Easy Strawberry Cobbler (Perfect for Mother's Day)

This is a delicious, super easy cobbler. The breading has more of a cake like texture, than the usual crumble texture. Any fruit of your choosing can be substituted for strawberries.This recipe is definitely one that the kids can help with. Happy Mother's Day!

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A great dish to prepare for breakfast or dessert!

Ingredients

Produce

3 cups of fresh strawberries, sliced

Baking and Spices

1 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Dairy

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup milk

Instructions

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees

2. In a medium bowl, add strawberries and 3/4 cup sugar. Stir until strawberries are coated, and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and the remainder of sugar.

4. Add milk, vanilla, and melted butter, to dry ingredients. Whisk until combined. 

5. Pour batter into a 8" X 8", baking dish, making sure it's evenly distributed.

6. Spoon the sliced strawberries over the batter pressing in, gently. DO NOT STIR. 

6. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown, or until a toothpick inserted into  the center of the cobbler, comes out clean.

Serve warm or room temperature. Optional;  serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

Where The Wild Things Are

Animal prints are a design favorite that are always in fashion. They are versatile enough to be incorporated into any decorating style.

The items shown here are in my living room, and were accumulated over time. 

I have two pieces of advice when decorating with pattern, first; choose items that have the same or similar colors, and second; if you tire of things easily, choose small pieces, that can easily be swapped out, (as I have),  rather than large investment pieces such as upholstered furniture, or a expensive rug. 

This is a Bath and Body Works candle, that I purchased a while back. I like the candle fragrance, but i love the blue leopard print!

 I found the beautiful holder at a thrift store. The candle fits inside perfectly! 

This vintage, ceramic tiger does a great job of adding interest 

to my bookshelves. Choose items that you find beautiful or interesting. Don't be concerned about following trends. It's okay to be a individual. Fill your home with objects that speak to you!

This pillow, and foot stool are more neutral than other animal prints in the room,

 but they are favorites.

I purchased the pillow cover on the right from Etsy. I love both the colors and the content on the front. It fits in perfectly with my Maximalist sensibility!

 I bought a pair of the pillows on the left, from Pier 1, at a great sale price. I was attracted to the bright colors and the tasseled corners.

Containers for Forcing Winter Bulbs

I love flowers, so during the winter months when its too cold for outdoor gardening, container gardening, with bulbs, is a wonderful way for me to incorporate flowers into my space. This prevents me from having to constantly purchase fresh flowers from my local grocery store. At Christmas time, bright red Amaryllis add a beautiful pop of holiday color to a space. Post holiday, Paper Whites, or Hyacinth bulbs work well.
 

This is a great, vintage, loving cup shaped, stone planter. These Paper Whites grew, and began to bloom in about two weeks after planting. Stone planters are beautiful decor, when displayed in clusters of varying heights and styles. They add a natural, earthy element to any decor style.

Milk glass is a perennial favorite. Vintage pieces of milk glass can routinely be found in thrift stores, for great prices. Bulbs can be planted in milk glass compotes like the one I used  here, or a milk glass bowl, or a vase that has a opening wide enough to fit the bulb can be used. This is a Amaryllis bulb that yielded large red blooms at Christmas. The bulb can now be removed from the soil and stored in a cool dry place until next year, when it can be replanted.

This is a thrifted, glass vase that I have displayed on a wooden base. Both items are thrift store finds from separate outings. 
No soil is needed for this method. I filled the vase half full with stones, (purchased from the dollar store). Then I placed Paper White bulbs on top of the stones. The final step was to fill the vase with water until the bulb roots were submerged. Mother nature does the rest. Periodically add water to the vase to ensure the roots remain under water.

Pantone 2020 color of the Year, CLASSIC BLUE

     PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue

                   

There is no color more beautiful or more mysterious than classic blue. 

For centuries, Classic Blue has been a color that craftsmen and artisans have used to create exquisitely decorated, and highly sought after, glazed potteries.

  This deep soulful blue, creates the ideal background for the twinkling stars in the night sky, and the perfect touch of reflective color on the nocturnal tides of the ocean.

   There's nothing basic, about this blue! Kudos to Pantone on their choice for 2020's color of the year! 

Post Holiday Decor Boost

Once the glittered ornaments and colored lights of Christmas have been packed away, post holiday spaces can feel a bit drab.
  This is the ideal time to experiment with decor color, texture, and proportion. Move things around a bit. Try moving objects from the bedroom to the living room, and vice versa. Add pops of pink, purple, or orange to your space to create interest and freshness. 
   Winter rooms don't have to be boring. Instead of marking the weeks until the Spring decorating season, make the most of the Winter months by incorporating decor that broadens your decorating comfort zone!  
This photo shows the post holiday bookshelves in my living room.
I have incorporated blue and white Chinoiserie, personal photos, brass, and faux greenery, to give this space a much needed boost.

Vintage Home Decor: Chinoiserie, Brass, Art and more

SOUTHERN WATERLILLIES

An Etsy Shop

A great selection of vintage, home décor, in shop now!

                                                                   https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWaterlillies

Beautiful and Unique Vintage Home Decor

Hello, Fall!

I decided to decorate for fall, since hurricane Florence has me house bound this weekend.

I really like this pumpkin throw pillow. I found it at Marshalls, a couple of weeks ago. The blue and white pin stripes, tie in well with my blue and white Chinoiserie.

