HOME...be inspired everyday

Back to the Goodwill.....

 
I've been trying to hit my local Goodwill on Monday or Tuesday..figuring that the stuff from all the yard sales that didn't get sold during the weeken end up there and they start putting them out  on the shelves by then, that is my train of thought.  There were lots of great furniture finds this week and I did not have my camera with me so I couldn't take any pictures.  There was a really neat kitchen cupboard with coke glass inserts with a crown molding top, could see that repainted and in someones kitchen, I don't have room for it.  I also spotted a T.V. cabinet, actually a few that would look good repainted with some new hardware on it but it was too short for our HUGE Sully of a T.V.  I saw a BIG wooden Lazy Susan which I find very useful in organizing cabinets.  I wish I would of picked it up when I saw it there the week before and when I went back this time...GONE!  I do see quite a few wooden cheese platters with the glass domes when I go and  this time I found one with a marble base so I picked it up for $4.99, not quite a steal I think, but I liked it.

Here is the marble base. 

I picked up this ruffled square platter to put on my "relocated" dresser and collect and hold all my necklaces.  All THREE OF THEM!  Its from France..Oui, Oui.

It was only $3.99.  Because....

It has a few chips on the back and edge..that's Ok though..I don't mind.  Look at the embossed design on it...I really like that.   I really like that is is from France..Oui, Oui.  Am I turning into a  Francophile?  Oui, Oui.  Maybe.

 Now this is quite a frivolous and fun find!!  Do you know what those are?

Yep, they are fireflies in a jar!  I love fireflies!  We don't have them here in California, only at the Pirates of Caribbean ride at Disneyland.  But that doesn't count.  When we were in Foley, Alabama 5 years ago right before Hurricane Katrina was heading towards Alabama {it changed course and we know where it landed } we got to see real live ones at my in-laws house that was so neat to see their blinking lights amoung the trees calling for a mate.

Here are my Fireflies in a Jar sitting on my cute Cottage bench..look the lid matches my chair pads!  I think I'll tie them up and hang them up from the Umbrella, that would be fun!  I remember seeing these in the Nature Company Store or maybe in the Lillian Vernon Catalog.  I do have some firefly lights that I bought for my "BUG" unit when I was a teaching, maybe I should drag those out and string them up on the Umbrella?  But..those don't run on batteries like my Fireflies in a Jar do!   I do love them and it sure makes me happy to look at them!  I could go into the mechanics of how and why fireflies do what they do....but it's not September yet and I'm NOT in teacher mode!  Ha!  

Well, I'm hookin' up with Rhoda a real Alabama native, {along with Layla}  not like my fake impostors here...for Thrifty Treasures  , Rhoda, Layla and Kim at Twice Remembered Cottage  hit the Nashville Flea Market and man was there some good stuff there, wish I could of tagged along with them. 

Strawberry Summer Salad

When it is hot out, like it has been here in So Cal, we have had a very mild summer than we have in the past but there have been a few days lately that the temps have reached in the 90's. When it is hot, hot, hot I like to eat lots more salads as the main meal...here is one that is keeper for sure. 

Here is my very small Strawberry plant...when I bought it at Home-Depot last summer it was covered and trailing with berries..I've been trying to feed it more and you can see some flowers on it and a few strawberries.  Even though...

