My Sweet Life

Dining Room makeover

2009-08-03T21:51:00.005-05:00

I"m already thinking ahead. I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year and really need to start putting some thought into my dining room area. Right now it has a table and a desk in it and that's it (the desk isn't staying). I need a rug, some plants, wall hangings or some kind of decoration. Maybe a sideboard but I"m not going to rush that until I find the perfect one. I also need to recover my chairs. So you see I have a long list of things I have to do and not really that much time to do it. Time to start planning.

Lisa :)

Some stuff on my "I really want" list

2009-07-26T10:48:00.004-05:00

Does your list of "wants" fall into two buckets like mine? The ones you can go out and get anytime and the ones you have to save for and really think about if they're worth it? These are some higher priced items that have been on my want list for a while and who knows if I'll end up getting them but it's fun to dream. :) Below is art from Jennifer Lanne. I love her style and the colors and her subjects. She has a fun blog too that I like to check out.

Then there is the wonderful dutch oven. I like this color and would probably mostly used it in the winter or to decorate my stove top ;)

I love, love, love this rug from Pottery Barn and am really hoping it will eventually make its way into my dining room. It's been on my dining room's wish list for some time also.

I am crushing on this pattern from Emma Bridgewater called "Starry Skies" I really want the mugs. I think they would go perfectly with some yummy hot chocolate and whipping cream.

What's on your wish list?

Lisa

Farm Chick giveaway

2009-07-24T07:00:00.005-05:00

So the wonderful Farm Chicks are having a giveaway. You can check them out here. They are so awesome. I bought their cookbook earlier this year and love it. It's full of crafts and awesome recipes and the book itself is just so darn cute! And I love cute ;)The cookbook isn't included in the give away, you'll have to go out and get that on your own. But what is included is this yummy stuff below. Purl Soho

They just got back from a trip to NY and were so sweet to bring back prizes. I've been to NY once and it was for work and I was only there one day so it doesn't really count. I didn't get to go to any fun stores like the ones below, which means I definitely need to go back. No, not just to shop! I plan on eating lots of good food too :)

M&J Trimming

Penzeys Spices

Anyway, go here and you can enter the drawing too!

Lisa

Makeover

2009-07-17T17:39:00.005-05:00

I really need a makeover, bad. I am probably one of those people who would get stopped on the street by the TV shows that makeover people on the fly. My hair and make-up are ok but I am very into comfort and not so much on style. I also tend to spend my money on making my house look good, not me :) Anyway, today I got a couple skirts and a sweater from Garnet Hill that I have been eyeing forever and they were on sale, so I picked them up. I love this pink sweater and orange skirt combo. The skirt has stitching the same color as the sweater. I also bought the pink skirt belowI'm going to Montana in September so I bought some hiking shoes because there is going to be a lot of hiking on my vacation, can't wait! I also need to start buying vacation clothes. I don't know that my cute skirts above will fit in Montana. Might have to hit up LL bean for MT gear.

Gotta go, husband and I are going to a movie and dinner. ;)

Random #2

2009-07-11T22:24:00.004-05:00

Sorry, I'm not very good with titles. A couple years from now I'll probably be posting Random #600. I completed a couple more layouts this week. I plan on blocking out some time to work on some more pages tomorrow. I've got a good stack of pictures building up. I also need to work on my picture taking skills. The pages look lopsided, but I promise they're straight :)Speaking of scrapbooking, I won a contest with my Poker Face layout featured a couple blogs down. I'm so excited!

I bought these placemats and napkins on sale today. I love gingham, it's so summery and such a happy pattern. And it goes with my house perfectly. I really need to stop buying red accessories though. Red is a very dominate color in my house and I really need to work more on bringing in the blue and cream in for a little balance.

Tomorrow I plan on planting some flowers in the front of the house to replace some that have died. I do not have a green thumb at all. Also, I am going to make Ina's Lemon Yogurt cake with a blueberry sauce. Yumm!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Lisa:)

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-03T21:47:00.004-05:00

From my family to yours,

Lisa :)

The best summer dessert!

2009-06-28T19:28:00.004-05:00

Mixed Berry Pavlova

Ingredients
4 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 pint fresh blueberries
1/2 pint fresh raspberries

Directions
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees F.
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Draw a 9-inch circle on the paper, using a 9-inch plate as a guide, then turn the paper over so the circle is on the reverse side. (This way you won't get a pencil mark on the meringue.)

