Lemon Drops

This is my lemon drop candy jar. I love lemon drops...they just remind me of being a kid. I actually have the Lemon-Head brand candies in there now. They're good too but I like the old fashioned lemon drops better.

I've had the jar a couple years now and I remember how happy I was when I found it. It had been marked down a couple times and then it was another 30% off. I think the final cost was around $19. It is really heavy crystal so I think that was a really good deal!

As I was taking these pictures Beau just had to jump up and get in the action so here's a shot of him...the big ham that he is!

Love this!

I found this window box on the online Ballard Designs store. I love it and if I lived in a house I'm sure I would have to have one!

Inspiration Friday

I realized yesterday that many of my emails were going directly to my SPAM folder when they shouldn't have. I get so much spam that I never even look at that file...I just usually delete it. For some reason yesterday I decided to look through a few of the thousands of emails in there and realized OH MY GOSH...people have been sending me emails and they must think I'm ignoring them! I am so sorry if you sent an email and I did not reply back. I don't reply back to comments left on my blog because blogger doesn't allow me to but if you send an email directly to me I do usually answer it. I'm really sorry if I didn't get back to any of your emails! Now on to Inspiration Friday!

I have permission from Cathy at Treasured Heirlooms to share these photos with you. I first saw this adorable little place on Flickr and fell in love with it! Cathy has just fixed up the inside and it is so adorable. Go visit her blog to see even more pictures!
http://www.treasured-heirlooms.blogspot.com/

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen. I think I would just go sit in there and read magazines all day if I had this place in my backyard.


Cathy also has an online boutique. Click here to see more beautiful things. I love her teacup wreaths!

Thinking about Christmas

I found these cute little silver-plated salt and pepper shakers at the Salvation Army the other day. They were tarnished and I polished them but I think they actually looked better tarnished. The good thing is that I know they will be tarnished by the time I want to use them. I'm not going to use them as salt and pepper shakers but as Christmas ornaments. I tied on some red ribbon and I think they will look adorable hanging on my Christmas tree!

One year awhile back I had 2 Christmas trees, one in my living room and the other in my dining room (I had a bigger place back then.) I hung blue and white transferware cups and I attached saucers with plate hangers and wire. It was adorable. I would love to start collecting little things to do a tea-themed tree like that again someday. It's just another thing I'll be on the lookout for at the thrift stores!

After my daughter and I had dinner last night on our patio, I started painting another rose I made. She wanted to paint too so I got out my art supplies. It was so nice sitting there painting and chatting with her. As she was painting she said that she's not artistic like me or her brother. I disagreed with her on that and told her she just needs to spend a little more time with it. She got bored painting so she grabbed the camera and took a couple pictures, one of which was the colored pencils sitting on the table. Now, if that's not an artistic photograph I don't know what is! See Lauren...you are very artistic!

Making topiaries

Yesterday I was at Target and I saw these rosemary plants and I thought they would be perfect to make little topiaries. This is a project I have wanted to try for a long time.

I want the pots to get mossy which is not always easy when you live in a dry climate. I've heard if you brush plain yogurt or buttermilk on the pot and then rub moss on it that it will grow moss quicker. I'm not sure how great the moss will grow since the rosemary needs full sun! I didn't think that part through until after I did it.

I removed all the stems except the strongest center stem and then removed all the leaves except for the very top. I pinched off a little on the top which will make the plant send off two new branches and you just keep pinching as they grow until you get a little ball shape at the top. Here is a photo I found of what they should look like....although it may take a year or so to get there. I'll keep you updated on it's progress.

Click here to find directions for starting them from just a clipping of rosemary.

A Great Thrift Store Find!

I've been doing a lot better staying away from the thrift stores. For awhile there I was going almost every day on my lunch hour. I did go once last week and boy am I glad I did! I found my perfect china. It's not a full set but now I have something to hunt for. The pattern is Noritake Athlone and I only paid $12.99 for all these pieces. It's far from being a complete set though. There aren't any dinner plates. I looked this pattern up on this web site and just the 8 bread plates I have sell for $60. Each dinner plate on that site sells for $19.99 so I may just buy a couple every once in awhile...this is going to be a slow process getting a full set because of my budget constraints but it will be fun. Note to my kids: I would love any extra pieces as birthday or christmas gifts!

This set has a medium size platter, 4 salad plates, 8 bread plates, 4 soup bowls and 8 small bowls....makes me wonder where the rest are??? I went back to the thrift store the next day just to be sure they somehow didn't get split up but no such luck. I love the thrill of hunting for something so I'm excited!

