Hazy Summer Days

I can't believe that it is Wednesday already

and time to go back to work!

I had an extended long week-end 

and we could not have ordered a better one!

Saturday morning we loaded up ~ picked up Mom

and was on the cape by lunchtime

it did not take long to open all the windows

put on some music and we let the week-end begin

the tide was in so one of my first stops was the beach

the sandpipers are back and I love sitting and watching them in flight

they spent some time on the beach as well and 

I zoomed in to get them

we usually escape the humidity being so close to the shore

but it was hot and humid down there as well

so we just had to drink more to keep hydrated!

Saturday afternoon my cousin and I ventured up to the abandoned house

we went through the high grass on high alert

as there was definite sign of wildlife outside as well as in 

porcupines have taken residence inside the house

and what a shame ~ what a mess

Donnie went in through an door that was broken

I was not as brave and got him to check things out to make sure the coast was clear

before I would even venture inside

this is what we found when we stepped inside the kitchen

Don grabbed an old garden tool and was walking around with that

while all I had was my camera...

so I start poking around ~ my goal was old dishes

saw this bowl and picked it up

I headed to the living room but there was not much to see

and I was scared to death truth be told 

not knowing what kind of critter was going to come out

and give me a heart attack

so I head back to the kitchen and I think I see something of interest

just inside a door that is open part way

I grabbed a hold of the door and gave it a pull and

guess what I saw.....

yup ~ just lots of back and white and quills

I still don't know if it was dead or alive

as I was not sticking around to find out

so I was in the house all of maybe 10 minutes

and got my heart kick started

I ran all the way to the truck

and only looked back when I was safe and sound

so my god daughter is the proud owner of a vintage bowl

as she is decking out her kitchen in vintage turquoise goods

and next time I decide to do something so foolish

I am going armed with a better weapon

than my camera.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The winner of my giveaway is

Tara from Cinnamon Post

randomly chosen by my handsome husband

I will be in contact with you soon so I can give you all the details.

Hope everyone had a wonderful week-end

that you are still enjoying the Olympics

and the weather.

Feels Like Home ~ a Giveaway

Good morning peeps!!

I am so excited today because I am here to tell you about

my girl crush ~ most of you know her as Mimi or Kim

I call her friend....

She ~ along with 4 other wonderful women

are offering an e-course aptly named

Creatively Made Home

you know what home means to me

that comfy cozy feeling

having a safe haven when you step through your door

after a long day at work

Jeanne Oliver is the mastermind behind it and shares this...

I wanted to create a course that celebrated what really matters in your home…..

you and your family.

I also wanted to celebrate making life beautiful in the everyday.

I know that so many want to make their homes beautiful but feel overwhelmed 

and don’t know where to start….so they do nothing.

I believe that everyone should be surrounded by beauty in their homes 

and that has nothing to do with how much you spend.

I think sometimes we can get lost and distracted with everything that comes at us each day.

Sometimes things can look so perfect and we as women may feel inadequate.

It is time to exhale and delight in your home.

It is time to open your doors because of what is inside of you…not what is inside your home.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Doesn't this sound amazing!!

So now I betcha you want to know more about it

and how to get in on the action

well ~ you are lucky because...

just click on the above button and that will take you 

to the registration

(sorry gang ~ button is not working but the one on the sidebar is

just click on "buy now")

and if you want to know more just click here

and it will take you to Kim's blog post

where she detailed all that you will get

and you get a lot!

now for the best part ~ she has graciously offered me a course

to give away to one lucky reader

I am so so so excited to even be involved in this

and over the moon giddy to be able to offer this to you.

So what do you have to do to enter??

* be a follower

* leave me a comment and let me know

what does home mean to you

*tweet it and let me know you did for an extra entry

(please leave a separate commetn)

Comments will stay open until Tuesday night

and I will announce the winner on Wednesday ~ Aug 8th

Good luck!!

Project Generator

Happy Saturday peeps!

I am so excited to tell you about a couple of things

that warm this little ole heart of mine

my dear dear friend Simone

over at The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

has done something for another friend

and after all ~ it is the season for giving....right?!

Project Generator

is an appeal for 

Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels

I will not go on about it here, but please visit Simone's

blog here and read about what she is doing

she is a doll ~ she really is.

I also have an exciting giveaway to tell you about

another dear friend ~ who just happens to be Jaja Barb's daughter

and someone that some of you know and love

is having a giveaway

Kim of the beautiful Kimberly Taylor Images

has one of these babies 

I want I want I want

plus a couple of other things

so if you head on over there and show her some love

this could be yours...

plus if you make a donation to Project Generator

you will receive an extra entry

that's a win ~ win in my book of love today!

I am off to put a million little lights on my tree

and take my butter out of the fridge ~ I see cookies in my future!

