Hanging on to Summer - "It's not Fall yet!" ~Summer themed display shelf~

Good-bye to August!  Where does the time go?  I am finding it hard to let go of August. :(  My Summer lovin' heart is not ready for it to end.  I have a couple of weeks yet and then, as the calendar tells me to, I'll give a full nod to Fall.  But, not 'til then!

I know Fall is coming, and the cooler temperatures that come with it.  If you've been out shopping at late, it's quite apparent with all that is available for Fall decor, lots of beautiful items and ideas!  I've even noticed a lot of (dare I say the word this early in the year)-Christmas decor already available too.*gasp*  It sure seems to get earlier and earlier each year.  I know there are many people who love the fall season and/or prefer it to other seasons.  I am just one who is slow to embrace it, as I cling to summer for as loooonnnng as I can!

   

My Summer themed display shelf lives on for now.  My daily reminder that it is in fact, still Summer.

You may have seen or perhaps remember how I decorated my Display shelf for Spring, it looks very similar since I made only a few changes once Summer arrived.  I enjoyed the Spring themed decor so much that I chose to simply change just a few items for my Summer display.  And, I do love easy decorating, so, it was super easy to make the simple changes for summer.

I will be doing some fall planning in my mind, for now, as I remind myself... 

It's not Fall yet!...

A Fix for the Fixtures

I'm always singing the praises of paint and what it can do, how it can change things.  I love the magic of paint!  I've learned that when I see something, and perhaps if I'm not totally liking or loving the way it looks, I find I can change it by using paint.

I wanted to share another example of that.  I loved these light fixtures and they were a huge improvement from the original fixtures we had in our master bathroom.  They were perfect ...well, almost.  The silver color on them wasn't going to go so well with all the gold hardware and faucets in our master bath.

Gold paint to the rescue!

I had some acrylic paint in the color metallic pure gold on hand in my paint stash, which I had picked up at the craft store for another project.  I figured it was the fix to my problem.

I dabbed a very small amount of paint onto a thin dry paint brush and gently wiped gold paint over the silver.  I tested a small spot, and then another, and another, and kept going from there.  I repeated that until I got the desired look I wanted.  Now I do have the perfect light fixtures!

I am truly loving the look of the light fixtures, now.  There are actually two of them, they look the same except the other fixture only has three lights on it.  I am so pleased with the results, that I took a chance and I did it!  Now I can even say I have a unique pair of light fixtures, too!

I really love the magic of paint!...

Caprese Salad

Ever since the first time I had a Caprese Salad while dining out at a restaurant, I have loved them and find it hard to pass up ordering one if it's on the menu.  Delicious fresh ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, lightly dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Once I discovered that I could find the fresh mozzarella cheese in the local grocery, I knew I could make this at home, too!

My favorite way to prepare this salad is using slices of fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and the star of the caprese, the fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into slices.   I like to prepare a Caprese Salad using similar sized slices of the tomato and mozzarella cheese, and layer them slightly overlapping on a plate with a fresh basil leaf tucked in between the tomato and cheese.  A drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of white balsamic vinegar gives it a little tang, and adding a bit of salt & pepper, these all give a nice finish to complete this beautiful and tasty salad, mmm mmm!  I garnished this one with some Calamata olives in the center.   

If you love tomatoes you're gonna love this Caprese Salad!  Grab up some of those fresh tomatoes that are perfect and plentiful right now and a few other ingredients to make this salad, it's a refreshing treat!  The mild flavor of the mozzarella cheese is perfect with the flavorful basil and tomatoes.  And, it's such an appealing and appetizing looking salad.  Lookin' good, and delicious!

*Caprese salad (Italian: Insalata Caprese [insaˈlaːta kaˈpreːze], meaning "Salad of Capri") is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella (ideally Buffalo mozzarella), tomatoes, and green basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil. [source]

  

Caprese Salad

Two serving-

Ingredients:

2 or 3 medium fresh ripe roma tomatoes, sliced-8 to 10 slices

1 ball or log of fresh mozzarella cheese- cut into slices

1 bunch of fresh basil leaves, washed, dried, leaves separated 

olive oil - amount desired

white balsamic vinegar - amount desired

salt & pepper 

Directions:
Slice up tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.  Layer alternating slices of tomato and cheese on a plate with fresh basil leaves between slices of tomato and cheese.  Drizzle on olive oil and a sprinkle of white balsamic vinegar. Salt & pepper to taste.

   Enjoy!...

Tray Chic - Thifted Tray Transformation

I love a good makeover.  This one happens to be one that I am especially fond and quite proud of.  This is my latest project, and what a beauty it is!  It is one of my favorite transformations.

This beautiful tray was a discarded item.  I took one glance at it and had to grab it up quickly to bring home and give it a new look.

  ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I'm sure it was once a beautiful silver tray, but, when I found it it had rust and damage that had it looking disgusting, ugly, and ruined.  It was easy to see why someone might have considered it trash and had given it away.  A major score for me at a mere six dollars!

Some of the finish had rusted away, leaving it in such a state that simply polishing it wouldn't even have brought it back to looking great again.  But, I had a vision for it, and couldn't wait to make it happen.  

A before and after close-up, what a difference a little time and effort made for this.

I cleaned the tray as best I could by giving it a wipe down with damp paper towels, and then a little scrubbing using a small piece of steel wool to remove some of the rust.  

I applied two thin coats of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan in White, allowing dry time between coats.  This photo is after one coat that had dried.

After the second coat of paint was completely dry I applied Annie Sloan Clear Wax, buffing it in as I went along in small areas at a time.  Next I applied Annie Sloan Dark Wax in the same manner, applying first with a paint brush and then wiping some of it away with a soft cloth, leaving what I wanted in the areas that had more detail and to add depth to them.  

To finish, a final buffing with a soft clean cloth all over the entire tray to set and bring up the sheen of the wax.

So pleased with the results!  A beautiful trash-to-treasure makeover.  It truly is a beautiful piece now, and is one that I'll treasure.

I have it in the center of our breakfast table for now to show it off.  I smile every time I look at it.  It's a beautiful addition to my home decor.  I'm so glad I found it and was able to give it a makeover, and some much needed love!

Hello August! ~My Hall Table Decor - Summer~

Hello August!  Hello Monday!  A new month, a new day!

Sharing my latest hall table decor for summer.  The table was a great find purchased last month.  It's so fun to create new looks for this area, to display items old and new.  Even just a few little changes can make it fresh and new, giving it a different look!

For "Summer" I wanted it to feel light and bright, using cool whites.  And, as always I try to do decorating in a cost friendly way.  I had all the items on hand already, so with shopping my home for the items this didn't cost a thing!

I enjoy finding new ways to decorate this area.  Although, it has always been a challenge due to the placement of the light and attic fan switch plates on the wall. I call these things "architectural uglies!"  I'm hoping you hadn't noticed them until I pointed them out! ;)  I have some new ideas in mind, for future decor here.  I'll be working on those [in my mind] as I enjoy this current vignette for now.

I'm hoping that August will go by slowly, very slowly!

Happy Decorating!...