Super Fast & Easy Low Cal Dessert

If you're trying to stick with your New Year's resolution, or you're watching what you eat, but you just gotta have something sweet, then this is the dessert for you! It's super easy, super fast, super yummy and has only about 125 calories per serving!!

There are only four ingredients:

Sugar free - fat free Jell-O Instant Pudding, Vanilla flavor

Non-fat or skim milk

2 Small Bananas

Fat Free Reddi Wip topping

Follow the directions on the Jell-O package. Layer half a small banana in a pretty dish and add half a cup of the prepared pudding. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 5 minutes (max. about 2 days - if they make it uneaten that long). Top with a dollop of whip topping and enjoy!

There is no "sugar-free" after taste on this. It tastes smooth and creamy and so so yummy!

Treasures Found

Even though I said in my last post that I didn't come home with as many treasures from the Rose Bowl as I usually do, I did manage to find some fun things there, and in some antique stores and at some garage sales. Here are my favorite finds!

The big bottle of buttons are all mother of pearl and some abalone. I think I paid a little too much for these at $15.00 but that was balanced out by the little bottle of all bone buttons at only $5.00.

The rolls of thread are a great neutral color and some are beginning to show age with some awesome yellowing areas. They look nice and old, AND I only paid about 50 cents a roll (I got twelve total).  The "silver" pitcher is only plated, but I got it for 10 bucks! It's going to look gorgeous with all white roses in it (someday).

These are too cool! The little spoon has a tightly twisted stem and the little mirror has a scene that reminds me of Argentina (where I was born).  Then there's the "thing" that I don't know what it is, but at $3.00 I couldn't pass it up. I'm going to clip it on white linen for an accent piece.  The little clippy thing is about 2 1/4" wide by 3" long. It has a little "lip" at the top that has a little hinged tab attached with a hole through it.  The top is
slightly curved.
                               
I almost forgot to mention one of my favorite finds!  The set of eight 20" x 20" super soft linen napkins with the ecru cut out embroidery (above).  They are GORGEOUS and in perfect condition. They just need a little wash and press and they're ready to go. These are for me!

I also found a set of white linen napkins for my Sister-Friend. (She'll get them for her B-day and are supposed to be a surprise…I hope she's not reading this!)  Speaking of my Sister-Friend, Colleen, we were in the same little antique boutique when we found a set of white napkin rings.  We split them so that she has six and I have six. They can be used as place holders by writing a person name or message on them. Love them!

I couldn't pass up vintage sweater guards.  One is made with cellulose flowers at the clips with a pearl chain.

The other one is teeny tiny petite needle point roses. Couldn't leave that one, could I?

This fan from the late 1940's, early 50's is made of curly feathers. They're pink on one side...

…and blue on the other. It has a little mirror on the blue side, but is too damaged to look into. Still, too cute!

This isn't old.  Just made to look old.  I bought it so I could use it as a card or picture holder, but when I got it home, I found out that most of the loops are welded together.  I think I'll run a ribbon through it, put it in a pot and grow ivy on it.  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!
Patricia :o)

The Rose Bowl!

 Every time I go to California, I try to make it just before the 2nd Sunday of the month. The Pasadena Rose Bowl is an absolute MUST for me!

 There are all kinds of vendors that range from vintage to antique, shabby chic to ultra modern.

 However, I have to admit that this past February I was very disappointed with "The Bowl".  They are under construction, it was extremely crowded due to limited space, and the vendors were charging amazingly high prices. AND I couldn't find one of my favorite venders. (insert very sad face here) I didn't come away with as much as I usually do.

 Still, there is no way I would miss it.  There are just so many fun and beautiful treasures to be found…I just had to look a little harder this time.

Even though it wasn't the shopping trip that I had expected, it was still worth the trip. And of course, the worse day of flea shopping is better than the best day at work.

Blessings,
Patricia :o)

Valentine Hearts~ Embroidered Love!

