Thank You!

    Since December is winding down, I thought today was a good time to thank everyone who was kind enough to feature me this month. As a blogger myself, I understand the time and commitment it takes to write posts on a regular basis, so it is truly touching that each of you took the time to showcase my work.

    ********
    Thank you Jennie of Craftomaniac for showcasing Our Foyer At Christmas in your

Sausage Cheese Bites (Gluten Free or Regular)


    With everyone being so busy between Christmas and the new year, it's nice to have bite size food on hand. These hearty sausage cheese bites can be eaten on the go or served for breakfast or as snacks.

    Those of you who are on gluten free diets know how difficult it can be to find good bread based recipes. These sausage cheese bites are very much like the traditional sausage balls I used to

These Are A Few Of Your Favorite Things

    Hi everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, as my family and I did. Now that the holidays are over, I have started a different type of project. I'm redecorating my blog. This will be done in stages over the next little while, so if you see anything weird here, that's the reason. My goal is to have it mainly done by the end of the week, but we'll see how that goes.

    **********In the

Merry Christmas 2011

    Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas filled with peace, joy, and love.  Listen to this little girl singing about the reason for the season.

Christmas Greetings From Holly 2011

    Hello friends! It's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua checking in again. Don't you love this time of year? It's a special time for me because I joined my forever family around this time two years ago. I was just a baby about 10 weeks old, when my (now) Mommy and her Dad drove all the way to another state to get me. I guess that means I was special!
    If only I had known then that Mommy had plans to dress

Traditional Family Room Tree


    Do you remember my family room Christmas mantel? When I showed it to you a few weeks ago, I promised to show the tree beside it in more detail. Well, now that the crafting and decorating has wound down for the holidays, we'll take a closer look at my family room tree.

    While the other trees in our house are all theme trees, this is the one that is truly a family tree. You know the tree with no

Edible Christmas Trees: Family Craft Series


    Children of all ages (young and um, those who are kids at heart) love anticipating what they will "receive" for Christmas.

    Why not teach them the joy of "giving" as well? One of the ways a lot of us give to family and friends is by sharing our love of food and entertaining. I believe the reason I love cooking and entertaining is because my Mom had me in the kitchen working with her for as long

Old Fashion Ornaments- Family Craft Series


    Everyone loves seeing Christmas trees during the holiday because the pretty ornaments are so mesmerizing. Why not make some holiday memories by making some special ornaments. This is part 2 of my family craft series. Each craft in the series is an easy craft that a parent or grandparent can do with a child. If you missed part one yesterday, it was a glittered gift box decoration.

    The ornaments

Glittered Gift Box Decoration- Family Crafting Series


    Many of us are so busy with our daily lives that we sometimes have a hard time finding ways to spend quality time with our families during the holidays. If you are struggling with that this season, take a little time to do some craft projects with your family. Not only will you have fun spending time together, but you'll have lasting memories as you put out your handmade decorations each year.

Gingerbread Party Features

    A special thank you to EVERYONE who participated in my Gingerbread Party last week. I loved looking at all your gingerbread ideas.

    I had a really hard time narrowing down my choices, but here are my features from the party.....

    We'll start with YOUR pick! You all must really love gingerbread decor! Debbie-Dabble's Gingerbread And Candy Kitchen was the most viewed post on the party! If you are

Shabby Apple Jewelry Giveaway and Discount Code


    Have you heard of Shabby Apple? They sell vintage women's dresses, maternity dresses, and little girls dresses. Shabby Apple also sells vintage jewelry, accessories, and items for gifts and the home.

    A few of my favorite pieces of their jewelry include...

    This gorgeous Spring Bloom 26 inch long necklace....


    This pretty Anubis bracelet.....


    And these lovely Gold Fill Green Swarovski

We Have 12 Winners.....

    Thank you to everyone who participated in my Gingerbread Party! Since this was my first party, I had no idea how it would go, but several of you told me you had a lot of views from the party and deemed it a success. I'm so happy you had a great time and enjoyed seeing new ideas everyone else had. If you missed the party this past week, you can still see the great ideas HERE.


    Over the weekend,

Not Your Average Fruitcake


    We've all heard the jokes about receiving fruitcake for Christmas, and it's easy to understand why the traditional hard and dry fruitcake is not popular. We have made this "Not Your Average" Fruitcake many times during Christmas and have given it as gifts and served it at parties with rave reviews. This fruitcake is flavorful and moist with a nice, firm texture without being hard like some

Decorate Your Home For The Holidays With Partylite

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes. All opinions are 100% mine.

    When I'm in the mood to refresh the look of my home, I often am able to switch out the accessories for a new look. Candles are a great way to do that because there are so many colors and styles of candles to fit any decor and the wonderful aromas make your guests feel

Our Christmas Living Room

    Today let's finish up the tour of our home's formal living area. If you missed a post over the last few days, I also shared our dining room and foyer decorated for the holidays. Our home is an open floor plan with all three of these areas opening up to each other, so it made sense to decorate them with the same theme. As you may recall, this area of the house honors the reason for the season by

Save Money At Applebee's During Gift Card Weekend!

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend. All opinions are 100% mine.

    We all know this is the season of giving. One of the easiest gifts to buy that is always the right color, the right size, and just what the recipient wanted is a gift card. Why not get more for your money by purchasing gift cards from companies participating in Gift Card Weekend?

    If you've never

Our Christmas Dining Room

    Thank you for the nice compliments on our foyer. Now I will show you the dining room decorated for Christmas. The foyer and dining room are one open space with the dining area defined by columns. As you will see, we get to enjoy the views of both spaces at the same time.


    This is the dining area as you'd see it from the front door.

    View of the dining room taken from the stairs in the foyer.

Our Foyer At Christmas


    Hello! Welcome to my home. Today let's take a peek at my family's foyer. This area is not very big, our home has an open floor plan with our living room and formal dining area on each side of this space. That means this is probably the most formal area of our home. You may have guessed by now that my family and I are very casual people, so even our "formal" areas aren't stuffy at all. One of the

The French Reindeer


    Do some of your old Christmas decorations need a bit of updating? Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some tips on how to bring new life to some things you probably already have. With a few craft supplies and a little bit of time and imagination, you'll have some trendy Christmas decorations that are unique to you and your home.

    While this reindeer doesn't have a red nose and may never

Christmas Boutique Bow For Girl Dogs

    Hi doggie friends! It's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua checking in again. Thank you for all your compliments on my post over the weekend. If you didn't see it, I modeled a Christmas Bow Tie Collar Mommy made for boy dogs.

    I mentioned how I wanted to play instead of pose for pictures. Well, she put another collar on me and expected me to pose again! At least I was happier I was wearing a Christmas

Our Christmas Mantel


    Christmas is the time when we think about family the most, so I thought it was appropriate to show you the mantel in the room my family gathers the most. To give you an idea of what you are seeing, our kitchen and family room are on an open floor plan with one room connecting to another. Since we have the gingerbread tree in the kitchen, we are keeping the traditional red and green colors and

A Collection of Christmas Decor Craft Projects

    Many of us are very busy this time of year making special things to make our house festive for the holidays. If you need some extra ideas that can be enjoyed in your own home or given as a gift, I've gathered some of the Christmas tutorials I've done in the last year so you can more easily find them.

    Make Your Own Christmas CottageIf you like cardboard houses, you will enjoy making your own

Christmas Bow Tie Dog Collar (For Boy Dogs)

    Hello friends! It's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua checking in again today. I want to tell you about my embarrassing day yesterday.

    Well.....It was not a good one. See, I wanted to play, but Mommy insisted on taking pictures of me.

    They weren't even pictures where I got to be frilly and pretty. Mommy really needs a BOY dog to model her boy designs, but since she doesn't have a boy dog, guess who gets

Our Kitchen Christmas Tree


    We aren't finished decorating the house for Christmas, but I wanted to share the first tree we put up. For several years I've wanted a large gingerbread theme tree, but we've never really had room for it. There were already 3 trees in the main living areas of the house, so there was no space for one.

    Instead, I've hung a garland with gingerbread ornaments hanging on the kitchen window for the

Welcome To My Gingerbread Linky Party And Giveaway


    Hard to believe Christmas is less than a month away, so there is no time like the present to get in the holiday spirit. My favorite Christmas theme is all the adorable gingerbread decorations because those cute gingerbread houses and gingerbread men always bring a smile to my face.

    I thought it would be fun for us to show ANYTHING gingerbread related including:
    Gingerbread recipes, Gingerbread

Gingerbread Man Advent Calendar


    All of us are kids at heart at Christmas time, as we count down the days until it's time to open our gifts. Another gingerbread idea I had was to make an Advent Calendar. Even if you don't like gingerbread men, use this same idea using ornaments or different Christmas shapes to make a calendar for your own home.

    I love to reuse old picture frames! When I found this document frame for a dollar

Kid Friendly Bacon Swiss Avocado Burger And Mini Chef Contest

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.

    Avocados are a pretty popular fruit (yes, they are a fruit!) jam packed with nutrients essential for a healthy body such as potassium, fiber, folate, and Vitamins C, E, and B-complex and are great for both children and adults. Introducing new foods to your child can be tough if they are picky

Gingerbread Crinkles


    Baking cookies has always been one of our traditions during the Christmas season. From the time I was a little girl, my Mom and I have baked lots of cookies every year to take to cookie swaps, to serve at holiday parties, for gifts, or just for our family to enjoy at home. I love making the frosted cut out sugar cookies, but sometimes it's nice to have a cookie that is less time consuming to

Little Wooden Gingerbread House


    For some people it isn't Christmas until they have tasted the wonderful spicy flavor of gingerbread. Gingerbread comes in many delightful shapes from gingerbread girls and boys to cute gingerbread houses to cakes and gingerbread cookies in other shapes. There is even ginger candy, which can help settle an upset tummy after you've indulged in too many Christmas treats.

