Blah Blah Blogging.....

The winter blahs, that is.

So I have been feeling a little guilty about not posting anything in 2 weeks. But I've got nothing to post because I am having a severe case of writer's/ideas block. I thought for sure by now something would have popped into my head.

Nothing.

Winter is just tough. If you don't snow ski or ice skate or do outdoor activities, what's left to do but eat out, rent a movie or go shopping? It is all good for awhile but by around March 1st it has gotten oh so old and not really good material to blog about.

Oh, but it is so pretty!

So I googled "blog ideas" and there were lots of sites making suggestions. One site, 101 Fabulous Blog Topic Ideas, did not really help. I liked a couple of them, like the how-to blog post and the list blog post.

Now I need ideas on what to how-to about and what to list.

How to survive winter in the northeast. Hmm, if you live here and don't know by now, I hear that North Carolina and states south are nice places to live. Oh, yeah, wait, they've been having the same weather!

How to get your garden ready for Spring. First, wait for all the snow to melt. Second, wait for the new snow to melt.

How to transition your clothes closet for Spring weather. No hurry on this, we will be wearing boots, winter coats and sweaters till mid-April. For now you can just drool over all the fashion magazine pages, store displays and racks of Spring clothes that are already out, that you won't be wearing yet.

Okay, let's try the List blog post idea.

A list on stuff to always have in stock in your kitchen. Boring.

A list on 10 ways to beat the winter blahs. Number 1....some sunshine.

A list of great books to snuggle up with. ZZZZZ, what? Oh, yeah, I'm here.


Maybe I am expecting too much for wanting a really unique topic to write about. I've done the personal story post, the family recipes, the holiday recipes, the flowers in my garden, the decorated mantel. I even did a blog post about nothing, during my last bout with writers block. I've done the inspirational post, the trip to an interesting place, and wrote about all my fabulous thrifted finds. More than once.

Actually that has been the most fun I've had this winter. Picking and thrifting the local VOA, Goodwill and Savers for donated goodies from people who have actually put their time to good use cleaning out their basements and attics. Right now though, I am in the business of filling up my basement with great old stuff! But I digress.....

For now I will blame my writer's block, along with my non-stop head cold, dry skin and achy joints on winter. He can take it. Because He (Old Man Winter) will be back next year and we can do this all over again.

Any ideas for me for posts? I have another 6 weeks of winter to fill!!

AnnMarie  xoxo

I am linking up with these great parties this week:

Seasonal Sundays
Inspiration Monday
Amaze Me Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Wednesday's Adorned From Above
The Scoop
Treasure Box Tuesday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Thrifting: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Ah, thrifting can be so bittersweet.

My main goal for thrifting is to find unique vintage treasures to sell in my Etsy shop. At least that is the story I am sticking with. I don't need a thing for my home.

But that doesn't mean I don't WANT to keep some of the things I find FOR my home!

I shop what I love so everything is going to be perfect for some nook somewhere.

I have vintage on the brain 24/7 and have my eye out for it whenever I leave the house. I pick up some of my best stuff when I just happen to see something. But when I get the itch to go all out thrifting for the day I expect to come home with a trunk load of good stuff.

All from one former trip!

My recent day out was not so great in volume but oh so good in variety and value.

I see so much of what I already have in my shop so I have to resist buying another one of this or that. I am looking for unique and different. I think I found it this time.

My first stop was the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It is a great place to donate items or find great vintage items. They use the proceeds to build homes for those who can't afford them.

I found this great cane seat rocker tucked all the way in the back, marked down to 1/5th it's original price. It is perfectly chipped and weathered and vintage.

Of course I can find a perfect spot in my dining room for it.

 But, alas, it will go in my shop.

I also found this solid, heavy cast iron ornate Rococo frame, the gold gilt perfectly worn in all the right places. It was more than I would spend on a thrifted item but it was marked half price and worth every penny.

Looks so good on my side table in the parlor with my hand painted rose milk glass lamp (a thrifted item that I gave in and HAD to keep for myself!).

But alas, it will go in my shop.

