Planning for a Garage Sale

I am in the midst of having a garage sale soon and wanted to share some pointers for you that I have used in the past on having them.

How many of you enjoy going to garage sales, yard sales, etc?  Well as you know it can be lots of work and time wasted if you don't plan ahead.  Don't you agree?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/257127459947376636/ion

Well here are some tips on how to streamline the process:

• Plan a date - decide whether you want to have it inside or outside (weather permitting)

•  Grab a box and start in each room of your home and gather items that you have not used in months and add to the collection.  Don't forget closets and garage too!

• Advertise your sale via Craigslist, classifieds in your local newspaper, flyers, etc.

• Have the sale starting in the early am when weather is cooler......

•  Create a sign announcing your sale....(you may want to check with your local area where you live to make sure they are permitted)

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•  Have tables set up for arranging items that you will be selling.  Also have an area where you can display glass items away from children. 

• Have items marked and priced clearly......

•   Make sure you have plenty of change for your sale.  (You may want to go to your local bank for this, i.e. rolls of quarter, ones, fives, tens and twenty dollar bills)

• After sale, whatever items do not sell, donate to a local charity of your choice.  At least that is what my plans are!

Wish me luck!

Scout Southern Market in Beaufort, SC - New Shop

A new specialty market just opened in downtown Beaufort called Scout Southern Market.  It is a specialty store specializing in furniture, lighting, specialty foods, home decor and even a tea bar where you can enjoy specialty tea drinks along with some sweets.

I love everything in the store and wanted to share some eye candy with you this morning.

 

 

I am loving these chairs above, sort of remind me of a chair that I recently bought for my living room.

Oh this bed swing would be perfect for my porch!

Love the artwork here!

I adore these lamps!

Love the tea bar!

You can even enjoy one of these cute, preppy alligator cookies with your tea.....

I couldn't leave without enjoying a Southern Sweet Tea Float which consists of sweet tea and a dollop of peach or lemon sorbet, oh so good!


 If you are ever in downtown, historic Beaufort, SC, you must stop by Scout Southern Market! 

Enjoy your week!

Homemade Banana Ice Cream

What is better in the hot, summer months than some homemade ice cream?  Well, I have a treat for you today.  I made some banana ice cream and it was so delicious!

Recently I found the recipe in the New York Times and it sounded too good not to try! It includes the ice cream base and also includes options on other flavors you can make starting with the ice cream base.  Truthfully, I had a tough time deciding on which flavor to make since they all sounded delicious!



I think it is the best ice cream I have ever had, SERIOUSLY!


Recipe can be found Here.

So tell me, what is your favorite kind of ice cream?

My Asparagus Fern

Do you have a favorite plant that you love?  I do and it is the Asparagus Fern.  No it is not an edible plant but new growth on this plant resembles tiny spears of asparagus.  They are very easy to grown and versatile.

Asparagus ferns are very adaptable and will grow in full sun to shade.  I move mine around quite often and for now I have it on my wrought iron patio table.  Mine is doing very well where it is and is shaded by a Water Oak tree in my back yard for the warmer months.  When it gets cool outside, I can bring inside and place near any window for morning sun.

I bought my fern at a local nursery and replanted it in one of my favorite urns.

Close-up

I also wanted to take a photo of my fern near my garage on my "favorite blue" bistro chair.

Asparagus ferns will grow in nearly any soil and will thrive in both moist and dry conditions. They flourish in the hottest summer heat.   You can also trim them in the spring for abundance in growth.

Asparagus ferns are among the most drought-tolerant plants we use in containers, which is a real advantage since containers can dry out so quickly. The secret to their drought tolerance is in the white tuberous structures attached to their roots. These structures store water to carry the plant through times of drought. You may see them when transplanting or repotting the plants.

I have also see Asparagus ferns in pots with other assorted plants, landscaping and even hanging pots on a porch.

So what is your favorite house plant?

Also linking to: http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2014/07/share-your-cup-thursday-112.html

Splashes of Coral Added to Guest Bedroom

Hope you are enjoying your week so far.  Can you believe it is almost Mid-July?  The summer is flying by so quickly.

I never shared one of my guest bedrooms with some coral touches added to this room.  It all started with a new coral quilt that I picked up from Home Goods for a really great price.....

Then the next step was making these easy embroidery hoop artwork with some coral colors.  See previous post here.

Then I bought some coral paint for the two tiered shelf that I have hung on the opposite wall of the bed.

Then of course, I had to buy a pillow with some coral splashes.....

I have shown this dresser in a previous post.  I had originally painted it with ASCP and thought it needed a little touch of coral added to the knobs and some of the trim.  I love how this little piece turned out for my first ASCP job.  It was also a very good bargain piece of furniture for painting!

Hope you enjoyed the "pops of coral" added to this room!

Enjoy your week!
  

Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie

Hello There,

How was your weekend, mine was great!  Today I wanted to share some photos of my patio, but weather was not cooperating for photographing  so I will share another time.

Today I felt like making a pie and decided on a Chocolate Cream.  Who doesn't like chocolate, right? I love graham cracker crusts with most pies so I knew I would make one for the chocolate filling.

First, I started with with the graham cracker crust and after it cooled, I made the homemade chocolate filling which I used chocolate cocoa along with whole milk, eggs vanilla and butter.  I don't know about you, but I love tasting the leftover pie filling from the pan before I wash it!

After I filled the pie, I refrigerated it until cool.  I then whipped up some heavy cream along with confectioner sugar and vanilla extract so I could serve with the pie.  Whipped cream always makes the finishing touch to desserts for me, especially if it is homemade whipped cream!  The recipe is below.

Graham Cracker Crust

I buy the Keebler graham cracker crumbs - directions for the crust is on side of box

Chocolate Filling

2 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
3 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat milk and butter in double boiler.  Beat egg yolks and sugar until creamy, then add dry ingredients. Slowly add to hot milk mixture and stir constantly until thick.  Add vanilla last and pour mixture into cooled pie shell.

I am going to surprise my neighbor with a slice or two.

So how do you like your pie, with or without whipped cream? Oh, I forgot some mini chocolate chips too!

Thanks for your visit!


Also linking to: http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2014/07/share-your-cup-thursday-112.html

House Hunting in North Carolina

Hope you had a great 4th.  I took a long extended  weekend and visited the Raleigh,  Chapel Hill area of North Carolina.

We did see some beautiful homes along with wonderful neighborhoods but just not sure where I want to settle yet.  Anyway, I had a nice 4th!  We watched fireworks at the Kenan Stadium at UNC.  We love that campus and the fireworks were fabulous!  

Here are a couple of fireworks that I captured.....

 

 

What did you do on the 4th to celebrate?

Take care.