Random red light photo

 Freedom Parkway on the way to look at bridesmaid dresses with a beautiful engaged friend.

Oasis in the City

Everyone has their quiet place. Our patio is mine. I spent the day sprucing up my "garden." Most of my plants survived the mild winter but then the squirrels got to them. The flower pot on the left is new and I planted a peony bulb in the middle pot that looks like there is nothing in it. I love peonies. They were one of our wedding flowers and I have high hopes the bulb the will bloom.

After four years of working with my container plants, I no longer believe that I just kill plants. I haven't tried any indoor plants lately though. I have never had any success with those. I also can't keep impatiens alive. My patio doesn't get a lot of sun so I try to grow shade or partial shade plants. Impatiens look so beautiful at the store but they die as soon as they hit the patio. The same goes for mums in the fall.

Thanks Martha!

Finally! A solution to something that I find incredibly irritating. Growing up my mother taught me to cook and to do laundry, but somewhere along the way I missed the lesson on folding fitted sheets. They would just sit there in a jumbled mess on the shelf despite my best efforts.

Recently, I received my daily tip from Martha Stewart.com which included instructions on how to fold a fitted sheet. It took a little practice but it is incredibly easy once I figured it out.

Go to http://www.marthastewart.com/268521/fold-a-fitted-sheet?xsc for instructions.

Cruisin' into Spring!

We had so much fun on our cruise last December that we just booked another one for next month. This time we're headed to Cozumel. In an economy were most people can't justify taking a vacation, we have found cruises to be such a great value. A five day vacation for two is costing us around $300 per person and that includes all our meals. If you break it down, that's $25 per week for three months. If you search hard enough there is a vacation out there that fits everyone's budget. I'll blog more about budget vacations later. 

P.S. Wouldn't this Kate Spade clutch be perfect for the trip?

Easy Flower Arranger

Last week I stumbled upon the "Easy Arranger" in one of my favorite stores, Heliotrope. This is one of those products that I have always been looking for but never knew it. I love buying fresh flowers at the farmer's market. They are inexpensive and I love the way they brighten our house. However, I hate the way they haphazardly fall in the vase. I've tried florist foam, but I hate seeing it in the bottom of a vase. 

I was so excited when I saw the Easy Arranger. It is a metal, flower shaped apparatus that you place on top of a vase. Fold the outside edge of the flower shaped arranger around the edge of your vase to hold it in place and put flowers in the holes. The flowers stand up exactly where I want them to. 

I bought the set of three for $12. The individual ones are $6. I am so happy with the outcome, I want to get one of these for everyone I know.

The above flowers were arranged for our Mardi Gras party using the Easy Arranger. 

Luckily, Heliotrope ships. Click here for the direct link to purchase an Easy Arranger from Heliotrope. 

Adele

I love love LOVE Adele, and I have since I stumbled on her song Best for Last on Itunes in 2008. I bought the cd, saw her in concert in a small venue here in Atlanta and bought her new cd from a local cd shop the day it came out.

She looked amazing at the Grammys. I want the hair, and the make-up. As soon as she stepped out the car I thought I must have my hair like that and I have to find my red lipstick. 

I want this dress! I love the classic lace but the polka dots make it fun.

Her performance was great. I thought her voice sounded like it needed to heal a little more. I have seen her in concert and she is amazing. She was even better than the cd. I also liked Bruno Mars' performance, hated Fergie's dress and thought it was weird that Kanye wasn't there.

Martha's Valentines Day Sorbet Sandwiches

This delicious looking treat popped up in my mailbox this morning courtesy of Martha Stewart's cookie of the day. It involves making a simple chocolate short bread cookie and placing store bought sorbet in the middle. I can't wait to make these. I can't decide if raspberry or peach sorbet would be better.

Get Martha Stewart's Valentines Day Sorbet Recipe Here