Thursday, June 16, 2011

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
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



Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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!
View Image

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?

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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