Simple Basket Tray Vignette

The basket tray that I found at Target

for 75% off after the Holidays is staying.

I left the tags on until I decided. Do you

do that? No commitment until the tag

is removed. Well, it's passed the test. 

You know the one; I can use it so many

ways and for so many seasons.

Plus, I love trays and baskets so 2 for 1. 

Here it is in the family room during the day.

And here it is at night. It needs something. 

 I added the battery operated mini lights 

around the ivy and twig wreath. 

That's how we have it in the evenings

when we are watching TV with the pup.

 A cozy afternoon nap on Sofie's

favorite plush blanket. 

She's my favorite vignette. 

Cheers! 

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Little Tin Funnel Wine Aerator

I've had this little tin funnel forever!

It belonged to my mother and I remember

always seeing it in her kitchen drawers.

We were having dinner at an Italian

restaurant and the waiter poured our

wine from the bottle into our glasses 

using a small funnel like this to aerate 

the wine. Aerating wine enhances the taste

 and gives a smoother finish. 

I had never seen a funnel used like this

before and I found it so charming. We 

have always used an aerator on our wine

bottles. The kind that is also used as a

bottle stopper and it pores the wine. 

But this is just too cute. 

Do you have a small funnel? Find it and 

give this a try.This funnel sits just 

inside the wine glass. Slowly pour 

the wine through. 

Steak dinner and red wine. 

A perfect combination. 

Cheers!

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DIY Dry Erase Menu Board

You can keep your menus for 

the week well planned with this

personalized easy project.

All you need to do is use Word to

choose your fonts, colors, and special

message, like 'Guten Appetit' or

'Mom's Cafe' or whatever you like.

 Print it out. Trim to fit a 8x10

frame using the glass to trace the size.

 It would be nice to print out a menu

when you are entertaining for the holidays.

It would be easy to add Easter, Thanksgiving, 

or Christmas themes. 

 Then you'll use a dry erase marker to

write onto the glass and easily wipe 

off each week. 

Hang this on the wall 

if you're short of counter space. 

Cheers!

Links:  Between Naps On The Porch

Thrift Store White Mugs

The Valentine's mugs are have been stored in

the mug cabinet and the Valentine's decor is

in bins and baskets for next year. So that 

means it's time for a fresh look. 

 Picking out the mugs for these next few
weeks was a fun decision...as it always is.

 I decided to go all white this time. I found all
 these mugs over the years at the thrift store
 for 25¢ each. I picked out different shapes
to keep it interesting and so that we could
remember which mug we were using.

 A white tea pot for those afternoon tea breaks
along with a Longaberger tea basket that's
filled with packets of different tea flavors. 

 Of curse you'll need a treat for the afternoon. 

What's tea or coffee without a goodie?

 I made the banana bread in 2 small loaf
 pans this time. One for now and
one in the freezer.

Of course I'll share the recipe.

Best Banana Bread

Click here for my favorite banana bread.

Cheers!
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All Set For Valentine's

First let me say how much I love my 

Emma Bridgewater pink hearts tea pot.

Love. 

I'm also using my red/pink transfer ware.

Sometimes I use this set or this way. 

 No more "Please pass the salt and pepper" 

when everyone has their own at each place.

 I made them re-using those mini jam jars

you get in restaurants with your breakfast.

Doesn't everyone save those? 

 Table for the two of us.

 I added the framed printable plus more

 red accessories and plates.

 Now the yellow and blue seat cushions 

would't do, so I covered them with a red

checked pillowcase and white matlesse'
pillow shams. It's a quick fix for me
(sewing challenged).

I do this at Christmas and 4th of July too.

You can see the before (no tea set) and after

(with tea set). I love tea sets. 

 I love to use a different tea pot and mugs.

It keeps afternoon tea fun and happy. 

This little trio heart basket

was a rescue.

 I can either hang it on a wall or just

pop it on a shelf or table. 

This set always puts a smile on my face. 

It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Looking for a yummy dinner?
Try Chicken in Lemon Cream Sauce.

Love!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch

Valentine Mug Shots

Do you have your Valentine mugs out?

 What will you have in yours: 

coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

 The coffee filters are handy in a red-trimed 

Longaberger basket that's also hanging
on the mug rack.

A vintage oval platter I also found thrifting.

It's fun to find Valentine mugs at the thrift
store.I like the mix-and-match look, plus they
 are usually only about 25¢. You can also find
cute mugs at Marshall's, Target, or Walmart.

The heart-shaped bread board/tray we made HERE.

Coffee station has been Valentineized!

Of course what's Valentine's week
without chocolate cake? The easy recipe
is a click away,
Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake. 

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch

Dreaming of Capri

On this cold winter's day it seems like the thing to do.

This summer I had an amazing vacation in 

Italy with daughter Kim and my granddaughter

 Kristina. We were celebrating Kristina's 

graduation from Texas A&M. They flew

 here to Ft. Lauderdale from Dallas a day

 ahead so that we could all fly to Italy 

together. Our first stop CAPRI. Actually
Rome airport, then a driver to Naples
then a ferry to Capri, then the shuttle
to the hotel. So a long day. 

But this made it worth it! 

This is the view from our room.

Yes! Amazing!

The trip was magical! Everything about it.

The views, the food, the sights, and best of

all was the people we met that made the trip

 such a memorable experience.

 It all just clicked.

Capri is a beautiful island off the 

coast of Italy. It's part of the Amalfi coast.

 Breathtaking. 

 We would walk the small alleyways into 

town. Good steep hillside exercise that 

helped to offset

all the good food and wine. Of course

there was pizza for lunch.

 The weather was cool enough for 

walking everywhere.

Every turn and step 

(and there were plenty of steps)

was filled with flowers and fruit trees.

This is a real lemon tree trellis. I 

tried to think of a way to bring one home.

The lemon trees were everywhere. 

 Every home had a yard that was put to good 

use. Each one had a beautiful garden filled 

with vegetable, herbs, and fruit. 

I loved looking at them all.

 Just one of the many beautiful garden doors.

We always chose our restaurants with a view.

While siting at an outdoor cafe we were

able to enjoy this Catholic Church celebration.

Wonderful to see and hear the splendor.

Back in our room each evening to enjoy the 

sunsets and freshen up and change for dinner.

Then it's back into town for more adventures.

The nights in Capri were just that! 

Our fabulous evenings in Capri...next post.

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps on The Porch