{ Salt Dough Ornaments }

My hubs told me that his mom used to make these doughy creations when he was younger and to this day we hang them on our tree. She has since passed away but he cherishes those little painting stockings that say "will" and cute teddy bears that carry the memories. I wanted to try it and thought it would be not only fun for little Jesse but maybe fun for Will too. I made the dough, poked holes for hanging ribbon or hemp twine and baked the cookies and they came out great. They will be a little soft  even after baking but let dry for a day to really harden and then paint with acrylics or glue rhinestones...whatever your heart desires.

Things You'll Need:

1 CUP SALT

2 CUPS FLOUR

1 1/2 CUPS WATER

Measuring cup

Bowl

Spoon

cookie cutters or even stamps to impress shapes.

Rolling pin

knife

Baking sheets

acrylic paints and brushes.

Instructions:

Pour 1 cup salt into a bowl. Add 1 cup warm tap water and stir until the salt dissolves. Add 2 cups flour and remainder of water if dough is too dry, stir until well mixed. Knead the dough as you would bread dough. Shape and reshape it with your hands until it's smooth and firm and can be formed into a ball. Your children will enjoy doing this with you. Make this their project. The more time and energy they invest in the activity, the more successful they will feel. If you don't plan on using the play dough right away, store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. The mixture will last about a week. You need to bake your ornaments in the oven to 250º for anywhere from 45 minutes for small cookie cuter ornaments or up to 2 hours for larger projects.

ENJOY, This project is one of my favorites!

{ Creating A Jar Of Blessings }

A great blog littlebirdiesecrets posted about this project and I thought it was a cute idea without being too corny which my family can't handle. By taking a pretty jar and using rub-ons to adorn the front with a saying like..."T is for Thanks" or "Be Thankful", a plain jar and strips of paper become a lifelong memory and reminder of what's important to each person.

On Thanksgiving Day, while chatting and waiting for turkey is the best time to do this. Get a large jar or even a apothecary jar. I prefer to get a glass jar so you can see the slips of paper. Before hand prepare your paper slips. Give everybody a couple slips of paper to write on. Instruct them to write down one item on the paper that they are thankful for. Once everybody has wrote their blessings down, put them in your jar or can.


Once your ready to trim your tree, you can use the strips of thanks as garland by bending them into rings and stapling together. I just fell in love with the idea and even though WE are NOT that Type of family...I'm forcing them anyway;))

Art Supplies Needed:Glass apothecary jar, Rub-ons, Popsicle stick, Double-sided patterned papers cut into 1/2" by 6" strips, Piece of patterned paper cut to fit part of the inside of the jar, Length of ribbon to tie around jar, Clear tape or Glue Dots, stapler, Pen or marker

***Be sure your glass jar is clean and free from dust and then adhere your rub-on. Cut the portion you want from the rub-on from sheet and remove paper backing. Place where you want it on the glass and lightly press it down with your fingers. Use Popsicle stick to rub all over the image until it is completely transferred.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and make it special!

{ Here Piggy Piggy } the party is here!

My son's long awaited western party is finally coming up this weekend and I've been planning everything for a proper hoedown. Venue rented, complete with extreme face painting by funtastical faces here in CT(she now follows my blog and seems fabulous...can't wait to see the artwork!) Also found a clown that will dress up like a "rodeo clown"!! I decided that me and my girlfriends would make all the great southern food and just warm everything up there and last but not least me & the hunny will be creating the cake.

I thought that it would be cute to have little squeeze bottles of personalized BBQ sauce on the tables with a funny picture of rumps screaming or something too that effect. I tryed a couple versions of this sauce and this one is the winner hands down. Here is the most delish recipe of the richest, thickest, yummy bbq sauce ever...pROMISE!!



SERVES 20 -30 , 3-4 pint jars

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups onions (chopped)
1 1/2 cups red bell peppers (chopped)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 cups ketchup
2 cups chili sauce
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons liquid smoke
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup dark brown sugar

Directions
1 Sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic in butter, just until onions are translucent.
2 Add chili powder, and dry mustard. Stir to incorporate.
3 Lower heat and add remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for at least one hour.
4 Let cool then blend smooth in food processor
5 Put up in mason jars. If you actually "can" the sauce it will keep for a month or so. (There are no preservatives so be careful). If not, use what you need, it will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks, and you can always give the rest away--your family and friends will love you for it.

{ Paper Mache Animals }

Yes this creation is awesome, artistic and some how super creepy. I love it but I think i'd like to try it minus the little mouse head and just have a pretty paper mache bust i think;)


I was searching for a craft to do last night on what I have to say is the rainiest fall ever around here and thought about the wonderful world of paper mache I sooo enjoyed as a kid. I figured what's not to love, eating paster & ripping paper...it's a 2 year olds dream.


We made a giraffe out of wire hangers bent in half for legs, a water bottle body taped with 2 tons of masking tape and then another wire hanger bent & slipped inside the water bottle and taped to form the long giraffe neck and little head. We covered the whole thing with masking tape tomake secure and give the papermache something to adhere too. Use syrophone for little ears and horns(it's light weight & cheap). Oh yeah...don't forget a little rolled paper tail;).

Papermache Recipe:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup water

Mix until a nice soupy consistancy. It is impossible to get out of clothes, so beware...it was messy but so much fun. My son was really concentrating on putting every ripped piece of newspaper on perfectly. So cute.
Paint with acrylic paints after it dries, ours took 3 days?

And now a few wonderful creations to get some ideas.

DIY {Before You Throw Away Paper...}

I was so happy when I came across this post on scrap paper re-purposing. I have a ton of stuff that is too pretty to throw away and this is the perfect little project. I have my son's western party coming up and I made a candy buffet with recycled mason jars. I thought I could add a little interest to the jar lids and maybe add some red & white check tops.

Here are the simple simple directions:

Materials:
paper scraps
Mod Podge in matte finish
pencil
scissors
medium craft brush
jars with screw lids




Instructions for jars
1. Wash jars thoroughly. Remove any labels with Goo Gone or similar product. To remove smells, soak in a bleach solution. Let dry.

2. Lay jar lid face down on the back of decorative paper and trace lightly with a pencil. Sketch a circle that is bigger (the height of the lid plus 1/4″) around the circle. You can use a round object to trace if you can find a similar one in size. Cut slits about 1/4″ apart that go right up the first pencil tracing. Coat inside circle with Mod Podge and adhere to lid. Press down thoroughly with clean fingers. Lay face down on surface and begin gluing strips in a clockwise direction. Coat 2 or 3 strips at a time and fold each one up and over the edge of the lid. Continue until all the strips are glued.

3. Turn lid over so pattern is facing up. Coat with Mod Podge to seal. Let dry and then screw onto jars.


So pretty huh? What ideas do you have for paper? Comment me & I'll be sooo grateful.

DIY {Easy Baby Leg Warmers}

Baby leggings can be used as arm warmers & leg warmers for all ages. They make great baby gifts too. I thought they are so cute because they keep Jesse warm with just a diaper and shirt on around the house and they will be great for potty training. The now very famous and trendy baby legs are 12.00 a pair and although I LOVE them, these can be made. I picked up a 3.00 pair of socks from Walmart and made sure they were extra long and cozy for Jesse's chubby little gams.

Step 1. Find a fun pair off socks.

Step 2. Cut off the heels and toes like the first pic

Step 3. Discard the heel & toes

Step 4. Using the lower foot piece turn them inside each other wrong sides together. This will be the bottom cuffs.

Step 5. Now just place the leg pieces into each cuff like this

Step 6. Then sew around using zig zag stitch or whip stitch and be careful to get all three layers!

Step 7. Turn them out the right way and slip them on your little one.

These are another simple and addicting project that takes about 20 minutes, my son is fuzzing with them but he'll learn to love them. Next ones are flames;))

{ I Thought This Might Bring A Smile }

Feeling a little overwhelmed these days with life and have been wondering what craft i could get into between the hours of 11pm-3am since I seem to have an open time slot in my schedule. What's cuter then a precious felted birdie with a cute embroidered pink heart? Nothing that's what.

I stumbled upon skiptomylou.net and she is the most creative little lady with step by step directions and adorable photos to boot.

She was making about 20 of these for a calendar but I was thinking of sewing it onto another piece of felt on a wooden loop and hanging it in my bedroom. It's always nice to wake up to something handmade by yours truly and have it be super cute too.

This is the template printed out and placed on top to start tracing with a pencil or disappearing pen..
NOTE: that dotted lines are where you trace to sew your colored felt to sew on.You can download the template by hitting the link at the beginning of post.

Yummy Appetizer {Thai Pork & Crab Meatballs}

My mom's birthday party is tomorrow and I'm hosting it at my home. I had a pretty trying weekend to say the least but I'm hoping tomorrow night will be a nice break from everything I'm dealing with. My family is always fun when we all get together...there is 7 of us so it's always a great time.

I bought this great cookbook called "Chinese Cooking School" today & it's filled with the prettiest pictures and yummiest Thai influenced dishes. I made the whole menu for the party from this one cookbook.

I made a few things tonight to get my mind off of things and prepare ahead a bit and they all came out so tasty I had to stop myself from eating them all up. You got to try these with the tomato chili dipping sauce...yummmmmmm.


Ingredients:
8 oz. pork tenderloin finely chopped
2 shallots chopped thin
1 can lump crab meat drained
3 scallions finely chopped
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
peanut oil for frying

Combine all ingredients in one bowl(easy right?) Get your hands dirty and form walnut size balls & fry in a thick bottom pan or deep fryer with oil reaching about 1/3 way up meat. Oil should be able to brown a piece of bread in about 30 seconds.

Cook about 3-4 minutes or until they are a nice golden brown and move easily around the pan. Remove and drain on a paper towel. I stored mine in Tupperware and I'll reheat in the oven tomorrow night at around 300 for 10 minutes or so.

There is also a spicy chili tomato sauce to sit the meatballs in using 3 ripe tomato's chopped, a garlic clove and 2 scallions chopped finely and 1 red chili seeded and chopped then all sauteed together with 1 tablespoon of peanut oil until hot and bubbly. So pretty on a clean white plate and don't forget the chopsticks!

{ DIY-Freshin Up Your Plain Curtains }

I spotted a ton of ric rack in a million colors today while browsing around to finish up my ribbon wreath in the previous post. I have never used it because I was afraid to take on such a tedious sewing project but with this you just draw a line and use spray adhesive. The advantages are you freshin up the inexpensive look of white panels and add a creative touch that can pull together the look of your room. It also can widen the appearance of any window by adding horizontal stripes. To keep the line level, first draw lightly across the width of the curtain with a pencil and ruler. Use adhesive to attach the trim along the line. Done.

I also found a great pic with plain janepanels addorned with ribbon in a zig zag pattern but I think it would look so kitchy with ric rac!!

You can get 25 yards for 3.99 in a multitude of wonderful colors by clicking here...bbcrafts.com

{ Gothic Ribbon Wreath }

I came upon this wreath from the blog the long thread & I think it's so elegant and looks super simple to make. I love it in black but it would be equally pretty in any autumn tone ribbon like a shiny rusty orange silk. It takes around 25 yards of ribbon which is alot but look at the results!

To make this wreath from The Long Thread, all you'll need is a 12-inch foam wreath form, 25 yards black grosgrain ribbon, scissors, and a measuring tape.
I found 50 yards of black 1 1/2 inch ribbon for 9.59 visit the direct link to the page here papermart.com (enough for 2 wreaths).

Here's how:
To begin, cut your ribbon into 45 to 50 16-inch pieces, and one piece of 48-inch ribbon.
Tie one piece of the 16-inch ribbon in a messy knot around the wreath form by folding right over left twice, pulling in the opposite direction.
Continue this until you've tied all the small pieces of ribbon, pushing them close together in between.
The wreath should be full; if not, cut and tie more small pieces of ribbon.
Now, tie and knot the long piece of ribbon around the wreath, leave a long loop and tie another knot at the other end.
If there are any frayed edges trim them, and make sure the ribbon pieces are relatively the same length.


Now, hang the wreath!

{ Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins With Yummy Filling }

BTW:(I have made these again and used cane sugar and pecans and replaced the buttermilk with the same amount of sour cream..this time...even moister and 100 times more DELISH!!)

I carved another pumpkin at my sister Jeannie's last night while rumps schemed all night to get the sharpest tool we had. We sipped pumpkin coffee while sister carved a bat and moon scene that had a difficulty level of 2 pumpkins. Strangely our pumpkins were about 2-3 inches thick and resembled cutting into a pair of loafers. I did a cute polka dot design around the middle via queen Martha's website, that came out really cool. I ended up with all these cute circles of pumpkin so I wanted to keep them and figure out a recipe to incorporate them. I had a version of these as cookies while pumpkin picking last fall! I found the filling on cooks.com and the muffin recipe is an old recipe and I just added the cranberries & molasses to spice it up. These muffins are so moist and pumpkin-y it is plain silly. The cranberries add a bittersweet bite and great fall color to these tasty cakes.
Fresh pumpkin and the creamy surprise of the sweetened cream cheese filling inside is to die for.


