Winter Comforts

Hi Friends!  I hope your week has been going well.  Mine sure has!  I've been so busy around the house getting things organized and ready for the new year ahead.  I have such a wonderful feeling about 2016 and feel so very grateful to be able to be home, organizing, cleaning, and creating comfort.

The other day, the sun was shining so brightly in the morning I just had to snap a few shots. Still snapping photos on my phone for now, but I'm much closer to resolving that and hope to return to my camera soon. 

It turned out to be a beautifully sunny but cold afternoon.  It was the kind of day where everything just seemed so right in the world.   Maybe, it started out that way for me because I felt so cozy and comfortable inside before setting out and about to brave the cold outside.

In my previous posts, I've been sharing with you how I've been making a few changes in the kitchen.  One of the biggest changes I made was to add curtains on the french doors.  Last weekend we got the curtain rods up and I hung the panels that I had made for the dining room a few years ago.  I had to make a few easy length adjustments and they were done.  I love the look of these so very much, I may not even worry about making any others with the darker fabric I have.  

I really haven't tried too hard to create a wintry scene in here but I did want to have the centerpiece on the table reflect the season.  These whispery white flowers I purchased a few years ago from Kirklands always make me feel so good.  They are such a great transitional look and remind me so much of paper whites.  Don't you think so?  I added in some plain willow branches to give my centerpiece a more wintry look and I was done.  I already had both the flowers and the branches.  It really could not have been an easier.

  

These are the hurricane lamps I purchased last fall on sale at Pier 1.  I think they will certainly be a new staple for me in my decor.  You may recall I used them in my centerpiece on the coffee table at Christmas. You can see that here, if you missed it.  Since I already had the snow filler inside them I decided to leave it.  I did switch out the size of the candles to a smaller set.  

I love how the snow sparkles from the reflections of the sunshine.  I wish you had better pictures to see just how pretty it really is.  These candles are electric.  If you are like me then you have these candles everywhere.  I think I may be addicted to them.  It's a good day when I find these on sale.  LOL!

I really am loving having curtains in the kitchen now.  It has just made my kitchen so much more appealing.  It's made the whole room more cozy, comfortable and inviting.  I am just so amazed that I have gone so many years without even considering them.  Of course, the Mr. has pointed out over and over again already how he has wanted to put curtains in here since day 1.  He has wanted them to help keep the sun out during our hot, hot summers.  I don't enjoy closed curtains and I especially don't like feeling too closed in.  I think I'll be safe because when I made these I didn't use lots of fabric.   I only made them just large enough to give a somewhat full look but not large enough to cover these doors certainly.  We shall see what the summer brings, but for now the winter is feeling very cozy so far!   

We're still working on more changes in here, slowly.  We getting it done though, just in between getting more organized and learning how to use my new embroidery machine.  In between, working on our sailboat and finding some time for thrift sale shopping.  Finally and most importantly getting it done in between taking care of my family and my pretty little pup too!  

Life is Good and God is Great, feeling so very thankful for all this winters comforts.

Thank you also for stopping in again and I hope you'll come back by and catch up again next time.  

Have a wonderful Thursday friends!

Hugs and Waves!

Mary

4th of July Tablescape - 2013

Hi Friends! I am very happy to say I was able to create a beautifully festive tablescape for the 4th this year.    I say this because the last few years I was working I had been so pressed for time at family gatherings that I often resorted to paper plates. I know shame on me right?  Let me assure you there were no paper plates here this year!

We had a very small gathering with only one son, my mother, my brother and his girlfriend and the Mr. and myself.  It was a small crowd but a wonderful afternoon!  We were even able to get in a quick dip in the pool in between afternoon showers which have become an everyday event lately.

I love creating a 4th of July tablescape because for me it's like enjoying the fireworks.  It's when I let my go of the matchy-matchy look and go for the element of pure surprise.  I get such a kick out of combing different patterns, colors and textures this time of year.  I discovered how much I enjoyed mixing it all up several years ago when I created one of my most favorite tablescapes after the 4th.  I called that one American Country because of the elements I used.  Click HERE or on the name to see it.  This year I wanted to stay focused more on the 4th but still mix it up.  Since I have so many pictures to share the rest of my post will be minus the chit chat with a few comments towards the end.  I hope you enjoy!

We enjoyed all our favorites; BBQ, rice and hash, green beans, rolls and sweet tea.  The menu was fairly light because there were so few of us and I wanted to make sure we saved room for the dessert my  brothers girlfriend brought.  

Oh boy, am I glad we did!  This is what is left of what she brought, Strawberry Upside Down Cake.  It was positively delish!  She got the recipe off of AllRecipes.com.  

Because we were going to be outside for a bit I wanted to also provide a little extra refreshments.  I got this very simple recipe off of Pinterest and decided it was the perfect solution.  It's called Spa Water, doesn't that just sound refreshing to you?  I thought so too! 

All you do for this water is mix in fresh strawberrys, pineapple, ice cubes and water.  That's it!  It eventually has a pinkish tint and taste ever so slightly of the fruit.  It's very refreshing to say the least.  I chose this because you could easily add in a bit of wine for a spritzer if you'd like.

I really enjoyed the 4th this year because I didn't get stuffed and had a very nice time visiting with the family, catching up and relaxing.

How about you?  I hope you had a great 4th of July too.  I'd love to hear all about yours!