Place the egg whites and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat the egg whites on high speed until firm, about 1 minute. With the mixer still on high, slowly add the sugar and beat until it makes firm, shiny peaks, about 2 minutes.

Remove the bowl from the mixer, sift the cornstarch onto the beaten egg whites, add the vinegar and vanilla, and fold in lightly with a rubber spatula. Pile the meringue into the middle of the circle on the parchment paper and smooth it within the circle, making a rough disk. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off the oven, keep the door closed, and allow the meringue to cool completely in the oven, about 1 hour. It will be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

Invert the meringue disk onto a plate and spread the top completely with sweetened whipped cream. Combine the strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in a bowl and toss with about 1/2 cup of raspberry sauce, or enough to coat the berries lightly. Spoon the berries carefully into the middle of the Pavlova, leaving a border of cream and meringue. Serve immediately in large scoops with extra raspberry sauce.

Sweetened Whipped Cream:
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whip the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (you can also use a hand mixer). When it starts to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until firm. Don't overbeat!
Yield: 1 cup

Triple Raspberry Sauce:
1 half-pint fresh raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup seedless raspberry jam (12-ounce jar)
1 tablespoon framboise liqueur
Place the raspberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. Chill.
Yield: 2 cups

Recipe by Barefoot Contessa (of course)

Enjoy! Lisa:)

Random

2009-06-24T20:26:00.008-05:00

Here are a couple of layouts I did this past weekend using the Jenni Bowlin kit I had purchased a few posts down. I am really happy with how they turned out, such great colors! Perfect for summer.Normally, I don't use such bright colors but I might change my mind.Of course, I am anxiously awaiting her July kit. The fun never ends! I bought this awesome jean jacket at J. Jill last week. I've been eyeing it for a while and it finally went on sale, so of course I had to scoop it up. The only problem is that it's a 100 degrees where I live...I won't be wearing it anytime soon. I do have a trip to Montana coming up in September so I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunity then. I love going on vacation. It means you have to buy vacation clothes and I love buying vacation clothes. That's really the only time I shop. For clothes that is.

My husband and I are celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary this weekend. I am so excited, we are going to see the musical Wicked (really, it was his idea, I'm going for him). I have wanted to see this show forever. I already bought the CD and it's fab.

I've got this beauty coming in the mail. It's a replica of a Frances Palmer vase. I first saw it in a beautiful table setting in Country Living during this past Christmas and as soon as I saw it, I needed it.

I did title this post random for a reason :)

Lisa

A second home of my own

2009-06-19T20:40:00.009-05:00

If I ever win the lottery and am able to own a second home, I want it to be located in a quiet coastal town surrounded by hydrangea bushes. I want to wake up in the mornings and go for a walk along a quiet road and pick wildflowers, which I'll put on my table when I get home. After breathing in fresh sea air, I would come back to a homemade breakfast of strawberry french toast, which my husband made and we would go eat it on our wrap around porch while we listened to birds chirp and discussed what we wanted to do for the day. He would suggest taking a nice bike ride into town and looking through a few antique shops (stop laughing, this is my fantasy) and then we would stop and have a little lunch at some cute cafe where the waitress greets us by name. I'm not sure what I would have for lunch, but there would definitely be pie involved for dessert (hold the calories, thank you) and then we would hop back on our bikes and head down to the beach to go hunt for seashells. Eventually, we would head back to the house and unwind in our hammock until it was time to start preparing dinner, because we had friends and family coming over. At the end of the day, I would curl up in a comfy bed on a screened porch and let nature sing me to sleep.

It doesn't hurt to dream a little. Let me go make sure hubby bought the lotto tickets :)

A piece of ...pie!

2009-06-10T20:12:00.009-05:00

I've got pie on the brain big time. It's such a pretty dessert. And even more important, it's delicious warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum! A couple of weeks ago I bought these cute mini pie makers and I am dying to use them. I bought the heart and the star at Williams - Sonoma. They have little cut outs that reveal the flavor. I love pie paraphernalia, especially if it's cute! I love this pie plate with the big fat edges. I wonder how it looks after it's baked. Very artsy.I made a cherry pie from scratch one time. It's VERY messy but oh so good! If you're going to make a cherry pie, you'll need a cherry pitter. I would do it outside or over a sink and definitely don't have your favorite shirt on. I think cherry juice stains. If you make your own crust you're also going to need pie weights or beans work just as well and will save you a few bucks.

