tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27077320771496792902024-03-18T03:17:51.025-05:00The Twice Remembered CottageThe Twice Remembered Cottage is a cottage style renovation and makeover blog including photos and information about inexpensive do-it-yourself projects, craft ideas, and budget decorating.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-2978682909687585432016-04-30T17:19:00.000-05:002016-04-30T17:20:18.564-05:00Instagram, Anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="dropcaps">I</span> want to thank you all for your words of support and encouragement in my last post, <a href="http://www.twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2016/04/d-ear-friends.html" target="_blank">A New Journey</a>. It means so much to hear from you, and very inspiring to read your comments regarding the fact that Twice Remembered was one of the first blogs you subscribed to. :) It is also endearing to me that you understand change and moving on and will be moving along with me. I don't know what the future holds, but I certainly have goals and am very excited about what's in store.</div>
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Right now, I'm a full time cake decorator. {Did you see that coming???!} My job is to make desserts, so not very many complaints there, other than I have a lot less time than I once did. I've been on my own for a little over a year, since Valentine's Day of last year in fact {after moving in with my folks for three months}, and I can't believe the positive changes that have taken place in my life since then. It has been scary at times, I have to admit. {see cell phone photo below, snapped post-separation/ pre-divorce when I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of my old Twice Remembered studio, in the midst of trying to figure out my next move} I was a stay at home mother for almost 20 years and any work that I did was part time and from home...plus it certainly wasn't work that I had to do to keep a roof over my head. So I've had to hurry-quick learn to be self-sufficient, which is a very, very, GOOD thing. I'm growing, as we all are.</div>
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As I mentioned in my last post, I'm working on a new blog, or at least a new blog design. I've been on the fence about whether or not to stay "here" and just change the scenery or to move entirely. Your input would be greatly appreciated. </div>
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In the meantime, please join me on my instagram page...<a href="https://www.instagram.com/seetwiladream/" target="_blank">See Twila Dream</a> {Twila has always been my creative name that I've added to paintings, etc. for years, thus the name of my instagram account.} I'll also be posting here until the new blog is ready. </div>
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Before I go, check out this dining table that I found at Goodwill last week for only $19.99. {Yes, $19.99...crazy, right?!} It's an old solid and heavy Duncan Phyfe table that is screaming makeover. I've bought the paint and am ready to dive in. Stay tuned...and Happy Saturday!</div>
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<span class="dropcaps"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-30361186186534390362016-04-23T10:21:00.000-05:002016-04-23T10:22:47.810-05:00A New Journey <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="dropcaps">D</span>ear friends... I want you to know that I have not forgotten about you. I miss you AND blogging so much! Some of you, I've known through my blog for over a decade, and well, when that much time passes, life is bound to change in one way or another. And how things have changed for me in the last couple of years! I want to share with you my journey, what I've been up to, and where I'm headed with my life. </div>
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For now I'd like to tell you that I've been divorced for over a year. I no longer live at the Twice Remembered Cottage and it is now occupied by good folks who want to continue it's transformation where I left off. This makes me very happy, and yes, a bit sad as well. But life goes on, we make new paths for ourselves, and we don't dwell on the past. Everything that happens in our lives shapes us and paves the way for other beautiful experiences, interests, and adventures. </div>
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I can't tell you how much I look forward to blogging again! My style preference has evolved, as styles and tastes tend to do when one experiences major life changes, and I've embraced the world of art, vibrant color, and Bohemian charm. I hope that you'll join me in my new journey, even though it is so very different from my previous one. I am working on a new blog, and I will be posting here to let you know the location as soon as it is complete and ready to go. Thank you SO INCREDIBLY MUCH for your patience and friendship, and I hope to "see you" soon. :)</div>
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With much love,</div>
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Kim</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-20031999033022009172013-01-01T21:58:00.000-06:002013-01-02T17:45:35.107-06:00A Cottage Bedroom - The Marmalade Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="dropcaps">H</span>ello friends, and <b>Hello 2013</b>! I hope this brand new year finds you and your family happy and well. We've been chipping away at this little house and today I have a bedroom makeover I'd like to share with you. </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I believe the last time I wrote about a </span><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/02/hardwood-flooring-in-kids-room.html" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">cottage style bedroom makeover</a><span style="text-align: start;"> was back in 2010 when we installed the hardwood in our youngest girls' room. Well, this month, we were able to work on our oldest daughter's room while she was away on a trip. {This is the last room in the house that needed hardwood, and I am so glad THAT job is behind us!}</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> I neglected to take any before photos before we moved her furniture and things out because a) we had very little time for the project and I just wanted to get down to business and b) oh, it was so ugly! Imagine gray berber carpet that was well over a decade old and tired, beaten up periwinkle walls. I did catch a shot with my cell phone right after we ripped the carpet up and began patching the walls. As you can see, we did some work on the closet...enlarged it, actually. For some reason, originally there were two small closets on one wall, which resulted in wasted closet and wall space. So we combined the two closets. Much better!</span></div>
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All primed and ready for paint! </div>
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After the paint was on the walls, we installed hardwood {Bruce, 3/4" oak in a finish called 'Marsh'}, added crown moulding, and finally, added farmhouse style baseboards and window trim. We will add a wood plank ceiling down the road...still not a fan of the popcorn! Again, I didn't have a lot of time to take 'in progress' photos, though I wish I did! </div>
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So what color did my girl request for her room?</div>
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Orange. I have never used orange myself, but she is a teenager and knows what she likes. I found a shade called 'Marmalade' by Behr which I thought might work well and so I hoped for the best. I gotta admit, when we first put it on the walls, I was a little hesitant, but....I don't think a more perfect color could have been chosen. </div>
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I was worried about how the wood finish and traditional style of her furniture would work with such a bold color, but I think adding lots of crisp white and refreshing, complementary blues helped to bring it all together.</div>
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I had toyed with the idea of introducing some shades of green and had actually bought a pretty green striped rug, but it seemed out of place. So I searched for another one and was thrilled to discover this rag rug at Ross for $12 in the exact shade of blue I felt the room needed. </div>
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The thing about having children, and especially a teenager, is that your idea of what looks nice and their ideas are often quite different. So before we moved all of my daughter's things into the room, I had fun photographing a few accessories<i> that she would never go for. </i></div>
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Shells and teacups and pretty books about the beach, for instance. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsj20LvPSlXghEqnBKGaGTdiQcZwbE35_rsKEGTx40fzomelJQC-SeafK4eKwlyvJvg1NdQOa959JraMryS9rMn-IkiCJ_CoBQcBig-x4dhyphenhyphenRXPWb0jIFDhXXyyhRClsw6b0EIEvJ9pY8/s1600/Img_6758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsj20LvPSlXghEqnBKGaGTdiQcZwbE35_rsKEGTx40fzomelJQC-SeafK4eKwlyvJvg1NdQOa959JraMryS9rMn-IkiCJ_CoBQcBig-x4dhyphenhyphenRXPWb0jIFDhXXyyhRClsw6b0EIEvJ9pY8/s400/Img_6758.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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This table is actually a small white table topped with a larger painted framed mirror. I needed a table for another photo shoot a few months back and had a mirror hanging around in the attic. <i>Why not?</i> :)</div>
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I glued burlap to the mirror, let it dry completely, and then simply painted it.</div>
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The curtains were from Target. I had a hard time finding what I liked in the length I needed {95"} so I was pretty happy about finding these - and they were very inexpensive at $13 a panel. I used four panels total for a fuller look. It's hard to tell from the photos, but the curtain rod extends 9 inches from each side of the window, making the window appear much larger than it actually is.</div>
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I found this sweet little lamp at Ross. It was actually the first thing I found for the bedroom after the paint was on the walls. When I saw the blue, I knew it would be just lovely with the Marmalade walls.</div>
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If you ever find a vintage globe while out thrifting, buy it. Just do. {I have to admit, I'm a little sad that my girl chose not to leave it in her room, but that's ok...I'll use it elsewhere!} </div>
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Again, the 'before/in progress' shot...</div>
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...and the same space now. LOVE the chunky trim! It's just 6" wide pine. Easy peasy to install with no mitered cuts. The crown moulding was easy, too, with those nifty corner pieces. We painted the trim and doors Ultra Pure White by Behr. The doors still need another coat!</div>
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We added the wood appliques {bought at Lowes} to these doors as we have on all the other doors in the house. Just a little something pretty.</div>
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The inside of closet still needs shelving and a clothing rod, but that's another project. ;)</div>
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I'm on the lookout on Craigslist for a desk and bookshelf for this wall. It's a little bare now.</div>
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My only regret is that we weren't able to get to this room much sooner. My baby leaves for college in another state at the end of August. I'm not even going to think about that right now. Needless to say, I hope this year goes by muuuuuch slower than the last! </div>
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<b>Edited to add:</b> Before I began my search for coordinating colors and accessories, I found the <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/275141858456475774/" target="_blank">color board below on Pinterest </a>and fell in love! This is what inspired me to try to add some green to the room. It *would* have worked well if the rug I bought wasn't striped. It really clashed with the patterned lamp shade and made the room feel busy and disjointed. BUT, as you can see from this color board, with a good balance of the right patterns, these colors work beautifully together!</div>
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I hope you enjoyed this bedroom makeover and I can't wait to share more projects with you in 2013! I have an ambitious list of goals to tackle as time and money allow and I thank you so much for continuing to be here to share this journey with us!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. -Neil Gaiman</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="dropcaps"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-37267147174815872102012-11-29T15:12:00.000-06:002012-11-29T15:28:51.546-06:00Down the Rabbit Hole...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“What is <b>REAL</b>?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, <b>because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand... once you are <i>Real</i> you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.</b>” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">― </span>Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit</div>
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<b>Meet our two new cottage babies that we brought home in the spring: </b><i><b>Talulah Tippytoes -</b></i><b> the snuggler, the follower, the funny bunny, the girly girl...</b></div>
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<b>and her sister <i>Little Bea Sugarwhiskers -</i> the observer, the thinker, the curious mastermind of adventure, the "please-pet-me-but-do-not-hold-me-or-I-will-taste-you-with-my-teeth" girl... </b></div>
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They are both pleased to make your acquaintance. Even Bea. Really.</div>
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<span class="dropcaps"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-45168134811457903942012-11-28T12:46:00.000-06:002014-12-15T15:55:24.949-06:00Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter<span class="dropcaps">I</span>n just about three weeks, my favorite season of the year will officially give way to winter - whether I'm ready for it or not. <br />
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Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.<br />
-George Eliot</div>
The coats, hats, and gloves have been out for a few weeks now, frosty windshields have already been scraped a time or two, and it's a rare tree around here that still has any straggling leaves. {Near the end of fall, I always search for and begin observing a tree in my yard that has just a few leaves remaining, then fewer, then fewer still, then three...two...one singular leaf. I like to see how long the last one can hang on. A little leaf one winter hung on the entire season!} Though I'm not overly <i>fond </i>of cold weather, I appreciate the fact that winter has it's own unique way of slowing us down and turning us inward, both literally and introspectively. I welcome both after a busy summer and fall.<br />
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One fun project that I enjoyed near the end up of September was <a href="http://issuu.com/sagemagazineonline/docs/octobersage/91" target="_blank">a little fall piece</a> I did for the October/November issue of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SageMagazine" target="_blank">Sage Magazine</a>. The theme of the issue was 'cozy' so I decided to take advantage of the fair weather and do a couple of outdoor scenes in the spirit of romantic <i>glamping</i>, or, as I've learned in the last year or so, "glamorous camping". I don't know much about glamour, but I certainly do believe in whimsy and magical places and pretty little things that just make a girl smile.<br />
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<b>So we built a tent out of a simple frame and sheets, blankets, and even curtains....</b></div>
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<b>Inside, we filled it with a cozy feather mattress, quilts, throws, and pillows. Perfect for outdoor reading {or a nap!}</b></div>
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<b>Call me old-fashioned, but I love crocheted shams and bedcovers. There's just something romantic about them. {I made the brown paisley pillows...can you believe I didn't sew my fingers together not even once?}</b></div>
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<b>I also thought it would be sweet to make a pennant banner from various fabrics to string along the top of the tent ceiling. I'm so glad you can't see the, ahem...interesting...stitching lines I sewed across top of it!</b></div>
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<b>I wanted this little tent to have a hanging lamp, so I took an old shade and stripped it down to it's metal frame. Then I just knotted strips of linen and burlap all the way around, adding accents of tulle along the bottom. The light is a battery operated candle in a little mason jar. </b> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ZUh_S8e9CfnBQfMDEd65QzG45GoKlPEjNhVBr7ThRKNcHJ9i8xy0sgo2BhD6iE88Ojjd35n6dIlRrLa1l9nP9HBKps65s1YHSlumnKmqcPY-9beI4THJZn9lfBPrxbEWBlIyl6nOqk/s1600/Img_6527c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ZUh_S8e9CfnBQfMDEd65QzG45GoKlPEjNhVBr7ThRKNcHJ9i8xy0sgo2BhD6iE88Ojjd35n6dIlRrLa1l9nP9HBKps65s1YHSlumnKmqcPY-9beI4THJZn9lfBPrxbEWBlIyl6nOqk/s400/Img_6527c1.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></div>
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<b>For the dinner tablescape, I went with a collection of items that I felt would work well for both fall and winter, indoors or out. Of course, I had to throw on a crocheted tablecloth to set the stage...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I18PhPxL4ozN1Hd0p9p3Gf4xsyeYO7FDKau0HbDIhttLvJYUvzwJT1fbd1IKnlenItKpgsyQ7sP5h2aQ4JEASR7_IjJmqEx3_XZKJHfiIAA5nUg_n999oemqwC0JMRActovBXu8rJbs/s1600/Img_6429c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I18PhPxL4ozN1Hd0p9p3Gf4xsyeYO7FDKau0HbDIhttLvJYUvzwJT1fbd1IKnlenItKpgsyQ7sP5h2aQ4JEASR7_IjJmqEx3_XZKJHfiIAA5nUg_n999oemqwC0JMRActovBXu8rJbs/s400/Img_6429c1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>along with a green garland and plenty of pops of red with apples, a rose and hydrangea arrangement {from Hobby Lobby. I tucked in real sprigs of baby's breath to help fool the eye}, and some <a href="http://www.twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/01/simple-homemade-tomato-soup-family.html" target="_blank">homemade tomato soup</a>.</b></div>
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<b>I can never seem to pass up those tiny little glasses that I'm always seeing at thrift stores. I put them to use by wrapping them with various things such as cinnamon sticks and adding tea lights. {<i>hint: secure the cinnamon sticks with a rubber band first, then cover the rubber band with fabric a fabric strip.</i>}</b></div>
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<b>Here's another little glass that I covered in linen and converted into a candle holder. Just sweet and simple.</b></div>
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<b>I really loved the shape of this lamp shade but not the original fabric. So I stripped it down to the metal frame and recovered it in a piece of crochet work that I found years ago at Goodwill. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out but it was a bit tricky getting the scallops to sit just right. It kind of killed me to cut into the crochet because I wasn't sure if I was going about it correctly, and like I said, I've had this piece for years. Ever had one of those "this could be fabulous or it could be a total failure" kind of projects? This was definitely one of mine and I was a more than a little skeered, let me tell ya. </b></div>
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<b>But sometimes you just gotta take those risks because you never know. </b><b>I ended up using any extra crochet work that was cut off as trim on the brown paisley pillows, so it all worked out.</b><b>:) I used another little mason jar with a battery operated candle to light it up and hung it from a tree branch with cotton string above the table.</b></div>
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<b>Are we all still singing the praises of wooden pallets? I know I am. I had taken a before shot of what this pallet looked like originally, but I took it with my cell phone and then recently dropped my phone in the toilet, ugh! But just imagine an old beat up wooden pallet. I stained it a nice rich brown and it became the perfect low lying picnic/dessert table set atop my adored chenille quilt that I affectionately call 'grandma blanket'. Don't judge. She was a very inexpensive find at <a href="http://www.oldtimepottery.com/" target="_blank">Old Time Pottery</a> many, many years ago and she seems to just get tougher with age. Isn't that exactly what a grandma should do anyway? Also, there is a <i>grandpa</i> blanket, but we'll feature him another time.</b></div>
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<b>More little homemade candle holders using various items such as burlap, twigs, tulle, and lace doilies... <i>{hint: Turn a small container upside down, drape a doily over it, and spray several coats of spray starch - letting each coat dry before applying the next. Then carefully remove the doily from the glass and insert a battery operated wax candle.} </i></b></div>
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<b>A table runner was created by tearing {not cutting} a long strip of linen that came from an old curtain panel. More natural elements such as blooming branches, berries, pine cones, apples, acorns, and cinnamon sticks were layered on to cozy the table up</b>. </div>
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<b>I usually use this large glass cloche for decorative purposes, but apparently flies love chocolate brownies as much as I do. They were being quite the pests during this shoot, so I finally got to use my cloche for a practical purpose. </b></div>
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<b>More pillows, pillows, pillows and crisp white tableware to contrast nicely against the richer browns, greens, and reds...</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> I keep recommending battery operated candles because a couple of weeks or so ago I </span><i style="text-align: left;">caught the living room on fire</i><span style="text-align: left;"> with a regular candle. It was a silly mistake in which I draped some fabric over the top of it, forgetting that it was even there. We were able to put the fire out with a garden hose before the six or seven {*sigh*} firetrucks arrived. The birds and bunnies just happened to be flying and hopping around the living room when the fire broke out, but none were harmed, thank goodness. I have a couple of pieces of furniture pieces to refinish or replace, including one of my </span><a href="http://www.twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/09/perfect-cozy-reading-chairs-from.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">favorite reading chairs</a><span style="text-align: left;"> that I got at Goodwill a couple of years ago, some drywall and beadboard to repair, and a few scorch marks on the floor to live with, but it could have been much worse, and for that I am extremely thankful. I still use regular candles, but for candles anywhere near fabric, like the candle holders I made above, I highly recommend battery operated, just to be on the safe side.</span></div>
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<b>We'll talk again soon, dear friends! Until then, cozy up and brace yourself <i>{like the last little tree leaf}</i> as we say goodbye to delicious autumn and welcome winter...I hope you all are doing well! </b></div>
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<span class="dropcaps"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-32538305037070203222012-07-12T02:48:00.000-05:002012-07-13T09:11:12.071-05:00Summer Cottage Style Faux Fireplace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A3rlIa21twnHGN9DG_Fyx633RDpteuFO8RjenK9jXJzXpeplUSabbdnOMlmpMIWj83x7IDkrTJ2XfKY5928BA6-eCueHdGOxe3nu31M51j64kZlsLnc-oQXyxZCsstv8WFQfDpDc820/s1600/fauxfireplace1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A3rlIa21twnHGN9DG_Fyx633RDpteuFO8RjenK9jXJzXpeplUSabbdnOMlmpMIWj83x7IDkrTJ2XfKY5928BA6-eCueHdGOxe3nu31M51j64kZlsLnc-oQXyxZCsstv8WFQfDpDc820/s400/fauxfireplace1a.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span class="dropcaps">H</span>ello, friends! First of all, just a note to let you know that I'm having so many annoying issues with my new Wordpress blog {loading slowly, interface troubles, etc., etc.} that I've decided to just to keep blogging HERE with Blogger right now. I don't know if I'll ever get my Wordpress problems worked out, and frankly, I don't have time to work on them. I don't want you to have to deal with slow loading pages and images, so excuse my crazy while I tell you that I'll be continuing to update here instead of at the new site until further notice.
