Tuesday, May 26, 2015

{ Simple Sun Tea! }

Today was a warm & sunny productive Tuesday!! The heat was kicking my bum & that's when I decided to make some simple ,yet refreshing sun tea! I used to make sun tea all the time when we lived in our condo. I would set the jar out on our screened in porch & the sun would drench the jar in a matter of minutes leaving us with some delicious tea for days!! I must say I haven't made sun tea in almost 3 years , but why not today?! My grams gave me a glass mason jar dispenser so I put it to use today! For this simple recipe keep reading below...


.................................................Recipe....

. Glass jar
. 5-8 Regular Tea bags
. 3 tablespoons honey
.3 tablespoons sugar { Optional }
. 4 sprigs of mint
. Lemon { Optional }

** This is my own recipe, so you can tweak the above ingredients to your liking!  

Fill the jar with cold water { You can boil the water first too } & add the tea bags & mint! Let the jar sit in the sun until the water is tinted, this usually takes 1-2 hours! After the tea is done, add the honey, lemon & sugar! Put the jar in the fridge until cold . The tea will be a refreshing low calorie beverage that will last for days!



Both the lemon & mint are great for detoxing & bonus they're refreshing! You can use fresh lemon or bottled lemon { NOT from concentrate }!



Serve with some sugar free butter cookies or a light snack & you have a refreshing summery snack! After being outside with the puppies all day & spray painting I needed this!!


Have a lovely evening everyone!



Paige.Rose


{ Life is Beautiful - A Cottage Story & Tour! }

Let me first start off my saying this has been one of the most relaxing & memorable weekends!! The hubby & I planned this little trip about a week ago & couldn't be happier we took it! We traveled north to my grandma's cottage off of Lake Huron  in the little quaint town of Lexington, MI ! It was like the first time I was seeing everything again & it sure was eye opening! It had been 3.5 yrs since we had been up there in the summer time  & so much has changed...I can remember going up there every summer/ weekend as a child & loving the sandy shoreline & the Petoskey stone filled lake!! I remember going for walks on the beach with my grams looking for Petoskey stones & vintage colored glass that washed ashore, penny candy store & bonfires! Things sure have changed since those days..as everything in life does ! I had been putting off going up there for a while due to the emotions &  overall change the time has brought. It no longer is a warm vacation area filled with people, memories & excitement, but more of a memory of what was or used to be. As much as I love what my life has become & as thankful as I am, I miss the days of hearing my papa say " Go out to the garage & grab me a jug of water "..  { they have well water } ! I can't believe it's been 11 years since his passing.. I was reminded this weekend that I've always loved writing { old poem & paper about my papa's passing } & that blogging is where I'm suppose to be in life.
Sit back & enjoy some lovely pictures from what was a small non-livable 4 room cottage with no heat or washing machine to a gorgeous memory filled cottage/lodge inspired home built by the two best  grandparents!


 

 

I inherited a lot from my dear grams, but not her green thumb or my papa's gardening skills!! Her gardens are so gorgeous, unlike my faux ones hehe!

 

Cute, cozy & charming!

 

The raccoon carved out of a tree stump has always been the talk of conversation! As a kid this was my favorite thing about the deck!! I mean who can say their grandparents have a 6ft wood carved raccoon?!





Can you guys see why I love this space & where  my love for old vintage & rustic goods come from?! Flea market mornings will always be engraved in my memories from up there!!



This was the original outhouse that was converted into a workshop/potting/storage shed!

 

- Angels Shall Guard Thee -

 





My grams has an eye for junkin' & refinishing anything old !

 


The whole little original cottage is paneled in knotty pine! 



 

One of the guest rooms! I always told my grams she should have started a Bed & Breakfast!!!


My grandmas sitting room in her bedroom upstairs { Newer part } ! Her whole room is decorated in vintage shabby chic items!



As a kid I always thought junking & making the old usable again was 'lame', but now I can see the beauty in the pictures, & the charm in the old & used! My grams is one of my most favorite people on earth other then my hubby { we're so much alike }! She's one of a kind with her kindness, need to give & her eye for old & worn goods and turning them into beauties! Though I'll miss this cottage as I still call it, I can't wait for her to move downstate with us again. Growing up with her behind us until I was 9 was a blessing & I can't wait to have her back so close!! Lexington,MI will always hold a spot in my heart for more reasons then one, but new memories are around the corner as with anything in life. I hope you've enjoyed just a peek into this amazing little cottage & journey that has touched our family since 1989! Take the memories in , because time doesn't slow down!

Have a great week guys!

Paige.Rose