Thursday, November 13, 2014

Fall Leaves and Acorns Tablescape

As the leaves are just about down and all the acorns are on the ground, I have set a table to bid goodbye to the beautiful days of fall.  
From here on out our fall is turning to colder days and bare trees leading into the next season. 
My sister contributed the dried hydrangeas for the centerpiece, seeing as how my hydrangea just quit blooming a couple of years ago and I still haven't figured out what it's problem is! 


 I love these burlap leaves I found, they were actually on a big branch - but I pulled a few of the leaves off to adorn my place settings. 
 I just love all the colors of fall and really don't look forward to the grey, cold weather ahead.
 Just after I took these photos, our first real snow started falling! 
I used to not mind the winter when my boys were playing hockey - it kind of made the winter around here bearable.  Now that they are all grown up and we are no longer as involved in the hockey scene, winter is not as fun.  Although I am one of those weird people who loves a good snow storm!!

So farewell to fall as we start to prepare for Thanksgiving and the colder weather ahead.
Thanks for stopping by.

Sources:
Burlap Runner - From my girlfriend's daughters wedding- she made them
Burlap Chargers and darker acorns - Hobby Lobby - last year
Green Sorrento plates, Cream colored dessert plates and burlap leaves - Butterchurn Kitchenwares in Walnut Creek, Ohio
Orange Scalloped Plates - clearance at Target a couple of months ago
Wood Candlestick holders - Target
Napkins and Napkin Rings - Marshalls - years ago
Burlap and wood acorns - HomeGoods - several weeks ago
Flatware - Ikea
Stemware - World Market

I will be linking up at the following parties:
Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Pear Tablescape- the start of Fall

The leaves are just starting to change here in Ohio!  We just had the most gorgeous weekend,  it was hard for me to come inside and finish up my Pear Tablescape.
But I am glad I did because if I waited much longer, pears would be out of season!
 Since the trees are just starting to change, right now we are still seeing quite a bit of green, yellow and red in the landscape.
 I just went out to my yard and cut some small branches off a few trees for my centerpiece,
 and loaded up a serving tray with an assortment of fall pears.
 I added some walnuts pieces to the tray, just so my pears would sit up straighter, but I like the way the walnuts add some texture.


I have had these paisley napkins for years, I thought the colors went well with the selection of pears.

I have a sudden craving for a pear salad now, I think I will have to stop after work tomorrow and pick up some gorgonzola!!

I hope your fall has started out as beautiful as ours has here.  
Thanks for stopping by.


Sources:
Pear Plates(M Studios), Burlap Placemats and Paisley Napkins - Marshalls- all last year or more
Chargers and Napkin Rings - Pier 1 Imports
Green Sorrento Dinner Plates and tray -Butterchurn Kitchenwares in Walnut Creek Ohio
Yellow Plates - Berlin Village Gift Barn in Berlin Ohio
Square white plate - Christmas Tree Store a couple years ago
Flatware - Ikea
Stemware -  World Market -last year

I am joining the fun at the following parties:
Amaze Me Monday @Dwellings- The Heart of Your Home
That DIY Party (Fall Edition) @  DIY Showoff
Inspire Me Tuesday @A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Crafternoon

Our Crafternoon Party was a huge success!!


We held our first fund raiser for the Miss Akron Canton Scholarship Program.
What happens when you put 35 Ladies in a room together to craft?
A lot of Fun and Creativity!!
Each of the attendees received a Swag Bag with the main components of the projects and a few extras thrown in!
This mother and daughter team got right to work creating some personalized mugs.
The ladies were provided with all of the supplies and a craft coach for 4 different projects.
(Yep- that is me showing some tips on the canvas project!)

We tried to choose projects that could be done by those that had little to no skills but that could also be expanded to include those who had a great deal of crafting prowess.

Of course - we had food too!
We served a light breakfast, lunch and a dessert bar.
We were also thrilled to have Heather Wells, Miss Ohio 2014 as a special guest.  Heather gave an inspiring testimonial  about what the Miss Ohio/Miss America program is all about  and how it has made her the strong, confident, professional woman she is today. ( Please see my previous post Celebrating Miss America to see why I chose to get involved with this program)
We should all look so good crafting!!
Good conversation, a lot of laughing, sharing and inspiration seemed to be the glue that made this day work!
 We made a beaded bracelet with a molded metal charm,
Personalized mugs as seen on Pinterest!
Covered clipboards and matching note holders.
and an art canvas project.
There were some who never crafted much before that day, and some who were very talented. 
Many of the ladies made gifts for friends and daughters. 
 Some where just thrilled at the artwork they created and didn't know they had it in them!! 
A good time was had by all! and in doing so- we raised about $1,000 for college scholarships for some hard working young women in the area.  We received  many requests to do another Crafternoon, so I am happy to say we will start planning another one for end of winter or early spring. 
So as the swag bags said - It's a Good Day to be Creative!

