Don't Disturb This Groove

Helpful Tips for Hanging a Tie Up Shade

2012-02-27T07:00:00.027-05:00

When I purchased a pair of tie up shades from Target for my daughter's room, I easily became frustrated as I tried to hang the shades just as they were pictured on the package. I love the look of tie up shades, so returning them for something simpler was not an option. I worked through my frustration a came up with a way to make tying the shades a little easier. ~~They still don't look as nice, as what was on the package, but this is what I did.~~

Start by ironing your shade. Then, using the cardboard tube from a roll of wrapping paper simply place the tube at the bottom edge of the shade and hold it in place with both hands.

Next using both hands, begin to roll your shade around the tube either over or underhand. I chose to roll my shade going under.

Continue rolling your shade around the tube until your reach your desired length.

Once you've reached your length tie each piece of fabric to hold the shade in place.

Next, remove the cardboard tube by sliding one end of the tube through the width of the shade.

By now your fabric ties are probably a little wrinkled. You can iron them smooth using a flat iron. Be careful not to let the flat iron sit too long on the fabric or it will burn!

Finally tie a bow at each end and you're done! I used Martha Stewart's method for tying a bow as seen here.

Hope you find this tip helpful!

I am linking this post to:

11 Questions

2012-02-24T09:07:00.002-05:00

I received an email from my friend, Ange @ The Blooming Hydrangea asking if I would like to participate in a questionnaire that's been making it's way through blogosphere. I thought it would be fun to play along, so here are my 11 questions and answers!

1. What are your favorite pizza toppings?

source

Plain ole cheese. Preferably a pie from Brothers Pizza in Cinnaminson N.J. shared with my friend Amy!

2. If you could swap lives with someone for a day, who would you choose and why?

source

Claire, from Modern Family. Cameron is her brother-in-law...need I say more!

3. Do you drink coffee?
I enjoy coffee, but I don't drink it regularly.

4. If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go?

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Seattle, Washington. First stop, Pike's Place Market!

5. What was your favorite book as a child?
I didn't enjoy reading much as a child. I enjoy reading a lot more as an adult. One of my favorite books is Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I am currently reading, The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. I've been reading this book for months. It's long and it's taking me forever to finish it.

6. If you were a color crayon, what color would you be?
Yellow!

7. Best thing of 2011?
On November 29th, I received this email from Woman's Day's magazine,

Hi Brandi,
I’m the articles director at Woman’s Day magazine and I recently came across your blog Don’t Disturb This Groove when I was doing research for an upcoming organizing article. I was very impressed with your linen closet makeover and I may be interested in featuring it (and you) in an upcoming issue of Woman’s Day. I have a feeling our readers would enjoy hearing about how you organized the space, however I’d like to gauge your interest before pitching you to my editor-in-chief and making a final decision on who we’ll feature in the magazine. Please email me or give me a call and I’ll fill you in on all the details. Look forward to hearing from you.
All best,
"X"
-I think I screamed out loud a thousand times. I was home by myself at the time I received the email, but as soon as my family came home they all shared in my excitement! Then, after a few more emails and a couple of phone calls later, I received this email;

Hi Brandi,
I just wanted to get back in touch to let you that my boss has decided not to feature your space at this time. However, she wants to hold on to your information for future consideration. Hopefully we’ll be able to do something down the road.
All best,
"X"
-Needless to say I was sad to know that I wouldn't be featured, but it was still such a joyful time just to be considered.

8. Are you an early bird or night owl?
A little of both. My dogs wake me up at the crack of dawn to go pee and I stay up late reading blogs.

9. Do you prefer a bath or a shower?
Showers. In spite of the fact that my husband hides behind the shower curtain and scares the crap out of me all the time!

10. What is your favorite childhood memory?
One winter day it rained hard, followed by freezing temps, turning our backyard into an ice skating rink. My mom and my aunt quickly ran out to purchase a bunch used of ice skates for me and my cousins at Play it Again Sports. Later that night we enjoyed hot chocolate and ice skating in our backyard. One of my best childhood memories!

11. What did you want to be when you grew up?

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A soldier. I almost joined the Army.

*The rules state that I must tag 11 bloggers and make up my own set of questions. However, I thought it would be fun to tag each of you and have you pick one of my questions and answer it in a comment.

**PS. I'm sharing a paper weaving craft over at Captive Creativity today. Hope to see you there!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins

2012-02-19T07:00:00.010-05:00

What a lazy weekend I had. My kids enjoyed their extended weekend off from school and we spent most of our days lounging around in our pj's. I'm blaming it on all the rain we had! Either way it was nice to just hang around the house.

I didn't do a lot of cooking this weekend, but I did surprise my family with muffins for breakfast one morning. This was a great recipe! The muffins were delicious and they didn't last long in my house.

Ingredients
2 c. fresh blueberries
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 (4 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper muffin liners.
Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese and blend in well.
Add each egg, one at a time, mixing well until egg is blended. Add milk, and vanilla. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients together. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until combined. *Do not over mix batter. Gently fold blueberries into batter. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin pans. Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into muffins comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: about 18 muffins

I am linking this post to:

Felt Dahlia Pillow

2012-02-15T21:07:00.032-05:00

My sister's birthday is a few days away. I wish I was in N.J. to celebrate with her. Unfortunately, I'm miles away in Georgia.

Source
*I apologize for the broken link. You can view my inspiration picture by clicking on "source".

I spent hours wandering what to get her. In the end, I decided to make a gift for my sister. A gift I knew she would love. I was inspired by this dahlia flower picture and turned it into a pillow for my sister.

Happy Birthday, Kristen! I hope you always know how much you mean to me, and what a wonderful sister you are.

*Thanks so much to Kim @ Savvy Southern Style, Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating, Stephanie @ Gumdrop Pass, Mandy @ Cre8ive Motives and Michelle @ Someday Crafts, for featuring my sister's pillow on their blogs! Thanks to Jen @ Tatertots and Jello for featuring my sister's pillow on her Facebook page.

I am linking this post to:

Love Language

2012-02-14T00:05:00.001-05:00

I came across this video a few months ago while on YouTube. I thought it would be sweet to share today, on Valentine's Day.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

*To watch this video in full screen mode, click on the video twice to go to YouTube. Then click on the full screen button located at the bottom-right corner of the video.

You can learn more about The Jubilee Project here.

3/4 Bathroom Makeover

2012-02-08T17:38:00.022-05:00

Way back in November, I mentioned that I was updating our 3/4 bathroom. I left you with a couple of pictures until I was done updating the space.

The walls were a khaki color when we first moved in. I was anxious to add some color into our home, so I hired a friend to paint the bathroom this lovely shade of green. I knew I made a mistake the second he put the color on the wall, but I made it work and lived with the color for the last 3 years.

The main problem I had with the color besides it being the wrong shade, was that it didn't flow nicely with the rest of the house. Of course my husband loved the color and didn't understand why I chose the color if I disliked it so much. Needless to say I had to get the OK from him before I was able to make any changes.
~~Dang-it! Since when does he have an opinion?!~~

I'd been planning this makeover in my mind for years. I knew the updates would include beadboard wallpaper and a chair rail.

Our friend that helped with our cabinet makeover also installed the chair rail in the bathroom. In hindsight it would have made wallpapering the bathroom easier if the chair rail was added after.