My next stop, was the Volunteers of America, which is a wonderful place to donate or thrift, whose proceeds go to help the hungry, homeless and helpless in the community. I only found one item there but it is unique and from a local department store of my youth, Sibley, Lindsey and Curr or Sibley's as we all called it. Gone now, it was one of the best stores for everything!

A set of four playing card holders, spring loaded to hold your cards with ease!

This is a great novelty gift for the card enthusiast, so, it will go in my shop!

I found this great Art Nouveau brass inkwell stand with the pen holder and couldn't resist it's Downton Abbey flair. Yes, I can see Violet now using this to write a scathing note to Isobel about how she talks too much!

At my final stop I couldn't resist getting a few things for the porch or garden, as if buying them now would make all the snow go away. These are heavy, cast iron tea light lanterns. Growing up spending summers on the St. Lawrence River in Upstate NY, I am partial to the fish. The kitty is pretty special too.

I could easily hang either lantern on my side porch. And when I did, and took a picture, it started snowing on my fish....hey!! (You may have to click on the picture to see it snow).

But alas, these will also go in my shop.

So I mentioned that thrifting can be bittersweet.

I love the sweetness of the hunt and finding wonderful deals while contributing to the cause of local charities. The bitter comes when I have to part with those treasures because people actually want to buy them!

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but, it is all good!


AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up to these great blog parties:

A Bouquet of Talent Linky Party
Amaze Me Monday
Make It Pretty Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It
The Scoop
Adorned From Above Link Party
What's It Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Be Inspired
Freedom Fridays with all My Bloggy Friends
Pink Saturday

Pasta and Chocolate

Mmmmm....my favorite Italian comfort food meal is pasta, a little salad, some crusty Italian bread and chocolate for dessert.

That is just the meal I made recently for an informal dinner party. Aside from being an easy - albeit time consuming - dinner, it is a real crowd pleaser.

I would even call it the Ultimate Italian Comfort Meal.

I have been craving for a good, hearty Lasagna because the last few times I made it, it just didn't come out very good. It just isn't tasty enough when made and served the same day.

I think I may have finally figured out the secret to the ultimate lasagna.

36 hours.

You know how certain foods taste so much better the next day? Homemade Italian spaghetti sauce, chili, and dishes like Lasagna are among them. Something about marrying all the flavors for that extra 24 - 36 hours makes all the difference. So, this time I made my Lasagna the day before and I made my sauce 2 days before! I even par-baked the lasagna for 30 minutes the day I assembled it. Turns out it was in and out of the oven and fridge 3 times before we actually ate it. My guests were running late and I had to try and estimate when to put it in the oven and have it done for when they got there!

It only made it all the more scrumptious!

I mentioned that this meal can be time consuming. Well, making the sauce two days ahead takes some planning to make sure you have the time ( I cook my sauce for 6-8 hours) and then preparing and putting the layers together for the Lasagna takes a good part of the afternoon. This Lasagna has 8 layers consisting of 8 eggs, 3 pounds of ricotta, 2 boxes of noodles, and 2 cups of mozzarella.

Of course you don't have to make yours this thick or big (I used a lasagna pan which measures 15 x 10). The recipe below is for one box of noodles in a 9 x 13 pan and makes about 4 layers.

My only side dish was an antipasto salad.There are many versions of this Italian specialty and I usually make mine meatless if serving it with a meal. I use romaine lettuce, canned artichoke hearts, jarred roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, green and black olives, chick peas, pepperocini and italian dressing. Layered on a large platter, it is beautiful!

Wrap a loaf of Italian bread in foil and put it in the oven with your lasagna and it comes out all warm and crusty. Three course meal, done.

The dessert I made is an all time favorite that I go to when I want simple but fabulous. It is called Jimbo's Chocolate Cake and it is a rich chocolate bundt cake with some chocolate chips inside and frosting on the outside. It is the only chocolate cake I will eat, as I don't really like the stuff! I served it cold out of the fridge with chocolate chip ice cream.

Here are the recipes:

The lasagna recipe is compliments of Treasured Italian Recipes, distributed by The Rotary Club of East Rochester, 1990. My copy is quite worn from making a lot of the wonderful recipes inside.

