not a trophy wife

Decorate with nature for an earthy, organic feel

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Sometimes the best decor finds aren’t found on a shelf or with a price tag. Sometimes my favorite decor staples are just outside the front door.

Nature’s finds may not be shiny or sparkly. In fact, when we decorate with nature they will likely be covered in dirt, pine needles or tucked under a layer of mulch. Nature’s decor might have bugs tucked inside the pinecones and branches.

But there is something that happens when we …

decorate with nature

Decorate with the outdoors

Decor from the outdoors brings a bit of history, maybe a memory or just a cozy feeling into our homes. Nature’s finds aren’t perfect, and neither are we or our homes.

When we choose to decorate with natural finds, from our own backyards, it gives our homes a bit of an organic, one of a kind decor feature.

Just think about that for a second….

Decorate with the outdoors

But the one thing nature’s finds won’t have is the origin of manufacturing stamped on the back side. How cool is that idea?

There is something about decorating with the outdoors that makes us appreciate a little bit more the gifts mother nature gives us in our own backyard or neighborhood.

mother nature’s gifts

Decorate with the outdoors

On your next walk around the block with the dog or the kids or after dinner, take a look at around your yard. Get the family involved and ask for their help to find a four-foot stick or a dozen pinecones. Get everyone busy pinecones, acorns or down branches.

Take a different path…

Last fall I found a stack of tree branches on a sidewalk. The landscaper/arborist was more than happy to load my car with dozens of branches. I have used these branches over and over. The following are a few ways I used the original stack of branches in the inside of my house.

branches

Decorate with the outdoors

 

Decorate with the outdoors

 

What have you found in your backyard or on a morning walk that is now a favorite decor staple?

Linking to: The dedicated house

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Never forget September 11th

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Do you remember where you were on September 11th? I hope, as a country, we never forget September 11th. Here are a few of our family memories from that beautiful September (Tuesday) morning.

There was not a cloud in the Ohio sky that morning. We were getting ready for our son’s first day of preschool. Yes,  it was this son.

But on September 11, 2001 we were busy snapping photos of him and his sister for his preschool open house and her first days of 2nd grade. Those little velcro shoes get me every time. My son reminds me that his first tennis court shoes a few years later were very similar (all white).

never forget September 11th

We lived in Westerville, Ohio. This photo was taken of my daughter and son on September 11, 2001. It was a morning filled with anticipation and excitement. My son started every morning with his chocolate milk (choco-nak) and his blue blankies.

You can see the date of the photo in the bottom right corner.

never forget September 11th

Two hours later we were leaving my son’s orientation with whispers of an airplane hitting a built. And, false assumptions it must have been a local news helicopter. Before I drove the 1.5 miles home our lives in America were changed forever.

My daughter’s class made American flags on the afternoon of September 11th. It was a distraction at the time, but it turned out to be my favorite picture. I recently framed it and now display it year round.

Do you remember where you were on the morning of that September 11th?

never forget

 

 

 

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Set a pretty table giveaway

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Hi Everyone! I am so excited to co-host a giveaway this month. I’m joining my friend Katherine from Katherines Corner and her Sponsor La Bella Vita Cucina for the Set a Pretty Table Giveaway. 

One winner will receive their choice of a $50 gift card from Pier 1 OR Williams Sonoma from La Bella Vita Cucina and

$125 Cash prize or Amazon gift card ( winner’s choice) and a copy of the book The Simple Art of Napkin Folding by Linda Hetzer provided by Katherine, Katherines Corner Shop and her Hostesses.

This giveaway is NOT endorsed or affiliated with Pier 1, WIlliams Sonoma, Linda Hetzer or PayPal.

Please remember to follow your sponsors and all of the hostess so you can get all of your entries!

 

Katherine-Katherines Corner

Roz-La Bella Vita Cucina

Marilyn-Marilyns Treats

Nina-Vintage Mamas Cottage

Lisa-Casa Bouquet

Diane-Mamal Diane Keeping Life Simple

Laura-Not a Trophy Wife

Bev-Eclectic Red Barn

Kat-Inspiration CAN be found EVERYWHERE

Karren- Oh My Heartise Girl

Maria-Simple Nature Decor

To enter please log into the entry form using your email address or facebook login.

