BEAUTY IS A LIFESTYLE THING

Credit:saintpaulaudabon.org Spring approaches and the nests appear everywhere! Every year at my house we get a very endearing duck couple and they meander around our back lot and decide each year to sneak beneath the underhang of the fireplace. Mrs. Robin does return every year and roost amid our gigantic Colorado Blue Spruce tree. Generally, birds such as Robins, Doves, Sparrow, Cardinal, and Ducks (Mallards) will return each spring to lay their eggs. But don't be mad about this, while ducks will meander way to go and seek other ponds of life once they have roosted, the others will tweet good morning songs for you until the fall or when it gets too cold. Your home has lovingly been chosen by these birds because you offer them a safe habitat. They feel there is enough food, water, and safety here, that they are happy living among your family while raising their own. Please do not rip down their nests, they artfully gathered many little things like sticks and leaves and s

Smoothies! A smoothie is a beverage that can be made by blending raw fruit and/or vegetables with dairy products, water, ice cubes, and sweeteners.  Smoothies can be for breakfast, lunch, and a snack (in between meal times). Smoothies can be protein packed, gluten free, Quick & Easy, fiber rich and filled with vitamins. Most smoothies are approximately between 150-200 calories, depending on the variables, like extra added things i.e. oatmeal, nuts, or sugars, or heavy vegetables. For this post, I love things that are quick and easy. So I concentrate on 5 or less ingredients (or whatever I have on hand and then adjust recipe) this recipe one can use frozen fruit! So here’s a simple recipe for 5 ingredients: 1 whole banana 3/4C blueberries 3/4C blackberries (substitute strawberries) ¾-1C milk (I use 2%, calories go down with skim milk) 6 ounce Greek yogurt (unsweetened or can use vanilla or honey flavored) Put all ingredients in blender and pulse for abou

I have  always loved to make things with grapevine wreaths because they are relatively cheap to purchase, and can be found at most places like craft stores and Walmart for example. I never like anything that stays permanently, so literally, if I am using a grapevine indoors one can just "stick the decor into the woven pieces of grapevine and usually it will stay until you want to change it into something else" Of course, if using outside or on a door like this that is constantly moving or in direct contact with the weather, I will "wire" pieces onto the wreath to ensure that they stay in place.  For this post I'm showing an old wreath that has seen its day, yes it is over 15 years old and falling apart, it is also not substantial to be placed on a front door anymore, adding pieces to make it more substantial and pretty, I have added whatever I had laying around the house! I first backed it by wiring the grapevine on top of the "egg wreath" and t

Spring is in the air and I promise this modge podge of mess will become great and beautiful spring crafts that anyone would love to put in their house!  And in fact you can easy peasy by using things from around your home and refashioning it into something else (some people call it upcycling), I save thing like ribbons, broken frames, candlesticks, and I buy grapevine wreaths by the bulk. I use my dining room to stage most things, it is a bright and uncluttered room that if I don't finish my projects no really has to walk directly through it!   I do use things from nature like leaves and sticks. I use things like old wooden box, covered boxes, candy dishes and even margarita glasses to make nests for bunnies and birdies! I'll post finished pieces soon. Have fun and Happy Spring! *Not                 pictured here are all of my bunnies & Easter stuff. Also things needed are patience & glue gun.

One of My new Favorite Beautiful song-bird voices, please enjoy this song called Issues. I first saw her on Jimmy Fallon and have not stopped listening to the song!  Enjoy!

I enjoyed the Baked by Bree food Blog, that has been chosen as one of the best 100 blogs for 2016 by Better Homes and Gardens! I enjoyed  her fabulous  Cranberry Walnut Blue Cheese Pinwheels!  Today I received the thank you note,  a great sample of California Walnuts and 2 recipe books!    Thank you for the nice little sweepstakes win!  #BakedbyBree #CaliforniaWalnuts #BetterHomesAndGardens

I meant to file this in early February, but I had forgotten about it so here is a quick project.  Gather sticks from fallen winter branches,  arrange like flowers ( here I gather large enough hand fulls that it fit pretty snuggly in the vase.  I like using sticks in the winter,  they add some depth and color.  If you have dogwood in your yard they are fabulous for color. Sometimes leaves are still attached!  I simply arranged,  then wrapped a colorful tasseled rope around and that was it! My lit niche measures 4 feet by 3 feet,  so most everything has to be somewhat large for this area.