BEING CREATIVE!!

A Little Something I Created (for not much CA$H):

It all started with a space on our bedroom wall. . .that I wasn't happy with, exactly. I had a picture hung here that just "wasn't doing it for me." I knew what I wanted, but wasn't able to find it. So, I did the next best thing. I made something, exactly like I was looking for.

A trip to Michael's to purchase scrapbook paper, the shadow box frame was from the Flower Factory and I had some French inspired note cards I received for a Christmas gift. A pretty good selection to use. I also found a few different sizes of Fleur de lis stamps, which I already owned. Then I dug out some pretty bronze ribbon that came around the French notes cards and the black ribbon was around some monogram pads of paper from my hubs (in my Christmas stocking).

Hmmm, could I create what I was wanting? I think so.

I started with stamping the largest Fleur de Lis in the center of the harlequin scrapbook paper with silver ink. I waited until it dried and then painted lightly over it with the same wall color (watered down) that we have in our master bedroom bathroom. While it was still wet paint, I sprinkled on some iridescent glitter. Then I proceeded to cut out the lovely French note cards with my Fiskers decorative edged-scissors. I randomly placed them here and there securing them on with craft glue ~ just eyeing where I thought things looked best. Next, I added some medium and small Fleur de Lis stamps randomly stamped on open areas. Followed that with the adding of the bronze and black ribbon, then added some other embellishments I had around ~ like ~ the tassel Fluer de Lis. It is actually drapery jewelry, purchased years ago at JC Penney. I have a matching one in our bathroom on the drapery topper (you may recall seeing it in my master bathroom post). It has a little pin tack on the back to push through fabric and secure with a backing. I cut off the tack and hot glued it on. Two little silver keys were added that were in my craft stash. A small rub with silver Rub 'n Buff on the frame edge. . .

. . . AND I WAS DONE!! But, wait!! A few months ago I purchased these XYZ letter on clearance at Walmart for twenty-five cents each. Didn't know what I was going to use them for at the time, but hey, for 75 cents total I grabbed them anyways. I painted them a bronze and placed them on top of my framed artwork.

Why, because afterall, it's where we sleep. You know, the end of the day X, Y & ZZZzzzzzzz.

Blessings. . . until next time,

Tagged!!

TAGGED (and this is sooo embarrassing too):

Donna, at Designs on 47th Street http://designson47thstreet.blogspot.com/ has tagged me for a photo game.

Here are the rules to this fun game:

1. Go to the the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.

2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.

3. Explain the photo.

4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun! I pass this on: (see at the end of this post who I have tagged.)


OK, now here's my photo. Know what this is? Shame, embarrassment, turning bright red right now. . . it's Ford Field, the home of our Detroit Lions Football Team, um, yeah. You know, we set a record this past season. . . 0 - 16. That um, was, won -0-, lost 16!! It's a photo I took of my parents in front of Ford Field two summers ago. We were on our way to a Detroit Tiger's Baseball game at Comerica Park, right next to Ford Field. My dad wanted a picture in front of Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Why? I may never know. Maybe Dad knew we were going to set a record soon!!

Now, I pass this on to the following 4 blogging buddies:

Jan at Rose Haven

Karen at the Bunnies Burrow

Darlene at Our Creative Life

Michelle at Treasure the Moment

I made sure three out of the four tagged were from Michigan. They will understand my embarrassment ;)

Blessings. . . until next time,

WALDEN FARMS - WOW, WHAT A RESPONSE!!

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT????!!!!

I can't believe all the e-mails I received regarding this dressing; what does it taste like (wonderful), where can I buy it (various locations), how much is it ($3-$4), what's the ingredients (see my prior post edited to add ingredients). I've tried all the dressings in the above photograph and I have to tell you they are excellent. It is a thinner dressing, not a thick mayonnaise type dressing. But the taste is unbelievable!! Here's the link to Walden Farms to locate a store in your area. Just type in your zip code. http://www.waldenfarms.com/

I do not work for Walden farms, I'm not getting a discount on my dressings, I'm not getting any free coupons (I wish) . . . just so you all know ~ LOL!!


Blessings. . . until next time,

IS THIS A MIRACLE, OR WHAT????

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

Have any of you been fortunate enough to find and try this Walden Farms Salad Dressing? It comes is all types; Ranch, Thousand Island, French, Raspberry, Caesar, Italian, etc. Fat Free, Sugar Free and Calorie Free!! I mean really, people, does it get any better than that???? And the best part, the very best part . . . it tastes GREAT and it's reasonably priced too.

