A New Friend

A new little friend, a Mother's Day gift, made it to the dining room table.

Which made it necessary to find a new home for this tray.

But a lamp took the place of this bee hive so it landed on my little red chair.

And this quilt, another Mom's day surprise, found a home on my red sofa. Still no pillows. But see my daughter back there? I do have her trained to unload the dishwasher.

Some extras are now gracing the green bookshelf that I really need to paint.

By now you see a coffee break was needed.

And it all went nicely with one of these.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday

Met Monday

Tabletop Tuesday

Coastal Charm

Sunday Breakfast

I love to create morning breakfast out of leftovers from the fridge. This morning we had a small piece of steak, one baked potato and some mushrooms. Scrambled them up with some eggs.

Topped with chives from the garden and a perfect skillet breakfast.

A few highlights from yesterday. If anyone could enjoy a birthday, it is our little one. She loved and gasped at everything she received. But this new bike from grandma and grandpa was a huge hit and I caught her expression.

Three!!

Things are always very wild around here. The noise level is amazing. Yes, we are crazy. My hubby here playing with the bubble gun. I was trying to avoid them and to get a picture in. Oh well. It is real life.

There is rarely a perfect family portrait. Some dog is always running in the frame or no one is looking.

Happy Sunday!! We are off tonight for a rare night out with grown ups. I am tired from yesterday. Can you say nap?

Picnic Anyone Take Two

With the Blogger debacle I managed to loose this post but it is back with a  little extra. After I put together this summer picnic vignette, I found a great little vintage picnic cookbook in the drawer in the kitchen. It was left in the house when we bought it after my hubby's grandma passed away.

I thought it was perfect. I have put it out to enjoy for the summer season. Such cute graphics.

Love the vintage graphics on this cooler

Linking to:

Seasonal Sundays

Masterpiece Monday

Met Monday

Twice Owned Tuesday

Questions for Bloggers #2

**Due to all the blogger problems this week my post has come back up but not any of your comments. I did not remove them, blogger did.  Bummer.
Such a great response to my first question. Thanks everyone! I see that I feel pretty similar to most bloggers about the time they spend blogging. On to question #2.

Do you respond to all the comments you get and do you manage to visit all the bloggers that visit you?

Okay, I hope I am not breaking some major blogger etiquette if there is such a thing, but my answer is no. I don't. I used to be able to in the beginning as I only had a few comments here and there but now that my blog has grown a little I just don't have the time. Is this terrible? I hope I am not the only one. I just don't know how you could and still have time to shower and eat everyday.
What I do is to respond to anyone that asks me a question and whose comments are something I feel compelled to respond to. I try to visit new visitors and check out their blogs. I have a contact me button so someone could e-mail me if they want to. Of course I want to still have time to blog hop and visit those favorites that I drew me to blogging.
I want to maintain balance in blogging and not feel as if it is a chore. If I don't have time, I don't have time. I feel my main purpose is to continue to enjoy blogging as I do it as a hobby. Life is stressful enough and I don't want to add to it with my blog. Let me know how you feel about it.

Blogger Break

Given the events of the past couple of days on Blogger and my lost posts, which take forever to prepare, I think I will take a small break from posting for a couple of days. My little one is turning THREE tomorrow so  I will be busy with preparations for her party anyway. I will still be lurking on your blogs but I don't want to waste precious time posting if it may be lost. Let's all hope they figure this out.

Deal is Dead- Huggies Diaper Deal

_-Hurry and check out this deal posted by Hip2Save. You get a pack of Huggies Jean Diapers for 2.98. That is a great price and includes shipping. Not sure how long this will last. I just ordered a pack for that price and didn't have to drive anywhere. ***THIS DEAL IS DEAD! Boy that went fast.

Frugal Challenge Update- It's the Little Things

We have been so busy around here lately that you often in a rush do what is easiest and not what is the most thrifty thing but I am recommitted to trying to save as much shopping as I can. That means back to the serious coupon clipping.

In our house though, I try to do small things that will save me money in the long run. Can you believe the price of dishwasher tabs? I find these Finish tabs work the best to keep that film from building up on my glasses, but they are expensive. Here's a tip, cut them in half. A friend of the family who is an appliance repair man once told me to only use half of the recommended amount of dishwasher detergent. He said it is easier on the dishwasher. My dishes come out clean and I have been doing this for years. I also use vinegar in the rinse holder as well. It helps with spots and to keep your dishwasher deodorized. 

