Old Bungalow With Fresh Updates, Trader Joe’s Faves and More
Today I’m sharing an old bungalow with fresh updates to the exterior and living room and a cost-efficient kitchen remodel. I also have ideas from an Italian-themed bridal shower, what we stock up on at Trader Joe’s, an outfit that’s on sale and a great book.
It’s Sunday Faves time with Annie and Cindy!
100 Year Old Bungalow With Fresh Updates
Our son and daughter-in-law have been looking at homes for sale in an historic part of Tampa, FL. I, of course, love the idea of transforming a well built bungalow but they would prefer something fresh and new.
I understand that but I couldn’t help sending them this article from Southern Living: This Century-Old Bungalow Gets A Stylish Transformation
Check out the before and after photos.
Designer Taylor Hill, Photography Credit: Brie Williams; Styling by Kate Malpeli
Italian Countryside Bridal Shower Ideas
For a bridal shower that I went to yesterday, a blank recipe card was included in the invitation. Such a cute idea! The couple was engaged in Italy and the fun shower had an Italian theme.
The hostess’s did an amazing job. We each got a limoncello party favor to take home.
Here is my friend Joy, with her son Jon that we all love. And now we love sweet Caroline and her talented, Mom, Heidi, too.
Heidi owns a great interior design and gift store called Marketplace Interiors in Tampa (that you should definitely visit when in the area).
For the blank recipe card, I cut and pasted this this favorite cookie recipe on the front and back.
Oatmeal Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temp.
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp flakey sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside.
- Combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute.
- Add flour mixture; mix until almost combined
- Stir in the oats and chocolate chips. Chill dough for one hour
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Use a small ice cream scooper (two tablespoons) to drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Add a couple of chocolate chips on top (to look pretty) of each cookie and a light sprinkle of sea salt.
- Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes
- Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool
What’s On Our Grocery List From Trader Joe’s
Here’s what we buy on a regular basis from Trader Joe’s and I’d love to hear what you like.
- Flowers, of course
- dry roasted pine nuts (thank God for these after all the raw ones from Costco that I’ve burned in the oven trying toast! Great on salads or in homemade pesto).
- Rosé from Provence
- Mochi “chewy rice-dough exteriors and high butterfat ice-cream interiors.” The size limits portion control — our granddaughter loves the strawberry and Howard likes the blood orange. I like them all!
- Dark Chocolate Lace Cookies These are another nice thing to have on hand for a somewhat light dessert if you just have one or two.
- Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Small packages of mixed nuts. I keep a few in the car in case some one gets hungry.
According To Food And Wine: What Chefs Buy At Trader Joes.
I used two bunches of roses from Trader Joe’s with this cool textured ceramic vase from Target as a gift for my mother-in-law.
What are your favorite TJ products?
Outfit Of The Week ~~ With Labor Day Sales 30-40% Off
This is a classically cool outfit that uses the current trends of leopard print, slouchy bag and loafers… And it takes into consideration 30% off at Ann Taylor and 40% off at J. Crew code: weekend.
There are some affiliate links at no extra charge to you. Thank you.
light cashmere shell and cardigan I bought the set (or this Ann Taylor leopard cardigan on sale) • fun necklace, great for travel • polarized sunglasses • stylish slouchy suede bag • straight jeans • croc belt • pretty lipstick • chic Ann Taylor croc loafers
What To Read/Listen to: Strangers In Time By David Baldacci
“Set in London in 1944, about a bereaved book shop owner and two teenagers scarred by the second world war, and the healing and hope they find in one another.” I couldn’t put it down. The characters ring true and it’s interesting exploring London during wartime.
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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Mary Ann I love this bungalow! The green doors are so cute too. What fantastic idea for a shower. I will save that. I have to try these cookies. The leopard look is a classic. I am looking forward to fall and cooler weather. Alos thanks for the tips on the Tjs faves! I also love the toasted sliced almonds. I will look for the pine nuts.
Hope you are having a great week. xo
Hi……enjoyed your article about Tampa. My kids are in an old bungalow in the Seminole Heights area. Lots of Bungalows and a lovely pond park area you can walk to. Im sure they will find something lovely and fun to fix up.
I’ll let my daughter in law know about Marketplace Interiors but my guess she already knows about it.
