A Not Too Shabby Secretary

I discovered that I needed a desk and bill paying area at our summer cottage at the lake so I went on the hunt for something cheap but cute. I like the shabby chic style but not too shabby. Chippy paint is fine in other people’s houses but I didn’t want to go that shabby. I decided I would look for a secretary to paint.  I found this one on Ebay and it was close enough for me to pick up so I purchased it. I don’t have any before pictures but it was in pretty good condition. The wood veneer...

Back to School Again

When I think of back to school, I think of stocking up on pencils, pens, notebooks, and a new backpack. My kids have always enjoyed purchasing their back to school supplies but this year, back to school has taken on a whole new meaning. Sixteen years of practice could not prepare me for this year. Supplies were a little different this year. They consisted of “survival” American foods such as easy mac, cereal, and cereal bars. We also purchased a thermometer and an assortment of over the counter...

The Red Lantern

When I spotted this red lantern in one of my favorite interior design shops it was love at first sight! I knew that it would make the perfect accent piece for my bedroom at the lake cottage. It was love at first sight until I turned over the price tag. Talk about sticker shock, $1600. That is not a typo. Sixteen hundred dollars! There was no way I would pay $1600 for my short lived new love. Even though the entire light was about 28 inches tall, it was still over priced.  Make that grossly...

Elegance on the Cheap

I love elegance. And I love a sale. Even more than those, I love it when I can do better than a sale.   The photo above came from the Cote de Texas blog. Most will agree that it evokes simple elegance.   These hurricane lamps were spotted at wshome.com.  They are now on sale. The regular price is $118 each!  The sale price is $59.99 each! According to the girls in blogland, these hurricanes can be made in a flash at a fraction of the retail price.   These candle holder...

Timesaver in the Kitchen

When I need to whip up a special treat for breakfast, I like to make fresh muffins. I have discovered a big timesaver in making muffins.  I mix a double batch according to my favorite recipe, Morning Glory Muffins. I then fill the muffin papers in the muffin tin. Next, I set the muffin tin in the freezer until the muffins can hold their shape. When the muffins can hold their shape I remove them from the freezer and transfer them to a freezer bag. I try to get as much of the air out...

A Lamp for the Porch

I wanted to use this lantern for a lamp on the screened porch so I’ll try to show the process step by step. The first step was to find the lantern of proper proportions. Next I scoured the local thrift shops to find a lamp nearly the same size. It doesn’t matter what the thrift store lamp looks like since it is just used for parts. Actually, all of the parts can be purchased at the hardware or home improvement store but it is much more economical (and green) to shop at the thrift store.                         ...