Perspectives - A Photo Challenge: SUMMER

Over the next few Friday's I will be participating in the Perspectives - A Photo Challenge hosted by Lena B Photography, Agape Love Designs and When Shutters Click.




I found this challenge when hanging out on Pinterest, which as everyone knows is a great place to waste time get inspired! Since I got my new camera, one of my goals is to just take pictures whenever I can. I think I have taken more non-blog-related photos in the last month than I had in the previous two years.

This Friday's challenge is SUMMER!

Here are my three pics that represent my perspective of Summer for me. Summer to me is about relaxing, being outdoors and, well, because I am one of those people, Willow - our fur kid.

1.  My first rainbow of the summer with the added bonus of being in my favorite summer vacation spot - Lake Charlevoix! Taken on my Samsung Galaxy IIS. I was kicking myself for leaving my "real" camera in the hotel room.

2.  D's first baby tomato in our garden - I love the way the light hits the water droplet. I enjoy spending time in the garden because my cell phone doesn't work there so it the perfect place to unplug and get your hands dirty.  This was one of the very first photos I took with my new Canon T3i with 18-55 kit lens using the close up macro.

3.  Our sleepy Willow. She loves summer because she gets to sleep in the grass with the sun keeping her nice and warm.  She was so passed out she didn't even mind me crawling right up to her and taking her picture.  Taken with a Canon T3i with 18-55 kit lens with the close-up macro.

Here are the deets so you can join in if you like. I really hope you will!  I would love to see the photos that mean Summer to you.

Each week the hosts will choose a "theme" and on Friday, they ask that everyone link up 3 different photos representing their PERSPECTIVE of the week's theme.  It's all about YOUR perspective & interpretation!

{If you don't have a blog, you can link to a flickr account, etc. They just want to see your photos!!}

By the way... you dont have to be a professional photographer to join in!

You can even use your camera phone. (I know I will!)
They just want to see YOUR perspective!
They want to see how YOU view the world. :)
So don't by shy, or afraid to join in!

The following week, each host will choose & highlight their favorite photo from the linkup!

The very first linkup is going to be happening today, July 20th...
Link up your post with 3 photos you've taken to represent this week's theme:

SUMMER

They want this to be successful, so if you're IN give a few shout outs!
Grab a button a spread the word!
Feel free to tweet using hash tags #Perspectives or #PerspectivesPhotoChallenge and #July20
as well as tag @mariagridly, @Mom2MandR, and @shuttersclick.

Dabbling In Upholstery

I am so excited! I am signed up for an upholstery class next month!  

Last fall I bought a Groupon for half off an upholstery class at a local interior design/custom upholstery shop called Something to Talk About Interiors. Score!!

It took me a while to find the chair but as fate would have it, my firm was doing an update on their furniture and I was able to purchase 2 matching side chairs for $25 each. Love it! I did some checking and turns out these are Steelcase chairs, made in Italy. [No, they are not fra-gi-le. Props if you recognize that Christmas Story reference]. I know I got a total deal.

Took even longer to find the perfect fabric. I knew in my head what I wanted but finding it seemed to take forever. I wanted a floral but not anything stuffy. Something a bit bold but not too graphic since the living room is a bit more formal. It needed to have the right colors, which was the hardest part.  I finally found the perfect fabric at Joann.  Even better, I had a coupon for 50% off.

I will keep you posted on how the class goes. Hopefully I will be able to take some pictures and I won't staple my finger!

Willow Wednesday

Mom, did you know there is a hole in the fence?

Tout It Tuesday - #15

Welcome to Tout It Tuesday - #15

I can't believe it is Tuesday again.  We had an amazing weekend in Charlevoix, a town in Northern Michigan that my family has been visiting as long as I can remember.  It is great that I can now experience this wonderful place with D and his kids. We spent three days boating, eating, watching sunsets, hanging out, checking the arts & crafts fair, and basically relaxing away from the stresses of work and home. It was fantastic. I will be posting some pics from our adventure later this week.  

I hope you will take a minute to check out my latest Tout It Tuesday inspired post:  Strawberries and Cream Cake, originally linked by Natural Mothers Network. This was delicious and everyone thought it was to beautiful to eat, though that didn't stop us.

With that, onto this week's features!  I don't have a fan favorite this week (see #4 below) since again there were no projects with more than 1 like. Make sure to come back later in the week. I will be making a special "Fan Favorite" button just for the project that has the most likes each week.

Second Chance to Dream shared her DIY pyramid trellis. I think one of these would look fab in my front yard.

With a Blast shared these delicious looking chocolate dipped cheesecake bites! Schedule me for extra sessions on the bike so I can eat these.

The Crafty Woman shared her reusable snack bags. I love that these can go straight into the washer when they get dirty.

Jed & Ivy shared an amazing redo of the cutest kid sized rocker. The pom poms are adorable.


Make sure to grab the featured button!

<a href="http://www.claimingourspace.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/gooch100/COSButton-Featur ed.jpg" /></a>

I can't wait to see what people will be share this week and know that I will be inspired by everyone's projects and recipes.

Just a few rules/guidelines.

1. I would love it if you would follow through GFC or Bloglovin'. You can also follow on Twitter where I will be sharing my favorites throughout the week.

