~poster giveaway~

It's another giveaway here at my sweet savannah!

Amy is a Vancouver based web and graphic designer.

Here is what she has to say about her esty shop.

Why I call my shop Field Trip?

Well, like most everybody, some of my fondest memories from school and growing up are from Field Trips.

There's another reason too - I know that the contents of this shop will ebb and flow over time. So many different types of art and so many artistic styles resonate with me - so I want to give myself the freedom to explore.

My current poster collection - Peace, Love and Typography - reflects my love of minimalist design and a life long enjoyment of origami art nurtured by a several year long study of Japanese language and culture.

If you'd like to be entered in this contest to win one of Any's wonderful posters all you have to do is visit Amy's etsy shop,

and then come back here and leave me a comment on which poster you would like if you won!

I will be picking 2 winners on Wednesday July 7th at this time.

xoxo

~sarah's house~

Have you ever watched Sarah's house on HGTV?

Her design style never ceases to amaze me.

Lately I have been loving color.

No, not a ton, don't freak out,

I'm not going to paint my home to look like a crayon box exploded.

Color like in the photos below..... Subtle color, muted colors........

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous color.

I am in love with this house.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me on Blayne's blog.

I read through every comment and you really

touched me with all your sweet notes!

You are the best!

xoxo

~for the love of the red white and blue~

I am sorry for my lack of posts lately.

We have had company in from out of town since

Thursday and they just left this morning.

I am trying to get caught up on things around the house.

I have also been decorating for the 4Th as we are having a party at our home this year.

I loved these photos for their colorful inspiration.

I hope you like them as well.

first 5 photos: house beautiful

last photo: habitually chic

xoxo

~guess what I'm getting ready for...~

xoxo

~I need your votes!~

It's voting time over at Blayne's blog.

If you like my little old living room would you PLEASE vote for me?

Room number 3.

I would be ever so grateful!!! Thank you so much!

xoxo

~I love him~

Can't you see why?

He just built us the most outstanding carport doors!

They are on sliders, have glass windows, and

he even installed lighting over them under the soffit

that comes on automatically when it gets dark!

And,

he made them in 2 days!

Yep, he's a keeper.

xoxo

~a perfect summer dinner~

Yesterday was my moms birthday.

She thought she was coming over here

for a family dinner,

but we surprised her with some of her friends too.

It was a great evening.

I made a super simple dinner and it was so good,

the perfect summer dinner!

~Menu~

fish tacos

corn casserole

watermelon salad with lime dressing

black beans

strawberry lemonade

assorted cupcakes

Mix one can evaporated milk with fresh lime juice

and let stand until thickened at room temp.

Store in fridge until ready to serve.
I make fresh pico de gallo, but you can buy store bought.
Chop fresh cabbage and fry up some corn tortillas!
A friend of my husbands gave us fresh halibut he caught in Alaska.
It was so tasty, nothing like fresh fish!
I fried it in a little oil with fresh lime juice and a little taco seasoning.
For a lower fat version try sauteing the fish in nonfat milk,
sounds strange, but it's surprisingly good!



I got this watermelon salad recipe from sunset magazine.
I am usually not a huge fan of watermelon,
but I tell you,
I gobbled this down!


It looks so pretty too!

This is my grandmothers corn casserole recipe.

I make it on Thanksgiving too.

So versatile and it's always a huge hit.

Double this recipe for a large crowd.

I had a picture of it, don't know where it went........

hum

I used fresh black beans and soaked and cooked

them for hours but you can also just do canned black beans.

{think I'll do that next time!}

I also served strawberry lemonade~well, my version of it.

I bought bottled organic lemonade and served it in fancy little glasses with a few chopped strawberries in each one.

Again, super simple, that's the name of the game.

That's my mom on the left and a couple of her friends.

It was our first hot day this summer so we got to dine al fresco.

Ahhh, the lazy days of summer are here.

hallelujah

Hope it's sunny where ever you are!

xoxo

~my favorite room, a contest~

I am entering a contest here.