Since there aren't any dinner plates I figure I can do the mix and match thing and use my bluebird plates that I got at the same thrift store. Oh, the thrift store I got these at was Savers...they have much better stuff than the Goodwill! I think both of these go together pretty well. (click to enlarge)

I'm trying to find out how old this pattern is. If anyone knows, please tell me! I even emailed Noritake and they just referred me to some book that someone wrote on Noritake china.
I also made another rose from the coffee filters last night. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here. This one came out even better than the first. The new one is one the right. I used yellow and pink watercolors on this one.

Fruit Bouquet

Mmmm one of the best things about summer is the wonderful fruit. I went to a party this weekend so I copied this idea from someone's blog...sorry I don't remember where I saw it??? I put some florist foam in a soup tureen and then covered it with some swiss chard to give it a nice green base. I cut flower shapes out of the watermelon with cookie cutters and used cantaloupe balls for the center. I would have liked to spend more time getting a nice rounded shape to this fruit bouquet but I was running really late so I really threw this thing together quickly.

Wanting more

Most of the time I feel very content, happy and thankful for the things I do have but there are also times when I really wish I had more money to buy more things. Awhile ago I found this quote on an email someone sent me. I printed it out and kept it on my desk to remind myself to not become too materialistic.

"Wanting more doesn't breed contentment, it breeds more wanting."

It's RAINING HERE!

I can't believe this...I left a message on someone's blog yesterday saying we never get rain in the summer in California and how much I miss the rain this time of year...well guess what...IT'S RAINING HERE! I'm so happy! The weather man said the rain was going to be North of San Francisco and it would all be gone by this morning (I'm South of SF). Even the weather man was wrong. I don't ever remember rain in July here...this is amazing! In fact, the weather man said that this was the first time it rained on this date in San Francisco since they have been keeping records...150 years!

Mmmm...Banana Ice Cream

I love anything banana flavored especially Banana Ice Cream...Homemade Banana Ice Cream! It's even better with chocolate sauce. It sort of tastes like a chocolate covered banana...I love those too! Last weekend my daughter said "remember how good that banana ice cream we used to make was?" Oh Yeah...I do...so I had to make some because once she mentioned it, I couldn't get it out of my head.

I've had this Donvier Ice Cream maker since the late 80s. It has a cylinder inside that you keep in the freezer so it's ready any time you get the craving for homemade ice cream. It works great. You just combine the ice cream ingredients, pour it in and turn the handle about 3 times every few minutes and in about 15 minutes your ice cream is done! I sit it on the coffee table and make it as I watch TV. Their website (click here) has some great recipes. I used the one that came with mine. Here it is.

Banana Ice Cream

2 eggs

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups cream

2 cups mashed bananas

Beat egg and sugar in electric mixer until thick and cream-colored. Add vanilla, cream and banana, mix well. Pour into ice cream maker...

I noticed on Susan Branch's website that she has a recipe for Strawberrry Ice Cream. I may have to try that this weekend!

An amazing story!

This is my second post today. I couldn't wait...you have to read this story called "Pancakes" on Susan Branch's website. Click here to read it.

After you read it go back to her home page for some more beautiful things. I just love Susan Branch!

Garage Sale Finds

Saturday morning on my way back from the grocery store I decided to take the residential back streets rather than the main road...I have no idea why but it was fate. I drove right past a garage sale I would have missed if I had stayed on the main road. I found this beveled mirror for $5. I've been collecting mirrors at thrift stores to display on the stairway wall. When I first saw Kim's (Daisy Cottage) mirrors I knew I wanted to something like that. I started hanging them up a couple weeks ago knowing that I don't really have enough but figured that I just add more as I find them. The day after I hung them up I saw Manuela's (The Feathered Nest) post and she was doing the same thing! Here is the start of mine. Some are plastic that I painted white and antiqued, one is metal and the rest are wood. I don't think I paid more than $6 for any of them. Now I can't wait to find more. I just hope I'm not upstairs when the big earthquake hits or if I am that these mirrors stay on the wall!

I also found this Vera Bradley bag. I wanted a Vera Bradley bag for awhile now. Every time I check eBay there are so many people bidding on them. I was thrilled when I saw this for $5. It's blue and yellow...my favorite colors!

Is it real?

Can you believe I made this rose out of coffee filters? When I was off work during the 4th of July holiday, I was watching Martha Stewart and she quickly mentioned that the coffee filter rose was the most downloaded things on MarthaStewart.com. That alone told me this was something I wanted to see! You have to see this. Click here and make sure you watch the video. It would be really hard to make these just by reading the instructions only...you have to have the visual to go along with it. I will be making many more of these!
The mistake I made is that you can still see the pen outline on some of the petals. I thought the watercolor paint would cover this but it didn't. Now I know to make sure all the outline is cut off. I only used one color for these but you can use multiple colors or even go back over the edges with the same color but less diluted. The gal that came up with this idea also has a website called "Mommy Makes Roses". Click here to see the ones she sells. Hers are really beautiful.

