Labor Day Weekend

Ahhh, the only day of the year that we can celebrate working without actually having to work!  I just love this beautiful image taken by the fabulous Tracy Ayton.  Totally makes me think about the end of summer and those last sweet moments at the lake.

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As relaxing as this holiday weekend can be, it always makes me a little sad to see summer go.  But honestly, once school starts for the kiddos, the pace of summer is really already over - we are back to the morning rush and afternoon carpools.  So, to keep from feeling sad about the end of something, let's focus on the positives of what is to come.  Here are a few of my favorites.

 Oh, before I launch into my Fall favorites, one fabulous thing that happens this weekend?
The Labor Day sales!

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  I have mentioned this rug website to several clients (so hopefully some are reading this).  I have scored several rugs here during these blow out sales (they happen twice a year).  The trick to ordering a rug online (sight unseen) is to stick to the 100% wool rugs only!  You will be assured what you get is high quality when it arrives.  For example . . . 

Rugs USA

This rug is 100% wool in a decent size (5'x8') at only $132.00.  This could look great in a kid's bedroom or a guest room, and it comes in a rainbow of colors. 

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There are tons of others at 80% off right now, so go take a look here. Then, some of my favorite haunts for fab accessories you just don't see everywhere. 

Furbish
Loving this cool bone box for a dark coffee table - only $28.00. 

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CWonder

 Right now, CWonder's sale items are an additional 50% off through the weekend - so this embroidered dot on linen pillow is around $18.00. Total deal, people!  Has a Kelly Wearstler vibe to me. 

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OK, now for my favorites to look forward to now that Fall is right around the corner.

Fall Outfits 

For Fall outfits, you really have to be clever about in the South (since it will remain in the low 90's for quite some time here) . . . 

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And yes, girls in the south do continue to wear white jeans, just paired with darker tones, including a current shoe.

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Then early winter . . . 

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Fall Entertaining

For me, a trip to the farmers market for all the different colors/sizes of pumpkins is like recess to a little kid.

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Tailgating

With a weekend of games already behind us, football is finally here.

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And Let's not forget the food (who are we kidding?  The food is one of the main reasons I go!) . . . 

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If you make these, please include me!!! Yum.

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Block Parties/Galas/Art Shows

(aka any excuse for a Fall Party)

It so fun to get together with friends for intimate gatherings and even to get dressed up and make a night of it on the town.  There's just something about the cooler months that really makes events special.

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I hope everybody has a wonderful long weekend - Savor it! M.

Summer's Here!!!

Finally.  FINALLY - the hamster wheel has ended.  School's out!! 

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No more end of the parties/projects/presentations/exams.  It is done, and I'm thrilled about it.  

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That last week of school almost kills me every time.  I say every year, I'm not going to book anything that last week so I can juggle the end of the year stuff.  But, alas, I never learn.  No matter, I survived.  It's done, and summer has arrived.  

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On my agenda tomorrow - sleeping in!  Then, late morning coffee on the patio with the iPad digging into the brand new Spring issue of Trad Home! It's a doozie.  Here's a tiny sneak peek . . .

There is also the coolest video interview of Amanda Nisbet and Joe Lucas - such a great feature of online magazines!  To see the entire issue - click here.  Enjoy your kick off weekend to the season.  M.

April Showers . . .

Is is just me or has this been an unusually long, wet winter?  I can't tell you how ready I am to pull out my outdoor cushions and enjoy some sunshine on our back terrace.  But for now, more rain. 

Realizing I am a week behind, I wanted to share some pictures of my Easter table.  

The entire table started with this glassware.

Almost ten years ago, my parents house was struck by lighting and burned for a total loss.  After the fire, I asked my Mom about this glassware and she said it was lost.  Then around Christmas, she was in the attic of their new house and found them in a box!  Some sweet neighbor had recovered six of them and stored them in a box (which my Mom never bothered to open). She asked me if I wanted them and immediately, thoughts of Eddie Ross and his fabulous tables came to mind. 

So, I decided to make some runners for the my table that would compliment the pink.  I am not a huge pink person, but love the idea of being to use it for a special occasion lunch.  Such a great Spring feel. 

  

I  selected a fabric for my runners with a very vintage vibe (reminds me of my grandmother). Just look at that sweet bird!   

I also added some deep pink (almost red) velvet ribbon I found on a random trip to Atlanta awhile ago to the edges for more interest.

Then for the napkins, I used a more funky moroccan pattern.  This helps to bring the look back so it's not a total "grandmother's attic" look.

Then I used items I already had to continue to layer for a very formal look.  The tulips I grab at the grocery when I picked up my supplies for the meal!

One Tip: If you love the look of your dining table, runners are a great way to add interest without completely covering up your table.  They're also a lot less expensive than an entire custom tablecloth.

At the last minute, I decided to make the runners reversible.  I thought if I'm going to be sewing them anyway, why not add a different fabric to the backs (rather than just a liner fabric) and get two looks?  So, I added a very vibrant linen with a gorgeous velvet trim detail running the length of the runner.

I also selected a very funky fabric for a completely different set of napkins, but I've yet to make those!  Here's the fabric.

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Once I finish these, I'll have a completely different look for my table.   Happy Weekend, everybody!  I'm hoping for a little sunshine. M.

Spring Entertaining

Thought you could use a little inspiration for your Easter or Passover table.  

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Whether you are hosting a crowd or having a marvelous brunch for your immediate family this weekend, make it special! 

