Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Cinderella's Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This morning, I'm feeling a little like Cinderella.

Not the Cinderella that was all gussied up for the fancy ball...

all sparkling, shiny and new...

Today is more of the "morning after" Cinderella... 

The Cinderella hanging onto her only remaining, less-shiny, very-recently 
new glass slipper, remembering how 
perfectly, perfect everything was just until 11:59...

Remember that same Cinderella 
who was clearly warned by her fairy Godmother, 
that she would go back to her former self at the stroke of midnight...??

Just like the hardwood flooring expert warned me... once the floors are in...
The furniture must be carefully placed...  
carefully.... c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y

I was so careful...

Really, I was... 

Until, at the stroke of midnight...  this happened...

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Country Living Fair GIVEAWAY!! #CLFair

It's September... 
which is reason enough to be excited.  

Cooler days...
 changing leaves...
apple cider and pumpkins are just around the corner...but


... before I get too far ahead of myself...
it's almost time for one of my very favorites...

the Country Living Fair!!
 hosted by Country Living magazine.

This September, the Fair will be back in Columbus, Ohio
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Sept. 18-20, 2015

Regular hours: 10-5 each day
Early Bird 8:30AM Friday and Saturday only.

The hours will be important in a minute ...keep reading...!!
Just look at some of the wonderful...and fantastically unique items
available for purchase at the fair!!

A  truly
a-m-a-z-i-n-g event
bursting with
exceptional vendors
 music, food and live demonstrations.  




It's not to be missed...


If you love Country Living magazine, 
you will
no doubt 
LOVE 
the County Living Fair.

 This is a picture of the gorgeous drive I had on my way to the fair last year... lovely.


 It's as if the magazine comes to life... 
You can step through the pages of the magazine, 
meet the artisans, bakers, TV personalities and
cookbook authors....  it's right up this gal's alley...

I always leave, feeling inspired... ready to decorate...
and excited to give the gifts I purchase while at the CL Fair.

This year the 2015 CL Fair in Columbus will be featuring: 

Cari Cucksey of HGTV's Cash and Cari

and
Joanne Palmisano, contributor to the DIY NETWORK, designer, stylist

 and

Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, of Cooking Channel’s 
The Fabulous Beekman Boys 
will make a special appearance at the Fair on Friday, September 18 
and discuss style tips from their forthcoming book Beekman 1802 Style. 
Sharing more than 200 photos from the Country Living magazine archives, 
along with never-before-seen photos of the Beekman farmhouse, 
Beekman 1802 Style will showcase interior and exterior inspiration, tips, 
and tricks and resources all in one beautiful book. 


Some of the best shopping, idea sharing, craft tutorials
and how-to demos ever.
...all in one charming location...Ohio Village.




 The CL Fair is the perfect way to spend an afternoon with friends.... truly.

The CL Fair with friends ...shopping, laughing, eating....
more shopping...
more laughing...
...I really can't think of a better way to spend a September afternoon.

How could this get even better??

Free tickets.

I have TWO tickets to give away!!

Yes, really...

and these are extra-special tickets...

Super-FABULOUS, Complimentary Early Bird Weekend Passes!!
which means you and a guest can visit the fair...EARLY!!

YESS!!!

...8:30 AM on Friday and Saturday!!  

WHOO!! 

Visit the vendors, 
See the sights....
Get the goods 
BEFORE 
the general public.... WOW!!

Visit just one day OR all three days...you choose!!

Monday, August 31, 2015

Hardwood Floor Happiness



Well, friends,

they are finally here...the search is over...

(Oh, happy day!)


Did you ever know EXACTLY what you wanted...

But...

...you just didn't quite have the right words to describe it...?  

....like finding the perfect paint color, 
The perfect color you can imagine in your head, 
but clearly doesn't exist in paint chip form...

OR...

 for instance, finding the right kind of sofa...
with the just-right cushions, in the just-right color,
at just the right price point...

I am usually in this boat...

The "I know what I want, but can't find it,

describe it,

or locate it,  kind of boat"...
and yes...I think we pretty much have
all been there a time or two...
or ten...(like me)

 A classic situation of "I will know it, when I see it"...

But usually, I'm so not seeing it...
What if I don't ever find it??

(which is true about a lot of things in life...
you just know it, once you see it. case closed. done.)


I am happy to announce we found our "IT"

...our flooring "IT".

We are the proud owners of the

 floors that I always knew belonged in our home...

Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Fair Report! Apple Pie

We just wrapped up a whirlwind week of competing at the local and state fairs.
Here we are visiting the butter cow.
I'm happy to report SIX new blue ribbons for this baker

...and a hand full of 2nd places to boot!

...not too shabby.

The second places finishes always

 give me plenty of motivation to improve

and tweak a few things going forward.
Quite honestly...after the "once in a lifetime"

winning from last year...

I've really had to reexamine the expectations

 I place on myself and my baked goods...

(sigh...)
Six first place finishes is a wonderful accomplishment...

but, it was so bittersweet

after having such huge success last season...

I must remind myself how

 truly special 

last year was.

  Going forward, I need

to treat each new competition as it's own new adventure...

No measuring.

(Yes, to still measuring ingredients though...
that kind of measuring is
always a good idea.)

If you would like to see what all the 
fuss from last year was about... visit here:
Here's a listing of my
2015 Ohio State and local fair wins: