Wine & Dine Wednesday

  We purchased this wine from World Market. The flavors of this wine are a mixture of black fruit, berries and plum with a hint of smoky spice. The bottle states that this wine is a perfect compliment to slow-roasted pork or ribs. 

This wine is not one that I would try again. I tried it before dinner and during, pasta, and it was not a good combination. I know that not pairing your wine with the correct dish can end with a horrible taste in your mouth (yes, pun intended!). Let me just say the remaining wine in my glass went down the drain.

If you try this one, try it with the suggested pork.

Simple Fall Mantel & Fireplace Decor

 

This year I wanted something simple and easy to remove/replace when cleaning. I am still on the lookout for the perfect item for the area above the mantel. It is a large area and I cannot decide if I need a mirror, clock or something else. I had a huge clock picked out but I am afraid that it would not stand out enough against the dark rock. What do you think I need?

 

 



On the right side of the mantel is a lantern that is a family heirloom and the wood decor I picked up from Hobby Lobby a while back.

On the left side of the mantel are candles in perfect fall colors.

On the bottom right side of the fireplace are an assortment of pumpkins. The large white one is one I picked up at Michaels last year. It was originally black. The 2 small white pumpkins I picked up at the dollar store last week, they were originally orange. I spray painted the pumpkins white. The gold pumpkin is one that I spray painted last year, also came from the dollar store. The small red and orange pumpkins came in a pack from Wal-Mart that I purchased about 3 years ago. The tall burlap tree, I made several years ago.

On the left is another burlap tree that I made and another white & gold pumpkin that I spray painted. The orange and red pumpkins came in that pack I mentioned above from Wal-Mart. The frame with the "P" I made myself and you can find that tutorial here. All the leaves were part of a garland that I cut to sections.

 

Just wanted simple and easy. I think I hit that spot on. I was not sure how the white pumpkins were going to fit in. Last year I did alot of black and honestly, it blended in with the rock on the fireplace too much. The rock is dark almost blue/black with lighter white/gold variations. The name of the rock is Black Regency. This time I wanted something that was going to stand out and contrast with the rock and this definitely does that!

 

Have you started decorating for fall?

 

Linking up with Savy Southern Style and Liz Marie Blog

 



Flower Pot Re-do

Every time I walked by these pitiful flower pots, they just begged for me to change them, make them pretty. So I did.

I started with this.. yep, one even has a chip. Oh well, I carried on...

I went to Lowes and picked out Valspar Outdoor Color Spray Paint in Satin Honeywood. Pretty, yellow, happy color. I gave both pots 2 coats of spray paint. On the smaller pot I used a stencil to add a design and on the larger one I added glitter paint at the top. The stencil design and the stripe were painted using Martha Stewart Crafts Multi Surface Glitter Acrylic Craft Paint in Golden Beryl.

Next, I had to purchase cute flowers to go into the pots. Back to Lowes I went and purchased 2 potted plants, came home and instead of planting them immediately into the pots, I sat them on the side of our house under the dryer vent. Well, let me tell you now that sticking your potted plants under the dryer vent in summer is not a good idea. Add that to the fact that I totally forgot about them until we were outside playing and our little guy took it upon himself to urinate beside my plants and then he informed me that my plants had been "watered"!!! What is it with boys having to go to outside?!

In the trash they go!!!

Back to purchase more plants. This time I purchased mums.

I planted them immediately in my cute little pots.

Doesn't that stencil look darling? Here is a closer look.

 

This now makes the perfect spot for a relaxing morning snack.

 

 



I just love how the glitter stripe looks, gotta add a little bling!

This was the first time I have used the glitter paint, I used 2 coats to make sure I got the coverage I wanted.

This was such an easy way to transform these ugly unused pots. At first I thought these would just be used for summer and then I would put them away but now I am sure I am going to leave them out during fall as well.

Linking up with Savy Southern Style and Liz Marie Blog.

Wine & Dine Wednesday

Happy Hump Day! I am so happy to be able to share this wine with you guys! The Mr. picked out this bottle at World Market. It is a blend of wines, which in my book, is a great choice.

This wine is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot and 10% Syrah (the other, where is the name comes from).  It is a 2010. For those not familiar with Syrah, it is a specific grape variety indigenous to France. For some time now growers in California and Washington state have been adding Syrah to their varieties, which has increasingly become popular.

Syrah is a thick skinned berry and almost black in color. It forms a deep, intense nearly black color of wine. The flavor is very rich, spicy and often has intense alcohol strength. The Syrah is often described as "lavish" or "voluptuous" and even on the back of this bottle is says it is "tastefully seductive" and "sin-sually delicious".  If you have not tried a wine with this variety of grape, I would suggest you try it.

Speaking of Merlot....

I purchased this at a local store at the beach. I just could not resist!

