Table Tonic Breakfast

Familiar with Table Tonic?

If not, check it out. Louise has a killer blog, fabulous online store and an amazing home. A very bright, colorful, Australian lifestyle that makes me feel frumpy and dull. Reading Table Tonic makes me want to add some color to my life.

Or at least a salad to my day. Louise posted this amazing looking salad last week and I thought, hey, now that's something I can try without a huge commitment.

So off I ran to the store and gathered up all my ingredients for a yummy Aussie breakfast. Yes, it was supposed to be a breakfast salad, but as I am not that hip, I had it for lunch. It was tasty, except I forgot the stinking avocado and I am not convinced I like kale. Is it an acquired taste? Yesterday I picked up a bag of spinach (and the missing avocado) and I have to say it got two thumbs up.
Want to try it? Recipe here.
(I used olive oil instead of coconut oil)
Let me know what you think.
And what are your thoughts on kale?

Wrist belts

Update: there was a little confusion yesterday, these bracelets are for sale!! And Angela has tons of other styles!! Go ahead, get you one or two!!

Remember last week when I said I was going to start sharing a few of my favorite things with you? Well I have another favorite..my favorite bracelets.

Wrist Belts
Made from vintage belts by a friend of mine.

Don't you love them?

Each one is different and the perfect accessory for fall.

Don't you want one or two?

I have two that I wear all the time and, no kidding, they make me look skinnier and younger.

They range in price from $15 - $26.

Interested? Contact Angela Stilley at recycler@ec.rr.com or angelastilley@ec.rr.com

If you live in Wilmington you can contact Angela or stop by any of these stores:
Airlie Moon
NoFo (Wilmington & Raleigh)
Island Passage
Artichoke
Jonkheer
Curl up & Dye
Flea Body's
Wilmington Downtown Flea Market
The Old Store (Castle Hayne)
Artful Living (Carolina Beach)
Somthin Beachie (Carolina beach)
Room Service (Bald Head)

Just be sure you tell them Sissy from Blue Hydrangea sent you.
And let me know how skinny you look!!

Hurricane Preparedness

So a reader asked me if I was getting ready for Irene. And yes, yes I am. Like any good citizen who has weathered a hurricane or two I know it is important to be prepared. I have gathered together all the essentials for unpleasant weather conditions....

A giant stack of magazines...

A book to read.
I am not 100% sold on this one, so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them (bonus points if I can get it from the library)

Lots of snacks and ice in coolers for my Diet Coke.

And most importantly my outfit. I am thinking denim, striped top and rain boots.

Bad weather is no excuse for bad style.

Dear Irene,
I am just joking. I am taking you and your high winds very seriously. I am just not really in the mood to play. I will quit making fun of you, if you will head on out to sea. And if you rip my striped awnings down I am going to be pissed!!!
XO Sissy

Will Work for Snacks

So this is the inspiration for the new project I am working on. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pattern on this chest but it is too busy for what I need so I am considering...

This paper. Less lemony more golden in person.

And I put the camera thief to work painting the chest. Who says cheap labor is hard to find? I paid him in Goldfish.

picture from Design Sponge

Camera Thief

I got ready to down load a few pictures and was surprised when my disk said I had 72 pictures. 72 pictures? I had only taken about 6 of the new project I am working on.

There was a lot of this...

And this.
And then 32 pictures later I saw this...

Somebody had gotten hold of my camera...

And taken about 66 pictures of the house and himself.

He looks pretty pleased with himself, doesn't he?

I tell you what, that kid cracks me up!!
Happy Monday!
Sissy

Inspired by Oprah

I've been worried about y'all and your Oprah withdrawal. Now I can't bring her back and she won't let me take over her show (I don't know why), but I can bring you a few of my favorite things. See, Oprah and I are just alike..except I won't be giving them to you for free.

First up my new Rikshaw kurta. I love it!! I have wanted one forever and I don't know why it took me so long to order one. I love it so much, a week after getting it I ordered another shirt, a tuxedo kurta. Little different design same great style.

Now for some books I have loved!! Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It sounds like a downer,a true story about a POW, but I promise you will love it.

Have you read this one? So creative! Geraldine Brooks gives us a fictional history of the father from Little Women. It's good.

And for some reason I have been addicted to Raisinets lately. I bet I haven't had a Raisinet in 20 years (I don't do well with sugar), but these are super yummy and I try to only eat a few a at a time. .

The big finale..a side braid. Loving this look. Although mine is more like a side piggy, but I am working on it.
How fun would it be to put on our new tunics, braid our hair, grab a good book and read while eating Raisinets? Does that sound like heaven or what?

Magazine Portrait

It's craft time at Blue Hydrangea...are you giddy with excitement? Me too!!

Saw this amazing piece of art on Chattafabulous and think I might need to try it myself. The portrait is made from tiny pieces of colored paper. I made similar pieces in a collage art class using small squares cut from magazines. And we all know I have more magazines than a crazy-haired, cat loving woman on Hoarders. Wish me luck! I'll be back with an update soon!!

Knock Knock

I love a front door that says 'wow!"

An over-sized door knocker is a great way to accomplish this.

It shows me that the homeowners have personality.

It also makes me want to go inside and snoop around. In a nice way of course. I have been searching for that wow for my own front door and came across this...

Over-sized vintage brass or bronze elephant door knocker. Isn't he the best? Now I have to decide if I am going to keep him or send him back to the booth. Somebody put me out of my misery and buy him. I have been so bad lately keeping everything I find. I try to buy only the things that I truly love, but then it is hard to give them up..even for $$$. He is 9 1/2" long 6" across, all for $70 plus S & H.
Sale Pending

Happy Picture

This makes me happy.

In technology news I got a new phone. I sent my first text message ever.
It went something like this:
"I got a ndw phone this is my fkfst tdxt"
Baby steps...right?

Picture from: moth design

Daniel Boone Was A...

Fashion Icon. At least to me. I watched his show as a kid and loved his cool leather fringed clothing. While other girls dreamed of Barbies and unicorns, I dreamed of one day having my own pair of fringed boots.

About 8 years ago I decided to make my dreams come true and I ordered this lace up pair. They looked good, they smelled good, and I could creep through the house as quiet as an Indian. But they just wouldn't stay up. It drove me crazy so I sent them back and settled for...
A simple moccasin. Which I have loved, but my six year old self still wants some dad gum fringed boots so....

I decided to go all out and ordered this pair. I know, can you stand it? They came, they look good, they smell good and they stay up. My unicorn has arrived...almost. Is there too much of a good thing? Too much fringe? Do I look more like Charo less like Daniel Boone?

Option number two. On it's way to me as we speak. The final decision will be made once I have both pairs in my possession and try them on and then ask my husband 62,000 which ones he likes best.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite?