Blushing Rose Antiques

NEXT UP THANKSGIVING...YEA!!

2009-11-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

My blazing maple in the front garden, there are three trees twisted into one, cool huh??

Put up my fall flag, sorry you can't see it very well, it was sunny out and kinda faded it out..This is the Thanksgiving arrangement for my entry table, my BFF just sent me the beautiful glittered Give Thanks banner, it was perfect for the fall wreath on my mirror...Love these vintage images...Found these wonderful Thanksgiving plates at TJ Max, I have always wanted to have special plates for the holiday that is so dear to my heart.

My BFF and I were talking the other day about holidays, we were sharing what we loved about Christmas, Valentines Day, Fourth of July, the fall and Thanksgiving. She adores Christmas, I adore Thanksgiving the best, then we launched into why each of these were our favs. Christmas for her holds dear memories of her parents and the family get togethers! On top of that, her daddy made the holidays amazing for her whole family, he was joyful and childlike in his love of this holiday and it spilled over on to everyone around him. I on the other hand think Thanksgiving is by far a much better holiday than Christmas, no pressure to spend and buy gifts that are forgotten by February. Thanksgiving is warm and wonderful, with the whole family sitting down together to share a lovingly made meal, thanking God for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, the simple act of sharing what each of us is thankful for in our individual lives too! It is free of expectations and disappointments, and the self centered attitude that usually surrounds gift giving at Christmas time in this nation. Found this great baking dish at the same store, it was around 9 bucks, perfect for chicken pot pies, and the left over turkey that can be made into casseroles...These were so sweet, I couldn't pass um up! We have our oatmeal in them every morning, happy little chickens which make us both smile... What is your favorite holiday? How are you preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday? Do you decorate, change out your displays and are you having a big family get together this year? What traditions do you hold dear and why? I would love to know your thoughts on all of the above!!! :)

Take care and have a wonderful weekend to come,

GOT PEACE????

2009-10-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

IS THIS HOW YOU FEEL???

THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD FEEL!

GET SOME FINANCIAL PEACE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, Article by Dave Ramsey

If you pay for your holiday festivities with credit, you're bringing a stalker home for Christmas!

The holidays will follow you around all year long...
The process usually goes something like this:
You buy a feast for Thanksgiving, and Christmas gifts for your family, more than likely waiting until the last minute for each occasion and missing the good deals. If you're not on Dave's plan (and, if not, what's stopping you?), you throw everything on the credit card.
In January, the bills start coming in the mail. One by one, the bills remind you of the temporary holiday thrill-rides. Unable to pay everything off at once, you pay the minimums.
By June, you've hardly made a dent in the holiday debt—which has simply been added to all your other miscellaneous debt like student loans, mortgages and the always-dreaded car payment.

By fall, you should be planning ahead for next Christmas. But, instead, you're still dealing with last year's debt—plus all the accumulated debt from the ghosts of Christmases past.
And the cycle continues. That is, until you finally say, "Enough!" No more debt. No more credit. It's time to make a plan early in the year, and then stick to it!
Thanksgiving is always on the fourth Thursday of November. Christmas is always on December 25. These dates never change. There's no excuse for getting caught off-guard and desperately piling up mounds of debt on credit cards.

So let's say you haven't started making a plan for the upcoming holidays yet, but now you are ready to get moving. You've still got time!
Consider some of these holiday shopping ideas:
Research. Before you head to the mall, look for deals online. Visit the websites of the stores you plan to visit, and check out their prices. Don't waste your time shopping at one store if you know the store down the street has a better deal.
Make a budget. This is common-sense stuff, but it's amazing how many people have no financial plan for their spending. They are like an energetic kid in a toy store, grabbing the first toy that looks pretty and tossing it into the shopping cart. In order to work your way out of debt, you must become disciplined during the holiday season. If you must buy for everyone, keep it simple and stay within your means—however meager they may be. Don't get caught up in "bigger is better," or else the bigger debt in January will remind you of how stupid that mindset is.
Use Cash. As Dave always says, you spend less when you use cash. Before you hit the stores, swing by the ATM and pick up a pre-planned amount of money. Then, stop shopping when it's gone! If you've planned ahead and followed the two steps listed above, then using cash should be easy. You'll know what you need to buy and how much it will cost—before you start.
Start now—no, really, right now!—planning for your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Or, wait until the last minute and celebrate them for months to come by wading through all those bills.
The choice is up to you!

Dave Ramsey http://www.daveramsey.com/

My husband and I have gotten completely out of debt, it is a huge relief let me tell you! We have an emergency fund, because face it gals, there is always some emergency that your going to have, I know, cause we just had two back to back!! We have over $3000 dollars in Doctor bills from my sons recent broken leg and resulting surgeries, even after the insurance paid their part! Number 2 emergency: Our Dodge Ram pickup trucks engine just blew up, we needed $2,000 bucks to get a new engine, (thank the Lord my husband could put it in himself, otherwise it would of been around $4,000 bucks all said and done). HOLY COW, WHAT WOULD I HAVE PAID IN INTEREST ON A CREDIT CARD FOR JUST THOSE TWO ALONE??? Shuttering to even think of it...

We have peace knowing we had COLD HARD CASH to buy that engine, and pay those Dr. bills, nothing goes on credit cards EVER! It is a rule we have followed since going through Dave Ramsey's, Financial Peace University.

I encourage you, to find a local church offering his classes, and then sign up and take them!..you will never be the same! While the rest of the world tries to keep the debt collectors from their doors you will be smiling and peaceful...it is a great place to be!

A great book too: 48 Days To The Work You Love, if you, or a loved one is out of work, hates their job or is looking to re-train, this is the book for all of those situations, check it out, they have them for pretty cheap on Amazon!

