Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Power Behind Us, The Future, ...

 
"The nicest thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."

Unknown author, quote from HERE
 
 
 
 
(Images are something I found a couple years ago.)


 "Strength comes not from frantic activity
but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light.
It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention
to the divine things that matter most."
 –Dieter F. Uchtdorf  Full message HERE



“The future depends
on what you do today.”
Mahatma Gandhi


and remember this ...

 

Saturday, September 29, 2012

I do love trays!


Learn how to make your own drawer like this from Shanty 2 Chic

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Furniture Sliders

It's Show and Tell Time

This is not a paid advertisement - it's just a review of one of my favorite things.
This in one of those things that I am grateful for, because it makes life a bit easier in simple ways.

These furniture sliders have been a great item to have in my home.  I can't always wait for the men to lift and move things into place for me, so when I want it moved, I can move it myself (usually).
 

We bought these over 20 years ago when we built our home and I have used them many times (if you look closely you can see the wear and tear on the pads, but they still work great).

One side is padded to help the furniture stay in place, and the other side is slick to allow the pad (with the heavy furniture on it) slide across the carpet.

 
Just lift the piece of furniture and slide the mover under the leg/foot of the furniture ..., repeat four times (of course).
 
I just slide the mover under with my foot, so I can use both hands/arms to lift.

 
They fit most styles of furniture "feet" too. 
Oh wow, it's easy to see the wear and tear on a piece of furniture when you take a close up.  That's what years of use can do for it.  This piece of furniture was my grandmothers, so it's got more wear and tear than my furniture sliders do.
 
 
Awesome stuff!  I sure love having these things around.

I don't know what brand these are, but I have seen some at Lowes that look like they work well.  They are online too - just take a look on Amazon.
 



Thursday, September 27, 2012

Volunteer Pumpkins

This is a surprise plant growing in our corral. 
We found it earlier this summer and have watered and watched it grow. 

 
We are excited to see the fruit is turning orange.
Our best pumpkins are usually volunteer plants. 


Patiently waiting for harvest!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Perfect Pumpkins and Other Halloween Decor

Blogs have been showing Halloween decor or Fall decor for several weeks now - here are a few of my favorites -


Doilies on a pumpkin can look amazing, like this one from Ticking and Toile



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This next look is from Tatortots and Jello

The plain white pumpkins look great!  I love the color combination - gray, white, orange, black.  Great idea to use chains.  Cool numbers. Love the window/door.
The trees kinda throw my simple mind off a bit for Halloween, though I do think they help make this look what it is, and it reminds me of the fact that we are all different - and oh how nice that is.  Sometimes it's our differences that work well together.  Just look at all the different textures in this set up  ... they work so well together.




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Monday, September 24, 2012

A beautiful table scape from Style Me Pretty
These colors are gorgeous.





Sunday, September 23, 2012

Availability - Dependability - Capability


Image is a card I made to display in my home.


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Cute Camping Theme Party

This cute party is found at Celebrations at Home



I especially love the little tents scene.



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ruffled Bedspread and Sham

Such lovely soft colors - love the white too! 
Found this at Living Beautifully





Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Ric Rac Flowers



It was fun to see this from The Crafting Chicks



because of these ... from hubby's parents estate.




The colors weren't what I wanted, and the plastic greenery they were in (not shown) was not very appealing anymore, but I just couldn't toss them out.  So I removed the greenery and left these flowers sitting for ... who knows what or when.  Somebody went to a lot of work ... I wish I knew who!
I wondered if I would some day take one apart to find out how to make them.  I wondered if I'd use them in some fall decor.  I haven't decided yet, but options are still open.

...
 
More ric rac flowers - tutorial at Oh for Sweetness Sake



 

Paper Rosettes DIY



Find some great photo instructions at Pine is Here

IMG_6729


IMG_6732

 
Wouldn't they be cute as the finishing touch on a wrapped gift?!?!?!
(Okay, I know this is a card, but doesn't it look like it would make a beautifully wrapped gift?!?!?)

Image from All Things Paper

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
 
Ralph Waldo Emerson


Image and Happiness Research from HERE

Monday, September 17, 2012

Wood Sign / Valance


Found this on It's Overflowing and wanted to save the look - I think it could work in my laundry room - but with a different saying.  I kinda like the look.




Wooden Clasp Hangers as Wall Decor

I posted this photo in an earlier post about tassels and party decor, and noticed the hangers too - thought it was a novel idea - a clever way to display things - from Oh Joy!.

When I saw the idea I thought of using those hangers to hold fabric.  Stacking fabric is what I do now, and it's sometimes hard to quickly get to the middle pieces and still keep things stacked nicely. Well, the thought left my mind because I don't have room to hang all of the fabric I have.  I still think it's a great idea though!


Oh-joy-studio-wall


A couple days later I find this in my Reader from  It's Overflowing and I thought someone had read my mind.  Okay, I know that just because I have a thought doesn't mean I was the first to think it ... or the only one to think it ... rather, I do believe that any thought I have has been "thunk" before.





Oh well!  I still like it!  It adds some great color to the room.

Sunday, September 16, 2012


“The homemaker has the ultimate career.
All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ” 
  C.S. Lewis

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“Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity.”


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Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: “[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”7

... and ...

