Back in the day I don’t ever remember school starting before Labor Day. At that point you could feel Fall around the edges of the world and the beginning of school just seemed a natural event. Next week the Princess will put on her much too large backpack and enter a new classroom for preschool. I think the fact that I will be teaching at the same school helps take away the sting. But still, she seems much too tiny to be so independent.  She would disagree.  In her honor, I have put together a back to school fireplace mantel.  Enjoy…

I am in love with vintage school items…and always looking for new elements.  The cigar mold is the oddity.   I thought it added an interesting graphic.  

Vintage school books topped by an antique teacher’s school bell. Imagine how many little hands turned the pages in these texts. 

A red lunch pail from the 1920’s and vintage ink bottles. Such beauty in the commonplace.   

When I found this chalkboard the seller said the chalk message was original to the 1876 date…doubtful…but nice to think about.   

A back to school picnic…tradition in the making!

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The countdown is on until our summer is officially over…well the pool is open for another week but this week we have been in full “Back to School ” mode. With the exciting news of a teaching job for me this year, we have doubled the excitement..and stress.  I love Fall, but Summer is such a sweet season of later nights, afternoons at the pool and lazy, easy weekends. I want to hold on a little longer, but we did find a tiny orange pumpkin in the garden and I found myself thinking about my boots…This week, in the spirit of back to school and back to school lunches I present the cutest little butterfly snack bags…check them out below!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home chose

Portable Homework Helper w/ 3 Sets of Printables from Our Peaceful Planet

 

Lisa at Condo Blues chose

DIY Picture Frame Wreath from Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky chose

Fresh Corn Dip from Lou Lou Girls

Sheree from Stage Presents chose

Painted Metallic Books from Savvy Apron

Maisy at Becoming Alice chose

Vegan Tofu Feta Cheese (Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Oil-Free) from Sprinkle of Vanilla Sugar

 

Jen at Creatively Homemade chose

Burlap Scarecrow Garden Flag from The Country Chic Cottage

Amy at A Day of Small Things chose

Butterfly Snack Bags at Lolly Jane Blog

How To Make Seashell Chargers by Celebrate and Decorate

 

 

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Honestly, I never heard about tomato pie until I lived in the south. Even then, for some reason, it just held no appeal for me…oh boy,was I blind.  Finally, after several “suggestions” from Pinterest, I decided to give it a go.  Pleasant surprise…despite the simplistic nature of the ingredients, it truly tasted…well, just like a fresh summer day.  Let me give you the recipe!

The usual cast of characters…although I have experimented with some guest ingredients like bacon and corn…

1. Blind baked pie shell. I typically have several homemade pie crusts in the freezer, but store bought is fine…no judgment

2. 1/2 to 1 cup fresh chopped basil, extra points if you grow your own

3. 5-6 freshly chopped tomatoes with the juice squeezed out….I save and freeze the juice to use in stocks and broths

5. 1/2 cup mayonnaise…I use full fat, I assume reduced fat would work, if you try it let me know.

6. 2 cups chopped and shredded cheese…I use whatever I have on hand, for this pie I used cubed mozzarella and shredded cheddar.

7. A few dashes of hot sauce and a sprinkling of sea salt

Easy peasy steps

1. Placed juiced tomatoes in blind baked crust

2. Sprinkle chopped basil and sea salt on juiced tomatoes

3. Mix mayonnaise, cheese and hot sauce together until it is the consistency of a “slushy snowball” and spread on chopped basil…gently spread!

4. Bake 30-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven…I don’t cover it.

5. Remove, cool and enjoy!

It has been a busy weekend here…and as you can see even the Princess has her limits. It made for a good naptime however!

Show and share. Inspire Me Monday. No Place Like Home. Tuesday at Our House. The Scoop. Inspire Me Tuesday.         Thrifty and Vintage Finds  Make it Pretty. Titus 2 Tuesday. Monday of Many Blessings. Art of Homemaking.                          Wow us Wednesday   Talk of The Town. Let’s Talk Vintage. Share It. Vintage Bliss. Moonlight and Mason Jars.                     Work it Wednesday. Share Your Cup. Share your Style. Tuesday with a Twist. Home and Garden.                                       Welcome Home Wednesday   Thursday Favorites. Wonderful Wednesday. Waste not Wednesday.Thoughts of Home.        Your Inspired Design. Shabbilious Friday. Friday Features. Home Sweet Home. Feather Nest Friday. Sweet and Simple.     Tada Thursday  Imparting Grace. Morning Cup of Joe. Home  Matters. Sweet Inspiration. Best of the Weekend.               Vintage Chic. Sunday at Home. Share it one more time. Peace Love Link. Amaze Me Monday. Busy Monday. Digging it  inspiration Monday. Little House Links. Finding Silver Pennies. Friendship Friday.  Snicker doodle  Inspire Me Monday

Is everyone up to their ears with back to school busyness? Hard to imagine Fall right around the corner when the pool is still open and the thermometer hovers at 90 degrees. Summer used to feel endless as a child…I miss that.

