Genius Idea

We needed a headboard to complete the Master bedroom at our Bahamas house. Finding a cheap headboard, shipping it and paying duty made getting a headboard an outrageous expense. But the bedroom didn't feel complete without a headboard so I kept searching. I was so excited to find that there is such a thing as an inflatable headboard.

You choose the style of headboard and size as well as the slipcover. Your kit comes with an inflatable "bladder", air pump, slip cover and Velcro tabs to attach to the wall.

Pump up the bladder and insert it into the slipcover. Attach the Velcro tabs to the headboard and then position and attach to the wall. That simple!!! Who knew?

I ordered my headboard from Target but if you search the Internet you can find many places to order these amazing inflatable headboards.

Can you tell I'm excited about this! I am. I love getting a "look for less"!

Rock Candy Bracelet

This new bracelet reminds me of rock candy. The gemstones are 1 inch nuggets of pink quartz, black onyx, amethyst, amazonite and green chalcedony. I hand crafted a silver clasp that joins the hammered silver strip with the stone and jump rings. The clasp is easily fastened by the wearer.

You can see other views or purchase by clicking here.

Blogging

It has been two weeks since I started my blog. I have learned so much about starting and writing a blog but I have so much yet to learn. I have made some new blogging friends. Click to see the very kind words of Sarah at her Dayspring blog. She featured my jewelry as her Etsy find. Sarah has been very encouraging. Thanks Sarah!

I was very fortunate to get an ad spot on A Cup of Joe. Joanna was patient with me as I had never bought an ad on a blog before. I needed to get the correct pixel size for the ad which isn't a big deal but was new to me.

Speaking of ads, I want to thank Amber Mabe for her help with the graphics. She designed my Etsy banner and avatar as well as business cards and jewelry display cards. Thanks Amber. You can click here to see Amber's Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading this post. If you haven't become a FOLLOWER, please do... and add your photo or logo, that makes it more personal and fun. Also, pass the word along to your friends to follow. Make comments if you wish, I'd love the feedback and ideas.

xxoo Deborah

Fresh Pick

I just ate a bowl of these berries. Today may have been the last day to pick your own berries at the local berry farm. I made some jam and shared what we couldn't eat with the neighbors. What a delicious pleasure!

Earrings Inspired by Shells

I was inspired by the shells I collected this past week and made some simple earrings. The 3-D spirals and fun for the summer. They swing and catch the light.

Coconut Tea Cake

I love to bake coconut cakes in the Bahamas. Coconuts are just laying beside the road for the taking. Last trip, I bought a machete for cutting open the tough, fibrous husks. It still isn't easy and I'm very conscious of chopping off a digit! This recipe is from Dorie Greenspans's book, BAKING From My Home to Yours. I add lime zest and juice. My husband loves this with a cup of coffee for breakfast. I eat it all day long.

Coconut Tea Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk (I use low fat coconut milk, shake the can well before measuring)

1/2 stick unsalted butter

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups sugar

Zest and juice of 1 lime

3/4 cups shredded coconut (unsweetened or sweetened or fresh) toasted or not

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 or 10 inch bundt pan (I used a 13x9 pan since I didn't have a bundt pan)

Sift flour, baking powder, salt together. Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and add the butter and heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat but keep warm.

With electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar at medium high speed until pale, thick and almost doubled in volume, about 3 minutes. Beat in the lime juice and zest. Reduce mixer speed and add dry ingredients. When all flour disappears, add coconut mixing only until blended, then steadily add hot milk and butter mixture. When mixture is smooth, stop mixing and give the batter a couple of turns with a rubber spatula, just to make certain that any ingredients that might have fallen to the bottom of the bowl are incorporated. Pour batter into the pan.

Bake about 60 minutes if using a bundt pan. Cool before unmolding.

Bake about 35 minutes if using a 13x9 pan.

No need to frost or glaze but you certainly could for a more sweet cake.

