Blondie 'N' SC

Change For A Dollar~

Change For A Dollar Movie.

We could all use a little CHANGE~

Please take a moment and click on the link...this little movie changed the way I think about a few things...I hope it does for you too!

Happy Monday~

                                              

A Labor of Love Farm Wedding~

A few months ago, a sweet girl contacted me via e-mail asking me where I got my "welcome" banner that adorns the entry way of my home as she wanted to use one for her upcoming wedding...

I sent her the information and she promised me she would send me photos of her wedding. A few days ago she made good on her word, and sent me a link to her wedding photos.

As I clicked over to the link I was completely blown away at the amount of love and personal touches that went into this amazing wedding that was held on the family farm she grew up on in Canada.

Hollis, the beautiful bride describes her wedding as a true labor of love...as her family farm was transformed into a gorgeous venue by her family and friends filled with vintage and personal touches. Her wedding was everything she had envisioned and more since she was a little girl...

I asked her permission to posts photos of her special day here so all of you could feel like you were part of the magic of that day...that is exactly how I felt after looking at these photos and seeing all the hands that made this such an incredible day in her life...

{her Grandmother made 10 wedding cakes all by hand for the ceremony}

{Hollis made her own bouquet out of vintage brooches}

{ how sweet are these photos! }

{I love the brown boots with the beautiful creme & lace dresses}

From her own words, "I would say almost the entire wedding was DIY! The projects covered all aspects of the wedding. We sewed bunting, painted signs, made our own cakes, designed our ceremony site in the woods, renovated our barn, my mom created the bar out of an ash tree, handmade bistro tables, my mother in law made the flower girl dresses, scrap booked our place cards, designed maps, we made a vintage brooch bouquet, made our own favours, wrote our own vows and grew the produce that was served at our meal. And beyond that we collected antique dishes from thrift stores, auctions, antique stores and flea markets and used vintage pop bottle as vases for our centerpieces."

{simply gorgeous...}

Isn't she just darling!!

You can see more of her wedding here & here~ along with a sweet video of her day & a list of resources!

Thank you Hollis for letting us sneak a peek at your wedding day...truly one of the most thoughtful and romantic weddings I have seen in a very long time.

I wish you and your hubby lots of happiness and love!

 {all of these amazing photos are from Made you Look Photography- & used with permission}

A Few Extra Minutes~

Last Sunday I headed to dinner with some girlfriends to celebrate a birthday, as I was headed out the door I realized I hadn't even run a brush through my hair since that morning....nor did I have an ounce of makeup on...and I probably had baby spit up down the back of my shirt as well...{glamorous to say the least}...

Too many times I have forgotten to take a few extra minutes for me in the morning, or before we leave for a family outing. I am busy making bottles, finding lost blankets and Power Ranger action figures, or nagging the pool man to help me find my car keys. A sad state of affairs as I have put my appearance on the back burner for something called "life".

I made a pact with myself to start putting myself first for a few minutes each morning...

To run a brush through my hair, throw on some mascara and blush, to do simple things that really take no time at all, but would make me feel better about myself during the day...

With that in mind, I have found several fun hair styles I would love to try some day....

Love the messy look here...easy enough to do I think...

My hair might be a little to thick for most of these...but worth a shot to look this cute!


Might take some help from a friend, but fun nonetheless...

{images 1-4 via A Beautiful Mess}

A Beautiful Mess explains step by step how to achieve these looks...

&

Love Maegan even does video tutorials on how to braid your hair like this... 

Isn't she darling?

{Images 5-6 via Love Maegan}

Of course who doesn't love the messy bun look?

{via Brunch at Saks}

& adding a flower to any hairstyle always makes a flirty impact...

 {image via Pinterest}

Just a couple minutes out of a whole day isn't asking too much, right? I might have to let the baby suck on a matchbox car or allow my oldest punk a few more minutes of "Sponge-bob" to achieve these looks, but it is worth it to feel a little more put together so to speak...