My selection for Friday Favorites will help me hang onto that summer loving a little longer…not to mention eat cake batter. What could be better! I present Funfetti cake batter Popsicles….thank you Unusually Lovely!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade – Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

<a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/JHRivers/Friday%20Favorites%20Featured%20Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ alt=” photo Friday Favorites Featured Button.jpg”></a>

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home chose

29 Oatmeal Add-Ins from The Gracious Wife

Sheree from Stage Presents chose

Sorbet Rose Cocktail from If You Give A Blonde a Kitchen

Amy at A Day of Small Things AND Jen at Creatively Homemade chose

Funfetti Cake Batter Popsicles from Unusually Lovely

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky chose

Chicken and Fruit Salad from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Lisa at Condo Blues chose

DIY Exotic Sunroom Back Porch Makeover from Sew Can Do

My kitchen…it is what it is. It is definitely the trade off for the roomy front porch I so enjoy. The footprint of the room is a smidgen bigger than the original kitchen in 1920….maybe…and what is life without a challenge. I’m not sure filling it with the many treasures of my past is the best solution, but it makes me happy…and that is a good thing. 

A neat panaramic view my hero experimented with…yes, my wall and counters are straight…mostly

No pantry? I have really put my wrought iron baker’s rack from Italy to use…I still really want a pantry.  

Another bit of strangeness …a full height cooking hearth. By 1920 most city folk did not cook over open flame but apparently the original owners also enjoyed a vintage touch. 

Limited cabinet space?….I have to admit I could have all the storage in the world but I would still prefer my pot rack.  

My hand painted German pie safe still makes me swoon…I just had to find room for it.   

The Kitchen…that is where memories happen!

Show and Share.  Inspire Me Monday.  No Place Like Home.  Tuesday at Our House.  The Scoop.  Inspire Me Tuesday

Thrifty and Vintage.  Make it Pretty.  Titus 2 Tuesday. The Art of Homemaking.  Monday of Many Blessings. Share it

Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the Town. Let’s Talk Vintage  Vintage Bliss.   Moonlight and Mason Jars. Tuesday With a Twist

Wonderful Wednesday.  Work it Wednesday.  Share Your Cup.  Share Your Style.  Home and Garden.  Thursday Favorites

Welcome Home Wednesday.   Brag About It.  Thoughts of Home.  Vintage Charm Party.  Your Inspired Design.

Shabbilious Friday. Friday Features. Home Sweet Home.  Feather Nest Friday.  Sweet and Simple Friday.  Tada Thursday

Waste Not Wednesday. Imparting Grace.  Morning Cup of Joe.  Home Matters.  Sweet Inspiration  Best of the Weekend

Vintage Chic.  Friendship Friday. Fantastic Friday. Snickerdoodle Peace Love and Link.  Sunday at Home

Share it One More Time. Amaze me Monday. Busy Monday. Inspiration Monday. Digging it.  Little House.

Finding Silver Pennies.  Inspire Me Monday

Remember that sense of freedom as a child when summer rolled around? The days and nights blended together with the intoxicating mix of watermelon in the garden, toes in some sort of water source, adventuresome car trips and fireflies in jars.  You rode bikes with your friends for miles, played tag late into the night, and counted the days until overnight camp.  Is this experience even possible anymore? If I could turn back time I would spend some more time in the summers of my childhood. The next best thing, sort of, is to bring some of that summer joy into my home. 

Lighthouses bring back memories of sandy beaches and salty water…and the thrill of the boardwalk at night. 

I am beginning to love the combination of light blue and yellow…lemons with a sugar straw and watermelons are happy tastes of summer. 

Sunflowers that towered over our heads!

The delicious bounty of a garden…nothing tastes better than a homegrown tomato

 The awe of standing near the edge of the sea and realizing just how small you are!
Let’s Party…

Show and Share    Inspire Me Monday.  No Place Like Home.  Tuesday at Our House.  The Scoop.  Inspire Me Tuesday

Thrifty and Vintage Finds.  Make it Pretty.  Titus 2 Tuesday   The Art of Homemaking.  Monday of Many Blessing

Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the Town.  Let’s Talk Vintage.  Share it. Vintage Bliss. Moonlight and Mason Jars

Tuesday with a Twist.  Waste Not Wednesday.  Wonderful Wednesday.  Work it Wednesday.  Share Your Cup

Share Your Style.  Home and Garden.  Welcome Home Wednesday.  Thursday Favorites.  Thoughts of Home

Vintage Charm Party.  Your Inspired Design.  Shabbilious Friday.  Friday Features.  Home Sweet Home.  Feather Nest Friday

Sweet and Simple. Tada Thursday.  Grace at Home.  Friendship Friday. Morning Cup of Joe.  Home Matters.

Best of the Weekend.  Sweet Inspiration. Fantastic Friday.  Vintage Chic. Sunday at Home. Share it One More Time

Peace Love and Link.  Snicker doodles   Amaze me Monday.  Busy Monday.  Inspirational Monday.  Digging it

Little House Links.  Finding Silver Pennies.  Inspire Me Monday.  Merry Monday