Last of St. Pat's...

...decor that is. Still lots of more fun things to come for the holiday itself!!

I still LOVE my pig so much. I may have already shared this story, but many years ago daughter #1 and I were on a home tour in St. Pete and I saw this exact pig on an island in one of the kitchens. It was love at first sight and I knew if I ever found that exact pig anywhere, he would be mine. I found many similar varieties because they were very much in vogue back then but never the exact one until...fast forward a year or two and hubby and I were in Dade City having lunch at "Lunch on Limoges" when I glanced around the adjoining shop and...cue the glitter and music...I saw him. He became mine immediately and has lived in his place of honor ever since. We are constantly talking about lowering this part of our bar and having more of a table height area so all of the kids and I can gather round for baking and cooking projects but one thing is sure, my pig will still fit in there somewhere!

Aren't I lucky? My garden has not stopped producing beautiful flowers all winter long!

I am nothing if not consistent! Without even processing why I liked it, I grabbed this shamrock on a recent trip to the $ Tree. When I got it home and went looking for a place to use it, I realized it is like so many other of my decorations! I love that vintage look! Could it have anything to do with the birthday approaching tomorrow? Haha. I just now realized that it also has an envelope-another recurring theme in my decor-love those postcards, letters, envelopes and stamps. And lucky me again-only $1!

I really was trying not to buy any more St. Pats this year but when I saw this shamrock runner the other day on sale at HL, I just couldn't resist! It was pretty inexpensive but really does kind of read as Irish linen. I figure as long as I keep it decorative and don't need to throw it in the washer or dryer, it will be around for many years.

I guess I also have a "thing" for all of the Irish blessings out these-seems as if I have them all over the house.

I love my mom's bone china in the shamrock theme!

We had a super busy weekend. First, we got to help Harrison celebrate his big #11 and then we were off to Gainesville for an early birthday celebration with daughter #2 and her family. We had a lovely time and as soon as we got home I found the perfect "home" for one of my presents...

Can you spot the newcomers?

I love these little people so much...and, do you see a continuance of the theme?

In the next few days we are off for a spring visit with daughter #1 and her family. I can just hear her front porch already calling to me...and maybe a trip to Hyde Park and the PB for extra measure. My brother and sister-in-law will be joining us for part of the visit so it is sure to be fun. I know I will have much to share. Stay tuned.

A "Wee" Bit More...

...of the Irish to show you.

I have wine glasses in every holiday pattern and color. I think my wine just tastes better this way. BTW, the same goes for our morning coffee!

As I am looking at this plate and remembering how much I love it, I am thinking that this may be a craft I have never done with the little kids...and, I know I have lots of clear glass plates still around from back in the day when I bought out the last of the Martha Stewart plates at K-Mart for a Girl Scout project. This may be a no-brainer and then a lovely way for the kids to present any baked goods they may make as gifts to the rest of the family!  Still working on the plans for kids' weekend so we'll see if it makes the cut.

So that is it for the kitchen this year. We are off today to help our first grandson celebrate the big #11. Then tomorrow, we are headed out off town to begin my birthday month celebration. By the sounds of our plans for the next few weeks, we will be doing lots of celebrating in lots of different places. Although the "age" may not be something to actually look forward to, the time with family and friends sure is-can't wait! Stay tuned.

I'm Obsessed!

O.K. I admit it...I might be just slightly obsessed with these fence slat signs. Since I made the first one for "harvest" season, I feel the need for a pop of color out here on the front porch. And it sure doesn't hurt that these are truly no-brainers. I am almost embarrassed to show you once again just how easy they are...but, I will!

I use a 6" wide dog-eared fence slat from Lowes. They are really inexpensive and I just love painting on them.

The next order of business is to pick a font and size and get my word printed out. Sometimes I use my Cricut-other times I just use the computer. There is an extra step or two with the computer but it has way more fonts than I have for my Cricut.

Once the letters are cut out, I spray them with repositionable spray adhesive and mount them where I want. I wanted this sign a bit more "playful", so I mounted them all a bit wonky.

Once they are secure, one or two coats of spray paint is all that is needed-over everything! I try to spray straight down so just in case one of the letters isn't tight against the board, the paint won't seep under.

I do all of this rather quickly so I am actually giving it LOTS of opportunity for a mistake or two and so far, on all of them, nary a slip up has occurred!

Since the wood is so porous, it doesn't take long at all for the paint to dry-at least enough to remove the letters. I am always afraid that if I don't take them off quickly enough, they just might become permanent-or at the very least, make a mess when I try to remove them. The point of an Exacto knife works perfectly to help lift the letters without getting you too stuck in the paint or adhesive.

And here it is with the natural background. Once again I opted to paint the letters white as I just like the extra pop that gives but you certainly wouldn't have to. I also enjoy painting in the letters. It is kind of meditative-like coloring in the lines of a coloring book.

And here it is on the porch. I just remembered after seeing this picture that I usually cut off 4-5" from the bottom of the slat before starting this project. It may be a bit tall. If I can't live with it, I will pull out the chop saw one day soon and give it a trim.

And speaking of lucky...I love how all of the manufacturers buy into the holidays. It makes "kid fun" so much easier. My stash of rainbows and St. Pat's themed goodies continues to grow! Now I MUST get busy making final decisions on food and crafts-where does my time go? Stay tuned.

Lucky Me!

We have been so lucky this year. Even though we rarely have horrible winter weather here in Florida, it does sometimes get colder for longer than I enjoy-a little cold and the need for a fire is always welcome in our house. But, the last few weeks have been totally perfect around here. So much so, that I could not contain myself any longer and out to the yard I went. Today will be day 4 and I think I will have most of the "heavy lifting" done. There were sure a lot of weeds this year since we didn't have enough cold weather to kill them. But, I guess, that is the trade-off I will happily accept. I am telling myself that I will hold off before planting new spring color, but I know me too well and that just may not happen.

In any case, the house is still all green and gearing up for one of my favorite days so let's take a few more peaks at what is happening.

Still loving my "lucky" sign made a few years ago and planning to make one of the dog-eared fence slat signs for the front porch. I like the little punch it gives the porch and they are so easy to make-and store! Hopefully getting supplies tomorrow and then I will take you along for the trip-although it is pretty much a no-brainer!

 
Not a lot to show you in the family room. Of course, all of my shelves are full of the usual holiday photos but I have showed you all of that many times before.

I have hung a few other St. Pat's signs around the sun room because this is where most of the kids' weekend fun happens and I like to be sure that the decor has spilled over into this room as well. My planning seat awaits me so that I can find all kinds of new, fun and fabulous ideas-we shall see. I will have this cute little pillow to make me comfy. I actually found it at Target in the Dollar Spot-although it was $3-and thought it was kind of cute. I don't usually buy pillows there because they so often just feature glued on icons but this one is embroidered and, I think, kind of a good bang for the buck three bucks.

I have procrastinated long enough. Off to try to finish the yard but still have more St. Pat's to come. Stay tuned.