of the local state parks, but my dad offered his house (and pool) for the festivites! as always it was lots of fun.
we swam in the pool.
i built a fire and then pretended to fall in. we made gourmet s’mores with my aunt maggies chocolate fudge. (we didn’t have chocolate … which was okay, because the fudge was much better and melted a bit easier!)
and of course we ate. (what would a party be without some yummy food)
i made the MOST delicious dip! i forgot to take a picture of it, but trust me… it’s a crowd pleaser. i made it last year and it was requested by several people again this year.
here’s the recipe:
sun-dried tomatoe spread
(adapted from taste of home)
here’s what you’ll need:
2 packs (8oz) cream cheese – softened
2 cups mayo
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (about 7 oz) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
2/3 cup chopped roasted sweet red peppers
2 cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups (8 oz) shredded italian cheese blend
1 cup shredded parmesan chesse, divided
here’s how to make it:
in a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayo, onion and garlic until blended. stir in tomatoes and red peppers.
Stir in mozzarella, italian cheese blend and 3/4 cup parmesan cheese.
transfer to a greased 13×9 in baking dish. sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
bake, uncovered at 350 for 18-22 minutes or until edges are bubble and light browned. serve with crackers. (i used wheat thins and tricuits.)
as i mentioned on friday i attended my family union this past weekend. we usually have it at one of the local state parks, but my dad offered his house (and pool) for the festivites! as always it was lots of fun. we swam in the pool. i built a fire and then pretended to […]
do you watch ‘so you think you can dance’? no? neither do i.
so my version of this story my not be exactly correct. but, i guess a pair of dancers wanted to dance to a song from an unknown artist (christina perri) who was working as a waitress at the time. she agreed. they danced to the song and it became crazy popular. she was even asked to perform it on the show.
success overnight! crazy, right? (i love those kind of stories! … great for her!) she’s doesn’t even have an album, but her song, jar of hearts has been downloaded over 100,000 times (or something crazy like that).
anyway. i’m am super exhausted today from a busy weekend, and the only thing i have energy to do is listen to this song on repeat. so i thought i would keep things simple today and share it with you.
what do you think? do you like it? have you heard it? i can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
(and a big welcome to all the new readers out there! i was blog hopping and found some wonderfully talented people out there. any who, i really appreciate all your comments!! thank you! thank you! you make checking my email a little sweeter!)
do you watch ‘so you think you can dance’? no? neither do i. so my version of this story my not be exactly correct. but, i guess a pair of dancers wanted to dance to a song from an unknown artist (christina perri) who was working as a waitress at the time. she agreed. they […]
thankfully i have two windows that have been hanging out patiently in my mom’s basement for just this occasion. who knew?
so, i’ll be making one for me and one for my sister-in-law. can i get a whoot, whoot?
i am excited for my family reunion this weekend. this is a picture of me from last year.
can you see me? i look pretty happy huh? it’s a day full of volleyball, swimming, eating, playing cards, chattin’, laughing, more eating and then moonlight swimming at my dad’s afterward. it’s all kinds of fun.
i am thrilled that i finally figured out the species of a tree that i’ve been adoring at a house in town. tell me this isn’t beautiful…
wow. right? it’s called camperdown elm. i love it’s twisty branches and weeping form. so pretty. both in the summer and winter. mines a bit small….
but i love watching things grow… so i’m okay with that.
i am still getting fabric. i was really excited about the three pieces (yes, three..) that a received from my friend of 13 years. she knows me well, so all three of her choices were more than perfect, but this one was my favorite.
so sweet. and she also gave me three pepper plants she started from seed (i know, she treats me well) and i already have a little pepper coming! awesome! (maybe if we’re lucky she’ll live a comment below … even though i know she doesn’t like too.)
and i am also very thankful for my friend over at sweet symphanie for mentioning my little project. thanks soooo much!!
i am loving, loving alicia’s new quilt over at posie gets cozy. get over their and check it out. she’s my muse. i hope my quilt can look at beautiful as hers. i like the dimensions she has chosen (i’m thinking it may be the same as her ollalieberry ice cream quilt.) i’m planning on doing something similar. 24 x 28 patches, each 3.5 inches square. so that means i would need 672 patches! wow. crazy. depending on how things work out, i may try to get two squares out of each fabric sample to create some cohesiveness on the quilt. then i would only need 336 patches. that’s still quite a bit! and even though my mom is on board and excited about helping me with this project, i don’t think she’s confident that all you lovely people are going to provide me with enough fabric. help me show her we can!
