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Bayberry House Paint Colors

Thursday
Apr / 16 / 2020
Comments 15

One of the questions I am frequently asked is, “What paint color is that?” It’s not surprising that folks want to know this because I often find myself asking other people the same thing.

Today, I thought we’d walk around my home and I’d share all of the current Bayberry House Paint Colors. (If you’re new here, Bayberry House is what I call my home.) I will continue to update this color guide as I make changes to my home. My goal is to have this post be a resource for you anytime you find yourself asking, “What paint color is that?”

Before we get into all of my current paint colors, I want to mention a few things.

First, Bayberry House is the second house I’ve purchased. If you are looking through the images and colors below and can’t find what you’re searching for, it may be that you’re looking for a room from my previous place. Don’t worry, I put together a similar post for the house I owned in St. Marys, PA. You can find all of those paint colors here.

Second, you’ll notice that several rooms of my current home are not listed below. Any room that’s not listed is still painted the basic beige color that was on the walls before I bought it. Again, I will update this post when I paint rooms.

Third, if you’re curious about how I go about picking paint colors for my home, then check out my post here. Paint selection can be tricky, so I did my best to break down the process and give you tips and tricks for choosing paint.

Finally, it’s important to know that the paint colors we see online and in photos of other folk’s spaces can be misleading. I always highly recommend buying small cans of paint and testing colors on your walls before investing in gallons of paint. I’ve learned this from experience. I’ve seen lots of colors that I loved in someone else’s home, only to discover they didn’t work in mine. Many things, such as the direction your home faces, the number of windows it has, and the color of floor covering can impact how paint colors will look in a space. (Learn more about my paint selection process here.)

Now that I’ve shared all of that, let me walk you through Bayberry House Paint Colors.

Bayberry House Paint Colors:

The paint colors are listed and linked below each photo. I’ve also included a link to a recent blog post of each of the rooms. This will allow you to click through if you want to get a closer look at a space or have questions about any details in it.

KITCHEN:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Cabinetry: Sherwin-Williams Egret White SW 7570 (Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel Satin Finish)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my kitchen!

BUTLER’S PANTRY:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Cabinetry: Sherwin-Williams Sage SW 2860 (Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel – Satin)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)
Ceiling Paint: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW7006 (SuperPaint Flat Finish)

Click here to see more of my butler’s pantry!

DINING ROOM:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)
Ceiling Paint: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW7006 (SuperPaint Flat Finish)

Click here to see more of my dining room!

LIVING ROOM:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)
Ceiling Paint: Sherwin-Williams Bright White SW7007 (Eminence Ceiling Paint Flat Finish)

Click here to see more of my living room!

FAMILY ROOM:

Wall Color: PPG Paints Early Evening PPG 1006-3 (Satin Finish)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my family room!

POWDER ROOM:

Wallpaper: Hygge & West Piedmont (Indigo)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my powder room!

MASTER BEDROOM:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Wiliams North Star SW 6246 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Trim and Board and Batten Color: Sherwin-Wiliams Anew Gray SW 7030 (Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel Satin Finish)

Click here to see more of my master bedroom!

MASTER BATHROOM:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Caviar SW 6990 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Trim and Cabinet Color: Sherwin-Wiliams Anew Gray SW 7030 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my master bathroom!

EXERCISE ROOM:

Ceiling and Upper Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Naval SW 6244 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Lower Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (Emerald Interior Satin Finish)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my exercise room!

OFFICE:

Wall Color: Sherwin-Willaims Kingston SW 9677
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

This room is in progress, but you can see the design plan and new wall color HERE.

OLD ENTRYWAY:

Wall Color: Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue No. 281 (Estate Emulsion)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)

Click here to see more of my old entryway!

CURRENT ENTRYWAY:

Wall Color: Farrow & Ball Shaded White No. 201 (Estate Emulsion)
Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006 (ProClassic Semi-Gloss Finish)
Cabinet Color: Farrow & Ball Pigeon No. 25 (Custom match and finish by cabinet maker)

(This space is currently in progress. I will add updated pictures as soon as they are available.)

Click here to see more of my entryway!

EXTERIOR:

Brick Paint Color: Sherwin-Williams Custom Color Match – See Below (Duration Exterior – Satin Finish)

Click here to see more of my home’s exterior!

And that’s a wrap!

Do you have any questions? Did I miss something? If so, please let me know in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer your questions or update this post as soon as possible.

I hope this post is helpful! Happy Painting!

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Songs for Spring (Acoustic Playlist)

Life

Wednesday
Apr / 15 / 2020
Comments 3

Songs for Spring (Acoustic Playlist) #music #playlist #spotify #folk #acoustic #tuesdaytunes #songs

I thought it might be time for a new playlist. I’ve been putting together a Songs for Spring acoustic-inspired playlist for a couple of weeks now, and I’m finally ready to share it.

If you’ve been following my playlists for a while now, you know that the folk/singer-songwriter/acoustic genre is high on my list of favorites. I never know how to properly name these types of playlists because they combine many kinds of songs and then some. Hopefully, if you enjoy my playlists, you’ll know what I mean.

I’ve been coming back to this playlist a lot lately. This might seem weird since it’s not full of upbeat, mood-boosting tunes. To me, the music on this playlist is like a hug. It’s comforting. It mellows me out. It relaxes me. And although a lot of the songs are slow, I don’t find them “sad.” I guess it’s one of those things that if you get it, you get it.

So, if you are looking for some new music or if you like the music that often accompanies my Instagram stories, then be sure to give this playlist a listen. (Details are at the end of this post.) I hope you enjoy it. It’s my way of reaching through your screen and providing you with a comforting hug right now.

And, if you like music like this, I’ve started another playlist. I’m creating my Ultimate Folk/Acoustic Playlist. I have shared over 35 playlists with you on the blog but just realized I’d never created an ultimate playlist of the music genre that I love so much – a playlist that runs for hours and covers my absolute favorites. Well, I finally started it today. Since it’s still new, it’s quite limited so far. However, I thought I’d tell you about it now in case you want a head start in following along. You can watch as the playlist grows. It’s going to be a good one! You can find that playlist HERE.

I also should mention that in this post I’m sharing pictures of a small project I completed this past weekend. A couple of months ago I found this large wood caddy. I loved that it was raw wood, but it felt unfinished and out of place no matter where I put it. So, I decided to give it a new life with a coat of Fusion Mineral Paint in Champlain. This was a quick and easy fix. (I love Fusion Mineral Paint because in most circumstances it requires no sanding to apply and requires no finishing coat.)

Once the caddy was dry, I styled it in my family room with a candle, fresh local flowers I had delivered, and my remotes. Voila!

It’s been a hot minute since I did something craftsy like this, and it felt so good. It was icing on the cake that the project turned out well.

Anywho, I think that’s it for today. You can find my new Songs for Spring Acoustic Playlist HERE. I’ve also included the Spotify widget below. However, it’s my understanding that you can only sample the songs using the widget.

I use Spotify for all of my music. (You can follow my account here for more of my playlists.) It’s a free service, and I highly recommend it.

No matter where or how you listen, I hope these songs add joy to your day, wrap you in comfort, and help you discover new artists and music. Happy listening!

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Blueberry Shortcakes

Recipes

Thursday
Apr / 9 / 2020
Comments 12

These Blueberry Shortcakes are a beautiful and delicious dessert that is simple to make. I topped mine with fresh blueberries, lemon glaze, and a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar for an extra special finishing touch.

Blueberry Shortcakes:

Yes, my friends, today I have another easy and delicious dessert to share with you. I couldn’t be more excited about how these Blueberry Shortcakes look and taste. I think you’re going to love them as much as I do.

I was inspired to make these Blueberry Shortcakes after I found this gorgeous shortcake pan. If you’ve been following me for some time, you know have a thing for specialty cake pans. (In fact, I recently shared a post with all of my specialty cake recipes. You can find that here.)

As soon as I saw this pan online, I knew I needed it in my collection. The shape of the cake molds reminds me of those little shortcake dessert shells you sometimes see in the bakery section of the grocery store. I knew this pan would be extremely useful because the little cakes can be filled with lots of different things: fresh fruit, custard, jam, ice cream, pudding,… just to name a few. Not surprisingly, this pan is already a new favorite, so you’re likely to see more recipes that use it.

Once my pan arrived, I was ready to whip up these Blueberry Shortcakes. Here’s how to make them.

Oh! And if you like my garden-inspired table setting, I’ve shared all the details here. I even provided my no-fail tips for styling a beautiful table setting for any occasion, holiday, or celebration!

How to Make Blueberry Shortcakes:

Although these Blueberry Shortcakes look complex, in reality, they’re pretty simple to make.

The first step is to prepare the pan. For an intricate pan like this one, I start by spraying the molds with baking spray. Then, I add some all-purpose flour to each cavity, shake it around, and discard the excess.

Next, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then add in the vanilla, softened butter, milk, and egg. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for about two minutes. Gently stir in the fresh blueberries. (You’ll find the full ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below.)

That’s it!

Now spoon the mixture in the prepared cake pan and pop it in the oven. I told you this was easy!

Quick note: I recommend placing a sheet pan under the cake pan to catch any batter that may spill over. I overfilled my molds so I had some batter run over. That wasn’t fun to clean up.

When the shortcakes are done, let them cool in the pan. This will ensure they come out easily. Once cooled, gently loosen each cake with your finger; then invert the plan to release the cakes.

I realize I went overboard with the garnishes, but I think the results are gorgeous.

You could simply top these with fresh blueberries and whipped cream, and they’d be equally tasty.

I added a few extra steps. First, I topped the shortcakes with blueberries. Then I drizzled them with a lemon glaze (recipe included below). After that, I sprinkled on confectioners’ sugar and added a pinch of lemon zest. Voila!

More Delicious Blueberry Recipes:

And that’s it, my friends. Easy and delicious Blueberry Shortcakes! I liked them so much that I made more. This time, though, I left the blueberries out and served them up strawberry shortcake style. They were so-o-o good. I’ll share that recipe with you soon.

I hope you enjoyed these Blueberry Shortcakes. It’s a fun way to use this specialty cake pan.

Happy baking!