I love all kinds of pie but my favorites are Strawberry-Rhubarb, Cherry, and Blueberry (Pumpkin too but that's a fall dessert). The more I think about it, I don't know if there is a pie I don't like. :) What's your favorite kind of pie?

Lisa :)

Rescrap anyone?

2009-06-03T21:04:00.007-05:00

Has anyone ever done a rescrap? I started scrapbooking about 6 years ago and at that time all I did was find some pretty paper and a few stickers, add some pictures and I was done. 6 years later my tastes have matured. My pages are much better now than what they were (not that they don't have plenty of room for improvement). I've learned a couple of techniques and even my taste in the papers has changed. I doubt I will rescrap every page I've ever done, but it's kind of fun to revisit the oldies but goodies. If I had thought about it sooner, I would have done a before and after picture. I'll remember to do that in the future :)

Aside from rescraping, it's also fun when you come across pictures that you never scraped at all and you wonder why. I must have had so many events and plenty of pictures to choose from at that time.

I do have some goodies coming in the mail which I should be receiving soon. I ordered Jenni's June Paper Kit below. Don't you just love the colors . Totally summer! There are still some left.I also ordered a Junque box filled with a bunch of vintage finds and a wonderful assortment of patriotic vintage goodies, which I am super excited about.

On a really exciting note, I think my parents are coming to visit us next weekend! Lucky us, perfect picture taking opportunity. Of course, when my mom and I get together, we usually just take pictures of each other because the boys won't cooperate :)

Have a great night,

Lisa

The best sticky buns in the world!

2009-05-29T11:35:00.005-05:00

I made this recipe on Mother's Day and they were a hit. They were so good I cannot make them for a while because I'm the one who ate most of them! I found the recipe in Ina's Garten's Cookbook Back to Basics.

Easy Sticky Buns (makes 12) 12 tablespoons (1 & 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup pecans, chopped in very large pieces

1 package (17.3 ounces/ 2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted

FOR THE FILLING:

2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a 12-cup standard muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 12 tablespoons butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups. Distribute the pecans evenly among the 12 muffin cups on top of the butter and sugar mixture.

Lightly flour a wooden board or stone surface. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry with the folds going left to right. Brush the whole sheet with half of the melted butter. Leaving a 1-inch border on the puff pastry, sprinkle each sheet with 1/3 cup of the brown sugar, 1½ teaspoons of the cinnamon, and ½ cup of the raisins. Starting with the end nearest you, roll the pastry up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam side down. Trim the ends of the roll about ½ inch and discard. Slice the roll in 6 equal pieces, each about 1½ inches wide. Place each piece, spiral side up, in 6 of the muffin cups. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 12 sticky buns.

Bake for 30 minutes, until the sticky buns are golden to dark brown on top and firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 5 minutes only, invert the buns onto the parchment paper (ease the filling and pecans out onto the buns with a spoon) and cool completely.

Enjoy!

Lisa

Kitchen Envy

2009-05-28T22:18:00.006-05:00

The kitchen is the heart of the home and I love my home, but I don't really love my kitchen. It's dark wood, no hardware with tan colored marbley looking counter tops. It's nice but it's not my style. I love a large white kitchen with nickel hardware and black counter tops. The kitchen definitely needs to have an island and mine does so maybe with some paint and new hardware I can be a couple steps closer to loving the heart of my home. We'll see.

Lisa ;)

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

These are a few of my favorite things

2009-05-22T14:25:00.014-05:00

This is really the best brownie mix you will ever try. It's expensive but sooo worth it! Every summer I always have to buy a couple pairs of J. Crew flip flops. It just wouldn't be summer without them. They are so comfortable and hold up really well.

A girl has got to keep her lips kissable soft. I love this stuff. You can find it at Sephora and Anthropologie.

And for those weekend getaways you need a bag. An oilcloth bag from Flee to be specific. I have a couple of them and love them. I need more (yes, I said need)

Honeysuckle & Jasmine Cologne from Jo Malone. This is actually on my wish list, it smells so good!
These are just a few things that put a smile on my face. These, and three day weekends !!!!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Lisa ;)

More Scrapping

2009-05-19T19:56:00.007-05:00

Here are a couple more pages I did this weekend. I'm at a stand still now until the pictures that I ordered from Snapfish arrive. I also have some more scrapbook supplies coming! Some of this called Early Bird by Cosmo Cricket.

And I also got some of these new items from Jenni's line.