i am obsessed with looking at beautiful kitchens. and over at design*sponge today they posted a gallery of jaw dropping images. these are my favorites:
and last but not least…
i am really digging this new-to-me blog – trendey. i’m fairly certain that their images and interiors have something for everyone. i love them all (well mostly all of them). so go grab a refill for your iced coffee and get over there.
i’m signing off for the weekend. talk to you monday!
before you start reading and viewing, go grab yourself an iced coffee … this is a long one today! i am loving this amazing window monogram from my friend over at notes from the heartland. thankfully i have two windows that have been hanging out patiently in my mom’s basement for just this occasion. who […]
lately i have been seeing and hearing the word ‘simplify’ a lot. even as i was typing this, the postman delivered my august martha stewart living and across the front cover (which is beautiful as always) it says in fancy script ‘simplified’.
i also thought a lot about a comment made by a fellow blogger today over at abby try again. she writes,
“James and I lead an incredibly simple life. We don’t own a car, we don’t own a television, no iphones, no fancy expensive cameras. Believe me, if we could afford these things-I’d have them all in a heartbeat, but for now they just aren’t within our reach.”
lately i’ve been trying figure out how i can buy a new car … a jeep perhaps – but do i need it? no, my car is fine. old, but fine.
ever since i heard the word ipad, i knew i needed one … and have been trying to justify reasons for buying one. but do i really need it? no. not at all. can i even afford it right now? heck no!
all those beautiful things i showed you from CB2. do i love them all? yes. do i want them all? yes. do i need them. yes. nope.
i’m also surrounded by lots of ‘things’ in my own personal space.
when i worked in philadelphia i wore a suit and tie everyday. in the past two years i can count the time i wore a tie on my one hand. so what do i do with these fifty plus ties that i adored two years ago? give them away? keep them in a box?
tea cups and saucers that came with the bed and breakfast. they have been in this cupboard for two years. i don’t want to get rid of them because ‘what if’ i need them? and this is only one collection of things that were a ‘free gift with purchase’. i have an excess amount of tools, tacky headboards, baskets, etc. i didn’t even buy the stuff … and don’t even like it … but i don’t have the heart/nerve to throw it away.
plant trays and plastic pots. i’ve had these for over a year in case i ‘need’ them. but they just get in the way.
i could go on, but you get the idea. right? what do you do with this stuff? i’m learning that holding on to these things leads to clutter. then clutter leads to stress. and stress leads to unhappiness.
so, i think it’s time to simplify. any adivice is appreciated. do you have the same issue? how have you simplified your life? how long do you hold unto stuff? how do you stop yourself from buying things you don’t really need? etc, etc, etc….
i promise to do my own research. and with your help, comments, links, etc i will post (sometime next week) our findings. thanks in advance!
(wow – my pictures are beautiful in this post today. maybe i should think about putting them into a contest. the garbage can.)
alright, so i need your help … or some advice. lately i have been seeing and hearing the word ‘simplify’ a lot. even as i was typing this, the postman delivered my august martha stewart living and across the front cover (which is beautiful as always) it says in fancy script ‘simplified’. i also thought a lot […]
so, i’ve started to put some of my thrifty finds to good use… what do you think?
i took this tower of bowls and planted hens & chicks (sempervivum) in each layer. they can be stacked, unstack, sorta stacked … whatever works!
i’m not sure how they’ll do, but it’s worth the experiment. i have lots of hens & chicks.
i really love these guys. i knew i would as soon as i saw them looking sad and lonely on the shelf at goodwill. they were begging for a new home and a new lease on life. i think they got it!
in the background are the scalloped/crystal type glasses again planted with hens and chicks. they look okay right now, but i think it will look stellar once they fill in and start to spill over.
in the front is that little white stand with a succulent covered by a smoke glass cover of sorts (i assume it was on a lamp at some point). the cover is so delicate and it’s smokiness almost makes it’s sparkle. i really love this find!