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So, do you remember forever ago when our dining room looked like this? It was when we first moved into the house and I was really into jewel tones. The photo <span class="pullquote2">Perhaps in the fall we'll draw ourselves a roaring chalk fire</span>below was pre-remodel. Just a standard little dining space <i>with a door to the laundry room </i>right in the middle of it! That door was quite silly, especially considering the fact that there was <i>another door </i>to the laundry room in the hallway. So we decided to wall the dining room access door up....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOXu2Q9W1SoTptBU4BlyiOuTQWm69k3J_Kkoeo_4nv1i1JU3S1SMzEGWwo2zqQ-K4Vm1pfgI0Dl4ivF8s358Z9O2l_ztaCzn7DH3fXHhaAwcVSTOloMsTMr8nos5ThWhRUce72fSzROE/s1600/diningbefore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOXu2Q9W1SoTptBU4BlyiOuTQWm69k3J_Kkoeo_4nv1i1JU3S1SMzEGWwo2zqQ-K4Vm1pfgI0Dl4ivF8s358Z9O2l_ztaCzn7DH3fXHhaAwcVSTOloMsTMr8nos5ThWhRUce72fSzROE/s400/diningbefore1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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and build a <b>faux fireplace</b> in it's place. This wall really needed to be weighted with something that would visually balance out the red cabinets on the the opposite end of the room. A fireplace was the perfect solution. We started with a mantel I found on clearance at Lowes...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-mKPD09N7l0lmL1wqGpO7fP1oGX3vllWzKSccGuIoHDGR3h867E9v2pbAIpvwDD7KKzy3N1ABXBqZBOOeSEP48Wa8N9FBk8EkkFiuYN3HuAEAAyld3YEgSZyClxV1p-RicgQX7_oaBk/s1600/diningbefore3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-mKPD09N7l0lmL1wqGpO7fP1oGX3vllWzKSccGuIoHDGR3h867E9v2pbAIpvwDD7KKzy3N1ABXBqZBOOeSEP48Wa8N9FBk8EkkFiuYN3HuAEAAyld3YEgSZyClxV1p-RicgQX7_oaBk/s400/diningbefore3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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and just began building a beefy box frame out of pine boards of various widths.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9hzZa_dnNrtu9EHmDoi7wYL40LdaHPM2jDPuHiFjGvWcBHbAWlM7UV8LoXea2XeBgtNUTCAnaj0NlBQoLbDprKzDyuUUCRLkyEdXhu47pltfuIIrZCZxRFaSplbVS3VaZ_Bbm16TfW4/s1600/diningbefore5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9hzZa_dnNrtu9EHmDoi7wYL40LdaHPM2jDPuHiFjGvWcBHbAWlM7UV8LoXea2XeBgtNUTCAnaj0NlBQoLbDprKzDyuUUCRLkyEdXhu47pltfuIIrZCZxRFaSplbVS3VaZ_Bbm16TfW4/s400/diningbefore5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Somewhere along the line, I found this old black cast iron surround at an antique shop for about $30. I was hoping it would somehow work with our faux mantel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfbVvj3ddHO1tQrtR324FvS5OFmnKLgVkSqW-hiJx2LpAt_FeRUa8cxxnRypSHUcefQpuPweo8hu3JNFCyPHouZXE3Wq35n0v2tMuweC13b0Cnwe8Wjhx17BomOMxEDDDnvUxECHqET0/s1600/diningroombefore7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfbVvj3ddHO1tQrtR324FvS5OFmnKLgVkSqW-hiJx2LpAt_FeRUa8cxxnRypSHUcefQpuPweo8hu3JNFCyPHouZXE3Wq35n0v2tMuweC13b0Cnwe8Wjhx17BomOMxEDDDnvUxECHqET0/s400/diningroombefore7.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And it did! Since I wanted to make the fireplace look as realistic as possible, I painted the inside of the surround with black chalkboard paint. {Perhaps in the fall we'll draw ourselves a roaring chalk fire.} And to keep a light & airy, vacation-ey beach feel, I painted the cast iron surround white.</div>
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I just love how substantial the vertical 'legs' of the fireplace appear. We just kept building up and layering boards and trim pieces until we got the look we wanted.</div>
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The area around the surround is actually heavy textured paintable wallpaper that looks like tin. Convincing, yes? The color I chose is called 'Malted Milk'... it reminds me of sand. ;) {You may notice a gap or two at the bottom near the floor - our floor is terribly uneven in this area and we'll have to fill it in somehow the future. I had kind of forgotten about it until seeing these photos!}</div>
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Isn't it funny how a fake <i>fireplace </i>can really <b>warm up</b> a summer style cottage dining room?</div>
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P.S. I made the little banner for a party for my girls recently... I haven't had the heart to take it down yet. ;)</div>
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<span class="dropcaps"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-64629903226366864292012-07-12T02:47:00.000-05:002012-07-12T02:48:02.582-05:00Rolled Sugar Cookie & Buttercream Frosting Recipe<span class="dropcaps">I</span> wanted to share with you a little treasure of a recipe that I’ve happened upon recently. You all know how much I love baking, but I didn’t have a good rolled sugar cookie recipe to use for <span class="pullquote">This recipe yields a soft but hearty cookie that is perfect for decorating to your heart’s content.</span> all those fun cookie cutters available now. Well, I think I’ve found my go-to recipe! I found the recipe <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/detail.aspx">here</a> and with 4½ stars and over 5,000 reviews, I had to give it a try myself. I’ve actually used this recipe twice so far and the results were absolutely sublime both times. This recipe yields a soft but hearty cookie that is perfect for decorating to your heart’s content.
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<b>The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies by Jill Saunders</b><br />
1 1/2 cups butter, softened<br />
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
5 cups all-purpose flour<br />
2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely before frosting. {I bake mine for just 6 minutes and they are perfect! }<br />
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<i>Want frosting?</i> I use the same frosting that I make for a lot of cakes…buttercream! Though it doesn’t get hard like royal icing, it sets up nicely and tastes heavenly! I adjusted this recipe from another one that I found online, but the original called for shortening and I just hate the aftertaste. Butter all the way for me, baby!<br />
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<b>Buttercream Frosting</b><br />
1 cup butter, softened<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
4 cups confectioners’ sugar<br />
2 tablespoons milk<br />
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In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and vanilla. Blend in the sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the milk, and continue mixing until light and fluffy. Keep icing covered until ready to decorate. {I divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add various food color gels. {Depending on the size of your cookie, you’ll have plenty with some leftover.}<br />
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I wish I had remembered to count how many cookies this recipe made with this particular cookie cutter, but it was somewhere around 36-40, give or take a few.<br />
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I love using these beautiful measuring spoons that <a href="http://www.fairfieldhousenj.com/">Deborah of The Fairfield House</a> sent me. She knows my love of polka dots runs deep and she was so kind in sending this sweet little dish, too. {Deborah told me that she got the spoons from Anthropologie if you’re interested in a set for your cottage kitchen, too!}<br />
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What do you think of the red teacups?<br />
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They are actually measuring cups! {I purchased them from West Elm a few months ago, but unfortunately, they no longer sell them.}<br />
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Back to baking! What I really like about this recipe is that the cookies really don’t look much different before baking…<br />
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…than they do after baking! If your dough is nice and chilled, the cookies will spread very little, if any at all, and they retain their shape extremely well.<br />
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You’ll find that these cookies by themselves aren’t overly sweet. When you add the fluffy rich buttercream, you’ll be pleased with the ‘just right’ balance between cookie and frosting.<br />
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If you want to fancy your cookies up with sprinkles, {I can’t fathom NOT adding sprinkles!!!} be sure to add them right after you spread the buttercream. The frosting sets up fairly quickly and if you try to add the sprinkles after it has set up, they’ll just bounce right off. Trust me on this one.<br />
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Here’s an idea: Flatten cupcake liners with an iron on low heat and use them as ‘cookie liners’ instead.:) <br />
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Store these cookies in an airtight container and they'll be soft and fresh tasting for days.</div>
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I used these same recipes recently for some cupcake shaped cookies. Excuse the cell phone photo – I was in a hurry finishing up last minute details before a house full of girls arrived for a slumber party. These looked really sweet packaged up in goody bags. {Those are red jelly beans on top, by the way.} I found the cupcake shaped cookie cutter at World Market for just 99 cents. </div>
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If you try these cookies, please let me know what you think!
If you try these cookies, please let me know what you think!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Thank you for visiting and have a great rest of the weekend!</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-88092706304672353772011-11-25T23:41:00.011-06:002011-11-26T00:58:22.341-06:00Faux Cupcakes and Signs and Shopping - Oh My!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMyRwhNrriFKOAynbRCfXgiTc6osfvsJTzReKyf5SUYwJqB2UG0e0nE1WSCJvcpmJ5ry_3lN7OQ8MUzbOeQiKRx2p4eaVMMUyoSSsgiyZVXSMHRpYtbYfqgSf55nD1U_o94CeG-Oy8Q/s1600/cupcake2_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMyRwhNrriFKOAynbRCfXgiTc6osfvsJTzReKyf5SUYwJqB2UG0e0nE1WSCJvcpmJ5ry_3lN7OQ8MUzbOeQiKRx2p4eaVMMUyoSSsgiyZVXSMHRpYtbYfqgSf55nD1U_o94CeG-Oy8Q/s400/cupcake2_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679184689718516514" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">I</span>t makes my heart so happy to know that I've finally reached my long time goal of opening an online shop of my own - a little place for my creations to temporarily reside until they find a forever home. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shecouldfly?view_type=gallery">She Could Fly</a>, my new shop, has been so much fun to work on and care for and I'd like to thank all my new customers for taking the time and interest to stop by and see what I have to offer! I wanted to let those of you who have asked know that I have started stocking my realistic faux desserts and I will continue making various kinds at various price points {cupcakes, cookies, candies} along with my painted signs. You can look for vintage items in the future as well. If you haven't stopped by in a bit, please take a moment to check out <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shecouldfly?view_type=gallery">She Could Fly</a>, and <span style="font-weight:bold;">from now until November 29th, use coupon code SHECOULDFLYSALE1 to receive a 20% discount off everything</span>. Don't worry - you don't have to worry about me always blogging about my new 'baby', but I do know that many of you have shopping in mind for the weekend so I thought this would be a good time to tell you about my sale and show you what I've been working on. If you have any questions, please let me know! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlbpBigPuGpN4HrCUvpqC4Orj41iho4X7GDZuN-_nCstTLbAYoDDXxESwU4PPPQfr-HD-puQBWfXqXyQLrEQKqMXYInckdl_JO5z_-ph83n3tjrhDymFc0zDPE9agphkg3EYqLSEtLf0/s1600/sitbymyside1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlbpBigPuGpN4HrCUvpqC4Orj41iho4X7GDZuN-_nCstTLbAYoDDXxESwU4PPPQfr-HD-puQBWfXqXyQLrEQKqMXYInckdl_JO5z_-ph83n3tjrhDymFc0zDPE9agphkg3EYqLSEtLf0/s400/sitbymyside1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679184684828239122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYBqaZ48XFtgBGntCvWsni3EGxxU3KjzPiTqoknjL9GS1yl8m5hnDMjDI1CuJIn_7xA4EZUosfdg9M6bXcxw3p7G6UCZlbEovoZ0CdeXEKiv64Jz_JCDWKiBshprVCZMMvOjMY5oxRZk/s1600/liveinthesunshine2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYBqaZ48XFtgBGntCvWsni3EGxxU3KjzPiTqoknjL9GS1yl8m5hnDMjDI1CuJIn_7xA4EZUosfdg9M6bXcxw3p7G6UCZlbEovoZ0CdeXEKiv64Jz_JCDWKiBshprVCZMMvOjMY5oxRZk/s400/liveinthesunshine2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679183769052165570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65WK6glsAeAmxiYcIBHoAoxzeu8gZKfqtT7P4e-1xHXl_q4LwOBxjA_jrPFEsA8ykizcHkLrlhC2_bSH-LKhcoqYBZ2Z6YnCZtGqJnDjJvJBx_WlnFKwQpfRNU_z5kAk56tH2HXLdfbA/s1600/wonderfulness5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65WK6glsAeAmxiYcIBHoAoxzeu8gZKfqtT7P4e-1xHXl_q4LwOBxjA_jrPFEsA8ykizcHkLrlhC2_bSH-LKhcoqYBZ2Z6YnCZtGqJnDjJvJBx_WlnFKwQpfRNU_z5kAk56tH2HXLdfbA/s400/wonderfulness5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679183764597612498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmAHiPKGLdShB__hefRUl5fFuyIDLbqh8M3DhlFQZjH827_3Z0XaXF2d14NLNuPkFGdcVSHBQeZpMeZhCvnYt9MmK6A1CdDCjXWY4i2jpwOjZAnveoVjQJnsNwmf6q-ZXNAylILppyWk/s1600/welovedwhite6.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VPNHj7nv5p4TBEYa8oqisewZvMclhGksq3qoMPGoENl5ocNQmQMoXYUDMxCpUCwslFyWx8s3IeZlGlotwYslYIe-56YcutZj391Er1NBFtfSiMLZFkER7kc_mSjtcPZj8N_mpWag9NI/s400/cupcake6_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679180043583111458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBVAWBY5_aq0J69YI45oBByi08hUlra3Mq2mKPx-0wHWSwmQSQxmmcmgdCK0wreb5mxOE7-14x39oOog0IPhNp81p6aYxIgMKtG4OcJa77so3rnoF90AdGOk1QqTSdWC0o2L4VgbsUEg/s1600/cupcake5_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBVAWBY5_aq0J69YI45oBByi08hUlra3Mq2mKPx-0wHWSwmQSQxmmcmgdCK0wreb5mxOE7-14x39oOog0IPhNp81p6aYxIgMKtG4OcJa77so3rnoF90AdGOk1QqTSdWC0o2L4VgbsUEg/s400/cupcake5_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679180038731606690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA68-PLy1l2iqmIfcsdML3So3detKCavF1wbiW78MvhoJKcrbvIMLvS9RcXYmjg09UvGEoS7MzAatLSerIjl3vEWkYSn279u9xuQBGMT1ZWcdwbFpjBp90hpgd0EmVECZAEK5dHMrG2X4/s1600/cupcake4_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA68-PLy1l2iqmIfcsdML3So3detKCavF1wbiW78MvhoJKcrbvIMLvS9RcXYmjg09UvGEoS7MzAatLSerIjl3vEWkYSn279u9xuQBGMT1ZWcdwbFpjBp90hpgd0EmVECZAEK5dHMrG2X4/s400/cupcake4_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679180023333207442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYGb9AuZr9iGFD7fe3vD_fog3LCloBZFfpUF0zRhDcqjPR6ErKde1q5fl_8UsEoHMsVCKC1PnH_SHSZWIzB3oVdgic2koblGHIZPazAL6cb7mH7JjKxZgCxQ3_tfXPClVO8uvbzE6Vxw/s1600/cupcake3_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYGb9AuZr9iGFD7fe3vD_fog3LCloBZFfpUF0zRhDcqjPR6ErKde1q5fl_8UsEoHMsVCKC1PnH_SHSZWIzB3oVdgic2koblGHIZPazAL6cb7mH7JjKxZgCxQ3_tfXPClVO8uvbzE6Vxw/s400/cupcake3_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679180025516887442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuIdSk-M1JinH4MoLzhDJ10Mfo4B6EIaD86pmpjTr4Ms8liWhqIHkypl3Y1Un4mphI1ANYx5OhgvqKo2DTQse0ZFJXqt2E9WQ0bD8336LApWE-w1FWwT524R4fSjOl8wDwBRp_I90D2Q/s1600/cupcake2_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuIdSk-M1JinH4MoLzhDJ10Mfo4B6EIaD86pmpjTr4Ms8liWhqIHkypl3Y1Un4mphI1ANYx5OhgvqKo2DTQse0ZFJXqt2E9WQ0bD8336LApWE-w1FWwT524R4fSjOl8wDwBRp_I90D2Q/s400/cupcake2_6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679179363827187298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfjZ5ewYtS-oe7lDnm9hZYsyOAXHO-oOiouHDs5vzrZzSsinqQ-ifXHOWOFMERWLUK-hX-Yf2X7m0F2YXsFScJGieg-31NhnoNeaC3-ZEwL2hEWEzlYMvm6bIPH4TQQlxDYUjxtVnYo4/s1600/cupcake1_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfjZ5ewYtS-oe7lDnm9hZYsyOAXHO-oOiouHDs5vzrZzSsinqQ-ifXHOWOFMERWLUK-hX-Yf2X7m0F2YXsFScJGieg-31NhnoNeaC3-ZEwL2hEWEzlYMvm6bIPH4TQQlxDYUjxtVnYo4/s400/cupcake1_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679179346705111842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7JpyllI-rk_PxMynUe0CG06dJIGC2GQpllJFHnus0M5YkjRgoE9zo808XP1r3Zc7bcMV7pOi5DcguKGuRlOZNzJIIQuUTXVpOBfPva1XJ4XORWR1LEItYflYzQ-NmksKg6pN46F1sE0/s1600/cookie3_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7JpyllI-rk_PxMynUe0CG06dJIGC2GQpllJFHnus0M5YkjRgoE9zo808XP1r3Zc7bcMV7pOi5DcguKGuRlOZNzJIIQuUTXVpOBfPva1XJ4XORWR1LEItYflYzQ-NmksKg6pN46F1sE0/s400/cookie3_5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679179340231127890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp1kxgoNZmtKuuXX2nm2HJxBPpvN8MqC1p5clVRWeCTiA4bri0-BuA5nPp4OvXBjCr4ak9HcjNjQodtjRMIBT-BmXmxweAZPcH9RRsjk8rSp2UddC3ky1w8mv6kmxB9Zivgzo3mAGNNY/s1600/cookie2_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp1kxgoNZmtKuuXX2nm2HJxBPpvN8MqC1p5clVRWeCTiA4bri0-BuA5nPp4OvXBjCr4ak9HcjNjQodtjRMIBT-BmXmxweAZPcH9RRsjk8rSp2UddC3ky1w8mv6kmxB9Zivgzo3mAGNNY/s400/cookie2_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679179334527121362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDQYiP2bZ8JzkQVIp6bQhGUo4nnrwUTGvAYhdoXUo9IHlDfb9fNUn0kXlizuan3MPTQTSYy2w-aZdhyphenhyphenc7ZVVnOGHHho-GQYi-c-yfpD9LmvhWC2_CF5aIzU5pmpB2_O35S48amhVqSkk/s1600/cookie1_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDQYiP2bZ8JzkQVIp6bQhGUo4nnrwUTGvAYhdoXUo9IHlDfb9fNUn0kXlizuan3MPTQTSYy2w-aZdhyphenhyphenc7ZVVnOGHHho-GQYi-c-yfpD9LmvhWC2_CF5aIzU5pmpB2_O35S48amhVqSkk/s400/cookie1_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679179331821265746" /></a><br /><br />Have a wonderful and safe weekend, everyone! {And can you believe that it is nearly <span style="font-style:italic;">December</span> already?!}<br /><br />P.S. Look at this cherry pie my daughter made this week! It wasn't yet baked in this photo, but the finished product was delicious! I shy away from pies because the making the crust part scares me, but I found <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ruths-grandmas-pie-crust/detail.aspx">this simple, old-fashioned crust recipe</a> that received very high ratings on AllRecipes.com and it was perfect! It makes enough for two pies or one pie with a top crust. If an eleven year old can do it, I believe I can, too, don't you?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSMxN9xo_Rt24nP6I3xBkuLl54WrUkf2nc0rAgIdLZyCUWQoN3oR6mtuM4ng8EJkV8GA3zm0sqJfkuoAC2KGYTVwjzp1UGgpx5pOXFjUEWPqdKFudjUle8zq2zyR5xjC3qctxegkmy7g/s1600/louspie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSMxN9xo_Rt24nP6I3xBkuLl54WrUkf2nc0rAgIdLZyCUWQoN3oR6mtuM4ng8EJkV8GA3zm0sqJfkuoAC2KGYTVwjzp1UGgpx5pOXFjUEWPqdKFudjUle8zq2zyR5xjC3qctxegkmy7g/s400/louspie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679193252452411202" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-47899017199873910612011-11-04T09:42:00.007-05:002011-11-04T11:35:36.125-05:00My Visit with Layla Plus New Wall Color<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl4k5yDHUnmuVqSKKnDCfX8p3xovCWEspt1tml0U7qJuWj6q268qI4gpbiC3rFkPEWxaUzlEioFvF62dNY-SD0z57Fzl0MxUYOo8PB24Sh6eKRkxfBxiRBNoXkgd9-tw4oXlGRUk6bl0/s1600/Img_5549b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl4k5yDHUnmuVqSKKnDCfX8p3xovCWEspt1tml0U7qJuWj6q268qI4gpbiC3rFkPEWxaUzlEioFvF62dNY-SD0z57Fzl0MxUYOo8PB24Sh6eKRkxfBxiRBNoXkgd9-tw4oXlGRUk6bl0/s400/Img_5549b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671151877504066146" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">G</span>ood morning, everyone! I'm sitting here in the dining room looking out the window and while it looks so cold and dreary outside, I've got a toasty fire going, a candle lit, music on, and it just couldn't be more perfect <span style="font-style:italic;">inside</span>. {Well, maybe if my house were clean it could be just a little more perfect...} I'm also enjoying three - <span style="font-style:italic;">three</span> - bouquets of roses that Mr. You Know Who gave me throughout the week. How'd I get to be so blessed? The pink roses above were the first bouquet. They are like little summer stowaways, just tagging along with Fall, refusing to be replaced by mums and marigolds.