The sweet and talented Blayne Beacham is offering

the most fabulous prize, and although I never win anything,

I thought, what the heck.

It doesn't hurt to try right? Her contest goes like this.

"What's your favorite place in your house"

and why?"

Grab a cup of coffee, this could be a while.....................

When we bought our home back in 1996

We were newlyweds and had next to no money.

My husband had grown up here on the lake and

we were back for a neighbors memorial service at the clubhouse.

He ran into an old friend who casually mentioned that he had a home going up for sale in the neighborhood.

After the service we drove on down to the end of the road and knocked on the door,

" the door"

the door that would become ours someday.

We knew we couldn't afford it, but it was worth a look right?
We walked in.
Walked right into this very room and we knew,
knew it would be ours for the rest of our lives.
The sliding glass doors, which are now french doors
stuck when we opened them, we could barely fit through.
The walls were dark tongue and groove cedar and the fireplace was 60's rock.
The ceiling in the kitchen was falling in.
The floors were uneven and the single pane windows were so fogged over you could barely see through them.
It smelled like dampness and was cold
{only a single stove to heat the place}
I was 3 months pregnant with Savannah.
What were we thinking?
Well, we were young and in love and this place,
despite all it's flaws felt like home.
And best of all, we could afford it.

We put an offer in
and on April 7, 1996
it was officially ours.

This was the first room we saw when we stepped foot in this house.
This is the room my kids have had every Christmas morning in since they were born.
This is the room where the only heat source was for a long time,

where we all huddled up in front of the fire day and night.
This is the room where we watch family movies, have friends and family over, and most of all, sit back and remember what it used to be like and what it took for us to get there.

This is the room where we have all laughed, cried,

had sad and happy moments.

It's the room where my dog curls up in front of the fire.

It's comfy and it's home,

and it's the first room we saw that cold March day back in 96.

It's the room where we wrote on a napkin our expenses trying to figure out if we could afford it.

The room where we sit back and appreciate and

are thankful for all that we have been blessed with.

Nothing has happened overnight.

My sweet husband and I are still picking away at this house.

It's a labor of love and I can honestly say,

"There's no place like home"

If you'd like to vote for our room you can keep watching Blayne's blog.

Thanks for listening to my little story,

I'm going to go get a tissue now!

xoxo

~a breath of fresh air~

I came across this designer on rate my space today.

Look at this room.

Just look at it.

I am now on a mission to enlarge family photos this big.

And find a vase just like that one.

The colors in this room are so soothing,

like a breath of fresh air.

I love the light fixtures in this kitchen.

I also love the vintage pail with the lilacs.

Back to the dining room.
Every detail is perfect, down to the bead board ceiling.
It's a little more modern than I usually like,
but I am really drawn to it.

It's very clean and minimal with lots of light.

I love the blackboard in this kitchen
and
the lemon branches in the little jar.

The color palette in this room is fabulous.

I love the tree, the lamp, and the paintings.

Heck, I love it all!

Back to this kitchen with a shot of the pantry and some modern cowhide stools.

Check out the numbered baskets in the pantry!

Another angle on that fabulous room with the tree.

A great place for breakfast and a newspaper.

Hope you are all having a great week.

I am super tired after a long weekend of camping, but I will be back soon,

I promise!

xoxo

~a white wonder~

This wonderful boathouse is so light and

bright it makes me smile just looking at it.

I love this light fixture and the black and whites going up the stairs. Touches of petal pink make this little girls room so sweet.

The baskets add a nice texture to the room.
Texture is key in an all white interior.

I could sit for hours on this porch with a good book.

It's nothing too fancy, which I love.

I love the pale blue door.

It is a nice contrast with all the white.

Again, the baskets and the wood coffee table add

that texture to keep things from looking too stark.

Typography?

Yes!

You can see more of this beautiful home here.

Trust me, there is lots more and it's to die for!

Also, I wanted to let you know about a great

giveaway that my friend Jill is having over at

forever cottage.

Be sure to check that out!

Well, kids are officially on summer vacation tomorrow!