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Blueberry Shortcake Recipe:

Blueberry Shortcakes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blueberry, cake, shortcake, spring, summer

Servings:

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

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These Blueberry Shortcakes are a beautiful and delicious dessert that is simple to make. I topped mine with fresh blueberries, lemon glaze, and a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar for an extra special finishing touch.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup butter - softened
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
Optional: lemon glaze, lemon zest, more fresh blueberries, powdered sugar, and whipped cream for serving

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
Next, coat the cake pan with baking spray. For more intricate pans, spray with baking spray. Then, add some all-purpose flour to each cavity, shake it around, and discard the excess.
The next step is to whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Then add the vanilla, softened butter, milk, and egg. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for about two minutes. Gently stir in the fresh blueberries.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cavities in the mold pan. Each cavity should be about 3/4 full. In case there are any drips, set the pan on a baking sheet while putting the batter in the cavities. Then place the pan into the preheated oven.
Bake the little cakes for 18-20 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pan before attempting to remove them. Gently loosen each cake with your fingers: then invert the pan to release the cakes.
To serve, top each cake with blueberries. Then drizzle with lemon glaze (recipe below) and sprinkle with lemon zest and confectioners' sugar. For an added treat, serve with freshly whipped cream.

Notes

The cake pan I used for this recipe can be found HERE. In case you don't have this pan or want to buy it, you could also use a muffin pan. If using a muffin pan, you may need to adjust the cooking time.

Lemon Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 2-3 tablespoons milk. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve the desired consistency.

You can find my homemade whipped cream recipe HERE.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 287kcal • Carbohydrates: 42g • Protein: 4g • Fat: 12g • Saturated Fat: 7g • Cholesterol: 56mg • Sodium: 313mg • Potassium: 73mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 25g • Vitamin A: 398IU • Vitamin C: 2mg • Calcium: 92mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Bunny Cupcake Picks

DIY

Tuesday
Apr / 7 / 2020
Comments 6

Bunny Dessert / Cupcake Picks with Free Printable #easter #bunny #dessert #cupcake #spring #decor #pick #dessertpick #printable

In today’s post, I’m going to show you how I made printable Bunny Cupcake Picks to add color and fun to Easter treats. I’ll also share what you need to do to get the FREE printable. It’s time to get our craft on!

Bunny Cupcake / Dessert Picks:

Cupcakes are a treat for the eyes and the tummy. To up the fun factor even more, I like to dress up my cupcakes for the season. That’s why I created these cute and colorful Bunny Cupcake Picks.

Don’t worry if you’re not serving cupcakes anytime soon. These picks will look great tucked into a cake, brownies, muffins, or even an appetizer. You could also attach them to straws as I did here.

These picks are simple to make. All you need is the printable (provided below), card stock, cutting tools, toothpicks, and a dab of glue.

To cut out things faster and ensure a clean cut every time, it’s handy to have a paper cutting machine. I used this Brother ScanNCut machine, which allowed me to scan my printable and then cut out the design. Any digital cutting machine, regardless of the brand, should have the capabilities to cut out all of the little bunnies and help you avoid finger cramps.

No cutting machine? Again, no worries! A pair of scissors or a craft knife will work just fine.

How to Make Bunny Cupcake / Dessert Picks:

You will need:

free printable download (details for download below)
card stock or other heavyweight paper
cutting device (cutting machine, scissors, or craft knife)
toothpicks
tacky glue

Start by downloading (The download details are below.) and then printing the free bunny printable. I recommend using a heavyweight paper like card stock for this project.

Bunny Dessert Pick PDF Download:

You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library, which can be found HERE.

If you’re new to Inspired by Charm, you can get access to this library by SUBSCRIBING HERE. Once you’ve subscribed, you will immediately receive an email that contains a link to this download.

If you’re already on the IBC Mailing List, you can find the password to access the library at the bottom of any email from Inspired by Charm.

Should you use any of my printables, I would so enjoy seeing what you create! Be sure to share your photos on Instagram and tag @inspiredbycharm.

Now that you have the printable, cut out each bunny. As I mentioned above, I used a paper cutting machine to achieve a precise cut, but scissors also work well.

When cutting out the bunnies, I like to leave a narrow white border around each, but you’re welcome to cut them out any way you’d like.

Once all the bunnies are cut, add a thin line of tacky glue to the back of each bunny and set a toothpick on the glue.

Allow the glue to try completely. Your bunny picks are now ready to go!

Completed: Easter Cupcake Picks

I told you these cupcake picks were an easy project. And, aren’t they adorable? I particularly love the style of the bunnies. They remind me of Peeps marshmallow bunnies. The range of colors is so joyful, too.

Looking for more Easter ideas? Try these:

If bunnies aren’t your thing or you’re focused on a different holiday, you can use any royalty-free image to create picks that will suit your taste and celebration.

No matter what you make, have fun and enjoy the process!

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Connect with Michael! Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter

Have you made an IBC recipe you love? Follow me on Instagram. Share YOUR dish with #myIBC and tag @inspiredbycharm so we can see your delicious creation.

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IBC’s Best Margarita Recipes

Recipes

Monday
Apr / 6 / 2020
Comments 4

I’m calling this collection IBC’s Best Margarita Recipes. I love every recipe that’s in it. Believe it or not, until I put together this post, I’d forgotten how many margarita recipes have appeared on the blog.

You won’t go wrong when you make any of my best margarita recipes for yourself or your guests. The challenge will be choosing one recipe. You might have to compromise and fix a couple!

The Best Margarita Recipes:

Classic Margarita
I enjoy unique takes on traditional recipes, but I also relish a well-made classic. This simple recipe blends high-quality ingredients for the ultimate margarita flavor. Once you have a sip, you’ll know why this drink is among my best margarita recipes.

BUY: These Cactus Margarita Glasses

Homemade Margarita Mix
This mix consists of water, sugar, lemon juice, and lime juice. To fix a margarita, you just add tequila. So easy! I especially like the lemony freshness which is why this margarita mix recipe is also in my Collection of Delicious Lemon Recipes.

Spicy Jalapeño Ginger Margarita
If you want to spice things up, this is the best margarita recipe for doing so! It’s a regular margarita jazzed up with fresh jalapeño slices, ginger root, and a lime sea salt rim. It’s so good! I even tell you how to turn up the heat, sweet, or sour, depending on your tastes.

Prickly Pear Margarita
Thanks to the prickly pear cactus, this margarita is loaded with fabulous flavor and color. I served this special concoction in a margarita glass with a green cactus-shaped stem. The fun garnish is a cactus cocktail charm with a thin slice of lime.

BUY: These Cactus Margarita Glasses

Vanilla Pineapple Margarita
Oh my, this drink is so-o-o tasty! It combines the smoothness of vanilla with the tanginess of pineapple and orange. I poured mine in a striking margarita glass with a blue-tinted rim and blue base. The garnish: a vanilla pod and chunk of fresh pineapple. I made this for my Cinco de Mayo celebration!

Strawberry Rhubarb Margarita
I love the combination of flavors in this gorgeous drink. That delightful strawberry rhubarb comes from the simple syrup that you make. If you’re a huge fan of rhubarb like I am, you’ll also want to take a look at my other favorite rhubarb recipes.

Raspberry Strawberry Margarita
I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is a “berry good” spring or summer cocktail. Strawberries and blackberries get blended together to add sweetness to a classic margarita! I topped mine off with a sprig of mint and a mini-skewer of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.

Margarita Punch
Yes, you can offer margaritas at a large get-together. Mixing up a big batch of this margarita punch is quick and easy. Just pour it in a glass dispenser with sliced limes and strawberries and set salt-rimmed glasses and ice cubes nearby for guests to serve themselves.

Best Frozen Margarita Recipes:

Strawberry Coconut Margarita
Here’s another luscious libation for a warm spring or summer day. Pull out your blender and whip up this margarita recipe with cream of coconut, fresh strawberries, and lots of other yummy ingredients. The pièce de résistance is roasted coconut on the honey-rimmed glass.

Frozen Blackberry Margarita
Or cool off and celebrate summer with this version of the margarita. It’s a refreshing blend of blackberries with tequila and honey. And it’s scrumptious to behold when presented in a stemless glass rimmed with sugar and adorned with a lime wedge and a couple of frozen blackberries.

Watermelon Margarita

This cocktail is also perfect for summer sipping. It’s made with fresh watermelon and homemade simple syrup. For garnish, I used a lime slice and a paper straw with a green zig-zag design.

Bonus Margarita-Inspired Recipe:

Mini Margarita Cheesecakes
Are you in the mood for a little dessert with your margarita? Then this margarita recipe is for you! Each single-serving cheesecake is in a small mason jar. A cactus made by piping melted candy takes this treat to beyond cute.

BUY: These Mini Ball Mason Jars

Okay, those are IBC’s Best Margarita Recipes. Let us know which ones you’ve made or plan to make. I’d also love to hear how you embellish the classic margarita.
Cheers, my friends!

More Delicious Recipe Collections:

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DIY Bunny Straws

DIY

Wednesday
Apr / 1 / 2020
Comments 2

Learn how to make these DIY Bunny Straws for Spring and Easter #spring #easter #bunny #straws #paperstraws #printable #DIY #entertaining

Let’s craft! Today I’m teaching you how to make these adorable bunny straws for Easter! Be sure to download the FREE cutting machine file in this post so you can also DIY these colorful straws!

I love craft projects, and I’m especially excited to share this spring/Easter project with you. These sweet Bunny Straws are both pretty and functional. If you’re hosting an Easter celebration this year, this is a quick way to dress up your signature cocktail or mocktail.

For this project, I used my Brother ScanNCut machine. (You could also use a Circuit, Silhouette, etc.) I’ve provided a FREE SVG file download below. In case you don’t have a cutting machine, you can still do this project. Just use an online file converter (like this one) to change the downloadable file to a PDF. You can then print the bunny outlines on color paper and use scissors or a craft knife to cut out the design. Voila!

DIY Bunny Straws:

As you can see, I made purple and pink straws. I wanted vibrant and happy colors for spring. You can make the straws any color that suits your decor or party theme. There are so many fun craft papers and a variety of colored straws, so you have plenty of options.

