Sunday, May 26, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend 2013

I needed this 3 day weekend more than I realized!  I slept in until 10:00 this morning which is so late for me.  Clearly I needed that extra bit of sleep!  I spent Saturday with my mom, shopping for a dress for my brother's upcoming wedding.  We shopped, had lunch and enjoyed spending time together.  Today, Cody and I have been busy rearranging the living room and cleaning.  I was even able to sneak in some yard sales and I made a batch of homemade strawberry jam.  I grew up eating homemade jams and jellies so I can't stand the store-bought stuff!  I am afraid one batch won't be enough however!


 The weather has been pretty typical for Memorial Day in Idaho.  Sprinkling in the morning, then warm and sunny in the afternoon, followed by a great thunderstorm and pouring down rain.  It smells so fresh and clean outside so we decided to sit on the patio and enjoy it.  I made homemade lemonade to sip on and now I don't think we can ever go back to commercial lemonade again.  Homemade is always the best, especially when drinking out of my new 100th Anniversary Blue Ball Jars.  Somehow, the jars make it even better still!

 We hit an estate sale and I found this vintage BINGO game for $1.  The red and aqua colors are so perfect!  As much as I love playing BINGO, I think using all the wonderful cards, markers and numbers will be great to use in crafting!
 I finally found the perfect little ottoman to put in my Sweet Little Reading Nook.  It's really quite sweet the way it is, but it doesn't match so I will be painting the wood legs and recovering the cushion as soon as I find the perfect fabric.  The size is perfect for my nook.  I can't wait to get it refinished!
 I have been looking for an old metal gum ball machine for awhile. When I found this one for $3, I just knew I had to have it.  Before I get it painted, Cody had to try it out to make sure it worked.  As you can see, the peanut M & M's we put in it are nowhere to be found!  I thought having to pay for a handful would mean they would stick around longer, but clearly that deterred no one!
Today we also went to take a look at my Grandpa's headstone that was just recently placed on his grave.  It is beautiful and so perfect for him.  While we were there, my aunt and uncle showed up as well and it was nice to see them there, even if we were all crying!  We miss you Grandpa and love you so much!

Hope everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day weekend and thank you to all those who fought for our freedom!

Linking up with:
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Cottage Sweet Cottage: Rednesday
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Saturday, May 4, 2013

Purple & Yellow Wedding Shower

 I just had to show you the fun shower I helped throw for my future sister in law.  Her wedding colors are purple, yellow and grey.  Here is a banner that I made for the shower.  I found canvas covered photo books at Michael's in the $2 bins that were perfect for a banner.  The roses are rolled felt.  I ripped the pictures to give them a rough look and the letters are just printed on paper and glued on.  I love the way this turned out.  So did everyone else.  I have already been asked to make one for a baby shower as well as sell some of my creations in my aunt's floral shop...yay!!
 
Here is the food table.  My white stands came in super handy for all the yummy food!
 The ceiling where we had the shower was lovely.  I love the way the lights, lanterns and poms look hanging from it!
I also made some sugar cookies.  I need a lot of practice when it comes to decorating them, but I am definitely getting better.  Everyone said they tasted delicious too!
And here is the beautiful bride to be!  She hates being the center of attention and hated that we made her put this fun bow hat on.  Oh well, it is tradition and she looks pretty cute!
The wedding is June 15th, sadly I am not in it but I will be there to take some pictures, help set up and do whatever they need me to do.  I can't wait!

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Vintage Lawn Decorations

 While we were out working in the yard this weekend, I looked around at all the weeds that are never ending, and wondered what other people would really see back here.  These are the things I hope would catch their eye.
 This is a Schwinn bike from the early 1960's.  It is a 3-wheeler with a basket on the back.  It is rusty and old but I love it.  The basket is the perfect place to set a big bunch of flowers.  My favorite vintage gate sits behind it along the fence.  
 My vintage blue Ball Jars need to be cleaned out after this winter.  I have shepherd hooks to hang them from. They will hold candles and light up the yard during summer festivities.  Of course I have plans to get a pack or two of the 100 year Anniversary jars too! 
 Love my little red wagon.  It has been used as a planter, a photo prop and many other things.  The bottom is rusty and dirty but the outside is in wonderful shape.  Cody has big plans to rhino line the inside and then use it to haul stuff when we go fishing...just as long as the outside isn't change, I am okay with that!
 I have this small collection of antique bottles hanging on my fence.  There are a few heavy brown bottles and lots of clear bottles.  I wish I knew everything that these bottles once held.
Rusty horseshoes in all different sizes. 
 An old milking can that we use as a neat little planter.  It definitely needs a new plant to really wake it up!
 Rusty old tin cans.  Again, I wish I knew what these once contained!
And an old galvanized bucket that we use as a planter.  There are those weeds I was talking about.  Why do they take over the whole yard no matter what the weather is doing?  Looks like I have another day of weeding and yard work ahead of me!  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my vintage lawn decorations...I hope you didn't even notice the weeds!


