July 4th Tablescape 2012

Hey Yall!  Are you ready for July 4th entertaining?  

I certainly hope so cause it's just around the corner now.  I am soooo ready!  Not only am I ready for the fourth of July but I've also been collecting a few goodies to share with you too.  I hope you enjoy!

I pulled together a few things I've collected over the last few years and added in a few new finds as well to create this setting.

I've had the red watering can for a few years now and decided it would be perfect with a patriotic bow.

The blue calico plates from Queens were a purchase from TJ Maxx two years ago.

I then topped them off with my Lenox salad plates.  Then I added melamine star plates found this year at Michaels.  So cute!!! 

The festive bowls I also found this year from Target on the $1.00 isle.  They were a must have item!  Can't you just imagine enjoying ice cream in these? 

My new flatware purchased from work, Stein Mart just sparkles!  Get it?  Sparkels!!!!

Speaking of sparkling, my iridescent blue goblets have a nice sparkle too!  They were a nice yard sale find a few years back.

The painted metal star napkin rings sure could use a touch up.  LOL!

These cute little pails were found at Target this year on the $1.00 aisle as well.  I filled them with corks and a candle to add a little ambiance.  

Salt and pepper shaker from Family Dollar last year for only $1.50.

And finally my flowers were purchased this year at Michaels on sale for only $1.00 a bunch.

Well that's how it all came together for me!

Looking forward to celebrating with family and friends this year when time permits.

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful 4th too.

Please check out the following links for more fun festive dining ideas at;

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Summer Living Room

There is no other time of year that I love more then summer!  I am a summer gal through and through.  I have been know to go outside and sit for short intervals on the porch even when it is 100 degrees or more outside. That's how much I love summer!  

I also adore decorating and changing up things around the house for summer.  I just returned from a long awaited week of vacation at the beach during which I was able to do a little thrifty shopping with my sister in laws.  Since I was chomping at the bit to change up a few things inside, I was thrilled to find out I had today off and was able to get started.  So, if you'd like to take a little tour of my den during one of "my" best times of the year....then come on in!  You are so welcomed!

Our den is quite large and long!  It's taken me years to accept that this is the best furniture layout for this space without breaking it up too much.  

The reason it's taken me years to accept this is that I love to rearrange furniture.  Try as I might and believe me I have, there is no other layout that I like better then what we have shown here.

Here is one of those thrifty finds that I picked up down at the beach last week.

Even the Mr. seems to like this boat.

I decided it would look great front on center on the mantle sitting on top of a few of the Mr's. old sailing books.

My old bamboo mirror always looks great this time of year.

I finally made some headway with the coffee table vignette again.

I liked this set up so much last year that I decided to just put it back the same way again this year.  So much for being unique, huh?

Honestly though, you really cannot beat a tray full of shells...

...and a large hurricane candle with sand and shells can you?

Personally, I would prefer to have a real fern here but I am sure it would not survive.  Most of my inside plants have been suffering greatly since I went back to work.  My ferns outside in the back yard are looking beautiful though.  That's where I've been spending most of my free time lately.  I've always thought of ferns as summer plants.  I love them!

My new lantern is all set and ready for the holidays now too!

How do you like my festive little Longaberger basket?  I've never owned one of those before.  My dept. manager at work gave this to me a few weeks ago.  Isn't it so cute?  I think so!

Thanks for taking the time to stop in for my most favorite time of the year.

I hope you enjoyed your visit.  What about you?  What is your favorite season?

I am joining; 

Tabletop Tuesday

Be sure and click the link above for more!

Have a wonderful week!

My Pool Noodle Project

Good Morning!  What a beautiful weekend it has been so far.  The weather has been just perfect with the sun shining brightly and the skies all clear. What a beautiful Father's Day today too!

 It's just the right kind of weather for spending time around the pool.  Since we put in a pool last year it has been such a joy!  So, I'm sure you can understand when I heard about a Pool Noodle Craft Party going on over at Debbiedoo's I had to find out a bit more.  I knew I was going to be all about this one!

The challenge was to create something using a pool noodle.  I am sure I won't be the only one who decided to make a wreath.  But...mines not just any old wreath, Oh no!!!  It's so much more!  So after spending only $3.00 at the DT I gathered up the rest of the supplies I already had on hand and went to work and here's my wreath!

What do you think?  Pretty cute and simple huh?

  Well, to be honest it wasn't quite that easy.  The first challenge I had was to find a way to make the noodle stay round.  The Mr. helped me out with that one.  He simply added a small rubber tube inside of both the holes on each end forcing them to connect together.  He's so smart like that!

  

Then, all I did next was add more of that white tulle ribbon that I already had along with some indoor/outdoor rope.  The noodle was item no.1 and the rope was item no.2  purchased from the DT. 

The sign was item no.3 purchased from the DT.  Unfortunately it didn't quite say what I wanted it to.  So, it had to undergo a little transformation.  Since it was the right size (and price), I thought it was worth effort.

I decided to keep the flip flops since they were already on the original sign and just worked around that.  I repainted the sign white because it was brown and added the words with a paint pen.

If you look closely you can see where the previous words originally were on the sign.  I did some light sanding but obviously not quite enough.   Oops! The original words ( Beach House) were glittery and textured.  I thought I got most of that off but not quite. 

Oh well!  To be honest I really didn't have a lot of time to invest in this but really wanted to get it done.  I was especially rushed this week because we are leaving for the beach ourselves today.  Whoo hoo!  Anyway, I think the sign looks just fine, don't you?  Sure you do, but there is just one little itty bitty problem.

You see, I can't in all good conciseness go out of town with a sign like this hanging on our pool.

Now a sign like this....I could live with!

That's right friends, flip the sign and were all set.

This side looks so much better without any previous wording showing through.  LOL!

So there you have it.

Pool Open!

Pool Closed!

I decided to hang it right there on the fence by the pool too!

The Mr. said, " Hey, we can use it as a life preserver too if we need too."  LOL!

Didn't I tell you it was so much more then just a wreath?

This was a fun project!  Thanks so much for the inspiration to create something fun with a pool noodle ladies.  I really enjoyed the challenge! 

I hope you enjoyed your visit here today too.  Please be sure and visit 

Debbiedoo's

 to see many more of those amazing noodle projects on the 20th.

I hope I am able to get this post to link up but am not sure I will have internet connections where we are going but I will try!

Have a great week everyone!