I plan on making one of these created by Michelle. Don't you just love it!

It will be perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July.I order a lot of my supplies from Two Peas in a Bucket and of course Jenni Bowlin's site. Speaking of Jenni, I am so signing up for this class at Big Pictures Scrapbooking! It's 12 weeks with Jenni, it doesn't get any better than that!

New house, new decor

2009-05-14T20:00:00.005-05:00

Four months ago, my husband and I moved from a fixer upper in Florida, to a house that is almost perfect in Texas. Let the fun begin! Instead of installing flooring and grouting showers, I get to spend all my time thinking of ways to superficially beautify my home. Lucky me! We have a den that I'm trying to make into a nice cozy place to watch TV and movies. I found this picture holder at Sadie Olives Boutique and love it. It allows me to change the pics easily. It's always so hard trying to figure out which ones to display so this makes it easier. If your interested in having your own family sign, I got mine here on Etsy. I also found these beauties at PB a couple of weeks ago. I love how they look! I've got the whole seaside theme going on in my home. I'm probably the only house in Texas that does. I'll say the stars are a shout out to the state I'm living in now. I got the oars at the same place and think they finish off my picture wall nicely. I still need to work on some window treatments. I actually think I might make them. I have some fabric in mind, just have to go out and get it. Sewing is my least favorite crafty activity. I still need a bookcase to go under the picture holder, another side table and an ottoman/coffee table. Right now I have a leather ottoman working as the coffee table, but it doesn't really go. I suppose it wouldn't be any fun if everything was perfect right away (so I keep telling myself).

Jenni love!

2009-05-14T17:49:00.008-05:00

I've been busy scrapbooking. I finally have lots of pics to scrap between my brother's wedding, a trip to Florida and Mother's Day. I've done a couple of pages using Jenni Bowlin's Farmer's Wife, which I LOVE (I adore Jenni, which I'm sure you can tell since this blog is mostly about her ;-). I just received her new line, Front Porch and am really excited to start playing with it. Her site is great for ideas and she has a lot of changes in the works that I'm anxious to see. I signed up for an online scrapbook class here with Doris Sander. I just discovered her. She is one of Jennie's designers and I'm loving her style too. I think a lot of my pages are starting to look the same so I need to learn some new techniques ;) Wish me luck!

Farm Chick at Heart

2008-04-27T10:12:00.006-05:00

I really, really wish I was going here June 7th - 8th. The Farm Chicks are contributing editors for Country Living magazine(which I love!). I love the article they did on a prairie party last year. That article actually inspired me to make my own cute little prairie girl apron. They also sell these pendents on their site (yes, I own one of those also).

They have great recipes and videos for some yummy pies and cobblers. They have an amazing pie dough recipe that is really easy and tastes great and with summer creeping up on us, I think we all need to start warming up our pie making skills.

You can visit their website and enjoy their articles on crafts, cooking, baking and other fun stuff. Maybe I'll get to go next year:)

Special Delivery

2008-04-10T18:48:00.004-05:00

Ta da... look what was delivered to my house last weekend. My dream bedroom set. I have wanted this for 3 years and it's finally mine. Hubby still has to hang the mirror above my dresser (the long one).

I think the furniture would look beautiful against a really light sky blue wall or something like that, but I just painted the entire house so that's not happing any time soon.

Last weekend was really busy. As I had mentioned, we are renovating our master bath (it's so tiny I'm embarrassed to call it that). We got the floor tiled and grouted, the walls primed, textured and painted, the bathroom cabinet and sink in and a foundation for the shower. This weekend we are hanging the bathroom door and we have to level out the shower a little bit more so we can tile the weekend after. And then we'll be done. This is our last big project to complete and we have been stalling for along time.

Of course what do you do when you finally get the house the way you want it? Move, of course:)

Almost the Weekend!

2008-03-27T17:43:00.005-05:00

Well, it's almost Friday and I am so ready for the weekend. It's been a really busy week. Last weekend my hubby and I demolished the master bathroom in order to renovate. Our bathroom is REALLY small so it's not such a huge project, but big enough. We completed the tiled floor last night and this weekend we will hopefully get it painted and the new cabinet in. I just signed up for this online craft class. Really looking forward to it, I think she has such a great style. I definitely think you should check it out. It's a go at your own pace kind of thing.

