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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Sweet Spot Sunday: Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
I saw this image on pinterest and decided that it is an ingenious substitute to use zucchini instead of high-carb pasta in lasagna.  My husband is a type 1 diabetic so I am always on the lookout for healthy dinner ideas.  I am super lazy, though, so I didn't follow her recipe but I will try it her way next time.  I have to say that I liked it the way I made it also:

I cooked about 1 cup of chicken sausage (from Trader Joe's).  I put the cooked sausage into the bottom of a baking dish and added spaghetti sauce with that.  Then I layered on the thinly sliced zucchini adding more sauce and a bit of mozzarella cheese (it's what I had in the fridge) layering more zucchini and topping it with more sauce and cheese.  I baked mine in a 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Simple and delicious!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Minor Obsession: Black Beauty Table

We got back from our little road trip late Thursday evening.  We had a great time; I can't believe how beautiful Oregon and Washington are.  I mean gorgeous. Ridiculously beautiful.  Everywhere we looked it was green; such a far cry from the desert!  Of course, the trip was made even better because we got to visit with good friends.  And shop without tax. That was a pretty beautiful thing too.
So one of the things I came home to was the delivery of the new rug for my formal living room.  I actually don't want it to be really formal, so at Rebecca's suggestion, I got a zebra print rug to add a little fun to the space.  I also came back to the new Traditional Home magazine.  There was an article on the O'More Show House, where 17 designers worked on spaces.  My favorite was a table in the breakfast room done by Jonathon Savage.


Isn't that space gorgeous? I am so in love with that table! And ever since Rebecca suggested I get a round table for my kitchen area, I have been obsessed!  I absolutely love the detail on this table.

Look at the detail on that table.  It is by Bunny Williams, and it is available through Jonathan Savage, who sells  pieces that he uses in his designs.

Buy it here.
Source:
taigan.com via Lori on Pinterest
So, so, so beautiful, isn't it? And so affordable at only $4,800.  What a steal, huh?!  That Bunny Williams knows her stuff.
Hope you're all having a great weekend!
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Friday, June 28, 2013

Friday's Fancies: Beach Classics

beach classics



Seafolly swimsuit, $135 / Roksanda Ilincic 1 piece swim suit / Lalù gold handbag, $37 / Mango cateye sunglasses, $15

It's blazing hot here in the desert so we need to escape to the beach. These are a few bathing suits I would actually wear to play with my kids and walk around in at the beach without worrying how I look in comparison to the 18 year old in the string bikini. Not that I do anyway. I feel that classic beach attire always wins glamour--and comfort--points no matter what your age. I am linking up with Long Distance Loving and her friday's fancies "beachy chic" theme. There are some really great looks on there today (as always). Stay cool out there!
 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

On the Road Again

The Cat and I are headed back to California today after a very fun week spent in Oregon and Washington.  It is going to be a VERY long drive in the car, but since we are with good friends it will be fun.  
Lots of fun typography prints to be had from Chloe Vaux
I figured since we are leaving so early, this print would be the perfect thing to share with you today.      How fun would it be in the right kitchen space?!


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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Wednesday Pinsday

Maybe it's because my kids are home for summer vacation or because we just finished celebrating my daughter's 5th birthday but, whatever it is, I have kids on the brain.  Pinterest always has great ideas to inspire overachieving mommies like me!  I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple again today:)

This is a cute idea! Sidewalk chalk portraits. :-)
Such a fun photo idea!
Rebecca Iverson on pinterest via themommytimes.net
So cute for a little girl's room.
have big dreams
Pinterest via thegrassskirtblog
Rebecca Iverson on pinterest via marthamoments
River rocks in a box + garden hose = clean feet.  Placed in the sun will heat the stones as well.  Great for washing dirty feet before going inside.
Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Be Back Soon

The Cat and I are still off on our road trip, taking in all the natural beauty in Oregon and Washington.  Coming from the desert, it is crazy to see so much greenery everywhere we look.  It's ridiculously beautiful and we are enjoying every minute of it!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Inspiration: Potted Succulents

I've wanted a few urns filled with succulents on my back patio for a while now.  Since I live in the desert I think it's nice to have a nod to that fact somewhere in my landscape, since I typically ignore the fact and have tons of grass and trees, boxwood and roses.  I'm liking succulents even more since I found some of these inspiration photos.  No cactus, though, please.  I will never like them...such unfriendly little beasts:)
pinterest via accordingtolea
The mix of an old world urn filled with succulents really appeals to me.
The colors are so pretty!
How gorgeous is this?  I find that I really like the spilling- over effect of this arrangement. 
pinterest via knightmovesblog
I love the idea of a few individual potted succulents as little accents indoors like this one.
What do you think?  Are you liking succulents too?

