Peachy Goodness

We LOVE peaches around here. But only Southern Peaches. No offense to any Californians, but California peaches just arent the same. Earlier this year, we discovered that the University of Florida had developed a few species of peach that dont need as much cold as other varieties, and would produce in Florida. Thankfully, we found a local nursery that carried them. It's already dropped it's old leaves and has been blooming. So now for fruit trees we have tangerine, grapefruit, orange and peach. And we also have a pecan tree.

A couple weeks ago, Mike's parents took a trip back home to New York. They mentioned stopping in South Carolina on the way home, and we asked if they would bring back some peaches, if possible. They were only able to get a half bushel, but we were still happy with that. So this past weekend I took these....

And turned them into this:

I also gave making my own baby food a try. Pretty easy!

I was wondering... would anyone be interested in participating in a Free Paint Party? I was given the suggestion of hosting something like this because of the free Glidden paint that so many of us got. I had been wanting to host a blog party, but wasnt sure what to do. I thought this was a great idea! I wasnt sure if it would be ok to call it a Glidden Paint Party, plus, just calling it FREE would include more people. So please, let me know if you would want to do something like this! Thanks!!

Another Decorating Dilemma

I'm joining Amanda at Serenity Now once again for a Decorating Dilemmas Party. Go check it out and see if you can help with some dilemmas, or post your own!

Mine is another tv issue. My dilemma is... what do I do to the top of it? We obviously have the cable box up there, as well as the PS2 right now (will eventually be replaced with a DVD player) and the Wii. We've talked about storing the Wii in the cedar chest, not sure yet though.

You can see what I have there now... two apothecary jars (one holding old clothespins & one holding animal neck tags... we found those hanging from a tree out back, the guy who built this house owned goats), a Fenton dish, a washboard-turned-shelf, two pictures, some vintage cards & floral frogs spelling our last name, and my Target bird. This stuff kind of just got put there, and I'm not really happy with it. Also, that picture is coming down. I was thinking about a vinyl graphic of a branch, possibly with a bird. That curtain is to our sliding glass door. What should I do?

I would like to use things I already own. I thought about this, I had also thought about putting it in the bathroom. I've had it about 2 years, and finally decided I need to paint it. I'm thinking ivory or white. Don't mind Hisser, she's so nosey.

And here are the candlesticks I've collected so far, as well as a cheese dome. These also need to be painted, and I have some old books as well. So please, what should I do? I appreciate any suggestions!



This is off topic, but here is another sneak peek at our table! But no, I dont think it's finished yet. Still some work to be done.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hotel Chairs

I'm joining The Knock Off Knock Out party over at It's So Very Cheri. Make sure you head on over there to see some more awesome "knock offs"! I'm also joining the Before & After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick. If you like before & afters as much as I do, check it out!

This wasnt an intentional knock off, but ended up working out that way. Awhile back, I found two old hotel chairs for $5 a piece at a yard sale. I was SO excited when I saw them and just new that either someone had already bought them, or that they would be super expensive. But YAY! they werent, so they came home with me. They were a bright blue color and kind of rusty.

This year I noticed that Lowe's had some very similar shaped chairs out with the summer furniture. We happened to stop and look at them one day, and they were $35 a piece for the chairs, and $29 for the table. No thank you!

I wasnt sure at first I wanted to paint mine, but I finally decided that we should. So while at Lowe's we checked out the paint. So here are the chairs before...

Oh, and Mike's dad brought me the same style table, they were throwing it away at his work. Here it is before...

Apparently we must have been inspired by the Lowe's ones, because this is how they turned out!

So here's the breakdown.

Lowe's:

2 chairs @ $35 each

1 table at $29

Total - $99

Mine:

2 chairs @ $5 each

1 table - FREE

2 cans of spraypaint - about $10

Total - $20

MUCH better in my opion!

More Saturday Finds

I was so excited to find that I was featured on Someday Crafts for my cabinet to chair project. It's my first time being featured anywhere, THANK YOU!

Also, I'm joining Today's Thrifty Treasures over at Rhoda's Southern Hospitality again this week. Go check out everyone else's great finds!

I had to run to the bank yesterday, and saw that there was a big yard sale going on next to the Scrounge Around shop. I always seem to find something there, so we stopped by.

I found this great old doorknob for $1! She said it's complete, and as far as I can see (but what do I know?) it is. No skeleton key though :(.

Some buttons to cover and old ruler (I'm seeing projects involving these all over these days).Notice the sizes that they have? Men, Junior, Missey & MAMA SIZES?

This hobnail-looking frame.

The milk glass vase is for the girls' room. And the hobnail piece is Fire King. I have another just like this, but smaller.

Two candlesticks that need a paint job.

Pyrex! My first Crazy Daisy piece! The plate & the vase were 2 for $.25.

This shirt will be either a pillow or something for Layla. Probably a pillow though. Ever since I started seeing all these menswear remakes, I cannot find any decent shirts!

One of my favorite finds, this lamp! I wanted a lamp for my bedside table, and had been admiring all the glass ones I saw on other blogs. Now I found one! I obviously need to take it apart and paint it. I need a new shade, too. If you have redone one of these, or know who has, could you PLEASE share the links? I'm not sure what kind of shade to go with. Suggestions?

Thank you for stopping by! I truly appreciate all of your comments!

Blake's Invites

Blake's birthday is right around the corner again. This year we had trouble deciding what to do, but he finally chose mini golf at this place inside our mall. It's called Lunar Mini Golf, because it's played in the dark! Everything is all light up with neon colors under black lights.

So I started thinking of invitations. And playing around in Word. And I came up with this. What do you think?

Since we arent having it at home, decorations will be pretty slim. I'm just going to get colored paper goods. Instead of goody bags, I thought about getting t-shirts for the kids, and decorating them with paint that would glow under the black lights. I wonder if Joann's or Michaels would have anything like that?

For the cake, I'm thinking about using this pan from Wilton:

But making it a moon. I thought I could make a little flag and find either an alien or spaceman figure to be "playing golf" on top. It not, I dont know what else I might do! Any other suggestions?

From Cabinet to Chair

I'm joining Kimba's DIY Day today! Be sure to check out all the fabulous DIY projects! And for even more, check out Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage!

Awhile back, we got an old desk from my sister in law. We figured Blake could use it. It was over a year ago, and while I kept on the lookout for a decent chair to redo, I never really found anything. I was browsing through one of the Better Homes & Gardens magazine I have, you know, like the 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 types? I saw where they had used a small upper cabinet to make a bench. And then I had an idea. I thought I could do something similar, and make Blake a seat. Lucky me, Mike is in the cabinet business. So I started with this:

We added some primer...

Then some black paint to fit in with the Star Wars them we're trying to go for. His room is grey & blue, and his bedding is black, blue, grey & orange.

They used bun feet in te magazine, but since we had wood floors, I thought casters would be better.

Mike made a piece for the top so I could add some cushion.



I added some foam...

I originally added batting, but decided I didnt like it, it was too thick.

I removed it, and here you go!

Next I added the orange knob from the thrift store...

And it's done! Honestly, I dont think it turned out as good as I envisioned, but Blake likes it, and that's what matters, right? I think the foam should have been thinner, and I dont love the fabric, but it was free.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweetness

First off, some Sweet Peas for MY Sweet Pea, who is 6 MONTHS OLD today? How is that possible already?!

Second, a whole big box of sweet peaches from South Carolina, ready to be canned! The in-laws bought these on their way home from New York. They look so yummy!

Have a great week, it's half over!