It's the little things that take life from ordinary to extraordinary. Don't miss my simple, low cost tips, ideas, and inspiration for extraordinary living. Do you recognize that statement? It's found in the green box on the sidebar over on the right. It's my teaser to get you to sign up to receive An Extraordinary Day by email. The little things. Have you ever noticed a young girl playing with miniatures for hours, happy as a clam? Kids love their little treasures. They collect tiny things by the pocketful. But, as we get older, we set our sights on larger … [Read more...]
What's better than getting together with a long-time friend and catching up? Have you noticed that you can be so in the moment that time totally stands still? That's the way brunch was with my good friend when I visited her. We've been neighbors...bicycling partners...walking partners...decorating partners...and she even reminded me of our brief stint as catering partners. We even dreamed of being partners in a B&B. On this particular morning, after spending so many years and miles and miles apart, time seemed to stand still while we enjoyed this delicious brunch she prepared. Oh … [Read more...]
How are you today? Really....how are YOU? Most of us trudge, or breeze, through the day. The trudging or breezing has to do with the load we carry. If we have a ton of worries and responsibilities weighing us down....trudging might be a generous term. On the other hand, when we're working within our giftedness, living with hearts filled with joy and gratitude, and spending our hours with others who build up rather than discourage....we breeze through our day and the minutes seems to fly away as easily, too. If you are one who flits through the day … [Read more...]
It's been nearly a year since I've had the pleasure of hosting overnight guests. My friend and her daughter were driving between Chicago and New York State when they took a detour to visit us. We aren't sure, but it seems like it's been close to two years since we've been able to get together. When you do life with someone on a nearly daily basis...through the thick and thin, but mostly thin....it's a joy to finally be able to spend time together. We've burned many minutes chatting on the phone, but that isn't quite the same, is it? I love serving a nice … [Read more...]
At our house, we LOVE blueberries. We could eat blueberries every day of the week...for supper and lunch and breakfast. And often we do. My hands-down favorite blueberry recipe...is Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake. I could eat it every day for breakfast. Probably not a good idea, though. [wink] A few years ago, we spent the day at Niagara Falls and enjoyed lunch on the veranda of a restaurant overlooking the park and falls on the Canadian side. That day, salmon was the special and so I ordered it. When it was set before me, I was surprised to see it … [Read more...]
Complete a meal with a delicious and easy cheesy supper biscuit. I love these days when we're able to throw open the windows during the day and appreciate cooler evenings. These cooler nights make it possible for us to enjoy a roasted chicken dinner one night followed up by homemade chicken soup the next evening. A hearty homemade chicken soup is a pretty complete meal in itself, but there's nothing like a good homemade biscuit to accompany all that soupy goodness. For some time, I've been thinking I'd like to make cheesy biscuits. … [Read more...]
I love wildflowers! One of my favorite things to do is to walk the roadside and pick bouquets for decorating the table(s) for the Fourth of July. Earlier this week it rained quite heavily for a few days, so the wildflowers were pretty beat up. But, Wednesday, I went for a very long walk and discovered just what I wanted. Happy Day! The next morning I went for another walk scissors in hand. To my dismay, the massive scissors of the local road crew had come through and leveled my wildflower garden. You should have seen my face. I think it fell to my knees. Why, at … [Read more...]
Several houses and towns ago, my neighbor enjoying hosting a few ladies for coffee and tea. She usually orchestrated it so that those of us who were working could enjoy a lovely weekday morning together. It wasn't anything elaborate, but it was very thoughtful and pretty. One thing she always did was to purchase some beautiful paper napkins. You know the ones with the gorgeous designs that are too pretty to use? She would set her table with special dishes. Pieces she picked up here and there from antiquing. They didn't necessarily match, but everything always looked beautiful. And of … [Read more...]
Have you ever made a new recipe that was so good your family begged for more? If you have a hungry crew, or kids who play baseball or soccer or lacrosse, this recipe for Italian Sausage and Spinach Soup with Tortellini is sure to please. There's nothing like coming home hungry to a hearty soup and thick slices of fresh bread in the springtime. I like to shop Aldi. Is there an Aldi in your neck of the woods? It's a different kind of shopping experience, but for the most part, I can save money, and get my shopping done more quickly in their small store. (This is not a sponsored … [Read more...]
