A quick note...

Do you recognize this beautiful and talented woman?

It's Kathysue from Good Life of Design.

(If you do not follow her blog you are simply missing out!)

Here is a little geography lesson.  She lives in California. I live in North Carolina.  Tomorrow at about 11am Pacific Time - East Meets West!  :)

I am going to spend 4 wonderful days with my dear friend, Kathysue and another dear friend, Jeanette, whom I came to know from Rate My Space and another website which is no longer in existence.

A group of us ladies "met" online several years ago, and for the past three years - some of us who were lucky enough to attend - have gathered together for a few days of giggling, talking, shopping and did I say talking?  I was able to meet Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict for the past few years.

Kathysue is going to be hosting us in her beautiful home and I can't wait. She has a very full itinerary planned such as Napa, Carmel and the Almeda Flea Market.  woot woot!

So....needless to say I will be gone until next week.  But I look forward to sharing all the great pics with you when I get back.

Love and Hugs and Blessings...Barb

(ps - please say a prayer for me.  For some reason this flight has me nervous and I am a World traveler)  :(

The Raven and the....Wreath?

The Grits House has stepped out of its usual style.  I do not normally do Halloween.

Until the last few years, I rarely did anything to celebrate

 this event, accept pass out candy.

But, once you have Grandchildren.... everything changes. LOL

I wanted to create a fun little area that greeted guests.  

It is the only area of the Grits House which will be
 "cute and whimsical."

(gasp....did I say whimsical?)

So here we go.... I give you...

(cue the creepy organ music)

The Raven and the Wreath!

(insert evil laugh...bwaahahaha)

This is how the Foyer chest started out.  

(Kinda boring, I know.) 

Remember the Pumpkin Planter I created for the 

Keep It Simple Party?

Click here if you wanna see the "simple" instructions.

I decided to move it the foyer where I would create 

my Halloween Vignette.  With just a few glittery, black branches, some sparkly bats and a touch of faux spider web....and a touch of Halloween magic...

 My Pumpkin Arrangement was transformed into this! 

I added some Martha Stewart stickers to the 

pumpkin to give it some extra cuteness.

(I am wondering how long it will take for Roo, my 23 month old Grandlove - to pick these off)   :)

I exchanged the round shade for a square one.

(BTW, this shade is a $2.50 thrift store find I purchased in Asheville, NC during a visit with Debbie @ Confessions of a Plate Addict and Kathysue @ Good Life of Design)

With some more Martha Stewart cut-outs, I have a new...

(cue creepy organ music) 
...bug-infested shade.

I know I could have purchased black construction 
paper, printed out a spider shape, spent all day cutting 
them out etc etc.

But the theme of my blog is... I don't have the time!  :)

Next, I took a Fall wreath I already had.  I simply inserted some sparkly, black stems, added a berry garland - and made a "bow" of wool yard in Fall colors.  That took all of 5 minutes.  :)

A rough-cut fabric remnant creates a runner.  Two vintage candleholders hold some cute pumpkins.

A battery-powered candle is much safer when little hands become Grabby Goblins.

And finally....

(more organ music....)

The Raven! 

I flew him in from The London Tower.

He is very happy to stand guard over this Halloween scene. 

Here is the full vignette.

The Grits Foyer....dressed in Halloween finery and spookery.

(okay, Organ guy you can leave now, this post is over)

I am joining in several blog parties this week:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch
for Metamorphosis Monday.


Carrie @ Dittle Dattle
for Amaze Me Monday.


Mary at Boogieboard Cottage
for Masterpiece Monday


Marty at A Stroll Through Life
for Tabletop Tuesday


Linda at Coastal Charm 
for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday


Kim at Savvy Southern Style
for Wow Us Wednesday


I would love to join in more, but I am leaving to fly out to San Francisco on Thursday to meet with 
Kathysue of Good Life of Design and another friend 
I met on Rate My Space - Jeanette.
I am so blessed to spend a few glorious days with these ladies.
Carmel, Napa and the Alameda Flea Market.
Oh boy, oh boy!


Have a great week everyone - Barb

"Keep It Simple" Pumpkin Giveaway Winners:

Thank you to everyone who joined in my very first

 "Keep It Simple" Blog Party.  

Mark your calendars, the next "Keep It Simple" Party will be Thursday, Oct 13th. 

I can't wait to see what you come up with. 

I am happy to announce the winners of the two beautiful, Fall Majolica-style Pumpkins...

The Winner of the first Pumpkin is, based upon 29 friends who left comments:

Random Number Generator chose: 


 Stacy at Poofing the Pillows!

The Winner of the second pumpkin, based upon friends who joined the Keep It Simple Party:

Random Number Generator chose:


 Barb @ Bella Vista!


