Tuesday, June 14

Caution: Sharing Ahead!

Hey Y'all!

It's been a fun Tuesday here in my lil' town, I was able to have lunch with both my grandmothers, and spend some time running "fun places" with Momma and Mama B.

Since I'm back home, Momma has had to get readjusting to eating at home... I guess empty-nest means no need to cook. But, I'm here and I enjoy cooking so we decided to try out a few new recipes from only the best, Southern Living this week.
Now normally I do not share recipes, especially if it is something that I've created on my own ... I never was good at sharing and I guess that part stuck with me! Anyway - since these recipes are "public knowledge" and printed in the March 2011 and August 2010 issues, I'll share a dinner+dessert duo that is hands-down one of the best {+ easiest} I've had in a while!

Dinner for starters, was Grilled Chicken and Veggie Tortellini:
Take 4 small zuchinni and cut in half, lengthwise. 2 skinless / boneless chicken breasts, 1 T. of Italian herb seasoning {we used fresh and it's the best}, 19 oz. frozen cheese tortellini, 7 oz. refrigerated pesto {in with the pasta that's refrigerated}, 1 can of petite diced Italian herb tomatoes, and fresh parmesan cheese to top.

Fire up the grill and roast the zuchinni and chicken with olive oil + seasonings. Grill zuch 8 minutes and chicken 12 total. Prep tortellini {as directed} Coarsely chop chicken and zuch, tossing with tortellini, pesto and tomatoes. Serve while warm... now I do not scarf my food down, normally I'm a picker and I push it around my plate, but I scarfed this down! So good y'all!!


For dessert, a sweet pound cake inspired by my favorite seasonal fruit - Key limes!
My favorite pie to make is Key lime so I knew this would be a winner " Key Lime Pound Cake"
Now, I made this into 14 small bundt pans and dressed them up for individuals, but you can make a standard size bundt cake that feeds approx.12.

So, grab 1+1/2 C. butter, 3 C. sugar, 6 large eggs, 3 C all purpose flour, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1/8 t. salt, 1 C. milk, 1 t.vanilla extract, 1 t. lime zest and 1/4 C. fresh Key lime juice. After that all is said + done, you're going to make a glaze that will blow your lid!
 Grab the KitchenAid mixer and whip your butter up after you let it soften. Add in sugar, gradually beating at medium until light+fluffy. Add 6 eggs, one at a time while still mixing {gotta love those KitchenAid mixers!} In a different bowl, stir all your dry ingredients together and alternate adding to the mixing bowl with the milk. End with the flour. And careful how fast you add the milk, we got a little sloshy! Near the end, add in the vanilla, lime zest {and I always add a bit more because I like the *tart* factor}, and the fresh Key lime juice.
Pour batter into lightly greased pan {used Pam spray} and bake at 325. Now, set the timer for 1 hour + 20 minutes in you're baking in a bundt pan {large} and 30 minutes in you're doing in the baby bundt pans.
They pop out really easily, and let them cool on a wire rack.
To make your glaze {and be ready to drizzle a.s.a.p} add 1 C. of confectionars sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla extract + fresh Key lime juice (2T.) It should be a bit of a milky consistency, so whisk it together and drizzle over cake. I added a wedge of lime just for pretty's sake! Your mouth will ''mmmmm" with that first bite! A glass of milk never hurts either ;)

Alright, well it's time for dessert y'all! Be thankful I shared a recipe, make that two! I probably won't ever do it again ;)

Happy Eatings!

b

Monday, June 13

Whirling Dirvish

Hey Y'all

It's the end of the weekend and I just wanted to share my whereabouts as of late. I've contemplated about how best to blog this for a little bit, and so here it is:

