I found the instructions to making these no-spill mason jar tuts on a recent visit to "everyday-lovely.com/" blog.  The easy instructions provided, helped me know that I wanted to create this project for my oldest daughter's birthday.  I found the project as simple as the instructions stated.  Considering that she has five small children, the chances of spilled water is great at their dinner table.  I thought this may be a way of eliminating that from happening.

I purchased a dozen of the wide mouth quart jars and placed them on a tray with handles, making it easy to fill the jars and carry to the table.  I added an old milk bottle in case she wished to add flowers to the tray presentation.

If you wish for the instructions please visit the everyday-lovely.com/ blog.

There are websites that sell boxes of the red and white vintage paper straws. 

 

 

Last evening some of our family were able to be together to celebrate our daughter and son-in-law's milestone birthdays.  I did notice some interesting details in the above picture.  My husband had filled each jar with ice before the family arrived, and did not put the lids of the jars on tightly since he was waiting to fill them with water.  I also noticed the interesting way that he so graciously set the table for me.  Well, it is the thought that counts and certainly Emily Post was not one of the invited guests:)

 

 

 Once again, I filled old milk bottles with my red and white petunias.  They do come in handy over the summer, when it comes to adding color to the tablescapes.

 

 

A "birthday cake" consisting of chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, and sprinkles was the preferrence of our son-in-law for his celebration.

And a tiramasu recipe that I made, was our daughter's "birthday cake" choice.  As you can see, they both had plenty of help when it came to blowing out the candles.  This picture makes me smile, as I see it as the way things are right now in our family.  The table guests consisted of more children than adults.  I found it difficult to comprehend, as I looked around the table last evening, that all of this happened in the last thirty five years of our lives. 

We were so thrilled and grateful to welcome the newest member of our family to his first family celebration. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your kind comments.  What a blessing they are to me.

 

 

Today is a special birthday.

Thirty five years ago, an adorable little girl was born.

 

 

 

She lit up our world then...

...and she continues to light up our world today, in so many aspects of life .  Happy Birthday dear daughter!

 

 

We spent some time at the park this week.

We are enjoying the last few weeks of the summer.

 

 

 

 

It is a rare happening that the two of us get to spend some uninterrupted time together.

 

I loved watching her carefree spirit and curiosity.

 

The fountains, the weeping willow trees, and the playground were the perfect setting.
As she climbed the steps and then slid down the slide, I was sitting thinking about my girls and their school years.  One thought that I was entertaining in my mind, was the fact that organization is one of the key factors in creating a less stressful school year.

 

 

I thought about one of the organizational tips that I used the last two years of their schooling, and how it helped me alleviate stress in my life.

Such a simple solution, and I found myself wondering why I had not thought of it before.

Since our daughter will be having five in elementary school at one time in the not to distant future, I knew I wanted to share the solution with her.

 

I purchased a plain, white plastic notebook, along with a package of insertable plastic dividers, and a package of clear sheet protectors.

I proceeded to decorate the front, back and inside cover of the notebook, using magazine pictures and various stickers.  I used vintage style to go with her kitchen decor.

 

 

 

 

I shared with her, how helpful the clear plastic protectors were in storing important info.

For some reason, I remember clearly the girls bringing home many papers during their school years, and how easily they got missplaced.

When I used this method, I always knew where  to find every paper.

 

 

One of many, simple organizing tips in the blogging world, and if it helps someone have a less hectic school year, than it is worth my sharing it. 
Any day is the perfect time to begin organizing your life.

Happy Friday!

Recently we celebrated two special ladies with milestone birthdays.  I thought I would share a few snippets from that event.  I was responsible for the centerpieces and the favors.  Since ice cream was a favorite of both ladies, I created for big bowls of ice cream.  The bowls and spoons were purchased from the dollar store.  The balls of ice cream were  three sizes of tissue paper flowers that I glued together.  I glued sprinkles on with dots of glue.  An inexpensive way to add color to the center of my sister's already beautiful porch table.

In between the dishes of ice cream centerpieces, I added red and white petunias in empty Perrier bottles.
The favors were little cups of sprinkles placed in star bags and tied with "happy birthday" tags.  The table looked so festive.

 

 

The total cost of the centerpieces that I made was $4.00.

Plastic bowls and spoons were two in a pack for $1.00.

Tissue paper from the dollar store.

Containers of sprinkles were from the Ollie's store.

 

 

 

 

My beautiful cousin made and decorated this great looking birthday cake.

I was impressed with her creativity.

 

 

Even the youngest of the party participants, joined in the fun.  She was entertained by watching all the festivities and relished the attention she was receiving.

A sweet, fun way to celebrate special people in our lives.

On my heart and in my prayers this morning...

The year...1994

First day of school...

11th grade,

4th grade,

and

1st grade.

I remember it well, as I do every first day of school.  The sadness in my heart as I came to grips with the fact that another summer vacation season had ended.

A new routine has begun.

It all seems so long ago.  At times like another lifetime ago...

...especially when I try to face that fact that the 11th grader in the above picture, is now mother to  these two, who are starting kindergarten today.

How did it all happen so quickly?


Wishing each of you strength for the journey of today, whatever it may hold.

 

 

 

"Life is like an ice cream cone:  Just when you think you've got it licked, it drips all over you!"

~Barbara Johnson

  

 

"It's not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness."  ~Charles H. Spurgeon


I hope you have some blue skies with white clouds, maybe an ice cream cone that drips, and some moments of happiness this weekend!  These two certainly found that this week, when they were given their first ice cream cones...drips and all.

 

 

 

One of the things I haved learned in my 50some years is a quite simple fact...things don't always appear like they actually are.  By you visiting my blog, seeing my pictures and reading my brief commentaries on pictures, you may perceive life and situations differently than they actually are.  For instance, you could look at the above arrangement that I did on Wed. and think that I must be an experienced gardener.  But no, these flowers were picked from my daughter's gardens.  Thus you must think that my daughter must be a gardener.  But no, all her gardens were planted by the lady who owns the townhouse that she lives in, and the flowers are all a gift to her, since they keep on appearing in all their beauty, every year since she moved there.

 

 

 

When you look at this picture, you would immediately think, "oh, she can sew".

It all looks so impressive...the machine, fabric in hand, scissors and glasses in place.

But no, she could not even get the sewing machine to sew the simple seam.

 

 

 

I offered to help my daughter make curtains a few months ago.  We were set and ready to go, including the thimble:)  Afterall, I visit your blogs and some of you are quite accomplished seamstresses, and your work is most beautiful, so I knew we could tackle a project as simple as kitchen curtains.  But no, even with a thimble in place, we could not get the machine to sew.

Thankfully, my dear, skilled seamstress sister-in-law did the project perfectly for us.
We put the sewing machine back in the closet, knowing full well that we were only "seamstress wannabes"...

 

 

 

 

Oh, but wait, I found this picture this morning that my mother had given me, and as soon as I saw this dress, I had to smile.

I remember clearly when I did sit down to my mother's sewing machine 40some years ago, and I made the dress I have on.  My husband and I were going to a dinner and I wanted something new to wear.  I remembered my home ec classes and I knew I could make a dress.

 

What was I thinking?

I guess we were so much in love, that my husband would not have noticed the sewing job I did.

 

So it is with life, things are not as they appear.

With blogging, I try to keep my posts real.

I want to share the real, and yet to share only the uplifting and positive happenings.  There is enough of the negative bombarding us on a daily basis.

 

A little something from my heart today.

Thanks for stopping.

 

(I wish I would have saved that dress and scarf, in case you wanted to borrow it for your special occasions:)