I've been Tagged!

Allow me to introduce you to my new

friend Jessica over at

Green P B & J's!

Jessica is a fairly new blogger but full

of so many fun projects and great ideas!

For example

 she took these two mini frames...

(Jessica's Photo)

and with some paint and creative innovation 

turned them into...

(Jessica's Photo)

these great decorative frames!

She filled them with personal photos, added a magnet

to the back and now has some great frames for the fridge!

She also took this old cabinet door and...

(Jessica's Photo)

made a great serving tray!

Jessica has been so kind to pass on two fun awards!

The All About You Blog Challenge

consists of 10 questions!

1. What is a secret no one knows about you?

I don't have many secrets... but one thing you might

not know about me is I love to be barefoot!

2. What is one of your greatest loves?

  Graeter's Mocha Chip Icecream

3. What is one of your greatest fears?

To be very honest.... Rejection!

4. What is your deepest wish?

To learn to love others the way God loves us.

5. Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

Close to a warm beach and an average air temperature of 75!

6. What is your favorite food?

I'm a carbs girl....

warm bread

pasta

icecream

you get the point!

7. What is your favorite book?

Besides the Bible,

I would say.... To Kill A Mocking Bird,

Gone-a-way and Return to Gone-a-way.

(The last two are children's books that

I would love to write a screen play for one day!)

8. What is your favorite movie?

Hmmmm....

 maybe Ever After with Drew Barrymore.

I also like Titanic and hope to take 

Madison to see it on the big screen 

while it is back out in theaters.

Wayne told me to also add Sky High!

(we watched that this morning)

9. What is your favorite song?

These are not easy questions... Wayne is over

here laughing at me when I ask him 

 what is my favorite food?

OK... favorite song... it depends on the day.

I love a huge variety of music

some recent favorites include:

The Cave

Somebody I used to Know

Something Beautiful.

10. Post a picture of yourself

Beach dreaming!

I am tagging the following blogs:

Vista Women

Land Of EnCraftment

Rooms for Rent

21 Rosemary Lane

Gold County Cottage

The Little Red House With the White Porch

Harrison Home

If you want to play along simply answer

the ten questions and tag a few of your blog friends!

The Versatile Blogger Award

asks you to state 7 things about yourself.

I'll try to think of seven different things from above.

1. I love food and will eat just about anything except

beets and hotdogs.

2. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Taylor University.

3. I'm the Queen of Frugal!

4. I wanted to be an Architect when I was young.

5. I'm my biggest critic.

6. After college I worked in a warehouse driving

forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and cherry pickers.

7. I'm married to my best friend! 

I know that many of you have Award Free Blogs

so if you would like to play along

please consider you awarded!

Once again,  thank you Jessica!

All Kinds Of Fun

First...

 I wanted to thank Vanessa and Heather

over At The Picket Fence for

featuring my Blue Print Artwork

last week for Inspiration Friday!

Ladies,

 I am deeply honored!

I also wanted to thank Barbara

over at 21 Rosemary Lane

for passing along to me the

Award!

Once again Barbara....

 a heartfelt thank you!

If you have never visited Barbara

it is well worth the time to pop over to say hello!

She is full of yummy recipes!

Inspiring Tablescapes

Furniture Redos and much, much more!

Last week I finally took a minute to unpack

my silver that had been packed away for

the better part of the year during our move.

Needless to say,

 it needed polished!

And wouldn't you know it...

some where during the move my silver polish went MIA!

I had heard there were homemade alternatives

so Friday afternoon

I conducted a few experiments!

I first tried the Hot Method.

I filled my large pot with water (about 3 inches).

In the bottom I placed a piece of tin foil.

On top of the tin foil I put about

1 1/2 teaspoon of both salt and baking soda.

Warning...

 the next step involves patience...

let your mixture come to a

boil!

Then simply.... dip!

Rinse...

Repeat if needed...

Then buff!

I was shocked....

It worked!

Not only did it work,

 it only took a few minutes per piece!

and I have to admit, my silver has never been shinier!

side by side... after and before!

I have to also confess that the job

of polishing the silver the traditional way 

 always "seems"  like fun. 

 But no sooner than I get started

I am ready to be done! 

This method had me searching the house

for more things to dip!

I did have to apply the second method (good old toothpaste)

on a few stubborn or super sized pieces including...

My monogrammed antique serving spoons

and my large serving tray!

The toothpaste method worked too!

Project #2

Remember my little brown bench?

Thanks to all your support and encouragement....

I stepped out of my comfort zone...

and painted it blue!