My coffee table décor needs tweaking. I need to find something more interesting than bare branches for the vase (perhaps cotton stems?). That's a job that will have to wait until, post Florence!

Foyer décor. The fabric pumpkins in the basket, are a Target find from a couple of years ago. The basket is being guarded by my cast iron, doggie door stop.

Enevitable Autumn

The long days of Summer are beginning to shorten, children are going back to school and preseason football has begun.  These are all signs that cooler weather is eminent. Although Summer  will be missed, I choose to embrace Autumn and all that it represents. Crisp evenings, the changing of the leaves and the expectation of the holiday season!

The earth tones in the Chinois vignette above, are typical of those found in nature during the Fall season. These browns, golds and ambers add a feeling of warmth, and coziness to the space.

This lovely, vintage serving tray, by Daher, England,  features vivid, Autumnal colors. The tray is available in Southern Waterlillies shop on Etsy.

Autumn presents many opportunities to make use of vintage throws and blankets. They make great tablecloths or picnic blankets when tailgating. They can also be a source of warmth for a chilly guest, who is being entertained on the deck or patio in late summer or Fall. These can be found for little or nothing in thrift stores. Purchase several, the uses for them are many! 

This lovely, large Chinois vase is brown and white with gold gilding. It makes great Autumn décor for a bookshelf, foyer table or fireplace mantle. This item is available in Southern Waterlillies shop on Etsy.

Use the last of  the vegetables from your Summer garden, or purchase seasonal ones from your local farmers market to prepare hearty soups and stews for game night. Vintage crockery  is a great way to serve individual helpings of your favorite recipes. Crockery bowls are another great item commonly available in thrift stores.

This great set or Libbey, frosted drinking glasses with metallic leaves is perfect for setting a beautiful Fall tablescape! They are available in Southern Waterlillies shop on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWaterlillies

Green and Gold Bookshelf Decor

Southern Waterlillies on Etsy, has a beautiful selection on vintage home décor!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWaterlillies

Independence Day 2018

How to Create a Beautiful Bookshelf Display

Unlock the Beauty of Greek Key Decor

Entertaining in style, is easy with this beautiful silver tray, featuring a Greek key gallery!

This wonderfully unique, Greek key shaped, bar cart from Williams Sonoma, is the perfect fashion accessory for a dining or living space. It's a piece that's sure to be a conversation starter!

Noodle slurping is permitted, when done from this lovely, Greek key bowl from Jonathan Adler. Ramen never had it so good!

Accessorize! This little switch plate is the Greek key to making a big impact! 

A tailored pleat with Greek key embroidery? It's what every well dressed sofa and chair is wearing this season!

Red, White, and Beautiful

Memorial Day, marks the beginning of the Summer entertaining season. Here are some great red, white, and blue decor suggestions that will carry you through Summer, and beyond!

Blue and white, ceramic planters on your porch, patio or deck are elegant and beautiful. Plant palms or hostas, in the center of the planters and surround them with red and white annuals for a stunning display of patriotic color.

Browse thrift stores for great vintage wicker and rattan furniture. Once cleaned and brightly painted, they'll create a lovely vignette, that will present as good as new!

Fabric stores are full of fabrics in patriotic pallets this time of year. The beautiful red, white, and blue Ikat prints shown above and below are a couple of examples, of  the many styles available. 

"Americana", is patriotic inspired design that's  always in style!

Mother's Day Sale!

                                                      https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWaterlillies

Great Gift's for Mom

Mother's Day is only weeks away.

Visit Southern Waterlillies, on Etsy for a great selection of vintage home decor. You're sure to find the perfect gift for mom! Discover these gifts and more, in shop now!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWaterlillies

A elegant pair of vintage, blue and gold ginger jars.

Show mom how much you care, by gifting this  lovely, jewel toned, Chinois plate.

 Fill this beautiful, vintage vase with a bouquet of flowers, to give mom the best Mother's Day ever!

Container Gardening; Portable Beauty

Spring is here, and container gardening is the ideal solution for small spaces or weed free gardening!

An old or outgrown pair of rain boots is a fun and inventive container for wildflowers. Fill the boot with soil,  to  2/3 up the leg. Toss in some wildflower seeds, cover with soil, and water. Keep the soil moist, but not too wet. House in a sunny place like deck or porch steps and in a few weeks, you'll have beautiful flowers.

Cement has recently become a  trendy material for molding outdoor planters. Create a stunning vignette, by grouping together an odd number of  cement planters in various shapes and sizes, filled with colorful annuals and hostas.

Hostas are wonderful plants for containers. They are shade loving and are available in an large array or color combinations, textures  and sizes. Layer several varieties in pots, as shown above, for a beautiful, portable display of color that will last all summer!

Mural, Mural, On the Wall

 The Ultimate Stay-cation!

A beautiful mural can transform a ordinary room in to a magical retreat! Murals offer saturated colors and faraway themes, that have the ability to turn a room in a suburban home, into a exotic destination.
This beautiful mural from The Alley Exchange,

features the lush tropical foliage of a rain forest. It works well, in this relaxed Bohemian setting, combined with the wood top table and mismatched chairs. 

This wonderful mural from Fifth + Foster, is  filled with beautiful birds and flowers, that evoke feelings of having traveled to Dorothy's, Oz or Alice's, Wonderland.

A wonderful sea mural adorns the outter wall of a coastal shop. It beckons one in to the shop  with the promise of  great treasures inside.

BASKET PLANTERS

Red, Not Just for St. Valentine's Day!