Heirloom Party: Treasures from Grandma

This Heirloom Party is dedicated to my grandmother, who was such an inspiration to me growing up. Grandma could do anything. She was a fabulous cook and an immaculate housekeeper. I remember she even used to iron my grandfather's pajamas!

Holidays at my grandparents' house were really special because of all the hard work Grandma put into them. She'd always make Portuguese sweet bread at Easter, a tradition which I continue to follow. Her Christmas dinners were amazing!

When I was in 5th grade, my mother started working full-time. The elementary school I attended allowed students to go home for lunch. Since Mom was at work, and Grandma lived within walking distance to school, I used to walk to her house for lunch. Grandma really knew how to make a terrific lunch! She never just set out a sandwich for me. She'd always make a full meal. She made the most fabulous Portuguese dishes. One of my favorite's was Grandma's Caldierada, or fish hot pot. I have the recipe, and I make for my family. It's one of my husband's favorites.

My grandmother passed away 25 years ago. My mother was cleaning out her basement a few years ago and came across some items that belonged to my grandmother. She thought I might enjoy having them. She was right!

The first was this ornate cookie jar, which doesn't look much like a cookie jar at all. I remember when I was young, I would visit my grandparents. After giving me a big hug and kiss, my grandmother would always say "Janie, would you like a cookie?" With her Portuguese accent, her pronunciation of cookie sounded more like "kooky". She always kept the cookie jar in the same spot on the kitchen counter, and I would eagerly await the opening of that jar. When my mother gave it to me, the cover was broken, so now I keep it on my night table in our bedroom to hold nutritional supplements and medication. It makes me smile when I look at it and think of Grandma asking me if I wanted a "kooky".
The second item I cherish that belonged to my grandmother is her set of silverware. I love the pattern. Every time I use it, it reminds me of all the wonderful holiday meals she prepared for us.
She also used to serve Thanksgiving dinner on these turkey plates. I love the colors in them, as well as the pretty scalloped edge. There is also a matching platter. They are made by Atlas China Company.
I also have an apron that was Grandma's. She always wore aprons at home, and this was one of her favorites. I like to wear it on holidays while preparing dinner, in honor of Grandma's hard work and dedication to our family when I was growing up.


These are my heirloom treasures from my grandmother. They are really more sentimental treasures.

Thanks to Marie of Emma Calls Me Mama for hosting today's Heirloom Party. Mosey on over to Marie's blog and join the fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tablescape Thursday: Tuscan Dining

Our dining room is decorated in Tuscan colors, so I tend to collect table linens and accessories that support the color scheme and Tuscan theme of the room.

(Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

A Tuscan vase filled with silk flowers is a colorful centerpiece.

The carved candlesticks were an bargain.

I placed a few fresh pears around the table for interest. These could also be used for placecard holders at each place setting.

The etched stemware was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. I love the contrast between the grape-colored glass at the top and the clear stem.

Gold lattice chargers compliment the simple cream and white plates. Cream and gold napkins and grape napkin rings were both finds.

In this closeup, you can see the texture of the grape-colored tablecloth, which was a gift from a friend.

The silverware belonged to my grandmother.

This hand painted Tuscan bottle and the one at the other end of the table were Christmas Tree Shop finds.

Happy Tablescape Thursday!

Thanks to Susan, of Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to visit Susan's blog, to see her beautiful tablescape and also to find links to other pretty tablescapes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Outdoor Wednesday: Hydrangeas

Mophead Hydrangea

I think hydrangeas are among the prettiest summer flowering bushes! My favorites are the mophead and lacecap varieties. Right now, they are in full bloom here in New England.

Lace Cap Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are fairly easy to grow and maintain. They prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Hydrangeas grow best in rich soil, so compost the soil well before planting them. They also need to be watered well. Mulching the soil around them will help them retain moisture.

To keep your hydrangea in peak condition, remove about one-third of the oldest stems every year in mid-spring. Cut them off as close to ground level as you can. This will ensure lots of new blooms at the bottom and will keep your hydrangea plants healthy.

Did you know you can change the colors of the flowers by altering the soil pH levels? They will turn blue when you drop the pH level by adding some sulfur to the soil. Alternatively, you can turn the flowers pink when you raise the pH by adding some lime.

Now is a great time to buy hydrangeas. Many local nurseries and garden centers have marked down their perennial stock by 50%. You may even find them for as much as 75% off!

