BOGO Roses!!

 BOGO Roses at Publix are my favorite thing that happens in January.

 I hope that you live near a Publix or another grocery that does this. It helps January a lot!

This pretty much sums it up for me:

I also love to buy what Trader Joe's calls "spray roses" because a $5.00 bunch will give me three small arrangements to put around the house. I'm not much of a flower "arranger" but I've found that simply cutting off all of the stems to approximately the same length and putting them in a small container results in a cute display.

I know that fresh flowers aren't always in the budget but, if you can, 

every once in a while Buy The Roses!

Here's to warmer, brighter days ahead.

Another Day (or Two) and Another Plant (or Two)

 

(Fittonia Albivenis or Nerve Plant)

As I mentioned the other day here on the blog and on my Instagram I always crave a way to continue the touch of green in January after the December holiday decorations come down. 

A lot of you have shared that you feel the same way. 

I've been buying a few houseplants to give the house a fresh feel in the middle of a lot of gray weather. It's hard to find the right houseplant for each spot. Unfortunately just liking the look of  a plant is not enough. 

Some need a lot of light (which my spots do not have to offer) so I have to look for plants that I like the look of and have lower light requirements. A lot of us are in the same situation apparently so here are my latest lower light requirement plants. 

The plant above was a hanging basket that I popped the wires off of and put in a thrifted planter. The tag said it liked low light (Fittonia Albivenis or Nerve Plant) and I'm trying to be diligent about opening the curtains across from it for at least a little while each afternoon. Fingers crossed that it will be happy in this spot.

One plant that I had been searching for is the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia or Zanzibar Gem.) I started hearing about it early last year - people had left their offices, college dorms or apartments to lockdown somewhere for over a month (and longer) and left their ZZplants behind. They returned and they were not only alive but growing!

(ZZ Plant, Zanzibar Gem or Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

 I thought, "That's the plant for me!" I lucked into one for a good price the other day at my local Lowe's. I've tucked it in a blue and white planter and I'll keep you posted on how it does in my low light situation.

(Dracaena or Deremensis)

The other plant I purchased a couple of weeks ago is in the Dracaena family which is known for being an easy indoor plant and great for helping indoor air quality. I loved the chartreuse green of this particular variety. 

They have definitely brought a little life and freshness 

where we were missing our holiday greenery.

Any good plant recommendations? I need low light options!

When It Snows In The South

I know the title alone made some of you laugh -

 maybe even feel superior if you are an experienced icy conditions driver.

I admit, we go a little nuts.

But may I remind you that we deal with 100 plus degree weather for weeks on end during Summer, so A) we can't help being a bit fried in the noggin and B) most of you icy conditions experienced drivers complain loudly about the heat for months on end when we are casually dealing with it.

And we never forget...

Snowpacolypse 2013!

That being said Mollie and I tried to get ahead of the panicked crowd and purchase our "necessities" for inclement weather. 
Why? 
Because we have it on good authority that this snow will, in fact, happen.
Here's how we know. 
My friend, Mr. Buman, of the Tomato/Tomato Pie fame
is 91 and knows all about these things. He told me years ago before we had a big "snow event" that if it thunders in Winter that you will have snow within the week. Well, it thundered Monday night so... I'm thinking it's really going to snow in the Deep South.
He also told me that if snow stays on the ground three days it will snow again and a lot more! He's better than Doppler Radar!

We buy really good snacks (more on that later), wine, and paint for any crafty or remodeling project we might feel we need to accomplish while hibernating. 

And this time I also bought some fabric for a pillow switch that I need to make because of the amazing bamboo chair I found on Craigslist right before Christmas for my guest bedroom. 
(More on that later, too.)

(I've never felt like bread was my number one need if I am going to be snowed in.
 Chili fixins, stuff to make homemade cinnamon rolls, wine.
 You know, necessities, that's what I buy.)


(This one cracks me up!)

Anyway, we got up this morning and mapped out a plan!
Any excuse to make a list!!

First, the fabric store and my favorite Sherwin Williams store
 (where I bought 2 gallons of paint cause what if I'm wrong about the first color and I can't just run out to get another one because of, you know, snow?)

These were contenders. 

I'll show you what I ended up with after I get it all pulled together.

Then we went to Old Navy because we got gift cards for Christmas, 
everything is on sale and there might be a cute warm hat or scarf we need for our 
"Atlanta Snow Event." 
(Why do they call it that?)

Then to Trader Joes for wine!!!
We got veggies and healthy stuff, too, but wine was the goal. 
#letsbehonest

This sparkling Pinot Grigio was one of the "Staff Picks" before Christmas
 and we really like it so we got enough to last until "the big thaw." 
Try it - for $6.00 what do you have to lose?

