25 Ways to Tie a Scarf

I don't think I appreciated the scarf until a few years ago. Here in Southern California they are actually quite practical. It can be too hot for a coat but add a scarf and you are perfectly warm. I now have quite a few and with it being fall have just pulled them back out.  I saw this video here and thought it was too good not to share. I've emailed it to many friends and family and they all loved it. 

If you wait until the video is finished playing you can actually go back and click on the individual scarf and she will give slower step-by-step instructions. I'm currently a fan of the waterfall but can't wait to try some more out!

Fall Decor

I know I have said earlier I am not a huge fan of Halloween but I like to have some fall decor around the house this time of year. Plus, if I add "fall" decor I can keep it up until Thanksgiving. Here are a few touches around the house:

Paper mache candy corns {got them as a gift almost 8 years ago, no idea where they are from but I still like them}.

Added a few gourds to a basket on my console table {$1 each at WalMart, last year}.

Pumpkin candles from Pottery Barn {got them on sale for $10?? a few years ago}. They have similar one's on sale here. 

And a few mini pumpkins put in a bowl on the coffee table {picked up at local grocery store for $0.50/each}.

It's hard to do, but always buy holiday decorations on sale after the holidays are over. Come December, no one wants a pumpkin candle anymore. 

Our outdoor furniture solution

We have been blessed with a very large outside covered patio that we love. We love to entertain and it is a great place to have people gather. When we first moved a couple months ago we were on the hunt for some new patio furniture. We wanted a big table in order for a bunch of friends to sit and eat together. We searched high and low and anything that we really liked was really expensive. We finally found a great option, picnic tables. They were inexpensive, a little rustic and included seating {because chairs sure do add up!}.

They started as unfinished picnic tables. We picked them up from Lowes for $89/each. 

We wanted a durable finish and decided to use a wood stain. It soaked into the wood and dried nicely. It took two coats to get enough coverage. We used Olympic Maximum wood stain in Wedgewood. 

And here's the finished product at my husband's birthday:

Accent Pillows

I purchased some new grey couches that I am absolutely in love with. I'm still technically waiting on the actual loveseat I ordered {long story, but I received a slipcovered loveseat vs an upholstered}. I should be getting it in November. I found a bright floral pillow that I really liked and it had so many different colors I thought it would be an easy way to add various colors to the room. So last week I finally took the time to hunt for some additional accent pillows to add to the couch and loveseat. All I can say is it is HARD to find good pillows at a good price! I searched ALL over {Home Goods, Target, boutique shops around town, etc...}. I finally listened to my mom, who suggested a while ago that I check out a store called Room Service. They have a LOT of pillows all in fun bright colors. I went and bought three that I thought were great. Well, I thought they were great and the husband did not. So this weekend I went and returned two of the three. So I'm back to square one on my accent pillow search.

Here is my current state of affairs:

Two pillows that I really love on the couch. And yes that is a nice dish rag from washing the windows earlier in the day still on the coffee table. 

And here is the sad loveseat just wanting some pillows to sit on it. 

What to do...what to do???

My 1st experience with a CSA

Our friends are part of a CSA {community sponsored agriculture} program. They were out of town this week and asked if we wanted their weekly box. I was so excited. I've researched different CSAs in the area and always wondered if I would actually like getting one. You see, I like to plan my meals and with a "mystery box" of veggies and fruit each week it kind of messes up my meal planning.

They are part of Morningsong Farm, located in San Diego county. It is a fully sustainable, organic farm which I really like. It is $44.50 for a large box and $34.50 for a small box. They deliver to Temecula, and various locations in San Diego and Orange counties. Want to find out more about a CSA in your area, here is a link to various CSAs across the country. Here is what I got in the large box this week {more than a weeks worth of veggies}.

- Beets {6}

-Zucchini {6}

- Tomatoes {5}

- Sprouts {1 pkg}

- Lettuce {1 head butter lettuce}

-Mixed Greens {one lg. zip lock bag}

- Dandelion Greens {two large bunches}

-Limes {7}

-Peppers {6}

- Parsley {1 bunch}

- Purslane {1 pkg}

Look how yummy this stuff looks:

There was only one item I had never heard of, purslane. It is commonly found in salads. Here are some of the health benefits:

• Fresh leaves contain surprisingly more Omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) than any other leafy vegetable plant. 100 grams of fresh purslane leaves provides about 350 mg of α-linolenic acid. Research studies shows that consumption of foods rich in ω-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and help prevent development of ADHD, autism, and other developmental differences in children.

• It is an excellent source of Vitamin A, (1320 IU/100 g, provides 44% of RDA) one of the highest among green leafy vegetables. Vitamin A is a known powerful natural antioxidant and is essential for vision. This vitamin is also required to maintain healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

• Purslane is also a rich source of vitamin C, and some B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and carotenoids, as well as dietary minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese.

  I'll be adding this to our nightly salad.

  
  

  The only other item that I hadn't really cooked with were the dandelion greens. Off to search for some recipes!

Best Baby Teethers

My little one has finally had her first tooth break through about a week ago and the second came through just a couple of days after that. She handled them pretty well but I was on the hunt for some good teethers as she seemed to want to put everything in her mouth. There are so many out there. We have Sophie, vibrating grapes, frozen rings, etc.... They worked OK but she would rather just play with Sophie, the grapes were too large and the frozen rings too cold. I then found the perfect thing for her, a piece of watermelon rind. It had been in the fridge so it was just a little bit cold, she could actually bite down on it and I could cut it to the perfect size for her little mouth. I now have one happy girl!

Burlap Monogram {tutorial}

I had WAY too much burlap left over from when I did my burlap wrapped votives. I had no idea what to do with the left over fabric. Of course, I immediately searched "burlap" on Pinterest and was inspired by this photo:

Using the picture above as inspiration I made my own version. Here is how it turned out:

It was really quite simple to do. Here is what you'll need:

1. Printed letter of your choice in whichever font you wish

2. piece of card board for back, I used the lid of a shoe box which worked particularly well and gave it a little more depth than just a flat piece of cardboard

3. stapler

4. quilt batting cut about 3 inches larger than cardboard {on all sides}

5. burlap cut about 3 inches larger than cardboard {on all sides}

6. sharpie marker

Step 1: Staple batting around cardboard. I did two layers as my cardboard was hot pink and I didn't want any of that to come through but if yours is brown you should be good with one layer.

Step 2: Place printed monogram under burlap and trace along the outside of your printed letter. Make sure to center up the letter on the burlap so you have enough to wrap the burlap around your cardboard. You can measure or just eye-ball it.

Step 3: Color in the monogram with your marker. I went over it a couple of times to make sure it was nice and dark.

Step 4: Center and staple the burlap to your cardboard.

And your done!

This is seen on the Link Party at 320 Sycamore, projects under $10 in under 1 hour. See what other people have posted here.

This is also linked at A Little Tipsy: DIY under $5. Check it out here.