BOXWOOD...a great late winter filler!!

I needed a new filler for my tin pitcher

 on my dining room server...

As much as I LOVE the spring flowers that are already in the florist shops, it's still very much winter here in the Northeast, so I grabbed my snips and clipped some boxwood from our garden....

I'm thinking this is the perfect answer for the rest of winter...take a peek!

Artsy angle???...lol

Have a happy day & remember it's never a bad idea to use what you have
& snip something from your garden!!

xo, Mariaelena

OLD WINDOW LOVE...

I LOVE re-using old windows...

Here are a few different designs using windows that we kept when replacing them in the BURBS house.

take a peek... 

3 different sizes and 3 different uses...

I removed the glass and took it to a local
shop to have it fitted for a mirror...
It now leans on our mantel...

If you follow along, you've seen this one before...
a smaller window that I painted white
and added the toile fabric to the back...
it has hung in our foyer for years...

Finally, a longer window that I again removed the glass from.
 I painted the frame with some
Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue chalk paint
and then dry brushed some taupe glaze & some more white paint on top...
It almost looks as if I found it that way!!

There are more where these came from...
I'm sure you'll see them pop up here at some point!
Have a happy day!!
xo, Mariaelena

Valentine's Day Homemade Candy Clusters❤️

Here's a quick delicious treat 

(passed down from my mom)

 that's really great for any holiday but especially

 Valentine's Day....

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND CRANBERRY CLUSTERS...YUM!  

Recipe:

Melt dark chocolate, chop almonds 

and add dried cranberries...

stir all together and drop into

 clusters onto wax paper until hard...

package as you like...

ENJOY

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

xo, Mariaelena 

I'm not a food blogger but....this was too great not to share!

While looking for some different healthy recipes on Pinterest, I came across this: Chickpea Smash!! 

 My middle daughter and I made this last year but I forgot all about it!  It is super easy to make and so delicious that I had to share...it's low carb & super healthy...the only change I made from the recipe I found was to add a little less pesto.   So, if you're looking for something a little different to eat, go ahead and whip this up...enjoy!!!

I LOVE these low carb pitas...
I always toast them and use them like a taco shell...

These are all of the ingredients you need...

RECIPE:  CHICK PEA SMASH

1 CAN OF CHICK PEAS, RINSED
1 RIPE AVACADO
1/2 JUICE OF LEMON
PESTO to taste ( I used 2 teaspoons)
Mash chick peas, add avocado and mash,
add juice of lemon & pesto and stir it all together
serve on toast, pita, wrap or greens

Organic baby spinach is a nice add on...

Mash up the chick peas with a fork...

VOILA!!
Bon appetit!

xo, Mariaelena