I'm linking up at the following Parties:

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Celebrating Miss America

Since Miss America 2015 airs tomorrow, I thought it might be appropriate to share some thoughts on the program.  There are many misconceptions about the Program and I hope to shine some good light on what this program is all about!  I am going to inject some facts between my Miss America Tablescape for this post!

Did you know that Miss America is the largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women in the world?  Last year alone the Miss America Organization provided over $45 million in cash and scholarships.  This not only touches the lives of the girls you see on TV, but over 12,000 young women who have competed at the local and state levels as well.

I mentioned earlier in the year that I was starting a Non-Profit organization, I am happy to say that my daughter and I have applied for and have been granted the privlage to start the Miss Akron Canton Scholarship Program.  This will be a local program to the Miss Ohio Program.
One of the main reasons I have decided to become involved with this program is that the young women who compete are very involved in community service.  These girls are dedicated to helping all sorts of causes, whether it be Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis or Habitat for Humanity - they are out in their communities raising awareness and working along side others to make a difference.
 Many of the young women have made good decisions in life, giving many hours dedicated to better the world and along with bettering themselves.  They have become role models by making appearances at countless schools and organizations.  When people volunteer at a young age, they tend to continue to volunteer throughout their lives.  Why not give back to the young ladies who are out there working in their communities and working to better themselves?

If you notice the little frames by each place-setting, they represent the four points on the Miss America Crown - Scholarship, Service, Style and Success.

















The crown I have on the table is one of the crowns my  daughter won when she competed at the local level.  She competed at the local and state levels several years ago, and earned enough scholarship dollars to pay for two years of her doctorate at The Ohio State University.

Not only did she win scholarship dollars, she also gained much confidence in herself and fantastic interview skills.  She was one of 40 students selected for the physical therapy program out of thousands who applied, we both think that this is due to the interview skills she developed while she was competing in the Miss Ohio Program.

While I am not what you may think of when you think of a pageant mom.  I never wear any makeup and don't even know how to apply it.  I have had two manicures in my lifetime!  and I am more comfortable in a hockey rink than at a pageant.  But I have had three children graduate from college, all with debt.  All their friends have graduated, all with debt.  I have a chance to make a little bit of difference to some wonderful young women who have chosen to take the higher route of being a good role model to many and improving their lives while improving the lives of people around them.

In the mean time I am routing for Miss Ohio, Mackenzie Bart tomorrow night during the Miss America Pageant.  She is a very special young lady whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know.
This is my daughter, Allie - Mackenzie Bart, Miss Ohio -and me!!
So Good Luck Mackenzie!! and Roxy Too!



Sunday, August 17, 2014

Barnyard Tablescape

Wow, it has been a while, but I am back with a Barnyard Tablescape!
On one of my recent trips through Amish Country, I found this cute Barnyard animal print
 Which of course got my wheels turning. 
  I knew I wanted to incorporate my burlap napkins and chargers and just went through by dishes to see what would work the best with the napkin print.

 I  also knew I had some little bales of hay somewhere in my stash of fall stuff, and while I was looking for that I came across a bundle of wheat that worked out great for my centerpiece.

I am in love with these little dairy jars.  I had been eying them in Michaels since they first came in, now I had a coupon in hand and a good reason for the purchase!
 added some various barn yard animals!
and when you have chickens . . . .
 you have to have chicken wire napkin rings!
The black and white buffalo check place mats just seemed to ground it all!
 OK!  I have to ask - How many of you "Moo" when you drive by a cow?
I just have to!!  I can't help my self!

Thanks for stopping by the Barnyard!

Sources:
Placemats and red plates - Marshalls- several years ago
Burlap Chargers, Chickens, and other Barnyard animals - Hobby Lobby
Napkin Rings and Tan dishes - Amish Country Peddler in Walnut Creek, Ohio
Burlap Napkins - the Olde Picket Fence in Hartville, Ohio last year 
Sorrento cream plates and corn dishes - Butter Churn Kitchen Wares in Walnut Creek, Ohio
Dairy jars - Michaels

I will be joining the following linking parties:
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party @ Lou Lou Girls
Wow Us Wednesday @Savvy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch