A New Springtime

Summer Salads on My Mind Giveaway

I am doing my very first giveaway and I am so excited! I think it is a great time of year to eat healthier foods because they are so much more available.    In a few weeks many people will have veggies growing right in their own back yard or frequenting there towns farmer's markets!

 Fresh salads are easy to toss together and can be filled with wonderful ingredients grown locally or picked straight off the plant or vine!

There are so many different ways to make salads and this great book by William Sonoma has some great ideas! Not only does it have the salad recipes but it also has recipes for dressings, too!

Sharing recipes can be a great gift  idea for a family member or friend. I like to write my favorites ones on some pretty stationery and  give together with a few of the yummy ingredients in a pretty bowl or basket.

Salads are a great way to bring friends together on a sunny summer afternoon! A few simple festive flags as to decorate the middle of the table in the dining room, on the front porch or  the back patio.  I want to spend some time catching up and sharing my blessed life with some of the women I don't get to see during the busy home school year.

Two of my favorite colors during the summer are navy blue and kelly green. They make me think of sailing and a life at the beach! I love watching sailboats when we go to Mystic Rhode Island for a few days each summer.

I hope this summer brings with it many opportunities to gather my thoughts and some friends to share my home and some fresh delicious food! I want to give away these items to help another to do the same:

• Food Made Fast, Salad by William Sonoma
• a galvanized hanging chalkboard ( write a welcome greeting for family & friends)
• an adorable salad bowl or strainer ( Kelly green)
• a coupon/receipt organizer ( navy blue)
• a notepad to jot down ideas
• a pack of note cards and envelopes (can be used as recipes card or invitations)
• 5 festive flags

All of these a ideas are just suggestions of course, this giveaway is a gift just for you to make and create your own special summer memories!

I will run this giveaway until Wednesday of next week, and the names will be folded and put in the salad bowl and randomly picked by my daughter.

I will announce the winner  Thursday,  June 11, 2015. I will mail it off to the winner that afternoon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Salad and your favorite summer colors and why these colors are your favorite.

 

 

 

Bin Transformation

I really like the size and shape of these Dollar tree Bins but the color is just to bright for me.

I decided to use some left over chevron fabric to cover the from and sides of the bins. Using a bit of hot glue, twine and a couple of labels I was able to transform the bins.

The embellishments of twine and seashell add to that coastal look that I like so much!

I left some space on this label in case I add any other items to the bin later on.

I like to do fast, inexpensive up-cycles with things I already have to make my home a bit more updated and coordinated as well.

 

Red, White, and Blue Festivities

Sunday was a big day for all of us, we celebrated Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, and our son, Max's fifteenth birthday, too. Since Monday was also Memorial day, I decided to use red, white and blue to pring it all together!

I have been using this cute galvanized tray as a focal point for our parties and celebrations! It is also very functional, keeping napkins, plates, cups and plastic wear together and central.

I made some more paper flags inspired by " The Homespun Heart" blog and later added some festive flowers.

These were only $3 at Wal-Mart for a bouquet of about 7 flowers.

Food as decor is always a plus, nothing will go to waste and nothing to store afterwards!

I had this adorable wheel barrow, a thrifted find from years ago. It has been several colors, first it was green, then pink, now it is blue.

There is so much to be thankful for in life. I am so thankful for my faith, my family and my friends! All good and perfect gifts come from above!

Paper Flag Fun

I have been having a lot of fun making these cute little festive flags!

Because I love to embellish our home, when I saw,  "A Homespun Heart's" fabric flags, I knew I had to make a few myself. I think they add that perfect little touch of quaintness that I treasure so much.

 I want to make each day count and make each day special by adding tiny touches of creativity to our comfy and cozy home! Happy Memorial Day weekend to all!

Galvanized Chalk Board

Target had some really cute inexpensive tin buckets and galvanized chalk boards for a mere $3 each. They also had some black magnetic hooks 4 in a pack for $1.

I decided it would look cute in the mudroom! Each time we enter our home we can read a small inspirational message. I will have to  work on my chalkboard art a bit more.

