Monogrammed Canvas

When I was contacted by Designs by Southern Charm to review their monograms, I was totally on board.   I went to their web site, selected my font and sent in my order.     I was pleased when I received not one, but two, gorgeous monograms just a week or so later.    I immediately knew how I was going to use the 3 letter monogram.       Last year when my friend Amanda from the fabulous blog Dixie Delights shared her holiday monogram on her outdoor porch, I’ve been wanting to have a similar one in my sunroom.    Receiving this monogram was the perfect time to make my own.

I picked up a canvas at Hobby Lobby (with a 40% off coupon)  which I covered with burlap.   I also bought some Krylon Glitter Blast in Silver Flash at Michaels’ (again using a coupon).    After spraying the monogram with Churchill Hotel Vanilla by Valspar and letting that thoroughly dry, I gave it a few quick blasts of the glitter spray which gave me the look I was after.     Then once everything was dry, I adhered the monogram to the burlap covered canvas with good ol’ clear school glue.    I put some books on top to hold it down overnight and then had my husband hang it up in the sunroom.   

 

 

 

 

I’d love to show the whole sunroom because it’s one of my favorite rooms in the house but right now it’s become a dumping ground for a few bags of Christmas decorations I brought in Sunday afternoon and a little painting project I started before the rain today so I had to bring it in to dry.

See those bags (and a bag of charcoal(?)???   And my little paper mache deer I painted white.   It’s going to get a coat of the glitter spray paint too soon to (hopefully) be incorporated into my Christmas mantle.

 

The patio and deck are such a mess!   It has rained off and on all day long!

 

While we’re in the sunroom, let me show you two things I recently purchased.    First is this pretty aqua clock.    That is my accent color in the sunroom and den which open into each other.   

 

Also, while a door mat is nothing to get excited about, I’ve needed some new ones for all the entrances to our house, so I was so excited to find some at Ross for an unbelievable price!   I put one at each door in the sunroom and another one at our front door.

I was hoping to start my Christmas decorating this week but since Auburn won the Iron Bowl last Saturday, my husband wanted to go see them play in Atlanta this coming Saturday.    So this week I’ll be busy trying to round up something to wear and find some things for our granddaughter as well since this trip is especially for her.    My husband said if Auburn got as far as the SEC championship game he was going to take her….of course, that meant a ticket for me and one for our daughter as well.    Our son couldn’t go but if for some reason he can take off, I’ll give him my ticket.        WAR EAGLE!

Hot Spiced Cider and War Eagle!

Before I share my spiced cider recipe, I just have to give a big WAR EAGLE to my Auburn Tigers!   What a game last night between Auburn and Alabama…the biggest state rival of the year.    After our dismal year last year, we have come so far and now have a chance to win against Missouri next weekend in Atlanta.     We partied at my daughter’s house and there is always a mixed group as her husband is an Alabama fan and he had his crowd there and we also had a lot of Auburn fans.    The one thing we all agreed on was all the good food!

My son in law had set up a TV out on the patio under a tent…later he made a fire in the fire pit so we could stay warm

These girls could care less about watching the game!   (Granddaughter Taylor in gray top and shorts(!); her cousin in pink and their friend in orange top)

The guys set up the table with a blue tarp (only a man!) for the shrimp boil we had

Jordan-Hare stadium packed….and the weather was gorgeous!

A couple of years ago we took the “big kids” and grandkids to The Lodge in Calloway Gardens for the Fantasy In Lights show.   The Lodge served the most delicious spiced cider in a large silver urn set up in the lobby every day.    I’m not a coffee drinker so I always love it when I find a good hot drink for the winter and this one is fabulous.   I found this recipe on line and it is identical to the one served at The Lodge.   

HOT SPICED CIDER

• 1/2 gallon apple cider (the original recipe called for 1 gallon but I have a small crock pot and since it’s just the two of us, I didn’t need to make a huge amount)

• 1 cup brown sugar, or more to taste (I used about 2 cups since I like my cider sweet)

• 1 teaspoon whole cloves

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 orange slice

Pour apple cider in crock pot.    Add sugar and stir.    Put the cloves in a tea ball and add to pot.    Layer the cinnamon sticks and orange slices on top.    Cover and simmer on high, stirring occasionally.    Once hot, turn on low to keep warm. 

 

Oh my gosh, this stuff is soooo good.   I made my first batch for Thanksgiving and there was none left by Friday morning.   

It looks like a lot of you have either started your Christmas decorating or even finished.    I got some stuff out of the storage building this morning and there’s more in the attic but I’ll have to wait on my husband to get the stuff down for me.    He’s out today putting up Christmas lights and some other decorations for some of his “little old lady friends”…..there are a few older ladies who don’t have anyone to help them get their Christmas stuff out so he always goes over and helps them out….I think that’s so sweet.     So I’ll have to wait for him to get around to helping me!

Can you believe it’s December 1st?   Neither can I!