Last week was Spring break for the Naval Academy and the Princess’ school.  It was also shaping up to be a snowy, cold time in Annapolis. So we packed up and headed a little bit south to the cute town of Cambridge Md.  My hero and I have visited before but this was a first for the Princess. There was an indoor pool and nightly S’Mores.  She was happy.

Cambridge was a thriving small town at one time but had suffered from some rough days in the last decades. Slowly, people have rediscovered the lovely old homes and darling Main Street atmosphere and gorgeous views of the Chesapeake and a revitalized movement has taken over. The town had a much needed boost when the Hyatt Regency built a beautiful spa and resort there which hosted a US Republican Conference in 2007. It is also a designated Maryland Main Street community, a process created by the Maryland Housing Department to preserve and strengthen the history and heritage of small towns and increase tourism. Each time we return my hero and I are pleasantly surprised at the new stores and restaurants that have opened! Always a wonderful , relaxing experience for us in every season!

The beautiful Hyatt Regency.  The service and facilities are outstanding.

The cutest Main Street with lots of convenient parking. The Antique shopping can be dangerous to your wallet!

Especially at the Heart of Dorchester Antiques (located on Main St.)

Before we had a Princess in our lives, my hero and I enjoyed staying at quaint little bed and breakfasts like Cambridge House.  Quaint and a three year old just don’t fit together, but if you are looking for that romantic atmosphere, try this charming place…maybe I will see you there…maybe in ten years.

Bay Country Antiques is a little ways out of town but it is a must see! The place is huge and packed with awesome vintage and antique finds.

And last but not least…The favorite activity for the Princess…and me as well….nightly S’mores. Could life get any better?

show and share. Art of homemaking. Gods great garden. Metamorphosis                   many blessings.  Make it pretty.  Inspire me Monday   Made by you  The scoop.  Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage.  Wonderful Wednesday.  Brag about it   Share it.  Talk of the town.   Wow us Wednesday  Create and celebrate. Coffee and conversation. Waste not. Welcome home.               Share your cup. Share your style  home and garden. Thursday favorites.  Tada.         Friday features. Vintage charm. Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday          friendship  Friday.  Grace at home. Funtastic Friday.  Morning cup of joy.                   Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Vintage chic. Oh hey Friday. Best of the weekend‘. Create bake grow.  Sunday at home. Share it one more time. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday  silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. Digging it                    let’s add sprinkles. Amaze me Monday. Proverbs 31

It is always exciting when my blog is featured on some other amazing blog sites! Check me out at…

Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life

Thursday Favorites@Peonies and Orange Blossoms

Despite the cold, snow and rain, it has been a great Spring break! We packed up and headed to the beautiful Hyatt Regency in Cambridge MD. It was a awesome almost electronic free couple of days. If you still aren’t sure of the benefits of a night without devices, take some time to read the blog post by Heartful Habits I featured below. There are some great ideas for a fun family night as well! I mean, what online experience can beat that first bite of a S’more!

 

 

 

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So, how ironic is it that after waiting all winter for snow, it is too cold ( with snow in the forecast?) the week I plan to feature early Springtime in Annapolis…I will have to settle for images of the past, with hope of more in the near future!

Enjoy my beautiful city of Annapolis! See you after a chilly school Spring break, the Princess is ready for some silly good times.

Vintage chic.  Share Your Cup. Welcome Home.  Let’s talk vintage. Brag about it.  Inspire me Tuesday   Tuesday at our house.   Coffee and conversation.  The Scoop                     Tuesday with a twist.  Art of Homemaking.  Gods great garden.  Moonlight and Mason jars.  Made by you.   Share your style.  Grace at Home.  Home and garden.  Waste not     Metamorphosis. Show and share.  Many Blessings.   Thursday Favorites.                 Home sweet home.  Feather nest Friday   Friday Features.  Friendship Friday   Funtastic Friday.  Best of the weekend.  Sweet inspiration     Morning cup of joe.      Home matters.    Snickerdoodle   Create bake grow and gather. Share it and be more time.   Simple Saturday. Sunday at my house.  Inspiration Monday.  Silver pennies   Create with joy.  Digging it.  Amaze me Monday. Let’s add sprinkles. Proverbs 31

Is anyone else enjoying this beautiful Spring weather?  The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the grass is turning green and the weather man says…snow?  Yes, it is true.  Snow for Spring break..I just can’t even…Anyway, I might have some inside time to plan my deep pantry storage. If it looks half as good as the one featured on “Living frugally on the Ranch” I would be thrilled!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

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

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A restful weekend here in Annapolis, in no small part thanks to a crazy burned out electrical transformer that led to a blown out Verizon box that led to a service call to happen between 9am and 9pm that led to a mandatory day at home.  It is a wonder how we ever did anything without the internet…or Fios TV. Anyway, it did give me time to put together a St. Patrick Day mantel.  I have never attempted to capture the luck of the Irish in my decor, but like my Valentine’s mantel, I am quite pleased that the simplest additions really do have major impact.  Do you like the sparkly shamrock? I give the Princess full credit!

Some green depression, vintage postcards and a bunting of shamrock pennants gives homage to Old Saint Patrick.
A close-up of the gorgeous green of the glass.