I love the bathroom so much more now. The wall color is Martha Stewart's, Winter's Day matched to Behr paint. I painted the trim and wallpaper with white paint in an eggshell/satin finish straight off the shelf.

The bathroom is small, but after the changes it seems much larger.

I love filling my home with plants. These cacti are very low maintenance. I've had them for years.

I purchased a small mirror for over the sink. The original color didn't work. I gave it a quick makeover with some oil rubbed bronze spray paint. Everything looks black in the pictures, but it's actually o.r.b.

I updated this picture I had stored away in the garage the same way. The frame was originally gold.

The crown moulding and the chair rail are actually door casings.

I added a small basket and ladder for additional storage.

The shower stall is small, but it's big enough for my children to use.

The bathroom opens up to the striped walls in the hallway. The colors flow much better now. That makes me very happy!

I am linking this post to:

Valentine's Day Pillow

2012-02-03T07:00:00.029-05:00

Today I am joining Latoya @ The Scott's Crib and a host of other bloggers for 14 Days of Blogosphere Love. I am excited to share an inexpensive Valentine's Day gift idea with you!

I enjoy giving flowers and candy to my son's teacher for the holidays. This year I thought I would do something different and make a pillow, to give her a gift she could enjoy for as long as she chooses.

To make the pillow, I started by cutting hearts out of leftover fabric.

I folded each heart in half and ironed a crease in the middle to give each heart dimension.

Next, I ironed each heart flat to make for easier placement on the pillow form.

Using my hot glue gun, I attached each heart to the pillow, one overlapping the other.

I finished the the pillow by adding a button in the center.

I hope she loves it!

Thanks again Latoya for inviting me to participate! Be sure to make your way over to The Scott's Crib on February 14th and link up your own Valentine's Day related post.

I am linking this post to:

Orange Creamsicle In A Glass

2012-01-31T07:31:00.016-05:00

This smoothie tastes like an orange creamsicle in a glass! It served as a great afternoon treat. My family really enjoyed it. Hope you like it too!

Ingredients

1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
6 Ice Cubes

Directions
Add all ingredients, except ice to blender and blend until smooth. Add ice cubes, then blend to crush ice. Serve immediately.

I am linking this post to:

Inexpensive Valentine's Day Decor

2012-01-30T07:00:00.035-05:00

For Valentine's Day this year, I decided to decorate my daughter's room with a little love. As much as I love decorating for the holidays, I enjoy creating inexpensive ways to fill my home with seasonal decor even more!

I created inexpensive floral vases using recycled food jars.

I made a heart template out of card stock. Then filled the heart in with puffy paint.

For this vase, I added rub on transfers and filled in the "o's" with puffy paint.

This vase is my favorite!

I used stickers as my template. Then I dotted around each letter with more puffy paint. I think it's pretty obvious how much I love puffy paint!

I purchased the felt hearts at Target after Christmas. They were only 30 cents for a pack of 3. They were originally tree ornaments. I snipped off the ties, then strung them together with twine.

The flowers were on clearance too! I picked them up for $1.29 while in the grocery store.

So there you go! You can still make the day special without spending a lot of money!

I am linking this post to:

Homemade Granola Bars

2012-01-26T07:00:00.012-05:00

My teenage daughter loves Pinterest just as much as I do. She confessed that she often visits the site when she's bored or slacking on school work. Because of Pinterest, many of our conversations have started out like this, "Mommy, I saw this great recipe on Pinterest. Do you think we could make it this weekend?"

Recently she stumbled upon a homemade granola bar recipe that looked too easy not to make. This recipe is a great base. I liked that we were able to play with the ingredients and mix in flavors we both enjoyed. This recipe is delicious! I can't wait to make another variation.

Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup oat flour(grind rolled oats in food processor until fine)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Nutella
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup raisins

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 9 by 9-inch pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat the parchment paper with a non-stick spray.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Combine with the dry ingredients until the mixture is even. Spread mixture in the prepared pan. Press the mixture evenly into the pan. *Be sure to press the ingredients into the pan, so the bars don't crumble!

Bake the bars for 25 minutes or, until they’re a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into bars.

*If you are not a fan of Nutella, almonds or raisins, you can replace them for things you like!

recipe adapted from http://www.foodnetwork.com

I am linking this post to:

Chair Makeover with Beadboard Wallpaper

2012-01-24T17:50:00.029-05:00

Way back in June, I purchased this chair at the thrift store for $2.50(1/2 off sale). It sat in my garage until recently, because I was really unsure what to do with it. I knew I would paint it and change out the fabric on the seat, but I wanted to do something of interest to the back rest.

To freshen up the chair, I started by removing the seat from the chair frame. It was held in place with 4 screws, which were easy to remove.

Removing all of the nails and staples that were there to hold the fabric in place, not so easy! While I was in the garage removing all those staples and nails, I noticed a leftover roll of beadboard wallpaper that I used in my kitchen and bathroom. I decided it would be perfect to cover the backrest of the chair with.

I decided to put the chair in my daughter's room, for extra seating when her friends come over.

I painted the chair with leftover paint and the houndstooth fabric was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

As much as I'd love to think that my daughter is just going to use the chair for extra seating, I'm quite certain it will be used for anything but!

*A huge thanks to Allison @ House of Hepworth's and Becky @ Beyond the Picket Fence for featuring my chair makeover on their blogs!

I am linking this post to:

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

2012-01-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Today I am sharing with you pictures from my family's visit to The King Center, located here in Atlanta- a beautiful testament to Dr. King's work and life.

While visiting the King Center, my children were given the opportunity to have their picture taken with Dr. King's eldest and only living sibling, Christine King Farris. It was a moment I hope they cherish forever!

As my family and I walked through The King Center, I became emotional as I wondered what it would feel like to be so selfless that you would give your life to fight for racial equality. Thank-you Dr. King...

What I Did With Puffy Paint- part 2

2012-01-15T19:15:00.021-05:00

I absolutely love puffy paint! The puffy effect it gives once added to fabric or any hard surface really appeals to me.

After the holidays, I purchased a pack of tea towels at Target on clearance for $1.99. They were great as they were, but I decided to add to them with some puffy paint. Which can be purchased at craft stores for about a buck!

I looked around my house for some inspiration and found it in a pillow.

I love this pattern and it was pretty simple to duplicate.

Using simple round objects and a ruler, I traced my pattern in pencil.

Then I dotted over the lines with the puffy paint.

I waited 3 days for the paint to dry completely. Then I washed it, to remove the pencil marks.

I ironed the tea towel on a cool setting on the opposite side of my pattern, after letting it air dry.

I love the way it turned out! The pattern makes me happy!

There's so much you can do with puffy paint. It's not just for decorating t-shirts!

You can view what else I did with puffy paint here and here, if you like!

I am linking this post to:

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

2012-01-11T20:48:00.010-05:00

Lately I've been on a smoothie kick. I have enjoyed a smoothie for breakfast everyday so far this week. The best part of this recipe is the cream cheese. Cream cheese in a smoothie? Who would have thought! The small amount of cream cheese makes this smoothie delicious! I hope you like it too!

Ingredients
1/2cup milk(almond or soy milk taste great in a smoothie)
4oz. cream cheese
2cups blueberries
2 very ripe bananas
1/2cup ice cubes

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately and enjoy!

