Top 3 Places for a Mirrored Vanity Tray!

Mirror, mirror on the vanity? ...or dresser, or chest of drawers, or even the wall! That's right, we are talking about mirrored vanity trays and the three places we love them most.

Here goes:

1. We love a mirrored tray where else but in a bathroom. These vintage beauties, that come in an array of shapes and sizes, are perfect for  perfume bottles and miscellaneous vessels that hold everything from jewelry to bathroom essentials.

2. How about placing a large tray on a dresser or chest of drawers in the bedroom. Not only will the gold filigree add elegance and charm to your dresser top, but the tray is also a perfect place to display a cute flower arrangement or corral sentimental collectibles.

3. And finally, on a wall. Add a mirrored tray to a gallery wall or display a collection of vanity trays on a wall. The possibilities are endless with these oh so usable relics from the past.

Let's Kibitz About Grits!

Hi Friends:

In recent weeks, I've been on the road spending a lot of time below the Mason Dixie Line. That's right folks, I was back home in the South eating some good 'ole comfort food and shopping for great vintage finds. My trip gave me a lot to write about (so get excited, there's more to come), but let's start with the highlight of my trip - eating. Specifically, eating grits.

Grits have their origins in Native American cuisine and today are predominantly served in the South as a breakfast item. In fact, according to Wikipedia, "three-quarters of grits sold in the U.S. are sold in the South throughout an area stretching from Texas to Virginia sometimes referred to as the 'grits belt.'"

I've seen breakfast grits consumed with a myriad of additions including cheddar cheese, sugar (yuck, sorry mom) and my favorite, salt and pepper. Yum!

From my experience, sad to say, grits are polarizing; you either love 'em or hate 'em. Clearly I love them. And up until this trip, my husband swore he hated them... that's until he met the grit cake. We sampled two variations while in Asheville, North Carolina.

First up, the grit cakes served as an appetizer for lunch or dinner at Tupelo Honey Café. This is when Mark realized his major mistake, came to his senses, and started liking grits. I just fell harder for them.

But then we discovered grit cakes...for breakfast. Oh my gosh, I was beside myself. Early Girl Eatery's twist on eggs benedict, the Early Girl Benny, was out of this world. And look who was eating grits yet again!

But let's get serious peeps. Grits really shine in my all time favorite dish, Shrimp and Grits. I could eat this meal three times a day for the rest of my life and never tire of it. If you've never indulged, do yourself a favor and Google "best southern food in [city - enter the city where you live]," get in your car, drive to the restaurant and order shrimp and grits. You will not be sorry.

I certainly consider grits food for the soul and I just can't get enough of them. Next up, I plan to figure out how to prepare this Southern staple up here in the windy city (but until I do, I've already tried the Google tip I told you about. Thank goodness Chicago is a foodie city). Do you have any tips on how to prepare grits or know of a great place to get grits in your city? Leave a comment and let us know!!

Until next time ya'll.

Vintage Salt (and Pepper) Must Haves!

Hi Friends:

You would be hard pressed to find a kitchen that doesn’t have salt and pepper somewhere on the shelves of a pantry, tucked away in a spice cabinet or out in plain sight on the counter. After all, these two condiments are called for in most recipes. There are lots of mills and shakers to choose from, but Georgia's is partial to clear and milk depression glass options. Back in the day, glass canisters and spice jars were included with Hoosier style cabinets. Hoosier salt dips are still desirable today and so utilitarian. How easy is it to "dip" into one of these for that pinch needed for seasoning! 

There are lots of other vintage glass pieces that can easily be repurposed in the kitchen as well. We love this one from Breakstone Dairy. Given away as a promo, this milk glass container was used for storing sour cream and cottage cheese, but works perfectly as a salt (or pepper) dip.

If you prefer shakers, why not opt for vintage Fire King or Hazel Atlas glass shakers. They add charm in addition to being real work horses in the kitchen. 

Shakers such as these often came as part of a larger collection and had matching flour and sugar shakers, spice jars, and coffee, tea and sugar canisters. While there are a range of colors that these vintage shakers came in, I much prefer the white versions because they fit in with any kitchen decor. Although, I have to admit, I find the jadite charming, too. 

These pieces are fun to collect, very functional and so much more charming than their grocery store counterparts. Georgia's loves imagining the kitchens they came from. Why not give them new life in a contemporary kitchen!        

Dill-icious!

Being a full time communications professional, business owner and blogger, any recipe that is quick, easy and flavorful has my immediate attention. My life changed when I tried this new entree salad recipe that features seasonal fruits, nuts and a dillweed vinaigrette that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. If there is one variety of food that must work extra hard to inspire me, it's salad. I'm not that girl who can sit down to a plate of lettuce and a bottle of ranch and be happy or satisfied. But this salad really packs a punch. Try it for dinner one night this week and let me know what you think in the comments section.

