Let's get Nautical!

Nautical! I wanna get nautical! Let's get into nautical! I think that's the way Olivia Newton John should have sung that song.  Really yall!

With the Memorial day weekend fast approaching I am thinking of all things nautical.  I am pretty sure I will be working Monday but am hoping for Sunday off.  The Mr. and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend of sailing this past weekend and hope to be able to do more again soon.  While we were out we talked about getting our new grill installed on the boat so we can do more grilling out on the water.  Please feel free to send me all your delicious shiskabob recipes ladies, as I am craving those to kick off the season!

With that in mind I decided to gather up a few of my nautical inspired serve ware pieces to create a display for the screened porch.  This will also keep everything handy in case I want to grab a few serving pieces as I head out the door.

Here's how it all stacked up!

I started over here on the blue table and brought out my plaid runner to work off of.

It sorta has a bit of a nautical flair, right?  Okay,  well, not sure why I brought this out really but there it is.

Next I decided to use the old wine crate that I keep on the porch and have been trying to decide how to decorate.

Then I very carefully (Hehe!) draped one of my patriotic dishcloths inside.

The first thing in was my chip and dip set that I purchased last year from CTS for only $5.99.  Love it!  I cannot wait to bring this down to the club.  It's ceramic so I will have to be very careful.  

Next in was my sailboat dip with spreader dish.  To save all of us a lot of time and reading here you should know all of these items came from the CTS. This was only $3.99.  We do not have one here where I live, so I made a special trip down to one in Augusta last year and went wild when I found all of the great deals on the nautical serve ware.  

This sailboat bowl was sold separately for only $1.99. I bet this could hold a boat load of salsa!

Then I collected up this set of three boats to add in my box too.  They were purchased at $4.99 for the whole set.

Oops! These melamine plates are from Walmart this year.  They were on clearance for $1.00 and I could only find 3.  I need one more!

I am pretty sure the napkin holder was only $2.99 and included the napkins as well.

The votive candle holders were only .64 cents a piece.  What a deal!

And my cups were only $1.69 each.  Now here's the real deal!  Those are all the prices I pulled off of them today as I was unpacking them.  I am pretty sure I got an additional amount off on many of these pieces but cannot remember exactly what.  That's how good of a deal it was and so worth the trip.  If you have a CTS near you or withing driving distance you are so lucky.

I had to move the box to it's final resting place before it got to heavy.  I almost forgot to add in the napkins and napkin rings that I made last year too, or was it the year before?  Oh, IDK!  Anywho, there they are before going in the box.

A little blue bottle of something good and I am all set!  Don't worry this is actually empty but I saved it because I liked the color of the bottle and the taste of the wine and wanted to remember the brand.  I was at World Market a few weeks ago and saw a wine with a Sea Glass label that I wish I had bought.  I think it was a Pinot Grigio, but not sure.  Maybe next trip.

And there you have it!  All set and ready for a very nautical day of dining.  Well, kinda, I still need to find a good deal on some red flatware somewhere.

I've set this up on my bakers rack outside.  If it stays here a bit I may have to redo the whole rest of the vignettes on the bakers rack now too.  But I think I'll wait and see how much I pull from here to go on the boat first.  We shall see!

Speaking of seeing and the boat...

Here's a few glimpses of what we enjoyed out on the water last weekend.  

It was very windy all weekend and we were able to get in a few good sails before getting to tired to fight the wind any longer and calling it a day.

I stretched out in the cockpit for a rest to lay down and look what I saw!

Right over our heads above the top of our boat was a beautiful rainbow.  I couldn't help but think that I guess Jesus wanted to remind us he likes going sailing too!  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I really appreciate the visit.  I am joining a few fun linkys today.

Be sure and visit them too at;

Let's Dish

Outdoor Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday

Seasonal Sunday

And just in case you missed it I am gearing up to host a linky party of my own.  Please be sure and check out my latest post HERE to get the scoop.

Have a wonderful day!

By Golly! I think I will!

