Apr 28
Only 3 more days until May! What better way to celebrate than with a floral wreath for your hair. In Medieval times these wreaths were called flower crowns. They are sometimes referred to as fairy rings. The Hawaiians call them haku leis. Read more
Apr 26
Apr 25
Apr 24
In almost every home there are articles that have emotional attachments associated with them. Read more
Apr 21
Sometimes we make things for dinner that taste really good, but are not necessarily so good for us. Then there are those healthy meals that leave something to be desired with regard to taste. This one is both good and good for you! Read more
Apr 19
If you love peanut butter, or like the candy called Abba Zaba…this is the pie for you! Read more
Apr 18
Apr 17
Recently we came across an admonition regarding appreciating the ordinary. We thought it so extraordinary that we wanted to share it with you, our chums. Read more
Apr 14
The Imperial Coronation Egg,one of the most famous and iconic of Faberge eggs.
What is the story behind these very beautiful Faberge eggs? Read more
Apr 13
On Sunday, ladies all over the world, even women who never wear hats, will head to church and don their Easter bonnets. While hats are not as common today as they once were, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is certainly no stranger to them. Read more
Apr 11
Courtesy of Anna Harris
Always wanting to share the good, we are passing on a story that struck us as wonderful originally shared by Elisa Murphy of GMA. Read more
Apr 10
Apr 7
In a few days it will be Easter and eggs will take a central role at Easter celebrations everywhere. Today we want to share a way they can do double duty at your Easter dinner table. Dyed or decorated eggs are common at Easter. There are as many ways to decorate your Easter eggs as there are people who decorate them. But we have some ways to use your decorated eggs as place cards or favors for your guests.
1. You can use decorative rubber stamps like this one of a chick that we picked up at Michaels in the $1 bin. We simply coated the stamp with ink from a pink stamp pad and, rolling the stamp over the surface of the egg, transferred the image to the egg. This is easier than you might think.
The one you see here was actually our first try. You can dye the egg first or leave it white. Also you can blow out the egg or use a hard boiled egg. Once you have the image on the egg, simple use a Sharpie in a contrasting color and draw a small bow on the bird or on a flower or whatever image you are using and then draw a “tag” at the end of the ribbon bow you drew and then write the name of one of your guests on the “tag”. Now you not only have a decorated egg, but a place card too.
2. Another way to have your dyed egg double as a place card is to use bakers twine or very thin yarn to wrap the egg as a “gift” and place a tag with a guests name tied to the end of the twine. To make it easier to use the twine or yarn on the egg, first dip the string in some water and cornstarch or water and white glue. This will make the string slightly sticky which will help to hold it in place as you tie the bow.
3. You may not be seating your guests but choose to have them leave with a reminder of the fun day you have provided. You can decorate an egg and leave one at each place at the table. That way each person has a little favor to take home to remember the happy celebration. To make a bouquet of flowers start by placing dots of yellow paint as the center of your flowers. Next use another color and, with your tiny paint brush, make colorful dots around each yellow center. Using the same brush, make small sweeping green brush marks to be the leaves on your bouquet.
Happy and beautiful celebrations with people we love can bring such joy and that is surely abundant living!
Apr 6
If you have been around Two Chums for any amount of time you probably know your chums LOVEEEE macaroni and cheese! We shared a favorite recipe for Father’s Day in 2012. That was Mac N’ Cheese 1.0 Then last July we shared another method we came across for making this family favorite. That was Mac N’ Cheese 2.0 Now we have the 3.0 version to share with you and you won’t want to miss this one! Read more
Apr 5
Jihan Forbes of Yahoo shared this inspiring story with us.