<br /><br />As long as we're talking about being blessed, a few weeks ago I had the privilege of having <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/">Layla of The Lettered Cottage</a> as a guest here for a couple of days. What a delight she is! I've known Layla for a few years now and we've met in person a few times, but this was the first time she visited Twice Remembered. I was super duper nervous because we live in a fixer and our home is certainly not 'company ready' at this point, but you know, in the grand scheme of things, it's not <span style="font-style:italic;">things</span> but <span style="font-style:italic;">people</span> that matter...so I just got over myself and we both had a blast! The timing could not have been more perfect because hubs was out of town AND the kiddos were visiting a relative for the week....so it was just us girls here to goof off and have fun! {In my excitement, I completely forgot to take photos but Layla wanted a few pics of my signs so we snapped the one below...and she generously let me borrow it for this blog post. Thanks, Layla!}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCszYj9OWq234YU1wWIE5jYKzm9_8nQ1xQtKItPdb7GTmfL5mvCRlAI2mU61pLwWgdGVWoLk9ub_2V1Smm8dc_GFo23jdMLeN1IwE_XQ8pCywXdPcXn5BsNSS-9lMN4DkApmie8il3u6M/s1600/Layla_Palmerb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCszYj9OWq234YU1wWIE5jYKzm9_8nQ1xQtKItPdb7GTmfL5mvCRlAI2mU61pLwWgdGVWoLk9ub_2V1Smm8dc_GFo23jdMLeN1IwE_XQ8pCywXdPcXn5BsNSS-9lMN4DkApmie8il3u6M/s400/Layla_Palmerb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671153330180600770" /></a><br />One thing, among myriads of things, that I appreciate about Layla is that you get what you see with her. If you've read <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/">her blog</a>, you can feel just how sweet, compassionate, funny, and down to earth she comes across. And she is exactly the same in person... She didn't give our unfinished projects here a second thought - even though she had to sleep in my daughters' <span style="font-style:italic;">very</span> undecorated and unremodeled shell of a bedroom... and even though I don't have curtains or any kind of window covering in much of the house...and even though it took me forever to get ready whenever we went out because before she got here, I shoved a bunch of clothes into the closet in a massive pile and couldn't find anything...and even though I threw a whole lot of junk into the already junky studio - which she got to see, along with my even junkier garage and upstairs storage space. I think it's not just any person that you could feel comfortable showing your life as it really is - with all the ugly, messy parts included. Yes, I am certainly blessed to know someone like Layla and to have the opportunity to visit with her as I have. I just love her!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXKuru0SoaxX_8KkbmHKGbzOP4JwQ4T-JJrG-jJwQHHwQ5Y_Pa7uOyuNF8FvVue_9ImkxTK9jhu_InLskxVIHHFY5ZGqL82qu103uDh-QQu1f9201UpHj3F1AR6C3CJyJmXWWH84Hb1c/s1600/Img_5541b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXKuru0SoaxX_8KkbmHKGbzOP4JwQ4T-JJrG-jJwQHHwQ5Y_Pa7uOyuNF8FvVue_9ImkxTK9jhu_InLskxVIHHFY5ZGqL82qu103uDh-QQu1f9201UpHj3F1AR6C3CJyJmXWWH84Hb1c/s400/Img_5541b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671151870003720242" /></a><br />When Layla was here, it won't surprise you to know that there was lots of talk about projects and decorating. I had just finished putting a new coat of paint on the walls of the kitchen and living room. If you remember, I had planned on painting Twice Remembered ALL WHITE, with the exception of the red cabinets. Ultimately, though, the rest of the family wanted some color and I decided upon a cheery blue / robin's egg blueish color. Here is a sneak peek of the shade we went with and it is called "Blanket" {CI246 by Valspar found at Lowes}. Let me tell you, this color GLOWS! No kidding! In fact, I was kind of freaking out about it for a few days because it really changes with the light. In most parts of the house I loved it but certain spots at certain times of the day, it translated to more of a minty color. By the time Layla got here, I was thinking that I was just going to have to change it. Layla and I talked and talked about it, and I even tried another similar color sample, but it was much darker than what I had in mind. I wanted BRIGHT and HAPPY! I really did love the glow afterall and now that it has been up a while, I'm so glad I didn't paint over it right away. By the way, the nook you see is by our front door and was once a tiny coat closet. We ripped it out because I wanted a little spot like this for flowers and keys. I can never find my keys, though, so having a spot for flowers at least is lovely. :) <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLpQ664QzEg41Q_UxdZ8idOSzstYhZEN-XYsIycpfcj6kJky8CfUKYyGsqA4VtdlWi3lMCOw8eFzFsUgSBcst0rbPxx7uHj5zEagZR4nKGkqmnwceHFkRuITy9Jwkbh8VZwCbK-a-Ux8/s1600/Img_5541a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLpQ664QzEg41Q_UxdZ8idOSzstYhZEN-XYsIycpfcj6kJky8CfUKYyGsqA4VtdlWi3lMCOw8eFzFsUgSBcst0rbPxx7uHj5zEagZR4nKGkqmnwceHFkRuITy9Jwkbh8VZwCbK-a-Ux8/s400/Img_5541a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671151883488191570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4JR1Qm1egXwLeeZYBAHdNIFOG-6Mfda6hKtkM0aYs54AmZLY287qsdCKMzffzXvV1dd8aKzjvPM7EW4n0xyquGBrQEGxT5Whqn46ngtOsMRXENMPg7IXJrCkMAPGjDUKx4O9v54UdkA/s1600/Img_5548a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4JR1Qm1egXwLeeZYBAHdNIFOG-6Mfda6hKtkM0aYs54AmZLY287qsdCKMzffzXvV1dd8aKzjvPM7EW4n0xyquGBrQEGxT5Whqn46ngtOsMRXENMPg7IXJrCkMAPGjDUKx4O9v54UdkA/s400/Img_5548a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671151862439618434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIykWzQDcPwORrOczJG21g3UXw_is8soz5xcjrFEqTZH__N_aqh4Y6YwTCYWGBL1f0R1mvdlqVlAzwTPd_WOl7g6Zvcso8I7ksEgv-KDWt0_YFoicapnJSTO7GnSGkjrwGeRT6BlNbjo/s1600/Img_5534a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIykWzQDcPwORrOczJG21g3UXw_is8soz5xcjrFEqTZH__N_aqh4Y6YwTCYWGBL1f0R1mvdlqVlAzwTPd_WOl7g6Zvcso8I7ksEgv-KDWt0_YFoicapnJSTO7GnSGkjrwGeRT6BlNbjo/s400/Img_5534a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671151862721558514" /></a><br />We're still working on painting - the story of our lives - but I can't wait to show you what the blue looks like in the kitchen! Based on what you see in the photos above, what do you think? Not that it is an option anymore with my families campaign against all white walls, but if you had to choose between this color {happy, cheery, and bright} or white {soft, relaxing, subdued}, what would you have chosen?<br /><br />{I love the random little chalk drawing 'Love' person in the last photo. Not sure which of my kiddos drew it, but it sure makes me smile!}<br /><br />Enjoy your day...and I hope you find some time to waste today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-84212091567089754122011-10-19T09:22:00.009-05:002011-10-19T20:48:09.258-05:00Faux Cupcakes and a Word on 'Being Creative'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XcdECCIgPPywVlmda7yuLlKnbzifwMaJN3e89pqcrNy6feIhElj2MOawPDfjCkEXXdfHkizgJY2lZ1i8ZoKps23gIw9387GyBMtwPuUA-7VdsqnMVayzkgRWcuqLEpDhIn4swMistwo/s1600/mushroom1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XcdECCIgPPywVlmda7yuLlKnbzifwMaJN3e89pqcrNy6feIhElj2MOawPDfjCkEXXdfHkizgJY2lZ1i8ZoKps23gIw9387GyBMtwPuUA-7VdsqnMVayzkgRWcuqLEpDhIn4swMistwo/s400/mushroom1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208993530170354" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>ello, friends! I hope you have been well and are enjoying this <span style="font-style:italic;">delicious</span> fall weather! I'm itching to get a nice, warm fire going in the fireplace and settle in for the season. This is most definitely my favorite time of year!<br /><br />I have been busy making little things for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shecouldfly?ref=em">the shop</a> and have turned out a sweet batch of faux cupcakes. I will be photographing and listing them when they are fully cured, but I thought I'd share with you one of my favorites.<br /><br />Why is it that I am so fascinated with little mushrooms? ...And little polka dotted mushrooms at that?! Let's not forget tiny pennant flags and unexpected teensy tiny things, like a miniature cupcake, under aforementioned polka dotted mushrooms... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8YuzC8hRLUjqBscFldYqzA5YOslo7VJsdslDo28W0LMcmJNwDxhqpHfRQr31dhMHjE5jTeQg2D0mGeoZSuh_t638vjkYKERHAKzMrbh_QrbhLANeVwKdfU_PMtKdYKJArxSIvYoau4I/s1600/mushroom2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8YuzC8hRLUjqBscFldYqzA5YOslo7VJsdslDo28W0LMcmJNwDxhqpHfRQr31dhMHjE5jTeQg2D0mGeoZSuh_t638vjkYKERHAKzMrbh_QrbhLANeVwKdfU_PMtKdYKJArxSIvYoau4I/s400/mushroom2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208820866446050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSmvtLdIsINz28a_pm-KzS_io75KPyLIs3o5CAM6CsZKa1fe44jnIwLU6C8KfUt4Nm26UiB4ZdOeGTAbmvVCVmzJWgRRK2bnfXB_JsVsaNBhHWRGESWlZpqXoybaRXS_XQ0EAVwpHA2w/s1600/mushroom3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSmvtLdIsINz28a_pm-KzS_io75KPyLIs3o5CAM6CsZKa1fe44jnIwLU6C8KfUt4Nm26UiB4ZdOeGTAbmvVCVmzJWgRRK2bnfXB_JsVsaNBhHWRGESWlZpqXoybaRXS_XQ0EAVwpHA2w/s400/mushroom3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208821558668322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd2-vSS-8lKdZlkiipAn0d04ApVKFACS9_a6pftcCqvZAcx_uKHyALg0ut5v1Jce_fv6ibuTFpJtYJyCg_B3yaoLn_yRZ-sPopGb1Jy89IBcbPegm2lVdUxHZ5oJK1EtZCVBUe485reE/s1600/mushroom4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd2-vSS-8lKdZlkiipAn0d04ApVKFACS9_a6pftcCqvZAcx_uKHyALg0ut5v1Jce_fv6ibuTFpJtYJyCg_B3yaoLn_yRZ-sPopGb1Jy89IBcbPegm2lVdUxHZ5oJK1EtZCVBUe485reE/s400/mushroom4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208817521989778" /></a><br />*le sigh* Oh little baby cupcake. How I love you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy2FSIwwQN7wmKeWa9MNvqkyVzvuAdgDqkirD5LZP22NafcMUfh79gw1mT6Oyieuh4nmaXFQmKn3O7p15t3DbpYzxNX2f5yDS0RTPp8yO5SkqdtL1r8EeWqS7taDx6g7whMxzD9r3OUQ/s1600/mushroom5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy2FSIwwQN7wmKeWa9MNvqkyVzvuAdgDqkirD5LZP22NafcMUfh79gw1mT6Oyieuh4nmaXFQmKn3O7p15t3DbpYzxNX2f5yDS0RTPp8yO5SkqdtL1r8EeWqS7taDx6g7whMxzD9r3OUQ/s400/mushroom5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208808934517554" /></a><br />This cupcake is sprinkled with German glass glitter for a little sparkle...and I do believe I am addicted to German glass glitter as much as I am cupcakes and mushrooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0my3F47RuUpBQ9Tt6rilRFGjeCZv3grnplU8lTf3cfe2FLuSjsZlXwxoNbwdfda0oPZWOHJOsI9Lxvq14_Gw5WtoFHPfpgJfXSMuUXhuC5AahbVD6vN7hf-tMdscpVcg0ynnhgMEh6cI/s1600/mushroom6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0my3F47RuUpBQ9Tt6rilRFGjeCZv3grnplU8lTf3cfe2FLuSjsZlXwxoNbwdfda0oPZWOHJOsI9Lxvq14_Gw5WtoFHPfpgJfXSMuUXhuC5AahbVD6vN7hf-tMdscpVcg0ynnhgMEh6cI/s400/mushroom6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665208809993731570" /></a><br />{The mini bakery is slowly coming along. You can see in the background the wallpaper choices I'm considering. Chocolate stripes and tiny French print! The little table that the cupcake sits upon will be painted robin's egg blue.}<br /><br />Of course, I'm still working on signs as well...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rwk67FPqg-g84H-waGy7myvWGe0iKK3pI9dSRJW9IMbsnexNIgbZkxOZl7sYPdn66sCg5TV-tK_JNyAPCKtPDUavIuAU9yzAEuPmablkg4VOXMqG7QotJwfgeK8EI9KtHQfx0yhsAf0/s1600/Img_5470a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rwk67FPqg-g84H-waGy7myvWGe0iKK3pI9dSRJW9IMbsnexNIgbZkxOZl7sYPdn66sCg5TV-tK_JNyAPCKtPDUavIuAU9yzAEuPmablkg4VOXMqG7QotJwfgeK8EI9KtHQfx0yhsAf0/s400/Img_5470a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665226234327110834" /></a><br />I can't tell you how <span style="font-style:italic;">happy</span> it makes me to get up each day and decide <span style="font-style:italic;">what to make</span>. For me, {and maybe for you, too} there was a long period of time that I felt like so many other things needed to be accomplished first <span style="font-style:italic;">before</span> using my time to create. "When the house is finished", "When the closets are organized", "When the landscaping beds aren't full of weeds"... But the truth is, for me, {and maybe for you, too} I need the energy that only comes from creating to be motivated to work on the more mundane parts of life. Admittedly, there were also a lot of doubts about my abilities and fears of not doing things as well as others. I still have those doubts and fears, but I'm realizing that being <span style="font-style:italic;">truly creative</span> means striving to let go of them, just 'going with it', and being open to imaginative adventure. Whether our interests lie in home projects, crafts, music, writing, painting, culinary arts, sewing, gardening {and so on}, making time to c r e a t e is so important to our health and mental / emotional well-being, and sadly, busy lives can easily snuff out the precious time needed to dedicate to personal creative interests. But if you have a long list of goals and projects right now, whatever they may be, you'll be amazed at how much more enjoyable they will be if "Make Something Daily / Weekly OR Do Something New Daily / Weekly" is near the top of the list. If you don't think you have a creative or adventurous bone in your body, do it anyway because the very fact that <span style="font-style:italic;">you're thinking about the possibility</span> shows that you have it in you. If you don't think you're that 'good', do it anyway because you have to start somewhere and really, who cares! I recently read that 'comparison is the thief of joy' and I truly believe that. So avoid the temptation to compare... If all the artists and musicians and designers, etc., worked to be just like the others, we'd have a world full of the same old stuff, and where's the fun in that? <br /><br />Before I sign off for now, I found a few interesting creativity quotes to inspire you as they have inspired me. Enjoy - and Happy Creating!<br /><h1>True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery <br /><br />I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life. -Miles Davis<br /><br />You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. -Maya Angelou<br />While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness. -Gilda Radner<br /><br />The first and most important thing an individual can do is to become an individual again, decontrol himself, train himself as to what is going on and win back as much independent ground for himself as possible. -William S. Burroughs<br /><br />There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. - Sophia Loren<br /><br />A creative mess is better than idle tidiness. -Michael J. Fox<br /><br />The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born. That is why many of the earthly miracles have had their genesis in humble surroundings. -Tesla<br /><br />The creative adult is the child who has survived. -Ursula K. Le Guin<br /><br />When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the heck, leap. -Cynthia Heimel<br /><br />Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please. -Hugh MacLeod<br /><br />So you see, imagination needs moodling -long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering. -Brenda Ueland<br /><br />If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. -Vincent van Gogh<br /><br />Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. -Albert Einstein<br /><br />We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own and other’s people’s models, learn to be ourselves and allow our natural channel to open. -Shakti Gawain<br /><br />Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. -George Lois<br /><br /></h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-72684573132359494532011-10-08T11:17:00.004-05:002011-10-08T11:51:59.144-05:00Questions about The Twice Remembered Cottage?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTdAS_XJL8jNYjIwfkUDAk_w9NKiMNifJ09bgZtw7XSpPJMfVp2xHxaM0glRKDR7w9lpwOt_JJp8XhjDczfobtjZcs6HJD-lEyw8ZPwyA2j-zIs5InRHybGMaHQe3WVgUU0leEr7II80/s1600/paintcabinets24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTdAS_XJL8jNYjIwfkUDAk_w9NKiMNifJ09bgZtw7XSpPJMfVp2xHxaM0glRKDR7w9lpwOt_JJp8XhjDczfobtjZcs6HJD-lEyw8ZPwyA2j-zIs5InRHybGMaHQe3WVgUU0leEr7II80/s400/paintcabinets24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661158661983741810" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">G</span>ood morning, everyone! I hope everyone is getting their weekend off to a great start! The weather here is absolutely gorgeous!<br /><br />I know many of you have had lots of questions regarding The Twice Remembered Cottage paint colors, projects, and the like, so I thought it might be a good idea to resurrect the <a href="http://www.twiceremembered-faq.blogspot.com/">FAQ page</a> that I created quite a while back that may answer some of them. I would like to work on adding even more information to the page but I guess I first need to know what you would like to know! So, send in your questions and I'll answer them for you! Keep in mind that I may post your question on my FAQ page but I'll only use your first initial. So if you have project questions or really, anything that you're curious about, let me know!<br /><br />{For your convenience, you'll also find a permanent link to the FAQ page right over there in the right hand menu column ------>.} <br /><br />Have a beautiful day, friends, and we'll talk again soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-86210081536525729822011-09-16T23:33:00.010-05:002011-09-17T01:18:50.732-05:00Cupcakes, the Sea, and Emily Post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicueTigr1sU01vOIvCSJlfxUPVk2SXXPiJRqOPnxNL3LT-0FH4Nmgf3ORTm6iJNQ3Ou0W-Y9euorpyPfP_K2v2dlOzOb812LyADCVXihMpl0e56hShDrKwTJ_jGTKQR_Nmf2xIpUj6HwI/s1600/Img_5005b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicueTigr1sU01vOIvCSJlfxUPVk2SXXPiJRqOPnxNL3LT-0FH4Nmgf3ORTm6iJNQ3Ou0W-Y9euorpyPfP_K2v2dlOzOb812LyADCVXihMpl0e56hShDrKwTJ_jGTKQR_Nmf2xIpUj6HwI/s400/Img_5005b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182939832709218" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">A</span> few happy things to share with you today...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAVEkwylBB-W8qnPtYzyU-ITTYp8flmJn9StVmNHDNkD48caB0EvJZ4kz0hGaGQuT5V2f1rbU7OMJXWv98xoTOyF8gsGRxMBULvj5ZMaGOAo6E5T0UXDwXXDr_lYyz-cIqBhn-qrY-SA/s1600/Img_4998a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAVEkwylBB-W8qnPtYzyU-ITTYp8flmJn9StVmNHDNkD48caB0EvJZ4kz0hGaGQuT5V2f1rbU7OMJXWv98xoTOyF8gsGRxMBULvj5ZMaGOAo6E5T0UXDwXXDr_lYyz-cIqBhn-qrY-SA/s400/Img_4998a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182945713323906" /></a><br />Like this little sign I made because I'm obsessed with cupcakes and the sea - and so now I secretly pretend that my kitchen is a seaside cupcakery. {Did I just say that out loud?}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2o6BvAWsCnNTJgrP2txZo9brBumSEhL8OuJBejDEumRnob5n0m0dM5sRt5whvuA7Tk8wWz9b14LHvabgQ0sZ2ab_Mb3allSdFIa6aTIsSQSccSL_nX9z5BiBjUqWMvOQu9M4e9l2yeA/s1600/Img_5005a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2o6BvAWsCnNTJgrP2txZo9brBumSEhL8OuJBejDEumRnob5n0m0dM5sRt5whvuA7Tk8wWz9b14LHvabgQ0sZ2ab_Mb3allSdFIa6aTIsSQSccSL_nX9z5BiBjUqWMvOQu9M4e9l2yeA/s400/Img_5005a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182941183093810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUggNwWRZXvxDzfWCWwwaBptjPPJlHLsWakCAZSSPvE7WpSV2rXkPA3CyeQh_fYLdbEa7peoZJ4wiO7RSEFlvZ6gKg_4wV1KxGr-oQvnJdtwIp8nQQUywGosJpsPE73Nz-VzErVqEG6Q/s1600/Img_5007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUggNwWRZXvxDzfWCWwwaBptjPPJlHLsWakCAZSSPvE7WpSV2rXkPA3CyeQh_fYLdbEa7peoZJ4wiO7RSEFlvZ6gKg_4wV1KxGr-oQvnJdtwIp8nQQUywGosJpsPE73Nz-VzErVqEG6Q/s400/Img_5007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653189812843557810" /></a><br />...a trio of {faux} cupcakes. Of course, I <span style="font-style:italic;">had </span>to make a polka dotted one. {My shop - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/shecouldfly?ref=pr_shop">She Could Fly</a> - opens next week! Though the next few days I'm focusing on getting signs listed, you'll start seeing faux treats trickling in here and there. I *almost* decided to just not bother with them anymore...but they are just too fun to make!