Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Turquoise Lovin' #15

Happy Holidays officially!!  I hope all of you had a special Thanksgiving with family and friends and lots of thankfulness.  I was so happy to get to be home with my family.  There's just nothing like being with family that you don't get to see very often.  We had such a blast!!

But now we have to get back to reality.  And for me, reality is going to be REALLY busy in the next few weeks.  I'm sure you all know what I mean!

Just reminding you that you can link up your RED projects here now too.  At least for the holiday season.

This week I am just doing one extremely AWESOME feature because I thought it deserved lots of recognition (and because I am low on time!!).  This office redo at  Not Just A Housewife is the most gorgeous one I have seen.  When I have an office I want it to look just like this!









Now it's your turn to shine!!  Can't wait to see what holiday (and other) projects you have been working on this week!


Party Rules...
1)  Please follow Sweet Little Gals
2)  Make sure your project or post has SOMETHING to do with turquoise OR red this week because that's what makes it fun!
3)  Try to comment on at least two other posts.
4)  PLEASE grab a turquoise lovin' button on the sidebar so you can share the turquoise fun with others.


Happy day!!


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Burlap Fall Centerpiece

Remember my recent post on fun things you can make with burlap?  And how I told you I have been playing around with my own burlap projects?  I can't believe it but I am finally going to show you at least some of my experiments.  The first of these is a table centerpiece that I did...nothing fancy, but kinda fun anyway. 

I did this a few weeks ago, but am just now posting about it.  I have NO idea why it is so hard to take pictures and post them on my blog.  But it is.  At least for me!  It may be that I am such an idealist that it never looks good enough to post.  Whatever it is I need to get over it. Ha!

So here's my fall centerpiece, and I love how it turned out!!  All I did was throw a few old things together with some burlap and here's what I came up with!

I used an old wooden tray, a fun white pitcher, an old milk bottle (from my grandpa's dairy!), some garland, and a fun little mason jar I fixed up with some burlap and twine.  And then on the sides I put a few smaller milk bottles and a pumpkin with a burlap runner under all of it. 





















Now, I'm trying to figure out how to add a touch of turquoise in there! {wink}
Hope you enjoy your day!

Turquoise Lovin' #14

Welcome to the party!!  Bloggy land is rich with turquoise stuff again.  This week I want to add a feature to the party at least for a little while.  We'll see how it goes.

Since this blog is all about turquoise and red I thought that at least during Christmas time it would be fun to add red to the party as well.  So this week link up all of your turquoise AND red projects.  How does that sound?

How many of you LOVE paint as much as I do?
I absolutely ADORE this Painted Porch from It All Started with Paint



Bear Dolly and Moi made the CUTEST Advent Calender...LOVE it!




And Vibrant Serenity made a gorgeous Fabric frame with lovely fabric 
flowers to share with us!
 



Party Rules...
1)  Please follow Sweet Little Gals
2)  Make sure your project or post has SOMETHING to do with turquoise OR red this week because that's what makes it fun!
3)  Try to comment on at least two other posts.
4)  PLEASE grab a turquoise lovin' button on the sidebar so you can share the turquoise fun with others.

Thanks for partying with us!!  We couldn't do it without you! ;)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sweet Little Photo Swap Break

Hey all!  Just wanted to let you know I am taking a photo swap break, till the first of the year.  I am thinking this next month will be crazy busy for me and most likely all of you too!  It's hard to get the posts up plus I am having a hard time trying to find time to take pictures with all of the holiday stuff to do.  I just can't keep up and always feel guilty putting the party up so late and having no gorgeous pictures to share.

I promise photo swap will be back soon though.  So don't disappear totally please!!  If any of you have written a post specially for today I will put the link up so you can still share.  I am hoping to start features and all when we come back in January.  And maybe some fun challenges too.

Hoping you all have a lovely Thanksgiving.  Thanks for stopping by!!

{Oh and if you would still like me to put the linkup up (without my own pictures) every week please leave a comment letting me know that you would still like to link with each other!}

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Some fun music

I found some fun new songs (to me) on YouTube that I'm so excited about.  Do any of you like the Isaacs like I do?  (I REALLY like their Christmas CD, almost wore it out last year!)  Lovin' these songs and have to admit the girls and I were just spinning around the living room dancing to them. And I'm always so excited when I find new songs to sing!!







Hope you're enjoying your weekend!! 
God's special blessings to you!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Wind at My Back

I recently found another awesome movie series at Sullivan Entertainment the makers of the beloved Anne of Green Gables.  The series is called Wind at My Back and I immediately fell in LOVE!  These Canadians make some awesome movies I tell ya!

