Skip to main content

SOCIAL MEDIA




I hate years when Easter comes early because that means that Mardi Gras is early, and it's close to Valentine's Day.  Our dining room is decorated for Valentine's and our kitchen is decorated for Mardi Gras.

Here is our breakfast room table.  We're having gumbo and King Cake for dinner  :D























Daisies, asters, tulips, goldenrod, and eucalyptus 












Resources:
Mardi Gras Runner and Coasters:  Lundy Ryan Designs, New Orleans
Bowls:  Biscuit @ Anthropologie
Gold napkins and napkin rings:  Pier 1
Purple napkins:  English Ivey, Birmingham
Glasses:  Neiman Marcus
Medium vase:  Dandy small vase by MacKenzie-Childs
Tiny Vase:  Dena at Christine's, Mountain Brook, AL
Square cake plate:  Aplico, WIlliams-Sonoma
Peacock ribbon:  Michael's


Have you decorated for Mardi Gras yet?

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Mardi Gras Tablescape

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Shelley has had a tough week which included a biology test, so I cooked her a special snack: Deep Butter Cake from Helfer's Bakery.   Here is the recipe. One of my blog friends posted this a while back, and I can't remember who. If you're the guilty party, please comment!  :D






One of my favorite Christmas presents from my best friend, Susan.




The secret to the cake is butter flavoring.  It's worth the search for it!  :D  Shelley loved the cake, and she is a very picky eater.

Resources:
Tablecloth:  Anthropologie
China:  Harvest by Lenox
Square cake plate:  Zen platter from Williams-Sonoma
Vase:  MacKenzie-Childs Dandy small vase
Cake knife and server:  Gift

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill



Kenzie and Scriptor are hosting the linky now.  Here are this week's questions:


{no. 1} What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

I just posted about this on Monday, LOL!  My guilty pleasure is watching The Bachelor.  You can read my post about it here.

Coming in at a close second would be Seattle Chocolates' truffle bars!  ;P


{no. 2} Do you actually keep your resolutions for the New Year? 

I don't make them.  I try to set monthly goals and achieve them.

{no. 3} If you had to do one random act of kindness today, what would it be?

If I could answer that then it wouldn't be random  ;P

{no. 4} Do you have a bucket list, 101 in 1001 list, or any other list? If you do, what are some of your goals?

I don't have a bucket list, but there is a tour of Ireland where you ride horses from castle to castle.  I would love that, and so would the girls!



I'd also like to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and Parade of Roses.




Most of my other goals involve my children/home, not necessarily me.


{no. 5} Why do you love blogging?

Friendships, link parties, and learning so, so much from so many talented women!  :D


Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

We Want to Know Wednesday Has Returned!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013



I love this romantic cottage gate and arbor with the climbing roses.  Is there anything more romantic?  I'm *so* looking forward to Valentine's Day.

I know several of you have pretty garden gates and climbing roses like this, and I admire them all.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Wit & Whimsy: Rose Covered Arbor

Everyday Ruralty
Patrice has a few fun ramdom questions today.  :D


1.   Have you ever been on a boat? (Motor boat, sail boat, cruise ship, ark, or Good Ship Lollipop)

Oh, yes.  Many types of boats.  We are boat owners, and my husband is a sailer.  We love water sports!
I've even been on these:


Hawaiian outrigger canoe



and these:


Venetian gondola



2.   Do you need an alarm to wake up in the morning, or do you wake up naturally? If you have an alarm, tell us what type.  

Yes I do!  We use a clock radio.  I hate it.


3.   Have you ever had a yard sale?

Yep, but not since 1996.  We're long overdue, but out HOA doesn't allow yard sales.  :/


4.   Do you like kitchen gadgets? What are some of your favorite?

I'm a sucker for kitchen gadgets, and I actually use most of them.  This one's my very favorite:


Breville Milk Frother


Here's mine on my beverage station tray.


5.   Do you read labels at the grocery store?

Yes.  But I don't like it because it always depresses me.



Until next time..

Blessings!
Ricki Jill


Chatting With Patrice @ Farmhouse Ruralty #78

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

{......but I'm sure she'll share.......}







Oh, my.....

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

For Nana Diana......

 photo ArtatHomeButton_zps18898da7.jpg


Welcome to My Happy List, a linky where we celebrate the big and little things that bring happiness to our lives.


