From Mashing To Smashing...

Don't ya' just love it when you find some old vintage wares around your house that you can repurpose?  I am all about thinkin outside the box with what I can do with a plain, simple item.  I'm sure that thousands of other folks in Fishersville, VA saw this as a simple masher, but I saw it as something different, and for $3.00, I couldn't resist!  Seriously, this project only cost us $3.00, as I had the clothes pin, the homespun and, of course, a gazillion pictures of Miss Cutie Pie (aka Bella).

So, with a potato masher that is 9" in height, and about 2.5" in in depth, as our kitchen window is narrow, coupled with a piece of homespun that I frayed the ends, wood glue and an old clothes pin, here's what makes washing dishes much more enjoyable these days.

 

Here's the back side of the masher - I love the chipped red paint and you can see how I just tied the homespun around the base of the handle so it hangs down about 2 1/8" below the picture.  These mashers usually come in green & red paint, and I chose a red one to complement our décor, and the homespun I had on hand.

 

 

 

Here's a view of how the clothes pin is affixed to the handle

 

 

 

Is she adorable or what????  I love the metal clip on this clothes pin, and this 4 x 6 picture fit perfectly underneath of it.  I used some wood glue to affix the clothes pin to the handle of the masher and let it sit overnight.  Otherwise, just use the clip part of a regular clothes pin to hang your favorite pic. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the finished project in our window.  Washing dishes isn't such the chore with Bella Bella rinsing!

 

Here's to innovative picture frame ideas from our home to yours!

 

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Blogs & Coffee...Yep, That's Me!

This title is sooooo me.  It's hard to believe that a couple years ago I didn't even really know what a "blog" was, and now I'm addicted.  I love to get on my Ipad & computer and peruse the blogs.  It is so fun to see how others decorate, get new ideas, meet fellow bloggers and to be able to share my life with Bill and Bella with all my friends and followers.  Mine started out as just a way to share recipes, as I was always being asked for ideas for friend's having guests over, or someone enjoyed what I had brought to a gathering or had at my house, and then one day while Bill and I were on one of our trips, I had put a post on Facebook stating that we were on a Marlo & Bill Adventure and friends were asking us to share our trips.  So, Bill encouraged me to start a blog.  It has been so much fun and now, through the help of a fellow blogger, Christine, over at Little Brags, I've started partying at other blogs, and was honoroed to be featured over at  Rain on a Tin Roof, which I was so excited about, as it was my first week of linking up to the parties.  I've still got a lot to learn, and look forward to growing our blog, and increasing our followers.  Hope you'll join us as we continue our adventures and follow along.

While partying last week, I came across this sign by Jen Ramos at Made by Girl and knew I just had to hang this in my kitchen, which by the way is where I spend most of my time blogging!  Don't ya' just love it? It comes just as the print, and I found this great, already distrssed frame at Michael's.  By the way, for you tea drinkers, she has one that says I love you blogs and tea, too!

 

Here's to fun times blogging and enjoying your coffee from our home to yours!

 

 

No Point In Cryin Over Spilled Paint

"Orange" ya' glad he spilled it...?  Why, yes I am...that is, the paint that Bill spilled on his galvanized can. I am so super excited that Bill decided to share in the DIYing that's been going on in the Soulios' home.  I showed him a picture of some way fun paint cans on Pinterest, and he said, yeah, those are really cool.  I had shared with him that I was going to make one to put on the front porch and fill with flowers on our new found chair.

Well, aimed with his "to do list" which included a trip to Lowe's, I came home from my errands, with a "hi honey, you need to go see what's hanging in the shed".  I was so super excited, as I looked up and saw this cute can dripped in a bright orange paint that he had hung from the rafters to dry. 

So, with these three, inexpensive items - a small galvanized bucket ($3.49), a sample can of your favorite paint color ($3.00) and an ivy plant ($2.49), as our outdoor living space was named  "The Ivy Cottage" so how appropriate for Bill's project, as it's his favorite seating area in our yard.  You have this...

I love how the paint just drips down the sides of the bucket and I love the

fun orange color he picked.