Happy dining!

Mixed Greens with Dill Salad Dressing 

Assemble ingredients

Dressing Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. dried dillweed

1 large garlic clove, minced

1/4 Tsp. freshly ground pepper

1/4 Tsp. dried oregano

Salad Ingredients:

4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 pound of shrimp

Steak and Chicken Rub (any brand will work)

8 cups spring/mixed greens or baby spinach

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup crumbled goat or farmer's cheese

1/4 cup pecans, chopped & toasted

For the vinaigrette, mix all ingredients in a bowl and combine with a whisk or fork. Let stand while you prepare the salad. 

Next generously cover the chicken or shrimp with a steak and chicken rub and grill on a gas or charcoal grill (12-15 minutes for chicken / 2-5 minutes for shrimp). I skewer my shrimp to avoid losing them through the grates. Cool.

Meanwhile, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and toast chopped pecans (5-8 minutes, turning often). Arrange salad greens on four plates. Top with cranberries, goat cheese, toasted pecans and chicken or shrimp (if using chicken, slice thinly). Give the vinaigrette one last whisk then drizzle over each salad. 

Dill-icious salad pictured with chicken and shrimp. Enjoy!

Monogram-a-holic!

My name is Nikki and I’m a monogram-a-holic. Not long ago, I was not comfortable talking about my addiction. I tried to hide it from my family and friends; but, when my three favorite letters started popping up on pillows, towels, silver spoons and trays, my husband was quickly on to me.  I think it was the large embroidered “B” on my shower curtain that compelled him to ask – what’s with the obsession? 

The answer was simple.  Monograms and initials, in every form, are beautiful.  They personalize your home, they are great conversation starters, and gosh darn, I just plain love them!

My personal philosophy on monograms follows traditional schools of thought:

• The monogram in your home should always represent the woman of the house
• A traditional monogram is:
• small initial of your first name, large initial of your last name, small initial of your middle or maiden name

I think there is one exception to the rule. I love the idea of embroidering a beautiful "married" monogram on a European size pillow to display in the middle of your bed. Follow this pattern:

• small initial of wife's first name, large initial of your shared married last name, small initial of husband's first name
  

 It's a wonderful way to visually depict two becoming one.

Happy monogramming!

Friday Finds!

Welcome to "Georgia's Friday Finds" where we will share with you a few things that have inspired and delighted us during the past week. At Georgia's, we believe in celebrating life by fully living in the moment and, on Fridays, we'll share some of the sights, sounds, tastes and, of course, one-of-a-kind finds that thrill us!

We love this vintage Hungarian server found at the Texas Antiques Week show. The original butter yellow paint is so warm and charming, isn't it?      

This time of year brings us fabulous fall foliage. How about this gorgeous Sugar Maple!

We love our sweet dogs! Meet Ally, a rescue from Paws Chicago. Ally's happy-go-lucky personality brings Nikki and Mark joy every day. This pupster loves to cuddle! 

Johnny, also a rescue, is a lovey, too! He is quite timid, afraid of thunderstorms and loves coffee and tea. There's nothing like the unconditional love that dogs give.

What inspired you this week? Tell us in the comments!

Georgia's is Going on the Road

The crew of Georgia's Home Inspirations are setting off to do some vintage shopping!

With the grand opening of our online store materializing in the not-too-distant future, Georgia's is beginning to stock up on unique, useful items from flea markets and antique shows.  As is our nature, we're always looking for pieces that have time-worn beauty and create relaxed comfort and charm. 

With this in mind, we are heading first to the Kane County Flea Market in Kane County, IL, said to be "The Best in the Mid-West." This monthly flea market has been around for over 40 years, and we have high hopes of discovering vintage treasures to re-purpose or simply pass on to you in their natural state.  

Immediately following our warm up at Kane County, we are on our way to a huge event, the Brimfield Antique Show, in Brimfield, Massachusetts.  This is a big one, friends, with 5000 plus dealers selling their goods over 6 days. The show, which began in the 1950's, has become the largest outdoor antique market in the country. Needless to say, Georgia's is busting with excitement over the opportunity to scour this gold mine.  The show starts September 4 and runs through the 9th.

Get an inside look at our buying experiences by following us on Twitter and Instagram; we'll be posting regularly.

Georgia's crew would love to hear from you!  Email us your favorite re-purposed item, decorating/gardening tip or most inspired recipe and if we love it, we'll feature it on our blog!