more to come!
so, i’ve started to put some of my thrifty finds to good use… what do you think? i took this tower of bowls and planted hens & chicks (sempervivum) in each layer. they can be stacked, unstack, sorta stacked … whatever works! i’m not sure how they’ll do, but it’s worth the experiment. i have lots […]
this past weekend i was talking to my mom about wanting a summer quilt. a cheery quilt of soft cotton squares full of bright patches of polka dots and gingham.
this thought came to me from this recent post (and this one) over at posie gets cozy. this woman is a constant inspiration to me. her pictures – always beautiful. her home – amazingly sweet. her talent – jaw dropping. and her life – inspired. i actually entered the blog world by reading an article about her in Hallmark magazine a couple years ago. in fact, i think i still have the article.
anyway, the idea of this summer quilt got me thinking.instead of giving my mom that task of making it herself, maybe i could learn to do it. or we could do it together. (shh, don’t say anything because i haven’t ran this by her yet.)
then, i was thinking even more (this is where the trouble begins), about how amazing it would be to have your help. That’s right, your help.
so, here’s my thought (crazy as it may seem). what i’m asking (very kindly with lots of pleases and thank yous), is that you, my lovely readers, mail me a square of fabric. something you have laying around, an extra piece from a past project perhaps? then, once i have enough squares, i will make my first quilt from these squares … inspired by you … inspired by charm. what do you think?
i honestly hate asking for help and feel some-what guilty asking you to send me something, but i’m going to put my hand, and heart, out there and hope for the best. if it doesn’t work… or only works a little … maybe i can quilt a napkin or something.
so, here are the details and rundown on how things are going to work…
i’m making a quilt similiar to this. all squares. i don’t know exactly what size my squares will be yet (i’m thinking 4.5×4.5), so i’m requesting pieces of material that are a 6×6 square (it can be bigger too…maybe i can even use it to make two squares!).
this will be a summer quilt, so basic quilters cotton is the desired material. easy breezey. no silks, flannels, etc. i’m looking for cheery, bright, fun colors. Lime green, oranges, pinks, yellows, aquas, etc. in patterns of polka dots, florals, ginghams, plaids, etc.
all squares can be mailed to the address below. i’m assuming that you can just put your square in a regular envelope with one stamp.
if your fabric has a story, feel free to include that too. if you are crafty and want to personalize your square – you can do that too!
i will post my progress here at inspiredbycharm. photos of fabric squares recieved … stories recieved … i’ll be sure to mention your blog if you’d like … photos of my progess, lessons learned, tips, etc.
when it’s all finished (which may take me some time as this is my first quilt), i will display the quilt somewhere at the b&b or gift shoppe and, of course, share its story.
i also promise i will figure out a way to thank each and every one of you for your contribution. i thought about getting mugs made with a photo of the quilt. or greeting cards. aomething like that. and i will mail it to you … cross my heart.
does that sound okay? will you help?
all fabric can be mailed to:
Old Charm
Attn: A Quilt {inspired by charm}
444 Brusselles Street
Saint Marys, PA 15857
please included a return address (if you like) so that i can thank you when the project is complete. aAlso any other information you’d like to share… blog address, story, etc.
you are welcome to mail as many squares as you’d like. when i have received enough squares to make a quilt, i will let you know.
i have also created a button for your site. i would greatly appreciate any mention of this project on your blog, twitter, facebook, etc. (even if it’s just a teeny tiny blurb). anything and everything is appreciated. please link it to this site or this post.
i can’t thank you enough for all your help in advance – both for your squares and for spreading the word! i’m so excited to share this adventure for you as it’s stitched together.
this past weekend i was talking to my mom about wanting a summer quilt. a cheery quilt of soft cotton squares full of bright patches of polka dots and gingham. this thought came to me from this recent post (and this one) over at posie gets cozy. this woman is a constant inspiration to me. her pictures […]
about once a month i head to the local goodwill to see what treasures i can find. i’m usually able to walk out with some treasure, but today, i made out like a bandit! wanna see what i got? (of course you do!)
exciting right!? let’s take a closer look. oh, and the reason i went was to look for unique displays and vessels for my succulents. i did pretty good!
