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Monday, April 20, 2015

Merry Monday Link Party #50

Welcome to the Merry Monday Link Party #50

Announcements:
  • We're looking for a few more hosts for the Merry Monday Link Party! If you're interested in being a permanent host, please sign-up HERE.
  • We love all the helpful blogging tips shared on each Merry Monday Link Party. To help our fellow bloggers, we'll be sharing the blogging tips and tricks linked to the party in party email reminders!
  • Our third Spring Craft Blog Hop is now open. This hop is focusing on Easter, Mother's Day, Recycle crafts, Earth Day, Teacher's Day, May Day, Cinco De Mayo, and general spring crafts. If your craft fits these themes, come link-up and be seen on 19 blogs! Link-up HERE.
  • May 26th - June 20th - Father's Day crafts, general Summer, July 4th. Want to help host the last Spring Craft Blog Hop? Sign-up HERE.

    Merry-Monday-Button-350

Meet the hosts of Merry Monday

See what the hosts have been up to...

The Lady Prefers 2 Save
Intelligent Domestications
The Kolb Corner
Craving Some Creativity
Happy House and Home
 

Most Popular

Merry-Monday-Link-Party-50-most-popular

  Blogging Make You Fat @An Alli Event {PIN IT} Fun with Annual Flowers @The Ramblings of a Small Town Girl {PIN IT} 10 Twitter Tricks for More Engagement @Nanna's Wisdom {PIN IT}

My Feature Pick(s)

Visit the other hosts to see their features too! It could be you!

Save Money with 5 Easy to Grow Vegetables CONTENT (REAL) - It is a Keeper

Barb at A Life in Balance shares 5 Easy to Grow Veggies, that you can even grow in containers! Click HERE for the link. 

 

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Party Guidelines

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Time to Party!!!


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

DIY Pedestal Tray


DIY pedestal tray, pedestal, silver trays

I have a lot of silver trays.  Seriously, piles of them.  This is one: 


It's so cute, but clearly needs some serious elbow grease. That sounds a little like hard work doesn't it? Yep it does, so instead, I decided to turn it into a pedestal, and took a trip to Home Depot and bought a can of spray paint. 

All I did was give the tray a good wash with warm soapy water and let it dry (for 5 days ~ but one hour may suffice). 

I took a tea light holder and glued it to the bottom of the tray with E6000.


Then I gave the new pedestal two coats of yellow paint and primer-in-one spray paint.

(Sure, it probably ruined any value of the tray, but it's so cute now.

Not sure if I'll use it for fruit, or for holding my rings when I'm washing my hands.  


Cuz I really did have to wash my hands.


The Importance of Having an Interior Designer For Your Home



Many people dream of hiring an interior designer to decorate their home, but fear that these services are out of reach. Either they don't know who to hire, they aren't sure if they have the budget, or a combination of factors.
This article is going to explain the advantages to hiring an interior designer and clarify the benefits that you stand to gain as a client. From minor updating to major renovations, an interior designer can be a valuable asset to have on your side. Most people assume that you hire an interior designer for their expertise on design, but that is only one small facet of their service - although, a very important factor nonetheless.
Let's take a look at the many benefits interior designers offer their clients, starting first with the bottom line.

Interior Designers Save You Money

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "you have to spend money to make money." Well sometimes you have to spend money to save money. It sounds counter intuitive, but bear with me.
Interior designers have negotiated arrangements with a variety of vendors, allowing them discounts that aren't available for the public, in return for regular business. In general, the bigger your project is, the more money an interior designer can potentially save you.
A good way to gauge the quality of an interior designer is to make note of the relationships they have with different vendors. If they don't have a solid amount of go-to vendors offering reasonable discounts, they probably haven't been in business very long.

Interior Designers Are Resourceful

Through experience, interior designers have access to the best resources available. They can connect you with the best contractors and professionals in the industry.
Their connections range widely. They might introduce you to the contractor who builds a beautiful deck for your family to enjoy. Or they might be able to show you where you can buy designer fabrics at wholesale prices.
Similar to other trade professionals such as a CPA or Lawyer, you're hiring them for their connections, as well as their expertise. This saves you time and reduces the hassle and stress of finding these contacts on your own.

Interior Designers Make Your Dream a Reality

We all have this grand vision of how we want our home to look. But when we start going through the actual process of interior design, our vision starts to look more and more like a dream.
How many times have you clipped out pictures from design magazines, only to be disappointed by the prices or been unable to find anything that matches? Through their resources and experience, interior designers can recreate those stunning magazine photos in your own home.
The real challenge is that the actual dimensions in our rooms rarely match those that we are trying to emulate. This is where you need an expert to help customize everything for you. Often times, they'll suggest a solution that you enjoy more than the original.
An interior designer allows you to focus on the big picture and not have to worry about all of the messy work. If you're more of the DIY type who prefers a hands-on approach to everything, interior designers will help you step your game up. They'll be able to offer new ideas and share techniques that you're unfamiliar with. Even if you never hire them again, you will still be benefiting from their service.
Interior designer also help organize the entire project. In a major renovation, where do you start first? What order should you renovate rooms in? Which projects will take up the most time and interfere with your family's daily life the most? These are all questions that an interior designer can answer for you and help plan around.

