A featured Halloween Treat!

Happy Halloween!

Yes a few days early.

Here's a little something I put together ~

It's kinda BIG!  Oh my, does it make my face appear smaller?

Ha!  That's Great! *wink*  Trickery at is BEST.

Want to make your own quick and easy mask?  Here's the link for the pattern.

I just gathered up a few of my neglected scrapbook supplies

And a half price feather thingie from Hobby Lobby.

I'm all set!

Who is that masked Southern Belle?

Now for the TREATS!

I am very honored to have found a couple of my blog postings featured by fellow bloggers! 

My hall 'junk' decor was featured over at Design A-Peele!  Squeal!   Be sure to check out Beth's blog as she has always got a cute crafty project going on to share.

I also found myself over at Jane's spot....Finding Fabulous!  She featured my candle votive project from her Frugalicious Friday.  She is one DIY queen at cooking up makeover projects for just about any thing around the house.  Be sure to visit her blog for tons of great ideas.

 Happy Halloween Ya'll!

This Week's Menu

Catching title eh? 

Dinner from last week...Pulled pork sandwiches, Ranch potato wedges and cole slaw.

We had 3 different meals from one pork roast last week, plus leftover nights!  I even froze some of the leftover Brunswick stew, after having it twice and sending a bowl home with a friend.

This week's plan is made up of repeats and things we haven't made yet, even though they were on the menu for one reason or another.  I have most of the ingredients already.

Sunday

Lunch was Taco Soup at a family birthday gathering

Supper ~ Hot dogs, baked beans and ranch potato wedges (we love these!)

Monday

Ranch chicken, creamed potatoes (rolled over from last week's menu)

Tuesday

Lasagna Roll ups and Garlic bread

Wednesday

Leftovers

Thursday

Chicken Pot Pie

Friday

 Leftovers

Saturday

Pizza pockets, salad

Sunday

Maybe Vegetable soup?

 Loved the simple Banana Bread recipe linked in last week's menu.  Made 2 more loaves yesterday.

Will post a full recipe with photos this week.

Meanwhile for more menu ideas check out I'm an Organizing Junkie on Monday for tons of menu links!

What the heck is a Vignette?

A vignette [vin‐yet] is a fancy smancy name used by home decor folks to describe a way of grouping items together.  A vignette is a small picture. By definition, it's limited. While it implies something that is purely decorative, it doesn't have to be. It can be functional as well.  One of my functional vignettes is a simply made over tiered basket I turned in a coffee station for my kitchen counter.

Designers state a vignette should contain a minimum of 3 items.  So let's take a tour around my house and see what we can find in the form of a vignette.  Keep in mind, most of the items I decorate with are Goodwill, junk or yard sale finds!  It doesn't take a lot of moolah to get a little fancy going on.

This is my coffee table at the moment. A few old books minus their slip covers adds more touches of color under an adorable wire acorn I picked up at Big Lots.  My yard sale wooden tray holding a doily and a fake pumpkin I made last Fall.  Added a few pine cones.  I SO want to paint this coffee table black!  The weather hasn't been cooperating on the weekends when I've had the time.  So I am hoping it's my next 'big' project.

I just have a feeling my table would pop in black against my hand me down cream sofa.  Too much wood in the living room at the moment.

Back in search of vignettes...

My last years find at the antique market, a tiny table in my living room under my old window.  Used an old wooden bread bowl/tray handed down from my mom to layer it a bit.  Couldn't find the right size empty frame to pop behind it.  So I will be Goodwill hunting for one soon.  The 'newest' items on the table are my adorable little bird picked up at a local Real Deals store on sale and that tiny green bottle, a junk store find for 49 cents.  The other old jars belonged to my Dad.

More pine cones on my mantel along with Hobby Lobby clearance decor items, the other Goodwill mini bird cage and a large birdcage I found a few weeks ago at a yard sale for $4.  Birds inside were $2 for the pair.  You can decorate on the 'cheap' with a bit of creativity and an open mind about 'junk' finds.

Top of my frig.

My sewing machine 'side' table in my kitchen a few weeks ago.

Why yes, that is the same pumpkin that is now on my coffee table.  I love changing things up!

My side table today.  The white pitcher and bowl were a yard sale find, $2. The plate stand is from the Goodwill, $4.  Dollar Tree tiny pumpkins and sunflowers. The pumpkin on the top plate is real from the grocery store.

Books give height to objects.  The clock atop my entertainment center.

A bathroom vignette?

Or maybe a yard vignette....

My daughter and I saw this on our drive home today.  Just had to stop for a photo. See the tiny tractor? Click on the photo to enlarge.

Hope you enjoyed the vignettes in my home.  If you want to know more and see others please visit Funky Junk Interiors for her Saturday Nite Special on vignettes.  There is a lot of beautiful decor going on over there!