Vintage St. Patrick postcards are known for their amusing nature and exuberant love of the perfect Irish lass! I love these examples of both.

My Hero also kept busy this weekend.  He was able to hang my darling new antique sampler…a post for another time. Thank goodness he had a reliable helper.  Someone has to chose the perfect nail!

I am partying with these lovely bloggers this week…why don’t you came too!

Show and Share.  Gods growing garden.   Metamorphosis    Made by you    The scoop.  Home of many blessings. . Art of homemaking.  Make it pretty.   Inspire me Tuesday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me monday.   Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars.  Share your cup. Share your style.  Home and garden. Welcome home.  Thursday favorites. Waste not.  Coffee and conservation.             Create and celebrate. Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home.      Friendship Friday. Feather nest Friday. Tada funtastic Friday. Grace at home.         Sweet inspiration    Morning cup of joe.  Home matters. Vintage chic.  Oh hey Friday.  Best of the weekend.  Create bake grow and gather Sunday at home  share it one more time  snickerdoodle  Simple Saturday  silver pennies  create with joy               inspiration Monday  digging it  let’s add sprinkles   Amaze me Monday  proverbs 31

 

 

Well, old man Winter seems to have returned, and he is quite blustery. This 100 year old house is creaking and moaning, but stands firm and strong, they just don’t build them the same these days.

This has been a good week and I have a lot to smile about…especially at the adorable “Lucky Cat” I am featuring this week. Check it out below!

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

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!

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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!

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I am in a bit of a decorating quandary this week.  The calendar tells me to continue with cozy winter but the weather outside has made me long for Spring delights…so I chose to change nothing until there is a meeting of the minds… between Mother Nature and me. On the plus side, it does give me the opportunity to feature some more of my treasures from another land!

A lovely and well used antique rocking horse from Russia.  One of the few things I decided to buy before I saw the price tag…thankfully it didn’t require a second mortgage on the house.

A beautiful reminder of time spent in Japan.  Just looking at this wood block print brings back happy memories.

My antique tiger cabinet from Hong Kong.  I can’t decide, however, if the tigers are friendly or menacing.

Pottery is a lovely art form that allows you to touch and feel the hands of the artist.

The Princess enjoyed a visit with Grandparents this weekend…as evidenced by the cookie in her hand…and the smirk on her face.  Who could resist spoiling her?

show and Share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at my house. The scoop.                   Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden. Home of many blessings. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars. Share your cup. Share your style.       Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites  waste not.                              Coffee and conversation   Create and celebrate   Tada. Funtastic Friday                    Feather nest Friday. Friendship friday.  Grace at home.  Friday features.                    Home sweet home.  Vintage charm 

I think Mother Nature is a bit confused…70 degrees…in February…in Maryland. I’m not complaining…just bewildered, like the poor tree blossoms. One thing I am not confused about…the adorable heart cupcakes from Sugar and Spice and Family Life. How can I wait a year to make these? 

 Is the weather confused by you or is Old Man Winter still in residence? And more importantly…are you up for a game of Pooh Sticks?

 

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

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!

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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! Continue reading →

It started on Friday evening, a series of unfortunate events and news that threatened to dampen this long anticipated holiday weekend…to include a heartbreaking Navy basketball loss to Army and compounded by the announcement that a worldwide shortage of vanilla beans will jack the price of vanilla extract sky high.  It shouldn’t have been a surprise when my car didn’t start this morning…hello AAA tow truck…but it was the last straw. What is a gal to do to turn this weekend around?  Make the most decadent dessert possible of course! Let me give you the recipe…just in case you are in need of a pick me up…

Molten Mocha Cakes ( could it sound any richer?)

The usual cast of characters

1. 1 package semi-sweet baking chocolate or 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2. 1 cup of butter…2 whole sticks

3. 2 cups powdered sugar

4. 1/2 cup instant coffee powder…any flavor

5. 5 Eggs

6. 4 Egg yolks…yes, you read that correctly

7. 3/4 cup flour

8. Garnishes of your choice

The Steps

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees

2. Butter 5 (1 cup) ramekins and place on cookie sheet

3. Microwave chocolate and butter for 2 minutes, stir well

4. Stir in sugar and coffee until well blended

5. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks

6. Stir in flour and stir well, pour into prepared cups

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the sides are firm but the centers are soft. Let stand 1-2 minutes.

8. Run a knife around edges and invert carefully onto a dessert plate

But wait…the best part hasn’t happened!

Garnish, grab a fork and watch the explosion of chocolate goodness…instant mood lifter!
Of course, all the Princess needs for a great afternoon is a warm day, a bit of water and a couple of branches…Pooh Sticks anyone?

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Gods great garden.  Home of many blessings.  Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars.      Share your style. Welcome home. Share your cup. Home and garden.                  Thursday favorites waste not. Coffee and conversation. Friday features.                    Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Tada. Friendship Friday.  Funtastic Friday. Grace at home.  Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Vintage chic. Oh hey Friday. Best of the weekend.  Sunday at home. Share it one more time. Snickerdoodle Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. Digging it. Let’s add sprinkles. Amaze me. Proverbs 31