Lazy Saturday

Until my hubby is done with the job he is on, our time together is short. He was only home for two days so we had a very lazy day after morning chores. Naps and time in the garden were the order of the day.

I have been filling pots with pansies this week. Can't wait until the all fill out.

The vines on my wall near the fountain have yet grow their spring leaves but the ivy is green all year.

March and October are Monarch butterfly months here but this one has taken up permanent residence.

Oh, I have been wanting to ask if anyone else is having trouble loading pics onto Blogger. I used to be able

to  

load multiple photos at a time but now it is only allowing me to load one photo at a time onto my  blog posts.

Linking to:

Under the Table Dreaming

Graphic design by tara

Bargain Hunting with Laurie

St. Patrick's Decor

Of all the holidays, I have the least amount of St. Patty's decor, but love the greens of the season.

Love my little sign snagged off of Etsy.

My antique slate has not survived the two year old. She knocked it down and it cracked and is out of whack. Oh well back on the wall as I still love it and now it has a story.

Just love all the greens bursting forth this time of year

Linking to:

My Romantic Home

Favorite Things Friday

Fingerprints on the Fridge

The Tablescaper

Frugal Challenge Update and Why I Order Groceries From Amazon

This last week was not very frugal around here with several March birthdays (five) and new tires for one of our cars, but I am still determined to spend as little as possible on groceries and toiletries. I wanted to show you how I bought four bags of coffee and four boxes of cereal and spent $0 out of pocket. If you use Swagbucks, you know you can earn points towards giftcards for searching sites and clicking on several types of daily polls and offers. It takes me a few seconds to use Swagbucks as a search engine and I just have mine set to always bring up my AOL. Randomly, you are awarded points and when they add up to 450 you can cash in for an Amazon $5 e gift card.
I just load my e-cards and when I see good deals, I snag them using my money from Swagbucks.  Hip2Save is great for posting these deals quick. The coffee was on special and there was an additional code that brought my total to under $9. Same with the cereal. Combining a deal and a code brought that total to under $8. I then signed up for monthly auto shipments on each item which reduced my totals further. Once all done I then canceled the auto shipments as you can cancel at any time. I had $15 or more than enough credit in my Amazon account to pay for these items and I drove no where to get them and paid zero out of pocket. Now did I confuse anyone? If you have any questions just ask me but I wanted to share as I love getting anything I know we will use for free. The link is to the right or you can search on your own.

Linking to:
Time Warp Wife
Frugal Friday

Playing

I received my birthday gift from my hubby today, a new camera. Yeah! I have been like a kid playing with it this morning trying to figure it out. Trust me I am challenged in all things electronic with buttons, etc. I have no idea what I am doing.

Okay I promise. Last pics of my pink tree.

The jasmine is in bloom and I have it planted near our windows so we can enjoy the scent inside.

I can't wait to take lots of pics of the girls. I warned them to be ready. This daughter was dressed for a field trip and was my first victim.

Linking to:

Cottage Flora Thursdays

Alphabe Thursdays

The Charm of Home

At the Picket Fence

Vintage Linens

I ordered a set of linen pillowcases off of Ebay. They are pure white with such lovely embroidered trim. Far cheaper than I could have bought in the store. I just adore them and am on the hunt for more.

Linking to:
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Thrifty Thursday
Simple Pleasures
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Common Ground
Somewhat Simple
French Country Cottage
My Romantic Home

Funny Thing Happened on the Way to this Post

Funny thing happened on the way to this post. I found the cutest St. Patty's treat of green caramel corn and thought how fun to make it for the kids and share on the blog. Well, after prepping, bringing the caramel to hard ball stage and stupidly trying to taste it, I pulled off one of my crowns. The stuff was so sticky it just pulled the sucker right off. So needless to say I immediately called my dentist and the caramel corn never got made. I rushed to the dentist and the caramel sat solidified in the pan, green and all. So I guess I would not recommend this recipe to anyone who would be dumb like me and taste the caramel before you actually put it on the popcorn.
Linking to:
Faux Pas Follies

Garden Whites

On the theme of the reds I did yesterday, today here is some garden whites.

