Ice Cream Social

"Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James

The heat of late summer is the perfect time for relaxed entertaining, and an ice cream social is an easy way to churn up some fun. With only one dish to prepare, you don't have to move out of vacation mode to prepare a fussy meal.

Just toss some bottled waters into a bucket of ice, set out napkins, and sweep the front porch. Then invite neighbors to take a break from walking the dog or mowing the lawn for an impromptu gathering.

Invite neighbors to spend a leisurely afternoon on the porch, chatting about the latest local happenings while the children run through the sprinklers in the front yard.

A few simple details dress up these ice cream cones. Cute scrapbook paper cone wrappers are easy to make using the waffle cone wrapper as a template. Whipped cream, raspberries and lemon zest hint at the flavors inside this Raspberry Lemonade Ice Cream recipe, and paper straws add the finishing touch.

Fun decorations elevate this refreshing dessert to an ice cream party. Coordinating bunting, napkins and flowers repeat the pink lemonade theme. Repurposed containers allow for fun cone displays, like this silverware caddy added to the display just before serving.

With a great ice cream recipe, dressed up cones and colorful decorations, you can turn a simple ice cream social into the social event of the season. Stop in tomorrow for my refreshing Raspberry Lemonade Ice Cream recipe.

And speaking of summer treats, tomorrow I will announce the winner of this giveaway for a signed copy of the recently-released Victoria Classics special issue, 

Monograms.

A Tour of Our House

This month finds us sifting through more than a decade of memories as we prepare to relocate to Birmingham. Our house was listed this month, and we are hopeful that the right family will fill it with love. You have been invited into our home many times over the years for birthday parties and holidays, but I realize I've never really given you a proper tour. Today I am offering a peek into the main floor.

Nestled on more than 2 acres in Wetumpka, this house has been a welcoming retreat for our family. Joe found this property when we moved to Montgomery. I was initially reluctant to look outside the city, but my heart skipped a beat when we rounded the corner and this house came into view. Most of the property is wooded, which gives the property a tranquil, private feel.

A staircase greets you as you step into the foyer. Framed baby photos remind me of the toddlers who learned to maneuver these stairs through the years. It is bittersweet to know that my four children won't ever run down these stairs again to discover surprises left under the tree on Christmas morning. May this home always be filled with the pitter-pat of little feet. 

To the left of the stairs is my sitting room. I had planned to add wainscoting, a pretty rug and custom drapes to this room, but even without these details it has been a feminine sanctuary for me.

Besides offering a welcome spot for pausing for quiet contemplation or enjoying a cup of tea, this sitting room provides a lovely space for my sewing room.

A curbside-found desk positioned in view of the bay windows makes a perfect sewing table. I still need to refinish this French Provincial piece, but you can catch a glimpse of the "before" version in the photo above. So many afternoons I worked on sewing projects while watching expectantly for the school bus to rumble into the neighborhood.

Our dining room sits across the hall. One of my favorite views in this house is taking a peek into our sitting room through the dining room mirror.

You have seen this room many times over the years. I have kept the colors neutral, which has allowed it to function well for a variety of holiday gatherings and parties.

This simple space has been a ballet studio, candy shoppe, movie theater and cupcakery in the past few years. We have made so many memories here. May the next family that lives here enjoy a spirit of celebration.

This open, airy space has been a treasured gathering space for family and friends. Soaring ceilings and expansive windows make the family room a wonderful place to relax. This open floor plan accommodates crowds, as well. We invited more than 50 of Joe's students out last fall and enjoyed serving them dinner.

Here is another view of our family room, ready to offer respite from the cares of the day.

Beyond the windows, a picket fence surrounds a glittering blue pool. We have spent so many blistering July days in the cool of this water. Lying on a float looking up into the treetops and watching the clouds drift by is my definition of an ideal summer afternoon.

Joe has worked through the years to cultivate our outdoor spaces. Crepe myrtles line the fence around the pool, and in natural areas around the property you will find hydrangeas, azaleas and camellias blooming in turn.

Through these doors, we enter the kitchen. French doors also lead from the pool area to our master bedroom, which is the next stop on our tour.

My husband is very patient to allow so many floral prints in our bedroom. This is one of my favorite spaces in our home. Special furniture pieces include, from left to right, a secretary and desk chair; rolled-arm bench; and wing chair that belonged to Joe's late grandparents. The plates that hang above the bed were a gift from my sister-in-law. She found the plates in an antique store and loved that they were painted in 1899, a hundred years before our son Carson was born. The bedside lamps were fashioned from crystal vases. On my bedside table, you will find a stack of Victoria magazines. And spread across the foot of the bed, my favorite coverlet is a pink toile quilt I purchased years ago from Victoria Fair. My mother-in-law sewed our chintz bed skirt and pillow shams, and I made the curtains on our windows and canopy, as well as the round tablecloth.

I felt at home as soon as I entered this house for the first time, and I could hardly sleep that first night for arranging our furniture in my mind. I am praying that a sweet little family will be as smitten with this property as I was and will decide to make it their home. I will keep you updated on our future! And in the meantime, if you are looking for a haven near Montgomery, Ala., I have just the address for you.