Congrats to both winners!


If you will contact me at:
barbgarrettnc@yahoo.com 
with your home address I will send your pumpkins 
right out to you.

Thanks again to everyone who both participated and left 
such sweet comments.  I am blessed!


Happy Sunday - Barb

Sunday Favorites....

I am participating in Chari's Sunday Favorites at

Happy to Design.

Hop on over to this beautiful lady's blog and check out 

some past posts.

I am sharing my Breakfast Room Hutch Re-Do.  

A really simple project that made a big 

difference in my Kitchen.  

I will be announcing the winner's of the pretty majolica-style pumpkins tomorrow, and also sharing a really cute "Before and After" with a Halloween theme.

Enjoy Your Weekend....Barb

It's Monday! So you know what that means?

Back to School... Back to Work... Back to Reality...and Metamorphosis Monday! This weekly event is sponsored by

Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Please make sure you stop by Susan's place to see her fantastic blog, and also - you can get a full list of all Met Monday Participants. There are always some wonderful "Before and After" pics and projects.

I know you are getting tired of seeing my breakfast room. But, it seems like the projects which I have been focused on as of late, are the kitchen and this area. I keep thinking....one day I will be through... one day I will be through....

LOL Who am I kidding!

I wanted to share my latest project...painting and
"upholstering" my Craigslist hutch. It was pretty enough before - although dated looking. The back is stamped Ethan Allen 1969.

From the time I found the piece online, I envisioned it painted the same matte black as my breakfast table and chairs.

Some sanding and two coats of paint later...it turned out great. I love how it changed the whole look and feel of the hutch, and how the vintage porcelain knobs now pop. But, I also felt something was missing. It needed some "umph." Ya'll just know how I love "umph."

I had looked at several wallpapers...and decided that maybe upholstered boards with tufting and covered buttons would be the perfect finishing touch. In the end, I went with simplicity in both fabric choice and application. "Umph" I like...time consuming projects...not so much. :-)

I chose a damask style fabric in a warm sage green that tied in with my painted kitchen cabinets. The "upholstery" part was easy, and only took a few minutes to complete.

I started with a paper template of each section of the hutch since they were all different sizes...

( By the way, I keep a roll of this heavy-duty paper around at all times. It's great for craft projects and decorating projects of all kinds. It's available in the paint section where tape, etc. is sold, and is very cheap.)

To apply the cut-out fabric...I relied on an old-time product...undiluted liquid starch.

Using the sponge (you could also use a brush) - I simply applied a generous amount of starch right onto the back of the hutch. After laying the fabric on top, I used my hand to smooth out the fabric. You may need to reapply the starch to certain areas, as needed. This was a thicker fabric, and a little harder to work with. If you have never tried a project using starch, you might want to start with a thinner cotton fabric. There are some great ideas for using starch at www.linit.com .

Here's the first section of fabric applied.

...and the bottom section - only one more area to go.

Don't worry about the frayed or raw edges...I have an easy fix for that.

A few inexpensive packages of coordinating bias tape and a hot glue gun will clean things up beautifully.

Here's the finished project...took me about 45 minutes total...to include getting a re-fill on Coke, re-starting Ice Age for Cole ...and shooing Baby Lily off the hutch and wiping starch off her tail.

It was time to put my treasured collection of pink and white transferware back in...

The green fabric was the perfect compliment to the dishes. I added some silk hydrangeas in tones of sage and cream in the white pitcher.

Close-up of bottom shelf...

It was also time to address the top of the hutch....I found this beauty at Ross for $11. Eleven bucks!!!

I also added a vintage Bread Box, a french bread basket, a grouping of veggies and breads in a tiered stand, and a green and white transferware plate. hmmmm....maybe I will tweak it some more, but for now it works.

I love my breakfast room and kitchen - especially at night. The color changes to a warm, golden tone which just glows and feels so welcoming. I think the hutch project was one that totally changed the look and feel of this space.

I have often wondered why I am so pulled to my kitchen. I recently read a quote on another blog I just discovered...which by the way I love... Warm Pie, Happy Home .

The quote was from Dolly Parton and said..

"When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be in the kitchen because it was warm, and that's where mother was. You never lose that feeling."

My best childhood memories are sitting at the kitchen table, doing my homework, watching Mama cook...telling her about my day...and feeling like the "special" child because she asked me to taste what she was cooking. She would always ask..."does it need anything?" :-)

Yes, my kitchen is the heart of my home - just like my Mama's.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my "Before and After" Hutch project. Please make sure you hop on over to Susan's and visit the other participants, as well.

Have a Great Monday...Barb

Beef and Portobello Stroganoff Bake

I just posted one of my favorite quick 'n easy One Pot Wonders on my Facebook Page.

