My Adorable Little Tea Cart

Have I mentioned my love of Craig?? One afternoon, while spending some quality time with Craig, we stumbled across this adorable little tea cart.
Well, actually that is an adorable little sweetheart but behind him, if you look closely, is my adorable little tea cart. It was brushed brass soooooooo I took out my handy dandy can o' black spray paint and got to work.

At first I thought it looked too masculine but it's growing on me and I'm diggin' my adorable little tea cart. By the way. This little cart only set me back a mere ten bucks! Oh how I love Craig!

My love affair with Craig.

That is right. I have been having a love affair for some time now with Craig. Craig is so organized and orderly. I enjoy curling up, just me and Craig, hot tea in hand, searching from one list to another. It is so thrilling when Craig helps me find something I need and I bring it home with me. Like this mirror that was white washed. I spray painted it black and hung in our breakfast area. And my swiney butcher with the chalkboard I spray painted red. These I don't know what I'll do with but Craig and I found them yesterday and they were F-R-E-E!
I have to admit I've cheated on Craig with Will. I just love Will and all his Goodness! Just today I snuck over to Will's place and found all of these for less than a Jackson, including tax! That's a Martha Stewart pitcher ($2.99), some glass candle sticks ($2.99 each), a cute litte basket with a wooden handle and the cup and saucer is a pattern that I've been collecting that my Grandmother has called Antique Grape by Metlox. They were .49 cents each!!

I have been very busy on some before and after projects I picked up while hanging out with Craig and Will, a love affair I don't see ending any time soon...

I've missed you...

Have you missed me? Don't be sad. I've been cleaning up the mess and will be back soon...

Dining room gets a facelift

Above is the before picture. Now this is not the TRUE before picture. When we bought the house, last May, all of the walls were painted a yucky taupe and each and every room had a mud-brown "accent" wall. The first thing we did was have painters over erasing it all...

Here is the new dining room. I had much angst over painting this room. I knew I wanted something a little bold but I didn't want it to look like something from Wonderland. I decided to use one of my "life lines" and chose to "ask the expert". My question was answered and with a little guidance and some words of encouragement from Layla, I went pedal to the metal. Thanks Layla!!

The color I finally decided on is called Khaki by Ralph Lauren. I don't think it looks anything like khaki. When I opened the paint can I thought it looked a whole lot like a baby food jar of peas.

I am still in the process of deciding what to do with the windows. They are bare right now and they look ok, but they really need something. I have some ideas rolling around...

It took me an entire day to paint and move all of the furniture around. I took pictures of each section of my china cabinet prior to moving it so I would know where to put everything back once I had moved it. And, if you do not have those plastic moving discs I suggest you run out to get some ASAP! I moved everything in that room - BY MYSELF! Well, Trey put the discs under the furniture while I lifted it up. So, I did have a little assistant. The rest of the time he played outside or in his room and was very good while I tackled my project. Thanks Trey!

Please no nasty comments about the perpetually lopsided table cloth. Trey thinks under that table is his hideout. I don't know that it will ever be even except for the first five minutes it's on... Besides, this is the house of M with many little M's all over the place. Not a museum!

Catching up!

Wow!! Have we been busy in the House of M! I've been painting and decorating, with some words of encouragement from a blogging friend. I've been swapping, entertaining, celebrating, commenting, preparing, being a wife and a Mommy, and I even won a PRIZE! I've missed you all and have so much to tell you about.

I have several posts that I'll be sending your way soon. I'll start todays post with a followup to my last post. A MONTH AGO!!

I received my Easter Egg Garland from the very fun swap hosted by Jennalee at Artrageousafternoon.
This is what I received:






I was very excited to receive my little package in the mail. I love each and every one of them. Thank you to all of you talented individuals who made an egg that now belongs to me. That was great fun and Thanks to Jennalee for being such a super hostess.

Stay tuned for more as, this last month, my mailbox runneth over!

Easter Egg Garland swap on it's way.

Jennifer at Artrageous Afternoon hosted an Easter Egg Garland swap that I participated in. I had such fun creating my little eggs and I think they turned out cute. Thanks Jennifer for hosting such a fun and creative project.

Spring lunch and a recipe

A friend came over for lunch today. On the menu was Tarragon Chicken Salad croissant sandwiches,

Amaretto Mimosas and chocolate frosted brownies.

We used my vintage daisy and button snack plates and my husband's Great-Grandmother's vintage monogrammed linen napkins.

All of the herbs and flowers were from my yard and garden.

The most requested item when I had my catering business was my Tarragon Chicken Salad. It was usually served on croissants. I'll be happy to share my recipe with you today. I hope you enjoy it!

Tarragon Chicken Salad
4 cups cooked and diced chicken breast
3 green onions,tops only, sliced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup minced celery
1 tsp. tarragon
1 tsp. herbs de provence
3/4 cup Hellmann's mayonaise

Blend the mayonaise with all ingredients but the chicken. Once everything is incorporated then fold in the chicken breast. Chill and serve over a bed of green leaf lettuce or with croissants as a sandwich. This is best made the day prior to serving.