A Cozy Evening of Nesting, Baking and Awarding.

Alright, you were all pretty close to what I was baking tonight. :) Tonight I baked chocolate chocolate chip banana bread. Oh it made my place smell so yummy! I also pulled out a few more things out of boxes to continue my decorating quest (see flowers above) and as promised I am honoring some more blog friends with the Butterfly award Melody awarded me yesterday.

Baking chocolate chocolate chip banana bread.....is so therapeutic. If you want the recipe go to http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/archives/88 because that's where I found it and she has much better pictures). :) I have to say though this is THE BEST chocolate banana bread I have ever tasted in my life! The consistency is a cross between a bread and a brownie. It probably tastes fabulous with a black tea.

And a few loaves for friends...

All that baking wore Mocha out.

Now, as promised I am honoring a few of my blog friends with the Butterfly Award given to me yesterday by Tea Time with Melody.

The rules of this award are:

1. Pick ten people to pass this onto if you choose.

2. Contact them and let them know you have chosen them for this award.

3. Also, link back to the person who gave you the award.

Okay, my choices are:

1. Domestic Fashionista (because she just has the coolest ideas). :)
2. Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly (because she has great ideas too and I love her pictures!).

3. Imagine and Create (because I LOVE her art!)

4. A Duck in Her Pond (because I just love her writing!)

5. Tales from an OC Cottage (because I just love all the glitter!)'

6. Cynthia's Cottage Design (I just love her little cottage!).

7. Hannah Shaw (because I love her handbags and her jewelry designs!)

You guys deserve this award and thanks for being great blog friends!

A few more touches, guess what I'm baking tomorrow night and I got another award!

I'm still decorating, oh yes, I'm still diving into my boxes. In fact, the cats think the garage is a whole other room now. I should just decorate the garage too! I do have to tell you I broke down and had to actually go out and buy nail polish, nail polish remover, cotton balls and hairspray. I gave up trying to find that box full of my important girly things. Now the garage looks like someone broke in and ransacked it. Oh well, it's just my little secret until I have to open it up and then have to explain to the neighbors why everything is falling out of the garage and half the boxes have been caught inside the door and are being pulled up with the garage door. Here's how I see it. If I never get to all the boxes it's just less I have to pack for my next move. :) That's another secret of mine. I'm great at justification. Isn't that a girl's prerogative?

Anyway, here are a few more touches I wanted to show you all. :) The first picture above is my favorite sign in the condo. It says "At the beach, time you enjoyed wasting is not time wasted". The wreath was also a $6.00 find at Target. I love great bargains.

I call this my Charlie Brown tree. It's a little pathetic looking don't you think? Then I decorate it and voila! It's beautiful. :) I also added the "partridge".

Another beach sign I love. Another simple message..."Listen to the Surf".


My last picture is something I had planned on doing tonight but got caught up on blogs (so actually I blame all of you). I'll be making something yummy tomorrow night. Can you guess what it is?

Last but not least, I won another award! The sweetest gal over at Tea Time with Melody gave it to me. Actually, her name is Melody! :) She has been a regular on my post (and vice versa) and she is so sweet! I mean double Splenda sweet! Thank you, Melody. I love your comments on my posts and am so honored you bestowed this gift upon me. :) You know how they say BFF (Best Friends Forever)....well I have a new saying for those initials, Blog Friends Forever. Cute, eh?

The rules of this award are:

1. Pick ten people to pass this on to.
2. Contact them and let them know you have chosen them for this award.
3. Also, link back to the person who gave you the award.

I will do this tomorrow and won't forget!

Well, time to turn in. My eyes are heavy and dang Quincy is schizoid tonight! I'll have to put him in his little straight jacket for a good night's sleep. ;)

Until tomorrow...

Things that make you go ahhhhh...I love home!

So I was able to get off my butt and decorate a little more this weekend. I'm still diving into boxes and searching for the necessities like my nail polish and hair spray and all the things a girl needs to live life. Was I smart enough to put the box somewhere safe during the move? NO, of course not. I just wanted to get all the crap into the garage and be done with it! Now I'm regretting I wasn't more organized. One day I will realize that organization is a good thing. :)

Here are a few touches that make me go ahhhhh....when I'm home and decorating.

First, a well decorated nightstand (with magazines of course).

Oh so shabby chic decorations in the bathroom.

Treasures from the sea.

A gift from a friend.

A mantel ready for the holidays.

And two happy cats. :)

And they lived happily ever after....

My Second Award! Thank you Domestic Fashionista!