Did the big blue green paint chip below draw you in?  I bet so!  But....if your thinking I'm going to paint my den this color you'd be wrong.  Gotcha!

The picture above is merely symbolic.  It represents (one) issue I have been struggling with for some time, a new paint color for the den.  I really want a change in my den and have ideas but am still unresolved on a few things.  

If you have stopped by here at all in the last week you may have seen me mention a linky party idea HERE that I had about offering up our decorating dilemmas.  Well, to make a long story short, I'm going to do it.  I'm going to host it!  I am going to put myself out there and take a risk!

Because I'd rather avoid more risks like choosing the wrong color and having to redo it.

Let me also be a bit blunt here, I had very, very little feedback on this and most intelligent people would assume that meant there is no interest in this idea. Maybe, but I think differently!  I still think  and believe whole heartily that this a great idea.    I think there are many of us who would like to get more specific feedback about our decorating issues rather then relying on our own posts and our own immediate group of followers.  Some of us (case in point,like me) don't even have a large group of followers to successfully get the feedback we need.  So a linky party that specifically address's those issues could definitely provide that!

It's no secret that a linky party can grow your blog.  If you are a long time follower you all know how I've had my struggles with linky parties.  I have not decided to host this linky party just to grow my blog but because I truly believe in the concept of the party I want to host.  You should know that hosting a linky party also costs money so it is not something I would enter into lightly.  Although, if this party takes off and helps to grow my blog that's great because that means you who link up your dilemmas will also benefit too, right?

Gotta love Cheez-its!

I am still working full time in retail with hours that change every week.  I work 8 hours a day and sometimes two of those shift are nights as well as weekends.  I tend to have Sundays off and usually one other day during the week.   That extra day off changes each week which is why I am writing this today as I am off.   I am begging for a little advice and help from you. I would love any input from those of you who host a linky party AND anyone reading this who thinks they would participate from time to time.  Remember this party is for us to link up our decorating dilemmas and receive advice from our online decor friends.  Big and Small projects, inside and outside!  

   1. I think this party would be best suited for every other week.  Would you agree?

   2. Which day do you think would be good for this?

   3. What should I be prepared for?  LOL!

   4. Would you like to vote on a name for this party?

   5. Do you think I should create a button?  Any volunteers to do this for me?  Please!

   6. Do you think I am crazy to do this?

   7. Would you be will to help promote this party so that those who attend can get the feedback 

        they are hoping for?  Purrty Please Yall!!!

Well, okay, I stop jabbering away now so you can reply.  I know your out there and I do want to hear from you.  Come on, help out a sista out!

    

Poolside Adventures

Whoever said; "Necessity is the mother of invention", couldn't have spoken truer words then these.

I finally was able to enjoy a beautiful weekend off with beautiful weather to boot.  We sailed on Saturday, just boated around on Sunday and lounged around our new pool off and on all weekend.

The weather was great and so enjoyable.  

With a tropical storm lingering off the coast of Charleston we were experiencing quite a bit of wind gusts on Saturday even here in the middle of the state.  I brought out my newest pool side purchase rather quickly after struggling with the towel a few times.

Aren't they cute?  They are called Boca clips.  They come in an assortment of designs too.

I purchased these as a set of two for only $5.00 from the big W.  So worth it ladies!  Who ever invented this simple little convenience is my hero!

Then after burning my arms a few times on the HOT metal arm rails I decided to invent a little more convenience of my own.

I pulled out my never ending roll of tulle because I think it's pretty water proof.

And then retrieved two of these microfiber dishtowels that I cannot stand to use anywhere because they feel horrible on my fingertips and everything clings to them.  LOL!  They are sold at the dollar tree and I've seen them in several different bright colors which would be neat.  I used these because I had them on hand and they were the perfect size, bigger then a wash cloth and super absorbent.

Okay, so maybe not the cutest thing ever but not bad and I was loving it. No more burned arms!