MA! The 100-year old bungalow is speaking my language. Swoon. What a beautiful shower and fun recipe idea. Love your dress. Pinning, printing and baking your cookie recipe. The bride’s going to treasure this one. Yum! xo
I get so many ideas from these posts. I tried your ravioli recipe with zucchini and we loved it, it will be going into my regular rotation. I will have to try the trail mix from TJs as I appreciate the portion control packaging. I regularly buy their Greek yogurt and I especially like a seasonal product they have called Pumpkin Butter. It is shelved with the jam and you use it like jam; I put a spoonful in my oatmeal – yummy!
Hi Mary Ann—Always love your Sunday posts and find some great inspo and info. You were near my neck of the woods—not only do I love Roost but Marketplace Interiors, too! And I love the sea salt brownies at TJ’s, too. Looks like it was a fun getaway!!
You have fun shopping here Carol!
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for a lovely post! The bungalow looks so gorgeous with those incredible windows, I would live there in a heartbeat. And I love your outfit of the week! The wedding sounds marvelous. It is such a wonderful gift when you see a great love match with family friends you have all grown up with get married. Our daughter and husband is going to Barcelona next month to speak at her dearest friends’ wedding and we just gave some money towards their honeymoon. A gorgeous couple that just make us so very happy they found each other!
I could live there, too!
I wish we had a Trader Joe’s! It sounds like a terrific store. Alas, we only have a Walmart. We do have two nice grocery stores and a small Natural Grocers. The bungalow is lovely and done with taste. I love your dress for the reception. Have a good holiday weekend in Tampa. My parents lived there for twenty years. My son lived down there from age 18-52. He is now living in Georgia and loves it.
Thanks so much for commenting, Sydney!
What a fun post! You ladies look so stylish. Love Netta’s? dress!!
Thanks so much, Cindy!
My husband devours their olive oil & sea salt popcorn.
Love your blog!
I’m going to try that!
Mary Ann! You know I’m in favor of the 100 year old bungalow! I live in one! It was built in 1922. I love old houses!
The bridal shower looks lovely and how wonderful to have everyone bring a recipe on a card they provided!
Love to see your Trader Joe’s finds!! The best way to find about products that you might otherwise never buy!
Xx
Yes…I like looking at other people’s carts while waiting in line to see what they are buying.
Trader Joe’s is one of my happy stores. I love their olive oil and alternate between the California,when it’s available, the Greek and the Sicilian. All ore delicious. I also buy all my nuts there. They are incredibly fresh and so reasonably priced.
One quick note about original wood in older homes. We live in a 1970s Cape Cod house on Cape Cod. For years I struggled with the original knotty pine panelling. It was dark and kind of orange…but I am very supportive of preservation efforts. My painter actually offered the solution. He cleaned it! What a difference. It now looks like beautiful, mellow wood. I would definitely recommend exploring this option if you are considering painting the original wood.
Great advice, Jeanne!
Lovely post this morning.
As an owner of a historic craftsman bungalow-in a historic district- if a bungalow is already painted white -go forth and paint….but, if the original wood is unpainted in the interior-may I beg you to leave the wood features unpainted. Yes-individual tastes and choices I empathize, but please do not buy a hisptoric home with the plans to “renovate” or pain white-unless it is already ruined.
Once original historic wood is painted-it is a painstaking job to strip ( ours took 2 years) If you want a modern house-please, but a modern house. There are so few original historic homes left un”renovated” Respect them,love them, and take care of them for future generations to appreciate. We don’t all need HGTV black and white homes. Trends are just that-trends, let ahome be what it was built to be-if it is historic. Preservation live on! Tampa historic bungalows are a delight-preserve them
I sympathize with your chagrin over painting wood, but confess that we painted the knotty pine in one room of our 40s house almost as soon as we moved in (not white, though). It made the room seem dark and dreary and having it a pale blue-green is infinitely more attractive, we think. Also the house we bought next door had its window frames stripped to the natural wood but apparently they weren’t meant to be that way because the grain didn’t match. Painting them also made the house much brighter and cooler feeling (important when you don’t have AC).
We look at historic houses because we’re considering moving and when they have lots of unpainted wood, we pass because we wouldn’t want t be the ones to paint over it and I just don’t like so much wood. With our mahogany antiques, which we would not give up, the wood just seems overbearing.
Happy Sunday morning! So many favorites from TJ, but like you, must start with the flowers! I love to create my own arrangements. Recently discovered their chicken pot pies, so good, two in each box. Love their frozen pasta meals, chicken chow mien. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there as I am getting hungry lol!
We will try their chicken pot pies…good comfort food. Thanks.