What's in bloom?

Well, I must say that we are much more technologically "with it" these days around the house since our desktop computer met an timely demise. The thing was nine years old, so I guess we are lucky it lasted that long! I remember we bought it when I won an iPod from Time magazine. : ) Our computer at the time was not sophisticated enough to handle an iPod.....and it was the first iPod, the iPod mini.

Since we now have two laptops and no desktop, I had to figure out that I needed to buy a card reader for our digital camera memory card. The cord to my camera is lost and I no longer have the software to install...: ) So, I think I am good to go with my handy little card reader and it should work for someday when I can invest in a nice camera!

On to the plants....here is my liriope. Earlier this summer, I posted about how I divided a huge clump of these and planted them around the front yard. I have been amazed...these plants are so tough, they flowered even after being divided in the middle of July! : ) I know many who like plants that flower more profusely don't care for these. I like them for the shape they add to the garden and the purple flowers are welcome in the later summer months when many perennials have done their thing.

Right by the liriope above, I have sedum 'Autumn Joy.' I like the color and seasonality of these, but mine seem to be so squatty. I wish they were a little bigger. Perhaps I need a different variety. Any suggestions??

I don't cut them back at all until the spring so the brown flower heads add some winter interest.

I am beyond excited about this plant....it is caryopteris, or commonly known as bluebleard or blue spirea. It is a late season plant, coming into bloom in late August into September. I bought this plant last fall at a huge garden sale in the bargain bin. I think it cost $4.  I love the color it adds, as well as having something blooming into fall. It's kind of like dessert after a great meal. : )

The bees have been enjoying it, too. I think this plant is underused!

Last, my hibiscus put on a bit of a last show after I thought it was all bloomed out....what a treat! I'll take more of that anytime.

Have a great weekend!

Roomspiration...Living Rooms

Hey!

I hope you all are having a nice week! I'm still struggling here with our tech problems, but I linked up my living room to the Roomspiration event going on in blogland right now!



Definitely check it out and link up!

I linked up my post about our living room....here. And....also, our living room once I added our silhouettes here.

Be sure to check out some of the great rooms! It's dropping down to highs in the 60s this week--lows in the 40s, brr!--so I'm looking forward to settling down and checking out some great rooms!

Gotta love technology...

I've been a little MIA lately.....attributed mostly to school starting up and September being a really busy month in our family with two birthdays in the middle of it!

And.....our computer recently bit the dust and had to be replaced. Although it's really nice to have a new computer, we've been installing stuff and a wrench has been thrown in the works. I can't upload my pics the same way.

Arghhggh.

So, while I have some beautiful pics to go along with some lovely posts, they (and you) will just have to wait.

I'll be back...with a vengeance! : )

Sunset Cruise and Lace Coasters

Whew....what a draining week! I feel like this week was nonstop...and Monday was a holiday! : )

 I recently got to spend an evening in the company of my girls....that would be my mom and my sister. It really was such a treat and something we should do more often.

I spent the night at my mom and dad's lake cabin and my sister and her husband have a place a few doors down. No husbands or kids allowed! We took a sunset cruise on the boat with cocktails. A fun time was had by all.

Those are our matching lake t-shirts. We bought them at the craft show at the lake last year. We were also really jealous of these people...

...who seemed to be having a super fun party. It looked like a luau. I wish we could have crashed it!

I thought I'd share with you a pretty and easy project my sister did! She made these coasters....

So cute! She was inspired by Martha Stewart Living, where they explained it step-by-step. She used spray adhesive to put the lace on a ceramic tile, then spray painted on top of it. Depending on the lace, spray paint color and tile color, the possibilities are endless.

And if lace is not your thing, you could do the same with a mesh fabric. Especially if you wanted a more contemporary look. Genius!!

That girl is gettin' her craft on!!

Brightening up the china cabinet

I've been working on some projects for our dining room in the last several months. This room is getting a bit of an overhaul and I'm too excited to share the details as they come together. We're getting a special deliver tomorrow!

We have a bunch of great antique furniture in the room that came from my husband's mother's side of the family. They are so beautiful and in good condition. If I'd picked them up at a yard sale, I might be inclined to paint them, but since they are family pieces, I don't want to alter them.

One of the pieces is a china cabinet. Here is a pic of it in our old house:

Very nice...has great shape and some cool scrollwork over the glass. Well, now in our new house, it's on the same wall as the window and it looks very.........dark....in there. Here is a pic I took of it here (it's really a pic for the paint samples, but it works).

You can't even tell there are shelves, really.

Again, without wanting to alter the cabinets too much, I decided there must be a way to brighten it up. Paint would have looked awesome in the backs of those shelves....sigh.

