New antiques and home progress...

Taters, Tales and I are absolutely enjoying every moment in our new home!!!  Everyday I pull in the driveway feeling so blessed to have such a wonderful place to raise my sweet babies!!  I have been so busy...but have still found time to work on decorating.  Here is one part of my LOOOONG living room wall.  I did a picture collage with both old and new pictures of my family.  I kept all of the frames in black to keep it looking uniform...

My entry is now complete with my bench, a throw blanket, pillow and mirror with a wreath.  I really like this space...

I have also been fortunate enough to get a few AMAZING antique house warming gifts.  This is an old trunk that my dad reluctantly gave to me.  To be truthful I think that I finally wore him down (I have been literally bugging him to give it to me for MONTHS) but none the less-Thank you Daddio...

Last week my boss from Klamath gave us a visit and gave me this rustic milk crate.  I can't wait to find the perfect place for it...

I have also been on the lookout for fun purchases.  I went into Bloomers (our local green house/gift store) a few weeks ago to take my planters in and ended up seeing this table.  It was a great price and is just what I was looking for.  My back porch is now ready for a meal outside...

This is an old drawer from an antique sewing machine.  I love it filled with three of my blue jars...

Lastly here are few old windows that I just purchased yesterday from a friend.  She salvaged them from her husbands work site and thought of me.  I am so glad she did!!  I already know what I am going to do with them.  I promise to share it another day...

So there you have it a little update of the progress at Casa de Lightle!!  Tune in tomorrow for an recipe just in time for Cinco de Mayo.  Sweet decor-

Tuesday Thoughts-Week #18

Week 18-  Strong, creative, hard-working, nurturing and imperfect!

How would you describe yourself to someone that you never met?  You can only use five words and within those words you want to make sure this person understands who you are and what you stand for.  I think we all have a hard time when it comes to trying to say who we are...if someone asked you to use five words to describe your children or your significant other than we would ramble it off in no time...but what about yourself??  Take a minute and let me know who you are...Sweet descriptions-

Branding 2012

One of my very favorite events of the spring is my daddio's branding.  The kids and I look forward to it every year!!  This year we were blessed with a fairly warm day...some years we are not so lucky.  My sister Jamus, brother-in-law and nephews came over from Medford, which made the day and weekend even better!!  Luckily there was a lot of help and just as every Albertson gathering...lots of kids and dogs.  Here are some of my favorites shots...

Seesters...

Tater and Uncle Mike...

Handsome Papa Leo...

Me and my girl...

Waiting...

GeeGee...

Gavin...

Gus...

Uncle Greg and Lori...

Big O...

Padre'...

 

Sweet Baby...

Branding Time...

Ozzy...

All tuckered out...

Can't wait until next year.  Sweet branding-

Super Fun Sock Gift..

April tends to be our busy month for friend birthdays.  I think that most of Tales friends were born in April and although some have opted to not have a party...we have still got a few invites.  I always like to send a fun gift but because I am on a budget I like to keep the amount spent on gifts to around $5.00.  This may seem like nothing but there are options for making a fun gift that doesn't have to break the bank.  This cute little funky sock cupcake is a lot like the post I did a while ago for a baby shower gift.  To put it together you will need an adorable pair of socks, a cupcake liner, a sucker, small plastic bag, rubber band, ribbon and a tag...

I began by taking the sock lengthwise and folding it in half...

Then I rolled it tightly and secured with the rubber band...

Because the sucker is basically the "cherry" on top...I took the wrapper off and covered it with saran wrap...

Then I suck it in the middle of the sock roll...

Put the sock in the cupcake liner, set inside the plastic bag and tie with cute ribbon and tag...

Perfect for a friend who is as sweet as a cupcake...

This cost me about $5.10 cents to put together and that was buying everything in Lakeview.  If you are out of town you could probably make it for even less.  Sweet cupcake-

Creating a Chalkboard for your home...

For a while now I have wanted to make a chalkboard to use in my home.  I have heard of chalkboard paint but have never bought any until this last weekend.  I happened to be in hardware store for another item and came upon a can of chalkboard spray paint...it was calling my name (REALLY, I could hear it)...so I added it to my cart.  When I arrived back home I knew instantly what I wanted to paint first.  It was this a old platter that I found at an estate sale a few weeks ago for $1.50.  I began by taping up the edges, so that I could keep the yellow border...

Then I decided to make a trip to the antique store to see if there was anything there to paint and I found the large green platter.  I taped the edges of this one as well...

So I must admit that because I was so excited to get these spray painted that I totally forgot to take pictures of the actual spray painting.  I think I have a bit of crafting A.D.D.!  I apologize!  To walk you through it...I just laid down a $1.00 plastic table cover from the Dollar Tree outside, out of the sun and started spraying away.  They both took about 3 coats to completely cover and get this...

This one will be perfect for a cupcake table at a bridal shower this weekend...

This one looks perfect on an old garden chair by my front door...

The green one didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped because some of the paint came off when I took off the tape...bummer!!  I used a little craft paint to cover it with red and although you can still see it...I like the rustic look.  They will be perfect around the house and for parties!!  I can't wait to see what things I decide to use them for.  Sweet chalkboard-

Tuesday Thoughts-Week 17

Week 17-You are the key to your own happiness!!

As I go through life and live through different moments I realize that nobody holds the key to my happiness...it is in my own hands.  I alone decide my fate!!  It is both a liberating and daunting realization.  I can make my own happiness which is amazing but sometimes it takes a lot of hard work and dedication...just like anything that's worth having in life!!  Sweet happiness-

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I have literally been wanting to make this cake for months!  I have just been waiting for the perfect time because I know myself well enough to know that if I don't have other people to help me eat it...well then I will eat it ALL!  No help involved...terrible...I know!!  So Easter dinner seemed like the opportunity I have been waiting for and it was every bit as delicious as my taste buds thought it would be.  I am already thinking about the next time I can make it...breakfast in the near future sounds good to me!!

To make the cake you will need 3 cups of flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1½ cup milk, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/2 cup of melted margarine.  For the Topping you will need 1 cup of margarine softened, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons flour and 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon...

First mix all of the cake ingredients together except for the melted margarine.  Once mixed slowly add the margarine until combined and pour into a greased 9x13 pan...

For the topping mix all of the ingredients together until well incorporated...

Then drop evenly over the top of the cake...

Using a knife, swirl the filling through the cake...

Bake in a preheated oven at 350° for 28-32 minutes (mine took the full 32).  While baking mix together 2 cups of powdered sugar, 5 Tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and while still warm pour over the cake...

It was a huge hit...this was after only a few minutes.  I was sure to bake it just before I headed to dinner and on the ride out I covered it in foil to keep it warm...

It would be perfect for a potluck or Sunday morning brunch.  It was just as scrumptious as a cinnamon roll but took A LOT less time to make.  Enjoy!!  Sweet cake-