autumn mantel

I decorated my mantel for autumn. I used this wonderful wire grid (my friend Debbie sells them at Bayberry Cove...
here's a link to it. The theatre and pumpkin man are also from her store. I added old photos and leaves.



I lined up my little Cococub collection along the bottom, with a picket fence. I thought they looked like funny little tricker or treaters.


Even though this display will only be up for a month or so, I'm going to enjoy it.

yay! it's almost jacket time...

I have almost all of my favorite casual jackets hanging on my coat tree in anticipation for the chill in the air. I can't wait to wear them.



I'm especially excited to wear the pink leather one. And the one with sparkles on the zipper. Soon...very soon! Maybe even today!

for jessica

This is the sign I just made for my sister, Jessica. She makes bandanas for dogs that attach to their collars. She even hand-embroiders designs on some of them. Somehow we have to get this girl an embroidery machine! So, Jessica sells her wonderful bandanas at our hometown's Crab Carnival which is next weekend. I'm going to help her sell them. I'm so proud of her. If you'd like a "bandit" of your very own, shoot me an email and I'll give it to my sister. She would be thrilled to get one to you.

cocomotion

This is one of my favorite things! I got it for Christmas a few years ago from my sister in law. Rich had told her that a "hot chocolate pot" was on my wish list. I didn't mean a cocomotion but boy am I glad she got it for me.

I use it for hot chocolate, of course. But I also use it for warm milk (which really does make you sleepy). Sometimes I put milk in it to top my regular coffee for cafe au lait that's simply wonderful.

In the Doris Day movie "That Touch of Mink", Doris' character Cathy Timberlake suggests that Cary Grant's character drink milk and butter to help him go to sleep. I have to admit that I tried it but it's definitely not something I'll try again. I'm getting a little sick just thinking of it.

But I do recommend the Cocomotion if you like hot chocolate. You won't believe how wonderful!

34 and a half

Yesterday was my half-birthday. I don't "celebrate" my half birthday...that would be crazy. I just declare every September 21 that it is my half-birthday. This declaration is typically met with a nervous little laugh and a quick look.

So I'm halfway through my 34th year. And it's been a marvelous year thus far. I will soon be heading into the latter end of my 30's. I keep looking for grey hairs and wrinkles. I'm not worried about them. I'm just curious. Oh, but I have been using eye cream every night just in case.

34 and a half. Wouldn't it be funny if the next time someone asks, I give that as my age? I think I should just keep it to myself (and you).

by yours truly

I'm as pleased as punch with how these turned out.

I have been collecting buttons for years. I just can't pass up a jar of jolly buttons. I've used buttons from my collection to create these fun bracelets. I hope you like them as much as I do.

big flea finds

I went a little crazy at the Big Flea today. I found some wonderful things! Even if I didn't know what in the world I would do with what I bought, I just gave myself permission to buy. This is just some of it!

the big flea...

I'm going to the big flea tomorrow and I hope to find lots of wonderful things. I'll post my loot here if there's anything I think you'll be interested in seeing.

tee shirts

Hey, wanna spread the word about Inspire Company? Order a cute tee shirt with our logo.

wish list

I love this...



Is it crazy to look at that and think you might be able to make it? It's $98...no small chunk of change so I might just try. And of course, I would want mine in pink.

clearRx

I had a prescription to fill last night and I remembered to try the new system at Target. I LOVE it! It is so much better than those labels with the tiny type! I chose purple as my ring color (wish they had pink!)

If you have a prescription to fill, give them a try. Your medicine cabinet will look snazzy with bottles like this all lined up like toy soldiers. :)

While we were waiting for the prescription, Rich bought me new pajamas for being such a good patient. He had to give me three shots in the past week (fertility treatments!) Here are the nice pajamas he got me:



I'm wearing them now. They are very comfy.

cream cheese and olives on pumpernickel bread

When I was a little girl, this was my sandwich of choice. I had it nearly every single day packed in my lunch box. My dear mom would slice each green olive stuffed with pimiento (I'd never even seen a black one back then!). Being the third daughter with a younger brother, I adored any sort of special treatment. This sandwich spelled love to me. It made me feel very good to be the only child anyone had ever heard of that liked such a sandwich.

