A Zinnia for You...

Hello again dear blog, I am SOOOO sorry for the long departure... I should have at least told you that I would not have my camera for a week, but I really didn't get the time to, plus I don't like to post without adding some interest with pictures. My sister had to borrow my camera for the week since she was going on vacation down the Outer Banks and doesn't have a digi camera of her own. I told her to get a disposable, but then I gave in. One week wouldn't hurt... well it kinda did ;) I have had soo many things in the past week to take pictures of and share, but I had no camera. So oh well, she enjoyed her trip and came back with amazing pictures.
As for todays post, its a quickie, since I don't have much time. For the past few weeks I have been obsessed with going to the local farm where they carry home grown fruits and veggies as well as flowers galore plus tons of other things. They have their own zinnia garden where you can pick as many as you want, just pay for a pair of scissors and get started. I must confess I did not actually go and cut these from the acre of zinnias, but I did pick them from a huge flower holder. For those of us who don't the time, as much as we would like to have, they go and restock that bin every few hours full of fresh colorful zinnias. I love zinnias, they're a happy flower, last long and the colors are amazing. You can see I found a use for those vintage jars in the previous post, and oh how I'm lovin them!! I got some more flowers at the stand, and plan to go back this week for more. Next post, is ummm... well we'll see on Thursday!! Wishing you garden bliss and summertime color!!

In the Kitchen Pt. 2

Hello again dear blog, how has everyones weekend gone by so far? I hope all is well, and I hope that you enjoy this post. As you can see, it's yet another session of "In the Kitchen" with your host: Gigi. You are probably going to think I am Martha Stewart obsessed (which I kind of am) but today I am showing you yet another Martha recipe aside from my Hazelnut blondies. This recipe was also in the July 2007 issue of Living, and Man Oh Man was it Gooooood!!! For a little summer kick, I added some light and colorful brown rice salad from this show, and enjoyed dinner. I was so happy with how they turned out, that I gave some to everyone I know, and bragged about them to those who didn't get the chance to try them.
Okay, Okay, so your probably just thinking to yourself "Get on with the recipe WOMAN!!" So I will... ;) If you did not recieve the July issue of Living , go here for the recipe. They are Eggplant Parmesan Stacks which are so easy to make that it's just amazing how quick they took and how great they tasted. Two of them is enough to fill you up completely, and they are not that bad for you either!! I started by cutting the pieces of fresh eggplant into 1/4" slices, seasoned with salt, and added to a pan with 1 cup canola oil. (The only thing with these is you must keep adding oil, I know, I know, and you must absorb as much as possible after with paper towels!) Let cook for 1 minute on each side and cool. While cooking the eggplant, also start the simple sauce by dicing one large fresh tomato, and adding, 1 teaspoon olive oil as well as diced garlic, along with some julienned basil from the garden. Add a sprinkle of parsley, onion powder and about 1-2 cups of canned crushed tomatoe's and simmer. This is my own recipe for a quick and simple sauce, which is not too overpowering for this type of recipe. Once sauce is simmering, and all eggplant is cooked, pat try slices and put large pieces on bottom of lined baking sheet. Then follow with some sauce, sprinkles of fresh mozzarella cheese, and some grated parmigiano reggiano. Repeat layering twice (3 pieces of eggplant) and bake in oven for about 12 minutes (* After 8 minutes on mid shelf, switch to top shelf to melt the cheese.) Serve up on a nice plate, and voila!! As for the brown rice salad, get the recipe here, its very simple and switch out the dressings for different tastes with different foods! Hope you all get to try this, you and your family will all be raving about how good it was!! Until next time my friends, wishing you fresh summer produce and no growling stomachs!!

