Painted Animal Jars, Garlands, Boho and More........A Few of My Favorite Finds

Hello Lovelies!

Ever have those days where you stumble on a bunch of FABULOUS things?

I had one of those days........

and now I'm sharing my favorite finds with you!

First up, the talented and beautiful Heather from Bells in the Woods

 posted this last Thursday.

Painted Animal Jars!

Source: Woods of Bell Trees

Love, Love, Love! 

Can't you see them in a child's room, kitchen, bathroom

or anywhere?

Bunnies on top for Easter.  

Deer on top for a Rustic Christmas.

Roosters for a Kitchen........

So many uses:)

Thank you Heather!!!

Visit Bells in the Woods for directions.

Next, I stumbled on this doily garland.

Not sure where but it is pretty cool!

Holy Heck.......

Don't you just LOVE these 

OMBRE painted pine cones?    

Source: Whimzeecal

 They look complicated but after viewing the tutorial, not so bad. 

 I think:)

 

Okay, my daughter is a fan of a surf lifestyle blog called SWELL.

They have bunches of cool ideas, like this one!

A Scarf that is knotted in two places to form a Kimono shape wrap.

Check out swell for the instructions, but be warned.........

it's SUPER EASY!

                Source: DIY Scarf Kimono Wrap

Cute, Cute, CUTE!!!

This would totally make a baby's room perfect:)

Source: Bella Gray

You know those infinity scarves you see everywhere?

This one becomes a cowl scarf too!

Full instructions and pattern at Gleeful Things!

                       

 Source: Gleeful Things

What'd I tell you?  

Seriously cool stuff!!!!

Linking up with 

Katherine's Corner Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!

Katherine's Corner

XOXOXO

Suzanne

Beach Life.....

confession time.......

i don't really have anything major to talk about.

WAIT...i never have anything major to talk about.

but today, there is even less.

yet i miss my blog and want to post something.

and since we're headed to the beach, 

how about some beach related STUFF.

in a nutshell.....

all you need for a day at the beach.

while doing whatever you have planned on a hot saturday,

something to think about...

(photo of the Naples Pier:)

okay, you know that after the trip to Hawaii,

surfing is in the blood around here. 

even i feel it.

the trip and the surfing experience was so cool.

(hey, i took one lesson anyway and would do it again:)

the lifestyle is so beachy and relaxed.

anyway, there aren't waves in south florida like they have in Hawaii.....

but every now and then mother nature kicks up a few.

and Jordan saved enough money to buy a surfboard from a friend:)

Happy Day!

did I ever post this next surfboard pic?  

I must have posted it somewhere because we've gotten

 some inquiries about it.

someone is even considering it for an ad. 

pretty cool:)

lastly, because the beach is calling my name,

my all time favorite summer appetizer.

i first had it at a pampered chef party YEARS ago.

it's still a favorite.....

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips!

recipes are all over the internet,

but you can tweak it how you like.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients:

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 apples - peeled, cored and diced

8 ounces raspberries

1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced

or basically any fruit you like!

2 tablespoons white sugar (more or less to taste)

1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)

3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I prefer apple jelly))

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas

melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray

Cinnamon sugar:

1 cup white sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

3.Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter). 

4.Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be serve with cinnamon graham grackers or cinnamon pita chips. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny.

that's it from here!

enjoy your weekend!!!

Suzanne

Salty Air, Sun Kissed Hair...

Salty Air, Sun Kissed Hair... by shabbychicks featuring tunics

all about "stuff"...

random STUFF...

STUFF to do...

and just plain STUFFY.

hey there,

back home from a WONDERFUL week in Hawaii...

TRUE Hawaii, that is...

but i'll have to fill you in on that when i get time.

i have TONS to tell you and even MORE photos to share...

LUCKY you:)

but today is a quickie post all about STUFF.

let's get started...

first, something really COOL...

don't ya just LOVE this?

now for some STUFF to say...

~i am using my husband's new desktop mac a lot these days,

and i finally figured out (took the time) to

get my google homepage on it, with all the

links to my favorite blogs front and center...

so HOPEFULLY i'll be a better friend!

~as much as i want to share photos and stuff from the trip,

i'm not sure i'll be doing that right away.

on top of jet lag/wanting to sleep at weird times,

it's a CRAZY week!

 STUFF to do:

~wrap silent auction gift baskets and chocolate favors for the 

Naples Ballet

first annual Ballerina Ball on Thursday.

~figure out what in the heck I'm going to wear!

(i have plenty of long gowns but this one doesn't yet require that so

i have to think of something:)

~dinner with my husband's board members on Friday

~re-FOCUS my girls from surfing to school...

no easy task, let me tell you!

~get Taylor ready to go with her Dad to a HEART ball on Saturday.

(i think we just need accessories since she has a dress picked out)

~clean house (YUK)

~unpack and LAUNDRY

~finalize new landscaping plans for next week

~and mostimportantly, get some SLEEP!

(did i say that already?:)

random STUFF...

~have you watched Duck Dynasty?

that show CRACKS me up:)

~Trader Joe's finally opened by me...and now i get it.

i really get why the parking lot is ALWAYS full!