Bless you, and hope this will be of help to someone out there, I know times are really tough. You must do everything YOU can do to help lift yourself out of debt, then pray all the scriptures about finances in the Bible, my fav is:

The Lord shall supply ALL of my needs according to HIS riches in Glory by Christ Jesus! Philippians 4:19.

If your suffering, get into the word, listen to uplifting sermons, I download all of Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyers sermons to my Zune, you can simply NOT have a bad day after listening to either one of these wonderful people preach! Keep a positive attitude, cause a bad attitude won't get you anywhere except deeper in darkness.

OH, another scripture I love, knowing I am a princess daughter of the Lord:

"And I, having received the gift of righteousness do reign as a King/Queen in this life by Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17 Yup, no wonder I love crowns and tiaras!!!!

PACKIN' IT IN FOR WINTER

2009-10-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it is a fact now here in Western Washington, winter will be upon us soon. This was made very evident by the last of my Summer roses, at least I have a final bouquet to enjoy for a few more days, then it is Costco roses till Spring... Putting away my fountain is another signal that the warm weather, sitting on the porch and having the windows open to the sounds of birds splashing in the water is over! It was kinda sad to see the barren spot where it usually sits...I store it on the side porch, so that it doesn't get ruined by freezing or heavy snow, I learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago, when after a hard freeze my fountain cracked down the back and never worked again...$250 bucks down the tubes! OUCH! Sad face :( !!! See the empty spot...SIGH... I don't know if you can tell, maybe you can click to enlarge this one, but the rosebushes are still struggling to shoot out new buds! Amazing!

NOW THIS GUY IS DONE FOR...This poor rose really gave it the "Old College Try", not looking so good... I'M TRYING, REALLY HARD, COME ON, OPEN UP, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT..One sorry little bloom, way up high, trying so hard to get some last chance sunshine...... AND ANOTHER THING, look what my grand pup, Bentley did to my pumpkin! NAUGHTY DOG! What have you been doing to "pack it in" for winter?? I still have mass leaves to rake up and today is the day with sunshine and 61' out, better get off the computer and get out there!

Have a great weekend everyone! Make sure to leave me comments, I LOVE UM!!!! Ginger, thanks for encouraging me to keep at it, your a dear blogging friend whom I hope to meet really soon! http://www.gingerbreadshed.blogspot.com, make sure to visit with her, she is a faithful blog friend...

BEAUTIFUL FALL!

2009-10-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

Fall on my front porch...Glitter pumpkins in an urn... Front Porch, fall welcome... A lovely place to sit and enjoy the beautiful day...Teddy is a fall dog, pumpkin colored, he fits so well into the decor...Pumpkin cupcakes perched on my black Gooseberry Patch cake stand, a glitter pumpkin from Ross...Front porch in the fall sun...Chandelier all decked out for fall, glitter leaves and crows from Bayberry Cove...A display on the top of my TV cabinet, the orange flicker lights are so gorgeous at night... Happy fall decorating everyone, my fall has been so busy and so blessed! Hope yours is too, what are you doing to get ready for the coming cold months ahead? Here are the links to the cake stands and the glitter leaves and crows:
http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/, http://www.bayberrycove.com/.
Fall Blessings!

A DAY FILLED WITH FALL DECORATING INSPIRATION

2009-09-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from blogland for about a month, my youngest boy broke his leg in two places, a 9" spiral fracture, and broke his ankle skateboarding! Went in for surgery and is now recovering, needless to say, I am as well! I have been a prisoner in my own home for weeks, and was going a bit stir crazy, soooo, I took him food and water, got him settled and snuck away for a few hours of fall inspirational shopping to my favorite place, Sumner Washington!

BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST:

I have been STARTING to decorate, not done yet, but here are a few pictures of what I have done so far...

See the vintage style pumpkin heads? Got these today, the big one at Folkart Gartherings and the small guy at, A Picket Fence. I love um, they have the battery operated flicker lights inside.

This is an urn that I have had for 4 or 5 yrs., it was dusty rose, I spray painted it with Krylon Semi Flat Black paint, and WAH LAH!!! It is perfect with my pumpkins! The heavy felt black cut out mat, I found at TJ Max for $2.99! I got enough to go on my table too, beautiful!Love these flicker lights! They look amazing in my tabletop chandelier, wish I could get a moving picture of them, you would love it! Much better in person for sure.Crows, leaves and my Autumn banner I made last year.Been keeping an eye out for these black vintage dishes, they look great with candy corn.Man do I love my black cake stands to bits! I got these last year from, http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/, they are heavy and beautiful, not the cheap thin pottery type! The boxes they come in are beautiful too, hate to hide them away...Stopped into my favorite fruit stand, Pattersons, got some amazing heritage tomatoes, a flat of raspberries, and some juicy nectarines. Lip smacking good!WONDERFUL SUMNER WASHINGTON!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the sweet ad for the special shopping night, I hope to return with my friend Terri, she couldn't make it today, missed you sister!
I got those amazing flicker lights here at the New England Saltbox, would of loved to have had more pictures, but the owner was out and I couldn't take pictures without her permission, maybe next time! It is a gorgeous store...This sweet gal works at, A Picket Fence! See all the great stuff, stuffed into that store??? You would go crazy, it is just FUN FUN FUN! (This is where I found my mini vintage pumpkin head)Hey there Miss Louann Spencer! Your store is just one of my most favorites ever! I have been shopping here since she opened, and I always find something wonderful and surprising tucked inside one of the cabinets! The store smells like FALL, spicy and warm and delicious, it makes you want to buy everything you see just from the smell and sweet feelings you get when you walk in her door! If you ever get to Western Washington, put Sumner and Folkart Gatherings on your TO DO LIST!!!
There is sooooo much to look at, it would take me numerous trips to see it all I am afraid!Louann has a blog too, http://www.folkartgatherings.blogspot.com/, and a website by the same name, she has great prices on things I have seen online for a LOT more money!This is Miss Louann...thanks for being so wonderful to me today, you were great to talk to, and so lovely about letting me take pictures of your store!So girls, how are you getting ready for fall? Leave me a comment and tell me what you do to get into the harvest time mood.