For Muffins:
2 cups roasted fresh pumpkin puree or a 15oz. can of pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sweetened cranberries
4 eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup butter
2/3 cup sour cream
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup chopped roughly pecans
1 teaspoon molasses
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 t teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Filling:
8 oz. Cream Cheese
¼ Cup Evaporated Cane Juice
1/8 Tsp salt
½ Tsp Lemon juice
1 Egg

Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Mix in one egg until smooth. Whisk in the flour until smoothly combined and place in pastry piping bag; promptly refrigerate to firm up the mixture. This can be done ahead of time.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line two muffin/cup cake pans; spray with flour and oil or just oil (which ever you have).

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, butter, oil, buttermilk, molasses and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.
Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended.

Pour about 2 tablespoons of the batter into each muffin cup. Pipe about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of the prepared cups. Spoon another 1 1/2 -2 tablespoons of the batter on top of the cream cheese, just enough to cover the cheese mixture, it must not be showing when the pans go into the oven.

Sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar, if you want to, this is not necessary-just tasty.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes in the preheated oven. Muffins are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

{ Pumpkin Decor & Fall Sangria Recipe }

Today was such a fun day with rumps, perfect breezy fall day, sun shining. We ended up taking the pretty scenic drive up Route 7 to The Christmas Tree Shop in Danbury, CT and found a pair of white drum shades for 1.99 to go on 2 goodwill black urn lamps I found a while back! I never mind the drive because of all the great antique & decorative iron shops along the way. We stopped into Stew Leonard's to pick out pumpkins for the front door and ended up finding mums for 1 dollar each. No lie, the cashier said because they were not up to standard they had to go...I packed the truck up like I stole something. I hear the orange ones last the longest so I grabbed them all. Rumps was thrilled & pooped & slept the whole ride;)) Needed some pumpkin decorating inspiration so here are a few I loved & a delicious sangria recipe for the fall. Figs & wine? Nothing wrong there.

Better yet drink this sangria & decorate your heart out;)

Such a great idea for Thanksgiving since you already used the insides for pie, right?

photo via weddingbee.com

Using the hurricane glass adds height plus a little safety. My lil' one that thinks all candles are for his birthday.

They hot glued river rocks to these pretty white pumpkins that are always my fav. Bought one today.


Martha Martha Martha. She used a cookie cutter and then cut out shapes from white pumkins and swaped them with the orange. LOVE IT & her!


I'm totally diggin the wood grain but it looks like it would take a month to complete.

Stacking pumpkins inside urns is everywhere this fall which will include my house. I just have to wait until the yearly pumpkin picking event with the family to get more.

These are adorable! I think anyone can draw this and cut squares. I will def. be trying this one. Too precious.

NOW POUR YOURSELF A GLASS OF THIS LOVE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.


Ingredients:

Makes 8 servings.
2 to 3 fresh figs and/or 1 cup dried figs
2 to 3 fresh plums, pitted, and/or 1 cup dried plums (prunes)
2 to 3 fresh apricots, pitted, and/or 1 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup molasses
1 bottle light red wine, I love such Pinot Noir for Sangria
1 bottle sparkling apple cider or club soda, chilled
1 orange, peeled, if desired, and sliced

Directions:
1. Halve, quarter, or slice fruit. In 3-quart glass container combine fruits and molasses; stir until well-combined. Slowly pour in red wine. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.
2. To serve, add sparkling cider and orange. Stir gently with spoon. Fill glasses with ice and ladle in sangria.

{ DIY: Painted Door Knobs }

When we bought our house about 2 years ago it needed a ton of work as you all know, (still does). The entire place was covered in the most dreadful wallpaper you can imagine. I laugh sometimes because the only thing we managed to keep was the tongue & groove ceiling in the family room and the door knobs;) They functioned but with that dull scratched brass they needed some help. Will thought of the idea to paint them black instead of spending on new ones. Hey, if they chipped we would just buy new ones. I loved the idea and I am so happy we did it. 2 years later they are on and poppin.

Oh by the way...the pic of yellow drippy paint is not mime but a really cool photograph(sadly the person didn't leave a way for me to give her credit). Love you whoever u r.

Here is what you need:

Sandpaper (200 grit or whatever you have on hand is fine)
Metal primer
Spray paint for metal(I used all purpose paint from Rustoleum in satin black)

Remove the knob & lightly sand the entire piece.Wipe clean of any dust and in a ventilated area spray the primer on, wait an hour, and then put the spray paint on lightly, wait another hour and then put another light coat of paint on. Take you time with the spray paint, keep your distance about 6-10 inches from the hardware and you'll end up with a nice finish.

Spray paint is available in so many finishes. They have a paint that gives you a hammered finish which I haven't tried but it looks fab. The copper looks awesome too. Even painting a pretty image like these lemons add pop to this door and is a different place to add interest.

DIY {Oh So Easy Fabric Shades}

I have a newly neutral khaki & white horizontal 12 inch striped master bedroom. Almost done but still need to do a few finishing touches before it is blog worthy.

Now while looking for a great fabric treatment for the windows I decided to try my hand at doing my own and found this project at Woman's Day mag. This beauty started out as a cheap white roller shade and they used spray adhesive to add fabric over top. They folded strips of fabric to make this tab pull at the bottom and then bought a silver cafe rod (about 3 bucks) at Walmart to pull up & down.

I think it is perfect don't u??

The directions for this project are from Alice Falkier from Design Star. I tweaked them adding the tabs & pull rod from this picture.

Tip:
The spray adhesive works fast. Be sure to get all your wrinkles out immediately, or you’ll be stuck with a wrinkly shade.

Materials:
roller shade

2 yards of fabric

spray adhesive

scissors
double sided adhesive tape

fusible webbing

stapler

cafe rod

First cut 4 strips of fabric that are about 6-7 inches long and 5-6 inches wide. Fold each side in to make a clean loop & making sure they are all EVEN(I made this mistake) . Iron the pieces and insert fusible webbing inside to hold into place. I stapled the loops with 2 staples in each straight onto the bottom of the shade into the wooden strip inside. Placing the first & last loop about 2 inches from the outside and then

1. Go to a highly ventilated area for this first step. Lay your fabric out and spray with your adhesive. Spray about 6– 8 inches away. Be sure to use your painter's mask for this step.

2. Carefully lay your fabric on top of the roller. Crease any wrinkles out.
3. Back at your workspace, grab your scissors and cut the fabric along the edge of the shade.
4. Roll your shade back up.
5. Measure your trim along the bottom edge of the shade, leaving a little room on both sides and at the bottom (to fold inside and lay on top of tabs to cover them).
6. Measure out the appropriate length for your double sided adhesive tape.
7. Press your tape into place and peel off the top layer.
8. Carefully press your trim onto the tape.
9. Tuck the trim on each side to hide the seam.

10. Insert cafe rod after the rod is hung and set. Enjoy.

Do you love it! Comment me & tell me if you tried it.

{ Mason Jars* Trendy Drinking Apparatus or Deadly Weapon }

In all my brainstorming regarding my son's party I had over-looked the total un-comfort of a scratchy hay bale. I have been searching for something pocket friendly and of course stylish that can make these things comfy and still remain rustic and kid friendly.

I love these pillows in a row that compliment the vintage cowboy fabric to a tee! Makes me think I need a couple yards for the kiddie table...hmmmm. DONE;)



My parents backyard is pitch black at night so hopefully the boyfriend will be able to rig up some ambiance if the party goes later then planned. These hanging lanterns are pretty inexpensive and you can always re-use them. Photo via Countryliving.com

What on earth is a western showdown without SMORE's. Martha Stewart has done it again with these crafty twigs and birch stars. Check out the pre-wrapped smores package she made. I want to do as much up-front as possible so I can hang with the little man and some friends!

Quick story: of what everyone around me knows is MY LIFE totally.

I go out today with my little sis "nonnie" & brother "Jesse" (I named my son after him)and we try this awesome organic cafe that opened in Greenwich. We were just finishing up when my son goes to follow me and falls taking a glass mason jar drinking glass with him (which by the way I admired the entire time.) I run outside to see his hand dripping with blood and glass everywhere! I'm hugging him my lil rumps and the owner was bandaging and offering me free baked goods to ease the pain. What started out as a delish cappuccino ended in blood & screaming but I am hear to report the trauma is over and he is doing great. Apparently the hands bleed allot.

Oh & I also found a site for the CHEAPEST mason drinking jars ever(candlesandsupplies.com). Would that not be the most southerly bit of love ever. At .38 each I think they are my new home drinking glass. Martha would be so proud:D but my son might have flashbacks.

Peace Love & Chicken grease - Sage Mommy

{ Cowboy Kids Party }

Is this not the most inspiring picture of a perfect country western hoedown? CountryLiving.com sure knows how to bring you in the moment huh? Well when I spotted it I knew that it was the perfect idea for my son's second birthday party. He is born in late November but I wanted the kids to enjoy the fall & be outdoors, so who cares if it's a bit early. My parent's have a huge property & are more set up then I to accommodate allot of cars. So I'll be throwing down over at the parentals crib.

These are the invites below from party city. I love the playful wording and they were easy to print out not to mention cost effective;)

They say: "Howdy Partners, please help us round up our little

outlaw Jesse James for the crime of turning 2, rumor has it he'll be hiding out at...(fill in address) Let me know if you want to be a part of the posse. Please wear blue jeans and a white or plaid shirt."

These are some little vintage pics to stick on top of cupcakes...from etsy shop rockabyeretro. I fell in love with the images on them.

I love the idea of marking drink carafes with sheriff stars! I'm bought an inflatable cowboy hat that's a cooler (oriental trading for 15.00) and filling with drink boxes so the kids can grab themselves. I also bought some wooden stars at Micheal's that I'm painting chalkboard & attaching them from twine I picked up at home depot.

Look how cute. Made entirely of refrigerator boxes. Cool project & the kids will love to run in & out of this mini town.

I adore these cupcakes and will be copying to the best of my ability. Fondant makes everything on top pop. I'm skipping the horses and going with a little horseshoe and cowboy boot motif.

As far as DECOR:
BANDANNAS EVERYWHERE & string lights wrapped around more twine above our heads. Lanterns on the tables and hay bales to sit on. I bought bandanna fabric at Walmart for 2.50 a yard and will drape the tables in it.



CHUCK WAGON
consists of normal cowboy fare of Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Grilled Corn On The Cob and hot dogs and hamburgers for a little back-up.


More on entertainment & THE CAKE as it unfolds...

{ New Life For an Old Spool }

Back before diapers and sippy cups were a part of my everyday, I used to ride my motorcycle over by this electrical warehouse where we would all hang out. There would be tons of these spools around and I always thought they were the perfect shape for a kids table & chairs set. Recently, after a shopping trip to Baby Gap I was appalled to see some creative person had thought of this also and painted the whole thing in really cute shade of blue & orange. I'm even more in LoVe now that it was in front of me and why not use them? I called that same warehouse and they are letting me pick some up to use as seating for rumps 2nd birthday party coming up...and they are FREE!!

I'll post about the Wild West Round Up soon. Things are getting out of control with all the ideas!

I like the idea of stapling fabric and batting on top to soften the look.

Photo via designspongeonline.com

Screwing wheels on this table makes it look 100 times better and with it beingmobile the possibilities are endless. You can buy a pack of these large wheels at homedepot for around 6.00!


This creative gal changed the whole look by cutting the bottom into a square pedestal and adding a mosaic tile design on the top. If you apply sealant over a design this table will last outside for years.

I hope you are able to rescue some spools from an untimely death.

{ Lamp Shade Makeover }

We all love a project that uses what we already have. I'm sure everyone has a few yards of pretty fabric or left-over wallpaper that is dyeing to be showcased..right? We have all seen this project done but I think it's time to actually add this to the craft list. I picked a set of pendant lamps at goodwill for 12.00 and they were the perfect blank canvas to add some life & creativity above mybedside tables. They came out perfect!

Here are a few crafty ideas from other artists that I love and my

step by step directions on

how to create this finished look!

1. Why not dress up the inside -A hint of color and pattern is an eye-catching touch on the inside of a shade, especially for hanging lamps. Make a pattern by tracing the shape of your lampshade onto paper, allowing enough to overlap ends. Cut fabric using the pattern, coat the wrong side with spray adhesive, and carefully adhere the fabric to the inside of the shade. If you have difficulty controlling the fabric as you work, first back it with paper to stiffen it, then use adhesive to attach the paper side to the shade. Glue bias tape along the top and bottom edges to give the lining a finished look.

2. Give it a paper or Fabric makeover - Covering your lamp with paper is an easy, inexpensive and effective way to quickly make a new lamp shade. Trace the top and bottom of the shade by rolling it on wrapping paper, allowing extra to fold ends. Cut. Use cut paper as a pattern for a second piece if needed. Place paper on shade, aligning patterns. Fold ends, securing seams with double-sided tape. Glue ribbon on top and bottom. (The same technique can be used with fabric, but instead of double sided tape, attach the fabric with spray adhesive.)