Some changes around here

I've made a decision to no longer do Inspiration Friday's as I have in the past. My decision was based on Barbara Jacksier's July 8th post. I love Barbara's blog and as the past editor of many of my favorite magazines I have so much respect for her. I trust her judgement on this...the last thing I need is a lawsuit! I feel bad because I started the whole Inspiration Friday posts and I know they really caught on in the blog world. If you are scanning magazines and posting them on your blog, I would suggest you stop...I would really hate to see any of my blogging friends get slapped with a lawsuit and I would feel so horrible and somewhat responsible since I started this whole thing.

So on a lighter note...what vintage movie star are you most like? I took this fun quiz and found out I'm most like Marilyn Monroe. I find this is so funny because an old boyfriend once told me I was like Marilyn Monroe.

Which vintage movie star are you most like?(For girls)

You are Marilyn Monroe. You're a sexy bombshell who knows how to get what she wants, but sometimes people underestimate you or misread you and you're seen for one thing instead of all that you are. You can actually be very shy and hard on yourself, and feel that sexiness is all you have to offer to people. You will have your success but be careful that you don't let anything consume you completely. Feel better about how smart you are.
Take this quiz!








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I've been tagged again

I was tagged by Grace of Rose Cottage Lane almost a week ago and I'm just getting around to doing this. This is the High Vibes Game... 5 things that get my vibes going...I really have no idea what that means. LOL Here's what I think gets my vibes going....

1. My Kids: Lauren who's now 14 and thinks she's twenty. She has a heart of gold. My most proud moment was when she told me she saw a lady at the store with a walker who was having a hard time and she asked if she needed any help. Vince, the child who has exceeded my expectations. A great son, student, and a zest for life like no one else I've ever met! His enthusiasm is so contagious! I feel very fortunate to have two great kids. I just wish they got along better with each other!

2. Beauty: I seek out beauty... flowers, fluffy white clouds, leaves blowing in the wind. When I allow myself to relax I can find beauty in so many places...on my commute home from work I notice the wildflowers (maybe they are just weeds) along the freeway, the birds flying overhead, etc. There is beauty everywhere if you just look around and I love to be aware of it.

3. Treasure Hunting: Either at a flea market, a thrift store or just a sale rack at Target. I love to find a great deal! It's the thrill of the hunt for me!

4. Nesting: I love moving things around in my home, just puttering around my home makes me happy.

5. Cooking: I love to cook and bake when I'm not rushed. I love the prepping of items, like chopping garlic, cleaning vegetables, etc. Once I feel rushed I don't enjoy it nearly as much. It is very relaxing and therapeutic if I can take my time.

I'm not going to tag anyone...if you want to do this please consider yourself tagged!

Some finished projects

I've had this book awhile but never made anything until I saw fairiebees post on her laundry bag. I've had this old tablecloth that was really damaged (beyond repair) that I've been saving for a some special projects so I used that to make my laundry bag.

Also in the book are directions for these "no sew" hanger covers. You just rip 1/4" strips of fabric from the salvage edge and wrap it around a wire hanger, starting at the top. I tied on a piece of lace to this one.

And then I sewed on buttons so the straps on my strappy tops don't slip off.

They were so much fun to make, I just kept making them as I watched TV. I ran out of wire hangers so I started making them with wooden hangers. I only had white fabric so that's all I made. In the book they show it with a patterned fabric and it's really cute. I'm going to get some other fabrics that match my quilt and make some more. It's hard to tell, but they have a cute shabbiness to them because the ends of the fabric fray a little when you rip it. Too cute!

Panini

Last summer I went to a baby shower and they served paninis. They had a huge table set up with many different fillings to choose from. There were a variety of breads, spreads, meats, cheeses and veggies. We were told to choose our bread and fillings and stand in line for one of the two panini cooks to grill our sandwiches. It was so much fun and really delicious! After that party, I really wanted a panini maker. You can wrap a brick in foil and use that as a press for your sandwich in a skillet but I really wanted a real panini press. Last September for my birthday, my kids surprised me with one. We ate so many paninis that I really got sick of them. I put the panini maker away in a closet and forgot about it. Last weekend I was looking through my "Barefoot Contessa at Home" Cookbook I saw this recipe for tomato, mozzarella and pesto panini and pulled out the panini maker and made dinner!

Enjoying my patio...

Late Friday afternoon when it started to cool off a little outside, I grabbed a magazine and some sparkling pink lemonade (Trader Joe's French Market) in one of my new glasses I bought at the Goodwill. I saw these glasses about a week ago and didn't buy them but I kept thinking that I should have. I was sure they would be gone when I went back in but they weren't! Even my daughter, who has completely different taste in things than me loved them. I got 4 of them for $1.99 each minus 30% off.
The silver tray that I was using on the dresser in my bedroom has been moved downstairs...I'm always moving things around. When I brought this all out and set it on my patio table to enjoy, it dawned on me that I'm still like a little girl that likes to play house. I'm not the type to put drinks in paper cups or even plastic. I love to play house and make it special...even if it's just for me. I'm sure most of you can relate!