    Here is a simple 3

Caramel Chocolate Drizzles and Chex Giveaway


    I know the last thing many of us are thinking about tonight is food, but we can plan other celebrations, can't we? Soon it will be time to celebrate Christmas by getting together with family and friends. If you have the same cookie exchange party every year, maybe it's time to think outside the box.

    Everyone loves Chex Party Mix, so why not have a Chex Mix exchange party where everyone brings

On This Thanksgiving Day....


    I know many of you are probably busy with your families today, yet I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read my blog through the year. 

    Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!
    I thought this day of thanks would be a good time to give a little shout out to a few people I'm grateful for....


    Thank you Jacinda of Growing Home for

Christmas Ball Wall Hanging

    I know most of you are busy preparing for Thanksgiving tomorrow, but Christmas will be here before you know it! It's time to get started on all of our Christmas crafting projects.

    If you are looking for some fun and easy Christmas crafts, the girls on the Bowdabra design team have been busy coming up with some wonderful ideas including gifts, ornaments, and decorations. Today is my day to show

Greek Chicken Wraps Featuring Marzetti's Simply Dressed


    Like many of you, I am more conscious about the food I am eating these days. I like knowing what goes in our bodies is as natural and healthy without a lot of chemicals I can't pronounce. Therefore, we prefer to cook our own meals as much as possible. Lunch and quick dinners on the go are always hard for me. I get tired of the same sandwiches all the time and it's tempting to just to grab an

Gingerbread Spice Cake


    To give you some inspiration for my Gingerbread Party, here is a delicious cake to enjoy this holiday season. It is very moist and smells wonderful when you are baking it. I topped my cake with some yummy cream cheese icing, but it is moist enough that the icing can be omitted.

    Gingerbread Spice Cake
    24 ounce jar apple sauce1 cup dark molasses3 1/2 cup s self rising flour1 teaspoon ground

Gingerbread Man Garland


    In anticipation of my Gingerbread Party, I'll be showing some Gingerbread ideas over the next two weeks. Here is a simple and inexpensive garland that would be perfect for a kitchen or kid's room. Hang it on a green garland, a fireplace, on pegs on a shelf, a window, on a wreath, or even to hang on a Christmas tree.

    The gingerbread men and apples I bought came from Michael's, but I'm sure you

Get ready for my Gingerbread Party and Giveaway


    Update: The official Gingerbread Linky Party and Giveaway is now up. Please go here to join the party or sign up for the giveaway!

    Hi everyone! Just a quick, yet exciting announcement for you today......

    It's time to start planning for Christmas, so I'm having a GINGERBREAD Party!
    Maybe you have a great Gingerbread recipe....

    ....or have tips on creating THE perfect gingerbread house....

    ...

Christmas Candle Holder


    I love giving handmade gifts during the holidays, don't you?

    My Christmas Candle Holder is a quick and easy craft that costs about $5 to make an only takes a few minutes of your time to create. Therefore, you can whip up a bunch of these in an afternoon to have elegant gifts to give to a teacher, a secret pal, your postal worker, a friend, or just to keep on hand when someone unexpectedly

Easy Refrigerator Rolls With Red Plum Butter


    Homemade rolls make an impression on your family and friends because they think you've put extra effort into making the meal special. Let it be your secret that these rolls are easy and don't take as much time as most yeast rolls.

    These rolls have been a part of our family tradition for special meals, so today I'm sharing the recipe my Mom has been using for as long as I can remember. Whenever

Flowers In The Fall

    Many times over the hot summer, I mentioned how our flowers had all died because the heat and sun were just too much for them. Imagine our surprise when our garden not only came back, but has flourished in the past two weeks.

    It's very odd to look at one side of the house and see this.....










    .....then to look at the other side of the house and see this!


    Yikes! That's a lot of leaves!

Guest Room Redesign- Sneak Peek!


    With the craziness going on over the last few days, I haven't been able to do much on my guest room redecorating project. For those of you who need a refresher, the guest room was girlie pink and decorated in a cottage garden style. At the time I decorated this room, I worked with the paint color previously on the wall.



    Guest Room Before

    The pink was not my choice, and certainly NOT my

Thanksgiving Centerpiece


    Hello friends! Thanks for all the warm comments you left me yesterday! You don't really realize how dependent you are to your computer until you can't use it. Each of you were very much missed yesterday since I couldn't read your blogs.

    I'm back online....for now anyway. If you read my last post, you saw I've had some problems staying online. After losing all connection to the Internet on

In Case You Don't See Me This Week.....

    Hi girls! Just giving everyone a heads up. I have been dealing with a spotty Internet connection for about a week, and it totally died yesterday morning. It came back on last night, but I'm still having problems getting online. In fact, I'm typing this on a borrowed computer.

    Since I'm not sure if this will resolve itself or if I can get this fixed in the next few days, I wanted to let you know

Harvest Cookies and Nielsen-Massey Vanilla GIVEAWAY


    When I first began watching the Barefoot Contessa, I paid attention to the labels on her ingredients in hopes if I used what she did, then maybe I had a chance of my food tasting half as good as hers looked! One of the first things I noticed she used was Nielsen-Massey vanilla, so of course I had to buy some.

    After trying it, this is the only vanilla I use because of the rich flavor it gives

Friday Feature: Aunt Nubby's Kitchen

    Hi girls! Sorry I've been rather quiet this week. I've been redecorating the guest room for the past few days and have been very busy. Hopefully, there will be enough finished to give you a sneak peek sometime next week, so keep an eye out on that. I'll also be starting up another giveaway early next week,
    all I can say is those of you who cook don't want to miss it!

    In the meantime, I'm

Awards Time (A Few Things About Me)


    Alison from The Polohouse and Briana of Babblings and More both recently gifted me with the Versatile Bloggers Award. In accepting, I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself that you don't know. Honestly, I'm a boring person, but here goes.....

    1. I love Taco Bell and would probably eat there every week if that food wasn't so bad for you.

    2. I am hearing impaired. I was born with

Trick-Or-Treat!



    Hello friends! In case you don't recognize me today, it's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua. I know, I know, this whole get up I'm wearing looks stupid, doesn't it? Please don't laugh at me!  I got scared over the weekend because Mommy started talking about Halloween, and how she hadn't had time to make me a costume this year.


    Friends, was what I endured last year not enough?



    This was me LAST

Ham Steaks With Apples and Pears


    In our busy lives, many of us don't have time to plan or cook a complicated meal and need something to cook in a hurry. Today's recipe is one that can be cooked in 30 minutes or less, but you wouldn't know by the taste or how it is presented. This ham looks fancy enough to serve to guests, but is simple enough to cook for a family meal as well. You can serve it for breakfast with scrambled eggs

Thank You And A Winner

    Happy Sunday everyone! Today I wanted to thank those of you who've been kind enough to feature me on your blogs lately. I know how much time and effort blogging consumes, so I'm very honored that you have decided to share something that I made with your readers.

    I'm sure each of these ladies would love a visit from you, so if there is a blog you haven't seen, please visit them to say hello!

    ***

Make A Spooky Haunted House


    You know I can't let a season go by without making one of my cottages! Halloween is no exception, so I wanted to share with you how you can make your own Spooky Haunted House right in time for Halloween. This would be a great weekend project to do with your children or grandchildren and with proper care, you'll enjoy your Halloween house for years.


    If you are looking for a paper mache house, I

Renuzit Fresh Accents Review and Giveaway


    We all want our home to smell good when company comes, and that is especially true during the Christmas season. Now you can have your home smell like winter berries or festive snow thanks to Renuzit's new Fresh Accents air freshener for the holiday!

    The fragrance is in a gel that fits in a pretty 2 sided snowflake design holder and lasts for 30 days. No plug ins, batteries, or flames needed, so

Easiest Chicken And Vegetable Dinner Ever (Crock Pot Or Oven Meal)


    Most of us love recipes that are easy and quick to prepare, yet tasty enough that everyone in the family will love it. If you are looking for a go-to idea for chicken, you've come to the right place! The chicken is very flavorful and the vegetables are soft and tender, making this a no fail, hearty, one dish meal.

    There is very little prep time, and the recipe can easily be adapted to any

Autumn Cottage Porch Tour...Part 2


    Last week, I took you on part one of my parents' cottage style porch decorated for autumn, so today let's finish the tour! In case you don't remember, this is what the porch looks like:


    With the porch complete, it was then time to decorate the garden in front of the porch. This was even more fun to do because we used lots of color using mums, guords, pumpkins, squash, and some garden decor we

Friday Feature: Southern "Country" Home And Farm

    Happy Friday Everyone! Today I want to feature one of my blogging friends. You may have met her before, but if you haven't, her name is Teresa and her blog is Our Southern "Country" Home And Farm. I can't remember when I first met her, but she has such warm, kind words whenever I "see" her.


    Teresa mainly blogs about her beautiful southern home.  I'm envious because I love traditional white

Try Free Samples of Schar Gluten Free Ciabatta Rolls

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Schar. All opinions are 100% mine.


    Enjoying bread is my biggest challenge when eating gluten free food. Although there are several companies that make sandwich bread, what I've really missed is bakery style bread that is safe for those of us who avoid gluten. I'm so excited to learn Schar has just re-launched their gluten-free heat & serve

Autumn Cottage Porch Tour....Part 1


    Do you remember when I shared the cottage style porch that is off my parents' bedroom? To refresh your memory, here are a couple of pictures of the summer look:



    Well, now that the weather is cooling and the leaves are beginning to change colors, all the pink and light colors look a bit out of place. You know what that means! Yep, time to have some fun and redecorate!

    Mom and I worked

Fallin' Back Decorating and Recipe Ideas

    A few weeks ago, I shared some of my fall decorating from last year, so today I thought you'd like to see a few more fall ideas in case you are still getting your fall vignettes together. I've even included my favorite fall recipe, with is a must for me every year!