I hope someone gets around to doing this.

Email me to show me pictures and I'll post them here!

-Sage Mommy

{ Ridiculous Red Velvet Cheesecake }

The last couple of days here have been a nightmare...my waste pipe backed up into the basement and destroyed everything, luckily my man can do just about anything including plumbing and he has the greatest friends anyone could want, so lucky! The entire job is now done and what once was a pretty cute front yard is now a huge dirt pile with digger tracks all over but hey...at least I have running water now. I'm just realizing that this is no kinda seg-way into a recipe but I have to tell you that I was starving after I came in and needed to get this experiment in red cheesecake underway. I saved this recipe a while back but tweaked it a bit as I went along. The recipe is from southern living & culinary concoctions from Peabody & utterly ridiculous!

I was asked today to make a Louis Vuitton birthday cake with red velvet cheesecake inside and I decided I really needed to try out the perfect recipe first! This was it. Super moist, creamy and the color was fabulous.

For the Crust:
1 ½ cups Oreo cookie crumbs
¼ cup butter, melted
1 TBSP granulated sugar

For the Filling:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup sour cream
½ cup whole buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp distilled white vinegar
1 (1 oz) bottles red food coloring

For the Topping:
4oz cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tbsp butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325F.

2. Stir together cookie crumbs (if you're making the crumbs at home from whole Oreo cookies, there's no need to remove the cream filling), melted butter and 1 TBSP sugar; press mixture onto bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan (it's fine if you have an 8-inch pan or a 10-inch one).

3. Bake the crust for 8 minutes, then take it out and leave to cool.

4. In a blender, add eggs, unsweetened cocoa, sour cream, buttermilk, vanilla extract, vinegar, cream cheese, and sugar. Mix until fully combined. I had to do mine in two batches, because my blender just couldn't contain all that filling.

5. Pour the mixed batter into a large bowl and add the food coloring. Mix well with an electric beater.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan with crust. Put it on a baking sheet (very important, in case you get any leaks!). Bake at 325F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 300F, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm.

7. Turn oven off, prop open the oven door a little bit, and let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 more minutes. Then cover and chill for 8 hours.

8. For the topping: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Remove cheesecake from refrigerator and spread topping evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of spring form.

Verdict: Genius!! That color, that shockingly deep dark red moist cakey goodness & with the crunch of the chocolaty Oreo crust and that creamy cheesecake...too much for the palette!

{ Arranging Your Shelves...Mystery Solved }

Getting my shelves to look magazine perfect is daunting to say the least. Hey, you're talking to a chick that tires of things after 15 minutes;) I am constantly arranging and re-arrange until it just feels right so I jotted down some ground rules that seem to work and break down the process to get that balanced and cohesive look. My first task was to get everything I loved and wanted to display together, frames,pretty numbered glasses, books, cute photos and small trinkets that should get out of the back of my junk drawer and start living life In the public eye...here is the list.



#1 remove everything from your shelves. it may be time-consuming but starting witha blank canvas will help you see the space a-new and encourage you to return only what you really love.

#2 assess the book situationa. remove any torn-up or raggedly books (maybe they don't get to be on display...this is where baskets and bins are useful.)b. arrange your books by size. keeping relative sizes together will be pleasing to the eye. the smallest books go on the upper shelves, the largest on the bottom. you don't want things to look top heavy.


#3 place your largest items on the shelf...this may be a grouping of books, storage baskets, vintage gas station signage, all of the above..whatever you want. space these pieces that have more visual impact somewhat randomly in the bookcase.

#4 add a layer of medium sized decorative items...framed prints, plants, a small bust of beethoven, etc. make sure these items have a spacial relation to the largest items...whether they are placed slightly in front or on top. don't leave them floating all alone one the shelf.



#5 finish with any small knick-knacks...seashells, candles, lego men, etc. use these sparingly. you don't want too many little pieces...it'll look busy and messy.

#6 step back and assess. is there too much stuff on one side? too many black things on that one shelf? is it too symmetrical? don't worry if it doesn't look perfect right away...this is a process and now is the time to mess around with it.

Enjoy and happy decorating.

Sage Mommy

{Anthropologie Sweet Dreamin}

There is something so whimsical about Anthro's style. Every little thing a work of art in itself. Can't seem to leave without taking a small treat home to display. I love everything about this store, even the shopping bags with that recycled crafty look that Anthropologie does so well.

My focus these days is my super sad, dark grey bedroom so I am focusing on these pretty inspiration pics for making a super comfy bed for the whole family to snuggle in;) The goal is too get a big bold floral look with white background and fabulous throw pillows everywhere. Isn't that what everyone wants? Now if I can just figure out how to turn my crappy Ikea bed into a distressed scrolled vintage rod iron master piece? Any ideas??

Sweet Dreams Lovers...I miss you will;)

{Fireplace Scapes}

I think that many of us love our fireplaces in the wintertime for the ambiance and of course no one can deny the money saving attributes to heating but as soon as springtime rolls around the inside tends to start looking like an eye soar. I am sorry to say that I have not touched the piles of ash that accumilated since the winter but I just might someday? After sitting on my couch & imagining what it would look like cleaned and freshly painted black I decided to look what others our doing with theirs and I love what I found. The fireplace is a real empty canvas. The possibilities are endless.

For me, the glow that creamy white pillars cast on a room is so pretty at night. I would have a bunch at different heights & throw in a oversized clam shell filled with sand and smaller candles. I love bringing in elements of the sea whenever I can.

painting the inside of the fireplace with a fresh coat of black and making a vignette of found vases gives this fire scape a clean and thought out look. So springtime. photo via casasugar

This women had a piece of mirror cut to fit the exact opening and takes it off when the fireplace is in use. Very nice job of concealing the fact that its removable. Photo via apartmenttherapy

I love this pic because it is a simple idea but is hugely arcitectual and adds a natural element of color to this white room.photo via apartmenttherapy

Placing a flat screen is an in genius way to utilize that unused space left behind by a non functional fireplace. photo via unplgged

A few logs piled up & draped with a set of white string lights gives you a great fiery glow during the warmer months without the heat. photo via timeoutchicago

Just a painted piece of coral and a stone bust add a striking focal point and the clam magazine holder is too die for. photo via moodboard

Enjoy the post & please comment...I love hearing from my crafty peeps.

Sage Mommy

{Unexpected Bedside Tables}

There's something wonderfully warm about nontraditional bedside tables to personalize a bedroom. I'm sure all of us are searching for something new on the decorating front, something different...unexpected even. I don't mind two matching tables on either side of the bed but there must be something bolder & more eye catching then that. I started searching for creative ways to add interest to my bedside and I found a ton of fabulous ideas but the distressed vintage high chair on the right from BHG has got to be my fave.

Benches come in a million different sizes and styles and give you miles of space for a pretty lamp and piles of books. Photo via decorpad

An old crate turned on its side is just the right amount of rustic for a casual & green way to repurpose. Photo via puregreendesign.blogspot.com



A garbage can?? Is it perfect here or what? I apsolutly love the industrial reading lamp and clean look of the bed with that big cozy blanket..wonderful. Photo/unknown

This side table of cut birch logs screwed together is genius and so chic. Birch is way to beautiful to throw away. Photo via apartment therapy


This set of pretty white painted side chairs along with the mantel headboard are so pretty. Just make sure that the chairs you choose are equiped with a flat seat so your cup of chamomile isn't sliding all over the place. Photo via apartment therapy

I adore this ladder and I love how you can think of creative ways todisplaythe things you loveand need on this piece. I have one in my garage that will be getting a coat of milk paint thanks to this photo via decor8

Enjoy everyone and please leave a comment if you have any cute ideas. I love to hear from everyone;))

Good night, Sage Mommy

{Chandeliers In Bedrooms}

When planning and buying lighting for a bedroom, I think allot of people tend to think lamps and recessed lighting but what about the gorgeous ambiance a crystal chandelier creates. Especially in the bedroom where you want it to be a retreat at the end of a hard day.When choosing crystal chandeliers for bedrooms, it is important to remember that the look of the chandelier should not overpower the aura that the bedroom is creating. Keep in mind that the chandelier should not be the main focus of the room, but the bed should be, which is why your chandelier should not be too over-elaborate in order to make it complement the room instead of overpowering it. The design should be soft and smooth to help accent the atmosphere of the bedroom.

Seems over the top if you spotted it at the store but works so great in this room. The round shape but softness of the crystals work perfect. Lighting really makes the room. Photo via decorpad.com

Love all the bursts of color in the violet and cranberry geometric rug and the santorini blue ottoman and chandelier. Great color combinations and gives this room an surprise pop of color on the ceiling, drawing your up. The photo via decorpad.com

One of my favs for the soft wall color and the chandelier just lend a kind of candle light to the bed. This photo shows that big style can go in the smallest of spaces. Photo via decorpad.com

2 small inexpensive hanging chandelier pendents on either side of this bed looks balanced and gives the hubs something of his own to control..lol. Ikea has cheaper versions and they plug right in...no electrician required. Photo via decorpad.com

This drippy light blue and crystal chandelier adds such an elegance to this bedroom. The ceiling being left that deep mohagany color just pops with everything being so beachy. Photo via bhg.com

Think outside the box next time your shopping for lighting. A pretty chandelier somewhere unexpected can do wonders for a room and how you feel in it.

Enjoy today...Sage Mommy

{ Trend Hunting } Faux Animal Mounts

After watching an old episode of HGTV's ColorSplash today I fell in love with a master bedroom David bromstead designed in these great cool blues & earth tones. Although the room is not the most creative I've seen, I will say that I really adored the use of the warm maroon and grey sweater pillows and the fluffy overdone cream bed linens. But the thing that had me saying "Finally something different" was the rhino head above the bed! I like how unexpected it is but yet blends with the earthy eclectic feel of the room. I don't agree with the hunting so this is a great way to pay homage to an animal without putting a bullet through it's poor head. I searched for the wire rhino and found it! I also spotted a little trend of really cute and sophisticated versions of this stuffed treasure.

Intricate strands of bronzed wire make this sculpture of a rhino bust featured on Color Splash zgallerie.com for 199.95

Black resin giraffe hangers via Charles & Marie for 50 a set

This white resin 4 pointer also via zgallerie.com is so posh I'm thinking if it can be worked into the decor some how. 199 with a 20 dollar handling charge.

Even a stuffed felt creation for the kids room, I kinda love this mount, reminds me of the last unicorn;) Cute for a kids room but kinda maybe a little twisted too??

Enjoy your night, I'm going to bed-Sage Mommy

Sometimes It's The Little Things...

Isn't it funny how a terrible day can somehow be turned around when you put your mind to it. If your reading this blog then chances are you are a slight bit like me and enjoy the everyday home projects and keeping busy. I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, feeling like I don't have the time or energy to do the crazy things I used to. Feeling like life has slowed down and I'm still running to catch up.

I guess I am coming to realize that when you get older and start a family{whatever that is in your house} a child, husband, boyfriend or pet, you learn to slow down and really take stock in whats important. So I shouldn't be worried about the chipping paint in the playroom ceiling or that little spot I missed when I redid my dresser. It doesn't matter, I'll get to it...whenever.

So for right now what I can do is little things...put new pretty drawer pulls on a dresser (I swear Anthropology is just as expensive as a therapist but works quicker) or buy myself some fresh flowers, just doing something different, just for me once in a while....because sometimes it's the little things that can turn a day around.



Go do something nice for yourself tonight, if you have little ones at home chances are you DESERVE it;))

Have a blessed day! Sage Mommy

A Bright Place To Rest My Head

I wanted to share with you these bedroom flicks that I just adore. I really want to get started painting our bedroom from a dark grey to a shade of rusty orange but I just can't seem to find the motivation. I'm thinking this might be just the push I need;)

If you are considering decorating your room in this color, I say do your research on the color. So many people see red when you say "orange". I always loved it but have yet to find the right shade. The nice thing about oranges are it can simultaneously brighten a space while warming it up. Paired with the right colors and accessories, a large swath of orange can make a room really shine. I would suggest using accent colors like soft yellows and sagey greens. I also love this color with rich dark wood tones and hints of brown. A bright turquoise vase or picture would give this bold color a real contemporary feel if that's what your after...I usually opt for the {found look} a room filled with flea market finds all with a story attached is the best decor in my opinion. I just need the right backdrop to showcase..lol.

So perfect right, I love the bold hot pinks and reds and splashes of baby blue. Photo by decorpad.com


This color is what I am after. Paired with the navy blue and creamy the rusty orange really looks cozy!
I found out while searching that this tone of orange is Husky Orange (Sherwin-Williams 6636): I'm looking for an Orange that features rusty tones with more brown in it. photo by bhg.com

Ahhhh, I want to get into that bed so bad. Love the simplicity but all the thought that went into everything being so pretty. photo by southernliving.com

We all know this room, HGTV home 2008. This orange blends beautifully with the natural elements like the rattan rug and oak dining table.



Enjoy your night. - Sage mommy

Circus Party Themes...