}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOpOKwu0JCUwZ9kDb31pjWXghysrpvsFCJ9s3MwVOGPRkMELFZA2QkxGqxwwpfJNdt5mPb6m9pHMF6NRg-nQB8Cf7rZBGVCKu7uwRKNnAU-V6l5p7ds2_914UqV_TAgxsmWNKF6GSU1A/s1600/5001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOpOKwu0JCUwZ9kDb31pjWXghysrpvsFCJ9s3MwVOGPRkMELFZA2QkxGqxwwpfJNdt5mPb6m9pHMF6NRg-nQB8Cf7rZBGVCKu7uwRKNnAU-V6l5p7ds2_914UqV_TAgxsmWNKF6GSU1A/s400/5001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653189806454207394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTFh9zFAU3xu_m-mqj6Dsx49Qb0RQrkcimUUsr1D2piRBgB5hAmjJidI3pYOzsLaA_sFINEa-zas1YjL7Iscdo1sMTsT09BFB1brNJvIL18ZcJ5s0BWsshQ5KiYUU0b3uGmCPEztifO0/s1600/Img_5013a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTFh9zFAU3xu_m-mqj6Dsx49Qb0RQrkcimUUsr1D2piRBgB5hAmjJidI3pYOzsLaA_sFINEa-zas1YjL7Iscdo1sMTsT09BFB1brNJvIL18ZcJ5s0BWsshQ5KiYUU0b3uGmCPEztifO0/s400/Img_5013a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182428745345874" /></a>Oh, here's a little something I've been meaning to do for <span style="font-style:italic;">quite</span> a while - lining the kitchen drawers with old book pages! Of all the things to hold me up, it was mainly the fact that I couldn't find <span style="font-style:italic;">just</span> the right book. I finally found a vintage Emily Post Etiquette book that suited this little project perfectly! I used the chapters of the book that related to food and entertaining...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgN8oKoY2PUNFhPp23UQ2bJGeXnyuR0zOxt1mqSqSz0hND2_Sz6AFCik0CYTGuAg_syKRg6B4f_h50ajjif4NduIIDeioFaibP9yJHAfdkTKybBHvRVCRkQNzkLBx_DCjE48y7FWMZMo/s1600/Img_5025a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgN8oKoY2PUNFhPp23UQ2bJGeXnyuR0zOxt1mqSqSz0hND2_Sz6AFCik0CYTGuAg_syKRg6B4f_h50ajjif4NduIIDeioFaibP9yJHAfdkTKybBHvRVCRkQNzkLBx_DCjE48y7FWMZMo/s400/Img_5025a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182425567458370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZlyeO7_KE_2iQ3ZWbB0JIpjlX3HXH_GrJ3edFAIWWRElAQJk-0IGzeV__m7JaUc77HMP3fUaN4Cw-VE3Y1y-yzZp-TyqxXAI2LIl3LKB99G57esiYTuC1uuMjqe-3uQVnTxEoa12Yno/s1600/Img_5026a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZlyeO7_KE_2iQ3ZWbB0JIpjlX3HXH_GrJ3edFAIWWRElAQJk-0IGzeV__m7JaUc77HMP3fUaN4Cw-VE3Y1y-yzZp-TyqxXAI2LIl3LKB99G57esiYTuC1uuMjqe-3uQVnTxEoa12Yno/s400/Img_5026a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182424241594658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIwyzDImEE81kRMZavmxlYYIxzI_Aw6X9qtl5XRKkA0MxlhqDMYafVv7s5Hri012IrFMFQAPHgsesHjobVQixuJOveE7qhGjLc5PuOqh3yn7fsrZv08nLnnnM8A8rMmMkpQO3tsDsqgg/s1600/Img_5031a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIwyzDImEE81kRMZavmxlYYIxzI_Aw6X9qtl5XRKkA0MxlhqDMYafVv7s5Hri012IrFMFQAPHgsesHjobVQixuJOveE7qhGjLc5PuOqh3yn7fsrZv08nLnnnM8A8rMmMkpQO3tsDsqgg/s400/Img_5031a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182134495462498" /></a><br />I love all the illustrations that explain how to fold napkins, how to create proper place settings, and the best way to set up buffet tables...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvSdDgU8Q7Qu8wfQFc0KEo_UGDYWFJO9qBNoUC5zD5RRMaYJiVRfjnglPWzseZYYShEFQvsZk805XAAdPZG75nv0OUR3xczCOZLpQ4zUcHv4r1G_yLKlANmgazd-WzHOvqeHCxVJ6jfA/s1600/Img_5032a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvSdDgU8Q7Qu8wfQFc0KEo_UGDYWFJO9qBNoUC5zD5RRMaYJiVRfjnglPWzseZYYShEFQvsZk805XAAdPZG75nv0OUR3xczCOZLpQ4zUcHv4r1G_yLKlANmgazd-WzHOvqeHCxVJ6jfA/s400/Img_5032a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182137167279410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf6XoZbtFOWvl0ML2SNo0L_kdbRfAeBxz5u8xkJ6wZ7kQgLZDElqZFOWMNArgEXCEQX3CIKiFb-_avTRmDS4Q4PuGucbN_zwuGQIpc5sI7NdTLHQdrQh4oO1rU8a9bljNy7whJ-LUXc4/s1600/Img_5033a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf6XoZbtFOWvl0ML2SNo0L_kdbRfAeBxz5u8xkJ6wZ7kQgLZDElqZFOWMNArgEXCEQX3CIKiFb-_avTRmDS4Q4PuGucbN_zwuGQIpc5sI7NdTLHQdrQh4oO1rU8a9bljNy7whJ-LUXc4/s400/Img_5033a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182134014583394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUVT6mmBaq5S885Gl5ayis83sWK6o3MyyUy9BClOkqae9pf5xHsMv-wb3ZTFSZlf88TtB6RKX37cHc4fntvEjJhV6miAkcC4c6E-rRL_XP7Co3vxAm6AKuLDok3iswoCitT57znmAlWQ/s1600/Img_5034a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUVT6mmBaq5S885Gl5ayis83sWK6o3MyyUy9BClOkqae9pf5xHsMv-wb3ZTFSZlf88TtB6RKX37cHc4fntvEjJhV6miAkcC4c6E-rRL_XP7Co3vxAm6AKuLDok3iswoCitT57znmAlWQ/s400/Img_5034a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182130277075698" /></a><br />For this project, you simply carefully tear the pages out of the book, apply white glue to the back of each page with a sponge brush or foam roller, and press into place, taking care to press out any bubbles. Let it dry overnight and then seal it with two or three coats of clear non-yellowing latex sealer. {I still have to do that step but it's very important to protect those old pages.}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuksuJ9kRrtPym83Txg-YePRckRej6MHzqyvkFgZG8xEtaFp4_Ch9XGiQL9gRbgC6k8GWL_jnRr2GwiEARUCAv31NMrBmuBcuFYU7DHFCxc4bj3qapylwFFD2ySKJ2wCS3CPwurjeKXng/s1600/Img_5029a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuksuJ9kRrtPym83Txg-YePRckRej6MHzqyvkFgZG8xEtaFp4_Ch9XGiQL9gRbgC6k8GWL_jnRr2GwiEARUCAv31NMrBmuBcuFYU7DHFCxc4bj3qapylwFFD2ySKJ2wCS3CPwurjeKXng/s400/Img_5029a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182415154740658" /></a><br />I think it just adds 'a little something nice' to a usually ignored part of the kitchen. Who knew opening kitchen drawers could be so sweet? Now I kind of wish I didn't have to put anything back in them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZargSXSYxVqABXTAI7zz4VdxwGzb7xyrpsNkpaJidfuHTlF2a2S8bmgGpmVDqlVgD_pD-9bbwsxxxdsGuomYJcWGZ0E6CYJSJ_yAHTNZGXmFnj5VCDZu9MCp2D0T7NCFD9u3FHvU_SX4/s1600/Img_5037a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZargSXSYxVqABXTAI7zz4VdxwGzb7xyrpsNkpaJidfuHTlF2a2S8bmgGpmVDqlVgD_pD-9bbwsxxxdsGuomYJcWGZ0E6CYJSJ_yAHTNZGXmFnj5VCDZu9MCp2D0T7NCFD9u3FHvU_SX4/s400/Img_5037a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653182126215373890" /></a><br />Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-19114179070457500372011-09-13T20:14:00.012-05:002011-09-14T00:08:47.049-05:00Cottage Delights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVenKXoh7m2Mcn_XB9-EvwVUZ-N5wrEMR9ye-dLxF3TmgaXkLoQ5cvvOjxsvt8p8z6BZDGf5VNVp-4iMn7BHAaPwpOyWFrEqefnH5ia0Gz8x7nLNoymkneTwe59x0vSy9f3FG5AUrtkzg/s1600/4931a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVenKXoh7m2Mcn_XB9-EvwVUZ-N5wrEMR9ye-dLxF3TmgaXkLoQ5cvvOjxsvt8p8z6BZDGf5VNVp-4iMn7BHAaPwpOyWFrEqefnH5ia0Gz8x7nLNoymkneTwe59x0vSy9f3FG5AUrtkzg/s400/4931a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652031817369130882" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">F</span><span style="font-style:italic;">riends... they cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams. ― Henry David Thoreau</span><br /><br />Isn't that so true? So many of you over the years have cherished my hopes regarding this little fixer upper - and have definitely been very kind to all my cottage dreams, big and small...encouraging me every step of the way, providing helpful advice and ideas, and coming back here to 'visit' and catch up as we make progress on the place. I will always be so thankful to all of my bloggy friends - you inspire me to keep on keeping on no matter how little the time or tiny the budget. Thank you! <br /><br />While we're on the subject of friends, one of my dearest - Deborah of the charming <a href="http://fairfieldhousenj.com/">Fairfield House</a> - recently surprised me in the loveliest of ways. She sent me the most cheerful and amazing gift package I have ever seen! Now, if you know Deborah, you know that she weaves words like magic... her writing and blog posts are always such a joy to read. While I can sit in front of my blank Blogger screen as my eyes glaze over and my brain goes numb trying to think of something remotely interesting to say, Deborah's beautiful, thought-provoking posts just seem to flow from her fingertips {though I know she puts a lot of thought into everything she writes}. Well, after receiving this package {and others from her in the past}, I have had the joy of discovering that she puts a lot of thought and beauty into her gifts as well. I certainly hope she doesn't mind that I share some photos with you... Her packaging details and the gifts themselves were just too pretty to keep to myself. So in the interest of spreading creativity, cheer, and happiness, let me show you the cottage delights that Deborah sent to The Twice Remembered Cottage!<br /><br />My heart skipped a beat when I opened the box and saw the red with white polka dots. Do you realize just how much I love red and white polka dots? I mean really - it's almost an addiction. I just can't help it... Polka dots are my favorite color! But I digress. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSgcldb8vZZd4QpLLS1cGWLjCP2XJu-WWoMREv5Ca8Gk5s4x8wr-LFWJuyc1TzF8sg_2Udelt-KvYc2xPaQHs5VVethGytT9PsGcDoakGyUSs93-sXycw3KRjgYZjkWtx7CcGXoolG20/s1600/4919a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSgcldb8vZZd4QpLLS1cGWLjCP2XJu-WWoMREv5Ca8Gk5s4x8wr-LFWJuyc1TzF8sg_2Udelt-KvYc2xPaQHs5VVethGytT9PsGcDoakGyUSs93-sXycw3KRjgYZjkWtx7CcGXoolG20/s400/4919a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019548401081890" /></a><br />Ah, what a dreamy card...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63Xvc4Jtugimu2-b-Hk_NBcbbBgpr7VK_Mgf7gTUKV1sVnzT4TkpbpTxqVAJaBX9MX0r7DXKc2ZuNpYj0PJ6ozgMPTsKp6BBCD-JbsVYhX2spLqm6aZLRtDPjYpOcAveRHksqejabd5I/s1600/4921a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63Xvc4Jtugimu2-b-Hk_NBcbbBgpr7VK_Mgf7gTUKV1sVnzT4TkpbpTxqVAJaBX9MX0r7DXKc2ZuNpYj0PJ6ozgMPTsKp6BBCD-JbsVYhX2spLqm6aZLRtDPjYpOcAveRHksqejabd5I/s400/4921a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019542632455810" /></a><br />Kraft paper packaging tied up with twine...This is my favorite way to wrap {and receive} gifts! There's just something so old-fashioned and timeless about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5zTGq5wg73PT4h38qqJhkESa9KvQ82maWx4zmLF5yQlmvEYxcx5X0apj-HGdH6ez9cgYbsJJYeS6uNpp7d0R4PXXeSXr1MJHrGxJCHOgtl7uBlFxIOFuzghiJY8341PEBpHU0o_RaeY/s1600/4923a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5zTGq5wg73PT4h38qqJhkESa9KvQ82maWx4zmLF5yQlmvEYxcx5X0apj-HGdH6ez9cgYbsJJYeS6uNpp7d0R4PXXeSXr1MJHrGxJCHOgtl7uBlFxIOFuzghiJY8341PEBpHU0o_RaeY/s400/4923a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019328317657170" /></a><br />Sweet little details like hand stamped tags, a page from an old book, a feather, and a seashell just make my heart smile...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAvpd1fmY08gmugMeovSrgOSJ73S0zmbJcmppMDkDNUq3ShvqFAVO9Y5si8Z3HizbOq_lVZ0aIyaJRdErvN-vtsITCwfdjKt_baYj3kmUaxLtjOXjSbCFfr5RtUHXAMgpXKlORrjh5qY/s1600/4924a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAvpd1fmY08gmugMeovSrgOSJ73S0zmbJcmppMDkDNUq3ShvqFAVO9Y5si8Z3HizbOq_lVZ0aIyaJRdErvN-vtsITCwfdjKt_baYj3kmUaxLtjOXjSbCFfr5RtUHXAMgpXKlORrjh5qY/s400/4924a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019330306846386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmexJd-gxILEPke-cqAOe1FiGgCUILrDbz3EZM-key8XV5vJNUUstbyb0L7VpnLSPVwaRaIWTxCP5Cf5R4WXOvvp9VClqTAewLAEE6eOpDA2lsRzfwHGnXfY0bcEj5pBlxFobu73YmVk/s1600/4925a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmexJd-gxILEPke-cqAOe1FiGgCUILrDbz3EZM-key8XV5vJNUUstbyb0L7VpnLSPVwaRaIWTxCP5Cf5R4WXOvvp9VClqTAewLAEE6eOpDA2lsRzfwHGnXfY0bcEj5pBlxFobu73YmVk/s400/4925a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019327160062194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_yy9H5Pau0Olu2hyphenhyphenoKY0PPqzOoOjNpwaUE2rIpcEibfpr4EdgdFfLRAajkhNz87xB9_5hx98o_SGMI8Mp05G_zatACrghznZYB1t2v9ghWzsBPOc1m7PAq_v5h1QVr-XvUPC5ZSGKSM/s1600/4926a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_yy9H5Pau0Olu2hyphenhyphenoKY0PPqzOoOjNpwaUE2rIpcEibfpr4EdgdFfLRAajkhNz87xB9_5hx98o_SGMI8Mp05G_zatACrghznZYB1t2v9ghWzsBPOc1m7PAq_v5h1QVr-XvUPC5ZSGKSM/s400/4926a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019322215945698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJWHuv0H02CxKGGFN7oQEU37QhmkshxPlAFcNM27w3q8GSSFqajd6czQNxhyphenhyphenpR7nIVCCyOeo92rn9724U0M7euQuDAc_371UOuHfzcztw8RlyLkX_hyLUtg98Fo9xqQUKXEqSzYePSs/s1600/4927a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJWHuv0H02CxKGGFN7oQEU37QhmkshxPlAFcNM27w3q8GSSFqajd6czQNxhyphenhyphenpR7nIVCCyOeo92rn9724U0M7euQuDAc_371UOuHfzcztw8RlyLkX_hyLUtg98Fo9xqQUKXEqSzYePSs/s400/4927a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652019321904670642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUTbHyZ278m7uhsuHQvT0cEyOjRl1CEOba8_Lhq1UixJEb8tKHJkgaL8H4nLtv-CTiRGaZVs-b01Iz04yYWU1aGhJ_gfrAR6PDh39CyGiOWWc-epic1rcyf1DXO7qmwlOK2NMh9P9TTo/s1600/4928a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUTbHyZ278m7uhsuHQvT0cEyOjRl1CEOba8_Lhq1UixJEb8tKHJkgaL8H4nLtv-CTiRGaZVs-b01Iz04yYWU1aGhJ_gfrAR6PDh39CyGiOWWc-epic1rcyf1DXO7qmwlOK2NMh9P9TTo/s400/4928a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018691611051794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxsDT_vyhVIXchj-_7tJzlt3w7HhQ2-qCY2mcLdez5ehxnIRvoOtCAhC_GInzChzv_FqVKwYXEjF2DWQyYBXVXnh5A_XHHcWq4LInARD778QgXL5Wv_5KwLnQAPTly5UJQyZcSlFJdyc/s1600/4930a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxsDT_vyhVIXchj-_7tJzlt3w7HhQ2-qCY2mcLdez5ehxnIRvoOtCAhC_GInzChzv_FqVKwYXEjF2DWQyYBXVXnh5A_XHHcWq4LInARD778QgXL5Wv_5KwLnQAPTly5UJQyZcSlFJdyc/s400/4930a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018682738685090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPlreCPio-m5ehKzDw86EaZYy_p3qyT4_15jd7Lvv9c6KjXzNxZntiMNmkP5xOcOBhLXI1AlxaQAvBIGTWWvDF6fKACHUvLHU3NYVaO1DpXkfNNj_PPIuYTs4DWN4XicwVG6EL-Kh8bc/s1600/4931a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPlreCPio-m5ehKzDw86EaZYy_p3qyT4_15jd7Lvv9c6KjXzNxZntiMNmkP5xOcOBhLXI1AlxaQAvBIGTWWvDF6fKACHUvLHU3NYVaO1DpXkfNNj_PPIuYTs4DWN4XicwVG6EL-Kh8bc/s400/4931a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018675396648098" /></a><br />Even though these packages were too pretty to open...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVpCX27A8fWQ2MOtrxyLmEPgktzoZXncdHp0eR-YNH-lQbWwTkX1Q8xL8030DZCTjRFB89HrHTNqp_RUJyn8vOhLTGklDPX7D0A0tBGd62lTIb7j89EeM7G7asAKR8IwkSw6WZS0GYoY/s1600/4932a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVpCX27A8fWQ2MOtrxyLmEPgktzoZXncdHp0eR-YNH-lQbWwTkX1Q8xL8030DZCTjRFB89HrHTNqp_RUJyn8vOhLTGklDPX7D0A0tBGd62lTIb7j89EeM7G7asAKR8IwkSw6WZS0GYoY/s400/4932a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018673778291618" /></a><br />...I <span style="font-style:italic;">eventually</span> did. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2qzdIMcts-83exC5NJEE0rrdfHfYOaDl58BrgiSqcNzZ0OKajjv_AT13d4yTVp2eC1AFLO9KsPWCjYfaXLFk1H5yNBmIisnJKXbzvvjkPpPV-HO3LbiZaC64EP_qav9gyyFpinn5mMo/s1600/4929a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2qzdIMcts-83exC5NJEE0rrdfHfYOaDl58BrgiSqcNzZ0OKajjv_AT13d4yTVp2eC1AFLO9KsPWCjYfaXLFk1H5yNBmIisnJKXbzvvjkPpPV-HO3LbiZaC64EP_qav9gyyFpinn5mMo/s400/4929a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018683996271618" /></a><br />And what precious cottage goodies were inside! There was a lavender sachet {the whole box smelled of heavenly lavender!}, ribbons - including polka dotted ones, a sweet felt brooch, an embroidered tea towel, and a beautiful white doily... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dO9ZUcIaA59vbv37Le6NVMmQKEg2oYkMLO3oIbpFYTRwRYfBnG6AIVtK5SzTvsLz9mJvmT3xanbvP-eh1MP-0t38B1aa2tMPaC6D6lnfwKB7CWuh854L99HoNvBh4WVp9EzTgLKSH00/s1600/4933a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dO9ZUcIaA59vbv37Le6NVMmQKEg2oYkMLO3oIbpFYTRwRYfBnG6AIVtK5SzTvsLz9mJvmT3xanbvP-eh1MP-0t38B1aa2tMPaC6D6lnfwKB7CWuh854L99HoNvBh4WVp9EzTgLKSH00/s400/4933a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018239904449474" /></a><br />...and just look at the old red rimmed enamel bowl! Cottage perfect!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZaesA84k6RPycX07nNIyWQMleiqXCwQIhxu_BPNralwRHcohBqk0vyyebBJ4zJQlseauvPiPTwHfAAlJ5JCvG-32eXDz25mBOqz8gIXKHwkcw3ZEpoIk2lVulttrwnGc0PVyviu-tIc/s1600/4934a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZaesA84k6RPycX07nNIyWQMleiqXCwQIhxu_BPNralwRHcohBqk0vyyebBJ4zJQlseauvPiPTwHfAAlJ5JCvG-32eXDz25mBOqz8gIXKHwkcw3ZEpoIk2lVulttrwnGc0PVyviu-tIc/s400/4934a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018233830836722" /></a><br />Deborah knows that a cottage isn't a cottage without a lot of good books, so she sent me this novel titled 'The Tea Rose'. It is set in the 1880s and is the first of a trilogy - I can't wait to read all three.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhzK8SQtaxNYYZa_85k0_pPTW5uWqMhw4-F5QT40DlFX9HsWc5lQtMXpwNq9vsSkbXTFGbelqZTGBJUyithnfjvHfKgSQv-UX-qdTmkVigVUcKHXALYfAmRjHtbm6fuQNKon5AyW5NH4/s1600/4935a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhzK8SQtaxNYYZa_85k0_pPTW5uWqMhw4-F5QT40DlFX9HsWc5lQtMXpwNq9vsSkbXTFGbelqZTGBJUyithnfjvHfKgSQv-UX-qdTmkVigVUcKHXALYfAmRjHtbm6fuQNKon5AyW5NH4/s400/4935a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018234973056258" /></a><br />As more cottage treasures were unwrapped, I oohed and ahhed over each one, including this little old jam jar. Adorable!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzpGJFbbL2SEQXRw601_WKleFWw70-XjU0os9pEHNzWcgs_oXY-odP0WxTIT_DOtTL1KB7LFJ_xg1D9EcPq841P2e62rTg9g-RHt67W6vqSXuDpLmjVvQ-ubTTm9kec31HvjBqM_Eqa8/s1600/Img_4939ajpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzpGJFbbL2SEQXRw601_WKleFWw70-XjU0os9pEHNzWcgs_oXY-odP0WxTIT_DOtTL1KB7LFJ_xg1D9EcPq841P2e62rTg9g-RHt67W6vqSXuDpLmjVvQ-ubTTm9kec31HvjBqM_Eqa8/s400/Img_4939ajpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652062917550540226" /></a><br />Then there was an address book, gorgeous antique style earrings, stationery items {Love the 'Fly' theme!} and cute magnets...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n3QzqASCxOvKMm3hN2N3HqcTAj8ijmGFCPfsyPTtu9s6wGsL6Bm4_33Rg3sZzW_dduuddBC5ytDliVA4UBHN4_d4AvBGdgXgDFs1L5a1CW67WAWWIXJ8V47GeBxknkQjsKHAn69E4CY/s1600/4937a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n3QzqASCxOvKMm3hN2N3HqcTAj8ijmGFCPfsyPTtu9s6wGsL6Bm4_33Rg3sZzW_dduuddBC5ytDliVA4UBHN4_d4AvBGdgXgDFs1L5a1CW67WAWWIXJ8V47GeBxknkQjsKHAn69E4CY/s400/4937a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018228423097186" /></a><br />Ok - I am not even kidding when I say that I gasped when I saw these measuring spoons! Are they not the most exquisite set you've ever seen? I had seen them somewhere before and put them on my mental 'wishlist'. So to actually have these in my kitchen right now thrills me to no end. I will never put them away in a drawer! And how about the red polka dot ceramic trivet? It has inspired me to be on the lookout for me red polka dot ceramics. They just make me happy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D8UnuMxCIakfdUwQYPQhLZIgAJLsjEAv-fxnB6YIfHyVQ94UyzIX4Yy0_j0ocW1MfWyIy7yUDGKWFg4F3PfSR_0Aw_kZa5SNV2c_vQ-eruYtKT_MDTycnH_5MgDejuejtOVUGNi4yLI/s1600/4940a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D8UnuMxCIakfdUwQYPQhLZIgAJLsjEAv-fxnB6YIfHyVQ94UyzIX4Yy0_j0ocW1MfWyIy7yUDGKWFg4F3PfSR_0Aw_kZa5SNV2c_vQ-eruYtKT_MDTycnH_5MgDejuejtOVUGNi4yLI/s400/4940a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652018226078240210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpgLSYXsslGD06Ec3fw6ITJp-CP5EMkTaaZfRukCRtG0MxjUtIq8BjOY6gHi7V8NHa_0lPhKMpg2zNkgT3xsPlOz5BAA-6r7zoFd4cYNVtlteDhMwjLyBGJmyZFj-3jJE8A8JWJgu9F0/s1600/4941a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpgLSYXsslGD06Ec3fw6ITJp-CP5EMkTaaZfRukCRtG0MxjUtIq8BjOY6gHi7V8NHa_0lPhKMpg2zNkgT3xsPlOz5BAA-6r7zoFd4cYNVtlteDhMwjLyBGJmyZFj-3jJE8A8JWJgu9F0/s400/4941a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652017978120033522" /></a><br />Last year, Deborah sent me these fun pot holders and oven mitt. I must admit, I can only bring myself to use one of the pot holders because I don't want to get them dirty! And speaking of not wanting to get anything dirty, those classic monogrammed linen napkins are a special treasure...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfR0QvRRBydyEli34GFy34bHSSSx0WnJAFXui4jO3vF5KSnBWwDCtOyoJwKl7GFnOYCpkJOj64-VCtxZiW72TEdamM-2_ZKnCRh9TXiUOUs_94FA90Rb701oZWExcRbIqsxxN6k3QM94/s1600/4942a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfR0QvRRBydyEli34GFy34bHSSSx0WnJAFXui4jO3vF5KSnBWwDCtOyoJwKl7GFnOYCpkJOj64-VCtxZiW72TEdamM-2_ZKnCRh9TXiUOUs_94FA90Rb701oZWExcRbIqsxxN6k3QM94/s400/4942a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652017968927280882" /></a><br />So crisp and clean and beautiful!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX57h1KQ8WDFWRDyQSlnrAmQMX3oKjitKR1df3sXe52EGj36iou8SPMY_0xS6_E6fLQSLw5X4aCKuNWJFPBL9msJ0F82F00tC_o2ZIm6R2jxXNRFSSq3xZ2-Fl2mJkgSGEkfOYgqM1kY/s1600/4943a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX57h1KQ8WDFWRDyQSlnrAmQMX3oKjitKR1df3sXe52EGj36iou8SPMY_0xS6_E6fLQSLw5X4aCKuNWJFPBL9msJ0F82F00tC_o2ZIm6R2jxXNRFSSq3xZ2-Fl2mJkgSGEkfOYgqM1kY/s400/4943a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652017962889980738" /></a><br />I found the perfect spot for this little love token - the neck of a glass bottle that sits on my dining room mantel. