A pocket full of pansies.

ROSYRILLI.COM A pocket full of pansies

My husband knows me all too well. He did the most charming thing and surprised me with pansies this evening! Who is this amazing man!?

Melty mints.. or whatever they're called.


When I was younger, one of the greatest treats to visiting my Grandmother were the plentiful jars of gingersnaps, jelly beans and mint chocolates she kept lined up in her kitchen and living room. My Grandmother and I, you see, share an equal love of all things sweet.
 
So when my sweetest canine started craving some of these chocolate mints from days gone by, I knew, just knew,  I had to have them. You can imagine my utter dismay to find that our local grocery chain doesn't carry them. And so my search continued over the span of ever more desperate days.
 
First, I realized very quickly that these mints don't seem to have a definitive name. I was getting misdirected to dutch mints and the like as I tried to call all of our local candy shoppes in my quest to find these lovely ladies.
 
After many failed attempts at different grocery and candy stores alike, I took my search online. Apparently they're most notoriously known as Smooth and Melty mints. Well, now I know! I ended up finding a small bag at none other than the giant known as Walmart. Oh, and don't bother looking in the candy aisle. You won't find them there. Check up front near their wine & cheese displays. I kid you not. I had to actually request assistance from customer service to help me locate these candies, which led to a search by the store manager, which led us to cheese. Oh, and they're not called Smooth and Melty mints at Walmart. They're called Mini Melt Away Mints. Ha!
 
So there you have it: How I ended my Wednesday victorious with a stomach full of minty pastels and an absolute gluttonous smile spread across my face.
 

Springing forward.


I've been busy as a bee lately preparing for Spring. I'm sure it's a season we can all attest to appreciating. By that same token, I assume we can also all agree that the snowflakes falling outside my window right now are of a most unfortunate nature.

Luckily the early morning song of birds will confirm that we're not too far from days of green.

And so with that inspiration in mind, I decided to try my hand at wreath making. I've been recently eyeing up the beauties popping up everywhere but couldn't digest spending $60+ on an ornamental fixture for my front door. While perusing the options online, I came to the abrupt conclusion that it would be far more superior to my wallet if I tried to decorate one myself instead. I am by no means stating that my final product is worth the pretty penny of other far more beautiful specimens, but it did create an easy fix and only cost around $15.

Necessary ingredients: A grapevine wreath, some pretty burlap ribbon, twill, a wooden letter, paint (if you prefer), some fake greenery and a hot glue gun. All available at your local Hobby Lobby or Joann Fabrics.

After some adjusting, tying, hot glue gunning and painting (the R), I'm pretty satisfied with my final product. My hand made creation has made a home hanging in the interior of our house, on our laundry room door, while I await Spring's arrival. I've really grown to love the rustic element it brings to the room and am finding the prospect of hanging it outside a bit alarming, although I did a test run today (photo below).


Front Door


or Laundry Room?
Perhaps an additional wreath is in my future. And hey, why not?! I already have the majority of materials.

At this rate, I'm going to become a wreath making master in no time!