On May 31 I lost my job as a private nanny, which was really a blessing because I was just sticking with it until a better opportunity presented itself.
 And, well, it did.
Although it didn't seem much of an opportunity or blessing at the time, with the support of Handsome Man, my family and best friends, I began to see the silver lining.
Within 48 hours of being unemployed, I had made the decision to move home to my "soft landing spot" at my parents home, 2 and 1/2 hours from my "city home" with Handsome Man and all of our friends, our church, and our social lives.
My furniture was up on Craigslist and sold within three days. The parents and Handsome Man were there on the weekend to move me back to my childhood home.
Although life was a whirlwind and I'm now a statistic in the unemployment rate, I couldn't help but be grateful for sticking with a job that I loathed, and only losing the job due to the ..ahem ... eccentric and unreliable nature of the family {4 nannies, now make that 5, in 2 years ... I don't think the nannies are the problem!!!}


What God will show me in the time I have ahead of me, is a mystery. I'm learning to have faith, more than ever before. And to take each day as it comes. All I can do, is have faith and take the step to do the next right thing.
I'm taking the time to save while having low overhead costs {THANK YOU M&L!!}, to dig deeper into my talents and am able to be more selective in my job hunt. I have hopes of returning "soon" {relative term} to my "city home" and landing a job that I will truly enjoy because I was able to be choosy. I'm excited to be given the chance to work on myself, inside and out, my relationships with family and friends now here in my childhood town, and to see what amazing things will come from this move.

I'm also working on writing content for my website to launch and promote my "dream business" of designing and coordinating special events. A few months back I landed on the name "Sugar Bean" - which is a combination of 2 special nicknames from some quite amazing people in my life - "Shug" or "Sugar" is what my Mama B {grandma} has always affectionately called me. And the "Bean" is a nickname among my closest friend and Handsome Man.
I officially own a website domain name and now I'm working on getting all the pieces together, from photos to web content, bio's and such ... all in a place where it can be pretty and functional!
My hope is to begin working with family + friends designing events {birthday parties, luncheons, meetings, socials, weddings, showers, etc} in my "city home" and my "childhood home" :)
The next big goal is the 5 yr plan, where I hope to be making a decent income from designing and coordinating events from the Panhandle to Central Florida. Call me crazy, but I believe in dreaming big.Over the years, I've seen where my talents emerge and I am so thankful that I have been given the inspiration to use them as a launching point for a career.

As I get more settled here at home, I'll begin a few projects ... the few pieces of furniture that did make the move will be needing a facelift soon, and I finally have a garage and yard to work in! And tools, galore! Hope you will check back and see where I'm headed! Even I don't know where that is, it's kinda fun :)

xoxo
b

Tuesday, May 24

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

Hey Y'all!

It's only Tuesday, yet I'm already mentally in the weekend! Memorial Day weekend is my "official" start of summer fashion. This means I will finally be able to start wearing my favorite prepster style ~ Nautical Inspired pieces!!! Each summer I'm drawn to navy and white, wide strips, beachy linen pants, chunky gold and pearl jewelry & amazing espadrille wedges! It's the summer staple that will forever be in style & this weekend, it's time to bring out the stripes!

So, I wanted to bring you just a little slice of Nautical Love from some of my favorite pieces .....



Now, this year is also a bit more special because my Handsome Man & I will be celebrating 1 year together :) Our first meeting was October 30,2009. Our first date was May 29, 2010. And this Memorial Day weekend we will celebrate a whirlwind of a year together, it's had a lot of ups, a couple downs, and through it all, we've made it work! I love you Ry-Bread!!



Hope ya'll enjoy your long holiday weekend! Throw some goodies on the grille & gather with friends and family!
I'll be sure to post from our Memorial Day BBQ that Momma Bear & I are putting on, sometime next week!

xoxo
b

Tuesday, May 17

I've Got The Etch !

 Happy Tuesday Y'all!

Hope the weekend was kind to you! I had some much needed relaxation with the ones I love, which is always a treat!