I got my second award from Domestic Fashionista! I just love her blog. I have to make daily visits to make sure I don't miss anything. :) She's so shabby chic and so frugal at the same time! I love it! Thank you so much Fashionista gal!

Okay so I'm supposed to list 6 things about myself, and pass this along to six other bloggers. Okay, I'll list the six things first then list the 6 bloggers! This is fun!

1. I will not eat leftovers unless it's Mexican or Chinese food.

2. I have at least one Starbucks a day (I know, a terrible habit and don't even ask me how much I could be saving a month on this stuff. Might make me quit cold turkey).

3. I don't have any kids. My cats are my kids. I'm afraid if I had kids they would be terribly spoiled.

4. I am afraid of the water because I almost drowned once.

5. I'm ALWAYS cold. It can actually be 80 degrees and if a breeze hits me just right, I'm freezing!

6. I don't listen to much of today's music. Even though I'm 41 years old (ya, there's another insight) I love standards, music from the 40's and classical.

I actually had to delete about 3 things because I just realized I surpassed 6! There's so much more I could tell you all about me! Either that or I was just full of myself and could have kept going and going and going.

Okay so here are my six recipients that I love peeking in on. Enjoy because you deserve it!

1. Sea Cottage - it's so refreshing visiting her blog. The colors and the seashells relax me so. :)

2. Puppy Cove - I admit this is my niece's blog but her blog is so cute with all the adorable animal pictures and she's always got something interactive going on whether it be a vote or something she s asking her viewers. I love how she includes everyone!

3. Life, Homesteading and Everything - Okay she is just downright funny on her blog and she's always got something going on whether it's making soaps, cooking, writing, knitting. I mean she's an everything gal! That's what I mean when I say Kreativ! :)

4. Coterie - Okay, this girl is creatively fashionable! She's always got up to date news on what store is having what sale and who's go the new products when it comes to shopping and I LOVE SHOPPING!

5. ButtonWillow Chronicles - Okay this blog is just pleasing to the eyes. It's like I've jumped down the rabbit hole and fell into a storybook! I just love her graphics and the music! Very amazing!!

6. Cafe Chatelaine - She reminds me a lot of me. We even moved at the same time! I love her adorable cats and just her style in general!

So there you are. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Show and Tell Friday!

It's Show and Tell Friday hosted by our sweet and and talented Kelli over at There's No Place Like Home.

Today I thought I would make it short and sweet. I have started drawing and painting a bit and thought I would show you a few of my sketches I haven't yet painted. I must apologize for the poor quality pictures!

This first sketch actually derived from a real picture of a toad. I added the balloon and flowers to make it a little more whimsical and fun. :) This little guy is waiting for his princess to come along. :)

The next one is my sister's dog Max. I also drew this from a photo. I've been telling her I am going to paint him soon but life keeps happening! :) I'm getting to it sis!

And last but not least, my mermaid and seals. This one is on canvas so she may be a little hard to see. Sorry for the poor quality!



So what do you have for Show and Tell today?


Happy Friday!

It's That Time of Year for Eggnog!

It's that time of year again for eggnog! Not all of you might be big fans of eggnog but I grew up with it being served at the holidays so it's in my system! It was my father's favorite drink during the holidays and now it just brings back warm and cozy memories of sitting around the fireplace, listening to holiday music and helping dad (yea, dad not mom) bake all those holiday treats!

I bet not all of you know that eggnog was once a mixture of milk and wine concocted long ago in the "Old World" in Europe. When the tradition was brought to America, rum was used in place of wine. Back then rum was commonly known as "grog" so the name eggnog derived from the two words egg and grog which eventually just turned into eggnog! Well, this is one version. Another version came from the word "noggin" which was a small, wooden, carved mug and it is thought eggnog started out as a mix of sherry. The English called this concoction "Dry sack posset". It's easy to see how an egg drink in a noggin could become eggnog. In the 1800's eggnog was nearly always served as a social drink and mostly during the holidays. So, this tradition has obviously lived on!

Here is a recipe for traditional eggnog you can serve up at your next holiday get together!

Traditional Eggnog Recipe

12 eggs, separated

6 cups milk

2 cups heavy/ thickened cream

2 cups bourbon

1 1/2 cups sugar

¾ cup brandy

2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for approx 10 minutes (you want the mixture to be firm and the colour of butter). Very slowly, add in the bourbon and brandy - just a little at a time. When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge (for up to 6 hours, depending on how long before your party you're making the eggnog). 30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture. Stir in 1+ ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks. In yet another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture. After ladling into cups, garnish with the remainder of the ground nutmeg.

