A Real Sweet Chick!

I recently received The Farm Chicks Christmas book and it is definitely a book that you should add to your collection! Serena has done it again with her 2nd book! The photographs are so wonderful and she provides you with a glimpse into her home decorated for the holidays along with the homes of some of her dear friends and former business partner Teri. I can't wait to make these adorable little meringue stars!

There are many recipes that I cannot wait to try for my family. There has been a little chill in the air this week and it makes me want to bake and put a pot of soup to simmer on the stove.

Serena is so talented! She has recently opened up a Farm Chicks Shop in Spokane and of course hosts a wonderful antiques show annually with the most amazing dealers from around the country.

I thank you for your friendship Serena! It was sweet of you to bring me a copy of your book and spend some time during your recent visit!

Behind the Picket Fence

For all of you So. CA girls I encourage you to come out to Costa Mesa next Saturday, November 6th for this show "Behind the Picket Fence". I will be there with some wonderful items for your home; everything from vintage kitchen scales, vintage jewelry, furniture, and much more! Hope to see you,

Shop Update

Many new items have been added to my Etsy Shop! Lot's of wonderful shopping this weekend at the Flea Market. Many, many more items will be added this week. Go ahead and take a peak!

Make-over!

Thank you Jana for the blog and Etsy make-over! If you too are in need of a little fluffing please do visit Sugar Berry Studios!

French Press

In our house we use one of these….

every morning….there’s just something a little more romantic about a French press on the table accompanied by a generous pitcher of half & half (the fat free is actually very good by Land O Lakes)…plus I don’t really want to clutter my counter with a coffee maker but I would clutter it with one of these ....someday....
….but until then we use our French press, we have several but prefer the insulated one we purchased a few years ago…my recent dilemma has been our tea kettle…I put the kettle on a few weeks ago and when I went to pour the boiling water into the French press half of the handle detached from the kettle….it had melted off….I purchased this kettle about a year ago and I did not pay much for it…in fact I probably paid the min for it at the maxx…don’t get me wrong I love me some TJ Maxx…where was I? CSN recently asked me to review one of their products and the timing was perfect…I just received the tea kettle that I ordered….

is it not darling! It’s from the Paula Dean line of products and the quality seems very good and I don’t believe the handle will be melting off anytime soon. In fact the handle is very comfortable almost like a silicone grip and it stays cool to the touch…I love the look of the kettle with the vintage goose neck. This one holds 2 quarts of water which is perfect for a pot of coffee or tea…CSN has a fabulous selection of tea kettles and the shipping was very speedy.

Blink and it's gone...

This summer has been great! It was over in just the blink of an eye really...the weather for the most part was incredibly mild but beautiful. We really do live in an amazing place, never mind the fact that our school district has added 9 furlough days to this school year and the kids don't go back until September 13th. We traveled to some amazing places. Our family spent a week in New York City, it's a trip that we will never forget. We were able to do and see so much; Rock of Ages on Broadway, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, an afternoon exploring Harlem's Apollo Theatre and the wonderful restaurant Amy Ruth's, a Sunday in Central Park, Time Square, a Yankees game where we watched A-Rod hit his 600th home run and even a trip over to Hoboken to see the Cake Boss, however we did not wait in line for the 5+ hours to get inside...

My husband and I spend a 4-day weekend in Seattle, the weather was in the 90's and we really enjoyed the time that we spent there visiting Pike Place Market, Bainbridge Island and all of the wonderful restaurants in this gorgeous city.

We even came home with 3 pounds of smoked salmon from here.

I hope that your summer was memorable. Please come back and visit soon for more flea market adventures, product reviews and give-aways. The nice people at CSN Stores have promised some goodies for you in the upcoming months. My master bedroom redux is still in progress and I have visited this site for some inspirations with my project and master bedroom furniture sets!

Fun Finds

We had some fun yesterday at a neighborhood rummage sale! Not only did we come home with many wonderful things but we also filled up on delicious egg rolls from Janice Huynh. My cute shopping cart was even in the photo taken of her while I was standing in line....yes I really ate 5 of them but they were small...she has been making and selling these for 20 years. Her family was in the back cooking up an order of 400 that were going to be picked up at 9am. She was so sweet and really loves to see all the people in line. When I was in line they were putting out a sign behind us that they were sold out until 11am!
Cute chippy green tool box
Gorgeous chocolate pot and 4 cups, in pristine condition!
A set of Quaker Hurricane silver plated S&P shakers, and handful of skeleton keys and some ironstone platters. I also purchased a chippy white headboard - full size which I don't have but for $2. I could not this one go....it may end up out in the garden....

The big city is calling us and we are leaving soon for a wonderful trip to New York City. The kids have never been - can't wait to share with them.

Just keep believing...

You are the right person, this is the right time, you've paid your dues, you're thinking the right thoughts, you're doing the right things, and this very moment, you are exactly where you're supposed to be... poised for the happiest time of your life.

Please pray for this family Marija's husband's words just break my heart.

XO Erin

To fan or not to fan?

that is the question....

What do you think about ceiling fans?

Our master bedroom has very high cathedral ceilings and a ceiling fan would certainly help circulate the summer air...

but...I don't really like the look of most ceiling fans...especially the one's with the light fixtures...

I really want a chandy but hubby wants a fan. I actually found one that was a combo fan and chandy but I thought that was a bit ....I don't know...not the look I was going for.