2. Please do not link parties that don't have a project or recipe or shops. Everything else is accepted.

3. Linking to Claiming Our Space isn't required but I would appreciate it if you would grab my button and either display it with the post you are linking up or under your list of parties.

<a href="http://www.claimingourspace.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/gooch100/COSButton-ToutIt Tuesdays.jpg" /></a>

4. Don't forget to click on the "like" button on your favorite project or recipe so I know which one should be the week's Fan Favorite.

5.  Please try to visit at least two posts for each link you submit and leave a comment. Comments make everyone happy!

With all that out of the way, let's Tout It!

Strawberries & Cream Cake

In a past Tout It Tuesday, Natural Mothers Network shared her Queen's Jubilee Strawberry Cake.  When I needed to make a dessert for one of our monthly Family Dinners, I knew this was perfect! Though I did change it up a bit since it turned out I didn't have any almonds in the pantry.

It was a huge hit and I will definitely be making this again!

Strawberries & Cream Cake
Adapted from: Natural Mothers Network

Ingredients

    10 oz  sugar
    6 oz unsalted butter
    6 eggs
    12 oz plain/all purpose flour
    1 tsp baking powder
    pinch salt
    15 fl oz double cream
    2 tbsp sifted powdered sugar
    7 oz strawberries
    2 non-stick cake pans
    cake-stand

Directions
For the cakes

• Pre-heat oven to 350F
• Take your cake pans and grease and flour them
• Whisk the sugar and eggs together until the consistency is light and fluffy
• Melt the butter in the microwave (only put in for 30 seconds at a time)
• Allow the butter to cool while you combine the baking powder, flour, and salt together in a medium bowl
• Fold dry mixture, gradually, into the sugar and egg mixture
• Once combined, fold butter into the mixture
• Divide the cake mixture between the 2 cake pans
• Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
• Allow to cool slighly before removing it from the cake pans
• Place on wire rack to cool

For whipped cream

• Next whip cream and sifted powdered sugar so it thickens to a stiff consistency
• Set aside until you put everything together

Putting it all together

• Cut your strawberries in half, making sure to save some of the best ones for the top
• Once the cakes have cooled completely, make sure they will fit on your cake stand.  I needed to trim the cakes to fit better on my cake stand so I used the bottom of my tart pan to make sure the 2 cakes were the same size
• Slice each cake into 2 thin layers
• Place the one cake layer on your cake stand and spread a layer of whipped cream
• Top with strawberries, pressing them gently into the whipped cream
• Place a thin layer of whipped cream on top of the strawberry layer
• Place another cake layer on top of the thin whipped cream layer and spread a layer of whipped cream
• Top with strawberries, pressing them gently into the whipped cream
• Place a thin layer of whipped cream on top of the strawberry layer
• Place another cake layer on top of the thin whipped cream layer
• Top with a thicker layer of whipped cream.
• Decorate top with the prettiest strawberries 

Enjoy!

We decided not to use the 4th cake layer in the cake so we cut it up into cubes and tossed it with cut up fresh strawberries and the last bit of whipped cream. It was delicious!

Check out the places I party.

$1 Garage Sale Bench Revamp

I like to call this project my $1 garage sale bench revamp. Yup, I got a small wood bench for $1 at a garage sale the first summer we lived in our house. Score!

There was a reason she was only $1.  (Yes, this bench is a she. Something about the legs to me says "classy lady.")

Imagine hideous disintegrating green boucle fabric, wood that was stained a horrible shade of cherry and, even better, turquoise paint splatters.  Basically she was a DIYers dream:  lots of potential and a dirt cheap price.  Am I right?

Of course, you will notice I said you would need to "imagine" her in all the bad fabric, ugly stain and paint splattered glory because, after almost 3 years, I can't find any before photos.  I was totally convinced I knew where those photos were on my computer but, after almost an hour of searching, and muttering things like "Oh, I know where it must be" and "what was I thinking, it must be in this folder" out loud to myself, I was totally wrong.

Hopefully the after will make up for it!

Here she is in her new and improved - never to be stuck in the basement for three years again - glory!

First, she got good sanding and then a restain using the same espresso stain I used for my CL couch table revamp. 

A couple coats of poly and a new seat base and I was ready for the next step.

Next up, new foam and batting.

Finally, I covered her with new and fabulous fabric.

And I was done.

Doesn't she look lovely?

I love that I can use it as either extra seating or, if used with a tray, as a coffee table.  Don't you love things that can be dual purpose? Me too.

Of course now I need to do a tray makeover to coordinate with the fabric.  Of course, I am so upset that I have another project! :-) 

Slowly but surely the living room is starting to come together.  The marble coffee table got a repaint, the DIY chalk paint table is done and now the bench/table is complete. At this rate, it will only be another 3 years until the living room is done!

Total cost of the project:

$ 1.00 Bench

$ 0.00 Stain - already had

$ 0.00 batting - already had

$ 8.00 2" foam - purchased at Joann's with a coupon

$ 7.00 fabric  - purchased at Joann's from the remnant section (The entire piece was about $15.00 but I used less than half)

$16.00 Total - Not too shabby!

Check out the places I party.

Source

There is no To Do list and no menu plan post today since we are up in Northern Michigan for the weekend with family. Boating, relaxing, laughing, eating too much and basically hanging out are on the agenda.

Watch our Instragram feed for photos from our weekend away.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!