Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I'll Be Back...

Hello to all! I've been trying to spend some summer time with the fam, so I'll be MIA for a while in visiting but I'll be there for tomorrow's OW and both TTs. I'll be in and out of posting.

Hope you don't forget me. (so melodramatic of me...) See you then!

Friday, June 26, 2009

The Garden's Watered...


Hosted by "Designs by Gollum"

So it's time for brunch! At least for me! The kids had their choices with melon, but I wanted a muffin with pancake's light feel, so... I made some!
Add some ice cold fruit cocktail and a delectable slice of cantaloupe and I'm ready for the day!
This is what happens when the photographer/aspiring food stylist does a session hungry. LOL
That purple stain is my proof of the blackberry in the muffin. LOL

A big thank you to our host and to all you dear friends!

Blackberry Pancake Muffins

4 cups Krusteaz Wheat & Honey Pancake Mix (Target)
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup frozen blackberries (or any berries you choose)
2 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 deg
Line two muffin tins (12 ct each)

Mix ingredients into a somewhat loose batter
Gently mix in the blackberries
Pour into muffin cups about 3/4 full
Bake for 13-15 minutes

NOTE: As it is mainly a pancake, it is not sweet. Please butter the tops, pour syrup or powdered sugar. Or cut into it then sweeten to cut into the tartness of the blackberry if you wish.

It is a healthy muffin so don't saturate with too much sugar. If you like it sweet, add extra honey or add a little more sugar into the batter.



TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain" is satisfied) Find other tables in your home to do a tablescape on. If none other than you main table, use different placemats to make things interesting.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Ranch Anyone?

Hosted by Susan and Leigh


Good evening all! I'm so excited to show you the table I made for my daughter's 10th bday party. I didn't have much time to prepare or buy most of what I wanted so I did with what I can put together with the time I had. It's pretty thrifty, too!

Tablecloths- blankets, FREE
Centerpiece grasses and flowers- 60% off
Pitcher- $8 (normally $20)
Vase- $7 (normally $24)
Napkins- 50% off
Toy horses- $4 each
Lanterns- $3 each
Glasses- 56 cents each
Flatware- 87 cents each
Dinnerware- $1.25 each

THEME:
"Dinner at the (Horse) Ranch"

INSPIRATION:
"Running Horses" Dinnerware & model horses

I made two tables, but she chose... (sory, it's fuzzy, don't know why)
Welcome to the ranch, a horse ranch that is! I wanted to have a more elaborate centerpiece, but time got away from me and things didn't get made, bought or just plain done. Oh, well... There's always next year! She loves horses, so I'm not worried. ;-)


There's the birthday girl... She wanted to be seen (or be hidden) when the guests arrived. The vase reminded me of a field of wheat so dense, birds are able to perch and socialize. LOL
See the horsies on this other table? A hint, look at the middle of the table.
Played around with the camera...
We had a total of 18 people! But everyone was comfortable and well-fed. ;-)

Hope you liked dining at the ranch! We did!

Update: We fed her guests ribs, broccoli garden salad, baked beans, kernel corn, grapes and lemonade. We even have rootbeer! The lumpias, they were an extra treat at the end. Her cake, was from Costco, we chose the rainbow one since rainbows happen everywhere, right?

Thanks to both of our lovely hosts and those who came to visit!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Shhh! It's real-lily my choice!

Hosted by Susan and Dixie

Thanks to all!

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW





Tuesday, June 23, 2009

More White Over Here!

Hosted by "A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words"

Hosted by "The Gypsy's Corner"

Hosted by "Cuisine Kathleen"

Good afternoon all! Sorry I'm late, but I couldn't pass up this great event hosted by our dear Kathleen honoring the white gems in our cupboards, hutch, buffet, and in my case, a bookcase. LOL

And since this is a tablescaping blog, I did a tablescape! (Clever idea, ha? Ha?) LOL

I just pulled out all the creamy white dinnerware and white goodies I have and combined them in this serene almost formal cottage table for four. I was imagining dining with another great couple who loves the purity of true love and home cooked meals...







Did you notice how many candles I used, definitely more than three! And that cake stand, from Freecycle, so totally 2nd Time Around.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed creating this table design, I still secretly wish to play with these set of pearly whites someday...
NIKKO "Blanc Fleur"



Thanks for hosting, Kathleen, Diane and Tam!


Thanks for peeking!

Monday, June 22, 2009

So Beautiful...

Hosted by Susan, Sally &Rhonda

Today, I'm a little BLUE because my darling J-Pony is now officially 10, which means the teen years are so close that I will again be losing much hair to boys, cell phone begging and MP3 players that render kids deaf. LOL
But I'm also positively giddy because she reminds me of a sampaguita (Sambac Jasmine) bud slow to bloom,

... waiting for just the right moment to -

reveal its beauty and intoxicating fragrance to an unsuspecting soul who couldn't help but admire its delicate but grand facade.
That, dear friends describe my daughter. Her love of life gives her her beautiful smile and friendly demeanor. I do hope she never changes. Or at least not too quickly...