Hope your all well and being greatly blessed,

Painting project, doggies and roses!

2009-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

MOM! WHERE IS THE COFFEE TABLE???? HOW LONG IS IT GONNA TAKE TO PAINT IT ANYWAY? IT HAS OUR TREATS IN THE DRAWER, WE NEED OUR COFFEE TABLE BACK NOW MOM! Well finally! See Honey, she got it done, now you need to load up the drawer with some of our treats and toys...

I painted the coffee table that used to be white, then was tan and now is Red Pines, in the amazing Home Depot paint! It is lovely!

Here is some of what is blooming in my garden...

My computer is up and running and has been for quite some time, I was having a TON of problems with blogger, I couldn't even view my blog for weeks...tried again tonight and low and behold it works again! Did any of you have similar problems???

I have been painting my house, and getting ready for the Boom Lift that is coming on Friday to finish the shop up too, we are busy here! We lived through a terrible heat wave too, 106' which was so outrageous for our area! It is cooler now and I am such a happy girl.

Hope you are all well,

SICK COMPUTER AND NO BLOGGING FOR ME!

2009-07-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

I have a very sick computer and it is in to the hospital right now recovering. Please say some prayers for our whole family, we are sooooo lost without it, life is bleak and boring, bills aren't getting paid on time and I have taken to a life of crime, stealing my sons laptop while he is sleeping just to check my email... We all miss you Mr. Compter, come back to us real soon, but if you think I am paying a huge Dr. bill your crazy, so better wise up and start working right! AND SOON!!!!! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND I HAVE TO BLOG????

I AM A VINTAGE HOUSE WIFE!!!!

2009-06-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

I THINK I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG ERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may be strange, but I love doing housework! Cooking, cleaning, ironing, sewing, laundry, you name it, I love it and take my job very seriously, in fact I pride myself on how well my house smells and my food tastes...

I love wearing aprons, and hardly a day goes by without having one on!

AND THE CLOTHES!!!!!! BELIEVE ME I WAS MADE FOR THESE CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PERFECT! LOOK AT THE MATCHING GLOVES!LOVE THIS PARTY DRESS!LOVE THESE SHOES TOO...

I have been bidding on 1950's dress patterns on EBay, this just came a few days ago, and I was so excited to start sewing...but then I started having problems with my sewing machine, again! So I jumped on Craigslist and found a "new" old Singer, just like the one my Mom had and I learned to sew on, I quickly called the gal and ran over and bought it for a mere $35 bucks! Soooooo I am back in business! WOO WEE! I was "built" for this era, really girls, I was born in the wrong year! I have an hour glass figure and just look right in these clothes... Marilyn Monroe and Doris Day type of clothes! Tight in the waist, fitted in the bust and poofed out over the rear!!! My sis stopped over and fitted the pattern to me, it was perfect. Have you noticed that the patterns they are selling now are NOT TRUE to fit anymore??? What a frustrating thing if you don't know any better! This pattern is big in the bust, and tiny in the waist, just what the sewing doctor ordered...

Marilyn Monroe had the look didn't she? The makeup, hair, great clothes, jewelry and lipstick (all of which I never leave the house without!). I make sure that dinner is on the table every night when the hubs comes home, the bed is ALWAYS made and so am I!!!!!!!!!!

Doris Day is the epitome of a 50's woman, sweet, gentle and kind! She is still alive and well in Southern California, and is a tireless champion of homeless pets, another thing I love!

WHAT I WOULD GIVE FOR A CLOSET FULL OF VINTAGE DRESSES...

I loved Doris Day in this movie, the dress she wears when she is singing to her son is divine, so is this great suit, nipped in at the waist, and fitted in the bodice, love it!Well, I am off to my sewing room, to whip up a truly vintage dress, maybe it will be done in time for one of the up coming weddings, who knows, and like the song says "Que sera sera"!!! What ever will be will be...till next time girls,

I LOVE LEANN OVER AT SIMPLY DANDY!!!!!!!

2009-06-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

DO YOU SEE WHAT I GOT!!????? AREN'T YOU SO ENVIOUS????

LeAnn, www.simplydandy.blogspot.com, is sooooooo wonderful! I have gotten to really love this girl over this past year and a half of blogging, we have kept in touch off the blog too! She is a praying sister in Christ and I cherish her friendship! Then when I won her giveaway, I was naturally thrilled of course, she loves what I love and as you can see the box had wonderful goodies galore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That apron is me to the "T"! I wear aprons ALL the time! I have this one on right now as I write this blog post matter of fact! Perfect timing too, because I had just made cupcakes and they totally went with the theme...

PICTURES OF MY GARDEN AND WHAT'S IN BLOOM IN JUNE

The Johnson Blue Geranium's are billowing out onto the sidewalk, and the Cat Mint is HUGE this year...

QUEEN ELIZABETH ROSES, MY VERY FAV!!!!!

Don't know the name of this one, lost the tag, but it smells wonderful and goes from deep pink to light pink as it blooms...

Have a lovely Sunday! Hope your all doing great, sorry I haven't been around to visit, I have just not been home to do so...hope to have a few days after this week of running around for the weddings, hugs to all of you!

