Garden Headboard Bench

The blogosphere is filled with many headboard benches. Well, when I saw this headboard and footboard at a yard sale for $10, I decided that I would attempt to build my own headboard bench. 

 First, carefully measure the foot board in half.

 

Next, you cut the foot board. 

 Next, place the cut end of the foot board against the end of the headboard, I outlined the headboard first, so I could find the center. From the outside back, I pre-drilled a hole to put a long wood screw in. 

I screwed in three long wood screws, two on the top and one on on the bottom. 

 

For the seat, pressure treated wood was measured and a little overhang was left for the seat.

  

The bench was primed and painted with exterior paint. 
 

I have to say, the bench has a nice roomy seat and is absolutely lovely. 

Another $15 for pressure treated wood, I already had the paint. 

A sweet deal that looks lovely in the garden.

Wedding Stationary

First, when planning a wedding, the wedding planning books talk about stationary choices. However, while a bride may think she does not need any stationary, other than an invite, response card or thank you notes. Today’s weddings require a wide variety of stationary. We used lots of stationary in this wedding:

·         Save the dates

·         Invitations

·         Bridesmaid luncheon invites

·         Stickers

·         Cards for some special notes

·         Envelops for the hankies

·         Menu Cards

·         Programs

·         Notes to friends, bridesmaids and  bridal helpers

·         Thank you notes

·         Wedding itineraries for out of town guests

Since the stationary came from multiple sources and vendors, it was extremely important to have a consistent look to all the different choices.

That was a tough challenge. We purchased a sample of different stationary items to ensure they had a consistent look. The effort was worth it but an important step in wedding planning that we were not prepared to take.

Another problem we kept coming up time and time again was the background of all the different stationary choices was the background: Ivory or white.

Before the bride picks her colors, designs and invitation or thinks about all her choices, she should decide either ivory or white and stick with it for the entire spectrum of stationary choices. 

That is good advice for anyone. The background color is just as important as the colors you choose for any party. 

Favorite Tool

Have you ever found a tool that you loved so much and just wanted to share with everyone? Well, I thought I needed to start sharing some of my new favorite tools. 

I bought this herb stripper scissors at Williams Sonoma.

  
It cuts the herbs in the garden.

2.    Strips the leaves off the stem. 

 

It 

It

3.    You can also cut herbs for recipes. Comes apart to stick in the dishwasher.

How awesome is that? What is your favorite new tool?

Planning Fourth of July

    The Fourth is next Monday, are you ready? We are not having a big party this year, um…. Too much wedding.  But that doesn’t mean I am going to sacrifice all the fun for the lack of a party. And with the Fourth on a Monday, we have a relaxing four day weekend planned.

      

    1.  Get out the decorations

  

     2.  Plan the menu

Friday

Steak au Poivre 

Grilled Potatoes

Corn on the Cob with Lime Cilantro

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

 

Saturday

Cheeseburgers

Hot Dogs

Bacon Potato Salad

Crudities

Watermelon Sorbet

Cupcakes

Sunday

BBQ Sandwiches

Cole Slaw

Chips and Dip

Corn on the Cob

Caprese Salad

Peach Crisp

Monday the Fourth

Ribs and Chicken Breasts

Heirloom Stacked Tomatoes

Dill Fingerling potatoes

Blueberry pie

Vanilla bean ice cream

3.   Set the table

   

2.     4.  Pool floats in the pool or even a cute baby!!!

 

3.     5.   Phones off the hook and everyone completely unplugged!!!

     Are you ready for the Fourth?

Menu Week Ending: July 2, 2011

This week, the newlyweds come home. Organizing wedding gifts in her small kitchen and getting the list completed for thank you notes. 
 

I have started a complete remodel of my office. I will paint half of the office this week and the other half next week. I will order furniture for the office after it has been painted. Some of the existing furniture needs to be painted.

Lastly, the garden is in transition. Peas and beans are done. Two beds will need to be rototiled and start zinnias and sugar pumpkins.  Two weeks ago the yard, the garden, the flower beds were perfect. Today, they all need work. After our terrible storms, the clean-up is almost complete. But life goes on, weeds find their way into the beds, flowers need dead-heading, roses need to be sprayed, and the dang Bermuda grass will not stay out of my garden.

Monday

Orzo Pasta Salad

One cup of uncooked Orzo, cooked according to package

¼ pound of pepperoni, quartered

Cherry Tomatoes

¼ pound of mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 ½ cup of spinach, sautéed with olive oil and garlic

7 asparagus spears, sautéed and cut in one inch pieces

Toss the cooled ingredients and add enough Italian dressing to coat, for taste.

Tuesday

Steak Flour Tacos with Avocadoes

Black Beans with Monterrey Jack

Wednesday

 

BLT’s

Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday

Chicken stuffed with Boursin and wrapped en croute

Baked Potato

Cesar Salad

Tomorrow I am posting the Fourth of July weekend menu. I have big plans for the Fourth!!!

Power and a small wedding preview

After two long hot days, we finally have power. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for electricity. This week was supposed to be filled with wedding details, gardening and a great recipe. I will post all those posts but have to re-group tonight, with a cold drink, hot shower, air conditioning, cable and internet....

The wedding was beautiful. The bride was beautiful and the groom was very handsome.

My brother-in-law sent us this picture and I thought I would share it with you. I have lots more to follow. This picture shows; my son, my son-in-law, my daughter, myself and my hubby. 

Guest Bedroom

Getting ready for this weekend, I remodeled three bedrooms and promised to show you the last bedroom for several weeks…. So here it is. 

After wallpapering with this lovely wallpaper, it was time to fill the room with furniture and yard sale treasures. This chair was here before but I added these pillows found at a yard sale. How sweet are they?

  

I painted this table and found this beautiful egg. I love how pretty it is and it provides my guests a place to put rings, etc.

The mirror was another found treasure.

Remember the armoire? Well, here it is with the bed. I love this JC Penney Bed and the denim comforter, which coordinates with the chair.

The Euro Shams and pillow shams were yard sale finds. The pillow shams were Italian. Lovely and inviting!!

 

Lastly, my great Aunt’s chair has found a home that allows it to fit neatly into the décor.

This room had the least amount of furniture when I started it. Although the bed and comforter are new, everything else was either a yard sale item or a piece of furniture I had on hand. 

I spent less than $600 on all the items in this room. With three bedrooms to furnish and a wedding, I needed to be very frugal but didn’t want to give up any style. The results are lovely. I am thrilled and often spend time in the room looking at the garden.