This past week has been a bit crazy but I'm surviving & felt I needed a blog post to help re-focus my creative efforts {as just last Friday I was complaining "I don't have anymore projects to work on that I can do by myself"} so I picked up the special issue of "Easy Decorating" by Woman's Day magazine and began to flip through, rather quickly, dog-earing pages that caught my eye and figured I'd come back to READ the articles soon enough. {I never quite outgrew "lets just look at the pretty pictures" ... Momma is the same :) }

So with my mind focused on finding a few small DIY {not DIY+Ry} projects, I have 2 so far... the list will surely grow!

First of all, there is a cane backed armchair in my bedroom that will one day make it out to the living room. First she will need a new coat of paint {the wood isn't bad but she was only $15, so she's getting some color} & then I'll need to recover her seat in burlap, of some grade. I'm no expert at crafting in burlap, so I might need a trip to Joann's to find some that isn't "itchy"

{I do NOT tolerate itchy well at all!}. After all, no one wants to come to your chic'ly decorated home to sit in your lovely chair, only to find their tail-feathers are itchin' from your upholstery choices!!!
I know I wouldn't. 

So, research by feel @ Joanns the burlap, order stencils in "French fonts" {whatever that means, I'll have to look online for some pretty ones}and get my paints out do the burlap seat as a faux feedsack look. Or maybe I'll make it a bit more industrial looking. Either way, too many steps for right now.

That means that the etching mirror / glass project is next up on the board. Now, I have not etched since my sophmore year in high school, when I hand drew a pair of pointe shoes and their long swirly ribbons onto tracing paper and made my first {and rather impressive} etching.
I still have that mirror, it's not hanging anywhere but it has sentimental value to me; because
  1. I actually took an art class
  2. It turned out well and I didn't throw it away
  3. I drew the design myself & it wasn't ugly
So, it hides under my bed in a storage container. But its meaningful to me :)
Now, back to the magazine ... envision:
  • large angled corners mirror
  • etched monogram letters
  • hung by a *Sturdy* pretty ribbon around a door knob / hanger 
Here are the materials you will need:
  • Mirror
  • Contact Paper
  • Tape
  • Letter or design - print out on regular white paper
  • X-acto
  • QTips for cleanup
  • Windex / glass cleaner
  • Paintbrush / Sponge brush
  • Etching Cream 
  1. Cover your glass or mirror completely with contact paper
  2. Tape your design on your surface and use an Xacto knife to cut around the design. Peel off only the design.
  3. Wipe the exposed space (surface) with a Qtip dipped in Windex and clean the glass surface entirely.
  4. Follow the instructions on your etching cream bottle, sponge or brush the surface evenly & let dry
  5. When dry, wipe the design again with the Windex soaked Qtip. Remove all remaining Contact Paper
  6. If needed, like I did, several more sprays of windex were required to get all the gunk off my mirror. 

I hope y'all will find some ugly mirror laying around, or feel inspired to etch some drinking glasses. It's relaxing, not too time consuming, and if you're really just not artistically blessed with a pencil in your hand {ahem, me} you can print out all sort of fun designs online. I love to use shutter stock for "swirly" vector images and since you're just tracing them, the watermark on their photos doesn't affect the overall design!
I have some glass bath room canisters that might be getting their etch on {simple 1 word labels}
Also a set of 6 little juice cups from Ikea {at 60 cents a piece, love it!} might look cute with a monogram or something on them. If you're obsessed with monogrammed drinkware {ok, or anything } this is a great way to do a gift set or for yourself on the cheap & chic!

I'll be sure to let y'all know how the etching goes with photos! In the mean time, I leave y'all with some photo inspirations I've found around the web!

xoxo
b

Saturday, May 7

A Mother's Love

Happy Mother's Day Weekend Y'all!


I'm not a mom {yet} but I am so thankful for all of the beautiful women in my life who are mothers to those I love so much! I am blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers, a mother of my own, and Ry's sweet mother!


momma+me: day 2
This year, more than any year before, I have realized just how much work and self-sacrifice goes into being a mother. Perhaps my job with the Terror {Lil'One} has brought me that much closer to appreciating all my own mother has done for me, while putting her own needs and desires on the shelf for a while. Or perhaps, it is my maturity, at nearly 26, to know that one day, my life will not be solely about what I want to do, but instead to care for my own family.