Of course if kids are going to be drinking it, you'll want to omit the alcohol. :)

Serves: 8.

All Moved in and Decorating. Oh! I received an Award!

Well, I'm settled in, well, as much as I can be. My new place is fabulous! It has a thousand windows (okay, I exaggerate), a view of the hills covered in red and yellow trees and my cats don't know what to do with themselves with two decks. :) Mocha kept flipping over on the ground here and there, then here again and oh, she didn't know which way to turn or what to rub next. Ha! Both kitties have settled in wonderfully and I even got all the pictures up. :) I've been avoiding the necessary project of unloading the dishes. Two of my good friends will be coming over tomorrow morning to fix breakfast in my new place so I certainly can't expect them to eat off the table. I guess I will have to start digging.

Here is a small sneak preview of the layout of my new abode. Don't you love the arched doorways?

Remember that little table I bought for $25.00? Here it is in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Blonde Duck was generous enough to present me with an award! My second award since blogging. :) Thanks Blonde Duck! I feel so honored. :) Now, I get to choose five people for this award. Here are the rules....

1. Post the award on your blog.

2. Link me for giving it to you.

3. Link the originating post here (Life of a Southern College Girl on Blonde Duck's blogroll).

4. Pass the award on to five more deserving people.

5. Post these rules for your recipients

And now I get to give it to five more winners of my choice! Have fun and you deserve it!

1. PV Cottage by the Sea

2. My Gourmet Kitchen

3. Tea Time with Melody

4. Tadpoles and Teacups

5. Raves, Rants and Random Ramblings of a Redhead

Have fun everyone and you deserve it! I am back into the swing of things after my move so I should be blogging a little more.

Ahhhh...this new place feels refreshing and cozy. I will post more pictures once I have it somewhat decorated.

Happy Monday!

Moving Day!

Wish me luck my internet is up and running on the other end! See you soon and have a great weekend!

Timeless Romance at the Movies

Okay, so I'm sure you've noticed my LOVE for the Edwardian era. Since I'm in the middle of my move and can't put anything personal up (unless you want to see boxes...I mean, I could try to make something creative out of them but I fear it would still be boring), I thought I would focus on romance in the movies. :) The above picture is taken from the website http://www.erasofelegance.com/. They sell the most beautiful vintage items.

A Room with a View - Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands - by far one of my favorite films! The scenery was spectacular in this movie. I highly recommend it for that very reason.

Who can ever forget the timeless classic Somewhere in Time with the beautiful Jane Seymour and the late Christopher Reeves. A time travel romance that's sure to make you believe true love can span time.


And Anna Karenina, a must see classic written by Leo Tolstoy starring Sophie Marceau (one of my favorite French actresses) and Sean Bean.

And The Golden Bowl with Uma Thurman and Jeremy Notham. This film was also very pleasing to the eye both in costume and scenery.

And of course Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in Pride and Prejudice.

I think with the cozy weather upon us it would be nice to curl up in a warm blanket, a cup of tea and one of these fine classics.

Creating a blissful sleeping area.

I think your bed and your sleeping area are so important for your personal well being. Your bedroom is truly your sanctuary for relaxation and getting a good night's sleep. Here are a few tips and some beautiful pictures on creating that special place. This picture is from one of the bedrooms at the Rose Farm Cornwall Bed Breakfast http://www.rosefarmcornwall.co.uk/. I just love how bed and breakfasts decorate.

Lighting

Lighting is so important to me in my room. Low level lighting like a night light, small night lamp (perhaps a small Tiffany lamp or some wall sconces) can create a calming effect on your well being and can amazingly de-stress you. Candles can create a great effect as well but I'm so terrible at remembering to blow them out my low level lighting might turn into a 4 alarm fire! Ha! Here are a few examples of some calmly lit rooms to create this blissful effect.

Fresh Air

Even in the winter, fresh air is so important for a sound night's sleep. Stuffiness can remind you of your day or unsettle you preventing your mind from clearing. Believe it or not, when I have the window opened a crack and I'm in a warm toasty bed with my down comforter, I sleep so much better. If I leave the heater on I just get hot in the middle of the night and it's so uncomfortable. Also, the best thing my mother ever taught me was that cooler air is so much better for keeping your skin looking young. :)

Dream Pillow

A dream pillow is a small pillow or sachet filled with aromatic herbs. I typically like lavender. It's a very calming herb. Here are some instructions from Martha Stewart's website to make your own. Below are pictures of pillows from her website as well.

