It Feels Good to be Back..

Hi all,

So I took a longgg break for a number of reasons. It feels great to be back though and look forward to catching up.

It's been a big year for me. For one, I got married. Lots of planning and fun details went not making our wedding our own. The attention to detail is something hear from many of our guests who attended, so I look forward to sharing because a wedding should be your own!

I love everything decor, fashion and food and love to inspire and swap ideas. Please follow my blog  for all things home, cooking, and everything in between.




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A Refreshing Summer Salad

Hi all,

Like many of us, I enjoy a good salad from time to time with a meal. When flipping through coupons or browsing deals at the grocery, I like to keep an eye out for new ways to sort of "spruce up" a salad. Here is a recipe that not only is delicious but also healthy and super easy to make.  I hope you like it as much as I do! Enjoy!

What you will need:

~ 2-3 Green Apples
~ Almond Slivers (Honey Flavored)
~ Craisins
~ Lowfat Vanilla Yogurt
* Note - You can also mix in Pecans

xxoo,

Sarah

Sweet Summertime

Hi all.

So I am a HUGE fruit fanatic. You name it and i'll eat it or use it in a recipe of some sort.  In addition to being a fan of fruit I also am a fan of the summer season. There is something about one fruit in particular and summer that seem to go hand-in-hand. Watermelon.

Maybe it's because many of us have fond memories of eating fresh watermelon while at a summer picnic or we can't help that the thought of sipping a fruity, summer cocktail makes us smile. 

Below are a couple of beverages that taste like summer in a cocktail and call for fresh watermelon. Enjoy.

Watermelon Cocktail

What you need:

~ 4-5 pieces of Watermelon

~1/2 cup vodka

~1/4 cup Triple Sec

~ 1/2 cup Lime juice

Mix these items in a blender and pour over a glass with ice cubes. Complete the drink with a watermelon wedge and a lime if you choose.

Watermelon Daiquiri

What you need:

~2 medium chunks of watermelon

~2 ounces rum

~1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice

~1/2 ounce simple syrup

Mix items and shake vigorously. Pour in a glass and garnish with a melon slice.

“When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat.” ~ Mark Twain

xxoo,

Sarah

Room Proud

Hi all,

I thought it would be sort of fun to do a variety of posts, each featuring a room I am proud of. I am a firm believer that a room should be both warm and welcoming, but most importantly, a reflection of you. My first "room proud" features my living room space. I love this space because it is warm and welcoming but also soft and relaxing.

I love to showcase a pretty window that invites natural light into a room. In my living room I did this by placing two chairs, from my Grandmother, in front of the window and sewing striped pillows to add some color. 

I feel every space should include that one signature piece that you fell in love with. For me, it was this pretty chair. I fell in love with the print and tranquil colors. I added a couple of fun pillows to complete the look.

I leaned a vintage cream colored mirror on my mantle and complimented it with simple candles and large outdoor candles as vases.

For the longest time I wasn't sure what to do with this odd window located at the bottom of my stairs. I am a big fan of different sized and colored letters, whether bought at a craft shop or found at a thrift store. I think letters can give a unique touch to any space.

Dried flowers are a different way to surround yourself with flowers, especially meaningful ones.

I love a great find! One woman's trash is another woman's treasure. I had been looking and looking for a new coffee table but I couldn't find a style, or cost, that I liked. I found this lonely coffee table sitting on a curb with a "free" sign attached. I cleaned it up and gave it a new home.

I enjoy keeping an eye out for fun glassware. I set these different jars and vases on my coffee table. Each has a different style and offers a color that works well in my space. I also like to have them handy in case I need a place to set out fresh cut flowers.

I feel pillows are one of the easiest and least expensive ways give a space some pizazz. I love mismatched, color pillows that can instantly transform a simple couch into beautiful seating.

I am particularly proud of this little project I took on. This could of easily turned into an expensive project, however I chose to keep it simple. I used frames, fabrics, and other miscellaneous items around my house to turn my vision into a reality.

Lighting can make all the difference in a space.  I have three lamps in my living room and decided to choose one, colorful lamp for the space. I think bright lamp is a great addiiton to any room.

xxoo,

Sarah

Our Slice of Backyard Paradise

Hi all.

This weekend we took on the grueling task of power washing and painting our deck. I say grueling because only half of the paint came off from power washing and the weather can be summed up in one word, HOT! The sun was blazing and the wind was minimal, but after numerous bottles of water, blobs of sunscreen,  three trips to Lowes, and paint supplies galore, our slice of paradise was finally complete.

Projects are intense, tiring and at times even frustrating, but the feeling of accomplishment is priceless. I love the feeling that comes with loving a new space and seeing your vision come to life. The color we chose was not one they had on display in the deck paint section, however I think we did a pretty good job turning our honey inspired vision into a reality.

To top it all off, at the beginning of the summer we casually looked at new patio cushions and I instantly fell in love with the first cushions that I saw. They were pretty but pricey, so I decided to walk away and hold off. Well I guess it paid to wait, because I ended up getting the exact cushions for less than 1/2 of the original asking price. Don't you just love when that happens? I do!

Here are some pictures of our little slice of backyard paradise. We wanted this space to feel cozy, bright and fun, so the colors and patterns we chose give this space sort of a warm beachy feel. It's a far cry from the peeling red paint the was old and dull. I now look forward to evenings spent grilling out or enjoying a glass of wine and a good book. :o)

I like decorating the yard with random & unique rocks.

We get alot of use out of this grill!

The cushions are double-sided. I chose the stripes for the chair and the flowers for the bench.

Pretty tree complete with a peeking kitty.

The painting is done!

My new favorite space.

The flowery bench.

Happy Manic Monday,
Sarah

Life's Better At The Beach

For me the sweet summertime usually consists of laying poolside, grilling out, strolls in the park, wearing pretty flip flops and enjoying my sun kissed skin after months of looking like a ghost. Summertime also makes me dream of the beach with my toes in the sand and a fruity drink in hand. What could be better?

I am the type of beach bum that thoroughly enjoys spending some of my time collecting seashells. I have used seashells, I have collected from various trips, for different craft ideas. Whether gluing them to a frame, placing them in a jar with sand, or setting them on shelves, I love surrounding myself with seashells because they are simple reminders of a beachy experience.

Below are a few crafty ways to use a bag of pretty seashells.

Simple seashells make great card holders

Use seashells as a decorative soap holder

Hang unique beach findings as garland

Place seashells in a clear vase to enjoy year round

Paint seashells to give them a unique, edgy feel

Happy summertime,

Sarah

Red, White and BERRY!

Hi all.

What are everyone's plans for the holiday weekend? Here is a recipe I am going to tryout for a 4th of July picnic I am going too.

The recipe is called Revolutionary Berries. The berries look SO cute and the best part, they look easy to make! Works for me. :)

*Recipe found on Disney.com

What you need:

*12 ounces of white chocolate chips *Blue sugar *Strawberries

1. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure that the container and berries are completely dry, even a little moisture will alter the texture of candy).

2. One at a time, dip the strawberries into the chocolate and then into the blue sugar.

3. Set them to harden on waxed paper.

4. Makes 35 to 45 decorated berries.

Give them a try and let me know how yours turn out. Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!

Happy 4th,

Sarah