Let Freedom Ring!!

Every year I look forward to this weekend spending time in Dana Point with the family. The weather was perfect and we spent the day lounging outside and ended the evening with a BBQ :) My sweet nieces are masters at using whatever we have growing in the backyard to make a beautiful centerpiece for our festive table:)

This amazing flag garland made by my sis in law Allie :) beautiful right? The fantastic Acapillow flag pillows I bought forever ago at Domestic Bliss :)

Cutting up goodies for our dinner of steaks and grilled veggies :)

These pics taken during the "blue hour".

A sincere THANK YOU to all the men and women of our military who make it possible for all of us to enjoy our freedom and our families.

That ole thing??

"Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you."
-Shakti Gawain


Rio and I LOVE to treasure hunt. One Saturday morning we were heading out to hit some garage sales, and while I was driving down a street near my home I happened to spot this beauty out of the corner of my eye. Literally. I barely saw a glimpse of green and about got some serious whiplash! I said "Rio! did you see that dresser on that porch?" And her immediate reply? Freaking turn around mom!!! So I whipped a totally illegal u-ie and pulled up to this man's house.

Of course Rio did the talking and asked this guy who was just enjoying his morning cigarette if he would sell the dresser. He replied, "That ole thing? But it aint got no drawer!" This is where I stepped in (elbowing Rio out of the way) and said, "Yes sir, I reeeeally like your dresser and will take it without the drawer. How much do you want for it?" Go ahead and cue up that jeopardy music now, cause that's what it was like. Total silence. Then he said " Well how much you wantin to give me?" GEEZ!! I KNEW he was going to say that! So I just said it, like I always do, without thinking...uh $20? Without saying a word he cleared the 8 smashed beer cans and 25 cigarette butts off the top and hauled it to my truck. SCORE!!!!!!

Here she is. Rescued. Showered. And lovely :)

** and the missin drawer? found 3 baskets on clearance at Target for $8 a piece that fit perfectly:)

Still under her spell... :)

Oh Samantha Stephens. When I was a little girl I wanted to BE her. Bewitched is one of my favorite shows of all time. I bought the boxed set and got my nieces obsessed with it too! I think this show is the reason I love green so much. I mean, look at that carpet!! Awesome. I love love love this house.

And what's not to love about this fabulous living room and that awesome lamp! I know, this screams the 70's but I LOVE IT! Maybe because seeing it just reminds me of my childhood? I don't know.

But what I do know is- just to the left of Samantha in this shot sits "the bar". Maybe because drinking was a huge no no in my house growing up I became obsessed with that bar. The entire show consisted of Darrin (or Derwood hee hee) working his advertising job, Samantha being the domestic goddess and- cocktails. With your friends, clients, family, wherever and whenever- cocktails. And not the frilly stuff of today, oh no! The hard stuff. Straight up. On ice. And I loved how there was always ice in the bucket ready to go.

Well all this leads me to tell you about my latest obsession. I'm on a mission to find antique decanters with those hanging silver labels. Just like Samantha. Just want to fulfill a lifelong dream, and just cause they're pretty:) I'd love to have friends just stop by and I'd say " Oh hey! Come on in! Scotch? Bourbon?" Yeah right! Nobody drinks like that anymore :( It's more like "Oh hey! Can I get you something to drink? Water?" Whatever the drink, it will sure look cool in a beautiful glass with ice out of a silver bucket :)

Am I alone here? Or did your childhood television shows affect you this way??

Sangria...in a snap! :)

A few weeks back I was at Whole Foods and heard this woman ask about this Sangria. The clerk there explained how they ran out of it, and she said "probably cause it was sooo good!". Hmmm I totally made a mental note of it and went on my way.

Well today, they had it!! I'm usually not one to use shortcuts a la Sandra Lee, but I thought I'd give it a try.

Rio cut up some limes, lemons and oranges, and added whole cloves to the orange slices.

We added all that to the Sangria and let it sit for a bit to let the flavors mix together.

We added some frozen sliced mango's to keep the drink cold,

then added these sliced lime and orange slices for garnish :)

Sooo pretty! Sooo quick! And sooo tasty too!!

It's been a beautiful day here in AZ so we took our Sangria to the porch :)

She looks more and more like her sister...:)

This is the before. Our sweet 1916 bungalow that someone decided to turn into a Victorian whatever.

Those awesome ( you know I'm kidding right?) dormer windows? GONE!!
That ridiculous pseudo "porte cochere"? GONE!! Aaahhh, she's seriously breathing a sigh of relief. I mean, I can only imagine that the house felt like it was wearing some dumb Halloween costume for like...20 years???!!!

And that added on really cool (kidding again) family room? GONE!! Now a beautiful back porch :)

Someday soon (we're thinking July or August) she's gonna be all back together and looking more like her sister...this beaut that lives a few blocks away :) And I can't wait!!