Spring Mantel

Just let me tell you.  It is really difficult to decorate a mantel that has a huge television hanging directly above it.  Not our brightest design idea, for sure, but it's up there so what's a girl to do?  Well, this girl stresses constantly about decorating her mantel without interfering with the TV screen and also not drawing too much attention to the TV at the same time.  Make sense?  Anyhow, here is my mantel decorated for Spring...

I placed some orchid stems in the shell and printed out a bee graphic from The Graphics Fairy's website, placed some rattan balls among my milk glass vases/candleholders and called it a day. Free and done in a jiffy.

Eventually, I would love to have our television  on top of the cabinets to the left of the fireplace, but for now it's not moving, according to my husband.

I am getting excited about planning/planting our raised bed gardens and decorating our porch and deck as soon as it warms up outside.  Hurry up, warmer weather!

Linking up to Centsational Girl's Fair Weather Forum!

Sara

Anthropologie Necklace Knock-off

Yesterday morning, while perusing the entries at My Backyard Eden's Make It Yours Day, I came across a tutorial for the cutest necklace on Yellow Blackbird.  Aubree is super talented and shared a wonderful step-by-step tutorial for an Anthro necklace that I LOVE.  You can go here to check out her tutorial and her fun blog.  Thanks for the inspiration, Aubree!  I love my necklace and now I am going to buy more ribbon, jewels, and chains to make these for friends and family.  Mine is a little different from Anthropologie's version, but their necklace retails for $278 and mine for just $6!  Can't beat that!

Anthropologie's Accordion Necklace...beautiful, but REALLY expensive and way over my budget at $278...

My version...still beautiful (to me) and way under budget at $6...

I still need to fix one of the unfinished ends and I didn't add jewels to this one since it was practice.

Here is what it looks like on...

To say I love it is an understatement! I am ecstatic about the way it turned out - and it was only my first one! It took about an hour from start to finish, but I had to get the lacing technique down pat.  I think I could knock the next one out in 30 minutes.  So easy and so chic!

Thanks again, Aubree, from Yellow Blackbird, for the tutorial and inspiration!

Sara

Yummy Appetizer Recipe

To switch things up a little, I would like to share an appetizer recipe that is a standby in my kitchen.  I don't have any prep pictures or final product pics, only the recipe.  Next time I make this I will take pics and post the process.  It is so simple and super yummy!

You can microwave this for about 3 minutes, but I prefer to bake it at 350 for 20-30 minutes.  I think the consistency is better.  No, it's not healthy, but is any good appetizer ever really healthy? :)  Serve with tortilla or pita chips and you have a quick and delicious appetizer ready to go!  Enjoy!

Sara