Last week I found some cute items at Anthropologie and Williams -Sonoma. I don't have any kids (yet) but I had to get this book on Kid's Parties. It looks like so much fun. There are suggestions for Halloween, Easter, backyard, pizza, BBQ's, tiki, winter, birthday and cupcake parties. I would love to attend any of the parties in this book. The book gives decorating and activity ideas, menu's and recipes.

New Loves

2008-03-18T19:02:00.006-05:00

I have to tell you about a couple of new finds, hopefully they will be new to you too. First off, I just found Cosmo Cricket, they're a scrapbook company and I LOVE them. All of their papers are so cute and fun and orginal. I bought a bunch over the weekend and can't wait to use them. You need to make sure to visit their website and view the Dear Hubby Panic button, too funny. I wish all my favorite sites had one. I bought most of their Dutch Girl line and have some of their Hey Sugar and Honey Pie on order. Such fun names!

My second find is Heather Bailey. She is featured in this months Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine(love that too!)She has such a fun, creative site with lot's of great ideas. The magazine article has a cute little chick project that I loved so I had to try it right away. I think they turned out pretty cute. I like her idea of having them sit on kid's blocks, but I didn't have any. She is also coming out with a scrapbook line and currently has some beautiful fabric and you know how I love fabric.

Happy Crafting,

Lisa

Barefoot and...

2008-03-16T11:18:00.005-05:00

in the kitchen making Beatty's Chocolate Cake for my sweet hubby. I found this recipe in Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook. She currently has 5 cookbooks out and there is a 6th one coming out this fall. I love Barefoot Contessa, her food is very simple and as she says "earthy" She focuses on simple, quality ingredients and I have found her recipes doable for the average person.

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

Butter, for greasing the pans

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

2 cups sugar

3/4 cups good cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk, shaken

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Frosting:

6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended: Callebaut)

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

The cake turned out wonderful. The only thing I might do different next time is cut in half the amount of coffee I add to the frosting. It has a very strong coffee flavor so it depends out what you like.

Patchwork Dreams

2008-03-13T21:02:00.006-05:00

I finished my Easter banner last weekend. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I decorated it with glittered pastel colored eggs and pink bunnies that I found at Michael's. I filled my cone with candy coated milk chocolate eggs and I'm embarrassed to say they are almost gone. I eat a couple every time I leave the house.

I bought this book today. It's beautiful and fun to look through, great eye candy. It's giving me so many ideas (translation: It's really making me want to shop). I definitely recommend this book by Amy ButlerHonestly, it makes me want to buy some more fabric for my "collection". What I would really like to do is learn how to quilt. There are so many beautiful fabrics out there and I think they would look great displayed on a nice patchwork. We'll see...

Have a wonderful night. It's a three day weekend for me, so I'll be back soon!

Lisa

I'm feeling blue...and green

2008-03-05T19:05:00.005-06:00

A couple of days ago I was taking stock of my house and I realized just how much blue and green I have. I didn't do it on purpose, I just seem to be drawn to those colors. They call to me, sometimes a whisper, sometimes a shout, "buy me!". I think both colors are considered "cool" colors and are relaxing and inspiring because they are the colors of nature. They're the color of the sky on a warm summer day, the grass under your feet when you're racing through a sprinkler (I think I already have summer on the brain). Whatever the reason, I know they make my house feel warm, comfortable and peaceful like a good home should. This is my sanctuary.What color(s) dominate your home? How do they make you feel?

Smells Like Spring Spirit!

2008-03-02T14:29:00.004-06:00

This weekend has been beautiful here in Florida! The sun is out, the birds are chirping, the flowers are swaying in the breeze. Unfortunately, hubby is sick so we haven't been able to enjoy it has we wish we could.

Yesterday, my mom and I went to our LSS and bought tons of goodies. They had a "garage sale" and we found some great deals. I spent way too much, but am very excited with my purchases. I got a Crop-A-Dile, which I have wanted for a while. It's a hole puncher/eyelet setter (and it's pink). I found tons of cute papers and some chipboard accents. There will be more scrapbook shopping next week as we signed up for the Treasure Hunt. We have 10 days to visit 16 scrapbook stores. Each store offers a make and take, a stamp on our passport(proof we were there) and offers prizes to those who are able to visit all 16. I don't know if I can make all 16, but it will be fun to visit those I've never been to. Who knew there were so many in the area.

Today, I'm spending some time working on Easter crafts, it's right around the corner. I'm working on a couple of cute cones, which I'll fill with candy and this adorable Easter banner. The idea comes from Candice, whom I think does amazing work. I wish I lived in CA, I would love to take some of her classes. Better yet, please come to Florida!