Then we hit up the "regular" grocery store for a few more things and dog food.
I serve my spoiled pooches a mixture of homemade cooked veggies and chicken and overpriced gluten free dog food. I mean, really.

Anyway, the frozen veggie aisle was wrecked. 
There wasn't one bag of frozen peas in the whole store. 




Let's be honest. 
When you hear, "You should plan to be snowed in for 3 days"
 on every weather report do you rush to buy frozen peas?? 
This is concerning. 
Please see above for our list of "necessities!"
Are we the only people who are going to party our way through this?




 Is everyone else eating veggies?
Except for my friend who goes to the store 
and buys pie (and wine) if she hears we are going to be snowed in. 
#thatgirldoesitright

We also gathered up some movies we haven't had a chance to see.
And I'm planning to reread this book while I'm snuggled up under a cozy blanket.



For some reason I like to torture myself all Winter long 
with images of sunny, tropical locales.

Our county has already announced that school will get out 2 hours early and everything is cancelled for the weekend. 
Here we go!



I hope we see you on the other side!

PS. If you are home with kiddos and are looking for some snow day fun try the projects in this post - lots of snowy fun with things you probably have on hand.

Ladies Who Brunch

We had a party!
Mollie and I decided to host a Christmas Brunch for a few favorite ladies.

We wanted to let them know how special we think they are.

We made our list and sent out invitations the middle of November.

The holidays are busy and we wanted to get our date on their calendars.

We chose the first Saturday morning in December.

We hoped people would have fewer conflicts that early.

It motivated us to get started with our Christmas decorating!

A bit tricky since we were at the beach for Thanksgiving 
and we don't decorate before Thanksgiving.
We had 6 days to pull it off!

Come in!!
(and Go Braves!)

 Wal Mart had $4.00  Fraser Fir wreaths.
 I added the bow and some additional greenery 
including the obligatory Southern Christmas greenery - Magnolia.
 If you live in the South and don't have a Magnolia in your yard 
and your friends won't share their Magnolia with you then you need new friends.;)

Our Entry Way.

In August, my mom surprised me with two, yes two, amazing bamboo bar carts. 
They are in perfect condition. They belonged to a dear friend of hers who is clearing some things out. Her friends' mother bought them many years ago in the Philippines when they lived there. They are truly antiques and I feel so fortunate to have both of them. Mollie and I decided to decorate the carts, stock them with goodies and sprinkle them around the downstairs to help with the  flow.

This bar cart was to the right in front of our DIY mirrored French Doors

 

 Next to the front door, we placed the other bar cart. 
This beauty has a brass tray for the top!

(I still have more polishing to do but it already has a great, warm gleam!)

The bamboo basket holds a little "surcie"
  (Definition (n): word used in the South to mean a small, thoughtful gift, unexpected gift, just because.)

We made an ornament for each guest.
And gave it to them as they got ready to leave.

To the left is our Library from our Spring One Room Challenge
 all decked out for the holidays with plenty of seating for Ladies Who Brunch.

I've already talked about this little tree and it's DIY Chinoiserie ornaments.

To the right of the entry way is our Family Room.
Clean and without two big dog beds in the middle of it :)
Can we take a moment?
#raredoghairfreepicture

No ornaments on the big tree yet. We only had 6 days, remember??

And in the corner of the Family Room we placed a bar cart that we already owned. 
It's thrifted, but not as old or distinguished a the other two!

This cart was for those who weren't having Mimosas.
(We also set up a coffee and hot chocolate bar in the kitchen using Mollie's Keurig.)

And then in to the kitchen...
and this is where I fell down on my job as photographer!
We got to talking and I forgot to take many more pictures!!! Happens at every party!
But here are a few shots of the food and fun...

Chicken Salad in little jars with leaf lettuce.

I'm not sure Valerie was ready to have her picture taken!

We used the large blue and white flower pot to hold our champagne on ice. 

Worked perfectly!

I always use gift wrap as my table runners.
 I bought this bright green and white at Hobby Lobby back in October. 

The table at the other end of the kitchen matched the island set up!

But I didn't take any more pictures of all the goodies or cute touches!!

#bloggerfail

Mollie and her Sorority sisters at the brunch.

(They did not talk beforehand to coordinate their outfits for this photo op!!)

We had so much fun, everyone was so glad our get together was brunch

 and early in the month.

Mollie and I think this may the beginning of a tradition!

Christmas Painting Party!

A couple of weeks a go we had a little painting party at church.

 Just ladies, 6th grade and up. People brought friends, sisters, mothers, etc. 

We painted and chatted for 2 and 1/2 hours.

I offer a little instruction and guidance plus provide all the supplies 

and then they just get creative!

  There's always a glitter option when working with youth girls!

#pinterestsuccess

It's good to relax and be creative with a group of ladies!
Have you painted with friends lately?