A little bling

Need some way to spice up a pair of blah white shoes?  Cotton and Curls has you covered.  Check out this great DIY!

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Bunny Parade DIY

Here is my latest DIY project for our dining room table.  Really easy and I think they are just adorable!  I apologize for the lack of production shots but here is the final product:

I picked up the bunnies at Pier One and the little pots are from JoAnne Fabrics.  All I did was take some floral foam and place it inside each pot, stuck the bunny into the foam and covered with Spanish moss.  I secured the moss with some hot glue and viola!  Bunny topiaries!

Have you had any fun, seasonal DIYs recently?

Some Green

I was supposed to post about our weekend adventure yesterday and decided to hold off until our little landscaping project is done...hopefully by the end of the week;-)  Stay tuned and be ready to be amazed!


So no sneak peek at the garden today, sorry, but how about some indoor greenery?  In addition to our new plants outside I would love to have some plants inside.   


I saw months ago in Martha Stewart's Living Magazine an article about dwarf Meyer Lemon trees and fell in love with them.  They are spunky, fresh, and actually create lemons!  Martha says to get them from Four Winds Growers and make sure to get 2-3 year old trees.  Look how fun!

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Also, today while browsing the blogs I came across this little patch of green over at Apartment Therapy.  Not only would it be a lovely way to incorporate some plant life into your indoor space but there is no dirt required!  I have to admit with two cats potted plants  worry me a little.  The idea that they may decide to go dig in the plant and then track dirt all over the house is not my ideal scenario.  Solution: dirtless planting.  The kit pictured below is a little pricey at $59 but I am sure there is a more cost effective way to achieve the same affect.

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Do you have house plants?  What kinds?  Any ideas on how to grow plants without the dirt?

For Love, With Japan

There are no words to describe the current devastation in Japan.


For Love, With Japan was created by Lucia from Utterly Engaged and Lydia from Ever Ours and you too can help.  If you are a blogger please join in the bloggers day of silence tomorrow to raise awareness and if you can donate to the cause every little bit helps no matter how small or great!  The funds go straight to Shelterbox an organization that delivers boxes of essentials to those affected by disaster.  

If you are a blogger and want more information on how to participate click here.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

As promised here is the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  The turned out fabulous and were a huge hit at work!  Happy baking and hope you enjoy your Saint Patrick's Day!

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1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4	to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
6	to 8 drops green food color
1	egg
1	cup creme de menthe baking chips (I used chopped Andes Mints)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chunks Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks. Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Springing Forward (into spring)

So clocks were turned back this weekend, our spring storms have rolled in and the temperatures are going to soar into the low 70s this weekend...sounds like spring to me.  One thing we have not touched since moving into the house is the landscaping and let me tell you it has moved to the top of my priority list.  Our grass is half dead and I can only hope for a miracle in the way of coming back to life.  In addition to this one of the bushes in the front of the house is half dead (I think it got sun scorched last year).  Our backyard is a whole other story but one thing at a time, right?  So front yard 1st!  

I went to HGTV for some inspiration and saw this beautiful landscaping!

via HGTV Rate my Space

Is it not lovely?  Lush, colorful, looks wild enough where if I don't weed every weekend no one will notice, and will eliminate some of my dead grass issues.

Here is OUR front yard (prior to move in, with no dead grass and no dead bush):

personal pic

Not awful but sort of blah, at least in my opinion.

Now!  Here is the front yard "enhanced".  I have to apologize for my poor photoshop job, it was quick and sloppy but you get the idea.

personal photo + enhancements

What do you think?  Better or worse than the blah front yard?  Granted this will have to happen in stages: #1 plants are expensive and #2 I am just not that much of a gardener.  

Let me know what you think and other ideas you may have that will turn our blah front yard into a knock out. 

Do you have big gardening plans for this spring?  I would love to hear them!

