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Easter Table

We interrupt the Laguna Beach tour with some images of our Easter Table...I did NOT cook a special dinner like in the past because as I mentioned in a past post Mr. Incredible recently had surgery on his lip for skin cancer and it is all stitched up about the size of a peanut. Thought it would of been cruel for him watching us eat a nice honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, rolls and Carrot Cake. 

I set the table for seasonal decorating{for next year's idea} I waited really late to pick up the bunny dish towels, contemplated on the placemats {I had been eyeballing for awhile}.  I used them as a table runner instead of their intended purpose.  I also picked up the small bunny taper candle holders when they went on sale and then went back and got a price adjustment when they went down to $9.99, originally marked at $19.95. 

The white taper candles from World Market, I had to cut them down to fit.   The large white cake-plate holder was from Pottery Barn Kids years ago and the floral wreath nest is also from Williams Sonoma a few years ago.  I see another one similiar to this one but not exact.  I love mine and keep it out year round. The robin's egg blue plates where from Homegoods. 

 It is lost a bit of color and the truffle eggs that came with it our long gone but I reupped and ordered them for next year.  I actually like to use them on my Carrot Cake.

Here are a few ceramic creations that I have had forever, they were made by my ex-boyfriends' aunt, she had an Art Studio in Diamond Head and loved to create all kinds of things.  I've cherished them forever and will never toss them into the yard sale pile...

The plastic eggs are from TJMaxx and the nest I can't not remember where I got it. 

Here are a few of my other cloches decorated for Spring, the lavender egg is also from Auntie Clo{in Diamond Head}.  The large cloche to the left I love to fill with Lilly of the Valley but I can't find it anywhere, meaning the normal garden centers I browse this time of the year.  I used to pick it up at Trader Joes, but the last few years they stopped selling them.  Does anyone know why?   I think I'll have to try and grow them from seed or order online.  Anyone have a good resource? 

 

Yippy Skippy it's Spring!

I had a post all ready yesterday for the "First Day of Spring" but somewhere, somehow it disappeared. :( 

I'm looking forward to the days lasting longer with daylight savings time change.

I'm ready to start planting my Herb Garden.

Painting some very Shabby Furniture, not looking very chic right now.

Pulling all my funky containers out and heading to my local nursery to see what beautiful specimens I can bring home to enjoy.  

Walking through the neighborhood to see flowers blooming everywhere.

Pulling out all my Spring decor that has been hibernating in the garage.

Painting my toenails so fun Spring colors and getting new "slippers" {flip-flops}

Listening to all the birds chirping in the trees and watching the hummingbirds visit the flowers growing in my yard

Picking Gardenias from my bush and enjoying its sweet smell

Cheers to spring!  What are you excited about to bring in the New Season? 

 

 

The Traditional Irish Dinner

Here is our table set for Saint Patrick's Day Dinner.  I got the Shamrock Plant from my local Trader Joes and the placemats I have had forever from when I sold Longaberger.  The plates were a thrifted find at the goodwill as well as the wine glassess.  Everthing is over a burlap runner.  

           Crock Pot Corned Beef with cabbage, potatoes and Carrots with a Blarney Scone, {from TJ's too}

3 lb. corned beef brisket

1/2 cabbage, cut into wedges

1 whole onion, cut into wedges

1 bag of peeled carrots

3 peeled potatoes, quartered 

2 cups of apple juice

1 cup of brown sugar

1 tablespoon of dijon mustard

package of seasoning that comes with the beef

I just threw it all into a crock pot and turned it on high for 6-6 1/2 hours.

I must say it was very, very good.  The best one yet.

I think Martha might be calling me soon for my recipe......

 

Kiss Me I'm Irish....

                                    {found this picture on Pinterest}

Don't you want to KISS that face?  I want to give it a "biter"...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day.....Corned Beef and Cabbage, Carrots, Potatoes and Soda Bread for dinner.  Then Rainbow Cupcakes for Dessert...Yum!

I'm a survivor....

Not because I had Breast Cancer, BUT because I have survived 12 {plus her sister and her sister's friend} girls at the age of 12 SLUMBER Birthday Party...and there was no slumber to be had.

