SHE: Getting Ready for Spring

Hey *|FNAME|*,

Have you caught Spring Fever yet? We've had a crazy weather week here, but I am definitely feeling a case of spring fever coming on. Pretty crisp sunny days make me long to be outdoors. In fact, I enjoyed a little back porch sitting yesterday and it was fabulous!! These are some of my favorite days. They are cool ( I might have been wrapped up in a blanket, eyes closed and sun shining). Great time to reflect and the sun just warms my soul. Y'all, we had SNOW yesterday! Did you? It was pretty and gone before we got out of church ~ Like I said, crazy weather week!

Well, as I was enjoying my spring I couldn't help but notice all the things that have gone on over winter. Chairs were dirty, weeds are popping up in my flower beds, dead stalks from last year's flowers... things need a little TLC.  Here are some suggestions to get your outdoor space spruced up for the spring.

1) Clean up your flower beds, remove weeds, old plants, twigs.  To kill weeds, you can spray them with white vinegar or pouring salt on them. The salt method takes a few days to work, the vinegar works in 48 hours.  Vinegar will kill any type greenery, so be careful.  Both will work and are good for your environment.

2) I love an assortment of flowers in the summertime, so I tend to plant wild flower mixes. (Once my hubby found out they were "wildflowers" and not weeds, they have faired much better. The first summer, he kept trimming them with the weed eater.... I blamed it on the cute rabbits that live in the yard. Nope, it was him.) I love lots of color and variety. Now is the time to get started. Purchase seeds for your favorite plants and flowers. You can start them indoors and transfer them outside once they are mature enough. Burpee is a very trusted brand and this now shows you just how easy it is to get started. 

3) If you don’t have an exterminator, spring (and fall) is a great time to spray the perimeter of your home and yard to prevent bugs. Less bugs in the yard the better. We use Home Defense, it works very well and lasts 3 months. With the very mild winter we have had, I think the bugs are going to be abundant.

4) We use our grill year round. Clean up the grill racks and check for any repairs that might be needed. Refill propane tanks or stock up on charcoal supplies.

5) And finally, the patio furniture. Ours is quite dirty and will take some elbow grease.  I will be using this bleach mixture to spruce it up.  Be sure to wear gloves and rinse the furniture and the area around you thoroughly when you finish. 

So there you are ~ bring on springtime! You are ready.

image via google

image via google

my garden

   xoxo,  Amy

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SHE Makes Glittery Pumpkins

I went to a local fall festival this past weekend.  They had these fabulous silver and gold pumpkins.  I just had to have them!  I love the silver and white pumpkins.  They just remind me of Cinderella and Prince Charming.  We are doing a bridal shower this weekend and needed something to go with my silver pumpkin. So, I got out the glitter and made these other pumpkins.  How many of  you have the traditional colored pumpkins at your house?  Well, I do too!  So I made a few gold and bronze colored pumpkins too.  

I haven't added flowers to them yet. Sorry!   Trying to decide where I want them and what I want them to hold.  I think I may add candy to one and put a vase inside the other to hold my silverware. Or a mason jar with fresh flowers??  I can't decide!

 Anyway,  here is how  I made these pumpkins.

First, I bought the plastic pumpkins for about $1. 

Then, I spray painted the inside and outside with a coat of silver/gray paint.  I didn't want the bright blue or orange to show on the inside.  I was thinking I would add a candle or flowers..or even fill with my silverware.  

The next step is get rid of the face on the plastic pumpkin.  I used Plaster of Paris.  (You can buy a tub of this at Michaels or Hobby Lobby). When you mix it be careful.  Read the label!  Watch out and do not ingest the dust when mixing it.  I mixed mine in a throw away styrofoam bowl and used a plastic spoon.  This stuff sets up like concrete.  

Put a little in the face indentions and spread and smooth it out.  It is like icing a cake.  Work fast because the Plaster of Paris dries fast.  Don't worry if it is not perfect.  Look at real pumpkins.  They have "spots" where they have been laying on the ground.  

Once this dries, you can paint the whole surface.  You can use chalk paint, craft paint, but I used a sample of Valspar's wall paint.  (It was the color I wanted and I had it from a previous project.  And it went on fabulously.). You can get the sample size at your local hardware store for under $5 in any color.  

Now, this is the part that would be scary to most perfectionist. Your pumpkins won't be perfect.  But as soon as you get the paint on to help with the imperfections I immediately sprinkled on Epsom Salt and glitter.  It gives it dimension and hides flaws. Plus who doesn't like glitter....  Now this needs to dry.  Once this is totally dry you need to spray a sealer on top!    Then you can add sand and candles,   or you could go with flowers.  

