Fun And Useful Kitchen Accessories

 

 

I have been eyeing these Martha Stewart "chalkboard labels" for a couple of months now.  I even pinned them to this "kitchen and laundry accessories" Pinterest board click here.  Unfortunately these labels are only sold at "Staples" and the closest store is in a town a little over 30 miles away. Luckily my thoughtful mother-in-law and father-in-law were in this town recently and stopped in to pick these up for me. 

Now my plain glass kitchen canisters are dressed up with some snazzy labels. 

and here is the close-up

The great thing about the chalkboard labels is how easy it will be to change.  If my straw canister becomes spaghetti, all I have to do is erase and re-write the label.  I haven't tested this out yet, but these labels are also supposed to have an "easy" to remove adhesive if you decide you don't want to use the label anymore.

basket, filled to the brim

My other little find for the kitchen is my new fruit bowl.  I have been looking for an "open" wire fruit basket for some time.  An open design is supposed to help keep your fruit fresh longer by letting air circulate around your produce.  Most of the ones I have found were either too expensive or too "funky modern".  I found this little guy at TJ Maxx for just $4.99....yep sold!  The bottom of the wire basket is dipped in red wax, so it doesn't slip or scratch your counter top.  The open flat design also holds an amazing amount of fruit and veggies.

Hanging Map Pictures and a New Sofa

 

 

There are two spaces that have pretty much been neglected since we moved into our house three years ago, our study/office and the craft/guest room.  Slowly but surely we are starting to finally tackle these rooms. 

 

 

First step in the study/office was to buy a sofa.  We thought it would be nice to have some additional seating in this room to go with the computer chair, desk, and shelving.  We found this "all leather" sofa at the "Family Furniture Store" in Elizabethton, TN.  It was a real bargain and reminds me of some of the older "Restoration Hardware" leather sofas that I have admired in the past.  Most importantly my better half thinks it is really comfortable...SOLD!

 

English Roll Arm Sofa by Restoration Hardware

 

The next step was to hang my "Map" pictures which used to reside in our living room at our first house.  They have been living in a closet for the last three years (yeah they finally found a home in daylight again).  I really love these map pictures.  I found the vintage colored map of the United States at "Office Max" about six years ago.  Luckily I know a good framer who cut the map into four equal sections and then added some simple black moulding.  I requested "no glass", because I want to "pin/flag" all the places my family travels to.  The "pins/flags" will have to wait until my boys are a bit older and there is no danger of them "mysteriously" disappearing.

 

I shopped my house for the trunk/coffee table.  The trunk had been awkwardly taking up a corner in our dining room.  This trunk is a piece I inherited from my grandparent's house in south Georgia.  The trunk was left in the attic by the previous owner of my grandparent's house.  The letters "END" are the initials of that home owner, Edith Nadine Darbyshire.  The Darbyshires were a prominent family that traveled abroad and overseas.  I believe this trunk was used to pack clothing for those journeys.  The trunk opens like a book on its end.  When you open the trunk, you see a stack of drawers upholstered in some now tattered fabric and on one the other side is a rack for hanging clothes.

 

One day I would like to reupholster the inside of this trunk but for now I am content to use it as a coffee table.

 

The craft/guest room is also starting to come together.  Here is a sneak peek at a poster and frame that I found for the space on a recent trip to IKEA.

 



 

 

Last, but not least both of these rooms have received a fresh coat of paint in Sherwin Williams' "Taupe Tone".  Despite the "taupe" in the color name, this is a really nice warm grey.

 



Beach Glass Necklace

Photo Courtesy of: Beth Duncan

Recently I made a really quick and simple necklace from some left over turquoise beads.  I've had these beach glass beads in my "stock box" for years.  I wasn't sure what to do with them until a couple of weeks ago when I was wishing for a turquoise necklace to go with an outfit.  About 15 minutes later, this is what I came up with.

I think this necklace is perfect with the bracelet I made last year.  Apparently, I still love the turquoise and purple combination.

 

 

Roses are Red and Benches are Blue

Bench 2013

This is an update post.  Last year I scored a great deal on a climbing rose bush at an "end of season sale" and my husband spray painted an old worn out bench "turquoise" for me. Well, this year the rose bush is thriving and the bench has nicely "weathered" the elements.  The paint on the bench has faded quite a bit, but I think I like it better now than when it was all glossy and new.  What do you think?

Bench 2012

For full post on painting this bench, click here.