I love it! 

Stay tuned because Wayne

 just wrapped up another

project that I can't wait to share with you!

I am linking up to

Metamorphosis Monday

at Between Naps On the Porch!

Liebster Blog

I have received a Liebster award

from Teresa at

Liebster means beloved, favorite, dearest in German.

This award is a great way to promote

bloggers with less than 200 followers!

Teresa was so sweet to pass this honor onto me!

This is her beautiful living room!

Teresa is so talented and creative.

If you have not yet visited Teresa,

 please pop over to say hello!

The Liebster award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers,

 to promote and encourage new friendships among the blog community.

 When you receive it you:

1. Post the award on your blog.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Reveal your 5 picks for the award and let them know.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogosphere... other bloggers.

5. Finally, the best rule of all, have fun and spread the love!

I am speading the Liebster Award

to the following bloggers:

1.

Michelle over at

Michelle Renee Photography.

Michelle's photography site is full of

beautiful and inspirational photos!

2.

Sophia over at

Sophia's.

Wouldn't you want to curl up in her chair with a great book!

Sophia has such a great eye for design.

3.

Kathy over at

Our Creekside Castle!

Kathy is always up to something creative!

Kathy is in the middle of a complete bathroom remodel.

I can't wait to see how it turns out!

4.

Jen over at

Harrison Home.

Jen's eye for detail is outstanding!

A few weekends ago, Jen painted

fabulous stripes on her hallway wall!

It looks so inviting!

5.

Christine over at

Vista Woman.

Christine was one of my first followers years ago!

She and her hubby are about to embark

on a new downsizing adventure!

Isn't her new home adorable?

Please stop over to say hello to these wonderful ladies!

An Award

Look what I won!

I woke up this morning to receive a very nice surprise

from my dear fellow blogger Sue @ I Need Mom.

The Sugar Doll Award!

Sue is such a fabulous cook,

and always willing to share her yummy recipes.

She has a marvelous way with decorating and tablescapes, too.

If it's cold where you are now, hop over to her site

and experience some wonderful posts from her Christmas visit to

Disney World in Florida, it's truly like a mini vacation!

A big sweet thank you to Sue.

Since this is my first award, I'm very honored!

This award come with the following rules:

The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award—Rules

1. Post the AWARD.

2. Don't forget to mention the person who gave you the AWARD.

3. Tag and distribute the AWARD to 10 Fabulous Sugar Dolls.

4. Write 10 fabulous things about yourself that you want to share with other Fabulous Sugar Dolls.

5. Don’t forget to notify the your Fabulous Sugar Dolls about their AWARD and post a link to their blog.

Ten things to share with you about me....

 

1. I long to be a living example of Christ's Love working through me to others.

 

2. I have held at least 12 different "jobs" since graduating from college 18 years ago.  Including:

A Clothes Hanger for a local department store

A Night Auditor for Kraft Foodservice

A Returns and Refusals Clerk for Kraft FoodService

A General Warehouse Clerk/ Receiving Back-up Clerk- Kraft food Service

A Counter for Kraft Food Service

An Operations Manager for a small computer software design firm

An Art Teacher at Two different home school co-ops (still doing for one)

An Art Teacher at a small local art studio

An Art tutor out if my home

A Childcare Provider out of my home

A housekeeper for a family of 19, soon to be 20 (still doing)

An Elderly Care Provider for my grandma (still doing)

 

3. As a result of my two year stint at Kraft Foods I can (or could at one point) drive a forklift, a cherry picker, wake up over the road truck drivers, and drive and operate a electric pallet jack (my favorite)

 

4. I graduated with a BA in Fine Arts.

 

5. I love a huge variety of music, from U2, who by the way I saw in concert this year, to Enya and probably everything in between. 

 

6. My family and I spent New Years Eve watching "Improv Everywhere" videos on You-Tube

 

7. My husband and I love good food, and are willing to travel to get it!

 

8. I love frozen coffee frappes.

 

9. I love the beach!

 

10.  I'm blessed with a wonderful, loving husband, two excellent children and two rescue dogs!

 

 

I'm about to break the rules, or more pointedly rule 3 and 5.

I am fully aware that some of you love to receive awards

and that other simply are honored to be thought of,

but don't have the time and energy to complete the requirements.

Because of this I'm gifting this award to each one of my

visitors, that's including you!

If you are so inclined, please accept this award on my behalf.

You are truly special, a true Sugar Doll.

For those who would rather pass, no problem, I get it,

know that you are special too!!

 

With much love and fanfare.... Dee Dee