I am linking this post to:

Felt Leaf Pillow

2012-01-04T16:08:00.016-05:00

I mentioned on Monday that my cousin celebrated her 30th birthday! In addition to having a little get-together for her, I also made her a pillow.

I went to Pinterest for a little inspiration, where I found this pillow. I loved it and I hoped my cousin would too. I purchased a few felt sheets and fabric in colors to match her room.

I spent a few hours cutting the leaf shapes, then gluing the leaves in a circle pattern in the center of the pillow.

My cousin loved her pillow because of its 3 dimensional look and I couldn't be happier!

*I used Google Images to find the original source of my inspiration pillow. Similar pillows are available to purchase here. I am in no way affiliated with this Etsy shop. I just happen to love her pillows! : )

A huge thanks to, Vanessa @ Nifty Thrifty Things for featuring my pillow on her website!

I am linking this post to:

Mini Cheesecake Cups

2012-01-02T15:36:00.022-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! I had a wonderful time celebrating with my family! I hosted a small get together for my cousin who celebrated her 30th birthday on New Year's Eve. My daughter's friend was kind enough to come and sing for us as her birthday surprise! Since most of the menu involved a lot of cooking, I wanted to keep dessert simple. I decided on semi homemade, mini cheesecake cups.

Rather than a graham cracker crust, I used ground gingerbread cookies instead. The idea came after hitting up Target's after Christmas clearance and purchasing the cookies on sale! To make 24 cups, I used 1½ cups of crushed cookies, 1/3 cup of light brown sugar and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Simply mix together, then press about 3 tablespoons into each cup.

The ready to eat cheesecake filling was such a time saver. Just spread and enjoy!

I topped each cup with a strawberry after soaking them in sugar water overnight. You could skip this step if you like, but the strawberries were a little bitter. The sugar water helped to sweeten them up a bit.

The mini cheesecakes were such a hit! Everyone loved them, and I'm so glad I didn't have to sacrifice dessert because I was short on time!

I am linking this post to: Lil' Luna

May Your Christmas Be A Very Merry One

2011-12-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

As we count down the final days until Christmas, I wanted to pop in and wish you all lots of love, joy and happiness!

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

Cinnamon Apple French Toast with Caramel Syrup

2011-12-21T19:51:00.007-05:00

While my kids are home for Christmas break, I wanted to switch up their normal breakfast of cereal for something warm and tasteful. My kids love french toast, so I make it a lot! This morning, I changed my normal recipe by adding cinnamon and apples.

This would be a great holiday breakfast. This recipe is easy to prepare and smells great while cooking. My kids enjoyed the new twist to our traditional french toast and quickly gobbled it up!

Cinnamon Apple French Toast with Caramel Syrup

Ingredients- Cinnamon Apples
2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored, and sliced
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter

Directions
In a saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon and butter. Sauté over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until apples are soft. Set aside.

Ingredients- French Toast
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 -8 slices bread
butter for cooking

Directions
In a large bowl, beat eggs together. Add milk, salt, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Dip bread in mixture to coat both sides. Place the bread into a buttered skillet and cook until lightly browned on one side. Turn and cook until done.

*To serve, place french toast slices onto a plate. Add caramel syrup and top with cinnamon apples.

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What to do when you run out of wrapping paper?

2011-12-19T16:27:00.012-05:00

Hmm...Well I suppose you could drive to the store and purchase more. But it's the week before Christmas! I'm sure the roads and stores are crowded, so I'd rather stay home.

Using brown paper lunch bags, along with a few items I had on hand I was able to finish wrapping the last of my gifts and avoid making a trip to the store.

I added stripes to one of the bags using painter's tape and craft paint.

I made a flower from fabric scraps and a gift tag using paint chips.

I added an accordion style bow to this package.

You can learn how to fold your own bow here.

Burlap, twine, a pine cone flower, some greenery from my yard and a berry sprig, is what I used for this present. I love the natural look!

This present reminds me of my blogging friend Noelle and the beautiful way she accents her home with the color red!

A paper doily and some ribbon is what I used!

So there you go! I ran out of wrapping paper and that's what I did!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Kitchen Cabinets Updated With Moulding

2011-12-17T17:57:00.026-05:00

As you may or may not recall, we had some water damage in our kitchen caused by our dishwasher. Unfortunately, with our high deductible and a lot of insurance mumbo jumbo, we weren't left with a lot of money for repairs. But, I'm not complaining! We made the most of our estimate! We found a great deal on flooring and were able to update our cabinets with moulding. The process was long, but worthwhile and I'm excited to show you the updates that were made!

Before pictures of our cabinets. As I mentioned before, they were my least favorite thing in the house. I can remember second guessing myself after we put in our offer for the house knowing that the ugly cabinets were apart of the deal! ~~I'm only kidding!!~~

Our friend came over with his Skilsaw and made all the cuts for moulding and flooring. While my husband and I did all the painting.

And now! What a difference a little moulding makes, eh?! We decided to keep handles/knobs off of the doors. The cabinet doors have grooves underneath of them for easy opening.

I love the barn door inspired cabinets. I initially saw the idea while browsing Pinterest. Then clicked my way over to Lisa's blog, A Vintage Vine for all the details. I can't thank Lisa enough for the inspiration! She has such a beautiful blog. Her taste and her home are incredibly gorgeous!

Although we painted the cabinets, the wall colors remained the same.

Once we updated the cabinets, the old rug no longer seemed to work in the space.

I purchased this jute rug and I couldn't be happier! It fits the space nicely.

I also changed out the curtains. I made simple window treatments, but sewing them proved to be a little difficult. I am amazed that they came out even in length.

The previous curtains were my first attempt at sewing and it showed. ; ) The curtains were actually made from a sheet set. I used the pillowcases for window treatments in my laundry room as seen here.

I almost went with this fabric for the curtains. As much I liked the fabric, it didn't work for the kitchen.

All the plates on the wall were purchased at thrift stores. You can see the inexpensive way I hung them on the wall here.

A plate holder also doubles as a place to keep my cutting boards. Laminate counters scratch easily, having the cutting boards nearby helps to prevent further scratches.

I really hoped to add some type of open shelving to this empty wall. I even found a trio at the thrift store for a great price! But once my husband helped me hang them on the wall, the shelves made the room look cluttered. So they came down! All the ceramic pitchers I've been collecting over the last few years to display on said shelves are now being stored in the cabinets. Makes me so sad.

I purchased the chair prints from West Elm a couple of years ago. I found an inexpensive frame at Ross to display them in. The planters on the shelf were 49 cents each, at IKEA.

The cabinets extend to the ceiling.

I use my small stepladder to reach the contents as needed.

I'm so glad to done with the kitchen. We're very happy with the final results! I think Bella is too! Thanks for being patient with me as we updated our kitchen.

*A huge thank-you to Beth @ Home Stories A2Z, Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Stephanie Lynn @ Under the Table and Dreaming and Kristi @ Addicted to Decorating for featuring my kitchen on their blogs!

I am linking this post to:
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Holdiay Favorites

2011-12-12T09:09:00.004-05:00

Good Morning! I hope you had a great weekend. As we count down the days until Christmas, I thought I would share with you some of my holiday favorites.

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The holidays are not complete without seeing the Nutcracker. One of my best friends and her family make it a tradition to go every year. I thought it would be special to start the same tradition with my daughter. We started seeing the Nutcracker when she was 5, she's now 15! I hope we continue this tradition as she becomes an adult and has a daughter of her own one day(in the distant future).

