I love lanterns and I have them stashed all over this cottage…it’s really easy to make them from jam/mason jars…just tie some wire to the top and hey presto…I made a bunch of these and hung them outside from the old fig tree…it looks too sweet at night…I need to seriously improve my night-taking photography skills though to show you..
I also like to just pop flowers in them….very simple yet effective…and of course hitting the old decorating-on-a-budget button pretty nicely…vintage glass, a few shells and a bunch of drugstore flowers…you can’t go wrong
I propped these on this old ladder I have sitting in the corner of the deck…this old ladder has proved to be one of those side-of-the-road finds that is priceless…it couldn’t really have come to me more perfectly dressed for this tatty old cottage…old weathered rope tied here and there, some vintage stamping of the company name, just right faded old paint splats…not bad for picking it up on the school run for nothing…I love dressing this up…it’s quicker and easier than tablescaping…though I have to say there have been a couple of accidents on here with things falling off as little herberts run past and knock things off..I can deal with that…just…
I have been sitting out here on the deck with a cup of tea reading my book for Good Life Wednesday…it is drizzling with rain here on the beaches…excellent deck and book weather
I hope you are enjoying Wednesday wherever you are?
Sarah, I adore these, they are so charming. That ladder is fantastic. I have been thinking about ladders as bit as I keep seeing some fantastic uses for them to display and organize. Your home is looking so fantastic. I love that you’ve put it all together with smart shopping and a good creative eye. I love looking through your photos of your fantastic design work.
Hello Sarah
Love the pics…always inspirational. Thank-you. I have a crepe myrtle off our back deck that I embellish with little lanterns just like yours. I can never so no to keeping an empty jar, never know what use they may have in their next life
And could you please share where you picked up the fabby rope door stop? I have looked on line and found a blog that teaches you to make you own, was wondering if that is what you did?
I added a link on your Good Life Wednesday today. Thank you for the opportunity and for throwing your fabulous linking parties!
I just wanted to alert you to an error on my part. The first of the links was an error. (number 33). I changed the URL and submitted again (number 35) Apologies for this. Feel free to delete number 33!!
Hi Sarah,
I’m joining your party today for the first time! I love what you have done with the ladder and the sweet little jars and pretty tulips.
Have a fabulous day!
Cindy
I wonder what you are reading Sarah? Ive just been sitting with a cup of tea and finished The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell – lovely but a bit sad at the end. Like those jars, will whip some up and fill with some of the sunny fluffy wattle, that is going bonkers all around here – good inspiration as usual, thanks.
I have played tennis… I am learning….. had my fifth lesson today. And went to “that shop we don’t admit to going to all the time but we secretly do”…. to buy some new, fresh lunchbox fridgey pack thingos and bulk paper towels for little puddles my new puppies leave
The weather here is downright glorious and I even put on a lovely white cotton dress to channel a bit of Spring weather…… although the breeze was a bit too chill……
Wow, I can’t believe you found that ladder by the side of the road! My grandad has a beautiful old ladder but I know my mum is eyeing it off also!! I just caught up on your last 5 posts for my good life wednesday
Fab pictures!!!…Fab blog ! This is the word that comes to my mind as I check your posts. Really, really beautiful and enjoyable
I just found your blog and I love it! Since now you have a new follower and I invited you to visit mine.
Cheer
iela
Hi Sarah, Thanks for hosting this weekly party. I love your posts and visiting other bloggers from all over the world. Have a great week, Marcia in Cali
Just discovered your site . . . here’s how . . .I googled Ikea shades because Ikea just opened here in Colorado and boom your site was right up there. Anyhoo, I started poking around, your site is just lovely. I love the beach which is odd as I find myself 12 years in Colorado but hey, we have cool stuff here too. Thanks Sarah for sharing your love all things beach cottage. Big smile.
I love that ladder of yours Sarah, and think it is extra fine because you “found” it. I love it when I find something special like that on the road.
I’ve been looking for a small one for my plants but no luck yet. I know I would just love setting things up on an old ladder, can’t wait to find the perfect one. I especially enjoyed your pics today. I just love the tulip in those jars. Ive done the same thing with old spagetti jars, dangling from the trees and deck, with little tea lites inside. So magical isn’t it? I just got a new camera DSLR and have no idea what I am doing, I really need to read the manual. these are nothing like the old manual slr. But I do love to take pics, while wondering about!!
Thanks again for this great linky party. I want to start one but not so sure if I am capable of keeping up.
Hi! Love the ladder idea…gee, you can pull anything off with your sense of style!
I don’t have much room for one in our regular “quarters”, but I plan on putting one up in the bathroom for towels, I”ll be on the lookout for one!
Cheers
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Sarah, I adore these, they are so charming. That ladder is fantastic. I have been thinking about ladders as bit as I keep seeing some fantastic uses for them to display and organize. Your home is looking so fantastic. I love that you’ve put it all together with smart shopping and a good creative eye. I love looking through your photos of your fantastic design work.
Hello Sarah
Oh to be staying home today reading a bit of book! I think that sounds divine.
