{I'm Blushing Over Here}

Friends, remember a few weeks ago when I shared with you about my new (estate sale) entertainment cabinet and the new hardware I won for it in a giveaway on House*Tweaking? Well I shared my before and afters with Dana (author of House*Tweaking) and she posted about it on her blog today (insert squeal here). I've followed her blog for quite a while and I am honored she decided to post about it! Go check it out and leave a comment if you want to:)

See her post HERE.

Oven-Roasted Okra

I got this idea from Lesley @ Recipe for Crazy. She posted a picture on Instagram of roasted okra from her garden and I asked her to post a "recipe" or how she made it.
I declared my love for okra back in this post, and there just aren't many things that beat fried okra. I'm going to go ahead and venture to say, I like it roasted JUST AS MUCH. Shocking, I know. Keep in mind two things: my "fried" okra is really just sautéed. I don't make it with breading very often unless I get a really special request, because I just think it takes away from the flavor of the greatest vegetable ever. Roasting it seems to bring out the natural flavor even more. It was really that good.

Thanks to Lesley for the idea!

There isn't really an ingredient list or recipe because it's too simple.

Instructions:
I cut the ends off the okra, sliced them in half (long way), placed them open-face down on a sprayed cookie sheet, brushed some olive oil on top, sprinkled with season salt and black pepper, and plopped them in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Another Anniversary Post...

Happy Anniversary to my little blog! It was on this day a year ago that I published the first post.

It's been really fun! Here are some flashbacks from Memorial Day Weekend last year, and then a few from this year. A lot changes in a year!

{Enjoying the weather on Memorial Day 2011}

{Meeting Bon Bon and Uncle Tobin for lunch on Memorial Day weekend 2011}

{First time in a high chair at a restaurant / Aunt Al's birthday party 2011}

{Aunt Al's birthday party 2011}

{Memorial Day weekend 2011}

{Someone is tired after church / Memorial Day weekend 2012}

{After church / Memorial Day Weekend 2012}

{Memorial Day 2012}

{Aunt Al's birthday 2012 / glad Levi would cooperate}

{Memorial Day weekend 2012}

If the Shoe Fits... {Guest Post}

Happy Monday! We are currently vacationing at the beach right now .Today you get a special treat - my cousin Chelsea is guest posting for me (she also did once before, here)...about shoes! You can read more from Chelsea here and here. Thanks Chels!

Well, hello again! So nice to be back, I figured I'd do something a little different this time so bare with me.


When Les asked me to do another post I was honored, and panicked. Why? For one, I titled this post "Toilet Talk" with every intention of doing a "Project Post" about my recent bathroom remodel, but then decided it wasn't fun or thrilling and I wanted to be asked back again thus the forth coming random post you are about to embark on....Ready? Let's go!

So here are a few reasons why I could never be a blogger:


1. I lack the ability to start and finish something. No, wait, I take that back. I can start and finish something it just may not happen for awhile. Blogging....it's all about keeping the reader's attention and giving them a reason to come back. Which requires posting regularly--as opposed to once every 8 months.  {See below}

2. For this blog alone I started 5 different posts and couldn't finish a one of them without totally losing my OWN attention.


3. Oh, I also have a mild form of ADD {which, let's face it, who doesn't have some form of it}. Like between writing #2 and #3 reasons I was pinning new style options for summer color combos, looking through Facebook to see how many new fans the shop {oh, the shop? read here for more info} acquired since posting a contest, and paying for my internet bill so I could at least finish this post for my cousin.


Oh, sorry, didn't mean to leave you again...ok, where was I? Oh yeah...


4. Ok, here's something I could totally blog about and start and finish all in the same sitting, here goes nothing!


Shoes.


Let's face it, girls {sometimes guys...yeah, I'm talking about all your tennis shoes, dude!}, we likey the shoes and we likey the variety. I won't even go there {you know, how many shoes you have}, let's just keep that little fact to ourselves. Regardless, we love them! So in honor of women and our love for shoes, I'm going to share with you a little shoe secret.

My favorite shoe line as of late? Lindsay Phillips! The girl is genius! This all started as a High School project now turned mega successful business that women of all ages and styles LOVE to wear! The concept behind these shoes is that you take one pair of shoes and interchange what they call "snaps" on the shoe to create a whole new look and shoe!

Here are some of my favorite combos:

 

I cannot describe to you how fabulous this shoe line is! If you are looking for a Spring/Summer shoe to be your "go-to" shoe that can virtually go with anything, look this line up and thank me later.