    Come back tomorrow to see the outdoor decorating I've done this year!


    This sweet garden statue has been used in so many of my

Halloween Pumpkin Gift Jar


    Of course it isn't Halloween without jack-o-lanterns and candy! Why not surprise a special friend or loved one who isn't going trick or treating with a special candy stash just for them? My jack-o-lantern gift jar is easy to make using supplies you probably already have at home and only takes a few minutes to complete.

    This would be a cute gift for your kids to help you paint and assemble to

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake (With Gluten Free Version)


    Although I didn't like peanut butter sandwiches for years, I have always loved chocolate and peanut butter together. Since the Reese's cup is one of my favorite candies, I made this cake recently to bring together some of my favorite ingredients!

    To make baking easier, my Mom and I have always used a cake mix, knowing we can make it special, so feel free to use your favorite brand of cake mix

Thanksgiving Table On A Budget


    Setting the table for the holidays is fun, but you don't need to break the bank to have a festive Thanksgiving table.

    Think of the traditional warm autumn colors of deep chocolate brown, crisp green, golden yellow, and bright orange, then use those colors as much as you can for your table.




    For a festive holiday feel, bring your fall accessories to the table with pumpkins, pine cones,

Ramsign House Numbers GIVEAWAY



    Does the exterior of your home need a facelift? Sometimes it's the small details that can change the look of a house. Why not start by adding a house sign from Ramsign? This Denmark based company makes enamel signs for house numbers, name signs, and address plaques. They offer free worldwide shipping, so the next time you are looking for ways to spruce up your home take a look at what Ramsign

Create Projects For Your Home with FloraCraft


    You know by now that I love to craft, so today I wanted to talk about one of my favorite craft supplies. I use foam all the time and always have some in my craft supplies. I use Make It Fun®: STYROFOAM™  Brand Foam from FloraCraft because I love that I can immediately start crafting with their precut shapes of foam including....


    Boards and Sheets from 12″x36″ to 24″x36″ with 1/2″ to 4″

Fantasy Jack-O-Lantern


    Today's project is one that was totally unplanned, but I was shopping for fall things a few weeks ago and had a witch hat in my cart. When I bought a pumpkin to use on my mantel, I suddenly realized it was the right size for my witch hat. Suddenly, the idea to make today's project was born.

    I'll admit this project is a little time consuming because there is a lot of drying time due to painting

Thank You

    Hi everyone. There are a few people I'd like to thank today for sharing some of my creations! As a blogger myself, I know how much time it takes to create a post, so I really do appreciate those of you who make the effort to feature me.

    If you've never been to their blogs or haven't visited the blog parties mentioned today, this is a great chance to pop over to their blogs to introduce

Our Fall Living Room

    I've been busy helping my Mom redecorate our living room. You may remember I showed you this room a few months ago when it looked like this....



    Living Room "Before"
    Although we liked the formality of the room with the sofas facing each other and loved the antique buffet being the focal point of the room, something about the room just didn't seem right to us. We had been looking for a chair for

Fall Apple Basket


    Some of the things I love about fall are the pretty colors of leaves, pumpkins, the crisp cool air, and shiny, fresh apples. One of my favorite things is to take a drive in the country to look at the scenery and to buy apples. I made this simple arrangement to honor that tradition.

    It can be made with real or faux apples. In fact, my basket has a combination of real and faux apples. Can you

Mom's Best Chili


    As the weather gets cooler, nothing is quite as satisfying as comfort food for dinner. One thing that has always been comfort food in our home is a large pot of chili simmering on the stove. If you are looking for a chili that everyone will love, this is the recipe to try! My Mom has made this one forever, and no matter who tries it, they always say it's a winner.

    This recipe makes a very

Decorative Pumpkin Plate


    Although I love all the wreaths and florals for fall, I also like to make something a bit unexpected for the season. A decorative plate can be added to a table or hung on a wall to blend in with your every day decorating scheme.

    Today's project can easily be adapted to work for any season. There are so many wonderful wood shapes that are either painted or unpainted, allowing you to change the

Pamper Yourself Giveaway From Horizon



    Most of us have heard about the benefits of organic foods. They are pesticide free, antibiotic free, and have no artificial growth hormones, making them safe for everyone in the family.
    Horizon and Dr. Alan Greene (a pediatrician, author, and nationally recognized expert in organic nutrition) have teamed up to give you the Top 10 Back To School List. This is a great guideline to find healthy

Looking Back To Fall.....

    Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great week. I don't know where this week has gone, but it feels like it's flown by. Currently, my family is in the middle of a big project of restaining the front door and surround. Needless to say, things are kind of chaotic here, so all our autumn decorating plans have been put on hold. There will be more to share with you next week though.

    In the meantime,

Pumpkin Floral Arrangement


    Designer floral arrangements from the craft store or florist are beautiful, but many of them are so overpriced when you can make one just as pretty yourself. If you'd like to learn how to make an autumn floral arrangement that would be perfect for a side table or to use as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving, I'll show you a simple floral arrangement to make. If you have an old arrangement that needs

Strawberry Jelly Rolls


    Are there any foods that take you back to your childhood? My mom loves to bake, so when I was a little girl, it was not uncommon to come home from school to a special goodie she prepared for the family. Sometimes it would be homemade yeast rolls, sausage balls,  doughnuts, fried pies, or cakes. Yet one thing I clearly remember her baking when I was a child that I never saw her serve as I grew up

My Buddy And Me


    Happy Birthday to me....Happy Birthday to me....Happy Birthday to me (Holly).....Happy Birthday to me!
    Hi friends! It's me, Mommy's chihuahua Holly again. Yes, it really is time to celebrate my birthday. The big day was yesterday, so I'm two years old now, but I still look like a puppy, don't I?
    I had fun last weekend seeing my friend, so I'll show you some pictures of our visit! Mommy went to

Halloween Spooky Witch Hat


    I'll be honest and admit I haven't really celebrated Halloween in years. Once I outgrew the trick or treating age, Halloween was pretty much over for me. I'm not for the bloody, gross Halloween stuff that was popular for years. To me, Halloween should be fun, since for most of us, it basically involves throwing on a costume and trick or treating or having a party with your friends anyway.

    This

Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Brownies GIVEAWAY


    When you crave chocolate, there's nothing quite like a brownie fresh out of the oven and a cold glass of milk. This fall make your baking experience a little easier with Betty Crocker's new Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix.

    I recently made this mix for my family, and the brownies were a huge hit! Like all Betty Crocker products, the mix was very easy to prepare and the baking time was

Baked Chicken Roll Ups


    Chicken is so versatile because it can be used in a variety of ways. We eat it at our house more than any other protein, so we have collected many chicken recipes through the years. This recipe for baked chicken roll ups is filled with deliciousness!

    For those of you with dietary restrictions, here are some suggestions so you can enjoy this recipe:

    For gluten free roll ups, use corn starch or

Autumn Leaves Box


    Decorative boxes are so fun to make and can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used for a gift box, for storage, use in a vignette for holiday decorating, or remove the top and add some artificial flowers to make a pretty centerpiece. As you will find when making your own decorative boxes, the possibility for uses is endless!

    I use a paper mache box from the craft store to make my

Thank You!

    Hi everyone. There are a few people I'd like to thank this week for making the effort to feature some of my posts! If you've never been to their blogs or haven't visited the blog parties mentioned today, this is a great chance to pop over to their blogs to introduce yourselves. I'm sure all these women would love the visit!
    **********
    Thank you Mary of Boogieboard Cottage for featuring my Flour

Yogurt Parfaits With Chobani Yogurt


    There are a few food staples that are always stocked in our kitchen, and one of them is yogurt. At least one person in my family enjoys yogurt either for breakfast, snacks, or to use in cooking every day. When we were introduced to Greek yogurt a few years ago, Chobani quickly became our favorite.

    Seems many times when I am shopping, someone at the dairy case or one of the store clerks asks me

Decorating My Mantel For Fall


    I don't understand why decorating our mantle is such a challenge for me, but it is. I just had no good ideas this year, but  many of you have already started your fall decorating and are doing a fabulous job! To get some inspiration, I looked around blogland and saw Marty from A Stroll Thru Life featured Jo from Jo's This and That, who had done a very pretty fall mantel.

    I went over to Jo's

Pumpkin Button Art and Buttons Galore Giveaway


    Fall always gets me in the crafting mood, so today, I'll share a cute pumpkin I made that will be perfect to set on a table or hang on a wall. The giveaway for some great buttons to make your own creations is at the bottom of this post!

    To make your own picture, you'll need:

    -2 totes Cornucopia (orange, brown, green) buttons from Buttons Galore (You will have plenty of buttons left over for

The Fairy Hobmother Strikes Again


    Do you believe in the Fairy Hobmother? If you've never heard of her, she's kind of like the Tooth Fairy. Nobody really knows what she looks like, but you know she's real when she leaves an Amazon gift card behind on your blog

    Back in August, the Fairy Hobmother from Appliances Online was granting wishes over at Miz Helen's Country Cottage. I left her this message.....

    ********Cozy Home Scenes

Autumn Floral Wall Basket And A Winner

    Don't you feel like summer just flew by? I think part of it is because it was too hot to enjoy the season. To me, it feels like it should be the beginning of August. However, a recent trip to Hobby Lobby and Michael's got me in the mood to start doing my autumn crafts. Last week, I kind of went nuts buying wood supplies and florals to make new things, and of course I'll be sharing them with you.

Ladybugs On My Table


    Ladybugs always make me smile. Okay, maybe not the ones that crawl in my house every spring and fall, but I love the adorable ones in decorating! Therefore, when I saw these plates, I had to have them. Although I enjoyed them all summer, I wanted to use them one more time before autumn officially arrived.