Hydrangeas are also beautiful dried. Susie Harris recently blogged about drying hydrangeas. If you haven't read it yet, you can find it here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks to Susan of A Southern Daydreamer for hosting Outdoor Wednesday! Visit Susan's blog for more Outdoor Wednesday entries.

Snack Healthy!

I try to eat a healthy diet, because I believe it is essential for overall good health. However, my biggest challenge seems to be snacking healthy. I've done a little research and come up with some power snacks that are both delicious and good for you. They are proven disease fighters, energy boosters and heart helpers.

1. Fruits and Veggies – Snack on blueberries, apples, grapes, peppers, and spinach, and you’ll reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Additionally, the potassium, magnesium, and calcium in most fresh produce will help lower your blood pressure.

Try spreading a little all natural peanut butter on apple slices for a yummy snack!

2. Nuts - Did you know that snacking on nuts may help you shed pounds? Researchers found that people who ate almonds as part of a low-calorie diet for six months lost 18 percent of their body weight, slimming their waistlines and reducing body fat, as well. Scientists suspect this because the fiber-plus-protein combo helps keeps hunger in check. Additionally, monounsaturated fats found in some nuts have been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while preserving HDL (good) cholesterol that your body needs.

3. Whole Grains – Whole grains are natural energy boosters. You need at least 130 grams a day to feel the effects. Including five servings of whole grains daily in your low-calorie diet can help you lose belly flab and lower your levels of C-reactive protein, a predictor of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Add two more servings and you could lower your risk of diabetes by more than 20%.

Try a couple of Wasa Crisp crackers spread with garlic and chive hummus, then topped with a couple of spinach leaves and a slice of fresh tomato.

4. Low-Fat Dairy - Just 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day can help you maintain bone mass when trying to lose weight. Additionally, including low-fat yogurt in a low-calorie diet can help you shed belly fat.

I love making fruit parfaits with low-fat vanilla yogurt with fresh blueberries, sliced strawberries and Kashi Go-Lean cereal.

5. Dark Chocolate – Who knew dark chocolate could actually be good for you? Both regular and sugar-free dark chocolate decrease blood pressure in overweight adults, according to the research I've read. In addition, consuming just a small amount of flavanol-rich cocoa powder daily can increase blood flow to your skin, making it softer, smoother, and more resistant to sun damage.

Buy organic dark chocolate, melt it in a double boiler (or two nested saucepans, filling the bottom one with water and placing the chocolate in the top one). Once the chocolate has melted, dip some fresh strawberries in it. Yum!

Of course, it’s important to snack in moderation.

Snack happy and healthy!

Thanks to Jen of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for hosting Tasty Tuesday, Lisa of Blessed with Grace for hosting Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, and Cole of All the Small Stuff for hosting Tuesdays at the Table. Be sure to visit their blogs for links to some tasty recipes!

Thrifty Treasures: The Yard Sale Store

Last Saturday morning, I was on the hunt for yard sales. It had rained heavily the night before and was still drizzling out, but it wasn't long before I managed to find one. It was there that I found these ornate, gold frames for 50¢ each.


I also found this mirror. I love the frame, although I may paint it. I really like the detail on the photo frame on the right. The mirror was only 50¢, and the photo frame was 25¢.

This ceramic light switch cover was only 10¢. I think it looks great in our master bedroom.

When I left the yard sale with my bargains, I wanted to find more. However, there wasn't another yard sale in sight anywhere, due to the inclement weather. After driving around for awhile, I decided to mosey on over to my friend Reina's thrift shop. It's called The Yard Sale Store, and it's housed in a huge, warehouse/garage beneath an office building. It's packed with the greatest stuff. Here's a peek inside:


There are rows of shelves lined with china. The boxes on the bottom shelf are sets of dishes. The place is very neat and tidy, and all of the items are priced.
There are tons of jewelry, books, small appliances, lamps, furniture, clothing and more. You name it, even wigs, The Yard Sale Store probably has it.
While I was there, I found this pitcher for $8.00; you may remember from last week's Tablescape Thursday.

This pretty, white blouse was only $4.00. It will look great with jeans or a long skirt.

This wire basket with leaves was $1.99. You'll probably see in a future Tablescape Thursday.

If you're ever in the Boston area, The Yard Sale Store is well worth checking out. You can get directions here. It is open during the summer only, Tuesday-Saturday, 9 AM - 4 PM.

Profits from The Yard Sale Store benefit mission efforts in Honduras.

Well, those are my thrifty finds for this week. Thanks for stopping by!











Thanks to Rhoda for hosting Thrifty Treasures. Visit Rhoda's blog for links to other thrifty finds.