Yesterday I spent the morning in the kitchen whipping up some goodness for our darling friends that just brought their newborn baby home. I had found a few delicious recipes online that I had been wanting to try and this was the perfect excuse.
Let's start with what is the most important...dessert.
Let me introduce you to peanut butter graham cracker balls...chocolately-peanut buttery goodness. Pure sin. So easy to do and a definite hit around here...Josh and I did a little bit of quality control in order to make sure these were 'safe' to give away. Safety first, people.
Peanut butter graham cracker balls from Baby Gizmo
Since I do understand that people eat more than just dessert (umm, why?!?), I did whip up some Southwest Chopped Chicken Salad from Greens and Chocolate. This is so yummy and easy to do.
I made a few modifications with mine based on the supplies that I had.
Trying to write today's blog I started thinking about what we have been up to lately. It's sort of a big blur. I have no idea where June went. Seriously. And now we are already on the second week of July. Wow.
So, we've been busy and going a lot lately. Maybe a little too much. My body has decided to revolt so we are slowing down a bit. Slowing way down actually...this weekend I did nothing. Seriously, nothing. It was fab!
So, catching up...sometimes I think it's easier to do this via pictures rather than a lot of text.
Let's go...
I made these amazing Hawaiian Barbeque Bacon Burgers recently. We made them with grass fed, organic beef...which is expensive, but let me tell you...we could tell a difference!! Such a delicious difference. Even Josh thought so. Awesome.
Oh, and grill some pineapple...it's so delish.
I'm in the middle of Grace for the Good Girl for my girl's bible study group. Great book especially for this recovering good girl. Read it. You can also find Emily's blog and discussion on the book here.
Rediscovered a few blogs that I really enjoy but was behind in reading...
Father's Day is coming up and we are all preparing around here. Kenzie and Katie got their baths and Cedric and Rose go to the groomers on Friday so that they'll look spiffy for Josh's day.
What? Well, yeah we celebrate Father's Day for Josh.
Ummmm...yes, I know they are just dogs.
There are all sorts of dads in this world. Josh just happens to be a dad to dogs, turkeys, and cows. He's pretty awesome at it too. The girls have saved their money and have bought him a pretty great Father's Day gift. They always spoil him. It's a bit ridiculous, I agree.
For those celebrating dads of daughters or sons, I found some really fun free printables from Poppytalk that you should certainly check out. The best thing about it is that they are downloadable and you can do them at home. So fun!
Remember that song that would get stuck in your head? The one from You Tube? Yeah, they played it this morning on TV and it's STUCK in my brain. Pray it goes away. Pray hard.
Just so you know, I never intended for this to be a once a week blog. I had dreams of blogging everyday. Promptly posting by 6am so that you could cruise over to Southern Grace while enjoying your coffee each morning, but...well...you know the reality.
Reality just keeps getting in the way. And, honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way right now.
Josh and I just feel really blessed right now. So immensely blessed. We are busy again. Finally.
Finally, after over a year of pain, doctors, depression, prayer filled mornings, sleepless nights, intense and expensive treatments, and a dependency on drugs to get me through each day...I'm pain free and feeling good. Actually, really good. It's amazing. It's a miracle. It's by God's grace and healing hand.
It's just freaking fabulous, really.
For the first time in a long time we are PLANNING again. For the past year we haven't been able to plan a Friday night date, a weekend away, or even dream about a vacation or trip because we didn't know how I would feel, if I would be able to travel or even move, or if I would be undergoing treatments. We are planning our anniversary week together, weekends at the coast and lake this summer, and a trip up to see my bro and sis-in-law in Virginia. It's very exciting.
Alright, just to recap the week...
Made these for a quick grab and go breakfast this week...
Read this blog in trying to figure out what to say and NOT say to a dear friend that has been trying to have a baby and is struggling right now...very helpful and made me freak out a little about how naive I am about getting prego and my upcoming birthday which involves the numbers 3 and 3. I'm not typing the actual number out or saying it aloud. Denial? Maybe.
Alright loves, I hope it's a fabulous weekend and that you spend a little time doing this...
Since Easter does get turned into a commercial holiday so much of time, filled with bunnies, eggs, baskets, and treats, I believe it's important to reflect on what the holiday is really about. Now, I know that this can difficult to do with little guys around but sharing Jesus' story is so important...especially this weekend.
