The Offical Mad Tea Party & Giveaway

Ha, well, things again took a change of course for me, but, as usual, I managed to find a way to work with it. Yesterday, Hubby called from work and asked if I would like to go out to eat with a friend of his and his wife. Well, I don't know what gal is going to pass up an opportunity to have someones else cook dinner for her and her family, LOL!! So, of course, I said "Yes". So, off we went to Destin and Outback. But never fear, I always have a back up plan (and for future reference, if there is to be a party on such-n-such day, have the party a few days BEFORE the date and post the pictures of the party on the appointed day, Duh!!) My Mad Tea has now become a Breakfast/Brunch Tea.

None of it fancy, but all of it good...

I made some pigs in a blanket...

enjoyed by all...

some local wildflowers that stopped by...

Orange Breakfast Rolls...

Blueberry Lemon Soda (YUM!!) and Sunny D for my hunny :0) ...(like my cool Moroccan glasses I snagged at a yard sale?)

a nice breezy morning...

to take a nap.


Thank you for stopping by our party. I do have a little goody basket that I will be giving to one lucky person that leaves me a comment on this post. Some Strawberry-Boysenberry Tea, a bottle of the Blueberry Lemon soda, a Lemon Chiffon handpoured candle and a few pieces of vintage crockery. (I'll add a picture later, after nap time :0) A fun Summer-Time treat, from our house to you!!

We're Late...But Not Really

Well, this little bunny isn't so much as late, as well, just has too many cookies on her plate. Today is the very last soccer game of the season and there will be an awards banquet afterwards, all taking place right in the middle of the day.

Time is a very funny thing,

You plan and plan but have to leave room to work in the unexpected. And sometimes, the unexpected things are the most fun and leave the best memories!


So, although the preparations are well under way,


Bowls are ready to be filled,

Goodies are ready for a winner ( I will be offering a giveaway)

And the flowers are awaiting the festivities,


this party will be starting a little later than most. But I wanted to have a late afternoon party anyway, outside on the porch, with flickering lights and a little cooler breeze. And for all of those attending, this just works out better. So, join me later for my magical little gathering. I can't wait!! In the meantime, hop over to Ms. Vanessa's to visit some other Mad Tea Parties going on.

Hard Rock Job

Busy, busy. That's the word of the day. Hunny Bunny has a job interview tomorrow in Biloxi. We are leaving tonight for Mobile. We'll spend the night there and then in the morning, he'll drive over for the interview. I'm very nervous about this becuase it's not a company I feel very confident about, but the offer is one of those that you just can't refuse. He also had an interview last week with his current company for a promtion job that I am praying about. Don't want to say too much (I'm superstitious :0) But prayers that he goes with the right company would be greatly appreciated.

Hope everyone had a Happy Father's day. We had a few things going on so left the house kinda early. Ended up in Destin and had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. I started collecting lapel pins a long time ago and haven't added any to my collection latetly. Hard Rock is one of the few places that carries them. I try to pick them up with the name of the city/destination on it. So I got this one.

I know it's from Valentine's Day, but I've always had a thing for hearts and it does have the year and Destin on it.

We also stopped at Bass Pro Shops. Just for the record, we are not into hunting or fishing. Charlie would love to own a boat (sometime in his life) but we were just out enjoying the day. The store was huge and had a ton of stuff to do with the kids.

Dane really enjoyed this. Didn't quite know what to do, but there were employees standing in the water with all the kids the whole time.

I would like to thank everyone who stopped by for the Junk Party last week. Kennesha has mentioned that she had such a good turnout that she might be hosting it monthly. That should be just enough incentive to get a lot of my PUC's (projects under construction) completed. And don't forget about the Mad Tea Party hosted by the ever faboulous Vanessa on Saturday, June 27. I'm planning of have a giveway that day, so be sure to drop by and say "Hi!".

I think we are going to turn the slip n' slide on for a few mintues and play in the water. What else is there to do when it's over 100 degress outside?!?

Junk Party

Kennesha at Me & My House is hosting a blog party today. The theme is to show off your Before and After projects. This is just right up my alley, so let's begin!!

