Reminiscing thru old photos

Hi y’all! I was going thru photos and came across these two.  These are my little ones getting ready to go trick or treating. 

Meet Buzz Light-Year and Woody (my twins) 

These pictures were taken about six yrs ago.

Time passes by too quick.  They grow too fast.

This is my other son Matthew (the pirate) with my twins.  

I hope you all enjoyed my pictures. 

Have fun trick or treating tomorrow.  We will be handing out candy at our parish.  We have something called trunk o treating.  We park at our church and hand out candy.  We literally have rows and rows of vehicles parked.  Some make it fun and decorate their car too.   The kids have a lot of fun and it is safe for them too. :)

Don’t eat too much candy. :)

Sandra

Chili Recipe.

Hello my blogger friends!  I have a wonderful recipe for chili thanks to a friend!  

I made this today because it is quite chilly here in these parts of Texas. :) 

I am linking this to http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2009/10/foodie-friday_30.html  Please visit this wonderful blog full of scrumptious recipes.

 

I hope you all enjoy the recipe and the visual.  I would have loved for y’all to have been able to smell my home when I was simmering it!  It not only smelled wonderful but it was very delish!  Perfect for cold type of weather. :)

Recipe for Chili:

2 pounds Ground Beef
1 roll Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage
2 medium diced Onions
1 diced Green Pepper
2 jalapeno peppers - diced small
5-6 cans dark red Kidney Beans, drained but not rinsed (depends on how beany you
like your chili.  I added 6 cans)
2 large cans Crushed Tomatoes
2-3 TBSP Cumin
2 TBSP Chili Powder
3 TBSP Crushed Garlic
2 Bay Leaves
1 12-oz beer (I used Michelob Light) :)
A couple shakes each of:
Crushed Red Pepper, Tobasco/Hot Sauce and Kosher Salt & fresh ground Pepper
************************************************** *****
Brown ground beef and pork - add onions, garlic and peppers.
Add tomatoes, drained beans, spices and beer. Bring to near boiling, and then turn heat low, to simmer for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally. Remove Bay Leaves before serving.
Garnish with sour cream & diced scallions or shredded Jack cheese~

My friend Mary says….antacid optional(!)

Have a wonderful Thursday!  Stay warm my friends!

Sandra

Outdoor Wednesday.

 

Hi everyone.  Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by the lovely Susan @ http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ Please visit her blog to see what other participants are showing us today. :)

We had a bit of a freeze the last couple of nights.  My roses have been frozen.  You can almost see the layer of ice on the rose.

Can you see the layer of ice on the grass?  And so it seems like we will have cold nights from now on.   

I hope everyone is staying warm.  Enjoy a cup of warm tea or coffee.  Happy Wednesday!

Sandra

Project Hopping!

 

 

Hi everyone:)  I hope you guys are doing wonderful.  Our weather is cold today.  Yep, Texas is cold as we speak eerrr (write) here. 

I am linking this post to http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/10/diy-day.html  Please visit her lovely blog for other inspiring posts!

Does anyone else do this?  I start a project and then get bored so I end up starting another.  I am project hopping!  I hope I’m not the only one. *blush*  I have not finished painting my kitchen cabinets and have started another little project.  You all are not going to believe this, but I am currently painting my fireplace.  You may remember that my fireplace used to be red.  http://mybellarose.blogspot.com/2009/09/say-cheese.html

Well take a peak at what I’ve been doing!  I am not finished with the fireplace yet.  I do plan on painting the ugly brass.  I just couldn’t wait to show y’all what my fireplace looks like so far!  I do need to finish the top part of the fireplace and paint the brass as well. 

Here is a peak!  It is actually not as shiny as it appears in the pictures.

As you can see, I still need to do the cutting in on the bottom of the fireplace. 

I wanted a change on my fireplace because I wanted it to match my new sofa set.  :D

Do you think I accomplished that? :)  I think I did.

I promise that I will show you “after” pictures and details,  once I finish with the fireplace and do some rearranging in my living room.  I want to add a huge mirror right above the sofa.  I think that it will look pretty!  I can’t wait to show you guys!

I do hope y’all have a wonderful Tuesday full of love and happiness. 

Sandra

Do it yourself Day!

Hi everyone! I hope your day is going great. Today I am linking with http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/ Please visit this link. You are gonna love her blog! I just found her blog and instantly became a follower!

I finally worked on this table I had purchased at a rummage sale. Remember this post? http://mybellarose.blogspot.com/2009/07/todays-thrifty-treasures-my-table-other.html

This is what the table looked like.

I decided to paint the table in Cottage White by Behr. I love it! Love it! It was so easy to paint with our handy dandy spray gun!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90977

As you can see, I also distress it a bit. Love it!

I placed it in our bedroom and hurriedly put some pretties on it. :) Big smile….

What do you think?

I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday.

Sandra

Met Monday

Hi everyone.  I hope your Monday is going great.  This is my first time participating with Met Monday!  I’m excited!  Please visit the lovely Susan at "Between Naps On the Porch"

During one of our trips to Houston when my oldest son was interviewing at the different medical schools this past summer, we stopped at a Garden Ridge.  I immediately saw this set!  It was in black and I had been looking for a white set.  We bought them anyway and decided we would paint them white.   This is such a beautiful set with the roses and all! 

