Simple Beachy Craft

Happy Friday!!! I am so excited I am flying down to South Carolina to visit my sister today WOO HOOO!! It has been two months since we've seen each other. I have been trying to keep myself busy with craft projects and social things since she has moved but let me say it has been very hard for me. But today is a HAPPY day, in a few hours I will see her , oh and did I mention she only lives 10 miles form Hilton Head Island!!! I get to break out the tank tops and flip flops! I can't wait to walk on the beach and catch up with my sister. I have missed our long talks, drinking vino together, sharing laughs and tears, our hopes and our fears and our Sunday family dinners together. So by now you must now how much I love the ocean. I am an ocean girl through and through, So here is my latest little beachy craft project, so simple...
So get yourself some rope ....
Paint some clothes pins turquoise oh and did I mention turquoise is my favorite color??? Hot glue on some cute little starfish....
Find your favorite beachy pics and attach, and there you have it! A happy little way to display your favorite beachy pictures. Don't you just love the little "Be" I just found some shells on the beach and spelled out happy little sayings...

So back to reality ... fall is in full swing here in the midwest and you know what that means... All things PUMPKIN!!! so last weekend I was pumpkin obsessed, it was all about the pumpkin. I made some yummy pumpkin curry soup and some very tasty low fat pumpkin muffins. And I even had a pumpkin latte, yum-o. I have to say the house smelled amazing. So for the pumpkin muffins you will need...

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar or organic cane sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp of ginger
1/8 tsp of allspice or cloves
1/8 tsp of nutmeg
1 cup oats
1 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin
1/4 cup of applesauce
4 egg whites
1/2 skim or I used plain soy milk
1/4 cup of walnuts

Mix together all dry ingredients
mix together wet ingredients and blend all together.

Enjoy your muffins with a cup of freshly brewed coffee~

HAPPY FALL!!!

Bake muffins at 350 for 18-20 min depending on your oven!


For this recipe and other low fat muffin recipes go to ...http://www.suite101.com/content/pumpkin-muffin-recipes-a73082
Hope you have a super weekend, get out and enjoy the sights and smells of fall...

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."
- Can Teach Songs

Poblano White Bean Chilli

Happy Friday!!! it was a beautiful fall day here in the midwest... My heart is happy and my spirit feels free... I love this little sunflower doesn't it look like a happy smiling face. It sure puts a smile on my face. I love sunflowers in the fall and daisies in the summer, both are happy little things.
Now for a little fall inspired meal Poblano White Bean Chilli
Recipe courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine

3 cups cooked white beans 1 recipe for Rajas
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
1 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup low fat milk
3 oz goat cheese
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds

Rajas recipe :

6 poblano peppers
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
1 tsp dried oregano


Roast and peel poblano peppers on burner of stove top,then peel off charred skins
heat oil in skillet add onion, garlic cook for 5 to 9 min add oregano and poblano strips season with salt and pepper

Bring beans, rajas broth oregano and cumin, bring to a simmer and add corn black beans, cilantro and lime juice cook 15 min. warm milk in sauce pan , add goat cheese and stir until smooth
Serve chilli garnished with goat cheese and pumpkin seeds.

Pour yourself a glass of vino and sip and savor..

Have yourself a HAPPY little evening... Seeing that happy seems to be the the theme today what do you think of this wine glass? I just painted it with chalk board paint, so simple and so HAPPY Hope you have a super weekend... we are tearing windows out this weekend fun fun, the last house project and then every room has been re done. Stay tuned I will be posting the sun room make over, gonna have a warm beachy feel, can't wait until it's done!

Think HAPPY. Be HAPPY.

