Treasure

I heard Southern Hospitality was having a blog party, so I decided to join in.
They were asking what kind of 'treasures' we found this weekend.
Well, I found treasure. I didn't pay a dime for any of it.
Not one cent.
Just look at what I found.

Big, gigantic, PERFECT, shells. Shells so big, that I didn't even think they came that big. Really. I ooooh'd and aaaaa'd all day long.

We were going to go tubing, but instead decided to drop anchor at this island. No one lives here. It's only accessible by boat. My only regret was that I didn't have a camera as mine broke while I was on vacation. Yet I had my cell phone ! I had to take a picture. I just had to.

But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that I wasn't meant to have a camera on this day. I was alone with my thoughts as I plucked shells from the sea shore, and even right out of the ocean. No distractions of taking pictures. As I was gathering these little gems, I thanked God a zillion times for giving me this moment in my life.

The big question remains...what do I do with all these shells ? I have a lot ! Maybe a blog giveaway ? Does anyone else love shells like I do ?

Oh, I almost forgot... I found these a the local thrift store. I love any type of refrigerator glass.

I'm done with plastic storage & toxins !

{Vintage Pyrex, $3.50 for the large, $2.50 for the small }

The Wine Exchange, Rosemount Cabernet Merlot 2005

It's about time I review a new wine. I picked this up on sale for $9.99. It's very smooth. I likey !

"Dark ruby core with a lighter rim. Fruity and bright aromas of black cherry with smoke and earth wrapped around it. Smooth, easy entry on the palate with bright acid making it fresh and easy to drink.

There is a touch of baker’s chocolate with black cherry and raspberries and a nice punch of chewy tannin supporting the body."

Knit ? Crochet ? Quilt ?

When I first started my blog, this was one of the first entries. I am re-posting it because I feel like there are so many crafty people out there and because there are so many people who want to 'HELP OTHERS' but don't know exactly what they should do to help.

This is 'my story, about my daughter'. I wrote it because I wanted to share it with others, so that maybe others may be inspired to help babies in need.
If you already love to knit, crochet, or quilt, read this article ! Learn how you can help sick babies in the NICU by donating an easy to make blanket !!! It's really worth the read !!! Especially if you already enjoy needlework !!

{my precious Baby B}

How to Become a Blanketeer and Give Back to Your Community
Knit, crochet, and quilt for a child in need by becoming a blanketeer.
View more »

Outdoor Wednesday

I took this picture when my nieces came to visit me. {to be continued next Wednesday}

It's Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by the wonderful Susan @ http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

This wall is in my kitchen, near the eating area. It drove me crazy that there was so much wasted space.

"Before"

"After"...so much storage now !!

Kitchen Makeover

We remodeled our kitchen recently. If you are in the market for a new faucet, take a look at the Allora® Pull-Downwith DIAMOND™ Seal Technolog by Delta Video. I love it. I use the watering can feature a lot !

Simple Summertime Fun

We just got back from a road trip visiting my sister and her family.
My parents came out as well. It was great to see everyone again.

It's always amazing to me how "family" can always just pick up where they left off.

I haven't seen my family in 2 years, yet it seemed like only yesterday we were all together.

My mom made the most amazing Broccoli Salad that I will share with you all next week.

It was divine.

I adore kitchen stuff. Le Crueset & Emile Henry are fabulous. But I have to tell you, that

my favorite is vintage pyrex. I'm sentimental to a fault. Really. ( I still wonder what my mom did

with my Mrs. Beasley doll !)

This simple set of bowls reminds me of my entire childhood.

Isn't that crazy ?

My mom is the best cook I have ever known. EVER. These were "the" bowls she used every day. We had salad with our dinner every night, and it was always served up in her Pyrex bowl. She had a different pattern, and still uses them to this day.

Do you know how many batches of brownie mix that I mixed in these ?

lots !

Do you know how many heartfelt stories these bowls have heard

while I was growing up and helping mom get dinner ready ?

lots ! I'm sure my tears have even fallen in these...
Every time I grab one of these, I am instantly transported to a Kitchen in California by the Sea !

I love the Yellow and Orange combo. They make me HAPPY!

What item reminds you of your entire childhood?

My husband has been wanting a boat for years. I finally said yes ! Our first weekend out on the water. Oh I can't tell you how different things look from the water !

Beautiful.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.”

by Mark Twain

Closet Obsession

I'm still working on closets around here. This closet belongs to one of my sons.
I forgot to take the "before" picture.
It had just one rod going across for clothing, and had builders grade flat white paint on the inside.