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcSlC1fuRo2Q_c1T0NX9hZO3idgp2baTpyEVIERXklyK4mdg_a6fBjk_nMGVHs9LSm0L3yJgmdIdTjsiwj-ArDr_4CY59YzWTVAR-y67DKlTgIfOUM8z-8ZwLVGRifibIm7_YE1scvRQ/s1600/4946a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcSlC1fuRo2Q_c1T0NX9hZO3idgp2baTpyEVIERXklyK4mdg_a6fBjk_nMGVHs9LSm0L3yJgmdIdTjsiwj-ArDr_4CY59YzWTVAR-y67DKlTgIfOUM8z-8ZwLVGRifibIm7_YE1scvRQ/s400/4946a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652017959756755570" /></a><br />I can't express enough how blown away I am with Deborah's generosity and how well she knows the kinds of things I love. Thank you, Deborah, for your kindness and for inspiring us all by your creativity and thoughtfulness! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6k_6wZUn9dNyvi0ypo3oXzoeBKRCbVS7oHbOmfcNviUiJFbbwOjlT8CWgW6ssyLO6-vyOAI-4Tx_7mIL27SKkthW0rI6Wt2pcJJAIp-C9mVq_JaNzUBNhVAmhyphenhyphen-kP49MjV5rTxPwFqg/s1600/4945a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6k_6wZUn9dNyvi0ypo3oXzoeBKRCbVS7oHbOmfcNviUiJFbbwOjlT8CWgW6ssyLO6-vyOAI-4Tx_7mIL27SKkthW0rI6Wt2pcJJAIp-C9mVq_JaNzUBNhVAmhyphenhyphen-kP49MjV5rTxPwFqg/s400/4945a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652017963761292994" /></a><br />And thank <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span> for all your kind comments on my last post regarding our beach vacation. We had a wonderful time! I did take photos but I'm afraid editing them for a blog post has taken a back seat to painting, painting... oh, and painting!<br /><br />Until next time!<br /><br />~KimUnknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-23945632033552124672011-07-23T01:19:00.011-05:002011-07-23T10:26:56.300-05:00If You Need Me...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmhByJcsPdVoLTNIpm38PqezSdLYERJVjJ5FhIh_lgOB1dnnqm2OXXIJlOx5bWjtvOxg5C6TlrYnwbbUc9GXXgoHtZwzGzh_1yfrBYWj1mMAFQs1K5STwIH6C7sJpALfY_Ykntk1Dbk0/s1600/beach5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmhByJcsPdVoLTNIpm38PqezSdLYERJVjJ5FhIh_lgOB1dnnqm2OXXIJlOx5bWjtvOxg5C6TlrYnwbbUc9GXXgoHtZwzGzh_1yfrBYWj1mMAFQs1K5STwIH6C7sJpALfY_Ykntk1Dbk0/s400/beach5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429719101709010" /></a><center><span style="font-style:italic;">{image from <a href="http://pinterest.com/">pinterest</a>}</span></center><br /><span class="dropcaps">I</span>'ll be here...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9N5RL2iSO-W1KX3AM2bUkOoBuhS0nJQ2DXXoN7igZxBKZarveA-nEwbYVZjjl218piyitnM-CzS1L2NTahTnxtAjqDZIkeNXBd-njwf4sPtUkV5knimsUfB9aKjfnx1JGbpfx3dUm8M/s1600/beach3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9N5RL2iSO-W1KX3AM2bUkOoBuhS0nJQ2DXXoN7igZxBKZarveA-nEwbYVZjjl218piyitnM-CzS1L2NTahTnxtAjqDZIkeNXBd-njwf4sPtUkV5knimsUfB9aKjfnx1JGbpfx3dUm8M/s400/beach3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429016045732418" /></a><br />... or, more specifically, <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.jekyllisland.com/">here</a></span> - Jekyll Island, Georgia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV3JjInamaCEd3iyunXgmjeyzYxzbg8BB8Po_wY5U-Io_NqrlQ5BUX03bc1ZBu_4eq43ytkOPswj9Ham-bwhP3msNnx4yWxh_exVxXeSlj1ur4UqeYKQMdKj70uxObWXgfq6K9OO6Stw/s1600/island.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV3JjInamaCEd3iyunXgmjeyzYxzbg8BB8Po_wY5U-Io_NqrlQ5BUX03bc1ZBu_4eq43ytkOPswj9Ham-bwhP3msNnx4yWxh_exVxXeSlj1ur4UqeYKQMdKj70uxObWXgfq6K9OO6Stw/s400/island.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429177164714834" /></a><br />I've <span style="font-style:italic;">ooohed</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">ahhed</span> over vintage style bathing suits all summer... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfsJ_RYaV8mjkjrYSVjNsNK9klNSqaRvPr1_uCYJEvl31Eu9hlcdPubyk8_hPPhe94n-2XOruaq_PYbRjDPw9Z-A9n8Jl2-vltDHbWyCUH3GfqgKVs5X-qCYYsyDpCIIPGfbtk6rPnlA/s1600/beachk7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfsJ_RYaV8mjkjrYSVjNsNK9klNSqaRvPr1_uCYJEvl31Eu9hlcdPubyk8_hPPhe94n-2XOruaq_PYbRjDPw9Z-A9n8Jl2-vltDHbWyCUH3GfqgKVs5X-qCYYsyDpCIIPGfbtk6rPnlA/s400/beachk7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429170502322322" /></a><br />And though I'll have to wait until next year for the <span style="font-style:italic;">perfect</span> suit {$$$}...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWmQg84dryF854GLnSyqYRBdI-_5QbPMNrXNeReex3alaYI7u6pClXEa08zzsevn-JAlFK3lozuHmy9mnD862W9QgSyuXTbOXE_Wx-u4X0ZNzSYwkpZ8_WHRxgp8YH89Gc_zYKuqlXlU/s1600/beach4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWmQg84dryF854GLnSyqYRBdI-_5QbPMNrXNeReex3alaYI7u6pClXEa08zzsevn-JAlFK3lozuHmy9mnD862W9QgSyuXTbOXE_Wx-u4X0ZNzSYwkpZ8_WHRxgp8YH89Gc_zYKuqlXlU/s400/beach4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429017851802178" /></a><br />I was able to snag a few good deals <span style="font-style:italic;">this year</span>...such as this sweet beach vintage style umbrella with a wooden handle and beautiful lace trim {oh, how I love it so! } for just <a href="http://www.totes-isotoner.com/product/totes+vintage+stick+umbrella.do">$15 from Totes</a>.... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMUq_dhAqeP2shGdbcGgIFAUQ3KmL5lIC1O2waHaSiEiA6Cgm1-BaYnCQYyKBxfcZqSzp41svhG_AII2QFEIrwr09PMqK9Mpn6bxiN_Fa1rxoeQGt8Dx_T8FBtfcqFbsNZS4Yd2xDgL4/s1600/beachumbrella.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMUq_dhAqeP2shGdbcGgIFAUQ3KmL5lIC1O2waHaSiEiA6Cgm1-BaYnCQYyKBxfcZqSzp41svhG_AII2QFEIrwr09PMqK9Mpn6bxiN_Fa1rxoeQGt8Dx_T8FBtfcqFbsNZS4Yd2xDgL4/s400/beachumbrella.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429012319899074" /></a><br />...and these <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290546791045&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_5737wt_1344">$5 sunglasses from Ebay</a>...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BdiAW2Un2xHUKPIXTNUhwwR3KH9kvaGWHPQJ8ALKVAtTnq6vj2B1cqkQGlO2K6fkekVnVt9rZwja_dQYjVL3o4R7QfuOAcY6hlUSPaRvwsyZmmjgdnwXWL6JvilDht7iclqpandmCK8/s1600/redglasses.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BdiAW2Un2xHUKPIXTNUhwwR3KH9kvaGWHPQJ8ALKVAtTnq6vj2B1cqkQGlO2K6fkekVnVt9rZwja_dQYjVL3o4R7QfuOAcY6hlUSPaRvwsyZmmjgdnwXWL6JvilDht7iclqpandmCK8/s400/redglasses.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429012004658882" /></a><br />Not to mention this Croft and Barrow hat from <a href="http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/webstore/product_page.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524892711079&pfx=pfx_shopcompare&cid=shopping4&mr:referralID=07ade800-b4f5-11e0-9e9c-001b2166c62d">Khols</a> on clearance for $15.60 {my hat is black and white stripe}...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMv6powtkRtH0gvX0wocYdIexvvZce7_7e0mT3-fYeN1TJ21UTBIUg59BuB1hkPrSTGzDudCvBxwnbP3BTvPV7YcAS3T2XfUcUGzHGPYZcg1_bTsTndqLNAO_tLfebT_VNY3rX7V3SQw/s1600/beach10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMv6powtkRtH0gvX0wocYdIexvvZce7_7e0mT3-fYeN1TJ21UTBIUg59BuB1hkPrSTGzDudCvBxwnbP3BTvPV7YcAS3T2XfUcUGzHGPYZcg1_bTsTndqLNAO_tLfebT_VNY3rX7V3SQw/s400/beach10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632433243258095906" /></a><br />...and this clearance beach tote from <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Womens-Striped-Woven-Beach-Tote/15935884?wmlspartner=jXot6eVeYJg&sourceid=18831229001396518383">Wal-mart</a> for just $5.00...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cUvrKjlVDD65OZmtSWJVE-yvpv-B7UF_VbTG1yFUJqqgKOj-DVNAqwaGP0SoV_wwFuIpqoLoC_R97iJAg70NOS9nJw-xcMsRMnAsbb9rPJwibwfHVmb7eE4-p79ODWYqifYeDYbhyphenhyphenJI/s1600/beach11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cUvrKjlVDD65OZmtSWJVE-yvpv-B7UF_VbTG1yFUJqqgKOj-DVNAqwaGP0SoV_wwFuIpqoLoC_R97iJAg70NOS9nJw-xcMsRMnAsbb9rPJwibwfHVmb7eE4-p79ODWYqifYeDYbhyphenhyphenJI/s400/beach11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632438542997374434" /></a><br />Maybe by next year hubs will see that $75 - $100 for a good vintage style bathing suit is well worth the money?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGwSTT9SwUoC5ZG-Sxfu-vLb_2NrSl-BK4NT5J1VX4IXYnfp383QolA95YALYb2ETmuwySg16n7MkdFo7hJNyb6fMnr2NmoDJab_oTVwUkhuirQRCBzY0swV41NAX8fnN4iJGVJ83_AI/s1600/beach8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGwSTT9SwUoC5ZG-Sxfu-vLb_2NrSl-BK4NT5J1VX4IXYnfp383QolA95YALYb2ETmuwySg16n7MkdFo7hJNyb6fMnr2NmoDJab_oTVwUkhuirQRCBzY0swV41NAX8fnN4iJGVJ83_AI/s400/beach8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429023548667762" /></a><br />But I don't know... I'm pretty sure it will take a lot of convincing on the romantic beaches of Jekyll Island <span style="font-style:italic;">this year</span>...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B5g1_3nrKzn3m69t3tRXQFYC1TJaA-eE2hqSKX2rfh1xIARGsU_VB5k7-DUx2Qsvi_4OkOvKm1fL6a17DndyalYvV73ARoFsM8f50aT4cnBww-OTKG5Po19DMmNwPYbkdUUyRh_aX3Y/s1600/beach9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B5g1_3nrKzn3m69t3tRXQFYC1TJaA-eE2hqSKX2rfh1xIARGsU_VB5k7-DUx2Qsvi_4OkOvKm1fL6a17DndyalYvV73ARoFsM8f50aT4cnBww-OTKG5Po19DMmNwPYbkdUUyRh_aX3Y/s400/beach9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632429473811712546" /></a><br /><br />Either way... I'll see you when I return! <span style="font-style:italic;">Have a great week!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-25283421687341333332011-07-21T02:13:00.004-05:002011-07-21T06:13:33.112-05:00Decadent Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuTWAspN4O2xFyABjCmX9wWmKvn5h3jYc8aO4PtxY3L0sh-puQbDC8SbUchsGkZM8To_WJa4HVbKhG1nm_DqMgP5zPrgcBj5Y0ImvLGcylEemZbzxKeUfRSLu9LZkmg_yMrbN0CuzWfo/s1600/cookie3b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuTWAspN4O2xFyABjCmX9wWmKvn5h3jYc8aO4PtxY3L0sh-puQbDC8SbUchsGkZM8To_WJa4HVbKhG1nm_DqMgP5zPrgcBj5Y0ImvLGcylEemZbzxKeUfRSLu9LZkmg_yMrbN0CuzWfo/s400/cookie3b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631700690246993506" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">S</span>o what happens when you spend a few evenings watching shows on Food Network? Well, at some silly hour like 11:30 at night, you decide to peruse your <a href="http://pinterest.com/twiceremembered/">Pinterest boards</a>, then you automatically gravitate toward your <a href="http://pinterest.com/TwiceRemembered/sweets-and-such/">dessert photos</a>, at which point you hone in on a particular <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/71335126/">Deep Dark Chocolate Cookie recipe</a> from heaven itself... {I'm pretty sure the recipe is in the Bible somewhere at least.}<br /><br />And you can't stop thinking about it because it's made without flour or butter... and you wonder - <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">'How is that even possible?!!'</span></span> So you dive right in, not even sure if you have all of the ingredients, all the while hoping that the mixer won't wake the children ...because no one is licking the spoons this time but you!<br /><br />I won't repost the recipe here since <a href="http://www.divine-baking.com/2011/04/deep-dark-chocolate-cookies.html#more">Amira at Divine Baking provides such a great photo step by step</a> of the {super easy} process, but I will tell you what I did a little differently since, as I suspected, I really didn't have all the exact ingredients on hand.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*The recipe called for 1 cup of melted bittersweet chocolate chips; I used melted <span style="font-style:italic;">semi-sweet</span> chocolate chips.<br />*The recipe called for 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided between the dry mix and egg whites; I used 1 cup <span style="font-style:italic;">powdered</span> sugar in the dry mix and 1/2 cup <span style="font-style:italic;">granulated</span> sugar in the egg whites {I was low on the powdered!}<br />*The recipe called for unsweetened cocoa powder; I used Hershey's Special Dark unsweetened cocoa.<br />*The recipe called for an additional {unmelted} 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips added to the batter just before forming the cookie balls; I used 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips.<br />*The recipe said to roll the cookie balls in powdered sugar before baking; I skipped that step.</span><br /><br />{Notes: I think that if you use the semi-sweet chocolate chips like I did, you may even be able to get away with even less sugar in the dry mix - try say about 1/2 - 3/4 cup as opposed to an entire cup. Also, if your batter is too runny to scoop into balls, put it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. It's a thousand and three degrees here in Tennessee right now and my batter was pretty runny until I let it firm up in the freezer. I baked the cookies as the recipe said - for 10 minutes. They were perfect!} <br /><br />The result? Very moist and chewy, rich, <strike>sinfully</strike> decadent cookies that look very much like brownies in cookie form! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje00cpHOfTs9lu6sYXAF0LbFFzppuQonTqSW7COj6per4jP7vR_L7J8QKFq9lxEn9zdm8hslsjDR2_WbRZjmXJfZICeMc1uJLKixzhJLGTWp6ZPaY4ABe0raMLSrmlginj4TIozyC2Y-k/s1600/cookie2b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje00cpHOfTs9lu6sYXAF0LbFFzppuQonTqSW7COj6per4jP7vR_L7J8QKFq9lxEn9zdm8hslsjDR2_WbRZjmXJfZICeMc1uJLKixzhJLGTWp6ZPaY4ABe0raMLSrmlginj4TIozyC2Y-k/s400/cookie2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631700691777581778" /></a><br />They were also very light because of the egg white base - and remember, no flour! Gluten-free girls, that's your happy dance cue!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw49Uv3JTnbMMX9vJpJmMpnwjwFQxSmQ2i1dL2eXV-9ZF1EU3ol3SM75ZAEcIuNuAROxhyphenhyphenBSdpujquye6pbZFesH9lrj4Ym5XWmbeLyjousf8wIcvSzYYYKF0lK1hgH1K3sfsdNpYvR8/s1600/cookie1b.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw49Uv3JTnbMMX9vJpJmMpnwjwFQxSmQ2i1dL2eXV-9ZF1EU3ol3SM75ZAEcIuNuAROxhyphenhyphenBSdpujquye6pbZFesH9lrj4Ym5XWmbeLyjousf8wIcvSzYYYKF0lK1hgH1K3sfsdNpYvR8/s400/cookie1b.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631700684119176434" /></a><br />Please let me know if you try these... and Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-12298288036609571322011-07-18T18:38:00.007-05:002011-07-18T19:08:13.355-05:00Fun with Vintage Style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlptazgXOa8Tvz8HA4hl8WweMYYRo8oIucPJORKiIBmFjpEuH0fhyphenhyphenibhlV9HTfymMEyxL4j3oZx0t8asNwg3OecWanW08sVq5wdot97Pt8Ys74N4A-77dostIkutYuZr9a2Uxrx9YSPFg/s1600/13c.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlptazgXOa8Tvz8HA4hl8WweMYYRo8oIucPJORKiIBmFjpEuH0fhyphenhyphenibhlV9HTfymMEyxL4j3oZx0t8asNwg3OecWanW08sVq5wdot97Pt8Ys74N4A-77dostIkutYuZr9a2Uxrx9YSPFg/s400/13c.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630841489429002130" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">J</span>ust me... experimenting with vintage hair and makeup... and accessories. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic6QU8dBBfCPbNepwU0u0Klq4TncyVIvsDPuYGaCeO36Yhl1kkcsa2SsUFMA2UNfdUQ6Au7miIf63N1MDhivvbW1SVS0ezdVUvNTowj8FkFFkpChpZ0ZVbe4vWbSvWqKrIhFAx46ewUg/s1600/12c.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic6QU8dBBfCPbNepwU0u0Klq4TncyVIvsDPuYGaCeO36Yhl1kkcsa2SsUFMA2UNfdUQ6Au7miIf63N1MDhivvbW1SVS0ezdVUvNTowj8FkFFkpChpZ0ZVbe4vWbSvWqKrIhFAx46ewUg/s400/12c.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630842244776583618" /></a><br />I tried liquid eyeliner for the first time in all my 37 years...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6f1V3OXVVM5zuzPI9wYnI-BRFQ4b5TGdnhHscbzR3E12KgfYO6O9_JiqCRtm0ApZK5b5LBFWxEN0tWyXu87SDC6dj7rwePdrJ9AuKekUERnUxXlYO0lY9WocTwD6QDEXunvlbcN67Kw/s1600/11c.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6f1V3OXVVM5zuzPI9wYnI-BRFQ4b5TGdnhHscbzR3E12KgfYO6O9_JiqCRtm0ApZK5b5LBFWxEN0tWyXu87SDC6dj7rwePdrJ9AuKekUERnUxXlYO0lY9WocTwD6QDEXunvlbcN67Kw/s400/11c.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630842247490687554" /></a><br />I joked with my daughters that this is how I would dress on school registration day. My 12 year old Lula said 'Wow'. My extremely fashion conscience 10 year old Zola was mortified. And Sydda my teen said that I looked like a 'creepy librarian'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj199moTToDTN7DsL2PlyWgPNbCr7vCLgALmtl_smTOeAjtZE93R5cNcg4kKlqrBvlYxC3Toig9ORfgW2Fy2gvylLzdzED66cgSwB_FVPDabKRcSSp93wdK_JP0vKR_rhuzVYWmNUTYcmo/s1600/16c.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj199moTToDTN7DsL2PlyWgPNbCr7vCLgALmtl_smTOeAjtZE93R5cNcg4kKlqrBvlYxC3Toig9ORfgW2Fy2gvylLzdzED66cgSwB_FVPDabKRcSSp93wdK_JP0vKR_rhuzVYWmNUTYcmo/s400/16c.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630843132472983218" /></a><br />Hubs was quite surprised upon coming home from work and seeing this particular vintage look. After prodding him for an opinion, he at first said <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360355667981&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2104wt_1110">my glasses</a> looked 'funny' ... but after a while, he had lots of very, very complimentary things to say about librarians. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe2WhGDJ5ztm9MVtYCN14SAZi85IjolXHAIJ_2q98jUzWY8eEt8CEFGTfaIcT0DlvSpRgzcmOzKmHFPhUTJwyBdZyrAyPLq-FxERBfqWts9rgmJpiPUPWMKa-rrH1i-mqOYKW5D7Nz_o/s1600/14c.jpg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe2WhGDJ5ztm9MVtYCN14SAZi85IjolXHAIJ_2q98jUzWY8eEt8CEFGTfaIcT0DlvSpRgzcmOzKmHFPhUTJwyBdZyrAyPLq-FxERBfqWts9rgmJpiPUPWMKa-rrH1i-mqOYKW5D7Nz_o/s400/14c.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630842619475869666" /></a><br /><br />Does your love of vintage things go beyond home decor? How much do you get into vintage and vintage inspired fashion? {Hope you all are having a wonderful summer so far... we are off on our beach vacation in just a few days... <a href="http://www.jekyllisland.com/">Jekyll Island, Georgia</a>!}Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-68398999645968269502011-06-01T13:13:00.005-05:002011-07-13T02:07:41.409-05:00Do You 'Pinterest'? {An Inspiration Sharing Website}<h1>"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso</h1><br /><span class="dropcaps">P</span>erhaps it's because I'm usually the last to know...perhaps it's because I don't spend enough time online researching the niftiest sites and resources available to those of us who like nifty sites and resources...or perhaps it's both - but I am just <span style="font-style:italic;">now</span> discovering the beauty of an inspiration sharing site called <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>. <span style="font-style:italic;">What is Pinterest?</span> From their FAQ page:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste... We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."</span><br /><br />Sounds intriguing, yes? I love that you can create your own collections, or "boards" and then "pin" the photos and ideas you love to the appropriate board. For instance, my boards so far are 'Home Decor', 'Home Exterior and Garden','Party Decor', 'Sweets and Such', 'Tutorials', 'Fashion', 'Quotes', 'Humor'...and probably some more that I'm forgetting...and I'm just getting started! When I find photos I like either on Pinterest or other places on the web or on my computer, I can 'pin' them to one of my boards. Then, whenever I pin anything, anyone that is my Pinterest follower will see what I pin - and can have the option to pin the photo to one of their own boards, comment on it, 'like it', or do nothing at all. :) Come to think of it, it's kind of like a visual Facebook or Twitter for photos and ideas! I sure hope all this makes sense...ha!<br /><br />Months ago, I did stumble upon Pinterest and "requested an invite". I didn't get one {seems maybe they were trying to slowly add members?} and I just kind of forgot about all of it, not really even knowing what it was. But last week, I requested an invite once again and got accepted in a day or so. I *think*, though, that whoever I personally invite to Pinterest gets accepted immediately. It seems that way so far, anyway.<br /><br />Soooo..... if you have not joined Pinterest but would like a personal invite, <a href="mailto:dear.twiceremembered@gmail.com">email me</a> your email address and I'll send you one! You don't have to have a personal invite to join, of course, but hopefully you'll get to join up faster if you do have one. <br /><br />If you are already a Pinterest member {or you aren't but you'd still like to see} , check out my boards {so far} at <a href="http://pinterest.com/TwiceRemembered/">http://pinterest.com/TwiceRemembered/</a> and if you are interested in following me there, I'd be honored! {I follow back!