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Growing up, my mom made Russian tea cakes during the holidays. They are my favorite Christmas cookie.

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My daughter asked if I would take her and a couple friends ice skating next week. She's really looking forward to it. It should be a lot of fun watching them ~~fall~~ skate around the rink! I have very fond memories of ice skating as a child. One winter day it rained hard, followed by freezing temps, turning our backyard into an ice skating rink. My mom and my aunt quickly ran out to Play It Again Sports to purchase a bunch of ice skates for me and my cousins. We enjoyed ice skating that night in our backyard. Hands down, one of my best childhood memories. Most of us had never skated before so we spent a lot of time laughing and helping each other up off the ground! : )

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My kids no longer believe in Santa Claus, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have pictures taken with Santa Dee!

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What's your favorite holiday movie? My list includes Home Alone and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. My husband and I watched Miracle on 34th Street this weekend. Can you believe I had never seen it before?! Crazy, right!

As much as I enjoy listening to music on my Itouch, listening to the radio never gets old for me. One of the best things about the holiday season is the radio Christmas music. Last Christmas by Wham, is one my favorites, followed by...

At Christmas Time, by Luther Vandross.

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Lastly, Target's after Christmas clearance sales can't be beat. The best thing about Target is that they have everyday merchandise (with a holiday label) mixed in with their seasonal clearance. Last year I purchased white dinner napkins, a bunch of apple cinnamon plug ins, paper towels and treats at a great price. It's also a good time to start shopping for holiday decorations and stocking stuffers for next year.

So tell me, what are you looking forward to this holiday season? What are some of your family holiday traditions?

PS. I'm sharing an inexpensive gift idea for teachers over at Life Is Hard, Laugh Anyway. Hope to see you there!

I am linking this post to:

Run, Don't Walk, To Your Nearest Dollar Tree!

2011-12-08T10:22:00.006-05:00

Image Source

Lately, I've become a little obsessed with Pottery Barn and their Emma Collection dinnerware. The beaded detail makes me really happy! Sadly, their prices do not. For a family of 4, the 20- piece set would have cost around $150, plus shipping.

So, imagine my surprise as I browsed around Dollar Tree and spotted these! Woo to the Hoo! I couldn't believe my eyes! I shoved as much as I could into two hands and walked fast to the register. I had to make a second trip to grab the mugs. I planned to purchase 6 to complete the set, but the few that were left were chipped. Hopefully, while I'm out and about this week I can find 4 more. ~~Unless of course, there are more Pottery Barn obsessed, Emma Dinnerware Collection lovin' folks, living in my area!~~

So let's do the math, shall we?! 6 dinner plates, 6 soup bowls and let's assume I'll find 4 more mugs. $18! Pottery Barn- much, much more! : )

PS. I'm guest posting over at RoCa and Company today. Hope to see you there!

PPS. My kitchen is pretty much done! I just ordered a rug for underneath the table. As soon as it arrives, I'll show you the space!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Fresh Thyme Wreath

2011-12-05T08:48:00.019-05:00

Decorating for the holidays can be expensive, if we allow it to be. I am determined to decorate my home for the holidays on a budget.

While grocery shopping, I came across an inexpensive package of fresh thyme. Although my husband would have preferred that I used it in this recipe, I had other plans!

I simply took each sprig of thyme and stuck them into the grooves of the wreath form until I was pleased with the look.

As each sprig is added it covers the end of the sprig before it.

Thyme is such a fragrant herb. It adds a nice scent to my kitchen and the sprigs can be clipped off to use in cooking as the wreath dries out.

I love the simplicity of the wreath. I displayed it above a shelf in my kitchen along with some greenery and pine cones from the yard. The berry garland was purchased last year after the holiday on sale.

I added a few dried oranges for their nice citrus scent.

I added a couple of candle holders from another room to complete the display.

I love candle light! The soft glow warms the room.

Decorating with natural elements is a simple and inexpensive way to brighten your home for the holidays.

*Thank you so much to, Donna @ Funky Junk Interiors for featuring my wreath on her Facebook page. I would also like to thank, Becky @ Beyond The Picket Fence for featuring my wreath as well!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays! @ Savvy Southern Style

My Plea To The "No Reply" Bloggers

2011-12-01T14:42:00.001-05:00

source

I enjoy hearing from each. and. every. one. of. you. I would love to be able to thank you all for stopping by and leaving me such thoughtful, encouraging words, because I truly appreciate all of your visits! I feel that it's proper etiquette to respond to comments. But sometimes I can't! When I receive an email notification that someone of has left a comment and I try to respond. Instead of seeing your email address, I see <noreply-comment@blogger.com> Also, If you ask me a question in a comment, it is easier for me to respond through email.
If you would like to receive an email response after your comment, you can easily fix this by updating your settings. Go to your blogger dashboard, click "edit user profile", then check "show my email address" and save! Pretty simple huh!

I've been blogging for a little over a year now and there is so much that I didn't know when I first started. I am so thankful for more experienced bloggers who took the time to offer me advice. A year ago I was a "no reply" blogger too, but a fellow blogger (Ami, from AliLilly) took the time to show me how to easily correct this. So that's what I'm doing today. As I'm sure most of you are unaware that you are showing up this way!

I am linking this post to:

Pumpkin Eggnog

2011-11-30T15:40:00.013-05:00

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One of my favorite seasonal drinks is Silk brand Pumpkin Spice. It tastes similar to eggnog with a subtle pumpkin flavor. I was really looking forward to picking up a carton while grocery shopping last week. Sadly, I have not been able to find it. So what's a girl to do?! Make my own, I guess! I started with an easy eggnog recipe, then added some canned pumpkin puree until I was pleased with the flavor. It tastes great! I'm looking forward to making it again.

Ingredients
6 egg yolks
1 (5 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks until they are thickened and light. Gradually stir in condensed milk, pumpkin, vanilla and milk. Stir nutmeg into the mixture. Pour all ingredients into blender and mix. Pour into glasses, and garnish with nutmeg.

*Use caution when consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs due to the slight risk of salmonella or other food-borne illnesses. To reduce this risk, it is recommended that you use only fresh, properly refrigerated, clean grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell. Pregnant women, young children, the elderly should not consume raw eggs. source

** Today I'm participating in the Favorite Things Holiday Bash at Passionately Perfect. Hope to see you there!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays@ Savvy Southern Style

Christmas Stockings

2011-11-28T20:07:00.016-05:00

I hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with your families. My family and I enjoyed a pleasant meal together. The highlight of our night was "skyping" with my family in NJ. Skype is the coolest thing ever! It felt as though we were right there in NJ enjoying each others company.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas is only weeks away I thought I would do a little crafting and make a few stockings for my family. I found a great tutorial online, instead of making my own template I used a leftover stocking from last year for my pattern.

For my daughter's stocking, I kept it simple and added a flower using leftover fabric and a name tag made from muslin. I added her name using rubber stamps.

I embellished my son's stocking with a pine cone flower as seen here.

I'm sure my husband would prefer his stocking without ruffles, but I didn't give him a choice! ; )

I added a few fabric covered buttons to my stocking and filled it with some greenery from my yard.

Total cost $0! I was able to make each stocking using leftover fabric and scraps from my previous projects!

