Summer Canning Essentials!

From vintage photo frames to canning essentials this Flash Sale has some great home and garden must-haves!

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Don't let a single piece of produce go to waste when you can easily can or preserve it with our guide to canning and preserving. It's economical and allows home cooks to experiment with foods that might not be in the supermarket and know exactly where their ingredients come from. If you've never tried canning at home, review our basic, step-by-step instructions as well as tips on headspace, time, and temperature requirements to ensure food safety. We'll also help you learn about the various types of canning, boiling-water and pressure, for exampl €”and discuss when you should can and when you should freeze. For handy reference, we offer charts with tips and instructions on both methods. We'll walk you through step-by-step how to preserve some of the most commonly used fruits and vegetables. Jams and jellies are great for preserving the delicious harvests for the coming year, and our experts explain tips and helpful information.

Check out BH&G's STEP-BY-STEP CANNING GUIDE 

Creamy Strawberry Coolers - Homes.com From noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths) Be sure to check out their blog!

Now that Summer is in full swing, it's time for swimming, BBQ's and lots of fun outdoor activities.

I don't know about you, but we host more than just a few cookouts at our home with friends and family during the hot Summer months. Usually the main dish is light and fresh, so heavy desserts don't really fit into the mix, but a chilled, creamy strawberry cooler is perfect! It's a recipe that was handed down to me by a family friend and something we've come to love in our family, so I thought I'd share it with all of you!

The entire recipe is included below, but here are a few shots of the steps, so that you can get an idea of how easy and quick this dessert or sweet, after swimming treat really is!

You'll need a blender, a container of strawberries, a pint (plus a bit more) of sour cream, some sugar and ice. Cut the tops off the strawberries and rinse them well. Puree the berries in the blender, so they're a smooth consistency.

Read the rest of this article here >>>

*** original post via TheHouseofSmiths.com ***

The BEST Smartphone Photo Editing App - Rhonna Designs is Here! From noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths)

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger noreply@blogger.com (House of Smiths) Be sure to check out their blog!

So MANY of you have asked me about how I edit my Instagram photos, and while I touched on a few very important, useful and life-changing iPhone photo editing apps here in this post, when it comes to adding fun elements to my photos, Rhonna Designs is where it's at!

Up until now you've had to purchase Rhonna's individual design elements from her shop, upload them to your phone and then use them... but, not anymore! I've been helping beta test the new Rhonna Designs app, and I'm happy to report that it's FINALLY ready to go in the AppStore!

Our Instagram feed is like a mini blog post in ONE photo, so being able to add elements to my pictures, to enhance the beauty and story behind it, is a HUGE bonus!

Here are a few ways that I've used Rhonna's app.

READ THE REST OF THIS POST >>>

*** original post via TheHouseofSmiths.com ***

Trend Alert: Cabinetry Color-Blocking From Maria Charbonneaux

Today's Inspiration comes from guest blogger Maria Charbonneaux Be sure to check out their blog!

Trend: Cabinetry Color-Blocking!

Refreshing cabinetry with paint is nothing new, but lately I’ve been noticing kitchen cabinetry featuring two, three, or even four different colors and finishes to create a color-block effect. It’s an affordable way to add style to a kitchen, and the possibilities are as endless as the wall of paint chips in your local paint aisle. From subtle to eye-catching, depending on your palette, this trend offers looks everyone can love.

Here’s how to create a color-block effect with the cabinetry in your kitchen.

Paint your upper cabinets a different color than your lower cabinets. If you’re choosing a high-contrast combo, paint the bottom cabinets the darker color and the upper cabinets the lighter one. Placing the dark color near the floor will help visually ground the space, while having the light color up high will make a kitchen feel more open and airy.

If you desire two bright colors that are similar in intensity, select hues that are fairly close together on the color wheel–such as turquoise and lime–to keep the look from becoming too jarring.

If you’d like to introduce a bold, energetic color in your kitchen but you’re afraid it might become overwhelming, leave the upper cabinets in a natural wood tone or a neutral paint color.

What’s your favorite palette for kitchen cabinetry? I love the idea of painting my lower cabinets navy and my upper cabinets white. Check out more colorful kitchen cabinetry ideas and watch a video on how to paint cabinets.

DIY Boxy Floor Cushion Tutorial {VIDEO} By Teal & Lime

TODAY'S INSPIRATION COMES FROM
 JACKIE FROM TEAL & LIME:





I am going to blow your mind with the simplicity of today’s sewing tutorial. With one super easy modification to the easy envelope pillow cover, you can make these boxy floor cushions.



In the video, I used 20″ pillow covers and inserts to make mini poufs for the playroom. The finished mini poufs are 12″ square and 6″ tall. They are perfect for little bottoms. My boys love using them as building blocks for their blanket forts, too.



