ready, set, go …..

What is so interesting about being in the blogging world (and I am only in it with one toe, so to speak), is that there is inspiration from all directions of life.  Intellectual, spiritual, artistic, marital/family ~  and the list goes on......  One of the things that I can never get over when I am visiting blogs is how so many young women, in this day and age, strive to raise a healthy family, be a loving wife, create a pride-filled lovely home and
actually use their personal God-given talents to create and share with other women. It is very comforting that the love of home and family is going strong in our younger generations!
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The kitchen is the center of everyone’s home ~ especially during the holidays (mine is actually IN the center of the house (lol) …. therefore, my kitchen is in many of my posts.  We finally put the knobs on our cabinets (only took 3 years).  That is SO not like me ~ but I have found that I am not in such a RUSH in my life anymore.  I was NEVER like this PRE –age 45 !!  And as each year has passed …. well, less and less of a rush.  I guess that is the gift we get for making it this far ~  :)

We had a wonderful, comfortable, Thanksgiving Day.  Brandon & Megan brought us the sweetest “Basket Full Of Gifts” !! And they spent two nights at the house with us !!! We love it when they are here.

 

my daughter-in-law to be already knows her mother-in-law to be’s taste.  ;-))))

everything was perfect.

There’s our cute “engaged couple” making deviled eggs and peeling potatoes.

Brandon has become quite the deviled egg pro! We didn’t have paprika – so we used cayenne.  It’s a keeper.

We love HOT. 

Megan and I had so much fun talking about the upcoming wedding!!!  So many ideas and thoughts.  Thank goodness they gave the engagement a little over a year!!!  Their current decision is the photographer.  Venue (check).  Caterer (check).  Wedding Party (check).  Cake (check).  Colors (check).  Honeymoon destination (check).

(You can click “colors” and “venue” to visit those posts)

We all know who was “under foot” while preparing the “BIRD” !!   Ms. Bella !!  She looks like a lady, but she acted like a hyper-active child!  It doesn’t matter how she acts,

WE LOVE HER and SHE IS

THE

CENTER OF ATTENTION ~ and she knows it! 

Hubby and I got the most beautiful card.  We have come to expect it –  because our son always picks the most wonderful cards with heartfelt words.  ALWAYS.     I also wanted to share the front of this card because it reminded me of the most adorable paintings that  Becky at Farmgirl Paints creates.  You can send her a photo of your home and she will paint it for you.  This looks so much like her style.

 Please visit her here, if you don’t ALREADY know her.  She is known for her honesty of everyday life, hence her huge dedicated following!  And this girl has the “biggest” heart!

And now …. off to get the Christmas stuff out!  Ready, set, go!

  You know how there are Christmas decorations you will just never part with?

This Candy Cane is one of them.  It is distressed wood ~ and a real favorite! 

Happy decorating!! 

Have a beautiful week dear ones ~ Cheryl xo

Anti-aging food #2

Anti-aging food #2 – Sweet Potato

In the southern island of Japan, there's a group of Japanese known as the Okinawans. The people that are renowned for their youthful complexions and not looking their age. So what is their secret to this fountain of youth? The secret is believed to be their diet. They feast on starchy root vegetables as part of their main diet, and one of these core vegetables is the sweet potato.
Sweet potatoes and other starchy root vegetables are anti-aging superstars. For years, nutritionists have advised us to fill plates with a variety of colors of vegetables - and not just the green variety. Conventional potatoes don't provide the same kick. The sweet potato provides sugar but unlike sweets, to provide a slow release and sustainable source of carbohydrates, essential to our energy and vitality.
In fact a recent study from China demonstrated how the purple sweet potato contains a naturally occurring anthocyanin, (a super powerful antioxidant that has neuro-protective effects). The potato is also rich in vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. This element is essential for preventing rough and scaly skin. It also helps protect the skin against sun damage and helps to balance the pH levels and promotes softer skin complexions. The antioxidant levels contained in the potatoes are so high that they are excellent for cancer prevention. So if one of your loved ones is a smoker, feed them sweet potatoes!
Another reason why you would want to include sweet potatoes in your diet is for its high hyaluronic acid levels. As we get older, these acid levels drop. Our bodies depend on this to keep our skin moisturized and the joints in our body lubricated. It also helps to maintain levels of collagen in our skin without resulting to bovine collagen injections.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Anti-Aging-Secrets---The-Sweet-Potato-is-the-Fountain-of-Youth&id=4467763


Oven Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 large sweet potatoes
1 generous tsp sea salt
1 generous tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp paprika
Pinch of black pepper
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Slice sweet potatoes lengthwise into thin strips, and place in a bowl. Add the olive oil, sea salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder, and toss to coat thoroughly. Place the fries in a single layer on a wire rack, with a baking sheet underneath.
Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes (taste to tell if they’re done), or until the fries are soft and delicious.
Serves 4 (um… 2).
Photo and Recipe above courtesy of www.sugarlaws.com
This is Sugarlaws ~ she is adorable, young and has HUNDREDS of recipes!!!! Click her picture to view her food!

Bon Appetit

~Cheryl~

somewhere over the rainbow …..

