Category: Favorite Things
Favorite Things, Travel

Pick a Peck!

October 5
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Yesterday we took our annual trip to the orchard to pick a half-bushel of our favorite apples for baking pies!  Even though it had rained pretty much the entire day on Saturday, the orchards were in beautiful condition on Sunday…which was perfect for the Apple-Butter-Stir Festival at MacQueen’s!  If you’ve never been there before you’re in for a treat!  On festival day, there’s so much to do…plenty of activities for kids including pony rides, some fun fall shopping, goodies for eating, and of course–apple picking!  Even if you missed the festival, you won’t be disappointed when you meander into the rows of twisty apple trees to pick some fresh autumn fruit…followed by a sip of apple cider and a doughnut!  It has for years been a favorite family outing…and we now have the picking process mastered like a finely tuned engine!  With one boy climbing & one boy catching we can fill a bag in a matter of minutes leaving plenty of time to snap some photos for Christmas cards (often when they’re not looking!) and make a pit-stop at the bakery counter!  Once home, we’ll get ready in a day or two to peel the lot and whip up some of my grandma’s apple pie filling to pop in the freezer…a great way to have pies at the ready all year long!  Have a peek at our fun…

in the apple orchard!

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Favorite Things, Feature

Getting Ready…

September 30
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I’m so thrilled to be putting my Giggle creations in my friend Amy’s new shop!  Alice-Louise Press will be opening tomorrow in downtown Perrysburg…you really need to check it out because it’s a wonderful addition to the Toledo area and I know when you see it you will fall in love!  And even though Giggle is just a tiny part of this lovely store, I can hardly contain my excitement of being able to be there and help!  So some of my time this week has put me in the midst of her preparations…feeling a tad envious as it reminds me of The Shop Around the Corner–the fantasy of every “shop girl”!  But it was truly a treat to take part in preparing her window dressings (and she has brilliant ideas by the way!), organize my Giggle merchandise, help with shop displays…and get some fabulous sneak peeks at her new lines AND her printing presses!  All I can say is “wow!”  My advice to all of you who live in the Toledo area–go see Alice-Louise Press.  I know you’ll love it!  Here’s a little peek at her labor of love…as the clock is ticking!

getting ready for October 1!

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Favorite Things

Autumn Favorites~Bargain Favorites!

September 16
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On an ordinary shopping trip (to pick up some “no frills” school and household supplies) I stumbled across some autumn inspired goodies I just had to share!  It will be no surprise that my shopping took place at one of my favorites…Target!  Every time I walk through the doors I have to make a quick spin around the bargain bins…and almost always find something!  Whether it’s hand soap or an after-school snack, I can usually find all sorts of things here…and at prices ranging from $1-$3–how can I go wrong?  So on this particular errand run I found some spectacular bargains perfect for early autumn and that could carry through to Halloween AND Thanksgiving!  Check it out and then make a beeline to the store to grab your favorites before they’re picked over!

fabulous finds with fabulous prices!

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Favorite Things, Garden

Fresh Flowers

September 14
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Do you ever find yourself at the market or a roadside stand wishing you could pick up a bunch of fresh flowers but it’s just not the last stop on your errand list?  I hate having to forgo blooming beauties just because I can’t get them home before they begin to wilt!  On occasion I’ll bring a wide-mouth canning jar filled with water if I think there’s a possibility of finding flowers…but as nice as that is, it’s really not that convenient or easy to tote.  But today I’d like to share a simple revelation…a trick from a florist that I had never seen before and a super easy way to get those flowers home without wilt!  As I walked into the market the other day I was greeted by a huge floral display filled with a late summer favorite–sunflowers!   I so wanted to grab a bunch but since my grocery list consisted of non-perishables, I’d planned to make several other stops on my way home–so flowers just weren’t possible…or were they?  A couple quick questions to the helpful florists behind the counter and I was walking out with my canned goods…and my blooms!  Let me share with you what I’ll be keeping in my car from now on…

a “fresh” flower kit!

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Favorite Things

Spooktacular Favorites

September 2
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It’s no secret that I LOVE fall…especially Halloween!  I can’t help but start swirling ideas around in my head as early as late August and begin searching out wonderful inspiration for decorating and party possibilities!  Not wanting to waste the last days of summer consumed with the seasons to come, I do try and refrain from moving ahead too quickly–but sometimes that’s a hard little thing to do!  I don’t really want to jump the gun on another holiday–but since these great goodies I found at Home Goods may not be around very long…I feel the need to share sooner than later!  You know the deal at store like these–if you see something you love you’d better pounce!  If you wait to think about it…you’re little discovery may sadly be long gone.  On one of my regular trips to this favorite store of mine, I unintentionally discovered some Halloween treats that I just had to have.  And in my searching, came home with not only my goodies but tons of inspiration for the autumn season!  Have a peek at some holiday favorites…and then, maybe plan a trip to the store!

splendid, spooky supplies…

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Favorite Things

Movie Night!

