Summer Mantel

Our Summer Mantel 2011 Although I'm not digging it as a whole, it is comprised of things I love. That does NOT include the pumpkin accent wall that was a late pregnancy decision or the brassy yucky doors. Note: the birdcage was my 1st ever Pottery Barn purchase circa 1995 :)
The FAB silver votives were a recent Tuesday Morning purchase and the brass propeller was a gift to me from an elderly neighbor (rip Mrs. Krowicky); it was from her husbands little boat from the 30's, it's near & dear to my heart...

A poster purchased on Ebay, years ago, beautifully framed by a friend.

Starfish on a Stick from a local shoppe, the Dancing Crab in Normandy Beach. An embossed mercury glass vase and some faux cattails round it out...

Lastly, my {pitiful} palm in a pot that I love from Compass Rose in Kill Devil Hills and a wrought iron bobble-bird from Tuesday Morning (my newly discovered, favorite store ~ if you can see past the junk!)

Thank you for stopping by...and Happy Summer!

“Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.” Bob Marley

The Calm... {Semi} Wordless Wednesday

I want to say...before the storm, but I can't because my heart aches for the people in the South and Midwest who've had to endure unthinkable, life-changing storms over the past few weeks. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I will never complain about snow again, as it's the worst weather we get on the Jersey Shore. The menial storm I would have previously referred to is tourists. This weekend we will begin to share our shore with them for the next few months. I'm not complaining, they ensure that our area thrives and they make for some pretty good people watching! The peaceful boardwalk will shortly be filled with families and...
Jersey Shore wanna-be's (they're not here people, they are terrorizing Italy).

There is a buzz round here, it's as if waking up from a long winter nap. Landscapers & pool companies are frantic getting homes ready for bbq's and parties, there are racks and racks and racks of hot dog and burger buns at the Stop & Shop, beach chair vendors and farm stands are popping up on the sides of highways and glow-sticks are sold out at the Dollar Tree.

I can't imagine how many pounds of lemons and sausages are being ordered for just this weekend...

I am wishing all of you a wonderful holiday weekend spent with family and friends!

Glimpse of our Weekend

It was an at home, workin' weekend. Just about a month ago, we had no grass at all, just topsoil. After a lot of hard work and tons of seed & fertilizer, it's coming along beautifully. After adding some rocks and the zebra grass, all I need to do is to add some annuals to this bed and I'm done with this display.
I made a shephards pie...Bills all-time fave (as you can see, he didn't wait for me to take a pic...)

I baked a ham for Sunday dinner with friends. I used the glaze recipe from the current issue of SL (shocker) and substituted Jack Daniels for Bourbon...pretty tasty if I do say so myself (recipe to follow)

My Morning Glories :) These seeds I used to plant were cultivated from my beloved bachelorette pad in 2008. They have been in an envelope waiting to bloom again....

This was a month prior (see the nasty old grass, told ya). We installed some slate as well, between the street and the sidewalk. Looking forward to updating you all later in the season with pics of beautiful blooms :)

I've been sidelined with a sinus infection and I am trying to pack us for a weekend in the mountains, so there probably won't be any tantalizing posts from me. Although you never know...blogging always sucks me back in!

xoxo Traci

Homes I Love...

Spring Lake, NJ Circa 1891

Isn't it darling? The town is as well...picture perfect! I haven't done a real estate post in awhile, nothing has sparked my interest...
Until I saw this porch with mahogany floors! I could imagine myself lazing the day away here with a glass of lemonade (or wine), watching families trek to & from the beach...
I love the buttery color of these cabinets, complimented by the hardwood floors, fun chandelier and loads of light
I wouldn't change a thing about this dining room that includes a butlers pantry and wetbar
This is an attic bedroom...what a dreamy getaway. I LOVE the painted woodwork and think what an awesome playroom this would make...

From the Realtor: Gorgeous Victorian home with wrap-around porch. Three levels of living space. Hardwood floors throughout! Kitchen has custom cabinets, granite, island, Viking & Subzero appliances. Wet bar with beverage center. All bathrooms were completely renovated in May 2011! Alarm system, fireplace, and hard-wired indoor/outdoor speaker system. Beautifully landscaped yard with paver patio and irrigation. Stroll to beach, lake, houses of worship, schools, and town. This home exudes warmth and old world charm!

May madness is hitting the Huttons! Busy, busy, busy over the next week capped off with a trip to Pennsylvania's Amish Country. I'll be popping in and out, in the meantime, have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo Traci

Rambling...{Semi} Wordless Wednesday

I am frustrated, I am still having issues with Blogger. I have lost all of the blogs I am following in my reader and even trying to create this post I am having trouble, so I'm not sure what you're gonna get! Please leave me a comment, so that I may RE-follow you ~ thanks!

My mom and her sisters spent Mother's Day at the beach on Siesta Key, as they have for many years since my Grandmother passed. My Aunts live in TX & NC and Moms in NJ, so they gather once a year on the west coast of FL near my Great Aunt, because time is precious. I am so glad that they have this time together and I positive that my Grandmother is with them as well... My Mom, Aunt Holly & Aunt Brenda circa 2002~ish.