"Now in a cottage full of lilacs and laughter, I know the meaning of the words 'ever after.' " -- Unknown

Happy Independence Day!

Last year found us on the beach for the Fourth of July, but this year I am just as happy to be at home relaxing with my family. Wherever you are today, I hope your celebration includes food, family and fireworks. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

"This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith." ~ Lyndon B. Johnson

Make a Button Monogram

Yesterday I shared the new Victoria Classics special interest publication, Monograms. (Enter here to get your name in the teacup for a complimentary copy of this issue signed by Editor-in-Chief Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.) While we're on the subject of artistic personalization, I wanted to share this button monogram I stitched earlier this year. I made it to use as decoration for Mary Ashley's Birthday Craft Fair, but I love it so much I have kept it in my sitting room, which is also my sewing room.

For this project, I drew a script M on linen fabric with a blue fabric pen. I sewed an overlapping line of inexpensive plastic buttons over the letter, then filled out the design by stitching on a variety of buttons. I mounted the completed design to a self-stick mounting board I found in the embroidery section at Hobby Lobby and framed the piece in a discarded frame.

The frame I used was originally gold. While I no longer favor the brassy tone, the pattern seemed to suit the button monogram. So I used a little watered-down acrylic paint to whitewash the frame.

Now this monogram is cute as a button and a perfect accent for my sewing room.

"Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,

The days pass quickly when I am sewing."

~ Author Unknown

Victoria Classics Monograms Giveaway

"No household, however humble, need be without the refining influence of dainty environments." ~ Adelaide E. Heron

I am so pleased to share our latest Victoria Classics issue, a beautiful special interest publication called Monograms that hits newsstands today. Filled with breathtaking linens, exquisite antique silver, and innovative personalization ideas, it is a book you will want to savor. This issue is very special to me because I did much of the research and writing. One of the blessings of this project was getting to work closely with Victoria Editor-in-Chief Phyllis Hoffman DePiano. She is a dynamo -- and as personable and creative as you would imagine her to be. Phyllis has graciously agreed to give a signed copy of Monograms to a reader of A Little Loveliness.

To enter this giveaway for a copy of Monograms, leave a separate comment for each entry you choose.

(1) Leave a comment telling me about a favorite monogrammed find.

(2) Leave a comment if you follow ALL on my sidebar or on Facebook.

(3) Follow Victoria on Facebook.

I will announce the winner soon. In the meantime, look for Victoria Classics Monograms on the newsstand!

Catching the Breeze

As I consider how my life has changed since I started working as assistant editor of Victoria magazine in April, my mind drifts to a happy memory from my early days of motherhood. Son Carson was about 8 months old, and every day was full of joyful discoveries. I relished seeing life anew through his piercing blue eyes. Carson keenly observed every detail around us, and the intensity of his experience heightened my own senses. Tasting the sweet indulgence of a creamy chocolate milkshake, touching the soft fur of a neighbor's energetic new puppy, listening to the soft creaking of the rocking chair as Carson reluctantly succumbed to sleep -- every moment of the day seemed extraordinary encountered with someone so new to the world.

On this vivid day, Carson was a few weeks from taking his first steps. He could sit up in the stroller, and we both enjoyed venturing out into the fresh morning air for a walk around the neighborhood. Blissfully unaware that when he started walking at 9 months Carson would never want to sit down again, I buckled him into the carriage and stepped outside to discover a perfectly beautiful day. The sun was shining in Kentucky, where we lived during his infancy, but the mild climate kept temperatures blessedly comfortable. We set out for our walk in silence, taking in the sights and sounds as the world around us awoke to a new day.

A little while into our stroll, we paused to study something on the path, and a soft breeze began to blow. The rich green bluegrass began to dance, and tree branches nodded gracefully as the welcome gust caused the leaves to quiver and sway. Carson grimaced, closing his eyes and wrinkling his nose as the gentle whisper tickled his face. As the breeze grew stronger -- lifting tufts of his baby-fine blond hair and playfully caressing his exposed arms and bare feet -- a smile spread across his little face. As the wind blew harder, Carson started bouncing in his seat. A giggle erupted, and from his belly he began to laugh heartily. I laughed, too, experiencing his first encounter with the wind. I will never forget the moment I watched my sweet baby boy lean forward in his stroller and stretch his arms wide, as if to embrace the breeze. It was a moment of pure, unrestrained joy.

Carson accepted that first breeze as a gift -- fully experiencing it and appreciating it as if God Himself blew a breath of love for my baby's pleasure. My own whispers of thanks mingled with Carson's giggles as the wind played hide and seek that morning. In the years since I have never forgotten the feel of the fresh air on our faces.