it has only a few...but it sure has me in the mood for.....

 
~~~~~~~Strawberry Summer Salad~~~~~~

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 head romaine lettuce, torn
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the almonds, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. In a bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the toasted almonds, romaine lettuce, strawberries, and feta cheese. Cover with the dressing mixture, and toss to serve.

Does it not look refreshing?   So very yummy!   Enjoy!

 
Edited to add:  I'm hooking on to a party over at Cindy's Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday, head on over to see what everyone had got to share from their Garden and Home.... 

Last week of Summer Vacation..

We have a little more than one week left of our summer vacation...part of me is ready and the other part longs for the days of sleeping in, going to the beach and swimming in the pool.  We have most of our school clothes bought and some school supplies.  A few more things and we should be good to go. 

Happy Monday everyone!

Beach, Blankets and Bonfires

 
Growing up in Southern California we used to get together with my parents' friends to have a bonfires on the beach.  I cherish those memories as a child.  Today there is so many people in living on the "Golden Coast" that  it is not as laid back as loading up the car with coolers and sunscreen and driving down to the beach in our VW.  It takes planning and coordination {thank goodness for cell phones} In the summer if you plan on getting a Bonfire PIT you need to get there pretty early in the morning to secure one.  Long are the days when you could say at the last minute, "let's go to the beach and roast wienies and marshmallows".  This summer, thanks to dedicated friends we were able to have a couple of them.

Happy, sun-kissed faces.....

 
Collecting sand-crabs....

 

wading in the cold water....

making sandcastles..........
 
Posing for the photographer {that' me}

 
 

making pyramids in the sand or {half} pyramids.....

cuddling under blankets and towels...... brrrrr

Roasting Marshmallows.....

eating s'mores...with PEANUT BUTTER..yep...that's how I make my s'mores...since I was a Girl Scout Camp leader.....that's how we did it on Camp White's Landing on Catalina Island.

cooking "dough boys" on a stick.  You take Pillsbury biscuits and wrap them around the end of a stick and sloooooowly roast them over the fire until they are nice and cooked on the inside.  Add jelly and whip cream where the stick made the hole.....Yum!!!  
 

watching the sun set on the horizon.....memories were made.   

Thrifty Treasures Found!

I haven't been very good at going to yard sales this past year but I have been hitting my Goodwill regularly when I go to the bank and then some...the bank is located across the street.   Here are some things I've managed to cart home with me in the last several weeks.

This cute fall-colored, paisley purse.  I thought the colors would be great for the upcoming season and I liked the details on it on the leather and silver.

I don't know who Rosetti is......I have never really been a name-brand kind of gal..I like what I like and if it doesn't look cheap I buy it.  It has a back pocket on the side of the purse perfect for your keys so you don't loose them in the big abyss of the bottom of your purse. 

I don't know who Mrs. Kensington is either, I'm sure she was a very nice lady.  This very heavy, very large platter just spoke to me.  I loved the fonts on it and not sure where I'll put it but for $3.99 it's the right price.  I do have a couple place in mind though.

 
  This very sturdy wicker chest is for shoes.  I have it outside in the backyard now and the girls are putting all their outdoor toys in it for now.  I would like to paint it, maybe a black or I might go a little crazy and paint it Chocolate brown...Wow that's livin' on the edge!  It was in very good shape and I went back to look at it 3 times, that means I went home and came back 3 times.  It was only 14.99.   What color do you think I should paint it? 

Now this dresser did not come from the GW but from my BFF {since I was 5} garage.  It was her sons and was taking up space so she said I could have it.  I was going to put it in my bedroom.  I planned on painting it a cream on the bottom and staining the top a dark wood color but my Madison said she wanted it and she wanted me to paint it turquoise. 

So off to the paint store we went and picked up her color, she said her room was too white and needed color...okie dokie then.  The other color to the left is a soft greenish blue grey, the same exact one my friend has on her walls .  I had it colored match and was going to paint my legs of my sofa table but now I'm painting these shutters with it...

I got a set of 8 shutters, they were by the curb waiting for the trash man.  I have had them in my garage for over a year.   I have painted them that green grey blue color and will distress them to give them a weathered look.  I'll  join 6 of them together and hang them over my bed as a backdrop for art.  I have no idea what kind of art but I'll find something.  It drives Mr. Incredible cRazY...that I keep all this stuff in the garage for maybe "some day" that I'm going to do something with it.   He thinks that I'm going to end up on that show..."Being Buried Alive"....about Hoarding.....he is completely serious!  I don't see the connection....at all.  Well,  I'm an organized Hoarder!  

This was my across the street neighbors and it was a rusty, dull grey.  {I forgot to get a before picture.}  I decided to go crazy and paint it black {if you know me I usually paint everything Heirloom White, or some version of that} I thought it would make a great potting "shed" or shelf for my gardening like in the past post.  Didn't it turn out cute?  I think maybe Mrs. Kensington's Platter {in the above photo} would look cute up hanging up on the trellis or maybe some twinkling lights.   Or some water pitchers...the possibilities are endless....I also could plant it with moss and have succulents or flowers hanging out of it.  What do you think I should do?   Leave it as is or do you have another idea?

I'm hooking up with Rhoda, over at Southern Hospitality for her Show and Tell of Thrifty Treasures.  If ya'all...like to mosey on over there, {Rhoda is from the South and they talk like that down there so I'm using my best southern drawl to get you in the mood} You'll find lots of treasures all over the good ole' USA......and what great things can be found.  Now go on and git!