Also, if bunnies aren’t your jam, feel free to cut out a different shape. You could even use a circle craft punch like this one and add a sticker to the middle of the shape for a no-cutting-machine-required craft. Just have fun and get creative!

With all that behind us, let me show you the process I followed in creating these DIY Bunny Straws.

How to Make Bunny Straws:

I realize there are different cutting machines out there, so my directions for this project are rather generic. For the best outcome, I recommend having some knowledge of your particular cutting machine before attempting this project.

For this project you will need:

cutting machine (or craft cutting tools)
SVG file (Details for the free download are below)
craft paper
paper straws (The ones I purchased can be found HERE.)
1.2 cm pom-poms
tacky glue

Start by downloading the SVG file. Transfer the file to your cutting machine. Format your machine to correctly cut your paper. (This procedure will vary for different machine brands and models.)

Bunny Cutout SVG Download:

You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library, which can be found HERE.

If you’re already on the IBC Mailing List, you can find the password to access the library at the bottom of any email from Inspired by Charm.

Should you use any of my printables, I would so enjoy seeing what you create! Be sure to share your photos on Instagram and tag @inspiredbycharm.

The next step is to load your paper on the cutting mat*. Then, cut out your design.

*Depending on your machine and paper, I recommend a low tack or standard tack mat.

Now remove the bunnies from the cutting mat. Put a small dot of tacky glue on the tail area of the bunny and then place a pom-pom on the glue dot. Repeat this step with all the bunnies and allow them to dry.

Once a bunny is dry, add a line of tacky glue to the back of the bunny. Then attach the bunny about 2 inches from the top of a straw. Repeat with the rest of the bunnies and straws. Allow everything to dry completely.

And that’s it! These charming DIY Bunny Straws are ready to enhance all of your spring and Easter drinks. I think they look so sweet! Now I need to work on a new Easter cocktail recipe so I can test out the straws. I’ll be sure to update this post with a picture or two once I do.

Looking for more Easter ideas? Try these:

As I mentioned above, these straws are a fun, colorful, and creative way to dress up entertaining this time of year. They are sure to delight guests of all ages.

Happy spring crafting!

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Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

Recipes

Monday
Mar / 30 / 2020
Comments 1

Do you ever crave a dessert or treat that falls somewhere between healthy and decadent? You want it to be good, but not that good. Well I’ve got just the thing for you, this fresh, delicious Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie.

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

Thanks to the Internet, it seems that “hating Mondays” has become a thing. As much as I love the calmness of the weekend (especially Sunday), I certainly don’t mind Monday.

For me, it’s a fresh start. It’s a good reason to put my worries and the shortcomings of the past week behind me and start anew. There’s something about a clean slate that’s highly motivating for me. So, bring on your worst, Monday. I’m ready for you!

Today I’m just popping in to share a fun and tasty post I recently created. With a renewed focus on fitness and healthful living, I had this idea to create a nutritious smoothie post for them this month. However, it quickly turned into something just a bit more decadent: a Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie.

It’s not all bad though. I guess it falls somewhere between healthy and indulgent. The perfect mix if you ask me. Everything in moderation, right?

Anyway, what makes this a Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie is that shortcake pieces are actually blended into the smoothie to give you the warm cake-y flavor that you love in strawberry shortcake. Some whipped cream and more shortcake crumbles on top help too. Say what!? Yes, this is happening.

How to make a Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie:

The idea behind this smoothie is to recreate the classic strawberry shortcake flavor we know and love, but in smoothie form.

With that in mind, this smoothie comes together with strawberries, milk, yogurt and shortcake. Yep, I’m referring to those little shortcake dessert shells you can get in the bakery section of your grocery store. They are going right into the blender for this smoothie party. It’s a must to give it an authentic flavor.

After a quick whirl in the blender, the smoothies are ready to go.

Naturally, I top them off with whipped cream, strawberry slices and crumbled shortcake. When garnishing, I think it always helps to have the dish (or in this case, smoothie, look like what it is.)

Looking for more strawberry treats? You may also like:

Pretty simple, right? Of course, you can use whatever type of “milk” or yogurt you like. Make it your own.

So if you hate Mondays (or just want a treat without all of the guilt), pull out the blender, swirl up one of these smoothies, and treat yo’ self!

Have a great week!

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie Recipe:

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cake, cake, dessert, streusel, shortcake, smoothie, strawberries

Servings: people

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 10 mins

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie #strawberry #smoothie #shortcake #recipe #dessert

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Do you ever crave a dessert or treat that falls somewhere between healthy and decadent? You want it to be good, but not that good. Well I've got just the thing for you, this fresh, delicious Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie.

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Ingredients

1 pound fresh strawberries - freeze half*
1 cup milk - (or almond milk, soy milk, etc.)
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 shortcake dessert shells
Whipped cream, strawberries, and crumbled shortcake dessert shell for garnish

Instructions

In a blender, add the strawberries, milk, yogurt and dessert shells. Blend on high until smooth.
Divide the mixture into 3 or 4 glasses to serve. Top with whipped cream, strawberry slice and a sprinkle of crumbled shortcake dessert shell.

Notes

Freezing half of the strawberries chills the smoothie and provides great texture.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 559kcal • Carbohydrates: 112g • Protein: 14g • Fat: 7g • Saturated Fat: 3g • Cholesterol: 162mg • Sodium: 872mg • Potassium: 537mg • Fiber: 3g • Sugar: 72g • Vitamin A: 370IU • Vitamin C: 67mg • Calcium: 297mg • Iron: 5mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Garden-Inspired Spring Tablescape

Entertaining

Thursday
Mar / 26 / 2020
Comments 21

How to Create a Garden-Inspired Spring Tablescape #spring #tablescape #tablesetting #diningroom #decor #decorating #gold #floweringbulbs

Inspired by the garden, this spring tablescape combines all the things I love to create a welcoming, bright, and happy table setting that’s ready for guests.

You might remember the recent post in which I shared the spring centerpiece I created using flowering bulbs. Well, just as I’d hoped, all of the bulbs started blooming. To capture their beauty, I pulled together this spring tablescape.

Since I’m temporarily homebound, I challenged myself to give my dining room table seasonal style using only things I had on hand. For inspiration, I drew on my new-to-me vintage Bavarian dinnerware and my potted bulbs. I think the tablescape looks beautiful, and I’m excited to share it with you today in the hope it will inspire you to also create a bit of spring magic in your home.

Garden-Inspired Spring Tablescape

Instead of just showing my table, I thought I’d walk you through the steps I follow when styling a tablescape. Regardless of your style or what you have to work with, I hope these tips and insights into my process will help you with your next table setting.

Let’s get to it!

Start With Some Inspiration

No matter what you’re doing or creating, you need a place to begin. As I mentioned above, I knew I wanted to use my potted flowering bulbs and my newly acquired vintage Bavarian dinnerware. This immediately helped come up with a theme (which I’m calling ‘Garden-Inspired’) and gave me a style and color direction for the table.

I arranged the potted flowering bulbs on the table in three groupings. I tried various combinations, and this one looked best. Plus, it didn’t block the views across the table.

That’s another tip, don’t be afraid to experiment. I moved things around for about an hour until I found a table arrangement that pleased me. Even though I enjoyed the entire process, it didn’t “just come together.” It took time, thought, and futzing.

My inspiration directly related to my table, but your inspiration could be a fun color palette you saw on Instagram or a pinecone you picked up on your morning walk. It could also be more literal, such as a specific season, holiday, or special event. Regardless of where the inspiration comes from, it will help to get the ball rolling.

Shop Your House

Whether you’re stuck at home, have limited funds, or are short on time, it’s likely that you already have everything you need in your house to style a beautiful tablescape.

I dug through my collection of napkins and found these. The small floral print is perfect for my theme and coordinates nicely with the potted flowers.

Since there are touches of gold in my dinnerware, I opted to use gold flatware. I even had demitasse spoons with a colorful enamel inlay that I paired with my teacups. The spoons aren’t part of my gold flatware set, but I thought they added a fun element and a subtle pop of color.

I then went to my living room and grabbed two brass bunnies that I had on display. They pick up the gold and feel at home tucked among the flowers.

Incorporate Some Coordinating Elements

When you’re shopping your own home and pulling in various items, things can quickly feel a bit disconnected. As you pull and style, I recommend having a few elements that relate to each other in some way and look intentional.

For example, in this spring tablescape:

The white and cream plates tie in with the chairs and glassware.
The color of the terra cot pots has similar tones as the wood of the table.
The color of flowers in the pots matches the color of the flowers in the napkins. (It’s not a “perfect” match, but it works together.)
The gold in the dinnerware goes with the gold in the flatware and the brass bunnies. Even though the tones are different, everything still looks coordinated.

I know this can probably feel a bit confusing, but trust your eye and adjust things until it all feels connected for you.

Add Something Unique or Unexpected

If you’re a longtime follower of Inspired by Charm, you’ve heard me say this over and over again. Whether I’m styling a table, room, or small vignette, I always try to incorporate something unique, quirky, or unexpected.

But that doesn’t mean the item has to be “weird.” To illustrate: It just so happens that the day I was styling this table, I received a package from my mom. Did you notice the glassware? She had one of her friends make the crocheted glass cozies for.

The cozies were a complete surprise. But they work wonderfully with this table and add a touch of whimsy. They would certainly spark conversation at a gathering, don’t you think?

The reason my mom sent me these glass cozies was because I recently told her about the ones I saw on Miss Mustard Seed’s blog. I thought they were fabulous and so unique.

Marian (Miss Mustard Seed) figured out how to make them using a vintage glass cozy as a pattern. She was also kind enough to share a full tutorial (A video is included.) on how to make them. I’ve linked her blog post here.

Add a Sweet Treat

Last but not least, add a sweet treat! This isn’t a tablescape styling tip, but the day after I set this table, I whipped up these delicious and beautiful Blueberry Shortcakes and couldn’t resist setting them out and snapping a few photos.

As you know, I often photograph my tables with a treat, so this only seemed appropriate. These Blueberry Shortcakes are such an easy and delicious dessert. I’ll be sharing the recipe with you soon. Stay tuned.