~beach umbrellas FREAK me out.

ever since being hit in the face by a runaway umbrella 

exactly one year ago,

i'm like the umbrella police.

when we go to the beach, i need to see who has an umbrella,

which way the wind is...and if they look like they have a 

CLUE as to how to put it up securely...

before i lay down near them. 

otherwise, i have to watch their stupid umbrella the whole time.

i need umbrella therapy:)

~okay...enough random stuff.

i'm too tired to think much anyway:)

but i have to say a few words about STUFFY...as in

STUFFY behavior, STUFFY rules and STUFFY people.

being on the north shore of Oahu,

where surf RULES,

i saw a whole other outlook on life.

like i said, i'll write more...WAY more later:)

but one thing that struck me is we are all so STUFFY these days.

so uptight.

it was soooooo relaxing and laid back.

a simple, "unplugged" life.

kind of a daily reminder of what's important, you know?

that life is GOOD.

even my sometimes slightly STUFFYish husband, (wonderful as he is:)

already misses the simple, happy place we lived for a week.

and let me tell you, that says something.

i mean, we're talking Mr. Five Star Hotel here...

and he already wants to be back there.

simple...

the most unexpected thing to come from this trip.

blessings and life lessons aren't always what we think, are they?

now i promise to STOP rambling...

go back to bed for a few...and let you go!

Be Blessed today!

Suzanne

Aloha...Palm Sunday, Bunnies, Bunny Bait and Hawaii

Happy Day, Happy Day...
it's Palm Sunday!

like i said...
HAPPY DAY!

ordinarily, i wouldn't make clog up a Palm Sunday post with
other stuff...
but i'm not sure when i'll be able to post again so here goes...

 we are off to Hawaii tomorrow!

the NorthShore...

surf capitol of the world...

and the place we were married 20 years ago:)

we always promised the girls 

we'd take them back to the place it all began...

so away we go!

we'll do a bit of this...

and this...

(shopping on the north shore:)

and this...

(horseback riding on the beach)

and we will celebrate Easter Sunday morning services on the beach with

North Shore Christian Church.

Our Prayers are with you and your ohana!
May your testimony be sweet praises to God!

you might remember it as Bethany Hamilton's church

in the movie Soul Surfer.

it should be a very special Easter morning!

now, let's talk about BUNNIES...

get ready to say "AWWWWW"

i think SOMEBUNNY has been eating too much

BUNNY BAIT:)

what's bunny bait?

THIS is bunny bait...

and it is YUMMY!!!!!

according to Sing for my Supper, here is all you do...
Bunny Bait
1 bag popcorn, popped
6 oz. white chocolate candy coating
1 bag Easter M&Ms
pretzel sticks, broken into small pieces (if desired)
colorful sprinkles, (if desired)
Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl with the broken up pretzels and M&Ms. Heat the candy coating in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each time, until melted and smooth.
Drizzle the candy coating over the popcorn mixture and stir to coat. The pretzels and M&Ms will sink to the bottom, so make sure to get those stirred in and coated with the rest of the popcorn.
Spread out on a large piece of wax paper, top with a few sprinkles (if desired) and let cool. Break into pieces and serve in a large bowl.

(pinterest)


and to make an ADORABLE bunny bum cake...

 go to Betty Crocker for directions.

well friends,
i'm outta here!
have a BLESSED Palm Sunday and Easter...
and be sure to whip up a bunch of that bunny bait:)
God Bless...
Suzanne

lessons in decorating from a country girl/surfer girl/cowgirl....

a new year...

time to take a look around the old house and see what others see.

i've always wondered if a stranger could walk in our home and

learn who we were....what we like....stuff like that.

i think they could.

but nothing like when you walk into my 14 year old's bedroom!

now she REALLY knows how to bring her 

personality into a room.

see for yourself...

come on in and meet my 

Country Girl/Surfer Girl/Cowgirl!

first of all, her room is painted mermaid blue/green.

and all mermaids are welcome:)

this is the first thing you see when you walk in...

her MUCH LOVED surfboard,  guitar, cowboy hat and

FAVORITE new sign from the Junk Gypsies...

Cowgirls are Forever.

 

take a closer look at the guitar case and you'll find out she is also a

huge Florida Gator fan, loves to watch Swamp People (me and Taylor like it too:)

and also, like her mama...LOVES the Junk Gypsies!

moving on...

she has a little VINTAGE vanity/writing desk where she does school,

while looking at her art gallery wall and especially at her favorite

country singer, Luke Bryan:)

 

every good beach lover/surfer girl has this poster, right?:)

next up, her own little pinboard...

with everything from tickets to her sister's ballet performances,

to a painting she bought in Paris.

to a photo card of her grandparents.

in the corner of her room sits a VERY important part of her life...

her tennis gear!

okay, so she doesn't have a huge room.

but she managed to get her dream bed in it...

a cream iron bed with twinkle lights on it...

and the coziest BOHO comforter from Anthropology!

by the bed, a lamp from World Market that she picked out,

as well as her iphone and a little statue of Jesus 

that she bought with her very own

dollar at the dollar tree when she was 4!

so what do we learn there...she is a young lady of FAITH...

and likes a variety of styles...

from vintage to shabby chic to surfer style to boho.

even her bed pillows say something...

that she loves dogs and

that she is still only 14 and not afraid to show that part of her childhood.

just a few more things that tell you a bit about my girl....

she's not afraid to show what she believes.

she LOVES anything Union Jack...

 she loves inspirational quotes...

 and last but not least...

she'll always be my little girl:)

so there you have it...a lesson in decorating from a 14 year old girl.

she shows that it isn't about walking into a furniture store

and buying what they put together...

but putting together your OWN style from the things you love.

and then when someone walks in they look around and like i do, they say

a really COOL person lives here!

 someone who knows what they like and isn't afraid to show it!

if only we all could decorate like that.

but HEY...it is a new year...

so give it a try:)

XOXOXOXOXO

Suzanne...Country Girl/Surfer Girl/Cowgirl's mama:)