Basket ideas-complements of my sister, Rachel

Happy birthday little princess...

Happy Birthday to my youngest granddaughter, Shelby Rayne Hayes I hope you have a fun day!

Recycling

I have had this flower pot for years. I had it in my office on my old job and moved it home with me when I started my own business. However, my plant recently died and I am just not in the mood to get another plant. I was cleaning it up, washing it and thinking I guess I'll put it in the yard sale pile. But I really like it so I don't really want to get rid of it. My hallway bathroom is done in these colors with birdhouses as my theme. I looked at the pot and thought, how could I recycle this into the bathroom without putting another plant in it. I walked into the bathroom, looked around the limited counter space and had a great idea. The result isn't anything brilliant or anything that will cause oos and aahs of delight, but it now serves a new purpose and I can continue to enjoy it.

If you have recycled any of your home decor and found a new use for it, send me a photo and I'll create a new page on my post to showcase recycled home decor projects.

Watch for new basket photos on Friday

You will notice I have added a new page on my blog called Basket Showcase. I would love to see some of your wonderful baskets and the many ways you use them. Please email me photos to brendakeefer@comcast.net and I will post them on the Basket Showcase page. I will just keep a running photo of different types and styles of baskets and their many uses.

Where do the years go....

I was looking at some photos this morning and found this one of my nephew Jacob Tyler Garretson. I remember it like it was yesterday that we found out Angie was expecting. I remember them talking about naming him Jacob Tyler and he was going to be called J.T. Once he arrived, he looked more like a Jacob so we alternated between the two. I remember when he was about 2 or 3 and had started talking pretty good, they started calling him J.T. because they thought that would be cute when he started in sports. Shortly after that somebody asked him what his name was and he smilingly said "Goatee." From that day forward he has been Jake or Jacob. No more J.T. Eighteen years later, that little tyke has grown into a tall handsome young man. When I see him or look at his pictures, it seems like yesterday that he was our little "Goatee". I have to wonder where the years have gone.

For my friends......

Debbie, this one is for you!

Most of us suffer bouts of craving for chocolate....many, like myself, on a daily basis. We all know the benefits of dark chocolate. It is all the rave. That is why I eat so many Junior Mints...because of the health benefits of dark chocolate.

But did you know that the BEST and healthiest chocolate is actually unsweetened cocoa powder? Like Hershey's makes for baking. It has even more health benefits than dark chocolate. Cornell University food scientists discovered that cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidants found in green tea.

So in honor of Hershey's Cocoa and for all you chocolate lovers who want to have your cake and eat it too, here is my favorite quick and easy cake recipe that is delicious.

Cake:

One box Duncan Hines Swiss Cake Mix. Mix as per box instructions and add 1 tsp. cinnamon. It really changes the flavor and is delicious. Once cake cools, make the frosting:

Frosting:

1 Box 10x sugar

5 tablespoons Hershey's Cocoa Powder

1 stick softened butter (I use Parkay, but different butters will change the flavor)

4-5 tsp of milk (mix to your desired consistency)

1 tsp vanilla

Beat until smooth, frost cake, eat, enjoy and stay healthy.

Why I love summer.....

Could somebody please remind me why I love summer. I've always loved the feel of the sun on my face. I love getting outside and enjoying the fresh air. But this summer is stifling. The heat is oppressive and their is NO breeze anywhere. Not sure how much more of this I can take. I keep thinking it will cool down, but so far...not so much. Me and Diana went to Dollywood Saturday for the first time this year with Shelby and Caleb. We picked the hottest day of the year. Whoever said women don't sweat they perspire, never went to Dollywood in the middle of July. We just took them over for a couple of hours and by the time we left, let me tell you we were sweating. I was on the verge of a heat stroke and Diana had to drive because I thought I was going to pass out. Caleb was so hot he could barely walk and it was all we could do to drag ourselves from the tram to the car. I told Diana I'm renting one of those electronic wheel chairs next time. I'm getting too old to walk that much in the heat. Caleb said he was going to ride it with me if I did. For those of you wondering how Princess Shelby did in the heat, see for yourself......

She handled it very well. Of course she was in her stroller being pushed everywhere. She was dressed in a real cool shirt and shorts until she spilled milk all over her clothes. But she still survived her first Dollywood trip better than the rest of us did.

Next week, I'm taking Garret and Alexis to Splash Country. That is walking I can handle. By the time you get hot from walking, you are at a new water adventure you can hop into and cool off.