If I can't have a playhouse...what about a Potting Shed?

All I would need is a little clapboard building.....

 

 Or this might be easier to make.....just out of old windows and a trellis roof..

Wow!!  Look at this Cedar Shake shed?  Now that is what I'm talking about Willis!!  After I got tired of potting plants I could sip me some Countrytime Lemonade on the weathered Adirondack Chairs, {on a side note..if you are looking for some of these chairs, they have them for 50 percent off at Cost Plus, World Market and they have lots of colors to choose from}

Another gorgeous Potting Shed...I absolutely love this one!! I love the churchish style windows and the red roof. What about that sweet birdbath and beat up picket fence and the mini cottage garden out front...scrumptious!!

 
   {all above photos by Better, Homes and Gardens }

What about this simple shed with scalloped roof and flowering window boxes? 

 
 {photo found at  Jolly Goode Gal }

Now, this is more realistic.......a few  "antiqued" tables, cabinets and washtubs.  Too bad I don't have this bucolic view of a cow pasture.....this is country living..for sure.  Doesn't this place look so peaceful? I think I could get used to living like that......

 
OK, Ok.... don't call me out.....maybe I could not live like that....I don't know if I could grow my own corn, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli and can stuff.....and make my own clothes and raise chickens......maybe I'm too much of a city girl.  But maybe I could......Maybe this set up is more realistic for this "LA Woman".  Wouldn't be hard to set up an old table/bench/island to use as a "Gardening Station".  What about you, do you have a place where you plant your flowers/plants?  I'd love to see what some of you have done.  Is it a fabulous, dreamy place like the photos up above or it more simple with a shelf and a few pots? Please share....I'd love to see them....

I dream of having a Playhouse.....

Before I was pregnant with my daughters I would dream of having a fun Playhouse for them.  Mr. Incredible is pretty darn good at "being a handyman".  He did build them a playground type playhouse with a slide and a second level platform but he never finished it before we had to move. 

See over to the left of the picture it was going to have another slide going down.  The playground was in direct view of my Scraproom....so I could watch them play while I worked, it seems so long ago. 

Now, my daughters are a bit too old for a playhouse but if you have li'l ones here are some that I found on the internet that are just too cute for school or is that saying, too cool for school?

 
{Better Homes and Gardens}

I love a dutch door especially pint size ones, and those green shutters, white wicker chair and painted cheery red with the dainty detail of the corbels, what an adorable playhouse for a little girl......

 
{Suzie Beezie}  

How cute is this combo of a Tree-house and a little playhouse with that darling clothes line in the background.  I love how the tree truck goes right through the house and porch....

 
{Tiny White Daisey's} 

So much to love about this tiny beauty.  The white picket fence, the window boxes, the rambling vine climbing over the roof, the mini Adirondack chair, the mini shaped weathered bell in the garden, the gothic style window and of course the dutch door.

Now this little yellow cape cod is my Bunco Friends' daughters.  They don't play much in it anymore because they have all grown up.  The are all big middle schoolers now.  It's been over a year since I took these pictures but I wanted to share them with you.  The playhouse even has electricity. 

Here is the side/front view..you know I love a dormer, with yellow clapboard siding and a fireplace.  I could move in here and I would be soooo happy!  I wonder if they would rent it out to me?  I'm a good tenant...

Here is the other side...

 I love the brick porch.......just love it!!  those double doors to the left is for storage. 

This is to the left of the playhouse, the stairs lead up to the playhouse.  I love how the Ficus is on the wall.  Since we are here in her fabulous backyard why don't we take a tour. 

 
Here is the waterfall feature with pond and a pond must have lillypads....

this is to the far left of the playhouse and there is a built in barbecue with a stone bar-like table and chairs, would it not be so relaxing to drink a glass of wine and listen to the waterfall in this backyard?  I think so!  My friend is so lucky...If I rented the playhouse...I would have lots of  parties and entertain my friends..I better not say that, she might not rent it to me...thinking I was a wild party animal or something...

the elephant topiary is to the right of the playhouse.  I would love to have this gorgeous landscaped backyard but my favorite part is the yellow clapboard cottage  playhouse.  It's exactly like where I would want to live pint size or real.  It surely doesn't hurt to dream........maybe it could happen. 

Shells, the kind you eat and the kind you find..both are good things!

For the past several months I have been making Stuffed Shells about 3 times a month.  I found  Meg's recipe at Whatever , {Meg's Delightful Blog }.  I mean this women has 5 children, she MUST know what kids will eat.  She says she makes this once a week and her family loves it, so I thought a few months back I'll give it a whirl.  It is super easy and fills up your belly.  

It has cottage cheese in it so IT must be low in fat!   Well, using part-skim Mozzarella helps too.  If you are a cheese lover or a vegetarian this is a good recipe to try {wink, wink Mary}.  I half my recipe because unlike Meg I only have 2 children NOT a whole tribe. 

Ingredients:

1 box of Jumbo Shells { I use half the box}

 2 cups of  shredded Mozzarella cheese{ I use 1 cup}

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese {I use 1/8 a cup}

1 24 oz. container of Cottage Cheese{ I use 12 oz. }

1 egg

Ragu Pasta Sauce {half the jar}

sometimes I'll throw in a dash of fresh Oregano from my Herb Garden

Directions...

Cook shells according to package directions. 

Mix the cottage cheese, mozzarella and one egg in a mixing bowl. 

Stuff shells with cheese mixture, top with Spaghetti Sauce and sprinkle with more parmesan cheese.  Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

 

Serve on cute plates from IKEA .....

  

Serve with a garden salad or

Caesar Salad {recipe to follow}

and Garlic Bread....

Watch your family gobble it up!   

