Tablescape Thursday: Pink Picnic in the Park

....There'll be foodstands along all the roads, picnics on all the hills - nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind....

Isaiah 48: 9, 10 (The Message)

I might have briefly mentioned last month that my birthday was the day after Mother's Day.
Instead of working on my birthday, I decided to take the day off & spend it with Mr. Dishaholic.  We started the day by sleeping in a little (something I rarely do these days).  After visiting the 15,000 square foot OKC Philharmonic Symphony Designer Show House {We LOVE going to show houses!}, we enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner at On The Border.....Mexican is my favorite!  And then I ended the day with a much-needed massage......a rare treat!

So, let's see.....time with my hubby, a showhouse, Mexican food, a massage.....what could make this day any better? 

Why, tablescaping & dessert, of course!

As evening began, I put together a little pink picnic for us.........make that a pink DESSERT picnic!

It was very hot & humid, so thankfully we didn't have to go far for this picnic, just our backyard, under the shade trees.

Keeping it light, airy, & shabby chic, I layered the small table for two with a sheer tablecloth with little pink rosebuds, folding it to add some layers & dimension.  It was so soft & sweet flowing in the breeze.

Two chippy pink chairs flank the table.  Don't you just love these?  They once belonged to my husband's grandparents, & I LOVE their true, old look, not to mention that they're PINK.

A dessert picnic, consisting of strawberry cupcakes {left over from our Mother's Day lunch}, vanilla ice cream, & ice cold milk, awaits us.

As you might have noticed, the heat & humidity didn't take long to start taking its toll on the icing & ice cream!

One of my new loves is mason jars!  They can be used in so many ways, and their tight lids make them perfect for transporting food & liquids for a picnic.

To dress them up a bit, I printed some labels on pink cardstock & simply cut them to fit the lid.

A stack of plates sits ready & waiting......

.....a couple of pink glass saucers, the perfect size for a cupcake.....

.....and a couple of salad plates with pink roses just for fun.

Do you remember a couple weeks ago when I told you about my grandma's china that is stored in my bathroom?!  Well, this is it!  Isn't it sweet?

A shabby green caddy, convenient for transporting many items at once, corrals the rest of our necessities.

Matching pink tumblers with straws are ready for milk.




Sweet eyelet napkins & antiqued silver flatware are grouped together.



Coordinating bowls will soon be filled with ice cream.





Left-over Mother's Day roses spill over the top of  a crystal goblet {also once belonging to my grandmother}.

And remember those peonies that I rescued from outside?  Well, they were so pretty that I had to include them on the table, too!

Resting casually, they add a bit of romance, not to mention their sweet fragrance!

As the wind blew, their soft petals scattered on the table & the ground below.....just georgeous!

Okay, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.  By the time I took my pictures {which was only about 10 minutes because I was hurrying!}, the icing & ice cream were beginning to melt so much that we actually had to take it inside to enjoy. 

Oh well! At least it made for some pretty pictures!

And in case you're wondering why I waited 'til now to share this table, well, next week has two very important holidays.....National Pink Day & Great American Picnic Day.  Combine the two, & you have a Pink Picnic in the Park!



 Thanks for stopping by again!  I treasure each & every visitor, follower, & comment!

Rosebud Tablecloth - Ebay {click here & here to see other tablescapes I've used it in}

China Plates & Bowls - Eggshell Nautilus Calarose by Homer Laughlin/belonged to my Grandmother

Pink Saucers & Tumblers - Tuesday Morning

Green Caddy - TJ Maxx

Eyelet Napkins - Pier 1

Antiqued Silver Flatware - Pottery Barn

Crystal Goblet - belonged to my Grandmother

Mason Jars (also used here) & Glass Pedastal - Hobby Lobby

{Click on any of the links above to see other tablescapes using the same items}

I'll be linking with the following parties:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogie Board Cottage

Newbie Party @ DebbieDoos

Show Off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Outdoor Wednesdays @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Wildcard Wednesday: Heaven Is For Real

I haven't done a book review in a while, but a couple weeks ago I read a book that is definitely worth talking about! 

The name of the book?  Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo.

While I am a Christian & very much believe in heaven, I have often been skeptical of books written by individuals who have seen heaven.  Why?  Definitely not because I don't believe in heaven, but because I'm unsure of their honesty & don't want to believe something that is not true.........that doesn't line up with the Word of God.

Like me, you also may have heard of books that share individuals' heaven experience, & like me, you might have been skeptical.  But this book is different.  You see, it is the experience of a very innocent 4 year old boy named Colton, who would have had a very difficult time making some of this up!

After having two people tell me about this book in the same week, I figured it was worth looking into.   And once I looked into it, I couldn't put it down!  It's a fast, easy read, but beware, you might need a few kleenex nearby. 