Take your cues from Mother Nature and set a bird's nest themed Easter table with these simple ideas. By now you all know that I'm a big time nature lover. I truly enjoy creating with the beauties of nature...like I did here and here and here. So when my friend enlisted my help in creating a tablescape for Easter I just had to add an extra touch or two from Mother Nature. Creating A Bird's Nest Themed Easter Table This springy bird's nest themed Easter table all started when my friend picked up a variety of ceramic birds in white, yellow, and blue earlier this … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you're just now getting started on figuring out your Easter table and menu. It's okay. Today I have a few last minute ideas for your Easter table. Generally in the blogging world these things are done in advance simply because we need time to process and post our projects. This week I've been helping my friend put together a lovely Easter table. We finished it on Friday. Because my friend will be working over Easter weekend, it needed to be done ahead. And it worked out great for me, because that meant I was able to do a photo shoot yesterday. But, it also means … [Read more...]
One thing I've always wanted to do was try my hand at cake decorating. Sure I've frosted many 9x13 cakes in the pan. But a two or three or four layer cake? Never! Until now! I frosted a five layer cake!! With a real frosting bag and decor tips! Thanks to my friend who loves to decorate cakes. It all started with my friend's co-worker who was concerned that there wasn't enough cake ordered for her niece's wedding. Being the wonderfully kind soul she is, my friend volunteered to make more cakes for the wedding reception. Two layer cakes and a half sheet … [Read more...]
Actually these may be your great grandma's brownies. Recently I have wanted to make brownies. Not the box kind. And not the kind where the chocolate comes from cocoa powder. I wanted to make brownies made with unsweetened baking chocolate. Right off I need to confess that I am not a fan of cakes. Brownies are another story though. When I first got married, I thought I was Martha Stewart, that was before I knew who she was. I thought I needed to make everything from scratch. I was a real-foods health-nut kind of person. But, I liked my brownies. And … [Read more...]
For the past several years I've been seeing sweet hand pies popping up here and there. They look delicious and fun and imperfect. Maybe it's their rustic imperfection that has me drawn to them. After playing around with a few butter pie crust recipes, I settled on this one. It provided the most wonderful envelop for our savory chicken pot pie, so I thought I would sweeten it and try my hand at...yes...hand pies. Sweet hand pies to be exact. But, now that I've made these...I see some savory hand pies on the horizon. With Valentine's Day on the … [Read more...]
There's a big game coming up this weekend. Are you excitedly looking forward to the game, the commercials, and getting together with friends? If you're like most, the week has been super busy and though you'd like to put out a great game day buffet, it may or may not happen without some major help. Help is on the way!! I scoured our Project Inspire{d} link party and put together this line-up of Last Minute Super Bowl Party Ideas and Recipes Handmade in the Heartland has some fun ways for serving up delicious Super Bowl Party Food. Gal on … [Read more...]
Birch is such a fun wood to decorate with in the winter. It gives a space a certain brightness and the bark almost seems reflective. Both of which brighten corners and more during the dark gray days of winter. If you've been following along, you may remember the birch wreath for Christmas. Shhh...don't tell anyone...but it's still up and it has a few cardinals residing in it's quickly drying greenery. [wink] We also used it to decorate the front of the house, which for some reason none of my photos turned out, and we used it to decorate the fireplace and mantel area for Christmas as well. After … [Read more...]
Have you ever met someone who goes above and beyond what's necessary or expected? I have a very special friend who would do anything to help you in a time of need. So much so, that she gave a beautiful table, that she loved and recently hand painted with beautiful flowers, along with some other pieces of furniture, to a woman she didn't know who had a house fire and lost everything. Her kindness doesn't stop there, though. She loves to bless her friends and others with gifts she creates. The other day she did something special for one of the residents of the retirement center … [Read more...]
