These stubborn abs are getting a workout!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Sensational Lake House - Lampshade
Redecorating the bedroom at our lake house and thought the lamp would look great in fabric matching a cushion on the bed. So here is how I did it:
Trace around the lamp onto the wrong side of the fabric:
Add 1/2 to 1 inch hem allowance:
sew edges - finished edges first (zigzag) then hemmed:
iron:
attach to lamp with hot glue:
beautiful!:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Soul-Soothing Books - Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
I read good recommendations about this book and was lucky enough to find a copy at my local Half Price Book store. I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed this book. Actually, I was crying my eyes out by about page 30 - which, if you ask my husband, is a rare occurrence!
Here is the book's summary via Beth Hoffman's website:
I loved the characters - colorful and strong and so real you just want to go and stay with them (or be one of them!). I loved that it was set in Savannah - my dream destination! Everything you dream/know about Southern women and Savannah is here in this book. It is a true Southern coming-of-age story of a twelve-year-old girl who needs love, compassion, friendship and her own direction.
It was one of those books that you want to read quickly to see what happens, but when you get to near the end, you want it all to slow down so you don't have to end the story. A great summer read.
I read good recommendations about this book and was lucky enough to find a copy at my local Half Price Book store. I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed this book. Actually, I was crying my eyes out by about page 30 - which, if you ask my husband, is a rare occurrence!
Here is the book's summary via Beth Hoffman's website:
Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.
The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.
While Tootie is busy saving Savannah’s endangered historic homes from the wrecking ball, CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters. From the mysterious Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in an outdoor tub under the watchful eyes of a voyeuristic peacock, to Oletta Jones, the all-knowing household cook, to Violene Hobbs, the loud-mouthed widow who entertains a local police officer in her yellow see-through peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.
Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others.
It was one of those books that you want to read quickly to see what happens, but when you get to near the end, you want it all to slow down so you don't have to end the story. A great summer read.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Fantastic Photography - Photographing Kids
Have been a little busy lately, so I have not been able to keep up with my 30 days of photos. Instead, today I bring you some beautiful shots of kids via Pinterest, to get the creative juices flowing! (Forget the "finish" on the photos - just concentrate on the creative elements and composition).
Big basket + cute bow + simple background + cute baby = great photos!
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Sidewalk chalk drawing as background - so cute!
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I took lots of shots of my kids as babies just like this. Use your bed as the "stage" - keep everything simple and let the baby do the "talking". I try to keep the light as natural as possible too.
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These ones as cute for sibling photos.
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LOVE this - really want to do it for my girls - they LOVE LOVE horses!
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Here is another simple sidewalk chalk photo idea - simple but SO CUTE!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo - I only have two kids though.....
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This idea is so awesome - I'm starting right now (my oldest just turned 5, the other 3).
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Lots of simple easy ideas that you can implement in the photos you take - no professional needed :)
Big basket + cute bow + simple background + cute baby = great photos!
Sidewalk chalk drawing as background - so cute!
I took lots of shots of my kids as babies just like this. Use your bed as the "stage" - keep everything simple and let the baby do the "talking". I try to keep the light as natural as possible too.
These ones as cute for sibling photos.
LOVE this - really want to do it for my girls - they LOVE LOVE horses!
Here is another simple sidewalk chalk photo idea - simple but SO CUTE!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo - I only have two kids though.....
This idea is so awesome - I'm starting right now (my oldest just turned 5, the other 3).
Lots of simple easy ideas that you can implement in the photos you take - no professional needed :)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Totally Awesome Interiors - Laundry
I really need to finish my laundry room, so here is some of my inspiration:
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| From Hydrangea Home |
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| From Hydrangea Home |
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| From House of Turquoise |
Beautiful cabinets.
There are more ways to add color to a room other than painting the walls or cabinets.
Cute artwork - who says you can't decorate the laundry room, especially with art work!
Now that is organized. To be this beautiful you must purge and only have the essentials!
Love the light fixture.
So clean. So fresh. Perfect for the laundry, don't you think?
Pretty shelves. Perfect organization.
Wonderful Garden & Outdoor Delights - Summer Spot
The perfect summer spot:
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| Image from House of Turquoise |
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| Image from Better Homes & Gardens |
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| Image from Real Simple |
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| Image from Coastal Living |
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| Image from Real Simple |
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| Image from MyHomeIdeas |
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Munchy Mouthwatering Recipes
We picked some beautiful deliciously fresh cucumbers from our garden over the weekend so, of course, this is what we made for dinner (with chicken and salad - YUM!):
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) containers plain yogurt
2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
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salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
3 cloves garlic, peeled
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Directions:
| 1. | In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill and garlic. Process until well-combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor. |
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