first up, these two white pieces. i believe the one on the left with the scallops is milk glass. i’m not sure about the one on the right. but, both have room to plant a succulent or two. see that globe in the background?
perfect condition except it’s missing a stand. but, i’m sure i can find a ‘stand’ of sorts somewhere. guess how much? hold on to your pants. fifteen cents!! it was on sale. i didn’t even know goodwill had sales? score! i great start to my future globe collection.
unique little stacking dishes. i have a great terrarium ideas for these little guys.
love these little ceramic stands. great condition, just need a little cleaning.
and i found all these cool toppers for them too. great a little mini terrarium … a candle … or some other treasure.
love these little glasses too. clean and simple.
and these? beautiful. they may actually be crystal. i’m not sure. if they’re not, let’s pretend.
love, love these guys too… i saw this picture somewhere on the Internet ….
… and wanted to create a similar look. i think my little silver creamer and sugar will do the trick!
and last but not least these sweet little parfait glasses. perfect for showcasing a succulent.
so you are probably wondering how much all these goodies cost right? including my fifteen cent globe, i only spent $12. $12 people!! can you believe it?
now i need to go and great creative with these guys. i’ll be sure to show you how i make use of these thrifty finds!
about once a month i head to the local goodwill to see what treasures i can find. i’m usually able to walk out with some treasure, but today, i made out like a bandit! wanna see what i got? (of course you do!) exciting right!? let’s take a closer look. oh, and the reason i […]
when i bought the b&b a portion of what is now my gift shoppe was a guest room and bathroom. as you can see the picture about shows the door to the bathroom (after i already began the reno) and a wall that separated the guest room from another space (to the right).
and here is what the room looked like after lots demo and reconstruction … and a gift shoppe was born.
the above image is fall 2008, the grand opening of the shop and it features the following quote on a wall i painted with chalkboard paint. (which i love and i don’t care if you think it’s ‘out of date’)
If there were ever a time to dare,
To make a difference
To embark on something worth doing
It is now.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily –
But for something that tugs at your heart
Something that is worth your aspiration
Something that is your dream.
You owe it to yourself
To make your days count.
Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though,
That things worth doing
Seldom come easy,
There will be times when you want to
Turn around
Pack it up and call it quits
Those times tell you
That you are pushing yourself
And that you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea,
Determination and the right tools,
You can do great things.
Let your instincts, your intellect
And let your heart guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power
Of the human mind
Of doing something that makes a difference
Of working hard
Of laughing and hoping
Of lasting friends
Of all the things that will cross your path
The start of something new
Brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible
There is only one you
And you will pass this way but once.
Do it right.
Dream Big.
the author is unknown. but, i’ve always, always loved this quote and felt it was more than appropriate for the first time i opened my doors.
it made an easy transition into winter. i simply erased ‘dream big’ and added christmas/winter quotes.
spring 2009 inspired a large apple blossom tree and a quote about spring and planting. this was one of my favorites.
and again i forgot summer and fall of 2009. i must have been taking pictures of other things then. who knows? back to christmas…
i moved some furniture around for winter 2009 covering a good chunk of the wall, so just one quote from these great cards covered the wall.
and that brings us to Spring 2010.
i drew shelves and then filled them with books. some stacked vertical, some horizontal, some falling over. this is another favorite. too cool. right?
now it’s time for the books to come down. i’ll be sure to show you monday or tuesday what has replaced them. hope you’re having a fab weekend!
so remember on thursday when i showed you the evolution of a wall in my gift shoppe? well, i’m about to change another wall, so i thought i’d share it’s ‘evolution’ as well. this is how it started. when i bought the b&b a portion of what is now my gift shoppe was a guest […]
first things first. a big, huge thanks for all the wonderfully kind comments on my oar art. i really appreciate your amazingly sweet words. i felt a sense of accomplishment when i completed them but i’m feeling it even more so after all your thoughtful comments.
second, a huge thanks to the genius mind behind the blog ‘better after’. my oars were featured on the site yesterday and i couldn’t be more excited! i have been following ‘better after’ for quite some time and was always amazed at the genious ideas people come up with. it’s an honor to be amoung them. so, thanks!
and finally welcome to everyone that found there way to my blog recently. i really, really appreciate your comments and support. thanks for reading and stop back anytime.
happy friday everyone!
