Hobby Lobby Find

I finally had a chance to stop in the "new" Hobby Lobby (I say new because the chain store is new to California) on Friday - I realized as soon as Asa and I got into the store, I forgot my camera. I was really impressed with the wide aisles, the variety in the store and the total amount of shopping space. I decided I would be coming back to the store as soon as possible. I will bring a camera the next time...

Before Asa and I could walk out, I decided to go over to the framing department. I have been looking for a frame for the custom tree I had made to represent my children and I and my Grandmother, this tree is going in the formal living room. I had been so disappointed in the selection out there, I saw a lovely (albeit) plain frame in Target that I just refused to pay 49.00 for and other stores just left me frustrated. I was optimistic but willing to accept that I may not find anything at all, and there it was...

Perfect size and color and on sale. 

The original price on the frame was 59.99 and the frame was on sale for 1/2 off - that's right, I paid 30.00 for this frame! I was sooo excited! I actually found a frame I liked that I didn't have to settle on that was going to do the artwork justice! 

Here is the tree for Nana - the fingerprints are actually my girls and mine! Each child was able to put her own fingerprints on her branch and the branch that is not connected to any of our names has some of each of our fingerprints. I decided I would leave Asa's branch blank with the exception of my fingerprint to represent Nana until he is old enough to put his own prints on the tree - by then he will know who she was and may even feel like he is ready to put his prints on the branches.

I love the artwork in the frame.  

I am so happy to have stopped in Hobby Lobby - I cannot wait to go back. I picked up a straw wreath also, I am going to make (or attempt to make) a DIY bulb wreath this week. Keep an eye out for the artwork in my Christmas photo of the formal living room. I am excited to buy a tree for Asa's first Christmas. 

Home Made Sweet Potato Pie

I never learned to make a sweet potato pie, which is really no one's fault but my own. My children love sweet potato pie and they ate them every holiday season until they were sick (literally). My dislike for sweet potatoes kept me out of the kitchen when my Nana would bake them, until now. I was inspired to give the pie a try after reading and seeing Mrs.Delightful's post on her sweet potato pie ~


I also decided since I kinda knew the ingredients my Nana used, I would throw in what I could remember .

 I drew from memory her shopping list and decided I would add a little of my own touch to the pie to make new memories for my girls. I am pleased to say, they loved it! No one threw the plate back at me, and I think my Nana would have been proud.

Ingredients

3 lbs fresh Yams (Peeled and cut into thirds)

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Vanilla Extract

2 eggs

1/4 cup Evaporated Milk

1/3 cup Butter (melted or Softened)

Cinnamon and Nutmeg to taste
I used a ready made Pillsbury pie crust

Boil your fresh yams and once cooled, mix with hand mixer or stand mixer until a nice thick texture. Add in vanilla, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, evaporated milk. Since the yams are not from a can, allow enough time to beat down the pie filling to a nice smooth texture before adding butter. I am not making super sweet treats around the house so if you feel the sugar content is too low, simply add more. Add in cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. 

Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes

I was soo proud of myself 

Thank you Mrs. Delightful for inspiring the soul in me to make this pie - I was really worried about how it would taste but I made a second pie and it too happily walked away on plates!


I will be making more of these!

Going Where I've Never Gone Before

Salvation Army made me a happy woman again! One evening after grabbing Jai from school, I decided I wanted to stop at the Salvation Army - I hadn't been in a few weeks and wondered if they would have anything to tickle my fancy. They never disappoint me...

I thought about this desk and went inside to see if there could be anything else I saw that could win me over before the desk. I thought about if I even needed another desk since I still haven't gotten around to painting my  Sweet Secretary Desk that I blogged about. I am a little apprehensive about painting the desk. I am trying to talk myself into it.

I paid a mere 30.00 for this desk - check out those pulls! I won't be swapping those out for anything new - I am going to spray paint (eek!) them gold.

After considering a few colors ~ Navy Blue, Plum, Burnt Orange, Evergreen... I decided, I am going to do something I would never do... BLACK! I am going to make a pitch to the family on the location of the desk because I have such great plans for it. Stay tuned for the after, its coming really soon. 

Black furniture is truly going somewhere I have never gone before and I couldn't be more excited!

Updated Table

You may remember the thrift store find I fell in love with for my bedroom:

Well I am finally able to put the table in it's rightful place, I painted the table Ivory Lace by behr, the table turned out nicely  (or at least I think so)

I hope to find just the right accessories to place on the table top... I am really liking hummingbirds for some reason, maybe I will find something that either has lovely little birds or even my sweet hummingbirds to add a little more depth to the table and the corner of the room I will put it in. 

The winds are extremely high today, so my plan for going out thrifting will have to wait, I don't want to risk Asa getting a cold. 

Have a great day!