Garden Stool Happiness

Hey, it's a rare Saturday post from me!

 I hope you're having a great holiday weekend and squeezing the last bits of summer out before it's all over.

I've been wanting one of these garden stools for ages but they were out of my price range and I could only find them in catalogues or on line so the shipping was high as well. 

 Until..... I walked into Home Goods and there it was!!

 

All shiny and white and perfect, and the price, in the $30 range.

It jumped into my cart as I hemmed and hawed over it and made my way up to the check out.

I could always return it if things didn't work out.

But they did. 

I love it out on the deck as a little side table or extra seating.

It also shines inside...like in the kitchen next to my chevron rug.

Or cornered in the family room.

But I think it really looks best in the living room.  

I can't decide if I want it in or out but for now, it's in so I can see it every day.

It's such a versatile little piece, I think I need more!
Linking up with:
Create & Inspire
Sugar & Spice
Be Inspired
Seasonal Sundays
Remodelaholic

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{Recipe} Black Bean, Tomato & Avocado Salad

I threw this salad together for our 4th of July family get together. 

I couldn't find an exact recipe for what I wanted so I made up my own.

Ingredients:

2 -3 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained well

3-4 tomatoes, chopped

2 avocados

1 small red onion, chopped

1-2 English cucumbers, chopped

Olive oil

1-2 Limes

Salt & Pepper

Mix first five ingredients together except avocados.  

Add olive oil and juice of 1 lime. Stir together. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Add more lime and/or olive oil if needed.

Slice avocados right before serving and add to salad.

Stir gently and serve.

Linking up with:

Create & Inspire

Sugar & Spice

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Grease Was The Word

She's got her jazz hands down (or up?)!

July is taken over by Summer Stock in our house and this year the show was "Grease" (one of my all time favorites!).  

Miss Middle School needed a 50's 'school' outfit for part of the show. We found the skirt at Modcloth and the saddle shoes from Payless (believe it or not!).

There was a cute 50's diner set up in the lobby of the high school.

It was a large cast and I did my best with taking a few photos. 

She's right in the center here, second row from the back.

This is one of my favorite shots.

She also needed a 50's style prom dress.  Her grandma came to the rescue with a princess dress she had (doesn't every grandma have a princess dress lying around?).

{You can see her to the right of the guy in the white tuxedo}

{proof of Grandma's princess dress}

She took the sleeves off and shortened it for her. We also found a fluffy crinoline at Modcloth. 

(Modcloth for the win!)

This one is a little easier to see her in the prom dress. That hair, it took 3 sets of hot rollers to accomplish every night.

It was impressive what these kids did in 3 1/2 weeks from start to stage!

I was trying to sneak a photo while they took a professional photo (on a ladder) of the whole cast with Greased Lightning. 

{She's right above the guy's elbow on the left}

Lots of friends and family came out to support her and see the show!

She's always sad when it's over but she's got her school musical to look forward to.

Linking up with:

Sugar & Spice

Wednesday Goodies

Create & Inspire

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday 08.25.13

Back To School

Yes, this one is back to school already.

Writing Utensil

We went school supply shopping with Miss Middle School.

Favorite Subject

{Iphone}
I loved this bed at Anthropologie.
Reading/Sleeping=my favorite subject. ha!
Lunch

Our lunch started out with some homemade chips, salsa and guacamole.

Recreation

We did some sight seeing while dropping College Girl off.  I wouldn't mind some recreation on this lovely dock.

Linking up with:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

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What a Difference a Day Makes!

My last post showed this room covered in College Girl's stuff for college.

Now, not so much!

In case you forgot, here's a before and after.

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WOYWW/Wordless Wednesday 8.21.13

It's that time again....College Girl is getting ready to go back to school!  

How did that happen so quickly?
Linking up with:
WOYWW
Wordless Wednesday

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday 08.18.13

Sky

{Iphone}
We spent a day at the beach last week and there were so many pretty skies so it was hard to choose just one.

Accessory

{Iphone}
I can't go to the beach without these!

Verb

{Iphone}
On our first family dinner with College Girl we grilled up lots of veggies!

So good!

Transparent

{Iphone}
This sign was in a coffee store on the board walk, it couldn't be more transparent.

Tiny

{Iphone}
The ferris wheel looks so tiny from this perspective.

How was your weekend?

Linking up with:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

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{Entertaining} Italian Night III

We were lucky enough to get to attend another Italian Night at the home of our good friends (G & M) last month.
It's kind of become a summer tradition (we hope!) and they've all been epic.

You might remember my posts from previous Italian Nights that we've been to. If not, you can read about the first one here and the last one here. 

 Doesn't this table of appetizers and drinks look amazing?

This year's was a bit more intimate with just three couples and a few of our assorted offspring.  I snuck into the kitchen to snap a few pics of the food being prepped. They always go ALL out!

They've recently re-done their kitchen and painted the cabinets black. I love the stainless steel hardware that they added! 

Disclaimer: This photo wasn't taken at Italian Night but I had to show the other side of the kitchen and my talented friend G's handiwork. She painted this china cabinet and the hardware and it gives the their kitchen a kaboodle of storage.  It is gorgeous, no?  

Yes, she has a blog!

Ok, back to Italian Night...it helps to have a beautiful evening and we did.

My husband was teaching the boys how to open wine bottles for us.  

It's good to have a back up. 

G's dad built this table for them.  See where she gets it? Also check out the Italian tomato cans she used for the flowers. So clever!

Italian Night is about food of course...

and friends..

(I call this one The Three Paisanos)

and drinks...

(Champs and peach sorbet..yummmmm!!)

Cheers!

(The ladies)

This year it was also about bocce ball!

We played an intense game of girls against the guys.

Then dinner was served just as Mother Nature decided to start her own light show.  

We had to move indoors for dessert.

And (sorry for the poor photo quality) home made Lemoncello!

Another perfect Italian Night!!

Bravo!!

Linking up with:

Strut Your Stuff Saturday

Masterpiece Monday

Seasonal Sundays

Feature Yourself Friday

Create & Inspire

Wow Us Wednesday

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