DIY Tutorials // Spring Sprouts

Photo: Roberto Caruso

How adorable is?? Very. What a cute centerpiece it would make to welcome in Spring! I will be making one of these this week for sure.


I found it on Poppytalk and they say all you have to do is sprinkle a handful of lentils onto some cotton balls or paper towels keeping damp (but not wet), in a week or so you'll have some adorable delicate sprouts! This one was planted into a wooden box but any container would do.


Then just take a wooden skewer and glue on a flag. You can download a printable of the flag below here if you prefer. (Tip: when printing the flag, it will automatically "scale to page size".  Select "None" instead to get a true size when printed).

Garden Seeds // February Herbs

I am a novice on growing herbs in Arizona, so I am starting a "herb corner" this month in my backyard.   My motto is always start small when you are trying something new in the garden!  I suggest trying new plants in pots so you can move them around to find a location that works best. 

According to the Arizona Herb Association, here are some good herbs to sow directly outside in the month of February:

• Alfalfa, bee balm, borage, calendula, German chamomile, garlic chives, cilantro/coriander, cumin, dill, Florence fennel, scented geraniums, hollyhocks, hyssop, lamb's quarters, majoram, nasturtium, parsley, chaparral sage, Mexican bush sage, summer savory, sesame, thyme and yarrows.

If buying an herb plant from a nursery, choose from one of these to plant in February:

• Aloe, bee balm, borage, German chamomile, chives, garlic chives, creosote bush, lemon grass, Mormon tea, oregano, French sorrel, sweet Annie, thyme and wormwood.

Water as needed and water deeply to encourage good root development. 

Here is my herb corner with two newly planted herb pots.  This is a door I found in an alley, added a shelf, spray painted and mounted on the wall.  The stepping stone is my daughter's hand print at age 2 (she's now 10). 

The Arizona Herb Association is a wonderful resource for herb gardeners.  I often refer to their herb guide:  The Low Desert Herb Gardening Handbook.  The book is organized by month and states exactly what herbs to plant, prune and harvest as well as other helpful hints.   The Herb Association meets the first Thursday of each month at 7pm at the University of Arizona Maricopa County Extension Office at 4341 E. Broadway in Phoenix.

Color Your Fancy // Cobalt

When blue gets sassy, it's called ... 

via zara

via bhg

via pw on bluepoolroad 

you are my fave

via lauren hurt

I can't get enough of this color. It has always been a favorite of mine. Such a surprising shade of blue!

Treasure Hunting // Phoenix Craigslist Finds

This weeks Treasure Hunt has been so fun! I hope some of you actually get to buy these items because my head is spinning with ideas and I want them to go to a good home!

First up is this industrial metal desk. The picture (if accurate) shows a cream color instead of the typical tan. Not to mention the top is either cream or metal (instead of faux wood) and the legs are all the way to the sides instead of centered. It's unique for a metal desk and would look great in an industrial office.

metal desk//$40

Next is this amazing, sleek, modern and functional hutch. I want to cover the insides with vintage wallpaper. To die for.

hutch//$50

This side table caught my eye. I like the chunkiness and the different shapes.

side table//$10

These small antique rockers are so unique. If you have a small baby nursery this would take up much less space than a traditional rocker or glider.

small colonial rocker chair//$120

 Do I need to say anything about this dresser? Nope. It speaks for itself.

antique dresser//$195

 This pair of lamps comes with a pair of hideous shades, but I think if you replace those with some modern drum shades you have yourself some lamps with an anthropologie feel.

Pair of matching vintage lamps//$70

 Vintage vanity chair. So cute.

Vanity chair//$25

 This sofa is on wheels. I love the idea of that. There are so many possibilities with this piece. Paint, re-upholster, keep it like it is and add a collection of mismatched pillows in bright colors...

Sofa on wheels//$75

 I picture this chair reupholstered in a graphic pattern and painted a high gloss white. Yes.

Pair of Rattan Chairs//$60

Organize Your Life // Spring Cleaning Labels

Remember the list of home-made cleaners we made, and the weekly cleaning schedule we shared with you all? Well, we're here today with another free printable- some Cleaning Labels! If you're like me, you went out and bought all the ingredients for the cleaners, played mad scientist for a week, then never labeled your spray bottles so you could possibly be cleaning your toilets with oven cleaner {and vice versa}. Not good. Let's rectify that, shall we?

Here are some handy dandy labels to stick on your spray bottles to avoid any cleaning confusion. Download the printables here!

The Watson Abode // Spring Garden Plan

I have been working diligently on my mother's garden since the new year began, and we have a great plan developed.

She had 6 beds that were falling apart, but were pretty easily repaired. We've been amending the dirt that has sit in the beds for over a decade with A & P Nursery's Harvest Supreme compost and Singh Farm's compost {which is rumored to be the elixir of fertility}. You can go down to the Farm on Saturdays and purchase the compost by the bag full which are HUGE and only $12, or by the truckbed load, which is $60. We've only done bags so far, but are planning to go with a truck load in a few weeks when we break ground on our corn patch and extra long bed.

We've done both the strawberry & tomato bed and the salsa bed so far; and the watermelon bed, cantelope bed, pumpkin bed, and cucumber bed are in the works. We've been following the urban farm planting calendar and trying to resist buying things that may not be ready to plant yet.

I'll be sure to share the progress once things start growing, but for now, I am so proud of what we've done, and so excited to see what it will all become!

Kitchen Revival // Sweetheart Breakfast

Valentine's Day. One of my favorite holidays and one of the only mornings I wake up early. A Sweetheart Breakfast is how we celebrate Valentine's Day at our house. I set the table with my festive dishes with their little valentine gift placed on the table (yes, we give them something small. Just another reason to spoil the children).

My kids are a little young for the making of Valentine cards, but next year I plan on making some valentine mail boxes similar to the ones below where we can slip in love notes to each other through out the beginning of the month. But the rule is you can't read them until our Valentines Breakfast! I can't wait. Obviously the cute mailboxes would be a part of the table-scape too.

via the anderson crew

Last year I made Caramel French Toast from Framed. 

It really was amazing. So amazing that we make it all the time. So I need a new amazing recipe to make this breakfast more special. Here are a few that caught my eye.

double chocolate waffles with berry sauce via our best bites

mini puffed oven pancakes with berry sauce via our best bites

cream cheese stuffed lemon french toast with strawberries via our best bites

red velvet crepes via duhlicious

lace crepes via duhlicious

Are you drooling yet? I am. I hope you find the time to make tomorrow a real celebration of love with your family!