The sweet ladies at Sew Fine Fabric provided the great selection of fabrics used for the video. I chose fun, graphic prints. I love the ikat dot print so much I couldn’t limit myself to one color, so I went with Aquarius and Storm. The irregular striped yellow fabric is from the Glimma collection by Lotta Jansdotter. And, I couldn’t resist a whimsical gray faux bois print, reminiscent of driftwood or a plank, for a pirate playroom :)



A couple more tidbits before we get to the video:

• If you haven’t tried the easy envelope pillow covers, yet, you can watch the video tutorial to catch up.


• You can do this to purchased pillow covers, too. Avoid pillow covers with zippers. This trick works best on envelope style pillow closures.


• You can also make much larger floor cushions with this method. In our reading loft, I made 4″ thick floor cushions with 26″ pillows. They are great for kids and adults.


• If you are new here, be warned…I don’t iron. I think life is too short for ironing, whether I am sewing or getting dressed in the morning. Pardon the wrinkles.

When editing videos, I have to watch these clips a nauseating amount of times. I learn more about myself and the video process each time. Here are a few of my observations from this video:

• My dipped chair is old and could use some oil. It makes some undesirable noises when I swivel in one clip :(


• Apparently, to stuff a pillow properly you must talk to yourself, make weird faces, and beat the pillow into submission.


• I think the camera added 10 pounds just to my arms…maybe sleeveless was not the way to go for a video featuring me wrestling with a pillow.


• I have freckles on my arms and everywhere else. My oldest is getting them on his nose and cheeks which is impossibly adorable with his dark brown eyes and hair.

Want to see more videos? I made it easier with a Videos link in the navigation under the logo. Enjoy!

SPRING INTO STYLE!

Spring Cleaning?  Say what?!?  It's a great time to get your clean on, but let's get down to the real nitty gritty.  If you're anything like me, you not only want an easy to clean space, but one with pizaz, right?  Well you're in luck because this month, I am dedicated to getting your home in shape AND in style! You'll see stylish organizational items, get colorful DIY ideas, and I'll be sharing helpful tips on how to get more function out of your space.  

To start this month off with the idea of less cleaning and more "wow!", I would like to share with you these amazing Fridge Coasters!  

• Fridge Coasters are super absorbent "liners" {made of wood pulp board} that come in different sizes to fit all high traffic areas of your refrigerator = no more scrubbing!

• Place under produce in the crisper bins to keep your veggies fresh longer, or under milk and salad dressing in the door bins to absorb drips.

• Made 100% in the USA of 30% {or more} post-consumer product.  Please recycle when finished!

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HAPPY EASTER!

IT'S ALWAYS GREENER!

Whoever said it's always greener on the other side didn't know what J.N. Taylor & Co. can do for your space!  With these FAB-tastic pieces, you can brighten up your home with beautiful green elegance just in time for spring (and St. Patties Day)!

1. Knoll Risom Lounge Chair

2. Dwell Studio Modern Trellis Toupe Rug

3. Seven Group Studios Hoop Knitted Cushion 

4. Crate & Barrel Jules Large Accent Table

5. Crate & Barrel Taraval 3-Seat Sofa

6. Crate & Barrel Posy Yellow 18" Pillow

7. Link Suspension Pendant by LZF

8. Custom Drapes

9. Kichler Rhodes Wall Mirror

START FRESH!

Happy 2013 Everyone!  Thank you for checking out our first blog post of the year!  As you can see by this being the first post of the year (on January 17th!), I've been super busy in these first two weeks. This year, I would like to inspire you to get out there and create a home you crave!  Whether you achieve that feel by doing your own DIY projects, getting outsider help, or a combination of both-- this year make it YOUR year to get organized and beautiful! Don't Settle for anything less!

The perfect way to start fresh is by creating a Vision Board! This will help to remind you of your goals for the year ("get office organized!" or "lose 10 pounds!").  If you haven't written down your goals for 2013, now is the perfect time to get started!  

STEP 1:  Start by finding a spot in your home for your vision board to live, preferably in a spot where you will see it everyday.  Measure the spot to determine the size of vision board.  

STEP 2:  Decide whether you want to DIY your own vision board or purchase one at your local office supply store. There are different types that can work for this purpose:  cork board, magnetic dry-erase board (like mine shown above), or cork wall tiles for a collage look (placing a large frame bordering the outside of the tiles will give it that finished look). Boards purchased range from $25.00 to $200.00-- bulletin being on the low end and magnet boards being on the higher end and the bigger the board, the more it costs.    

BULLETIN BOARD

CORK TILES

MAGNETIC DRY ERASE BOARD

STEP 3:  If you decide to DIY yourself a fancy board, here's a few helpful tips to get it looking as good as you are imagining.  

• First, you'll need a frame.  You can grab a cool frame at your local thrift store and sand/paint it or leave as-is for a vintage look. For those of you who want a large size vision board, (larger frames are more costly even at the thrift store) you can find an old dresser mirror that belongs to a used bedroom set. Just remove the wood supports, lightly sand and paint it the desired color or leave as-is.  Another option is to create your own. Go to the trim area of your local hardware store and pick out your favorite pattern and size.  Have them cut it to size and then you can assemble the frame with wood glue and by carefully nailing it together. 

