Monday, June 9, 2014

Peach Iced Tea & Poppies

 Summer is in full swing around here, even if it isn't quite officially summer.  The temperatures are rising and I am craving sun tea.  I am sure my Southern friends will cringe when they hear that I don't like it sweet, but I do love it flavored with peach!  Instead of spending money on already made peach tea, I am making my own. 
 I just brew my own sun tea out on the patio.  We don't like it too strong--when it gets to this beautiful amber color, it is just right.  I picked up a bottle of sugar free peach syrup and if you are feeling really fancy, throw in a sliced peach.  Just add as much peach syrup as you would like (I like just a splash).  
 I picked up these peach chevron paper straws from Michaels and it is the perfect accompaniment to this clear mason jar.  Peach tea is delicious and I can't seem to get enough!  If you have never tried, I really think you should!
 Last year I picked up a terry cloth tablecloth at a yard sale for about 50 cents.  It is round and in perfect condition.  I forgot I even had it until I found these............
 Vintage melamine plates with orange poppies!  I pulled out the tablecloth to put on my table so I could display the plates.  I also just happened to have some................
 Silk orange poppies from the Dollar Tree!  So it appears that I now have a small poppy collection and I hope to keep finding more things to add so I can create a beautiful tablescape with all of them.
 I love the fringe on the edge and the orange is so pretty for a summer table.  It kind of matches the peach iced tea too!
 My new job is going great so far.  We are in full swing with summer conferences and I am getting a great workout everyday just walking all over campus.  Once they are done sprucing up the historic house where my office is located, I can't wait to show you it!  And show you my huge craft closet there!

Linking up with:
VMG206: DIY Sunday
Navy Wife Peters: Submarine Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
Coastal Charm: Show & Share
Chateau des Fleurs: Monday Party
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time
VMG206: Brag About It
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Crafty Allie: Worthwhile Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
Share Your Cup Thursday
Coloradolady: Vintage Thingie Thursday
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Bacon Time: Anything Goes


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Saturday, May 17, 2014

White Roses on the Mantle

 Today was graduation at the college I work for and I ordered too many roses on purpose to hand out to each graduating senior.  Of course I took home the leftovers and they look amazing on my mantle.  Clearly when you have such a big, beautiful bouquet of roses, you have to have a photo shoot!
Can you tell I had too much fun and took too many pictures?!  The roses, lace and pearls were just begging for their pictures to be taken.


 I wish I could afford to have roses like this gracing my mantle all the time!
These roses came all the way from Florida to Idaho and they are big and beautiful  I am going to try my best to dry them so I can enjoy them even longer.





 I love how the focus on the white tulle made the pearls have a bokeh look to them.  So pretty!




See, I had so much fun with these beautiful white roses!  

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for my brother's dog.  Everyday it gets a little easier though we will always mourn his loss.

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

All dogs go to heaven

 My brother's dog Muttley was killed today in a freak accident.  We were all at my parent's house getting ready to have some family pictures taken when it happened.  It was instant and it happened while he was doing what he loved.  My heart is broken today over the loss of my sweet furry nephew.
 Mutt was only 5 years old so it seems even more unfair.  He loved my brother more than anything and they were the best of friends.  Mutt was going to be a big brother in about 3 months and the thought of his little brother never getting to meet him breaks my heart even more.
 I know he would have been the best big brother, loving and protecting his baby.  He was so full of life and so energetic.  He loved to be scratched, he loved to hunt and he loved to swim.
 My dogs loved their cousin Mutt and he would often spend weekends with us when his mom and dad were out of town.  He loved Cody and wouldn't do anything unless Cody was the one doing it with him.
 Cody is the one who takes responsibility for this sudden, tragic loss and for the first time in our 7 years together, I saw him cry as we laid Muttley to rest at my parent's house today.  He is devastated and is ridden with guilt.  It was an accident and it could have happened to anyone.  Please keep him in your prayers that he can forgive himself for this.
 And please keep my brother and his wife in your prayers as well.  They are both heartbroken by this tragic loss.  They were so looking forward to having pictures taken with Mutt and their new baby soon.  Now we will just have to keep Mutt's memory alive and let his little brother know all about him. 
Muttley, you were one amazing furry nephew and we are going to miss you so much.  I truly believe that all dogs go to heaven and Mutt is definitely up there, running around doing all the things he loves.  Give your fur babies extra loves tonight and never take life for granted.
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Sunday, April 27, 2014

Lovely Lilacs & some big news!