Linking up with:
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
ColoradoLady: Vintage Thingie Thursday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Homespun Happenings: Rustic Restoration Weekend
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A few of my graphic design projects

 You might remember that back at the end of February, I started taking a class at the college I work at called Visual Communications.  It is a graphic design class that I was so excited to take.  It is a higher level class so I was a bit behind some of the students who had taken the lower level classes, but I feel like I have caught on pretty quick and have some of my work to show you.  Our second project was to design a book cover.  I had quite a few ideas, but the whole class loved this one the most---a cookbook!  I love to cook and bake and I always try to find a way to make the recipe a little easier.  I came up with the name (Mostly) Made from Scratch since that is kind of my cooking style.  I wanted it to look vintage because I love anything vintage.  Here is what I came up with: (click on image for larger picture)

So using Adobe Illustrator, I drew the vintage housewife, the kitchen tools and the recipe cards.  I used layers and textures for the backgrounds.  I present this project to the class tomorrow and I can't wait to hear what they have to say.  Seeing this printed has made me so excited.  I am working on starting a blog of the same name to post recipes on.  What better way to write your cookbook by blogging about it first!

Our first project was to design a logo.  I decided to design a logo for my little event planning side business called "This Magic Moment Event Planning".  It is sweet and simple and perfect for my logo.  I can tell I have come a long way in my graphic design abilities.  In the beginning I could draw circles and now I can actually draw faces and other shapes!

The best part of all of this, my manager's supervisor is so impressed with my work, he wants me to take a graphic design class every term!  So not only do I get to take these classes for free and for work purposes, I will get to add graphic designer to my resume now!  The possibilities for me are going in the right direction...up! 
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Monday, April 15, 2013

Lunch Lady Brownies

I am a sucker for a good brownie.  As long as it doesn't have nuts, I won't pass it up!  The love of brownies runs in my family...my brother is having a brownie wedding cake instead of an actual wedding cake when he gets married in June.  Our mom is a professional wedding cake decorator and I think this will be a first for her!  We just love brownies and I love to make them.  Whether they are made from a box and doctored up or made from scratch, they are one of my favorite things to make!  If you are an avid Pinterest-er, you have probably seen this recipe for Lunch Lady Brownies.  The story goes that over 5o years ago, a lunch lady in Bonneville, Idaho, created this amazing brownie recipe.  It is so good that it is award winning, people!  Of course I had to try it out to see if it was as good as everyone claims it to be.  They were right, they were SOOO right!
This recipe is from Salt Box House.  I followed the recipe exactly, except for I halved it since it makes a 9 x 13 pan and I didn't want to make that many.  But of course I should have because I ended up making the second half of the batch later in the week.  I am not sure if it is the brownie's chewy middle that is my favorite part or the fudge-like frosting that you absolutely HAVE TO use.  And when the recipe says to frost the brownies while they are still warm-just do it!  It really is what makes the frosting.  I wouldn't be lying if I said I could probably eat a whole (half) batch by myself.  But Lord knows I don't need to!  If you are looking for an amazing brownie recipe that has stood the test of time, this is it!  If you make it and end up eating the whole batch by yourself, don't say I didn't warn you!
 
Lunch Lady Brownies:
1 cup of butter
1/2 cup of cocoa
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp of vanilla 
 
Melt the butter in the microwave and put into my mixing bowl, then add cocoa and mix together until smooth.  Add flour, and sugar. Beat together and then add eggs &vanilla. Mix until combined. Do not over stir.  Pour into greased, floured 9x13 baking pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes @350 F or until done. Check at it at 20 minutes.
Wait only about 10 minutes to frost brownies.
Frost them while they are warm (not hot).
 
