Burlap, Felt & Twine Creations

 Do you ever make something with the intention to sell it and just really want to keep it for yourself when it is all done?  That happened to me this weekend when I made this sweet little banner and wreath.  Plus they both go so perfectly on my old shabby door, like they were meant to hang there!  What do you think?

 This coming week at the college I work for is Homecoming.  One of the festivities is called Taste of the Harvest where wineries have samples of their wines, people bring goods to sell and there are a lot of other activities.  My mother-in-law is going to have a booth and I am going to sell a few of my things there.  This banner and wreath is going to be for sale...unless I end up just keeping it for myself!

 Of course I hope it sells so I can make some money, but if it doesn't, I know exactly where they will hang in my house!  I also made a few more banners of different kinds and if I have time, I might make a few more wreaths.

 I am loving the colors I used for these.  The chipboard shapes are a nice ivory color so I made felt roses using sandstone, white and antique white felt.  The pearls really make it perfect!

 I covered a wreath form in burlap and it is rustic and imperfect, but I love it!  These colors together make my heart happy.  They are simple but so crisp and beautiful.

 Maybe it will sell, maybe it won't.  Either way, I had fun making them and I would be happy either way!

My birthday was on Friday and it was a pretty good day.  Although I had to work, I had a fun day anyway.  My co-workers brought me coffee, muffins, chocolates, wine and took me to lunch.  Cody took me out to dinner and bought me this amazing bed set.  He knows me so well!  I absolutely love all things Paris and this bed set is so perfect for me.  Once I get my bedroom totally done, I will be sure to share it with you!

Have a great week!

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
DWELLINGS: Amaze Me Monday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Le Chateau des Fleurs: Monday Link Party
The Dedicate House: Make it Pretty Monday
Cozy Little House: Tweak it Tuesday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday 
VMG206: Brag About It
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday
Faith, Grace & Crafts: Pearls & Lace Thursday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted  in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
  The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Obsessive & Creative: Craft Frenzy Friday
The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash

Old Fashioned Sunday Dinner

Maybe it is because I am turning another year older this week.  Maybe it is because I recently saw the house that I grew up in and it made me really sad (more about that later).  Maybe it is the fact that Fall is on its way here and I always crave comfort foods this time of year.  Maybe I am just an old fashioned girl who likes tradition and carrying on things that those before me did.  I am not sure what it is, but I have been making sure that we have an old fashioned Sunday dinner for the past few weeks, just like we did when I was growing up!

 Tonight I made Moist Baked Buttermilk Chicken.  Tenders for me, thighs for Cody.  Of course Cody would prefer that I fry it, but I don't really like frying in the house and I am doing Weight Watchers and fried foods are too many points!  So far I have made meatloaf and a pork roast.  There are so many options as to what I can make...can't wait to explore them all!  Along with the chicken, I made mashed potatoes and gravy, brown sugar carrots and a nice rustic ciabatta bread.  I always make mashed potatoes and gravy, the flavor of the gravy just changes depending on the kind of protein I am making. 

 My grandma is a great cook and I picked up some tips from her that I would like to share with you.  I am sure some of you already do these things, but if you don't, you definitely should!  

1. I save my bacon grease in a mug and use it when I need some fat and extra flavor.  I had 4 of these amazing vintage Snoopy mugs but somehow Cody lost all but this one.  I didn't want to lose this one so it is my bacon grease holder.  It stays in the fridge and comes in handy quite a lot.  Frying your pork chops in bacon grease is beyond amazing!
2. When you drain your potatoes for mashed potatoes, save some of the water and use it in your gravy.  It really helps the flavor out a lot.
3. Whether you wear an apron or not, throw a dish towel over your shoulder.  It is always right there when you need to wipe your hands, the counter or use it as a hot pad.  I always have a dish towel over my shoulder when I am in the kitchen!
4. And last but not least, every Sunday dinner needs a dessert!

This lemon meringue pie isn't homemade, but it is amazing and it's the perfect dessert to finish off my old fashioned Sunday dinner.  Thank you Marie Callender for your amazing pies.  The crust tastes just like homemade.  I am going to learn to make homemade pie crust like the pros very soon and will be sure to share it with you!

This sweet little picture of handprints is of me and my brother's hands back in 1986.  Josh was 2 and I was 4 when my dad put sidewalks in around our house.  He let us put our handprints in this section in the front of the house so that we could see how much we grew over the years.  They sold that house about 7 years ago and it broke my heart.  That was the only house I lived in for the first 24 years of my life.  I always dreamed of my kids going to visit their grandparent's there someday and putting their hands in our ours to see how they measured up.  Miranda Lambert's song "The House That Built Me" is the perfect song when it comes to the house I grew up in.  The first time I heard it I bawled my eyes out...I could have written that song myself, down to the handprints on the front step! I went to a yard sale next door to it yesterday and I went into the yard to snap this picture.  Sadly, the people that bought it from us lost it and it is in horrible shape.  I started crying because the weeds are as tall as the house, the grass is dead and it isn't the house that I grew up in and loved.  I wish I could buy it.  I also wish I could take this piece of cement out of the sidewalk and keep it forever!

Linking up with:
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday

Fall Milk Can

 Oh how I wish I had a big, beautiful porch to decorate for each season.  Since I don't, I do my best to make my little front step look festive and welcoming.  My old milk can is the perfect vessel for some lovely fall foliage.

 Cody and I went to his work shop yesterday and the canal was loaded with cattails that were in perfect condition.  I grabbed some scissors and cut a bunch to take home.  I knew I could figure out a way to use them for fall decorating.

 I had also stopped by Michael's on Friday and picked up these pretty glittery silk flowers.  They were 99 cents each and I love the colors.  These came in handy too!

 The wired ribbon with pumpkins I had from last year and I didn't realize it until I put it all together, but the colors match perfectly.  This little milk can makeover was turning into quite a little happy accident of a project!

 This project only cost me about $3 and it makes such a bold statement.  My little front step is looking like it is ready for fall now!  I just need to find a cute pumpkin to set on my terracotta candle holder and it will be perfect.

Can I just tell you how happy I am that it is September?  Not only do I have a birthday in September, but I am loving the cooler weather and I can't wait for everything that fall brings!

Linking up with:
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sundays
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday 
Le Chateau des Fleurs: Monday Link Party
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cozy Little House: Tweak It Tuesday
Home Coming: The DIY'ers
Knick of Time Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Tips & Tricks: Fall Crafting Edition
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style 
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday