Cake Pan Stand

While at the thrift store the other day, they made an announcement that two entire shelves were FREE to make room for new items..but only for the next 15 minutes! Talk about the right place, at the right time! Of course I grabbed up quite a few things and figured I would come up with something to do with it later. Well...here is my first project! 

I found these two cake pans and thought they would make a great stand for fruit, craft supplies, etc. The candle stick is wood so I painted it and had the hubby help me screw it to the cake pans. Gorilla glue would work fine too.

By the way, these apples are our first harvest from the tree we planted last year! Yum!

This beauty will be available for purchase at our Open House September 7th! 

Create Your Own...Beverage/Snack Bar Ideas

I've been seeing a lot of ideas on Pinterest lately for different kinds of snack and beverage bars at parties, special events and even weddings! I love this idea because your guests can create something yummy you know they will enjoy!

Over at Thrifty 31 Rentals, we have lots of items that would work great for your party bar! Just click on the words under each photo below to see them listed on our website! 

Here are some ideas that have been found on Pinterest and are now pinned on our "Beverage/Snack Bar Ideas" board...

Lemonade Bar: Beverage Dispenser. Mason Jars

 

Milk & Cookies Bar: Glass Jar. Galvanized Tub. 

Popcorn Bar: Bushel Basket. Divided Wood Crate.

 Fruit Salad/Fruit Pizza Bar: Galvanized Pails. 

Cupcake Bar: Chalkboard. Fruit Carrier. Milk Glass.

Tea/Coffee Bar: Suitcases. Tea Cups.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar: Galvanized Tubs. Gallon Glass Jar. 
Wood Crate. Mason Jars.

 Hot Chocolate Bar: Mason Jars. Gallon Glass Jar. Fruit Carrier.

S'mores Bar: Galvanized Pail. Galvanized Bucket. Wood Crate. Chalkboards.

Cookie/Candy Bar: Dresser Drawer. File Drawer. Sewing Drawer.

Picnic Bar: Picnic Basket. Galvanized Tub.


FOR MORE IDEAS, BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

If rice krispie treats weren't already delicious enough, these thing are A-MA-ZING! 

Seriously, I can't stop eating them! lol

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
6 cups rice krispies
4 tbs. butter
10oz pkg. marshmallows 
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Place butter and marshmallows in a microwavable bowl. Put in microwave for 30 second intervals (stirring after each 30 seconds) until all melted.

2. Place peanut butter and chocolate chips in another microwavable bowl. Put in microwave for 30 second intervals (stirring after each 30 seconds) until all melted.

3. Pour your rice krispies in a large bowl. Pour butter/marshmallow mixture and peanut butter/ chocolate mixture on top of the cereal. 

4. Mix until well coated and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Use wax paper to pack into pan and let set  for a bit.

5. Enjoy!

Fall Wedding Ideas

Anyone planning a fall wedding for this year or next? Never too early to get some ideas or even book your Thrifty 31 Rentals for the big day! 

We've got clear mason jars of various sizes that rent for $0.50 each! Our aqua mason jars rent for $1.00 each and also vary in size.  

These s'more favors are a great idea for a fall wedding. Hot chocolate is another idea that we had at our November wedding.

And, speaking of smore's...how awesome is this smores bar? 

 We've got the glass gallon jar with lid for the marshmallows. Also, some small galvanized pails, divided wood crate or this old strawberry carrier for holding the mini chocolate bars and graham crackers. Yum!

 

I love the idea of using unique things to hold cards. Our bushel basket, suitcase or aqua wood crate would work perfect. We even have a burlap "Cards" banner already made for you!

Having an outdoor ceremony or reception and think it might get a little chilli? How about some blankets for your guests! Could even get them as favors! A bushel basket would look great for fall or a galvanized wash tub or large dresser drawer would hold them well too. 

 Our wood crate would look great as a cake stand or could turn it on its side to hold cupcakes on the top and bottom.

I love this idea to fill an old sewing drawer with small pumpkins and gourds. Would look cute on the guest table!

Apple cider on a fall day? Yes please! Use our 3 gallon beverage dispenser to hold some at your reception.

 Use some apples to surround the bottom of the dispenser or jar to add another touch of fall.

For more wedding ideas be sure to follow us on Pinterest and "Like" our facebook page to stay up date on our latest specials and additions to our inventory. 

**All photos above were found on Pinterest. 

Homemade Cookie Cake

Saturday is my hubby's 26th birthday! I'm so thankful that God has blessed him with another year and look forward to helping him celebrate many more!! For anyone that knows my husband, you know he doesn't like cake. Crazy, I know! Fortunately, I found a delicious homemade cookie cake recipe (can't remember where) that he loved!



Tonight we celebrated his birthday with my family and tomorrow we are off to the river to celebrate with friends! Please pray for a safe trip and warm river water, ha! Also, be sure to try out this recipe and have a lovely weekend!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup semi sweet choc. chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees & grease pan.
2. Cream together butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
3. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. 
4. Spread dough into prepared pan using a spatula. 
5. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. 
6. Let cool before decorating.

Edible Landscaping

Want to know a great way to save money AND have a beautiful yard? Edible landscaping!

The past couple years the hubby and I have been working a lot on the outside of our house. We decided that we wanted to plant things that would both look good and be beneficial to us.

One thing we wanted were a few trees in our yard that had none. We decided to get fruit trees because of course, they look good and provide free fruit! We have yellow and red delicious apple trees and a peach tree.

 Some of our apples! 

And some peaches!  

We already had one grape vine when we moved in, so decided to add a second to the other side of the yard this spring. Last year we made some great wine with these delicious grapes!

This year we also added three strawberry plants and made a bed for them to grow in.

We also have a garden full of peppers, tomoatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, potatoes and cilantro! 

We plan to plant a blackberry bush as well! Do you have any edible plants in your yard?

Master Bedroom Facelift

I love redecorating! My poor husband probably has no idea what he is going to come home to on a daily basis! Usually when I redecorate, it's just rearranging some old stuff to make it look new, or "shopping" other room in my house. This time I did buy a couple new things, but selling old ones online to make my money back!

Here is a picture of before: 

I had already switched out this comforter for a new quilt that I bought with some yard sale $$ I made this Summer! I bought this antique mirror and thought it would be perfect above the bed. Makes the room look larger, don't ya think?! I also hung up some mason jars using curtain hooks above the bed too.

I switched out the lamp shades for some burlap looking ones I found at Dollar General. I like it much better than the dark brown ones I had there before!

The wooden window got moved to another wall & I used an old cheese box I had to hold a candle. 

I used a board off a pallet to make this beach sign and added some pictures from our honeymoon to the Bahamas! (So ready to go back, by the way!)

Last, I found an old piece of chippy white board in the garage and set it on the dresser with some sea shell stuff.

Ah, I just love that mirror and how it all turned out! 

OPEN HOUSE!

I have some very exciting news! A great friend of mine is having an open house at her shop and has invited me and another friend to come set up too!! September 7th, come check out what lovely items we will have for sale and grab a refreshment too!

LilyWhite. Designs- Will have handmade dresses, leather clutches, messenger bags, and accessories. 

A Blossoming Life- An all natural skin-care company. They will have some amazing hand made soaps of different scents and benefits, as well as some other skin-care goodies. 

Thrifty 31 Rentals & Decor- Awesome vintage pieces for buying and renting. Anyone getting married soon has got to come check us out! Will also have some fall and winter crafts!

Freezing Peppers

Usually when we have fresh veggies from the garden, I try to plan meals that day or week that will use them up. This time however, I decided I would freeze them and save for this winter instead of having to buy some at the grocery store. 

Freezing peppers is super easy, by the way!


You could freeze them whole, but I like to go ahead and prepare them the way we would eat them to save time later on. And, it's probably more likely I will actually use them if they are already prepared the way I want.

1. Wash them. 
2. Cut off the stems and remove the center and seeds. (Make sure to save your scrap pieces!)
3. You can either cut them in strips or dice them up. I chose to do both since I had quite a few.  
4. Label your freezer bags and toss them in the freezer to enjoy another day!