Beaver ate a cream cheese and jelly sandwich that his mother made him for a train trip. As soon as I saw that on tv, I had to try it. Next commercial break, there I was in the kitchen whipping it up. And it was terrific. Oh, and this wasn't too long ago...just last year. I love TVLand! :)

free food magazine

One of my favorite food magazines is free! It is called "Food and Family" from Kraft foods.



I just got the latest issue and there are so many terrific recipes inside. Here are some that I am going to try this week.


click here for the recipe


click here for the recipe


click here for the recipe


click here for the recipe

If you'd like to get your own free magazine from Kraft, register at www.kraft.com

eat cake...

I just finished reading this delicious little book...and I adored it.

Here's the summary:

Ruth loves to bake cakes. When she is alone, she dreams up variations on recipes. When she meditates, she imagines herself in the warm, comforting center of a gigantic bundt cake. (that's my favorite part!) If there is a crisis, she bakes a cake; if there is a reason to celebrate, she bakes a cake. Ruth sees it as an outward manifestation of an inner need to nurture her family—which is a good thing, because all of a sudden that family is rapidly expanding. First, her mother moves in after robbers kick in her front door in broad daylight. Then Ruth’s father, a lounge singer, who she’s seen only occasionally throughout her life, shatters both wrists and, having nowhere else to go, moves in, too. Her mother and father just happen to hate each other with a deep and poisonous emotion reserved only for life-long enemies. Oh, yes indeed!

Add to this mix two teenagers, a gainfully employed husband who is suddenly without a job, and a physical therapist with the instincts of a Cheryl Richardson and you’ve got a delightful and amusing concoction that comes with its own delicious icing.

One of Jeanne Ray’s specialties is giving us believable, totally likable characters, engaged in the large and small dramas and amusements of life. Eat Cake is whimsical, warm, and satisfying. Eat Cake is Jeanne Ray at her best. Pull up a chair and eat cake!

celebrating home

Seasons of Cannon Falls inspires traditions and brings joy to life's celebrations. In their new book, "Celebrating Home", the creative team shares their favorite decorating tips, inspiring projects, and ideas for the holidays. Over 200 beautiful photographs capture imaginative ways to create seasonal traditions for your family.

Set against the inviting backdrop of the Seasons of Cannon Falls River House, you'll find inspirations for dressing the front hall for Halloween, making a Thanksgiving centerpiece, and, of course, plenty of wonderful ideas for decorating your Christmas tree.

This book is not only about the major holidays. It's also filled with creative touches for your home throughout the year. You'll find inspiring ideas from decorating your porch in fall to dressing windows for spring, or changing the look of a bedroom for the summer months.

click here to order...

penny mcallister

The sewing bug (and encouraging craft-loving grandmothers) bit Penny McAllister at the tender age of 5. Nearly 50 years later, the elementary school librarian has woven her passion for folk art into a dream occupation, creating paper maché figures full of wit and whimsy.

I'm so pleased to offer you these fabulous creations that are licensed reproductions of her original work.



To see these new lovelies, click here.

miniature s'mores

Last night, I invented a new dessert. Miniature S'mores! I poked miniature marshmallows onto toothpicks. I rigged a long piece of foil to hold the sticks and I put it on the grill after our dinner was cooked. Our neighbors brought us back the most incredible chocolates from Switzerland...tiny little bars. And I used a little bag of Teddy Grahams left over from Seth's visit. I served all of the components in little bowls on a plate. It was a fun little dessert...just a little taste of summer.

give $7 to red cross...

Give money to the hurricane relief...and get rewarded! My friend Mo Jackson has put together a very special collection of her famous doo dads*. They are free to anyone who gives $7 or more to the Red Cross.

If you'd like your very own doo dads here's what you should do:

Step 1: Go to RedCross.org and click on "Donate Now" to send $7 or more to the Hurricane Relief Fund

Step 2: Forward your receipt from Red Cross to doodads_for_donating@mac.com

Step 3: You will be sent a link to download Mo's special doo dads collection that is perfect for your back-to-school pictures!

If you've already given, that's great. This deal is only for donations that are made presently.

*In case you don't know, doo dads are digital images that you use to create scrapbook layouts on your computer. No more papercuts! Here's your chance to give this new trend in scrapbooking a go for yourself. All images are copyright protected for personal use only.

hurricane relief

Looking at the devastation on the Gulf Shore makes us all wonder how we can help. Here is a link to give to the Red Cross.

Donate