Fondue'ing it Up!

"There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate." - Linda Grayson

Yesterday my daughter, April came for the day to visit. She lives about 4 hours away so she had quite a drive before getting here. She, my mom and I first did a little bit of thrift store shopping where we found some treasures...as usual; but I will post about that later.

April had invited her friend Mary to come and have a barbecue with us. But it was actually 102 degrees yesterday, so we opted for hamburgers made inside and potato salad. It was still super hot in the kitchen, but well...we had to eat.

Mary brought her sister Amy and we had a great time with them. They were super nice people and I'm glad my daughter has such good friends. After dinner April had a special dessert planned.

It started out with this electric Fondue Pot, 5 bars of milk chocolate, milk, whipping cream and marshmallows, plus a LOT of stirring~


Mmmm, melting marshmallows ~



Almost done, just a few stubborn marshmallow bits. This was soooooooo sinfully delicious.

And what would melted chocolate be good for if you didn't have something to dip into it? Actually, I could have just used my fingers at that point, but well...we did have company so we used all these delicious things. Fresh strawberries, raspberries, bananas, pound cake, salted pretzels and marshmallows!

(The little pink serving tray above was purchased for me by my mom at a Goodwill for about $2.25. Isn't it beautiful?)

This beautiful Mikasa serving plate was a gift from my mom that she purchased many years ago at a Mikasa outlet store. This is actually the first time I've used it for anything other than decorative purposes. It's just as beautiful as the fruit it held.

Well we had a really great time, even though it was so hot. If you've never tried Chocolate Fondue, you really should. It's amazingly delicious and a great way to share food, time and stories.

Remember the Date and Honor Those Who Serve

Sue from Sullivan & Murphy posted a very special video today. About a way to thank those in service to us in our military. I'll let the video speak for itself except to further say, "God Bless America".

A Cloche for April...not the month...the daughter!

Hi and welcome to my first ever Cloche attempt!

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life is hosting a cloche party, so I'm trying my hand at creating one. No easy task as it takes a creative mind and yours truly isn't exactly creative...most of the time. But here goes and I hope you like it!

Some of you may be asking, "What is a Cloche"? Cloche is french for bell. It's formed of a piece of glass shaped like a dome and it's purpose is to protect garden plants from cold weather and frost.

I didn't have a formal cloche or bell jar or apothecary jar, so what I did was take my hurricane lamp and turn it upside down, which makes a bell shape...hence a cloche!

I thought long and hard about what I would put under my cloche. I wanted something fall like, even though it's still in the high 90's outside. So I decided that I would do a little display for my daughter April.

A few months ago she took a job about 4 hours away and I've only seen her once since then. She's coming home this Saturday just for the day and so I figured I would go ahead and use some of her most loved things.

So here it is...my Cloche. April is collecting tea cups. This is the first one that she has found. She has four others because she's claiming the four that belonged to my former mother-in-law, April's grandmother...lol. Right now all five are in my possession. Also pictured are April's Russian Nesting Dolls which I gave her as a gift this year for her birthday...on Aprils Fools Day and yes, that is her actual birthday. I added the tray, flowers and candle just to give the display some fall colors.

I'm going to display it on my kitchen table, but I might move it on the weekend to my coffee table so I can see it while I do my "couch potato" thing. :-)

Here's a closeup of the cup and saucer. I love this picture, the way the light is reflected in the glass and mirror on the tray.

Here's a closeup of the Russian Nesting dolls...I felt they had great fall colors. The little orange candle in the background just is a nice fall color and also smells great! The little brown tray is from Goodwill and I've been debating painting it. It has a mirrored bottom and I keep it on my kitchen counter.

And the silk flowers were given to me by my sister. The rest of them are displayed in the barrel planter on my patio. I do great with silk, not so much with real flowers. I believe these would be mums?


So...what did you think of my first every cloche? I had a fun time creating it and now I hope you all head over the Marty's, A Stroll Thru Life and see what everyone else created!

Iwanna Wednesday

I can't believe I almost forgot about Iwanna Wednesday! It threw me off as Monday was a holiday. Now I feel like today is Tuesday since this is only the second day I've worked this week!

But luckily I remembered just in time. I am your hostess...Iwanna.

Iwanna is a name given to me by my sister because it doesn't matter what store we go into there is always something "I Want" the second we walk in...hence the name Iwanna.

And just because Iwanna things doesn't mean I get them, although I have to admit there have been a few times that I do get them, thanks to my loved ones, especially my daughter. Thank you April.

Ok, so let's get to it shall we?

