Memorial Day

As my veteran Daddy always says, "Thank a Vet". So thank you Daddy for your service to our country but most of all, your patriotism!

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to My Sweetie! My other half that makes me whole. I love and adore you.

Bloom Where You're Planted Wednesday

A great place to see while visiting St. Louis is Union Station. A National Historic Landmark, Union Station is a former passenger train terminal that was once the world's largest and busiest train station. It was converted in the early 1980s into a luxury hotel, shopping center, and entertainment complex.



The architecture of St. Louis Union Station is an eclectic mix of Romanesque styles. The Station's interior and exterior details are a combination of both Richardsonian Romanesque tradition and French Romanesque or Norman style. In fact, Link modeled the grandiose Station after Carcassone, a walled, medieval city in southern France. These designs are most evident when entering the Station's Headhouse and the impressive Grand Hall, with its sweeping archways, fresco and gold leaf detailing, scagliola surfaces, mosaics and art glass windows. One can imagine the incredible impression the room created in 1894 on opening day. Today, the Grand Hall continues to awe visitors as the Marriott Hotel's lobby and lounge area.




A most impressive feature of the Grand Hall is the "Allegorical Window," a hand-made stained glass window with hand-cut Tiffany glass strategically positioned above the Station's main entryway. The window features three women representing the main U.S. train stations during the 1890s -- New York, St. Louis and San Francisco.


You will also have to try the Whispering Arch. If you stand on one side of the arch and whisper, some one else can hear it on the other side of the arch! It is a lot of fun to try this because it really works.


If you love architecture and history make sure you visit Union Station on your next trip to St. Louis.

Building your home

Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."

A wise woman builds her home by the words that she speaks. Proverbs 31:26 says, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness."

How does your home look? Are you building it up or tearing it down?

Artwork by Mary Cassatt

My Little Magnolia Cottage

I don't often post pictures of my home, so I would like to welcome you inside My Magnolia Cottage.

While we live in a newer home, My Sweetie is trying his best to make it look like a cottage for us (ok, me mainly). Here is a picture of our entryway before we started working on it:

You can see we were doing a test patch of paint before we actually started painting!


Here is the entryway after he painted and put up white bead board and a chair rail.

This sampler hangs over the front door.

For some reason I have an obsession/fascination with birds!

I adore this hutch area. The mirror and plates where picked up at a local antique mall. The plates are all hand painted by several Austrian artist around the turn of the century. I just love how they look around the mirror.

The little clock was given to my Mom on her graduation from my Grandfather. So this piece is proudly on display.

I love this little shelf because there is something old and something new and something I'm not quite sure about. The plate is very dainty and was picked up by my Mommy from an auction when I was little. The bird and sign are new and the vase is something I picked up at an antique store. There is no maker's mark, so I am not sure of its age.

You can also see my hubby framed out the door frame as well and added rosettes! He did a great job (I filled in all the nail holes! ha ha)

So, that's what you would see when and if you enter My Magnolia Cottage. Hopefully soon I'll be able to show you some of my magnolias.

My door is always open, so come on in ya'll.

Bloom Where You're Planted Wednesday

Bald Eagle Watching
Not many people know that there are approximately 2,000 eagles that migrate to the Middle Mississippi River Valley, making the region's overwintering population the second largest in the continental United States behind the Klamath Basin area of southern Oregon and northern California. The first eagles are usually spotted in December and they migrate back north in March.

If visiting the St. Louis area from December to March, you may want to check out this eagle locator map and visit one of these areas to view our great national symbol.

This is the ultimate experience for the birder or the twitcher.

Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

With strawberry season upon us, I thought I would post a recipe using the delectable fruit. This recipe came from my sister-in-law Kristin and easily became a family favorite here at Magnolia Cottage.

Salad:
1 head of romaine lettuce (chopped)
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup glazed pecans (recipe below)
1/4 cup red bell pepper thinly sliced and chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup creamy salad dressing (Miracle Whip)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup distilled white vinegar
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
Mix together and refrigerate until ready to use.

Glazed Pecans (this makes more than the salad recipe calls for):
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 1/2 cups of pecan halves
1 cup sugar
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and sugar; stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar melts around pecans and is caramel-colored. Remove pecans with a slotted spoon and spread in a single lay on a sheet of lightly greased aluminum foil.

Mix salad and dressing and top with glazed pecans.