Across the world, this is a time of economic instability and financial uncertainty. In April general conference, President Thomas S. Monson said: “If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions.”10

.... and ...

 “Faithful members whose circumstances do not allow them to receive the blessings of eternal marriage and parenthood in this life will receive all promised blessings in the eternities, [as] they keep the covenants they have made with God.”17

Neil L. Andersen - Full Message HERE

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Interesting article and image from Laughing at the Future
 
 
 

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Party Time & Tassels

Colorful and Fun Party from Pizzazzerie
I love the color ..., the tassels ..., the tassels with the bunting ...,
the little fish in the blue jello, inside the cutest little fish bowls, with the cutest little spoons ...,
 
Vintage-Inspired Coney Island Carnival Party on Pizzazzerie
 
and, did you see the little bracelets around the drink bottles? - sooooo cute!
 
Click on the link above to see this and other photos in larger format and read about this great party.

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And here is a look - tassels without the party - love how they are hung back and forth in the corner.
 From Oh Joy!  (Notice the wood clasp hangers!)


Oh-joy-studio-wall


 

Friday, September 14, 2012

Electric Pressure Cooker

It's Show and Tell Time!

This is not a paid advertisement - it's just a review of one of my favorite things.
This is one of those things that I'm grateful for, because it makes life a bit easier in simple ways.
 
Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker
 
 
 
Image from Amazon


I heard about this from a friend who heard it from another - and I just had to check it out.
So, for Christmas a couple years ago I gave these to my married children, but didn't get myself one. Well, one got to stay at my home until I mailed it to them after Christmas (because they were flying home and couldn't take it in their luggage). Perfect really - cause I decided to keep that one and order another for them so I didn't have to pay postage (gotta love that Prime Amazon).
Great idea huh!

 I've used it for a few things, but love it most for dry beans. No more over night soaking.  No more wishing I had soaked the beans overnight because I want to have them for today's meal. It's a done deal with this handy appliance.  In about one hour!

Fall begins the craving for soups and stews.  One meal hubby learned from living in Spain was a Garbanzo soup - or is it a stew?  Anyway it starts out with dry garbanzo beans. (A can would work, but I love the beans soaked in chicken broth verses water.)
 
 
After soaking the beans cook them till almost done and add
scramble fried sausage,
chopped carrots, onion and celery,
and garlic if desired.
Of course season as desired.
Shake some parsley flakes in when cooked.
 Cook some more and enjoy.
(sometimes my garbanzos are done enough when it's time to add the veggies, so I cook all the veggies together in another pan and add them to the beans.  Still great stuff.)

 
For some additional flavor I add a dollop of sour cream - my downfall (one of them anyway).

 
With or without it's a great fall and winter meal - when the sun shines, but the air is cool.
 
 
 
The cooker is also great for pork roasts for pulled pork sandwiches.  I used to roast it slowly in the oven for several hours - and that's hard on summer days.  Now with this cooker it's just as awesomely moist and tender within an hours time of cooking and with no added heat in your home from the oven.
 
 


Not the best pictures (I forgot to take a picture before I started shredding it) but it's a look - I season my meat with Johnny's - hence the orange look.

I've used pressure cookers on the stove before and love them too, but this is a no-hassle, no-worry type thing since you don't have to keep checking to see if it's at the right pressure ... it just is! 


 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Outdoor Seating


Fun look - assorted chairs and tables from Green Wedding Shoes
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I like this look of assorted benches and chairs too. From Green Wedding Shoes






Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Handmade Pottery

Okay, I am so in want of these - every piece she has is so desirable. 
I've posted several here so I can drool and oooh and ahhh over them ... cause I'm never gonna really see them in my home ..., well, unless I win the lottery - like that's gonna happen - I don't buy lottery tickets.

But look at the dainty detail and fabulous designs ...
Serving Tray - Linen - Stitch

this pink bowl with a spout - just love it ...
REGISTRY for Elli and Danny

and this little spoon inside this high backed bowl ...
Salt Cellar and Spoon - Pink

the cup cake tiers and to cry die for ...
Cupcake Stand SALE - Stitch - Yellow

just look at these little ruffles ...
Cupcake Stand SALE - Ruffle - Aqua

oh the plates ... the colors ... lovely ...
MADE TO ORDER - Set of 2 - Pottery Plates - Your Color Choice

and look at this berry bowl ...
Floral Berry Bowl - Berry Colander - Large - Aqua

and these sweet tumblers ...
Tumblers - Cups - Pair of Wine Cups - Yellow

and this is the piece that forced me encouraged me to look into this wonderful etsy shop full of handmade pottery ...
Hanging Kitchen Basket - Set of 3 with UnMatchy edges - MADE TO ORDER - Citrus Colors

ooooohhhhh!!!! ....
can I just get this one?
I have the perfect place for it ...
Hanging Kitchen Basket - Set of 3 with UnMatchy edges - MADE TO ORDER - Citrus Colors


Oh, I learned about this from Mini Manor Blog - she posted it and I took a look. AH OH!

I was hoping that my posting about it would make me feel better - kinda like I own them because they can be seen here.  Coveting is a bad thing ... a bad bad thing .... 

(I wonder if that's why she posted about it?  Oh bother ... maybe she bought one!)

Okay! I'm all better now!
But really, aren't they just awesome!