As you know, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality hosts a Monday Thrifty Treasures party where you can link up to her to show what thrifty treasures you've found. I've participated quite a few times. Now my Iwanna Wednesday would not be necessary if Rhoda just moved out of her house and let me live in it, cause Iwanna everything she has in there! It's gorgeous!

Alas, even Iwanna can't have that, but Rhoda did give me a great shopping idea. She has a special giveaway to Southern Living that she is doing. You just need to go visit Southern Living and post a comment on Rhoda's blog to be entered. Eazy Peazy!

So I went...cause who doesn't love a giveaway right? And I entered...and I fell in love, with Southern Living. Iwanna stuff bad! Just check out their catalog.

I picked out a few of my favorite things. JUST LOOK!

*sigh* Iwanna this lovely little serving bowl. Just in time for fall and the holidays. It's called a Christmas Memories Serving Bowl and it's set into an Ornate Iron Bowl Stand...dreamy no?

Iwanna this lovely trifle bowl. This is called the Devonshire Lidded Trifle, and it has so many uses!

I really Iwanna this one. It's just so perfect. I would love two of them please. One to display on either side of the painting over my couch. This is the Damask Wall Accent with a metal finish.

What Iwanna from this next one is the serving tray. The colors just catch my eye and make me smile. I can imagine placing it on the table filled with home made cookies or muffins (anyone wanna come over and bake them?) The bowl is pretty too...but I'm drooling over the tray. This is from the Gail Pittman Veranda Collection.

This is my next to the last favorite! If I can't have the green wall accent above, then Iwanna this one. The vase is removal from the sleeve. This is called the Juniper Vase with the multi-layer reactive glaze with a removal curling metal sleeve.

And now, the Grand Finale...the Pièce de résistance. This is four Filigree Iron Wall Sconces displayed in a way that makes it look like one whole piece. Of course Iwanna the Cordova Candle Sconces on either side as well. And as long as this is Iwanna Wednesday, just go ahead and throw in the whole display on the mantle as well...and the fall leaf garland. I've been looking for some of that anyway.

Well that's it for Iwanna Wednesday. Now what Iwanna is for you to tell me which one of these lovelies is your favorite?

Guessing Game - Can you guess what this is?

I've been reading alot about people finding treasures that have been left out by the trash can. Which led me to remember that I saw an odd item left by the trash can in our alley yesterday. Sure enough it was still there. So I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what this is and what it's used for?

Any guesses?

It seems to be really huge, heavy duty bubble wrap in a giant roll.

Here you see it in comparison with the actual trashcan in the alley.

Any ideas? It looks like bubble wrap, but why would anyone need this much and this huge a roll?
Anyone?

Trash to Treasures at Along the Way with K & J

I had a very nice visit from Katie with Along the Way with K & J. She asked me to link up to her blog for her Trash to Treasures post and I did, so be sure and visit her blog. She's very proud today to have been featured on The Best of Your Before & Afters for her makeover of desk that looked pretty unsalvageable to me but she turned into a work of ART! I think I'm spending my morning looking at other makeovers that The Best of Your Before & Afters has featured. If you're visiting from Rhoda's be sure to read the previous post for my Thrifty Treasures and please become a follower! Happy Labor Day!

Thrift Shop Treasures

Found some great things this week. Hit quite a few yard sales and 2 Goodwill's. Once you see all my goodies, be sure to head over to Rhoda's "Southern Hospitality", gracious host of Today's Thrifty Treasures blogging party. Like Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ, click your heels together...and hit the Today's Thrifty Treasures button below to be transported to a magical land of thrifty treasures!

So as luck would have it I had a yard sale right across the street from my house. It was about 8:30 by the time I had showered and done my hair and make-up. I asked my mom if she had gone and she said no and now it was probably too late because all the good stuff was gone. But I convinced her to go with me and good thing I did because we found some great things.

My mom found a really nice purse for $1.00 to use to put her church book, missal and water bottle in when she attends daily mass. She also found a stack of dishtowels. There were about 15 and they were $1.25 for the stack! I found a really nice nick-knack shelf. It was pink and I didn't really know where to put it until I remembered my bathroom is pink and blue...it's perfect.



Now I just have to find butterfly items to display.

That yard sale put us in the mood to hit some thrift stores. On our way to Goodwill we hit a few yard sales where my mom scored a pair of PJ's and these handy little condiment/prep cups.

We are a Salsa and chips loving family...but we aren't too thrilled with double dippers into the salsa bowl. So we've gotten into the habit of each person getting their own little individual salsa cup, like these and that way there are no double dippers into the main salsa bowl. I know, how OCD are we?

They look black, but they're actually a really pretty blue.