I had the hurricane globes from another project. I did add glitter to the top of my sand.  (I covered the candle with a cupcake liner while I sprinkled the glitter so it wouldn't get on the candle.) 

I hope you make a Glittery Pumpkin!  I would love to see how yours turns out.  I want to know what colors you use and how you finish it out...candles...or flowers...or silverware holder!  I am curious!  

Lisa B

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SHE: Enjoys Springtime

Hey Y’all,

Happy Monday.  We had such a nice weekend, spending time with my sweet family is always a win for me.  We did a little “gardening”…  Brittney told you about their garden adventure a couple of weeks ago.  I think they are ready to start planting this week.  It takes a lot of work to get the area ready. We are all pretty excited about it.  For me, I like to garden on a much smaller scale. I do patio plants and Saturday I got started on them.  I have hydrangea plants and peony planted, so they come back every year ~ I have nothing to do with their success. Y’all these are blooms from my peony plant. 

Aren’t these just gorgeous? Oh my and you cannot believe how heavenly it smells.  We have had storms off and on all weekend. I was afraid the blooms would be damaged, so I brought a few indoors to enjoy.  Mother’s Day is coming up ~ bet your Momma would enjoy a few fresh flowers from your backyard in a pretty vase especially if it came with a sweet hug. 

Next I added several annuals. I try to round out the colors, but I mostly have reds and pinks. I will be sure to share some pictures as they grow.  Next weekend I will be sprucing up the patio furniture and filling up the tiki torches to keep those pesky mosquitos away.  Then we will ready for a little back porch sitting. 

How do you celebrate springtime outdoors? Have any planting tips you can share with us? We would love you share them. 

                                                                                      Xoxo,

Amy

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SHE: Loves fresh flowers

Hey,

It has been a gorgeous weekend here. Nothing like a little sunshine to perk you up and when it is warm and sunny I want to be outside. I know we are probably going to get another cold snap or 2, but a girl can dream about spring time can’t she?  With the thoughts of spring on my mind it is only natural to start planning for outdoor flower gardens.  I have always been a very pale green thumbed person, nothing like my deep Emerald green thumbed Momma. She can grow anything! I think it has something to do with patience….  So I stick with some of the tried and true favorites. That translates into those varieties that are hearty and seem to survive no matter their living conditions.



image via google

I love a wild flower mix ~ nothing organized in tiny straight rows. I have Mammoth sunflowers, and Zinnias, Marigolds and Dahlias. You can plant these from seeds in early spring. The seed packets can be found at your local hardware store, Walmart, Lowe’s or Home Depot.  Directions are on the packets, it’s best to plant them in a paper cup or paper egg crate with a little top soil and keep them inside until it is time to plant them outside. They will take a few weeks to sprout and once they are large enough you can plant them outside in your flower bed or in a container.  Remember I mentioned my lack of patience.  I have been known to sprinkle the seeds into the pretty dark rich topsoil and pray for the best.  And this has worked.  Birds will however LOVE to eat your sunflower seeds, cover them well.  I love eclectic containers too ~ galvanized buckets are so cute.

our flower garden

Our deck is in full sun pretty much all day so the flowers I choose must be “full sun” types.  Be sure to check the little name tag in your flower pack if you are unsure.  We have containers of all different sizes around the edges of our deck for potted flowers. These are typically Geraniums (super hearty and forgiving).  The only common trait of the flower mixture is different shades of red and pinks; this attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. I like the wildflower mixture because they make great cut flower bouquets. 

Container gardening is an easy way to grow gorgeous blooms of your own, but it does take time.  If this isn’t for you, you are still in luck.  You can also find lovely fresh flowers at your local market most every day.  No matter where they are from fresh flowers are so such an easy but very nice touch to dress up any area of your home.  And here are a few tips to keep them looking better longer:     

image via google

1)      Add ¼ cup lemon lime soda to the water

       2)      Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar with water in the 

             vase  before you add flowers. Change the mixture every few days

3)      Add 1 crushed aspirin to the water before adding the flowers

4)     Be sure to cut flower stems on an angle and clip 1” off the bottom before putting into the   vase and tulips are very thirsty. Poke a hole in the cut stem with a straight pin, this helps them absorb water

       5)    Also, remove any leaves that will be submerged in the water

Do you enjoy gardening? Please post a picture of your blooms ~ we will be sharing tips all season long.  Our families are going to attempt a vegetable garden this year.  Can’t wait to share our crop tips with you all.

                                                                        

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