  I LOVE IT WHEN IT RAINS IN TEXAS

it can happen at any given moment and is always welcome.

rain in the warm weather beckons you to run out in it and dance like a child.

 this is a familiarity to me of growing up in michigan and adoring the summer rainstorms
 – but fearing the thunder and lightening - still.

in texas the rain blows in and out

just long enough to quench the thirst of the land.  just long enough to drench the earth so it can release it’s sweet aroma.

when the rain stops and the sun shines through the clouds

the warming of the earth starts beneath your feet. you begin to smell the steaming dirt, and witness the beauty of the millions of glistening droplets of water left on every blade of grass and each petal of the flowers!

beyond  words

and then, if all is right at just that moment in time ~ a rainbow or two

“somewhere over the rainbow”

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Anti-aging food #1

Anti-aging food #1 –  Avocado

Eye Cream: Build an eye cream by mixing 5 drops of almond oil with 3 ripe slices of avocado. Mix this mixture and dab it around your eyes. Keep it on for five minutes then rinse.

Facial Mask: Make a paste of ½ ripe avocado mixed with one tsp vegetable oil. Apply this paste on a washed and clean face. Leave it for fifteen to 20 minutes. Rinse it with warm water. This masque is very good for dry skin.

Avocados are a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat that can help lower levels of the bad type of cholesterol and raise the levels of the good cholesterol in your body. Avocado contains vitamin E and can help to maintain healthy skin and help prevent aging of the skin.  Avocados are also rich in potassium which helps prevent fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Avocado calories, serving size and nutritional values (click here)

Slice up an avocado and add to your favorite sandwich, burger, eggs, pasta, salads, soups, or chili for it's health benefits.  Visit recipes for meat eaters or vegetarians here http://www.avocado.org

Remember my favorite dinner from a previous post: click the picture to visit my recipe

Instead of adding meat (saturated fat) to your pasta ~ add the healthy texture of avocados and tomatoes!!!

Bon Appetit ! 

autumn favorites

 click on picture to visit old post and credits for my mosaic

I borrowed this mosaic from an older post.  These are still my favorite things this time of year! And these are the colors I love in my life. 

happy “around the corner” October~

Cheryl

engagement party

Cupcakes made…..

Gifts wrapped …..

Celebration to begin ….

When I looked at all the pictures of Brandon & Megan over the last year and a half … i got teary-eyed “again” ~ I loved seeing all the happy moments they have spent together so far as a new couple. 

They just “fit”. 

To my son and his girl ~ I love you both !  xo mom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

To: Lori, Tiffany and Katelyn  (the bridesmaids) ~ Megan is very lucky to have you three silly young women in her life!

You did a great job and you are amazing friends to her!!

~ xo Cheryl

september

It’s all about the way the sun begins to cast it’s Autumn shadows.  The start of everything Pumpkin!
October 1, they will be showing up in my home ~

      Wishing you a beautiful Autumn Season ~ Cheryl

purple & green

Wedding colors have been chosen and with much thought Megan decided on purple and lime green.  First, her favorite color is purple.  Second, she loves lime green and with the wedding being in the fall and at a winery as the venue – purple and lime green just made sense.

The wedding is a year away, so there is much time deciding what flowers and what shades of purple.

  Of course, there is a budget, so the extravaganza of “limitless budgets” will have to be scaled down. But we are going to do our best to put together a wedding of “simple elegance”. 

  Brandon is drawn to vintage.  Vintage pinup girls, vintage cars, vintage photography.  With that in mind, I believe Megan will add a touch of vintage to her wedding.  Like this rhinestone broach. 

Bridesmaid’s dress color.

Little by little – decisions to make.

all photos borrowed from www.projectwedding.com

~ have a beautiful week ~ …. xo cheryl

Bella

While looking through some pictures, I couldn’t help but get a smile on my face when I came across this sweet little thing.  My grandpuppy.

This is when Ms. Bella was not allowed on the couch.  We don’t allow dogs on the furniture in our family.

(unless you are just too dang cute to yell at)

Looking at her, we decided she had a lot of “pointer” in her! Learning the stance.

REMEMBER:       “ NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE !!!”  

(unless you are as sweet as can be and let grandma snuggle you)

Sweet baby all grown into a beautiful girl!!    (in less than a year)     LOVE LOVE LOVE THOSE LIPS!!!!! 

What does grandma say ????

  “NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE !!!!”

(unless your back legs are still on the floor)

DO I LOVE HER OR WHAT???   LOVE HER!!!

(and her lips)

~ Cheryl

the venue ……

Well, here it is! They chose the winery & vineyard!

The winery was our last stop. It really had the best of all three venues we looked at (rustic Cotton Mill and far away Farmhouse). At the winery we still get our brick walls and high beamed ceilings like the Cotton Mill. Stained concrete flooring photographs well. Rustic wooden doors, hand painted murals and the casual feel of the wine barrels just made this a terrific choice for what Brandon & Megan had in mind. It is spotless, has a wine bar and the lighting is very romantic ~ and the grounds = vineyard!

But what made the decision easiest of all, is when we were up in the bridal suite (above) and then walked out onto the landing and the woman who was giving the tour said, “Megan, you will walk out and stand here for about 3 seconds with everyone below looking up and then you will walk down the staircase to meet your dad at the bottom” – well, the tears started to flow from both Megan and me ~ that was it!!!!!! Like a fairytale!!!

No question this was the place.

Stay tuned for the wedding color scheme. xo Cheryl