***UPDATE
oh! and one more ‘thank you.’ have you been over to the blog life in the fun lane? if not as soon as you finish reading this head over there! holly is an amazingly talented gal that takes the most horrid looking furniture and turns it into something you’d see in a magazine.
anyway she recently started this new feature called fresh coat fridays and she was thoughtful enough to include my oars in her post this week. thanks holly!!
first things first. a big, huge thanks for all the wonderfully kind comments on my oar art. i really appreciate your amazingly sweet words. i felt a sense of accomplishment when i completed them but i’m feeling it even more so after all your thoughtful comments. second, a huge thanks to the genius mind behind […]
when i bought my bed and breakfast two years ago, the downstairs living room was renovated into a guest room/small gift shop back in 1993 by the original owners. when purchasing the bed and breakfast my intention was to take out the bedroom and bathroom and open things up to create one big gift shop.
well, that’s exactly what i did. so for those of you that have never been in the gift shoppe i thought i’d share a glimpse of it with you. as you can see in the picture above this is what a portion of the space looked like before. this little alcove is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. i believe it was a closet when the home was first built.
this was my display in fall/winter of 2008 (the grand opening). i painted the wall a red-ish/maroon color. then handpainted swirls (which you can’t really see) with a high gloss of the same color.
in the spring i painted the wall lime green with stripes in high gloss of the same color.
for some reason i failed to take a picture of spring/summer (which is shocking) but it was set up with blues and greens.
as you can see from this up close shot it slowly transitioned to greens and oranges for fall (sorry again for my failure to take a full shot.)
but this is how it looked at Christmas 2009. green, red and white. and this was my first time experimenting with a white tree, but i loved the look. see the glossy stripes on the green paint?
the purple is spring of 2010. i painted the whole wall light purple and then painted an extra large version of my logo on top in white. remember the pom-pom flowers i made? the large ‘twig thing’ in the upper right hand corner is a huge bird nest i made from twigs in the yard. it looks so neat and unexepected.
and that brings us to summer 2010. with the arrival of my succulents i decided to change things up again. this time i didn’t paint the wall. i hung a huge painters drop cloth from the ceiling with christmas lights behind the cloth for some extra sparkle. then i hung some inexpensive paper lanterns in front. dressed it up with blues, whites and tans and there you have it!
see the little ‘thing’ in the bottom left hand corner? it’s a terra cotta pig with wings. i had to keep one for myself, he’s on my back porch. cutest thing ever.
hope you enjoyed the evolution of my wall. more too come!
when i bought my bed and breakfast two years ago, the downstairs living room was renovated into a guest room/small gift shop back in 1993 by the original owners. when purchasing the bed and breakfast my intention was to take out the bedroom and bathroom and open things up to create one big gift shop. well, […]
in the sunset room here at the b&b i have a big blank wall that i felt needed something… something unique. a couple years ago i took some photographs of a sunset at a creek near a friend’s house and this became the inspiration for the room. see…
pretty. right? with the overturned boats in the photograph i got to thinking that oars would make a near decoration on the wall. i wanted something vintage, but all the painted/vintage oars i found were rather expensive or not the right color and i wanted something a bit more personal, so i decided to make my own.
i found these on ebay and the seller dropped the price for me as i wanted to buy four. i think i only paid about $5 a piece. maybe a bit more with shipping. anyway. when they arrived they were a little too ‘new’ looking. so, i beat them with a hammer, sanded them, left them out in the rain and sun, drowned them in the creek behind my dads house for a couple days. i didn’t destroy them, but when i was done then looked a little weathered, one even split towards the bottom. excellent! success!
although everyone may not notice, the goal with the coloring was to look like a sunset. starting with a darker pink at the bottom and working up to a light blue. like in the picture above. (the will eventually be hung horizontally with the dark pink at the bottom and blue at the top.)
so how’d i do it? well, i started by taping off some lines with painters tape so that some of the natural wood would show through. then i painted the entire oar the color i wanted.
after that dried i went back and taped of some more areas and then painted specific parts with my contrasting/darker color. when that was dry i removed all the tape. then added a bit more tape to add in a couple white areas.
