A little Sugar and Spice for this Inspiration Friday .

{cute + sundress = Hanna Andersson}

Little girls rooms...if you ask me, they can get away with a lot. It's not every room in your house that you can say " the frillier the better." The little attic bedroom I grew up in has walls covered with flowing blue ribbons and trailing pink roses. Every inch of it is pretty. Oh the hours of pretending and daydreaming that went on in that room. My Mom went out of her way to make it a room fit for a princess. And I am so tickled that she did, not only for the endless pleasure that it brought me and all my girlfriends but also because someday it will be Annabelle's room when we come to visit. And I can just see her now, with paper dolls spread out all over the rosie bed, any little girls paradise.

Here you are then, Girly Rooms Galore:

{ love the green below, from Pottery Barn }

and lastly, my personal favorite:

And while we are dreaming, why not one more outfit from H.A. : :)

And may I now introduce...

A pretty new blog for your pleasure.

Notes From A Cottage Garden

comes to you from the camera and keyboard of

my very own Mother-Dear who has just recently joined the ranks of Blog-land to share the delights of her oh so lovely garden...Everytime I go for a visit I get a color rush...and I promise you will be enchanted and inspired by her beauty and expertise.

You can tell her I sent you and that I said, she is way too wonderful to keep all to myself.

Friday Inspriation

It's such a treat at the end of a long day to open up my mail-box and find the lastest issue (thanks to you dear Farilight) of MSL...Is it just me and my love for zinnias and the color red, or is the cover of MSL June, stunning and vibrant? I am trying to figure out how I can frame it. But for now I am going to use it as my jumping off point for Inspiration Friday:

As you've probably noticed, I am at the present, on a total color kick...it seems to be a sort of unspoken theme during these bright summerlike days. And I was so inspired by the beauty and brilliance of the Zinnia's on the cover of that magazine, that right then and there I sat down and did up these little paper posies which I have high hopes for turning into cards for the shop.

And finally today, in honor of Mothers Day on Sunday I leave you with my all time favorite Motherly quote and illustration:

" The most important thing she had learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. "

-Jill Churchhill

waffles from scratch

Lately I have gotten into the habit of using my bisquick mix when whipping up a batch of waffles, usually to save on time, either because have slept waaaaay in and I have to hurry and get breakfast on the table before it's lunchtime, or we are about to be late for church. Last Sat. morning convinced me that the extra 5 minutes it takes to make waffles from scratch is more than worth it. Instead of the usual gulping down of the dry/ bland bisquickies with a glass of milk and half a bottle of syrup...the waffles were moist and tasted good even without butter and syrup. David and I just couldn't stop " mmmm-ing " over them. Infact I was impressed enough that I haven't forgotten (and it's Tuesday) how much I want share this recipe with you:

Waffles From Scratch-
(from The Taste of Home Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

1) In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine egg yolks, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

2) In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter

3) Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Top with confectioners' sugarand fruit or serve with syrup. Or in our case, fresh strawberries and real whipped cream.

Yeild: 4 waffles(about 6 inches)

Inspiration Friday.

{ Flea Market Fancy }

Flea Market Style is perfect for those of you who have a knack for always finding a deal. What could be more fun than to search high and low for the perfect vintage/second hand things to fill your home at garage sales, flea markets, thrift or antique stores? Think of it as a more relaxed way to do chic . I appreciate the elements of character that highlight Flea Market Style. It's a fresh approach to recyling and an often more afforable way to dress up a home. Undoubtedly a pleasing to the eye, often showy way to prove one man's junk is truly another man's treasure.

For More Inspriation Friday check out these lovely spots: Life in the Low Country , Across The Pond, The Cottage Nest