Crafty Christmas Ornaments

Aren’t these the cutest ornaments?!  I think they are so adorable!

I received them as an early Christmas gift.  My daughter and her daughters/my granddaughters crafted and hand painted these!  A fun Pinterest inspired idea.  And, if you hadn’t figured it out, they’re wine and champagne corks!  So perfect for a wine lover, which I definitely am!

~ Such a fun gift to treasure!

My Christmas Gift Baskets

I made these cute gifts for a few friends, a fun gift basket for making cookies with their kids/grandkids!

~*~

I filled each basket with a cookie mix, sprinkles variety, oven mitt and pot holder, tea towel set, holiday cookie plate, cookie cutter and a few small candy canes, embellished the basket with a Christmas ornament and all tied up with a clear bag with a bow & a bell!

Gift Basket # 1

Gift Basket # 2

Gift Basket # 3

::: Tip of the day :::

If you need a last minute gift idea...This makes a sweet gift! I picked up the basket and contents at Target, the bag, cookie plate and embellishments from the Dollar Tree!

~ I enjoyed making and gifting these, and they enjoyed receiving them!

Christmas/Holiday Centerpiece

Merry Christmas & Ho~Ho~Holiday Greetings!

I did a little Christmas-ing to my thrifty candelabra centerpiece by changing out the previous candle holders & candles for plain glass candle holders & gold candles, added some holiday/winter accents/picks & red sparkly tulle ribbon!

This candelabra has been a fun decor item to decorate, and re-decorate throughout the seasons!

Such a great thrifty find this year!

Sources:

-Glass candle holders, Gold candles & Red sparkly tulle ribbon - Dollar tree

-Candelabra centerpiece - Thrift store

-Greenery, holiday/winter accents/picks Hobby Lobby & Michael's

Visit these links to see my original Centerpiece Makeover & Fall Centerpiece 

~ Happy Christmas-ing!

My beautiful Star!

Well Hello to December!  Time to prep for the Christmas holiday!  Seems to come around much quicker each year, doesn't it?!

I'm planning in my mind as to what I'm doing with my decor for the holidays.  I did get this beautiful large star recently and it will be here long after the holidays!

Talk about “hang a shining star!”

I had lovingly admired this beautiful large star in a family friend’s home, they said “they were doing some redecorating and would be getting rid of it and would I like to have it?” “Heck yeah!!!”

And, I had just the spot for it!  As you can see it's very large, the star is about 4ft tall and is also about 5ft across at the widest star-tip to tip span.  I’m so glad it fit in my SUV when I picked it up over the Thanksgiving weekend!  Early Christmas present!;)

Here it is in its new home in our foyer!

~It’s beautiful and I love it!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

This delicious Lemon Zucchini Bread is amazingly good!  Yep, there’s zucchini in it!

I adapted an original recipe found on Pinterest a while back and made it my own.  Now don’t be afraid of the zucchini if you’ve never had any type of zucchini bread because you won’t taste it!  Plus, I shred the zucchini very finely and it’s barely even noticeable.  You could peel the zucchini, but I don’t peel mine.  The zucchini is important though, because it makes this delicious bread amazingly good!

And, it’s amazingly easy to make, too!

If you like sweet breads you’ll love this!  I think it tastes very similar to the lemon cake at Starbucks!

~*~

This was fresh from the oven and the house smelled so good!  I found the recipe back in late summer and we have had it a few more times since.  We really like this sweet bread and I think it's perfect any time of the year, no matter the season.  It truly is delicious!  My husband was skeptical at first but he was surprised that it doesn't taste like there is zucchini in it!  I hope you'll give it a try!

I figured it would be great as something different on the dessert table for Thanksgiving!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

Zest of 1 large lemon

2 large eggs

1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil) -I used melted coconut oil

3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup grated zucchini

Glaze: Optional 

1 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest, and stir well. 

Add eggs, oil, lemon juice, and vanilla, and stir until smooth.  Stir in the dry ingredients until combined. 

Fold the zucchini into the batter and pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow to rest in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing the loaf onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

While the bread is cooling, make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth. 

Drizzle the glaze over the bread.  Slice and serve.

Enjoy!...

Fall/Thanksgiving Tablescape

Thanksgiving is only days away now and soon we’ll all be gathered around our tables enjoying one of the best meals of the year!

I’m looking forward to sharing the day with my family, and enjoying all the delicious food as we give “Thanks” for our many blessings!

~*~

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!...

Welcome Pillow - Gift Idea/Offer

Hi Friends, today I have a great gift idea and an offer for you!...

It’s almost time to “Welcome” Family & Friends into our homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas is soon to follow!

~This sweet pillow I have here is a lovely welcome, it’s a wonderful creation from my friend Charlie over at Pillow Panels.   These pillows are so great because you can change them with the seasons, holidays and for different occasions! You simply change the front panel, “It’s the pillow you never put away!”

There are a few different styles of pillows and many, many different panels to choose from and some custom options, too.  The extra panels can be conveniently stored inside the zippered back. How awesome is that?  