Happy Week-end everyone

and show some love.

xo

Friday Potpourri & A Winner!

Hello there

Happy Friday!

what a great week it has been

productive and just a little stressful

Mom and I had a shopping outing and I am pleased to say

that my shopping is complete

well there may be a few little odds and ends to pick up

but nothing major

I dropped my cards in the mail last night

the decorations are all up

and the tree will make it's grand entrance tonight

so this week-end we will trim the tree

do some baking

set up my wrapping center

and attend party #1

looking forward to it all.

Now for the winner of my giveaway is

Becky from

Farmgirl Paints!!

Congratulations girlie

I will package it up over the week-end and get it out to you.

Wishing you all a wonderful week-end

and all the season has to offer.

Hello December & a Giveaway!

It's December

and you know what that means...

I can deck my halls

turn on my Christmas lights

start my baking

finish my shopping

write up and mail my Christmas cards

plan my menus

and get my party shoes out

"swoon"

it is going to be a crazy busy time

but oh so much fun

please remind me that I said this in a couple of weeks!

Actually right now I feel pretty good

organization is my friend

because I feel like I am on my "A" game right now

I thought I would have a little giveaway!

I am pleased to present a little something

that I love and use on a daily basis

Epicure Spices!

this is a proud Canadian company

started back in 1991 in Victoria, BC

 

the spices include:

Lemon Dilly ~ Cheese, Chive & Bacon

and 3 Onion

with this little trio you can make 

Epicure's Extraordinary Cheese Dip

and it is to-die-for!

the spices can also be used in many other recipes

as well as a veggie dip ~ each on their own.

I gave away this trio this summer but it was only 

available to my Canadian readers

I am happy to say that this time it is open to everyone

all you have to do to enter is:

be a follower and leave me a comment

it's that simple! 

Blog or Tweet about it ~ let me know

and you will get another chance to win

I will announce the winner next Friday

December 9th

Good luck and spread the word!

Feeling Blessed

Instead of my regular Friday post

I wanted to share all my recent good fortune with you

I feel blessed as I am writing this

as I have won not one, or two

but three different things over the past month or so

first up is a subscription to

Folk magazine!

I cannot tell you how excited I was to win this over at Donna's blog

Funky Junk Interiors

I had just placed a subscription for it a week or so 

before the win ~ so now I will have 2 years of Folk!

Next up was a Facebook contest 

through the Alphabet Photography page

if you have not seen any of their work

you are truly missing out!

I bought a couple of these last year for wedding gifts

but never ~ let's say "invested" in a piece of my own

I was able to pick out whatever I wanted

so I chose our last name and cannot wait to hang it

in the living room!

Last but certainly not least was a giveaway over at

Mikal's Landing

she was giving away a sweet sweet clutch

by Laura Clausan

find her shop here

it came wrapped in the cutest ~ sweetest packaging

if you can believe it ~ I only opened it the next morning

as I wanted a picture before I opened it

the little tag was adorable

I absolutely love it!

big thanks go out to both Mikal & Laura!!

So you can see why I am feeling blessed today

and thankful for such wonderful people in my life

another thing I am thankful for today

is vacation

yes ~ 2 glorious weeks off

I am a happy girl!

We are headed to the cottage for some work

yes ~ we are finally getting the sill replaced

I will be documenting everything

and cooking for the crew

along with keeping the beer cold!

Have a fabulous holiday week-end everyone

and I will catch up with you all next week.

Summertime

Hello lovelies
Happy Monday!

This week-end was all that summer promised it would be
we had sunshine ~ lots of sunshine
and warm temperatures
it truly was a perfect one

after errands and chores were completed on Saturday
I whipped up a batch of the drink I posted about here

I used a bottle of Peach Chardonney
(from my secret stash)
and 2 cans of Fresca
added a cut up peach and some blueberries
and proceeded to sit on the deck and enjoy

it was refreshing ~ so good in fact
that I think I will make it again next week-end
but I will make it earlier and let it sit for a bit...

we watched a movie Saturday night
which is a rarity for us ~ so that was nice

Sunday afternoon we visited a friend who was home
from out of town ~ lots of laughs and catching up to do
it is always nice to reconnect

it will be a busy one this week
trying to get some stuff done around the house
and cleaning up things at work as I have
some time off coming up

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Winner of the giveaway was entry #2

Lou over at Lou, Boos and Shoes

I know you have jetted off on holiday so email me

upon your return and I will get it ordered for you!

Congrats to you!


Now last but certainly not least I ask a favor
of each of you..

Please click here and just leave a comment
you do not have to write a paragraph ~ a "hi" will be
sufficient as for every comment they receive from
Aug 12th to the 18th
they will receive $1.00
spread the word for this sweet boy.
 

Wishing you all a wonderful week.
Hugs!