At Goodwill. I found the LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE signs you see pictured in the shelf above. I debated getting them, but there have been too many times I don't buy something and regret it later. I'm glad I bought these at only 75cents each. They were brand new.





I love the bright happy colors! Not sure where they will finally end up, or if I will paint them, but for now they seem happy where they are.

That was about it for nick-knacks but it was really my day for PJ's which is good as I needed some.

I bought all of the below, plus two gray t-shirts, one blouse for me and 3 books and the LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE signs for $20.00. The fun day and memories I made with my mom were included for FREE!

Love the ruffle detailing on the bottom of this one.

Love Pink!

Kind of a night shirt style.
These I found for my daughter. They have such a cute little sheep pattern, for those nights where you need to count sheep to get to sleep!

Here's a close up...aren't they adorable?

Can't get PJ pants for my daughter and not get some for my son. Not as cute as the little sheep, but very manly don't you think?

Bought a cute little ruffled top for myself.


And that was it for my day. Now I have to go and launder all my goodies! Be sure to head over to Rhoda's to see what else everyone else found. . .and don't forget to add yourself as a follower.

Happy Labor Day!

Who I Love

You know who I love?

I love Bobby Flay. Bobby Flay from the Food Network, thats who I love.

I don't know if you guys watch the Throwdown's very often but I'm always thrilled when I catch one.

The other night I caught a throwdown with the Brooklyn Chowder Surfer and it was so cute and funny and Bobby was so gorgeous!!! He lost the throwdown, sorry to give away the ending, but there never was a cuter loser than Bobby.

Here's part one of the Chowder throwdown. The Chowder Surfer is pretty darn cute too! Hope you enjoy.

Iwanna Wednesday

Welcome to Iwanna Wednesday; the day I can want anything...I don't usually get it, but at least I can lust after it!

My sister named me Iwanna because when we walk into ANY store, a grocery story, a department store, a tire store...ANY store; I always find something I want...hence the name Iwanna. Heck I've been known to drive by peoples houses and Iwanna rocks and brick I see in their front yards :-)

First, Iwanna show you a picture of the current curtains in my kitchen. Bear in mind this is not the best photo I've ever taken, but it was the only one already in my album. Plain white lace curtains. These are the original curtains that came with the house when I bought it 2 years ago.


The reason for showing you these curtains is because what Iwanna today is some new curtains and I'm torn between several different styles and designs. I really like the all white lace ones with my all white walls. Clean, simple, plain.

But lately I've been pondering using some of these roll-up bamboo shades and combining them with a curtain valance.

Iwanna one like this maybe and I even like the bottom curtains to go with it. . .but I don't know; I'm not a big fan of yellow or gold, although I know yellow is a very popular kitchen color.

Then again Iwanna some of these. They have my mom's fav color...red. They have my fav color...green.
This one has a very clean feel to it. I love the lines and the way it hangs and the solid color underneath.

I like this one a lot as well. I think it goes great with my new table.

So now what Iwanna is your suggestions. Which ones do you like and why?

Cousins ~ Different beautiful flowers from the same garden

"A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost."

Author: Marion C. Garretty

I received a lovely little surprise in the mail today from my cousin Stella, and I wanted to share it with you.

Stella took a road trip this summer for about a month. She first started this annual tradition with her husband Ron who sadly passed away a few years ago. She and Ron had great adventures, stopping at different little antique shops and always on the lookout for Carl's Jrs or Hardees for Stella's huge addiction to Dr. Pepper or Coke. Not sure which and whether it was regular or diet, but I know it was the caffeine!

This year Stella found this cute little sign that is perfect for my wine/grape themed kitchen. Don't you love it?

I found a nice little spot for it already right next to my kitchen hutch. Right now I have a garland of daisies but I've been looking for a garland of grapes and grapes leaves. Most of the ones I find are too sparse and unnatural looking...but this is not Iwanna Wednesday, so let me get on with the thanking of my wonderful cousin Stella!

Thank you so much Stella! I love it and it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that you thought of me on your trip! We don't always tell people what we think about them until we eulogize them at their funeral and whats the point then right?

I want you to know that you are the first person that ever put makeup on me when you lived in that house in Poston on the ranch. I felt so grown up when you put eyeshadow and mascara on me and I think that is where my love of makeup first began.

You also took me to my first high school basket ball game where I got to see Oscar Soliz play and I have to admit I had a huge crush on him during my whole high school years.

You also are the reason for my love of country music. I can remember you driving back from that game and singing country music and that song Proud Mary. I can't ever hear Proud Mary and not think of you.

I know that most of the time we go through our lives never realizing how our lives touched others. You touched my life and my heart; my beautiful cousin and I love you dearly.