Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

 Summer holidays mean lake time for us...lot's of grilling and barbeque...

Have you seen the current issue of Southern Living Magazine?  They announced the winners of their Barbeque Sides Contest...Several of the winners dishes caught our eye...

Spinach Artichoke Dip Potato Salad..Click here for the recipe.

Sweet Salty and Spicy Watermelon Refresher. Click here for the recipe...

Chipotle Cilantro Slaw...Click here for the recipe. 

We've been eating our way through the weekend...

How about you? How do you celebrate a long weekend?

It's your turn. Let's talk!

This is a real departure for us...but if you don't know about this you will be glad that we digressed...

NO MORE BLISTERS! Just rub a little Band-Aid Friction Block on your toes or wherever your skin is sticking and its like your wearing a sock!!

And of course we have to share just a little eye candy to go along with our tip...

It's your turn...Let's talk!

Images via Pinterest, Tumblr, Google

We are working with several clients on new construction projects so we've been doing a lot of Exterior Details research...There is a never ending supply of fabulous interior images out there...but when it comes to the Exterior, great inspiration is harder to find...We've found some real beauties here...

Enjoy!

Saved one of the best for last...I adore this house! 

Do you have a favorite?  What details define excellent curb appeal for you?

It's Your Turn.  Let's Talk!

Images via: Willow Decor,Trouvais,Things That Inspire ,Parkinson Bldg. Group, Ragland Hill Social,Providence Ltd.Design, Belgian Pearls,Paradise Express,John Saladino,Houston Pink Ribbon House,Lamberts.net,Providence Ltd. Design,Houzz,Boxwood Terrace,Helena Bernald Photography,Southern Living,House Beautiful,Melanie Turner,Beth Thompson,Lisa Malory Designs,Unknown Source,Kim Brockington,Mountainbrook Alabama,HausDesign

 Life is just plain good at the lake...

This is our first trip of the season and I just feel like I can breathe again.

We bought this little place on the water six years ago. We painted and pulled it all together with furniture from storage and flea market finds. It's cozy and comfortable and not a thing like our home in Little Rock.

I never feel the need to upgrade and change things here...

It's a haven...a place to enjoy and just be...we don't have to be "doing " something the entire time we are here... I'm on the porch sipping coffee looking at the lake while I write this post...

It doesn't get much better than that...

We're grilling hamburgers and fresh corn with a salad for dinner...

Have you ever tried grilling fresh corn in the husk?  Click here for the details.

And it's oh so good with Basil butter...

Basil Butter is pretty simple: soften one stick of butter (I just microwave it for a few seconds) and, with a rubber spatula, mix in four tablespoonsful of minced fresh basil.

The table is all set...

It's your turn. Let's talk.

To visit our online store click here.

Decorating Dining Tables...

Choosing the perfect accessories for dining tables either casual or more formal can be challenging...

It's nice to find just the right thing that can be used every day and jazzed up a bit for company....Height is the problem ...When the table is not set it feels like you need something taller... or at least weighty. When the table is set for dinner ...your decoration has to maintain a comfortable conversation height...

We have just found the perfect accessory and it is now available in our online store...

The Majestic Crown Planter...it's made from heavy duty grey metal with a white washed finish... At 22" x 22" x 19"High it's a good size for all the time and low enough for conversation.

Fill it with different size pillar candles...Fill the bottom with green moss and add lots of glass votives...or as we did here for Mother's party last week...surround bowls with moss and feel with fresh blooms.

Great for a round table...also works on a long table...depending on the size you might want to place a candlestick on either side for more length...or for a long table two would be fabulous...

This piece can be used in either casual or dressy settings...indoors or out... If the finish is not dressy enough for you... easily changed to a grungy dark gold with a little paint and umber glaze...

This piece would also be great on a large coffee table or kitchen island (fill it with herbs)...

It's 22" x 22" x 19" and sells for $196

See why we are so excited ????

It's your turn.  Let's talk!

To visit our online store click here.

To inquire about in home or online design services click here.

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Happy Mothers Day!!

I'm late publishing this Sunday because it's been a whirlwind around here for the past few days...We celebrated our Mother's 75th birthday with a surprise party last night...

Sister and I have had a great time pulling it all together...

Hydrangeas are in full bloom right now...so they were the inspiration from the beginning...

Tara (Talenas's daughter) is very creative and just loves invitations...so she took care of those ...and they were really beautiful...

Love the reverse side of the invitation as well...So for security reasons...we'll just show one side...

We had about 50 guests...and it was a seated dinner. We passed wine and the appetizers on trays...it really helped with the flow.

It was a family affair getting everything ready for the party to begin...

These little mini individual layered dips were so cute and much easier than trying to hover over a bowl with a large crowd. We placed them on small plates with extra chips around them.

 Click here for the recipe.