Beach Treasures

We are back from our Bahamas vacation. What a great relaxing time. I got to garden quite a bit and planted a mango tree. Our banana tree doubled in size from March. Can't wait for the first fruit.

A big storm knocked out our power and Internet connection so I wasn't able to make any postings on my blog.

Back home now and my garden here is overflowing with arugula and lettuces. I'll be harvesting after a much needed trip to the gym. Too many conch fritters!

Happy Birthday Rich

Today is my husband's birthday.

He is anticipating a few days of bonefishing in the Bahamas.

Happy Birthday Rich. You are the love of my life and my best catch!

Pleasure Paradise

Lighthouse at Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas

We are on vacation! Looking forward to some relaxation time in the sun.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made some chocolate chip cookies to mail to my dad for Fathers Day. I had some extra that I shared with Julie, my friend from the gym. She asked me to share the recipe on my blog. I found this recipe in a magazine about 12 years ago. I don't think I've use a different chocolate chip cookie recipe since then. The secret is using vegetable shortening AND butter. Don't over bake. These are soft and delicious!

1 cup packed golden brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening (Crisco)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips

Have butter, shortening and eggs at room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using an electric mixer, beat both sugars, shortening and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto heavy large baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks; cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; cool completely.

Makes 42

Hope you like them!

Fresh Mouth

My husband was reading one of my magazines and saw an ad for Colgate Wisp. This is a clever, disposable "toothbrush" that will revitalize your mouth with a freshening bead delivering clean breath and no need for water. Tiny bristles clean your teeth and tongue. A flexible pick on the opposite end acts as floss. We tried the peppermint. Also comes in cinnamint and spearmint.

I think it works great. I put some in the glove box of my car, purse and carry on luggage. Check out the website and print a coupon. A four-pack is $2.39.

Summer reading

Cover of Sarah's Key

A true summer pleasure is a great read. My friend Beth suggested I read Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. I picked it up for my trip to the beach later this week and can't wait to get started.

Monday morning I registered for the summer reading program at our public library. The library was filled with kids and parents signing up for the program. Great to see. Our library was just named the busiest library in Michigan.

I had gotten out of the habit of visiting the library. It just seemed easier to pick up books from the bookstore. I love to read a book and then save it on my shelf, keeping it as if it were a friend to visit again and again. I rarely read a book twice however but a wall of books makes a great design element.

Since I moved to Canton, I find myself going to the library several times a week. The fact that the parking is abundant and free is definitely a draw. Borrowing from the library is certainly a good way to save money and be green at the same time. There is a Second Hand Prose shop for purchasing donated, previously owned books. OK, so I do buy books, but at a fraction of the cost!

Check out Summer Books 2009 from NPR for all sorts of ideas.

Etsy Find for Fathers Day

I'm loving these leather bookends from Etsy artist Unemployeddesigner.

Check out her small leather good. She has coasters and card holders among other items.

First Day Blog

What is my pleasure? It is the simple things in life, planting a garden, gathering shells on the beach or going for a run. I get pleasure by creating pieces of jewelry from silver. Pleasure is being with the ones you love. Food, cooking and wine give me pleasure. Travel is a luxurious pleasure.

So here goes my blog. I look forward to sharing and hearing from followers.

Kitchen garden

Moving from a house to a condo meant leaving a garden behind. Luckily, my town started renting small garden plots last year. This is my second year for a small kitchen garden. I just love having fresh herbs, haricots verts and tender, young greens for salads.

My favorite salad this time of year is arugula dressed sparingly with olive oil and balsamic vinegar with lots of shaved parmisiano reggiano on top. YUM!

When I began making jewelry about 12 years ago, one of the first designs I used was a spira. I adopted the spiral as my logo and I thought it only appropriate to use it as my blog title. I never really gave the design much thought until I viewed it used as decorative design in early Celtic art while exploring The National Museum of Ireland. It was used as a symbol of movement through the ever changing flow of life to death. Spirals are found in nature, from DNA to the galaxies and seashells.

These are simple earrings with the spiral design.

Thanks and enjoy your day.