Lasagna Deluxe
(Make a day ahead)

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. sausage, casing removed
1/2 cup minced onion

2 quarts of your favorite spaghetti sauce

2 lb. ricotta cheese
1/2 cup romano cheese, grated
2 raw eggs
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 1 tblsp. dry

1 lb. lasagne noodles
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
6 hard boiled eggs, peeled

Brown meats and onion in a lightly greased saucepan. Salt and pepper to taste. Add sauce and let this simmer.

Mix ricotta, grated cheese, raw eggs, salt and pepper, parsley and garlic powder to taste.

Boil noodles in salted water with a little oil in it to prevent the noodles sticking together.

Layer as follows in your lasagna pan:

spread bottom of pan with sauce mixture
layer with noodles
sprinkle with romano
spread a layer of ricotta
top with slices of hard boiled egg
sprinkle with mozzarella

Continue layers beginning and ending with the noodles. Cover with a layer of sauce and sprinkle with romano.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. If it is refrigerated first (recommended to make a day ahead!), it will take longer to heat through.

Notes:

- if possible make this a day ahead, parbake for 30 minutes and then refrigerate till ready to cook the day of eating.
- don't put any sauce in between the layers. This is the first time I followed this tip and the lasgana stayed perfectly layered when cut. It becomes too soupy and sloppy to cut with too much sauce.

There is nothing like ending a filling, satisfying pasta dinner with chocolate!

Jimbo's Chocolate Cake

1 box Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake mix (no substitute if you want the chocolatey goodness!)
4 large eggs
1 box instant (3.5 oz) chocolate pudding
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chocolate chips

Frosting

1 cup chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
confectioner's sugar

Mix all cake ingredients, except chocolate chips, by hand till moistened. Then mix in electric mixer for 3 minutes. Pour into greased bundt pan. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips over batter and press in. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes.

For the frosting melt 1 cup chocolate chips with butter and water. Add confectioners sugar to thicken to pouring consistency. Drizzle over the top of the cake. Refrigerate and serve cold for best taste.




This meal totally satisfied my cravings for the ultimate Italian comfort food. I don't mind the cold as much now!

AnnMarie  xoxo

I am linking up with these great blog hops:

Be Inspired
Weekend re-treat link party
diy Sunday showcase
Bouquet of Talent Linky Party
Sweet and Savoury Sunday
Make It Pretty Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It
The Scoop
What's It Wednesday
Wednesday's Adorned from Above Link Party
Showcase Your Talent
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Share Your Cup Thursday

Some Birthday Blessings

I love this because of the crown. I dubbed myself the Queen on my 50th.
Still trying to live up to it!

My birthday was Monday. And, like I do every year for a week or two before, I start dreading the day in anticipation and fear that it doesn't turn out great.

There is only one chance a year for it to be great, right?

There was a time in my childhood in the 60's, in the era of huge snowstorms and mounds and mounds of snow that my party would be cancelled due to bad weather. And some other times my day just didn't go very well or the way I wanted it to.

What is my excuse for still dreading it? I don't know and maybe I need to just get over myself. I think after this year I may have to. I am writing this blog post partly to document my day to remind myself how nice it was and partly to brag! And leave it to the Lord to use the events of the day and people in my life to help me do just that.....get over myself, I mean.

Birthday Blessing Number 1:

 My husband usually takes the day off for my birthday but since there is really nothing to do in the dead of winter on a Monday, he went to work. Besides being at work made him that much closer to the birthday cake he had to pick up. More on that later.

So I decided to take myself for some retail therapy on my birthday. I LOVE shopping by myself when I am serious about getting something new! I headed to the mall where I could hit the most stores in one place. I decided the sky was the limit and so I went to the really nice store that I got a birthday coupon for first. But my thrifty self just couldn't spend that kind of money on any of it, 15% off coupon or not. I moved on.