when everything was dry, i removed the rest of the tape. some of the tape i removed pulled off pieces of the paint, but i was okay with that … it just added character and signs of wear.
then i sanded everything down … harder in some areas and on the edges. i went back in with a rag and lightly added some brown and white paint for more interest and depth. and then sanded everything down again.
tada! finished.
it took some time, but i love painting so in enjoyed every minute of it! i also love that they are completely customized for my space. you could do any variation to match your decor. all white with the natural wood.. primary colors… earth tones … etc.
a really fun project and it only cost me about $30-$40. i’m hoping to hang them after this weekend as there are guests in the room. i will post another picture when they are hung.
in the sunset room here at the b&b i have a big blank wall that i felt needed something… something unique. a couple years ago i took some photographs of a sunset at a creek near a friend’s house and this became the inspiration for the room. see… pretty. right? with the overturned boats in the photograph i got […]
looks like my little technique worked. i know it’s nothing ground breaking, but i’m pretty excited to see these little cherry tomatoes.
and it looks like there are a lot more coming.
so good.
…than a garden tomato. looks like my little technique worked. i know it’s nothing ground breaking, but i’m pretty excited to see these little cherry tomatoes. and it looks like there are a lot more coming. so good.
i guess i’m full of recipes this week. i hope you don’t mind.
i love, love summer. the farmers markets, the plethora of fruits and veggies at the grocery store. it’s so refreshing and nice to have a selection. i wish i had acres of land to plant veggies and berries and melons and squash. yum!
so this morning for breakfast (along with breakfast enchiladas {and all the fixins’}, cherry cream cheese danish, brown sugar bacon, oj, coffee, etc. ) i assembled some delicious summer fruits on a wooden skewer. strawberries, green grapes and watermelon. and for dipping i served them with one of the easiest and most delicious fruit dips!
it’s this easy… you’ll need one jar of marshmallow fluff. (i think it’s like 7 oz .. not the jumbo size) an 8oz block of cream cheese (softened), a cup of vanilla yogurt and a splash of cherry juice.
mix it all together and dive in. it’s honestly that easy. i could seriously sit down and eat a whole bowl of this dip. no fruit required!
a lot of folks make this recipe without the yogurt, but i think it creates a better consistency and a bit of tang and flavor. the splash of cherry juice also add a nice flavor and makes it the most beautiful pink color.
oh, and a sprig of pineapple mint for a fierce garnish. enjoy!
i guess i’m full of recipes this week. i hope you don’t mind. i love, love summer. the farmers markets, the plethora of fruits and veggies at the grocery store. it’s so refreshing and nice to have a selection. i wish i had acres of land to plant veggies and berries and melons and squash. […]
last summer i came across this recipe in gourmet magazine. the combination of buttermilk (which makes this cake super soft and tender) and fresh berries creates a perfect summer dessert or breakfast sweet. this cakes is perfect with blueberries but you could add any combination of sweet summer berries.
this is a must try people! enjoy!
Blueberry Buttermilk cake adapted from Gourment Magazine
what you’ll need: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 stick unsalted buter, softened 2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tbsp sugar, divided 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk 1 cup fresh blueberries
preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in middle. butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan
whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer at med-high speed until pale and fluffy (2-3 minues) then beat in vanilla. add egg and beat well.
at low speed, mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, and mixing until just combined.
spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. scatter blueberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tbsp sugar.
bake until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm, 10 to 15 minutes more. invert onto a plate.
last summer i came across this recipe in gourmet magazine. the combination of buttermilk (which makes this cake super soft and tender) and fresh berries creates a perfect summer dessert or breakfast sweet. this cakes is perfect with blueberries but you could add any combination of sweet summer berries. this is a must try people! […]
i am still slightly obsessed with making these foliage arrangements. so much though that i’m worried by the end of the summer my landscaping is going to be no existent.
i am still discovering new-to-me blogs. and i love it. people are so talented and creative. it’s inspiring. this one, this one and this one are there of several great finds.
i am really bad at reading books. i know, i have mentioned it before. my book shelf is full of books i have only read half way through. it’s not because i don’t like them, cause i do. usually another (and what seems to be better) book comes along and i want to read the new one rather than the old. maybe this is a sign of adhd? who knows. either way … i was only half way through the lovely bones and moved on to this book.