And with that, I’d say my table is company-ready. (Unfortunately, I can’t have anyone over because of the current situation.) I hope you enjoyed this look at my Garden-Inspired Spring Tablescape and find this post helpful when you style your table.

Looking for more Spring dining room decor ideas? Check out:

Of course, the most important styling tip is to do what YOU love. Create YOUR happy place. Then have confidence in your design as you welcome others to your table.

You’ve got this! Happy decorating!

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Specialty Cakes to Bake at Home

Recipes

Wednesday
Mar / 25 / 2020
Comments 5

This post is a Collection of Specialty Cakes You Can Bake at Home. There are cakes for all seasons and reasons. I hope that seeing my creations inspires you to have fun dreaming up specialty cakes that will delight your dear ones.

I love a cake that’s so interesting or unusual, you’ve just got to share it on social media. In recent years, I’ve been able to make many of these specialty cakes at home thanks to the wide array of shaped pans on the market. I treasure the big grins, oohs and aahs, and positive comments that my creations have elicited from family and friends.

Wherever possible I’ve linked the source of each specialty cake pan so you can purchase them for your own baking adventured. I also have a Amazon Storefront dedicated to speciality cakes. You can find that HERE.

Let’s get into some of my favorite unique and delicious cake recipes!

Specialty Cakes to Bake at Home:

Vegetable Garden Mini Cakes

These adorable, delicious, and unique mini cakes, that are shaped liked garden vegetables, are a delightful treat for spring and summer entertaining.

BUY: Garden Patch Pan

Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes

Making Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes couldn’t be easier! Today I’m showing you how with my recipe for this classic summer dessert.

BUY: Shortcake Basket Pan

I also used the same pan to make other shortcake varieties including Blueberry Shortcakes and Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcakes.

BUY: Shortcake Basket Pan

Mini Skillet Cookie Cakes
The right mold takes M&M and chocolate chip cookies from ordinary to extraordinary! During my Year of the Skillet, I made these cookie cakes for Christmas, using green and red candy-coated chocolates in tree-and snowflake-shaped mini skillets. Each cookie cake was topped with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

BUY: Mini Skillet Pans

Chocolate Tombstone Snack Cakes
Tasty and eerie. Yes! Adults and children will be bewitched by the red marshmallow filling that’s dripping from these glazed chocolate tombstones. Be warned: These snacks will disappear quickly, so make plenty!

BUY: Tombstone Cake Pan

Chocolate Skull Cake
This dessert will have guests talking about your party long after it’s over. With ganache oozing out the top and a butcher knife stuck in the side, this glazed chocolate skull cake is both spooky and delicious. For maximum effect, display it on a pedestal cake stand in the center of your Halloween tablescape.

BUY: Skull Cake Pan

Gingerbread House Gingerbread Cake

This is another festive and delicious cake. The gingerbread is loaded with seasonal spices, and the cake is decorated with confectioners’ sugar, trees made of green-tinted cream cheese frosting, sugared cranberries, and Christmas candies. To me, one house looked lonely, so I put together a gingerbread house village.

BUY: Gingerbread House Cake Pan and Mini Gingerbread House Cake Pan

Yule Log (White Birch and Pink Velvet)
I have posted about two different yule logs (White Birch and Pink Velvet) on IBC, and I LOVE each of them. As with any specialty cake, the party theme and preferences of your guests will guide your decisions about the flavor of the yule log and color of the frosting. I promise there will be lots of raves from anyone who is lucky enough to get a piece, or even a peek, of either of these spectacular cakes.

BUY: Yule log Cake Pan (I did not use this pan for my recipes, but it’s a great option!)

More Specialty Cakes to Bake at Home:

Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cake
I have shared a LOT of beautifully decorated Christmas trees on IBC. Among them is this tree-shaped gingerbread cake. It’s adorned with cream cheese frosting (tinted green), confectioners’ sugar, and candy-coated chocolates.

BUY: Christmas Tree Cake Pan

Lemon Yogurt Cake
My favorite part about using specialty pans like these is that you can take a basic recipe and make it look like a masterpiece. That’s what I did with this Lemon Yogurt Cake. It’s a cake recipe I’ve been making for years. Just by using a decorate loaf pan, it looks really special and important. (It’s really delicious too!

BUY: Decorative Loaf Pan

Lemon Pound Cake

Dense, flavorful, and moist, this classic Lemon Pound Cake recipe is one you’ll turn to again and again. Drizzled with a tangy lemon glaze, it can be served for breakfast, an after-dinner dessert, or anything in between.

BUY: Citrus Blossom Loaf Pan

Funfetti Coffee Cake
Sometimes you’re in the mood for a fancy cake, but you don’t have a lot of time. Right? May I suggest making this coffee cake in an interesting baking mold? To jazz things up even more, finish the cake with a drizzle of icing followed by colorful sprinkles.

BUY: Decorative Bundt Pan

Beehive Honey Cake
Isn’t this the cutest cake? If you like honey, you’re going fall in love with it! There’s honey in the batter, plus the beehive-shaped cake is topped with a honey frosting and candy bees.

BUY: Beehive Cake Pan (also love this mini Beehive Cake Pan)

Lemon Pistachio Bundt Cake
I made this specialty cake for St. Patrick’s Day. For garnish, I drizzled the cake with lemon icing and sprinkled it with the greenest pistachios I could find. The ridges from the Bundt cake pan are ideal for capturing and showing off all that extra lusciousness.

BUY: Decorative Bundt Pan

Bonus Specialty Cake Recipe Idea:

Bunny Rice Krispies Treat
If you’re not into baking cakes or time is short, you can still use specialty cake pans. I created this attention-grabbing, oversized bunny by pressing Rice Krispies Treat mixture into a well-greased mold. To give the mixture a spring touch, I added purple gel food coloring.

BUY: Bunny Cake Pan

Specialty Cakes Pan Sources:

You may be wondering where to get pans for specialty cakes. I find many fun cake molds-generic ones as well as seasonal shapes-at HomeGoods. (You know I love to shop there.) I’ve also come across a lot of interesting specialty baking pans online. As mentioned above I have linked the pans I’ve used above and created an Amazon Storefront where you can find most of these pans and more of my favorites. Shop HERE!

You can even use vintage molds, depending on the material they’re made from and the condition they’re in. Don’t be afraid to raid your grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s bakeware collection (with permission, of course).

When the next holiday or birthday rolls around at your house, you won’t need to order a cake from the bakery. You can create a one-of-a-kind specialty cake that will be the stuff of memories for your loved ones.

Happy Baking!

More Delicious Recipe Collections:

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Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes

Recipes

Tuesday
Mar / 24 / 2020
Comments 15

Made with store-bought phyllo pastry shells, these Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes will quickly become your new go-to entertaining dessert. They are simple to put together, and look like a professional baker created them. Best of all, they’re delicious!

Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes:

I’m all about making entertaining easier, which is why I love this Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes recipe. What keeps things simple is using pre-made phyllo pastry shells for the base. Because there’s no fusing with dough, the hands-on time for preparing this adorable little dessert is minimal.

The resulting dessert has lots of flavor and texture. The phyllo cups are crunchy, the cheesecake is creamy and tangy, and the blueberry sauce is sweet and bright. When I was photographing these mini cheesecakes for the blog, it took all of my willpower to stop eating them. They are that good!

Almost anyone can make these Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes. Let me walk you through the steps.

How to Make Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes:

Start by baking the mini phyllo cups. Yes, they are pre-baked straight from the freezer, but this step makes them crispy and even tastier.

While the phyllo cups bake and then cool, prepare the cheesecake mixture and blueberry sauce. You can find the full ingredient list and step-by-step instructions for each in the printable recipe card below.

The cream cheese filling is a combination of cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until the filling is smooth and creamy. To make it easier to fill the cups, I recommend transferring the mixture to a piping bag. I like to keep a supply of these piping bags in my pantry.

No piping bag? No worries! Just use a plastic baggie with the corner cut off.

The blueberry sauce is also a breeze to make. In a saucepan, heat fresh blueberries and sugar with a splash of water and cinnamon. Cook until the blueberries burst and the sauce thickens. Let this cool. Then, mix in a half-cup of fresh blueberries. This gives the sauce the look of blueberries and adds another layer of blueberry flavor.

Next, you’re ready to assemble cheesecakes. Pipe the cream cheese mixture into the phyllo cups and then top each cup with a little blueberry sauce.

The Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes are now complete. Serve them right away or cover them and refrigerate until you need them. I recommend eating them on the same day you make them for optimal flavor, freshness, and crunch.

More Delicious Blueberry Recipes:

Now go ahead and whip up these Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes for your next party or family gathering. I guarantee your serving plate will be empty by the time the celebration is over. Enjoy!

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Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes Recipe:

Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blueberry, cheesecake, mini dessert, phyllo cups

Servings: servings

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 30 mins

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Ingredients

3 packages frozen mini phyllo pastry shells - thawed
8 ounces cream cheese - softened
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar

Blueberry Sauce:

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries - divided
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Lay out the mini phyllo shells on a baking sheet. Bake 5-6 minutes or until just golden brown. Cool completely.
While the baked phyllo shells cool, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, lemon zest, vanilla, and sugar until smooth. This will take about 3 minutes. Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag or plastic baggie. Cut off one corner of the baggie. Pipe this mixture evenly amongst the cooled phyllo shells.
Next, prepare the blueberry sauce by adding 1 cup of blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for about 8 minutes. Stir continuously. The berries will burst, and the sauce will thicken.
Remove the blueberry sauce from the heat and allow to cool. Then, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup fresh blueberries. Spoon the blueberry sauce over the cream cheese mixture.
Enjoy right away or cover and chill until you're ready to serve.

Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 51kcal • Carbohydrates: 8g • Protein: 1g • Fat: 2g • Saturated Fat: 1g • Cholesterol: 6mg • Sodium: 22mg • Potassium: 11mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 6g • Vitamin A: 70IU • Vitamin C: 1mg • Calcium: 5mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

Recipe adapted from Valerie Bertinelli

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What’s the Tea: Life Lately

Life

Monday
Mar / 23 / 2020
Comments 19

Happy Monday, friends, and welcome to a new week! Based on your comments, a lot of you seem to enjoy my “What’s the Tea” posts, so I thought I’d share another one with you today.