Oh, she's my Thrifty Treasure for today. How? Since we don't go out on Sundays for anything commercial, she asked me to make her a marble cake and since I already had all the ingredients, it didn't cost me a penny! See? LOL




Love ya baby!!!

TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain is still humming the birthday song) Don't let birthday decor overwhelm you, use one fave of your child and go grand without being cheesy or over the top. Celebrate the birthday celebrant, not only the day...

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Love Me Some Tulips!

First of all...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Hosted by "Happy To Design"

Look at this... I blinked and it's Sunday again! I guess I shouldn't complain. I love being able to share with you some of my older posts that you may or may not have seen. Chari, our darling host, ensures this fun to end or begin our week! Make sure to stop by at her blog and others' participating for a jog down memory lane! Chari, dear friend, thank you for hosting another great week!

Oh yeah, today's is my dear J-Pony's 10th birthday! Love ya, babe! Party's on tomorrow night!

From March 2, 2009

HUMBLE VALENTINE


This is about the young tulip plant that my hubby let me have as my Valentine gift back in 2007.

Hosted by "Between Naps on the Porch"

I know it's already March, but I thought that this would be a great last Valentine entry for Metamorphosis Monday; graciously hosted by Susan on "Between Naps on the Porch".

This is about the beautiful transformation of the humble $1 tulip plant that my dh got me last year. Remember, 2007 was quite tight, so early 2008, we didn't do much in the way of celebrating to save more pennies to hide in the couch. :-D

This is how it looked when we brought it home from Wal-Mart, February 14, 2008 ...


One week later, a bud emerged...


Then another bud after a few days...


Two days later, I transferred it to the dining table because we were getting a lot of afternoon sun and it was helping with the blossoms...


Here's the next day later in front of the same afternoon sun from a high window...


And look how it turned out!


Another day and the blooms completely opened but for some odd reason, the bulb just never recovered. I'm glad I took pictures...

TABLESCAPING IDEAS: (I just figured my Easter centerpiece! "Brain" would be so proud...) If you have tulip or iris bulbs growing in different stages in different pots, gather them into a big shallow pot. Arrange them in such a way where you can tell the different stages and hide the soil with with either spanish moss or green mossy rocks. This should help focus the conversation on the flowers you're growing. In a mesh bag, place a bulb or two and use them as place cards with each guests' name, as well as to be their take-home favor after dinner. Make sure to tell them or take a picture of the color of the bloom to make it more special. Or, find an inexpensive tall fancy lidded jar with mossy faux rocks inside and surround it with the tulip pots for an elegant look. Surround the centerpiece with white votives or place in between glass taper holders and light the tapers 10 minutes before each guests arrive. For a crisp look, use coordinating tablecloth and dinnerware with minimal pattern to draw the eye towards the gorgeous centerpiece! And there you have it, another great tip from yours truly! (With "Brain's" help, of course!)

I hope you enjoyed the pictures! Had to do this post now, because I'll be off to Walmart grabbing some more tulip pots!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Loco for Morocco

Hosted by Christine and Beverly

Well, since I'm quite homebound half a week with my hubs having the car for work, my mind again wanders to far away places. Lately, I've been seeing hints of Morocco everywhere. My lantern from the past TT, boxes of couscous and etc, etc...
You all know I've not been to most of anywhere so I have no words to describe Morocco rather than what a beautiful place. Mysterious, exotic, and oh so... pink?


(From Flickr dot com)


A map from WorldTravels dot com


Sahara desert



The vast sand dunes and great hotels
A purple night life... (I'd go just for that!)
The landscape...

I thank both of our gracious hosts, Christine for always taking the time to share her travels with us and to Beverly for her weekly dose of pink sunshine showers for us!
TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain" is feeling exotic) Ok this is obvious, if you love Moroccan food, why not create a whole table in honor of the wonderful menu?

Niceties first

HELLO AND WELCOME to this blog dedicated to my obsession of tablescapes, and ONLY TABLESCAPES!
That means that whatever I post will be redirected to tablescapes or you will see tablescapes or the dishes and glassware that I used AND wish to use.
I hope you like you what you see; but you can't do that unless you take the tour- the TABLESCAPE TOUR that's on the side bar! I'd also love to take you on my adventures on finding great dinnerwares to display and use while leaving some serious change in your pocket, so stay a while and see all of my great deals!
Wanna know the reason behind the madness, too? Then make sure to read, Why this blog for my philosophy.