Speaking of necessity's, here is another makeshift option that I am well pleased with.  Remember my little tomato plants.  Well I needed a trellis for them to grow on but did not want to use the standard round ones because I wanted something more decorative.  Since I already had this I stuck it in a big pot and planted the tomatoes around the outside.

Look how well they are growing!  It won't be long now!

Thanks for stopping by for a few outdoor tips poolside.

I am joining BNOTP for

Metamorphosis Monday

to share a few of my own discoveries.

Have a great day!

Revisting My Favorite Tablescape

Hey Ladies!  I'm not usually one for looking back because life is all about moving forward for me.  However, just because you believe in moving forward doesn't mean the beautiful memories of the past should go away.  I personally think they should be cherished all the more as the steps you took to get where you are today.


This morning I have spent some time updating a new page on my blog with my 2012 tablescapes.  I can't believe I didn't start that one sooner.  It's very time consuming to go back and do this several months later.  Having a year's worth of tablescapes on one page is very enjoyable to me and judging from my stats to a few of you as well.  I think it's one of those times well spent looking back.  Do you have one of these too?


Because I've run out of time again this morning I've decided to take a look waaayyy back to when I first started tablescaping.  It was under my old blog, Sailing Simply.  This is one of my most favorite tablescapes I have ever done.  I may have to even create a newer version of this one this year if the weather would ever cooperate again.  Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy looking back with me today.


Good Morning!  Today the sun is shining brightly and the temps are still fairly low yet!  I am feeling happy to still have an extra table to do outdoor settings after loosing my umbrella table, so I have decided to do a green and white table scape.  I have been very inspired by so many of you that I can't help but join in on all the fun.

 I know there is much to be proud about when being original and unique.  However, I hope most of you do not mind when someone borrows your ideas and uses them in their own way.  I am all about giving credit where it is due, but I am not sure I remember who had the first green and white setting that I saw, but I loved it!  I loved it so much it stuck with me!  I know this is probably not a new concept to most of you who regularly table scape, but it is to me.  I would have never thought of pulling a setting together in this way, using certain colors only.

 That concept has added a whole new dimension of table setting for me!  Really!  I have always thought of decorating a table with what you have but not so much in terms of themes and colors.  I mean I have always tried to purchase things for my table that coordinate but have not done alot of mixing and matching.  Now that I'm blogging and joining in on all the fun it's added so much more to my creative side and I just love it!  So thank you to whomever did the first green and white table setting and to all of you who have followed suit and posted your beautiful settings!  I hope you will enjoy mine as well.

I started with this older green and white tablecloth.  My sister in law gave me this years ago during one of her garage sales.  I loved the way this looked like lattice to me.  It is one of my favorites even though it is well into fading now.  Let's move in a little closer!

 Then I added my centerpiece items.

English Ivy and a small cloche on silver

In a beautiful lime green pot.

Yes, this needs polishing big time, but I liked the varnish look for this casual setting

A green candle sits in a crystal votive sitting in milk glass.

I  am loving this place setting, so pretty!

It began with my white everyday plates with embossed fruit from Gibson. 

Then added my white monogrammed linen napkins.

 I topped it off with my green and white plastic salad plates from the Better Homes and Gardens collection at Walmart and clear footed fruit bowls.

I added crystal goblets and my silver plated stainless flatware, Louisiana by Oneida.

 

For serving fruit for two I added this sweet crystal bowl given to me by my best friend.  It has florals and sweet little butterflies etched in the side.  I also used our monogrammed tea towel and the matching flatware serving pieces.

I hope you also noticed I chose the greenest location I could find to set up this table!

I hope you enjoyed my green and white table scape today, set amongst my beautiful green plants.

This was so much fun setting up! 

I am joining

 Tablescape Thursday

and 

Let's Dish

Be sure and check out more beautiful settings from the links above!

Additonally...I have an idea for a linky party I posted about yesterday that I would be willing to host if someone else is not already doing this one.  I must be crazy because I really don't have the time but love the idea so much and think it would be a huge asset to our blogging world.  I would make it work somehow.  Please leave me your feedback!

Have a great day!