And if I get really crazy, and let the baby chew on two match box cars and allow my other punk to tear apart my bed so he can kung fu fight with himself I might be able to achieve this look:

{image & tutorial via Brunch at Saks}

And I am convinced a messy bun and smokey eyes would be complete with a pair of these...

{Inage via Brunch at Saks}

A girl can dream... can't she?

Cheers to taking a few extra minutes for yourself!

xoxo~

 p.s. if anyone has any tips on getting curly/frizzy/out~ of~ control hair {uh hem....my hair} straight, I would love to hear them...

Yummie Soup~ Lentil

{Disclaimer: before you go and think I am a good cook...I am not. My mother made me all these soups when I was on bed rest, and no you can't have my mother, or my unborn baby, so don't even think about asking!...she giggles...}

This was my favorite of all the soups, I might have had it for lunch and snack and dinner, and would have had it for breakfast if i wasn't solely addicted to bagels...

Enjoy!

Hearty Lentil Soup

Before use, rinse and then carefully sort through the lentils to remove small stones and pebbles. The soup can be made in advance. After adding the vinegar in step 2, cool the soup to room temperature and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To serve, heat it over medium-low until hot, then stir in the parsley. Makes about 2 quarts, serving 4 to 6

3 slices bacon (about 3 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch pieces

1 large onion , chopped fine (about 1 1/2 cups)

2 medium carrots , peeled and chopped medium (about 1 cup)

3 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes , drained

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1 cup lentils (7 ounces), rinsed and picked over (french green lentils are best. but brown, black,or green are fine too.

1 teaspoon table salt

ground black pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

 

 Fry bacon in large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add onion and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, and thyme; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in lentils, salt, and pepper to taste; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until vegetables are softened and lentils have darkened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Uncover, increase heat to high, add wine, and bring to simmer. Add chicken broth and water; bring to boil, cover partially, and reduce heat to low.

Simmer until lentils are tender but still hold their shape, 30 to 35 minutes; discard bay leaf. 2. Puree 3 cups soup in blender until smooth, then return to pot; stir in vinegar and heat soup over medium-low until hot, about 5 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy happy weekend, can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving?

We have nothing planned this weekend, nothing...did i say nothing, yup nothing...

however, I did finish another project with some help...and this one gets me all excited!

Be back soon....

Cha cha cha!

 P.s. I think I finally turned the pregnancy corner and after 4.5 months I finally feel like myself again...

This baby _______ is taking a beating on momma already...!

 

Yummie Soup- Pasta e Fagioli

Over the weekend my punk tried on his first session of begging me to go to grandma's....from the moment he woke up, 6:00 am to the minute after we finished eating our bagels, to begging relentlesly while we watched the surfers...I mean surf, to the minute we got home from our morning jaunt, to the minute we finished our morning showers to get ready for the day...I mean this kid is good...really good.

A quick call to grandma as my punk jumped on the bed and pleaded a pretty good case for a three year old of why he needed to go to grandma's, within an hour we were off to Long Beach for a quick stay at grandma's...

We had a wonderful time, the weather was amazing, high 70's and so clear...we played almost all day on Saturday and my mom made us this wonderful soup for dinner, I should have snapped some photos but I was totally enthralled in "Toy Story 3" and completely forgot, but trust me you will love this soup...la la love it!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! 

 Pasta e Fagioli

• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 large sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 ounces pancetta, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 5  cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup elbow macaroni
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Wrap the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth and secure closed with kitchen twine.

 Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, pancetta, and garlic and saute until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes.

Add the broth, beans, and sachet of herbs. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.

 Discard the sachet. Puree 1 cup of the bean mixture in a blender until smooth. Before putting the puree back into the soup, add the macaroni and boil with the lid on until it is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.

Return the puree to the remaining soup in the saucepan and stir well. Season the soup with ground black pepper and red pepper flakes.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with some Parmesan and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil just before serving.

 P.S. I am linking this post up with Heather's Life Made Lovely Monday:

 

 

Rainy Days~

It has been raining here for uh-em well a whole day and half straight, I know hold the phone, that is like more rain then we have seen in a very long time. Being that I live in Southern California, when it rains people and animals freak out. Seriously, they don't know how to drive, and the freeways look like parking lots with flashing lights and sig-alerts every where you turn....it took me an hour and half to get to work yseterday morning, and it wasn't even raining that hard.