Disclaimer-Some of my giveaways have sponsors, Katherines Corner may receive compensation for reviews and advertising provided. However, no compensation will influence the outcome of any review. Katherines Corner provides reviews to readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase. Katherines Corner and its affiliate Bobskatie Enterprises reserves the right to not publish a review of a product or products that do not meet the specified instructions provided to product submission companies or individuals. Reviews are posted in the appropriate section at Katherines Corner and also at Amazon.com ( subject to products availability) This in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Good Luck in the Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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How to transition to fall when it’s 95 degrees outside

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It’s hot in Denver! Like the kind of dry heat that irritates me because the calendar rolled into September and the leaves began to change colors. The challenge is how to transition to fall when it’s 95 degree’s outside.

transition to fall

We don’t even have pumpkins yet in Colorado. So I have to get creative with a late summer and fall decor combo. One of the easiest ways to transition to fall (or any season) is to pair elements. Not the climate type of elements, but with wood, metal, and greenery. Hands down, these elelments are my favorite combination to use in decor.

elements

If I could only take 3 decor items to an empty house on an island, this market basket would be at the top of the list. What are your year-round decor staples?

Fresh cut flowers or branches add a touch of the outdoors. I know this is common sense, but how many of us take advantage of the branches and flowers right in our yards?

Mint and herbs are great additions to the kitchen when the temperatures drop.  I plan to pair the green with pumpkins in the weeks ahead.

fresh from the garden

 

cement

When I shared my favorite craft earlier this summer I had no idea how much I could make with a bag of concrete. The trivet above is one of the many trivets, trays and mini pavers I made. What I love about cement is it’s a year round decor staple. It adds an earthy, gritty texture to just about anything in my house!

I am obsessed with boxwood and grapevines. It was one of the first posts after this happened to my blog. Like these would be my second and third item if I could only take three decor items to that island with the empty house. Boxwood, real or fake, is flexible enough to add to the decor for all the seasons. It’s an equal opportunity decor necessity.

 

Link to Blue Sky Kitchens

 

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Garage sale wreath makeover for the fall season

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Hey, Everyone!

Here’s a post before my blog hack, but it’s a favorite so it’s getting more time in the spotlight. Of course, you have to take my word on this garage sale wreath makeover because I don’t have any before photos.

Garage Sale Wreath Makeover Before

But, I can give you a visual. Picture a dusty, cobwebbed filled grapevine wreath. And tucked in between the vines imagine dusty pine cones and faded faux artichokes and leaves. And, I didn’t recognize the smell until I had it in my car. I may have passed on this wreath because of the damp, basement smell.

But, it was destiny. What I loved about this wreath, sitting on the driveway, was the size of the grapevine and its potential.

garage-sale-wreath-makeover-notatrophywife

Makeover Details

  • removed the picks that were broken or beyond the makeover
  • placed the wreath outside to air out
  • sprayed the wreath with vinegar & water. repeat. repeat.

Because this was a garage sale find I stayed with the thrifty budget and used those miscellaneous leaves that fall off the garland. You know the leaves and pinecones and sticks that fall to the bottom of the box or storage tub? I just grabbed a few of those and fresh pinecones and either glued or tucked them into the wreath.

It was an instant makeover. I paid $3.00 for the wreath. The size of the wreath takes up the width of the front door which I love. My motto: go big or go home.

garage-sale-wreath-makeover-notatrophywife

 

garage-sale-wreath-makeover-notatrophywife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Northwest Grown Sweet Cherries | How to Pit Cherries without a Cherry Pitter

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Hi, Everyone! Today I am talking about Northwest Grown Sweet cherries. My family loves cherries this time of year when the temperatures soar. Cherries are the perfect combination of tart and sweet. And, lucky for us cherries are at their peak during the summer months.

So I was psyched when I was approached to create a post using Northwest-Grown Sweet Cherries. This is the season for cherries from the Pacific Northwest. This past winter the Pacific Northwest had one of the coldest winters in decades. It pushed back the start of the cherry season, but now growers in the Northwest anticipate fresh cherries through the summer. Yes, please!

fresh cherries

 

 

 

 

How cute is the cherry print packing tape on the outside of the cardboard box? This box revealed bags of fresh Northwest Grown cherries.