The only thing I don't like about the series is that it ended, and it ended at a very critical point so it makes you long for more and wish that eventually they would finish the story.  I hate it when that happens.  You just get hooked and they leave you in the air!  I need resolution so bad that I thought about finishing it myself, just so I would feel better.  Hehe.

Here is the first episode if you are looking for a fun series to watch now that days are getting colder and shorter.  It's definitely worth your time. 


Anyone else a Wind at My Back fan?  Or a Sullivan entertainment fan?  I just can't get enough!!

Hope your weekend is awesome!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Burlap Lovin'

I am totally, completely, entirely, extremely in LOVE with stuff made of burlap.  Can't believe the fun things you can make with it.  I know, I'm kinda late, as always, at catching on to the trends, but better late than never right?

I've been having a total blast ordering burlap (if you don't already know this, I am an ordering junkie, the UPS and Fed Ex men are always on their way to my place!), and so far I've been making fun burlap flowers, ribbons, wreaths, and lots of other fun stuff.  Someday I may actually post some of my burlap projects.  Ha! 

And did you know that burlap comes in all sorts of fun colors?  The only thing I am missing is some turquoise burlap.  I am thinking about learning how to paint it. 

So today I want to share some fun burlap inspiration that I found on pinterest.  You can see my burlap board right here.


LOVE the limes in the water!

Gorgeous burlap flowers

I think I will do this next summer

Really love burlap with writing on it!

Cutest burlap pumpkins ever!

Love the tie!

Burlap gift wrapping...so elegant

Lovin' the buckets

Beautiful burlap curtains!

Gorgeous burlap bows!


My favorite!!  This would be my wedding reception if I could do it over again!

Stay tuned, one of these days I will be posting my very OWN burlap projects!
Had any fun with burlap lately?

Linking up with Michelle


Monday, November 14, 2011

Turquoise Lovin' #13

I am so excited.  We just finished our harvest last week and today is the very LAST day of field work for my husband.  I can't even describe how happy I am since harvest leaves me feeling very much like a single parent.  Dave puts in VERY long hours, and sometimes the girls have to go out to the field to actually see him!

And after a BEAUTIFUL, especially long fall for ND, we finally got some snow this morning.  It was kind of fun (can't believe I'm saying this) to see the fluffy flakes gently falling down.  And Ally was beyond excited saying "It's almost Christmas, there's snow outside"!! 

How has your week been?  I hope you have had some fun creating gorgeous turquoise projects.  I am all ready to get some holiday decorating inspiration.

Here are the awesome features of the week.


Absolutely ADORE this zebra print stool created at Peace, Love, 2 Sisters!! 




Lovin' this IKEA table makeover at Acire Adventures
 


And last but not least, DARLING mason jar snow globes made




Now it's your turn!!  PLEASE remember that this 
is a turquoise lovin' party, and if your project or post is 
not somehow "turquoise" I will have to delete it.  :)  That's what makes this
party fun!!


Party Rules...
1)  Please follow Sweet Little Gals
2)  Make sure your project or post has SOMETHING to do with turquoise because that's what makes it fun!
3)  Try to comment on at least two other posts.
4)  PLEASE grab a turquoise lovin' button on the sidebar so you can share the turquoise fun with others.




Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sweet Little Photo Swap #21

Last night some of our friends had a party at their farm with goodies and a traditional horse-pulled hayride.  We had such a fun night, especially the girls.  Our friends have TONS of animals, horses, cows, chickens, goats, cats, dogs, etc. that are fun to see.   Their place always reminds me of home since we grew up raising lots of animals.  I love going there.

Ally and I hung around the horses most of the night of course.  Ha!  I got some pictures that I'm going to share, but it was SO dark they didn't turn out that great.  I still want to share them with you though.  I hope you don't mind their lack of quality!  I wanted to take more pictures, but we were just having too much fun to stop and shoot!!

{I also included a fun picture I got of the local grain elevator.  I like how that one turned out.}


Couldn't get her to look but this one turned out cute anyway!

Having fun!

Talk about REAL shabby chic style! :)

Couldn't help thinking this one was cute!

Snuggling with grandma

Ally on one of the HUGE draft horses

He was SO big, but she loved it!


Local grain elevator


Now it's YOUR turn to share!

If you have never joined my swap before here are the rules...