Whether you're questioning the reality of heaven or just want a little glimpse of it, or whether you are just curious & want to hear about this little Nebraska boy's experience, it is a must read! 

Without giving away too much, if you've ever lost someone close to you or if  you've ever had a miscarriage, this book can offer a little insight & comfort.  Personally, having had a miscarriage a couple years ago myself, this book brought me to tears!  Happy tears, of course!

And I guess I'm not the only one who's enjoyed this book, as it is on the New York Time's Best Sellers List!  It's easy to find, too.  Just google it & you'll get all kind of results, even video clips of interviews with Colton, who is now about 11 years old.

If you've read it, I'd love to know what you think!  If not, what are you waiting for?

Tutorial Tuesday: Bacon Cheeseburger Quiche

Do you like bacon cheeseburgers?  Do you like quiche?  Well, then this recipe is for you!

Good for lunch or dinner or even a brunch, this is an easy, low-carb recipe.

What you'll need:

1 lb. very lean hamburger meat

1 small chopped onion (optional)

4 slices crisp bacon, chopped in bits (or to make it even easier, you could just use packaged bacon pieces)

3 eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup half-n-half

8oz. shredded cheddar or swiss cheese

garlic powder to taste (optional)

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Brown hamburger meat in skillet (with onion if desired), adding salt & pepper to taste.

2) Remove & mix in bowl with bacon pieces, breaking up large clumps with a fork or pastry mixer until you have a fine mix.  {Hint: I actually used the pre-cooked microwavable bacon so it's faster & easier.  I simply heat it 'til it's crispy.  Or if you want even easier, there's always packaged bacon pieces!}

3) Drain of excess grease & press into bottom of a deep-dish pie pan.  {Glass pans work just fine, too.}

4) Combine remaining ingredients in mixer bowl & whip well.

5) Pour mixture over hamburger meat.

6) Bake at 350* for 40-45 minutes or until top is browned & "set."

7) Cool 15-20 minutes before slicing.

ENJOY!

I'll be joining the following link parties:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed with Grace
Fun With Food @ Paisley Passions

Food on Fridays @ Ann Kroeker

Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum

Savory Sunday @ The Sweet Details

Scripture Sunday: Humility & Honor

Pharoah said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.  But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream  you can interpret it." 

"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharoah, "but God will give Pharoah the answer he desires."

Geneses 41: 15, 17 (NIV)

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.  You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders.  Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

Genesis 41: 39, 40 (NIV)

The last couple Sundays I've shared a few "lessons" from Joseph's story, regarding how God has a plan & works for our good, if we only continue to trust & honor Him even in what may seem to be the worst situation.  But there was yet another thought or "lesson" that came to my mind when reading this passage:

Humility &Honor

Not only did Joseph honor God in the rough times, but he also did so in the good times.  While spending time in prison (for a crime he did not commit), Joseph was given a gift from God, the ability to interpret dreams.  So some time later when Pharaoh himself had a dream, Joseph was called upon to interpret it.  Did you notice Joseph's response to Pharoah in the first passage?  While Joseph could have easily taken the credit in order to look good, he was very quick to give all credit to God.  He humbled himself, realizing that interpreting dreams was not from his own ability but a gift from God.  In return for his humility & honor to God, God honored him, and he was made second in command!

I don't know about you, but sometimes when life is going good or when something I do turns out good, it's really easy to want to take the credit, and perhaps even become prideful.  Interestingly, this reaction may actually stem from low self-confidence.  You see, when you have a poor image of yourself, you often seek the approval of others to help you to feel better about yourself.  The only problem with that is that it is only a temporary fix!  However, if we base our self-image on who we are in Jesus & the love that God has for us, we can be much more at peace with ourselves.  When we are confident in who we are in Jesus, we don't have to worry as much about what others think of us.  And when we aren't worried about the opinions of others, it is much easier to step out of the way & give the glory to God!  Funny how that works, huh?

But just as God honored Joseph, He has promised to honor us if we humble ourselves & honor Him:

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.

James 4:10 (NLT)

And the cycle continues. 

I pray that God not only helps me to base my self-image on who I am in Him & His love for me (and not on the ever-changing opinions of people), but that I give Him the credit & the honor He so deserves.

Tablescape Thursday: Black & White in Flight

You made my enemies turn their backs in FLIGHT.....
Psalms 18:40 (NIV)

To give  myself a little break from tablescaping this week, today I'm going to share with you a simple little dessert table I put together in April for a surprise party for my dad!

{I must warn you that the photo quality is not very good.  The restaurant was quite dark, & silver just doesn't photograph well with a flash!}

The party was to celebrate not only his 60th birthday, but also his retirement from the Air Force Reserves.

