NumberNineteen

Summer Is Coming & Momma Needs New Clothes! -- Summer Clothes

It's already getting hot here and it's quickly becoming apparent where there are "holes" in my wardrobe.  Once I get a last few projects done for this semester, I'm taking an entire day to go shopping!  Here is what I am thinking:

For this outfit, I already have some of the pieces -- I picked up a sleeveless tunic similar to the one shown and a pair of white capris.  I would LOVE to have a pair of white flat sandals like those Jack Rogers....!  And, I have the silver bracelet, a present from my husband several years ago. 

(the items shown in the photo: top: vineyard vines, pants: oldnavy, shoes: Jack Rogers, bracelet: Tiffany & Co)

Next, I need some more cute tops. 
I love these two from Lilly Pulitzer (navy)  & J.Crew(acqua).

There are also a few basics that I really need, a trench coat & black ballet flats.  My old spring coat went kaput, as did my black flats.

The coat is from London Fog & the shoes from J.Crew.

And finally, I am desperate for a dress that isn't too fancy & isn't too casual.  I have loads of dresses that are basicly dressed up t-shirt dresses that are perfect for everyday at the grocery store & the pool.  And, I have dresses that are perfect for really nice occasions.  I LOVE these three for those let's go out to dinner or Old Town Alexandria nights:

Adorable dress from Lilly Pulitzer

These two are from Kacey Hughes

I'm going to have a hard time narrowing down my choices and looking for cute look-alikes, as all of these items add up to about $1000!

April Menu

Sources: Southern Living, Food.com, & SkinnyTaste

Summer is coming early around here -- today it reached 90 degrees!  The warmer weather is pulling me towards lighter foods.  More chicken and fish, fewer stews.  And, spicer foods -- Mexican & Asian -- what is that about?  We want our food as hot as the weather?  Maybe it's the cerveza and margaritas that so refreshingly go with them :)

Here are some of the meals that we are having this April:

Sczechuan Noodles (with Shrimp Added) and Steamed Broccoli

Parmesan Tilapia with Wild Rice and Peas

Homemade Pizza (the best homemade dough recipe I've found!)

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos with Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Bacon and Gouda Burgers and Pesto Pea Salad

Curried Shrimp & Corn Chowder and My Mother's Spinach Salad

My mother's spinach salad is a family favorite and a hit at every potluck.  Here is the recipe:

Spinach Salad

1 package Good Seasons Italian dressing, made according to the package directions (I use the low fat version of the directions)

1 clove garlic

1 pound spinach cut into bite sized pieces

1/2 pound bacon, cooked & crumbled

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped

salt, pepper & garlic powder

Cut the garlic clove in half & use it to rub the inside surface of a wooden salad bowl (skip this step if you do not have a wooden salad bowl). Toss the spinach, bacon & hard boiled eggs in the salad bowl.  Season with salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste.  Toss with salad dressing.

I'm sharing this post at Stone Gable's On the Menu Monday

 

Fabric Matted Art

While I've been missing from the blog this past week or so, I've been busy on house projects.  Hope's bathroom is painted and the light fixture for that room is on order.  Downstairs, I put together a fun and easy project that I thought that I'd share. 

As any long-time reader of my blog knows, I'm a big fan of The Graphics Fairy.  I've used the images found there as art (here and here are two examples), in projects and even as gift tags. So, when I saw this great decorating idea using images from The Graphics Fairy at Nine & Sixteen, I had to try it. Here are the results:

I pulled together some of my favorite images of animals (I'm not normally into animals in my decor, but I really like these, so I went with it), found some old frames that I had in the basement and backed the images with leftover fabric that I'd purchased for throw pillows.  I love it!  The fabric gives so much texture & interest to the images. 

******

Correction: The rabbit image is from Vintage Printable.  The others are from The Graphics Fairy.

Spring Break Fun

It's back to normal life after a busy & fun spring break. We had so much fun. Hope & I planned out lots of activities so that boredom would never threaten to set in.

As you can see from all of the check marks, we accomplished most of what we set out to do. First, was a day in DC with Daddy & Mommy, complete with a visit to a kid's museum, lunch out, cupcakes, and visits to several of the Smithsonians (it was a busy day):

Next, we played in the park with friends, who also had the week off!

Another day, it was egg dyeing time!

Friday was science experiment day.  If you have a kid, you need to try out this super easy & fun borax crystal experiment.  Look at the pretty, sparkly results!

On Saturday, we baked & decorated a butterfly cake.  Hope saw one in an ad for Joanns or some similar store & decided that we HAD to make it for Easter.  I made ours using Smitten Kitchen's delicious yellow cake recipe & homemade icing.  Yum, yum, yum. I'm a medicore cake decorator at best, but Hope declared "It's beautiful Mommy!".  That's all that I need.

We really did have a great time, but I'm beat!  I think that my normal schedule is more relaxing than "time off" :) 

Easter

Happy Easter everyone!  We are at home this year, just the three of us.  I made a brunch and set a nice  table...even though it's just us, it is still a special time.

We had a delicious strata from this Cooking Light recipe, smoked salmon (Glenn's request), berries, mimosas, and a special cake that Hope & I made yesterday. Yum.

Afterwards, Hope searched for the plastic eggs that Easter Bunny stuffs with goodies and hides in our yard.

A few pics with Mom & Dad, of course

I hope that you are having a lovely holiday!