My son will be turning two in November and I really wanted to an "over the Big Top" birthday for him..lol.
My parents have a fabulous 200 year old home with a large front yard that will be perfect for his gathering. I was thinking of having it at the end of September...I know it's not his birthday but he will flip when he sees what I have in store!!

Here are just a few ideas I gathered and the entertainment will be curtousy of my gymnastic champion brother(he has agreed to dress like a clown and do back flips all over the place...how wonderful huh??) This cake is pretty cute and I think I can pull it off with the help of a "number 2" stencil.

This cake is "over the top" from sweetartshop.com

A little face painting maybe by my sister nonnie, who also agreed to dress like a ring master...love her!!

Hot dogs will be a grillin and served on these fab holders on orientaltrading.com

Lemonade...fresh of course and I have the greatest glass container like the one pictured!

Clown cupcakes and grab bags served up with nostalgic popcorn bags! I also fell in love with a candy buffet my friend had at her bridal shower...maybe with some jolly ranchers, tootsie rolls, sugar daddys...do they still make them?

I love this idea from BHG.com for when the sun goes down and pass out sparklers with everyones name attached...adult supervision required for this one but don't you love the simple organization of it.


and no party is complete without a BOUNCY HOUSE!! I'm trying to decide if I want to buy one or rent??

Ohhh, I can just hear the circus music now...dun, dun, dun-na-na-na, dundun!!

Please let me know if you have any cool ideas to add;))

Green Style:LED String Lights For Romantic Patio Lighting

Who doesn't love the glow of white holiday lights? When used tastefully they can be a great outdoor adornment year-round. String lights are such a bargain and I bought a couple sets of LED lights this past Christmas that are super bright and totally green worthy!

My dad's birthday was a few days ago and I had the whole familia over for a little al fresco dining on the back patio. Plenty of spritzers, homemade wine and a huge platter of Seafood Fra Diablo set the scene. We brought our dining tables out and strung the whole place with drippy string lights. Everyone loved it once the sun went down...it was like being at a romantic trattoria.



That's all for now...grab some vino and string some christmas lights out back and create a pretty place to lounge tonight.

Enjoy, Sage Mommy

{DIY} Burlap Framed Door

So in my previous post about burlap, I said I had a little trick up my sleeve...

Don't you dispize those hollow core doors that any of us that own a home build between 1950-1980 are blessed with..yuk. The plus side is they are like an empty canvas just waiting to be spruced up with trim, paint & Oh yes..BURLAP.

What you'll need:

Black chalkboard paint

Trim

2 yards of burlap in the camel color

small foam brush

staple gun

finish nails

First we measured about 5 inches from the top and bottom & sides to avoid the molding we were adding from interfering with the door knob. We made a small pencil mark on all sides and then connected the marks using a level to draw a line across and down making 2 even rectangles that sit right on top of each other.

I used the same measurement plus an inch all around because you want the trim to "sit" on top of the burlap. Staple in place pulling it taught as you go down one side. Remember the trim is going to cover the staples so stay in line with your measurements.

With a miter saw make your cuts and nail in making sure to cover the staples and securing the burlap.

Paint the whole thing white and after it dried I decided to add a little chalkboard touch on the bottom insert. Rumps will love to write on it & it's the perfect height for a little munchkin;)


I love it! Very functional as it is in my office/guest room and the burlap is great to display your family photos or some decorating inspiration..hint,hint!

Enjoy your day!!-Sage mommy

{Burlap} The New "It" Fabric

I've been lovin the burlap phase that's everywhere these days. Call it a sign of the times, or "recession chic" or what have you, but for those who thought burlap was only relegated to farm children think again sister sledge. Burlap is back in a big way& I'm hoping it stays forever! What material can be so rustic, elegant and timeless. Love all the muted neutral tones it comes in, makes it a great backdrop for frames & bulletin boards, perfect for pillows and a simple black painted letter or number shines on this great textile. I also love the idea of re-using those old sacks that you find now all over ebay. Turn them into great one of a kind treasures that only you will have. The picture to the left via countryliving really inspired me to make a bulletin board for my office/guest room that I can display photos or just inspiration that I want to look at as I breeze by. I bought 2 yards of burlap today for around 4.00 at Walmart and I had some nailhead tacks from another project. I just need to get will to cut some left over molding to frames out an old hollow core door and...well...you'll soon see the project pics;))

Until the reveal, here are a few great photos of some gifted artists

burlap ideas that I just loved.

Monogram Pillow via Etsy.com artist "Brickwall" she has the greatest pillows and little

precious sewn items. Make sure you check her out.

french burlap pillow via wisteria.com

DIY headboard project via decorpad

Before & After Mirror transformation via designsponge

Coco Sack altered chairs via bluetomatoesfurniture.blogspot.com



ottoman slipcover via sweetsavannah.blogspot.com

Any ideas that aren't here that I should know about. Please do tell:)

FLEA For All

Baby rumps & I got a nice early start this morning so we could experience the Elephant Trunk Flea Market that I have been drooling about for months. Will had planned to go on a memorial motorcycle ride for our friend that passed, so me and the little guy thought it would be a perfect day to go check it out. After a pretty long ride to Milford,ct, we arrived and my mouth dropped! Hundreds of dealers, 2 dollar admission & being greeted with one of the best iced coffees & homemade donuts as I walked in.

It didn't take long to spot something I thought Will would love, a 50's toy gas can all metal & the best chippy paint also the name of the gas company on the front was hysterical. Rumps haggled the dealer down from $45 to $25...he's a killer.

I have been wanting one of these french wine holders forever, but too pricey at $200. Aren't they gorgeous? I think this could be a future DIY project, wink;) The brightly painted wooden barrel is from a fishing boat in Nova Scotia to store the nets as they come out of the water. It has drainage holes in the bottom and would be the coolest planter.

My son jumped right into this 1940 pedal car with all original paint, this dealer had some fantastically unique items. Do you see the metal captain America shield, he knew the history on everything he had. One of my favorite things {besides taking stuff home} is hearing the story.

Someone had a bit of a meltdown after this shot because mommy needed to move on to the next booth because I spotted my dream chairs...

"TOLIX CHAIRS" I yelled as I scooped rumps out of truck & ran over. A perfect set of 4 with great olive paint and the price...oh I'm sworn to secrecy due to I should not have spent what I spent today but can you really put a price on dreams? Man, where do I get this stuff.

What a totally calming and satisfying day. Will came home from his ride exhausted but loved the chairs & his gas tank. We spent the rest of the day working on another backyard project I'll be posting about soon.

Take care!

Somewhere in the Back of an Auction House...

Who says you have to spend money to get a new look in your home. Yesterday I was searching {Craigslist} for some furniture finds and came upon an auction that was going on right here in Norwalk, ct. I dressed up the little rumps really cute, packed a diaper bag and headed off to this secret location.

Unannounced to me after the auction, there was a wonderful BBQ outside complete with steak, seafood & wine tasting...yummy.

I skipped the wine due to it being 2pm and I had the little guy with me so instead me & the rumps took part in apple juice. During our mini date I noticed people piling a bunch of furniture by the dumpster in the back.

Could this be?? Cute vintage chairs & mirrors 4 mah? It could. I asked & they said that it was free for the taking. I grabbed rumps and we packed my SUV up like I was stealing something.

I hope my son doesn't think I'm nuts for roaming the streets for giveaways to re-do & sell. This little desk is the cutest. A little decorator white paint & glass pulls is what I envisioned for this.

Hey, I'm grateful that I have gotten to stay home with my little guy & never miss a thing. It's hard to do all of this with a little guy but I swear he loves it & it's so much fun when I have days like this;)

4 Cane back chairs in perfect condition?? Look at all the stuff & this was just one day. I posted everything to sell except the cute little red/white stool. I had to keep that. I tell you that there is no greater feeling then spending a summerday with your family and scoring a great piece of furniture...well atleast for me:))

So look around the street, local dump or even places like auction houses and ask what they do with the stuff that never sells? You could have the means to re-create a little corner of your home for almost nothing.

Hope your day brings you tons of smiles and free stuff!

BeadBoard Wallpaper

So apparently it's been around for ages but I had never seen any finished projects using it so was sceptical. When we bought this house it was COVERED...I mean Covered in wallpaper, so you can see my reservation to throw it back on the nice new drywall. But there is one room that is yet to be touched:the upstairs bathroom. Covered & kept in it's original 1975 style, we have left it alone until I saw this! Why not cover the old wallpaper with bead board. It's not peeling, it's in pristine condition so I just bought it from HomeDepot.com for 22.00 a double roll which covers about 52 square feet. Just click on the link and it will take you right to the page if you wanna order it. Perfect! I'm gonna spend the next nights scrubbing and cleaning out everything. I will take pics along the way and let you know how things are working out. In the meantime I have to concentrate on accessories;))

BTW: The above pic is actually the wallpaper I purchased. It's made by Graham Brown and painted blue. Impressive right?

Please let me know if you have ever used this or wallpapered over existing paper.

My Painted Concrete Patio is Complete!

When we bought this house I didn't love a lot of the things about the outdoor space but I knew when the time came to start thinking about the backyard me & the man would think of something. I knew a few things...I was not ripping out the concrete slab, I liked the little rocks embedded in it and wanted to see that in whatever I did, I wanted muted neutral color and some kind of pattern of interest. The harlequin pattern has always been one of my favs & can be very elegant depending on the colors you decide to use.




After cleaning the slab with stain remover and hosing it down, I let it dry overnight. There is not a big chose in stain colors but Behr seemed to have what I was looking for. I purchased Behr concrete stain in semi-transparent (to show the rocks) sun baked clay (the brown/red color)& desert sand(the beige/taupe color). I bought a gallon of each because that is all Home Depot has..yikes! This project was ALLOT of measuring but I figured that I wanted even sized squares either 1/2 or whole, no in-between and I wanted them set going across to try to make the small patio appear grander.



After too much division...my worst nightmare;( I came up with 24" x 24" inch squares & I made my stencil out of a cardboard box so it would last. I also thought I might do a black 4"x 4" in between all the squares in black exterior paint to make it pop but the jury is still out on that as of now.








I taped the entire thing off by using a marker (light colored) around the stencil and then going around and taping over the lines. This process went pretty quick! So satisfying to look at this big mathematically correct grid that I created..."oh how he will be surprised that I did it without his help"...(insert evil laugh here;).




I painted the light sand color first with a foam roller on a wooden extension so my back would not break. This stain is like painting with chicken broth. I had to be extremely careful but I got the hang of it. No pics of the desert sand because basically I was too filthy to touch my camera. I took all the tape off when the second color was still a bit tacky and went around with a small foam brush to touch up the edges.


Definitely one of my favorite home projects. Here it is as of this morning. Crazy what a little soap, paint & imagination can do. The darker lines is just where I pulled off the tape and it shows the natural concrete underneath. I love how it looks. Natural and creative. I am going to seal it but not until I make a decision about adding the black square....

What do you peeps think? Leave it alone or keep going and add black grout lines and small black squares??

Sorry I Can't Stop...

Well due to the instant wonderful results of my new favorite thing to do...I stopped making dinner and now just make soap all night. My family is starving but boy are they clean!

Newest endeavor as of 45 minutes ago...Oatmeal Honey Soap. Made with all organic ingredients and this time no dye just the natural creamy color of the oatmeal and honey. I added about 3 or 4 tablespoons of honey and 1/2 cup of oatmeal. I used 1/2 bar of the base. These soaps look big in the picture but they are actually a lot of mini bars. I melted the base and then added everything in, a quick stir and poured into the loaf mold. I sprinkled oatmeal on top also to make sure you could see the ingredients and then cut them a little hap-hazard too look rustic. They say that honey and oatmeal are great ingredients for sensitive skin and are extremely moisturizing. I thought it would be great for my little son rumps before bed time tonight:)

Hope your weekend was great where ever you are!

Homemade Almond & Apricot Seed Soap

Ever made your own soap? I hadn't until around 11pm tonight..what do you want, I'm a night owl. While at Micheal's on Tuesday I had spotted a huge aisle dedicated to soap making. I always thought making soap was messy, but it is soap right? I thought you needed a ton of equipment but I was so far off. I saw a large block of goats milk melt & pour base for 9.99. Almond oil 2.99 & some apricot seeds (a Lil exfoliate never hurt anyone) 3.99. I decided to go with these really simple molds that said "natural" & "homemade" that I fell for but I will be going back for these to die for piggy molds. My kitchen smells sweet & clean and my soap is resting on the table to be consumed in tomorrow's shower. Nothing like diving into a new craft & loving it.

Goat's Milk Almond & Apricot Exfoliating Bar

Everything you need:

Soap base (goat's milk is super moisurizing)
scented oils (apricot & almond oil)
exfoliant (apricot seeds)
coloring (food coloring)
double boiler or microwave
molds (you could use a muffin tin)
cooking spray for lubricant
wooden spoon

Directions are so easy & fun. I will not be seeing another bar of Dove in my shower for a quite some time.