}<br /><br />Below are just a few of the photos that I've pinned in the last few days. Really, anything that you can imagine finding in a glossy magazine, you'll find on Pinterest. It's the best of the web {each photo contains a link to it's original source on the web, which I love for additional photos and info, such as for tutorial instructions,etc.} with fresh inspiration added by hundreds or thousands of people daily. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31044550_vQHoe7p3_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 599px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31044550_vQHoe7p3_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31052629_enkWZpdt_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 1644px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31052629_enkWZpdt_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31148040_gYTkFFv6_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31148040_gYTkFFv6_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31055562_qUjxLZ0T_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 554px; height: 369px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31055562_qUjxLZ0T_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31855126_HiPWpo2l_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 847px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31855126_HiPWpo2l_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31030790_oPO8dIcz_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 467px; height: 350px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31030790_oPO8dIcz_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31859179_lSjEbkFd_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31859179_lSjEbkFd_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31175507_3GbGuaaz_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 431px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31175507_3GbGuaaz_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/32090291_qlHooKdy_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 991px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/32090291_qlHooKdy_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31845058_OgNZMjcY_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 355px; height: 355px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31845058_OgNZMjcY_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31119990_lbBwXqbL_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 362px; height: 459px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31119990_lbBwXqbL_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31104593_3qR7ylQX_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31104593_3qR7ylQX_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31105615_KkccC1uv_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31105615_KkccC1uv_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29964792_OkTQDJbv_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 430px; height: 507px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29964792_OkTQDJbv_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29983120_4dkHdUwA_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 360px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29983120_4dkHdUwA_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29971540_u3hTJzb2_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 492px; height: 741px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29971540_u3hTJzb2_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30793655_pl7BuAhV_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30793655_pl7BuAhV_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31079613_q6udESvC_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 446px; height: 595px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31079613_q6udESvC_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31843214_ZDWSzlrc_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 724px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31843214_ZDWSzlrc_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30942740_EBy9bPJW_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 457px; height: 640px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30942740_EBy9bPJW_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31488584_LwTj9SGN_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 798px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31488584_LwTj9SGN_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31556951_8BF5KSP5_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 401px; height: 501px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31556951_8BF5KSP5_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31174056_w5G4Sa7b_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 445px; height: 406px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31174056_w5G4Sa7b_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29971175_ADQDZgYp_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 830px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29971175_ADQDZgYp_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31542623_K6lmIwYl_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31542623_K6lmIwYl_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31579012_PBFKkgmw_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 554px; height: 831px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31579012_PBFKkgmw_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30960103_FhmLTZHY_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 554px; height: 367px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30960103_FhmLTZHY_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31556514_BAnQ4Q0A_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 1921px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/31556514_BAnQ4Q0A_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/32086855_RS90gJYA_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 649px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/32086855_RS90gJYA_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30783050_84K724Ev_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 554px; height: 369px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/30783050_84K724Ev_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29963153_8J9zw6Zu_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 300px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29963153_8J9zw6Zu_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29977675_6H5NIh73_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 740px;" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29977675_6H5NIh73_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Can you tell I'm hooked? If you are hooked, too, or get hooked, let me know!<br /><br />P.S. Ruby is getting better. She can walk some on soft surfaces and the grass, but is having a harder time with the hardwood floors. She'll get there! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and well wishes!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-18221683738779352582011-05-29T12:19:00.003-05:002011-05-29T12:29:36.261-05:00The Cottage Charm Giveaway Winners are.....!<span class="dropcaps">C</span>an you believe it? The 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway has come to a close. What a blast we had! I want to thank ALL of you for participating, especially all the dear giveaway hostesses who offered such beautiful and generous gifts to their visitors. I hope you were able to "meet" lots of new people and discover many new lovely blogs this month, because really, that's a big part of what makes this annual event so special! I'm looking forward to next year already!<br /><br />Now, just visit my <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">dollhouse kit giveaway</a> and <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-2-handpainted.html">handpainted sign giveaway</a> to see who won... I wish it could have been all of you! {Winners were chosen by <a href="http://www.random.org/">Random.org</a>} Congratulations to the winners of all 49 giveaways this year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-65777101616307091532011-05-28T13:26:00.008-05:002011-05-28T13:45:57.729-05:0049 Cottage Charm Giveaways - A Few Hours Left to Enter to Win!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeYIbu7sQY9vvzuTIwhA6hj8a-dnJW2EWT_lDA4kuPxMEWQkxpNEYVK2hvlmPJl7RYiOf5jxf8WiJepAgPFjZ9-uYzQdbOVl8bA8mh2IdZOtXDRkiEFaV0TTFTdBgW3akaQlT5FcakJQ/s1600/giveaways2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeYIbu7sQY9vvzuTIwhA6hj8a-dnJW2EWT_lDA4kuPxMEWQkxpNEYVK2hvlmPJl7RYiOf5jxf8WiJepAgPFjZ9-uYzQdbOVl8bA8mh2IdZOtXDRkiEFaV0TTFTdBgW3akaQlT5FcakJQ/s400/giveaways2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611839745247777986" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>ours are remaining for the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! Have you visited the 49 blogs above to enter to win all the charming items being given away this year? If not, click on the banner below while there is time left! {Winners of the giveaways will be announced tomorrow, May 29th, on all the participating blogs.} <br /><br /><center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/></a></center><br /><br />This year, I'm giving away a <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">miniature dollhouse kit</a> and a <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-2-handpainted.html">handpainted black and white subway style sign</a>. So be sure to stop in today and sign up!<br /><br />Have a beautiful Saturday, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-6116308255135920402011-05-23T12:26:00.009-05:002011-05-29T12:08:04.971-05:00My Cottage Charm Giveaway #2- Handpainted Wooden Sign<span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="red"><span style="font-style:italic;">5/29 Update: AND THE WINNER IS....Peggy Crawford! Congratulations, Peggy! You can contact me with your address and I'll get this sign shipped out to you! Thank you to everyone else who participated by entering to win and those who "liked" my new Facebook business page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/She-Could-Fly/193834027304257">She Could Fly</a>. Even if you didn't win a sign this time, all She Could Fly Facebook fans will be automatically entered to win future sign giveaways. Thanks so much for all of your support and for visiting Twice Remembered!</span> </font></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT26vlkIHp0fbt8uMC_hiFKL0LKv1jtlWq-s58l0G50QBcjVrjzKEmRM56bqA23eIwv81OmZwmqognK_Be7EUNtkOyyng4KWAl-4Gc9ag1bRh3Ti8fJrrHGL8uMAAJdMhfY4rcqC_XW24/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT26vlkIHp0fbt8uMC_hiFKL0LKv1jtlWq-s58l0G50QBcjVrjzKEmRM56bqA23eIwv81OmZwmqognK_Be7EUNtkOyyng4KWAl-4Gc9ag1bRh3Ti8fJrrHGL8uMAAJdMhfY4rcqC_XW24/s400/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609964477943102962" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">H</span>ello everyone! I'm a little late getting my 2nd <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">Cottage Charm</a> giveaway posted but fortunately there is still time left both for me and for you, too, if you want to <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">add a giveaway of your own</a>. My dear little Ruby the Doxie is under the weather with a herniated neck disk that has resulted in partial paralysis of her front legs. It has been very scary and heartbreaking to witness as she has not been able to walk since it happened yesterday. However, the vet feels a total recovery is possible but may take about six weeks of crate rest. It might even be possible to see her walking within a few days thanks to her medication. I'm hoping for the best but try not to leave her side often because she gets agitated and starts to thrash around. She is sleeping peacefully now (sedatives) so that means a few minutes for me to tell you about my second giveaway. (Click <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">here</a> to see the first...) <br /><br />I thought this giveaway would be a good way to show you what I've been dabbling in lately - sign making! So I'm offering this wooden painted and distressed to perfection 12" x 9" sign as part of my second giveaway. Because I love words and quotes so much, I've been working on a collection of inspiring and interesting signs to offer for sale later in my new Etsy shop and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you. I had a hard time selecting the sign I liked best for this giveaway as I'm very pleased with how they've all turned out so far...but hopefully this Zelda Fitzgerald quote will be a 'winner' in your book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q1-_6IymgQyZwhJPPSI558UpSajpUy3gLEgi_H_-DsiOsRA-t7M7JgXdsOWdPO_J0JLoz1fKFgtyKrDOgpcaJ8r4NerhJEV1zTQstBB_R5Y58EF3clk1Do87m7-KzG7lvI8I8QtbVBA/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q1-_6IymgQyZwhJPPSI558UpSajpUy3gLEgi_H_-DsiOsRA-t7M7JgXdsOWdPO_J0JLoz1fKFgtyKrDOgpcaJ8r4NerhJEV1zTQstBB_R5Y58EF3clk1Do87m7-KzG7lvI8I8QtbVBA/s400/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609964497800735986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBgveNdZuXE46YaFTcggX4CjKxPuONkUbik-f6w0k6bi3SxA6ZEMt4LLQPOYPUVxPjLYwPi9FxrZr4z3u_EYrQUvMUYMno0ZQAReD3t6cBzAUun1_MOV8Wj5FNB6Vq3J98d1h2BVFD0g/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBgveNdZuXE46YaFTcggX4CjKxPuONkUbik-f6w0k6bi3SxA6ZEMt4LLQPOYPUVxPjLYwPi9FxrZr4z3u_EYrQUvMUYMno0ZQAReD3t6cBzAUun1_MOV8Wj5FNB6Vq3J98d1h2BVFD0g/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609964491470757442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCGMZK87DEO7_RQMH7N3aGXOJv4TqMEKHdPBEqXgXYArQZ6C8w8hBX6nmMeIVe4g86qw4-br6SYsrkSvZJw8z7bL42g8Sz9ztT7_3RcVXWZWL8T393A2BL3Y4P-HrLUIqUi9EXZMTFFk/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCGMZK87DEO7_RQMH7N3aGXOJv4TqMEKHdPBEqXgXYArQZ6C8w8hBX6nmMeIVe4g86qw4-br6SYsrkSvZJw8z7bL42g8Sz9ztT7_3RcVXWZWL8T393A2BL3Y4P-HrLUIqUi9EXZMTFFk/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609964482719191938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDKgr3Kk0sh8jHtWVjVsEn6SmDDckUpC8PYOkQ2ZWizSy_fSuHhQtGumVA-G3Uo6C70YMs5qvdv8WtznMXsewiYCrmAD3et5HbwcjtaD5CRk_VjBkLnkaECNSUdfTA5KI8oHy_Ir34js/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDKgr3Kk0sh8jHtWVjVsEn6SmDDckUpC8PYOkQ2ZWizSy_fSuHhQtGumVA-G3Uo6C70YMs5qvdv8WtznMXsewiYCrmAD3et5HbwcjtaD5CRk_VjBkLnkaECNSUdfTA5KI8oHy_Ir34js/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609964500597592098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />There are a couple of ways to win this giveaway:<br /><br />One chance to win- Just enter your name and a way to contact you in the comment section below<br /><br />Another chance to win- Simply "Like" my new business page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/She-Could-Fly/193834027304257?sk=wall">She Could Fly</a>, on Facebook. While my 'grand opening' has to be postponed a bit due to caring for my little Ruby for now, I would still love to be able to share with you what I've been up to with my shop, signs, and other items. <br /><br />I will announce the winner on May 29th. If you haven't done so already, make sure you check out all the other charming giveaways in the <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway</a> event! And remember, you still have time to enter your own giveaway...the more the better and there are alost 50 so far!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj189Da2LTtbSPJyvaSzCF_obCtaqAfdhZYNfJseBe3dJAKoPVXJEynQUCEmmDbJokcOe5j_g9MaTDCP5oJmGR7MjJFrjGRn4f8T3aKvgxjsM3T8OvC8xpwydC0ItxFAIDRH-D_gqP3KjI/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj189Da2LTtbSPJyvaSzCF_obCtaqAfdhZYNfJseBe3dJAKoPVXJEynQUCEmmDbJokcOe5j_g9MaTDCP5oJmGR7MjJFrjGRn4f8T3aKvgxjsM3T8OvC8xpwydC0ItxFAIDRH-D_gqP3KjI/s400/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977933784710002" /></a><br /><center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com105tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-55868962564983470372011-05-11T07:46:00.006-05:002011-05-11T08:48:35.615-05:00Miniature Patisserie Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9gnUlqqOLcnZgAfNQRaLkHr_aqbOzUzrDNxVgl0TV3BKc4q8hn5Th30Vgew2YBXhBjKbhisHNCsPByoGxa0eV5TaoX89_LbDVj-PHOgkaajNK7s6Lp3ja2HzsS7nSRvk17cjgGlKRE/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU9gnUlqqOLcnZgAfNQRaLkHr_aqbOzUzrDNxVgl0TV3BKc4q8hn5Th30Vgew2YBXhBjKbhisHNCsPByoGxa0eV5TaoX89_LbDVj-PHOgkaajNK7s6Lp3ja2HzsS7nSRvk17cjgGlKRE/s400/7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448985415702226" /></a><br /><h1>I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. - Laura Ingalls Wilder</h1><br /><span class="dropcaps"></span><span class="dropcaps">G</span>ood morning, everyone. I hope this Wednesday morning finds you happy and healthy. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's going to be a hot one today. 91! <br /><br />Hubs and I have been working on caulking and painting beadboard in our spare moments and things are really starting to shape up. I think I've mentioned this before, but white paint {on this beadboard, anyway} is very hard to cover. It's taking about 4 coats,plus the primer coat. A much slower process than I had anticipated but wow - finally my white cottage style beadboard! It really is what seems to be pulling "the look" together. <br /><br />I thought that since I am <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">giving away a new dollhouse kit </a>for one of my Cottage Charm giveaways this month, I'd share a few photos of the kit I'm working on. It's the <a href="http://shop.greenleafdollhouses.com/Wooden-Storybook-Cottage-Dollhouse-Kit.html">Storybook Cottage</a>. I've gotten the main parts all glued together except for one side of the roof - I'm waiting until I install the wood flooring in the attic to glue down that side. I'll be using lightweight spackle on the inside to make the walls nice and smooth and then I'll be ready to add some trim work. I haven't yet decided how to finish the exterior - whether I'll use siding or some kind of sanded stucco or stone - or ...oooh...an aged brick foundation?!... {As if I didn't have enough decisions to make with our real house!} Ah, but this has been so much fun and I've enjoyed working on it here and there when I catch some snippets of down time. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPAI-eoQ_YSyS3CVgbOwBJ-YvqrmRtzHIJ1EE3AoPTuu0GPl8q07oGrReWJBJKCIB8bhzmpzMpMH-Y1Lueuct0suwtFpfMZ1f95cQ1AHCV4qtwX4OZozncusMXu2iLcuwewlmPIyZdVE/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPAI-eoQ_YSyS3CVgbOwBJ-YvqrmRtzHIJ1EE3AoPTuu0GPl8q07oGrReWJBJKCIB8bhzmpzMpMH-Y1Lueuct0suwtFpfMZ1f95cQ1AHCV4qtwX4OZozncusMXu2iLcuwewlmPIyZdVE/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448622784051058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omKBoyq9IGo_Mp8pcNA8b1TgZFHKgOzHf3lCt0sf8mhhdTscXWwXhuVRY1_GhKbHsXqTXUW7RFmaSuWxBskeeXm14WkmJs-PJeRu2T3y8nZ80RA7eG2wXG9ghXcSEQxSN2I7Zi54Th0/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omKBoyq9IGo_Mp8pcNA8b1TgZFHKgOzHf3lCt0sf8mhhdTscXWwXhuVRY1_GhKbHsXqTXUW7RFmaSuWxBskeeXm14WkmJs-PJeRu2T3y8nZ80RA7eG2wXG9ghXcSEQxSN2I7Zi54Th0/s400/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448623206214930" /></a><br />This little house will become a little patisserie. A few months back I made the tiny pennant banner for a cupcake party I had for the girls and used it to decorate the miniature farmhouse kitchen. I couldn't resist {very prematurely} stringing it up in the patisserie for these photos just to get an idea of how sweet it could be.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyvoVrv3wua5XRipxV7mkfH6yyC9CnK6akvQ1FbkgzFOTj74lC23m5lH9NLFgh-A7v_MLN27rnpXSOkdrQyOQBBWaKtRN2Jdwb43IOv6qGYC2b_7dM3mysqxgO7MnZhlHjUVXt6Zq9os/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyvoVrv3wua5XRipxV7mkfH6yyC9CnK6akvQ1FbkgzFOTj74lC23m5lH9NLFgh-A7v_MLN27rnpXSOkdrQyOQBBWaKtRN2Jdwb43IOv6qGYC2b_7dM3mysqxgO7MnZhlHjUVXt6Zq9os/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448618662299602" /></a><br />The little attic space...