Welcome Spring...Southern Living Style

A few days ago the March issue of Southern Living arrived in my mailbox and I have to say the cover was just stunning.  It was the perfect welcome to Spring.  I had to try the recipe for the cake shown on the cover, Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake (click link to recipe).  It just looked too good.  My husband and sons said it was my best effort...EVER.  Not "a really good cake"...but the best EVER!  Take my word for it, these boys know their cake and if this is the best EVER, you should definitely try it!

It baked up beautifully and the only deviation I made from the recipe was that I had to bake it for 10-15 minutes longer than the recipe called for.  Of course, that could just be my oven issue! 

 Beautiful!

It is so nice to have a recipe turn out just as pretty as when it is staged for the magazine!

Now, I can't wait to try the Key Lime Pound Cake with Key Lime Glaze from the same article! 

Thank you Southern Living!

Wordless Wednesday

My Mom

My Weekend Haul...

DD and I happened upon a great Estate Sale on Friday and picked up some goodies!  I collect China Snack sets (they are going to come in handy one day when it is Bridal Luncheon time!!!) I am so excited to score some new pieces for my collection. 

 I got these 4 Lefton snack sets for $7.00.(available at Replacements, Ltd. for $14.99 each)  They are some of my favorites because the inside of each cup is a beautiful pastel that reminds me of dyed Easter eggs. 

I also got 2 more beautiful snack sets with 2 additional snack plates for a whopping $2.00 for all 6 pieces (available at Replacements, Ltd. for $23.99 each ) 

The Reed & Barton 104 bowl was my big splurge, at $10. When I went to this Estate Sale on the first afternoon it was marked $20.00 but when I went by on the second afternoon it was down to $10.00 so I took it home!  (available at Replacements, Ltd. for $31.99)

So for a mere $19.00, I feel like I got quite a bargain for some gorgeous and unique pieces! 

Doing the frugalista happy dance!

Southern Lit., Pick of the Week: What are YOU reading these Days?

source

Hey girls! This week, I am taking a bit of a breather from reading (well, actually I am doing some catch up reading - magazine style! Remember....fluff, it does a body good!) but I would love to hear what you are all reading and what you have found that you couldn't put down.

*Have you discovered a new author or just a new to you author?

*Have you redisovered a book you had long forgotten about?

*Do you have the scoop on some new amazing "southern" book that I should not miss?

Please leave a comment with what you are currently reading, what you have loved lately or what you can't wait to read. I am looking forward to getting some inspiration from you!

This post was written as a member of Southern Mommas Writers

Please Check out the Southern Sisterhood at Southern Mommas

(and you don't have to be a Momma!)

Happy Birthday, Ma Jones!

Today is my Grandmother's Birthday. She would have been 98. Although she has been gone 6 years, I still miss her like crazy.  NOT a single day goes by that I don't think of something or see something that makes me think of her.  Most of the time, it is usually something funny that I would love to kid with her about (I was probably a torturous grandchild, as I loved to poke at her). 

Anyway, this is my Ma Jones' beloved Christmas Cactus and I am not sure how, but after she died, I ended up with it.  She loved plants probably just about better than anyone else I have ever known and loved gardening (both vegetable and flower.)  The day before her death she spent a cold November day digging in her yard to plant spring bulbs.  That is how I hope to die...living until the end!

So Ma Jones' "Christmas" cactus is a crazy plant, in that since she died, it has not bloomed during December one single time!  It has bloomed during February, on her birthday...every year.  Really.  That is probably her way of poking back at me from the great beyond!!!  I noticed it was almost ready to bloom last week and here we are on her birthday and it is beautiful!  So funny, huh? 

Beautiful blooms to celebrate a beautiful life.

And some how, I know that when her son-in-law (my sweet Uncle Kenneth), joined her in Heaven on her birthday in 2009....she had a shovel and rake waiting for him to help her tend the flowers there!

Wordless Wednesday

Linking to Flip Flops & Pears (semi) Wordless Wednesday



Needing some advice...

OK girls, I need some advice...and quick!  What do you use as moisturizer on your hands?  Sounds simple, huh?  Well, I haven't found anything that seems to be really getting the job done and I am a little discouraged.  I am feeling a little sensitive here about the appearance of my hands, especially on the tops...those just can't be MY hands...can they?  I used to use something that had Vitamin C in it and I loved it, but like all good things it had to disappear from store shelves, never to be seen again. 

So, I am opening it up here for some suggestions.   What do you use?  Do you use different products for night/day and what do you use for in between? Tell me about your hand care routine.  Please...I am desperate for some tried and true recommendations!