1)  Not required, but would LOVE it if you would write a SPECIFIC photo swap post.  I REALLY would appreciate if you didn't just link up a random post from your blog. Please make sure it has something to do with photo swapping!  Thanks!
2)  Share your favorite photos from the week and share why you liked them.
3)  Link back to Sweet Little Photo Swap with a link or a button. ( PLEASE do this one!)
4)  Please follow Sweet Little Gals
5)  Follow at least TWO other people on the photo swap list
6)  ENJOY!! ;)

Happy Happy Swapping!! 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Turquoise Lovin' #12

With a TON of crazy stuff to do today, I'm going to make this sweet, short, and to the point.  As always I'm loving all the turquoise that comes my way every week now.  SO much inspiration all in one party.  Thanks so much for participating and hope you keep coming back with more.

I just picked three features for this week...just LOVING these fun ideas!!

I absolutely ADORE this Olivia party at Little Lucy Lu!!  Bec is one of my BFF in bloggy land and she has such darling ideas!  You simple HAVE to go check out her blog and her party.




I also loved this beautiful baby quilt at Little E.  The color selection is gorgeous.




And Paint Me Shabby has made the most beautiful bedroom!!
I love the black and turquoise combo so much...




Thank you ladies for the inspiration!!

Now it's time to link up.  Please follow the rules and have fun!

Party Rules...
1)  Please follow Sweet Little Gals
2)  Make sure your project or post has SOMETHING to do with turquoise because that's what makes it fun!
3)  Try to comment on at least two other posts.
4)  PLEASE grab a turquoise lovin' button on the sidebar so you can share the turquoise fun with others.



Monday, November 7, 2011

Homemade Bread

Yesterday I promised you that I would share my recipe for homemade bread.  So here it is!!!  Can't wait to share.

I LOVE the smell of fresh homemade bread baking in my oven.  It's so scrumptious to have a hot piece dripping with butter, YUM!  I have some baking in there right now and I can't wait to enjoy it.

I thought about doing a full picture tutorial for this post, but decided that it would be too difficult to explain bread making in pictures.  If you haven't made your own bread before, it is very hard to do an effective tutorial without having the person right there with you.  So I'm just going to give you the recipe and hope that you have either made bread or have someone who can help you figure it out!!








This is my mom's famous bread recipe.

Whole Wheat Bread

4 cups warm water (105 to 110 degrees)
1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
2 T. yeast
4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup canola or olive oil
2 cups unbleached white flour
 whole wheat flour

Combine warm water and sweetening; sprinkle or gently stir yeast into mixture.  Let foam (5-10 min).  Add salt, oil, and white flour.  Gradually add whole wheat flour, mixing first with a wire wisk, then a wooden spoon.  When unable to mix, turn onto table and knead with hands.  Knead until stiff dough-dough should pop back when pressed.  Let rise in oiled bowl, cover with towel.  Let rise 50 minutes in warm place.  Punch  down; knead for a couple of minutes (may need to sprinkle additional flour while kneading dough still sticky).  Divide dough into four parts.  Form loaves, place in non-stick bread pans (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2).  Let rise again for 20 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then 350 degrees for 15 minutes, and 325 for 5 minutes.

Ok, so that's my mom's recipe she gave me.  I have a few things I really need to try to explain though, or you may have some wild looking bread when you are done. ha!

Here are my tips:
I use brown sugar for sweetening.  
The flour ends up being about 9-11 cups of flour in all.  You are supposed to add whole wheat flour {after the two cups of white flour are added], till the texture is just right, SO NOT A SPECIFIC AMOUNT.  {I use four cups of whole wheat flour and then add the rest white for a lighter texture.  I usually end up using about 9 cups of flour altogether, my mom uses 11.  We are not sure exactly why that is...it could be our climates differences.}
Once you start kneading the bread, I like to set my timer for 8 minutes to make sure I knead it long enough.  Just something I prefer doing.  It may not work for you.  
When you let the bread rise for the second time in the loaf pans, it may take a little longer than 20 minutes for the loaves to rise.  I try to make sure that they double in size.  Just make sure not to leave them for too long or they will flop. (If that happens, you can always punch them down and raise the loaves again.)
Also, I like to separate the dough into three sections instead of four.  I just like larger loaves than my mom does.  

Hope that wasn't TOO confusing.  Like I said before, hopefully you have made bread before or have someone to help you figure this out!  It is an extremely YUMMY recipe if you can get it just right!! 
 

Enjoy your day and hope you enjoy making your bread!

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