Mr.B stripped everything out & painted the inside. Since we use this room as the guest bedroom, I wanted to use a soft blue-grey color.

If this was my daughters room, I would have loved to use a color that looks like this hibiscus from my garden.



Now he has a place to store his Lego creations without taking up precious space on his desk, or on his dresser.

Valspar Paint- Palisade Blue 4006-3B

Now I'm ready for my closet makeover !! Now, that will be an undertaking !

Around my Seaside Town

As I was zipping about town, I actually had my camera in the car...took a couple of snapshots. When I was a teenager, one of my favorite movies was Mystic Pizza.




I must have watched it a zillion times. I loved the little seaside town... And everytime I pass these shrimp boats, I think of that movie !

"How Great is our God!" by Louie Giglio

I'm so glad a friend of mine sent this to me. I hope you take the time to watch and listen. Soooo worth the 8 minutes. I learned something I never knew !! It's AMAZING ! Just pause the music in the upper right hand corner of my blog :)

I'm just sayin'.........

In January, I blogged about the perfect CLAM CHOWDER. The very next weekend, one of sons begged me to make it again. Although I really wanted to, I refrained, because I didn't want to have too much of a 'good thing' and then my kids would be bored with my new menu for '09.

This past weekend, my son asked me for the 300th time to please make it again, and so I made it last night. If you really LIKE/LOVE clam chowder, please just do yourself a favor and make this. I am not kidding when I say I had to force myself to stop going back after my third bowl . I am not Ina Garten in any way shape or form, and only cook because I love to, but I could not compliment myself enough last night !!!! I truly think that the soup I ate last night was the best soup I have ever had in my life. Seriously.

I have a confession. It's 9:42am as I type. I have a steaming bowl of leftover chowder right in front of me. Ya...I know.....eeeeeeeee ! Who wants to wake up and eat CLAM CHOWDER for breakfast of all things ?? It's just THAT GOOD !!! The last time I made this, I ate it at 8am everyday until it was gone because I couldn't wait for lunch.

A comment from the son who requested I make this.......
"Mom, you know how the first bite is always the best ? Well, this soup is like eating the first bite the whole time. It's so good it doesn't get old."

I could not agree more. Every bite is delicious, and if you only choose ONE RECIPE from this blog to make, please try this one. You won't regret it. If you have children, just know that all my 3 boys and little girl love this !

**Both times I made this soup, I used 2 potatoes, and it seemed perfect to me.
I personally wouldn't want to use 3, but maybe it's because I usually pick big potatoes anyways.

A Barefoot Valentine's Day

Guess which one is mine ? Oohh, this was so yummy, and the perfect ending to a Perfect Day!

"Our Bubbly White Zinfandel is perfect for a hot summer day with flavors that pack in a season's worth of fruit: juicy peach, strawberry and fresh watermelon. All these sparkling notes culminate in a refreshingly sweet finish. "

Queen B's Wine Exchange definitely recommends...

I would drink this for any occasion ! $8.99

The Wine Exchange: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and the 200% guarantee

2009 is.....well, ....quite a year so far. This requires a great wine recommendation, because I just don't have time for BAD wine these days. ! Soooooooo, I asked the wine lady at my local grocer what she recommended.... She said her top seller was Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. It just so happen to be on sale for 11.99, ( was 15.99 ) so I bought it !! One of my requirements for my taste testings, is that I only choose wines that are on SALE... So, I grabbed the bottle, and a few other items and drove home. At the stop light, I looked down at my receipt and noticed I was charged FULL PRICE. Umm...excuse me, but I just wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't go back and get my four dollars back... so I drove back and asked the clerk to please check the price of the wine, because I was sure it was on sale.

Well, it WAS on sale. The clerk promptly handed me back my bottle of wine AND $17 dollars and some change.

??? What ? I told her all I needed back was around 4.00.

Evidently, my store has a 200% guarantee, which means...if anything is rung up WRONG, you get the item for FREE , AND the FULL RETAIL PRICE of the item............. (not the sale price! )

I got free wine and was PAID to drink it.......... I almost felt guilty....... ( I said, almost!)
So about that wine....It was delicous, and I'd buy it again, on sale of course !

"Tropical flavors such as mango and pineapple dance with aromas of peach, apple and pear. Richly layered and balanced throughout. Lightly buttered toast headlines the indulgent, lingering finish."