This ol' House Thursday...Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO  Happy Valentine's Day!!!  XOXO

This is our girls' very own chalkboard in their room...our oldest writes notes to the baby on it...so very sweet!  This morning I had it in the kitchen with a Valentine's Day wish for us all...

This is my sweet little love bug butterfly my preschooler made my husband and I...too cute!

Sweet little butterfly!  I am headed out the door to her preschool party now...so much fun!  I ran out of time for those ooey-gooey home made rocky road brownies (don't worry...next time!)  So, I pulled off a close 2nd...

This boxed brownie mix is hands down  our FAVORITE!  I think 29 minutes is the trick...no more and no less!  To doll these up a bit...grab a heart cookie cutter and powdered sugar in a sifter.

Cut out little hearts...perfect bite sized brownies!

Sprinkle with powdered sugar...instantly cute little treat for Valentine's Day!

I hope your day (and each and everyday) is filled with LOVE!!!

Love & Junk~

Julie

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Dairy Wife Wednesday...Butter Crisp Chocolate Valentine Cookie

I LOVE a good, chewy brownie (if I have time...I will post a FABULOUS recipe tomorrow.)  I LOVE a warm, molten lava cake.  But, we are changing it up this year for a sweet Valentine's Day treat...taking this any time treat with a "heart" twist!

This buttery oatmeal goodness of a cookie will soon be your favorite, too!  A few ingredients and that is it...you can doll them up by cutting them out with a heart cookie cutter and dipping half in chocolate or drizzling with chocolate.  Lot of ideas...just make them how you like them.  Oh, and use REAL CA butter!!!

You will need:

1 cup melted REAL butter (NO substitutions...nope, not EVER!)

2 cups brown sugar

4 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal

2 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt (you know I like sea salt!)

2 tsp vanilla (I have bought pricey vanilla in the past...and I love Costco's!)

1 cup melted REAL butter (NO substitutions...nope, not EVER!)

2 cups brown sugar

4 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal

2 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt (you know I like sea salt!)

2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients well and spread in 9 X 13 baking pan

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes

Remove from oven and CAREFULLY cut them quickly using a heart cookie cutter...let cool.

You can melt chocolate and dip half of the cookies in...for a sweet look and chocolate treat!

Or just drizzle melted chocolate on for a dainty look...my 4 year old LOVED drizzling the chocolate on.    She drizzled this one for mom...see all the chocolate on there for me?  This is a good job for little helpers!

Easy recipe...but, when you cut them out with a heart cookie cutter and drizzle them with chocolate...instant Valentine treat!

Love & Junk~

Julie

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Transformation Tuesday....

Another fun find...turned quick transformation project!  This sweet little table was in close to perfect condition...it just needed a cool color.  I used my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Graphite on it...love the outcome!





A quick cleaning...nice coat of the ASCP in Graphite and distressed the table and done!




Love this table...perfect for a side table, sofa table or an entry table.




The top is rustic enough but not too rough...just perfect!  The wax finish is perfect for a rich finish.

Just a quick little transformation today...I have a TON of projects out in my shop that I need to head out and get going on.  I hope you have a fabulous day!!!


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Motivation For Your Monday...Operation Spring Cleaning!

One room at a time!  Yep, tackle it one room at a time.  Sometimes...even one drawer or cabinet at a time!  Everything can use a little re-organization and cleaning...but, if you allow yourself to think of ALL of it at once...you will defeat yourself before you even start!



A week or so ago...I showed you my office/sewing room that was, well...um, a DISASTER AREA!  My husband helped me rearrange my work table in there to better use my small space.  It is not big...at all...but, I am making it work FOR ME!

My corner desk was not going to get moved (according to my hubby!)  So, I took EVERYTHING out of the cabinets and drawers and started over.  I ONLY put back what I use regularly on the desk space (my over sized clothespin with bills, bin with important papers and that is about it.)  Same thing with the cabinets...only things I use and the rest went in my filing cabinet.  Old files came out of the filing cabinet and went into a shredder!

Some times a simple furniture rearranging and gutting of junk drawers an cabinets is all you need.  My small space feels like it is working better for me now...and feels MUCH more open!

My girls' closet is next on the chopping block.  This is a pretty good sized closet...but, I am wasting space.  The top shelf is littered with stuff just shoved in there.  No more...garbage bags went in there today...and let me just say...the yard sale pile is getting BIGGER!

I hope you have projects to tackle this week...feels good to get them started and DONE!  Have a great week!

Love & Junk~

Julie

Furniture Friday...Wine and Chocolate, too?!?!

Feeling the LoVE today.......furniture is on hold til next week, working on these wine bags today.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner...but, I LOVE this weekend!  It is the annual Wine and Chocolate Lover's weekend at the Madera Wine Trail. 

 My husband and I used to go and make it to all (well, most) of the wineries...my sister in law has the best winery on the trail, Chateau Lasgoity.  Her husband is the wine maker...and they are all fabulous wines...but my favorite one right now is his Pinot Grigio.  (Sounds perfect for dinner!)  Now, we just go and help...I sell my stuff and we jump in and pour wine when needed.  "One sip for you...two for me." Works out well...

I whipped up a few wine sacks to go along with my pillows and some smaller vintage furniture I have to sell tomorrow.  I love this "Vino" bag...simple and cute...with a hemp twine tie.

My "LOVE" bag...with a red and white polka dot ribbon.  Sweet without being too cutesy!

My FAVORITE...the red and white chevron!  Oh, and another "LOVE" bag with a simple red ribbon.

These are all handmade by me...

A little chevron LoVe...

Love these bags...simple and classic...fleur de leis with a hemp twine tie.

My French Crown bag...with a hemp twine tie.  Cute!

LOVE this natural tie...hemp...love!

These  wine bags are all for sale in my Etsy shop... www.thevintagebarn.etsy.com or... if you are a local...come and have some fabulous wine with me tomorrow and take your bag home with you!

For more information on the wine trail...www.chateaulasgoity.com

I hope you all have a great weekend...whatever you do!

Love & Junk~

Julie

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