This past weekend when I was looking at some previous posts and organizing the IBC archives, I came across a post I wrote YEARS ago. In the post, I shared a list of things I was doing, experiencing, seeing, etc.

I had so much fun reading through that old list that I thought I’d do it again. Check out the list below to find out what’s been occupying my time as of late.

making : a sourdough starter with Farmhouse on Boone’s recipe. In five more days, I’ll be baking bread and other sourdough goodies.

cooking : a few new recipes this week. I was able to get a grocery delivery so I could spend more time doing what I love in the kitchen. Stay tuned for more new recipes.

drinking : Jalapeño Margaritas. I made one this weekend while watching a sale at a local antique store via Facebook. It was such fun!

reading : stacks of magazines. I LOVE magazines and have let my stash get out of control. I’m flipping through issues I’ve had for at least a year, tearing out any inspiring images or ideas, and then recycling the magazines.

wanting : to spend more time creating artwork. I’ve been sharing some of my drawings and paintings on Instagram stories.

looking : forward to warmer weather, grilling, and spending more time outside. I’ve been taking daily walks or runs. It’s a delight to get outdoors.

wishing : I could visit my favorite local antique stores and coffee shops. I realize that staying at home right now is best for all of us, and I’m super grateful that I’m able to do so.

playing : Brené Brown’s new podcast. I’m already in love. As a fan of Brené’s work. I’m thrilled she launched a podcast.

wasting : time. It’s sad but true. This week I’m going to make more of an effort to limit distractions and focus on things that I want to get done.

enjoying : painting tutorials from @craftberrybush (Check her IG story highlights.) and Miss Mustard Seed (She’s sharing all the details in this blog post.)

waiting : to hear from my landscaper about some outdoor work and from a local carpenter about some indoor work. I’m excited to get these projects started.

liking : Rhoda of Southern Hospitality’s bathroom makeover. It was exciting to watch it come together, and the end result is beautiful!

wondering : when I can plant my dahlia tubers. I have new ones I recently ordered and some saved from last year.

loving : these Nut Thins crackers. I eat them with a little vegetable cream cheese. They are perfectly crispy and delicious. (The Cheddar Cheese and Pepper Jack are my personal favorites.)

hoping : to travel this summer and fall. It’s been ages since I’ve had a personal vacation. (Most of my vacations combine business and pleasure.) I hope to go on a beautiful adventure. Maybe I’ll head back to Hawaii. I’m also thinking about visiting Portland, Oregon again.

listening : to a few of my favorite playlists. I play this when I need a little empowering / happiness boost (This one, too!). This playlist is perfect at breakfast. I listen to this one while I’m working in the afternoon. I also love my current music playlist for other times throughout the day.

marveling : at all of the helpful people. There’s a quote from Fred Rogers that I love: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” It’s a reminder to look for the good in our world.

needing : sunshine! The spring brings lots of rain and gloomy days. I am grateful for every ray of sun that makes it through the clouds.

sowing : herbs. I typically just buy herb plants, but with extra time at home, I decided to order a few packets of seeds and grow my herbs from seed this year. I’m already looking forward to cooking with these herbs and using them in cocktail garnishes this summer.

smelling : the flowering bulbs in my new spring centerpiece. I’ll include a photo at the end of this post so you can see them. I love watching the flowers open.

wearing : mostly jeans and hoodies. I recently purchased this lightweight hood (in green) from Old Navy, and I’m loving it for this time of year.

following : the Creative Exponent Podcast. It’s been a go-to for me lately. I’ve listened to most of the episodes twice. (Episode 2.4 – Being an Apprentice with Jeanne Oliver is one of my favorites.)

noticing : spring’s official arrival. It’s such a joy to watch things come back to life. Robins, cardinals, and blue jays have returned, and flowers are popping up everywhere. The trees are also budding! Spring is such a beautiful season.

knowing : that joy matters. In this strange and scary time, it’s even more important to find joy, notice the good, and be grateful for what we do have.

thinking : about which room to paint next. It’s a toss-up between my office and one of the guest bedrooms. What would you like to see me paint and redecorate?

bookmarking : lots of art supplies I want to buy when I get my new art habit rolling. I’ve shared many of these items in my Amazon storefront in case you’re interested.

opening : my Tidbits planner and notebook and filling both of them with all the ideas whirling around in my head. (FYI: the Tidbits notebooks are currently on sale for $5.)

giggling : at this woman. This meme came out about a year ago, but it’s especially relevant today. I genuinely want to do the same.

watching : great new and old movies, including Onward, St. Vincent, Where’d you go Bernadette, Little Women, and Penelope.

Okay, that’s it for now! I hope you enjoyed reading a bit about how I’m spending my days. Perhaps you even found a little inspiration along the way. It was a pleasure to put this list together. If you found it helpful, please let me know in the comments below, and I’ll do this again down the road.

I hope all of you are staying well and finding little ways to add joy to your life.

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Jalapeño Margaritas

Recipes

Friday
Mar / 20 / 2020
Comments 4

Things are getting spicy! Today on the blog we are making a Jalapeño Margarita, an invigorating take on the traditional margarita. If you’re wanting to spice things up, this recipe is for you!

Jalapeño Margaritas

You know I enjoy creating classics with a twist. That’s why I’m loving this Jalapeño Margarita recipe. It’s a regular margarita recipe jazzed up with fresh jalapeño slices, ginger root, and a lime sea salt rim. The combination of flavors is perfect.

Several years ago on IBC, I shared recipes for a Sweet Heat Cocktail and a Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini. I think that’s when my love affair with adding heat and spiciness to a cocktail recipe began.

There’s something about heat plus sweet that I especially like in a drink. I’m not suggesting burn-your-lips spicy. I’m talking about an element of heat that adds another layer of flavor, tang, and energy. If you’ve never tried something spicy in a cocktail, I highly recommend it.

But don’t worry, if spicy cocktails aren’t your thing, I’ve posted many other fun and tasty margarita recipes on Inspired by Charm. Lots of them are listed here.

Okay, I think we’re ready to shake up a cocktail or two.

How do you make a Jalapeño Margarita?

In this recipe, I’m going to show you how to make one Jalapeño Margarita. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple this recipe to serve more folks.

First, prepare the glass you’ll be serving the margarita in. On a plate, mix together sea salt and lime zest. I recommend mixing them together with your fingers so you can pinch and crush the two together.

Then, run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip the glass into the salt and lime zest mixture. Set aside.

Next, prepare the margarita mix. Infuse the jalapeño and ginger flavor into the cocktail by placing a few pieces of jalapeño and ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Pour in simple syrup. (You can find my recipe for simple syrup here.)

Then use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to smash the jalapeño and ginger root into the simple syrup. This is where you’ll get that delicious heat.

Now add ice to the cocktail shaker and pour in the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. (Detailed measurements and instructions are listed in the printable recipe card below.)

Shake vigorously.

Add a few more ice cubes to your prepared glass and then strain the margarita mixture into the glass. Garnish with a few jalapeño slices and a wedge of lime.

That’s it, my friends! Cheers to the sweet heat of this Jalapeño Margarita.

Of course, you can customize this cocktail recipe to suit your tastes.

Want it sweeter? Add more simple syrup.
Craving more heat? Toss in extra jalapeño slices and ginger root.
Like things on the sour side? Add more lime juice.

Margarita Quick Tip:

If you find the margarita to be a little too intense, squeeze in the juice from one orange wedge. It’s amazing how that small addition of fresh orange juice mellows a margarita.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this tasty cocktail recipe. This Jalapeño Margarita has quickly become a new favorite at my house, and it may just be my summer go-to. Cheers!

If you like this margarita recipe, you’ll love these:

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Jalapeño Margarita Recipe:

Jalapeño Margarita

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cocktail, ginger, jalapeño, margarita

Servings: drink

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 5 mins

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Things are getting spicy! Today on the blog we are making a Jalapeño Margarita, an invigorating take on the traditional margarita. If you're wanting to spice things up, this recipe is for you!

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Ingredients

3-4 slices jalapeño
3 slices fresh ginger root
2 ounces tequila - (I prefer blanco.)
3/4 ounce orange liqueur - (I prefer Cointreau.)
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup - (My recipe is linked in the notes below.)
Ice

Garnish*:

2 tablespoons sea salt
1 teaspoon lime zest
Jalapeño slices and a lime wedge

Instructions

Start by preparing the glass. On a plate, mix together sea salt and lime zest. I recommend mixing it together with your fingers so you can pinch and crush the two together.
Then, run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass. Dip the glass into the salt and lime zest mixture. Set aside.
The next step is to prepare the margarita mix. Add a few pieces of jalapeño and ginger to the bottom of a cocktail shaker; then pour in simple syrup. (My recipe for simple syrup is linked in the notes section below.)
Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to smash the jalapeño and ginger root into the simple syrup.
Next, add ice to the cocktail shaker and pour in tequila, orange liquor, and lime juice. Shake vigorously.
Add a few more ice cubes to the prepared glass. Then strain the margarita mixture into the glass.
Garnish with a few jalapeño slices and a wedge of lime.

Notes

You can find my recipe for simple syrup here. In that post, I've also included links to simple syrup that you can purchase.

*This amount of salt and lime zest mixture should be enough for 4-6 glasses.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 362kcal • Carbohydrates: 48g • Protein: 3g • Fat: 1g • Saturated Fat: 1g • Sodium: 13981mg • Potassium: 670mg • Fiber: 8g • Sugar: 39g • Vitamin A: 2911IU • Vitamin C: 327mg • Calcium: 32mg • Iron: 2mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Spring Centerpiece: Potted Flowering Bulbs

Interiors

Wednesday
Mar / 18 / 2020
Comments 16

How to Create a Spring Centerpiece with Potted Flowering Bulbs #spring #centerpiece #table #decor #diningroom #bulb #bulbs #plants #flowers

Today I’m sharing how I used flowering bulbs to create a fresh and happy spring centerpiece. As the flowering bulbs continue to bloom during the next couple of weeks, the colors in this spring centerpiece will change. Once the bulbs have finished blooming, they can be planted outside for next year. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spring!