First: cut your base up into chunks along the perforated lines and put into the double boiler. Keep stirring until everything is dissolved and soupy.

Second: Turn off heat and add a few drops of your oils. You can also add food coloring but a little goes a long way. Just 1 drop of red & 1 drop of orange got me the color I wanted.

Third: I added my packet of seeds and stirred with a wooden spoon until everyone got to know each other.

Fourth: Sprayed molds quickly and poured CAREFULLY so the soaps would be nice & perfect on top

BUT I didn't pour ALL OF IT.

Fifth: I got crafty and kept a little soap in the pot and added just a drop or two more coloring and mixed. Then I poured the remainder in to "top off" and give a striped effect when I popped them out. Well that was the plan anyway:) the color variation is definitely there & I'm really excited for how they turned out.

Let sit for a few hours & pop them out when firm. Mine smell so yummy and look fantastic. I can't wait to use them tomorrow morning. I was able to get 5 good size bars from the mold. They are gonna make the best gifts.
Oh yeah, almost forgot...clean up was a breeze;))

A Breath of Fresh Air

I am the first one to paint the walls when I move into a new house. Always found it hard to live with white when there are so many wonderful choices in the color wheel. But I admit I am totally in love with the coastal style. Bright stark white walls, with touches of found objects and bursts of bright reds & blues or sun washed shades of sea foam greens & buttery yellows...LOVE IT.

Enjoy a breath of fresh air imagining yourself in these pics courtesy of Coastal Living.

The doors rich wood color just pops in this room.

The barn red stools bring everything together.

The washed out sage green door used as a headboard is so gorgeous and the clam painting & painted blue floor...ahhh.

I adore the shutters on either sides of the windows and the rich wood grains make me feel like I'm at a seaside bed & breakfast. I think I need to buy an oar from the world market. and find a nice place for it.

Outdoor shingles painted white are something I would have never thought of but against this nautical bed (I can picture my son throwing the pillows everywhere).

Metal beach signs are the perfect blast of color next to the painted white bench(which I have in my backyard;) Striped red & blue fabrics and rugs always complete the coastal feel.

The corals & greens are so soft & refreshing. Love the painted wicker stools and big mirror above the sink. Does anyone notice if that is an oval shaped metal container turned upside down to make an island light fixture?

Looking at beautiful design always brings a smile to my face and I hope it does the same for you today.

xoxo-Sage Mommy

When Angels Leave Us

Last nights fireworks & festivities were bittersweet. Me & the hubs lost a great friend yesterday to an accident while he was at work, he was only 32 years old, Paul Rysz. We all spent many summers on the motorcycles, riding & talking until the late in the night. He was an extremely talented stunt rider and the most humble & kind guy you could know. He'll be missed so much by everyone.
Not an enemy in the world & loved by everyone that came in contact with him. Always leaving people in awe after they saw him ride. He made such a lasting impression on everyone that knew him. It's the saddest thing when the good die young. I pray that he's at peace in heaven and able to see the love that everyone had for him. I will never get on a bike again without him crossing my mind. He made riding fun and that part of my life will be missed. I will be praying for his family & girlfriend that they will feel some kind of peace & that the hurt gets easier.

Pauly 900....you will be missed. xoxo

Decorating With Painted Stripes

Painting stripes is a great way to add interest to an otherwise plain room. We aren't all lucky enough to have tons of great molding and the perfect windows & doors so we need to get creative to add the wow factor in a room. Our master bedroom lacks a lot in the character area and I think that a great thick stripe shade of iridescent grey on top of the already grey walls will really warm up as well as draw your eye up and around. I just picked up new grey & cream toile bedding at a tag sale & seeing the bed all done really made me fall in love with my bedroom again. Paint is always the biggest bang for your buck and these rooms are great examples of how gorgeous the right color & sheen combinations can be!

This Blondie stripe with decorator's white gingham print is so elegant for this quest room.


Black painted wood floors are great. This room speaks volumes with that bold addition. The chair adorned with numeral 5 is fab also!

So bolder but then again so are the furnishings.

I love the thick beachy blue stripes with creamy white. With the sandy wood colors it's really ends up being really cool and summery.

This is a kids room from bhg.com. What a perfect way to hide imperfections and really get brave.

Simple and subtle but turns this small bathroom into something pretty grand.

Who says you have to spend 1800.00 on a striped dresser? A little painters tape will get you this little gem in just a few hours. I love it.

Varying the size of the stripes makes this seem more like wallpaper then a paint treatment. I just love this bedroom.

Hope this inspires you to be bold or subtle and stripe something in your home. Does anyone have any ideas for a color combo that you like for a bedroom. let me know & Happy 4th everyone!

Salvaged Concrete Patio

A friend of mine did this wonderful patio using salvaged broken sidewalk found on city job sites. She would collect a few pieces every time she saw the guys working and lugged them into the back of her car. She worked on the area little by little. It took her around a month to finish but the whole thing was done for free! She dug the area up and placed the sidewalk and rock pieces where they fit. The grass seed was thrown in between the pieces and with all the rain it just started growing beautifully. She saved the workers from having to throw it away and in the process created a trully great look. I was amazed when I saw it and although it is a lot of lifting the end result is magical & I thought that you girls would love it. Great work.

The Perfect Soft Pretzel

The Boyfriend mentioned to me on the phone tonight that he wished there was a place he could get a delicious soft pretzel like Auntie Anne's without going to the mall. With that being said I just so happened to have all the ingredients for such a request. I used the hook attachment on the kitchen aid mixer and it was so easy I kept checking the recipe to make sure nothing was forgotten. The result is total yum yums (as I say to my son). I baked off one for rumps & I to try...PERFECTION! Decided to save the rest of the dough for right after dinner so Will could get one warm straight out of the oven. Might I add that he said they were the best pretzels he ever had. I brushed his in melted butter then sprinkled generously with crushed sea salt. Warm, soft on the inside and super savory with the sea salt bite. I prefer mine dipped in butter and then rolled in cinnamon sugar...unbelievable! I would bake for 7 or 8 minutes instead of the 10 recommended for a softer pretzel. My son was napping during the baking process but kids would love to help out with rolling the dough into cool shapes.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/8 teaspoon salt1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
2 cups Warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
coarse salt
4 tablespoons butter (melted)

Directions:
Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour. While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 Tbsp baking soda. Be certain to stir often. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope* (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again. Bake in 450 oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Tip for Topping: Try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another shallow bowl make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously. Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture. Enjoy!

Dumpster Diving With Jose

Yeah, things are taking on a whole new level of crazy. My obsession with finding great pieces of furniture "FREE" of charge has moved to the local dump. Look at all this stuff! I had the idea to call up after a successful Thursday afternoon tag sale to clean the garage out. I didn't want to waste a trip & was curious to see if it was ok to come by & take a look. The guy who answered the phone burst out laughing and said "sure honey,come on down I'm Jose". I think he was a bit taken back when I pulled up in a BMW & wearing a dress & toting a small child. He knew who I was the second I started snooping around "the crusher" (that's dump lingo that I am now down with). He quickly asked me to wait until everyone was done dumping and then he would let me walk through with him and take what I wanted (discretely). Siked is not even the word. I know I have problems.

Let me give you a little background...I have been blessed with getting furniture, toys & even clothes for next to nothing or free my entire life. I have no idea what it is..it might be that I always seem to talk to the guy in charge of things plus the willingness to do anything helps me along. I think God knows that I love the thrill of the find so he leads me to it. Hey I don't want this stuff ending up in some landfill!


Well I rummaged through and found neatly placed in the corned a very nice antique-y looking tray table with claw foot legs. It needs a bit of sanding, and maybe a nice coat of milk paint and it'll be fabulous to sell or maybe for a side table in our bedroom.


So this is the second half of my day & the rest of the world's so it can't go UN-filed. When I arrived home and heard the news of Micheal Jackson pronounced dead and my phone began to ring with the news standing in my living room I felt so sad inside. I have grown up watching Michael and really loved him. I never swayed when all the allegations were thrown around about him. I always saw a little boy that was scared to grow old and loose that kindred spirit that he admired so much in children. I took my son out for ice cream after the news and all you could hear was Michael's music everywhere. How sad to think that at only 50 he is gone. I cried in the car listening to some of my favorite songs "human nature & I'll always love you". He was loved by millions. Makes you wish sometime that you were his friend and could have protected him from all the people that were fake around him. I'll always remember what I was doing when I heard this terrible news. I hope he's in a better place and can finally live in peace. xoxo Michael

Where were you when you heard?

2 INSPIRE: THE BEST LAUNDRY ROOMS

So I keep coming across the most gorgeous laundry rooms! So I thought i must just share these with you. Most of these are from Country Living and BHG. Unfortunately I can't share my laundry room with you - it's in the garage, and the garage desperately needs updating, but only once the rest of the little projects are done. Have you got a laundry room to be proud of? Please, please send me a picture at melissastudioa@yahoo.com and I will add it on with a link to your blog/website.

The dollhouse for storage is such a unique way to reuse. I adore it.

love it! My living room walls are the exact same color.

Aren't some peeps sooo lucky to do laundry in such a cozy & organized space. I currantly smell mildew and breath motorcycle fumes while folding. That needs to change.

Somewhere To Hide

I know I just did a post about potting benches due to my lack of room and time for such a project but after showing my hubs some photos tonight he assures me that if I gather the doors & windows that I need he will build me one...he even went as far as to say sometime next week. Gotta love someone who dreams bigger than yourself. Whatever happens, this was on my mind all day, well actually this, my bouy connection, (long story that I will tell in a later post)growing strawberrys and of course still wondering if rumps is gonna start talkin soon. My head hurts from thinking so much. Now let's stare at these enchanting little cottage-y sheds and imagine your very own place to hide.

MY FAVorite, Love everything about it. The cornflower blue with cheery yellow french doors is bright but not abnoxious. The empire chinese style roof decor is a great touch.

Notice the two french doors leaned together to form the roof line. The powdery grey-blue almost blends into the landscape.


My son would tear this place up. Bunk beds outside! What a dream for a little boy or girl.


The dutch style door and lean-two shape makes this one pretty versatile.



I want to live in here. The double doors are great for lawnmowers and wheel barrows to easily be accesible.

This English-y mini manor is so pretty. Simple lines and those corbels holding up the overhang are wonderful.

The salvaged door is perfect and the all the little country touches like tied together clay pots and home made rock border really let you know who plays here.

Does it get better than this? With a arched doorway & contrasting white windows the rasberry red looks enchanting. Makes me think that my exterior windows could use a nice dose of thick planked black trim. The height of the cottage must make it really feel open inside.

This goes to prove that your house can be 6x8 and still be the best on the street.

Sweet Dreams,

Sage Mommy

No Room For A Greenhouse Shed...

So, if I can't have a garden shed for planting then maybe a cute DIY project potting bench is more in order. I fell in love with this image from Inspired Room.

This station is excellent because it actually FOLDS! Perfect for winter storage. It's priced great at 149.00 from four seasons greenhouse.

Fashioned from an old exterior door, stair posts and left overmolding this little table kept a ton of great stuff from ending up in a landfill.

From junk market style.

This rustic bench seems to blend right in with the surroundings. Image via southern living.

The simpleness of this one appealed to me. You can buy latice from Home Depot and cut it to fit. Great for hanging shovels and gloves for easy reach and cut a whole out to fill a lipped stainless steel bowl.

Made entirely out of galvanized metal. This is sooo great. I will be on the look out for something to turn into a potting bench.

Small & compact but will wear so well with the stainless steel top from smith & Hawken.
Hope these got you dreamin...good night.

By Far The Yummiest Oatmeal Raisin Cookies EVER

I'm having a tag sale tomorrow & thought it would be a nice choice for a good morning cookie to sell. I spotted the recipe on big oven but tweaked a few things due to the ingredients I had on hand. Whatever I did worked and they came out so good. Delicious old fashion flavor & so000 moist. Ohhhh let me tell you, these are chewy, sweet, and still warm might I add as I write this review. Can you believe the dedication? The whole house smells yummy. This is another go-to recipe that I'll pass down to the kids...lol.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups (I can't believe it's not Butter)
3/4 cup Brown sugar
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 teaspoon real Vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups All purpose flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon all spice
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
3 cups Oats old-fashioned only
1 cup Raisins (I mixed golden & black because it's what I had)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat I can't believe it's not butter (for baking) and sugars until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add combined flour, baking soda, salt and spices; mix well. Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 10 minutes for chewy cookies.
Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire rack.
Store tightly covered.

Pretty Banana Dessert in a jar

I can’t wait to try this recipe from the fab cookbook Screen Doors and Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales from a Southern Cook. I fell in love with the bright color, Nilla wafer polka dots and the meringue topper pulls the whole look together.

