Guest Blogger at One Artsy Mama- coming soon!

I am super excited about being a guest blogger at One Artsy Mama this weekend!  

Amy is a super talented, and lovely blogger and I can't wait to be on her amazing blog.  Please stop by on April 5th!  I can't wait to share a project I am making with you!

Lovely Antique Plate Display - Show off your collections

I have been on the hunt at Antique shops looking for art for my kitchen, and came across this lovely idea!

I love how simple, yet beautiful this idea is! 

Lovely antique plate display

Have a favorite china pattern or decorative plate you want to show off?  Do you have some and fun vintage silverware?

  

This is a beautiful way to show off your lovely collections!

I love this old vintage frame, with a burlap and vintage lace backer as a backdrop to your favorite collection.

How do you display your favorite collection?

Kari

LINKING UP!

Happy Spring and New Exciting Changes to my Blog coming soon!

Happy Spring!

It's the first day of spring, my favorite season!  Here in Arizona it has been feeling like spring for several weeks - being in the 80's!  I am loving being outdoors!

With all new things in Spring, there are some new exciting changes coming very soon to my blog!

I hope you will check back very soon to see!

Kari

Sweetest Pin - Mint Ginger Slushie {Perfect for St. Paddy's Day}

St. Patrick's Day is almost here!  

Green is the color, and I wanted to find a 

different spin on a tasty St. Patrick's Day treat.  

The Soho

This amazing Mint Ginger Slushie by The Soho

looks like the perfect and unique treat.  I have a ton of mint in my garden, and I am always trying to think of a way 

to use it all up!  This looks like a refreshing minty treat.

What's your favorite mint recipe?  Do you have a favorite recipe you make for St. Patrick's Day?

You are loved

I have a wonderful family and husband!  I just started a new job after being laid off for three months.  When I woke up in the morning, my husband surprised me with this sweet note on our chalkboard in the kitchen.

The "you are loved" portion is left over from my Valentine's Day message - here.

My husband's birthday is the week after Valentine's Day, so I left the "you are loved" message.  My daughter's each wrote a special Happy Birthday message for daddy.

So, when I saw the message from my husband and the girls, it made my day!

When I got home from work, he had these beautiful roses waiting for me!  

The girls helped him pick the the colors of the roses.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband!  

What kind gesture made your day?  I would love to hear!  

Thanks for stopping by!

12 St. Patrick's Day Ideas, that Make Me Smile!

Looking for St. Patrick's Day ideas?  There is just something about St. Patrick's Day that makes me smile!  I just love this collection from the talented ladies below!

Shamrock Stamps by Prudent Baby

Pot of Gold by The 36th Avenue

Lucky Shamrock Art by Flamingo Toes

Irish Blessing Printable by Five Heart Home

Lucky Sign by Cameron Homemade

Lucky Pillow by Infarrantly Creative

Lucky St. Patrick's Day Decor by Fancy Pants Designs

Bells of Ireland Decor by Better Homes and Gardens

(I had Bells of Ireland flowers in my wedding centerpieces.  

I have always found them interesting!)

Clover Field by All in the Details

Irish Blessing by Sweet C's Designs

Rainbow Wands by Icing Designs

You are my Pot of Gold by TSJ Photography

What is your favorite? Have something you have created for St. Patrick's Day?

I would love for you to share!

Sweetest Pin - Trophy and Awards Display

Do you have old trophies and awards, that you don't know what to do with?  I just love this idea from Cuckoo 4 Design.  Her husband had a large collection, that wasn't being displayed.  

Cuckoo 4 Design

Here she combined plaques from old trophies combined with medals.  

I could see this being used with old vintage trophies.

How do you display your trophies, medals, awards?  My husband loves running marathons and he has a bunch of medals.  I tried framing them, and I failed!  I would love to hear your suggestions on what you have done.

Sweetest Pin - Shamrock Door Decor (Wreath)

This weeks Sweetest Pin is all about St. Patrick's Day!  

I have seen some beautiful wreaths out there, but this one is my absolute favorite!

Blue Sky Confections

I have been smitten with real shamrocks since high school, when my friend's mom gave me a shamrock plant.

Does anyone have a shamrock (oxalis) plant?  If you do, you would know that the leaves open and close with the sun.  Something I had never experienced before.  It makes me smile!  I will share with you my real shamrock plant on my porch soon.

So, when I saw this amazing take on a wreath by Blue Sky Confections, my heart skipped a beat!

She made this amazing door hanging with trimmings from her yard.  I am sure you can do it with faux plants too.

What do you think?  What is your favorite thing about 

St. Patrick's Day?

My Thrift Shop Finds - Crystal Bowl, Owl Salt and Pepper shakers

Woohoo, I found some amazing finds at Goodwill, two Antique shops, and another fun thrift shop recently.

I fell in love with these owl salt and pepper shakers.  I entertained at Christmas time, and I realized I needed a good salt and pepper shaker set.  My grandmother always loved owls, so it is fun to think of her when entertaining.

This never used picture frame was $1.99 at Goodwill.  It is cute like this, but I really like is the shape.  I have had my eye on frames with this shape, and they are much more expensive.  

I plan on spray painting this a fun color!  Stay tuned.

The darling crystal bowl goes perfectly with my new collection of bowl and three piece server.  See the post here. And the spoon is perfect for serving sliced can cranberries.

I can't wait to have an excuse to use them all together!  

What new finds have you found lately?

Our Family Olympics Party

I recently showed you some amazing Olympic Party ideas, after my husband (who always thinks my birthday party themes are over the top) suggested we have an Olympic Opening Ceremony party!

Here's the post:  12 Olympic Party Ideas {Family Friendly Fun}

Well, we did have our own little celebration with just the family that night.  We kept it simple 

(I thought it was, my husband still thought it I went a little overboard with the details!)  :)

But, the kids helped decorate and it was a lot of fun!

We looked up the Olympic colors online, and the girls went to town making their own paper chain!

The map and the flags were used at my daughter's 

Around the World Birthday Party.  You can see them here.

The candle holders I have used in the past for mantle decor, and made great holders for my Olympic torches.

To make the torches, I simply took red, orange and yellow tissue paper and smooshed (is that a word?) them enough to look like flames.  I had bought battery operated tea lights at the dollar spot at Target recently.  I wasn't sure what to use them for - and I got my chance.  It really made the torches GLOW!

We needed some snacks, so I simply took ice cream cones that I had in my pantry, and filled them with Doritos.  

I made a quick holder out of the top of an egg crate.

And you can too, here are the simple instructions:

Materials needed:

Top of egg crate

aluminum foil

knife

Ice cream cones

chips

Cut the top off the egg crate, and wrap it in aluminum foil.  Could be tissue paper, wrapping paper but I was thinking something quick!

After wrapping, I cut 4 "x" shaped cuts with my knife.  I repeated, and put the cones in the holder.  

I filled them with Doritos and waited for the right time after dinner for everybody to say "I'm hungry!"  

It was a fun treat and a fun night!  Plus, it only took 30 minutes to set up.  That was definitely NOT over the top!

Are you doing anything for the closing ceremonies for the Olympics?  What has been your favorite sport to watch?