 

 

And, remember that old chair I got last week - voila, a great display for our

front porch for only $9.00.  I'm sure this will make it's way to our outdoor

living space once I finish my can. 

 

So, stay tuned to see how Marlo's paint can project compares to Bill's.  He's most anxious to see if I've got what it takes to "drip paint like a pro"!

 

Here's to fun, hubby DIYing from our home to yours!

 

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Monogrammed Plate

Yep, I've been "pinning" again and partying at the blogs!  How stinkin cute is this?  I am so inspired by Pinterest and these party blogs - it's my new avocation...medical practice administrator by day, pinterester (is that even a word?) and blog party girl at night - LOL.

I had so much fun doing this super easy, super cheap but yet wonderful complement to our kitchen décor DIY project.  I know, I know, you can buy those pre-cut initials and just stick them on, but there was just something about the design of the initial on this napkin that seemed to add so much "more" to the design of the plate.

Who would have thought that a napkin - you know those kind you get at Bed, Bath & Beyond or The Christmas Tree Shop (either beverage size or bathroom guest towel ones) a pretty plate from Pier 1, some modge podge and a sponge brush would create a great wall display.

I keep these towels on hand so I only had to purchase a plate

Cut out the napkin around the design (it comes in three layers and you will use just one layer).  Place a small amount of the modge podge on the plate in the area you want to place your design and spread out to cover the size of the napkin design.  Gently place the napkin design and press with your fingers to smooth out any bubbles.  I will admit today was my second attempt at this project as the first one bubbled.  If this happens, don't worry, as you just wash it off, and start over.  How simple is that???  The trick for me was to put a very thin layer of the modge podge and gently run your fingers over the napkin to smooth out.  Once you have the napkin in the desired placement, and smoothed out, apply a thin coat of the modge podge around the design.  Try to not cover any other portion of the plate with the modge podge, but if you do you can take a q-tip and moisten with water to remove any of the residue.  Continue to gently smooth out any of the bubbles.  Let dry for at least 30-45 minutes.  Find your perfect spot, which ours happened to be above a chopper in a corner of our kitchen. and I just love how the cream color of the plate accents the gorgeous patina on this antique slaw chopper.

So, for a total of about $9.00 (the plate I purchased was a bit pricey, but it was the look I wanted, and you could certainly find any dollar store plate, or yard sale one that you like) I have a wonderful wall display with our initial.

Here's to inexpensive, quick craft projects from our home to yours!

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KENTUCK DERBY PARTY "RVA STYLE"

Happy Sunday everyone!  Hope you've enjoyed your weekend.  I certainly have as I had another four day weekend, and for those of you who will comment, does she ever work a "full week", why, yes we do!  Lots of projects going on in the Soulios' home right now, and as Bill would say...REALLY?  I spent most of Friday and yesterday getting ready for our 1st Kentucky Day Derby Party.  Yep, another first for me and Bill, and it was so much fun.  Found some great printables on line for the décor and had so much fun putting this together.  Had some great traditional Derby Day food, and the most exciting two minutes of racing was fun even though Calvin and Revolutionary "showed" and didn't win it was still great watching all the fun at Churchill downs, the hats and just watching the beautiful horses and décor! 

Although we couldn't be at Churchill Downs we decided to host our own party at the "Lazy S Ranch".  Here's some pics of our décor!

Remember the galvanized flower bucket "trash can" post - well, here's  how I repurposed it for yesterday's table scape.

So pretty that I decided to leave on the table and enjoy this week

It wouldn't be a derby party without a hat!

Mint juleps were tasty at the "Watering Hole"!

Yummy Kentucky Derby Pie made by my Sister - yum-o!

Love this old chair that sits on our front porch that I got on Friday at  Twig- fun idea to display thematic events or change out for the seasons.  Our little Bella was having fun, too!

Me & my hat!  Why yes, dawlin, I'm a southern gal!

Even Bill participated in the Derby Day attire with his

matching tie for my dress - He "whined" a bit, and I

told him "sugah' that's how we roll in the South! LOL!

Wouldn't be a complete Southern attire without my cowboy boots!

Here's to fun "firsts" and parties from our home to yours!

Linking up to:

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/p/boring-to-better-party-info.html