On my second stop I hit the jackpot! I fell in love with the Ralph Lauren sweater above because of it's retro, madras kind of colors and print and it is a hoodie......can't pass that up! It was on the rack marked 70% off the original price which happened to be $169. I figured with the discount it would be $50 and since it was my birthday and my first purchase, I said why not. When the clerk rang it up and took another 25% off, I was thrilled. Total...$39.48.

They tried to get someone to buy it at 50% off for $84.50. Thank you to all those who passed it by! I must say that it was quite a chore going through the racks and racks of clearance at Macy's, and a lot of other department stores, because the clothes were, well, HIDEOUS! It was just a sea of matronly prints and styles that I am just not ready to give in to yet. I am only 57 ya know! And yes, I was in the right department for my size and age!

I also found this cute dress for $20 from $80 and this boyfriend cardigan in soft pink for half price.

This last shirt is for my daughter Candice for her birthday. She loves owls. So cute! It fits me too though.....nah! It's for her.

A quick stop at Pier One, just because I always have to look, got me this really pretty scarf. I have seen these on Etsy and been coveting one for myself. For $15 on my birthday.....yes!

Birthday Blessing Number 2:

My blessings for the day started at 7:30 a.m. with a phone message from a dear friend whose birthday is a week later than mine. We are so looking forward to our celebration together again this year.

I arrived home from my shopping therapy to birthday greetings from another friend who just happened to be driving by when I was parking. We chatted and hugged and she was on her way. Such a nice surprise!

There were several phone messages with sweet birthday greetings from some unexpected people waiting for me. My email inbox was filled with greetings posted on my Facebook wall. Then my daughter Jena arrived, family in tow, to make dinner for me......my gift, along with the pretty frosted vase with my favorite Daisies. I received Mario's, a local Italian restaurant's newest cookbook, as a gift for Christmas from my son Michael so we thought it would be a good time to try some recipes. We had Portobello mille foglie with warm charred tomato vinaigarette and Fusilli cavolfiore. Yes, it was as gourmet and delicious as it sounds. Sorry, no pics!

My cake was phenomenal. It was just a short trip from work for my husband to Savoia's, an Italian bakery, to pick up a Cannoli Cake. This is what is left and it was so delicious.

My daughter Candice and granddaughter Cassidy joined us for cake and gave me my first Alex & Ani bracelet. It says Nana on the rose. So pretty!

Birthday Blessing Number 3:

My son Michael plays in a basketball league at our Community Center on Monday nights. He is a huge NBA fan and had been talking about how certain NBA players have been scoring 50 points a game. He told me he was going to score 50 points for my birthday. We all layered ourselves up to face the bitter cold and went off to his game. I am proud to say that he scored 4 baskets....8 points! My preemie son with mild cerebral palsy in his legs who was never supposed to run or play sports is now playing basketball, doing great and adding to his team's big win. I would love for the doctor who told us he would never run to see just how fast he CAN run up and down the court.

Birthday Blessing Number 4:

I never prayed for a good birthday. But the Lord knew what I needed to stop dreading the day and He delivered. He used the events of my day and the people in my life, from early morning straight through to 9 p.m. to accomplish just what I needed. He's like that you know.....He knows what you need before you do and He works it all for good. He loves to bless His children.

My day was so good. God IS so good!

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up to these great blog parties:

Inspiration Monday
Fluster's Creative Muster
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Wednesday's Adorned From Above
What's It Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Share Your Cup Thursday
Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends
Anything Blue Friday

The Owls are Back

This is a cool 1970's string art wall hanging in shades of yellow and gold.

I would like to think they are, anyways!

There was this huge explosion of popularity for the cute horned nocturnal creature...the owl...back in the summer of 2012. I blogged about it then, sold many owls in my Etsy shop and then it seemed the craze kinda died out.

I think it is coming back. I just FEEL it.

I have been seeing so many owl items in the thrift stores lately. I couldn't resist acting on that feeling while treasure hunting this past week and picked up four vintage ones. A good move I thought, or maybe not so much?!

Are people sick of them and that is why they are donating them to thrift stores?! I'd like to think that their popularity is going to go outta sight again and then everyone is going to come to my shop to buy them!

Just because mine are so cool.