On the way home, I practically had to throw out an oar and paddle home, the roads were flooded, and the mass of people going in one direction to get home safely was insane. When I finally reached my punk, who was safe and sound at daycare, we bundle up and ran outside to a torrential down pour.

Now I always park in the driveway, run in to get him, help him into my white SUV and strap him into his big boy seat. Yesterday, my punk went walking out the door, with his hood on {which makes my heart melt}, and started walking down the steps away from my car, mind you the rain is pouring down on us, I had to corral him back to the drive way, hoist him up into my SUV while my sides hurt from laughing so hard. Needless to say we were both drenched and the bottom of my jeans were soaked as I ran to get into the drivers side of the car.  I had to maneuver myself around in the front seat to turn back and buckle him in...ever seen a pregnant lady who looks like she is 5 months along, when really she is only three, twist around in the front seat of her car with boots on...it ain't a pretty sight. But we made it, and I decided taking the streets home would be a better alternative!

Then the pool man called, and asked if I had kidnapped his son...considering I was over an hour late getting home....and I proceeded to tell him about rowing home in the river with my oar and the terrential down pour with a three year old, and he proceeded to tell me, that he had been home since 2:00....napping!

Huh, must be nice! Being a pool man certainly had its perks....and you all do know that he really is a pool man, right?

And to top it all off, my dog, Greg is a sissy. Yup I said it, that darn dog, started whining Monday night @ 3:00 am to be let in the house cause the thunder was scaring him...Well little did he know he was drenched and his booty went straight into his kennel were he whined some more.

Meanwhile my punk's alarm went off in his room, which usually means he is out of his bed, and so I had to get up again to check on him around 3:21 am and come to find out it was just the thunder playing games with his alarm, he was sound asleep snuggled in his feather duvet and the mass of baby blankets he carries around...so I went pee for the third time that night...and fell back into bed....

Only my cat, the one that if she could she would fold herself completely into my body and live there harmoniously with me started whining for food at 3:26am, and made it quite clear that she wasn't going to let it go! So there I am at three AM in my stretchy pants, feeding a cat, wet food in which the smell lately makes me want to throw up and listening to the pouring rain and thunder....

thinking how much I really love the rain....

And Wondering, what is your favorite rainy day memory?

As an Adult or as a child?

Now let me be clear this is not my favorite rainy day memory, considering I was beat yesterday from a night of rain and whining....but laughing with my punk while running to the car in the down pour made all the difference!

xoxoxo~

 

Making Room for Baby~

 Top 'o the morning to ya!

Do tell, how is your holiday shopping coming, are you enjoying the Handmade Vintage Market?

In our hopes to get ready for baby...{motivation has been hard to find around our nest}.... I am working on things slowly but surely and in that regard, I am sad to say that the bedding I just purchased for the Guest room needs a new home, as this will now be the new baby's room!!

And there is a little sentimental value to this bedding, but I can't relay that information just yet, but I pinky promise when the time is right I will let you all know about it!

{I know confusing..sorry}

If you would like to purchase this complete full/Queen bedset which includes a comforter, two matching pillows, two turquoise lumbar pillows and a Shabby Chic Dust Ruffle, just e-mail me @

 blondiensc at hotmail dot com~

***SOLD***

 

{white pillows not included}

 

I am asking $70.00 for the whole set and $15.00 for shipping, if you live locally you are more then welcome to pick it up!

 

{throw not included}

This bedding hardly gets used as it is in our guest room, in great condition, washed once!

Accessories to come!

stay tuned!

uh oh, my signature has not had its V-8 today...a little off kilter and wonky!

P.s. this side table needs a new home as well for anyone local:

***SOLD***

 

$45.00 ~vintage solid wood, a little pull out drawer in the front, and the top lifts up for a sewing machine, great curves and a perfect size for a sidetable...!