After the crowd had time to enjoy wine and appetizers we played a video that we had produced of Mother's life chronicled through both funny and serious photographs taken through the years set to music...It was about 15 minutes long and the music varied from big band sounds that had everyone tapping their feet...to Kenny Rogers "Through The Years", that had us wiping the tears away.

Then it was time for dinner...

On the menu...

Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin...

2 pork tenderloins

Bacon

½ cup soy sauce

3 tbs. grated onion

2 tbs. cider vinegar

¼ tsp. pepper

3 tbs. sugar

3 cloves garlic, minced

Place tenderloins side by side in large roasting pan. Wrap bacon around tenderloins, tucking ends beneath. Combine soy sauce, onion, vinegar, pepper, sugar, & garlic; pour over top. Bake at 300º for 1 ¾ - 2 hours. Baste often with juices during cooking. Marinate several hours or can be cooked immediately.

We did 20 of these...

Tossed Green Salad with Black Peppercorn Dressing

Green Beans Supreme

Just before we popped them into the oven...Click here for the recipe.

Cheesy Potato Casserole.   We did these in two crock pots, because even with two large ovens, there just wasn't enough room to cook all of this food at the same time. They were delicious...

Click here for the recipe...

Dessert was birthday cake...

Chocolate with creme cheese frosting.

 Unfortunately the ice cream is still in the freezer...don't you just hate it when that happens?

After dinner...it was time for the band to play...The Drugstore Cowboys.

This 3 piece band is made up of a group of retired pharmacists. They sing "Country"and "Gospel" music and are phenomenal. They played for over an hour...it was delightful  to just sit and listen on such a wonderful evening outside..but at times the crowd just had to get up and dance...

Mother and Daddy...they have been dancing together for over 50 years...

It started getting a little dark for the guys to read their music...so we hauled a lamp out from the family room...we dubbed them the "French" Cowboys...

The weather teased us all day long...literally up until the party started we were still afraid it was going to rain...but the Lord blessed the crowd with a beautiful evening and we were able to enjoy the party both inside and out...

Happy Birthday Mother...and Happy Mothers Day too!

It's your turn. Let's talk!

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To inquire about our design services either in home or online...click here.

To visit our online store...click here.

We have a winner...

Suzanne with Privet and Holley has won the fabulous vintage Religious Medal necklace designed by Neely Phelan...

Congratulations...Suzanne..

We will contact you via email for shipping instuctions.

Thanks to all who visited the shop and commented to win..

Neely has a new website with more jewelry here...and she certainly appreciates all of the wonderful feedback...

It's been a crazy busy week...Sister and I are planning a big Surprise party this weekend...

Come back for Sunday Supper for all the details...you won't be seeing us until then...

It's your turn.  Let's Talk!

It's not too late to choose a wonderful piece of vintage jewelry for your Mom for Mother's Day...

...or just something special for yourself.

Order today. The giveaway and trunk show ends tomorrow.

Neely Phelan Vintage Jewelry available in our online store for two more days!!!

Click here and go to Featured Items to Shop...

It's your turn.  Let's Talk

Lot's of work and fun outside this weekend...finishing up planting annuals and container gardening...

Working in the garden always leaves me wanting to grill and eat outside...

enjoy some of the fruits of our labor...

So tonight it's...

   Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs...  a recipe from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Zest of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more, to taste

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

Optional Vegetables

Juice of 1 lemon lemon

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks

2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks

Directions:

1) To prepare chicken: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Add chicken and stir to combine. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

2) To prepare grill, plank and skewers: Soak a cedar plank in water according to package instructions. Prepare a medium fire in a grill and heat plank. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water to cover for at least 20 minutes.

3) To prepare vegetables: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup olive oil, the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside. Thread onion and bell pepper onto skewers, alternating pieces and dividing them equally. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Thread chicken onto separate skewers, taking care not to pack pieces too tightly.

4) To grill: Lay skewers on warm plank. Brush vegetables with olive oil-lemon juice mixture. Close lid and cook until chicken is opaque throughout and the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer skewers to a warmed platter and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

The table is all set...

It's your turn.  Let's talk!

We announced a great giveaway to be held on May 10th a couple of weeks ago...

It's not too late to enter to win this Vintage Religious Medal from jewelry designer...Neely Phelan...

 Click here to enter.

Since we announced the giveaway and the trunk show that is going on in our online shop...Neely has added a few more items at our request...

A few years ago I commissioned Neely to do some special pieces and help me put together an entire jewelry wardrobe...She showed me how to mix and layer pieces...I bought several different wonderful  chains from her to help achieve different looks...

Copper chains available in 21" and 27"

Gold Bronze Chains available in 21" and 27"

Silver chains available in 21" and 27"

Layering is fun...

 Today we are guest posting for At Home in Arkansas and are

talking about the quaint and elegant...

Visit us there and leave a comment for another chance to win on May 10th.

It's so easy to win...just click here to visit us over at At Home

....