XO,

THE WEDDING

2009-06-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

We are done with the first of the 3 weddings, this past Sat. Rachel and Jacob exchanged their vows. I don't have any of the ceremony, but will in a couple weeks when the professional pictures are released to the family, so more to come at a later post Gum paste Calli Lilies on a beautiful cake...

My niece and her fiance introduced her sister to Jacob, so Sarah made the toast...

This is the alter arrangement I made for the church, everything was simple with the decorations as the couple was on a very tight budget, but I really guped on the flowers as it was the center of attention before the ceremony started.

This is Paul, my sisters sweet, sweet husband, they came up from Portland with their children for the weekend, we had a ball together!

Brenden...

Ryan...

and Princess Jennifer...

DIL Hannah, my son Justin and nephew David, the brides brother.Josh, my youngest, Gabe, (soon to be groom and soon to be nephew), son Justin, DIL Hannah and family friend Eagle.The cider toast...

Me and hubs...

Me, hubs, and Josh...Mother of the bride, my older sis Nancy and me...

Little sister Rhonda and I..It was a wonderful time of getting back in touch with family and friends, some we hadn't seen in years. My camera died after only 5 pictures, so I will have to post some more after I steal them from other family members. Till then, I will be going to more wedding showers, shopping with the soon to be brides, shopping with my sister for the next two weddings, and doing all the flowers for the third wedding coming in August! ME BUSY? NO!! Are you kidding? Of course not!! Why would ya think that....sigh!

A DRESSER MAKEOVER, FABULOUS NEW PAINT FORMULA, TREES AND A MINI GOODWILL PAINTING!

2009-05-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

BEFORE...AFTER!!!!!!!!!!! This dresser used to be in one of my sons room, we replaced it with one that was my father in laws, and then I was able to have a go at transforming this beauty!!! It has wooden wheels, and a really beautiful medallion on the front, and really nice decorative wood work along the bottom. I adore how it turned out! I used my new favorite color, it is such an amazing vintage blue.
Here is the NEW AND IMPROVED SUPER DUPER formula, they carry this at Home Depot, it is a primer and topcoat all in one convenient can! It is fabulous, covers like a dream, and glides on and dries hard as a rock! I am in love...you can click on the can and enlarge it so you can get the formula!

I have been painting every thing in sight for years, and have never worked with a nicer paint! I rolled it on using these handy dandy rollers, "my secret weapons", I have painted the entire inside of my house, the barn, the shed, and tons of furniture with these little babies. I haven't used painters tape in years, the Purdy cut in brush relieves you of this terrible drudgery.

Here is what I get to enjoy from my neighbors yard, their beautiful blooming pink trees! My husband and I put up this fence, it is over 300 feet long, in just a weekend, the neighbors house was too close for comfort, we had moved from 5 acres where our only neighbors were the squirrels in the trees and that was it! So now I get the best view of the neighbors, just their pretty pink tree tops...much better!and lastly...this is a sweet little oil painting I picked up at Goodwill for $3 dollars a few weeks ago. Isn't that darling? Ya know girls, I just can not help myself when it comes to roses, I know I don't need anymore, but I buy them anyway...SIGH! I don't think that my love affair with these amazing flowers will ever end!

Hope your all having a SUPER FANTASTIC OVER THE TOP SPRING!!!! I AM!!!!!!!!!!

XO,

A FABULOUS WEDDING SHOWER, AND I WON A GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is me and my beautiful daughter in law, she is a handpicked angel straight from the Lord, what a blessing to have a girl in the family to shop, cook and giggle with!!! We spent two days making all the cupcakes for my niece, Rachel's, shower. My sister Nancy and her two of her six children, Sarah (the maid of honor) on the left, and Gina in the middle. Sarah had tons of fancy finger foods, it was the best bridal shower I have been to in a long time!

A plate of our Very Berry cupcakes. These are so moist, kissed with coconut, organic strawberries, blackberry and black cherry syrups, these were a huge hit!

Coffee cupcakes you ask? YOU BET!!!! These are wonderful, coffee in the dark chocolate cake mix, coffee in the frosting, and then topped off with a chocolate covered coffee bean. We were all talking a hundred miles a minute...wonder why??? HA!

This is the bride to be, in her beautiful apron hand made by my BFF, Victoria Lynn, (her Etsy shop is at the top of my blog). Rachel was so thrilled!!! When she had come in to the house at the beginning of the shower, she mentioned to all the girls that all she needed with her 50's inspired dress was a pink ruffled apron! Hannah and I just looked at each other and laughed, we had gotten her the perfect gift! We also filled a huge bridal bag with cookbooks, baking pans, pink measuring spoons, photo albums, and other fun goodies.

It was so much fun to be around all the girls, talking, laughing and eating girlie food!

Had to show you what I won... a giveaway from Judy Mullins at, http://www.vintagetochic.com/. It was like opening an iced cake... Thanks so much Judy for all the goodies!

Well, better get back outside and finish my yard work, we are having 80' degree weather, blue skies and man am I loving it, evidently so does my garden, I swear some of my plants have shot up 6 inches this week!

Take care and visit with you soon!

3 WEDDINGS, WHATS BLOOMING AND SOME DOGS THROW IN FOR GOOD MEASURE!

2009-05-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

My sisters three kids are getting married, one right after another: June, July and August! Can you even imagine that????? HEAVENS!!!!

WEDDING NUMBER ONE, RACHEL (her daughter), AND JAKE, JUNE 13TH...
LINDSEY AND AARON (her son), JULY 18 TH...WEDDING NUMBER THREE, SARAH (her daughter), AND GABE, AUGUST 29TH!!! I am trying to help out as much as possible, there is so much to do and take care of: Dresses, fittings, flowers, venues, food, showers and invitations. I do not envy my sister, I am so happy right now that I have all boys! WHEW!