Banana Pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large egg yolks
2 cups whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
Freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 inch piece of cinnamon stick
Vanilla wafer cookies (good quality)
4 medium bananas, peeled and sliced

Topping:
4 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pudding:
Bring 2 cups of water to boil in heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat. In large stainless steel bowl, whisk together sugar, flour and salt. Whisk in egg yolks, followed by milk, vanilla bean, nutmeg and cinnamon. Place bowl over pan of water and cook, stirring until mixture is thick and coats the back of a spoon, 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove cinnamon and vanilla bean. Rinse vanilla bean and reserve for another use. If using vanilla extract, stir it in now.While pudding is still warm, layer cookies, bananas and pudding in 1/2 pint canning jars or ramekins.Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Topping:Whisk egg whites in electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and slowly increase speed as egg whites become opaque. Add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Add vanilla extract. Whip until whites form a soft peak. Spoon meringue over warm puddings, sealing it to sides of jars.Bake puddings for 4 minutes or until meringue is puffed and brown. Cool on rack for 20 minutes, then refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Yield: 8 servings.

Enjoy.

Wire Basket Turned Outdoor Chandelier

I spotted this project idea on apartment therapy. Such a simple project & it looks so elegant.

I picked up an old milk bottle holder last summer (kinda like the one pictured below)at Goodwill & it's been on a table outside holding plant clippings for a while now. It's much too nice to be hidden so I'll put this project on my wish list.



All you need for this project is a wire basket or (milk bottle holder), a few jam jars or mason jars, pretty crystals, chain or metal planter hooks. Pick out a wire basket with a handle and a flat base. (I spot them all the time at Homegoods) It's great to find one designed to hold glassware or small pots ― the built-in partitions will hold your jars in place. Then hang crystals from the base and top; for a real Cinderella look, loop two strands of glass beads across the bottom and attach chain (found in many colors at homedepot). Attach your chandelier to a patio roof or tree with a length of matching chain or a metal plant hanger. When you're seated, it should float just above eye level. Place tea lights or votives in the jars, light the candles, and enjoy the glow!

If you aren't up for the project just buy this one via Farmhouse. only 59.00. So pretty dressed up for every season.

The Tolix Cafe Chair Story

This famous cafe chair was designed by Xavier Pauchard for Tolix. Tolix manufactures and distributes its own furniture line to this day, and the cafe chair or Chaise A as it is known, is still in production.
As an uncorroborated story has it, the chair was used in the weather forecasting room on a battleship and later supplied to bars by breweries in exchange for selling their beer. While this arrangement between bars and breweries ended in the 1970s, the demand for these chairs and stools didn't stop and they were reissued in 1986 because fans were looking high and low for authentic Tolix chairs. The draw is the great lines, comfort, rubber feet(if they are still in-tact), stacking ability, indoor or outdoor use & they come in a variety of FAB colors. I love the washed blue with a cute light green cushion. I will find my bargain set of 4 one day.

In the meantime...swoon over these pics.

Spectacular Blueberry Muffins

As I type I have crumbs all over my pajamas because I can't put these scrumptious little muffins down. I just realized tonight that I have nothing for breakfast tomorrow and I happen to have a bushel of organic blueberrys from the farmers market on Friday. I knew that me & my little rumps(my son) would enjoy some fresh blueberry muffins with a sugary cinnamon topping for tomorrows breakfast. They turned out so perfect, just the way I love them...bursting with blueberry's, not to sweet and the topping gives it a great sugary crunch...Fab!!

This recipe makes 6 large muffins or 8 small

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

To Make Crumb Topping:

Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Picnic Table Cake

My girlfriend sent me an email a while back with the greatest picnic table cake using all kinds of candy to fashion up the tiny burgers & hot dogs. She ended up throwing a memorial day BBQ and it was the perfect time to try it. I knew I wanted to use marzipan instead of gumpaste because it tastes better and I love how it stays moist longer to mold. Iknew the kiddies would bethere and they would love it. Memorial Day BBQ I made this picnic table cake.

I made the marzipan food the day before. The little popsicle stick is a noodle from a box mac & cheese.

I used gel colors to color everything. I find that gels give a

more vibrant color.

My graduated biscuit cutters worked wonders for the cutest little burger bun')

Everyone was asking me at the party how I made the ants. I used dark brown gel and rolled a little nugget between my fingers and then pinched it with tweezers to form a head. Black icing inside of a zip-lock and a pin hole poked into the corned to pipe the little legs directly on the cake.

I am never a fan of "the box cake" but I had a great idea to make it yummy and I was pressed for time with a million house projects going on. I made lemon cakes & baked two 9 inch cakes as directed because I had a little surprise for the middle.

Fresh lemon curd added to lemon pudding mixed together. I also added the zest of one lemon to the cake mix and substituted 1/2 the water for 1/2 fresh lemon juice.

After the cake was cooled filled & stacked I added a crumb layer of whipped vanilla frosting over the entire thing.

The fondant is pure white ready made from wilton. I rolled it out using the cake pan I used as a guide plus 3 inches for the skirting of the checkered table cloth

I carefully rolled the fondant on using my pin and then cut around in a natural swirly-wirly motion to mimick a table cloth

I used a square cutter and ready made red fondant to make the squares. I dabbed a lil water on the back of each to make them stick.

I placed all the food on the table securing it with a dab of icing. I made the popsicle look like it's melting with some sparkly gel blue icing.

I loved making this cake and the kids loved it even more. It was moist, lemony & delish. The first thing to get eaten was all the little ants. My favorite was the little hot dog. Can't wait till the next event.

Trimming A Boxwood Into A Bird

I am waiting for my son to wake up from last nights exhausting festivities. The plans are to head out & get bags of small pebbles & shrubs for around the newly cleared out areas in my backyard. I want something artistic and kind of English garden feeling, so Boxwood seems to be on my list. I did a little research to find out what it takes to trim them into a cool shape (mainly a birdie)...here's what I found.
I found this tutorial on ehow.com and thought it was pretty helpful.

Directions:
Step 1
Start to create boxwood hedge designs in early summer or late spring when the leaves are new on the hedge. Decide on a design to make with the hedge. Animals are popular designs for hedges and often hedges already have a similarities to specific animals.
Step 2
Imagine how the animal's body can be formed out of the hedge. A typical small boxwood hedge can easily be shaped into a bird, for example, by beginning the design with simple square shape. This square shape can become the body of a perched bird. Insert sticks to designate where the head and tail will be. Start to trim the upper parts of the shrub into a contour of the shape of the animal.
Step 3
Round the corners into a circular shape to form the bird's body. Do not concentrate on small details of the design. Cut slowly with the hand clippers and step back frequently to assess your progress. Look carefully at the hedge and determine which stems of the hedge could be shaped into the head and which stems could become the tail. Insert sticks on both ends of the body to show where the head and tail will be. Begin to clip the hedge around the head. Do not make extreme cuts. Rather, make small clips and then allow the hedge to grow and then make more small clips. In this way, the hedge will grow into the desired shape. Repeat this process on the other end where the stick was placed for the bird's tail. Continue trimming and watching as the hedge grows to keep it growing into the shapes for the head and tail. Remove the sticks when the head and tail have grown as desired.

And a little more Boxwood inspiration

The cone shape is so pretty on either side of the stone bench and the manicured hedge style border is the perfect formal addition.







The sphere shape is really sopisticated and slightly modern which I tend to shy away from but the edging the old brick makes it feel cozy.








This bordered off gardens using trimmed boxwood is so english and super formal. I love the statue in the middle.










Amazing right? These pacaderms are in Newport,RI and I'd imagine took years of trimming to get to this point. So over the top! You need quite a house to support this landscape;)










Very simply done. She makes it look almost like it grew on it's own. The small ceramic pots in front of each hedge is a great touch.








A fab topiary and two rabbits watching over...adorable! Looks pretty easy to do the rabbits right? What do I know yet..lol.

Adorable Garden Fence From Leftovers

This idea is from DIYideas.com and the perfect way to re-use leftover fence. Makes you want to plant a little veggie garden just to have a place for this fence,right? I started this project late today and it is moves along fairly easily if you are comfortable with a skill saw (we got re-acquainted after a long hiatus). A few tips I learned today. Keep it Simple: Let the size of the fence be the size of the garden & make sure your screw gun is charged so your not doing it by hand while it charges. I'm siked to start painting it tomorrow! The color is really going to transform it!




In this pic he is securing 1x4 strips across the BACK of the fence , 2 screws each will make sure it stays straight in the ground.

Here's the materials:
4x8 preassembled wood fence panel
1x4 lumber, 8-foot (to re-in force the fence across)
4x4 fence post (decorative top looks the best)
4x4 Metal post holders (to hold fence in ground)
Deck screws (they don't stain or weather)
Exterior paint (it's moisture resistant)

1x1 furring strips (that's for the tomato cage)

If there are any decorative pieces on top, cut them off now so that you have 2 uniform fences when your done. Once that is done; measure two 2 foot pieces and draw a line across, with skill saw cut across the entire thing.

You'll be left with this:

Lay sections on saw horses or drop cloth

and paint away.

Once paint is completely dry, hammer the post holders into the ground & then slip posts into holders & tighten screws. The ones I bought were 24 inches long and came with screws.

Next, attach fencing to the posts with deck screws. You can touch screws up with a Lil paint once done...just in case you need to make a last minute adjustment.






I'm going with navy blue posts with khaki fence because that's what I have left over from my house being painted.

Paint the post a contrasting color like they
did here or re-use what you have lying around. Just make sure it's graded for outdoor use.

Have Fun!!!

Suspended Garden

Can this project be any cuter? Perfect for an herb garden. The pastels really make this a great art piece for your garden.

The project is pretty simple:
1. Rustoleum paint or spray in 3 complimenting colors (here they used a sage green, grass green & baby blue all in a satin finish.)
2. Painters tape
3. pot hangers (available at hangapot.com)
4. 9 Ceramic pots (Micheals.com has them very cheap)



Directions are pretty easy. Tape the top of each pot covering the lip of each pot fully so no paint seeps through. Vary the colors and spray 2 of each the same colors. Let dry & remove tape.

Now measuring so your pots don't touch when hung, space them out using your fence pieces as a guide and secure the ceramic pot hangers in place. To use the ones sold at hangapot.com they have to be pots with a lip on them to hang securely.

lil' TIP: Wait until pots are hung to take back down and start planting. Sooooo pretty...I bought the herbs before I even had the pots and paint?

Another Day, Another Project.

Patio Decor ala Nautical

I fell in love with the idea of sailcloth for outdoor pillows. Got sails lying around? Don't throw them out or let them collect dust anymore. Reiter8 also accepts donations of old sailcloths. With your donation you will recieve a complimentary tote made from your old sail. 2 of these pillows are around $70...Genius!

I often stroll with my son down the shoreline collecting shells and noticed on the drive a really cute idea to take 3 old logs and cut the top on a diagnal and tie together with thick rope mimicking dock pilings. They could border flower beds 0r add an element to a rock garden.

Don't forget the kids!! These mini versions of adorondacks are made of FSC-certified (and thus responsibly harvested) eucalyptus wood. Built for a long life, they'll stay out of the landfill longer. Plus you can have them monogramed...love it.69.99 at Pottery Barn Kids.

These lobster bouys have a great weathered look and
at 21.95 they are great thrown over a fence post or hanging on the inside of your outdoor umbrella.


This outdoor fixture is available at Lowes.com in the
50 & under section of lighting. 35 bucks for this
seaworthy caged ship light is a great deal.


I have a low hanging roof line that is perfect for a couple of these in various sizes hung from rope. These are a little costly at 70each for the largest one at PB...I'm gonna keep looking. Ikea maybe??

Hope you enjoy this post...my mind is buzzing with crap to do so stay tuned;))

xoxo Sage Mommy

Pretty Pathways

This summer the boyfriend & I decided to work on our little backyard. Currently it's an overgrown concrete slab (hence picture from last summer below). Hidden beneath I see an oasis but it's a long dig from being there yet.

When I saw this picture of this pretty river rock path it justs made me think that the ocean is just beyond. So precious.

My backyard last summer, that cinder wall screams for a river rock refacing, huh??

I snagged this 3 tier fountain for $99. The sounds of trickling water will totally help with some street noise. I want it to be the focal point some where along a pretty path.

Reused brick from a construction site was used to make this circular patio. Handmade circular mosiacs lead you to it.

a formal red brick pathway lined with black eyed susans makes you want to keep going.

How pretty the pea gravel and loose stone border look.

I love how this curvy gravel path leads to
a romantic little swing. This path was layed first with weed membrane (to keep the enemy from rearing it's ugly head) and then lined with benderboard before the gravel was poured in.


Stained timber with crushed limestone makes
a really pretty contrast.

This picture from the little red dot is what I think I will go with. Square pavers filled in with peagravel is easy underfoot and is a DIY project I think "i" ...I mean "we" can handle.

I hope you go outside and make yourself a place of your own & if you have any ideas for little stairs please comment!

I found this quote and thought it was so true and so wonderful.

"You can bury a lot of troubles

digging in the dirt."

I think it belongs somewhere...check back.

Almost A Pottery Barn Chair

A few months back I was browsing 1 of the 500 Pottery Barn mags that come to my house each week & spotted these painted queen Anne chairs. Loved them but not going to go for the 200 price & convinced as that I'd find some chairs at GoodWill and paint them myself.