Cut two pieces of fabric to the same size. Sew the fabric pieces together, right sides facing, leaving a 2- to 3-inch opening on one side. Clip the corners diagonally, and turn the fabric right side out. Fill the pillow with dried lavender and, if you wish, flax seeds (available at health-food stores), which have a nice texture and weight. Hand-stitch the opening closed. Make pillows in several shapes and sizes to use as neck rolls, small throw pillows, or sachets.

Good book or magazine and some nice music

I typically like to read a good book or a magazine before bed. It helps me wind down. I also play a little classical music in the background. It's very calming.

Last but not least, some soft fur to lay your head down on. :)

I would put more pictures of Mocha on here but she's a little paparazzi shy. She knows right when I'm going to snap the picture and she also knows that bright light will follow and she turns away. Of course she has 10 years on Quincy so she's gained some knowledge through the years. ;)

The great finds just keep coming! Oh, and a little Monday cuteness.

So I know I shouldn't be shopping now but I do need a bookcase and decided to go on Craigslist. I like Craigslist because many times I find what I'm looking for with a little more style than if I bought it at, say, Target and for less! What I should not have done was type in two words "shabby chic". Needless to say I didn't find my bookcase but I did find this! I will be picking it up Wednesday. You will NEVER guess how much I got it for. $25.00! I will have to sand and repaint it because it has a few places that have chipped paint but that won't be too hard and it will be a fun project. I will be repainting a lot these days. HA! It's all well worth it. I'm thinking I will put it in my bathroom and it will hold some hand towels. :)

Okay, for a little cuteness this evening. Quincy sleeps like a baby. When he sleeps next to me he has to have his head on the pillow and then make himself purposely look so cute that I have to bury my face in that fur of his! Quincy is a Selkirk Rex and has fur like a "lamb", curly and thick. If you've never heard of a Selkirk Rex you should do a Google search and checkout the images. These cats are like teddy bears! :)

Hope everyone has a good week!

Shopping again but at a rummage sale!

In the midst of all my packing, I took a quick break to go to lunch with a good friend of mine. After lunch we took a quick detour to the Expo Center. They were having a huge rummage sale! The items were donated by parents and employees of a private school here in town. We thought it was worth checking out. We had no idea what we were getting into so when the doors opened all these people were grabbing boxes that had ties attached to them for dragging around. :) Pfft! We didn't need a box. I mean, we were only there for a little while to checkout just a few things. Well, needless to say, WE NEEDED THE BOX! I was juggling 10 hardcover books (at $2.00 each), a cute little topiary and my biggest find, 3 very adorable botanical prints! Well, the botanicals were real! They were dried herbs in these adorable, adorable frames. The price tag on the frames each said $18.00. I thought, well, that's not bad. Then the lady at the counter said everything was half off today since it was the last day of the sale! So I landed 3 framed botanicals for $27.00! Here they are! The frames need a little touching up but that will be easy. These will look great in my new place!

"Marjoram"

"Rosemary"

"Savory"

Pink Saturday! Also, I need some advice.

Well, this is my first Pink Saturday! I searched and searched around and it's a little hard right now given my move this week but I did find something that's pink! I introduced these in one of my very early posts with peanut butter cookies on them. They are my favorite plates I have in my cupboard right now. Why? Because they're pink! I bought these at my favorite tea house in Ridgefield. I also bought the cream and sugar serving set that you see sitting on top of them. I just love the delicate design on the dishes as well. :) The color of the photo is dull and that's because I am using the camera on my phone since my digital camera is packed! Sorry! I swear they're pink.

Okay, so the advice part of my title is this. I have two end tables that I bought off Craigslist for $20.00 each. Can you believe it? I bought these several years ago but I need to update them somehow. My decor leans towards lighter colors and rustic furniture. I was thinking of using them separately, one in the living room (by my camel color couch that you see in the picture) and one in the master bedroom. The bed frame in the master bedroom is a sea foam color antique scroll iron bed. I will show you everything once I get everything moved into the condo.

My question is should I shabby chic it with an antique white or do something a little more bold like black? I don't have much black. The guest bedroom will have a black iron canopy bed though. I could use one in there, if I choose black, and one next to the couch. Help! I can't decide. Is there one color that you can't go wrong with? Does this style look better in a darker color than a lighter color? :) Thanks in advance for any advice!

Happy Saturday! Yay, I get to go pack.