Have you joined One Pot Wonders Yet?  If not...here is the link...

http://www.facebook.com/groups/256898097676946/

I am having a great giveaway this Sunday, so it's not too late to join.  I am giving away this Cuisinart Cast Iron 3-quart Cookpot in my fave color - RED!  :)

In the meantime, here is my recipe...

Beef and Portobello Stroganoff Bake

Here's What You Will Need:

2 Tbs Olive Oil - 1 Large Onion, chopped - 2 stalks celery, chopped

1 pound 90% lean ground beef - 1/4 tsp salt - 1/4 tsp pepper

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped - 1/2 tsp dried marjoram

12 oz portobello mushroom caps, sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine - 1 Tsp cornstarch

1 can (14oz) no-salt-added Beef Broth

12 oz farfalle pasta or egg noodles

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

1/2 cup reduced fat parmesan cheese

Chopped, fresh parsley, for garnish

(opt) 1/4-1/2 cup bread crumbs

Here's What You Do:

1. 1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Bring a large saucepan, filled 2/3 full with salted water to a rolling boil.

1. 
   

1. 2) In a large ovenproof skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil on medium-high on the stovetop. Add onion and celery and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown, stirring. Add beef, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until beef is browned, stirring to break up meat. With slotted spoon, transfer mixture to plate covered with paper towels to drain.

1. Drain all but 3 teaspoons of meat grease from skillet.

1. 
   

1. 3) To meat drippings, add garlic and marjoram. Cook about 15-20 seconds. Then add mushrooms. Cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add wine, heat until mixture comes to a boil, and cook 2 minutes, 

1. stirring to prevent burning.

1. 
   

1. 4) In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon beef broth. Add remaining broth to skillet; heat to boiling. Stir in cornstarch mixture; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

1. 
   

1. 5) Meanwhile, add pasta to boiling water and cook for half the time label directs. Drain pasta well; transfer to pot with meat mixture.

1. 
   

1. 6) Stir sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper into skillet and cook 1 minute or until creamy, stirring.  

1. 
   

1. 7) Add drained noodles. Gently stir to coat all noodles.  Sprinkle top with parmesan cheese and parsley.  (*see optional toping below) Bake 18 to 20 minutes.  

Optional:  I like to create a "crunchy" topping.  To do this, prior to baking, sprinkle about a 1/4 cup bread crumbs, then add the parmesan cheese followed by a good drizzle of about 1 Tablespoon olive oil.  Then garnish with your parsley.  Just before pulling from the oven, turn on your Broiler and brown the cheese and allow the crumbs to get nice and toasty.  Yum! 

Optional:  I also like to use No-Yolk Egg Noodles.  Again, only boil the noodles for half the cooking time. The baking/oven time will further cook the noodles to the right consistency.

I hope you enjoy this One Pot Wonder. 

Have a great weekend!  ~ Barb

I am joining in on Foodie Friday with Michael at 

Designs by Gollum.

Welcome to Keep It Simple Premier Party....

Welcome to the very first Keep It Simple Party...

Everyone loves simple projects which can be assembled with ease.

In fact...I got home late tonight. As in after 6pm late.

So my plans of getting home at 4pm, leisurely assembling my project and creating my blog post...well, let's say it didn't exactly go that way.  

But isn't that called "life?"  That's why these "Keep It Simple" projects are ideal....when life gets crazy!


Here is my official

"Keep It Simple Project"

Easy Pumpkin Planter

Here's what you will need:

A faux pumpkin, some dirt, some flowers (I chose mums, ornamental peppers, violas, a dusty miller plant and some ivy cut from my yard.  I also had a few silk 
stems, which I will show you.

To create the "planter" I used a simple kitchen knife to cut the top from the pumpkin.

Time: 10 seconds. 

Next I filled it halfway with potting soil.

Time: 2 mins

(I had to go outside)

Then, I planted my flowers.

Time: 10 mins

Roo says its so easy you can do this with your eyes closed. :)

Next, I added some of the silk stems. I added Chinese Lanterns and ornamental grass.

Time: 3 mins

Total assembly....to include giving kisses to me sweet Roo

...about 15 mins.  

How Simple is That?

I chose the white pumpkin, but also bought a traditional orange pumpkin to create another arrangement.

The best part is the container is waterproof and I can water the flowers without worrying about spilling.

I created this arrangement for the chest in the formal Dining Room.  

Do you see that beautiful majolica-style pumpkin?

I love it.  If you love it too...you can win one.  

You can win one by simply leaving a comment here, and I will also be giving one away to a lucky Blogger who shares a project.

Two lucky winners.

I look forward to seeing all of your projects and can't wait to announce the Lucky Pumpkin Winners.

Thanks for Joining in.....Barb