It happened...On the side of the road, 4 UN- broken Queen Anne chairs with really gross wet cushions for the taking. They are almost identical to PB's version..I was high from the excitement.

I willed them to myself I swear....just look....

The project begun at once. I had been thinking about a hounds tooth pattern for the fabric but then I saw a really thick coastal stripe in buttery yellow, slate blue and green. (2 yards for 4 chairs is perfect and the fabric was 5.00 a yrd) I wanted to replace all the foam to make it extra comfy so I purchased a bag of sheet batting and package of 4 foam cushions. All came to around 15.00 bucks.

I ended up finding Rustoleum spraypaint in a great buttery yellow satin finish at homedepot. 3 cans covered everything perfectly no primer needed.

I set up shop and started spraying...LOve iT already! BuT, I can't get 2 excited. A few light coats is the way to go for a smooth finish. I tend to rush and then do more work fixing everything.

I ripped apart the old seats and cleaned the wood with a bleach spray to kill anything that might be lurking. I let the wood dry out for 2 days.
I then layed the new foam square on top to begin the re-upolstery experiment.

Then I flipped the whole thing over and layed out the batting and traced around the seat leaving a few extra inches around the edges for stapling.

Staple the flat side first & then the sides leaving the corners for last. I made a small fold on each corner and stapled the hell out of it.

The same process for the fabric and then I trimmed the inside of each seat in case anyone crawls under the table to check my work;)

And after screwing the seat back on this project is done.

Not difficult and totally affordable. I can't wait to carry them all upstairs and see them around the table.

Raising My Organic Garden

I took an interest in gardening about 2 years ago, before then I was not yet a mommy & my summers still consisted of motorcycle riding and working 65 hour weeks.

Alot changes when you have kids...I wish I knew years ago how gratifying fiddling in the yard could be, I would have started alot sooner.

After researching the pros & cons of raised verses non, I decided on this raised bed plan from bigblendmag. I love the neatness, size and fence style posts on this one. We are in the process of putting up a fence and will have plenty of scraps to make this. beds are great because the soil holds heat longer, less weeds and no walking on the soil which depletes that oxygen and compacts which is a plants worst enemy. After that testimony I was sold and my first "real" veggie garden will be born mid May 2009.

Marthastewart.com recommendeds theseedexchange.org great site and most are cerified organic with a million tips for growing. I browsed and ended up ordered mostly transplants (already started plants)because I need instant gradification in my new beds..lol.

Cherokee Heirloom tomatos are the best, such wonderful colors and I hear these are the sweetess ever! 3.00 each/3 inch plant








Baby yellow pear tomatos, super bright and the site said that the plants yield a ton of fruit. 3.00 each/3 inch plant








Kings of North Red Bell Pepper: They look delish and this variety is sopposed to be unrivaled. I always use peppers in cooking and I'm trying to live more off the land.
3.00 each also.






Chamomille seeds: loved the tea & the pretty yellow flowers it produces. I think they were 4.75 for 250 seeds. This plant really spreads.

This project will start after we get back from Newport,Rhode Island...we leave tomorrow!!

Tell me about any good heirloom varieties you've tryed. This newbie needs all the help I can get;)

5 Hour Brooklyn Remodel

Ever since I spotted this fabulous pic from an extremely talented designer on theletteredcottage.com, I have had the idea
that my next house must be done with black cabinets...I'm currently in a bright white & green phaze.

My best friend of a gazillion years resides in Brooklyn and every time I visit it is total renovation. This time I called and said, I'm coming down,wanna redo your cabinets black?



Please note these pics were not taken with my camera..lol.


While in HomeCheapo we or I mean ME, decided to do a Mosaic tile back splash and re-do the ugly vinyl flooring to look like slate(it's a rental). I wouldnever willingly choose any flooring that is a heavy duty sticker;)Everything needed to get done all in a few hours so I can be home for my son's 4am feeding. The whole project came to a whopping $200.00!!! 5 sets of brushed silver knobs, paint,in a glorious shade and sheen, Behr Black Suede in Satin Finish, tile, tool..etc. I know I am crazy but she is the one that agreed to it.

All Samantha kept repeating was

"You are not leaving until this is done."

The Before, Oh my, an abomination! We primed with Kilz right over the 70's faux wood and rolled on the black. The trick is to use foam rollers, tiny ones. You never see a brush stroke and the paint goes on like butter.










The After, Can you believe it? I have to go back to grout but doesn't it just look great. The mosaics are great because if you go small enough you can avoid cutting.

So earthy...we said that all night.

Go figure the floor took the longest, Sam did that part. It was tedious work and a million cuts in a really crooked Brooklyn apartment.






Once again this was alot of work but pretty simple. I would like to add more tile above the stove and paint the entire wall from sink to ceiling in green chalk board paint to give it a real punch of color. We'll see what she allows but for now she's pretty amazed.

Perfectly Moist Banana Walnut Bread

While at the market I stopped over to the dreaded shelf you always see where the produce that has seen better days & ultra discounted. I saw a bunch of bananas for .58 cents. Very ripe bananas make the best baby food and banana bread so I took those babys home. I found this recipe on cully's kitchen it is now my new Go2 for banana bread! It was the perfect moist texture, full of bananas & a sweet nutty crunch from the walnuts. I just had a piece with 2 pats of cream cheese (as seen in pic..lol) OMG! Just what I needed on this balmy day. Perfect breakfast bread.



Ingredients:
1. ½ cup butter
2. 1 cup sugar
3. 2 eggs beaten
4. 4 bananas finely crushed
5. 1 ½ cups flour
6. 1 teaspoon baking soda
7. ½ teaspoon salt
8. ½ teaspoon vanilla
9. 1 cup walnut pieces

Directions:
1. Mix together the butter and sugar.
2. Mix in the eggs and crushed bananas.
3. Next add the flour, soda and salt to the mixture.
4. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts.
5. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.
6. Bake at 360 degrees for 1 hour. (the recipe said 1 hour but after that the middle of mine was still a slight bit wet so I left it for another 8-10 minutes) I checked a couple of times during and it was perfect after that.When still piping hot I brushed the top with butter for a nice shine and flavor. Sooooo Fab!!


xoxo, Sage Mommy

A New England Field Trip

My hubs bought me a great new camera, the Nikon D-40. I woke up feeling like I needed to get some frame worthy shots of the 'lil' one + the fact that it was thee most perfect day in Connecticut. I snatched up Rumps, dressed him all nautical-like & headed out to take some pictures down at the Norwalk Marina & skate park.

He was in apsolute awe of the sheer size of these massive vessels. We collected shells together and then drove around looking at all the gourgous beach homes. Sometimes I just love New England! Oh yah and my new camera is so user friendly for a novice like myself. The pictures are super crisp and the wide angle really captures exactly the picture that your eyes are seeing. I'm officially in love.

I loved our day together..he is now passed out on the couch as I quietly type away. I have to say that I have always been one to havea great time and never needed a million to do it. My entire day cost me 6 bucks (coffee, bagel and apple juice that I shared with my little man;) Priceless memories!

Childrens Alphabet Chair

A few weeks ago I was at Home Depot & picked up a copy of one of my favorite project mags..."BH&G ideas under 100"!
I feel in love with the "Chairs with Flair" section by designer Becky Mollenkamp.
She glued chipboard letters to the chair and then spray-painted it. Simply, inexpensive and super cute.

The inspiration from the magazine was this picture....

Isn't is wonderful. I had to try it on something.

I had this little antique stool I picked up at Goodwill & wanted to make something for this little guy to put his feet up on.

Then I got the craft of the day email from Martha
(she made me have to get this done TONIGHT)!

Look at him, he is hurtin for somewhere to put his feet.

I have a million chipboard letters left so my

son's room is in trouble.

I did a light sanding because some paint was
chipping off & then just sat, snacked and glued...

and snacked...

and sat and glued. I tryed to start at one end so I

could lay out the letters/numbers as I went along.

After about 30 minutes dry time it was off to my favorite part.

To the basement workshop, to spray a nice fire engine red to match his little red easy chair. I can't speak enough about the New rustoleum spray paint...coverage in ONE coat but I still did 2.

I think it turned out really cute and it was so easy. He is gonna love it!

Springy Easter Place Settings

I adore this setting from southernliving mag, simple white linens and butterflys tucked inside the loose arrangement is perfect. Look at the egg place cards sitting inside a nest of moss...love it.









All differnent random flowers arranged in egg cups...I see them everyday at Goodwill but never buy them. I'm gonna start.

Lavendar linens and the natural baskets of robins blue speckled eggs make this look so classy to me.

I espessially was drawn to the palette used here, yellow & green with all the grass arrangements makes this look expensive but how cheap is grass and eggs?

You never know quite what to do with these little pots but this idea is great. Little pot, syrophone ball and green moss...makes me wish I was hosting Easter this year;(

The moss down the middle is a little unsanitary for me but the look is gorgous! Look at the dessed up eggs & ribbon throw pillows. Sooo cozy

Wanted: Quiet Street for Bike Riding

So I decided today to put our house on the market. It's not the best time but we made it very cute and did some great renovations(that are un-finished) but the agent is coming on Friday to crunch the numbers. We will see? I need a quieter street and some more land. My son needs to graze and so do we. Keep your fingers crossed. I move this every 2 years. 33 and have owned 5 homes already. Number 6....I"M COMING!!

Here are some great staging tips that I have kept and always refer back every 2 years and have added to them as I learned. Never failed me yet.

1. Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.
Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
Picture yourself handing over the keys to the new owners!

2. De-Personalize.Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."

3. De-Clutter!Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
Remove all books from bookcases.
Pack up those knickknacks.
Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.

Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means: Neatly stack dishes.

5. Rent a Storage Unit. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal.

7.Make minor repairs:

Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
Patch holes in walls.
Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.

8. Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls. (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")

9. Replace burned-out light bulbs.

10. Make the House Sparkle!
Wash windows inside and out.
Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
Clean out cobwebs.
Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
Clean out the refrigerator.
Vacuum daily.
Wax floors.
Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
Bleach dingy grout.
Replace worn rugs.
Hang up fresh towels.
Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

When you are all done inside...Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Imagine how your house looks to a buyer.

You're almost finished.
11. Check Curb Appeal.If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
Keep the sidewalks cleared.
Mow the lawn.
Paint faded window trim.
Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
Trim your bushes.
Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number or buy some fresh ones.

Candy Sushi

I just came across this genius idea for candy sushi over on Mommy Knows. It's made from Rice Krispie treats, filled with gummy candy, and wrapped in Fruit Roll-Ups. She has instructions for a few different variations, including ones that look like salmon sushi.

She had the kids at her daughter's birthday party make them and take them home in little bento boxes. A craft, party favor, and treat all rolled into one-- clever!

This pic is from e.how and I love the clever wrapping of Swedish Fish..so cute.

Adorable Seed Packets

I don't know if you have ever ventured over to a great lil blog called modishblog.com . She is a graphic designer with great taste in pattern. She posted these FREE custom seed packets...the instructions are posted on her site if you can't figure it out.

Here is the template for the GREEN and the AQUA.

I thought it would be nice to buy store bought seeds and then transfer them to these pretty packets. I'm doing a green grow kit all inside a recycled planter (found at Target for $1 each) instead of the traditional Easter basket.

My theme is butterfly garden so I'm going to add a cute handmade garden accent (maybe a plant marker with a message on it) along with seeds and a pot.

Easter is a sad time for my hubs since it will be 2 years this year that he lost his mom to cancer. I wanted to do something special but am not sure what would make him feel connected.

If anyone has a similar experience or idea please share.
I'm at a loss when it comes to this kind of thing. Thanks.

Simple & Elegant Easter Cupcakes

Easter is at my parents home this year & I wanted to bring something simple yet special. Dessert always travels well;)

I wish I knew where this picture is from but I saved it last year in my "holiday ideas folder". Precious huh? I think the eggs are Jordon Almonds and the icing is the perfect shade of sea foam-y green.

SALvage STyLe

When it comes to interior design, I would have to say that flea market style is probably my favorite. Sure, it can sometimes come off as too country or grandma-like, but when done well, I think it is absolutely beautiful. I adore seeing other people's collections of one of a kind pieces from long ago, carefully displayed. I am fortunate that CT has a plether of great thrift stores and antique shops, but I am finding that the days of finding that $5 piece that you cherish forever is deeming harder then ever. I quess that makes the whole"hunt" that much sweeter. These pics are from a home I was reading/drooling about it Country Living Mag. She is a Minniapolis designer & her taste is right up my alley.

Faux Brick Walkway

I have been working in the backyard ever since this terrible winter here in CT has been letting up. My backyard is so small but has tons of potential. I stumbled upon this on country livings website and just loved the end result. I was toying with the idea of varying the colors to greys and ambers mimicing stone. I do so love the brick. It is a real focal piont and the end result looks so wonderful.
Do you have any cute cost
effective ideas for a small concrete patio?