I too am guilty of the commercial buy in to the holiday, don't judge...we've purchased 2 bags of Starburst jelly beans and a chocolate rabbit currently sits headless in the kitchen. However, you can celebrate the true meaning of Easter in fun/practical ways with your family. I think Darby at Fly Through Our Window (one of my favorite family blogs) shared an excellent way to reflect on Easter's meaning and importance with a recipe for Resurrection Cookies a couple of years ago. If you have little ones around this would be a perfect activity to make with them today.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend and are able to spend some time thanking Jesus for His sacrifice for our lives.
Have a wonderful Easter!
XOXO
Monday, September 26, 2011
Everyday I see more and more projects online that I really want to get to! I've been using Pinterest (a lot) to keep up with projects that I want to try from blogs that I want to return to.
Here are a few of my "pins" lately that I hope to get to this fall...
Menswear baby bibs that are
so adorable and would look great on any little man.
Framing of vintage hankies in album art frames from Urban Outfitters.
Love this idea.
I often pick up hankies at antique and vintage stores for $1 or $2.
It would be really cute to frame one for a bride,
especially if you can find one with her new monogram.
Creating buttons or pins from antique embroidered linens
that may be unusable because of old stains they may have.
These are so gorgeous and will honor the work that went into creating such a special piece.
These are all adorable, inexpensive projects that I plan on trying in the months ahead.
Wish me luck!
I'd better put the computer down and start crafting...
They have provided you the download to make these adorable bags! It doesn't get any cuter than that...or any easier! The direct link for the download is here.
I know. It didn't make much sense to me in the beginning either. However, it's an addiction now.
I obsessed with Tumblr. It's the coolest way to collect inspiration from all over the place. It's basically an online notebook where you can collect or blog anything and everything that inspires you, you want to talk about or share, or hold on to for something down the road. I started Tumbling to collect images for my blog and it's just gotten a little out of control. Tumbling is fast and fun...and addictive.
If none of this makes any sense, check it out here...
Can you see how the obsession began? It's just too fun to see what is posted everyday. You can "follow" people that you like...who collect images that you like. To view all of the images I have collected simply go to Southern Grace on Tumblr and click on the "Archive".
Now, if you end up joining and start Tumbling too...give a shout out my way and follow me there. And then I'll see you at the next 12 step meeting..."Hi, I'm Natalie. I'm a Tumblr." I'll save you a seat.
It's approaching. No matter how much I want to ignore that it'll be here before long, it'll be here...Christmas. I love this holiday and up my anxiety meds because of it.
I've been beginning to think about possibly considering making a list of thoughts of gifts for people...I really have to work myself up to get rolling. Procrastination really is one of my talents. I won't start really panicking until I see the stuff from New Year's already on the shelves...then I know it's time to focus.
However, I have been following Edie's Life in Grace blog for a little while now and have really enjoyed her 12 days of Handmade Christmas. It's helped get me motivated. There are some really cute ideas. I highly recommend checking it out. Now, don't be overwhelmed by Darby's from Fly Through Our Window's tutorial of making a picnic blanket...that is totally NOT for beginners like me. But, I might check out the dishtowels and the cinnamon honey butter toffee recipe...YUM!
Do let me know if you try any of these out...don't let me know if you have already completed your shopping.
Are you planning on making any of your Christmas gifts this year?
The latest transformation in the Casade Jones is our dining room.
A little history...this room was a wild card to start with. When we bought our house the previous owner (PO) had their dining room in another area of the house. It was RIGHT when you walked in the front door. In fact, you had to walk around the dining room table in order to get to the living room. For us, it just didn't work.
One of the stipulations that Josh had from the beginning was finding an alternative spot for our dining table and chairs. We resolved this by using a guest room that was located right off of the kitchen and changing it into a private dining room for us and guests. It allows the natural flow of the house to work better and allows Josh to have a "whiskey parlor" where the PO's dining room used to be.
Side note...trust me ladies, you can get A LOT further in a marriage by helping your man build and decorate a "whiskey parlor". Let me just say, it was one of my smarter moves, if I do say so myself. Back to the dining room...for a little less than a year we have rarely used it and have mainly stored the table, china, and chairs in there waiting to make it "our own" when the time came.
We had to tackle the most important areas first...whiskey parlor, laundry room, and dog room. Yep, can you see the priorities?! Don't judge.