In a very recent post, I showed the round table and birdcage that I had been working on, but realized that I didn't have "Before & After", so here they are.

The table was a throw-away from a neighbor back in Tallahassee.

Before

After




This was my grandmother's birdcage. Since her death, I have become overly possessive of all of her items, so I really wanted to keep this in good order. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the metal was in desperate need of a paint job.

Before

I thought I would like the yellow color, but after helping Hubby re-stripe his parking lot, the yellow lost it's appeal. But I waited a week, and I think the color will look good with all the reds and greens that I have.



The buffet was another piece that I purchased in Tallahassee. I have a picture (somewhere) of the before, but it's nothing unusual. Just plain ole Jane white. This was my first time using the color wash technique stuff from Lowes. I think it turned out okay. I kept telling myself that I needed to go back and get the solid pieces above the doors, but I think I like it solid.

This is a piece of particle board that belonged to some kind of piece of furniture that someone throw out on the side of the woods. I was looking for something to paint, because I had an idea in mind of what I wanted to do, but wasn't sure how it would turn out. And so you'll know, it was a based on the works of Melissa Brownlow Kay .

After

And I thought I would show a few more projects that are awaiting some inspiration.

I found this large mirror sitting against a tree back in Tallahassee with the words "FREE" spray painted on it. (see Pickle Girl at the door?)

The same day that I found the particle board piece, I also found this HEAVY piece of lumber. I actually have an idea for it....

And one more piece of throwaway junk. I absolutely LOVE this bench! I know it is super old. I'm thinking staining a little dark and then recovering the seat with an leopard print, or some really cool old vintage red velvet fabric.

Seven Years of Martital Bliss

Saturday, June 13, was our 7 year wedding anniversary and while not absolute bliss,I would say overall we are both pretty happy with each other. Although I know that we both know exactly how to drive each other batty!! For the evening, we drive to Mobile and my SIL watched the kids while the two of us went on a nice dinner cruise at Bellingrath Gardens.

From the brochure:

"Our cruises at Bellingrath Gardens take you on a pleasant journey down the calm waters of the Fowl River (River of Birds). Enjoy the sounds and sights of osprey, pelicans, blue herons, egrets, seagulls, song birds and migrating species in their natural habitat. The surrounding estuary environment is a mix of fresh artesian well water and salt water, and is home to a diverse populations of plant and wildlife. Complimenting the river's natural environment, are gracious homes and estates that harken back to the days of the romantic south and reflect the rich history of the Civil War. "


We had a great time. I had expected there to only be a handful of people, but the boat had a large business party and then there were a number of couples, like ourselves. And I'm not sure if it was because I was extra hungry or not, but the food was really good. It was catered by Banana Docks Cafe, a local favorite in Mobile.

Looking at the river.

One of the MANY homes I would love to live in!!

A family of osprey's (sorry it's so blurry-they were pretty far away and it was past dusk)



On the way home, Charlie told me that he had a really nice time. I think it turned out better than we expected. So, 7 years are in the books. Time to start working on #8!!!

Painting Trip

School is finally out and it has been a BUSY week!! I have some many little projects going, I don't know if I'm coming or going!!!

Going to try and share a few real quick since I am waiting on Hunnybunny to come home and then we are off for a quick trip to Mobile.
Which brings me to one of the projects. I had to borrow my parents truck so that I could make a final trip back to Tallahassee to pick up the last of our stuff from the old house. Due to the trip being so long, I had to wait until either a weekend or until Dane got out of school. Plus the fact that I had to take the trailer with me and no vehicle we own right now has a trailer hitch, I was at the mercy of anyone who would let me borrow their ride. Finally, I had to make a decsision and ask my parents if I could borrow theirs. The catch was I had to drive to Mobile to pick it up. So on Monday of this week, I drove to Mobile, approximately 200 miles (round trip). Then on Tuesday, the kids & I drove to Tally, another 360 miles (round trip). But I am glad to say that it's done. All of my stuff is here, I have no more ties to Tallahassee. Hip, Hip, Horray!!! It is a tremendous weight off my shoulders. And the house in now at the mercy of the bank. It's time for me to focus on my family and what we have together and how we can put our life back together. Life will go on. And I'm going to make sure that it goes on in the direction that Charlie and I want it to go. Not the direction the mortgage company, credit card company, car company or anyone else thinks we should go. There is still one final step and I'm hoping that by the end of the month, that will be finalized and put behind us. And I believe I will buy a bottle of Champagne to celebrate!!!