Yep that's right my Li'l One turned 12 on Sunday and she wanted to have a Slumber Party....but they stayed up the WHOLE NIGHT...seriously!  It wasn't until about 7 am when Mr. Incredible woke up and I finally went to bed { around 5:30 am}, and he went to get donuts, by the time he got back they had CRASHED!!  Down they all went!!  Finally some peace and quiet.

Yep I jumble of bodies, blankets and clothes.  

Snickers was ready to play soccer with them but she could not get them to budge!  

One party goer fell asleep with her sunglassess on...ha!

She choose a hot pink/zebra stripe color theme this year.  The goody bags had some nail polish and pink snowballs and other goodies inside.  They were closed with the Zebra hair clips that she made to give out.  

We picked up a small bunch of Hot Pink Gebera daisies to put in the Ikea pitcher.  They were so pretty and looked like they were fake flowers.  Nope, gotta love my Trader Joes for their flowers, at 3.99 a bunch.  

Decorations of the food table where a hodge podge of white balloons,  a few tissue paper lanterns and rose puffs that we made to hang from the ceiling.

A four layer funfetti cake with buttercream frosting.  The birthday Girl made the zebra banner herself.  I tell ya the girl is crafty!

I had bought different candles but could not find them when it came time so sing "Happy Birthday" so we ended up using the sparklers..I love then but they take forever to light.  

They played the donut eating game {similiar to bobbing for apples}.  They did an old fashioned scavenger hunt and then around 1 a.m. they TPed a neighbor/friend from schools house, they were so excited to do this, but I they kept giggling I thought for sure they get BUSTED.

I think the girls had a great time and it did not take too many days for me to recooperate.  {please do not pay attention to my make-shift curtains...that is on my to do list to sew up some with the material in the corner over there by the window}  

As Valentines Day is just around the corner a few ideas to ponder....

Isn't this so cute to put in a simple frame, maybe from Ikea?

From Better, Homes and Gardens Heart Waffle Maker from their "shop" you can have darling waffles Pops for your Lovies on the special day.... 

Also from Better, Homes and Gardens putting together a "play on words" to pack a lunch for your "loveys"....

Love this wire tree to hold all the special Valentines....from their loved ones.

Making Red Velvet Whoopie pies for a sweet dessert, doesn't get any better than that....

Oh Gosh  I "dig" this.....with a beach shovel....from the dollar store and some M and M's in pink, red and white.....so simple and cute...

this is another great simple idea with white, pink or red heart shaped doilies sealed inside with a surprise for your "hottie".....

You know those empty M and M containers you get?  Well, is this not cute?  Some bubble gum and a kiss.....

And last but not least is from Twig and Thistle...a simple download printable that you can print on your home printer and fill with whatever sweets you like...a cookie or some favorite candy.....just a few of my favorite ideas to get us psyched up for  Valentines Day...

Oh...by the way I loved that commercial on the Super Bowl today with the very beautiful blue eyed brunette that was getting ready for a "hot" date and the message was "Give" and you shall receive"...I had to look over at Mr. Incredible and give him a wink.....

 

Happy Chinese New Year! It's the Year of the Dragon!

Today is Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon, both myself and my youngest were born in the Year of the Dragon.

                                          {this is Pearl the Dragon}

 I love reading about Astrology and find that the Chinese Astrology holds very true to my personality.  Here is a description of people who are born in the year of the dragon.

The Dragon of mythology was a creature of inaccessible places, high mountains or underground caves, breathing fire and ready for battle. The Dragon has been a symbol of deep desire, of wisdom and of luck, and has often been used to ward off evil spirits. Powerful, brave, obstinate, enthusiastic and always lucky, if you were born in the Year of the Dragon you can accomplish things that others consider impossible. Nothing is beyond you, but you're not easy to live with. You can be cranky and demanding, and upset others with your blunt way of speaking, but you're scrupulously honest, and genuinely very charming.

If you were born in the Year of the Dragon, you enjoy the company of those born in the Years of the Rat, Snake, and Rooster, but there could be problems with those born in the Year of the Dog, as well as other Dragons!

