Welcome to the Very First "FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA" Link Party!!!

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited to finally be able to introduce the

VERY FIRST...

FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA!!! 

Source

Ole!!!   =D

Yes, it's true, after many weeks of saying how much I wanted to host a link party.....I've FINALLY figured out how to get a link party going.  YAY! 

This will be replacing my FIVE FABULOUS FINDS posts each week....instead, I want to see YOUR Fabulous stuff!

Feel free to link up Crafts, DIY, Tablescapes, Recipes, Fashion, Makeovers, Befores and Afters, Home Tours, Tips...anything that's family friendly and created by you!

This weekly Fiesta is open from 8pm Eastern Time on Thursdays to 12pm Eastern Time on Sundays!

Next Friday I will Feature the three most viewed links as well as a few of my personal faves/features!

I can't wait to see everyone's great ideas, recipes, crafts, tablescapes, tips, etc!

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I'm looking forward to seeing your FABULOSO posts and projects!  

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Tablescape Tuesday - Spring is Springing Up!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to today's TABLESCAPE TUESDAY!

Today I'm showing what I did for our most recent Sunday Family Dinner, this past Sunday!

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For those of you new to my blog...We started a new family tradition last month that I hope continues even after the kids are grown.

"SUNDAY FAMILY DINNERS!"

We pretty much have dinner together as a family every night, but on Sundays, we have a special dinner in the dining room as opposed to the kitchen table, where we normally eat.

I get out the fine china and candles and make a special meal and so far, it has been something we look forward to each week.

Then once a month, we invite some of our extended family to join us for a Sunday family dinner.

It's also been giving me a chance to do lots of new TABLESCAPES..haha!

To see my previous tablescapes from other Sunday Family Dinners, you can click here:

Sunday Family Dinner #1 - Red and Blue Toile
S.F.D.#2 - Black, White and Silver
S.F.D.#3 - Winter Woods With White
S.F.D.#4 - The "Royal Treatment"
S.F.D.#5 - Super Bowl Table
S.F.D. #6 - Mardi Gras Table
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This Sunday I was all excited about putting out some more springy colors.  I was ready to put away the golds and purples and reds and those darker colors that reminded me more of those winter months, and get out something more cheerful and sunny!

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This past Sunday was quite chilly for our area.  I live in Florida so we don't get a whole lot of chilly weather, but it actually dipped down into the 30's on Saturday night and was in the 50's for most of the day.  (I know, cry me a river, right?)

But the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day!  It sure LOOKED like Spring!  =D

I had seen a pretty turquoise and orange colored tablescape on Pinterest recently and decided that was the first "spring table" I was going to do.  I love this color combo!  

The fabrics on the table were just a half yard of fabric each from Walmart. $7.98 for both pieces. My son helped me pick these out on a recent mother-son shopping trip we took! He has a great eye!

Here's a "plate breakdown" for you.   The turquoise charger is from Michaels.  They had a sale on them recently so I picked a few up in numerous colors for about $1.50 each. 

On top of that is a "French White" Corningware plate.  I got this plate years ago, but I believe they're still available at Walmart and online.   

On top of that is a pretty orange/coral color melamine plate from Target.  I got these just a few weeks ago, so they still may have some available.  I loved the scalloped edges of this plate. 

On top of  that is a royal blue plate that I got at the thrift store for $1 each.  Gotta love those dollar plates!!!  I had some of this color blue in each of the fabrics so I thought I'd throw it in there to give it just a little more pop of color.

On top of the royal blue plate are two of my white workhorse plates..making their appearance yet again.  The Gibson Dollar plate from Goodwill, and a Gibson saucer from Goodwill (50 cents each)

 
Then, on top of the saucer is our ivory napkin with a turquoise rhinestone napkin ring (Ebay).  I was wanting to tone this table down just a little from some of my more elaborate previous tables, but I still wanted to have a LITTLE bling! haha!

The centerpiece is a Gibson pitcher I found at our church's local thrift store for just $5.50.   It is sitting on top of a french white Corningware Casserole dish, for a little height.  (I know, I wasn't sure how else to prop it up, and this seemed like it would work...haha!) 

The pitcher is holding a bouquet of orange and ivory flowers from the dollar store.  I also put some turquoise sparke icicle ornaments in there to give it a pop of turquoise color and sparkle.  I thought this turned out pretty neat!  

The large glass candleholders are housing some turquoise glass rounds from the dollar store and orange/coral candles from Big Lots.

At the buffet, I put another small table runner, which is actually a 1/2 yard of fabric from Joanne's....this one was $2.99 a yard so this runner was just $1.50!  Love that!