Do your counters ever look like this? Yes, I re-wash my large Ziploc bags. These babies are so expensive that I wash and rinse them to be able to re-use them. If they had meat in them though I just toss to play it safe.

Here I was last week sorting and reorganizing my coupon inserts. I spent almost two hours, but in three stores  that day, I saved $48 with coupons so $24 per hour for my trouble. That is good money to me. It took me longer this day because I had allowed myself to get behind on filing my inserts so I spent a little bit of time pulling things together. This week I spent half that time to clip my coupons for the week.

Linking to:
Raising Homemakers
The Thrifty Home
We Are That Family
The Saved Quarter

With a Cherry On Top

With an eye towards summer, I redecorated my shelf in the kitchen. I wanted to use my more vintage items as we are taking the kitchen back to a more retro look.

My Little Chef oven was perfect for the shelf. The old sifter was in this house when we bought it.

Happy and cheery. I love the new look and will add some flags or something patriotic for the summer holidays.

The cherries were a gift from one of my daughter's for Mother's Day. I adore them.

Gathered some polka dots for the new look.

We are trying to decide on a new paint color. Do you know this kitchen was originally aqua?

These are some of the inspirational photos I have gathered.

I love this kitchen from Kitchenisms. Of course my cabinets will remain white but I love the black and white curtains.

I love this little red cart. I wish I could find one.

Here are the curtains I have ordered. Country Curtains, hens and chicks. On sale for $9. I lucked out.

Linking to:
Coastal Charm    Wow Us Wed.
House of Grace
Anti Procrastination Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife
A Stroll Thru Life
Rednesday
My Romantic Home
Brambleberry Cottage
Cherished Treasures
The Lettered Cottage

Our Salad Was So Fresh Last Night That...

...half way through dinner, my daughter looked over at the salad bowl and informed us all that there was a tiny caterpillar on the side of the bowl. Eww! and gross! were the sounds heard at that moment. I told my daughter who was in charge of the salad, that when she cut the lettuce from the garden, to rinse very thoroughly for critters. Now maybe she will do a better job next time.

Summer Lovin'

Woke up yesterday and just felt inspired to lighten up the dining room for summer. Pulled out an old white tablecloth and topped with a red check smaller one. Shopped the house for the summer centerpiece. Red and white just screams picnics and summer time.

To add a little height, I grabbed a small table top stool.

Added some polka dots and a candle. Topped it all off with my red spatter ware coffee pot.

Can't wait to show you what I did in the dry sink.

Changed up all the decor in these two rooms so I'll be back .

Link to:
The Tattered Tag
Seasonal Sundays
Dittle Dattle
BoogieBoard Cottage
It's So Very Cheri
Met Monday
The House in the Roses
Homemaker on a Dime
Coastal Charm

Pink Saturday

I grow my mother's favorite flowers in my garden. She would choose carnations and their spicy scent over any other flower. I love how they are always in bloom at Mother's Day.

The Jupiter's Beard is spreading like wild fire. I love it though. So delicate.

Sweet William blooming in an old wine barrel.

Hope you all have a wonderful spring Saturday.

I will be going to lunch with my daughter today. Love being taken to lunch.  Who doesn't?

Linking to:

Pink Saturday

Mom

Dear Mom,
  Happy Mother's Day. I can't believe it has been 10 years since I have seen you. You are missed beyond words. I was lucky to have a mom and a best friend all wrapped into one. Thanks for giving me the most wonderful of childhoods. A life wrapped in warmth, security and love.
                                                                                   With all the love I have,
                                                                                     Your daughter

Random Reds

Today I needed to buckle down. Too much running around and playing in the yard this week. Kitchen needed a scrubbin' and things put back in order.

To fuel me I needed something yummier than the usual coffee. This Honey Roasted Cashew is my new favorite.

I will be shopping in the afternoon. One circle of driving to save gas and three stores to hit.

I don't think I could ever live without red in my world. It just picks me up.

  

My collection of graters needed a dusting. I am so drawn to these little nutmeg graters.

Happy Friday everyone. I hope your Mother's day weekend is lovely. My husband is home all weekend so I am a happy gal and the kids are taking me to lunch tomorrow, breakfast out with my mother in law on Sunday and then hubby and the girls will bbq something on Sunday evening. As long as I don't have to do anything, it will be a splendid Mother's Day.

Linking to:
Show and Tell Friday
The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday
Sat. Night Special