When I began to think about how to make the dining room special and a place that we wanted to spend time in I became really overwhelmed. There were so many options in lighting, paint colors, fabric, etc. and so few options in arranging the furniture, changing the furniture, and using what we had in order to save $. The furniture we have in the room is in great shape, some of it has sentimental value, and one of the pieces is just really cool. I wanted/needed to make it all work without having to buy new pieces. I began trying to decide what to do and where to start...no progress. Too overwhelming. So the room sat...and sat.
It looked like this most of the time...blah and unfinished.
After the daunting task of decorating became too much, I decided I needed professional help (no comments necessary). I decided to take a risk and investigate e-design. I've seen the idea on other blogs before, but I didn't know if it was really for me or what to expect. I contacted a few bloggers that I read daily and after getting prices, working styles, and time frames established, I decided that Shannon at Pink Wallpaper would be the best person and designer to try this with. She is SUPER talented, really friendly, writes an amazing blog, and had worked with one of my best girlfriends that just loved and raved about her. I contacted her and she was ready for the challenge and ready for my constant barrage of emails each day. I immediately felt comfortable with her and her style. We are both email girls...and the scariness of the project subsided and became so much fun. I loved checking my email each morning and finding an email from her waiting. I seriously don't have a clue when this chick sleeps!
Shannon's design process was simple and easy to do over the distance...she's in South Carolina.
I was first instructed to send her pictures of ideas that I liked. I had been saving them from other design blogs, from magazines, from Houzz.com, etc. I sent Shannon these images which she compiled together in one pretty format.
All images were found at either Cote de Texas (1st row left side and 3rd row left side) or Houzz.com
Shannon then asked that I send her pictures of the actual room with a list of what I wanted to keep and what I was comfortable getting rid of or changing.
I sent her these:
I wanted to try to keep the table and chairs but was willing to rework them in anyway. I would love a circular table in the room, but the budget just doesn't allow for it right now.
I am willing to get rid of the massive mirror and the painted concrete floors, but I wanted to keep the serving hutch on the left side.
The new crown molding needed paint, obviously, and the paint color on the walls was certainly changeable. The tall china cabinet had to stay though. I love it.
A light fixture was necessary! We had moved the fan out of this room and used it in another room in the house. Light was pretty essential since you must eat in this room before 6:30 in order to see your food!
Shannon sent me several lighting recommendations but we both agreed that an oversize lantern would look great in the room. We both liked this one...
It is from Wisteria and the same one that Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and Linen used in her office.
Shannon then gave me a few ideas to consider regarding my existing dining room table. She merged them all together here.
In a morning email she sent me these thoughts and ideas:
Two options w/ the existing table:
1. Sanding the top of the table to make it a more natural wood finish and then painting the base a distressed white finish like picture A.
2. Using a liming wax (Brimwax makes a wax that apparently can go over any finish) and putting it all over the table to create a finish like picture B.
Chairs:
I have a couple of things I was thinking:
In all of your pics, one variable that seems constant are wicker chairs...so I thought we could add a host and hostess wicker chair, similar to something like picture C (although I am not sold on these particular ones). Then take 4 of your current chairs and either
1. paint them to resemble pic D (your current chairs have the X back like these) and recover the seat cushions
2. or slipcover them like E or F
Shannon and I both hunted for the right wicker chair for the head of the table and finally found the one we had been searching for. I'm still waiting for Redefine Home to get them in. Eagerly waiting...
When it was all said and done and dozens upon dozens of emails had been exchanged, I ended up with this final idea board from Shannon. It's truly the design that I had pictured in my head but wasn't sure how on earth to implement.
To break it down, Shannon recommended:
We choose an oversize lantern for the room.
Linen draperies to hang on each side of the French doors.
A cool statement piece for over the buffet. Josh vetoed the mirror in the design board above, but that was fine because the Round Top excursion earlier in the month produced two awesome etchings that will be hung above the piece.
A great jute rug from Sundance that is very reasonably priced.
Slipcovers for the dining room chairs in a brown twill.
For us to strip down the main table and paint and distress the base.
And, replace the heads of the table with two woven wicker chairs.
Now it is up to me to implement...if only she could be shipped in a little box to my doorstep for this next step (sigh).
I sincerely try my best to credit each photo source.
However, many of my older inspiration photos and quotes have been collected from blogs and other websites over the years for my personal use and I simply do not remember the sources.
If you find a photo on my blog that needs to be credited and you know the source, PLEASE let me know!
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