More Spring Splendor

One of the things I love about living in Midland, Michigan, is being within walking distance to the Midland Center for the Arts, the Grace A. Dow public library, and Dow Gardens. Yesterday afternoon when I swung by the library to pick up a book that I had on reserve, I brought my camera along and took some more pictures of the spring splendor at the entrance of Dow Gardens, around the parking-lot, and along W. St. Andrews Road between the library and MCFTA. 

Style Secret: Flower-Power Sandals!

I've never been thrilled with these white sandals--they're just blah. Last summer I wore them only a few times because they're so boring. They definitely need some panache before I start wearing them again this summer. 

To transform these shoes from boring to fabulous, I simply hot-glued two silk flowers onto the strap of each shoe. This refashion cost me $1 for the silk flowers and took five minutes--talk about easier than shopping for the perfect pair of shoes!!!

Now I can't wait to wear my fabulous flower-power sandals =)

Spring Splendor

With mild temperatures and lots of flowers abloom, mid-May is one of the loveliest times of the year, I think. Yesterday evening after taking another exam toward my teaching license, I celebrated by heading over to the Dow Gardens to admire the many tulips, daffodils, forsythia, magnolias, rhododendron. Enjoy with me some glimpses of spring splendor here in Midland . . .

Shortcut Strawberry Angel Food Cake

I admire people who love to bake impressive desserts from scratch. However, I am not one of them. Sign me up for something quick and easy, please. I am for a dessert that looks lovely, tastes delicious, but doesn’t require a lot of skill, time, or effort.  For our Mother’s Day dinner this afternoon, I decided to make a strawberry angel food cake. This delicious and lovely cake is about as hassle-free as it gets.

Ingredients:

• an already-made angel food cake, from the bakery section of the grocery store
• tub of whipped topping
• several strawberries, pureed

1. Stir the pureed strawberries into the whipped topping.
2. Slice the cake into three layers.
3. Frost the bottom layer with the whipped topping; add the middle layer. Frost the middle layer; add the top layer. Frost the top and sides.
4. Enjoy!

I got this idea years ago from an old family friend. As I recall, she frosted her cake with crushed pineapple, rather than strawberries, folded into the whipped topping. I especially like this frosting because it’s great for those who aren’t confident in their cake-decorating abilities. The fluffy whipped topping is very easy to spread. The added fruit lends a chunky texture, which camouflages a less-than-perfect icing job. Yay for a delightful dessert that requires beginner skill and only a few minutes of time!

Spring Beckons

"Spring beckons! All things to the call respond"(Ambrose Bierce). In reply to spring's happy invitation, this week, for the first time this year, I have . . .

mowed the lawn,
worn flip-flops,
studied outside, and
visited Dow Gardens.  =)

Ahh, so many little occasions to celebrate springtime! So many ordinary ways to enjoy the sunshine, warmer weather, new growth, and beauty all around--each reminders to praise the Lord for the marvelous work that He is doing within me and for me. "For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12).


Here are a few of my favorite pictures taken this past weekend at Dow Gardens.

Style Secret: Ribbon Belt

A ribbon belt has to be one of the easiest, fastest, cheapest accessories to make. I had this scrap piece of grosgrain ribbon in my stash, which turned out to be the perfect length to use as a belt. =) I like how the colorful bow adds an easy-going, feminine flair to an otherwise humdrum t-shirt and chinos outfit.

Skirt to Blouse Refashion

Before: a full, mid-length, elastic-waist skirt.

I’ve been so inspired lately, reading numerous blogs of other “refashionistas.” Wow, there are countless neat ideas to be shared!  In the words of another blogger, there is a tremendous online community of “creative, crafty, environmentally aware, frugalnistas”!

My newest refashion interest comes from several skirt-to-blouse transformations that I’ve come across recently. My version didn’t turn out like either of my sources of inspiration because I made a lot of mistakes along the way that I had to salvage. I was intending to make the blouse with fluttery sleeves, but after mis-cutting them, I opted to go for a sleeveless halter look and use the fabric from the sleeves to make flowers on the collar. Although the final result is significantly different from what I originally visualized, I’m delighted how it turned out!

After: My new blouse!