I checked out a few cherry related recipes in anticipation of this orchard to table delivery. But, now the pressure was on me to create something fresh and not from a can. Game on!

Until this summer I never knew there were tools to remove the pits. I won’t get into the details, but my family either ate around the pit or creatively disposed of them.

I needed a quick solution to get started on the pit project.

 other methods failed to remove the pits

A quick online search, on how to remove the pits, pulled up suggestions to use a straw or an icing tip. The straw was too bendy and could not come close to piercing the cherry and taking the pit with it. Not even close. Maybe a stainless steel straw I see online.

A second popular suggestion was to use an icing tip. I had plenty of icing tips to choose from, but they were too short to get a grasp of the icing tip and the cherry.  Fail!

 

Just as I planned to go on the hunt for a cherry pitter, I took a second to check my utensil drawer for looking for a stand-in for the pitter.  And, I found the solution with an olive oil stopper/pourer. You know the ones you save …. just in case you need a spare oil stopper/pourer? Well, that little extra olive oil pourer got the job done as a cherry pitter.

The stainless steel end was perfect to pierce the cherry and the size of it consistently pierced through the cherry and pushed the seed out. The length of the olive oil pourer, with the threaded end on the opposite end, made it easier to hold the cherry in one hand while gripping the cherry pitter substitute.

oil stopper/pourer worked best to pit cherries

After four pounds of cherries, it looked like a crime scene on my kitchen counter. I shared this photo on Instagram.

Video |

Suggestions

prep area before you pit the cherries

  • large area to work
  •  large bowl for the pitted cherries
  •  bowl for the cherry pits
  • dark color cloth/rag to wipe surface – it gets very messy
  • old clothes

The pit removal process was more labor intensive than I anticipated. I removed the stem and followed by the cherry pit removal. It was a little cumbersome. Next time I will remove all the stems first and then power through the pit removal.

Sidenote: I recommend catching up on your recorded shows. I caught up with a week’s worth of  Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today Show.

Stay tuned for my first fresh cherry pie recipe I made using fresh Northwest grown cherries. For cherry recipes and nutritional details on cherries please visit Northwest Cherries.

 

**disclosure: I received Northwest Cherries for this post. All opinions are my own. Information and facts provided by the Northwest Cherries & Washington State Fruit Commission. 

 

Linking to : Blue Sky Kitchen

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How to Create the Look of More Flowers for Less Money

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Hi everyone! How was your weekend? We did a lot of work in the yard. My husband tackled the garage and I spruced up the flowers in the backyard.

 I admit our flowers had largely been ignored since Father’s Day weekend when my husband generously offered to pick up some potted flowers to freshen up our patio.

Some of you already know where this is going. My husband hauled 3 containers of flowers and set them as close to the sprinklers in the backyard to “get watered.” Colorado has summer outdoor water restrictions so I appreciated his efforts to conserve water.

Except the containers were heavy with a variety of flowers packed into a rectangular shaped plastic container. Moving the containers onto the patio (and off the grass) was a full body workout. #lovethisman #goodintentions

And, then I got an idea… the one that turned into an afternoon with more soil on me than on the patio.

How to Create the Look of More Flowers

I started with one of the flower packed plastic containers and dug right. With a bag of soil on hand and miscellaneous pots and containers, I got to work. If my family had seen me tearing up perfectly pretty planters they would have thought I lost my mind. Or, working on a blog post. Ha!

This was one of those decisions that turned out better than expected. Take a look at the results of the divide and conquer more flowers solution.

A little afternoon sun behind me captured the reflection of the woods behind our house.

 

Remember when I mentioned my husband purchased 3 containers of flowers. Well, I created all of the above flower pots with just one of those plastic containers.

I shared how I spruced up our window well grates earlier this season.

Additional Ways to Create the Look of More Flowers

I accidentally discovered an additional way to create the look of more flowers. When I reviewed my photos I noticed that the potted herbs added more bulk and color to the patio and surrounding flower pots.

herbs

I made a few of these herb containers for a Summer Challenge and now I love they add a little something, something when placed next to smaller flower pots.

boxwood

Thanks for stopping by! What do you do to create the look of more flowers in your yard or gardens? Besides buying more flowers. wink, wink!