Flea Finds

Hello again dear blog, how is everyone doing?? Well, it looks like I'm slackin' off again... But not to worry, I really did have pictures ready and posts to type up, but I wasn't able to get on my computer all week due to technical problems. Darn these electronics which we spend soo much money on, and then after a few years of working fine problems arise! Well anyhoo, like I had said in my previous post, I was going to the Folk Festival again!! Woo Hoo, Man was that fun this time around!! I walked around for a bit, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then rushed into the antique's barn. That's really the reason I went for the second time, and I just could not wait to find some pretties! I was soo excited, and since this time I had plenty of time to make my way around to each of the dealers, I took my good old time looking at everything I could! (without getting pushed away by a fellow antiquer!)
As you can see from the photos, I did buy more then I brought back last week, and even with the hot and humid weather this past Saturday, I stayed and searched and searched. I was in there for such a long time, that I kept going back and forth to each comparing what I liked better. The dealers all looked at me as if I were crazy. Unfortunately the vintage hankies had been picked over, and unlike on the opening day when I was greeted by pretty florals and pastels, this past visit left me with a bin of brown and orange 70's flashback pieces. So I did not purchase any hankies, BUT!! I did get two new aprons, one that I did not see last week which is the really pretty turqoise and white one above. I couldn't believe I had missed it, and it is now my favorite among my ahem... "large collection ;)" (wow, 3 aprons in all!) I then traveled on over to this woman who had a bunch of old post cards, magazines, pins and textiles. That is where I picked up the Christmas postcards which I plan to use in my Christmas cards for future years, and those pretty rose "tie" pins. I highly doubt some man stuck them into his tie, since they are heavy and the "pin part" is very large. I believe it might have been a piece to a garden statue or something else. With bags in hand, I traveled on over to this very cheap glass dealer, where I picked up those two glass jars above. I love the old "Ball" jars, and even though I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with either of them, they will be used I tell ya!! Finally I went back to the "Apron Lady," poor woman, I should have asked for her name. She had some boxes full of old photos and calenders, and thats where I picked up the vintage winter photos from the 30's. If you could see a closer view , you would see it's the same family in both. I was also going to get this BEAUTIFUL picture of an old Hollywood German Shepard named Fang something from the 30's. But it was just a little out of my price range. Darn, I wish I would have gotten it, because now I miss it!! Oh well, I hope you enjoy the pictures and just wait until my next post, you will all be loving it!! Wishing you vintage finds, and some nice sunny days ( Boy, it's a beautiful day today!!)

Fashion Friday Pt. 1

Hello again dear blog, I cannot believe that I am posting my third post this week! Wow, that's a new record for me!! Normally, the blogs that I read update at least 3 times a week, and I'm the one who only updates once or twice.... or none (I know, I know, shame on me!) So, you may be wondering why on Earth I named this post "Fashion Friday," well that's because, like I had said in one of my last posts I was going to post something different and interesting to add a little "kick" or some "spice" to The Adventures of Gigi, lol. Now, as you can see from the photos posted, they are not of pretty hankies, or crafty banners, but they are of some very pretty new finds that I thought I would show you. I'm not sure if I ever told you, but I also love clothes, and shoes and... clothes and shoes, lol. I am not addicted but I do just love when I find some pretty things. And since they are pretty, and I usually post things I find pretty, I thought I would add them to the agenda!!
The first image is a closeup of a blouse from Free People. Oh how I LOVE Free People!! All of their clothes, even though I do like their fall/ winter clothes bette and although a bit pricey, are soo unique and in their own little ways "crafty" and fashionable at the same time!! Whom-ever designs their clothes is a genius!! (As if it's only only one person ;) See that brooch and the lace trimmings, and the silk ribbon.. oh so heavenly!! The next picture is of the whole blouse, dont ya just love it?!?! I wanted to show you a close up of the details and lace but my darn camera doesn't take good closeups :(. The last image is of a skirt from Banana Republic which was on SALE!! Oh yes, I just love sales, especially at Banana Republic. Its silk and somewhat of a kelly green, perfect for these cute flats from Sam Edelman. Okay well I wanted to post this on Friday, since Fashion Saturday just doesn't sound as good ;) I'm going to post something like this once or twice a month just like my "In the Kitchen" posts to add a bit of "adventure" to the blog. Well thats all for now, until the next post my friends, wishing you fashionable finds and some SALE's at your favorite clothing stores!!

ps: I'm going to the Folk Festival again tomorrow!! WOO HOO!! Hopefully I'll pick up some more vintage pretties!!