Brandi Benner describes how an otherwise uneventful excursion to buy her daughter a doll took an unexpected turn once her family got to the register. Read more
Apr 4
If we listen to Macbeth, it sounds as though Shakespeare knew a lot about laundry. Read more
Apr 3
Mar 31
This yummy confection is part corn bread, part lemon cake, part coffee cake, and totally delicious! Read more
Mar 30
Mar 29
Though they sell any number of combinations and types of pizza, according to a number of sites, the most popular pizza at CPK is BBQ Chicken Pizza. They are responsible for introducing this pizza to the world. Almost every pizza outlet now offers some form of this iconic pizza, but you can make a delicious version at home and have it hot and fresh in minutes. Making this delicious pizza is much easier than you might think it would be. Read more
Mar 28
Well, we feel that a wonderful medicine is laughter and so, with the help of many fine people, thought we would provide you with some…
Mar 27
We read, with joy, this article, The Power of Humanity by Taylor Pittman and just HAD to share it with all of you! Read more
Mar 23
Some of you may have read these sweet words (written by Brittney Stephens) recently but they are too touching not to spread! Read more
Mar 22
And again, thanks to Encurious, here are some more inspirational quotes which, hopefully, will help your days go wonderfully well. Read more
Mar 21
Last year, at Chinese New Year, we shared with you one of our favorite noodle dishes, Chinese Garlic Noodles. They have been a favorite of adults and children alike, and certainly are delicious any time of year, not just at New Year. But this year we made a discovery. Read more
Mar 20
Paul Burrell was quoted in an interview with the Mirror as saying, “Buckingham Palace is a village, a world of its own. The cherry on the cake is Her Majesty at the top of it all.” Read more
Mar 17
The Luck of the Irish is a popular phrase, as well as the title of a 1948 film. It happens to be one we have not yet seen but now will make it a point to see. Here’s why…. Read more
Mar 16
Tomorrow everyone will be Irish, as all over the country people will celebrate that most famous Irishman, St. Patrick. While a corned beef dinner is the norm on St. Patrick’s Day, we know that not everyone loves corned beef, especially perhaps, the little ones in your family. So we have a suggestion that can still allow the adults to celebrate the day and serve something your children can eat and enjoy too…a meal Dr. Seuss would happily approve of…. Read more
Mar 15
You know how sometimes you go to bed at night and you feel your hair looks perfect and worry about what a night’s sleep will do to it? Read more
Mar 14
We feel sure you will hold onto these wonderful quotes which were shared by Encurious.
Mar 13
There is little that is better for you, in a whole variety of ways, than a really good laugh. A good laugh makes you feel better, boosts your immune system, exercises your stomach muscles, and brightens your spirits. And if what makes you laugh actually happened to someone…well prepare to have a really good belly laugh. As Homer Simpson says “It’s funny cause it’s true!” Today, we have a doozy of a story for you 🙂 Read more
Mar 10
Yesterday we told you that HRM Queen Elizabeth II is still riding her beloved horse and loving every minute of it. Today we are going to tell you, after she rides, what she has for tea. Read more
Mar 9
And there she goes. At 90 years old, HRM Queen Elizabeth II, is still riding and loving it! Read more
Mar 8
Sophie and Justin Trudeau
On March 8 every year, a lot of our world celebrates International Women’s Day. Clearly initiated as a feminist movement, it continues that way but Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, wants to be sure that she celebrates it with “her man”. Read more
Mar 7
When people retire, going from being very engaged and busy with an active full life, to suddenly having no where you have to be and nothing you have to do can be a big shock. So retired people often travel, play golf, spend time with grandchildren, or take up a hobby. Taking up a “hobby” is precisely what the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, has done…he has taken up painting portraits. And not just any portraits either. Read more
Mar 6
Yes, Lent has indeed started but we came across a wonderful list that we just HAD to share. Read more
Mar 3
Everyone loves a clean tub. But let’s face it…not everyone loves cleaning that tub! Today we have a great way to get that sparkling clean bathtub in the easiest imaginable way. A chum shared this savvy secret with us and we are happy to pass it along. With just 2 simple ingredients, and little to no scrubbing, you can have the cleanest tub around.