Since several of these 'spots' in my home have morphed into new looks, I'm also linking in a Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday.

Fab Cheap Fashion

I've always been a clearance rack clothing junkie.  Friends are astonished when I walk in a store and find the mark downs in 10 seconds flat!  My children were dressed in red line savings outfits their entire lives.  However, I have nothing on Miss Frugal Fashionista herself - Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.  She IS the Queen of fabulous cheap designer outfits.  You won't believe the classy sassy outfit she put together for $7.50.  She is holding a frugal fashion show and here are a few of my latest finds:

Horrible photo I know!  I was sickly this week and had a horrifying hair day...so it's October...the spooky month; I cut off my head! ;-)   Check out the JACKET.  A Goodwill find.  Ralph Lauren ladies!  Perfect for my office.  And for $5.99 name brand clothing....I'll take it!  I already had the cream turtle neck and gray (yes they are darker in the picture) slacks to match.

In case you missed my HIP and stylish recent yard sale purchase...here it is again:

Found this baby, vest not the bird, at a yard sale for 50 cents.  Wearing it to work today with the same jeans (Ross $10.99) and an Old Navy shirt (not shown) purchased at my consignment shop's recent 50% off sale for $2.00.

Tonight I stopped in the local Goodwill store and scored 4 clothing items: 2 shirts for a friend 50% off tagged for a total of $3.99 for both! A yellow Fox brand hoodie for my daughter for $4.49, similar to this one:

And let's not leave out the guys!  This jacket is going to my niece's fiance to be used as a work coat:

Check out that label ~

Carhart!  $8.99, Goodwill too.

Can you believe that?!

***Edited to add this LL Bean vest found today (Sat. 10/24) at my local Salvation Army for $2.49!

Do you want some ideas and hints on shopping thrifty, yet looking like a million bucks?  Do you believe you can dress at yard sale prices in name brand clothing?  You can!  Find out the secret to frugal fashions from the guru herself  and a bunch of her pals over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's October Frugal Fashionista Fashion Show.

Got Gifts? Idea #1

There are 62 days left until Christmas!

Did panic just fly through your entire body, mind and checkbook?

Every year I say I am going to make things ALL year long.  Every year with just a few weeks left I'm crafting away gift ideas for Christmas.  I've been known to be waiting on the paint to dry Christmas Eve so I can wrap the gifts.

This year was different pretty much like this:

I started last night.

I saw this idea somewhere (if you know where let me know and I will credit the crafter!)

A recycled ranch chip dip jar candle.

Being a penny pincher working on a frugal budget I am always searching for inexpensive but usable gift ideas.  This year with furloughed work days it has become more of a necessity.  I still want to be able to give a little something to friends and family, because it makes me feel good! Over the next several weeks I will be posting a number of frugal and homemade gift ideas.  I hope that you will also share some of your inspirations!  Don't we all need a few cheap budget friendly present suggestions?!  Let's see if we can keep the stress off our budgets and bodies while filling the holidays with more joy by sharing our talents.

How did I make these?  Well it's really very easy!

Gather together what you will need:

Old jars of any kind, spaghetti sauce, dips, salsa...you get the idea right?

Rip off the labeling, wash and if there is sticky stuff, use Goo Gone (or peanut butter, let soak in for a few hours, wipe clean).  Frosted Glass spray (this one I purchased at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon). Stickers (from all those old scrapbook supplies), stencils or cutout designs.  Leftover bits of burlap and twine. A candle and some coffee beans.  Newspaper.

Design your stickers on the jar.  This is where the light will shine through.

Go out into the chilly night to spray the can.

Or wait on a sunny day.

How many weeks do I have left to get all this done?

Ok, chilly night it is!

If you want to cover up the name stamped in the glass around the top (Prego jar here), then plug in your glue gun, burn your fingers trying to wrap some burlap around the top.  Then tie a little twine, ribbon, lace, old shoe strings...whatever works around the burlap.  Use inexpensive coffee beans in the bottom (or sand, rocks, marbles).  I like the French vanilla beans because they smell so good!

Drop Nestle your candle in the middle of the beans.

Enjoy the shine!

I am sharing this on:

Frugal Friday at Life as Mom .

Frugaliciou$ Friday at Finding Fabulous 
Like using burlap?  Want crafty ideas?  Check out Someday Crafts, Build it with Burlap.
For other DIY projects visit Do it yourself Day with Kimba at A Soft Place to Land 
For some other Christmas ideas check out Red Writing and her 12 weeks of Christmas (on week 5 now).
Also A Handmade Christmas with Proverbs 31 Living on Thursday's in November.
Another GREAT Homemade gift link party at Just A Girl's "I can Make That".

A Fall Quickie

A quick, simple and frugal fall wreath for my front door.