St. Patty's Day Treats

Looking forward to Saint Patrick's Day?  Do you have any special treats you like to make?  This year I will be making mint chocolate chip cookies to take into the office (recipe coming tomorrow - stay tuned:-) )

Here are some tasty treats some fellow bloggers have shared for the occasion.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Guinness Pudding

Green Tea Cake

Spinach Ice Cream

Minty Goodness

I LOVE seasonal beverages and the Shamrock Shake from McDonald's is no exception.  When living up north it was a day I anticipated all year - the day the Shamrock Shakes hit the shake dispenser.  Once moving south the tasty beverage has left my life, according to B it is a regional thing.  Which part is regional?  The love of a minty shake?  The idea of Saint Patrick's Day?  

I was hopeful of locating this sweet treat on the Find the Shake website where people from all over the US can write where they have spotted this green concoction but sadly it appears this drink is as hard to locate as the leprechaun himself.  Other Tennessee fans have even gone so far as to call all of the surrounding McDonald's but sadly none have appeared.

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Anywho, I have not had a Shamrock Shake in about three years and was very excited to see that Martha had posted this recipe.  I have not tried it yet but here it is:

Homemade Shamrock Shake
Makes 1
1                cup vanilla or chocolate ice cream
3/4             cup whole milk
1/8             teaspoon pure mint extract
Green food coloring (optional)
Garnish: whipped cream and a cherry

Blend ice cream, milk, and mint extract in a blender until smooth. Pulse with a few drops green food coloring to tint. Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.

SERVING IDEA Spike vanilla shakes with a shot of crème de menthe and chocolate shakes with a shot of Irish whiskey. (It’s in honor Saint Patrick’s Day, after all!)

Do you have Shamrock Shakes where you live?

Back in the 'ville

Yes, it is true, I am back from my meeting in Orlando.  The weather was beautiful and we stayed on Mickey's back porch but sadly there was no time with the mouse himself.  I have to say I am thrilled to be home but so very ready for the weekend.  


While in Disney I noticed a lot of people sporting their TOMS.  I have seen people wearing them before but was never 100% sure of what I thought but the more and more TOMS I saw walking around the more I started to like them.  Not to mention they look more comfortable than words can describe.


So I hopped over to the TOMS website today to check them out.  I was surprised how costly they were BUT that price does pay for two pairs of shoes.  The one pair on your feet and the one pair they are sending to a child in need, an amazingly cool concept.  


I have not committed to jumping on the TOMS bandwagon but here are a few styles that I have a little shoe crush on.

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Does anyone already own a pair?  How do you like them?

wee little bit 2

I have not been very good at keeping up with leigh ashley's "a wee bit of me Wednesdays" but here are her questions for the week.

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?don't wear holey jeans, I did buy a pair pre-torn in college to go out in but I have not had them in years
{two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?HA! I try to but sadly it very rarely happens usually because of being up late working on something or up early to head into work or a middle of the night "kitten alarm" (a kitten meowing as loud as possible in my ear)
{three} what’s your favorite way to eat an oreo?soaked in milk, whole cookie in the glass until good and soggy 
{four} do you wear shoes in your house?Shoes in the house is a big no, no for me.  I grew up in a shoe free household and I like it that way.  In addition to being trained to take off my shoes at the door both B and I work in a chemistry lab setting, stuff gets spilled and I don't want all of that junk on my floors at home!
{five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?ummm....Bruce and then probably my mom and dad
{six} have you ever been in a food fight?no, never
{seven} do you snore?I have been told yes, I am still sticking with no I don't but Bruce would be a better judge of that
{eight} do you know how fast you type?fast but I do not know the words per minute anymore
{nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?no, I have always been too scared 
{ten} how do you like your popcorn?soaked in butter!  I know not healthy but oh so good - movie theater butter is really the best!

hodge:podge - Ikea Hack Feature

As you may remember I shared my ikea nightstand hack a month or so ago and I am pleased to announce that it has been featured over at hodge:podge in a rast nightstand hack round up.  I am thrilled to be a part of this round up and am even more honored to be amongst the other outstanding hacks featured!


Here are some of the beautiful nightstands:  

Welcome to My Home

Marcus Design

hodge:podge

Want to see more?  Click over to hodge:podge to read the full post!

Happy March!

via That's Happy