I love the ladder
I used to have one and sold it a long time ago (Now with much regret).
lovely placement of the bottles and jars – so peaceful looking
take care and have a lovely catch up day
x
Loulou
Hello Sarah
Love the pics…always inspirational. Thank-you. I have a crepe myrtle off our back deck that I embellish with little lanterns just like yours. I can never so no to keeping an empty jar, never know what use they may have in their next life
And could you please share where you picked up the fabby rope door stop? I have looked on line and found a blog that teaches you to make you own, was wondering if that is what you did?
Enjoy this cloudy Sydney day.
x
manda
If only I were closer I would happily bring the wine and brownies
I love your pictures; they are lovely and inspirational! I love your rope doorstop! I am a new follower; I love your blog!
Hi there,
I added a link on your Good Life Wednesday today. Thank you for the opportunity and for throwing your fabulous linking parties!
I just wanted to alert you to an error on my part. The first of the links was an error. (number 33). I changed the URL and submitted again (number 35) Apologies for this. Feel free to delete number 33!!
Thanks and have a lovely day!
Alison Mudie on behalf of James Butchart
Love the lighting in these pics, spot on!
Hi Sarah,
I’m joining your party today for the first time! I love what you have done with the ladder and the sweet little jars and pretty tulips.
Have a fabulous day!
Cindy
Thanks for hosting today…is it just me or has this week just flown by?
x Marnie
I wonder what you are reading Sarah? Ive just been sitting with a cup of tea and finished The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell – lovely but a bit sad at the end. Like those jars, will whip some up and fill with some of the sunny fluffy wattle, that is going bonkers all around here – good inspiration as usual, thanks.
thanks so much for your kind words on my pink rocking chair! I absolutely LOVE your ladder ~ beautiful pics!
I have played tennis… I am learning….. had my fifth lesson today. And went to “that shop we don’t admit to going to all the time but we secretly do”…. to buy some new, fresh lunchbox fridgey pack thingos and bulk paper towels for little puddles my new puppies leave
The weather here is downright glorious and I even put on a lovely white cotton dress to channel a bit of Spring weather…… although the breeze was a bit too chill……
Susan xx
Wow, I can’t believe you found that ladder by the side of the road! My grandad has a beautiful old ladder but I know my mum is eyeing it off also!! I just caught up on your last 5 posts for my good life wednesday
They are so charming! I adore these! Love the pictures! Very inspiring.
Fab pictures!!!…Fab blog ! This is the word that comes to my mind as I check your posts. Really, really beautiful and enjoyable
I just found your blog and I love it! Since now you have a new follower and I invited you to visit mine.
Cheer
iela
Lovely. I was thinking of getting a shorter vintage step ladder to serve as my son’s night table…Love how the they look.
love the ladder!!! You could one day maybe hang it horizontally and make a beach cottage book shelf out of it;-)
Hi Sarah
How do you attach the wire to the jars.?
I know dumb question but I just can’t picture how you do it.
hi sharon
you just sort of twist it…if the wire is stiff try pliers…
xo
Love the ladder. I am in the process of creating a light fixture with some little jars, so this is very timely.
Your link up is the perfect mid-week inspiration! Thank you for hosting!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
Hi Sarah-
Your day sounds divine – rainy drizzly day reading a good book – good life Wednesday for sure. I hope you enjoyed your day.
My best- Diane
Hi Sarah, Thanks for hosting this weekly party. I love your posts and visiting other bloggers from all over the world. Have a great week, Marcia in Cali
More great ideas! I’m so glad I found your blog! Your pictures are so beautiful!
Thanks for hosting. Some very interesting links, as always.
Just discovered your site . . . here’s how . . .I googled Ikea shades because Ikea just opened here in Colorado and boom your site was right up there. Anyhoo, I started poking around, your site is just lovely. I love the beach which is odd as I find myself 12 years in Colorado but hey, we have cool stuff here too. Thanks Sarah for sharing your love all things beach cottage. Big smile.
welcome
wow googling IKEA got you to me????? ….so not telling Mr BC that hahaha!
x
I love that ladder of yours Sarah, and think it is extra fine because you “found” it. I love it when I find something special like that on the road.
I’ve been looking for a small one for my plants but no luck yet. I know I would just love setting things up on an old ladder, can’t wait to find the perfect one. I especially enjoyed your pics today. I just love the tulip in those jars. Ive done the same thing with old spagetti jars, dangling from the trees and deck, with little tea lites inside. So magical isn’t it? I just got a new camera DSLR and have no idea what I am doing, I really need to read the manual. these are nothing like the old manual slr. But I do love to take pics, while wondering about!!
Thanks again for this great linky party. I want to start one but not so sure if I am capable of keeping up.
Keep up the cool blogging girl!
Hi! Love the ladder idea…gee, you can pull anything off with your sense of style!
I don’t have much room for one in our regular “quarters”, but I plan on putting one up in the bathroom for towels, I”ll be on the lookout for one!
Cheers
Darling little lanterns. Thank you for hosing!
Um, yeah. That would be “hosting.”
Do you know how to make that rope ball?