A few of the other projects I have been working on all consist of painting. I have my grandmothers old birdcage and stand that she had for years. I debated on what color to paint it since the last color was black, I wanted something more cheerful. So I took a chance on a can of spray paint "Bahaus Gold" or something or other. Don't like it. Last week, Charlie had a visit from a Regional VP and asked if I could help him paint. Of course, I said "Yes, dear." After getting to his work, I told me he needed the yellow stripes repainted in the parking lot!!! I have to admit, it was my first time to strip a parking lot! And my last!! But the yellow of the birdcage reminds me of the yellow strips, so I must pick another color. I was thinking red...hummm.

The other thing I was painting is a little table I rescued from the trash. It did a little fun painting on it & have taken it to the shop to sell. I'm anxious to see if anyone likes it :0)

Hunnybunny is home...off to the road~!!

Join Me for a Party

The Ever Fun-loving gypsy, Vanessa, at A Fanciful Twist is hosting her second annual Mad Tea Party on June 27, 2009. And I am more than happy to be joining in all the revelry! I'm even planning on have a give-away on that day. Still working out the details on that.

I had mentioned earlier this year that I was finding myself in a "blogging slump" and I believe that this is just the ticket to get myself back into the groove! I hope to me may of my old friends here for the party as well as some new faces - and new friends! So go mark your calendar and find that wonderful Gypsy outfit that you just love but would never leave the house in (because, you don't have to leave the house for this party!!!). As Vanessa says, we are gonna party like it 1865!! Photo courtesy of Gypsyville.com

Whatca' Gonna Do When They Come For You...

I am hoping that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day. I know I had a nice little weekend. Mine started on Saturday evening when Charlie got off from work. After coming home & changing, I was chauffeured to Ft. Walton Beach where my sweet Hubby knew exactly what my favorite dinner in the world would be...crab cakes. So we drove to the Crab Shack and were able to walk out to the back deck & sit looking out over the water and see all of the watercraft and sea birds. And the meal was excellent. I actually ate too much LOL!!! Then we stopped at Blockbuster and purchased a few Previously Viewed movies. Again, Hubby knew what I liked and so I got to see my cutie movie-boyfriend Mark Walhberg in Max Payne :0)
Sunday was actually a very nice day for me because I was able to get some items on my "Honey-Do" list taken care of. And we were able to spend the day together, working side by side. And while on a trip to Lowe's for some much-needed items, I took a quick peak in the garden section & found a beautiful coral-colored geranium on the sale rack. So I got a beautiful flower for Mother's Day also!!
As of today, I have now walked 12 miles this week, 3 miles per day. And still nothing. So I'm going to have to resort to different measures. I'm thinking about going Tae Bo. Charlie has experience with this back in his days of Martial Arts. We had started trying to do some excerices together in the evenings since we had purchased a Wii Fit. But through some sort of mess up, we got out of the routine. Maybe if we can alternate between the Wii Fit and the Tae Bo, we can have a good workout and some family fun. And now Dane has started soccer practice, his first game will be this Saturday. Charlie has gone to his last twp practices and I'm not sure who is getting the most out of them, husband or son!!! I think Charlie totally loves being out there with the kids.