August 31
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I love late summer and early fall!   And even though it can be pretty hectic with the start of school and all the activities that go with it, I have to admit that I really look forward to the arrival of the new season!  I think what I like most is that you get a taste of the best of both seasons…warm, sunny days that morph into slightly crisp nights still filled with the sounds of summer.  Warm enough to be perfectly comfortable and yet a soft sweater can tag along like a welcomed friend.  So about a week ago, my family got to attend a fun event that combined the seasons…an outdoor movie viewing right in the middle of a football field!  The University of Toledo held a family movie night…celebrating the last days of summertime activities AND the beginning of much anticipated fall sports!  Families were invited to bring their own blankets, munchies, beverages, even footballs…and pick a spot on the field to enjoy the show!  And on top of that–they had games & activities for kids of all ages…and the football & volleyball teams were there too!  Did I mention it was free!?  I have to say that I was pretty impressed to be out on the field…a fun perspective of what the players experience.  But the best part of the evening was spending time with family and friends…enjoying some of the last moments of summer together!

another evening under the stars…

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Favorite Things

A Girl and Her Truck!

August 21
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Earlier this summer my dad asked me if I was interested in the old Chevy truck that belonged to my grandfather.  The answer was undoubtedly YES!  I have such vivid memories of the old jalopy on my grandparents farm…riding on the back of the open tailgate with my cousin as it rolled along the bumpy gravel lane. (something I would’ve never let my kids do!  it’s illegal now anyway, right?  …life was certainly different then!)  And my favorite funny memory…when my dad had it restored some while back, my first question to him when I saw it in it’s new shiny glory was…”why is it red?”  I grew up thinking that old truck was pink!  Faded from many years of use as a utilitarian machine on the farm, it never occurred to my young brain that the truck had ever been anything but that soft faded hue!  And though that revelation was shocking at first…red really suits the old gentleman!  So my parents took a pit-stop to our family’s Indiana farm to pick up the truck and transport it here to my house for the remainder of the summer and fall!  I could hardly wait until they arrived…and my brain has been swirling with ideas of how to enjoy his stay with us!

oh, the possibilities of tailgating fun!

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Favorite Things

Favorite Things…

August 7
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I received the cutest little thing the other day and just had to share it!  I love using banners when I entertain…even when I decorate the rooms in my home!  They’re so cheerful and fun–and simply stated:  they make me happy!  So this adorable banner flag with a monogram initial is meant for spelling out any message you wish…you can mix and match multiples or just add one or two to your own banner creation!  Made by one of my favorite party supply companies…Meri Merri has created these sweet alphabet buntings so you can create a personal display for any event!  I was thinking that it would be so cute to highlight a single initial in a fun way…making a festive display but also keeping costs down!  So check out how I used my single bunting…and get the link so you can get yours!

 festive fun with banners and buntings…

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Celebrate, Favorite Things, Savor

Berrylicious!

July 17
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Dropping my son off at the airport for his long flight to China proved to be a little stressful for me!  Luckily, one of my favorite places was just around the corner for some retail therapy to take my mind off the fact that my household will be one person short for the next two weeks!  I love Ikea for so many reasons…the prices, the large array of goodies to look at, and always some inspiration to take away!  So that said…I’ll share what inspired my menu (and decor) for a tiny gathering to celebrate a special day!  It’s summer…so for me the thought of bright, colorful flowers and fruity desserts and cocktails are so festive…and perfect for the season!  I’m sharing the site for a “favorite thing” and have two recipes to offer up via links today–one for a “sweet” & one for a “sip”–and since I had a stressful week, my husband and I had a trial tasting of both…you’ve got to sample what you serve, right?   Take a peek at this very-berry inspired treat…

summer berries…summer treats!

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Favorite Things

Breakfast in Bed

July 10
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So I found the cutest candy bar the other day and just couldn’t resist buying it…I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s so sweetly inspiring for an early morning treat!  It got me thinking of making a breakfast-in-bed tray to treat someone special!  Wishing that I would have thought of it while my parents or friends were visiting so I could surprise them with an unexpected breakfast…combined with a little chocolate!  Not a common breakfast item but who cares?  I wouldn’t turn down a little chocolate in the morning!  So, I don’t typically create a sweet treat for no reason…but today I break the rules!  I couldn’t resist offering this idea even though I can’t really use it myself—wait—maybe I can!  So after I share this fun treat with you…I’m going to enjoy some breakfast in bed!

surprise someone with a sweet wake-up call!

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