This is a pretty accurate of my personality characteristics.   I can be difficult to live with sometimes, you can ask my family.  I'm very enthusiastic and when I was younger quite relentless in getting my way, this has mellowed out a bit now that I'm older.  In the Chinese culture because the Dragon is a symbol of power and optimism there is a baby boom during the years when it was the "year of the dragon". I also posted here and here  about Chinese New Year in the past post if you'd like to check them out. What do you do to celebrate with your family? Do you order out for Chinese Food or do you cook something at home?  I've always wanted to make my own homemade fortune cookies and put my own fortunes in them. This recipe looks doable I think we will give it a whirl.  Speaking of fortunes....

About a year ago when we ordered out and MacKenzie opened up her Fortune cookie this was her fortune how cool was that?  And within that year we found our Cottage on Cullen St.  It was meant to be, as they say.

In honor of Chinese New Year I thought I'd post one of my favorite recipes...

         ~~~~~~~~~~~Chinese Chicken Salad~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

5-6 chicken breasts

1 medium head of Nappa Cabbage

8 green onions

1 cup of slivered almonds

2 pkg. of chicken Ramen noodles

2TBsp peanut oil

 

Dressing:

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup of peanut oil

12TBsp rice vinegar

1 flavor pkg. Ramen noodles

Directions:

Cook chicken and cut into bite-size pieces. Mix dressing ingredients  and add chicken pieces to dressing. Saute Ramen noodles and almonds in 2 tablespoons peanut oil. Cut cabbage and mix with onions.  Just prior to serving combine almonds, noodles, chicken, and dressing.  Then toss.

*You can also marinate chicken in wishbone oriental dressing for 3-4 hours then grill.

This recipe is from one of my Mom's club ladies who made it for every potluck we have, it was a winner everyone looked forward to her salad.

 

New Years Eve inspiration and photos

    {image from Martha}

                                     {above two images from My Pinterest}

As I was browsing Pinterest I came across some simple, festive ideas for New Years Eve.  We stay home and celebrate with the girls, we barely make it to midnight and this was no exception this year. I planned a simple dinner of Tri-tip, baked potatoes and cranberry spinach salad with sparkly cuppcakes for dessert.  The above photos are pinned to my boards on all things food related board and the photos below are the photos of my dining room/table as inspired on my boards.

I moved the table long-wise because I think it fits better this way but the jury is still out on that.  I think I like the black round table better in there.

I thought this was a neat idea but I only had two sets of white lights, lots of green-corded white lights so I'll head out this week and see if there are any left after" the after the Christmas sales". I think it would look pretty on Valentines day or Our Anniversary in March.

All of the items on the table I have had foreva!  The only think I got was the Smith and Hawken silver Bell Ornaments at Target at the after Christmas sales last week. I bought the only 3 I could find, had to dig and dig to the bottom of the shelves and I only came up with 3.  I need one more.  I thought "Ringing" in the New year was a fun theme idea to go with.  

Wine glasses waiting to be filled up with Bubbly or Sparkling Wine, I bought a Moscato for tonight, a bit sweet for my taste..so I used mini silver ornaments as a filler until the wine was popped open.

The Sparkling cupcakes.  There is a recipe I wanted to try for Champagne cupcakes but since this a party to be shared with 3 non-drinkers in the household {Mr. Incredible doesn't drink}  I'm the lone alchy.  I went with a standard white cupcake with buttercream frosting and added the dragees for a festive look.  Here is the recipe if you want to try the Champage one...I'd like to try it for a Girlfriends Birthday.....

                                        {photo from SprinkleBakes.com }

She has beautiful cupcakes and her recipe for the these sound soooo Yummy!

 

 

Happy New Years 2012!

 

We the people who reside at the Cottage on Cullen St.  will be celebrating quietly with a nice steak dinner and bubbly apple cider, maybe a bit of Champagne and lighting off some poppers at midnight!  

Wishing everyone a HAPPY, HEALTHY and Prosperous 2012!  Cheers!

the glow around the cottage

Glowing at night our Rustic Snowman Tree, the girls decorated the whole tree themselves I did not adjust a thing....

and with the flash on...I wish I could get a good pictures of Christmas Trees without the flash.  I don't know what the trick is...perhaps a new camera is in order.  

The mantle all lit up at night....

the Snow Village all aglow.....

The dining room with our candles glowing.

The front porch.  As you can see we have been pulling plants out and getting ready to relandscape.  By this coming summer we should have a brand new front yard.  That is the plan....