*Edited to add ingredients listed because I was asked to:

Purified triple filtered water, white vinegar, tomato paste, cellulous gel, natural spices, natural flavors, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pickle relish, lemon juice, white pepper, xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, food color and sucralose.

I’m typing this right off the label of the Thousand Island Dressing (yes, I have a few different varieties. . . and I plan on trying them ALL TOO!)

Blessings. . . until next time,

Homemade PIZZA!!

CUTTING THE EXPENSES:

In an on-going effort to reduce our expenses (including food) and increase our savings (I used to want to continually increase our investments too, but since those have "tanked" ~ I just WANT OUR MONEY IN THE BANK! ~ I mean hey, we do have one kid in college and one right behind her ~ and that is soo expensive!!) I've now stopped all eating out for this family. When I first announced this "no more eating out" no one was happy with me ~ no one at all ~ including my hubs. I think "eating out" had become our past-time, our "something to do," our bad habit and an unhealthy one too.




No more eating out. . . includes "take-out". . . like PIZZA. I think that hurt them the most. So, I did what I must. I found a great alternative that I could just make at home. I found a great recipe on the web for pizza dough that I could make in my bread machine. How easy was that? The recipe for the pizza dough is included at the end of this post. When our 14 1/2 year old came home today she did look at me very strangely. You see, this recipe calls for 1/3 cup of flat beer. She saw the can, looked at me and asked if I (who doesn't drink much at all and never, beer and never, ever at 3:00 in the afternoon) was drinking (gasp) a beer? I assured her I wasn't, it was for the pizza crust. :)

One recipe for this dough, makes two crust. You can substitute 1/2 whole wheat flour for the 1/2 of the bread flour. It makes it healthier. One pizza has green peppers, mushrooms, turkey pepperoni and light cheese. The other, turkey pepperoni and light cheese. I make my own pizza sauce by using a jar of sale spaghetti sauce mixed with a can of tomato paste. It's a much healthier way to make pizza and waaay cheaper too. We had this for dinner with a Romaine lettuce salad. Yummy!! And, my family loved it to boot! Our 14 1/2 year old took one bite and gave me a double thumbs up. Not bad, huh?

Come on, unpack that bread machine that has been collecting dust and give this a try. This is the year that I am going to dig out those seldom used appliance (you know which ones I mean, we all have them) that were purchased to make my life easier. . . and well, use them to make my life easier!!

The World's Best Bread Machine Pizza Dough Recipe

Makes 2 Pizza Crusts

· 1 1/3 cups water (Or 1 Cup Water and 1/3 Cup Flat Beer for better flavor)
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 teaspoon sugar
· 1 teaspoon honey
· 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
· 2 tablespoons cornmeal
· 3 1/2 cups flour
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
· 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
· 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Add ingredients to machine in order listed.
Set to “Dough” mode.
Once completed, place in greased pan (2 - 9x13 inch or round pizza pans).
Let dough rest on pans for 10-15 minutes
Spread dough out in pan.

Add light layer of sauce and pre-bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes.
Remove from oven and add toppings of your choice.
Bake in oven at 400 degrees until done (approx 17 - 20 min, depending upon topping thickness).

Enjoy!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

MASTER BEDROOM BATHROOM ~ COMPLETED!!

It's finally finished!!

. . .Way back in October this project began. I painted our master bathroom a lovely Benjamin Moore Aganthus Green, then went on to start painting our master bedroom. Remember my accident? I slipped, hurt my back, spent a little time in the hospital, then physical therapy, etc., etc., etc. Then the holidays hit; Thanksgiving, CHRISTmas, New Years. I've just now had a chance to finished up this room. A good winter project I thought. Cold, snow and staying inside and finishing up some things around here. I just finished the drapery topper on Thursday evening and hung it up. So, come with me for a little tour.

The above picture is entering our bathroom from the master bedroom. The clock was from from T.J. Maxx on clearance for $10, the Eiffel Tower lamp ~ a garage sale find for $5 this summer. I still need to spray paint the light switch cover and the toilet paper holder satin black, but that will have to wait until spring for warmer weather.