 

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Getting Fresh (Produce) in the Kitchen

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Hi Everyone! Woke up to news of a fire in one of our favorite mountain resorts (Breckenridge). We need rain! We also need rain for our summer crops on the western slope and northern farmers. In Colorado, Summer means an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. And, there is a Farmer’s Market in cities and neighborhoods around Denver this time of year. There is something special about fresh produce in the kitchen.

Fresh produce becomes a part of the kitchen decor, menu, and lifestyle.

fresh-produce

I used to buy the pre-seasoned veggies in the deli when I made fajitas or tacos. I think this crop of fresh peppers and onions changed my life. Look at pretty the colors in these peppers and onions. No filters needed on fresh veggies.

My younger son loves these mini peppers! They are great for lunches and a late afternoon snack. They are sweet and easy to add to just about any recipe.

fresh-produce

Everything, even a bland salad, gets perkier with fresh produce. Oh, and olives… anyone else discovered the HUGE variety of olives in the market? Fresh veggies are an easy way to bulk up the mandatory dinner salad.

fresh-produce

fresh-produce

strawberries

And fresh produce has been known to end up in my favorite beverages (this one is water)! Promise!

What’s your favorite produce during the summer? Any suggestions for winter?

fresh-produce

 

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Very Last Minute 4th of July Dessert | Rolos & Berries

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Happy 4th of July! We were in Vail for the days leading up to the 4th! Tuesday is a tricky day for a holiday weekend! We had a blast in Vail (Lionshead). I shared a few photos on Instagram over the weekend.

last minute 4th of July dessert

This last minute dessert has to be the easiest one out there. No oven, no recipe or directions to follow. It’s one of the few recipes even I can’t screw up.  Just grab a bag of Rolos in the candy aisle and  a couple containers of raspberries and blueberries. That’s it! Just a bag of Rolos and assorted berries for this recipe.

I told you it was a very last minute 4th of July dessert. This is a dessert that you can grab at the local grocery store near the beach, lake or mountains.

Ingredients | Rolos and Berries

rolos-and-berries

The only thing that slows this recipe down is the time it takes to unwrap the Rolos. For the 4th of July holiday, I line the Rolos in a rectangle. And, then add the blueberries in the corner. Creative, right? This recipe is pretty much fail-proof and doesn’t keep anyone in the kitchen. I have been known to prep this dessert in the car outside the hosts’ house.

Hope you have a safe and fun filled 4th of July holiday!

rolos-and-berries

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a run with a view of Colorado

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Hi everyone! What happened to June? I have a son leaving for college the end of August so this is freaking me out! Which brings me back to how I de-stress. I run, break a sweat or eat chocolate. One of these things is not like the others…

This is the hill that leads out of our neighborhood. It’s steep and it’s a bear (and yes might see a mama bear and her cubs. It’s the hill when you see a neighbor chugging up the hill you roll down your window and yell a few encouraging words. But look at that sky! Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine a year!

a run with a view

The trouble with hills was over time my hamstrings and core said, “no more.” It’s been a rough year and a half figuring out the injury (need to treat the source, not the symptom). Blah blah blah. I do more physical therapy now than in the previous 20 years.

So my “team” suggested mixing up my runs with dirt (and tracks). I fought this for awhile because certain types of critters also like the dirt and the sunshine. And, I will do more harm to ankles, shins, knees and if I as much as see one of these or any variety.

Colorado Living

On a particularly warm morning, I decided to try my knee (hamstring) on the dirt roads. I found a few snapshots of Colorado living along the way.  5280 is a reference to the mile above sea level. In our part of the city, we are above 5280. Because this is all I know, I have never noticed it.

5280  runs

Along with this route, there are usually buffalo roaming in the distance behind the fence. This is a 2 lane dirt road and although most drivers give a friendly wave to acknowledge the runners; it’s not a guarantee. It gets a little precarious around the bends and turns.

Some of you may have seen this on my Instagram feed over the weekend. This greeted me when I finished my run. It puts all of the struggles, pains, complaints in perspective. Have you been to Colorado?

 

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