vintage beaded party dresses

A fantastic vintage beaded tulle dream. I want someone to buy it an wear it! Sweetheart neckline and just a touch of sparkle.

Or this beautiful 60's beaded dress....

I want to use these somehow....

 TwistedCrystals

filler flowers?

I have always loved carnations and after being buried in wedding pictures, magazines and choices the little carnation is still standing out against all the others.

They are so charming and create a lush, textured surface when they are packed tightly in a pomander or as a carpet or even as a wall surface . Best of all they come in just about any color you could possibly want. Sometimes they even throw on a costume and masquerade as peonies for an evening.  Carnations also carry a few very appropriate meanings with them including love, luck, and fascination.

 

Tonight dinner was.....

Slow cooker Pot Roast  with smashed garlic red skins and salad.  Nothing like comfort food on a cold night.

Sausages!

      Today we made breakfast sausages. We started with a chunk of pork, some strips of fatback and a few spices.       We ground it up and we have a lovely batch of morning goodness and just a little bit left over. (2lbs actually)      Scott and I have been talking about grinding our own chicken, turkey and beef for recipes and when I was home my parents offered their grinder attachment for our experimentation.  the recipe we used is from Alton Brown.....

Breakfast Sausage

• 2 pounds pork butt (2 1/2 pounds with bone), diced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1/2 pound fat back, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Special equipment: meat grinder

Directions

Combine diced pork with all other ingredients and chill for 1 hour. Using the fine blade of a grinder, grind the pork. Form into 1-inch rounds. Refrigerate and use within 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. For immediate use, saute patties over medium-low heat in a non-stick pan. Saute until brown and cooked through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

We are engaged!!!!

Fresh Tapas and Tonics  is now officially my favorite restaurant! I met his parents there, we ate there when we had been dating for a year and now I can say that we got engaged there! The staff was all in on it from before we even walked in the door. We sat down ordered drinks and some starter tapas and then in what seemed to be the blink of an eye I had a ring on my finger and a fiance sitting beside me. (for all the girls out there... here it is)

As soon as I said yes there was a bucket of iced champagne and two glasses at the table and lots of congratulations. We couldn't be happier.

P.S. if you are a chocolate fan... you must try the molten lava cake.... order it 20 mins before you want it and then be prepared for the most chocolate you can handle!

Etsy site of The Day

Dolamakes Absolutely adorable dishware! I want a sloth love mug for my Sunday morning coffee and paper!

Etsy site!!!!

tsurubride adorable ipod holders and clutches! I love the evil rabbit and monster shark!

Tonight Dinner Was.....

A big heaping vat of Brunswick stew. I have never been able to describe Brunswick stew it was always just something that we ate at home growing up. Silly me I just thought that everyone knew about those huge cast iron pots full of tasty and comforting goodness.  So to try and educate myself in order to educate others on the intricacies of Brunswick stew I began crawling websites..... Here is what I found.

As I learned from J.J.Wonders there is a fairly heated debate about where Brunswick Stew was created, Virginia, North Carolina or Georgia. All three states have a county or town whose name is Brunswick. I remember my dad helping out at fall school fundraisers stirring a huge pot of stew and doling it out in quart containers. No matter where it started I have to say that I am definitely grateful that the recipe no longer calls for squirrel as a main ingredient! In the end whether it comes from a can, Georgia or a little tiny church fundraiser on the side of the road, it still makes me feel like fall has arrived. Just for fun here is a recipe to try.

The store bought version that I remember the most is Mrs. Fearnows.  That yellow can was always near the bottom shelf but the best version to take home, empty out into a pot and doctor up on your own. Enjoy.

 

 

I'm off to see the goats...

I hope that you all have a great weekend. This weekend I am off to see the goats, donkeys and horses. We are making the trek out into the country for my sisters birthday and will most likely spend the day wandering around in golf carts and making food.

and of coarse feeding the goats and donkeys as many treats as we can.

Mmmmm doughnuts

I made these when I was in Georgia and just found the pictures I took buried in a file.

I have recently had a strange obsession with making felt food. Cupcakes, cakes, doughnuts, fruit. I don't really know what it's all about but these little bits of sugary goodness definitely kept me from going crazy in a hotel for at least a weekend.