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Happy Weekend.  M.

Little Secret

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - Feburary is my planning/daydreaming month for summer activities.  Now, I realize some of you have already stopped reading this post.  I know it is a bit intense to begin this early, but there are several benefits to planning your summer in February.  It gives you plenty of time to ponder, dream, etc. without feeling desperate or rushed.  If you wait until April, things have picked back up and you are in "just get it on the calendar" mode.    It also helps me get through the dreariness of the cold, wet, short days of winter.  Thinking about something fun to do in the summer tends to distract me.  Lastly, the skies the limit when planning this time of year since you don't have to worry about availability.  So, rather than being bored, plan a summer outing.

Just to get you started, here are a few ideas I'm pondering for our summer 2013.  As an aside, last year, my children decided to go to summer camp for a month!  They had a marvelous time.

They attend Camp Mac which is a lovely family owned camp in the Munford, Alabama.  What my children loved about this camp is all the water related activities available that you normally don't get from summer camps in the Northeast, which are focused primarily on a mountain experience.

Camp Mac has two very impressive lakes and any type of water activity imaginable (not to mention the non-water activities available, the list is simply too exhaustive to go into here). My children adored the entire experience.  For more info, click here.   

But this year, we are thinking outside the box and have decided to do some family travel in an effort to expose our children to the history of our state as well as the United States in general.  With a few budget friending trips in mind, I'm thinking about several quick day trips to see things we've not experienced locally.

Here are just a few on my radar . . .

Noccalula Falls

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Helen Keller's home 

Did you know it was in Alabama?

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

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The USS Alabama Battleship

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Mobile Carnival Museum

Did you know Mobile, AL (not New Orleans) was the birthplace of Mardi Gras?

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Cathedral Caverns

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Ave Maria Grotto

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Obviously, we can't do them all, but it's fun to see what is available.  Then we may take a larger trip near the end of the summer.  What are your plans this summer?  You may need to do a little brainstorming too. M.

New Year's Lunch and A January Spruce

I started taking my Christmas decorations down on the 26th.  I'm telling you this NOT to sound smug.  Hopefully, it will allow you a small window into my very Type A personality.  If you are in the least bit inclined to OCD tendencies, you know by cleaning and clearing, it also clears your mind and allows you to be more productive.  After the purge, the very predictable happened - the house felt bare and sterile.  It happens every year.  And every year I say, I'm so tired of all the decorations, I'm sure it won't feel bare this year.  Since I was hosting New Year's Day lunch for my family, I needed to spruce a bit to make things feel fresh.  Who wants to start the new year in a bleak, blah house for lunch?! 

First, the menu (sorry I don't have any pictures of my own, my blogging break has made me very lazy!), this meal was so much easier to pull together than you would think.  I love menus like that!

Menu

Hoppin' Johns

(served on a bed of creamy, buttery grits)

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Baked Ham

(you could skip this entirely as the Hoppin' Johns really felt like a main dish - if you added shrimp the to Hoppin Johns it would definitely be a meal)

Spinach Salad

with fresh blueberries, feta cheese (the recipe called for goat, but I only had feta), and black walnuts (I nixed the onions)

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Butter Biscuits

Mary B's Southern Made - I swear they taste just like my Mom's, but sooo much easier (sorry Mom!)

Banana Cheesecake

(from the Cheese Cake Factory and totally decadent)

I cooked the Hoppin' Johns from this recipe the day before and simply brought it up to temperature right before lunch.  I made the grits right when I woke up, using 2% milk (instead of water) and added one stick of butter, salt and pepper.  Then, I placed them in the crockpot to keep the consistency perfect for serving at Noon (thanks, Janet, for this fabulous trick!)  For the ham, I picked up a fully cooked, spiral half ham (bone in) at the grocery.  The morning of New Year's day, I made a slurry of coke and brown sugar and spread it on top of the ham (I really hate the honey baked ham glaze that comes with a ham).   Then, I covered the ham in tin foil and cooked it for 1 1/2 hours at 275 (these directions are spelled out on the label of the ham).  Since the ham was fully cooked, the oven is simply a way to bring it up to temperature and add an extra layer of sweet flavor.  Also, I have to say, when you serve a ham, it looks very impressive.  Truly, way more impressive than the energy exerted to make it!  

The Table

So, for the table and the whole reason I started this post!  I decided to keep the cloches I picked up for Christmas on the table.  It think they are great for any season.

I've found, you can place anything under a cloche, and it seems to elevate it's importance.  I'm thinking of placing the toothbrushes of a couple of kids I know under these!!  I picked up two small primrose plants at the grocery (2 for $5) and used these along with the cloches.

  One primrose, I repotted in a small square cement container I had on hand.

 The other,  I simply covered the pot with sheet moss and held this in place with a couple of strands of raffia (again, all things I had in my craft closest).

The paper white I received as a gift for Christmas (thank you, Cindy!).  Then under the large container, I pulled out the shells I DIYed (is that a verb?) back in the Fall.  They had nothing to do with the time of year or the menu, but the gold added a sparkle the table needed.

These few touches were enough to make the table feel fresh.  Remember, you don't have to spend a ton of money, if you have a few basics to build from on your table. 

I think this time of year, adding just a few fresh plants/bulbs helps to beat the blahs of the winter season.  I love to see paper whites and crocus bulbs in containers - it makes me think of "fresh starts" and "anticipation of something new." 

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 I may just have to run by Home Depot and snag a few to force and enjoy the rest of the month! M.