A Spooky Halloween Give Away

About a week ago Laura at Decor to Adore offered a very generously spooky give away in celebration of All Hollows Eve.... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeK!

Now Laura is an AZ Blogger. We're both special that way. So we got to meet at Gooseberries Tea Room for Lunch on Friday for the AZ Bloggers Luncheon. I'll post more about that later next week. Marty from a Stroll Through Life put it all together for us. It was awesome!

This is the hauntingly beautiful bag that she put it in..... Darling ...Right!?

But one cute side isn't enough.....this is the other cute side!
That girl! She is so creative!

A super, secret, scary pouch.....what's in there???? Looks like a bag of potions...
or maybe rotten hobgoblin teeth???? eeeewwwwwwww!

Nope! It's a bag of inspiration!
The first thing I thought of was a cute and scary Hall-o-ween Garland for next year!

Look at this little cameo ring... I'm wearing it tonight to
Phantom of the Opera!
How perfect is that?!

A sweet silhouette note holder! LOVE IT! (with refills...how thoughtful)

This is soooooo going on the front door!

Who needs needs to go trick or treating? Not Me!

Sweet Daughter noticed right away.... 2 Edwards', 2 Bellas' and 2 Jacobs' ! Funny ! Now there is only one Edward... spooky disappearing act on Halloween????

Thank you Laura! It was so nice to meet you. Your a doll! When I make my garland I of course will post it and let you know!

Happy Halloween!

Pretty Kitty

Dis my gooder side....

Dis my udder goodest side!

Tea Staining

Have you ever tried tea staining before? It is one of my favorite things to do. I remember reading about it in Victoria Magazine when I was in my twenties (long, long ago). I thought it was one of the coolest things ever. So Easy!

Hot water and tea bags. The more tea, the more time,
the darker the stain. I did these in our kitchen sink.
Pretty simple stuff.

I can't wait to show you how these turned out. I had 4 linen hand towels. One really old and 3 pretty new. I wanted them to all be the same antique white. They are all going to be hung in our front bathroom on a little cabinet that I still have to put together. Along with some vintage style bottles...it should look pretty cute. I'll show you when it's done. That is if it looks good. If you never hear about it... then you know it didn't turn out... SIGH... :)

Tea Towels ......LOVE 'UM!

It's been crazy busy here. This weekend we will be re-arranging some furniture in our family room. Yay! It will be just like new!

These are some cute towels I hung on the towel rack that hubby installed on the end of the cabinet for me. He's sweet that way.
These make me happy.
Thanks Big G! ; )

See more pretty Pink stuff at How Sweet the Sound. Thank you Beverly!

Time for Tablescape Thursday!

Friday will be my 47th birthday. I am not ashamed to say that I look 47. I have earned every wrinkle and age spot that I proudly wear. Okay....Truthfully, I try to cover them as much as I possibly can.

I know I am blessed. I have it good with no complaints.

So, to celebrate, I am taking the day off. I'm not sure what I'll be doing.....

Maybe...morning tea in bed....
maybe spend the day reading????

Who knows! The possibilities are endless!

For more beautiful ideas please visit our most gracious host
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

4 of 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix

Cheesecake Bars

Bottom Layer:

• 1 yellow cake mix
• 1 cube of margarine, melted and cooled
• 1 egg, beaten

Top Layer:

• 1 pound powdered sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cake mix and beaten egg to melted margarine. Spread mixture into bottom of a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan. In a separate bowl, mix together powdered sugar, eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Spread mixture over bottom layer. Bake 30-35 minutes.

I'm giving you an honest review on this one...... I didn't particularly care for these. They were very moist and looked really good. But there wasn't really a very strong cheesecake taste. They were a little too sweet as well.

EDIT: Hubby and Sweet Daughter loved these!

The Cross

Just a simple little craft/re-purposing project.

This cross hung in my parents home for many years. When my mom gave it to me, it was brass and very tarnished. I tried to clean it up. But the best I could do was to cover the stain. I painted it. But the stains are still there under the paint.

How very human.

"Come now let's settle this," says the Lord.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will
make them as white as wool."

Isaiah 1:18

Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?

Must Jesus bear the cross alone
And all the world go free?
No, there's a cross for everyone,
And there's a cross for me.

The consecrated cross I'll bear
till death shall set me free.
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there's a crown for me.

Upon the crystal pavement, down
At Jesus' pierced feet,
Joyful I'll cast my golden crown
And His dear name repeat.

O precious cross! O glorious crown!
O resurrection day!
Ye angels, from the stars come down
And bear my soul away

Thomas Shepherd (1665-1739)

Same Kind Of Different As Me

I have to share this book with you!

It was such an awesome story and so worth your time. It's a Love story, a story of friendship, and most importantly a story about faith and purpose. Specifically God's purpose.

I am pretty harsh book critic and it's a rare book that I go on and on about, so you have to know that I really loved this one.

Same Kind Of Different As Me
by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
with Lynn Vincent

I hope you'll read it and let me know what you thought.

Pine Is Still Fine

One day shortly after my husband and I were married, he came home with this cute little shelf. He proceeded to tell me that he had made it when he was 16 and that his mom had been saving it in the attic for years. She sent it home to see if I wanted it.... well duh! Of course I would want it. I'm so glad she saved it!

It hangs proudly in our family room and is laden heavily with family history.

Sweet Daughter's high school graduation picture.....

Look at those cute little mice admiring her beauty. :) They were in the nick knack cabinet at my great grandmothers house. They are from the 50's.

A little jelly compote....

Some little Dutch Dairy men.... also from the fifties..... I know the shelf looks dusty but it isn't. It actually needs to be oiled. The varnish is getting old and dull so when it is dry it looks dusty.
Really!
At least that's the story I'm rolling with! :)

The picture in the back is of my Mom on my grandfather's shoulders. Isn't this just the most precious picture. It is one of my all time favorites. The little round picture is my Mom holding my older brother. (trust me...it was a fleeting moment)

My Great Grandmother's thimble.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!