We are kicking things off by going camping!

I will be back on Monday hopefully with a little color in my cheeks

{no, not those cheeks silly!}

and smores in my belly!

I also have a little surprise to share with you all.....

~stay tuned~

xoxo

~Quick & Healthy Baked Potato Salad & a winner~

Quick & Healthy Baked Potato Salad

I love baked potato salads but they can be so fattening!

Here is a recipe that is a lighter version you might like!

Photo courtesy of Country living.

If you love baked potatoes but associate them primarily with the colder winter months, this Baked Potato Salad will fill that void come summer. With reduced-fat cheddar cheese, chives and real bacon, you’ll feel like you’re eating a traditional baked potato in a dish that’s just slightly more summer picnic-friendly. The best part? There’s no need to fire up the oven when you have a microwave handy!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds red potatoes*
1 cup non-fat plain yogurt
1/3 cup minced red onion
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup snipped fresh chives
3 tablespoons real bacon bits or pieces
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Chopped fresh parsley
Preparation:
Place whole potatoes (do not poke) into microwave-safe dish. Cover dish. (If covering dish with plastic wrap, poke small hole in plastic). Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes depending on strength of microwave. Use oven mitts to remove dish from microwave; carefully remove cover from dish due to steam build-up and let cool. Cut potatoes into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl with remaining ingredients; stir well to mix. This salad may be served right away, but is best if refrigerated for at least one hour to allow flavors to blend.
*Russets, yellow or white potatoes can be substituted
Nutritional analysis per serving with skins: Calories: 240, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 620mg, Potassium: 712mg, Carbohydrates: 41g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 11g, Vitamin A: 15%, Vitamin C: 50%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 4%
Found here.

And now, for the winner of the TJ Maxx gift card.
Drumroll please......
Yay to Diana Thompson of
Thompson Tales!
I couldn't be happier.
I have met Diana and she is the sweetest thing ever and I am so excited she won!!!
Congrats Diana, please email me with your address!
Have a great rest of your day friends!
xoxo

~you didn't win?~do you want another try?~

Last summer I bought the cutest Juicy Couture suit at TJ Maxx.

You can read about it here. Here are a few swimsuit ideas that are perfect for the beach or poolside…

Bold & Bright – Stand out at the beach and grab a suit that flaunts that tan in yellow, turquoise or even black and white. .
Patterns & Prints – Looking to add curves to a petite frame? Opt for a suit with a bold print in a fun pattern like paisley, tie dye or a mosaic. Tribal prints have also made a huge comeback for this summer and can spice up any swimwear attire.
Embellishments –This year’s swimwear is all about the bling! Make sure to flaunt one of these new trends: jewels at the neckline, ombre fabric dyeing, ruched sides, buckles and grommet details.
The New One-Piece – The one-piece is back with updates that you won’t be able to resist! Look for suits with one shoulder straps and hardware to add an edge to your poolside attire. Monokinis are also a huge favorite this year. This sexy one piece allows fashionistas to show a little skin without exposing it all.
A swim look is never complete without the right cover-up, sunglasses, hat, carry-all bag, towel and sun-protection!

For the Boardwalk cover up with a colorful, strapless sundress, a solid romper or cargo shorts and a tissue tee. Try a long, patterned tunic for a chic on-and off the beach look. Keep feet sand-free with a pair of flat, gladiator sandals with stone embellishments.
Carry beach gear in an oversized straw bag with ribbon detailing or a cross-body messenger bag.
Stay sun protected with a pair of aviators or Jackie O style sunglasses, a wide brimmed straw hat in a variety of colors and details or try a lightweight fedora or boater style hat.

I bet you are wondering what this is all about?
Well, the nice folks over at TJ Maxx/Marshalls got wind
of my shirt giveaway and wanted to offer one of you lucky readers
a $25.00 gift card!

So, even if you didn't win the shirt,
you now have a chance to get one, or a new swimsuit,
or whatever suits your fancy!
All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post.
I will be using random.org to pick a winner same time tomorrow night!
xoxo