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ3kxLMUrVrzGN0x3_Ipikd4fXiT7cAP2Fg4DNR_knGqif-0KimbLlrqcncPRwhacKblT5tBPh-IvRA226GxspdKEuQzQoiDduVDb0lrLIVopHeIXGX5BNLsmAOJc4-zWfZy5DNAiG_Y/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ3kxLMUrVrzGN0x3_Ipikd4fXiT7cAP2Fg4DNR_knGqif-0KimbLlrqcncPRwhacKblT5tBPh-IvRA226GxspdKEuQzQoiDduVDb0lrLIVopHeIXGX5BNLsmAOJc4-zWfZy5DNAiG_Y/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448489672739250" /></a><br />The floor has been stained a dark chocolate color. I was thinking about creating a white 1-inch diamond pattern on the floor as well. What do you think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJNR5zF3hC6d9V_s9dai6BuL2ahCem6YR_Qc1AIg5uBM0OdZOOBqQRJst5XyJb4ZH9KQQZFXUpSSQ2hZ97iq3Hf1qRQ8Eivf6cTuQO2T5oI-NCSTTQG3aJhMQVrfjyT-JDH4ZFUWXuJI/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJNR5zF3hC6d9V_s9dai6BuL2ahCem6YR_Qc1AIg5uBM0OdZOOBqQRJst5XyJb4ZH9KQQZFXUpSSQ2hZ97iq3Hf1qRQ8Eivf6cTuQO2T5oI-NCSTTQG3aJhMQVrfjyT-JDH4ZFUWXuJI/s400/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448487469416482" /></a><br />Oh polka dots! I have such a weakness for you!!!! Especially you red and white ones... *sigh*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT9nlvYT6S6tFbtAacPLndvpO2yCd4q1IuA-SPFRsBTslFlrsk7cxfLm5rYZZOnCCqBwyXgOACa_oKfb9X7bBPoldDVdmGXgM80qH8AGc2xmLf2nbeBrhv3KA7Ai-d9SQpT5MILmlGrI/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT9nlvYT6S6tFbtAacPLndvpO2yCd4q1IuA-SPFRsBTslFlrsk7cxfLm5rYZZOnCCqBwyXgOACa_oKfb9X7bBPoldDVdmGXgM80qH8AGc2xmLf2nbeBrhv3KA7Ai-d9SQpT5MILmlGrI/s400/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448482135335586" /></a><br />I don't know where I'm going to put all these *little* projects that have stolen my heart with their sweetness. Our real house is tiny itself and I'm running out of space!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkNI72x_H0kDOtMR30d5b6Ip2itfe9lNKEZmFwH1HaU87KYwnrxkqN_hJhtIsJgCxeM3ksUMH8XQUZbwWweX_3QRe9Vdlu5STWDmc45gnO95jGni9aghWNLn72FVAMwen4nHet0K68NU/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkNI72x_H0kDOtMR30d5b6Ip2itfe9lNKEZmFwH1HaU87KYwnrxkqN_hJhtIsJgCxeM3ksUMH8XQUZbwWweX_3QRe9Vdlu5STWDmc45gnO95jGni9aghWNLn72FVAMwen4nHet0K68NU/s400/7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605448481086998418" /></a><br />But I think the patisserie project is just fine right here for now. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0JQzdwClpI1lH3UHylRKf1bsq2kDXrSS9Ff2BntUFfKsLqMET_Vx06njPQHOI_xgh0VjeQKh6xVMjtrPKmIge-Psb_FPAZG4uKQSx3a8fdrvOo-BnI9Q7crpNI2EmggL1knXDOEpe6A/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0JQzdwClpI1lH3UHylRKf1bsq2kDXrSS9Ff2BntUFfKsLqMET_Vx06njPQHOI_xgh0VjeQKh6xVMjtrPKmIge-Psb_FPAZG4uKQSx3a8fdrvOo-BnI9Q7crpNI2EmggL1knXDOEpe6A/s400/9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605454656196182818" /></a><br />Have a lovely day, everyone, and until next time, don't forget to keep checking in on the Cottage Charm Giveaway party going on this month. If you want to add a giveaway to the party, that's even better!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-58842186357536691022011-05-09T20:31:00.008-05:002011-05-09T21:20:49.677-05:00My Garden Themed Cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxy61p9cT3aRAhS19J5lhGjhsIcPTmiYCqrHN-UxM4Susotzk4q9wiL8a4HMLDnKg-nfHOo8hO6FlvayS13CO157QqdI_RXTEP2nhuHuLgnuqJz_ZE6gwL0tO4Unde8rZJecOvcUJZfI/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxy61p9cT3aRAhS19J5lhGjhsIcPTmiYCqrHN-UxM4Susotzk4q9wiL8a4HMLDnKg-nfHOo8hO6FlvayS13CO157QqdI_RXTEP2nhuHuLgnuqJz_ZE6gwL0tO4Unde8rZJecOvcUJZfI/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604899241762877906" /></a><br /><h1>If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever. - Alfred Lord Tennyson </h1><br /><span class="dropcaps">I</span> don't know about you, but I am absolutely smitten with cupcakes. So when a friend recently asked me if I would mind making a few cupcakes for a baby shower she was helping to throw, I jumped on the opportunity to get my hands in some fondant again. When I asked about colors, etc., I was told to just do whatever I liked. I knew that there would be a big cake made by a professional and I did have some fears that whatever I came up with would clash horrifically with it. But I took the plunge and decided to with a garden theme - hoping that all would be fine.<br /><br />Because last week was so incredibly crazy with school plays, dance recitals, and just about anything else you can imagine, I decided to purchase plain frosted cupcakes from a bakery so that I could just focus on making the "garden" decor for the tops. I'm so glad I did because I just about ran out of time to finish them even <span style="font-style:italic;">without </span>having to bake the cupcakes myself!<br /><br />My two regrets are that I didn't get to bake them myself {but that just couldn't be helped} and that I put too much frosting under the mushrooms to adhere them to the cupcakes. A dear friend and I were putting those little mushrooms on the cupcakes in the car at the shower.. I was late and moving like a mad woman! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB991aFJ9bhG_Keaty2VYT30guIvIL__NUc8xPfgzU6Wk_7ffq6fnQmcPARzIZniSIQSoqyeX6z8jBSVhzKGeP99GhvFjlCp7pQAfOlkDX8rsABTjJCCbMCR1BCioFTsXUcBE3dYkTGg/s1600/27.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB991aFJ9bhG_Keaty2VYT30guIvIL__NUc8xPfgzU6Wk_7ffq6fnQmcPARzIZniSIQSoqyeX6z8jBSVhzKGeP99GhvFjlCp7pQAfOlkDX8rsABTjJCCbMCR1BCioFTsXUcBE3dYkTGg/s400/27.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604898951643066082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXmONF2nYwIojFPWhUHAEzflf6-I7tgKHoZVb6TYP1xRLIOfohhAMD2qxqkhUXzVlIDPlm6NtPCUMwcIE2dSXpMlxaafuPxUJG-skNzpse3rO39j2f_Gp4hSkKKiIogBfX23NxmLKGxc/s1600/19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXmONF2nYwIojFPWhUHAEzflf6-I7tgKHoZVb6TYP1xRLIOfohhAMD2qxqkhUXzVlIDPlm6NtPCUMwcIE2dSXpMlxaafuPxUJG-skNzpse3rO39j2f_Gp4hSkKKiIogBfX23NxmLKGxc/s400/19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897991388162898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0At0AXr8hfX5ILOzaVTVFIhesc5lk08Jn_ckEC9sIJVXlaBdyh4CEemnv7mG1yknKR27UFmibO5KsaRuoBTvwhyaK_ise9FWlsSympTF5v_GjYg9S3qniwsHcsfA8Tlh9hi59kCU_-wk/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0At0AXr8hfX5ILOzaVTVFIhesc5lk08Jn_ckEC9sIJVXlaBdyh4CEemnv7mG1yknKR27UFmibO5KsaRuoBTvwhyaK_ise9FWlsSympTF5v_GjYg9S3qniwsHcsfA8Tlh9hi59kCU_-wk/s400/10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897991593287426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CKJmH0YUO7t2gz4M497UAJC17D3SWf1lA0T7aGHa85gLNFxpIVub0IMbfVZWjzsRDpZ_7dtTuqo0agM4Eran6KGt9l-TiVb6hC9yd-RIrJtsoflJLipFXyQGb8RW3JVdjx_FCEvHeVc/s1600/14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CKJmH0YUO7t2gz4M497UAJC17D3SWf1lA0T7aGHa85gLNFxpIVub0IMbfVZWjzsRDpZ_7dtTuqo0agM4Eran6KGt9l-TiVb6hC9yd-RIrJtsoflJLipFXyQGb8RW3JVdjx_FCEvHeVc/s400/14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897987920791010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovy_bYa_F2E5O08shNA7A0s3J0ypmTPlGjAYkfZoHxe9U7FvvEj2h6e9UGTkXvF4619ymT165caqpLTg435MqMHD82Ydch_gbrddv4ZB7H_8WFPvCGaiQe0AvzqzGEkPIl57c6e0e-00/s1600/29.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovy_bYa_F2E5O08shNA7A0s3J0ypmTPlGjAYkfZoHxe9U7FvvEj2h6e9UGTkXvF4619ymT165caqpLTg435MqMHD82Ydch_gbrddv4ZB7H_8WFPvCGaiQe0AvzqzGEkPIl57c6e0e-00/s400/29.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897984711902706" /></a><br />I made all of the little cupcake wrappers and flags using my new <a href="http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/silhouette.aspx">Silhoette SD</a> die cut machine. I can use images, templates, and fonts from my own computer - I don't have to buy any cartridges. I just LOVE that machine!!!! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hHON9Ll65LBLgX0jUIsvc4dgsilrCK4-HNhBoRM5pdSqO0_QuzSftA2bivdqdW0zPJvHw9BhHgyhEBpuq7jwQqJa1ucKvbHWOB8ya1uLi0O-cH3jq5mkjpxX3KnfZ-OJL9yK3OO-GOI/s1600/23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hHON9Ll65LBLgX0jUIsvc4dgsilrCK4-HNhBoRM5pdSqO0_QuzSftA2bivdqdW0zPJvHw9BhHgyhEBpuq7jwQqJa1ucKvbHWOB8ya1uLi0O-cH3jq5mkjpxX3KnfZ-OJL9yK3OO-GOI/s400/23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897985209851314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjQthluAHA6gJmZV8Z27Y02MK6J33WrM9jyEOusCPJ6TiGJ14_8r6fVQb59_JhsfRREh5sm9RgxQB0ORJRm5mPtt_8X6EierAaDdGm3_9GppxV46XahW_G-UBuponoKIiXA6zjvHQWO8/s1600/26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjQthluAHA6gJmZV8Z27Y02MK6J33WrM9jyEOusCPJ6TiGJ14_8r6fVQb59_JhsfRREh5sm9RgxQB0ORJRm5mPtt_8X6EierAaDdGm3_9GppxV46XahW_G-UBuponoKIiXA6zjvHQWO8/s400/26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897319228891362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij62U5GNzWnq2plXBhvq7Obd3VIQI27mgnoFHAWABv_-zb9pCqqKSuSINItn_agObUdE3fM5nwQIL1krjxF1-MZQa5FEBrIwVSZYLbE139cZcTSvXEeezX6KCs4wITlszyGM_OzpBHnxk/s1600/22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij62U5GNzWnq2plXBhvq7Obd3VIQI27mgnoFHAWABv_-zb9pCqqKSuSINItn_agObUdE3fM5nwQIL1krjxF1-MZQa5FEBrIwVSZYLbE139cZcTSvXEeezX6KCs4wITlszyGM_OzpBHnxk/s400/22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897313323727682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LrEwk2ZsyItm6pcu3B5pUFgVtum25KNUV95oA-TFxwR2Ej9MBDYwHTaGoLNHQSqZOQ86FIUwpSo07fjAwDbqdZrigH7SQt3s22tvwqsVpwAG0scyHXf7VWXf9hSc3af143BVTR7XVO8/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LrEwk2ZsyItm6pcu3B5pUFgVtum25KNUV95oA-TFxwR2Ej9MBDYwHTaGoLNHQSqZOQ86FIUwpSo07fjAwDbqdZrigH7SQt3s22tvwqsVpwAG0scyHXf7VWXf9hSc3af143BVTR7XVO8/s400/7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897316743950722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7oouHUFAKlBmZbVJMhG3riiwtvBjLRsDkU_ai_hlYQvrpsfSKt2HxjZtqhAijsYTPN4XFJ5SzrsY7-J8qUHqgu0wWAEhUlSnyfOTrV_US7AF1d22HZwhEWYVsQtxRbbB4bHUXavyQFA/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7oouHUFAKlBmZbVJMhG3riiwtvBjLRsDkU_ai_hlYQvrpsfSKt2HxjZtqhAijsYTPN4XFJ5SzrsY7-J8qUHqgu0wWAEhUlSnyfOTrV_US7AF1d22HZwhEWYVsQtxRbbB4bHUXavyQFA/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897312374878482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9LJBLQuGBS_umODjDuhiM9E8igab0WRi0ejfZTDvjJ0kMP-pBGAXR95wZEIrTp4Ozlw5ccVJE_te7tet3MywiERKuIbFpma1J2GRmjs6YAbdeXwOHlqeOJixlJBtvQrK36PT_XuQ388/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9LJBLQuGBS_umODjDuhiM9E8igab0WRi0ejfZTDvjJ0kMP-pBGAXR95wZEIrTp4Ozlw5ccVJE_te7tet3MywiERKuIbFpma1J2GRmjs6YAbdeXwOHlqeOJixlJBtvQrK36PT_XuQ388/s400/9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604897312111028434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRea6b29JQ_hYWEPdCXCBpd6U3NpucUGUi9-CyFhB1CEKW8KbqrZO-Hp0xqyf2EhJJwucepSRH_W18W1JtCpYQ5ZE4v9C1WFN_hKbUUJKQgLpdT-mY89XRFUSpYS3IizhpOPIy4Mbi89A/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRea6b29JQ_hYWEPdCXCBpd6U3NpucUGUi9-CyFhB1CEKW8KbqrZO-Hp0xqyf2EhJJwucepSRH_W18W1JtCpYQ5ZE4v9C1WFN_hKbUUJKQgLpdT-mY89XRFUSpYS3IizhpOPIy4Mbi89A/s400/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604895388511164546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bUS7XdU8UlpH8HDd4-rJqAygH3o3W38Lt8R7AiYPIs1LwSU8961XXLcFDGOdQi6Kz3IoBSnnloPdPopEZ8AkMb4Q4dr99nnpwLi2EyC0A1KIlVx_qZweD9GiGe6tlMKcCKoTR1cJlW4/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bUS7XdU8UlpH8HDd4-rJqAygH3o3W38Lt8R7AiYPIs1LwSU8961XXLcFDGOdQi6Kz3IoBSnnloPdPopEZ8AkMb4Q4dr99nnpwLi2EyC0A1KIlVx_qZweD9GiGe6tlMKcCKoTR1cJlW4/s400/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604895376038827490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt8LMm8e_I0ntGLzJ9pZr2LC21YPX0XhVEIAGJKs0rMZl7rRYG_n3ZtqJorGpyl8bckw98iLl-_8gIxdI1-bRH1KYL6SBuIsy5mCHl6qFMb2ASyTyCJDrROLAWjJFBePfUrSBT-m0Gwk/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt8LMm8e_I0ntGLzJ9pZr2LC21YPX0XhVEIAGJKs0rMZl7rRYG_n3ZtqJorGpyl8bckw98iLl-_8gIxdI1-bRH1KYL6SBuIsy5mCHl6qFMb2ASyTyCJDrROLAWjJFBePfUrSBT-m0Gwk/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604895378744565570" /></a><br />I was so happy to discover that the cupcakes and baby shower cake looked really pretty together. No clash!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN2Dh6eQrh7WEQ03E820iziqFT10NWfXeB51qfNy7TYu7K3kQ-euq4ZYqv67RKQ00SQvqETxWCFK8ZhOL2J8vjDj-6cA-so2ic1VrDi0Rgx-mKUsM6AgzUNr7fSpsV0A1pSD98DSiFe8/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN2Dh6eQrh7WEQ03E820iziqFT10NWfXeB51qfNy7TYu7K3kQ-euq4ZYqv67RKQ00SQvqETxWCFK8ZhOL2J8vjDj-6cA-so2ic1VrDi0Rgx-mKUsM6AgzUNr7fSpsV0A1pSD98DSiFe8/s400/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604895374105010066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoiDUgwS7C4Dq6EsYp_j6iCCSmlxPsbbUZjF1F0_q7NdHwqJ4kQC1IpJ0e20RTXzZAQadwRHCywyP9vYgVH-sxD47ud1fY4FQwh_m5N-D5jUifqW_4po6DTp6JupBBAo2Tgsi0G1LHq8/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoiDUgwS7C4Dq6EsYp_j6iCCSmlxPsbbUZjF1F0_q7NdHwqJ4kQC1IpJ0e20RTXzZAQadwRHCywyP9vYgVH-sxD47ud1fY4FQwh_m5N-D5jUifqW_4po6DTp6JupBBAo2Tgsi0G1LHq8/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604895373040471250" /></a><br />I am very pleased with how they turned out and I can't wait to work on another cupcake project again! By the way, this is <a href="http://cakecentral.com/articles/105/mmf-how-to-decorate-cake-marshmallow-fondant">the recipe I used for the fondant</a>. It was so good! I flavored the fondant with peppermint extract so all the little flower and bug pieces {ummm...} tasted just like those little soft pastel after dinner mints you often see at weddings. <br /><br />If you haven't already, be sure to check <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">my Cottage Charm giveaway</a> to enter to win a dollhouse kit! And of course, you'll want to check out <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-cottage-charm-giveaway-buttercup.html">all the other charming giveaways</a> in this years Cottage Charm giveaway event. Have fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-82848425464269984152011-05-08T23:08:00.006-05:002011-05-29T12:17:31.576-05:00My Cottage Charm Giveaway - A Buttercup Cottage Dollhouse Kit<span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="red"><span style="font-style:italic;">5/29 Update: AND THE WINNER IS....Jenny Lake! Jenny wrote:<br /><br /><blockquote>"My heart stopped when I stumbled across this giveaway. I have always dearly wanted a dollhouse but my father never had the patience to build me one as a child. Now it's time for me to do this for myself! Thank you so much for this generous gift. <br /><br />If I were to win, I would build a little spinner's cottage because that's my other dream--to live on a sheep farm and spin wool into yarn. <br /><br />Fingers crossed<br />Jennifer"</blockquote><br />Congratulations, Jenny! You can contact me with your address and I'll have this darling dollhouse kit shipped to you. And thanks SO very much to everyone who stopped by Twice Remembered this month to enter to win this giveaway. I wish I could send a kit to all of you! You all had wonderful ideas as to how you would use the dollhouse if you won and if I had to decide who won based on the loveliest idea, I wouldn't have been able to choose, that's for sure! {I used a Random Number Generator instead...} Have a beautiful rest of the weekend and we'll "see" you all again soon!</span> </font></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd4rF4LnA7CBtflGyVMTiQVaReHaqbeoGnlMR024J-34H7ZyFZpHT5o51xPrPZmXRJjkWs3_20x0ePr3hGFNZBSOweY4K3SJeAATVnFXEczKWbTSWkQW3xJim32au3-k8M-rXN3jqHIo/s1600/buttercupcottage6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd4rF4LnA7CBtflGyVMTiQVaReHaqbeoGnlMR024J-34H7ZyFZpHT5o51xPrPZmXRJjkWs3_20x0ePr3hGFNZBSOweY4K3SJeAATVnFXEczKWbTSWkQW3xJim32au3-k8M-rXN3jqHIo/s400/buttercupcottage6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604573391991748514" /></a><br /><span class="dropcaps">W</span>ell, finally, a week after the <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway began</a>, I'm ready to post my own giveaway! As you may {or may not} know, the Cottage Charm giveaway event is an annual month long, multi-blog cottage style themed giveaway party. Bloggers are invited to post giveaways on their blogs and then link back to them <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">here</a>. Winners for all the giveaways will be announced on all participating blogs on May 29th. So much fun! We've had as of the time of this posting 33 bloggers to enter their <a href="http://www.twiceremembered.blogspot.com/#giveaways">giveaways for the party</a> - and I think that's just divine! Last year we had 68 giveaways... and wouldn't it be wonderful if we had even more this year? There are plenty of days left in May, so feel free to join us, and of course, make sure you check out all the new cottage themed giveaways added daily to enter to win the ones that strike your fancy!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/></a></center><br />The giveaway I am posting this year is very close to my heart. It was inspired by one of my new passions - doll house miniatures. I'm having so much fun with the <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html">old miniature farmhouse that I'm remodeling <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> the 'built from the ground up' house/patisserie</a> that I'm working on as well. I've found it to be so relaxing and therapeutic - a great way to break away from full scale real life for a while and just dream in miniature. I've read from your comments that many of you have a desire to have a miniature house or to get into miniatures because you are just as fascinated with the hobby as I am. Buying the first kit can be tough, however. Questions such as "which one?" and "can I really do this?" are enough to scare new ones away... or, for those who are experienced doll house builders, deciding which kit to do next can be just as hard and maybe the old "do I <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> need to buy another doll house kit" thought haunts you.<br /><br />So I'm really hoping that whatever the case may be with you personally, my Cottage Charm giveaway this year will help you out, because I'm giving away a Buttercup Cottage dollhouse kit!<br /><br />Here is a perfect description of what you will get with the Buttercup Cottage Dollhouse Kit:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Delightful, charming, enchanting, adorable. That's the Buttercup - the ideal little house to create any type of shop, cottage, or even just a room setting. The bay window, silk-screened windows, gingerbread trim, and window boxes add to every decor. The Buttercup provides the setting, your imagination will provide the rest!<br /><br />The all-wood dollhouse goes together with tab and slot construction that requires only glue to complete assembly. Unpainted and unfinished, you can decorate, paint, wallpaper, and furnish this heirloom-to-be with your own personal taste and style.<br />Features include: <br /><br />True miniature scale<br />1 inch = 1 foot<br />Open-back design<br />Tab/slot assembly<br />Unfinished wood<br /><br />Assembled Dollhouse Dimensions: <br />17 W x 11” D x 18” H</span><br /><br />The photo below is how the little cottage will look complete. Of course, just like a real house, you get to choose all the finishing touches, colors, and decor inside and out... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tsndplTWVpc0nGQJKMxb8EWsg9ocYXAJ8VFj2RIPt0OWrErUuquseOKoureZKclSyjjnidtEjilxUEur8_QNhoczM14e4QH-Rc6NIze4D0SMAMLqEUgKK_kfgoYWRWGbpBX5kMtZxiM/s1600/buttercupcottage5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tsndplTWVpc0nGQJKMxb8EWsg9ocYXAJ8VFj2RIPt0OWrErUuquseOKoureZKclSyjjnidtEjilxUEur8_QNhoczM14e4QH-Rc6NIze4D0SMAMLqEUgKK_kfgoYWRWGbpBX5kMtZxiM/s400/buttercupcottage5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604573399161182626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBk4GxBOnzeOpb0n9cY_sr9M6q_LHvjzOETVvpNum_ubkNDn86ijZsnjg1hwv-Z8SDdZHkCdmAvPUdRA1csB8iObVu17_aqD0jFZW49-q5uXmmfEk7s1pEEWXMutlf789yXgFwjgmq2c/s1600/buttercupcottage7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBk4GxBOnzeOpb0n9cY_sr9M6q_LHvjzOETVvpNum_ubkNDn86ijZsnjg1hwv-Z8SDdZHkCdmAvPUdRA1csB8iObVu17_aqD0jFZW49-q5uXmmfEk7s1pEEWXMutlf789yXgFwjgmq2c/s400/buttercupcottage7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604573628010996754" /></a><br />Here is a Buttercup Cottage finished in Tudor cottage style. You see the front door was changed out, trim and brick work was added, and it looks like what could be a stucco exterior. {It's hard to tell from this photo, but I've seen many dollhouses in this style with stucco exteriors.} Cute!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitNBF33dtoVqHXAfBSYqHL4lt8dcshkAZ8hyphenhyphendYr6JJXbzmSkFZ7xO4xfVxa5J53OVH2luzIXSA0mJQMLXBOul3EfLxECmFzENWFvFLSibTk5DD58Sukax6Nrj8rtMzPLTF4cb8aARohY/s1600/buttercupcottage1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitNBF33dtoVqHXAfBSYqHL4lt8dcshkAZ8hyphenhyphendYr6JJXbzmSkFZ7xO4xfVxa5J53OVH2luzIXSA0mJQMLXBOul3EfLxECmFzENWFvFLSibTk5DD58Sukax6Nrj8rtMzPLTF4cb8aARohY/s400/buttercupcottage1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604569840145027330" /></a><br />And I am so impressed at Jen's interpretation of the Buttercup Cottage. She added siding and changed the door as well. I love all the red! {<a href="http://jen-spec-industries.com/tag/my-cottage/">Click here to see more photos in Jen's blog entries on her Buttercup Cottage</a> - I just can't get enough of her sweet little house!