Interior Designers Prevent You From Making Mistakes

How many times have you seen someone invest a significant amount of money into a trendy renovation that they regretted only a few years later? Too many times to count.
How many times have you seen someone take on a DIY project that they were not prepared for, only to end up hiring someone to fix everything they broke? These jobs make up a large percentage of contractors' work.
Hiring an interior designer allows you to skip all of this. There's nothing wrong with following trends, but you want to be aware of where you're at in the trend cycle. A professional can tell you if this trend is already going out of style, or if it is just getting started. Some people might not mind a renovation project every few years, but most people do. You should know upfront what you're getting into.
You'd be surprised at the number of interior designers that can do a little bit of everything when it comes to the physical labor part. They can save you a lot of headaches down the road by keeping you headed in the right direction from the start.
Ultimately, hiring an interior designer will save you time, save you money, and ensure that the job gets done right the first time.

Kyle Stout is a freelance writer based out of Dallas, TX. This article was written for iLuvFabrix.com.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Merry Monday Party #49

Welcome to the Merry Monday Link Party #49

Better late than never (I hope). Sorry peeps, I had technical difficulties, and am just now getting the party up. I hope you'll all join in and am sorry for the inconvenience! 

Announcements:
  • Our third Spring Craft Blog Hop is now open. This hop is focusing on Easter, Mother's Day, Recycle crafts, Earth Day, Teacher's Day, May Day, Cinco De Mayo, and general spring crafts. If your craft fits these themes, come link-up and be seen on 19 blogs! Link-up HERE.
  • May 26th - June 20th - Father's Day crafts, general Summer, July 4th. Want to help host the last Spring Craft Blog Hop? Sign-up HERE.

Merry-Monday

Meet the hosts of Merry Monday

See what the hosts have been up to...

The Lady Prefers 2 Save
Intelligent Domestications
The Kolb Corner
Craving Some Creativity
Happy House and Home
 

 

Most Popular5 Reasons I Keep Reading Your  Blog

 

5 Reasons I Keep Reading Your Blog @An Alli Event (PIN IT!!!)

 

My Feature Pick(s)

  Visit the other hosts to see their features too! It could be you!  


Cherry Blossom Branch Overlay

Surroundings by Debi created these adorable cherry blossom branches. Don't you want to make them too?

 

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Time to Party!!!


Thursday, April 9, 2015

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits








Jekyll Island Shrimp
Named for the island off the coast of Georgia, this dish can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish.  
Ingredients 
    • 2 lbs raw shrimp, peeled and cleaned
    • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 1 garlic clove, crushed
    • 6 tablespoons fine dry breadcrumbs, I use panic
    • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
    • 4 tablespoons sherry wine
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 1 pinch white pepper
    • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
    • 1 - 2 lemons, for garnish

Directions


  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Arrange the cooked shrimp in individual ramekins or a shallow casserole dish.
  3. Combine the remaining ingredients except the lemon wedges, and mix well.
  4. Spread this mixture over the shrimp, completely covering the shrimp.
  5. Place in preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the the butter melts and the crumbs become crisp. (If the crumbs are not crisp, put them under the broiler for a couple of minutes but watch them closely).
  6. Garnish with the lemon cut into wedges or slices.
    Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s Shrimp and Grits Recipe
    1 lb. fresh Georgia white shrimp, peeled and deveined
    1 bundle green onion, diced
    1/2 lb. andouille sausage or other spicy sausage
    Garlic butter (recipe below)
    Flour as needed
    White wine to taste
    1/2 squeezed lemon1 cup heavy whipping cream
    Old Bay seasoning to taste
    Salt and pepper to taste
    Cheese grits (recipe below)

    Garlic Butter for Sauté
    Soften 1 lb. unsalted butter, 6 oz. bacon fat, 2 Tbsp. of minced garlic, 1 Tbsp. paprika and 1/2 tsp. each of chopped thyme, parsley and oregano. Mix all ingredients together and set aside for later use.

    Cheese Grits
    Follow recipe on package, except use less stock. You want the grits to be tight (stiff), so use chicken stock instead of water. Add medium sharp cheddar cheese to taste add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside but keep warm.

    In sauté pan, add garlic butter (you probably have enough to do two or three batches). Add sausage and onions, let sauté and then add shrimp, cream, wine and lemon, and let cook for 3 minutes. Add Old Bay and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer, then sprinkle flour on top and mix in. Continue doing this until you get the right consistency. Let it simmer a little while longer to cook out the flour taste. Put the grits into bowl and top with the shrimp mixture to serve.
    Photos courtesy of Shrimp & Grits Festival; recipe photo from Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s Facebook page

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Merry Monday #48

Welcome to the Merry Monday Link Party #48


Announcements:
  • Our third Spring Craft Blog Hop is now open. This hop is focusing on Easter, Mother's Day, Recycle crafts, Earth Day, Teacher's Day, May Day, Cinco De Mayo, and general spring crafts. If your craft fits these themes, come link-up and be seen on 19 blogs! Link-up HERE.
  • May 26th - June 20th - Father's Day crafts, general Summer, July 4th. Want to help host the last Spring Craft Blog Hop? Sign-up HERE.

Merry monday, link up, blog party, recipes, diy, crafts, tips

Meet the hosts of Merry Monday

See what the hosts have been up to...

The Lady Prefers 2 Save
Intelligent Domestications
The Kolb Corner
Craving Some Creativity
Happy House and Home

 

Most Popular

Sadie's Seasongoods

Upcycling in the Great Outdoors: Favorite Yard and Garden Projects @Sadie's Seasongoods

My Feature Pick(s)

My Love to Create made this Pottery Barn Knock Off Clock.  For the tutorial, click HERE

(Due to computer problems, the image is unavailable. I'm trying to solve this problem! Apologies!) 

Visit the other hosts to see their features too! It could be you!

 

Help grow this party by displaying this button on your sidebar or party page!

My Pinterventures




If you were featured, grab a button!


My Pinterventures

 
 

Party Guidelines

Sharing is caring! Tweet the Merry Monday party (click on the bird)tweet-bird