    These napkin rings are just ribbon tacked together to form a circle. Cute ladybug magnets

Fruity Chicken and Rice Salad


    My family loves chicken salad with fruit. Usually, we make it with apples and grapes, but it's nice to experiment with different fruits and textures. This recipe has a citrus influence, and the addition of the rice makes this recipe easy to serve for a meal.

    Although the recipe may look complicated, it's really easy. Basically you cook the chicken, then the rice, then prepare the salad

Thank You And Giveaway Reminder


    I always like to take the time to give a little shout out to those who have featured me lately. It means more than you know that you like my posts and the things I make enough to showcase them on your own blogs! If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to check out these blogs today!

    **********
    Thank you Leanne of Organize And Decorate Everything for featuring my Cow Flour Sack Towel

Make Breakfast Easier With Pillsbury

    We are all pressed for time, and many of us don't have time to cook breakfast. Pillsbury has come to the rescue with a new line of microwavable products to help us have a hot breakfast in 6 minutes or less. Made with quality ingredients like real egg, tasty meat, cheese, Grands! Biscuits and Green Giant vegetables, this new line of quick and delicious frozen breakfast dishes come in 6 flavorful

The True Life Of A Model


    Hello friends! It's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua, checking in again.  Today I wanted to share some pictures with you, so you can see how rough I have it some days!

    Yesterday, Mommy woke me up early because she was making a new collar that she wanted me to model for you. However, I was busy playing with someone else in the family. You know how we divas are, we love attention!

    It can't be MY fault

Flour Sack Gift Bag


    Everyone likes to receive a thoughtful gift from family and friends, but to me gifts are always extra special when they are in a pretty package. I like to make simple fabric bags for gift giving because the person who receives them can use them again and again. There is no paper to throw away like traditional wrapping paper or disposable paper bags. To my surprise, many people enjoy the bag that

Creamy Vegetable Pasta


    Pasta is one of my family's favorite meals, and we're always always looking for different ways to serve it. Here is another one of our pasta recipes that is quick and easy to make. At the bottom of the recipe, I give you some ideas of how to make this recipe gluten free, lower fat, or vegetarian so everyone in your family can enjoy it too.



    Creamy Vegetable Pasta
    1 pound box pasta (penne or

Help Your Dog's Mobility With Hill's Science Diet

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hills Pet Nutrition. All opinions are 100% mine.


    We all want to take good care of our dogs, and that includes feeding them good food that is nutritious and has the protein and vitamins they need for a long, healthy life.  Why not give them a food that can help their bones and joints at the same time? Older dogs, those with weight problems, or

Summer Garden Vignette

    This summer has been so hot that we have done very little gardening. The three pots of flowers I'm showing today are the only blooms left in our garden, so I wanted to showcase them one last time before the season is over. Here is a little vignette that I put together using some of my favorite things.

    Impatiens in pots.....


    One of our birdbaths with a chubby little bird taking a dip.....


    I

Kinnikinnick Review and Giveaway and Easy Berry Sauce Recipe


    Since I try to eat gluten free, I'm always looking for new gluten free products to try, and since I love to cook and bake myself, I especially love all the baking mixes that are on the market now. When Kinnikinnick asked me to review their baking mixes, I jumped at the chance. After all, I've tried their prepackaged food many times, so I was looking forward to having the same quality foods that

Shrimp Pasta Alfredo


    This is a delicious, satisfying and quick meal that's good enough to serve for guests, but is easy enough to serve as an everyday meal that can be adapted for any number of people from two to a large crowd.

    Cook time is less than 15 minutes. For those of you who eat gluten free, you can enjoy this meal by using gluten free spaghetti. and make sure your Alfredo sauce is gluten free. (I use

My Crochet Projects

    When I was a little girl, my Mom taught me the single crochet stitch, but it wasn't until about 6 or 7 years ago that I bought a book and taught myself the other stitches and really enjoyed this hobby. Although I've shared a few things I have made, I thought you might like to see some of my favorite projects from years past.

    This baby romper, jacket, and headband set was probably my most

Using Fresh Greenery In Home Decorating

    One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is to sit with a stack of good decorating books and magazines. This picture in the current Elegant Homes looked so simple, but so appealed to me!



    My Inspiration Photo: Credits to Elegant Homes Magazine Winter 2011, page 17. Photo by Michael Partenio

    It inspired me to create a similar vignette using things I already had around the house

Customized Postcards Giveaway


    Personalized postcards are perfect to use as Christmas cards, for invitations to a party, or to use for advertising for your antique, craft business, etsy shop, etc. If you have been hesitant to buy customized cards because of the price, Uprinting.com offers  high end, yet cheap postcard printing for personal and business use.

    When shopping with UPrinting.com, you can design your own postcards

Polenta Cakes With Tarragon Mushroom Sauce


    Do you like grits? I know most people either love them or hate them.

    If you don't like them, next time, try polenta! Polenta is really the same as grits, but the grain is larger and yellow instead of white. You can prepare both grits and polenta the same ways, but I like the grainier texture of polenta better.

    Today, I'll share one of my favorite ways to make polenta. These cakes can be

Progression Of A Sunset

    This is the view we have every night in front of our house. Our former neighbor who lived across the street told us many times that the reason she built that house was to enjoy this beautiful view from her back porch every night. If you haven't sat on your porch this summer to view God's beautiful masterpiece, take the time to do it in the next few weeks to enjoy the summer sun!


    The heavens

Design Your Own Tote Bag and Transfer Paper Info

    I always need a bag to grab on the go to haul all my stuff, so when Bowdabra asked me to make an item for back to school week, I wanted to come up with something that could be adaptable for any age. After all, both little girls and we big girls love functional yet pretty things, don't we?


    This tote bag would be perfect to carry books from the library or school, but it can also be used to carry

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!

    Today, I'm joining Shelia's Rooster and Chicken party and thought you'd enjoy seeing some of the many roosters in our home.

    Most of our roosters are figurines....


    ......but there are some more unusual things like plates......




    ......pictures......


    .....and towels.


    Some are new, like this hen I bought at HomeGoods a few weeks ago.



    Canning My First Tomatoes
    Some are vintage like

Canning My First Tomatoes


    I hope you aren't tired of my produce pictures yet. Can you bear with me one more time?

    Last week, I mentioned that my Dad grew everything under the sun on the 7 acres of land we owned when I was a child. Back then, we had the space, so my Dad utilized it with two gardens and two greenhouses on our property. This was where most of our vegetables came from at the time, and my Mom was always

Thank You and StumbleUpon

    Hi everyone. There are a few people I'd like to thank this week for making the effort to feature some of my posts! If you've never been to their blogs or haven't visited the blog parties mentioned today, this is a great chance to pop over to their blogs to introduce yourselves. I'm sure all these women would love the visit!
    **********
    Thank you Malia of Yesterday on Tuesday for sharing my Baked

Farmhouse Table Setting

    I don't consider myself a tablescaper like some of you are, but here is my attempt at a farmhouse table I put together to show off my vintage carnival glass and quilt with blue and yellow flowers. Hope you like it!

    I wish these vegetables came from my own garden, but as I said a few days ago, we are not able to have a garden due to subdivision restrictions. For some reason, the home owners'

Summer Food Ideas

    Many of us enjoy entertaining in the warmer weather months by having a picnic, a BBQ, or just enjoying a simple meal without a lot of work or time in front of the stove. My Blog Spark and Erica Domesek have teamed up to help us with Betty 10: Red Hot Summer Trends from Betty Crocker.
    Here are 5 great tips to help with your summer parties or just to make everyday dinners a little more fun!Pie

Cow Flour Sack Towel


    Don't you love flour sack dish towels? We've needed some new kitchen towels, and I came across these large flour sacks at Ross a few days ago. Although I love the homey, rustic look of flour sack towels, I found the solid white ones at the store to be very plain, so I decided to make them look like the vintage ones with pretty images. Therefore, I embellished mine with some transferred images

How Does Your Garden Grow?

    How is your garden growing in this almost unbearable summer heat? Our flowers and shrubs are blooming, but they just do not look as lush as they have in previous years. The blooms on our roses are very small, and the poor impatiens are practically begging for cooler temperatures.


    I grew up surrounded by plants and beautiful flowers because my parents owned and ran a small greenhouse business

Crafts For Kids and A Winner



    I know many of my readers have children or grandchildren. Now that it's mid summer, have they reached that "I'm so bored" state that all kids reach during their summer break? If so, keep them occupied with crafts.

    Sandy Sandler of Bowdabra has a non profit organization called Crafters 4 Kids. It's a website to find free craft ideas that children can do in 5 minutes with 5 dollars (or under)

Raspberry Zucchini Bread


    Those of you who have vegetable gardens know what prolific producers zucchini plants are. There always seems to be more zucchini than you could possibly use. Well, bake some of these yummy loaves to put in the freezer, and you will thank me later!

    We are not permitted to have a garden where we live now, but we have tried to grow yellow squash, tomatoes, and zucchini in decorative pots. We were

Crochet Bow Tie Pet Collar


    Hello friends, it's Mommy's chihuahua Holly checking in again. Thanks for all your compliments about me a couple of weeks ago when I modeled my Crochet Flower Pet Collar. It's hard to be humble with so many sweet compliments, but I try to keep a level head.

    When I shared that pattern, I promised my boy doggie friends that Mommy would make a collar pattern for them, so they could be handsome.

Christmas Bells and Giveaway Reminder

    Happy Saturday! I know it sounds silly to be posting a Christmas craft in July, but there are only 5 1/2 months to complete all your handmade Christmas goodies before the holiday. Bowdabra is trying to help you start your planning early with their Christmas in July week, full of ideas like stockings, hair bows, wreaths, and more.


    I designed these Christmas bells to hang on a door knob. By

Friday Feature: The Polohouse

    Happy Friday! Today I'm featuring Alison of The Polohouse.


    This is Alison of The Polohouse.

    Have you ever heard of anyone who lives in a barn? You have now! The Polohouse is a home converted from a former Polo barn and stable built in the 1930's. In the 70's, it was turned into a family dwelling.  Having lived on a horse farm most of her life, Alison has fully embraced the equestrian style to

Enjoying A Lazy Afternoon

    Everyone needs a quiet place to get away to relax and read. I thought you might like to see my special spot where I go to read some of my favorite magazines and enjoy a cup of tea.

    Since I was a little girl, I've always dreamed of having a window seat, so when my family built this home, it seemed like the perfect time to make my dream come true.


    As you can see, I'm one of those women who

Making Laundry Easier With Purex



    Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy
    
    Although laundry is my favorite household chore, I know a lot of people hate the task of doing laundry each week. Why not make it faster and easier with the products you are using? Recently, I got the chance to try out two products from Purex, which have made laundry day easier! Purex Complete with Zout comes to our rescue to help fight stains. This is a

Thank You!

    Every few weeks, I love to give a shout out to those of you who are kind enough to showcase my work on your blogs. It means so much to me that you like what I do enough to share it with others, so today I'd like to return the favor. You girls have given Holly a big head by showing off two of her posts this week!
    

    Photo courtesy of Coffee Queen. She made one of my pet collars for her dog.
    

Baked Fish With Lemon Dill Compound Butter


    If you are looking for healthy meal to serve your family that is also easy and quick to make, today's recipe is the one for you. Fish can easily be kept in the freezer and can be enjoyed any time of the year. This is one of my family's favorite recipes, so I hope you enjoy it too.

    The compound butter can be served on the fish, but it is also wonderful on vegetables or could be served on bread.

Friday Feature: Lemon Lane Cottage

    Here it is Friday again, and today I want to showcase Lemon Lane Cottage. I'm sure many of you recognize the pretty yellow roses from her beautiful blog.


    Actually, my Mom found Patty's blog first because those bright flowers caught her eye, and she suggested I take a look. I'm so glad she told me about this blog because I immediately loved Lemon Lane Cottage too! Patty has a true eye for

French Inspired Vase


    Hi everyone! Like many of you, I love reading decorating magazines. craft books, and other blogs because there are so many creative ideas to find if you keep your eye open for them. Even when you aren't consciously looking for an idea, sometimes even something simple can give you the inspiration for a beautiful new decoration for your home.

    For example, earlier this year, I picked up the Summer

Pimento Cheese Sandwich Supreme


    On a beautiful summer day, nothing is quite as nice as a picnic. Many of us pack sandwiches for picnics or for every day on the go meals.  As those of you who eat gluten free know, the most frustrating part of the gluten free journey is that when you begin your new diet, giving up your regular bread is really hard.
    When I first began eating gluten free, I made my own bread, but I missed the

Mini Bowdabra Giveaway!

    I know Monday isn't always something we look forward to, so let's make this day a little brighter with a GIVEAWAY!

    Whether you want to create bows for.....

     ......Home Decor.....


    Learn how to make this garden hat here

    ......Holidays......


    The bow on my edible candy wreath was made with the original Bowdabra, but can be made with the Mini Bowdabra.
    
    ......Scrapbooking and Paper Crafting

Crochet Flower Pet Collar


    Hello friends, it's Mommy's chihuahua Holly checking in again. Hard to believe I'm back so soon, isn't it? Back when I shared my traumatic bath experience, many of you liked the collar I wore after my bath. I've wanted to tell you how to make it ever since, but it's taken me a long time to get Mommy to write the instructions for how she made it. Well, she finally got the pattern finished, so I'm

Make Your Own Burlap Wall Art


    Whenever I'm shopping, I'm always looking for ideas that I can recreate myself. I saw something similar to the picture I'm sharing today when shopping at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. My first thought was "how cute", then immediately I realized the simplicity of the design and knew the idea could easily be copied.....I mean get inspiration from!

    After deciding what supplies would be involved in

Thank You!

    Every few weeks, I like to thank others who take the time and trouble to feature me on their blogs. With all the wonderful things to look at in blogland, know that I truly do appreciate anyone who chooses to show off my stuff!

    **********

    Thank you Laurie from Tip Junkie for showing of my Gluten Free Coconut Lime Cake on your Tip Me Tuesday Features.

    Thanks Helen of Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Grilled Peaches


    Grilling is not just for meat. Most of us typically grill hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks, but once you try grilling vegetables and fruit, you'll be hooked.
    Warm, soft, sugary, and caramelized peaches are very quick and easy to make as a delicious dessert. They are even better served with ice cream! Usually I serve them with vanilla ice cream, but caramel or peach ice cream are very good with

Holly's July 4th Greetings


    Hi humans and fellow doggie friends! It's me, Mommy's chihuahua Holly, checking in again!

    Since it's a holiday, Mommy put me in this red, white, and blue dress she made for me last year. Oh dear! I gained a little weight since last year, so thank goodness my dress still fits! A couple of weeks ago, Mommy made this patriotic headband to match my dress, so I put that on today too.


    Although I'm

July 4th Plans

    Do you enjoy celebrating the 4th of July as much as I do? Hard to believe anyone wouldn't enjoy the warm weather, good food, and all the fun activities with family and friends this day brings.


    Our family is quite small, but we always enjoy being together on the 4th. My brother always comes in for the holiday, so we celebrate his birthday during this time. His real birthday is the following week

How To Make An Americana House


    Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. As I mentioned on Friday, I'll be doing a couple of 4th of July projects this week. How the time slipped up on me, I'm not quite sure, but this little house can  be completed quickly and can be enjoyed for the 4th, Labor Day, Memorial Day, or just for every day for a home with country or Americana decor.

    I really love decorating these little houses

Friday Feature: 4th Of July Projects

    Have you made anything for the 4th of July yet? The holiday seemed to slip up on me, but I have a project listed below and a craft project I'll share on Monday.

    In addition to my project, I thought we could all use some inspiration for quick and easy ideas for the 4th, so here are some of my favorite ideas from around the web.
    All photos belong to the bloggers mentioned and have been used with

Cute Bunny Planter

    I found this cute bunny planter at a local greenhouse where I used to sell crafts. I still love to shop there because they have such a good selection of unusual garden and home accessories. Although I loved the adorable tree and bunny, I really wasn't crazy about the terra cotta color, so my Mom painted it for me since I haven't had time to do it recently.



    Bunny planter as purchased.



    Isn't

A Project And A Winner

    Happy Wednesday everyone! Hard to believe it's already the halfway mark of the week.

    I mentioned a few days ago that I'm designing projects for Bowdabra. Did you notice the garden hat hanging on my parents cottage style porch? Well, here is a detailed picture of it:


    If you would like to make your own garden hat, the instructions with step by step pictures are here on the Bowdabra Blog!

    In

Gluten Free Coconut Lime Cake


    Since I try to eat gluten free and my family doesn't, I'm always trying to find gluten free recipes that taste "normal" so both my family and I can enjoy them. One thing that they like the same as I do are Betty Crocker gluten free cake mixes. Therefore, we've experimented with different recipes to make a plain yellow or chocolate cake be a special dessert.

    The recipe I'm sharing today combines

Giveaway Deadline Reminder and Thanks!

    Don't forget that today is the LAST DAY to enter my Craft and DIY with Elmer's Giveaway. Please don't ask to be entered on this post.....only entries on the official entry form count. This contest has a rather low entry number, so you still have a good chance of winning some great Elmer's products including letter and number stencils, glues and adhesive, markers, and more. You have until 11:59pm 

How To Make Bows



    Learn how to make bows for projects like my Decorative Box Tutorial.
    There are a lot of people who avoid certain crafts that require a bow because they don't know how to make one. Don't be intimidated because there is an easy and quick way to make beautiful bows. I'll share my tricks with you.

    When attempting bows for the first time, my recommendation is to start with wire edged ribbon. It is

Cottage Style Porch Tour


    Welcome to our porch tour! Last week I told you I would take you on a tour of the little porch off my parents' bedroom, and thankfully I found the perfect rug for the space on Wednesday, so the decorating is complete. I wasn't sure how the pictures would turn out since Mother Nature gave us storms yesterday, and we were supposed to get more today. However, I went out early this morning when the

Pretty Thrifty Finds

    Recently, I've been doing a lot of thrifting, therefore, I'm sharing a few of my finds today. When I read other blogs, you girls always talk about getting things dirt cheap at the thrift store, but I never find those great bargains in our area.  Most of the thrift shops where I live sell a lot of chipped or broken things at inflated prices. However, I've managed to find a few places that have a

Easy Vintage Inspired Artwork


    Today's project is a very quick and easy way to reuse old picture frames to make artwork for your home. Don't worry if you aren't an artist, because this is a simple project that anyone can do, and you can adjust this art to work with any size frame.

    This is a very economical project, and more than likely you have all or most of the supplies already. The only thing I had to buy was a picture

Craft and DIY with Elmer's Giveaway


    When I was a little girl, I used to be excited when my parents or someone I knew gifted me with new craft supplies. Many times I made construction paper crafts using Elmer's glue, so this is a brand that I have known and trusted since my childhood. Once I started wood crafting and doing DIY repairs on our house as an adult, I realized Elmer's offers more than just kids' craft glue.

    Adhesives

My First Painted Rose

    Happy Friday everyone! So sorry I did not do my porch reveal as promised yesterday. I decided to buy a rug to go on the porch, but haven't found one I like that fits and is also affordable. The rug is on the top of my "to buy" list, so I really will share the reveal next Thursday whether I find the rug or not.

    However, I will share another sneak peek! Every good resting spot needs a place to

How To Make A Tassel



    Learn how to make a basic tassel.

