rainbow wedding

so i usually don't get all wrapped up in 'all things wedding' but i stumbled across photos of this bohemian rainbow inspired wedding (via this blog) and they nearly took my breath away.

i obviously take no credit for these photographs. they are all from the amazing folks over at three nails photography. they have a blog full of amazing images.

while i do understand this isn't the dream wedding for everyone, but you must admit it is quite beautiful

... and magical.

even the boy's attire is just perfect. colorful. happy. causal.

i think that if i ever plan a wedding of my own it may be something quite like this.

you'd come? right? and i'll totally be inviting this gal ... she brings the best gifts.

on fire

so, for those of you that are my friend on facebook know that last tuesday my computer set itself on fire. just a little tiny fire, but there was a small flame and smoke. i've been computerless (other than the brief moments my mom shared hers) for the past week.

i thought it was going to be a disaster, but besides the aspects where i need a computer for work, it's been kind of nice. don't get me wrong i love facebook and pinterest but lately they have been consuming me and it turns out, for the most part, they are just a big waste of time. like seriously.

this past weekend i actually read an entire book .... in one weekend. and it was amazing. i'm embarrassed to say i haven't read a full book in probably a year. and i loved it!

i think my new computer should be arriving today or tomorrow. so i should be back soon. (though i did make the switch from pc to mac ... so it make take some time making the transition.) but i'm hoping to come back with a new perspective. hoping to step away from the computer a bit more and taking some time to enjoy. hoping to read more books (not the electronic kind) and build more campfires.

but i did miss you all. did you miss me too?

impromptu paper

so on sunday, when i went to wrap my dad's father's day present, i realized i didn't have any appropriate wrapping paper. in fact, the only wrapping paper i had was paper from last christmas. yikes!

so i put my thinking cap on, and here's what i came up with.

not to shabby, right?

luckily, since i put together baskets here at old charm, i usually have plenty or ribbon on hand. so i took my left over christmas paper and used the back of it as a blank slate.

using some black paint and an empty half pint jar i covered the paper with circles.

after it dried, i wrapped it all up with some ribbon and viola!

pretty perfect, right?

now i know i'm not the mastermind that originally came up with this idea, but i thought i'd share my creation anyway.

how'd i do?

i made bunting

i'm about to set up a fourth of july/patriotic/americana display in the gift shoppe. i was thinking about what i could use to really make the space sing. i've been inspired by all the lovely bunting floating around blog land so i decided i'd give it a try. i picked up some bandanas at wal-mart (two in a pack for two dollars) and got to work.

i have a pretty big piece of painter's drop cloth that i'm using for everything lately. remember my pillows? i love the stuff. so i tore two inch stripes and folded them in have lengthwise to create a little pocket.

for the bandanas (sorry no pictures of this part), i cut them in half diagonally to create two triangle. then folded the half in halfs to create quarters. make sense? then i just sewed  up one side and turn them inside out. the longer of the sides can remain open as that will be the top of the bunting and will be sandwiched in between the drop cloth. have i completely lost you?

then i pinned my quarter bandanas into the little pocket of my cut painter's drop cloth.

 and then sewed it all together with one simple stitch.

one really, really long stitch.

it cost me six dollars for the handkerchiefs and maybe one hour of my time. super cute right?! i think it'd make a great decoration for a fourth of july party ... or even a kids (or adults - haha) cowboy party.

it will be moving into the gift shoppe sometime this weekend when i begin to work on the display. i'll show you that early next week when it's all finished.  have a super happy weekend!

fruits of the forest jam

mini frittatas

no sure what to make for breakfast tomorrow? try these...

i used ham, cheddar, tomato and spinach. easy and delicious. trust me.

just let me know when. i'll be there ... with blueberry muffins.

*update - sorry i forgot to include a link to the recipe. click here.

work hard. play hard.

busy, busy, busy. i sure do wish i could stop time. i feel like summer is already flying by. don't you? i'm trying to soak in and do as much as i can  but there doesn't seem to be quite enough time. do you know what i mean?

i've been grilling.

vegetable kabobs. yum.

 progress continues on quilt #2. half of the top is together ...

just waiting for a rainy day (and an excuse to stay inside) to finish adding the final strips.

and just the other day i took a mini two-day vacation to one of my favorite places on earth. cedar point in sandusky ohio.

via

in two days i took 25 rides on 12 different roller coaters. i went 120 miles per hour and was 400 feet in the air. i'd go back tomorrow if i could. i also ate a funnel cake and a carmel apple. now that's what summer tastes like!

so, with one of the busiest summers forested here at old charm, i'm squeezing in all the fun and enjoyment i can. as they say ... work hard. play hard.

crazy for s'mores

maybe it's just me, but i've been seeing s'mores every where in blog and pinterest land. it's crazy! now don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining. i love a good s'more as much as the next guy. i just find it amusing how things come and go. how one idea creates a snowball affect of amazingness. right?

so in honor of the s'more, i gathered images and links of some of my favorites. maybe one of these creations will find it's way to your summer festivities.

s'mores cupcakes

gourmet s'mores bar

s'mores cookie

s'mores bars a la jek

s'mores favor

s'mores latte

s'mores martini 

s'mores pie

s'mores pops

reese's cup s'mores

s'mores bars

s'mores on a stick

don't they all sound delicious? yum!

no get off the internet and go try a recipe... or two!