One of the things I love about vintage linens, is the beautiful holiday embroidery. And this month it's hearts!  I'm not 100% sure that all these linens were used to celebrate St. Valentine's Day because they're too beautiful to bring out just once a year.  Most likely most of these were embroidered by a bride for her linen hope chest.

Here's some HEART eye candy.

If you'd like to see more photos or get more details on these linens, please feel free to visit my eBay for more information.

Blessings,

Patricia :o)

New and Improved Laundry Room

I've been dreaming of having a laundry room since we purchased our first home in California. The first one didn't have a laundry area and we had to do the laundry at my mom's. The second house, the washer and dryer were in the garage.

So I was thrilled when we bought our home in Texas and it had a laundry room INDOORS!!  Woo Hoo!

But, it was just four walls and the hook ups.  I needed a utility sink for soaking my linens and storage for all my other junk laundry products.

These first four pictures are the "before."  (That's me in the first one)

No real storage

Blank boring walls

Linoleum flooring

And now the "After"

Nice sunny walls and white cabinets

Big sink with sprayer and under cabinet lighting,

Super cute dish towels 

Little yellow birds doing what I do everyday...

…washing and ironing

Ceramic tile and vintage needlepoint door stop. So Cute!

The vintage iron on the left was my late mother-in-law's
The one on the right is a bank to collect loose change while doing the laundry

Adorable vintage laundry bag to collect single socks until they meet
up with their partner at the end of the month. 

 There are still a couple of tiny details that need to be finished on it, but it is fully functional. I LOVE it! The sink in this room is so practical not only because I can soak linens and wash dog bowls (not at the same time, of course! LOL), but because the garage opens into this room. So if hubby is working on the car, or my hands are muddy from gardening, we don't have to trapes through the house to wash our hands.

This room has been on my to-do list since we moved in. What a wonderful feeling to be able to line it out.

Blessings,
Patricia :o)

My chocolate pillow!!

 Look what I got in the mail.  Just when I needed a pick-me-up, I get the sweetest little package.

 I ordered this from my good friend Jil (never met in person, though LOL). She does WONDERFUL work and makes the most amazing pillows (and other sweet things - you should see her guest towels!! You'll love them).

 I love this!! So pretty, So elegant, So CHOCOLATE!! Now this is how to get a chocolate bar fix with no calories.

 And how cute is the back. Black and grey polka-dots. Sorry my pictures don't do it justice.

Not only is she super talented, she's as sweet as can be. Ya gotta vista her beautiful blog; Say it with Roses.  But wait, there's more!! Check out her Etsy shop and her web store, The Ruffled Rose to see all her goodies.  You won't be disappointed!

Blessings,
Patricia :o)

Vinage Tablecloth Curtains - Catch 22

 There's a little town North East of San Antonio called Geronimo.  It's tiny, and basically feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. It has one street through it, and that street is lined with antique stores.

Hubby and I go every few months just to check things out, and after shopping we go to the one and only place to eat (see address at bottom of page). A little family owned and operated hamburger place.  Everyone in the family has a job, and Grandma's job was to make the curtains.

 She took vintage tablecloths, cut them in half and added tabs to the tops.

 Each tablecloth curtain panel is lined with a white fabric for support and protection.

 And each tablecloth is different, except for the tabs which all have the same fabric.

 I was embarrassed to ask if I could post a blog about the curtains. All the pictures were taken on the sly so they're not as good or as detailed as I would have wanted them to be.  Rest assured that before I walked out of the restaurant, I did ask for permission to post the pictures I had taken. They said yes, but by that time the place was filling up, and I was embarrassed to take photos in front of everyone.  SILLY!!! I know. LOL

Catch 22 about using tablecloths as curtains:  Because tablecloths become semi translucent when held up against the light, they have to be perfect. Any stains, tears, holes or imperfections will show, even if lined with a backing (unless it's light blocking). So basically you have to use a perfect vintage tablecloth. But I can't bring myself to cut a perfect tablecloth if it's perfect…Catch 22.

Blessings,
Patricia :o)

Grain Bin Cafe & Store 

121 Dennis Road, Seguin, TX 78155-0402(830) 379-2233