1. 1 gallon of Benjamin Moore's MoorGard Low Lustre Latex House Paint (#103-4B) in the following color formula

(the paint dealer will know what this means):

n OY 1x8, RX 5x, BK 1x22, MA 3x, WH 1x16, TG 18
2. Clean the area you plan to paint, and let it dry thoroughly.
3. Beginning in a corner, use a 4-inch roller to paint "bricks." Make each one about 7 inches long, leaving about 3/4 inch between each brick. Stagger adjoining rows so bricks form a wall pattern.

Vintage Alphabet Books, Bus Rolls & Lotto Numbers

And my love grows for all things typo-graphy! I found these while searching on etsy but sadly they are not for sale, they are a collection of vintage lotto numbers from Argentina. Wonderful. Placed randomly in a matted frame they would really be a stunner. I did find these at Collage Closet.

Imagine that this was your bus ticket in the 40's. Precious isn't it. Look at how much thought went into this sweet design. Can you imagine that thousands of people just threw these away. Totally frame worthy.

Adorable vintage paperback of "This is London", by Miroslav Sasek 1959..I believe. Great simple graphics.

The pages in this antique French alphabet book could not be sweeter. I love that "E" is for Escargot. Precious. I hate to take apart a book but for the sake of art I would love to frame these for my sons room.

I just found a great deal on a Vintage bus rolls on Ebay. I fell in love with this transit history after seeing a picture of one in a Pottery Barn catalog last year. Since I have been loving all the wonderful types and especially how large they are. They make such a quirky statement in any decor. Such a conversation piece. I'm saving my pennies for this. My next big purchase after the other MILLION renovation projects gets done;))

Quick Muffin Cups

There is nothing better then fluffy eggs in the morning or anytime. Today after cleaning the house like a mad women I noticed that Giada was making eggs in muffin tins. I knew I had all the makings for my own masterpiece take on this recipe. My son was napping so the race was ON...



Ingredients:
a muffin tin

6 eggs

1 ham steak

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1/2 cup grated parm cheese

1/3 cup whole milk

salt & pepper to taste

and 20 minutes of your day.

Preheat oven to 350F. Chop the ham steak into small cubes or you could use whatever you have on hand...salami,turkey. Mix all ingredients in bowl and beat until creamy. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray (I used a non-stick pan and still did just to be sure). Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until puffy and slightly golden on top.

You could even make a hollandaise sause to go over top but...

I didn't have time or the room in my pants.

He's still sleeping & they are done.

They are sooo delish and hardly any mess to clean up!!

Enjoy, Sage Mommy xoxo

Corned Beef, Cabbage Slaw & Irish Coffee

I am Italian but my boyfriend is Irish/German so I'm making the traditional Irish fare tonight. This recipe got nearly 500 great reviews but I did add a personal touch of beer instead of water. Also added onions, celery & garlic which any brine needs. I always sear a large cut of meet because it really brings out the flavor and seals in juices. Happy St. Patrick's everyone!


Ingredients:
3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and julienned
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
1 onion chopped
3 bottles of beer
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic
1 celery stalk left whole for flavor

Mustard Sauce:
4 tablespoon Olive oil
4 tablespoon Sour Cream
4 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
Rinse off the beef with water and place in large pot or dutch oven and sear on all sides with butter to seal in juices. Then add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Pour in all the beer & cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender. Remove meat and cover with foil.
Add all vegetables into the broth and cook until tender. Add cabbage in the last 15 minutes. Place vegetables on a large platter and Slice meat across the grain. Plate mustard sauce in a ramekin for serving. PERFECTION!

This is a great take on traditional cabbage with your corned beef. It's a nice fresh crisp bitealong with your meal.

Cabbage Slaw: 1/2 green cabbage shredded, 1/2 red cabbage shredded, 3 tablespoons of mayo, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinager, 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard & salt & pepper to taste.

The REAL Irish Coffee
1/2 oz Irish whiskey
1 tsp brown sugar
6 oz hot coffee
heavy cream for top
Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir to dissolve. Float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix. Serve to your lucky guests!

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

I found this recipe a while back on Recipes.com and it is so delish I needed to revisit the dish last night. After a great day of raking the yard with the family and going to the beach to collect shells and run around the playground, we were all starving. This dish is perfectly creamy with a golden cheezy top. I baked it in a pretty white pie plate and it looked so good.



Ingredients:

4 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 onion, sliced into rings
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 1 quart casserole dish.
Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.

I veered from the recipe slightly by substituting one cup of milk for buttermilk...I loved the extra depth of flavor the buttermilk added. This is the perfect stick to your ribs side dish, it was a hit with my boyfriend and my son loved it too!

Dreams of a Proper High Tea

Newport Beach Hotels & Suites room pic from web...it better look like this!

I did it..booked, paid & done. I am soooo excited to be getting away. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Connecticut. The weather in May will be just right for a nice stroll while sippin coffee and touring the mansions of Newport. So siked.

Ever since I was a little girl my brother's and sisters have all gotten a giggle of the talk from my mother always saying it was time for a high tea. Of course her high tea consisted of a cup of chamomille and 1 sandwich which she ate for 2 hours...she eats like a bird. I'm now 33 and found my mom becoming one of my closest friends. We had rough beginnings but everything I love right down to cooking & decorating came directly from her influences. Growing up in an ever changing decor of everything from leopard chaise lounges to spode china, being allowed to paint my room whenever my heart desired and at times encouraged to do it when most moms would flip. These things led me here.

I am so glad to be blessed with such a creative & thrifty chic mommy.

When I saw this hotel and heard of all the famous places in Newport, Rhode Island to have world class high tea, I knew it would be a great weekend trip for me, will & baby rumps. We have never been away together and I know we need it. I asked my mom and youngest sister nonnie to join of course with the mission of High Tea. Anyone know what is the best? I also need to know where the most delicious cup of coffee is...very important for my sanity;)

Simple Blood Orange Marmalade & Vintage Labels

While wandering Whole Foods I stumbled upon "the famous" Meyer Lemon Martha made so popular. I needed to find a way to use them and I remembered a recipe for a fantastic sounding marmalade using meyers and blood oranges. Thanks Kitchen Table Scraps for the recipe, it turned out so perfect. I made 2 batches. A smooth texture and the perfect glossy sweetness for a piece of buttered toast or a dipping sauce for coconut shrimp. Let me know when you try it and tell me everything!

Blood Orange & Meyer Lemon Marmalade

3 Blood Oranges
3 Meyer Lemons
2 cups Sugar
Pinch of salt
Yield: 2 cups marmalade

Grate Peel:

Using a coarse grater, grate the outer layer of the peel from all of the oranges and lemons. Set Aside.
Cut Fruit:

Using a very sharp knife, cut off the top and bottom of each orange and lemon. To remove the rest of the the outer skin and pith(white part), cut strips of the skin away from the fruit, following the curve of the fruit. Slice the skinned fruit into 1/2" thick rounds.
Cook Fruit:

Place the cut fruit and all the sugar in a large stainless steel stockpot or dutch oven. Place the pot over high heat and stir. Stir vigorously to break up the fruit. At this point you really only care about breaking up the fruit. When the fruit is thoroughly mushy, turn off the heat and pour the fruit and sugar mixture through a sieve. (If you are juicing the fruit, you can skip this step and go straight to cooking the marmalade)
Cook Marmalade:

Add the reserved peel to the fruit and juice mixture and pour back into your stock pot. Place over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture is boiling, turn the heat down to medium/low. At this point you are essentially waiting for liquid to evaporate. You will need to stir the marmalade frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. The mixture will begin to thicken after several minutes of boiling. To test the consistency of the marmalade, drip a little onto a chilled plate. If it wrinkles when you press it then it is set, if not continue to cook but remember that the natural pectin will continue to firm up for a day or two in the fridge, so you should stop cooking your marmalade while it is still a little runnier than you want the finished marmalade to be. Store: In the refrigerator for several months. Of course you can sterilize and seal this recipe in jars too, but stored in the refrigerator there is no need for these additional steps.

CUTE VINTAGEY CANNING LABELS

Make sure to try these labels if you are canning. I spotted on a sonoma garden. Great blogger! She has the template all set up to print 12 at a time. I'm using the green ones and saving my jars for Easter & Mother's Day gifts! It feels so good to be ahead of the
game for once...lol.

10 tips to Striking Front Door Style

I think the saying goes..."eyes are the windows to the soul. "

Well if they are then your front entrance means a ton when it comes to the overall feel of your home. This spring I plan on really concentrating on the front entrance and yard. I want to change the front door to something bright and new, add a fence and some stonework somewhere?

Here's a list of tips I need to remember and inspiration

photos I've been collecting.

#1 "Lighting" -

Hang a pendant light or a wall sconce or two to add brilliant style. If you are worried about cost put a compact fluorescent bulb in. For additional lighting, line stairs or walkways with lanterns or have spotlights placed in your yard aimed to shine on stairs.

#2 " Keep it Clean" -
I am the first to admit that the front of my house can look a little shabby but after this post it won't!

Check this project out at Loverevolutionary.blogspot

#3 "Doormat" -
Whether it's teak or rubber, a good doormat will not only add a decorative touch to the front door, it will also help prevent dirt and mud from getting tracked inside.

#4 "Keep It Contained" -
Flank a doorway or path with over sized containers to make a grand statement. When choosing large containers, go with fiber stone, copper or zinc as they are frost resistant and won't need to be moved inside during cold weather.

#5 "Plant life" -
Lush foliage, a dried branch arrangement, an olive or citrus tree, or colorful flowers add life to entrances. Mums are a great & inexpensive way to add color to an entrance.

#6 "Door Flair" -
I added a brass door kick plate and knocker to add pizazzz to a my plain door.

#7 "Door color" -

This is the time to really show off. Let the color reflect
who you are & what's inside your home. Search for complimentary colors to go with your house.

#8 "Window boxes" -
Planted up with sturdy foliage they add a great element. Over-the-rail brackets are available instead of or in addition to front window boxes.

#9 "Art in the yard" -
Statues at front entrances makes a real impact in terms of expressing personal style - lions and spheres ooze elegance, cherubs say romance, and mini iron chairs add whimsey.

#10 "Be Original" -
Add something that's just for you, an antique tool that's stuck in your garden for decor or a chair painted in a bright color...whatever makes u happy!

Make sure to tell me any ideas you have & what your outside projects are going to be this summer!

Linen Closet Re-Do While Boyfriend is Away

My boyfriend is a bike builder and left yesterday for Daytona Bike Week and me and rumps are really missing him. I wanted to surprise him and organize something since lately all my home projects are really wearing him down. He's the greatest guy to me and an even better daddy.

He deserves order in the household so I think this is the perfect little project.

Behold the DISASTER that is my linen closet now...

Terrible I know!

Here’s my linen closet organizing how-to tips…
Always nice to have a fresh start!

* Drag everything out of that closet, for starters ~

it will only get better from here.

* Wash down the shelves with something you love the smell of. For me it’s Green Works Spray. Eco Friendly & works excellent… Love it!

* If you need to re-paint, do it now. Maybe a smashing bright cheery color like brilliant apple green, or dark and sexy like chocolate brown. I think I'm going with Behr Decorator's white in High Gloss. ( I would only go dark if your lighting is good.) * Clever Labeling. If you are supremely into organizing, or generally cool ideas, you could do a little metal label holder on each shelf to let the world know that pillow cases go here, for instance. (So librarian of me, I know. )$1.25 for 2, you can't go wrong. You can also paint the edge of the shelf in chalk board paint and write on it or do what I did and tape off a square and fill in with chalk board paint for a clever little to do list.

* Sort your goods. Determine all your sheets sets and get together. Put everything that goes into the matching pillow case. That way everything is together and even your hubby can make the bed with ease;0

* Bins & Baskets If your linen closet also serves as a place to store toilet paper, toiletries, and the like… consider storing those in canvas bins or even wicker or metal. Look around your house. I bet you can find stuff that will look great. I went to Ikea today and found folding green & white canvas bins for 5.00 each. A set of 2 tin bins with lid is perfect for some extra do-dads(i'm putting my overflow of photos.)

* What will you keep, what will you toss? Now “toss” is a relative term for me, it’s more like…put it aside and make believe I'm taking it to Goodwill...lol.
Can any of your sheets be re-classified to table cloths or picnic blankets? If not, consider donating your goods to your local thrift store or Goodwill.

* Consider the location of all the goods. All bedding near bedding… all towels, wash cloths, and the like together. Anything that gets less use or is seasonal should go near the top shelves.

It is done...not bad huh.I'm pretty proud,cleaned , painted & organized all with a 1 year old pulling at my pants leg the whole time;). I miss my man.

Thank God he is coming back tomorrow.

xoxo-Sage Mommy

New Life for An Old Piece

The gift my mom gave me was this great antique dresser that a dog had been knawing on forever. The bottom left leg was pretty damaged but I can't bear to see ANYTHING hit the trash pile so I took it in. I have been wanting to paint a large furniture piece a bright torquise and this was perfect. I saw a turquise dresser in Lillian August last summer for $1200.00. (minus doggy bite marks). A little too spendy but I love that heaven of a store regardless.