Either way, I am so incredibly blessed that God chose my momma to bring me here, raise me, keep me fed and in clean underwear, that taught me manners and etiquette, how to be true to myself, how to be a reliable friend, a Christian example, who showed me strength when it would have been easier to give up, and most of all, who showed me what unconditional love is.

momma+me: day 7,840 {approx}
I think being a Mother is a frightening thing for those of us yet to experience it, but I can rest knowing that my momma didn't have a Ph.D in child psychology or all the books in the world on "how-to raise a kid" but she did it through love, discipline {thank you} & a self-less manner. She is my best friend & I am so thankful for her!

Thank You Momma!!!!

xoxo
your beetle

Saturday, April 30

Bright Sunshine'y Day

I suwannee! {now that  is some good ol' true Southern slang for ya'll}

It's the weekend y'all, and although I am working with the Lil One for a few hours tonight, I'm very excited to have one of the roughest weeks behind me. I can't help but sing in my little mind:

Thursday, April 28

Oh Beautiful Friday

Hey Y'all!

I am so very glad I have survived this week to see another Friday. Now, I hate to whine but here's my week in a short summary:

On Monday, I stepped on a 4ft long black garden racer snake.
On Tuesday, I was hit by Lil One and had to spend the whole day with her afterwards{that I nanny for}.
On Wednesday, I received the fabulous news of an interview opportunity for a job I'm pining over {events!}
On Thursday, Lil One hit me again. This time with a golf club {plastic, but to my face}. Soap in mouth+time-out.
Oh Friday, bring me something wonderful!!!

I really am praying about this upcoming interview. I've been in contact with the position's manager, it is a non-profit foundation where I would be focusing solely on large donors, fund raising, and event planning. Heavenly, is what I call it. After the week with Lil One, I'm anxious to get a new job!!! Thank you for those of ya'll who are already praying for me!

Tonight has been relatively quiet, I grabbed dinner in the rain from Chipotle {cannot live without!} and came home to begin transforming my dining area for our Cinco de Mayo party next week. It's so very calming and fun to me, to drag out all sorts of party props, throw on some music, and go to town! I'm very blessed to have wonderful friends who live here that will be coming over for a fun evening.

While in the midst of my productivity, I have watched {rather, listened} to Julie+Julia and also Breakfast at Tiffanys {have you ever noticed that her couch is made from an old footed bathtub? how green of her!}

I also worked on some cute tissue paper crafts from Martha Stewart's Cinco de Mayo article. Most of the time, I get in the middle of one of "Martha's Grand Idea's" and I begin to curse her stupid creativity. But, tissue paper art is simple enough for me! Can't wait to showcase the real-deal from our party next week.


What do your weekend plans entail? I hope to finish up the decor for our party, add my newest bedskirt to the bed {that was another item on the "101 Things To Accomplish By 2012"}. I scored a fabulous tailored white skirt at Tarjet {love} for $11 on the ENDCAP! Handsome Man would be so proud, he is an avid believer in all wonderful things are on the endcaps ... we shop those first :) Did I make you proud? If I'm feeling overly ambitious, I hope to paint the rest of my dining table and sand the oak table-top to re-stain. But, this probably won't happen considering I have my dining room all set for the party!

Before I go, I must say I'm happily surprised to have another reader :) thanks for your comment and following along!
Also y'all, one more thing ~ if you have any book suggestions, please pass them along to me {let's cross another item off the list. 10 new books by 2012}

xoxo
b

Monday, April 25

Spring / Summer Overhaul

Happy Monday Ya'll ~

I certainly wasn't ready for today after having a beautiful Good Friday off, as well as Saturday + Easter, but I suppose we must all go back to reality sometime!