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Hello again dear blog, hope everyone is having a Happy Fourth of July!! Unfortunately the weather isn't too nice here in PA, cloudy and overcast and just a bit chilly. I guess thats what I get for bragging all week about how nice the weather was ;) Anyhoo, I thought I would do a quick post about some of the things I bought while up at the Folk Festival on Saturday. A bunch of vintage pretties are what they are as you can see from the photos. After traveling through the stands, and with only 15 minutes until they closed I spotted the Antiques Barn. I was soo happy, I couldn't believe it!! So I walked in and was greeted by loads of vintage milk glass, ephemera, cameras, as well as hankies and aprons!! Oh when I saw those hankies I was soo excited. And with only 15 minutes left I didn't get to browse through as much as I would have liked to so I picked out two quickly, and then went over to the aprons since thats what I really wanted. Oh the beautiful aprons that woman had, and for only four dollars I picked myself up a pretty one. I haven't got to use it yet, but then again I'm not sure if I want to. I think I might save this one, and buy one from the talented Olive Juice & Co. I do love her aprons, and boy are they pretty!! Well as for today, thats all. I'm not sure what the plans are for today, might go downtown to see the parades and Pattie Labelle, or might go over a friends cookout and watch the fireworks at the annual viewing spot. Wishing you all a fun and family filled Happy Fourth of July and sending my prayers to the soldiers overseas!

Beautiful Day...

Hello again dear blog, sorry for the delay!! I had an unexpectedly busy weekend this past week,and when I say it was busy, oh boy was it busy, but it really helped that it was fun too! I planned on having a new post on Thursday, but... then I had a meeting for my friend Jeannette's fund. On Friday I had another idea for a post, (which I must say is pretty fun and will add some new interest) but... it never happened ;) ! Well Saturday came, and I traveled off to Kutztown, PA with my mother in the passenger seat, to go to their annual Folk Festival. It was my first time going there ever, and it was actually really fun. Lots of interesting PA dutch foods and crafts, and of course I got some cute stuff at the antique market (*show ya later!) Since we arrived there a little late, we recieved free tickets for another day, so I think I'm gonna head up there this week sometime. On Sunday, I was off to this
restaurant for my cousins birthday. Scrumdidilyumcious!! I'm tellin ya, when you bring a big Italian family to a big Italian restaurant, you get one funny sight. My Uncles, never learning how to properly speak in a low tone of voice were shouting across the table at each other. Now when I say shouting, I do not mean in an aggressive manner, but more so in a "it comes naturally" sort of way. You see, there has always been such commotion throughout my Grandmothers kitchen on Sundays ( along with every other day of the week) for all of our lives, that everyone just learned to talk over one another. We all had a blast, and of course our stomachs were very happy as well!
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day here in PA, and I decided to spend most of it outside since it felt like it was Spring again... ahh Spring!! I sunbathed for about an hour, got really tan (what can I say, I'm Italian!! ;) Then I watered my plants, checked on my greenhouse plants which seem to be doing pretty well except for those Bells of Ireland.. Darn those Bells of Ireland, they never grow for me, and Oh how I love them so! I then traveled indoors and started a creation inspired by this wonderful artist. I have seen them made by many bloggers, but I just love hers. She has such talent and a beautiful eye for details. Anyhoot, not having much, even though I went to Michaels again yesterday and I have closets full of craft supplies which I'm too afraid to use, I created this piece which I call "Bella" for my sister, who is a beautiful and talented woman. Once I realized the right way to make those little swirly thingy's and glued and glued and tore the paper, and cut the paper... I came out with this piece. (* Please note, credits go to khurst for the butterfly.) I am really pleased with how it came out, and when I told my sister I had made something for her, and then finally found the time to give it to her, she loved it! Okay well I hope you all enjoy the photos I took, and I promise I will update before the 4th!! Wishing you beautiful sunny days, and some crafty inspiration until the next time!!



Finsihed "Bella":