PS. You can purchase the ruffled trim at Hobby Lobby.

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays! @ Savvy Southern Style

Iron Bed Makeover

2011-11-20T18:34:00.019-05:00

As you may recall, I purchased this bed for my daughter's room from a nice man on Craigslist after searching for months for an iron bed.

After going back and forth, my daughter and I agreed to paint it white. She agreed, I painted! ; )

Her monogrammed pillow is recent gift from a sweet blogging friend, Beverly! Thank you again Beverly- She loves it!

Here's a few more pictures from around her room. I purchased this set of pictures from Etsy.

My daughter's room is not very big, but it was important to us to include a small desk and chair so she has a quiet place to do her homework. She's a good student! I'm extremely proud of her!

The tree wall decal was ordered from here.

As always my friends thanks so much for stopping by!

I am linking this post to:

Sweet Gum Wreath

2011-11-18T06:45:00.014-05:00

Last week, I shared this wreath over at Choose to Thrive. In case you missed it… here it is!

Growing in my yard is a Sweet Gum tree. Sweet Gum trees produce these prickly little balls (“Sweet Gum fruit”). Those prickly little balls are everywhere in my yard! This week instead of raking them into a pile, I went outside and gathered a bag full to create a wreath.

To construct my wreath, I started with a simple wreath form purchased for a dollar.

Then using my glue gun, I attached the prickly fruit to the wreath form starting from the inside and working my way out.

Once completed, I attached a saw tooth hanger to the backside, again using my glue gun.

Here it is my friends!

I love the texture of the wreath.

I kept things simple to focus on the natural beauty of the Sweet Gum fruit.

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you". - Frank Lloyd Wright

*Thanks so much to Stephanie Lynn @ Under The Table and Dreaming for featuring my wreath on her website!

I am linking this post to:

What's Been Keeping Me Busy Lately

2011-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

*Today I'm guest posting over at Living Savvy, for Tiffany's Spray Painters Anonymous Series. Hope to see you there!

Also the kitchen cabinets are finally done! The rest of the molding(moulding) was installed over the weekend and I finished painting/caulking this morning. I am really excited to have my kitchen back in order after living with a mess for almost 2 months. I ordered some fabric for curtains, but I'm not sure if I love my choice. So before I can "reveal" my kitchen I need to tweak a few things!

Although it's been raining like crazy this morning, yesterday we had some beautiful weather and I was able to get outside spray paint my daughter's bed. I'll have a post ready soon with her "new to us" bed!

Finally, In addition to working on my kitchen, I also updated our second bathroom. This was probably the most painstaking project to date for me. I assumed because it was such a small space that it would be a cinch to paint and hang wallpaper. Boy was I wrong! But the hard part is over and now I am enjoying adding some new accessories! This is what I've come up with so far!

And here's what it looked like before!

I ordered some fabric samples because I'm feeling courageous and might attempt to make my own shower curtain. But if I have better luck finding something in the stores that I like better, then I'll just purchase one.

So hang in there with me, because I have a lot to show you!

Progress

2011-11-10T12:08:00.000-05:00

The kitchen is far from done, but we've been making great progress! I wanted to share with you what we've accomplished so far with the cabinets.

The molding around the cabinets makes such a huge difference, that I think I'm going to leave the handles off!

I never cared much for those handles so they won't be missed! I'm hoping we can finish up this weekend, but my friend has a busy schedule, so we'll see how things go! Take care my friends and I hope you guys have a great weekend!

4 Great Projects!

2011-11-08T22:18:00.004-05:00

The following projects are examples of how four creative ladies took inspiration from my projects to create their own!

Vicky from Decor & Harmony @ 4290, created a metallic wreath drawing her inspiration from a wreath I made using bay leaves. I love the way she accented her wreath with nail head trim. To see the full tutorial visit Vicky's blog.

Latoya from The Scott's Crib, added some fall decor to her kitchen table with a stick vase! I love the pretty flowers she added to her vase! Beautiful job Latoya!

Tatum from Many Moments of Me, made a stick vase too! I love her version as well! A beautiful Fall display of colorful faux foliage to create a long-lasting centerpiece for her home.

And Carli at Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, did an amazing job creating a headboard for her bedroom inspired by this post!

Beautiful job ladies! Thanks so much for allowing me to showcase your creativity!

Guest Post At Choose to Thrive

2011-11-07T14:46:00.000-05:00

Hey friends! I'm guest posting over at Choose to Thrive today! I would love it if you would stop by and visit!

Holiday THRIVE: Brandi from Don’t Disturb This Groove

Biscoff Drink Recipe

2011-11-06T19:27:00.011-05:00

Biscoff cookies are a favorite in my house. I was first introduced to the cookies many years ago, while flying with Delta. Since then, I have been able to purchase them regularly from the grocery store.

Recently while shopping I came across Biscoff Spread. I purchased a jar hoping it would taste just as good as the cookies. Talk about heaven in a jar! It has the consistency of peanut butter, but tastes exactly like those delicious cookies you get when you fly with Delta. My family and I enjoyed it as a dip for apples, even as a substitute for Nutella in our indoor s'mores. But we enjoyed it most as a warm drink! I have a feeling this will become a regular treat this winter.

Ingredients:

2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of Biscoff Spread

Directions:
1. Pour milk and Biscoff Spread in a small saucepan.
2. Stir over medium heat until Biscoff Spread and milk are completely blended.
3. Pour into a mug and drink while warm.
4. Garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.

Kitchen Happenings

2011-11-03T14:39:00.002-04:00

At the end of September I blogged about the huge mess in my kitchen. Since then there have been a few changes. The flooring has been replaced, new fabric has been ordered for curtains and the cabinets have been prepped for painting. My husband and I along with our dear friend are doing all of the work. Progress has been slow, but steady.

I'm really looking forward to updating the cabinets. They are my least. favorite. thing. in. the. entire. house. In addition to painting them, we will be adding some molding to spruce them up a bit. So please be patient with me my friends, as we work to get the kitchen back in order. I'm hoping things will be done soon, since we're hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house. In the meantime, I'll be back soon with a recipe to share!

PS. My daughter and I agreed on color for her bed! So I'll be making a trip to Home Depot soon for some white paint! Her room is green, white and pink! I was hoping she'd agree to pink, but since ~~I got tired of begging~~ it's her room, white it is!

Pottery Barn Pillow Knockoff

2011-11-02T01:28:00.047-04:00

Jeweled Wreath Embroidered Pillow via Pottery Barn

I was head over heels in love with this pillow after seeing it on Pinterest, but $45 was way more than I wanted to spend. So I decided to create my own for a lot less!

To get started I purchased a few craft supplies.

Then after cutting the fabric(muslin) to size, I ironed out all the wrinkles.

I sewed around the outline of the fabric making sure to leave a small opening so I could fill the pillow with stuffing. Then I turned the pillow right side out.

Using a round object,

I traced the wreath shape onto the fabric.

Using my glue gun, I added the felt leaves. Although having the pre-cut leaves helped out tremendously this was the most time consuming part. Listening to music while you work helps! Keep adding leaves until your satisfied. Then fill in some of the empty holes with the cotton ball trim. Add stuffing and close the opening.

Here is the finished pillow!

I love my pillow and I hope you do too! To see last year's holiday pillow click here.

