Downsizing ???????

It's been about two weeks since I last posted.
I decided I should catch you all up to what's been happening around here.........
Mr. Sweetladyelaine has been unemployed for about a year.
I guess simply said, we have to downsize! We are just taking one step at a time!

I will have a garage sale in about two weeks.
I have been selling on our area "Beg, Barter, Buy" sites on Facebook.
I have sold some furniture. It is a lot to keep track of and a little demanding.
Just in case you are interested.
So here is today's project! LOL
The kitchen..........................................
When I am cleaning out every room seems to be in disarray.
I just emptied the bottom cabinets on this side.
It's all I can handle!
It is so overwhelming when you are a dishoholic!

The dining room table....................
I had to get it all out and look at everything before I could make choices!
Then back on the kitchen counter to be looked at again and put away!
Everything I am letting go of  I left on the dining room table.

My head is spinning! So many favorites! I happen to love, love glass!
These are keepers! At least for now!

A few not so much! LOL

I have already dug through the upstairs! This is my upstairs family room bursting at the seams with garage sale stuff! What a mess!

Anyway, I decided to share with you so you know what's happening at Sweetladyelaine's.
I didn't even have time to set a table this week.
My table from June 4th is still set up as you can see! LOL

Hopefully this coming week I will try and set a table.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

Blessings My Friend,

Hooked on a Feeling......

BEACHY that is..................... 
I decided to just let you look with out any words today. 
We all need that quiet sometime. 
Sit back relax and take a peek.
Enjoy!!!!!!

                                                Side view of plates and different birdies

My childhood dresser in the kitchen is decorated in the same theme as my table!

Hope you enjoyed silently looking at my tablescape. 
Please leave a comment so I know you were here.
Thank you!

                                                      If you want me I'll be out by the pool!

I will be joining:
BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/flameless-candles-for-summer-table-settings/


Blessings My Friend,

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

I Am Not A Shrimp!

Mr. Sweetladyelaine and I don't eat much seafood. I am not sure why!
Do you? What is your favorite?
Shrimp seems about it!  I just made a shrimp salad and the recipe is at the end of this post.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a few facts about these protein packed crustaceans.
If you eat 10-12 medium sized shrimp you get 24 grams of protein at just 99 calories and less than 2 grams of fat. Not bad especially since they are high in zinc which helps your body produce leptin which  controls your appetite and iodine which helps your thyroid keep your metabolism stoked.
It also is a mood booster! Who new?
 Shrimp release the hormone serotonin and vitamin B12 to keep your mind sharp and alert.
For us oldies but goodies! LOL
I think, I stopped eating shrimp when doctors said that it was high in cholesterol.
Experts (whoever they are), now think the positives out weigh the negatives! Of course!
Shrimp contains almost no saturated fat and is high in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and sterols. These bring down cholesterol and triglyceride levels and also reduce inflammation. Yeah!
I do think we have to be concerned with antibiotics and chemicals in our food.
 I think our ideal choice is to eat them once in awhile like all other food.
Cold water shrimp that is wild caught or farmed in a good way is the best choice.
I tend to buy buy flash frozen. Do you buy shrimp?
It appears shrimp is healthier than I thought! So enjoy some shrimp salad at your next BBQ!

This recipe is from Taste of Home.

8 ounces of shrimp cut into pieces

4 cups of cooked pasta

1 small onion

1 shredded carrot

1/2 cup of sour cream 

1/2 cup of mayo

1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

a pinch of salt & pepper

Add shrimp and all veggies to pasta.

Mix mayo, sour cream, garlic powder, salt & pepper.

Stir mixture gently into shrimp & veggie mixture.

Cover & Chill at least one hour.

That's it! Very simple. I have lots of salad recipes.

 I try to make a new one every week so we have something to eat along side our meals.

I tend to eat them mostly with lunch since I don't eat sandwiches too much.

Let me know if you make any great salads and share them with me!

 I am always looking for new simple ones.

Blessings My Friend,

You are a daughter of the King Jesus! Loved by God, reborn of His heart and set apart by His Spirit. You are held in the crook of His arms!

Praise Him!

Happy Memorial Day

We have no plans for Memorial Day do you?
 I guess it has to do with moving to Texas and having few friends.
Everyone seems to stick with their family and not invite outsiders.
We are ok with that......................we have to be, its part of moving!

I decided to set our table in the kitchen today.
A simple table that we will not use or will we??????
I'm not sure.............................We use to sit at every table I created.
Do you use every table you create?
I think  it's because I have been setting the dining room table for four people,
and we are only two!
I will have to remedy that, don't you think?

What does Memorial Day mean to me?
We remember..................................not only today but everyday!
Our men & women willing to die for our freedom of speech, press and religion.
So today in my own way I am remembering...........................
(Mr. Sweetladyelaine is a Vietnam Vet, my Dad was a Korean War Vet and I have many cousins who also served and are serving now! so I can't forget)
Those who have given up their lives so I can live,
 my life as peaceful productive citizen.

 Today on my table I used the colors of our flag!
I started off with a red tablecloth and layered a white one over the red.
  It looked a little more polished with layering of both colors.
Then added a blue round straw place mat, a silver charger, a red dinner plate, a patriotic salad plate and a white bowl. A silver star napkin ring seemed appropriate for my white napkin.