Rotate slightly to the left and you will see the Jacuzzi tub (with the towels hanging up that I embroidered on my little workhorse embroidery machine). The towel holder is simply two corbels, which I had my hubby cut a piece of PVC pipe to place in between. I must have had these corbels for almost 20 years, honestly. They have been used for everything you can image. Shelves, drapery rod holders, bookends and every color you can image too; mauve, green, gold. I sprayed painted it all black and made a towel rack for my tubby soaks. I also recovered the stool with black and white toile fabric. It was a garage sale find 8 years ago and has been painted and recovered a few times to fit in with my latest bathroom decor. There are three pillars the far one on the left is not in the picture. I purchased the three of them for $15 a few years ago at a garage sale and repainted them. The pictures above the towel holder are from Marshalls. The faux shrub/plants were 2 for $5 at a garage sale. They needed repainting, which I did. The little urn (soap keeper) was $4 at a garage sale.

Here is the drapery topper I completed Thursday evening. I used the same fabric and trim fabric that I used in our master bedroom. A mounting board makes a nice, neat looking treatment; my husband is always willing to cut a length of pine to my requirements. He knows how much money I save us by sewing our own draperies and I know how much he saves us by doing so many home projects himself. We compliment each other very well I guess :) and for that, we're blessed!!
Rotate a bit more to the left and the little room attached is the "Commode Room." Well, I'm not exactly sure what to call it ~ so it's our commode room LOL!! It contains the potty and a linen closet. The door can be closed for privacy :) Over the potty are two cute little glass floating shelves found for $1/each at a garage sale this fall. The metal bracket was white and I sprayed them black satin for a better fit. They look like they are just floating in the air. I really like them in this spot ~ not a heavy look at all.

Rotate left again and here is the sink/vanity area. I'm not completely done here. I have an idea. . . I purchased a router at a garage sale this fall and I'm going to use it to notch out the back of some molding I have which matches the cabinets. You know, notch out a spot in the back of the molding to accommodate those ugly mirror hangers? This molding will then be placed around the standard, builder mirror. Hopefully, it will work as I have planned out. . . in my head :) and it will give this a nice, custom finish.

Now, we're back out the door and into the master bedroom.

And, if you'll excuse me please. . . I think I'll go soak in my nice Jacuzzi tub and admire my hard work. Ahhh!! It's the little things that make me happy.

Blessings. . . until next time,

Just A Little Something!

I actually did this "little" project before CHRISTmas, but got so busy I forgot to blog about it :)

One day while finishing up my CHRISTmas shopping I was walking through Wal-Mart. . . I took a short cut through the sewing department (yes, I am blessed, our Wal-mart still has a fabric/sewing department, thankfully!) While taking this shortcut I noticed a little area of trim on clearance. This particular trim caught my eye and I stopped to examine it further. $1.00/yard on clearance??!! Hmmmm, may just be enough to trim out my dining room lamps. I bought the remainder of what was on the little bolt, finished my shopping and came home.

I measured it on the shades when I arrived home. Hmmm, again, may just be enough! Like just enough. Like the perfect amount!

Down to my basement Work Room I went (more on that later ~ this has been my personally declared - Organize your Work Room week - hopefully, I'll be able to move around a bit better when I'm finished organizing).

Out came the hot glue gun (always keep a bowl of iced water near by for instant relief to those finger burning accidents - which will occur! Gee, wonder how I know that?)

Not bad for a couple of bucks and a couple of minutes for my time.

Blessings. . . until next time,

VALENTINES DECOR!!!

Um, yeah, this is what we do in the Great North when we're snowed inside the house, it gets dark at 5:00pm, and we're bored!! WE DECORATE!!



I picked up some CHRISTmas lights after CHRISTmas for cheap, cheap, cheap. I think I paid 60 cents at Walmart-75% off. Red for Valentine's Day, Green for St. Patrick's Day and Red/White/Blue for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Hey, why not? I always say memories don't just always happen. . . sometimes you also need to MAKE them happen. Like magic!! My 21 year old has always told me I did a good job making her childhood a special one ~ and I'm keeping it up for our 14 year old as well.

I added red lights to the two topiaries on each end of the mantel and in between as well. I also have a tall glass vase on the side table to the right of the mantle, which I placed in a string of red glowing lights. It looks so warm and cozy in the evening. And no, they do not flash/blink red. They are a constant-on-lit-red ;) As I stated in my opening line of this post. . . it gets dark here at 5:00pm ~ so we have plenty of time to enjoy the soft glow each evening!

A little heart banner I found years ago secured to my Fleur de lis irons. I placed white rose hearts on top of the irons for now. A little garage sale find of a cherub vase holding red and white paper roses sits upon another urn/vase I inverted for additional height.

The sofa table. . . I always use this area to decorate for the individual holidays. A large rose heart wreath, a large red rose underneath the cloche, behind the rose wreath is a picture filled with rose buds, a little vintage looking (a Marshall's find) birdbath with little hearts inside. Rose petals scattered here and there and other misc. heart/Valentine's decorations I've acquired along the way.