 

 

Question~

Just curious....what is the  most spontaneous thing you have ever done as a teenager or an adult?

Be back soon...if I can open my eyes long enough!

muwahhh!

 

 

{H a p p y}

I should have known that by sharing my Heavy Heart, you girls would come through for me and break up my stormy clouds and make me {H A P P Y}, so for that i want to give a big {H U G} and a Thank you for being so wonderful to me, as always!

Today i want to give back, and share some {H A P P Y} with all of you through blog land and of course Etsy!

R e a d y, get set...

G O O O O O O O O!

First This make me {H A P P Y}:

 
Painted by my super talented Friend Kacey!   

Hearing that my uber AMAZING and inspiring Friend had her girl's bedroom featured on Design Sponge, make me {H A P P Y}:

 
Knowing that the blogging community can make a difference, makeS me {H A P P Y}:

Amazing story

Seeing glimpses of this sweet girl's house and reading her precious words daily,

makes me {H A P P Y}:

 
  
Going to this sale would be make me super {H A P P Y}:

 For more information please go HERE!

Knowing this well deserving L a d y finally got her little cottage,

makes me {H A P P Y}:

Learning that this talented Girl had the opportunity to work with Heather Bullard, makes me {H A P P Y}!!

This print, make me {H A P P Y} :

These sweet dotted Mary Janes, Make me {H A P P Y}:

Everything in her S H O P P E, makes me { H A P P Y}:

  

 
 
OF course knowing that this well deserving, talented and sweet GIRL will soon be getting a baby to love on, makes me really {H A P PY}:

Tagging along with this lady, to London would have made me very {H A P P Y},  but just peeking into her home in real life, would also make me uber {H AP P Y}:

Spending the day with this girl, or this girl or this girl,

 would make me so {H A P P Y}!!

There is so much sadness in the world, and sometimes it takes everything in us to see the {H A P P Y} and to choose

{J O Y}...

Today I choose {J O Y}, I hope you can too!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your wonderful advice and comments...

I feel like i can breath easier today because of you!

Blessings from my little family of three...soon to be 4..

P.s. We welcomed a new friend into our home, be back soon with photos!

 

Welcoming Baby~

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

This is my friend "Dawn" or as i call her "Dandy" or aka " the sexy one":

 'Cause large bellies are all the rage this season!

 Ok in all seriousness this is Dandy:

Darling huh?

Did I mention she is pregnant?

Oh what you already knew, strange....

Well today, today is a big day for Dandy...

As we are virtually welcoming her sweet baby boy with a blog shower, a surprise blog shower that is...

{click on the link above if you want to participate}

SURPRISE DANDY THIS BLOG POST IS ALL FOR YOU AND YOUR  BABY BOY!!!

 I would love it if you would help me welcome her sweet baby boy and shower Dawn today...

You Game?

I thought so, who doesn't love a new baby!!

With all baby showers there are certain things incorporated;

Games

Food

Cake

Gifts

Advice

Stories....

Well being we are virtual here.... there is no cake sadly, not even cupcakes and no yummy food {Dawn would be so upset}...

However.....

What we can offer my sweet friend is advice and stories to help her in her journey as being a first time mommy, so all you have to do is leave a comment encouraging our new mommy!

Easy Peasy...

I will go first, Dandy, always use your mommy intuition, you know your baby better then anyone else, remember this when they are sick or fussy, use your instincts because most of the time you are spot on!

Oh and one more, remember "This too shall pass"...so when the baby is keeping you up all hours of the night, or having a bad day and crying seems to be the only thing your little one does..."This too shall pass" and sooner then later you will miss those little moments so cherish them!

And get a load of this darling little hat that I picked up as a sweet little gift to adorn the new baby boy this winter:

Seriously how cute is that...

This should be on your doorstep very soon Dandy!

 Good luck on your new adventure, I know you and B are going to be amazing and fun parents!

Thanks for celebrating with us today and welcoming baby!

muwahhh!

P.s. if you would like to visit Dawn, go here~

Also you can go here to celebrate Dawn and baby with other girls from all over the country!!