}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_kdX2atBy0LXlI6g_AN0bUsv884Jh34K83cn1hT2F4bPqi8BiiQNRlS0iGvV4u5Dndgj96bx0gTgjiFnMxiiqW9v5BGP6MaYgI8p2ug4jsb3u2ZTsl1MKi__K0y50-IO3OCBLMsjhq8/s1600/buttercupcottage2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_kdX2atBy0LXlI6g_AN0bUsv884Jh34K83cn1hT2F4bPqi8BiiQNRlS0iGvV4u5Dndgj96bx0gTgjiFnMxiiqW9v5BGP6MaYgI8p2ug4jsb3u2ZTsl1MKi__K0y50-IO3OCBLMsjhq8/s400/buttercupcottage2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604569832409953906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRD4mKtVpd2kb2NuaiEkgG27KbD_R7MGmdY_rNWGrpoVw-TRe894ymScL4e-AgXv4ZjbKZolNMoSJ6p5KWb3Pa1KfrjQrr2tuNC5O_an4M39O2103tW4PeDeODX2BWYbNSHpnf9ZF1sA/s1600/buttercupcottage3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRD4mKtVpd2kb2NuaiEkgG27KbD_R7MGmdY_rNWGrpoVw-TRe894ymScL4e-AgXv4ZjbKZolNMoSJ6p5KWb3Pa1KfrjQrr2tuNC5O_an4M39O2103tW4PeDeODX2BWYbNSHpnf9ZF1sA/s400/buttercupcottage3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604569832822076418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a1St2pkkQ0bbHgweiC5ZIxaP_frOawxughvL4wsMnRSh8E1i5t1sBB31Dlpxa0JTQgj-ciu_4Vv3zlczE6Wq4F8V07bgRaayhW8RzaGIGC6YLhkDOBRo84_LMZk3_hJoX4DbeG8s-5o/s1600/buttercupcottage4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a1St2pkkQ0bbHgweiC5ZIxaP_frOawxughvL4wsMnRSh8E1i5t1sBB31Dlpxa0JTQgj-ciu_4Vv3zlczE6Wq4F8V07bgRaayhW8RzaGIGC6YLhkDOBRo84_LMZk3_hJoX4DbeG8s-5o/s400/buttercupcottage4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604569826440881906" /></a><br /><br />Oh the sweetness! And oh how a dollhouse can get your imagination cranking! Please don't worry if you've never built a dollhouse from a kit before... if you can read instructions, you can do this!<br /><br />So if you are up to a new fun and exciting challenge, just leave a comment and a way for me to contact you below to enter to win this Buttercup Dollhouse kit. And while you're waiting for the winner to be announced on May 29th, think about how <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span> would finish out the Buttercup Cottage and just how you would like to use it. Would it be a little house? A bakery? A flower or gift shop? If you'd like, tell me about it down below. Also, check out some great miniature sites like <a href="http://www.miniatures.com/">Miniatures.com</a> to whet your appetite. SO many adorable little things - and you can order a free catalog from there as well. {No, this isn't a paid advertisement.... I just really love ordering from this site and wanted to pass along a great resource!} The <a href="http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?act=idx">Greenleaf Dollhouse Community</a> forums have also been an invaluable source of information for me personally - and their member photo gallery is very inspiring to say the least.<br /><br />Ok, so here we go! But first, a little fine print...<br /><br />*Please just one entry per person<br />*Unfortunately, I can only ship this dollhouse kit to those within the United States due to handling fees that are applied to International shipments. <span style="font-style:italic;">However</span>, if you live outside of the US but would really love to have an opportunity to win this dollhouse, I would be more than happy to provide you with a gift certificate from the <a href="http://www.miniatures.com/">Miniatures.com</a> website for you to order it yourself if you win. You would be responsible for the shipping costs, unfortunately, but still.... the dollhouse kit would be a gift. Just an option for my dear international readers who would really love an opportunity to win this charming little kit. :)<br /><br />Have fun, and goodness, I hope <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span> win!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com134tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-57869775244320322042011-05-04T21:49:00.005-05:002011-05-04T22:41:28.767-05:00Dining Room Painted Beadboard and Faux Fireplace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDfX_5ZUs8GoffxlYBmdm83Jdw2h4oLYzfaul9t8762POEjBzXVkw93UbXrLMXG4WnLk_4ix87vpuTPEceU5Z4ZD1-VHCy3e5WrGRMQ6cVWVNeD4FqmH_ri1pv7YpK-6zwaULHUo9Ti4/s1600/Img_4047.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDfX_5ZUs8GoffxlYBmdm83Jdw2h4oLYzfaul9t8762POEjBzXVkw93UbXrLMXG4WnLk_4ix87vpuTPEceU5Z4ZD1-VHCy3e5WrGRMQ6cVWVNeD4FqmH_ri1pv7YpK-6zwaULHUo9Ti4/s400/Img_4047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058960989794610" /></a><br /><h1>You used to be much more..."muchier." You've lost your muchness.- Lewis Carroll </h1><br /><span class="dropcaps">D</span>on't you just love that Alice in Wonderland quote? For me personally, I couldn't think of anyone I could ever apply it to but myself and my blogging habits! Yes, I use to be much more "muchier" with blog posting, to be sure! Yet despite that fact, here you are. Thank you, dear readers, for visiting and checking in - year after year for some of you- on the progress we're making on our little fixer upper. Your encouragement and kind words are great motivators for us - and I wish you could know just how much!<br /><br />Today I was snapping a photo of a small item on the fireplace mantle we built in the dining room a few months back. You may remember when I blogged about adding <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/03/dining-room-faux-fireplace-and-more.html">the faux fireplace and beadboard to the dining room and kitchen.</a> Anyway, it occurred to me that I haven't yet shown you what the fireplace and beadboard looks like painted. Yes, it's true... we're just now getting around to painting though all the beadboard in the kitchen, dining, and living room has been primed for a while now. Let me tell you, pure white paint is just as hard to cover as red paint... it's taking us four coats, even with primer! So a slow job, but I'm pleased with the results far. <br /><br />You will notice that I've carefully cropped these new progress photos. I'm working on a huge project on the dining room table in the center of the room and I'm sure you don't want to see the mess. But hopefully you can get a good idea of the direction we're headed with not only the dining and kitchen, but with the entire house. Only the bedrooms and bathrooms don't yet have beadboard, but they will when we get around to them.<br /><br />First a before. This is how our dining room looked when we first moved in. Well, after we first moved in and I painted the room a deep red, that is!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRziQB5EyRy_9w444mLzbmHTWzVfwDdMes4KF7VgyLLwERA9fDgbFLkBVwYv4HalmqjS51CRZ6f_DWhautH6V3WTfpdIuF9UWiA-5cEZRfqNcv3A88_rr0jzKmFDr1w4dyhDPY-sXqZwQ/s1600/lighting1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRziQB5EyRy_9w444mLzbmHTWzVfwDdMes4KF7VgyLLwERA9fDgbFLkBVwYv4HalmqjS51CRZ6f_DWhautH6V3WTfpdIuF9UWiA-5cEZRfqNcv3A88_rr0jzKmFDr1w4dyhDPY-sXqZwQ/s400/lighting1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603060952654741218" /></a><br /><br />You see in the next progress photo that we added a big window and removed a door to the laundry room. There were two entrances to our tiny laundry room {which, incidentally, use to be the kitchen!} We only needed one door to access the laundry, so we walled up one entryway and added the faux fireplace.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMp8Le_0GF1X5MI1Q4KCf6oQlizx6-nPR7G3xN3iBU-iaQQsR97OQay5RKYeBdNC2ve3aSpS59WbOA697TRR36Aj4lZw-xPUc46Vk70kLG-ZqX82zkLsAfSrixkf_m6M-W_Kma1-Zh0/s1600/beadboard0857.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMp8Le_0GF1X5MI1Q4KCf6oQlizx6-nPR7G3xN3iBU-iaQQsR97OQay5RKYeBdNC2ve3aSpS59WbOA697TRR36Aj4lZw-xPUc46Vk70kLG-ZqX82zkLsAfSrixkf_m6M-W_Kma1-Zh0/s400/beadboard0857.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603060954716094258" /></a><br /><br />Now this is what the dining area looks like currently. White, white, white with beadboard aplenty! <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDfX_5ZUs8GoffxlYBmdm83Jdw2h4oLYzfaul9t8762POEjBzXVkw93UbXrLMXG4WnLk_4ix87vpuTPEceU5Z4ZD1-VHCy3e5WrGRMQ6cVWVNeD4FqmH_ri1pv7YpK-6zwaULHUo9Ti4/s1600/Img_4047.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDfX_5ZUs8GoffxlYBmdm83Jdw2h4oLYzfaul9t8762POEjBzXVkw93UbXrLMXG4WnLk_4ix87vpuTPEceU5Z4ZD1-VHCy3e5WrGRMQ6cVWVNeD4FqmH_ri1pv7YpK-6zwaULHUo9Ti4/s400/Img_4047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058960989794610" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Bihw8IRlHbDWRWsjUhNNnBQaNsvlO4jVOjTLugHJqU-WYUHLK7mH_78M4II34lNJ9rG4MIuILmOIuNLi6aqjEunzu9dtPPa5pB94TvjZ8xDCccjaMOQnwfPPuYQgBByKki3S8ylhzA/s1600/Img_4044.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Bihw8IRlHbDWRWsjUhNNnBQaNsvlO4jVOjTLugHJqU-WYUHLK7mH_78M4II34lNJ9rG4MIuILmOIuNLi6aqjEunzu9dtPPa5pB94TvjZ8xDCccjaMOQnwfPPuYQgBByKki3S8ylhzA/s400/Img_4044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603059063392862082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuYohAw1nmTckt21-ITiTfGHRO1sVTHczMdeBSEvnMklBkRyDomtSK0c3F2jWV6aOCLwro7w-P-tsbFfn0F98-JfNcxf0dllQSW4xuUYgUywX1dJJDQQQC8BnfAFI39mzF7wtCyT2Q_Y/s1600/Img_4046.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuYohAw1nmTckt21-ITiTfGHRO1sVTHczMdeBSEvnMklBkRyDomtSK0c3F2jWV6aOCLwro7w-P-tsbFfn0F98-JfNcxf0dllQSW4xuUYgUywX1dJJDQQQC8BnfAFI39mzF7wtCyT2Q_Y/s400/Img_4046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603059065756145186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyphenhyphent-UcBlntts36Wo09qgWuVmkIwVSDgMxDuCR-3qhnt-fvyizYKURbdu44TySCr-xrIdcPF8MUtBGPlYLrA3uiUPd2h-kybvw1N0mboETERLwI7W8vHYlQ5Ci7SDA4YR0_iz6y0p2tQ/s1600/Img_4051.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyphenhyphent-UcBlntts36Wo09qgWuVmkIwVSDgMxDuCR-3qhnt-fvyizYKURbdu44TySCr-xrIdcPF8MUtBGPlYLrA3uiUPd2h-kybvw1N0mboETERLwI7W8vHYlQ5Ci7SDA4YR0_iz6y0p2tQ/s400/Img_4051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058962532045026" /></a><br />We still need to finish the fireplace inset. Haven't yet decided <span style="font-style:italic;">exactly</span> what to do with it, but there will be something. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pVSSNFXCxKDvooShl4UwI4U23pPMcCkuamk7_A9BJrSTqzQkJ6QHqGv_noGflf4hjays2VeW8euvHeyaJ0A2m0ft7vit1g_DhcfaPaMn5rFCgfxC7nYRafEJCFXU3Y2iSrrQnRrSdWY/s1600/Img_4053.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pVSSNFXCxKDvooShl4UwI4U23pPMcCkuamk7_A9BJrSTqzQkJ6QHqGv_noGflf4hjays2VeW8euvHeyaJ0A2m0ft7vit1g_DhcfaPaMn5rFCgfxC7nYRafEJCFXU3Y2iSrrQnRrSdWY/s400/Img_4053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058959304409586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjEaHJ4KrKWj3oBbXp5BiFiMXCueXYkEchGTskoCOaJpgbMBh9lO1ar2_FWmWMqLLe6ppbAJaMykP-dByomfDUXjmS647QpDhkEhd33BLo-plm5Ir-2boeY-09FAMjLe3NNopSrzNp2g/s1600/Img_4058.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjEaHJ4KrKWj3oBbXp5BiFiMXCueXYkEchGTskoCOaJpgbMBh9lO1ar2_FWmWMqLLe6ppbAJaMykP-dByomfDUXjmS647QpDhkEhd33BLo-plm5Ir-2boeY-09FAMjLe3NNopSrzNp2g/s400/Img_4058.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058955157280290" /></a><br />If you would like to see a basic tutorial on the beadboard and trim we added to the dining, kitchen, and living room, please check out <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/10/basic-farmhouse-cottage-style-trim-and.html">this past blog entry</a>. Very easy and relatively cheap!<br /><br />As for the "mess' on the dining room, well, I suppose it's the best kind of mess one can have. I'm working on making fondant flowers for some floral cupcakes. So much fun! I'm sure I'll have photos of them later, so stay tuned. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7QwF53HlA034BADrocWPU84iQFOtmoF3n_eBPBAVLmVqH9Qntq9V6UvavlB4jVDxOtSVpMn5OwN0gtvQ48Lt_SlZxBzmrE64gtALgJY9US4JB-lGiZimgUYOx_KVIaGdYfY-lR1zWu0/s1600/Img_4062.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7QwF53HlA034BADrocWPU84iQFOtmoF3n_eBPBAVLmVqH9Qntq9V6UvavlB4jVDxOtSVpMn5OwN0gtvQ48Lt_SlZxBzmrE64gtALgJY9US4JB-lGiZimgUYOx_KVIaGdYfY-lR1zWu0/s400/Img_4062.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603058951934142258" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of "staying tuned", I'll have one of my <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/10/basic-farmhouse-cottage-style-trim-and.html">Cottage Charm Giveaways</a> posted this weekend. {I have TWO, the other to be posted next week!} I really wanted to have it posted this week, but little did I know how crazy things would be! For one thing, one of my daughters has to perform in both a play <span style="font-style:italic;">and </span> a dance recital on Thursday night {tonight, depending on when you're reading this}. And you would know we all had dental appointments for the same day, which I promptly rescheduled. Of course, I would get a cold bug this week as well! Perhaps not with with blogging, but with l.i.f.e, I guess this is as "muchier" as it gets!<br /><br />The giveaways posted so far by everyone are absolutely stunning! What participation we have in the first four days! I *hope* to have at least as many giveaways as last year {68} but wouldn't we all love to have more? Keep them them coming! For newcomers, please check out the <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2010/10/basic-farmhouse-cottage-style-trim-and.html">5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event</a>. You'll be glad you did!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707732077149679290.post-80727115489474786002011-04-30T21:53:00.005-05:002011-05-09T01:20:39.899-05:005th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Event - May 1st thru May 29th!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ba5dEyFWWD1NgtM9ToYeevE4bZPrLkUAKbA1VSurMYes7Hh8M9arVtEaGQRivSBp7AMFGnxdnwOrLTYuDYXFm6TcpfQx-yirgSWrMqPMj4PGALC4Eufx0FfZ1E7CcBjhfHi-MuJvmoHZ/s1600/cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ba5dEyFWWD1NgtM9ToYeevE4bZPrLkUAKbA1VSurMYes7Hh8M9arVtEaGQRivSBp7AMFGnxdnwOrLTYuDYXFm6TcpfQx-yirgSWrMqPMj4PGALC4Eufx0FfZ1E7CcBjhfHi-MuJvmoHZ/s400/cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601571891929535106" /></a><span class="dropcaps">T</span>he 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway officially begins May 1st at 8 am Central! This special, annual May event will last <span style="font-weight:bold;"> until May 29th, 2011</span>. Will you be joining us? Just <A HREF="#giveaways"><span style="font-weight:bold;">scroll to the bottom to see the list of giveaways added so far</span></a> or keep reading for more information on how to join in on the fun!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What is the Cottage Charm Giveaway?:</span> This is a multi-blog, month long event beginning Saturday, May 1st where bloggers give away on their blogs items they feel exhibit "Cottage Charm". <span style="font-weight:bold;">Anyone can join at any point in May before the 29th. On May 29th, all participating bloggers will announce their winners and post it to their blogs. </span> An ongoing list of ALL the giveaways and participating bloggers is maintained here at Twice Remembered {down below} during the entire month of May. The list grows and grows the whole month of May as bloggers add their Cottage Charm Giveaway to their blogs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How do I give away an official "Cottage Charm Giveaway"?</span>: To join, you simply follow four easy steps:<br /><hr><br />1) <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">at any point in May</span> post on your blog what you are giving away</span> - your "Cottage Charm Giveaway", and also post your own rules for winning the giveaway {for example, the number of entries allowed, how you want your readers to enter your drawing, where you are willing to ship, etc.}. It would be helpful and advantageous to include photos and to mention <span style="font-style:italic;">"Cottage Charm Giveaway"</span> in your post title. You can offer as many Cottage Charm giveaways as you like.<br /><br />2) <span style="font-weight:bold;">include *within your giveaway post* a link back to <span style="font-style:italic;">this</span> post.</span> The more people who know about this event, the better! Here is the link you will need to use:<br /><br />http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html<br /><br />3) <span style="font-weight:bold;">come back here and add your giveaway post link to the list of giveaways below.</span> Giveaways added below without having the proper "link back" to <span style="font-style:italic;">this</span> post will be deleted, but you can try again after the link has been added.<br /><br />4) <span style="font-weight:bold;">announce the winner of your giveaway on your blog on May 29th.</span> It is helpful to post the winners at the top of your giveaway post. {<span style="font-weight:bold;">**</span>If you want to end a giveaway earlier than the 29th, please do not participate in this event.}<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /><hr>Is there a Cottage Charm banner that I can use for my blog and/or giveaway post?</span> Yes, feel free to copy and paste the code below anywhere on your blog. You don't have to use the banner, but some kind of link {text or banner} needs to be included *within your giveaway post*.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/><br/><br /><code><textarea rows="3" cols="20"><center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i321/twiceremembered/th_cottagecharm2011bannergif.gif"/></a></center></textarea></code></center><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What should I give away?</span> Feel free to use your own definition of "Cottage Charm" for this giveaway- the possibilities are endless! You can give away books, your own crafts, custom goods and clothing, thrift store finds, new items, yummy treats, gift certificates to your shop, vintage goodies...whatever to you represents cottage charm. Don't worry - you don't have to live in a cottage or personally decorate in cottage style. However, if you would like to give away something to those that do, please join in! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Where are all of the giveaways and how do I enter to win them?</span> <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html#giveaways">Down below is the master list of all Cottage Charm giveaways</a>. This list will grow and grow throughout the month of May, so come back daily to check for newly added giveaways. Just click on the links to go to the blog hosting the giveaway and follow their rules for entering. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When I enter to win any {or all} of the giveaways below, how will I know if I won anything?</span> More than likely, the giveaway host will contact you if you won. But during the day or evening on May 29th, just visit the blogs whose giveaway you entered and look for their "winner" announcement. I won't be posting the names of all the winners here at Twice Remembered with the exception of the winner of my own Cottage Charm Giveaway. {I will be posting my giveaway later this week - don't miss it!}<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Do I need to have a giveaway to enter to win the other giveaways?</span> No, not at all. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I'm still confused a little bit. Now what?</span> If you have <span style="font-style:italic;">any</span> questions about the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway, please feel free to <a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/p/questions-or-comments.html">email me</a>. I'll look forward to hearing from you!<br /><br />I hope everyone has a blast this month discovering new blogs and entering to win some really special gifts! Now...<span style="font-style:italic;">let the giveaway begin!</span><br /><br /><a name="giveaways"><h3 class='post-title'>2011 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Participants</h3></a>{To be updated daily until 11:59pm, May 28th. If you haven't already, please read the above information on adding a giveaway to this listbefore doing so. <span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#9C1C13"><span style="font-style:italic;">If you have have posted a "Cottage Charm Giveaway" on your blog and have linked back to this post, please enter the link to your giveaway below.</span> </font></span>} <br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=50556"></script><br /><!-- end InLinkz script -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com35