My  Happy List

1.   I have an update on Holly.  Holly is my sweet neighbor and friend who has been fighting breast cancer.  So many of you sent Holly cards, gifts, and prayed for her.  Y'all truly made a difference, and she's so touched by your kindnesses.  Holly is doing so well, and she looks great!  Holly's smile makes me so happy!




Holly and her son, Matthew


2.   Mr. Art @ Home makes me laugh.  Look what he put on the window sill where I can't possibly miss it:


Methinks he wants some red beans and rice for dinner tomorrow night.  I'll soak them in a minute.  I promise!  ;P


3.   Guess what I've been doing?  Here's a hint:


Yep!  I've been decorating for Valentine's Day!  Just thinking about the big day makes me so happy.  I'm expecting big things from Mr. Art @ Home!  ;P



4.   Have you met my neighbor Winston?  He gets tired on walks with his mom, so he has his own stroller.  Seeing Winston in his stroller makes me so happy!  I think Bonnie needs one, too.



5.   I went to Tuscaloosa recently and spent the day with Shanley Belle.  We went to brunch and got a manicure.  :D  Spending time with my daughter makes me so happy!  


This is my color:  OPI's "Ladies and Magenta-Men."  ;P



6.   When Mr. Art @ Home and I were first married, we went to Jackson Hole skiing where I discovered Cowboy Coffee Company.  We also lived in Scottsdale early in our marriage, and I was able to buy it locally at one of my favorite stores.  Well, guess what!!!  I stumbled upon the Cowboy Coffee Co.'s website.  HAPPY!!!  :D  I'm placing my order tonight.  More later.



What's making you happy?  Please write a post, link-up, and share!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

My Happy List

Can you guess what it is?  Is it:



or









or











Nope.  Although the above are great, they aren't my guilty pleasure. 


THIS is my guilty pleasure:



The Bachelor!  Not literally...just the show.


Mondays are difficult for us, so we always watch The Bachelor (or The Bachelorette) and take a break during Dancing With the Stars.  

And if you want to watch the show with a little drinking game, visit Connie @ The Young and the Relentless.  I could never participate because I wouldn't last the first fifteen minutes!  :/   Her Bachelor wrap-up on Tuesdays will make you laugh out loud!!!

So what is YOUR guilty pleasure?

Seriously I want to know!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

My Most Guilty Pleasure

Monday, January 28, 2013



Last week, Chris Tomlin made history by being only the fourth Christian singer to hit #1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart during his album Burning Lights' debut week.   Although I'm a Christian, I rarely listen to Christian artists.  I love the message, but hate the music, unfortunately, because I like the sound of alternative rock.  This limits me to basically four or so bands:  Flyleaf, Skillet, Relient K, and Creed.

I was discussing my dilemma with Miss Joan, an older lady at church one day, and I was whining about how I didn't understand why there aren't more Christian singers/bands playing the music I like.  She looked at me like I was stupid.  :/   Then she said, "Honey I can tell you why.  It's because THE ENEMY got all the good musicians."

{.....well alrighty then.....}

I listend to Burning Lights, and I liked it overall.  Awake My Soul is my favorite track, and the lyrics are on the video.


                                      

Chris Tomlin Awake My Soul


What have you been listening to lately?

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Musical Monday: Awake My Soul

Debbiedoo's


It is time for yet another Copycat Challenge @ Debbiedoo's.  My inspiration is from Dena Fishbein's book, The Painted Home by Dena.



This is the most wonderful book with lovely photos and twenty or so projects guaranteed to whimsically embellish every room in your home.




I love this tablescape from the book.  The vases with gorgeous papers are stunning displayed together .  This is another example of fun projects in The Painted Home.



This is my inspiration for my project.  Dena hand painted the curtains and lampshade in this photo.


P1050805_zps668aaa9e photo P1050805_zps668aaa9e-1_zps162f2d4e.jpg


Mr. Art @ Home gave me this cute little MacKenzie-Childs lamp recently as a surprise.  I didn't like the plain white shade, so I used Manga markers, tape, and rickrack to embellish the shade.


I have the lamp in our dining room on a breakfast nook stand.



Here is a close-up of the little lamp.



This is the finished shade.  



Are you a copycat?  Did you accept Debbie's challenge this month?

Linking to:


Mod Vintage Life

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill


Debbiedoo's Copycat Challenge: Hand-painted Lampshade

Sunday, January 27, 2013


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

Follow me on Instagram