    Tassels are so pretty for home decor or crafts, but they are usually very expensive when buying one at the store. Today, I thought I'd show you how to make you own because they are easy and cheap to assemble with whatever materials you have on hand. You can use yarn as I have for my tassel, but embroidery thread, twine, strips of fabric, or strands of beads

Cheesy Sausage Pinwheels


    For breakfast on the run, as snacks, or served as a party appetizer, these pinwheels hit the mark!  They are substantial enough for breakfast, but just right for a quick snack. Serve with pizza sauce or honey mustard, and they are wonderful for a party. Best of all, these cheesy sausage pinwheels can be made ahead and reheated whenever you are ready to serve them.

    Cheesy Sausage Pinwheels
    1 (

Giveaway Reminders

    I hope you are having a great weekend! This is just a quick reminder to let you know this is the LAST weekend to enter either of my current contests.

    Entries must be made on the official  giveaway posts to count and NOT this post.

    For my Cupcake Love contest to win cupcake baking supplies, here is the official entry form.

    If you want to win some Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mixes, go here to

Thank You!

    Because of the blogger mess, I didn't get to properly thank everyone who has featured my stuff in the last couple of weeks, so I wanted to take the time to do that now! It means a lot to me that you've enjoyed my posts enough to share them with others.



    My chicken salad pockets apparently were very popular. Thanks to the following people for sharing them:
    Carrie of Dittle Dattle featured them

Progress On My Porch

    A couple of weeks ago, I shared some design inspirations for a tiny porch just off my parents' master bedroom. If you are a long time reader, you know that due to some unforeseen circumstances, I live with my parents.

    Anyone else probably would have had this porch finished by now, but we were delayed by several mishaps involving painting some old furniture  Therefore, today, I am giving you a

Tangy Pasta Salad



    In the warm weather months, it's nice to have something to serve that is easy to prepare and cool to eat. Almost everyone has a pasta salad that they like, but this is the one my family enjoys the most because it is made with simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry or fridge. The recipe for today is a basic recipe that can be changed easily with your choice of dressings,

Enjoy A Mosquito Free Summer

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mosquito Magnet for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

    It's hard to believe that summer is right around the corner, isn't it? Each summer I look forward to tending to my gardens and enjoying warm weather and sunny days. In the early evening, it's nice to sit on my back porch for the cool breeze that comes in the early evening.

    One thing 

Happy Memorial Day!

    Do you know the history of Memorial Day?

    This day was first called Decoration Day and honored those who died during the Civil War. People would take flowers to the graves of their loved ones who lost their lives in the war. After World War 1, it was changed to Memorial Day and honors anyone who died during any war. By 1971, Memorial Day became a Federal holiday to be celebrated on the last

Betty Crocker Baking Contest and Giveaway



     My Gluten Free Fried Chicken made with Gluten Free Bisquick

    I've mentioned many times that for health purposes, I started eating gluten free about a year or two ago. Although I have never been diagnosed with celiac, I had some digestive issues that I hoped would be helped with a better diet.

    Thankfully my new way of eating has helped me feel better. Yet when I first went gluten free, I

Pink and Rosy

    *Knock, knock* Anyone still here? I'm sorry I haven't been posting this week. By now, I'm sure many of you are aware that blogger has been having some issues lately. I've been having trouble leaving comments on blogs and different features of my sidebar have gone off and on. I felt it was better to wait it out than to attempt to hang around here too much. After 4 days, I've missed YOU, so I'm

Bacon Corn Pudding


    We all look forward to the fresh vegetables from our gardens or the farmer's market in the summer. For many of us, our favorite fresh summer vegetable is corn on the cob. The recipe I'm sharing would be perfect for fresh corn, but is also good year round with frozen corn like I used today. Corn pudding makes a delicious and easy side dish for any meal. This recipe makes a large pudding, so for

Cupcake Love Giveaway



    All of the winner's gifts.

    Hello gang! This is part one of a Giveaway Extravaganza that will be happening on my blog for the next few weeks!

    Today's the day of my big Cupcake Giveaway. Although everyone says this, it's really true that I didn't know how my blog would be perceived when I first started it, so I'm happy that so many of you enjoy my blog enough to want to keep coming back. I

Plans For Our Porch

    Is there an area of your house have you neglected? Please tell me you have one so I won't feel so bad sharing mine today.

    At our house, the most neglected area, which has been largely ignored the 12 years we've lived here, is a tiny porch off the master bedroom. Although we've tried decorating, nothing we have tried has made this area come together.

    This year, we decided this is the time to

Apparently The Decorating Is Never Done

    Wow, two posts in one day! I must be on a roll because this is rare for me. If you haven't read my post from this morning, be sure to scroll down to check that one too.

    Now on to the real topic for this post......


    Girls, I give you permission to call me (and my Mom) crazy! Did you see our living room a few weeks ago? We got it looking nice and thought we were finished decorating it.



    Our

Giveaway News And Thanks

    Good morning everyone!

    Thank you so much to those of you who are following me. When I started this blog, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I truly appreciate that so many of you like my blog enough to want to come back! I'm still getting my prize pack together, but look for the 300th follower giveaway very soon! I'm really excited about this gift and totally wish I could keep it for

Household Tip: Chocolate Baking Tips


    It's hard to find many people who don't love the velvety, sweet taste of chocolate! Yet, it's frustrating when you want to bake something special, only to find you don't have the right kind of chocolate the recipe requires. I sometimes have questions about the type of chocolate to use myself, so if you are like me, we can learn together today.

    Types of Chocolate
    Whether a chocolate is 

How To Make A Tussie Mussie


    The tussie mussie, otherwise known as a nosegay or paper cone, was introduced in the 1700's before indoor plumbing was available. The women of this time period would carry these small bouquets of flowers to fend off odors. However, the popularity of the tussie mussie really picked up in the Victorian era between the 1830's to the early 1900's.

    Both men and women of the Victorian era loved

Household Tip for Brown Sugar and Thanks

    Good day everyone!

    From time to time, I will be sharing a few household tips that make our lives easier. Today's tips are ones you have probably heard already, but I'm sharing them anyway because they really do work.



    If you keep brown sugar in your pantry for a long time like I do, you know it can get hard. That's because the water in brown sugar can evaporate, therefore over time the sugar

Chicken Salad Pockets


    During my senior year in college, one of my required classes involved living in a house with 4 other girls and our resident director. The purpose of the house was to teach us how to manage our time between work (or in our case school) and running a household, which is what we would be facing a few months later when we graduated and moved on with our "real" lives.

    At the end of the semester, we

Sweet and Colorful Cupcake


    "When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile."-quote by Anne Byrn
    Everyone loves the sugary cuteness of cupcakes! What we don't always love is the added pounds that come with indulging in too many of them. Why not make a no calorie cupcake so you can enjoy it's cuteness all the time?
    I'm sure you've guessed by now how much I love using flower pots in my craft projects. They are very

Friday Feature: Dwellings- The Heart Of Your Home

    From time to time, I'll be featuring other great blogs or great ideas from the web. Today I wanted to feature one of my blogging friends, Cindy from Dwellings- The Heart Of Your Home. I first learned about Cindy a few months ago when she left a sweet comment here on my blog, and she's been a loyal reader and blog follower ever since.

    


    This is Cindy.
    
    Although I've never met Cindy in real

Revealing The Secret

    Last week when I gave you a tour of my family's living room, I showed you this buffet with the promise I would share more about it's history and the secret behind it this week.



    I don't know anything about the history of this particular buffet. My mom bought it at an antique store about 15 years ago because she loved all the carvings and details on it. Up until that point, we had never cared

Thank You and Giveaway Win!

    Since last September when I began blogging, I have been lucky enough to be featured on a number of blogs. The other day, it dawned on me that other than thanking the bloggers on their own blogs I haven't really properly been expressing my gratitude for these people helping to spread my name around. Therefore, here are some people I'd like to thank this week!


    Today I wanted to thank Amanda of

Decorative Box Tutorial


    Most of us have many important events in May and June including Mother's Day, weddings, birthdays, graduations, or maybe we have a special friend we want to honor. Make your gift unique and special by presenting it in a lovely handmade decorative box. Gifts seem more special when some thought and effort has been put into making the presentation pretty with special packaging. A gift can be placed

Living Room and Gratitude

    Today's post is a little on the serious side. I have been planning for a while to show pictures of our house. I'll be sharing our living room today, but with much more gratitude than ever for having a cozy, safe, and comfortable home with a family who loves the Lord. As you may know, I live in the South, and yesterday most of the South was faced with horrible weather conditions. The particular

Strawberry Coffee Cake


    I do not like a big breakfast first thing in the morning, so I am always looking for things that are light, yet filling. This coffee cake is one that my Mom or I bake from time to time for a change from muffins or cereal. It can be made the night before if you prefer. The flavor can be changed to whatever fruit is in season by changing the flavor of the jelly or preserves in the cake, along with

Painted Plant Wall Art



    We are all watching our pennies these days, so I thought it would be good to show you how to make pretty, yet inexpensive wall art. I'll share how to use these plaques as a small grouping, then how to feature them as a larger piece of art.

    Sorry this tutorial does not have step by step pictures. I made these plaques years ago, and they have been in storage for a while, but I will tell you step

The Real Easter Story

    Although I've shared many of the cute things of Easter with the bunnies and eggs, I wanted to take time to remind everyone to remember the true reason that we celebrate Easter today.



    Jesus paid a debt he did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay! Thank you, Jesus!

    Those of us who grew up in Christian homes have heard the Easter story many times. If you are not a Christian and

Easter Greetings From Holly

    Hi everyone! It's Holly, Mommy's chihuahua checking in again to inform you of what it is like being me.

    As I have blogged before, Mommy loves to make outfits for me for every holiday. I have also told you how much I do not like wearing clothing, especially those that attract a lot of attention from strangers. I try to remain calm, but having strange people shrieking "Oh how cute" and wanting to

Join Me For An Easter Brunch


    Where has this week gone? I've been so busy the time has really flown by. Although I keep forgetting to mention it, thank you to those of you who have featured my blog recently or posted one of my projects on a forum. I really do appreciate you helping new people find my blog!

