Cowboy Caviar

Do you need a quick side salad idea for a picnic or barbeque?

Try this recipe for Cowboy Caviar:

Ingredients:

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, drained

1 can black eyed peas, drained

1/2 green pepper, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 large tomato, diced

1/2 red onion diced

Toss with 8oz Italian dressing and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

DemiLune Table Makeover

I recently bought this old demilune end table at the thrift shop:

I decided to try to make my own chalk paint.

After lots of research from numerous blogs, I decided to mix 1 c. of latex paint with 2 1/2T. of Plaster of Paris with 1T. water:

The paint went on very easily and smooth. After 2 coats of paint, this is what I had - NO sanding - No priming. It was quick and easy!

I printed (in reverse) a graphic from The Graphics Fairy and placed the ink side to the wood and scribbled with a pencil so that the ink would leave an imprint on the paint:

I also printed a graphic so that I could follow the design if it didn't rub through clearly:

I painted stripes of black and white (of course) around the edges and also a little black on the legs:

I trimmed the edges in gold and waxed the table to protect it:

And here is the finished table:

So, is the home made version of chalk paint much different from ASCP? Yes, mine was. It is not as "chalky-feeling", but it covered just as well! Will I do it again - FOR SURE!

Sharing this with:

Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Turning the Daunting into the Do-Able @ Project Queen

I have retired!

I began my teaching career in Massachusetts in 1975 and continued to teach in NY when I moved here in 1979. Throughout my career I have taught Fashion Design, Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, Nutrition and Health, International Foods, Independent Living, Home Interiors and Decorating, Intro to Occupations, English and Home and Careers. My favorite courses to teach were in Fashion and Textiles.

I have decided to retire and move on to something new - but I haven't decided what that will be yet!

My Retirement Happy Hour was yesterday - and Happy Hour lasted about 8 hours!

Time to turn education over to these young teachers who are energetic, enthusiastic and fun-loving - Thanks for the fun time!!

A busy week with Carter...

We have had a great week with Carter (and Sara, too!). Lots of bike riding, fishing, playing cars and trucks...

...playing on the slip 'n slide, going to the playground and a boat trip to the Thousand Islands!

In the morning he will go back home to Ohio and will certainly be missed!

Checkerboard Cake

I am not much of a "baker", but I decided to bake a cake for my husband's birthday.

I pulled out my 30 year old cake pans and plastic ring set to create a checkerboard cake:

The process is quite simple - you mix up 2 different cake mixes and use the form to create 2 of the same patterns, and one of the alternate pattern:

I made a banner from "paint chip samples", and called it a birthday cake!

And then we dove into it:

Wilton sells the cake pans and plastic ring form

Sharing with:

Tutorial Tuesdays @ Hope Studios

Turning the Daunting into the Do-Able @ Project Queen

MacKenzie-Childs and Succulents

I bought this old M-C creamer at the Regional Market this morning for only $1:

Now my succulents have a new home!

Sharing with:

Twice Owned Tuesday @ House Of Grace
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Recycled Items Made into Clothing! Recycle Runway

When I used to teach Fashion Design, yearly I challenged my students to do a recycling project. The high school students always surprised me with their creativity.

As I was dashing though the airport in Atlanta, I saw these fabulous displays of everyday trash items turned into clothing. I had only enough time to pull out the camera and take a few shots and quickly saw that they were designed by artist and environmental educator Nancy Judd, and her display is called Recycle Runway

The first suit is made from tires:

This is my favorite - made from "caution tape":

And finally, another outfit made from tires!

For more designs of Eco Trash Couture visit Nancy Judd

I found my dream home...

Do you think this lovely home is a bit too much?

A few words might come to mind: ostentatious, extravagant, grandiose, highfaluting, flashy, pretentious, egotistical.

But I think it is spectacular!

This is their view:

I could live there forever and walk the beach daily and I would be "one happy, content gal"!

I Wanted to be Gidget...

Watching these teens take surfing lessons on Hutchinson Island, Florida brought back memories of me taking surfing lessons (many years ago) at Horseneck Beach, Mass.

I wanted to be Gidget! I wanted Moon Doggie to save me from drowning!

None of it happened!