Happy first day of spring!! I don’t know how you feel about spring, but I get excited when this day rolls around every year. Although there’s still a chance of snowfall here in PA, the temperatures are finally moving in the right direction. To celebrate the new season, today I’m sharing a spring centerpiece that I put together using flowering bulbs. It’s an easy and lovely project that I think you’ll enjoy!

Before we get into the fun, I need to tell you that I gathered the supplies for this centerpiece before our current situation. My goal with Inspired by Charm is to continue offering beautiful and engaging content while also providing creative things that may be helpful during this time. I’m not encouraging anyone to run to the store. If needed, take advantage of online delivery or check with your local small businesses to see if they have delivery options. Ultimately, please follow the rules and recommendations outlined in your area. Stay well, my friends.

How to Create a Spring Centerpiece with Flowering Bulbs:

When I was shopping at Lowes, I noticed they had a bunch of these potted flowering bulb plants. There were daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. These small containers were only $2, so I got quite a few, figuring I could create something special with them. I also picked up inexpensive terra cotta pots. I had a few at home but decided a few more would come in handy.

When I got home, I gathered all of my supplies along with potting soil and sphagnum moss.

I filled the smaller pots with a single flowering bulb. For the larger pots, I used a variety of flowering bulbs.

Planting brings me so much joy even though it can get a bit messy. I was also excited to be planting the bulbs before they had any blooms. Watching them grow and seeing the blooms become a beautiful spring centerpiece is such an immense pleasure.

Once everything was planted, I cleaned off the pots and gave the bulbs a good watering. (I’ll share more below about how I water them.)

For a finishing touch, I added sphagnum moss to the top of each planter. This isn’t necessary, but since this spring centerpiece is sitting on my dining room table, I thought that covering the soil with a bit of moss would dress up the pots.

Styling a Spring Centerpiece with Flowering Bulbs:

Initially, I planned to scatter the pots down the table. And while that would look pretty, I opted instead to corral a group of pots on this vintage berry picking tray. I did this for two reasons:

If I need to remove this spring centerpiece from my table, it will be easier to move one large item rather than eight small ones.
Placing all of the potted flowering bulbs on this tray will help to protect my table. (To save money, I chose not to put a saucer under each of the pots.)

Of course, you don’t need a vintage berry picking tray to recreate this project. Almost any interesting flat surface will work in place of saucers. Consider using a rustic wood tray, a cake stand, an old board, or even a piece of marble. Just be sure to pick something that won’t be harmed by water or allow the water to get on the surface below.

To add even more interest to my spring centerpiece, I included a few empty terra cotta pots and vintage gardening tools. I think these small additions enhance the centerpiece. They bring in textural variety and give the arrangement an informal look.

How to Water Your Flowering Bulb Spring Centerpiece:

It’s been almost a week since I planted these flowering bulbs. I’ve noticed that they start to get dry every 3-4 days. Of course, watering them where they sit on my table would make a huge mess. – Water and soil would get everywhere.

So my method for watering them is to run water in my kitchen sink until it’s about a quarter full and then place all the potted flowering bulbs in the sink.

Next, I use a watering can that has a gentle shower and water the pots from above. Once the potted bulbs are nice and wet, I let the pots sit in the sink in the water for about an hour or so. This allows them to soak up all the water they need.

My last step is to drain the water from the sink and let the pots hang out in the sink to drip dry for at least an hour. After that, the pots are ready to go back into my spring centerpiece.

All of this is super simple, and the hands-on time is minimal.

If you water the flowering bulbs every 3-4 days and make sure the pots get plenty of sunshine, you should be good to go!

Replant Your Flowering Bulbs Outside!

Once your bulbs have flowered, transfer the bulbs to a garden bed outside. They should bloom again in spring for many years to come!

I recommend leaving the leaves on the bulbs until the leaves start to yellow and die. Then you can just cut them down.

And that’s it, my friends! As you can see, this is a fun and easy way to create a beautiful spring centerpiece using potted flowering bulbs. It also doubles as the start of a stunning outdoor spring garden that will give you pleasure for years to come!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this project and are feeling inspired to do something similar!

Looking for more indoor planting ideas? Try these!

Happy Spring and Happy Planting!

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30+ Things To Do On A Rainy Day

Life

Monday
Mar / 16 / 2020
Comments 10

Are you stuck inside and looking for something fun to do? I’m here to help! Today I’m sharing 30+ things to do on a rainy day. From craft projects to gardening, these ideas will not only keep you occupied but add joy and creativity to your day.

ACTIVITIES, IDEAS, AND THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY:

No matter what’s keeping you indoors, hanging around the house can get boring pretty fast. That’s why I dug through the Inspired by Charm archives for 30+ things you can do on a rainy day. (Please note: Rain is not required for any of these activities.)

This list of rainy-day activities is intended for people of all ages. (Adults also get bored.) While all of these projects are things that I’ve completed as an adult, many are also kid-friendly. Please use your own judgment about which projects and ideas would be appropriate for your child. For some of the activities, adult supervision may be needed.

I divided this “30+ Things To Do On A Rainy Day” list into four categories to make navigating it a bit easier.

The categories are:

Crafting
Baking and Cooking
Decorating
Gardening

With all of the variety, there’s sure to be something for everyone!

As you can see, I’ve briefly described each of the activities and provided links to blog posts with full details and information. I hope you find this list helpful in creating a little joy and happiness on this rainy day.

THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY: CRAFT

Crafts were the first thing that came to mind in pulling together this list of things to do on a rainy day. Thankfully, I have many craft projects that are fun to do and result in beautiful and functional home decor. It probably won’t come as a surprise that a few of these projects are among YOUR favorite posts on Inspired by Charm!

Let’s get crafting!

1. Craft these homemade candles from beeswax

2. Make homemade bath bombs to use after a long day of fun activities.

3. Create colorful wood serving trays to use for your next get-together.

4. Or stencil a tray with a custom design.

5. Organize that drawer of cables with these DIY felt cable organizers.

6. Add color and style to dollar store plates for one-of-a-kind dinnerware.

7. Craft a cactus garden out of clay. No green thumb is required.

8. Save your coffee table AND make it colorful with homemade felt ball coasters.

9. Decorate your walls with easy 10-minute artwork.

10. Glam up your refrigerator or other magnetic surfaces with DIY gold magnetic letters.

11. Plan ahead and create custom-stamped napkins for your next party.

12 . Serve drinks in style with custom stirrers. Mine feature horses, but you can get creative with a design of your own.

13. Cut homemade napkins rings from faux leather.

THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY: BAKE AND COOK

I love spending time in the kitchen, and I’m guessing you might, too. There are a LOT of recipes on Inspired by Charm, but for this list of rainy day activities, I decided to focus on three types of recipes:

Recipes I think are fun or colorful
Recipes that may take a bit longer to prepare
Kid-friendly recipes

Okay, let’s get cookin’!

14. Make red velvet popcorn. It’s delicious and fun to do. Experiment with different cake flavors to find out what your family likes best.

15. Start the day with a craft. Whip up my homemade pancake mix and add sprinkles to create Funfetti Pancakes.

16. Make and customize homemade ice cream with flavors and toppings you love. It’s so easy!

17. Create cupcakes with your favorite cereal.

18. Turn Sour Patch Kids into cookies using this creative recipe.

19. Bake colorful single-serving cakes in mason jars.

20. Serve other desserts in mason jars. I have loads of ideas.

21. Make the creamiest fudge using only three ingredients!

22. Put together your own mulling spices to use in fall recipes or to give as a gift.

23. Whip up homemade flavored butters.

THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY: DECORATE

Spending time inside also gives you a chance to clean and organize areas of your home. Tidy up that junk drawer, bag up those old clothes to donate, or clean under the couch cushions. You know the spots that need attention.

Once that’s done, why not spruce up your space with these creative decorating ideas? Some are DIY projects, while others are quick changes you can make to your space today.

24. Create a dynamic artwork display for under $30. These DIY picture ledges are a project even a novice DIYer can handle.

25. Add functional and pretty organization to your kitchen with a pegboard storage system.

26. Craft a seasonal table runner using paint.

27 . Make your entryway more functional by adding molding and hooks.

28. Create a gallery wall to display collections and other things you love. I’ve hung travel artwork, vintage paint by numbers, and vintage metal trays.

THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY: GARDEN

Even though it’s raining outside, there’s no reason you can’t garden indoors. These gardening projects are fun to do on a rainy day. And when you’re finished planting, just set your project outside for a nice watering.

Regardless of the reasons you’re stuck at home, gardening is a joyful and positive way to pass the time. Here are a few of my favorite projects.

29. Craft a wall planter of succulents.

30. Make herb markers out of clay.

31. Plant strawberries to enjoy when the sun shines again.

32. Learn how to propagate existing succulent plants.

33. Put together a terrarium.

34. Take your terrarium to the next level by making one that looks like a miniature beach!

35. Create a vertical herb garden out of office supplies.

36. Plant a tabletop cactus garden.

And that’s a wrap, my friends. I hope this list of 30+ things to do on a rainy day gives you a bit of inspiration and encouragement to find joy in being at home. It’s all about perspective. Looking for the positives on a rainy day always seems to make it just a little brighter.

If you give any of these ideas a try, let us know what you did. Or tell us about your favorite rainy day activity. I can’t wait to read your comments!

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DIY Faux Leather Napkin Rings

DIY

Monday
Mar / 16 / 2020
Comments 8

DIY Faux Leather Napkin Ring Tutorial #DIY #leather #napkinrings #napkin #tablesetting #tablescape #napkin

Learn how to make these DIY Faux Leather Napkin Rings using a cutting machine. With a free downloadable file, they are so simple to create. You can also customize them by choosing a leather to match your decor or celebration.

As I mentioned in a recent “What’s the Tea” post, not long ago I got a new craft cutting machine. I have this Brother ScanNCut, but you might be more familiar with the Cricut or Silhouette machines. I’ve been having so much fun learning how ScanNCut works and crafting cool things, such as these DIY Faux Leather Napkin Rings.

