Crocs

I just saw a friend of mines sporting Crocs in styles I had not seen before.  Check out some of these!  They are comfortable AND cute!

Snack Time

I'm at a youth camp with middle school and high school age kids, and there won't be much to report on as far as cool buys, or fancy recipes.  But I did bring one of my favorite snacks and enjoyed it last night.

pretzels dipped in peanut butter, then in chocolate chips and a side of clementine segments

the orange with the chocolate, with the crunch, was delicious and satisfying!

Salsa's Served

Next time you're having guests over, or a party, and the fare involves Mexican food, try serving your salsa in a small honey pitcher like this one (found at  Goodwill!).  Provide individual tiny cups, and this way each person can pour just the amount they like and have their own dipping container, without sharing their double dips with others! (they sell these in the grocery store or the dollar stores)

Homemade Chicken Salad

My own chicken salad recipe, one I made up through trial and error, is one of my faves.

Boil chicken breasts until done - let cool - and shred in a chopper.

Place carrots, onions, pecans and pickles (or green olives) in the chopper and pulse until coarsely chopped.

In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken and all of the other ingredients.  Add in mayo and Ranch dressing (1 part Ranch to 3 parts mayo) until the mixture hangs together, adding in lemon pepper and season salt to taste.

Let this mixture chill.  Serve with Wheat Thins or Pita Chips.

It's SOOO good!

Hook & Lantern

This lantern hook and lantern is so pretty and elegant, and would make a nice addition to any patio, next to a bench, or perhaps even in a bedroom, next to a bed! Both from World Market.

Dollar Store Place Setting

When we have visitors for dinner, and don't feel like setting the table, we serve our meal in baskets - from the dollar store.  It's so easy to prepare each person's meal ahead of time, they can eat it on their laps, and since we line each one with a paper towel, it's an easy cleanup!

Pineapple Banana Cake

At a picnic tonite, someone brought this deliciously moist cake that had the scent of fall - so of course I had to look it up!  Longing for the taste and scent of fall, while summer is just beginning?  Try out this Pineapple Banana Cake:

Hymnal Holders

Found a couple of old hymnal racks/shelves at an antique store today, to be used in one of our bedrooms to hold vintage books.  Here are pictures of how they can be used.  I'm going to paint mine.  How fun!

Stools

Look at these cool modern stools and the colors they come in!  What a cute idea for your updated bar area! I especially love the yellow - at Target!

Tilapia Tacos

Tonite we had fish tacos...easy made...and oh so good.  tilapia seasoned with cayenne pepper, paprika and salt - cooked 3 minutes each side til flaky.  a bag of coleslaw doused with lime juice.  and corn cut off the cob with chopped cherry tomatoes - grilled.

toss it all in a corn tortilla, with a bit of monterrey jack cheese and you have it!

Layering Frames

I've been working with empty frames lately, as I seem to have several.  Real Simple has a cool picture of a way to paint and layer your frames on a shelf - inexpensive way to brighten up a room!  Usually, a group of three makes for a pretty display...

Root Beer Ice Cream

At my son's house tonight we had root beer ice cream - handmade in their Kitchenaid bowl.  It was super delicious.  Here's the recipe:

DIY bookshelf

Got an old ladder lying around in your shed, up against a wall in your garage, or on the back of a friend's truck? How about using it for a bookshelf!  Check out this idea!

Merci

Bought this really cute handmade purse at a vendor today - and she has a facebook page - and even makes custom bags! She uses belts, leather, and really good fabric and creates unique one-of-a-kind bags.  I bought this one!  Look for merci-handmade-vintage on Facebook and like her page!

Breakfast picnic

July 4 is coming soon - check out this cute cupcake kit.  Plan now to make some cool muffins and head outdoors for breakfast in your backyard - with blackberries and strawberries to go with!

Pom Pom necklace

What a cute pom pom necklace for summer - to go with all your tshirts!  Buy one for yourself...and for a friend.

Mosquito Bands

Saw these mosquito bands  in a magazine and looked them up - I wonder if they work.  I just might order them and see!  I'd love to not have to carry and use bug spray!

Salmon improv

Tweaked a salmon cake recipe and it turned out great!

The recipe called for salmon from a can, mixed with fresh dill, an egg, and old bay seasoning, then made into patties and coated with crushed buttery crackers.  However, I only had pretzels - so I used that for the coating before frying - turned out great!

The dip called for sour cream and spicy brown mustard to be mixed together, along with mayo.  I didn't have the sour cream,so I used Ranch dressing.

Delish!

Earthy Watch

What a cute watch!  What an awesome new store - at least it's new where I live.  Check it out - Altar'd State! 

Sauce for Steak!

This sauce is really good with grilled meat.  Place the meat and sauce in a tortilla with sliced onion and tomato, and you've got yourself a meal!

Chimichurri sauce - try it!

Amazing Lighting

Discovered this store today, and then found it on line as well - Arhaus. Amazing displays of decor like I've  never seen.  Many things that can be copied at home if you've got a little paint and some old furniture or chandeliers.