Holly, Mom, Brenda and Aunt Dotsy last week. Don't they look fabulous? I have good genes!

Happy Wednesday!!

xoxo Traci

The midnighter {Recipe Swaps}

This was on Friday...and it had been a long week. Hubby thought this beer was funny when he bought it...not so funny when our allergies are at their HEIGHT! Anyway...it took the edge off.
I started my recipe with 2 pork loins in the crockpot on low for six hours in a touch of chicken broth, so they didn't dry out.
Add sourdough bread, baked ham, swiss cheese, dijon mustard and mayo, and a little butter to coat the outside of the bread. (Forgot to show the sliced dill pickles). I layered the items in this order...mayo, swiss, pork, pickles, ham, dijon, close sandwich and lightly butter the outside and
slap on the panini grill. You can also use a sandwich press or another heavy pot or pan on top of the sandwich in a frying pan.
Voila ~ Friday nite dinner!

I call them cuban panini's, but in Cuba they are known as medianoches, the midnighter. I assembled about 3 more large sandwiches than we needed on Friday (for just the two of us), so once cooled, I sliced the rest of the sandwiches into 1-inch strips and took them to a party on Saturday night as an appetizer. They were just as tasty and were an unexpected hit!

I'm linking up with the girls ~ have a fabulous week!

Traci xoxo

Tuesday Morning

Have anyone else ever heard of or been to this store? It's been around my way for awhile and I'd never gone in. Last Friday after work, Bill was taking the boy for a haircut and I had a couple minutes to spare, so I thought I'd pop in. WELL....what the heck did I wait for?! I have to say that the store was a mess...they are relocating, but something tells me that it's always been a mess. You kinda had to pick through, move stuff, look up and down to find the finds.

I had a $25 visa gift card left over from my birthday, so I figured I'd just blow it on something totally random. i got a plethora of randoms that made me happy....for $24 and change.

In addition to the wrought iron cross and bird (that bobbles..so fun), the fake cattails and an initial "E" case for a gift, I found these votives. I would've paid $$$ just for them. Pics don't do them justice...they are gorgeous, and heavy, and not marked....totally look like I could've picked them up in a market in Mexico or some other exotic locale. They make me happy and have already made their home on my summer mantle (tba).

I saw some FAB folk art-ish Halloween decorations that I wanna sneak back for...just trying to figure out how to justify buying Halloween decor in May to the hubby ;-)

Mommy Day Recap {Semi} Wordless Wednesday

Riding the family train at Funtown Pier
Business was slow...it's preseason, but maybe a good thing Collin was the only one on the bumper cars ;-p

Brennan's 1st carousel ride...precious.

Midway. Legendary round' these parts...Only indulge once or twice a year despite the fact that its 2 miles from my house. Speaking of Calories...ice cream stained faces below...

The boys took me (who took who?) to the boardwalk for Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day...full of rides, arcade games, food & drinks, people watching and ice cream. What more can you ask for??? I hope everyone's Mom's Day was as memorable as mine...xoxo Traci

~Happy Mother's Day~

From the
My wonderful mom is spending the month in FL, hopping between her sisters and her best friends and while I'll miss her, I know she is having a well-deserved blast. This mom will be spending her weekend with the boys. Saturday will include swim lessons, t-ball, hitting the boardwalk for some rides at funtown pier, jersey sausage & peppers and a cocktail.

On Sunday I am taking the time to work in my yard...planting, weeding and mulching. Not a spa day (have fun Jen!), but relaxing all the same. Finished off by a take-out italian feast by Joe Leone (review and pics to follow). What's better than a feast in your jammies catching up on your dvr'd programs?!

Then I'll be m.i.a. Have to go in to the hossy for a lil' tune up, nothing to worry about, but I'll be out of commission for a few.

I hope that all of my blog mommy friends have a wonderful weekend and I'll *see" ya'll sometime next week.

xoxo Traci

Undone

Some of my favorite items are in our foyer, which I was going to redo in January to tie everything together more asthetically. Fast forward to May and another unchecked task on my list. Now here comes summer (June, July, August, Sept...) and if the pool is open and the sun is shining, it goes without saying... The bench is from Overstock, the urn from Homegoods and the pillows from Pottery Barn. The ficus was handed down to me from my grandmother when I moved into my 1st apartment in 1995. I've had some close calls with the plant, but she always recovers and is one of my most cherished possessions.
I love these pillows and the BEST part...the baby can't break them!

Wrought iron pineapple...the country house catalog circa 2000.

One of a pair of vases handed down to me by my mom....I love the colors and they flank the front door, filled with eucalyptus.

Twins....recent lighting additions that take you from the entrance into the kitchen.

My hopes for this room (in the fall) is to add a vintage drop-front table that I have to paint (the same green as in the vases), some rugs and add some more items to the walls. It is the first place you see when entering a home, so I want it to be super~warm and inviting! After the summer....

Joining some linky parties, including:

~God Bless America~

~Rest in peace Sal Fiumefreddo and Brett T. Bailey, and all who perished on that awful day almost 10 years ago~

~Never Forget~