I realize not everyone has a cutting machine, but if you have other crafting tools and a lot of patience, you could cut these things out by hand. I will be providing an SVG file download which (to my understanding) works with most cutting machines. If you’re interested in attempting this craft without a cutting machine, you can use an online converter (like this one) to change this file into a PDF. You’ll be able to print this file out with your home printer and transfer the design to a leather sheet to cut.

DIY Faux Leather Napkin Rings:

I created these DIY Faux Leather Napkins Rings to use on my latest Easter Table Setting. You can see how they looked on the table in the image above and below.

If you’d like to see more of this Easter tablescape, you can visit the post here. Whether you’re styling a table for the holiday or spring, I hope you find this post helpful and inspiring.

What I love about this project is that it’s so easy to make, especially with the cutting machine. The resulting napkin ring is unique and looks beautifully crafted. Your guests will never guess it’s a DIY.

Faux leather sheets are available in lots of colors. I’m sure you’ll find something to complement your table setting or home decor.

As you can see, I was feeling adventurous and crafted brown leather napkin rings and creamy white leather ones. Although both look great, I’m especially loving the creamy-white with this tablescape.

How to Make Faux Leather Napkin Rings:

Because there are different cutting machines out there, my directions are rather generic. For the best outcome, I recommend having some knowledge of your particular cutting machine before attempting this project.

You will need:

cutting machine (or craft cutting tools)
SVG file (Details for the free download are below.)
faux leather sheets (The ones I used are linked here.)

Start by downloading the SVG file. Transfer the file to your cutting machine. Format your machine to correctly cut the leather. (This procedure will vary for different machine brands and models.)

Faux Leather Napkin Rings SVG Download:

You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library, which can be found HERE.

If you’re already on the IBC Mailing List, you can find the password to access the library at the bottom of any email from Inspired by Charm.

Should you use any of my printables, I would so enjoy seeing what you create! Be sure to share your photos on Instagram and tag @inspiredbycharm.

Next, load the faux leather sheet on your cutting mat*. Make sure the leather side is down. (This is very important as the fluffier side of this particular faux leather does not stick well to the mat.)

*Depending on your machine, I recommend a high tack or standard tack mat.

Cut out the design.

Remove the excess leather from the cutting mat, then remove the napkin rings.

Once the napkins rings are cut, no additional crafting is required. You are now ready to put them around your napkins.

To do this, lay the ring with the faux leather side down on your table. Place a rolled-up up napkin on the ring and then fold each side of the napkin ring over onto the napkin. Finally, tuck the tails of the napkin ring into the small slit. Pull to tighten.

Voila!

Beautiful, customizable, and chic faux leather napkin rings! I just love this project. I think these rings look fabulous. Who would know they are homemade?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this project and will give these DIY Faux Leather Napkins Rings a try. If you like cutting machine projects like this and want more of them, please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Crafting!

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Campari Sangria

Recipes

Friday
Mar / 13 / 2020
Comments 4

With its bright colors and citrus flavors, this Campari Sangria is as refreshing as it is beautiful. You can serve this sangria recipe for brunch, dinner, or anything in-between.

Campari Sangria

If I were listing my favorite things, sangria would surely be on that list. Alcohol aside, there’s something about it that just brings me joy. I love making it. I enjoy the combination of flavors. I revel in serving it. To me, sangria is just all-around fabulous!

If you’ve been following Inspired by Charm for a while, you might be aware of my love for sangria. Not long ago I put together a post about the unique and traditional sangria recipes I’ve shared on the blog. There were 12 at that point. With the publication of this Campari Sangria, the number has increased. If you ever need a sangria recipe, IBC is the place to go. You can find that post here.

Okay, now back to this Campari Sangria. What makes this sangria recipe so special is the Campari.

What is Campari?

Campari is a bitter Italian aperitif that’s known for its brilliant red color. It’s made by infusing herbs, spices, and fruit in alcohol and water. The resulting liqueur has a strong and bitter orange taste. Personally, when I’m drinking it, I get hints of grapefruit, too.

It may be an acquired taste, but it’s a flavor I enjoy. If you’re looking for a lighter, sweeter alternative, you might try Aperol.

In addition to the wine and fruit, sangria typically includes another spirit. I’ve mostly seen brandy and rum used, but this will vary according to the recipe. For this Campari Sangria, we’re using Campari and Cointreau.

How to Make Campari Sangria:

Making sangria is simple. Just toss everything in a large pitcher, stir, and let it sit for a couple of hours so the flavors can meld.

For this sangria recipe, you will need:

orange juice
rosé
Campari
Cointreau
lemon juice
honey
orange, lemon, and strawberry slices

In a large pitcher, combine the orange juice, Campari, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Stir in the honey until dissolved.

Then add the rosé, oranges, lemons, and strawberries. Mix all of this to combine. I recommend refrigerating the sangria for 30 minutes to two hours.

To serve, fill a glass with ice and pour in the sangria. Depending on your preference, you can top this off with a splash of club soda. I prefer my drink without the addition of club soda.

Glassware Source:

I should also mention that I’m using these glasses. They are my absolute favorite for serving any type of cocktail. Their simplicity let’s the cocktail shine. I also love that they are so affordable. You can find them here as a set or here as a single glass.

The pitcher is a HomeGoods find.

Salud, my friends! Your Campari Sangria is ready to be enjoyed.

Looking for more refreshing Sangria recipes? Try these:

I think this might be my new favorite way to make sangria. At least this is how I plan to enjoy it during the spring and summer. It’s so bright, cheerful, and refreshing. I hope you love it, too!

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Campari Sangria Recipe:

Campari Sangria

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: campari, cocktail, sangria, summer

Servings: servings

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 10 mins

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With its bright colors and citrus flavors, this Campari Sangria is as refreshing as it is beautiful. You can serve this sangria recipe for brunch, dinner, or anything in-between.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups orange juice - (I used Simply Orange.)
3/4 cups Campari
1/2 cup Cointreau - or Grand Marnier
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoon honey
1 bottle dry rosé
Ice
Club soda - optional (See NOTES below.)

Garnish:

1 orange - sliced
1 lemon - sliced
5-6 strawberries - hulled and sliced

Instructions

In a large pitcher, combine the orange juice, Campari, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Stir in the honey until dissolved.
Add the rosé, oranges, lemons, and strawberries. Mix to combine. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or as long as 2 hours. Serve over ice.

Video

Notes

Some sangria recipes are served with a splash of club soda on the top. This is a personal preference. I like to drink this particular sangria without the club soda. However, if you prefer the club soda, add a splash of it to your glass just before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 222kcal • Carbohydrates: 21g • Protein: 1g • Fat: 1g • Saturated Fat: 1g • Sodium: 6mg • Potassium: 219mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 11g • Vitamin A: 130IU • Vitamin C: 44mg • Calcium: 24mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Paint by Number Gallery Wall

Interiors

Thursday
Mar / 12 / 2020
Comments 20

How to Create a Vintage Paint By Number Gallery Wall #paintbynumber #vintage #PBN #gallerywall #walldecor #painting #vintagefinds #antique

Today I’m sharing how I created a Paint by Number Gallery Wall along with my tips and tricks for sourcing beautiful paint by numbers.

My Love of Paint by Numbers:

After finding a vintage paint by number on a trip to Texas about two years ago, I developed a love for the somewhat forgotten art form. (I hung this one above my sink in my apartment kitchen!) Since then, I collected more vintage paint by number pieces to style a gallery wall in my family room. Many loyal IBC readers will also remember that I hung a large modern paint by number in my dining room for the holidays. You can see that here in case you missed it.

And I used a framed paint by number as inspiration for the design of my master bedroom! Check that out here.

Why am I enamored of these paintings? There are many reasons. I love that each one is unique in some way. I love knowing that, even though the painter was following a pattern, a human being spent time creating this artwork. In general, I also just love the style and how the colors and patterns work together.

Recently, I added a couple more pieces to my wall, so I thought I’d share a quick update and talk more about how I created this unusual gallery wall.

Paint by Number Gallery Wall:

Here is how my Paint by Number Gallery Wall looks today:

I first hung these in the fall of last year and shared them as part of a tour of my family room for the season.

I kept them on the wall throughout the winter but replaced three of them with more seasonal paint by numbers. I was lucky enough to find ones that featured snowy scenes.

With spring on my mind, I switched them up again and decided to add two more paintings that I found last summer at a local flea market. They are the city scenes at the top and bottom of the grouping. I’d never seen paint by numbers like these, so I thought they were special finds.

As much as I liked how I had originally hung the grouping, the addition of two pieces gave this gallery wall more impact and made it feel complete.

I am smitten with this particular collection. I passed on many paint by numbers that didn’t quite suit my style or fit with what I was looking for. I realize that this is all highly subjective. You may dislike my choices, but that’s okay. It’s all about collecting what YOU love.

How To Arrange a Gallery Wall:

I didn’t take photos of the process I followed in determining the gallery wall arrangement. I simply laid out the paintings on the floor to figure out the placement and spacing.

This worked well for the most part. I did have to adjust a nail or two because I wasn’t ultra-precise in my measurements, but that doesn’t bother me too much. (Just don’t go looking behind the artwork. Ha!)

I also want to encourage you (if you are designing a gallery wall) to hang the art higher and lower than you normally would. As you can see, some of my pieces are hung rather high, while others are close to the floor. This won’t work in every instance, but I think it creates a dynamic look in this location.

Where to Find Paint by Numbers?

Whenever I share a picture of my collection, one of the most frequently asked questions is where do I find paint by numbers. Since most of the paintings I buy are vintage, here are my go-to sources:

Family Members:
I can’t tell you how many people have told me that they remember their parents or grandparents doing these paintings or having paintings like these. That’s why I recommend asking older family members if they have things like this. If they’re forgetful, ask them if you can rummage through their attic, basement, and closets.

Vintage pieces are even more special if the artist is a family member.

Antique Stores / Flea Markets:
I also recommend visiting local antique stores and flea markets. You can find paint by number pieces online (We’ll talk about that below.), but I prefer seeing them in person. The colors and quality of the artwork (Some are better than others.) are important to me, and those details aren’t always visible online. Trust me. I’ve been burned.

