St. Patrick's Day FREE Printable

Lucky for us Craft's & Sutch had yet another fabulous free printable for our kiddos lunch boxes!

Enjoy

Magic Coffee

For Y-E-A-R-S I have been a two can Dt. Dr. Pepper wake me up kinda girl.

 But I am finding that, now with age, it just ain’t cuttin’ it anymore.


I have tried and tried to make myself a coffee drinker. I love the smell of a coffee shop. I love how it smells when I make it for my hubby. I love coffee flavored ice cream and cakes…just can’t gag down a cup of Jo in the morning.




Then I found this delightful recipe and have loved every minute of it!

Magic Coffee

2/3 Cups coarsely ground coffee
3 Cups water
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla {optional}

Put all the ingredients in a quart jar {I used a covered bowl}. Mix, cover and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and then pour into whatever container you’d like to store it in. For each drink, fill a tall glass halfway with ice. Pour in the coffee until ¾ full and add milk/half and half/cream to taste.

I can’t wait to toss this in the blender and make me a Mocha Frappuccino just like Starbucks!

I'll be linking up to all these great blogs today stop by when you get time Tempt my Tummy - Tuesday at The Table - Tasty Tuesday - Paisley Passions

Coffe Table Facelift

The time had finally come for me to address my coffee table.


After lifting up a tray that I keep on top, at all times, I discovered this…

I can’t tell you how I am looking forward to the day when my kiddos have kids and they have to deal with left over candy wrappers, pencils and art pieces everywhere all the time!


I'm embarrassed to say we spent WAY too much money on this table in order to get that “worn” look that could handle getting a little extra “love” from our family! So I had been holding out on touching it.


I’m pretty sure it never got a layer of poly on the top.

That’s the only reason I can explain why it now looks like this.

So I hauled it out the front door, held my breath, crossed my fingers and toes, then started to sand her down.

Applied two coats each of these.

Then placed her back where she belongs strutting her new look.

So please don’t procrastinate like I did. If you have been holding back on tackling some of your furniture don’t be afraid.

I could have had this look months ago! And the worst case scenario would have been to paint the top or start looking for a new one {smile}.

Thrift Store Finds

Wanted to share a few GW finds and how I have {or hope to} put them to use in our home.

Up first is the beyond fabulous turquoise linen floral print tablecloth that I picked up for $2.89! I plan on lining a HUGE homasote board with it to hang in our kitchen trimmed with nail heads.

I picked up these two frames at $6.99, for the pair. Painted them black and tossed in some pictures that I took on our last trip to N.Y.C. I plan to hang them in Hannah’s new room after we make it over in the next few weeks! Can’t wait to show you all the good stuff I got going on in there! Praise the Lord NO more pink!

Another little tin box, this time a recipe holder with colors that I adore.

 And this metal frame that I failed to snap a before picture of. Looks great now painted my new favorite color and lined with those old music sheets. Makes a perfect dry erase board for Hannah’s room.




I am hoping to make a trip this weekend to my all time favorite thrift store, hope to load my creative mind with a few more goodies.

Linking up here today Somewhat Simple - Shabby Chic - Thrilling Thursday - Thrifty 101 - House of Hepworths

Vanity in my Veins

For over 16 years I dreaded wearing shorts above my knee.



I was a competitive dancer in my teens {this is where my sister needs to stop laughing!}. And one day I popped some veins in my left leg while at practice, I was 16 years old. At first it was a small area but over time grew to this…

Looking at it now I see just how vain I was. Not wanting to wear shorts over that! I understand completely this is nothing compared to women and men who suffer from painful varicose veins.


So,weeks ago, just before Thanksgiving, I made an appointment with my dermatologists to do Sclerotherapy.

I almost chickened out when he told me a side effect could possibly be blood clots! Let’s face it, I have young children, this is not my time to be thinking about my vanity! I mean I could have a blood clot to my heart, lungs or brain. Leaving my kiddos without a mommy, over veins!


Then, I came to my senses and realized I was probably more at risk driving my car to the doc’s office than I was to get a blood clot.


Each one of those little pokes with a needle felt like a bee sting. The pain was short, but it was there! I kept it wrapped for 7 days and moved around just like the doctor told me too.


Here’s what I look like today! Yep, I L-O-V-E those frayed shorts!

It took almost a full 8 weeks before I could really tell the difference. But I am soooo looking forward to short season this year!

House 8810

Have you been over to House8810?


Hurry and go… now!


They have all of this…

 And more!



Too cute of a shop.

Snowklahoma 2011

It’s been a full week now sense we moved out of our igloo!



I love the seasons and the joy of a snow day…no worries about where you have to be, someone showing up at your door, staying in your pj’s ALL day!


But, then this year we had a total of 7 snow days.

We passed the time playing lots of family games

Baking, cooking and eating a lot… I swear I don’t know how the folks up north stay thin.

Sledding, all while trying to shovel a path out of our drive way.

Hannah enjoyed painting little man’s toes blue in her make shift nail salon.

He patiently watched a movie while asking me every 10 seconds when I was going to be taking it off!

Bronx staying warm right along with us.

Seeing a snow pile taller than my car…in central Snowklahoma!

And as I type the last of the snow melts into our parched ground and we await the planting of our garden.


Hopeful that we can see at least one snow day every year!