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.




http://dears-sarah.blogspot.com/view/sidebar

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

Things that Strike my Fancy..

Here are some items and designs that serve as inspiration for a lot of my decorating ideas and dreams. Hopefully some of these may serve as positive inspiration for you as well. Enjoy.

Who says a stunning dining room table has to be long and rectangle? I love the character in this room and really like the mismatched furniture. I think the simplicity pulls all of the different items nicely together.

The ways to incorporate nature indoors are endless. I like this fun nature idea that can work for any dining room table.

I have always been a huge fan of white cabinets and green kitchens. I like the fun way that this picture includes both. The light lime interior of the cabinets serves as a hidden splash of color in this simple, well put together, kitchen.

I love, love, LOVE a couch where no two throw pillows are alike. This simple wall color, and white couch, goes great with the frame and fabric choices in this lovely room.

I enjoy this office space decor. The choice of light blue, white and black are an interesting, yet fabulous choice. A work space like this makes heading to work a little less dreadful.

I can't get enough of decorations and plants that are vibrant greens. I love flowers, however, I really enjoy a mixture and feel that they are not always needed. I like how this simple table really makes a statement in the room.

I like to choose a single room in my home and make it bright, cheerful and all around warm. I am a firm believer that rooms, such as your master bedroom and bathroom, should be tranquil and a living room or dining room can be bright.

This is a new favorite of mine. I think if you decide to decorate a wall in stripes you have to be careful to not over do it and aim for simplicity. I love this picture because the pretty teal mirror adds just the right splash of color.

Speaking of tranquil, how more intimate and relaxing can you get than a gorgeous chandelier over a soaking tub. I love this.

I enjoy the idea of painting thrifty chairs a fun color and covering them with a pretty fabric. This works on any kind of chair, whether for a kitchen, dining room or living room.

I hope everyone's manic Monday comes to a peaceful and relaxing end.

xxoo,

Sarah

A Wedding Weekend

Hi all.

I had a great weekend. One of my friends got married and the ceremony could not have been more beautiful and intimate, even the weather was absolutely perfect. Of course you can't talk about a wedding without mentioning the bride. The bride was stunning. My friend is 5' 11" and has always been simple and a bit of a tom boy, but on her special day she had us all amazed and smiling at how breathtaking she looked. The bride wore a mermaid style dress that had about twenty buttons running down her lower back. She chose a curly bun up do, soft red lipstick, a pretty pearl necklace and a short classic vail. To top it all off, she was constantly smiling from ear to ear on her special day. In my opinion, nothing is more pretty than a very happy bride on her very special day.

Here is one of the gifts that I made for the amazing bride and groom. It consisted of scrabble pieces that spelled out their last name vertically and both of their first names, horizontally. I feel this gift symbolizes what the day is all about, two becoming one.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

xxoo,

Sarah

A Dandy Dad Day!

Hi all.

I hope you all had a great Father's Day and made a Dad, or two, feel special. I spent Father's day with my Dad and enjoyed spending some quality father/daughter time with him. My sister and I bought my Dad a couple of small items but I also decided to make him a gift that thankfully turned out great!

I grow mint in my garden that is slowly, but surely, taking over so I have given starts of mint to my parents on a couple different occasions, but the starts never survived for one reason or another. So for Father's Day I dug up some nice, tall mint and placed it in a brightly colored green pot. Around the pot I used a white paint marker and wrote "When life gives your mint, make mojitos... Love, Sarah" I gave the gift to my dad and placed the colorful pot on their pool deck. I figured this way they could enjoy the smell of fresh mint and easily pick some for their chilled mojitos on a hot summer day. I will be sure to post a picture very soon because I just love bright, colorful pots set around a patio or pool. Bright orange, yellow or green flower pot can really give an area the extra splash of color it may need for the summer season.

For now I will leave you with some spaces that I adore.. enjoy!

I hope you all had a fantastic Father's Day and weekend!

xxoo,

Sarah

A Birthdays Not Complete Without A Hiccup.. Or Two

Hi all!

