Feel Good Friday

Why hello Friday, you are looking very nice today. Is that a new haircut? It takes 10 years off. What's that? You have some wonderful delights to share with me? Well, bring it on!



Our flowers are slow growing here in the Pacific Northwest, so I'll just take matters into my own hands and make them myself.

I love the idea of making stuff out of things you find at the dollar store or just around your house. Dollar Store Crafts does just that. So many great ideas!

I'm wondering if I can get OMP to go camping with me if I find a place like this. 

Oh Friday! You make me so happy! I just love you to death. Wanna know what else I love? 

This guy...

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.~ Buddha

Inspiring Spaces

It's so interesting to see where people create. I love seeing how they organize, decorate and live. You guys truly inspire me! I thought I would share my creative space with you. It's a modgepodge of what OMP likes to call "grandma chic". A mixture of 1890-1960's style.

 I love this chair. It's oversized, comfortable and the dogs can sit on the back and watch me stitch.

 This is my desk with my books and magazines on one side and my fabrics on the other. Pens and hoops are in the middle.

 I love my record player! OMP got it for me this past Christmas. There is nothing better than the warm sound of Bing's voice on vinyl.

 Just two drawers of patterns. There are a lot more that aren't as organized...

The den of floss. It goes all the way back. Each little box is a different color and the bigger bins hold scraps and mismatch floss.

Now that you've seen my room, how about a give away...how's that for a tie in? Tell me what your ideal craft/art space is like and win this wonderful book, Vintage Craft Workshop. It has great crafts from the 60's and 70's.  A winner will be picked next Wednesday.

Tie One On Tuesday

The Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate the 137th tradition then with a few beverages. It is so much fun to throw on an over the top hat, plan a party and do a little betting on some horses.

The signature drink of the Kentucky Derby is, of course, a mint julep. Now, being from the south, I am suppose to love these drinks while sitting on the veranda of my mansion. The only problem with this is 1-I don't like mint juleps and 2-I don't have a mansion. That doesn't stop me from making up a batch for my guests.

Mint Julep
4 fresh mintsprigs
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 tsp powdered sugar
2 tsp water

Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass (although, traditionally, it would be a metal/silver glass).
Fill the glass with crushed ice and add bourbon.
Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

I am told by Kentucky Derby purist that this is THE drink to serve at your party. I guess they aren't fond of mint juleps either. I am in love with this punch-it's so easy!

Woodford Sweet Tea
2 cups ice tea (unsweetened)
1 cup sugar
1 12 oz can frozen OJ
1 12 oz can frozen limeade
1 bottle of Woodford Reserve Sweet Bourbon (I'm sure any bourbon will do in a pinch)

7 cups water
Mix all ingredients and chill. 


When it is all said and done, and your horse has won, celebrate with Crown of Roses


Crown of Roses
1 oz. Crown Royal
1/2 oz. amaretto
1 oz. pineapple juice, 1/4
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add all of the ingredients.
Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add  a cherry for garnish.


 Oh my goodness! The pageantry, the race and the amazing cocktails will definitely make your Derby party the hit of the season.

Spring Has Sprung

May is here! It only seems like yesterday that we were shoveling snow and fighting the rain...wait, that really was yesterday. Mother Nature may be a few months behind but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the coming of warmer weather. Here are a few movies to put a spring in your step.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a wonderful musical with songs from the great Johnny Mercer. A woodsman catches a bride in 1850 Oregon and his brothers decide they need one too. The barn dance scene is to die for and yes, it is silly and over the top because everyone who lives in Oregon knows that no one dances here-we all just sit and stare at the musicians playing. MGM considered this a B movie until it was nominated and awarded several prestigious movie awards, including an Oscar.

It Happens Every Spring is a silly Disney style sports movie that is perfect for everyone. Sports, a silly scientist and cute girls round out this delightful little film. A scientist makes a discovery of a chemical that makes baseballs repel wood and quickly decides to cash in on his discovery. The original story was penned by the same writer as Miracle of 34th Street.

Last but not least, a movie about May Day, or the workers on May Day. Salt of the Earth is based on the true story of strikes against the Zinc Coal Mine. This 1954 movie portraying the struggles of Mexican American workers and the plights of prejudice could have easily been written for today's moviegoers. This movie was written by one of the original Hollywood 10, who were blacklisted by the refusing to answer to congress.


Well, there ya go, three movies to help you get through the spring thaw. These movies, just like the new season, will renew your faith, make you see things from a different perspective and have you whistling a different tune. Happy Spring everyone!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

This little girl doesn't realize how important she is to me. She is my little guardian angel. Everywhere I go, she is close behind, making sure it's safe for me to be there. She knows all my secrets and never tells a soul.

Bring On the Bacon

I've heard the rumors, they say bacon has been played out. Wanna know what I say to those haters? I say NEVER! Bacon will never been played out. NEVER! With that being said, here are some yummy bacon jalapeno poppers that will have all the bacon haters saying, "What? What?"

Ingredients:
Bacon (cut slices in half)
jalapenos
Softened cream cheese
Shredded cheddar cheese (I used a half of a cup, but you can certainly add more)
salt and pepper

How to:
Combine cream cheese and shredded cheese in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. I add a few more spices for taste (it's a secret recipe-you will have to find your own)
Cut jalapenos in half and scrape out the guts and seeds. Make sure you wear gloves for this. The seeds and juice are extremely hot and can burn your eyes or any other orifice if you scratch it with hands that have seeds and guts on it.
Spoon your cream cheese mixture into the hollowed out pepper. You can certainly pile it as high as you like
Take your slice of bacon and wrap it around the pepper. Don't wrap it too tight. If you need to, secure it with a toothpick
Cook for 45 minutes at 300 degrees.  Now, here's the secret...cook it on a cooling rack, with the rack on a baking sheet. This will cook the bacon on all sides and keep the drippings away from your popper. If you don't do this, the bottom of your bacon will be undercooked and greasy.
Serve up for yummy bacon cheesy poppy goodness!

Feel Good Friday!

Can I just tell you how challenging my week has been? In one day alone I had a sick puppy at 3:30am, a fiasco at the grocery store, spilled coffee all over me, ripped my skirt and got to work late. Yeah....not fun at all. The pup is better, I got another coffee and I will sew up my skirt this weekend. Anyhoo, I am determined to have a good Friday and an awesome weekend.

My friend AlwaysInspired made this wonderful, amazing and super duper cute cowboy quilt. Look close and the little boot and hat. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

I absolutely love cooking and baking blogs. Cupcake and Cookies definitely provides me with yummy baked goods and great recipes.

My garden is slowly taking shape. I know once the farmette is ready for some pickin' I will need one of these aprons. Sew in Stitches can stitch up an apron like nobody's business.  I like that I could also stick a naughty small dog in there (just kidding....kind of)

Speaking of naughty puppies. Someone needs to stage an intervention. I can't resist the Jujube.

Ahhh, yes....laid back and relaxed. I've got some stitching to do, some chocolate to eat and an OMP to kiss. Life couldn't get any better.