This unpredictability is why I don't usually go for trends or fads in collectibles! But I do like owls. Maybe I can single handedly rejuvenate their popularity!

My daughter has been collecting owls for over a year but says she is done with that. Every time I see her though she has a new owl something!

There is just something about owls and they are being made into everything imaginable.

I actually found an owl bracelet hanging on the jewelry rack AT A GROCERY STORE!

It is pretty fabulous....

My new owls are all different from each other. From kitschy to music making to useful...

This kitschy, blue and white owl planter with the nylon macrame hanger is the essence of kitsch from the late 60's - 80's. He is quite cute with plastic blue eyes and would be perfect for a porch or a blue and white kitchen.

Do you like to feed birds? This picture shows just how long the hanging cord is on this owl from the second owl picture above. It would be great to attach him high up in a tree to hang eye level where you could watch the birds fight over the seed. Or, it would make a great tea light candle holder for a porch.

How cute is this pair of owls (Mama and baby?) wind chime that is artist signed? It has a cute bird on a bell on the tag that hangs from the clapper.

Did you notice the brown, ugly grass and all around deadness in my yard? These owls brought a smile and anticipation of Spring just hanging them on the side porch.

This last owl is useful and very unique. It is a heavy, cast iron trivet with stained glass-like colors in it.

What treasures have you found lately?

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these great blog parties this week:

What's It Wednesday

Treasure Hunt Thursday

Fridays Unfolded

Be Inspired

Anything Blue Friday

Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends

Let's Connect At The Social Media Blog Hop

Amaze Me Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

The Scoop

Adorned From Above

What's It Wednesday

Thursday Favorite Things

Share Your Cup Thursday

Thrifty Life Thursday

Take His Hand Into the New Year

It is January 13th and I am finally writing my New Year's post. I have been wanting to write this since I read the December 31st devotional in Our Daily Bread.

The image it left in my mind has become how I am looking ahead into the new year.....taking His hand in mine and following His lead.

The devotional talks about how when we are about to cross a busy street with a small child, we put our hand out and tell them to hold tight. We would never depend on their grasp to keep them safe.....it is our grip on their hand that holds them and keeps them safe.

In the same way, it is not our grip on God that keeps us safe and secure, but the power of Jesus' grip on us.

"28  I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:28-30

Sometimes I wonder how people without a grip on Jesus' hand make it through each day. It is through our trials that we have to lean the most on Him. When we have made Him Lord of our lives, we know He is in it and taking care of everything whether we can see it or not. It is a huge burden lifted.

For the aunt whose niece is in a coma from a brain anuerism at 43 years old....

For the pastor and his wife whose son is facing criminal charges and jail time....

For a man fearful of the tests that may show medical issues....

In all these situations, Our Father is on one side and our Lord and Savior on the other, gripping on to our hands and not letting go.

Grab His strong hand....the hands that formed the oceans, that gave the sun it's light and the stars their brightness.....

.....and take it into this new year with a childlike grip so that you are assured that no matter what happens He has His firm grasp on you and will never let go.

"No, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

AnnMarie  xoxo

P.S As I have been writing this my vehicle has been towed away on a flatbed after not starting this morning and being jumped by a roadside service. Thankfully it was in my driveway. I had a bunch of things  I had to do today, and some things I just wanted to do. I guess the Lord had other plans for me, as I was able to sit down and write this post.  Leaning on Him......

I am linking up with these great blog hops.....

Spiritual Sundays
Amaze Me Monday
Pin It Monday Hop
Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party

My Button

I am thrilled to finally have a blog button!

After two years of blogging it just seemed the right time to finally get one. It will open up more doors for me in the blog world this year and that is what we want in a new year, right? To keep moving forward.

I would love for you to "grab" my button, if you are a follower, for easy access to all my upcoming posts.


Just copy and paste the code under the button on my sidebar here....

Are you ready for your own blog button? Erin created mine and she was wonderful to work with! She was very patient with me!

 Here's to a fun, productive post writing year to all of my bloggy friends!

AnnMarie xoxo

I am sharing with:

Anything Blue Friday