Yesterday was my birthday and it was a crazy and fabulous day, to say the least.

My day started out bright and early, and things were luckily going smoothly at work. The weather was perfect at a sunny 75 degrees without a dark cloud in the sky. My sister has also been in town and I have been enjoying visiting and spending some quality sister time with her.

Birthday Bliss Pt 1

I decided to get caught up on work before taking my lunch break and finally reached the point, like I often do, where I force myself to stop, breath AND eat! I grabbed my lunch, got situated and had began eating my food when I got the phone call.

My sister had surprised me by taking my pups to get their nails trimmed and was on her way to see me, when it happened.

I answer the phone to hear my sister quickly babbling that she is lost downtown, people are yelling at her from the streets telling her that her tire is flat, and the pups are wildly hopping around in the back seat. I, able to picture this scenario so clearly, try hard to muffle my hard-to-breathe laughter. Needless to say, I put down my fork, make sure she is safe, dial AAA, and dart out the door to go find her. My peaceful and blissful birthday had suddenly come to a screeching halt.

We wait for about an hour and AAA finally comes to put on her spare, jump start her car battery (don't ask), and give us the grim diagnose that her wheel (with only 1,200 miles on it) had was finished. We part ways and I head back to work while she heads home to wait for my boyfriend and await their trip to the auto shop. I am happy to report that by dinnertime, my out-of-town sister was fine and her car was in much better shape. Thank goodness.

Birthday Bliss Pt 2

What would a birthday be without a few unexpected events? Oh yeah, peaceful and relaxing. :) After work I made my way home and was greeted at the front door by my boy, who anxiously led me out to our garage. There I was greeted by the 1950s bicycle, I had wanted, a bouquet of fresh flowers and a picnic basket complete with wine and a few of my favorite treats. The final touch, him presenting me with a single rose and asking me "Sarah, will you accept this rose." I happily obliged.

We packed up our picnic dinner, adjusted the seat on my new bike, grabbed a blanket and were off to the park. The weather was still gorgeous and people at the park could be seen walking dogs, pushing strollers, fishing in the lake and even practicing a play. We enjoyed people watching, taking in the scenery, and munching on fresh shrimp, chocolate covered strawberries and chilled wine.

After the picnic we continued to take my new wheels for a spin around the neighborhood. I avoided any and all curbs, holes or other miscellaneous "tire damaging" hazards. My boyfriend quickly noticed this and commented on my extreme cautious actions. My reply, "one bad tire was enough for this birthday gal!" And this is where I jinxed myself... darn it.

My tire did not pop, deflate, or fall off, however I can't say the same about my left pedal. My boyfriend asked if he could take my new bike for a spin, but when he didn't return I went to find him and see what was up. What did I find? My poor bike, pedalless. I hopped on and attempted to ride but each ride ended with the pedal falling off and rolling down the street. Bummer.

The night came to an end as the sun began to set and we started our journey home. Me wrapped in a blanket with a basket and the boy pushing the two bicycles down the open street. Unfortunately, my birthday ride was short lived.

Although my birthday wasn't as quiet and peaceful as I had dreamt it would be, it was one that I won't forget anytime soon. I am also happy to sat that the new ride has received the appropriate care and maintenance and will be back on the road again.

Happy birthday to me!

xxoo,

Sarah

Pretty Wall Decals

I love, love, LOVE wall decals. They are a cute alternative to wallpaper, pictures and other wall accessories. After painting the master bedroom gray, the wood trim white, and adding splashes of yellow around the room, I noticed that the wall above the bed's headboard was a tad, bare.

That bareness had to go.

As I searched for inspiration and chic ideas, I stumbled upon wall decals. I ended up choosing three white flower decals for above the headboard. They are simple and give the wall that extra little something that it needed.

Here are some wall stickers that I love and think are great. Let me know what you think or if you'd ever use wall decals in a room.

xxoo,

Sarah