Also, on my to do list is to purchase one of these cute bunnies, but I'm having trouble deciding which one. They're both from Bayberry Cove (love that site)Which one would you chose?

Happily Ever After...

2008-02-27T21:05:00.004-06:00

I want to wish a happy anniversary to my wonderful parents. They are celebrating 27 years together today. They are more than my parents, they are my friends and I cannot imagine not having them in my life. I am so blessed to have been raised by these two loving and encouraging people. They blessed me with a memorable childhood and I hope someday that my husband and I can be half the parents that they are.

I love you both more than words can say,

Lisa

Courageless Crafter

2008-02-23T21:37:00.007-06:00

I don't know if anyone else ever has this problem, but sometimes I buy stuff and I decide it is too pretty to use. For example, the fabric below is Barefoot Roses, absolutely beautiful, but I don't want to cut it. Which, if I want to make an apron or a cute bag, I would have to do. What if I destroy it or don't do it justice? So it sits in my knitting basket, positioned in such a way that I can constantly admire it. I'm sure I will eventually get the courage, but not today.
Luckily, I have other projects that keep me occupied. I will warn you right now, I am one of those people who has a lot of projects going on at once. I always finish them, but sometimes it takes a little time because they are missing that last little something special.
In other cases, I have everything I need and can finish quickly and am really happy with the results. I completed this shadow box after I saw one at Candice's blog and loved it. The next day I was working on one for myself.
Well, good night all and here's to all the other courageless crafters in hopes that we will find it within ourselves, the belief that what we create is great and worthy and let not a sewing machine, glue stick or beautiful piece of fabric (or scrapbook paper) scare us away from our dreams!

June 28th

2008-02-20T19:56:00.006-06:00

Ok, I know it's still a ways a way, but I've started working on a little project in celebration of my 10th wedding annivesary. I've been working on it for about a month now on and off. It's funny, it's not until I started working on this project, that I realized how few pictures I have of my husband and I together. I think I'm normally busy taking pictures of everyone else:)

I've already decided and discussed with my husband that I would like a new bedroom set for our 10th anniversary. We received our current one as a gift from my wonderful parents the second year into our marriage. There is a set at Ethan Allen that I have had my eye on for about 3 years and I love it. I'm pretty sure with a lot of sweet talk, it's mine this year. (The below pieces show it in black, but it's actually a whitewash color set that I want.)

I still need to think of something sweet for the two of us to do together in celebration. I am open to any suggestions!

Hello, my name is Lisa

2008-02-18T15:19:00.006-06:00

I thought my second post should be about me. I'm 32 and I grew up in Kalispell, Montana. I joined the Army after highschool, where I met a Texas boy I couldn't resist and so I married him. We will be celebrating our 10th annniversary this year. After we got out of the Army, we moved to Florida to be closer to my parents. We've been here 7 years now. Wow does time fly!!! I discovered the blog world about 5 months ago, and I love the entire concept. It's like a live magazine, full of ideas, beautiful photography, awesome crafts, amazing homes and families. One of the great things about blogs is, if you see something you like, you can ask the person where did they get it from or how did they make it. I am always frustrated when I'm flipping through a magazine and I see something that I must have, and no idea where to get it. Another amazing thing about blogs is how wonderful the community is. There are so many amazing and supportive women out there!

My favorite blogs inspired me to create a little craft space for myself and I LOVE IT!!! It is great to start and stop when I want and to be able to see all of my supplies. Before, when it was packed up, I never really knew what I had.

Today, I used my sewing machine for the first time on a scrapbook page. I've read about it and seen cute pages with the technique, but never tried it. I am very happy with how it turned out and definetely plan on using it again.

I also worked on my last V-day craft. I know I'm a little behind, but it will be ready for next year!(Maybe that makes me ahead?) I've never made a cone before. Still not sure if I did it right, but I think it turned out cute.

Have a wonderful night!

Lisa

My first blog!

2008-02-17T16:41:00.008-06:00

I decided to be a little more creative this holiday and actually made some crafts. I got the wonderful X & O from Say It With Letters

My husband and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We celebrated with small gifts (I got candy and the movie Becoming Jane and he got a comedy CD) For dinner, my husband cooked us awesome steaks. He has a couple of specialities and this is one of them (BBQ Ribs being the other). For dessert, we had chocolate covered strawberries.