I must say, however, my very personal favorite is the little angel/cherub wings displayed prominently upon the wreath holder. Precious, just precious.

Our youngest, the 14 1/2 year old, is just absolutely thrilled with all the decorations. So my mission is accomplished!

It's a nice little "something" after the removal of all the CHRISTmas decorations. Dontchathink???

Blessings. . . until next time,

A NEW FAUCET!!

Little changes here and there.

When we built our house eight years ago ~ there were sooo many choices to make. And so much money going out all at once too!! Some things we just took as standard from the builder and determined we would change them out at a later date. Well, later finally came!!

I love this faucet my husband installed for us!! We purchased it from Overstock.com. (No, I'm not getting anything for giving them a shout-out ~ LOL!! I just am not a brick and mortar store shopper and love on-line shopping.) My husband said this was an exceptional deal and the quality was just as exceptional as well.

The above photo is of our old, builder standard faucet that we had in the Powder Room for too long. Nice update, don't you think?

Blessings. . . until next time,

Second Post Today - An Award!

Lemonade Stand Award

from my friend Cathy at Domestic Bliss

This award comes with a few rules: Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

You all know I can't just pick a few of you wonderful bloggers. I always have such trouble passing these awards on because I want to pass it on to everyone!! So that's exactly what I'm going to do. If you're reading this. . . I'm passing it on to you :) Yup, that's exactly what I'm going to do!! Tag, you're it~!

Blessings. . . until next time,

WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO??

Gee, I haven't blogged much lately, have I?

What have I been doing???? Cleaning, sorting, purging, rearranging, and DEFROSTING (among other things. . . will share more in the next few posts)!!



Oh yes, that dreaded job of defrosting the freezer in the garage. I remember when I purchased this freezer, they also had freezers that defrosted themselves, but NO. . . we didn't go that way. We read, and were told, that the auto defrost freezers are not the best to own because in order to defrost, the freezer must heat up to melt the ice; therefore, bringing the food out of the deep, deep freeze. Yeah, well, I still feel we made the best choice for us. I mean living here in Michigan, it gets plenty cold enough. But each year when I take on this huge task, I can't help but think . . . they do sell frost free freezers!



I just unload the freezer contents into laundry baskets (it's cold enough that everything stays deeply frozen in the gargage - I wait until it's like 12 degrees outside and then defrost that baby). I unplug the freezer, place my freezer thaw helper (found at a garage sale years ago for $1) into the freezer, leave the door open, remove the drain plug and away we go. I am in and out of the garage most of the day putting on my hat, coat, scarf, gloves and boots and then back off and so on and so on.

It takes the entire day, but oh it is so worth it when I open up that freezer now.

On a different topic, my sympathies go out to the Travolta family at the loss of their son, Jett. But I have a question? The Travolta's are Scientologist and so is Prescilla Presley, among many other Hollywood elite. So Prescilla Presley was being interviewed on Entertainment Tonight expressing her sympathy, saying how tragic Jett's death was, etc., etc., Scientologist believe that as soon as you die you enter into another body and are reborn or reincarinated into another human being. I'm just confused as to why Prescilla was wearing a cross around her neck. Is this just a piece of jewelry to these Hollywood Scientologist? If they believe they are reincarnated into another human being and not joined with our Father in heaven, made possible by his son, Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for our sins why do they wear a cross? Just a piece of jewelry to them I guess. Such a shame.

Blessings. . . until next time,

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2009!!

Happy New Year

Dear Friends!!

Welcome 2009!!

Another year closes and a new one begins. Isn't that exciting? It's a time of new beginnings, fresh starts and things renewed. I'm excited! It's been a wonderful 2008 getting to know so many new friends through blogging. I never thought when I began this blogging journey in 2007 that I would come to love it as much as I do. I feel like so many of you have become close, personal friends to me too. I've enjoyed checking in on all of you and getting to know you and your families as well. And, wink, wink ~ just what you're all up to :)

I'm looking forward to some down-time now that the holidays are over. I've taken down all the CHRISTmas decor and placed it back in its proper storage location. I worked very hard today to get it done too. Doesn't everything seem so clean and fresh when it's all back to normal? Our youngest told me it's not called clean and fresh, but BARE! This is my time to clean-out, purge and re-organize our household, try new recipes and just NEST in my own personal BLISS *sigh* . Now, doesn't that sound wonderful???

Blessings. . . until next time,