Some orange pompons, some orange candles (Homegoods on clearance) and my new cloche with an ivory candle and some mandarin oranges add that extra orange to offset the turquoise!

Hope you enjoyed today's Tablescape Tuesday!  Have a great week and come back soon!

This post is being added to:
Tabletop Tuesday
Tuesday's Treasures
Cowgirl Up
Clever Chicks Blog Hop
T2T Blog Hop
Wow Us Wednesdays
Winter Blues Wednesday
Centerpiece Wednesday
Let's Dish
Tablescape Thursday
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits

 

FIVE FABULOUS FINDS FRIDAY #6

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to another edition of FIVE FABULOUS FINDS FRIDAY!!!

Get ready!  I've got some great finds for you today!  Some SERIOUS eye candy, a super yummy-looking recipe, some fantastic organizational tips, and some inspiration that will bring a tear to your eye and a warmth to your heart.

And now...onto the fabulous finds!!! 

1.  This week I came across a wonderful post....that not only contained some BEAUTIFUL decor, but also a heartwarming story of a woman who moved into the country from the city and overcame the stereotypes to win over a community. 

 All photos in this segment courtesy of Thistlewood Farms.

KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms writes about her move to the country from the big city....and how people were about to dismiss her as something of a snobby city girl at first.   As they came to know her, though she showed them how she's just a girl who knows how to find some amazing bargains and put them together in the right way! 

Her story is as inspiring as her pictures!

Her whole blog is wonderful....she has a very eloquent writing style that is so engaging, and her pictures are very inspiring and just so fun to look at!  That's why my first FABULOUS FIND is...

No One Fancy Lives Here - By Thistlewood Farm
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2. The Style Sisters, a blog I just started following, set a gorgeous buffet and share some great tips to make it really wow your guests - This bird-cage inspired cloche with the flowers is so pretty!  I also love how they served their plates on top of an upside down pedestal bowl!   Such a cool idea!

All photos in this segment courtesy of The Style Sisters 

I loved all the ideas these girls had!  One of the neat ideas was to set your candleabra on top of one of your elevated serving plates...it saves table space and makes a beautiful display for some of your food!

 
I also loved their unique way of serving their veggies.  Who WOULDN'T want to eat their veggies after seeing them displayed like THIS?!?

They put it all together just beautifully!   The food, the presentation, everything!!!

That's why my 2nd FABULOUS FIND is....

The Style Sisters - Buffet Decor and tips.
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3.  My third Fabulous find comes from a wonderful blog by Kelly - the "Semi Homemade Mom". 

She posted this recipe and picture on a link party earlier this week and I have to say...this looks SO yummy!  

Her recipe, along with other GREAT looking recipes, can be found on her blog!   I can't wait to make this.  I love a creamy tomato sauce with tortellini!  I am low-carbing, so I'll have to make it for a "cheat day" which I allow myself once in a while...but this is DEFINITELY on the list to make!

That's why my third FABULOUS FIND is....

Semi Homemade Mom - Creamy Tomato Tortellini Skillet

4.  I can't believe spring is almost here...and for many of us, that means SPRING CLEANING!   I'm planning to do a thorough spring cleaning to my house...and our house NEEDS it!   I am a "surface cleaner" most of the time, so this will be a must. 

Nikki Boyd of "At Home with Nikki" has devised a great system for doing a spring cleaning that gets the job done, but it is spaced out over a period of time, so as not to overwhelm! 

 

All photos in this segment courtesy of At Home With Nikki

I love the system she created!!! She didn't forget ONE detail! She did a nice video that shows her system and breaks it down for us so nicely! It's also fun to see her beautiful decor in the background! 



That's why my Fourth FABULOUS FIND is.....

At Home With Nikki - Spring Cleaning Prep!

5.  This week I saw a video on my mom's Facebook Page.  If you haven't seen it before, get ready to be inspired and moved!   Arthur Boorman was told he could never walk again.   His decided not to believe it and his story of persistance and getting up after the many falls really was amazing!  This is a 5 minute video that is DEFINITELY worth your time to watch if you haven't seen it before!    

That's why my 5th and final FABULOUS FIND is....

 Never Give up - Arthur Boorman's Story

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Well, that wraps up this week's FIVE FABULOUS FINDS FRIDAY!

So, are you ready for a Friday Link Party????  I'm almost at that point where I'm gonna put it up there.  Probably in another week or two.  I would love to hear from you if this is something you would enjoy or participate in....I sure hope you will join me!  I'd love to be picking my "five fabulous finds" from YOUR posts!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!