Never fear...finally I had a brilliant idea! I used scrapbook paper to line the back of the shelves with a pattern. Scrapbook paper is one of my favorite home dec solutions. The colors and patterns are great and it's dirt cheap. Mine was on sale even...I bought 11 sheets for about $2.75.

I used rulers and my cutting boards to cut the paper. Since the backing was about 34 in long, I had to cut three pages and tape them together. The patterns also had to be matched.

I used double-sided scrapbooking tape to adhere the pieces together. Then, I added small pieces around the perimeter to stick it to the back of the cabinet. I will confess...once I put them it there, I had to take them out and trim them a tad.

And here she is......

Of course, with two children around, a bit of glass cleaner was needed....

I like seeing a bit of color and pattern in the back there. It certainly adds a little interest. Now I have to figure out how to use the shelves in a pleasing and functional way!

Which might be harder than figuring out how to brighten up the dark cabinet. : )

Linking to...
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Wow Me Wednesday at Ginger Snap Crafts
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Addicts (not so) Anonymous at Addicted 2 Decorating
Show and Share at Just a Girl

Versatile Blogger Award

Well, I've been a part of the blogging world now for the better part of a year and I'm definitely enjoying my little corner. I'm constantly inspired by things I see and I've enjoyed meeting new bloggers!

I was recently nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award from Jen at The Domesticated Nomad. I love her blog--especially her Tuesday Art Adventures! I have two little ones and I'm always looking for new art activities to do with them.

 

Upon accepting the award, the recipient must thank the blogger who awarded him/her (thank you, Jen!), share seven things about him/herself and share ten newfound blogs. So.....here we go.

7 Things About Me You May Not Know

1. I love anything with icing.
2. I am a magazine junkie. I think I may have a problem.
3. I have traveled to 40 of the 50 states.
4. I have a green thumb and love to spend time in my garden!
5. I enjoy working out and like to do a lot of strength training.
6. I could spend my days reading books and be perfectly happy.
7. I'm fairly handy and enjoy fixing things up around the house.

10 Newfound Blogs (and a few favorites, too)
1. Crayon Freckles
2. Curds and Whey
3. Don't Disturb This Groove
4. Mish Mashed: Diary of a Supermom
5. Confessions of a First-Time Dad at 45
6. Pleased as Punch
7. The Impatient Gardener
8. Tootsie Time
9.Ginger Snap Crafts
10. Tulip and Turnip

Hope you enjoyed learning a few random things about me and checking out some new blogs!

Enjoy the long weekend!

What's in bloom: Annuals on Parade

Well, hello, friends....long week here. Still getting back into the school routine....and had a friend and colleague pass away this week.

Nothing like some flowers to brighten up your day a little if you need it.

I must say that my annuals are just full of themselves now that it is the beginning of September and they have had a few months to get their you-know-what together. Any of you bloggers out there feel like posting about one thing leads to many other posts?? You may see some posts coming soon that have been inspired by what you see today. : )

First up....petunias! I think petunias are very user-friendly....especially the new varieties. Luckily, with so many varieties coming out, you can't get tired of them and they haven't fallen into that "unfashionable" category that some annuals do. These petunias were bought for $1 off the clearance rack at a box store. Gorgeous!

As well bought at the box store, these vincas were begging for a good home. I love the glossy green leaves and the persistent blooms. I have no variety name for these...but they have blossomed here at my home.....pun intended.

I was SUPER excited about the purchase of this mandevilla plant. Most of the places that I see mandevilla vine sold--it is way overpriced. I found mine at a local garden nursery, marked down 40%....my kind of pricing. I think many people buy these and let them die out at the end of the growing season. I'm planning to overwinter mine inside and let it do its thing again next spring!! My variety is 'Bridal Cascade.' It has been going nonstop all summer.

Sunflowers...I'm kind of obsessed with them! So pretty and such a down-to-earth and easygoing flower. (I kind of think they would represent me if I had to pick one flower to do so) These I had planted last summer and they reseeded themselves. I think the coloration is just beautiful. I love to cut them and put them in the house....luckily, the sunflowers don't mind and just continue to bloom. They have given me a new appreciation for reseeding plants.

Zinnias...my favorite flower. I will post about these in the next few weeks!

Citronella-scented geraniums...I picked this up at the local farmers' market from a gentleman who propagates his own annual, herb and perennial cuttings and sells them for fun.

Here...a really deep maroon/pink petunia, from farmer market garden guy.

Marigolds from the box store, on clearance in June. Pretty color.....marigolds tend to get a bad rap from those who would consider themselves "serious gardeners."

(My apologies....I seem to have some formatting problems I cannot fix.)

Last, sweet alyssum. This is the species below....I love the persistent bloom. Also, my grandmother planted alyssum.  I like to plant a few "family" plants.

Hope you have had a great week and are looking forward to the holiday weekend!

Linking to...

Flaunt Your Flowers at Tootsie Time