It's That Time of Year Again

On this particular day we were up and going way to early for a Saturday morning if you ask me. To me Saturdays are for sleeping in at least until 8am. Anyway, our youngest was up early, excited for his first flag football game. The night before I had boiled and fitted his mouth guard to his mouth which he proudly wears and for as long as I will let him.

In the car we go.

We get to the field, cars are beginning to flow in and families emerging excited to begin this new season. Me, I am praying that my little guy stays safe and doesn't get knocked down by some kid bigger than he is.

Luckily we parked directly across from the coach who has their uniforms so out little guy puts on the shirt which fits great but the shorts, no so well. So we stick with the black shorts that we have on. Turning to head to the field only to realize that we forgot the water bottle, back to the mini to retrieve it. Headed to the field again, we get to the gate and they are charging admission.

I totally forgot about this, 3 years ago when our oldest played flag football they charged admission and since then I had totally forgotten all about that. Plus for every other sport he played in this same group admission is never charged. Crazy!

Anyway, so glad I remembered that I had $10 in my wallet so back to the mini we go. again. Got the money and back to the field. I paid, we go in. Immediately I am cussing in my head because I  notice that the grass is cut perfectly but is wet, really wet. And the walk to the bleachers is at or below the 50 yard line. And I have on sandals. We arrive at the bleachers only to realize that the hard core football families brought their own yard chairs to sit in...maybe because they knew the metal bleachers would be soaking wet. Keep in mind that it had not rained, at least I don't think so, all the wet was from the morning dew I assume. So I make sure that the youngest gets with his coach and teammates and I hand over my camera to my oldest and tell him to hang out at the bleachers (another mom was there with him) while I head back to the mini to get some towels to dry off the bleachers so we can sit down.

On my way to the mini I feel so awesome of myself knowing that my prepared car kit was going to save this situation! Plus the Mr. stuck a full size bath towel into the back area for me a while back "just in case I needed it".

Anyway, I got the towels, 1 large and 2 small hand towels, so glad I had plenty so I could share with other mom sitting next to me. I look up to press the button to shut the door when my sunglasses fall off my head and hit the gravel, one of the lens  falls out. I cuss. Back to the field.

Cleaned off the area and sat down, the game begins. Goes good until this kid that is bigger than mine lines up in front of him. They get down ready to make the play. Ball moves and that big kid pushes my little man to the ground. Now you can bet that this Momma cussed more in her head plus I wanted to run out there and get him off that field. But I also know that this is part of the game so I halted. The next play came and the same kid pushes him down again. This time I was getting really aggravated. Then the lady behind me who has talked loudly about multiple subjects the entire game asked the man beside me about his son. His son, the big kid that pushed out little guy down! From their conversation I learned that this kid was much older and had played tackle football last year and for some untold reason was now back playing flag with smaller kids.

That made me mad. If your kid played tackle they should not be allowed to go back to flag. Flag to me meant for little kids to learn the game and become familiar with how it is played with a more gentle approach. Not to get out there and be pushed to the ground by someone bigger than them!
Our little guy is in kindergarten and some of the kids playing are in 2nd or apparently older.

Either way, my prayers were answered and our little guy was safe and a little worn out from all the running when we left. I asked him if he had a good time...his response was yes.

I asked him what he thought of the game. His response..."It was boring, all you do is chase a ball around."

I could not help but giggle. That is so true.

Looking forward to him finding what he likes, what he enjoys and what his passion is. That to me is what I hope he gets out of this. His passion could be baseball, soccer, golf , basketball, tennis or another sport. What I have learned in these few short years of sports that I have been through so far is that if they don't like it, it is miserable for everyone involved and if they love it, it is a joy for everyone. I prefer the joy.

DIY Chalkboard

There is a large wall that needed a little something in the kids play area. While I wanted something "kid like" yet still adult friendly and usable after the kids get older it also had to be fun for everyone.

So my solution....a chalkboard!!

First, I measured the area and decided on the perfect size. We purchased chalkboard paint and molding of our choice from Lowes. 

Here is the photo after 2 coats of chalkboard paint.

After allowing it to dry completely  we then moved on to framing our chalkboard. The Mr.  used a miter saw to cut the edges. We chose several different moldings, the top and sides are the same but for the bottom I wanted a piece a little different. I wanted the chalk to be able to sit in the bottom like a real chalkboard. In order to do that the larger flat peice in the bottom photo went on the bottom first. Then the top decorative molding went on top of the flat peice slightly higher and level with the side molding. This allows a gap to hold the chalk.

Once the molding was nailed into place, we used caulk to finish off the corners at the bottom (where the different moldings meet) to give it a more finished look and to keep chalk dust from getting into the cracks.

 The chalkboard (black area) measures 7&1/2ft x 5ft. This is fun for the kids and for the adults now but even when the kids grow up and this area is no longer a kids area this chalkboard will still work in a new design.  Now I just need to finish the rest of the kids play area! Any ideas?

Linking up to Savy Southern Style and Liz Marie Blog