• To create a magnetic dry-erase vision board, you will need to purchase Rust-Oleum Magnetic Primer or a similar product for around $20.00, Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint or similar product, and sandpaper.  Use the backing of the artwork frame or the backing of the mirror for your board.  If the backing is no good, you can grab inexpensive panel board at your local hardware store and have them cut it to size.  Start by painting the backing with the magnetic primer and follow directions for application.  The texture might get a little lumpy. If so, you will need to lightly sand in between coats.  You will need to paint 5 to 6 coats to get the proper magnetism strength.  You will then need to paint approximately 2 LIGHT coats of dry erase paint, sanding in between if needed until smooth.    

• For a bulletin board look, you will need to purchase wood glue, a disposable foam brush, and a roller (if you don't already have one) from your local hardware store. Take the backing of the mirror, picture frame, or purchased panel board (already cut to size ) and place the cork tiles starting from the upper left corner over to the right and down to the bottom. Trim any overage. Place the tiles aside, making sure to keep up with the layout. Apply wood glue to the back of each of the cork tiles and spread evenly with a disposable foam brush. Then apply wood glue to the backing and spread evenly. Place the glued side of the cork onto the glued side of the backing, following your layout pattern. You will then roll the surface of the cork with a roller, such as a rolling pin, to remove any air bubbles. Place something flat and somewhat heavy onto the cork to keep it adhered to the backing for 24 hours, or until glue is completely dry.

• Insert the board material you would like into the old mirror, empty picture frame or DIY'd frame and Voila! You have yourself the start of a great Vision Board!    

STEP 4:  You will need to determine your goals and aspirations for this year.  Make a list of things you want to do...(travel, learn a new sport, lose weight, get organized, find a man, live in the country)...whatever those might be. 


STEP 5:  Go grab yourself a handful of magazines.  You'll want to make sure they are relevant to your goals and aspirations:  If your motivation this year is to travel, get a few Condé Nast mags or if your goal is to redesign your home, grab a few Elle Decor mags, for example.  


STEP 6:  Go through the magazines and cut out photos that remind you of your goals.  For example, if you would like to travel more, cut out pictures of beautiful cities or landscapes or even of folks climbing mountains.  You can also grab great quotes and sayings that get you going or even write your own.  Just as long as you're inspired--Nobody has to get it but you!

STEP 7:  Get your fasteners:  magnets or pushpins, depending on your board.  Fasten the images or quotes you cut out or wrote onto your vision board.  The arrangement of your pictures can be spaced out or tightly fit together- just as long as you can see each one.  

STEP 8:  Hang your Vision Board!  Grab a hammer and nail (or drill and screw) and hang that baby up (or rest upon a shelf as shown below).  Then step back and admire the wonderfulness that is YOU!  A little pat on the back never hurt anyone.  :)

There's a saying we have around here (from Henry Ford):

"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."

We know you CAN!  Happy 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We wish everyone a wonderful New Year!  Thank you for all of your support and we look forward to helping you find YOUR space in 2013!

From your friends at

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED OUR 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

We are so thankful for your participation and for spreading the news about us to all of your friends and family!  Due to such an amazing turnout for this Giveaway, we will be offering more gifts in the months to come!  

Keep up to date with great DIY projects, PINsperation, and what we're up to by subscribing to our NEW BLOG!  

We hope Everyone had a wonderful Holiday and we wish everyone a Very Happy New Year!

WINNER OF 12TH GIFT IS...

The winner of the 12TH Gift in our Giveaway is Sherrie Glusky Gottesman!

We're giving you a $250 GIFT CERTIFICATE for Interior Design Consultation Services!!!!

Get the look you desire!   

This gift comes from us here at 

J.N. Taylor & Co.!

For more ideas and items like these, contact us:

OR

check out our projects on Facebook:

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A VERY WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR!

WINNER OF 11TH GIFT IS...

 

The winner of the 11TH Gift in our Giveaway from J.N. Taylor & Co. is Aquannette Tyson Thomas!

We're giving you a $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE for Holiday Decorating Services!!!!

The Holidays are a wonderful time of year and we all enjoy having our homes decorated for the Holiday Season. However, we don't always have the time or energy that's needed to create an inviting and festive atmosphere.
 

Our Decorating Experts can create a simple or elaborate display for your home or a corporate function.
 

For Holiday Decorating, we can use your existing decorations or purchase new

decorations. We can take the hassle out of Decorating for any special occasion so you can relax and Enjoy!

   

This gift comes from us here at 

J.N. Taylor & Co.!

For more ideas and items like these, contact us:

OR

In case you haven't heard:

J.N. Taylor & Co. is hosting 12 Days Of Christmas for you to win Incredible Prizes!

To enter or for more info about our prizes and the contest:

(enter daily for more chances to win!)    

(Multiple entries = More Points!)