I was on furlough days from work last Thursday and Friday.  Rainy on Thursday, so I hit a new found junk store and the Goodwill.  Came home with some items I will be sharing soon.  On Friday, my niece, her fiance and my teen daughter helped clean up the 'jungle' that once was my porch.  We cut down most of the shrubs, a small tree and trimmed back the remaining shrubbery.   Looks MUCH better!  I can see my itty bitty not really a porch.  I decided my front door needed a little something something.

A trip to Hobby Lobby and I now have a fall wreath.

Vine wreath - Hobby Lobby, 50% off - $2

Berry sprigs(2) - Hobby Lobby, 50% off - $3

Leaf garland - Dollar Tree - $1 (had at home)

Pine cones - FREE (thank you Tracey!)

Misc. Ribbon

Warmed up the glue gun, stuck on the items, looped the ribbon and hung my new $6 Fall wreath.

Myself and teen missy are feeling a bit under the weather today.  Sure hope we are NOT getting sick!

I'm linking in to DIY Day over at A Soft Place to Land.  Stop by and check out all the awesome Do It Yourself Projects!

**Edited to add:  For some Fall projects visit Creations by Kara for her very 1st linky party.

What's Cooking this week?

Fresh Strawberry Bread

This past week for our snack I baked up this delicious strawberry bread.  My second loaf using this recipe is in the oven as I am writing this post.  Also in the oven is a loaf of banana bread.  I am using this recipe.  Stop by for next week's menu posting to find out how we liked it!

Last weeks menu (found here) worked out very well.  We switched a few things up because I forgot we had plans Saturday night, where dinner was provided.  We had the pizza 'pockets' for lunch on Friday. My niece and her fiance were here helping us cut down a small tree and all my hedges.  Everyone loved them!

I was given a pork roast, so I am thrilled to try out a new recipe again this week.  Here's what we'll be cooking up in our shiny little kitchen:

Sunday

Lunch: Encore of Pizza pockets

Finished off the frig leftovers for dinner

Monday

Autumn Pork Roast, baked sweet potatoes, rolls

Tuesday

Pulled pork sandwiches (using leftover pork) with ranch potato wedges  and slaw

Wednesday

Brunswick stew (using left over pork, adding chicken)

Thursday

Leftovers

Friday

Ranch chicken, creamed potatoes and corn on the cob

Saturday

Halloween party (taking a dessert)

Sunday

Leftovers or Vegetable Soup with grilled cheese

To check out hundreds of other menu plans surf on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie on Monday.

The total this week for groceries was $60.46 (I had to buy coffee, can't function w/o it!)

For some Yummy food and recipes head on over to Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

Mom's Wedding China

Come on in Ladies.

It's fine dining tonight, featuring my mom's wedding china.

My mom and dad eloped in 1957.  I was born 7 years later!

She had a few showers and received pieces then with other pieces added as holiday gifts.

Notice anything different about my simple kitchen pub table?  Other than it feels totally elegant!

Who could put china out without a tablecloth?

If you remember my previous post, I didn't even OWN a tablecloth.

My new one, only one, was found at Ross last week for $7.99.

When mom sold her house a few years ago and moved into her tiny apartment, she asked if I would like her china and crystal.  Of course I said Yes!  They've been boxed up until now.

Click on the photos for a closer view.

Look at that shine!  Thank goodness I washed them.

The pattern is simple but oh so delicate!

A delight for any Southern Belle.

I wanted to keep the china and crystal center stage, I couldn't find another thing shopping the house

so I used the matching platter to hold candles.

The ribbon around the candle is recycled from a gift.

I also used the coffee cups, because any good Southern Belle knows you serve coffee with your dessert after dinner.

I even set out the creamer and sugar dish.

I do not ever remember eating from these dishes growing up.

They were kept in the china cabinet.

I know they were used at some point.  Maybe years before three little girls were running around the house like tornadoes.

See the very small bowl to the left of the platter?

Not sure what it is actually used for, but I thought lemons

for our sweet tea would be nice.

Mom's good wedding china and crystal sets a pretty romantic table with a few simple candles.

My favorite photo of the night. The crystal has a beautiful etched pattern.

Here's what I used to toss all this together set my elegant Southern fine dining table:

1957 Francisan China from Gladding McBean & Co. ~ Carmel

Mom's wedding crystal also 1957 - unknown source

Silverware - Our everyday

Tablecloth & napkins - Ross

Silver napkin rings - recent yard sale find (a whole bunch of them!)

I hope you enjoyed the wedding china that my mom passed on to me.  It was a joy to share it!

To see more beautiful tablescapes please visit Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.
I am also linking into Vintage Thingies Thursday at ColoradoLady's blog.  Be sure to check out all the neat vintage items ladies are sharing today.
I am also linking into Finer Things Friday over at The Finer Things in Life because
this is mom's fine china and nothing is really as fine as something passed down in the family.