This is what is blooming in my garden this month, White Bleeding Hearts...

Magnolia...Lilacs...

I love having my doors open, letting the breezes in, so do the doggies. Our weather has been fantastic here in the Pacific Northwest, it was really awful last year, I swear we got nothing but rain and gloom until June 12th! So, I am one happy girl to be gardening, mowing and spending time outside in the sunshine, THANK YOU LORD!

Have a lovely Friday!

YUMMY LOW FAT CHILI AND CORN BREAD

2009-05-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have been making this chili for years, it is quick and wonderful. I try and always have my chili ingredients in my pantry, because this meal can be made in around an hour, which is ALWAYS good when you have a house full of kids!

LOW FAT CHILI

STEP 1, in a large pot:
Cook
1 Package of lean ground turkey meat do not drain, there is virtually no moisture!
add:
1 large onion diced med.
1 can of diced green chilies
4 tab. of green Tabasco
4 tab. of Franks Red Hot Buffalo sauce
8 tab of chili powder
8 tab of cumin
4-8 cloves of garlic

THEN DUMP IN:
3 Cans of organic tri-bean blend, beans, dump it all in juice and all! (If you can not find this kind USE: 1 can kidney, 1 can pinto, and
1 can of black beans)
3 cans organic diced tomatoes, DON'T DRAIN!

YOU ARE DONE! Simmer and serve with:

LOW FAT CORNY BREAD
IN A BOWL:
1 cup organic corn meal
1 cup organic gold metal flour
1/3 cup organic sugar
1 tab. baking powder

IN A SMALL BOWL, MIX TOGETHER:

1 cup milk
1 large egg
1/3 cup organic olive oil
1 cup frozen organic corn
1 cup Pace organic salsa
1 cup reduced fat cheese blend

*MIX TOGETHER AND PUT IN A 9x12 PAN THAT HAS BEEN GREASED. BAKE AT 400' FOR 22 MIN. OR UNTIL A TOOTHPICK COMES OUT CLEAN.

This corn bread is the most delicious, moist, and tasty cornbread I have ever eaten!!! It does not need any butter, which if your family is watching it's fat intake is really helpful!

FYI, you should not eat more then 17 grams of fat a day, and those 17 grams should be good fats only, olive oil, fish oils etc. I know this healthy low fat lifestyle works, I had my blood cholesterol checked for the first time in my entire life in Dec. I had 118, and my 53 yr. old husband had 131! We had great LDL and HDL, in fact the pharmacy guy was shocked! Neither of us have EVER taken any prescribed drugs, we exercise everyday (I walk more then 2 miles, and have rarely ever missed a day in two years), and I have made sure to give everyone in the family high quality vitamins! The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. If you are thinking you need to get healthy, JUST DO IT! Don't waste another minute, you can add years to your life by making small changes, if you walk 3 times a week the experts say, you can add 8-10 yrs. on your over all life span! That is awesome!!

HAVE A HEALTHY WONDERFUL WEEK, EMAIL ME IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP! I have been into health food and a healthy diet for over 23 yrs. and I have lots of tips and tricks up my sleeve...

ROSES FOR MOTHER'S DAY

2009-05-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have all men in my family, and on Mothers Day none of them know what to get me, so...this year I got myself roses! I went into to our local antique mall, New 2 You, and a new gal had just moved into her booth. I believe I wiped out her rose china collection, her prices were soooooo low I was amazed. These plates are Bavarian and the white ironstone is Johnson Brothers. I am one happy Mommy this year! I believe that roses on plates, or on any china, trumps a bouquet of roses any old day!

We are having exceptional weather this Spring, I have been busy with gardening and mowing and loving every second of it! Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and week to come!

BAKING, DRAWING, AND GARDENING!

2009-04-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

We have been having exceptional weather, I didn't come in till 9 pm! WONDERFUL!!! Wanted to share a recipe for lemon bars with you, these are fantastic, I made them for my son's birthday instead of cake, which the guys really don't like much! (What is wrong with them anyway, how can anyone NOT like cake????)

LEMON BARS

Crust:
2 Sticks butter, do not use anything but butter!
1/2 organic sugar
2 cups organic Gold Metal flour

Mix together and press into the bottom of a 9X13 Pyrex glass pan, bake in a preheated oven at 350' for 15 min or until it is lightly browned, take it out and let it cool, then:

FOR THE FILLING:

6 Large eggs at room temp
3 cups of organic sugar (I get mine at Costco)
2 Tab. of grated fresh lemon zest
1 Cup FRESHLY squeezed lemon juice
1 cup organic flour

Mix this all together and pour over the top of the crust and bake for another 30 min. Your all done!!!!!!!!!! YUMMY!

I have been artistic my whole life, and started winning drawing contests when I was in elementary school, but for the past 15 yrs. I haven't drawn anything. Been doing other artistic things like store display and home staging etc. So last night while Teddy,my sweet male dog, was sleeping, I got out my sketch book and started in...What do you think? Maybe I still have it after all...

Hope you are having a lovely weekend where ever you live, and may God be smiling down on you with sunshine and good weather!

Blessings,

GOING LIGHT FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

2009-04-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

I took down all my Easter decor on Monday and have been busy changing my dark decor for a lighter and brighter lookA close up view...I had taken down these two bigger square rose lithographs from another area, and decided to try grouping all of them together with the yard longs over my bed, I really love how it looks!