*E.T.A- I received an email from Patty- an awesome reader of my blog, who inquired about the felt leaves. After searching the internet she was able to find a couple of sources. I just thought I'd pass the information along!
http://sugarpinkboutique.com/item_159/Snow-White-Leaf-RibbonGarland.htm
and
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57469651/butter-leaf-ribbongarland?ref=v1_other_2

**Thank-you so much to Beckie @ Knock Off Decor, Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating, Stephanie Lynn @ Under The Table and Dreaming, Amanda @ Copycat Crafts and DIY Maven @ curbly.com for featuring my pillow on their websites!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Check Out MJ's Wreath!

2011-11-01T08:15:00.002-04:00

I really enjoy blogging. I am constantly inspired by fellow bloggers to be more creative or try something new! So imagine my surprise when I received an email from MJ stating that she was inspired by me! MJ enjoyed my version of the Martha Stewart wreath so much that she went out to purchase a few supplies to create her own! I am so excited to share with you today MJ's corn husk wreath!

Isn't it gorgeous?! MJ, I love your wreath! Thank you so much for allowing me to showcase your creativity here! I hope you guys will head over and leave her a nice comment.

My Deal of the Day

2011-10-27T15:32:00.007-04:00

I have been searching high and low for an iron bed for my daughter's room. I spotted a couple different styles while in IKEA, but they weren't quite right for my my daughter's taste. So imagine my surprise when I spotted this beauty while browsing Craigslist last night.

The ad read as follows: Antique Iron Bed Frame - $35

Antique Iron Bed Frame, Headboard, Footboard, and Rails, Twin sized.

Fits 41" wide x 69 1/2" long box mattress, Frame is 75 1/2" long clear.

Um hello, yes please, I'll take it!!

The seller was a good hour away from me, but that didn't make me want it any less. My husband and I drove out this morning and met the seller at his house. He was such a nice guy and we enjoyed the road trip!

I can't wait for my daughter to get home from school, so she can see it! She's just like me and seriously enjoys thrift shopping and makeovers! But I doubt we'll agree on painting it the same color! ;) Stay tuned for the after pics!!

I am linking this post to:

Spruce Up Your Doormat

2011-10-23T15:41:00.012-04:00

My doormat had seen better days. At one point it was a nice welcome mat to our home. Now, it looks far less inviting. Sure I could have tossed it and purchased something nicer, but I was convinced I could upgrade it with a can of spray paint.

Before spraying, I taped around the sides with painter's tape and placed an "A" in the center for our last name.

I covered the entire mat with spray paint and hoped for the best!

Not the greatest, but definitely better! It was a nice start to a little outside Fall decorating.

My girl Bella, who normally doesn't like to be outside longer than to use the bathroom, came outside to join me.

While Princess slept comfortably! Ah, the life! Oh well...

I hope you guys are having a beautiful day!

I am linking this post to: Wow-Us-Wednesdays

Burlap Garland

2011-10-18T17:27:00.046-04:00

A few weeks ago while browsing through Pinterest, I came across the most stunning linen garland made by Jenni at, Beautiful Nest. I was inspired to make my own!

Although Jenni used linen, I was able to achieve a similar look using burlap. Burlap is one of my favorite materials to work with. In the past I've used it cover a headboard, create an earring display, recover a lampshade and make a pillow. Its large weave pattern made it perfect for this project.

For the complete tutorial visit Jenni's blog! She has many awe-inspiring projects. You'll be glad you stopped by!

*Thanks so much to Laurie @ Tip Junkie and Amy @ WhisperWood Cottage for featuring my garland on their fabulous sites!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays

Corn Husk Wreath

2011-10-12T10:49:00.022-04:00

I was inspired by this Martha Stewart wreath and decided to create my own.

After purchasing my supplies I was ready to go!
-a straw wreath (no need to unwrap)
-dried corn husks (purchased at an international food market)
-approximately 3 packs of U pins (purchased at a craft store)

I followed Martha's tutorial and started layering the husks after soaking them in water for about 10 minutes.

It wasn't hard to do, a little time consuming, but not hard at all! The steps go a little quicker if you're listening to music or catching up on DVR'd shows, while you build your wreath.

The closer you stack the husks, the fuller your wreath will be.

While I was at it, I decided to add a touch of Fall to my tabletop.

Can you tell the fake pears from the real ones?

These guys are the fake ones!

And these, are totally edible!

Happy Fall!

*Thank-you so much to Michelle @ Someday Crafts , Stephanie Lynn @ Under The Table and Dreaming and The CSI Project for featuring my wreath on their blogs!

I am linking this post to: Wow Us Wednesdays

A Stick Vase

2011-10-10T16:38:00.027-04:00

Who says decorating has to be expensive? Brighten up your home for Fall with items you may have in your yard.

Gather some sticks, cut them to size, then glue them around a spaghetti jar, for an inexpensive vase!

If you're interested you can view my previous spaghetti jar vases here and here.

*Thank-you so much to Donna@ Funky Junk Interiors for featuring my vase on her Facebook page!

Bench Makeover

2011-10-06T18:50:00.024-04:00

I purchased this bench from a seller on Craigslist a few months ago. It's a good size and I thought it would look nice on my porch. Although the color wasn't bad as is, I decided to paint over it using leftover paint I had on hand.

After giving the bench a fresh coat of paint, I felt like it looked a little plain. I added a stencil pattern to the top of bench using template from Emily at Jones Design Company.

My pattern didn't turn out as well as I hoped ~~blamed in part to my crappy paint brush and unsteady hand~~s...

but, overall I am pleased with the new look!

Thank-you so much Emily for sharing your template!

*A huge thanks to Kim at Today's Creative Blog for featuring my bench on her Facebook page and Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating for featuring my bench on her blog! You guys are awesome!!!!

I am linking this post to:
I Heart Nap Time

Wow Us Wednesdays!

My Dishwasher is Evil!

2011-09-29T18:52:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, I cleaned the kitchen up before going to bed, like I do every other night of the week. Wiped the counters down, swept the floor, ran the dishwasher, went to bed. No Biggie!! Except this time was different, I woke up the next morning to a huge mess! Apparently the garbage disposal was clogged and the water from the dishwasher drained into the sink, causing the sink to overflow. The water in the sink spilled all over place, saturating the floors, the base cabinets and all the stuff inside the cabinets. Oh the drama that took place thereafter, I should have won an Oscar for my performance! I don't cope well with stress and my kitchen mess just took me over the top! We don't own a shop-vac so we got most of the water up with our carpet cleaner. Worked better than expected, but things are still wet and some mold has set in. Boo-hoo!

At this point our insurance company has been called and together we're moving forward to get this mess resolved. The floors are coming up and the base cabinets will be replaced.

But for now, my kitchen is a wreck and my nerves are bad! In the end I know everything will be put back together and I will love my new floors. Until then, I just need to get over myself and enjoy not cooking for the rest of the week!

So my friends, I'll see ya in a week or so while we're under construction!

Shrimp and Grits(My Way)

2011-09-27T02:01:00.018-04:00

When in the South, Eat Like a Southerner!

As a child, I never understood the appeal of grits. Growing up in N.J. my mom made Farina. Farina was my favorite breakfast! Similar to grits, we ate Farina as a hot cereal. Grits weren't a "big deal" until I moved to Georgia. I was unaware that grits were served as a main dish and not just for breakfast. I recently enjoyed Shrimp and Grits at a local restaurant and knew this was one dish I had to make at home. I decided to make this dish for dinner. This recipe has become a family favorite. Love Shrimp? Love Grits? Then you'll love this recipe too!