Here is this amazing savvy secret to getting the cleanest tub around:
Here’s to clean bathrooms and the joy they bring…not to mention that sense of abundant living 🙂
Mar 2
Last week we did a post about an old mid-century dresser, purchased at our local thrift store, that we painted and refinished. One of the best features of that great old dresser was the hardware. Read more
Mar 1
Charles and Camilla on their wedding day in April, 2005
The wife of the King is always known as “Queen Consort,” usually abbreviated to ‘Queen’. Read more
Feb 28
Lay-zEh leh bAwn taw rOO-leh! Today is the day! Yes, today IS the day! Read more
Feb 27
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras…or Fat Tuesday as it’s translated into English. It is the day before Ash Wednesday when the Lenten season begins. Typically people give up rich foods for Lent, so on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, they celebrate eating delicious fare and celebrating before Lent begins. Today we’ve got a really delicious recipe for you for your Mardi Gras celebration… Gumbo! Read more
Feb 24
Whether you are having an Oscar party this weekend, or will be having an anniversary or birthday party soon, or just want to add some pizazz to drinks with friends before a night out, today we’ve got some simple and easy to prepare hors d’ouvres that you and your guests are sure to enjoy 🙂 Read more
Feb 23
When the weather is cold and rainy or snowy, nothing is more comforting than a nice streaming hot bowl of soup. We’ve got a yummy one for you today 🙂 Read more
Feb 22
Feb 21
Feb 20
With a few dollars, a little “elbow grease”, and a can of paint, you can transform a thrift store find into a treasure. Read more
Feb 16
Queen Victoria…a name well known today – well known for many reasons. Read more
Feb 15
Credit: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images
Yes, it’s Oscar time again. The big day is less than two weeks away and Hollywood is abuzz. Read more
Feb 13
With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we thought we would share a bit of trivia with you… Read more
Feb 10
Flowers have had meaning attributed to them for thousands of years. But in Victorian times, the language of flowers found a special meaning. Read more
Feb 9
It is hard to imagine Hollywood without the Walk of Fame where anybody who is anybody has a star on the walkway. Read more
Feb 8
Feb 7
If someone told you a story about a black man accused of dealing drugs, and a white cop, who later became the best of friends, you’d say a little skeptically “well….maybe”. But if they told you it was the white cop who accused and arrested the black man, and had him sent to prison, you’d be even more leary of the story. But guess what? That isn’t even the half of it! this one has a twist you will never see coming. This is one of the most remarkable and powerful stories….true stories…we’ve ever heard. Read more
Feb 6
Feb 3
Do you want a yummy and hearty meal for Sunday’s Super Bowl that everyone will enjoy, and that you can make a day ahead? We’ve got that! Read more
Feb 2
(photo curtesy of CBS News)
When a little boy in Ohio found $20 in a parking lot, neither he nor his mother could possibly have imagined all the good that could come from investing that $20 bill in kindness. Read more
Feb 1
Did you know that on this day, the first day of February, one hundred and thirty years ago, Hollywood was born? Read more
Jan 31
Jan 30
Do you believe in coincidence? What you may see as coincidence, your Two Chums see as God’s hand or His plans. We have an amazing story to share with you today. Read more
Jan 27
One would never think that an eighty-five year old woman would still be walking the runway but Carmen Dell’Orefice proved differently this week! Read more
Jan 26
If you are anything like your Two Chums, you enjoy wearing red lipstick every so often. Read more
Jan 25
Photo Opportunity with Members of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force/Headquarters European Theater of Operations US Army Veterans Association. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
The widely viewed PBS Masterpiece special “Victoria” is such an enlightening program. We have no doubt Read more
Jan 24
Jan 23
All politics asides, there was some spectacular fashion to be sure at this weekend’s inaugural festivities.
Jan 20
Today after the swearing in of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, prior to the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and The White House, there will be a luncheon honoring the new President, and Vice-President and their families, in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall. This is a tradition that began more than a century ago. Read more
Jan 19
This past Sunday, a wonderful new mini series on the life and history of Queen Victoria, began on PBS. Tomorrow we will witness our own history as the transfer of power from one administration, that of President Obama, to that of the President-elect, Donald Trump takes place at his inauguration. What I was struck by in watching the first episode of Victoria, is that in every country, it seems, there is a period of adjustment as a new ruler comes to power. Read more
Jan 17
This savvy secret is the easiest of ways to insure you will have clean, fresh sweet smelling laundry. No matter what detergent you choose, or how often you use your washing machine, there can develop a musty or moldy smell. It can cause your laundry to take on that smell. But there is a simple solution to this. Read more
Jan 16
Today we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Among his many accomplishments, stands his wisdom when it came to matters of love, hate and forgiveness. Read more
Jan 13
(photo from DailyMail.co.uk)
It was 8 years ago that the Obama family moved into the White House. Sasha and Malia Obama, the first family sisters, were greeted by the Bush sisters who had lived there before them. Sisters, Barbara and Jenna Bush, left a letter for Sasha and Malia welcoming them to their new home and encouraging them as they started the new adventure they were about to have. As the Obama girls leave what has been their home for the last 8 years, and make their way in life outside the White House, the Bush sisters have again written them another letter to encourage them on this next chapter of their lives. Read more
Jan 12
Whether you want a craft area of your own, or a place to have tea with friends, or just a quiet spot away from dishes and laundry where you can sit and read, there is a place women can create for themselves that is the equivalent to the “man cave”. It’s called….are you ready?….a “she shed” 🙂 Read more
Jan 10
We have, over the years, given you many uses for baking soda. Everything from cleaning to cooking, there are endless uses for baking soda. Those uses include it being the main ingredient in the recipes for our homemade deodorant and toothpaste. But today we have another place to use this common household item Read more
Jan 9
As the season has brought rain, and in some cases snow, and colder weather just about everywhere, we can all need and enjoy something warm and comforting to eat. If it happens to be simple to make and only involves a few ingredients most of us have in the pantry and refrigerator…well, that’s all the better! Read more
Jan 6
For those of our chums who love the Royals, we are reading a wonderful book at the moment. It is called The Final Curtsy: A Royal Memoir by the Queen’s Cousin and is written by none other than the Queen’s cousin, Margaret Rhodes.