And for any of you out there that does have a Wii Fit, an infant, and a cell phone. The three don't mix. This is what happened. We were taking turns on the balance board. It was Charlies' turn and I was sitting in a chair, kinda in my own world (LOL) and had pressed "Key Lock" on my phone, since Gracyn has a habit of finding it & playing with it. Well, I'm just staring at the t.v., oblivious to anything else, when Charlie dives off the balance board and snatches the phone from Gracyn. Then I hear him telling the other person on the phone, "I'm so sorry, she's a baby and was playing with the phone. No Sir, there is no problem, we are all fine. Yes ,Sir, she's just a baby. Yes Sir, someone is here. Our address is... " By this time, I'm fully awake. My mouth is hanging open and I'm starting to get that cold sweat. I look over at Gracyn, she's just laughing. My daughter just called 911!!!!! At 10 o'clock at night!!! All of us are in our p.j.'s. Charlie runs and puts some sweatpants on. And within a few minutes, we hear a siren. And it gets closer and closer. Charlie and I are both looking at each other. I keep thinking, this can't be happening. And then the siren goes past our street. But both of us are still shaking, and it's not because we really didn't anything wrong. But just the adrenaline. A few minutes later, I hear Charlie and Dane both say, "They're Here." Like from Poltergeist. And all of us head out the door, in our pajamas. Thank the Lord, it was a woman, a mother. And when we told her what had happened, she just laughed and said that it happens a lot but that they have to check it out anyway. We apologized profusely and told her we were sorry she even had to come out. But she was very gracious about it. So remember: Wii, infant, cell phone = Bad ending.

Kitchen Containers

A few weeks ago, I stopped at a yard sale and found a few goodies. One of the things that I purchased was this old piece of pottery for 25 cents. Too good to pass up but not quite sure what purpose I had for it. After sitting on my desk for a few days, it finally dawned on me what a perfect job it could have. To be the new Cinnamon Sugar shaker!

I believe that it was a part of a salt and pepper set, but there was only one. And it is rather large, measuring a little over 5 inches tall. Here it is sitting with my current cinnamon sugar
dispenser and a normal set of salt and pepper shakers. If anyone has any more information about this piece, I'd be glad to hear it. Now the only thing to finish this project off will be to find some cork stoppers for the bottom.

And I thought that I would share some other pictures of unique containers that I use in the kitchen.

Here on top of my stove, I have my cute little vampire salt & pepper set. I've had these two for a long time and would use them for cooking. But I have since started using a small bowl for salt to sprinkle in the pasta water or to add a little taste. In the tomato shaker, I have Morton's Natures' Seasoning which I love to use on almost everything!

These are in my pantry. I have a vintage sugar and flour containers from the '40's that I use. The sugar container gets used almost daily, since all Dane & I drink is Sweet Tea. The tin in the middle holds my long grain rice, and the container on the right holds Bisquick. I love to make Garlic Cheese Biscuits...yum!

The rice container was purchased a long time ago from Tuesday Morning. I love the "Save the Dragons" logo!

Hope you had fun looking in my kitchen! Still trying to find a home for everything. I would like to start hanging my few pieces of Transferware up, but the only availabe wallspace is right beside the garage door and the wall shakes, so I'm hesitant on putting plates on that wall. And I need to purchase a tension rod to hang up some curtains. But slowly things are coming together to make our happy home.

Crestview Classics Car Show 2009

Where in the world does the time go? Here, I just said we were going to a car show tomorrow, and here it is a week later and I STILL haven't posted any pictures. But get ready, 'cause here they come!

Welcome to the Spanish Trail Cruisers 9th Annual Timeless Classics Car Show...

Looking down Main Street...cars and people as far as you could see.

Some people really went all-out! This young lady was selling T-shirts for the event and I promised I would buy one if she would let me take her picture!!

Even Barney Fife showed up in Crestview!!

A pink Bug~~cute


This car had little babies...

Nice

One of my favorites. "His & Hearse"

Inside the Hearse

And this pretty thing got to come home with...

this!! Yes, all of Charlie's hard work paid off by being voted the best "Every Day Driver"!! We were all so proud of him!

Overall, the event lasted all day but was lots of fun. I got to go on my first Poker Run which was a blast. All of us got sunburned, and my feet hurt like heck the next day. I must be getting old, because I couldn't take standing all day in flip flops. We meet some interesting people and we came home with a trophy!!! WooHoo!!!!