I Love These Ideas! Sunday

Welcome to "I Love These Ideas!" Come on in and take a look at some of the inspiration found in Blogland.

Just one rule: No shirt, no service. Sorry that the behavior of some who shall rename nameless (Cousins Maryellen and Tricia) make that warning necessary...

Folk artist Catherine Holman at Pigment of Your Imagination explains that when she moved into her home the floor was in bad shape. So, she painted a faux rug instead of refinishing it or installing carpet. Check this out: The slippers are faux too.

Oh, to be so talented... but Catherine says there are stencils out there you can use if need be. Read all about it at Pigment of Your Imagination.

Jessica at How about orange... posts a great how-to for starched fabric decals. Great idea, don't you think? Check out the details here.

Chris at Just a Girl did a great job arranging these photos, pictures and shelves. They are small items and alone wouldn't have had much impact. But arranged together like this, the display has punch. Read the post.

Caren at City Momma/Country Momma found a dresser on the side of the road and rehabbed it by painting it red and - here's the best part - covering the drawer fronts with chalkboard paint.

Now she can easily label them for her craft room. This would work great in a child's room, too....marking drawers for socks, pants, shirts, etc. Check out the entire transformation at City Momma/Country Momma.

Amy at Cape Cod Makeover offers a great idea for stealing. Need wall art? Try stretching fabric over frames. Amy offers details on how to do it.

Bloggers: Thanks for the inspiration. Grab a badge!

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Got an idea for next Sunday? Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com

Best design idea yet: The long weekend

Happy 4th!

Entertaining and need a last-minute munchie idea? Check this out.

Or cocktail idea? Check this out.

Have fun and be sure to check back on Sunday for the first installment of "I Love These Ideas." I'll be serving lemon drop martinis and Chex Mix (come anyway).

At least I didn't tell you about Poo-Poo Pie

Here's a sentence you've probably never said in your life: Can I have your recipe for Vomit Dip?

And an answer you wouldn't expect either: Why, of course you can.

I know I'm risking offending the sensibilities of some readers here (who if they move along at this point will forever have that image stuck in their heads anyway, so they might as well read the rest...).

Here's the explanation: I make an awesome heated dip made of yummy cheesy salsa goodness. Everyone loves it. Except for my husband. And he named it.

And so it came to pass that Vomit Dip was known throughout the land. In mixed company (people who don't like to refer to their food and bodily functions in the same sentence), we have shortened the name to V-Dip.

Cousin Keyne put in an emergency Fourth of July email for the recipe today: "I usually go to allrecipes.com and find just about any recipe I need - but I am pretty sure 'vomit dip' will not yield any search results ~ and frankly if it does, not sure I want to make it."

Good point. So, here it is, as a Fourth of July present to Keyne and to the rest of you:

8-ounce package of cream cheese
8-ounce container of sour cream
1 bottle of salsa (any kind, any heat, any size)
8-ounce package of shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or any Mexican blend)

• With electric hand mixer, combine cream cheese, sour cream and salsa until (relatively) smooth. Fold in shredded cheese.
  


• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or so.
  


• Serve with nacho chips.
  


• Stand back as crowd attacks the dip.

Suggestion: Wait until after your guests try this to tell them the name...

Art or obsession?

You might think the best thing about living (relatively) near the ocean is the view, or the sound of the surf, or the fried seafood.

In fact, the best thing is: Free art in the form of all the seashells you can carry home in the bottom of a tote bag full of sand and wet towels.

Check out this grouping that hangs in my bathroom. I took six picture frames and glued a shell to each, on the outside of the glass.

You could do the same with interesting rocks or bits of sea glass.


I also tossed some in a wooden box in the family room that keeps the remotes in check.

You can glue a collection into an old printer's tray and use it like you would a print or a painting, like I did in my family room.

Or you can use them to in your patio, deck or garden decorating...

You wouldn't want to overdo it, though. It's too late for me... Save yourself.

A Snapshot: Ut-oh...more seashells

I do not have the power to resist.

Please drink responsibly and other disclaimers

Planning to entertain on the Fourth? I've got a drink suggestion for you. It's a cocktail I created by modifying and combining a few other recipes.

Crush about a handful of blueberries in about a teaspoon of sugar (use a fork to mash them in a bowl).

Place them at the bottom of a glass.

Add crushed ice and pour some raspberry-flavored vodka over the ice. (Add a little fresh squeezed lemon to the vodka).

Top with crushed raspberries.

My friend Marianne and I consider ourselves connoisseurs of martinis... because that's just a nicer word than some others we could come up with. And we like to experiment. Marianne bests me more often than not, mostly because she makes a really strong drink. And the speed at which your tongue becomes numb is one of the criteria we use in judging a cocktail.

But this was my invention and we thought it was quite tasty. We toyed with different names. The Firecracker...The Red, White, and Blue...The Patriot. In the end we settled for: Gimme a nuther of that little drinkie-poo, wouldja?

You can also make a non-alcohol version; just substitute Sprite or another clear soda (or pop, if you live in the South) for the vodka. Yummy!

Red, white, then blue: Don't mess up the order

It's the Fourth of July in just three days. You know what that means: It means today is the First of July.

And it means you better hurry up and break out your red, white and blue if you're going to be ready for the festivities.

Here are some folks who sell their wares on Etsy who can help:

Aren't these Fourth of July cupcake picks great? They're $2.50 for a set of six.

Fourth of July vintage glassware by George Briard. $29 for six. They'd look even better with lemonade in them.

If you are a size 7 you must, and I do mean must, buy these vintage 1950s De Liso red, white and blue pumps. Who'll be cuter than you if you wear these on the Fourth? Nobody, that's who. Only $45.

I'm loving this vintage style flag garland. It's $17.50 for 10.5 feet. Wouldn't that look great draped across a porch? Or your shoulders?

And finally...this bow and headband. It's $11.99. I don't think the kid is included, but you could always ask.