-Ingredients, Grits:

6 cups water
2 cups half-and-half
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups quick grits
8 ounces shredded white cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, separated

Directions:

* To avoid lumps add grits to water before boiling. In a saucepan, combine water, salt, black pepper, 3 tablespoons of butter and slowly add grits. Stirring constantly slowly bring ingredients to a boil. Reduce to a low heat and continue to stir often, until ingredients are thick and smooth, about 10 minutes. Add cheese and half-and-half. Stir gently until cheese melts. Turn off heat and add remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Stir until completely smooth. Allow grits to rest, before serving.

-Ingredients, Shrimp:

1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled- devein if you prefer *save those shells!
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs butter
1 large garlic clove, minced

1 tsp dried dill
Salt to taste

Directions:

Heat olive oil and butter over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute until mixture is simmering and garlic is fragrant. Add shrimp and cook, until shrimp is white throughout, about 4 minutes. *Add salt to taste. Sprinkle with dill.

-Ingredients, Shrimp Sauce:

1 lb large raw shrimp shells
4 tablespoons butter, separated
4 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large sauce pan, add milk, shrimp shells, two tablespoons of butter and bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook partially covered for about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and season with garlic, salt and pepper. *Strain shells and save only the broth. In a separate pan, heat remaining two tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan and sprinkle with the flour, always stirring. Slowly add the broth, whisking it vigorously until it thickens. Set aside.

*To serve, spoon grits onto a plate. Add shrimp sauce and top with shrimp. Garnish with dill and serve!

I am linking this post to:
Wow Us Wednesdays
Potpourri Friday @ 2805

Linen Closet Makeover

2011-09-18T20:35:00.065-04:00

My linen closet was in desperate need of a makeover.

The walls needed to be repainted,

and the shelves had seen better days.

I originally planned to update the closet by stenciling a fun pattern on the walls. I quickly changed my mind after I found this unopened roll of wallpaper at the thrift store.

Priced at just $1.99, I knew it was meant to be! As an added bonus, the wallpaper was very similar to the stripes I painted last year in my hallway.

This was my first time using wallpaper. It was fairly easy to apply in such a small space. To keep myself from becoming too overwhelmed, I broke the project up in steps. First, I painted the shelves using leftover paint. The next day, I painted the trim. On the third day, I applied the wallpaper. We had to live with a mess for a few days, but the end results made it well worth it!

The top shelf was previously empty, so I added a few planters from Ikea and filled them with some faux foliage from the Dollar Store.

I reused baskets that I already had for storing things like toilet paper and extra blankets.

Clear glass containers are great storage options for soap.

An inexpensive yet time-consuming project, but in the end just the change this closet needed!

*A huge thank-you to Jen @ I Heart Organizing and Ange, from The Blooming Hydrangea for featuring my closet on their blogs! Thank-you kindly ladies!

I am linking this post to:
Wow Us Wednesdays

The 36th Avenue

Awe, Thanks Guys, You shouldn't Have!

2011-09-12T00:01:00.003-04:00

A warm thanks to Vicki, Amber, Tiffany and Jennifer for awarding me the Versatile Blogger Award. I appreciate it very much and enjoy visiting your blogs! I welcome the opportunity to pass this award onto other versatile blogs.

In order to accept this award here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 blogs you have recently enjoyed.

I would also like to thank Erin for awarding me the The Sunshine Award. The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world. Erin is both positive and creative.

Here are the rules:
• Put the Logo on your sidebar, or within a post.
• Pass the award onto 12 Bloggers.
• Link the nominees within your post.
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

*To avoid this post from becoming too long I decided to combine both awards into one.

7 things about me:
1. I have a secret crush on Billy the Exterminator. I may or may not bribe my son to dress up as Billy on Halloween! Please don't judge me! : )

source

2. Lately whenever I ask my kids to do something they quickly chant, "1-2-3 not it"!

3. In my junior year of high school I was dubbed the name "bone crusher" after I accidentally tripped a kid in gym while playing soccer resulting in a broken arm. He needed plates and screws in his arm to allow for better healing. He was such a good sport about it, but it made me feel like crap. PS. The accident happened two weeks after I transferred to the school. Worst. day. of. my. life!

4. I am easily scared. My husband and my kids find this amusing and never pass up a chance to prank me!

5. I talk in my sleep. My last conversation was about Lionel Richie and the Commodores!

source

6. Whenever I ask my kids if their rooms are clean, they in turn ask, "who's coming over"?!

7. My maternal and paternal grandmothers were twins. My father-in-law is also a twin. I hoped my first pregnancy would result in twins. No such luck! Now that my daughter is a teenager and I deal with her teenage attitude, I quickly realize how lucky I truly am! (wink, wink!)

Pay it Forward to great 12 blogs you have recently enjoyed.

Mark@ Our Simple Lives- You must go visit his blog. Some of his posts will make you cry, so have a box of Kleenex nearby. I adore Mark! I wish we could be neighbors.

Optimistic Mom@ Life is Hard, Laugh Anyway- Reading her blog feels like good ole fashioned girl talk.

Jami@ Hello from the Nato's- Jami is awesome 'nuff said.

Tatum@ Many Moments Of Me- Tatum is hilarious! I enjoy her writing style. I think she should write books. Just sayin, Tatum!

Jihane@ Sinful Sundays- Jihane enjoys cooking as much as do. I think we'd make great friends!

Kahli & Milla@ Design Par Deux- Identical twins, passionate about design and site full of jaw-dropping makeovers.

Jen@ I believe in Love- I'm so glad she found my blog, then in turn I discovered hers. She inspires me to be a better person.

Diaries of a Grumpy Grateful Mom- "The Chaos and Confidence of Motherhood" She never fails to make me laugh!

Julia@ Dr. Princess- If you're in the Atlanta area you should follow her blog. She knows all the really cool places to eat, in and around the city.

Teresa@ Meadowbrook Farm- Her pictures are amazing. She has such a beautiful farm.

Latoya@ The Scott's Crib- You must check out her pantry makeover.

and last, but certainly not least, Candace@ Mi Chiamo Candace- Through blogging, I have met some very talented, helpful and motivational bloggers. Candace is one of them. A dear blogging buddy!

Thank you ladies for honoring me with both awards. I love that you guys thought of me!

How To Hang A Wall Object With Two Hooks

2011-09-10T02:51:00.015-04:00

I purchased this wall hook from Garden Ridge to use in the bathroom, for my kids to hang their towels on.

Once I got home, I realized hanging it would be a little tricky!

Ugh... the dreaded "two hook" back!

I realize there is a more technical way to hang this. I am neither technical or patient, so this is what I did! I tore off a few sheets of paper towels the same length as my hook (select-a-size paper towels work best). *Be sure to place the paper towels level with the top of your wall hook. Then using my screwdriver, I marked a spot on the paper towel for each hook.

Hold the paper towel in place with a piece of tape. Then screw your screws(ha ha) into the wall on the marks you created with the screwdriver.

Make sure the screws are nearly flush with the wall, otherwise there will be a gap in between the wall and the hook.

Next, remove the paper towels. Now that your screws are up, you are ready to hang your hook!