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sweet Spot Sunday: Black and White and Red All Over

The Major and the Minor
image via
Since the Cat and I are still on vacation, I thought I would just do a quick post on one of my favorite movies, The Major and the Minor.  I can't remember the first time I actually saw this movie- way, way back when I stayed home from school one day, maybe.  But I love it.  It stars Ginger Rogers as Sue-Sue Applegate, a small town girl who tried to make it in New York only to realize the city was too big and she wanted to go home.  The problem arises when she goes to buy a train ticket, only to discover the fares have gone up and she doesn't have enough money.  She solves the problem by pretending to be a kid (hence the minor) to get a discounted price.  Mayhem ensues when she makes it onto the train and in order to hide from a suspicious conductor, ducks into the car of Major Kirby.
It is a super cute movie and I love it and I love that Rebecca bought me a copy of it for my birthday.  I had it on tape, but no longer have a working VCR, so I was so happy to receive a dvd of the movie.  And a bottle of Lindemans Framboise in raspberry.  This is my kind of beer; have you tried it?  Rebecca introduced me to it a while ago, and it is delicious, people.  They sell it at Trader Joe's and BevMo.  Go forth and purchase some- raspberry and cherry (kriek) are my favorites, but there are other flavors too.  It pairs perfectly with an old black and white movie, by the way!
image via

image via

image via
image via

image via
I recommend taking the time to watch the movie.  And drinking the beer.  Trust me!

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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Gwenna's Pony Party


Invitation from 3 little monkey studio via etsy.com

I promised that I would post the details of my daughter Gwenna's 5th birthday party but, I warn you, this is a picture heavy post.  For my daughter's 5th birthday I knew I wanted it to be special.  Last summer we spent in Montana and Gwenna just loved riding horses, so a horse themed party was a natural!  I then chose to use jadeite green, buttercup yellow and lavender for a country fresh color palette.  The trick was to mix girly elements with the rustic.  I had a lot of help implementing my ideas (and the ideas I got from pinterest). My mom and my mother in law helped tremendously and it was so much fun! There is nothing over-done or fancy about this party; which is perfect with the rustic theme anyway.  Despite the ridiculous wind, the kids had so much fun and it was a very special celebration that I know Gwenna, and our family, will always remember.
 I am linking up with tip junkie today so that I can share some of my ideas here and also check out a few other homemade parties!

Photo on the back of the invitation.  
An extra stick horse welcomes guests.
I purchased this horse door-knock at a local antique store months ago.  When I decided on a pony theme for Gwenna's party I remembered that most wreath bases are made of straw...perfect!  All I had to do was tie bits of ribbon in the complementary colors onto the wreath and hang it up!

In the entryway, I hung a shadowbox of equestrian show ribbons (mine) and a storybook "Ponyella" for guests to write birthday wishes in as well as a pretty arrangement.

The treat table was packed with themed goodies!  My mom made everything from scratch.  I came up with the idea to use little horses and scrap book paper for saddles with the names of the goodies written on them.
My husband made the sign on the table out of old fence boards.  A bit of rope stapled on created the "5" and a few spray painted horse shoes where then nailed in.
I tied ribbon onto the curtain rod and then hot-glued sparkly stars and knotted gold sprayed horse-shoes onto it to create a back-drop for the dessert table.

I didn't get a chance to try the apple and cherry pies, but my husband said they were his favorite things.

I did try these caramel apple cupcakes and I was hooked.  Amazing.  My dad recently cut down a tree in their yard and gave me these stump pieces that I made into a cupcake stand.

the cake pops were a huge hit with the kids!
The cake was one of my very favorite things.  It was carrot cake, of course.
five little ponies pranced around the boarder of the cake with five little candles.  I hot-glued earring posts to the horses and pushed the candles onto them.  Super easy.

More treats:  The coconut hay-bales and horse shoe meringues where so yummy!

I can't forget the berry cream-puffs!
We served dinner and I was so lucky that my brother agreed to make his fabulous (and I mean totally mouth watering) tri-tip.  We also had mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, cole-slaw, fruit salad and pasta salad.

Lemonade filled pony cups for the kiddos were so much fun.




My mom made all the tissue balls and paper rounds here.  I made the fabric garlands.  Easy and rustic.

I hung a few spray painted horse shoes from the chandelier.  Snap dragons in spray painted mason jars (color: pistachio) completed the country centerpiece.  

Gwenna poses with her stick horse (made by grandma).


Each child picked their own horse that they were able to take home as a party favor.
My mom did such an amazing job on these horses!  They were each unique and handmade with love.
The mantle featured more paper pin wheals along with jade colored Mason jars filled with sunflowers and a few Bryer horses from my childhood.
The happy birthday girl in a handmade dress from her Grandma Sue!  Cowgirl boots (you can see in other pictures) from her Grandma "G"
A sweet moment with daddy!
All of us before the party.
The backyard was decked out in flag bunting.  Games such as horse-shoes, bean bag toss, and a stick horse obstacle course were set up.  Pony rides were the main event, though--thanks to Grandpa Fred!
I made this "pony ride" banner out of stenciled fabric and chalk board fabric stung onto ribbon.

Yes, my mom made everything here, even the bean bags that look like hay bales. 
  We had to play horseshoes! 
Left over mason jars had wire twisted onto them and a few flowers added to create hanging arrangements.

It was 106 degrees out so more lemonade was in order!
Check out this little cutie!

Between the stick horses and the real things, this party was a hit!  The wind tried to rain on our parade but failed.

One last party favor were these bandanas:  Mustaches for the boys and lips for the girls.  I had dreams of a mass photo with all the kids wearing there bandanas and with their stick horses, but it didn't happen.  Oh well.
Thank you so much Grandmas' Sue and Jeanne for all you did to make this day special and memorable!

Thank you, Kyungmoo Ryu, for the wonderful photos!  You are amazing!
Happy birthday to my sweet, and gorgeous little girly!  Love you baby Gwennie.


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