Speaking of awesome, Charlie has given me an offer to share with you - 20% off when you order your pillow(s) using the coupon code CHRISTMAS20 - Last ship date is December 20th!  I’m so pleased with mine and I love how I have several pillows in just one pillow now!  What a space saver!

Go check out @pillowpanels on Instagram for a link to her shop or visit pillowpanels.com and see these beautiful, amazing and fun pillows!  I’m sure you, and/or someone on your gift list, will love them!

Fall Shelf Decor

I have a few spaces in our home that I enjoy changing for the seasons and holidays. This space is definitely one of them!

Hubby put this shelf up for me long ago.  I knew it world be perfect for this spot, and fun to decorate.

Sometimes I make only minimal changes or add just a bit of a holiday or seasonal touch.  

I've enjoyed using greens and golds this Fall season, they're two of my favorite colors so I'm happy they have been popular this year!

I’m just getting used to fall and pumpkins around here, although I’m beginning to see lots of Christmas inspiration that has begun.  There are many ideas floating around in my mind at the moment!

Fall Decor~Greens, Golds and Pumpkins

How is it the last weekend of October already?!  We’ve had a couple chilly mornings, but it’s been warm most days and there is still plenty of green outside.  My clematis vine even has new blooms on it!  We’ve definitely had some weather swings, but that is true to the South!

A touch of Fall over here in front of the window is a match to the greens and golds in the view beyond!  I found this beautiful heart shaped tin container at the thrift store, I love it all the more now filled with greenery and a Fall variety!

My happy heart loves a thrifty bargain, and anything heart shaped!!!

Happy decorating!...

Fall Wreath

I made something pretty for our front door today!  This lovely Fall wreath.  We are just inside the second month of the Fall season and some of the beautiful Fall colors are appearing outside.  

It's been so hot and dry here that I've wondered if we will even see much Fall color change before the leaves just dry up and fall off!

We have a storm door, so a lower profile wreath is needed due to the narrow space between the two doors.

I chose to use a simple wire wreath form and covered it with burlap/mesh ribbon folded in half.

Next I cut-off part of the stems from two floral picks, placed them in opposite directions and attached them and a pre-made bow, using floral wire.

It was simple, easy and low cost!  And, I can easily change the look for another season or holiday, too!

- Items List, Sources & Prices:

Floral Picks - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =1.99 ea

Ribbon - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =3.98 per 10 yd roll (Used appox 1 yard)

Wire wreath - Dollartree =1.00

Bow - from a recent gift pkg =.00

This will easily adorn my door until Christmas decor makes its way there!

I hope you've found this easy wreath inspiring and you'll make something pretty for your door too!

Happy Crafting and Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece Basket

I created this lovely Fall centerpiece by adding some lamb’s ear greenery, sunflowers, and a faux pumpkin to this pretty basket I recently found at a thrift store.

The basket was only two bucks and it was already painted in a neutral color, which matches well with my decor.  I love it when that happens, don’t you?!

I always encourage others to have a look at the thrift stores and antique markets!  You never know what treasures you'll find!

  

~ I’ll enjoy styling this thrifty treasure throughout the seasons!...

Thrifty Fall Tablescape

It’s always fun to set a pretty table!

Those golden suede pumpkins were my inspiration for this festive Fall tablescape.

I pulled this fall setting together by using mostly $one dollar$ items and what I already had on hand!

The beautiful amber glass candle holders-with medal leaves attached, Fall florals-(tucked into the lamb’s ear greenery), plain & printed napkins, and burlap leaves are all from the Dollar Tree.

The adorable golden/mustard suede pumpkins are from Target.

Total cost was 10 bucks!

I shared my thrifty Fall Centerpiece makeover in a previous post.

I enjoy the challenge of not spending a lot to change up my decor!  “It doesn’t have to be expensive to make it beautiful!”

Happy Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece

I recently did a little restyling to my thrifty centerpiece that I shared back in the summer, and now it’s updated for Fall!

I visited the Dollar Tree and found these cute auburn colored candle holders, each with a sweet little metal leaf attached to it! And, I also got some Fall florals to tuck into the lamb’s ear greenery I had on it before!

Just a couple bucks to transform and update it!  That's my favorite kind of decorating!

A glimpse of the before, after the original makeover.  See the original post here!

Next I'll be sharing a thrifty fall tablescape!  I'm off to do some shopping!

And, then it was October!

I’m getting into Fall now, even though we are still feeling like toasted marshmallows here with temps in the 90’s!  A change is eventual!...

I went to Target and I fell in love!  This adorable golden suede pumpkin, which some may call mustard, is making me smile today.  I love the beautiful color and it’s velvety softness! It’s possible I got more than one!

Be still my gold lovin’ heart!

I’m giving this beautiful gold pumpkin the special treatment under my cloche and atop a gold rimmed mini-goblet!  They match quite well, so I think it is gold!

~ Happy October!

Fall Framed Art~Easy Craft DIY

And then it was FALL!

Adding a simple touch of Fall. So easy to create, too!

I picked up a cute copper colored frame and a Fall greeting card at the Dollar Tree. Yep, just two bucks! The frame was a bit shiny, so I took a metal nail file and gave it some distressing! I loved the beautiful pumpkin scene on the card. I simply cut it to fit the frame and voila!