    Thanks for stopping by to have an Easter brunch with me today!

    Hope you enjoy the simple tablescape I made for you....

Easter Egg Cakes

    As we all know, holidays are usually associated with candy and sweet goodies. Years ago, I found some egg shaped pans, which make mini cakes for Easter. I believe Wilton still makes them, but if not, I've seen similar pans wherever Easter decorations or crafts are sold.

    Today, I thought it would be fun to show you how to a surprise your family and guests with a simple cake you make special with

Crochet Easter Bunny Pattern



    I first picked up a crochet hook when I was a little girl, probably around eight years old. At that time, my mom taught me how to single crochet, but I was a little girl with big dreams. Although I planned big projects, I don't believe I ever finished any of them. Eventually I grew tired to this hobby and stopped crocheting for a long time.

    Then a few years ago, I wanted to try again. This

Some Comments On Comment Courtesy


    I read a lot of blogs like most of you do and have noticed a subject that keeps coming up time and again. I thought maybe it was time we all think about what is courteous to do when leaving comments on other people's blogs.

    From the time I first read blogs even before I had my own, I was under the impression that leaving a comment was supposed to be about the topic on hand. Therefore, when I

Pretty Spring Colors

    When I was looking through my pictures today, I found many pretty spring things that I thought you'd enjoy seeing.

    Nothing quite says spring like bunnies and Easter baskets! This was so much fun to make since it has all of my favorite spring time colors.


    Look closely at this pink dogwood tree. I didn't realize until I took the picture that an insect was enjoying this sunny spring day.


    This

Eggs In A Fluffy Nest Recipe


    Good Morning! Have you had your breakfast yet? As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Incorporating eggs in your morning meal is a good way to get more protein that gets you through the morning.

    I'm always sharing recipes for lunch or dinner, so I've wanted to share a breakfast recipe. Therefore, I thought it would be fun to share this egg recipe that would be perfect to

Burlap Covered Vase Tutorial

    I love reading magazines to get new-to-me ideas, and I'm always finding inspiration for new decorating ideas or crafts to make. While flipping through my old Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Cottage Style, I saw the picture below:



    Photo by Amy Neunsinger and Adam Albright in Cottage Style Magazine Fall/Winter 2010

    Notice those burlap covered vases. I loved them and knew they would be a quick, easy,

Another Aged Cherub

    Last fall I shared how to decorate with cherubs, I promised to make a step by step tutorial to show how I age them with paint. I still don't have the full tutorial for older gold cherubs you find at the antique store. However, I was given a white cherub last Christmas and thought you'd like to see how I aged it.

    Remember, I've told you before not to pay attention to how something is displayed

Introductory Advertising Rates



    Tulips From My Garden
    
    A couple of months ago, I started getting e-mails asking about my ad policy. After some thought, I decided to accept ads on my blog. You may or may not have noticed that I added a section on my menu about my advertising policies. However, I thought I would share a bit about how advertising works on my blog.

    If you have a business or blog that features family friendly

Make Your Own Easter Cottage

    Welcome to a new week everyone! Do you remember the Christmas Cottage I shared with you in December?



    That was one of my favorite craft projects, and I knew then that I wanted to make a similar Easter Cottage. My inspiration came from these teeny tiny rabbits found with the doll house accessories at Hobby Lobby. I'd estimate these rabbits to be a half inch to one inch tall.



    Inspiration

Friday Feature: Easter Projects

    Happy Friday Everyone! Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am.

    Because everyone has been enjoying my Easter projects, I thought it would be fun to showcase some adorable and quick Easter projects that other bloggers have done. Visit their sites to learn how they made all these wonderful crafts. Hopefully, there have been a couple you have missed that will be the perfect project for your

Faux Daisy Grain Sack


    Because there were not plastic bags in the old days like there are today, manufacturers put merchandise such as seeds, grains, feed, flour, and cornmeal in bags made out of cloth.  The customers would bring the bag back to be refilled, but later the manufacturers found it easier to sell pre filled bags. Therefore, the customers found new ways to use their bags at home, because they did not waste

Decorate Cakes And More With Cricut Cake

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ProvoCraft for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


    Have you ever wanted to make your own designer cakes but don't know how? Maybe you are like me and know how to decorate cakes, but don't do them often because cake decorating can be so time consuming and messy. If so, take a look at the Cricut Cake machine from Provo Craft.

    In case you

Basic Sugar Cookies For Easter


    One of my favorite holiday treats has always been sugar cookies with icing. They are fun to make and even more enjoyable to eat. Best of all, everyone seems to love them.

    When I go to a party or a cookie swap, I usually take these. Years ago when I was in high school, I baked these for a Christmas party at school. You know how it is at that age. I was terribly embarrassed when I got to school

How To Make Easter Wreath Topiary

    Do you ever find yourself seeing something at a store and knowing you could make a better version for a lot less money? That was how the project I am sharing today came to be. On Friday, I was at Pier 1 Imports and saw this Floral and Egg Topiary:



    Image belongs to Pier 1 Imports. If you don't want to make your own wreath topiary, buy this one! It's adorable in person!

    I liked it, but knew I

They Like Me! They Really Like Me!



    Holly, The Diva!

    Hi humans! It's Mommy's doggie Holly checking in again! Thank you for all  your kind comments about my bath time post I did a while back. I would have thanked you sooner, but Mommy is addicted to her computer. It's really hard to find time when she isn't on it, so I can talk to my friends.
     Today, I have some really exciting news to share! You know I'm not very fond of the

A Little Spring Vignette

    Hard to believe spring is here, but the weather is warming up, a few flowers are coming up in the garden, and last night we had our first spring storm. To get in the mood of the season, my Mom and I made a small vignette, which I thought you might like to see. It could easily be adapted to a small chair bought at a craft store or a real chair to make a similar vignette that would be perfect for a

Chicken Lombardy Recipe


    Before I jump into today's post, thanks for all the comments and views yesterday on my Easter Egg Topiary. I noticed views coming from Tumblr and the eBay forums, so special thanks to those of you who mentioned me in those places!

    Now on with the yummy recipe.....

    My family loves cooking with wine for the flavor it gives to food. One of my brother's favorite meals that I cook when he comes

Easter Egg Topiary Tutorial



    Learn how to make your own Easter Topiary!

    When decorating for Easter this year, I made most of my decorations so they would be unique to me. This Easter topiary looks a lot more complicated to make than it really is, and if you buy the supplies on sale, it really isn't that expensive.

    When you are buying the supplies, buy the cone  base first because this will determine the size for all the

Shabby French Bench Makeover

    Do you remember this bench I purchased for my bedroom?



    Bench As Purchased
    I finally got around to painting it last week. Although I loved the rust, the bench was going to be placed in front of my dark bed. To show off the pretty details of the bench, it needed to be painted to give a contrast between the two pieces of furniture.

    First I dry brushed white on the rust, then dabbed the entire

Money Saving Series Part 6: Damaged Goods



    If you just found me today, let me share a little background on this money saving series. Every week or two, I share a different money saving tip. If you wish to read any old parts of this series, you can find them here.

    Today's topic will require a little imaginative thinking and some work, but you can save a ton of money if you are willing to buy damaged items at a retail store.

    Look past

Random Stuff And A Winner

    Hi Everyone!

    A few fun things to discuss today, so let's dive right in!

    I noticed yesterday that someone put my Lazy Daisy Flower Pot Tutorial on facebook and there were a lot of new people who found my blog from that. I don't use facebook, so I don't know who you are, but thank you!

    I don't have a recipe for this week, but if you are looking for great recipes or have one to add to a blog

How To Paint A Rosebud



    Learn how to make these in today's tutorial.
    
    Last week, I was asked how I made the rose buds on my Lazy Daisy Flower Pot. I wanted to show this in a post rather than answering it in a comment because the rose is a bit more complicated than the other painted elements on the pot.

    


    These are the same rosebuds as the tutorial. They are just painted in different colors and a smaller brush

Final Weekend for my CSN Giveaway

    Good day everyone!

    Don't forget this is the final weekend to enter my CSN Giveaway. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate that can be used on any item in any CSN store!

    Although I love getting new followers, remember this giveaway is also for my old followers. I haven't seen many of you this time.

    If anyone (old or new followers welcome) wants to enter the giveaway, go to the

Spring Flowers Will Come Again

    How has the weather been in your area?

    Last week, it was sunny and warm here, and we even saw daffodils, signaling the first signs of spring in the area. Sadly, it did not last long, as it started getting cold, dark, and gray again last Sunday and stayed like that all week. It was only today that it is sunny again, but by now all the flowers are gone.

    I thought some cheery flowers might perk

Wild Blueberry Muffins With Lemon Ginger Compound Butter


    My family usually does not eat a large breakfast. A typical breakfast, is usually yogurt or cereal. However, one morning last week, my Mom surprised us with a batch of homemade muffins and compound butter.

    Since these were made with the help of a box of muffin mix, I did not eat the muffins because I eat gluten free as much as possible. For a gluten free version, I'm sure you can make this

Lazy Daisy Flower Pot Tutorial



    Everyone is always looking for cheap, but pretty storage ideas. Here is a cheap and crafty container that can be used anywhere in your home. This pot holds scissors and other small items on my sewing table. They can also be used as a mail holder or for small items on a desk. It would also be cute as a housewarming gift filled with seeds and garden tools or with a silk plant to use as an accent

Money Saving Series: Craft Coupons



    Crocheting is one of the many crafts I enjoy.

    I'm very happy so many of you are enjoying my money saving series. Craft items are what I use coupons and find the most deals on, so let's explore these money saving ideas today.

    If you are reading the series for the first time today, this is what you've missed so far:

    Part 1: Overstock.com discount
    Part 2: Decorating Coupons
    Part 3: Grocery

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe


    Last Friday, I went to Earth Fare and receieved my free chicken dinner. Everyone in my family loves roasted chicken, so this is the way I decided to prepare it. Roasting makes the skin nice and brown, yet the meat is tender and juicy. As you may know, there are many ways to roast a chicken using a variety of herbs, stuffing, or fruit, but today I am sharing the recipe my family uses.