Ry+I had a lovely weekend, we saw "Water For Elephants" on Friday with our good friends + went to dinner. Saturday was "Moi Time" while he spent the day at the library. Then Easter Sunday was church, early to the beach, lunch at amazing Cruisers {so bad for us, but we had to mark it off the "Ry+little b's Adventure List" which I made in September before I moved here}. After the beach we just enjoyed the day, were a bit lazy and did a lot of laundry and steaming. By the way, Ry figured out that he has a passion for removing stains {thankfully not from my chapstick} in our laundry. Baking soda, scrub with toothbrush, and wash again. Voila! He was so excited. I was equally as excited to be using the FUN  steamer to perfectly de-wrinkle the duvet and sheets! Okay, now that we admitted our lame Sunday evening chores ;) I must divulge on my "Fun" projects from Saturday.

We all know that when left to my own devices I can accomplish a lot or a little...depends on the day! :) Well, Saturday came and I'm still excited + inspired from my "101 Things to Accomplish Before 2012". Which, by the way, I have accomplished a lot just from having put those thoughts to 'paper' / blog.






So, I decided from the beginning of the day that my spring / Easter stuff needed to be put away. But I don't have "summer" specific decor, so the mantle was my inspiration starting point ... no photo of the before but here is the after ... I moss'd up this cardboard {?} "D" from JoAnne's - mentioned a while back I scored with a 40% off coupon and Momma gave me leftover moss from little sisters wedding. Finally, finished a project I had been meaning to start since about .. February. Basically whole project was done for $5. Sweet!



Then I started playing around with different neutral pieces that I had around the house {and in closets, and storage bins, and random drawers} and came up with a very PotteryBarn inspired neutral "summer" mantle!
Lovin' my mercury glass, shells from every beach I've been on, antique carafe, vintage wood piece from a New Orleans porch, and misc. other items!




Well, the not -so- interesting project was then under my kitchen sink. I found 2 perfect bins in my car trunk + cleared out all the crap under my sink. Re-organized and I now open the cabinets and smile!!

Lets see, in the works is also a fabulous Cinco de Mayo party for next week! I spent quite a bit of time working on decor, but have lots more to go.

Hope ya'll had a blessed Easter with your loved ones + have a wonderful week to come!

xoxo
b

Thursday, April 21

101 Goals Until 2012

Well, I am certainly not your typical "resolution" maker ~ which is obvious by the title of this post!

But, I've recently been inspired by my love of Listography {making lists by category} and have decided to make it public, as a little teensie motivation for getting my list of goals accomplished. The growing list of "Projects To Accomplish" sitting on my desk is slowly getting crossed off. Then there are other goals, for business plans and such that will find their way on here.



