2/12/12

A Few New Tweaks in the Kitchen

Hey everyone!  Hope everyone has been having a lovely weekend.  I've been a bit under the weather the last couple of days, at my own doing.  I decided as part of my getting healthier plan for 2012, I should give up caffeine.  Silly me, right!  I've never been an "all-day" coffee drinker, but apparently those 2 cups I always had first thing in the morning were enough to create the addiction.  So, now I'm dealing with the annoying "caffeine-withdrawal headache."  To ease the pain just a bit, I have had a very small cup of tea in the mornings, but I don't really want to trade one caffeine beverage for another, so I'm really limiting how much I have.  Oh well, hopefully I'm almost over the withdrawals.  Anyway, between naps (they really do help), I've been enjoying blog hopping & doing some catching up.  I even had time to put together another new post.

As I've said before, I don't do a lot of Valentine's Day decorating, but don't like to ignore the holiday either.  I love having some pops of red around our home, especially in the kitchen; and what says more about Valentine's Day than anything red.  Well, I might be stretching that just a bit, because most of the red in my kitchen is definitely not Valentine-related, but who cares.  Ya'll like seeing vignettes of anything, right?  Right!

Just wanted to show you the little goodie bags I made for the "Grands."  

Just filled some cello bags with Teddy Grahams & candy hearts, then made some labels with a little love note from Nana & Bappa on the back of each one.  The blue & red one is for Parker -- couldn't give him a pink & lavender one, no way!

Are these just the cutest dish towels ever?  My sweet son & equally sweet DIL gave them to me (along with another very special item you will see in a minute) for my birthday.  Our children are not supposed to buy us gifts for Christmas or birthdays -- we don't need gifts & they have their own families to buy for, but these two broke the rules.  I can say they shouldn't have, but I do love what they gave me...lol!

I haven't yet hung them up, I just like looking at them in this little vignette.  I love my red china basket, & it is always filled with apples and pears right now.  Mr. Roo nite light adds a bit of red to the scene as well.  And the plate is one of two that I found on clearance at Pier 1 a couple of years ago.  The mosaic candle holder is several years old.

I like to keep our breakfast table fairly simple, because The Man doesn't like having to move a bunch of stuff when we get ready to eat.  Men!  

I can't even tell you how old this basket is, but old.  I just ran some red ribbon I had through the weave & jazzed it up a bit.  This is another salvaged from Christmas candle.  I just added a scrap piece of scrapbook paper & added a fiberboard sticker that says Cherish -- my "One Little Word" for 2012.  Added a little tiny vase with a piece of ivy just because I thought it needed some greenery.  Red salt/pepper shakers sit right inside.

The other part of my birthday gift is sitting over here.  Do you see what it is?


Isn't this gorgeous?  It's from Italy, & the writing is in Italian.  It's more of a shallow bowl, not a plate, that would be perfect for serving a large tossed salad.  The stickers on both this piece & the dish towels said Sur La Table, which is one of my favorite stores!

My little red Roo is looking on in awe!

With all the cabinets & wonderful storage in this kitchen, it is lacking a good place for my "most often used" cookbooks, so I opted for this basket for now.  I added a couple of hand-carved (by The Man's aunt) wooden utensils & a cute little dishtowel with roosters on it.  This whole basket-thing is working for me for now. 



A couple more pops of color with the apothecary jar filled with faux fruit, & the little nesting bowls, which were a gift from a friend a couple of years ago.

One more little look-see from the other side.  I've had my Hoya & Christmas Cactus here since Christmas, and they are so happy.  Pretty soon I'll be moving them out to the patio.

Well, that's it for now.  Thanks so much for stopping by and please come again soon.
CAS

I'm happily linking to:
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple 
Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker On A Dime
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
Overflowing with Creativity @ It's Overflowing 
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Potpourri Friday @ 2805 
Inspiration Friday @  At the Picket Fence   
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello 




18 comments:

  1. How sweet Cas! Sorry about your withdrawl headache. I do not think I can give up coffee. I really enjoy my morning cups. You roos are so cute.

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  2. Cas, you are a brave lady giving up your coffee, I couldn't function without it!

    Those are some wonderful birthday gifts, and the Valentine's goody bags for the grand kids are so cute!

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  3. You should be feeling better in about 4 days when withdrawling from caffeine:( I love the rooster towel, I need me some. Do you know where they are from?

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  4. I've never drank coffee but I've heard about the withdrawal headaches.
    Feel better.
    Cute idea for the grands!

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  5. Love those rooster towels. That was sweet of them to break the rules.

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  6. How sweet of them to break the rules! I think I just traded one addiction for another - I rarely drink Dr Pepper but now I must have coffee or tea in the mornings!

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  7. I love all your new goodies! I commend you on trying to withdraw all caffeine from your diet. I couldn't do it! I look forward to my 2 cups of coffee every morning and I love chocolate. I don't feel too guilty about it though since I consider those my only vices! I don't smoke and I rarely drink, so hey....give me some coffee and chocolate in moderation and we'll all get along just fine. ha! We celebrated Valentines Day today since my husband will be working all 24 hrs tomorrow (firefighter). Woo hoo....more chocolate is in the house! Hey....maybe you can switch to decaf coffee and then still feel like you're able to have it.

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  8. No coffee...yikes! I don't think I could make it :) I love your grouping on the counter, too!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  9. Love your roosters and your treat bags for the grands are fabulous. How fun, they will love them. Thanks tons for joining TTT. So sorry you are having problems linking up. Hugs, Marty

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  10. I'm a tea drink, but I do love coffee ice cream! Also love roosters....you have some good ones! Linda

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  11. Hi Cas! Aren't you a sweetie of a grandma? Love your little treat bags for the grans. Love your Rooster plate and other yard birds. That's a great little white cabinet and great idea for your cook books! Happy Valentine's Day!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  12. Oh, I just love everything in your post...what do I choose to comment on? Love your plate from Italy, and your red bowl(I have the same one in green that hold fruit too), the cabinet of Fiesta, your sweet goodies for the grands, and the cookbooks in the basket. I could go on, lol!

    Stopping in from Table Top Tuesday and your newest follower. Pam

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  13. I am with you. I have tried and tried to get some links to work and then others work just fine. I have no clue. Sure wish I did. Hugs, Marty

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  14. Hi CAS, I wish you well on giving up the caffeine. I'm familiar with the headache - they're brutal! I remember after my recent thyroid surgery waking up on day two after 24 hours with no caffeine and begging for a cup of tea. I do wish I'd never developed the "habit." Your goodie bags look like lots of fun. I can't wait to be a grandma!
    Lynn at Cottage and Creek
    www.cottageandcreek.com

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  15. LOVE the rooster decor!

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

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  16. Hi Cas, The chicken towels and your new bowl are wonderful gifts.
    I bet the grandchildren loved their goody bags. Thanks for joining the Open House party.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  17. LOVE the roo's, Cas! Hate that about the caffeine withdrawl. I have no intentions of giving up my coffee, and apparently have no intentions of healthier eating either considering how poorly I have done lately.

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  18. This turned out AWESOME!!!! Wonderful gifts! Thanks so much for sharing at my party!!! Can't wait to see what you link up this week!!! Just in case you haven't entered, my giveaway for 1000 full color business cards ends tonight at midnight!!! Glad to be following you!! XO, Aimee

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I truly love to hear from you and try to respond to each and everyone. If you have "no reply blogger," I will respond in my comments section and then visit your blog as soon as I can.

Make this a great day!
Carol

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