Grab and Go Dining

Today's FB status for me was...Man, has my brain been in creative overload!  I have to tell you I have been on a roll!  This is a very welcomed thing too because after what feels like almost years of just slowly pumping it out I feel like I've started to make a turn around.

Today among several other things I worked on getting the dining room straightened up.  It was very cluttered from gathering things up for my booth and desperately needed to be put back in order.  I feel so relieved to have things looking straight and looking great if I do say so myself.  Now we could be here all day if I showed you everything I worked on.   So, for both our sakes I will only focus on one corner of the room only for this post.

This is what I am calling my "Grab and Go" vignette.  How do you like that idea?

This vignette all started because I wanted a place to store these two wonderful picnic baskets that I purchased from the antique store last week.  I found them, fell in love and that's when I made the decision it was time to open my own booth.

I have been a basket lady for as long as I can remember.  I have always, always decorated with baskets.  In fact, I've had so many at one time I even eliminated several before a move.  

 Come on, just try and tell me that you would have been able to skip right on by either of these.  I just do not think so my friend!

 Of course a basket as cute as this deserves to be filled with all kinds of goodies too.

My beautiful melamine plates are perfect for outdoor entertaining on the run.  Now I will get to enjoy looking at them as well, instead of them being all cooped up in the kitchen cabinet.

I also unboxed a few special bottles of wine that were still sitting in the box that I brought them home in from our trip to Biltmore house and Gardens.

Finally because all good picnic baskets must have linens.  I decided to use a few out of a very special set I purchased from a resale store last year.

Along side of this picnic basket I decided to use a few things to create a "Grab and Go" utensil caddy.  This will be perfect to pick up and take outside to use by the pool.

I even managed to work in a space for that cute little piece of pottery that was supposed to be going in my booth.   Just not quite yet though!  Hehee!

Under the table is where I keep two of my silverware boxes so I decided it would also be a great space for the other other basket.

And just like the basket on the top, it deserved to be filled with things for outdoor dining as well.

Since these are my newest acrylics and I love, love, love the way they look, they were my first choice.

Do you even have to ask why I chose this linen?  I didn't think so!  

Looks like I'm all ready now!

Thanks for stopping by today, I really appreciate the visit.  I truly do hope you enjoyed it as well.

I am linking this post to the following parties;

Inspire Me Tuesday

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Be sure and visit the links above for more beautiful inspiration!

Have a great day Everyone!

Yard Sale Treasures - Before - Part 1

Hi Friends!  Man, has my weekend been action packed, how was yours?   In between getting the first little bit of my booth set up, participating in one of our sailing club races on Saturday, baking on Sunday and rafting up on the water with friends on Monday...I actually squeezed in one more activity?  I know...crazy right?

Well I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to a few yard sales Saturday morning.  So glad I did because I am feeling pretty excited about these finds.  I can hardly wait to get my paint brushes out!

Most everything is sitting in the garage waiting for a few redo's.

I am in love with these two chests!  I have already decided on the new finish for both of them as well.  They will be going in the booth after I am done, but OH BOY is that going to be hard!

This pic is going to be very hard to part with too.

These two pottery pieces were captivating for sure.  Unfortunately after I got home I found out the handle on the basket is broken.  It is not noticable at all but a clean break near the bottom.  I will have to see if there is a way to repair it.

The new color possibilities on the gold plant stand are just swirling around in my head right now.  Both of these are going to be very hard to part with.  I love me some plant stands!

Now for the best deal of the day.  I cannot wait to get this one painted.  I am pretty set on either and off white or black and she's done.  What do you think?  What would you prefer?

Well, I gotta run! I've still got a few more things to add to the booth today and tweak it some more and then I've got to get busy on these transformations.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Of course if you hadn't figured it out yet.  I am joining Metamorphosis Monday today over at BNOTP.

Hope you'll join us there too!

Have a great day!

Nothin says Lovin....

...Like something from the oven!

The holidays are a great time to share some homemade goodness. 

And spread a little sunshine!

When was the last time you baked homemade oatmeal cookies?  It's been quite a while for me.  I have to say these turned out so much better then I ever remembered.  This recipe was straight off the top of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

1 cup raisins.