 Everytime I step outside, I can smell lilacs, apple blossoms and other flowering spring trees.  I needed some of my own so that the inside of my house could smell so sweet!
 I decided that we should go on a Sunday drive and see if there were flowers somewhere out there for me to cut and bring home.  I had big dreams of finding an undiscovered field of wildflowers that I could call my own.  No such luck!
 My cousin has a huge lilac bush in her front yard and told me I could come cut some whenever I wanted to.  Since our drive out in the country was unsuccessful, we settled on the easy way of getting fresh cut flowers.
 I got enough for 2 large bouquets.  One of them is in my French carafe and one is in my vintage aqua Ball Jar.  They smell as pretty as they look!
 Do you see that large tree stump they are sitting on?  Cody's friend cut down a big tree and he brought this home to make a table out of it.  At first I thought it was silly but now I have big ideas for it.  I can't wait to show you what I have in mind soon!
 I have some big news to share with all of you.  I got a new job!  I will still be at the same college, just in a different department, the department I have been longing to work in for as long as I have worked there.
 I will now be the Events Assistant in the Special Events and Conference Services department.  I can't tell you how perfect this job will be for me.  Any event that the college hosts, I will have a large part in.  Mainly, I will be in charge of all themes, decorations, centerpieces, etc.  I get to plan events on a daily basis and make the events beautiful.  I can't wait to start in my new role!
Hope you all found something beautiful that made you smile this weekend!

Linking up with:
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Navy Wife Peters: Submarine Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday 
Le Chateau des Fleurs
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Home Coming: The DIY'ers
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
VMG206: Brag About It
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday 
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Crafty Allie: Worthwhile Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Fishtail Cottage: Garden Party
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Common Ground: Be Inspired
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Monogram Spring Wreath

 I have been busy all day preparing for Easter brunch tomorrow.  But I also found some time to craft and hit some yard sales.  Here is the project I completed today.  
 I found the chip board P at Michael's after Christmas and paid 25 cents for it.  I knew I wanted to turn it into something springy.  I picked up some Reindeer Moss at the Dollar Tree (though I would recommend using a more solid moss for this project).  I hot glued moss all over until it was covered then made a little nest out of a different type of moss.
 The eggs are wooden Easter eggs that I painted my favorite aqua blue color and added a few speckles.  The corner of the P was the perfect place for the sweet little nest.  The aqua ribbon is left over from my wedding.  After Easter is over, this monogram spring wreath will hang on my front door!
 We also hit some yard sales today.  I found these switch plate covers and got all of them for $3.  I don't have any light switches that these will fit, but I hope to someday soon.  They need to be washed but the details of them are what I got them for!
 Do you know of other ways people might use these instead of switch plate covers?  I am trying to think what else I can do with them but nothing comes to mind right now!
 These zinc jar lids were $1 for all of them!  The box is in bad shape but it is fun to read the text on it.  Not sure if my lids will be used as lids or as something else.  Have any ideas for these as well?
 I can never pass up a set of sweet vintage embroidered pillow cases and these were no exception.  I love the daisies and red hearts.  Can't beat the price--2 for 25 cents!
 And one more look at my monogram spring wreath.  These colors make me so happy!
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!  I get to spend it with Cody's family and my parent's will be joining us for brunch as well.  It will be wonderful!

Linking up with:
VMG206: DIY Showcase
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Navy Wife Peters: Submarine Sunday 
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
Le Chateau des Fleurs
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
Home Coming: The DIY'ers
VMG206: Brag About It
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
 Savvy Southern Style: Centerpiece Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage:  Cottage Style Party
Crafty Allie: Worthwhile Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday
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
Bacon Time: Anything Goes
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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Spring is here...and so are the yard sales!

 The weather has been marvelous lately and my daffodils surely feel the same way!  I couldn't resist cutting some and putting them in an aqua ball jar. Yellow and aqua are so gorgeous together, wouldn't you agree?!
 When the daffodils finally show their pretty heads, Spring is officially here!  And so are the yard sales.  I found a few lovely things this weekend and just had to share.

 I found two of these white wire baskets for $1 each.  I snatched them both up but had no idea what I would do with them.  I finally figured it out-they hold 3 pint sized Ball jars perfectly!
 I took my canisters off the counter because I honestly don't use them and put these in their place.  Right now they contain chocolate, white chocolate and butterscotch chips.  It is a perfect fit!
 And it matches with my oval cake stand.  It's like they were meant to be displayed together.  Not sure what I will do with the other one, but I am sure something will come to mind sooner or later.
 I also found some more vintage melamine plates.  I already have two like this with pink roses and couldn't pass these up.  At 25 cents each, I don't think you could have either!
 These plates are salad sized plates which are new to me.  Guess I will have to start collecting those too!  I have been hitting the vintage melamine jackpot lately and I love it.  Clearly these plates last a long time!
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