Thanks for reading!

Chelsea

February Instagram Photos

I probably should have titled this post something different, because I don't have a 'January Instagram Photos' post, and likely will not have a March one, but as it turns out, I'm lacking creativity today in the title department.

I participated in this Photo-A-Day Challenge:

{Photo and Challenge from here}

There is one every month, and some ambitious people are committing to a whole year of a photo-a-day (wow). Not me:) I had fun doing it in February, but I don't think I will commit to March. I feel like my pictures are really boring, especially because my dad and brother told me so, (sorry to anyone who follows me on Instagram/Twitter) and it's a tall commitment for me. I'm also currently trying to enact a say "no" to new commitments policy to have time to work on the 40 billion commitments I already have lined up ;) So, since I did finish the February commitment, here are my photos from the challenge:

1. My view at lunch 2. Words: distance, time, calories 3. Hands: Levi & Hunter's hands on our front door 4. A Stranger: This little baby-where did he go? 5. 10am: it was a Sunday, so at 10am I was in our SS classroom 6. Dinner: bacon-wrapped chicken, wild rice, green beans 7. Button: pushing buttons in the car 8. Sun: a scripture I read that morning 9. Front Door: Levi waiting for Dad to get home 10. Self-portrait 11. Makes you happy: a pleasant letter from the IRS (rare) 12. Inside your closet: we were out of town & this was my closet where we stayed 13. Blue: blue eyes, blue pacifier 14. Heart: V-day balloons 15. Phone: my phone in the rear view mirror 16. Something new: sitting still in the chair 17. Time: couch time with my sick boy 18. Drink: Saturday morning coffee 19. Something you hate to do: be at the doctor 20. Handwriting: daily list 21. A fave photo of you 22. Where you work 23. Your shoes 24. Inside your bathroom cabinet 25. Green: apple juice box 26. Night: "working" a puzzle before bed 27. Something you ate: dinner 28. Money: diapers$$$ 29. Something you're listening to: Quiet - baby napping, windows open, breeze blowing, birds chirping

Have a great weekend!

A Baglady {Giveaway}

Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in the great city of Springfield, Missouri, is a fabulous little shop called Baglady Boutique (Find them on their website, Facebook, Twitter, & blog). Here's a brief description of the Baglady experience, taken from their Facebook Fan Page:


"Located at 1111 E Republic Rd in Springfield, MO, the Baglady has traveled the world to find fun, unique, and funky gifts for all occasions! We strive to be the best girlfriend gift shop in town. Anything from trendy jewelry to home décor, the Bagladys will help you find that perfect gift! So grab your girlfriends and come shop!"

*******KEEP READING TO WIN FREE STUFF! :)*******

Take a look around their shop, and you'll see why this fun shop is a must-see next time you pass through the area!

{Head Bags Ginny, Chelsea, and shop companion, Daffy}

The Bagladys sent over a couple of items from two of their best-selling lines - a personalized self-inking address stamp from Three Designing Women and a Thymes "Sink Set" (Hand Wash, Hand Lotion, caddy) in Frasier Fir scent - both gifts are PERFECT for the holiday season.

One happy reader will win both of these great gifts (an $80 value)! Find out how to enter to win below!

To enter:

1. Become a "Follower" of Embellishments - via Google Friend Connect or your Facebook account, both on the right side of this blog (Click the "Join this Site" or "Follow this blog" button to follow)

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me you became a follower (if you are already a follower, just leave any comment)

3. For a bonus entry, "Like" Embellishment's page on Facebook here - and leave a SECOND comment telling me you did

 

The giveaway closes Saturday, December 17 at 11:59pm. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, December 19. Your prize will be promptly mailed to you in time for Christmas :) Check back on Monday to see if it's YOU!



Garlic Roasted Potatoes

My friend Bailey posted this recipe on her blog about a year ago, and after I tried it these have become a staple at our house! They are awesome - and so easy. In my book, that makes a pretty good recipe. Bailey recently posted about my Mexican Lasagna so I thought I would return the favor - I've been wanting to post this for a while anyway:)

Ingredients:
About 7 new potatoes (I sometimes throw in a couple more)
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. rosemary - crushed

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients except potatoes in a bowl. Quarter new potatoes and add them to the bowl with the spices. Mix them up to coat the potatoes, then pour it all in a nonstick baking dish. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.