What do you think about this one? In my white dreamy, ruffly, cloud like, romantic room? Honestly? Could it work?

I bought it today and I'm going to have my electrician install it...fingers crossed that fits the bill!
P.S. Don't forget to enter my give-away here - just a few more days!

Bedroom Redux & a Giveaway!

I'm working on a master bedroom redux...I want a room that's peaceful and romantic...on a budget... The upholstered head board and soft linens look so dreamy...

A little bit of bling...a little bit rustic...I love the little pouf on the floor...

Soft ruffles...

Just like sleeping on a soft cloud....lot's of layers....

So many inspirations....it's going to be hard to choose...it's a work in progress...

Now for the GIVE-AWAY! The good people at Vanity and CSN Stores have very generously donated a $50. gift card for any item from their on-line stores. There are so many wonderful things to choose from! Simply leave a comment on this blog post and I will select a winner on Sunday, July 11. If you blog about this give-away or become a follower of my blog I will enter you a second time in the give-away. Good luck and thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Erin

An the lucky winner is.......Katrina Thank you all for stopping by!

Happy Fourth of July!

Here is one of the yummy things I'm taking to my girlfriends Fourth of July party today. Red, White & Blueberry trifle (recipe and photo courtesy of Martha Stewart). I hope you all have a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday! Thank you to all of the men and women that are so bravely serving our country ~ Let Freedom Ring!

I Scream, You Scream....

we ALL Scream for Ice Cream! Check it out...loving my new Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker! So easy and it makes delicious home-made ice cream in no time at all. Here is the vanilla that I made topped fresh raspberries. We have cranked out vanilla, chocolate with chocolate chips and raspberry sorbet - all delicious. We'll be putting this machine to work over the weekend cuz the freezer is empty....milk, sugar, heavy cream + chocolate or any other ingredients you wish to create yummy frozen treats!

Getting ready here for the Fourth of July holiday. Lot's of sunshine in the forecast, the bbq is ready and perhaps even a dip in the pool is in order! Just need to put out a few more patriotic decorations. Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor? Please share. Oh - I almost forgot - great give-away coming up next week, please come back, you won't want to miss this one! Hugs, E

P.S. I have added some new items to my etsy shoppe

The Goods!

I wanted to take a moment to share some of the wonderful things I brought home from my trip to Spokane from the Farm Chicks show. I picked up about 1/2 dozen of these folding yardsticks from thrift and antique stores. Isn't this little salt and pepper shaker set darling! I do love red and yes these have found a new home in my kitchen.

The poker chips I found at the Goodwill. I really just loved the box with the original price tag of .45

This set of ice tea glasses are so delicate - they were such a deal at $20 for the set of 6 and the drinking glass caddy was bought from another dealer for $6. how could I pass it up?

I need more dishes like I need another set of dishes! I knew that if I did not purchase these I would regret it later on so I bought them. $30 for 6 plates, 4 dessert plates and 6 berry bowls. It's the Homer Laughlin Red Leaves Hemlock pattern. I love them and they will definitely be used. I may even have to look for some matching pieces.

I bought a few other goodies but here is a glimpse of what I came home with. Enjoying summer I hope as I know I am. Hugs, Erin

A few more Picks from the Farm Chicks

Just wanted to share a few more of my memories from the wonderful Farm Chicks show! The dinner at Chaps was just amazing, the food was great, the fun pink "Barn House Martini's" were delicious and the overall atmosphere was just dreamy.... our little take away gift was yummy popcorn packaged so perfectly!

More talented vendors and all of their fabulous merchandise...

Lisa Johnson...

lot's of vintage suitecases

what a great display!

Love the vintage hanky banner...

I need to copy the idea below of planting flowers in the coal bucket

I bought the most charming set of glasses from the dealer below.

I'll get my photos of my purchases together and post them shortly, I have been so inspired by the very talented ladies that helped to make the show all that it is!

A Dream Come True

I have been wanting to attend The Farm Chicks for a few years but...the timing for me has never been right...our family has participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Event for the last 8 years and I have been on the committee for this event the last 5 years as Entertainment Chair and Survivorship Chair. This year my youngest son who is a freshman in HS organized a team of his fellow HS runners in honor of their head coach's wife who is battling cancer. The kids were amazing, tie dying t-shirts and selling them at track meets to raise money for their team and holding local restaurant fundraisers to help their cause all helped them exceed their goal and raise nearly $4,000. I helped him coordinate details for the 33 boys and girls that were going to spend 24 hours at Saddleback College participating in this amazing event. Waivers to be signed, scheduling days when t-shirts could be dyed and sold and coordinating chaperone's to be with them for the 24 hour event. With the details nailed down and organized in a binder all was left in the capable hands of my husband who along with 15 chaperone's would support the kids at this event. They did great and had a fabulous time and I was able to meet my sister in Spokane for The Farm Chicks Show! My friend Serena treated my sister and I like queens! I have never met someone as genuine and kind as Serena. She greeted us Saturday morning with a hug and the opportunity to wander through the show - we felt like VIP's with backstage passes at a concert. If you have never been to the show I highly recommend that you make plans to be there next year. The event that she puts on is truly first class, I have been to several shows and all of her planning, organization and special touches really show through. Many of the wonderful vendors we spoke to felt so honored to participate and we met some of the nicest ladies ever! I'll share more later about what I purchased, the vendors we met and the memorable dinner at Chaps but for now I will let the pictures tell the story of some of what we saw....