Polka Dots

Love Francesca's around town...but did you know you can order online, too?  They have such cute tops...and skirts!  Check out these - and more.

Empty Frame Art

I stared long and hard an empty frame we had and came up with this idea to decorate it and hang it - it came out well! I think...

I just bought different colored and textured ribbons and tied them across the frame. Then using thin ribbon I tied on some small grapevine balls I already had - and there you have it.

Corn Salsa

Corn salsa is easy to make and it's great for at-home burrito bowls.  Just cut the corn off two cobs, add a minced jalapeno, some garlic, and juice of one lime and some cilantro - salt to taste - and there you have it.  It's so delicious.  Add a red onion too, if you like!

Battered Fries

A lot of restaurants now serve battered fries, which are yummy.  So here's a recipe to try for your pleasure! Try different dips such as dill, chipotle Ranch, or even gravy!

He's Not Like That

Proverbs 3 talks of the discipline of the Lord, our Father.

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Earthly fathers sometimes discipline us out of anger, and they hurt us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  We see the anger in their faces and we cower in fear.

However, we are told in this verse to not reject it when the Lord disciplines us or to hate it when he corrects us.  Remember, He’s not like our earthly fathers.

Look at the end of the verse.  He delights in us.  We bring him joy. So when he corrects and disciplines us it’s because He loves us.

This is a hard pill to swallow, to take the Lord’s discipline and know that He’s never displeased with us, and that He doesn’t discipline us because we’ve been “bad” and deserve a spanking.  That’s not who God is.

God does discipline and correct, but His purposes are always to restore and to instruct us in the paths of life.

A good father disciplines his children, always.  Otherwise, they grow up to be adult brats.  And that’s not pretty.

If you’re in a place of discipline right now, listen well, and receive the instruction with a grateful heart.  Put away the fears of your childhood and step into the peace of your relationship with a Father who loves you so much that He sings over you with joy.

Summer on the Wrist

I was given a tamarind bracelet made in another country recently, and i found a different style on  line - great for your summer beach or outdoor wear!

Little doggies

Today I bought scottie dog shortbread cookies at the grocery store - as a treat - and they are so good.  Have you tried them?  They are low in calories, sweet and buttery, and cute in a bowl!

Weekend Trip!

For the locals (or if you want to visit Central Texas):

Many ask me from time to time to share our weekend adventures, to give them ideas of places to go and things to see - so here it is in my Pinch tonight!

San Antonio - start here in the Hilton by SeaWorld.  It's a very fine hotel with reasonable rates and out back is an awesome pool area, with fire pits and lots of chairs for you and whoever joins you on the trip!  Inside is a fine restaurant, with a piano and a fireplace, where you can be entertained and experience some great ambience.

The next morning drive on down to Boerne, Texas and shop the town.  There are some cute stores there, with great finds - we found a wrought iron light fixture.  Have lunch at Soda Pops - the burgers and fried pickles are delicious - and opt for a chocolate shake from the sugar shack next door.  Dine on the patio or inside on a stool and people-watch while you eat.

Head on down to Kerrville and visit the Sculpture Prayer Garden atop a hill that overlooks the valley below. I was skeptical about this at first, but after visiting I see these folks are serious about getting the Good News out to all who stop by - and how could that be a bad thing?  We looked at this work in progress, and enjoyed the sculptures, the huge open cross, the rocks with prayers written on them, and the free bibles under a tent, where music was being played.  It was glorious up there - where we prayed for miracles for our friends who need them.

We had popcorn and candy at the movies there in Kerrville at their Rio Cinema.  It wasn't anything special, but it was fun going to the movies in another town, in another place.

We stayed the night in a Best Western Sunday House - simple and clean - and affordable!  They had a free breakfast the next morning - across the parking lot - choice of three plates.  It was delicious.

Kerrville has a park called Louise Hays, and we stopped to walk on the beautiful trails by the river, and then through part of the town.  We drove on to another camping park, to see if we might want to come again and rent pedal boats, canoes or kayaks.

I was anxiously awaiting our next stop - just outside of Fredericksburg - and I was not disappointed.  I had read about it was excited.  We had lunch at the Airport Diner, by the Hangar Hotel.  What fun we had!  This hotel is decorated with memorabilia from the 40's, and beside it sits the cutest diner with booths by windows where patrons can watch small planes come and go.  After we ate, we went on the observation deck where big wooden chairs await those who want to watch some more - and we did!

On to Fredericksburg, we stopped to visit  Dooley's 5-10-25 (but it's closed on Sundays!).  We walked around the town with all of the others "tourists" who visit there daily for all the things to do in this central Texas town.

We took some back roads home, and would have stopped at a peach stand but due to the crazy weather this spring - there were none.  Or so we were told.

What a fun weekend - can't wait to get on the road again...

Pickles with a Kick!

Tasted these today in a small town in Texas - and loved them!  They're sort of dill with a sweet kick - so I bought a big jar!  You can order them on line! Fickle Pickles!