I just love a quick inexpensive project that gives me new & beautiful decor. Oh, and white pumpkins, I LOVE little white pumpkins!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Thrifty TreasureWooden Pedestal and Vase/Candle holder

My latest thrifty treasure and fabulous find is this beautiful wooden pedestal and wide glass cylinder vase/candle holder.

~ A cost of six dollars total for the two items!

I dressed them up with a pretty candle and some faux greenery I already had on hand.

The tray is a thrifty treasure from awhile back.  I chalk painted it white since I have another one that I originally purchased from “Southern Living at Home” some years ago for much more than the five bucks I paid for this thrifted one!
(Upon doing a little search, the pedestal above may also be a SL@H item?)

I’m so pleased with my thrifty treasures!  And, I love the beautiful arrangement I created using them!  All it took was just a few dollars, a little imagination and some creativity!
Decor doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful!!!

~ Happy Decorating!...

Brussels SproutsEasy and delicious!

Mmmmm! I made these Brussels Sprouts for a side dish this evening. They’re a favorite and are so delicious.  And, so easy to prepare, too!

I hesitate to call this a recipe, it's pretty basic really.  A tablespoon or two of Coconut oil and a little salt & pepper is all I used.  Using fresh Brussels Sprouts, after rinsing and drying off on paper towels I trimmed off the ends and simply sliced each one in half.  I then cooked them cut side down for about 10-15 minutes in the coconut oil on med-high heat, then turned them over and lowered the heat for a few minutes until we were ready to eat.  My test for done-ness is when they soften up and are nicely browned or look caramelized.

I really love the flavor that the coconut oil adds, and it's a good for you "fat" too!  However, if you prefer you can use a different type of oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.  I just think the coconut oil is what really makes these taste soooo good!  I love Broccoli prepared this way as well.  Oh, and I also like to sometimes add a little drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar reduction at the end of cooking.  This adds another layer of flavor. 

I find most people either love Brussels Sprouts or they ...simply don’t know what they’re missing!!!;)

If you love Brussels Sprouts, I think you'll love 'em prepared  like this!

Enjoy!...

Hello September

And, then it was September!  So nice that’s it’s a long holiday weekend, too!

We have much to celebrate in September, and I’m looking forward to it! We have a few family birthdays this month.

I’m wishing all the days of September will be as beautiful as today!

~ I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend!

Centerpiece Makeover

This lovely centerpiece is the result of a thrifty makeover.  I much prefer the way it looks now compared to when I found it at a thrift store!  I thought it had potential and I could make it look better, so I grabbed it up!

Below is the before.

It really wasn't to my liking as it was, but I felt I could give it some love and make it my own.

I then searched the glass area in hopes of finding some candle holders for it, and found three glasses that were perfect to use as candle holders, and they fit nicely.

Now I felt it all coming together and had a plan in mind for it!  At that point I was excited to transform my treasure!

I got it home and removed the old faux greenery and fruits, then gave everything a good cleaning.

I actually liked the look after I stripped everything off and considered leaving it as it was.

But, I decided I’d add some Lamb’s ear greenery, which I already had on hand, for a fresh Spring/Summer look at the time.  I was so pleased with the final results!

I’ve enjoyed having this pretty centerpiece on our breakfast table.  It makes me smile knowing that it looks much better than it did and I spent under five bucks in all!  I now look forward to giving it some Seasonal changes!

I just love finding a good thrifty treasure!  Especially the kind I can change the look of seasonally, that's even better!

Simple Summer Style Tablescape

I just adore styling a table...

I’m enjoying this simple Summer style on our dining room table with beautiful flowers and lots of lamb’s ear.  Even if we're not going to be dining at home today, seeing the table set is pleasing to me.

  

I like the appearance of an inviting table that looks on the ready.  Styling a table is something that I enjoy doing.  Making it beautiful makes me smile!

   ~ * ~

::: We enjoyed a great birthday celebration dinner out with family yesterday for our Son-in-law. We visited a new to us restaurant, “Henry’s Louisiana Grill” in Acworth GA, it was very delicious!

::: Today we’re staying in having a quiet restful day, and later we’ll enjoy some grilled goodies for our dinner.

~ I hope you’ve had a wonderful first weekend of August!

Welcome "August"

I’m loving that we’ve only recently just begun the second month of Summer!  And, I know, I know some see August as Fall, but here in the South...it’s too hot to think that it’s anything but Summer!

And I’m good with that!

It's nice of a morning when we can pop the back door open and have some fresh air pour into our breakfast and kitchen area, along with the sounds of nature!  The birds are always happily singing.  They seem to love summer as much as I do!

I did a little refresh to my chalkboard.  I added the greenery back at the beginning of Spring and had a little "Hello Spring" sign there, you may have seen and remember it?  I simply removed the other sign and added this cute "welcome" banner I found at the Target dollar area.  Who says you have to write on a chalkboard anyway?  I'm using it as a backdrop for now!

Whether it’s morning coffee or afternoon tea.  This is a nice spot to enjoy it!

~ My Summer lovin’ heart is happy that it’s SUMMER!!! 

And I’m enjoying every minute of it!