A hanging basket of Sweet Alyssum. A gift from my husband who always buys me potted flowers knowing how much I like to enjoy them for a while. Don't you just love the scent? Like honey.

I catch the kitties drinking out of this little bird bath.

Linking to:

White Wednesday

Swing Into Spring

All Things Inspired

Wow Us Wednesdays

My Romantic Home

Garden Reds

An old wagon now just holds a pot of flowers.

Nasturtiums ramble and reseed at will.

Weathered old red birdhouse.

Linking to:

Rednesday

Brambleberry Cottage

Little Sweetie

Had a rare chance of dropping into Home Goods today and I found this sweet little number. Had to bring her home.

My purpose in going was to find pillows for the new to me red toile sofa. Well, was I ever disappointed. I have bought pillows there for my other couches several times but could not find one pillow I would consider bringing home. I think I just don't get interior decor these days. Everything was either made of some bright color that I have none of in my home, or with patters that were so geometric I was struck with a headache. No reds, no blues or even yellows I would consider. Come on Home Goods, show me some love. But aint that little pitcher sweet? She made it worth it.

Linking to:

BNOTP

Still Lovely to Me

A silver compote more tarnished these days than silver, was always on my mother's table.

Sentimental to me and displayed with love. I found a little nest to top it off perfectly.

I love the brown transferware with the little blue eggs.

My mother always had plastic fruit in it. Remember those days? I think the little nest fits better.

Linking to:

Coastal Charm

Tuesdays Treasures

This Blessed Nest

Savvy Southern Style

Tea Rose Home

BNOTP

Common Ground

Polka Dots

Polka dot friends, given to me for my birthday.

One to decorate my table. I think she looks great with those daffodils, a bargain at $1.29 a bunch.

Her sister rests on a little shelf with my polka dot bowl.

Little lady bugs welcome the morning sun.

Linking to:

Tabletop Tuesday

Coastal Charm

Between Naps on the Porch

Life Made Lovely Monday

This Blessed Nest

Savvy Southern Style

Coming Along

My back garden is coming along for spring. The joy it gives me is immeasurable. 

After a light rain, the sun was out bright and I ventured out to take a few pictures.

A gift of flowers from my mother in law who knows me too well.

My tree has peaked. It is now starting its rain of little pink petals.

Welcome to my garden.

I think I have as many pictures of my flowers as I do of my kids.

Linking to:

Met Monday

The House in the Roses

Tip Me Tuesday

An Oregon Cottage

A Southern Daydreamer

Johnson's Baby Shampoo

What is it about the smell of Johnson's baby shampoo on my little one's head that just melts me. She is laying next to me sleeping and I am just taking in the wonderful scent of her little head. Is it because it takes us back to all our other little ones and scent is such a strong memory trigger? Or is it just that I am so darned tired from  a great weekend that her sleeping and me knowing I can do whatever I want, is making me too darned happy? Hmmm. Good night everyone.

Real or Fake

Real or fake, I love flowers in the house. Bought these daffodils all closed at the market yesterday. Yes, even on my birthday, I had to run into the store to pick up some items for our extended family gathering today. A gift to me. As soon as I put them in water they started to open. This is just before bed.

This is this morning in all their glory.

And yes, that is a kitty tale peeking out above. Here he is a very naughty kitty. I don't condone his behavior but I hadn't had my coffee yet so was not able to multi-task and take pictures and see the kitty in the shot.

Picked these up at the little shop yesterday. They scream spring and summer. See the little lady bugs on the center of the flower?

There is something about sunflowers. I bought this little pale too. I grow them in summer but for now these will do. Cheery Sunday to you!

Linking to:

Seasonal Sundays

Happy to Design

Making the World Cuter

Today's Flowers

Mosaic Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Met Monday

House in the Roses