I had deep maroon faux silk curtains before, took those down and put up some cream colored sheers for a light look. I couldn't believe how much more light came spilling into the living room after I did this! Really brightened my mood!!! I also took my darker topiary down and replaced it with the ironstone pitcher with lavender.I just got this SPRING DREAMS banner up, got this off of http://www.bayberrycove.com/, what a awesome website!Put a lighter picture up, changed out the look on top of my cabinet too...LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!! Got these beauties for $20 bucks, I went into New 2 You to check out my girlfriends booth and spied these, they need cleaning and rewiring which I love to do!Found the Limoges celery dish, silver vase and the compote, also the three rose plates for so cheap I am not even going to tell you, don't want to make you jealous! ;)My son and I made homemade pizzas for the family the other night, they were amazing! I love getting the pre-made herb dough at Trader Joe's, then adding tons of veges, goat cheese and organic basil leaves...YUMMY!Had to show you these: My dogs were tearing up my deck stairs something terrible, so I started looking for something to cover the stairs treads, I found these hard rubber scrolly mats at Lowe's. I butted two together, and fixed my problem!! Love how they look!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter with your families! We had a great day together, relaxing, eating too much and watching movies, it was really nice.

Is it getting really beautiful here, the gardens are exploding and the trees are all blossoming, I am so thankful that winter is behind us now...

HAPPY EASTER!

2009-04-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

~~HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, AND REMEMBER WHY WE CELEBRATE EASTER~~~

Still love the vintage Easter greetings too...

HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER WEEKEND WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, GOD BLESS YOU!

~SOME TOPIARY LOVE~

2009-04-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

SOME BEAUTIFUL TOPIARIES TO ENJOY I love topiaries, and the sign above is so pretty, this would be pretty painted on a board with chalk board paint, I may have to try my hand at this one. Love these from Ballard Designs.

Aren't these couples darling? Some more people topiaries...

Love these doggies, and the horse and rider coming over the fence! Can you imagine the time it took to grow and clip these?

Darling bear eating out of a blossoming tree.

AMAZING AND AWESOME...

Wish these were waiting to go into my truck for the ride home...

Look at this!!! Beautiful!!!

Glorious England, stunning gardens with amazing old buildings in the background.

Fun animals...

an elephant even...

This one is so whimsical!

This must of been at a garden show, look at the details!

Sweet birds on top of these amazing topiaries!

Imaginations must run wild...

These are the preserved kind for indoors, love spiral ones and I would dearly love to have a set!

What a pretty setting for a garden store, love the cottage in the background, and the pretty red barberries with the green of the topiaries... Hope you enjoyed the pretty pictures, sorry I haven't been around to say hi to anyone this past week, I have been so busy with my son getting him to and from work, and the fact that we FINALLY have beautiful Spring weather with the temps in the 70's for the past three days~I have been living out side, BBQing outside, and having a very tough time dragging myself back in, only after it gets so dark I can't see!!!!!!!!!

Bless you all this week,

I'VE GONE NUTS FOR NESTS, BIRDS, SILVER, VINTAGE EASTER...OK, BETTER STOP NOW!

2009-04-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

Here is my front door wreath, I picked this up last year at Tuesday Mornings, and this year I added a nest, even my UPS driver noticed the wreath and commented on the darling nest.I stuck a little nest in the top of my pink ruffled Fenton vase, then stuck that under glass on my pink iron stand, that I picked up for next to nothing at Country Expressions a couple years ago. I thought that jazzed it up for Spring...Last fall this bunny called my name, he was $3.00 at a clearance sale! It is a repro of an antique chocolate mold. I've had these white birds for years and decided they would look cute in with my red transferware... THIS IS WHAT I DID LONG DISTANCE ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO

You may want to know what I mean by this, so here's the story...I decided it was time to change out my parlor area, so I took everything down, and started over, then I took pictures as I went along emailing them to Victoria, www.sweetvictoriaantiques.blogspot.com, then we tweaked them as I sent them to her adding or subtracting as we talked! It was really wonderful to have her to bounce things off of, she was a big help with the design. When I was doing home staging, I always encouraged my clients to take pictures of the area they are bugged about, cause pictures never lie!!! Try this some time, you can really "step back" so to speak and look objectively at the area and see where your missing things or have way too much...

This is a close up of the Left side...Here is the right side... This is the shelf and the Rachel Ashwell flower arrangement, I got these at Target a few years ago. WOW, I JUST NOTICED THE FINGER PRINTS...HELP!!! Better clean those off, I think you can click any of the pictures and make them bigger. The moss "toupee" came off of the top of some posts down my road, I snatched them bald headed on my walk this past week.Some more moss "toupee's" in my white iron birdbath, love the blue eggs!!!

Isn't this bird plaque so cute? Another Country Expressions find, the nest too...

I got this iron bird holder thingy while I was in Franklin TN, visiting Victoria, came home and spray painted it pink, then added the little nests. I like how it turned out~!!! I think the nest were around $1.50 each.

This is on my entry table, and whoops, better polish the silver tray, where is the maid when you need her????

THIS WAS MY EXCITING FIND AT THE LOCAL GOOD WILL!!!!

I went in to get my hubby a couple work coats, and just decided to make a quick run through the housewares, it was wonderful to find real silver pieces ALL of them for under $5 dollars! They are the real thing too, stamped and all!!!!Love these candlesticks, and what would possess someone to get rid of these beauties anyway? I love the Nell Hill decorating books, she does wonderful displays with silver that has really inspired me over the years. Anytime I can find silver for a steal, I pick it up!Here is the side view of the tray, love those fancy feet,and the little candy dish is so cute!

Oh, and yes, I did find my hubby a work coat, found one for myself too, so now I can throw out my ratty old painted up, torn and tattered one. We have wonderful Goodwill's in our area, it probably helps that we live in an affluent area so the donations are high end, like the real silver, every time I go I find a wonderful bargain basement treasure for really cheap, or cheep in honor of Easter!

Bless you all, and hope your having a wonderful week so far! I would love to hear what your best, all time,wonderful treasure has been so far from Goodwill, drop me a comment and tell me your story!