This sparkly pink lemonade is pretty good. If you have a Trader Joe's by you, you should try it. I love the bottle!
Here are some of the flowers growing on my little patio. Since it's dry all summer here in California, I have to water every day...it's a labor of love though.
These delphinium are growing in a large planter. They seem to grow better here than when I plant them in the ground. I have petunias planted in the same pot.

Roses & impatiens are doing well even in the heat we had last week!

This is so disturbing!

THESE GIRLS ARE 6 YEARS OLD!

I'm going to use my blog to rant a bit today. It is not my intention to offend anyone and if I do, I'm sorry...

I turned on the TV Thursday afternoon and it was on VH1 and a show called "Little Beauties: The Ultimate Kiddie Queen Showdown". I don't know what was more disturbing; the makeup, the fake eyelashes, the spray-on tan, or the fact that these mothers are pushing pixie sticks down these 6 year old girls to get them hyped up on sugar to perform well! Oh, I almost forgot...they have fake teeth called flippers that they put in so they have a perfect smile. Hearing a six year old say things like "I need to flirt with my eyes" just saddens me. I bet there are a lot of weirdos out there watching these girls on TV....does that not bother their mothers? I'm all for people doing what they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone but I think that this is hurting these girls.

Inspiration Friday - this and that

As I was looking through my stack of already ripped out magazine pages for this post, I realized that I have a lot of inspiration pictures of things I've already posted about on this blog. Above is a table like the one I didn't buy...darn! I love how they put the glass on top to use it as a dining table. I never thought of decorating the top of my cloche. I think something like this would look good on the lid of my french beverage dispenser too!
Here is a button wreath similar to the one I made. Remember this?
Here is another great idea for hankies. They are sandwiched between glass and framed. I would like this but with shabby white frames.
Here is the a pillow like the one I was trying to make. I sewed all the buttons on in a "C" but then I ripped them all out because it didn't look that good.

I've been off work since Wednesday. I hate to say this but I would rather be at work in the air conditioning...it's been so HOT here. I don't do well with heat at all! Tomorrow is supposed to be a little cooler maybe I can get something done around here instead of watching Martha and Oprah.

What's under your cloche?

I love bell jars or cloches, but I always struggle with finding the right thing to put under them. I see them on other blogs and in magazines and they always look so beautiful. Every time I try different things with mine they just don't look right. These two I like the best so far. The top one has some cups and saucers and the bottom one has some old buttons, a garden ornament I bought at Longs Drug Store and a small picture of my mom when she was 18 years old.

I don't usually keep this one on my coffe table...I just moved it there to get a better picture of it. It's sort of clashing with the crystal candlesticks in the background...oops!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday to my little dog, Beau! He's 3 years old today.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe holiday!

A New Project - Mosaic Bird Bath

Here's a glimpse of a new project I hope to start soon. I bought these mosaic pieces on eBay. It's great, they are all flat. The problem I've had in the past when I've done mosaics is that the broken plates are not totally flat so they don't lay well. These are made flat just for mosaics! Click here for the eBay seller. She's in the San Francisco Bay Area too so I received them so quickly! I love that big pansy piece on the bottom!

I'm going to attempt to cover the bowl of this old birdbath with them. I still need to get some other pieces. I think I will add some solid blue and purple tile pieces. The birdbath has a crack and it doesn't hold water for very long so I'm hoping this will help. If not, I hope it at least looks pretty.

I've done a little bit of mosaic work but if you have any pointers, please let me know.

I'm still working on the chandelier project too. There was a screw missing in one of the light sockets. Wouldn't you just know that it was some weird size that I couldn't find anywhere. Thank goodness for the Internet. I was able to find someone selling that size...I had to buy 25 screws when I only needed 1. I received the order yesterday and they sent me the wrong size!

Garden Bouquets

The best part of gardening for me is having flowers to bring inside. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower. This year my lace cap hydrangea has a combination of blue, pink and purple blooms all on one plant. I was trying to get them blue but this is even better! This bouquet has a combination of two of my hydrangeas. I also have the "Endless Summer" variety that blooms again the same year after you cut it back. I'm waiting for the second blooming now.

The roses I chose for my garden were inspired by a wedding bouquet I once saw. It had cream, blush and peachy flowers. Mine didn't come out quite as soft looking as that bridal bouquet but pretty in it's own way.

I didn't go to any garage sales this weekend. I woke up at 8:00 am on Saturday, which is really late for me. I was so groggy, I just couldn't get ready to go out. There's always next weekend....