Yummy...Yummy!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday: Pizza (My Sweetie is having a guys night with his best buddies)

Tuesday: Roast Chicken, stuffing and stewed tomatoes

Wednesday: Thai Beef Salad

Thursday: Basil Cream Chicken

Friday: Pork and Sauerkraut with homemade applesauce

Saturday: Marinated Grilled Flank Steak with Blue Cheese Schmear

Bloom Where You're Planted Wednesday

In keeping with my Wednesday theme, this little soda fountain and restaurant came to mind. Crown Candy Kitchen is a great family friendly place.


Crown Candy Kitchen was opened in 1913 by Harry Karandzieff and his best friend Pete Jugaloff. They brought their confectionery skills from Greece, along with a dream of providing a friendly family environment to enjoy their delicious creations. During the early 50’s Harry’s son George took the business over and built the business into what it is today. Now George’s three sons – Andy, Tommy and Mike run the business with a little help from the 4th generation.



It may feel as if you’ve taken a giant step back in time. Maybe you’ve spotted the vintage jukebox, the coca-cola collectibles or the soda fountain.


Don’t forget to leave room for dessert. Nobody leaves Crown Candy Kitchen without trying one of their world-renowned desserts. When was the last time that you had a Butterscotch Malted, Chocolate Phosphate or a Deluxe Sundae?


Crown Candy was feature on the hit show Man vs. Food where Adam tried to down 5 milkshakes in 30 minutes. This contest was started in 1913 making it one of the oldest eating contest.

In this episode food won!

Summer Bucket List

I was thinking about all the things that I want to do with my family this summer, so I decided to make a summer bucket list.

1. Pick my own strawberries and peaches (here is a great website to find pick your own produce in your area).

2. Take the kids to Carlyle Lake.

3. Go to a few flea markets.

4. Head to the Soulard Farmers Market .

5. Go to the St. Louis Zoo (again, we go pretty often).

6. Visit the Missouri Botanical Garden.

7. Take in a concert or maybe a drive-in movie.

8. Walk in the Susan G. Komen race on June 12.

9. Participate in The Moonlight Ramble.

10. Go fishing .
11. Do a ton of canning and freezing.
12. Go to an estate sale or auction.

13. Read a minimum of six books.

14. Take in a fair or festival.

15. Take the kids to the pool often.

What's on your bucket list? I would love to hear what ideas you have for your family.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Deviled Chicken Thighs and stuffing

Tuesday: Ham Steak and Eggs topped with hollandaise sauce (or snauce as we say)

Wednesday: Beans and Cornbread

Thursday: My Best Friend Jamie's Spanish Rice (one of her favorite comfort foods!)

Friday: Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Shish Kabob's with wild rice

Saturday: Grilled Flank Steak Taco's with Guacamole

Sunday: Homemade Rotisserie Chicken with stewed tomatoes

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Happy Mother's Day

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

All my life I have dreamed of being a Mommy. My dream came true two years ago when my little Sissyboo was born. This past year Double D entered my life. The Lord has blessed me beyond measure.

Mable Mae

My Sweetie and I have been wanting bicycles for several years now. Since this is the first summer out of the last two that I have not been pregnant we headed out to shop for some bikes. We had found a cruiser bicycle for me that was white with blue stripes, but it was just ok and nothing special. After we picked out his bike, we were getting ready to check out with both our bikes in tow when all of a sudden, we both looked up at the same time and saw this pink beauty!

My Sweetie turns to me and with a very endearing look in his eye, says, "that one is so you"!

So we brought her home and I named her Mable Mae. Doesn't she look like she should have a basket of flowers on the front!

By the way, she is one sweet ride.

Bloom Where You're Planted Wednesday

Located just 25miles south of St. Louis, Kimmswick is the perfect get away. You can browse over 20unique shops, enjoy the hospitality of some charming restaurants then relax in a comfortable Bed & Breakfast. Many of Kimmswick’s shops and residents still occupy the original buildings from the period of the town’s founding in 1859.



Don't forget to head over to The Blue Owl Restaurant for a gigantic slice of pie.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: BBQ Ribs, Corn on the Cob and The Neely's Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw

Tuesday: Crunchy Corn Flake Chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans

Wednesday: Celebrating Cinco De Mayo with Holy Guacamole and Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thursday: Beef Bourguignon with sweet potatoes (we didn't have this last week)

Friday: Bourbon Chicken and rice

Saturday: Baked Mostaccioli and garlic bread

Sunday: Dinner out for Mother's Day

Cute as A Button

I was recently doing a craft project and had to buy a bag of buttons. I had so many left over, I ended up making a few kitchen magnets out of the rest.


I found round magnets and hot glued the extra buttons on them. While I am not a fan of things being on the refrigerator, these buttons magnets are adorable.

They really are cute as a button!