SINGING IN THE RAIN ISN'T THE ONLY THING TO DO WHEN IT RAINS...

2009-03-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Don't they make it look so wonderful to be out in a torrential downpour? Only in the movies would it look this wonderful, or so I thought until I made a list of wonderful things you can spend your time doing on a wet dreary day...This must be the modern version of singing in the rain, notice how much more leg is showing?OK, lets try and find some beauty, look at this raindrop captured on a leaf...Take a walk with someone you love in the rain, I have had wonderful conversations with my son when we walk together...And really great gear helps so much, doesn't she look like she is having fun?Here is some really great things to wear, hey if it's gonna be wet, at least look great!!!!!! Check out this cute pink toile rain slicker...Now this is an umbrella girls!!!!!!!!!!!!If I had some of these boots, I would run around outside in the rain all the time, look at the roses! Yummy... Pamper yourself on a rainy day, have you been putting off that manicure, pedicure, or a facial?

FREE/CHEAP, ideas for a rainy day: TAKE A BUBBLE BATH!

CUDDLE WITH YOUR HONEY!!!!

TALK ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS WITH YOUR FRIENDS!! (I do this everyday, cause it has been raining pretty much everyday)PRAY, PRAY, AND PRAY A wonderful free activity, that bears lots of fruit!WINDOW SHOPPING WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE!

This isn't free, but I have to throw this one in because who doesn't love STARBUCKS!??? One of the best places to spend a little time on a rainy day!

GO TO A GREEN HOUSE! This is a wonderful mood lifter, just being surrounded by plants makes you feel happy and hopeful!GO TO A MOVIE! Matinees are pretty cheap, make sure to see a comedy or a really good chick flick, that will lift your mood for sure...GO TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND! Call up someone you haven't seen in a while and go to lunch, most places have really great lunch specials that save you lots of money, you can even split lunch and have plenty for two!STAY HOME AND BAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL! Cookies, pie, cake, and a wonderful dinner! I always feel so happy when I am creating good food for my family, (eating it lifts your spirits too, but when you look at the scale the next day that can really go down the toilet fast!)

HERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF BAKING! Sometimes it is necessary to bake YOURSELF in order to shake those rainy day blues... SEWING IS A GREAT THING TO DO IN THE RAIN...CRAFTING TOO...KNITTING, if you ever were taught by your mother, who said she would, but never followed through...(oops, sorry mom!)AND THIS IS WHAT GOD DOES WHEN THE GROUND SOAKS UP ALL THAT WONDERFUL RAIN...

I live in a really rainy place, Western Washington, but I have to say that we have beautiful trees, and really green grass. Sometimes even the buildings are green and the beautiful mossy roofs are something to behold! ;) I can go out and gather moss anytime I want, we also have no lack for water in the Summer when many parts of the nation suffer water shortages, the gardens here are so amazing, and I have to say that keeps me wanting to live here once Spring and Summer really take off!

If it is rainy where you are, try and keep your heart in the right place, be thankful for what you have and where you live! Every place on this beautiful earth has good and bad points, look for your silver lining!

Bless you all and I pray you will have a lovely weekend, meanwhile I will be quietly rusting...

I AM IN LOVE WITH WILLIAMS AND SONOMA!!!

2009-03-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

I just got the latest catalog from Williams and Sonoma, and wowie zowie the drool worthy stuff was amazing! Look at this beautiful rose strewn tablecloth, of course it really helps that the table is set with beautiful white dishes and a rose bouquet.Absolutely wonderful rooster plates, these would look so wonderful in my kitchen! Sigh...only allowed to look not buy, the thought always goes through my head now: "What would Dave Ramsey say about that purchase", Dave would say, "NO!, You do not NEED THESE!" So I will continue with being just happy with looking at the pictures...

I adore cake plates aren't these wonderful for Spring?
I have always wanted one one these for cupcakes, perfect for a birthday or special occasion...

What a cute cupcake idea, you can go on their website and get the recipe for these, darling!

Sweets in a sweet nest...Another great idea for cupcakes...recipe on the website too.Look at those darling bunny candies, and who doesn't love jelly beans sweetly displayed in a bakers cup?All I can say here is DARLING!!!!!Look at the sweet vintage image on this candy container. A grown up version of an Easter basket.
Will ya look at this nest?!!!! This is just so drool worthy, in fact it is probably a 10 on my drool meter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love these glass cloches, they look so beautiful with the nests under them, see how they added the vintage book and the papers just so? Great staging! Love the beadboard too...More edible eggs in nests, so darling!!I love this wreath, thinking about doing one for my front door, this is the perfect Spring/Summer wreath don't you think?

Another simple and sweet one.
They sell these darling little guys too, what sweet faces!

Everyone in blogland seems to have Spring fever, as you can tell I do too! Today it was 35', and my daffodils are all closed up again too afraid to face the cold! That makes me sad they were

just about to open up.

I am praying it will warm up soon, I NEED to get out and garden again!

Bless you all and I hope you have a lovely week in what ever corner of the world you live in!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG, OH JOY!!!

2009-03-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Spring!!! Just the name sends happy thoughts coursing through my entire self! This is a spring cake to celebrate, one that does not add a pound either! I told you I would show all of you my homemade pillow cases, well here they are. I got them all done in one day, I used the Rosalie curtain panels from Target that were being clearanced (I know, not a word, but I like it anyway!) out in the fall. I love Rachel Ashwell rose fabrics, they are 100% cotton and just have such a soft look to them. They are loaded up with finger pleat ruffles, it was heavenly sleeping on them last night, roses just feel so yummy under your head!This is my bed with the new pillowcases, I made them extra long on purpose to hang down and cover up the sides of the bed sheets, I love extra full dust ruffles and pillows with ruffles, my bed is truly a "bed of roses". The ceiling is sky blue and even when it is gloomy outside, it is rosy and Springy in my haven!Here is a doggie all decked out for Spring, isn't she just darling?

