The pool deck

I don't believe I have ever shared my pool deck with you before.



So as Mr.Gnome says, "Welcome."



I still have lots to do to make this deck as pleasing as I would like for it to be.



I spotted this umbrella last year at Kohls but for some reason never bought it. This year in my search for the perfect umbrella, I could not find one I liked. As a last resort, I checked Kohls and lo and behold, the umbrella I wanted last year was available again this year. This time I scooped it right up!







Kim of Savvy Southern Style is hosting today's Summer Blockg Party, so I decided to link up.



Have a wonderful summer day & thanks for visiting me today.

Paint does the trick

I hope I'm not being lame with what I've got to share today, but being that we're still in school with baseball still in full swing (no pun intended), I just haven't been able to play as much as I would like. Believe me, there is quite a list of projects to work on around here.



Anyway, delightful Debbie of Debbiedoos, is part of the Blog Party sponsored by At the Picket Fence. Because I love all things Debbie, I just had to join her party.

Let's see, shall we?



I had this white bucket for a few years now. It was worn & slightly rusty which is in tune with my style, but I heard it tell me loud & clear that it wanted a vibrant new color, like this:



I love it filled with yellow, blue & green flowers.



Now it's something pretty & colorful to go against my front door. Anything to make that ugly blue door look better. Ahem. Moving on.

I had this cute little bird as part of my pool deck decor last year. As you can see the sun was not kind to him at all.



Again, I heard him tell me loud & clear that he wanted a vibrant new color, like this:



I mean, come on now, who wouldn't want to be painted fire engine red with touches of apricot, right?

So that's all I have to share today. Thanks for stopping by. Head over to Debbie's to check out what I'm sure will be some amazing paint projects.

Tortellini Salad

We have a local Italian eatery that makes a delicious Tortellini Salad. I love it & since it didn't seem complicated to recreate, I went ahead & made my own.



Truthfully, I think I came pretty darn close to the original.
I obviously don't have an actual recipe, but I'll tell you what I did.


Tortellini Salad

1 package tricolor tortellini, the refrigerated kind, I used a family size package
1 can of black olives
1 12 oz. jar of roasted red peppers
1 16 oz. piece of mozzarella
1 packet of Good Seasons dressing mix, prepared with EVOO & balsamic vinegar

I cooked the tortellini. You want it to be less than al dente. The package said to cook for 8-11 minutes, I cooked it for 6 minutes.

Drain the tortellini & let cool. I then cut the mozzarella & the roasted red peppers into bite sized pieces. Drain the olives, add them to a bowl with the mozzarella & peppers. Once the tortellini are cool, add them to the bowl as well. Pour the salad dressing over top. Mix it all up. Let marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours. Now eat & enjoy!

Pretty simple really. I would imagine you could add whatever you wanted to this to switch it up to suit your tastes, but I love it as is like the original.

The *Magical* Gown

Today, I am joining Stephanie at Angelic Accents for her Wedding Blog Party.



It was 1992. Like so many other ladies engaged to be married, I brought a full cavalcade of opinionated people with me when I went gown shopping (in the form of my mom, my sisters & sisters-in-law.) I had the much talked about *magical* moment when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have found the one gown of your dreams.

It was a beauty, a Fink Original by Robert Work. It was made of ivory Italian satin, with lace appliques & tiny pearls galore. The attention to detail was exquisite. It fell slightly off the shoulders & was sheer in back with lots of little buttons. It had a long train. It was expensive, but I didn't care because I loved it. Enough of the talk, here it is:



Yes, it sure was a beauty.

Our photographer was thrilled to see the long train. It made for beautiful photo taking--like this one, one of my favorites, with my niece & Godchild, Nicole.



That all being said, would it be ok if I forward to 2011 & keep it real people?

It may have been beautiful, but honestly, I don't think I would choose this gown again if I could go back in time.

That long train? It had to be bustled up in back for the reception & I can still feel the pearls crunching under my feet as I danced, stepping on it. Not to mention, why would anyone want to add layers upon layers of fabric to their back side?

It's no secret (and in my effort to keep it real), I'm well endowed. I had to wear a strapless and backless bra with this gown. No easy feat for me. That bra was like a corset from the 1800s. It had so many wires & stays in it to hold me up, I had welts by the time the night was over.

As much as I hate to admit it, I just would not pick this *magical* gown again. No matter how beautiful.

So tell me, because inquiring minds want to know and I hope I'm not the only one....would you still want to wear your wedding gown today?

And just in case you were wondering, I would definitely pick this *magical one* again and again:


All photos by DeNicola Photography.

Head on over to Angelic Accents & check out the Wedding Blog Party. I think this will be one wedding party you won't want to miss!

Whose Idea Was This Anyway?

I posted several months ago about a big Spring project we would be undergoing.

Well, the project is officially underway. The contractors arrived yesterday morning.

To quote one of my favorites, Willy Wonka (& Shakespeare), "Adieu, adieu, parting is such sweet sorrow." This, I say, to that lavender tile.



Our bathroom has gone from the Art Deco era...



...to demolition...



...to nothing but a shell:



Actually I think it's gone farther back in time now...it looks like an outhouse at this point, don't you think, Laura Ingalls?

In all the places we've lived, we've only ever made cosmetic changes...paint, floors, lighting, countertops. Nothing major. This is the first room that has ever been gutted clean.



Who's idea was this anyway? :-D

The Jumbo Rhododendron

We have a large rhododendron that blooms every year in late May. It was here when we bought the house back in 2000. The house was built in 1933 & I'm so curious as to when it was originally planted. Wouldn't it be cool if it was as old as the house?

My husband always wants to prune it, but I'm afraid to have him touch it, so it's kind of taken on a life of its own. Here she is one week ago:



This baby is huge...over 6 feet tall, and over 9 feet wide from front to back. It's beautiful & the flowers are so lovely, but do you think it should be trimmed? I've had so many people compliment us on it & when I mention pruning it, they tell me to just leave it alone.

Any thoughts/suggestions from the green thumbs out there?

What's on the table?

Every so often, I get something in my head and I obsess about it. Right now, I've got dining table centerpieces in my head.

I am constantly changing my dining room table centerpiece. I think I keep doing this because I just can't seem to find the right look. So then I obsess & start searching dining rooms on the internet. Yep, your dining room too...chances are I've been there. LOL

Here are some images I've found while stalking searching.











All the above photos from BHG







Above photos from My Home Ideas

Candles. Flowers. Vases. Big bowls. Seriously, someone needs to have a "What's on your dining room table?" blog party, so that I can be inspired! :D

So tell me because I'm very curious, what's on your dining room table?