    As you may

$20 CSN Giveaway ***Closed No New Entries Accepted***

    It's hard to believe that it's almost March, but that means spring weather is around the corner. Once it is warm outside, wouldn't it be nice for your children to have a swing set?

    Maybe you are looking to buy a wooden swing set like this Swing-n-Slide - PB 8282S - Asheville Wood Complete Play Set:


    They also have metal swing sets like this Flexible Flyer - 42016T - Swing N Glide III Gym Set:

I Am NOT A Happy Camper!




    That's me!

    Hello fellow doggie friends! It's been a few months since I found time when Mommy wasn't posting stupid human stuff so I could check in with you. In case you have forgotten about me, I'm Holly, mommy's little chihuahua.

    Fellow doggies, make sure your mommies aren't in the room when you read this because we have some important things to discuss. Bath time!

    I don't know about you,

Money Saving Series Part 4: More Grocery Saving Tips

    This is a continuation of my money saving series. If you need to catch up here is what you've missed:

    Part 1: Overstock.com discountPart 2: Decorating CouponsPart 3: Grocery Store Coupons

    Since the post on grocery stores was so long, I decided to divide this topic into two posts, so today let's discuss other ways to save money when buying food. Some of these tips are things which can be done on

Candelabra Before and After

    Last week, I showed you my bedroom dresser with this candelabra on it:


    It didn't start out looking like this though. When shopping, I pay more attention to shapes and styles rather than colors, since I know color can easily be changed. For example, you've probably seen these candelabras, which either come in silver or antique gold, at HomeGoods. Although I've always loved these, I have never

Money Saving Series Part 3: Grocery Savings and Coupons

    With the economy being bad and food prices rising, many of us are looking for ways to make our grocery money go farther. Therefore, for this part of my money saving series, I am sharing ways to find grocery coupons for the average shopper, not necessarily for those who are regular coupon clippers.If you want to catch up on the series: here are part 1 and part 2.




    Roasted Vegatables Recipe

Weekend Shopping Fun

    How was your weekend? I thought you might like to see the loot my mom and I brought home on our Girls' Day Out yesterday.

    We hit a few of our favorite shops.....

    Yep, we hit the jackpot! Normally, we do not shop like this, but the stores were well stocked and the prices were great, so we went a little crazy!


    First we went to Ross Dress for Less. Even though this store has been located near me

A Sneak Peek: Decorating My Dresser

    Hi everyone! If you visited yesterday, thanks for your patience while everything was a mess. You may notice I changed the entire layout of my blog. There is still a little tweaking left to do, so you may see some minor oddities in the coming week. I worked so long at my computer yesterday that I have a repetitive use injury in my shoulder. Don't worry, I'll be okay in a few days, but I won't be

Maintanence

    Good afternoon everyone!

    I'll be redoing my blog this afternoon, so things may look a little odd today. Please bear with me and know all will be back to normal soon.

    My regular posting schedule will return tonight, so please come back later.

Money Saving Series Part 2: Decorating Coupons



    Recent purchases to decorate my bathroom.
     
    For the next few weeks, I am sharing ways to save money when decorating or crafting. The idea for the series came once I noticed how many people in my real life ask how I buy things at great prices. Therefore, I thought there might be others who would be interested in learning as well. If you missed last week, read part one here.

    I'm always

Recipe: Almost Homemade Lemon Cake

    As I mentioned a few months ago when I shared my chocolate cake recipe, I usually make desserts on the spur of the moment, so I always have cake mix on hand for a fast dessert. To make them taste more like a homemade cake, I add a few simple ingredients.

    This cake was made before I began eating gluten free, so it calls for a regular lemon cake mix. For a gluten free version, use a gluten free

Valentine's Day Message


    Just a short message.....

    .....wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!


     How are you celebrating? My mom and I each got roses from my dad for Valentine's Day. We decided to turn them into one large arrangement by putting them in a vintage milk glass pitcher given to me by my grandmother.
    Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
    P.S.- In case you haven't noticed, my winter hat prices have

Money Saving Series: Overstock.com Discount Code

    Over the years, friends, family, and random people have asked me how I save money while decorating or crafting. When I was asked the other day by a stranger in a check out line, I knew other people would find this info useful too. For the next few weeks, I'll write a short series on this topic. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and hopefully get some ideas to save money.

    The timing for this series

Recipe: Oven Fried Potatoes


    Last week I shared how to make gluten free fried chicken with the promise you'd get my oven fried potatoes recipe today. This is my favorite way to make potatoes. You see, I am the only person on the planet who hates mashed potatoes. I like them fried, boiled, roasted or baked, but mashed poatoes are disgusting.

    Therefore, I make this recipe quite often because they are easy to make, can be

How to Make A French Inspired Lamp

    
    I have had a difficult time trying to locate affordable shabby chic lamps. You may have seen a a makeover on some lamps I purchased for my nightstands. When looking for a desk lamp, I had the same problem. The only lamp I wanted was a $70 crystal lamp. Not wanting to spend that much money, I knew I could probably create something on my own.

    Finally, I found this lamp I really liked in The

Recipe: Gluten Free Fried Chicken


    When I started eating gluten free, one of the first things I missed was fried chicken because I couldn't eat the flour coating on traditional fried chicken we Southerners enjoy. For those who eat gluten free one of the best things we have now is Gluten Free Bisquick.

    It can be used the same way as regular Bisquick and usually is found on the regular baking aisle at the grocery store. If you

Feathered My Nest

    A couple of weeks ago, I showed you this bird's nest, which was a work in progress. If you remember, I was making it for my pink shabby chic bedroom, so the blue bird no longer matched my decor.


    Before
    
     I painted the bird and a few accents on the nest, yet felt something was missing.


    Matches my decor, but it needs something.
     
    I had wanted to tone down the orange tone of the

Blogging Tip: How To Share Random Giveaway Number

    Have you been wanting to show one of these on your blog but don't know how? Read on because I'm showing you how to save this on your computer and insert it on your blog.   I've seen a few bloggers hosting a contest who do not know how to show the Random Generator number for their readers to see. Today, I'll share how to do it because it is easy, although it does take a few steps.  This

Make a Floral Arrangement Jar

    Do you remember my bird seed jar? Many of you liked it, so I wanted to show you how you can use your imagination and make this idea work for different occasions.



    This is the jar I made before.

    I had Valentine's Day in mind when I planned the colors of my jars, but these jars could easily work for Mother's Day, a birthday, as a hostess gift, to give a little gift to someone who's in the

Pink "Natural" Floral Wreath


    Well girls, it snowed.....again....last night. Thankfully it was gone by noon.  I don't know about you, but I am getting sick of this! Maybe it isn't so bad in places where you normally get snow repeatedly in the winter, but for those of us who normally get snow once a year or every few years, this is horrible!

    Hopefully today's project will make you think of warmer days in the spring.

Before and After Painted Shabby Chic Table

    I mentioned last week that I'm redecorating my bedroom, which has been a 2 year process. Ugh! I'm glad to report there is light at the end of the tunnel! I still have some furniture to paint, some pillows to sew, and some accessories to buy, but that should all be over soon. I'm very pleased with the results so far and will start sharing them in bits and pieces in the next couple of weeks before

Congratulations To......

    Good morning everyone!

    Time to find out the winner of my hat and brooch giveaway.



    Who won this hat and brooch?

    Thanks to all of you who entered. I appreciate all you old followers for continuing to return. Thanks to those of you who are new followers for finding me. Special thanks to those of you who got the word out about my contest through your own blogs or twitter.

    If you entered but

Just A Reminder


    This is a quick post today, but I wanted to remind everyone that today is the last day to enter to win my handmade hat and brooch. No entries will be counted after midnight EST tonight.
     If you haven't entered already or want more entries, you need to get them in today! Only entries made on   the official post will count, so please do not leave your entries here or any other post but that one.

A Work In Progress

    I was hoping to have a bit more of my bedroom redecoraing process for Pink Saturday to show, but I was stuck in the house all week and finally was able to go shopping yesterday. I bought some vintage plates, which I will try to share in the next week or two.

    Instead of the plates, I thought I'd share a little work in progress I've been working on. A few months ago, I found this bird's nest and

Hats For Sale (New Winter Markdowns)

    Edited to show PRICE REDUCTION on all hats!

    Have you been hit by the horrible weather lately?

    To answer my own question, let me share another picture from my backyard......



    Remember I live in the South where we aren't used to snow. Everything shuts down with one snowflake. Then remember we started having snow since the day after Christmas. I'm beginning to feel like those pioneer people who

Make A Sweet And Simple Candle Arrangement

    Today, I thought I'd share how to make the little candle arrangement I've shared many times while showing off my cottage tv room. Even if you can't make pretty arrangements, you should be able to assemble this one  in minutes because it is so easy.


    You'll need:
    A large shallow clear glass bowl
    A clear glass bowl smaller in both width and height of the large bowl (Mine is a small Pyrex

The Never Ending Decorating Process

    Girls, let me just start out by admitting I know this is crazy. That's the first step of finding sanity, isn't it? I sure hope so!

    The past two years has been a constant state of trying to redecorate my bedroom. I'd buy something, live with it for a few months, couldn't pull the room together, then try something new.

    Although I wanted a cottage style look, when I was shopping 2 years ago,

Handmade Hat and Brooch Giveaway



    Winner receives hat and brooch seen in picture.

    Remember this hat I crocheted? I don't wear hats and didn't know what to do with it. After so many of you commented on how much you liked it, I decided since the cold weather season had hit, this would be the perfect time to give it to someone. Therefore, one of you will own this hat soon!

    Some details about the prize:
    -Winner receives both the
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