So here we go - 101 Things To Achieve {hopefully by 2012}

  1. Refinish the legs of my dining room table {white} and table top {oak}
  2. Attend all of my LifeGroup meetings with girls from my wonderful church in our next book  {The Good & Beautiful Life}
  3. Pull all photos from college from my PC and onto CD's. Organize in some kind of small bin.
  4. Do some form of exercise 4 days a week. I did 5 days a week in college. I can certainly do 4.
  5. Start an Etsy store for crafts and cookies {made to order- custom}
  6. Collect 10 friends or family recipes and try them each. Add on handwritten cards to my recipe box.
  7. Fly to San Antonio to visit one of my best friends & her husband in their first home!! 
  8. Take a trip to Austin, Tx with Handsome Man for a concert of one of our favorite bands.
  9. Shop for produce each Saturday at Market Days
  10. Take my stepdad Larry out to lunch or breakfast + pick up the tab.
  11. Visit Nashville, Tennessee and find the best BBQ in the city
  12. Successfully grow + keep alive our kitchen herb garden {bad track record}
  13. Buy a gas grill with Handsome Man to enjoy outdoor meals on 
  14. Rebuild my iTunes library to define who I am today {and not in college, as it currently stands}
  15. Print all pictures of Handsome Man + I. Begin to scrapbook by our anniversary. 
  16. Attend another major PGA / USGA sanctioned golf tournament
  17. Volunteer at a children's hospital event
  18. Frame my FSU Diploma with Honors tassel
  19. Start watching Arrested Development again {from the start} with Handsome Man. Finish the series!
  20. Read another biography of a fabulous woman. {Last was "The Gospel According To Coco Chanel"} {how about Billie Holiday? Elanor Roosevelt? Katherine Hepburn?}
  21. Take the trip to Atlanta again with my grandma, my mom and aunt for Country Living Fair
  22. Bathe Izzy {pup} once a week. No more stinky pooches! 
  23. Take photos of my events with Ry's camera {learn new angles to shoot from}
  24. Stage events for my portfolio 
  25. Ask an amazing graphic designer to build me a website for my portfolio 
  26. Get out to the driving range + golf course with Handsome Man
  27. Buy nightstands that we can DIY 
  28. Have a fondue date night -in with Ry {my fondue > Melting Pot}
  29. Design 5 events for my soon-to-be business
  30. Get a job working in events {preferably and a non-profit}
  31. Spend a weekend with my little sister - somewhere out of town from where we both live
  32. Read 10 new books. {suggestions?? please!!}
  33. Create 4 of my own cupcake recipes
  34. Collect ALL relatives + friends current addresses and birthdays. Keep in Excel. Update each year!
  35. Pay for someone behind me in a drive thru
  36. Attempt to surf with Ry
  37. Attend FSU Homecoming weekend
  38. Print out Vintage Graphics from {Graphics Fairy} + iron-on transfer them to make pillows
  39. Start a new collection of antiques {ball jars, antique silver, cake stands, christmas ornaments: Done!}
  40. Actually list / sell all the items on my "To Craigslist" list. Bank the money for future vacation
  41. Save money to re-upholster the lovely Pottery Barn couch {hello, PB, please make slipcovers for the seagrass couch}
  42. Take Handsome Man to Tallahassee for a tour of FSU and "my" Tally
  43. Go with Handsome Man to Gainesville for "His" G'ville tour
  44. White water raft the Ocoee River
  45. Get my carry-on bag monogrammed {meant to do that when I got it @ Christmas '10}
  46. Try one new recipe a week
  47. DIY paint, re-finish, re-hardware my 1930s Hoosier cabinet / dining hutch
  48. Make copies of photos of great-grandparents, grandparents / old family I may not have known, and put them in an album {digitize too}
  49. Ask my grandparents to write / speak a memoir for me. 
  50. Purchase 80% of my Christmas + Birthday gifts from local stores and Etsy
  51. Stage photos for blog posts
  52. Send more handwritten notes "just because"
  53. Pick a business name. 
  54. Design a logo + tagline
  55. Get business cards made. 
  56. Choose 10 local stores to place business cards in. Keep track + refill! 
  57. Track business from card placement.
  58. Take recipe box + turn it into a binder with plastic covers for cards{organize!}
  59. Finish sewing Gators stocking for Ry before December 1st
  60. Attend a non-profit formal event with Handsome Man
  61. Build an apron rack for the kitchen
  62. Devise an organizational system {ikea? container store?} for laundry + cleaning supplies
  63. Go on a Girls Vacay with my bests again. 
  64. See a Broadway show {I'll settle for a good one in town}
  65. Have a Mother/Daughter trip to Charleston, SC
  66. Spend a day boogie-boarding with my Daddy, like old times!
  67. Re-upholster arm chair in my bedroom. Maybe re paint too? :)
  68. Host 2 themed dinner parties with our friends 
  69. Get more involved as a couple in our church
  70. Visit an art museum in our city
  71. Complete our "Ry+b's Adventure List" 
  72. Take ballroom or swing dance lessons with Ry
  73. Use coupons more often with groceries
  74. Find a new game we love {for now it's Yahtzee + Boggle, primarily}
  75. Host another FSU-UF football party {staging photos!!}
  76. Actually practice and RUN a 5K with Ry
  77. Grow my savings account more + not touch except for emergencies
  78. For every goal I accomplish, put $10 in my savings account $ !
  79. Practice frosting techniques on cakes + cookies
  80. Take a Wilton cake class at JoAnns
  81. DIY the "lawyers" bookcase ... {fun paint color?}
  82. Complete small projects in my "DIY" computer folder + blog about them!
  83. Order a box-pleat bedskirt {boring. I know. but I'm just about tired of seeing my bed's "feet"}
  84. Day-trip with friends to springs and camping
  85. Make a tiramisu {Ry's favorite that I should learn to make}
  86. Enjoy summer evenings at the Suns ballpark for a game with fireworks
  87. Network with other event designers through their blogs
  88. Find 3 new restaurants we love that are local
  89. TBD
  90. TBD - 101.
So, I ran out of ideas. Maybe my last few should be to make another "101 list" before I finish this one!? And how about documenting each goal / project with the camera ... that would be a whole different list!