You're done! Simply hang your hook on the wall (or in my case, the door) and stand back to admire your handiwork.

*Thank you so much to Diane @ In My Own Style for featuring my tip on her Facebook page and website and Brittany @ Pretty Handy Girl for featuring my tip as well!

I am linking this post to:

Favorite Things In My Town

2011-08-31T10:07:00.009-04:00

Today I'm joining the link party over at Centsational Girl where you're invited to share favorite things about where you live!

I'm originally from New Jersey and my husband's a native of Philadelphia. Although we've lived in Georgia since 1998, my family and I recently moved to the metro-Atlanta area in 2007. Atlanta's a beautiful city. It's clean and very diverse. There's a lot to see and do.

Little Creek Horse Farm- Atlanta's only public horse farm. You can enjoy access to the farm, pony rides and riding demonstrations.

Cagle's Family Farm is just a short drive away from anyone living in the metro-Atlanta area! They offer farm and dairy tours. During the Fall, they have a giant maze and a pumpkin patch.

I love the zoo! Zoo Atlanta is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Mountain Park Aquatic Center- so much more than I expected from a public pool! It's a fantastic place to visit.

Turner Field- A great place for Baseball lovers.

The High Museum of Art- The special exhibits are amazing.

Fox Theatre- A marvelous place for concerts and plays. A beautiful building with a lot of Atlanta history. I didn't see Larry The Cable Guy, although I hear he puts on a great show. His show happened to be displayed on the marquee at the time of my visit.

Centennial Olympic Park, Located across from the Georgia Aquarium and the CNN Center. My family enjoys walking through the park. The Olympic Rings fountain is great fun during the summer as well as the ice-skating rink in the winter. Overall, the park is a nice place to visit.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

The Center is a fantastic tribute to an amazing man. You can visit Dr. King's birthplace as well as Ebenezer Baptist Church nearby.

Stone Mountain Park- I love bringing my children here. We always enjoy ourselves. The best part about Stone Mountain is the trek up the mountain. Although I do not recommend walking up a steep mountain at night, in the rain!

Winter activities include Snow Mountain. It’s fun for those of us who don’t normally get to play in the snow. There are lots of different activities from tubing to building snowmen!

Atlanta is full of great places to eat. Copeland's on Barrett Pkwy. never disappoints. Their menu is delicious. Their bananas foster cheesecake is to die for!

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Dekalb Farmers Market- was one of the reasons we moved to this area. Food from everywhere! I was blown away by the variety and prices found here: meat, seafood, deli, bakery, wine, groceries, flowers, and aisle after aisle of fresh produce. This place is amazing!

Hope you enjoyed my tour!

PS. All photos are mine, except for the last one.

Coffee Ice Cream Recipe

2011-08-29T21:24:00.022-04:00

There isn't anything better than homemade ice cream straight from your ice cream maker, ~~well maybe~~! So delicious, your taste-testers will assume you scooped it out of a container.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
1 cup evaporated milk
Pinch of salt
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup whipping cream

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, evaporated milk, coffee and salt until well blended. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat; cool completely.

Pour mixture into the bowl of your ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After ice cream is made, cover tightly and freeze until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

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Potpourri Friday

Second Hand Table Makeover

2011-08-24T22:57:00.017-04:00

I picked up this table one Saturday from my local thrift store. It was only $7, but in need of a makeover.

I didn't bother priming it first. I just applied two coats of leftover paint.

When I bought this table, I had no clue where I was going to put it, but for $7 I knew I had to have it. Lucky for me it fits perfectly in my small hallway!

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Cream Cheese Pound Cake With Strawberry Whipped Cream

2011-08-17T02:34:00.020-04:00

Growing up I always associated pound cake with funerals. Sounds weird huh?! Well, let me explain... My father was an undertaker. I was exposed to his work at many levels. I grew up visiting my dad at work and offering a hand at funeral services. A meal often followed the service, called a repast. The church family often provided this meal for the family members. The meal would usually consist of the main course, a beverage and dessert -pound cake! My father would faithfully bring home leftover pound cake, for my siblings and myself to enjoy!

This pound cake is delicious and moist. It’s wonderful fresh out of the oven, and even better topped with strawberry whipped cream. And so, this recipe is for my dad and the sweet church ladies who inspired me to cook.

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups butter
3 cups white sugar
6 eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Grease and flour a 10 inch bundt pan.
In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
Add eggs two at a time, beating well with each addition. Add flour and beat well. Add vanilla and lemon juice.
Pour batter into bundt pan. Place in a cold oven( in other words, do not preheat your oven), and bake at 300 degrees for 90 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Strawberry Whipped Cream Recipe

1 C heavy whipping cream
1/3 C powdered sugar
6 large ripe strawberries, mashed

Whip cream with sugar until soft peaks form. Add berries and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

Makes about 2 cups of frosting.

recipe adapted from http://allrecipes.com/

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Uprinting Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-16T01:48:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Uprinting giveaway! The winner is... Comment #4, Kelle!

True Random Integer Generator Min: Max: Result: 4 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations Kelle! I forwarded your email address to UPrinting. A representative will be in touch with you by the end of next month.

UPrinting Giveaway

2011-08-11T06:46:00.002-04:00

Do you send out a lot of personalized letters? Does your small business or nonprofit organization need a printed letterhead? If so, then this is the perfect giveaway for you! Letterhead printing has so many great uses!

Recently, I was contacted by the generous folks at UPrinting.com and asked if I'd be interested in hosting a giveaway on my blog. Of course I said yes! Here are the details:

Prize Details:

500 piece Letterhead for One (1) winner

5.5” x 8.5"

70lb Offset

Front Only Printing

4 Business Days Print Turnaround Time

Free Shipping

*The giveaway does not include envelopes.
*Restriction: Limited to US residents, 18 years and older

To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me what you would use your letterhead for (ie: personal, business, etc.) That’s it! Your comment earns you an entry.

*If you have already won the same print giveaway from UPrinting in the past six months, then you are not eligible to win.

You must be a follower of Don't Disturb This Groove to enter. New followers may enter. Just become a follower before entering this giveaway.

Email subscribers are eligible to win as well. Just be sure to include your email address in your comment.

The giveaway will end Monday, August 15th. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, August 16th. A winner will be selected using Random.org and contacted the day of the drawing by email. Please be sure your email is available through your profile or leave it with your comment. The winner has 24 hours to reply with the requested information. An alternate winner will be selected if the original winner does not reply within the time frame!

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting. No monetary compensation was given and I will receive letterhead printing service for hosting. Letterhead design inspiration and envelope printing are also available. Please visit UPrinting.com for more details.

Wood Banker's Chair

2011-08-10T00:14:00.019-04:00

I’ve been on the hunt for a computer chair for our family room for months.

My patience paid off, when I found this banker's chair, at my favorite thrift store a few weeks ago.

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I love these chairs from Pottery Barn. They look similar to the chair I found, but at a much bigger price tag- of course!

I was happy to pay the price marked on the sticker.

After a little cleaning and some stain, it’s perfect for our family room.

*I stained the chair without doing anything first. No stripping, no sanding, nothing! Although skipping these steps is not recommended, I had no issues with the surface being sticky. After applying the stain with a rag, I left the chair in the garage overnight to dry. I’m obviously not an expert. My advice is to, "stain at your own risk"!

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