Jenny Garland

A Mirror, Vintage Fabric, Meatloaf, and a Contest!

How's that for a title? Apparently I have a lot swimming around in my brain today.

Let's start with the mirror. Remember the mirror from this thrift store find? Well, I finally got around to spiffing it up. I refinished it yesterday with the help of my almost three year old (who painted herself more than the mirror). I hung it in the downstair's hallway:

Moving on the the vintage fabric... My sister's friend had a premature baby this week. The sweet girl, Emmaline (HOW stinking cute is that name??) will have to stay in the hospital quite a while so she wanted to have a special quilt for her. I found this to die for vintage fabric at an Antique Mall this morning. It's in great condition and I can't wait to use it for baby Emmaline's quilt.

Next up... meatloaf. Hannah posted this recipe for stuffed turkey meatloaf a few days ago. I love meatloaf. I mean, I really love meatloaf. Her recipe looked so good, I gave it a whirl. Ladies, you gotta try it. I know it's turkey meatloaf and some of you may feel funny about that but push your turkey loaf fears aside and whip up this bad boy. YUMMY. I used almonds instead of pine nuts because that's what I had. And I didn't bother making the spicy tomato sauce because around here, Heinz Ketchup is King. It made a ton of meatloaf and we're having it again tonight.

Last up .... the Crafter's Challenge. Um, anyone else out there planning to participate?! (crickets). There's been one submission (very cute) so far and I hope we'll get at least five by the deadline, Friday May 29th. I've talked to some of you who are hesitant to enter because you're "pattern dependent." Don't be skurd, friends! This is a great chance to play around with fabric and have some fun. And maybe win the $100 prize.

Okay, thanks for hanging in there with me and my poor, scattered brain. Hopefully, a less random post is in the near future!

Allow me to leave you with this image of Kate. Clearly the girl's excited about summer:

xoxo

Thrift Store Finds! :)

Yippee! I just love thrift store finds. The other day I dropped off a bunch of stuff at the Goodwill and thought I might as well go inside. So, the girls and I scored these three pieces that will become DIY projects and part of my mission to frugally decorate my home :)

Up first is this awesome thing. I'm going to call it a planter but I have no idea if that's what it's really called. If anyone knows, please clue me in! Anyway, it's the perfect height to go beside my newly refinished cabinet. I'm going to give it a new life with some paint and then place an ivy in it. I think the drapey-ness (mmmhmm, I just made up that word) of the ivy will look great plus it's pretty much the only plant I can keep alive. Grand total for this baby..... $7! Boo-yah!

Second is this great mirror. Love the size. Love the shape. Love the detail up top. Not so much in love with the color but I can change that! I'm going to hang this in Sara Paige's bedroom. It cost me $15. I was a little hesitant to pay that much at first but it's really well made.

Finally, is this sweet do-job. Someone teach me the names of these things, really! I'm going to clean it well, spray paint it white, and put my cotton balls in it. It will look great on this metal tray I have on my bathroom counter. $4.

These should be quick, easy, and inexpensive projects to give some rooms a bit more character. Stay tuned for my after pics :)

Speaking of great finds, I'm going to Canton next Saturday and can hardly contain my excitement! I'm so hoping to find a reasonably priced table for my entryway and maybe some funky, antique frames.