Jan 5
These two adorables attended the world famous Rose Parade this past Monday, January 2nd and this photo of them ended up in the local newspaper. Thanks to some very generous friends, our group had very coveted front row seats at the parade. What these girls and everyone around them witnessed though, was much more than just pretty floats and marching bands. Read more
Jan 4
Jan 3
No, this is not a reversal of yesterday’s Sweet Beginnings post. It is simply a bit of a play on words. Read more
Jan 2
Start the new year off in a sweet and comforting way with yummy Cinnamon Bread Pudding and Buttered Rum Sauce! Read more
Dec 29
A 16-year-old girl made one family’s Christmas extra special this year after spending her paycheck on gifts for a mom and her four boys in need. Read more
Dec 28
When January 1st falls on a Sunday… Read more
Dec 27
The end of this week will mark the time when we make new year’s resolutions so now is the time to be really thinking about it. Read more
Dec 22
You know how much we love History.com and today, we found these very fun facts about Christmas. A bit of Christmas Trivia around the holidays makes for a lot of fun. Read more
Dec 21
Soon children and, in some homes, adults, will hang their stockings on the fireplace expecting Santa to come and fill them with goodies. “What a very funny tradition”, you might say! “How on earth did it start?” you might ask. Read more
Dec 20
Photograph taken by Nick Knight in May 2016 in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.
Though a lovely photo, you might wonder why such a portrait would be deemed so important. True it was taken as a part of the year long celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, but the signal this portrait allegedly sends is a big one for Prince Charles and for the British people. Read more
Dec 19
Sheet music of Jingle bells. (Credit Brasil2)
Well, our trusty History.com has helped us again! Christopher Klein shared these interesting facts about Jingle Bells and, for a carol that we all know by heart (from age 2 on up), it is amazing that there is so much we DO NOT KNOW about it! Read more
Dec 16
We read this heartwarming story by Avianne Tan of Good Morning America and trust that you will enjoy it as much as we did.
“A train conductor recently saved the life of a stowaway cat he said he found “frozen in ice and snow” under the engine of a train at a station in Canada. Read more
Dec 15
The title of this post says it all. The flavor is apple and these are surely quick and very easy to make. Oh and did we say, they are really yummy too:-) Read more
Dec 13
As you know, every so often, especially around the Holidays, we love to do posts on “our favorite things”. In thinking about this, we would be remiss if we did not put these on the list! Read more
Dec 12
Having just gone through an election where the predictions of most people proved to be very wrong, History.com reminds us that there have been quite a few presidential elections where things did not turn out the way everyone thought they would! Read more
Dec 9
Some of you may have already read this or thought of this but we definitely think it is touching enough to repeat. Read more
Dec 8
Oh golly! It is that time of the year again! We know we have mentioned this before but this bears repeating! Read more
Dec 7
For those of you who do not know, the word “jumper” is what the English use for the word “sweater”. This is an amazingly funny photograph of The Royals in their Christmas jumpers. Read more
Dec 6
Gouverneur Morris may not have been the most interesting man in the world, but he was the most interesting Founding Father that you probably never have heard of. Read more
Dec 5
Whether you like to put your tree up early and have it up for a long time or you like to wait until closer to Christmas day, either way, your tree needs to be watered and needs to be watered often! Read more
Dec 2
During the holiday season there always seems to be a reason to get together and so much to celebrate. Having a treat just feels right as we gather with family and friends. These Apple Pops are an easy and fun treat that everyone can enjoy 🙂 Read more
Dec 1
If you are anything like your Two Chums, we had you at the word “buttery”. Add that to potato and whatever it is has to be delicious! Read more
Nov 30
Inspired by Oprah, and her former shows around the holidays in which she would reveal to her television audience some of her favorite things, we intend to do the same with you, our chums, over the next weeks leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah. Read more
Nov 29
It should not surprise our Chums that we have not put away the “Gratitude Thoughts” just yet! In fact, we found this really interesting article on History.com about how some other countries celebrate Thanksgiving. Read more
Nov 28
Oh, how we love to share touching moments! We are always so grateful to hear of them! Here is one from Avianne Tan of Good Morning America that was over-the-top generous. Read more