Added to the metal are few pieces of fabric and jute for texture, the magnetic clip for some extra dimension and a cotton boll for some softening. All of these make a perfect combo for some cozy farmhouse decor! 

Come on over to more great ideas at Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday!

Cotton Plant Stems DIY

I decided to try and make some adorable cotton plant stems. I first saw them on, " Fixer Upper" an awesome HGTV program. I then saw the idea of how to make your own at Prodigal Pieces blog! Both of these ladies have great ideas.

Found in my backyard...

cut open seed pods and hot glue gun 2or 3 cotton balls together and then to the pod itself. You can glue pieces of potpourri to the bottom as well. I saw a bag of brown potpourri at the Dollar Tree which would work just as well. You could then glue then to ordinary sticks.

This one I cut off the stem for another project.

Add a burlap bow and a $3 tin from target and...

you have a cute way to welcome family and friends to your home!! Come on over to Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday for more ideas!

Newspaper Leaf Wreath

Playing around with some newspaper, glitter, sequins, ink, and cardstock!

Leafy paper wreath...

 sparkling on my wall!

Summer House

God has blessed our family so much, each season we experience so many wonderful and different events and activities. We have gone on some wonderful summer vacations and beach days and have come to treasure those memories. Even when we just hang out around our home on normal everdays we enjoy the comfort of our home.

I like to use visuals and decor that reflect the season we are in. I think it is a good way to be minful and thankful to God for the summer months He has given to us.

I am grateful for each day and each morning I can open the blinds and let the warm sun shine in upon us!

 I like to place a few loose shells or a bucket full of them placed here and there in our summer house!

The kiddos found the crab shell on one of our past days at the beach.

A summer relaxtivitiy I would like to do is draw some shells in a journal and learn some of their names.

 Our Summer house is also our everyday house which becomes a special place no matter what the season. With God and family great memories can be made in ordinary settings and life can be remarkable!

Stop over at the Shabby Nest blog for Frugal Friday

Simple Front Porch

 

Last weekend, the weather was perfect for some front porch refurbishing. Over the winter the furniture takes a beating and becomes chipped and weathered. I know that the chippy look is in but I rather like a solid fresh coat of paint.

A bit of paint is all it takes too make old wooden chair and small side table make an entrance look inviting and welcoming.  We live about 2 hrs. away from the nearest shore but a bit of coastal blue paint can bring the beach a bit closer to home.

Hydrangeas and seashells are the way to go for a beachy summer look.

 On the front door hangs an old galvanized bucket filled with some faux flowers. Simple but pretty!
Let the sun shine in. On this side of the porch are some comfy chairs and tables, it is a cozy spot to enjoy some iced tea and a magazine or just sit back and reflect on the day!

The other side is reseved for the kiddos trike, slide and climbing structure. The old bench is used for extra seating if needed.
I hope to utilize our front porch more this year. It is a great place to relax and  make some new summer memories. Join the Linky Party @ Shabby Nest, Frugal Friday

Made for Mother's Day

This year I was inspired to make some handmade Mother's Day gifts. Both my mother and my grandmother were given the special talents of being able to sew and make many different gifts for me and for others.

It was a blessing for me to be able to use the gift of sewing, passed down to me, to make  some special items for my mother.yesterday, my oldest son had made himself an apron and that led me to make one for my mom.

I had gotten this red, yellow and green floral fabric at GW about 3 years ago not knowing what I would use it for. I just really liked the folk look it had. My mother's new kitchen is tan and her pots and pans and utensils are dark red, so the fabric was the perfect match.

I had quite a big piece of material so I was able make a few more kitchen accessories to match. Potholders make nice gifts because they can be decorative and useful as well.

Pretty dishtowels are so fun and easy to make and can also brighten up a kitchen. I used two pieces of fabric, sewed all the way around with the right sides together, leaving a small space at the top to turn them right side out. Iron them when done sewing and stitch once around the outside edge. I actually want to make more of these.
Mother's deserve the very best because they give the very best of themselves. My mother has been such a wonderful person of love and encouragement in my life. She has taught me many great lessons in life, especially how to give of myself and share the love we have with others.