Magazine Review - July 2012 Better Homes and Gardens

If you've been following my blog...

{and it would make me so happy if you would be a follower!}

You already know that I'm taking

an e-course from Holly Becker of decor8

called "Blogging Your Way 2.0".

It's been so much fun that I almost forget it's a class!

To fulfill this week's homework assignment,

I'm going to review the 

July 2012 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine!

{a.k.a. BHG}

I've been a subscriber to this magazine for many years,

as well as one of its sister magazines,

American Patchwork & Quilting.

For some reason, this particular issue of BHG

rises above many other editions
and other magazine titles, in my eyes.
As I flipped through the magazine the first time,

I found myself dog-earing this page and that page,

making plans to come back and try lots of ideas.

This entire issue was devoted

to bargains and low-cost style, and
I feel as if they were directing all of the features
at people who are just like me!

{BARGAIN?  Yes, please!}

When I sit down to read a magazine,
I think it's as relaxing and energizing
as a spa treatment.
This issue made me feel like I'd just spent a whole week at a resort!


{I've never actually had a spa treatment, but I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy that, too.}

Here are some of my favorite pages from this issue,
beginning with the decorating and entertaining ideas...

{There are too many dog-eared pages to list in this post!}

I'm crazy over this beautiful and simple table setting,
in a variation on red, white and blue
for a summer get-together!

It would be so pretty on a picnic table,
set up for a nice evening with some friends and family.

{Or on my own Better Homes & Gardens deck furniture!}

Here's an article featuring a bench that came from the

clearance section of Walmart.
  The owners painted the legs and added new upholstery.

{I can truly visualize myself doing this!}

The fashion feature shows lots of items that are
from some stores I've actually shopped in...
each one is so stylish and colorful!

{So cute, huh?}

And then there's the food...


Wouldn't a Peach Pie Milkshake
make the perfect summer dessert?

I tore out the page with a recipe for
Fresh Corn Salad
the very first time I read through this issue.


{Here it is on my refrigerator, held in place with my Zakka Style magnets.}

As I gathered the ingredients to test this recipe,
I got the inspiration for my first LIVING COLOR post.

I didn't have every ingredient on hand, but there was nothing 
in the recipe that was too exotic.


{I should have had a cucumber and some sweet peppers on hand, 
but I was caught off-guard this time.  I'll add them in next time. 
Also, my basil isn't ready for harvesting yet, so I just used some dried herbs.}


I chopped a red onion, halved some cherry tomatoes,
mixed up the tangy-sweet dressing, and blanched some sweet corn...

And a few minutes later, I enjoyed a fresh and
fabulous good-for-you side dish!


{As I mentioned before...everything tastes extra good in my Mom's Pyrex bowls! }

I think I'll take a batch of this salad to our family reunion this weekend!


If you haven't already subscribed, 
hurry to pick up a copy of this month's BHG magazine!
I bet there's something in it for you, too!

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Blogging My Way

This blog of mine is still very new

and just beginning to grow.

{I have dreams for it, the same way I have dreams for my children.}

I want it to be the best blog it can be.

That's why I've joined Holly Becker of Decor8 

for a very special e-course called

"Blogging Your Way v. 2.0"

For this week's homework assignment,

we've been asked to update and improve

our "About Me" pages for our blogs.

And there's supposed to be a nice photo of ourselves on it.

{OK...hmmm...I had to color my hair first!}

I asked both of my sons to help me with this assignment, 

and they very kindly complied. 

Each of them took a bunch of photos of me.

Well, let me just say,

I do not really resemble myself at all,

between what I see backwards

in the mirror,

and what I see in my own mind's eye!

{I scared myself when I saw my computer monitor!}

I'm not going to point out the flaws for you...

 but let's just say I'm going to be eating

a lot of these this summer!

{Hint:  there was a whole lot of cropping going on!}

I didn't have a lot of good stuff to pick from, but here are a couple of shots that I can bear to post, but didn't choose for the final.

Here I am with our little dog...

{my only girl baby}

And I liked this one...

{Sort of}

{Kinda looks better with Polaroid effects,

dontcha think?}

This one wasn't too bad either.

{It's the one that I think looks most like me.}

All it took was a little thing called Picasa,

to soften me up and 

add a vignette effect.

{I wish I could have special effects available in real life all the time!}

So now I've done my homework for this week!

Feel free to head on over to read a little bit more

"About Me" if you haven't already

met me!

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