I followed this recipe fairly close with only a few exceptions.  I didn't use salt and my sugars were slightly altered.  The biggest change I made was I used dark chocolate morsels instead of raisins, because my family is picky like that!  LOL!

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Looking forward Honoring and remembering all those you gave so much for our freedom!

God Bless each of you!

Yay!!! I have a Booth now!

Whoo hoo!  Yesterday, I signed the contract for my first booth.  I just can't tell you how "very" long I have wanted to do this.   I was visiting my favorite resale store the other day and was so excited when I saw this booth was available. I decided it was finally the right time to move forward and just do it.   It's a small little space but it is quite large enough for me.  I am also starting small to test the waters without breaking the bank. I am sooo excited!!!! So without further ado...here it is!

This booth is located in a store that has been in business for quite some time.  It is called Almost Antiques...that pretty much describes it too.  It is located in a building that used to be a  very large daycare many years ago.  My booth is located in the back of the building in what was the gym.  That's why the basketball goal is shown behind my booth.  Hehe!  Don't worry it's not over my booth it's actually much further back against the wall.  

I was thrilled to get this space because I have always actually preferred shopping here in the back of the building in the gym.  I like how there are more booths and more vendors spread out back here.  My booth is only 5 x 10 in size which is among some of the smaller ones.  There are actually some smaller spaces available that are essentially cubbies only.  Seriously! You know the kind of cubbies you see in a daycare.  LOL!   Anyway, I like this space because I can put some furniture in here if I want and I certainly do.  My hope is to get a few pieces at a time to work on and sale in addition to all the other smaller items that will go on shelves.

I am welcome to use any of these shelves if I want too or they will move them out.  I am glad they are here because I need to use them for now.  I can move and rearrange and set up how I want.  I can keep the tulle around the wood or get rid of it, but the lattice has to stay as that is what they built.  I'm good with that because it's one of only a few booths that has this in the gym and that gives me wall space to hang things on.  There were a few pieces of "stuff" left over from a previous tenant in these pics.  It's not my stuff, I haven't moved in yet.  They are getting rid of that stuff and I can move in ASAP.

I will be doing so immediately as soon as I can finish gathering up some of my own stuff.   Pricing things out and inventorying everything.   I can hardly wait and am feeling just giddy!

I am still wrestling with what to name my booth.  Hoping I'll come up with something soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by today to share my good news.

I hope each of you has a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!

My Iris are Blooming

A few weeks ago as I was snapping shots around the yard I took also took a few pictures of my Iris plants that were blooming.   Since I already had so many pictures in my post Yardly Pleasures, I decided to create a separate post featuring just the Iris.  

 When I first started blogging, way back in 2010, I did a beautiful post of my Iris in bloom.  The last few years have not had as beautiful a show since then.  This year has made a nice show so far, though still not quite as abundant.  I thought I'd just show you the pictures anyway and let you enjoy what I was able to capture.

Yellow is one of my favorites, though I have so few of these.

The deep purple of these are amazing and remind me of velvet for some reason.  LOL!

Don't ask me how I got the green background to come out like this because I don't know.  I love it though!

This is hands down my most favorite.  I love the mix of three colors here.  The orange against the pink and lavender just makes me smile in delight!

These are so big this year!

As you can see I have them everywhere.  I love breaking them up and scattering them around the yard and then enjoying them next year when they come up unexpectedly.  These are some of the most hardiest and easiest flowers to grow.  I haven't transplanted any in a few years though.  I am going to have to work on that this year.

I am especially excited about my newest Iris shown here.  I just added these a few weeks ago.  I was looking for something that was light and breezy to go along the edge of the deck here that would also have somewhat of a tropical look to it.

Imagine my surprise when I found out these plants were called African Iris plants.  They will have small delicate blooms unlike the Iris that I have.  But, what is even more special about these is that they are evergreen.  I was immediately sold!  

I am just praying I will have as much luck with these as I have had with the rest of my Iris.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed these beautiful flowers as much as I have.  It is such fun to be able to share them with you too.

Have a great weekend everyone!