Photo Friday

So recently my friend and I headed up to the beach to soak up the last bits of the summer sunshine... It was an absolutely picture perfect day, not a cloud in the sky, which mind you is kind of a rare thing here in the midwest. We hit a few of our favorite places for some appetizers, lunch, vino and then some more vino hee hee.We then headed down to the beach to take some photos. You wouldn't know that it is the start of fall by the photos, too bad summer is coming to an end.
I am not quite ready to put away my flip flops... Summer just makes me so happy I hate when it has to go... I absolutely love the feeling of sand between my toes. but for now I will appreciate every last nice day of summer we still have.
So now for a few little recent projects.... Who doesn't love taking something old and giving it new life! I love re working old pieces.
I found this dresser at an amazing antique shop not too far from home called Green Oaks Antiques now I love anything shabby chic and scuffed up. As you can see it was quite the transformation. I absolutely L*O*V*E the way it turned out ! My husband painted it , thanks honey! ,and I just took some sandpaper to it and scuffed up all the edges. So simple and so beachy cottagey.
So for this next little project I just used some chalkboard paint on these wine glasses. How fun are these. You can never have too much chalkboard paint in your life! I just love little craft projects ... just wish there was enough time in the day for all the ideas swirling around in my head! well I am off to enjoy my vino, and a little dark chocolate by the wonderful fire . Oh by the way the crickets and cicadas are still singing, ahhh a little bit of summer still hanging on ! I hope you have a great weekend. I am going to soak up all the sunshine I can!!!


"Summer is coming to an end but it is forever alive in my soul "
S. Spain ~

Photo Friday And Greek Inspired Pizza

HaPpY FrIDaY!!! so my husband and I just got back from a backpack trip up at Isle Royale National Park. I have to say it was amazing!! Stay tuned I will be posting lots of pics soon but.... I really love the way these silhouette photos we took turned out. We had so much fun being creative taking these photos of each other. That is one of the things I really love about vaca is the time I have to get creative with photography, it is so peaceful and quiet you can hear yourself think. I think when I am out there being connected to nature it brings out my creativeness even more, you can just breathe and just be quiet with your thoughts. The sunsets there were so beautifully amazing and so peaceful. I just love my husband we have so much fun together in all our adventures, he is always so willing to go along with all my crazy ideas. I wonder what he is thinking in this picture??? I know what I was thinking... how incredibly relaxed and at peace I was in my soul. I always tell people I am such a free spirit you can't hold me down. I need to spread my wings and be free. I can't tell you enough how incredibly thankful I am for such a beautiful life. I have an amazingly supportive husband who supports me in anything I do. I have wonderful girlfriends and a sister who is my best friend! I am so lucky that I am able to take wonderful vacations and see beautiful places life for me is truly wonderful. This is one reason I love to go off into the wilderness and just slow down and recharge. I feel like when I am out there for me it is a total cleansing of my mind, body and soul, so wonderfully REFRESHING!!
So I leave you with a wonderful pizza recipe, my husband and I enjoyed this tonight outside on the deck with a little vino and a cozy fire. Enjoy the rest of your weekend... I hope to get a 30 mile bike ride in this weekend, a little training for the apple cider century bike ride we are getting ready to do in 2 weeks. wish me luck...











Greek Inspired Pizza



So I had every intention of making my own wheat crust but... it has been a long day and I opted for buying a organic whole wheat pre made crust. Hey and you know what it worked just fine and tasted just like the one I usually make from scratch!

for the base I just kept it simple olive oil and roasted garlic.
the toppings were

kalamata olives
artichokes
fennel
red onions
pine nuts
feta
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme

I just sauteed the fennel and onions and that's it so simple and let me tell you this was one of the best pizzas I have ever made! Give it a whirl if pizza is your thing I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend... I am moving over to the wonderful fire we have going in our chiminea to spend a cozy little evening with my friend MR Red Vino!!!
S~

Gone Backpacking ...

I'm off into the woods... I have gone back packing in the back country of Isle Royale National Park.... here's a little peek of all the beautiful splendor that Isle Royale has to offer... beautiful rocky coast lines... and peaceful sunsets..
Aqua blue waters like the ocean... that is where I will be exploring... Can't wait to get out there and start taking photos! oh and those wild blueberries and thimble berries are a welcome treat when you have been hiking all day! Stay tuned I will have lots of pics to post!