Newly Planted Rose Bush 2012

for full post on planting this rose bush, click here.

 

Rose Bush 2013


 

A new outdoor pillow

Back in early May my family made a little overnight trip to a waterpark.  On this trip, I stopped into a "JoAnn Fabric" store.  I found this outdoor chevron fabric marked 50% off  and had to buy some. 

Here is a pillow I made for our currrent plastic adirondack deck chair.  I am still hoping to buy these little beauties for the deck ( see full post here).

If I should manage to acquire  a couple of these "Tucker Bend" benches I already have two outdoor pillows ready to go on them.  Don't you think the colors on the pillow will work great on the Tucker Bend bench?

I have some more big plans/dreams for the deck.  You can check them out on my pinterest board, "Fun Outdoors" (click here).

A New Succulent Garden

my new succulent garden

Well sadly, my aloe plant that I have loved for over five years is no longer.  The plant outgrew itself and pieces started breaking off due to sheer weight overload.  I moved the aloe plant off of the dining table and over to a nearby chest.  I wasn't thinking how this would put the aloe in reach of my two year old until it was too late.  Innocent curiosity from my son finished the aloe plant off in one quick tug.

Overgrown Aloe, about a week before it started breaking under its own weight.

Being one not to dwell on this loss, I quickly decided it was time for me to try a succulent garden.  I've noticed several of the magazines I read, have  featured succulent gardens recently. 

I found some really neat succulent plants at Lowes.  The tallest plant is called "blue chalk sticks".  This plant is aptly named, because that is exactly what it looks like.  The smaller plant in the foreground is a sedum.  I added two moss roses on each side of my pot.  I had these moss roses left over from a six pack that I purchased for my new pallet planter.  My total investment was just $7 + tax. 

Hopefully with some tlc I can get several years of enjoyment out of this arrangement (keeping my fingers crossed).

Any tips for caring for a succulent garden?

Rascally Rabbit?

Well it is the first week of June and I am past due for a garden update.  Back in early April I planted my 2013 raised bed garden with romaine lettuce, spinach, flat parsley,and a cherry tomato plant.  My husband built my raised beds out of cedar last year,click here for more on our first garden.

Recently I added some sugar snap pea and cucumber seeds. Just last week I added a "mortgage lifter" tomato plant.  This tomato plant is supposed to produce a meaty, mild flavor that has few seeds, and is ideal for slicing.  The unusual name of this plant is credited to the fact that a radiator repairman from the 1940's was able to pay off his $6,000 mortgage from his sales of this tomato plant. He developed this plant by crossing four of the largest tomato plants at the time: German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an old English variety . The information above on the "mortgage lifter" was sourced from the "Bonnie" plant tag that came with the plant and http://www.veggiegardener.com/mortgage-lifter-heirloom-tomato/.  Having such a colorful history, I can't wait to try the first "mortgage lifter" tomato.
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All of the rain and sunshine has really gotten things going, but I must say that it seems that some rascally rabbits  are enjoying my garden even more than me.  It started with my romaine lettuce.  Every day I would go out to check the garden and find another lettuce plant mysteriously missing.  It didn't take long for all nine of my lettuce plants to meet their dismal fate.  It may be prejudicial, but we do have several rabbits running around so they are my "usual" suspects.  I know that I could have tried wire fence to keep the rabbits out, but I didn't get anything in place  before the crimes had all been committed (these guys are too quick for a busy mom).

My spinach plants seemed to be immune to the "sneaky green leaf eater" aka "rascally rabbit", that is until today.  I went to do my daily garden check and to my dismay two of my spinach plants have been vandalized.  I have got to come up with a battle plan quick!  Suggestions anyone?






Garden on April 8, 2013.  I had just planted the spinach and lettuce. 





Garden April 22, 2013.  The lettuce vandalism had begun.



Aside from my troubles with the my lettuce thief the garden is doing great.  The flat parsley has doubled in size and my cherry tomato plant has some little green tomatos on it. 

 

 

Cherry Tomato Plant

Flat Parsley

 

I added some marigolds to the garden for color, but I am also told that these flowers can help deter pests.

 

Last but not least, one lesson learned from my garden last year is that the plants take a lot more space than I expected.  With this knowledge I realize that my garden is pretty well filled for the season.   Hoping for a good harvest again this year.  I am sure to share photos of all the fruits of my labor. 

 

I would love to hear what my readers are planting this year.  Have a great week!