Saturday, June 29, 2013

Friday, June 28, 2013

Maxi Makeover From a Men's T-Shirt


So, yeah!  I like T-Shirt makeovers.
 
 
I've done quite a few.  Have you seen them?
 
  
 
Today, I have a new T-Shirt Remodel over at Inspiration Café!  Please click HERE to see it!



 
I'm a contributor at Inspiration Café.   Squeal!!  Really!  Go see!
 
I am such a geek!
 
;-)  -Marci

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Peanut Butter Brownies

Brownies are a favorite dessert around here.  We also love peanut butter.  The other day I was goofing around with a recipe and *get this* it turned out really well!  Woo Hoo!
 
It's not a very pretty dessert, but it sure is tasty.  I thought I would share it with you!
 
 
It began with our favorite brownie recipe from this cookbook.
 
 
 
 
Next, I pulled out the muffin tin and filled each cup about 2/3 full of the brownie batter.  A teaspoon of plain ol' peanut butter was added to each of the cups. 
 
Check it out!
 
 
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Dibs were immediately called on the big one up front!
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party #12

Good Morning and welcome to another fantastic party!
 
Back to the Basics
We have an exciting announcement this week!  For the next 2 parties we'll be adding NEW co-hosts while Mary is out of town visiting family!

That means your post will be seen on 4 different blogs!!!

We're your co-hosts Mary @ Back to the Basics and Joyce @ It's Your Life!  
 
Please give a warm welcome to Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
 
AND Diane @ MamalDiane

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!
 
My Feature this Week is:
 
 
 
Being a Daddy's Girl myself, I was so very touched by her story.  I'm sure their family would appreciate your prayers.
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

Back to the Basics
We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 
Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features. 
And now for the party!

Monday, June 24, 2013

FREE GLASSES!!

When  Firmoo.com contacted me about an ad for them, I was pretty excited!  You might remember I've just recently begun wearing reading glasses.  Since I only need them for reading, I am constantly misplacing them!  How fun to pick up a pair for  FREE!  Take a look!  (Pun intended!)

 

;-)  -Marci

 

Hit your summer with Firmoo Free Glasses in June

glasses
The most awaited part of the year- S-U-M-M-E-R has finally come. Aren't you excited to be on the beach, wear shorts, be tan, be outside gardening and go to music festivals? Well I definitely am! What is summer without a new pair of eyewear? An easy remedy for this is to stop by Firmoo.com and pick up a free pair of glasses so that you won't miss a moment this summer. New arrivals are part of the First-Pair-Free-Program. Now get yours for FREE!

+ Looking for Retro Style Glasses?

A retro glasses frame offering a quirky retro look. This eyewear with bold color and fashionable design will lighten up your summers. The rectangular lenses are surrounded by thin and sleek rims, extending out to metal stems. Spring hinges add extra comfort to wear. Find out your own and unique style.

glasses

+ Looking for Oversized Glasses?

To be yourself and find your own way to show yourself! This eyewear with big conspicuous frames is so unique and attractive and they will let you stand out in the crowd. Oversized glasses are always your best choice for showing your star quality in the fashion trend.

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+ Looking for Fashion Tinted Sunglasses?

These two pairs of retro-style sunglasses are somewhat different from traditional wraparound sunglasses. It is a traditional frame shape with sunglasses lenses, which make you look more fashionable and elegant in this hot summer season.

glasses
Still have no idea about how to style your pair? Check out a few ladies modeling their favorite Firmoo eyewear.
glasses
glasses
glasses
(The above model photos are all derived from Firmoo+.)

New Customers, check more products for your first free pair at Firmoo right now! You just need to pay shipping. First come, first served! (Simply clicking "LUCKY DRAW" on this page, you may even get a totally free pair including shipping free.)

About Firmoo
Firmoo is the World's Most Popular Online Eyeglasses Store. We have always been committed ourselves to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices which start at 8 dollars- 80%-90% lower compared to that in local store.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Herbs: A Place to Begin... Chopping

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

Mr. Big Stuff loves helping in the kitchen!
Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

Many recipes call for 'finely chopped' or 'minced' herbs.  What does that mean?

