Boysenberry Jam

After a trip this summer to a berry farm, I somehow ended up with pounds of boysenberries that were just screaming to be made into jam. 

I had never made jam. 

Canning intimidates me.  What happens if my jars don't pop?

(I had been told that was the most stressful part, going through the whole process and the finding that your jars didn't seal properly.)

Well, I lived through the experience and we actually ended up finishing off every last drop of that jam in a little under two months!  It was DELICIOUS!

Now that I am not quite as intimidated by the process, I am thinking I might venture out and make some jam using a few more natural recipes that I have read.  Some have suggested that using apples as the source of pectin works well and using honey instead of sugar is another way to make the jam more natural. 

One thing I never realized, which was a real DUH moment for me, was exactly how much sugar is in jam.  Really, they should be calling it 'a bowl of sugar with some fruit mixed in for color'...sheesh!

Anyhow, the jam was yummy... and all of my jars did pop ;-)

New Thrifting Love | Pyrex

John and I are big mid-centrury fans.  Thiere is something just fun about mixing pieces from the 1940's-60's in with our decor. 

I also love thrifting, yard/estate sale browsing, and generally finding things for amazing deals (who doesn't??). 

But my newest love is vintage Pyrex. 

I am just loving that many of these pieces are over 50 years old and still look BRAND NEW.  I also LOVE the patterns and colors that were popular in the 50's and 60's... just so FUN!


So, of course, it would follow suit that I would become a blogger at the super-cool blog The Pyrex Collective III.  Check it out for some awesome eye candy and amazing vintage pieces!

Record Display | Home Decor

I truly have a wonderfully talented Husband!

I need to share every last one of his projects/restorations because he is awesome at thinking up these things and then making them a reality.

A few weeks ago we picked up these old Disney record sleeves at a yard sale for $2 (they were just the sleeves, no records included).  I had an idea awhile ago to collect records for Claire's wall, but had never really pushed the idea because I had no idea how we would put them on the wall... frame?  ...shelf with ledge?? 

So when we found these, John was officially motivated to get something up on her HUGE green empty wall. 

Basically, he split a 2x4 and made a frame, then covered the frame with moulding! The record sleeves just lean up against the wall and could be rearranged if we wanted.

Claire's room has been a slow-to-come-together project.  As far as decor goes, that seems to be my MO... I don't like to commit to a decoration unless I LOVE it.  Until then, things are a bit of a hodge-podge. 

It's definitely getting to a point where her room makes me smile :-)