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!   

Iron Bowl 2013

 

Are you ready to rock Jordan-Hare on Saturday?

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if you can't be here, where will you be cheering the Tigers from?  WAR  EAGLE!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving Day with family and friends.   

Remembering….50 Years Ago Today

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I had just come back from lunch and gone to my literature class when it was announced over the loudspeaker that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas.      Do you remember?

Let It Snow Pillow

I picked up this cute pillow today at Target….in the dollar bin!    No, it wasn’t $1.00 but $3.00…still a deal as I see it.     I *might* have got more than one!

This pretty turquoise/aqua color is my accent color in my den and sunroom.    

Remember the little peek I shared last week of the large monogram project I was working on?    I can’t wait to show you how pretty it turned out and where I finally got it placed.   

Burlap and Monograms

I really didn’t want to title this post “I Can’t Wait To Show You My Latest Project But I’ve Got A Terrible Cold” so I thought I’d cut to the chase and give you a little teaser!    

 

I’ll share where I got my fabulous oversized monogram and how and where I’m using it…..just as soon as I get over this head cold and sore throat!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

 

Our power bill and gas bill usually have a recipe insert with the bill and over the years, I’ve added them to my recipe file.    When I saw the one for Caramel Apple Cheesecake I couldn’t wait to try it!    I decided to  make it when our granddaughter Taylor spent the night with us…she’s getting real interested in “helping” in the kitchen and she couldn’t wait to help me!    Here’s what you’ll need:

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

• 1 can apple pie filling
• 1 graham cracker crust
• 2 8 oz. packages crème cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 t. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup roasted pecans, chopped
• caramel sauce

Mix crème cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla.   Pour into crust and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes (more or less, depending on your oven). 

 

Pour apple pie filling on top of cheesecake.   Sprinkle pecans and drizzle caramel sauce on top of filling.

 

 

 

We shared this slice and let me tell you….it’s very rich!   I took 1/2 of the pie to my daughter’s house the next day so we’d have something sweet to eat while watching the Auburn-Tennessee game (War Eagle!) and my son-in-law snuck in the kitchen and ate it all by himself!    Taylor announced that she saw the empty pie pan in their trash can and that “daddy ate it all”!     Since my son-in-law loves anything caramel, and I usually give him a store bought caramel pie for his birthday, this is what I’m going to make him this year.

Let me know if you try it!

Country Living Fair 2013

This weekend (October 25-27) is the Country Living Fair in Atlanta, Georgia.    I’ve always wanted to go and this year I’m making it happen.       My daughter, sister and myself are arriving in Stone Mountain late Friday evening and getting up early Saturday morning to join the crowd.    This is my daughter’s birthday weekend and since she needs a “break” from kids and husband, this weekend get away is my gift to her.      Sunday we’ll be going to Ikea….neither she nor my sister have ever been.    What?!?!?   How could you live a mere 2 1/2 hours away from Ikea and have never been?    

 

 

 

(All photos via Country Living)

 

Every year I read all the fabulous stories about how fantastic the fair is so I can’t wait to experience it myself.     Are you going?    I’d love to say “hey” if you are.    Please let me know either by leaving me a comment or e-mail.

Happy Anniversary To My Daughter!

October 19, 1997

 

 

You both bring us much happiness and joy….not to mention two precious grandchildren!

What’s On The Menu - Beef Tips and Egg Noodles

I wish I was one of those cooks (and I use that term loosely when it comes to me) that has a fantastic meal planned for every day of the week and shops accordingly.    Around here, I‘m kinda fly-by-the-seat-of-yours-pants when it comes to having my meals planned out in advance….I’m the one that goes to the grocery store almost daily to pick up what we need for supper.    My daughter, who is a fantastic cook by the way, does much better than me and can improvise a recipe like no one’s business!    I used to be a better cook when my kids were little but now that it’s just the two of us, we eat out a lot (not always good) and therefore, I don’t really plan ahead.    But I’m trying to do better!

Tonight we had beef tips over egg noodles.   I know typically they are served over rice but my husband doesn’t like rice so I did the noodles instead.    It was really easy and since I put the beef tips in my crock pot, not a lot of tending to for me.

Here’s what I used:

After I browned the beef tips, I put the crème of mushroom soup, beef stew seasoning, half the jar of sliced mushrooms along with a good bit of water into my crock pot, then added the beef tips.    I cooked it on high for about 3 hours until the meat was tender.   Don’t forget to add enough water to make your gravy.    Fix your egg noodles about 15-20 minutes before you are ready to eat, cook according to the directions on the package.     I made some corn on the cob (cob on the corn as my granddaughter says!) and we had a delicious supper.   

 

Mmmmm, yummy for the tummy!   How do you like my “new” Pottery Barn dishes?     They really aren’t PB, but Dollar Tree!!!   Can you believe it?   I found them last year and bought all they had at my local Dollar Tree and bought more when I visited my sister last fall.    I now have 18 but would love to have 24.    My plate rack holds 12 and the rest are stacked on my baker’s rack.     They have held up great.    I love a good bargain, don’t you?

Welcome To My Fall Kitchen

I’m recently made some changes in my kitchen that I love….one being the addition of a chalkboard wall and the other adding the yearling calf head that I FINALLY got from Décor Steals to another wall.      So without a lot of chit chat let’s get right to it because, seriously, isn’t that what you’ve come to see?  

 

Here’s a view as I’m standing in the dining room.   My kitchen is a galley type and it’s hard to get the full view standing in the room (I just noticed my husband’s favorite yellow cup !)

 

 

I had planned on putting my yearling calf head inside a chippy old frame you’ll see on another wall but it was destined to be knocked off and I just didn’t want to risk it so I put it on the big chalkboard wall

Yes, I know I have a couple of empty frames and I’m looking for something special to put in them but for the time being, I don’t mind that they are empty

 

 

 

I still love my breadboard made especially for me by my sweet friend Diana over at Our Vintage Home Love.    I believe she’s offering them in her shop again….check it out!

 

Cozy little corner by the sink

Here’s the old frame I planned on using for the yearling head but it just didn’t work out.     My husband traced out the dimensions of the INSIDE of the frame onto the wall, I taped that off and painted it with more chalkboard paint.   I haven’t “seasoned” it yet and may not.    I used one of my boxwood wreaths inside and added an old white platter above (you can hardly see it in this photo).   I love the simplicity of the wreath against the black.

 

 

On our table I used a little runner I’ve had along with a chalkboard “think-a-ma-jig” I’ve used in several other places….topped it with a chippy old urn, fall candle ring and a painted pumpkin.   Added a scented little candle and another candlestick along with a sweet little faux pumpkin I picked up and I had my fall centerpiece for practically zero dollars!

 

You can read about this pumpkin and a turquoise one I made here.    

 

 

 

My kitchen has been through several metamorphosis over the last several years but I can honestly say that I’ve finally got a look that I’m totally in love with.   

I’m still adding some other fall touches in the house and will share those soon.     Thank you for taking time to visit me today!

Linking up to these parties:

Savvy Southern Style

The Scoop @Cedar Hill Ranch

A Stroll Thru Life

Fall In The Kitchen

Here’s a little peek at what’s happenin’ in the kitchen…..come back later in the week to get the tour.    

 

The chalkboard wall has turned out soooo good and I have another little chalkboard project in there that I’ll also be sharing.   

Tomorrow I’m taking my 93 year old mom for a Esophagagastroduodenoscopy (EDG).    She’s been having some choking episodes for about a month and her GP has referred her for this procedure.   Of course, putting anyone her age to sleep is always a risk….but she’s a tough one and has pulled through a broken arm and fractured hip in the past 2 years.