~~~~~~~~~~~Caesar Salad Recipe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 1/2 lbs. of romaine

24 plain croutons

2 garlic cloves

6 TBSP of Olive Oil

2 TBSP of wine vinegar

1 TBSP fresh lemon juice

4 TBSP Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon of dry mustard

1 teaspoon of ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon of salt

4 fillets of anchovies, cut in small pieces ( I admit this part, not a fan of anchovies}

1 coddled egg{placed in very hot water for five minutes, I admit this part too}

Directions:

Place garlic cloves, cut in oil and let stand for several hours.  Near Serving time drizzle some garlic oil over croutons and toss lightly.

Wash and dry romaine, tear lettuce into pieces and place in salad bowl.  Chill.

When ready to serve, remove garlic and drizzle oil over greens, then vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, seasonings and anchovies {again I don't do anchovies}.  Break in coddled egg, {nope} Toss all together and add croutons.  Serve at once.  It's very tasty and really simple to make.  I got this recipe off the bottom of a bowl that I have had  foreva....

In other news...we hit the beach again for some shell gathering, fun in the sun..and lots of excitement...

collecting rocks, shells and sand....collections to bring home.

there was a helicopter flying over head......for like an hour.

  the lifeguard was wondering what was going on, finally he informed us that there was some "action" quite a few streets over.....

then he told us that lots of Sting Rays were in the area swimming near the shore and to shuffle our feet when going in the water.  Then the girls ran up to tell me that found a dead sting ray at the waters' edge, they thought it was fake. 

After that the Sheriff drove by and told us they are looking for a lost 10 year old little girl.   We saw the Sheriff boats patrolling the shore.  When we were leaving the News Station vans were in the parking lot.  When I got home a turned on the news and saw nothing about it.  I checked to see if there was an Amber Alert, nothing. I'm hoping that they eventually found the little girl and everything was OK.  What a horrible feeling that would be for a Mother.  There was so many people at the beach and this wasn't was Friday.  

It is a great reminder to always watch your children closely at the beach, the ocean can be very unpredictable.  You want to be able to leave happy and relaxed.