The Chocolate Icing Recipe:
To make while the brownies bake
1/4 cup of softened butter
1/4 cup of milk (regular milk is fine)
1/4 cup of cocoa
3 cups of powdered sugar
Dash of Salt
Mix all together and frost as desired.


Linking up with:
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Le Chateaus des Fleurs
 
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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Estate Sale Finds & Easter Spoolies

 We stopped by an Estate Sale yesterday afternoon after my niece's Sweet 16 Birthday Party.  I wasn't sure what to expect since it was inside of the Eagle's Lodge, but I was pleasantly surprised!  The prices were good and they definitely knew what they had.  My favorite find were these vintages statues.  My grandma has a set and I always loved them.
  
They started out gold and I just don't do gold, so the first thing I did when I got them home was to paint them white and do a little distressing.  I love the way they turned out.  These were made by Universal Statue Company in 1971. 

I also spotted these great frames.  They don't look so great now, but they will when I get done with them!  The oval ones were marked a quarter each and the rectangle ones were marked 5 cents each.  I can't wait to make them over!
The total cost for the statues and 4 picture frames=$1!!  Yes, one dollar!  Can you believe that?  I was happy with that and then he asked if we were interested in the night stands over there.  I said sure, but I didn't have $10, which is what they wanted for the pair.  He told us just to take them!  So really, I paid one dollar for the statues, frames and night stands.  I am sure that if I would have looked around more, I would have found more fun stuff, but all of this will do!
 
The night stands are in our room right now, awaiting a makeover.  Depending on how they turn out, I might just keep them for myself!

***

I joined in a fun Easter swap at 521 Lake Street.  This swap was to decorate a wooden spool for your swap partner for Easter.  Tiffany was my partner and look at the cute spoolie she made me!
Love the Eiffel Tower shadow box egg she made.  The aqua sky, the pink, the glitter, Paris-I love it all! 
She also included this fun box full of goodies.  I think I might have to make another spoolie with all the crafty things she sent.
  
She also gave me this fun raffia nest that came with these pink speckled eggs.  Thanks so much for the goodies Tiff!  If you want to see what I made for her, click here.

Holy week is upon us, I hope you are all ready for Easter!

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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Irish Soda Bread on St Patrick's Day

 On St Patrick's Day, everyone wants to be Irish!  But only some of us are lucky enough to actually have Irish blood in us.  I am one of those lucky people...I am proud to be one quarter Irish!  My great grandma Margaret Ryan came over from Ireland at the age of 16 to be an indentured servant.  She came through Ellis Island and made the trip across the US to Seattle, Washington.  There, she met the love of her life, an Irish man named Raymond Kealy.  Together, they raised 5 children.  I don't have any memories of my great grandpa, but I have many of my great grandma.
 Every time we would go to Seattle to visit, she would always make Irish Soda Bread.  She didn't use a recipe.  She had made it so many times that she didn't need a recipe since it was all in her head.  After the soda bread was all baked and cooled, we would go into the dining room.  There, we would eat a thick, crusty slice of soda bread slathered in creamy butter and dusted with a little bit of sugar.  To accompany our soda bread, we always had tea.  Grandma would tell us stories about growing up in Ireland as well as some of her favorite Irish lore and legends.  Grandma has only been gone for about 9 years now, but I wish I could go back in time to eat some more of her bread and listen to  more of her stories.
 Today I decided that in honor of my grandma and in celebration of St Patrick's Day, I would make some Irish Soda Bread.  I hadn't had any in years so I was really looking forward to tasting it again.  I did it just like grandma would have-slathered it in butter and sprinkled it with sugar.  I even made some tea to drink along with it.  It is not even close to being as delicious as grandma's, but I figure I can keep practicing!  It was Cody's first time trying it as well and I think he liked it.  My favorite part is still the plump, juicy raisins that you randomly bite into!
The tea set that I used belonged to my great grandma and was perfect to use with such a special treat.  It dates back to at least the 1950's and is one of my favorite family heirlooms.  I am so glad that I have some Irish in me but I am even more thankful that I got to know my great grandma, taste her soda bread and hear her wonderful stories!  Happy St Patrick's Day to you all!
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