Hope you have a super weekend
S~

Shabby Chic Cottage Rooms and A Simple Summer Salad

So we are getting close to starting our sun room makeover! I have been thinking a long time of how I want it to look... Bead board ceiling and bead board type lower walls and the drywall section will be a warm earthy gray. Not sure on the floors yet... I would love to do them turquoise but not always the best choice of color when you go to sell... I will however have turquoise painted wood floors in my next house!!! but until then I will go with something neutral. And of course I will be decorating it with beachy shabby chic things I love beachy shabby chic furniture, I especially love re doing an old piece of furniture myself and making it beachy chic! So before you see some of the super cute rooms I found check out this simple summer salad....Fresh garden tomatoes with mozzarella, pine nuts, artichokes, a little drizzle of e.v.o.o. (extra virgin olive oil if your not familiar) a splash of balsamic vinegar and some fresh torn basil . I am lucky enough to get fresh veggies all summer from my father in law, he has the most amazing vegetable garden and herb garden. I can't go over without him filling a bag up for me LUCKY ME!!! Is there anything better than a fresh garden tomato??? yum-o! Oh and of course don't forget your favorite summer white wine. Such a simple salad but so fresh and simple!
I love this white and blue room, looks so happy and inviting, I can just imagine all the sunlight pouring in.
oh and while searching for sunroom ideas I came across this bedroom and all I can say is that I L*O*V*E it so clean and fresh , and don't you just love the sea fans on the shelf?
oooh and I gotta find those starfish pillows, too cute ...
This is a happy little space too, so many ideas ... if you have any thoughts on my sun room makeover I would love to hear them... I am getting ready to leave for a backpack trip soon and as soon as we get back we are tearing out windows, it's gonna be a big job but I can't wait to see it when it's all done. Projects projects they are never ending but I love the feeling of accomplishment you feel when the projects are all done. Remember cottage beachy chic that is what I am after! Hope you had a good weekend . Did you do a fun little project recently ?
S~

{Enjoy all of summer's simple pleasures}

Summer Always On My Mind

So if you live in the midwest then you know summer is starting to wind down. Now I have to say we had a pretty awesome summer! The last few summers have been a bummer but not this year ! We have done all sorts of fun summer things... days on the beach... Antiqueing...vaca on the ocean... Several trips up at New Buffalo on the lake michigan shore... bike rides , Saugatuck , dinner at Tabor Hill Winery , wine tastings... I could go on and on.... I wish summer never had to end, but it is sadly coming to an end. I am a summer ocean girl through and through and one day I will be moving there.... My heart longs for the ocean and the salty sea air. The smell of fresh shrimp on the grill that was just caught fresh that day, sandy toes and dinner on the beach ,beach crusier rides on the beach and naps in the hammock. That is what I am talking about! That to me is LIVING!!!! that is where my heart is most HAPPY! I was born a midwest girl but a Southern Girl is who I AM!
So here a a few pics from our last weekend trip up to the beach.... the hubby and I at one of our favorite beachy bars The Stray Dog Bar and Grill.... I just love the roof top you get a great view of the lake and the passers by on their way to the beach. I love to people watch, Hee Hee
The bartender was so nice to take our picture.... Oh and there was a duet playing live music , they even played Jimmy Buffet .That really made my heart happy as can be , they even played my favorite Jimmy Buffet song by request Margaritaville! I L*O*V*E that song it always makes me feel like I am on vaca at a warm beachy place. I was so happy this night I didn't want it to end...

My girlies who love the beach as much as me..... isn't my friend in the middle adorable? she is expecting a baby girl this November, that is actaully why we went up to the beach that day. My friend sara asked me my other friend in the picture to take their family photos on the beach, I was so flattered that she asked me. I Love photography. It is so nice to have friends who encourage you no matter what it is you do. I have some amazingly talented friends who are so inspiring to be around, we are always bouncing ideas off of each other.
So here is a little sneak peak of some of the photos I took of the Nunley family.... I had a lot of fun taking their photos I have to say it was a really HOT day so as you can imagine for someone expecting a baby the photo shoot was a little tiring for her but she was a trooper !

This picture of them holding hands is one of my favorites... I had a lot of other photo ideas I wanted to do but everyone had enough picture taking in the heat, guess we will just have to do another photo shoot. Oooh maybe this fall on the beach while the sky is really blue . I hope you had a great summer, I sure have !