What it means is itsy bitsy, teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini pieces.

How do you do it?

I'd love to tell you I have some crazy mad knife skills like those chefs on TV, but alas, not so.  Here's my trick.  One of these slap chopper things.  Mine happens to be from Pampered Chef.


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These herbs are for vegetable beef soup:  garlic, basil, oregano, and thyme.  Mmmm...  'Love that combo!  And they all grow well for me here in Arkansas.

Here's how they look after some slapping.


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See the tiny pieces?

Check out my Recipes Page and  Gardening Page for more information and other ideas.  Please come back for other  simple ideas and ways to add herbs into your everyday life!  I hope this post gives you... 

A Place to Begin!
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party #11

We have an exciting announcement this week!  For the next 2 parties we'll be adding a NEW co-host while Mary is out of town visiting family!  That means your post will be seen on 3 different blogs!!!
 
Back to the Basics
We're your co-hosts

Mary @ Back to the Basics

and Joyce @ It's Your Life!  
 
and ME!  Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!
 
My Feature this Week is from Heidi's Wanderings


You have to see all the cute pictures in A Day at the Races 

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

Back to the Basics

We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!
The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 
Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
 
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features. 
 
And now for the party!
 

Garden Guest: Woodpecker

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 
 
While I would love to take credit  for these photos, they were actually taken by our neighbors.  We live on one corner and they live on one of the other corners.  A couple of years ago, my garden was featured at a Master Gardener meeting.  Our neighbors, Travis and David, take remarkable photos so I asked if they would please stop by and see what they could do in my garden. 
 
 
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I love the shots of this woodpecker!
 
 
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Can you see the toes in the next picture?  Wow!
 
 
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Yes!  More of their photos will be posted later!  I'm not sure which ones were taken by Travis and which were taken by David, but they are all wonderful!  'Don't know what kind of camera they use, but if it comes up missing, I'm sure I will be the prime suspect!  ;-) 

Thank you to my sweet neighbors on the corner!
 
My song for the week is Down on the Corner by Street Corner Symphony.
 
 
Grab a song and link it at Holli's Hoots and Hollers for Tuesday Tunes!  'See you there!
 
;-)  -Marci

Sunday, June 16, 2013

A Long Overdue Introduction

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This is Wee Fashionista.  Isn't she gorgeous?


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She was born at home.  It was such a positive experience.
 
 
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The Midwife was wonderful, and everyone helped. 
 
 
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She weighed in at 9 pounds. 
 
 
 photo IsabellaDenise162_zps41d1a08b.jpg

 
We all got to hold her,
 
 
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and climb on the bed to visit with her.
 
 
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Isn't she just the perfect addition to our family!
 
 
 photo IsabellaDenise183_zps2c1596ed.jpg
 

;-)  -Marci



Saturday, June 15, 2013

Herbs: A Place to Begin... Simple Tea

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

 
Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

How do you make an simple herbal tea?



This is probably the question I hear most often.  Folks have all these beautiful herbs in their garden, but have no idea what to do with them.  Teas are one of the easiest and most versatile ways to use herbs.  I've actually written three posts about how to make herbal tea.

Here they are:

Lemon Balm Tea

Peppermint Tea

Spearmint Tea 

Herbal teas are delicious hot or cold, sweetened or not.  There are approximately a bazillion ways to use them in recipes.  (Yes, there will be "A Place to Begin" posts about what to do besides drink them!) 

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BTW...  There are already some suggestions on my Recipes Page for you.  'Just sayin'.  ;-)

Remember to visit my Stone Cottage each week as I give tips on simple ways to bring herbs into your everyday life. Look for the posts titled "A Place to Begin".

;-)  -Marci

 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Garden Guest: Swallowtail

The north side of our front yard is a certified National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat. Really! We have a certificate! It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit. I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests.

This beauty is a Black Swallowtail caterpillar munching away on parsley.

 photo LydiaMae026_zpsb06ded6a.jpg
 
 
I can't think of a clever segue into Tuesday Tunes today so my song is a completely random choice.


 
Pachelbel's Canon in D.
 
I hope your day is filled with beauty!
 
;-)  -Marci