Sarah Cain Designs Giveaway

I came home this week with this beauty waiting in my mailbox!

It’s a stunning jersey knit scarf with a beautiful altered peony broach from

Sarah Cain Designs!

I love it!!!! It’s a little rustic, a little whimsical & a lot beautiful!

Sarah has graciously offered to do a giveaway for my readers for one Scarf & Broach set!

So to win your choice of a Scarf & Broach head over to Sarah Cain Designs and leave a comment below telling me your favorite set! (Be sure to leave me a way to contact you)

For a chance at extra entries….

~ Follow my blog & leave a separate comment letting me know!

~ Blog about this giveaway on your own blog with a link back to this post, then send me the link in a comment!

Giveaway will close 1 week from today!

Enjoy checking out the fabulous scarves!

Pantry Parade

 

I am convinced the only way to have a neat, pretty kitchen is to have a pantry!

My small galley kitchen has 11/2 feet of counter space separated by a sink & no that isn’t a typo. I have one small cabinet under my counter that is usable and 4 above my sink, the middle two have no second shelf in them. About a year ago I purchased two of these…..

Great for use in a pantry but not the best looking thing for an organized looking kitchen. It just looks like shelving that I have piled stuff on.

But alas a girl can dream & pray that when I find my dream home, it will come equipped with a beautiful LARGE pantry like these…

www.womansday.com

www.orgoptions.com

http://thehomeexecutive.wordpress.com

www.visiondecor.net

www.mcivercustomhomes.com

Cozy Spaces

I have always been a sucker for a little niche to snuggle in. When I was a teenager I had a pampasan chair that my mom would often find me huddled in instead of my bed. There is just something about a cozy space…

Photos from Coastal Living

Confessions of a non-foodie

I love food…..

BUT

to say that I am a picky eater is probably a major understatement, especially when it comes to vegetables. My list of veggies that I like and prepare is limited..

corn

green beans

potatoes

sweet potatoes

butter beans

cabbage (usually only cook it about twice a year)

& lettuce.

Yes sadly that is about it. Every now & then hubs can talk me into some frozen broccoli, zucchini, canned asparagus or black eyed peas or carrots in a roast. So part of my resolve for health this year is finding vegetables that I like and are easy to prepare.

I have found my first one!

Acorn Squash!! picture via Food Network

I compared tons of recipes then ventured off on my own. Here’s what I did….

Preheat oven 375 degrees.

Cut the acorn squash in half & scoop out seeds.

Rub the inside of each half with 1/2 TBSP butter and sprinkle lightly with salt & then a little heavier with light brown sugar.

Place in a small casserole dish (to keep them from tipping over and spilling out the butter)

Cook for 45 minutes.

Turn oven up to 400 degrees and cook another 15 min.

Yummy!

Acorn Squash has a very mild flavor (great for picky eaters).

So what are some of your favorite easy to prepare veggies for picky eaters?

320 Sycamore

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As promised I am sharing my favorite blogs with you this new year. So first up is Melissa from

 

Melissa’s home is chocked full of inspiration, ideas & darling vignettes.

My intention was to share with you some of my favorite posts from 320 Sycamore, but folks, to do this I would essentially have to just repost Melissa’s blog but here are a few of my favorites from this past Christmas.

Oh and might I mention that her home was decorated this beautifully even though she was moving during Christmas!!!!!! Can’t wait to see how she decorates the new home!

Beautiful garland!

I LOVE this box of balls so much that I already have next years tree planned and I hope to get started on the decorations for it in January (Its ok…….go ahead call me crazy)!

Very classic & elegant! Love a little earth with my bling!

One of her darling vignettes I was telling you about.

And just incase Christmas decorating isn’t enough to entice you, how about a little DIY home reno before and after….

before….

After….

If you don’t go check out Melissa over at 320 Sycamore you are SO missing out!

 

**All of these photos are property of Melissa @ 320 Sycamore***

2010 Resolution

Health

Hubs and I have been talking about resolutions for a few weeks now. During that time, Sarah @ Clover Lane had this inspiring post. Just in time to as my resolution list grows longer and longer. All of my resolutions seemed to revolve around a central theme luckily…….Health. Both my physical health & my spiritual health.

I have always been a “big girl” as long as I can remember. And probably 90% of the time it doesn’t bother me. But this year has been an eye-opener when it comes to health…..not size……HEALTH. At this point in my life, I don’t care if I ever get into a size 12…..yes that was once my goal, but I want to be healthy!!!

By the grace of God, I was born with a perfectly healthy body & over the years I have neglected that gift.

I think growing physically healthy will allow me to grow spiritually as well. Here are just a few verses that are helping me get a jump start!

 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

 

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

May you all have a very healthy 2010!

Best of 2009

I’m linking up to Blue Cricket Designs’ Best of 2009 Party!

Some of these you have already seen but there are two I didn’t post because I didn’t check my camera before I wrapped them to see if I got a decent picture. The first one was for our daughter, who first wanted to know where I bought it!!!! Talk about a compliment! She immediately began taking pictures of it to send her friends despite the pile of other presents she had sitting at her feet! It was still her favorite even after she unwrapped all of her presents including the Wii she has been wanting!

The others are for my nieces & nephews. They loved theirs too! But the look on our daughters face will stay with me!