All for now ya'll. I am very thankful for having a reason to celebrate this Easter weekend! We serve a Risen Savior!! Easter Blessings to you! 

xoxo
b

Saturday, April 9

March Madness - No basketball Necessary

Hey Ya'll!

I don't know where the time has gotten to these past few weeks. I know I've thought about blogging, I've talked about it, and I've snapped pictures for my blog ... but all remain unseen until now.

Oh wait-  I remember. Last weekend I was gone, home with my Love to celebrate his mother's birthday + visit with family. The week prior to the weekend, was filled with baking adventures and event design fun.
  • Yours truly made her very first carrot cake. It was divine {humbly}, frosted & for Ma D's b'day
  • Yours truly also made about 2 dozen sugar-butter cookies from scratch {no other way}, cut into shapes of flowers, ducks and chicks for a baby shower for C. Hand piped and royal frosted.
  • Yours truly crafted for hours {thank you Momma} on C's baby shower goodies.  

That left me all but brain dead by the time Friday rolled around. Then we packed it up in the truck and headed home for family time.

So, that's where I've been. It's a tad scary when I have to recount my last steps to know why the heck I've been so busy :) I did have such fun with the cookies that I think I may try my hand at selling them on an order-only basis through Etsy. $10 for 4 isn't bad, right?

C's Baby Shower Invite
Now, I know you're dying to see it, but I can't show pictures of the shower yet, although we staged quite a few, it's not until next Friday. Once the Mama-to-Be has seen her shower in reality ~ I'll share photos. Trust me, you'll want to check back.

Vintage Silverware
I mentioned a post or 2 ago that while Handsome Love was away on Spring Break {lucky} I antiqued my little rusty heart out. Came home with some awesome mix+match William Rogers silverware, dating back to the 1920s, and a 1929 Hoosier cabinet from Hoosier, Indiana. {Love the old furniture stamps}. Here's proof of the damage:





I'll Be Pretty One Day
Please rest assured that once Handsome Love is finished with his first year of law school {May 11 come quickly}, we will be tackling this lovely Hoosier cabinet. I've played around with 3-4 paint chip samples so far, all in a shade of mossy light green .. and we'll update the hardware, paint over that dreaded ugly Southwestern indian design, and facelift it :) I'm sure he's just as anxious as I am about getting done with school, solely for the purpose of not having to look at an ugly cabinet anymore! In the mean time, the picture displays that I did what I could to live with it, for the next few weeks! Any suggestions on painting the insides of the breadbox area? I'm thinking a "pop" color ?!





This weekend is going to be great, we are going on a bike ride tomorrow morning in chic+comfy San Marco. It's kind of become "Our" area. We took our Christmas card photos here, eaten many meals, become favorites at stores, etc etc. Then, we'll jump down to St. Augustine so that He can get his J.Crew fix & then it's off to dinner at Bistro Aix. I was feeling fancy, so I bought a little number in a bright coral silky fabric and can't wait to wear it out!

I'll check back with ya'll and post something on Sunday if time permits.

Love The One You're With.

xoxo
b