i’m almost to the half way point, but i have a strong feeling i’m going to finish this one. i actually really love it. and recommend it! i love the way the author speaks … well, writes. it’s great!
i am going to try and make these super-delicious-looking butter, cinnamon, sugar crusted french breakfast puff this week. don’t they look super good?
i am super freakin happy i won this amazing vintage wrought iron birdcage on ebay. i actually saw the exact birdcage (expect it was white) at the antique shop where i found that vintage fabric for almost double the price. i’m not exactly sure what to do with it yet. it’s either going to be a light fixture… or i’m going to get a beautiful unique fern (like maidenhair) to put inside and hand from the ceiling. endless ideas!
(i was really happy i discoverd this cage because the seller is super amazing and sweet AND has some other amazing vintage goodies in her ebay shop. vintage fans, furniture, more birdcages. i will definatly be watching for her new finds!)
i am going to decorate my beach house just like this when i win the lottery and buy one. (even though i don’t play the lottery … a boy can dream though!)
i am still slightly obsessed with making these foliage arrangements. so much though that i’m worried by the end of the summer my landscaping is going to be no existent. i am still discovering new-to-me blogs. and i love it. people are so talented and creative. it’s inspiring. this one, this one and this one are […]
the weirdest thing happened yesterday day. i was sitting in my dining room and something caught my eye outside the window. i looked out and saw all this ‘stuff’ flying around. after closer inspection i realized the ‘stuff’ was bees!
sadly, this picture doesn’t do it justice. but surrounding my house (and my house only) were literally thousands of bees. thousands!
after 10 minutes they finally decided to make my weeping crab apple their home.
ya see that big bludge towards the top? all bees. all. freakin’. bees. so, once things settled down my camera and i decided we should go for a closer inspection.
bees sorta of give me the heebie jeebies. but after taking some pictures and watching them they don’t bother me quite as much.(but still do a little … sorry bees)
look at them all! crazy! right?
but, oddly beautiful in their own little way.
this morning they were barely moving, so i got REALLY close. so close i was afraid i was going to drop my camera on them. that would have been a mess.
these bees are honey bees. which people are pretty concerned these days about the lack of them. (so i hear)there are a couple people in town that keep bees. the plan was to call them to ‘take them.’ (however that goes down.) but this afternoon when i went to check on the little guys. they were all gone.
i guess they saw the bed and breakfast sign in the yard and decided to spend the night. i hope they enjoyed their stay. i kinda miss them now.
(and on a completely unrelated note, don’t forget to enter the giveway!)
the weirdest thing happened yesterday day. i was sitting in my dining room and something caught my eye outside the window. i looked out and saw all this ‘stuff’ flying around. after closer inspection i realized the ‘stuff’ was bees! sadly, this picture doesn’t do it justice. but surrounding my house (and my house only) […]
and because they match and because they are on the desktop of my computer screen i thought i’d share these kitchens.
stainless steel, white cabinets, a farm sink, lime green accents, a painted floor, those sweet brackets on the upper cabinets. love it!
again the with the farm sink, love the faucet, white cabinets and again with the green! my kind of kitchen.
…with this pillow. and it’s reversable. and i love the color scheme this amazing lady created to match. via and because they match and because they are on the desktop of my computer screen i thought i’d share these kitchens. stainless steel, white cabinets, a farm sink, lime green accents, a painted floor, those sweet brackets on […]
two years ago (yeah, i know, some things take me a while) i bought this cool rusty blue tray on ebay for like a dollar or something ridiculous and i never knew what to do with it.
so, i needed a vessel for this cool sedum (angelina sedum – i believe) i found and i thought my little blue tray would be perfect (sorry I don’t have a ‘before picture)
so, with some cherry red spray paint and a couple of holes in the bottom, i have a pretty cool new planter for my front porch.
the goal is for the sedum to spill over the side, but these things take time (and a little miracle grow).
and did you notice my new banner up there? (i know i change it way to often) anyway, it’s a close up of this picture.
did you get your milk deliver in the ‘old days’? as i kid i remember getting milk delivered and this was the exact box the milkman put it in. neat! right? it’s planted with a different color version (yellow and orange tips) of the same sedum.