During this time of transition into my new job with Hoffman Media in Birmingham, Ala., my thoughts often return to that blissful stroll. Thinking of Baby Carson's observant nature, I am reminded to be present. Whether I am on the road for a lengthy commute, playing with words to craft a story for Victoria, or spending precious time nurturing relationships with family and friends, there is a gift to be unwrapped in each moment. Just like that Kentucky breeze, joyful moments can be fleeting. The challenge is to stay focused, aware and open to the blessings at hand. As Psalm 188:24 declares, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." That pledge holds true whatever the day holds, as long as we strive to be present where we are.

Remembering Carson's exuberance in greeting the wind, I want to stretch my arms wide to embrace the day before me. Growing older can make us more tentative in our outlook. We count costs, measure our frailties and hold back as we figure possible outcomes for failure. But children remind us to fully live each moment. Their examples teach us to love fearlessly, laugh deeply and run as fast as our dreams can carry us. And what do we have to fear if we are striving to follow God's will? Scripture assures us in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Finally, that distant neighborhood walk reminds me to be grateful. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Whether viewing the ever-changing beauty of the landscape along the country roads that lead to my office, basking in the inspiration of creative people and projects, or savoring the welcoming security of home and time spent with the ones I love most, every experience offers a gift from God. He has blessed us all so richly and deserves our continual thanksgiving.

So to update you on accepting my dream job, sometimes I am unsure how I will balance the demands of working and raising a family. Often I am tired and wish I had more hours in the day. But always I am very, very thankful that this rich, full life is the one God planned for me.

And just like my sweet baby boy who has grown into a strong young man since our beloved stroller walks so many years ago, I am eager to lift my chin and feel the morning sun on my face. I hope you will join me as together we step out in faith, stretch our arms wide, and catch the next breeze.

"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." ~ Terri Guillemets

My First Victoria & a PJ Winner

Victoria

Last week the July/August issue of Victoria was delivered to our editorial offices. This issue was close to going to press when I started working with the magazine, so you won't find my byline in this issue. But I hope you will look for my name in the masthead! I was so excited to share the magazine with Joe and the children. We celebrated the milestone over the weekend by making the blue-ribbon Peach and Raspberry Pie recipe featured on pages 76 and 85 of this issue. With fresh peaches from a farmer's market and a pretty crust cut out by Emma, a slice of pie served a la mode provided a sweet celebration of the fruits of our labor. Look for the July/August issue on the newsstand, or subscribe by clicking the magazine title below the photo. Computer problems have me behind on posting, but look for travel, party and craft photos as soon as I can upload again.

Congratulations to Jody, who won the generous Mother's Day giveaway from The Pajama Company. Jody will be welcoming a new baby in a few weeks, so I hope she will feel pampered in the stylish Lovebirds capri set from The Cat's Pajamas. Jody, please e-mail me or leave a comment below.

Ballet Recital Celebration

"The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word." ~ Mata Hari


Mary Ashley and Emma's spring ballet recital is always one of the highlights of the season. For several years, we celebrated with dinner before the ballet, and last year we enjoyed appetizers and desserts before an early curtain call.



 

This year finds us in transition with my new job with Victoria magazine, so planning a recital soiree  a few weeks ago presented a challenge. My busier schedule didn't allow time for preparing an elaborate menu, yet I did not want this occasion to slip by without sharing special time with the girls and special friends who join us each year for the show.



 

With an early show time again this year, dinner at 4 o'clock in the afternoon wasn't appealing, and I wasn't sure I could pull everything together in such a small window of time. So we decided that dessert after the recital was the best way to go. I took the easiest route to celebration possible, purchasing cakes, flowers, and snacks at a local grocery store Saturday morning during the girls' dress rehearsal.



 

I set up the dessert spread in the family room Saturday afternoon, and we invited friends and teachers to stop by after the performance.



 

This fluffy pink strawberry cake from Winn-Dixie looked ballerina perfect, especially with the addition of a flower.



 

A petite white cake, also from Winn-Dixie, offered another sweet option. Fresh strawberries served with chocolate dip covered all the bases for a simple dessert buffet.



 

For a savory bite, herbed cheese and crackers were delicious.


 

Lush potted pink flowers and a metal dress form with a tutu (saved from previous ballet parties) added color to the display.



 

Plates, napkins and silverware were put in place before curtain call, and the coffee pot was ready to brew when we returned.


 

I really enjoy hosting handmade, homemade celebrations and always hope that my family and friends see the love in all the little details.



 

When time or circumstances do not allow the same level of attention, letting go of extravagant plans can be difficult. Not necessarily for my family, but for me.



 

What I am realizing, though, is that I see love in all the little details, but eliminating details does not diminish the love.



 

In fact, when the circumstances are right, simplifying the celebration allows the love to flourish.



 

Here is a view of our family room Saturday afternoon before the show, complete with a little ballerina who had time to relax with some quiet time before the performance.



 

Friends Neil and Hailey Scott joined us after the show for coffee and dessert. It was so nice to enjoy a leisurely evening together, and no one seemed to mind one bit that this year's party was simple and store-bought. Lounging on the sofa enjoying laughter, cake and a reprise of this year's sibling number, I realized that just being together was what made our special evening ballerina perfect.



"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another." ~ Author Unknown