Here's a list of the accouterments from above to the best of my recollections... 

Lady Bug Dinnerware; Hausenware designed by Libby Wilke - Ross Stores

Lady Bug Cream and Sugar; Hausenware - Ross Stores

Blue Calico Dinnerware and Salad Plates; Queens - TJ Maxx

Burgandy Salad Plates; Toscana Burgundy - Pier 1

Star Shaped Melamine Dishes - Michaels

Hammered Flatware - Gibson - Stein Mart

Green Goblets - Walmart

Star Shaped Salt and Pepper ; Dollar General???

White Placemats with striped borders; Dollar Tree

Yellow Tablerunner; Pottery Barn

Hurricane Vase; Merino's Furniture

Bread Basket w/Fabric Insert; recent thrift store find

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

  Have a wonderful weekend!

In Honor of Earth Day

Hey Ladies!  I made it!  I made it! I made it!  Yay!  Not only did I make it on time to Kathleen's Earth Day Tablescape challenge, but I literally "made" a few things too specifically for this challenge.  Woo hoo...hoo!  

Sorry about all that, but I just love when a plan comes together!  When I first heard of the tablescape challenge being Earth day my mind started racing.  I was thinking of all the possibilities that one could do but I could not get away from a few elements that I already owned that I wanted to use.  I just needed a new way to present them.  So for me...it was game on!  I love a challenge that spurs creativity! 

This post is going to be very photo heavy so I will try to keep the chit chat to a minimum.  Haha! Yall know how hard that is for me!  When I first thought of what I was going to use I wanted to do this scape outside on the patio by the pool.  Unfortunately, the rains came last night and today and there are threats of thunderstorms so I decided to play it safe and keep it inside.  Keeping it inside may have been a blessing in disguise though, as it challenged me yet again to change up a few things.  Regardless, I am loving this tablescape and I really hope you will enjoy it too!

It's so simple, but loaded with things that really do represent Earth day.

This is one of the first ELEMENTS I thought of that I wanted to use.

I had intended to use these three server dishes outside on the umbrella table so that they would surround the pole.  This four piece set which includes another serving piece that goes in the middle is a very old CERAMIC set that I purchased at a RESALE store last year.

I thought it would be adorable to use with ROCKS and added the tea lights for ambiance.  Since I had not intended to use the middle piece of this set, I now needed to come up with a centerpiece.

Insert my latest GARDEN purchase.  It just so happens, I had made a trip before Easter to a local GREENHOUSE to buy some plants.  There sat my CHERRY TOMATOES still waiting to be planted.  I plan to grown them in a pot on the deck but have yet to get a new big pot for them.

I love cherry tomatoes, don't you?

So, I decided to stick the whole carton down into one of my old pots, add a little moss and waalahh, instant centerpiece...and they smell so good too!

This is an old Terracotta pot that I've had for quite some time.  As you can see, I painted it myself.  It was one of a set of two that I made.

I love how over the years the paint has started to chip away and think it gives it even more character now.

The next ELEMENT I knew I would use would be these dishes.  

I'm sure you remember because I've recently used them but decided to show you the back so you could see they are made of TERRA COTTA.  Did you know the latin words for terra cotta are BAKED EARTH?

 Another ELEMENT I knew I wanted to use was my salad plates that are made out of RECYCLED plastic.  Pretty cool huh?

Then, I knew I had to use my BAMBOO flatware.  Atleast, I'm thinking it's real bamboo.  Haha!

My pretty blue iridescent glasses made it to the table for a few good reasons.  One, that are a glorious blue that represents water and are made of glass..glass being made from SAND.

But one of the other reasons I love is that I bought them from a yardsale, and that represents RECYCLING and RESTORING right?

Speaking or Recycling, how do you like the napkins I made?  How's that related to RECYCLING you ask?  Well, every time you use a cloth napkin that you wash instead of paper you throw away, you are RECYCLING!  I'll show you how I made these in just a minute. 

I made my place markers out of pop sickle sticks to represent garden markers that anyone could make.  I have this huge box of popsickle sticks that I bought when the kids were little and it was fun to find another use for them.  All I did was angle two sticks vertically, add a little hot glue and then place the three sticks horizontally across.  So simple!

Can you imagine my surprise when I found this fabric?  I know!!!  When I was thinking of all the ELEMENTS I would use for my EARTH day tablescape I was drawing a blank on the napkins.  After looking around for something that I liked I decided I would just have to sew up some of my own.  I had been thinking of something green maybe with a grass print or something.  Never, did I expect to find this!

I purchased one yard.

Cut them into 18 squares.

Then steam ironed the edges over once and....

...then twice to get a finished edge, rotating the folds clockwise each time.

Then I sewed a straight stitch along the inside edge pivoting around each corner.  It was very simple and something you can do too.  You could probably even do this technique with some of that no sew stuff too that you use with an iron.  Easy peasy!

Making your own napkins allows you the freedom to find napkins that are just perfect for any special occasion, even one like celebrating EARTH DAY.

I hope you enjoyed my table.  I sure had fun putting this one together.    Sorry so wordy, but I'm sure you knew I just had to give you all the details.  Didn't I tell you I love a challenge?

Thank you also for visiting me today!  

If you have the time, be sure and visit the following linky parties.

For more tablescaping decor be sure and click here at

Let's Dish

and 

Tablescape Thursday.

Have a great day!