who needs pots?
two years ago (yeah, i know, some things take me a while) i bought this cool rusty blue tray on ebay for like a dollar or something ridiculous and i never knew what to do with it. so, i needed a vessel for this cool sedum (angelina sedum – i believe) i found and i […]
antiquing is one of my favorite things, as i’m sure it is for many of you. i love discovering wonderful treasures often hidden among piles of junk … seeing the possibilities in something no one else does or can … imagining how these objects were once used and love.
throughout my little inn i have lots of vintage treasures, some with more meaning than others, but all special in their own way. well today my mom and i went to hollywood (hollywood, PA that is) to the Hollywood Exchange Antiques and i found, (at least in my opinion) a find of a lifetime.
this amazing fabric.
i almost left the store without buying it (for lack of funding), but thank goodness my mom was there, or i probably would have. Thanks Mom!
8 yards of vintage (the shop owner says from the 1940’s) heavy upholstery style fabric in the most unbelievable condition for $55. people, it’s been several hours since i bought it and i still have goosebumps.
the gray flowers with chartreuse (my favorite color) and turquoise centers. and those maroon leafs. i never loved a fabric more.
now i do understand not everyone may love this and i may be overreacting a bit.
but i can’t help it. i just love it. i really do. and look at it with this green glazed pot. ah-mazing.
the plan is to use this for the curtains in my hall. remember i showed you some fabric the other day? well this blows that of out the park. oh i’m so excited. i found the most perfect light green/yellow/chartreuse wall paint too! i think if sherwin williams would still be open i’d be painting today.
antiquing is one of my favorite things, as i’m sure it is for many of you. i love discovering wonderful treasures often hidden among piles of junk … seeing the possibilities in something no one else does or can … imagining how these objects were once used and love. throughout my little inn i have lots […]
i really liked this month’s feature in better homes and gardens about using foliage to create really simple yet dynamic flower arrangements.
above are two examples of what was feature in the magazine.
so as i walked around the bed and breakfast today i gather a couple leaves (and some flowers for good measure) and created some really amazing arragements. and i think the whole process took me 5 minutes. another reason to love summer.
beautiful. right? at least i think so.
and all from my little garden in my little yard.
what do you think?
i really liked this month’s feature in better homes and gardens about using foliage to create really simple yet dynamic flower arrangements. above are two examples of what was feature in the magazine. so as i walked around the bed and breakfast today i gather a couple leaves (and some flowers for good measure) and created some […]
i am still a worrier. maybe even more so these days.
i am in love with this fabric and this fabric. if they come back in stock soon, i think either would be perfect for curtains on my window in my hall … which i will soon be painting a light green.
i am becoming slightly obsessed with terrariums. like these inspired creations from here and here.
i am dying to try one of these dutch stroopwafels from the good batch. don’t they look marvelous!?
i am really super happy when i’m in a greenhouse/nursery. i just love everything about it. everything. the flowers, the water, the dirt, the trees. anyone know of a greenhouse for sale? i’m adding it to my bucket list!
(on a side note, i got the most amazing green leafed japanese maple tree for $15 this weekend. it was originally priced $90. it was severely bent/crooked (hence the discount), but with a support pole and some string, it’s as good as new! my advice – always check out the clearance section.)
i am thankful for all your delightful comments and emails. each and every one makes me smile! thanks and have a great weekend.
i am so happy with this beautiful weather. it feel like beach weather … minus the beach. i know it won’t last, so i’m sucking it all in. i am finding some wonderful new blogs like this one, this one, this one, and this one. check them out! i am still a worrier. maybe even more […]
i’m not a big fan of email forwards, but i got this one the other day and felt it was neccessary to share. hope you enjoy and can relate to one or two.
here goes…
I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
(i’ve actually figured this one out! as the innkeeper of a bed and breakfast, i had no choice!)
Was learning cursive really necessary?
I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
Bad decisions make good stories.
You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Speed Trap” and “Avoid Bad Neighborhood” routing options.
Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent an ass from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
Sometimes I’ll look at the clock 3 (or more) consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
i’m not a big fan of email forwards, but i got this one the other day and felt it was neccessary to share. hope you enjoy and can relate to one or two. here goes… I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. Nothing […]
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