This is a before picture.

Here is a close up of the chair.  Look at the detail!!

This past Sunday hubby decided to finally paint them! woohoo!!!!!  Here they are getting their first coat of white paint.

This is what hubby used to paint the table and chairs.  It is very fast and easy to use. Here is the link to this particular paint gun.  It wasn’t expensive at all.  $59.99.   http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90977

And here is the set in it’s beautiful white color!!

Now I have a place to have either tea or coffee!  One for you and one for me! :) 

The bench got a makeover too.  It used to be black.  I love it in white!  I need to make pillows and cushion for it. :) 

My fallish decor got moved to the other end of my porch.   :) 

Make sure to visit Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful day. :)

Sandra

The Winners of My 100th Post Giveaways!

First I want to thank everyone who follows my blog.  I am truly humbled.  I have learned so much from my blogger friends.   I am so happy to be part of this wonderful world of blog land. :) 

I will be having more giveaways.  Why?  Because I am that kind of gal:)  I just love it. :)

The winner of the roosters is

Karen @ http://somedaysarediamonds-karen.blogspot.com/

&

The winner of the Bath & Body Works is

Chari @ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

Congratulations, Ladies! 

Please send me your address so that I can mail these goodies to ya!

Stay tuned because I will definitely have more giveaways.  I really really enjoyed doing this.

God Bless.

Sandra

Doors of Welcome

Yippee!  Welcome to “Doors of Welcome” hosted by the lovely Karen at Some Days are Diamonds .  I joined at the last minute but I’m so glad to be part of this showing!  Please visit her wonderful blog to see everyone else’s beautiful showings!

I changed my porch up a little bit from the last time I showed photos. 

Father and son scarecrows are ready to welcome the season of autumn with open arms.

Autumn blessings. :)

This is my garland when it’s lit up at night. :)

Happy Harvest!

This is leading up to the porch so I thought i’d show you all. :)

Karen, thank you so much for hosting this fun showing.  I had alot of fun.

I hope you enjoyed my photos and please visit Karen’s blog.

Have a wonderful day.

Sandra

P.S. Don’t forget tomorrow, October 16th, is my drawing for the giveaways. You can read about it here.  If you made a post about my giveaways, please let me know if you haven’t already, alrighty?   Blessings.

Outdoor Wednesday..My Fall Garland.

Hi everyone.  Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by the lovely Susan @ http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ Please visit her blog to see what other participants are showing us today. :)

It is somewhat hard to be decorating in a fall theme because our weather in Texas has been around the 80s!  Nevertheless, I have decorated my garland in a fall theme.  I used the same sunflowers that I used for spring and summer.  I think they can be used for fall as well.  I also used fall garlands, pumpkins,  and squash, all from Hobby Lobby.

Can you see Skipper at the door? :D

Here is a close up with the lights on.  Love it!

And..I have promised myself that I will not buy anymore of the fall decor.  hee hee  Christmas is coming up, you know. ;) *wink* *wink*

I hope you all are having fun decorating for fall.  Happy Outdoor Wednesday. :)

Don’t forget to sign up for my 100th post giveaways. Here is the post I made. http://mybellarose.blogspot.com/2009/09/woohoo-giveaway.html 

Drawing will be Oct. 16th.

Sandra

FFANY Shoes on Sale

 

Hi y’all.  I’m on a roll today. :)  This is my 2nd post but this  post is really important. 

Let me first say that I am not an employee of QVC or have any ties with them.  I am just a gal who likes to shop. :D   I think I can safely say that all of us women love shoes.  I know I do.  hee hee.  What better way than to buy a pair at half off and the proceeds go to breast cancer research and education.  I will definitely be watching. 

QVC® Presents the 16th Annual "FFANY Shoes on Sale®" -A Television Event for Breast Cancer Research & Education - from NY

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

07:00 - 10:00 PM ET

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2009, the 16th Annual "FFANY Shoes on Sale®" event offers over 100,000 pairs of brand name shoes - all at half their manufacturer's suggested retail price. Net proceeds benefit breast cancer research and education. Our show will be live from Studio Park, but throughout the evening, we'll also check in on the star-studded Shoes on Sale Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Additionally, we'll be offering a "shoe of the day" at 50% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price weekdays in October between 7 & 9 a.m. ET, as well as a special selection of additional styles on QVC.com.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

We need to bring awareness to every mother, daughter, sister, and even men about breast cancer awareness. 

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES….

My Rooster All Dressed Up.

Hi everyone!  I hope your day is going great.  I have been seeing roosters all dressed up for the fall on blog land so I decided to dress up my rooster as well.  I added  fall sprays of white pumpkins, berries, acorn squash (I believe) and a little bit of mums.   I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and bought a few more sprays.  For the bottom, I used a casserole dish.  I keep telling myself that I will not buy anymore fall decor! LOL 

I think Mr. Rooster sure is happy! 

You guys have a wonderful evening in your part of the woods. :)

Blessings,

Sandra