Here's a pic of my dad with my mom, me, & my sister on the day of his retirement!  So proud of him!

We held the party in a room at a local restaurant, where we were given one small table to use for desserts. 

Of course, I had to dress it up a little!

In keeping with the colors of our invitations, black, white, and touches of silver were used.

The silver serving pieces make a nice contrast to the black table covering.

A photo-board, using black & white photos of my dad from various stages in his life, captures important times & people in his life.  Sitting atop a black easel, it serves as a focal point and backdrop for the desserts.  {Later it became a treasured keepsake for my dad!}

  Two cake servers of varying sizes sit atop a rectangular platter to add some dimension, as well as provide more serving space.

Black and white cookies, made by my husband and me, represent both his birthday and his Air Force retirement. {If you are interested in seeing other cookie designs we've created, click here. For the recipe, click here.}

White cupcakes from a local bakery rest on a coordinating two-tiered server on the opposite end of the table.

A couple of silver airplanes {borrowed from my dad's study} add more interest and continue the theme.

  One rests atop the cake platters......




....... while the other sits nearby on the table.

I even found a little airplane napkin weight.

I love you and am proud of you, dad!

Silver Serving Pieces - primary from Target

Napkin Holder, Napkin Weight, & Small Cake Platter - by Mariposa

Silver Airplanes - Hobby Lobby/TJ Maxx

{To see other tablescapes using the same items, click on the links above.}

I'm linking with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday & A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday.

Wildcard Wednesday: Where Do I Store It All? Part 3

They last two Wednesday I shared where I hide store all of my dishes & linens.
{If you missed those posts, be sure to click here & here to see my dish-addiction collection.}

But now on to my third & final week of "Where Do I Store It All?"

You've seen my dishes & linens, but I haven't shown you where I keep those extra tablescape accessories.......you know, candles, vases, trays, etc.  So I'll show you a couple hiding places.

First, let's head back to the bathroom.  If you remember, last week I shared that the top shelf holds extra crystal & glass, as well as some china that once belonged to my grandma.  Well, the 2nd shelf holds a few goodies, too.


Cupcake holders, tiered holders {taken apart if possible to take up less space}, & a few tall candleholders fill the right side........

{It's hard to stack a "broken down" cupcake holder, so it looks a little messy!}

........while a few more lanterns & a stack of trays occupies the left.

Here's a look at the trays behind.

And just to prove this is really in the bathroom, here's a little shot that shows those towels on the 3rd shelf.

Okay, now on to the utility, where I'm lucky to have this row of cabinets......


Just for fun, here's a look at the decor above the cabinets.

I had planned on straightening the cabinets up a bit & adding some labels, but a crazy week, combined with not feeling well, changed those plans a little.  So here it is.....

As you can tell, the top shelf of the 2 left cabinets is filled with candles, while the 2nd shelf holds vases & a few medium size candle holders.
{Looks like those vases need a good cleaning!}

The basket on the 2nd shelf holds all of my bud vases......you might remember seeing those silver ones & the colorful bird ones in previous posts.

The bottom shelf has three baskets........two are filled with votive & tealight holders, while the smaller basket in the middle holds actual votive & tealight candles.

The cabinet on the far right houses a few more candles & candleholders on the top shelf & my jar candles on the bottom.

And because my husband thinks batteries & light bulbs are important for some reason :), I left a little room for those, too.  {The larger basket contains light bulbs, while the smaller holds the batteries. Obviously the light bulbs are overflowing, as you can see a few "outside" of the basket.}
 

As far as the rest of my seasonal & centerpiece decor, tub after tub fills our large attic.  {Sorry, you're not going to get a pic today.....maybe someday.}  My husband even put down some carpet so that I could comfortably sit as I "search  my tubs." 

But just to give you a visual, about 4-5 spring/summer tubs {holding garden, beach, & patriotic decor, as well as greenery}, about 3-4 fall tubs {holding faux pumpkins, gourds, acorns, & more greenery}, and more than 25 Christmas tubs - no that's not a typo - {holding ornaments, trees, & other decor} line the attic.  That doesn't include a tub of my collection of Lolita goblets, some metal beverage tubs & buckets, keepsake items, & old tax papers!  Let's just say that sometimes I'm worried that the attic floor is gonna cave..........but I am so thankful for the space!

Oh & one more little hiding space for today......remember that table in the entry way?

Well, there's a "secret" compartment.

 It holds several salad serving sets, cake & pie servers, ice scoops, & other serving utensils.

I realize it's hard to see because they're all in plastic bags, so I pulled one cake server out just for you. 

Don't you just love it?  I have one with a zebra print heel, too.

Okay, that's it for now.  See, this wasn't as bad fun as last week's storage, was it?

Hope you've enjoyed seeing all of my hiding spots!