Not Actual Size

This past weekend my mom and I took atrip to IKEA. It is always a success when we go there finding useful and exciting things. One of my favorite decor items that they have is their pictures and posters. This week i found one to be better than all the rest due in fact to the disclaimer in the bottom right.

Love From The Mitten State

Michigan is having a blood drive today, well it started yesterday and ends tomorrow, and they did some great advertising for it this time. If you come in to try to donate but can't you still get to leave with this awesome gift bag full of Michigan goodies. First we have a Meijer reusable tote bag, a free box of girl scout cookies (you could pick whichever flavor you liked) a bag of Better Made potato chips, a bottle of vernors, coupon for a jug of cranberry juice, a pint of vanilla bean ice cream, and if that wasn't enough a custom love the mitten statge t-shirt. (I would  have donated just for the t-shirt) It's only the second day of the event and they are already out of smalls and mediums and I think I got the last large. They said about 136 people came through yesterday which is huge and will help save many peoples lives that would not have been otherwise. Congratulations to everyone who participated, this event was a great success. My only comment was that this should  be done for organ donation registry. So if your not already, go sign up to be an organ donor! Or give some blood in the mean time.

{More Michigan love here }

{How cute is the tag?}

Grilled Chicken and Veggies

For the past, coule months or so, we have been in the rdecorating/upgrading of our home mode. Our house was built in the
20's (straight out of a Sears Roebucks catalog) and is in not terrible shape but in need of some TLC. So needless to say our house has not been, organized? (disaster area is more like it) These past couple weeks we have been redoing our hardwood floors (pictures soon to come) so everything from the dinning room had gotten moved in to the kitchen. Thus not leaving us with much room for cooking. Turns out pretty perfectly though that when there is a hundred degree heat wave moving throught the are the last thing you want to do is to be cooking in a hot kitchen. So what better idea than to start up the grill. We have gotten some pretty good use out of our grill this year and, no joking, my husband makes the best grilled chicken I have ever had. So we did just that. Threw on some chicken strips, veggies, did have to use the kitchen to make some rice, and add on some sweet cooking sauce. And voila! One of the best tasting meels this side of the bridge.

{One of the best tasting sauces I have ever had. Total score from TJMaxx}

Roll Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

{Lilacs from our backyard}

Since summer is in full swing there has not been much time for me to play on the computer as I would like. But with the heat waves and rainstorms, and new puppies being born, that is just  fine with me. Here are a few glimpses of what this summer has brought me so far.

{Oversized lawn chair big enough for three}

{Goofy moments at weddings}

{Rose bushes the previous owner left for us}

{Motorcycle rides}

{Refreshing adult friendly drinks}

{Shedding dogs}

{Empty (normally) busy roads on the morning of the fourth of July}

{Bike rides with family}

Hope your summer is just as happy and bringing you lots to do!

Puppies

Is there anything more cute than brand new, ittie bittie, baby, white fluff balls that are puppies? Not to my knowledge. These puppies take the cake as being the cutest puppies. A friend of mine is breeding her do, a maltese. and has six a of the cutest puppy dogs ever. They have the softest most fluffiest fur that you just want to snuggle up and cuddle with and rub on your face because it's so delicious. She is selling them for a pretty penny, but they are pure bred's and totally worth it. They played with me for about a good fifteen minutes, had something to eat and then all passed out and slept for about 45 minutes. Nothing cuter.

Bow-Tie Pasta with Sausage and Beans

Sometimes the best meals are ones you through together with whatever you can find in your kitchen . Rachel Ray might give inspiration to some ingredients but find out how much of one ingredient you like compared to another is part of all the fun. This dish combines all the fun elements of just that. I can't remember if I seen this in a cook book, cooking show, or really did just make it up. Either way it will always be on the menu in my house and I am hoping it will inspire you to through together whatever you might have.

Socks

First pair

For the past three months I have been learning the new craft of making socks. Within that time frame I have managed to complete two pairs and am half way done with the third. I stocked up on lots of yarn when it was on sale so I have more than enough to keep me busy for at least the next two months and to keep my feet toasty warm during the winter. The first pair was definitely a learning experience, which probably added to the fact why I have been working on them for so long. It might not be the prettiest of them all but I did learn a lot from that first pair. Sock yarn is very fine, a 1 if I'm not mistaken, and even the most experienced need to take their time when working with it. Hopefully, after I finish with these that I have, I can make some cute stockings in a lilac or  lavender color with a lacy pattern.

Second pair