Another one, much more of a Rock N' Roller vibe huh?The British really know how to wear a Spring hat!

What a fun window box! I love the giant eggs, I may have to do this to mine now...

Love the cherry blossoms, I believe this is Buchart Gardens in Victoria BC, it you ever get to go, it is an amazing place. A visit to the gardens is like walking in a fairy tale land of enchantment.

More lovely cherry trees in bloom...

Nests, nothing heralds spring like Robins eggs!

Another amazing vintage hat, this would be like wearing a cake on your head!

More blossoms...

Soon another batch of birdies will be singing their songs, sitting in the leafy trees, and pulling worms from my flower beds. I am so happy Spring has sprung aren't you???

May Spring warm your hearts and home, may the sun shine down on your corner of the world!

Spring blessing to you all!

A ROSY OUTLOOK

2009-03-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying all the roses on the blogs lately, and felt inspired to do another rosy post! We all could use a rosy outlook right now, especially the way the economy is so gloomy, you can't be "uncheered", as Pooh Bear says, by the beauty of roses and pink! God must love the color pink, as so many flowers bear this yummy color. Below is a bouquet from my BFF's rose garden last summer, aren't they just divine?These are pictures of my gardens, below is my very pink garden bike.My favorite combos, roses and purple...Can't wait for the beds to look like this again...soon, very soon! (That's what I keep saying over and over!)Roses, the sound of the fountain splashing....AHHHHHH! It is heaven on my covered porch in the Spring and Summer months.Wouldn't it be so much fun to ride around town on one of these sweet little beauties? Love these old images, sorry this one is a bit grainy, whoops!Talk about PINK! Look at this cat! He must be in cupcake heaven, if I got to eat all those yummy cupcakes I would go into a sugar coma!!!!

This is my beautiful old oil painting in the dining room, when I need a rose fix I stare at this beauty. Someday I would love to be able to paint like this, I do know someone who does, http://www.antiquecottagerose.blogspot.com/, Ronda's rose paintings are just amazing!

Below are some lovely pink garden roses...Beautiful!!!

Yummy pink cupcakes... Lets all put on our vintage pink dresses...Put on our lovely pink Spring hats... and jump into this beautiful vintage pink Caddy! What fun would that be? Look at these amazing roses, I love the dew drops on them! I adore my Victoria Secret pink velour jacket, Give Pink! Oh yes! Love the doggie on the pocket too, I can not resist pink or dogs! My hubby got me these Juicy Couture slippers with the rhinestone crowns, these make me smile every time I wear them, which is everyday! Isn't this just the rosiest purse ever! I would love to have one of these, it would make you feel like Summer all year round!Beautiful vintage oil painting... More lovely garden roses! This is one of my most favorite vintage images.I know this is a Valentine card, but look at the roses! So pretty!My BFF, Victoria Lynn, made this for me last Summer, does she know what I love or what?!! Hope you all enjoyed this rosy pink post! I am heading up to my pink craft room to make, what else, pink pillowcases! I cleaned out Target when the Rachel Ashwell Rosalie curtain panels went on clearance last fall, so I am making those into my new pillowcases to match my bedroom curtains. I will show you when I am all done...

I pray each of you will look to the Lord for peace, ask him to help you to have a "rosy outlook", all through the Bible, his word speaks of having a good attitude in the face of any crisis! Don't concern yourself with all the negative junk in the news, God is above ALL of that. Our God shall supply ALL of our needs, according to HIS RICHES IN GLORY! Philippians 4:19 God is above all earthly money, God can do exceeding more that you can ever imagine!

If any of you need help with your finances I have an amazing book to recommend, Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey. This book has put peace back into my life, it has turned our situation around and changed our future! Everyone in America should be required to read this, especially the President and all the nuts in power who are spending the taxpayers money like there is no tomorrow! Remember to pray for our nation, with Gods help we can begin to turn this around.

Lots of blessings,

HAPPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

2009-03-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE! I PRAY YOU AND YOURS WILL HAVE A BLESSED "GREEN DAY" TODAY!! My daughter in law just came by, she is a Barista at William Patrick's in Gig Harbor, she was all decked out in green. They really had a surprise for their clients today, all the drinks, any size, were FREE! WOW! She said everyone was so happy they tipped extra well today. Hope all of you get some wonderful surprise today, hopefully not being pinched for not wearing green, that would be a nasty surprise!

I love vintage holiday images, don't you? The girl and her doggie is so sweet, nothing beats these old images for beauty, the artists were so talented. I have often wished I could paint like these "lost artists", I wonder how many never even got credit for their amazing work? Isn't this one sooooo cute? The hat has a wonderful pink rose on it, BONUS!!!!!

This one was so funny, what is a pink pig doing on top of the four leaf clover anyway? And that kid must be super strong and so is the clover to hold that piglet up... This one is just lovely! Makes me want to hop on a plane and head to Ireland, I would love to go and see this beautiful country. I loved St. Patrick's Day when I was a kid, my Mom was wonderful about celebrating every holiday, and made it so special for us! Green food in our lunch boxes, pretty decorations hanging on the walls and she always prepared corned beef and cabbage. My Mom's corned beef was wonderful, and I make mine same way she did, big chunks of cabbage, carrots, onions, and red potatoes! Yummy, I was at Costco a week ago and bought 4 briskets to put in the freezer cause when they are gone, they are gone!

Take care all of you, and may your week be blessed and beautiful!!!!!!