 A closer look.

I love this Ralph Lauren plate. I only have four of Hampton's Flag.
The red dinner plate is from the Dollar Tree. I have wanted red plates for a long time.

The star shaped candle holders are new this year. Again, another dollar Store find. 

The runner and white casserole are thrift store treasures.

Decided to spruce up my childhood dresser while I was at it...........

I never had a dresser in the kitchen before but love having my place mats handy!

I had to include this picture! 

Memorial Day has always meant a family picnic at Sacandaga State Park growing up.
So with Mom & Dad not living in the same state, she still goes to the park on Memorial Day,
with a few family members.
Do you have any childhood traditions for Memorial Day?

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Memorial Day.
Remember those who have fought for our freedom with a special prayer this Memorial Day.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened " ( Matt 7: 7 & 8).
Blessings My Friend,

I will be joining:
Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/nautical-tablescape-with-shell-chargers-and-fish-flatware/

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/05/make-it-pretty-monday-week-136.html#more

Table It Monday at Rustic & Refined
http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/05/table-it-link-party-46.html

Ready Set Go.......

I've been busy this week! 

For some time now I have been thinking on creating new pieces for my self. 

I just wasn't sure just what or how. 

Indecisive that's me!

This week I have been on forward.......

I have a pair of candlesticks and several vintage saucers.

 I wanted to make cupcake plates out of them but couldn't decide if I should.

 I always thought I would find the matching cups. 

I just couldn't get it together!

 Here they are on top of one another! I love the green with the silver!

But something stopped me before I glued them together. 

My candlesticks are matching but need a little paint.

So I put the project on hold!

Meanwhile...................................................................................

I went thrifting with a friend and landed at a Salvation Army 

who was having a half price sale on everything!

(I was in seventh heaven!)

I bought the following saucer and candlestick for about $1.00!

I was so excited! 

I love, love, love glass!

I cleaned them up.......

                                                         
                                             Using my favorite E6000, glued them together!

And now I have a very pretty cupcake stand!

Now, all I need is a cupcake! lol

                                                                 
                                                                  or candle holder!
                                          So I am down one project.....Not bad for a beginning!

Somehow I never have everything I need for an idea/project!
Is it only me or does this happen to you too?
I seem to start something and need something else or think of something else I could use instead.
Here's an example!
In the last month I have forgotten to buy Mod Podge!
 It seems every time I go to Michael's, I forget it!
This time I took a friend to Michael's and we came home with the Mod Podge!
Long story short.............................my next project was born!

 I took a Yankee Candle jar that was empty, cleaned the wax out by freezing it.
Washed it and use Mod Podge to put some lace on the outside.
I never did this before and it was a little tricky but the results were great.

                                    I had planned on pearls on the rim but needed a little bling.
                                         I decided to make a flower. (My first time doing this)
                                                    I  just decided to use the ribbon I had.
                    I hand sewed a running stitch along the bottom of the ribbon to gather it.
                                                Then I shaped a flower hot gluing as I went.
                                            The bling is an old post earring glued in the center.
                  I think I would have liked a flatter flower. I will practice! I hear it makes perfect!
                                     Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.
                  One more to go...............................

                                                       I wanted to show this last....
                                        I just painted this vase. I forgot the before picture.
                                                      I absolutely love the color!
                                                     I wish you could see it shine.
                                                         The color is silver by Valspar.

                                                         I love these little pots of color!
                                                        I can paint to my hearts desire.
 Everyone knows not to stand still in my house or else you may get painted a different color!
                            I even had a friend tell someone that when we were shopping! LOL

So I am off to see what trouble I can get into this afternoon!
Thanks for stopping by...................

Blessings My Friend, 

                             You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; 
                                          and  we are all  the work of Your hand.
                                                             Isaiah 64:8

One Fish, Two Fish, Both Are Blue Fish

I had to set another cobalt/navy blue table! 

I bought these pretty fish at Garden Ridge for my outside table a few weeks ago.

They were half price!

 It has been so rainy & windy here,

 I am afraid to leave them outside!

So they sit on my table in the kitchen!

They are the inspiration for my table today.

I don't use cobalt /navy too often but I am going to start.
 So many color combinations came to me while I was setting this table.
I stuck to all blue, white & gold.

These happen to be a few of my favorite dishes! I tend to use them alot!

                        The white & gold  bowl is Bella Lux, Alexandra Gold.
                        The white salad plate with blue cherries is Allegro by Fitz & Floyd Inc.
                         and the blue dinner plate with stars is Galaxy by Sakura.

The shallow bowl on the bottom of the centerpiece I bought at Salvation Army half price sale.
This arrangement usually sits on top of my refrigerator.

Just thought I'd add a little....................
It's my birthday today and Mr. Sweetladyelaine just brought me flowers!
I also  made a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake for my birthday.
Nothing big or fancy................................. just for us!

It's time to go and eat cake!
Thanks for stopping by.
Leave a message to let me know you have been here so I can come and visit you!

I will be joining:

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/spring-easter-tablescape-ms-sonoma-damask-bunny/

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday
http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2015/05/share-your-cup-thursday-148.html#links

Blessings My Friend