{red, white, blue, AND chocolate}

Feast your eyes and just wait 2 more days!!! Here is more July 4 yumminess about to happen! 
What do you do when you are addicted to chocolate and are asked to bring a dessert?
Simple answer: you carry red, white, and blue...AND chocolate!

I am soooo making these kabobs and taking to our July 4 celebration!

source: melskitchencafe.com

AND I may take a few of these too...

source: tasteofhome.com

AND these! oh yea, baby, why not? the sprinklers will already be out...

source: theyummylife.com

AND then toss leftovers into one delish pie...(maybe for July 5...shhhh...don't tell anyone)

source: bettycrocker.com

Please have a safe and happy July 4 celebrating with your friends and family!
Click here for more July 4 fun recipes: {red, white, and blue}

{faceLIFT reveal}

Here's my latest easy home faceLIFT problem and solution. 
Minor Problem: I have Laura Ashley Gold #3 walls in my house... love the warm color, but gold picture frames kind of get lost.Take a look...

 (side note: yes, these are my water babies building sandcastles at the beach...

fast forward and they still love the beach and their water sports!)

(Sarah's senior picture)

These walls are the same color gold, just different lighting and different time of day taking the photos. 

Solution for my gold dilemma? 

Turn to my new best friend for advice: Mr. Rust Oleum. And he says, "Don't be afraid of spray paint!" I agree and am convinced that just about anything can be spray painted in your home, interior and exterior.

FaceLIFT reveal...

Now the pictures pop! Plus I shifted and regrouped the pictures to fill in the wall space...philosophy that "more is better" (not always, but most of the time). 

Maybe YOU want to consider these spray painting ideas for a fresh look to your home:

• mirrors
• air vents
• door knobs/hardware
• faucets
• lamp bases or shades
• picture frames
• baskets and containers
• and so much more... feel free to share your faceLIFTS!

Here's the original posting on my discovery (and love) of oil rubbed bronze spray paint in case you missed it: 
{good, better, best}

{celebrate}

July 4 is less than one week away! For those that may have missed my Memorial Day blog, I am re-posting that one because it was so popular.

click here: {red, white and blue}

Have a safe July 4 and let's always remember to thank our military men, women, and their families for our freedom!

{honey lime chicken}

Here's another Stephanoff original recipe that you definitely want to try, I promise! My husband came home from the farmer's market with fresh vegetables, so here's what we made for dinner:

Ingredients
1 lb chicken, boneless, skinless, and cut into strips
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons butter
1 fresh sweet yellow pepper, diced (optional)
1/4 cup honey
2 fresh limes
1/4 cup feta cheese

Directions
1. Heat olive oil & butter in skillet.
2. Coat chicken strips in flour & black pepper, then fry.
3. Add more EVOO as needed to prevent sticking.
4. Once cooked, reduce heat, add honey to skillet, stirring & coating the chicken.
5. Add diced sweet pepper, stir.
6. Squeeze limes onto chicken, stir and simmer 3-5 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and transfer prepared chicken to your serving plate.
8. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

Serve with fresh vegetables. We ate it with sweet potatoes, broccoli, and fresh tomatoes. Ohhhh so yummy! Look at the colorful presentation and nutritional value!

Don't be afraid to experiment and create your own recipes! And then share the good news!

Other favorite creations:
Pesto Pizza
Bruschetta Pizza
Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

{things we all do}

Just for fun, check out this site for things you probably do...this guy has me pegged in a lot of ways!
Disclaimer: this post strays from home and decorating but not from bringing sunshine & smiles!






source: thingswealldo.tumblr.com

{confession: flower addiction}

Last fall I purchased a red ladder back chair from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Instantly I envisioned repurposing the chair as a flower planter for my screen porch. One snag: I did not allow myself to buy flowers this spring. I know I know, why not? Because I have this crazy tendency to get carried away (could be qualified as an addiction). So I used restraint and did not step into the garden center at all this year (alcoholics can’t go into bars either ya know). But Saturday morning came and with it, this thought: “Okay okay so maybe just a quit walk thru this ONE time to just pick up enough flowers to do the chair I purchased from Habitat LAST year.”

Yes, I succumbed. Oh my! I was in the right place at the right time following the right person in the red vest. She had her clearance gun in hand and was slashing the flowers and plants to 50cents. Jackpot! Definitely the right place at the right time. Thank you, kind red vest Lowe’s lady!

Here is the repurposed chair...

 

Potting philosophy: Thrill, Fill, Spill. Add thrill with different textures & varying heights/color. Fill it up (don’t wait for your arrangement to grow into the space, pack it day one). Be sure to include plants that will vine and cascade over the planter.

What can you repurpose from your attic, garage, or the Habitat ReStore to make as a creative accent to your yard or porch? Here’s a complete listing of the Habitat for Humanity ReStores in South Carolina.

Truth be told…confession time…my flower addiction couldn’t make it. I ended up grabbing more than my original intent. But I’m done now. Right?

{everything in its place}

I don’t know about you, but my keys have never had a home. That is until last week! Up until then, I’d toss them in my purse, sometimes on the kitchen counter, or maybe my husband’s junk basket. It was anyone’s guess. So during my recent trip to Hobby Lobby, I picked up a few things to create a “home” for our keys, including our address so our keys would never get lost again!

Want to borrow this idea for your home? Asking where can I find?

Empty vintage frame:  It’s the second of the two vintage-looking wooden frames I picked up at a yard sale for $1, originally from Hobby Lobby (sticker price still on it for $24.99).

Iron address numbers, padlock, and key hook: all from Hobby Lobby… on sale of course!