When you’re looking for something in particular, it pays to visit antique shops and thrift stores regularly rather than sporadically. The more you go, the better your chances are of finding what you’re searching for, especially when something becomes more popular (as is the case with paint by number). I also follow my favorite antique stores on Instagram and Facebook since they typically post when new inventory is available.

Sidenote: If you are local to Pittsburgh and want to check out my favorite antique stores, I have a list with all of my recommendations HERE.

Thrift Stores:
The above principles also apply to thrift stores. I don’t love thrift stores as much, although I do visit them from time to time. If you’re looking for the best prices, thrift stores are the way to go. Just know that your hunt may take longer and be more tedious.

Etsy / eBay:
If you want to shop from home, Etsy and eBay are your new best friends. Again, I find it hard to accurately assess quality and color in some of the online photos, so there are risks. I also think the prices are a bit higher, and in most cases, you have to pay for shipping. (A couple of my pieces are from eBay.)

Find Vintage Paint by Numbers on Etsy HERE
Find Vintage Paint by Numbers on eBay HERE

Resale Apps (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Chairish, LetGo, etc.):
Last but not least, there are plenty of local online resources and apps for you to check for paint by numbers or other vintage pieces. At this point, there are almost too many. It can easily get overwhelming. I stick to Facebook Marketplace and a local resale group on Facebook. I’m a fan of Facebook Marketplace because it allows me to save items and set up notifications in case a new item with the specified search terms is posted. I recommend doing what works best for you and your search. If you’re desperately seeking something, check them all.

Phew! That’s a lot of information. I hope it was helpful and that you enjoyed the updated and close-up look at my paint by number gallery wall.

I tried my best to anticipate your questions. However, if there’s something else I might be able to tell you about paint by numbers, please let me know in the comments below. I’m always happy to help.

Happy Hunting!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Bars

Recipes

Wednesday
Mar / 11 / 2020
Comments 8

Celebrate the flavors of the season with these delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Bars. The rolled oat crust pairs beautifully with the sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb. You’re in for a treat!

Strawberry Rhubarb Bars:

I stumbled across some rhubarb on one of my grocery shopping trips back in February. It felt a bit early, but I love rhubarb, and since the season can be short, I picked up a dozen stalks and excitedly went home to bake. These Strawberry Rhubarb Bars were the tasty result of that unexpected find.

It’s no secret that I have a crush on rhubarb. Last year I put together a blog post with all of my favorite rhubarb-based recipes. Fellow rhubarb lovers, you can find that here. I think these Strawberry Rhubarb Bars will be a lovely addition to that list.

I like these bars for lots of reasons:

They are simple to make. (No mixer is required.)
The pinkish-red color of the strawberry rhubarb mixture is gorgeous.
They are delicious!
And the recipe makes eight servings, so there’s just enough to enjoy and share.

Now that I’ve tempted you, you’re probably wondering how to make the bars. Let me show you!

How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Bars:

I made the bars in an 8×8-inch pan. I like to line the pan with parchment paper so that the bars are easy to remove. If you plan on enjoying them right out of the pan, this step isn’t necessary. Just be sure to spray the pan with baking spray.

I like to use these binder clips to keep the parchment paper from shifting around as I assemble the bars. If you’d like, you can leave the clips on while the bars bake.

Next, you’ll need two bowls: one for the crust mixture and one for the fruit. After you’ve mixed up each of them separately, you’re ready to assemble the bars. (The full ingredient list and instructions are listed in the printable recipe card below.)

Start by pressing the crust mixture into your prepared pan. Be sure to save 1/2 cup of the crust mixture for a crumb topping.

Once you’ve pressed the crust evenly into the pan, top it with the strawberry rhubarb mixture. Then, use the reserved crust mixture to add a crumb topping to the bars. Once that’s done, it’s time to bake.

I recommend allowing these bars to cool completely before cutting. This will ensure they are fully set.

And with that, your Strawberry Rhubarb Bars are complete and ready to be enjoyed!

These bars make a lovely weeknight dessert, afternoon snack with tea, or sweet treat with brunch. No matter how you serve them, I hope you enjoy this tasty celebration of one of my favorite garden fruits.

If you’re looking for more rhubarb-inspired recipes, don’t forget to visit this post here. As always, you’ll find plenty of deliciousness and inspiration!

Happy baking, my friends!

Looking for more rhubarb recipes? Try these:

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Strawberry Rhubarb Bars Recipe:

Strawberry Rhubarb Bars

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bars, rhubarb, strawberry, strawberry rhubarb

Servings: bars

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 1 hr

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Celebrate the flavors of the season with these delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Bars. The rolled oat crust pairs beautifully with the sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb. You're in for a treat!

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Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats - (not the quick-cooking kind)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter - melted
1 cup diced rhubarb - (2-3 stalks)
1 cup diced fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

Begin by heating your oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with baking spray. Set aside.
In a bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Pour the melted butter over this mixture and stir until clumps form. Set aside 1/2 cup of this mixture for the crumb topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
In another bowl, mix together the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Spread this mixture evenly on top of the prepared crust. Scatter the reserved flour mixture over the fruit to make a crumb topping.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and the top "crust" is golden.
Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 181kcal • Carbohydrates: 25g • Protein: 2g • Fat: 8g • Saturated Fat: 5g • Cholesterol: 20mg • Sodium: 168mg • Potassium: 95mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 12g • Vitamin A: 247IU • Vitamin C: 8mg • Calcium: 26mg • Iron: 1mg

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Simple Syrup Recipe

Recipes

Monday
Mar / 9 / 2020
Comments 6

Homemade Simple Syrup Recipe for cocktails, baking, and more! #simplesyrup #recipe #cocktail #sugar #baking

Simple syrup is a sugar-based sweetener. Essentially, it’s sugar and water that’s been cooked. Today, I’m talking about how to make simple syrup, plus sharing fun flavor variations.

I’m sure some of you just rolled your eyes and thought, “Really? Is he posting a recipe for simple syrup?” I get it. Yes, if you can boil water, you can make simple syrup. However, I also thought there might be folks out there who haven’t heard of simple syrup or ever made it. After sharing a handful of recipes on the blog that use simple syrup, I thought it made sense to also post a recipe for it.

To keep things interesting for all of you who are well versed in making simple syrup, I’m also including variations on the recipe: cranberry simple syrup, apple cinnamon, rhubarb, and more!

Let’s get started!

What is Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is a liquid (syrupy) sweetener made of one part water and one part sugar.

It is typically used to sweeten drinks and cocktails or to add moisture and sweetness to baked goods. (I’ve included a broader list of uses below.) Flavors can also be added to simple syrup, which then allows it to act as a flavor enhancer when added to a recipe.

Simple syrup uses:

cocktail / cocktails
lemonade / iced tea
cakes and desserts
ice cream topping
glaze for meats and fish
topping for pancakes and waffles

How Do You Make Simple Syrup?

As I mentioned above, traditional simple syrup is made with one part water to one part sugar. The typical measurement is 1 cup to 1 cup, however, you can adjust this amount based on your needs and preferences.

When I make simple syrup, I alter the ration of water to sugar. Most of the time, I use 3/4 cup of water to 1 cup of sugar. This gives me a thicker syrup which I like for most recipes.

To prepare:

Add sugar and water to a small saucepan.

Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. For a thicker syrup cook a bit longer.

Let the syrup cool. Then store in a jar with a sealed lid.

Simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month.

That’s it, my friends! It’s that simple.

I’ve shared the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Can You Buy Simple Syrup?

Yes. However, because it’s so simple to make, I recommend whipping up a batch at home.

If you are pressed for time or just want to keep a bottle in your pantry, I recommend this variety. I also like this one. The nozzle makes for easy cocktail mixing.

Simple Syrup Variations:

As I mentioned above, you can make lots of simple syrup variations. For example:

Citrus Simple Syrup – add lemon, lime, orange, etc.
Mint Simple Syrup – add fresh mint
Vanilla – use vanilla sugar
Fruit Simple Syrup – add fruit or berries
Spicy Simple Syrup – add jalapeños

This list could go on and on. If you add any ingredients to your simple syrup, I recommend straining them off with a fine sieve before sealing and storing the syrup.

I thought it might also be helpful to remind you of a few variations I’ve made and shared with you on IBC. You can click on the recipe name for more details and the full recipe.

Cranberry Simple Syrup for Cranberry Old Fashioned
Ingredients: water, sugar, fresh cranberries
Spiced Pear Simple Syrup for Spiced Pear Moscow Mule
Ingredients: pear juice, sugar, fresh pear, spices
Apple Pie Simple Syrup for Apple Pie Sangria
Ingredients: water, sugar, spices
Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup for Strawberry Rhubarb Cake and Strawberry Margaritas
Ingredients: water, sugar, fresh rhubarb, fresh strawberries
Lime Simple Syrup for Strawberry Limeade Cake
Ingredients: water, sugar, lime zest, fresh lime juice
Rosemary Sage Simple Syrup for Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients: water, sugar, fresh rosemary, fresh sages

So many delicious options, right?

If I make additional simple syrup variations, I’ll be certain to update the list above.

In the meantime, you can use the recipe below to create a basic simple syrup or a creative concoction of your own. Let me know in the comments below what simple syrup recipes you’ve made or would like to try!

I hope you found this post helpful and inspiring!

Simple Syrup Recipe:

Simple Syrup

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cocktail, simple syrup

Servings: cup

Prep Time 0 mins

Cook Time 8 mins

Total Time 8 mins

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Simple syrup is a sugar-based sweetener. Essentially, it's sugar and water that's been cooked. Today, I'm talking about how to make simple syrup, plus sharing fun flavor variations.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Instructions

Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan.
Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. (For a thicker syrup cook a bit longer.)
Let the syrup cool. Then store in a jar with a sealed lid.
Simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Notes

Use 3/4 cup water for a thicker syrup

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 774kcal • Carbohydrates: 200g • Sodium: 15mg • Sugar: 200g

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip

Recipes

Sunday
Mar / 8 / 2020
Comments 2

This Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip takes the classic recipe to the next level with sun-dried tomatoes, smoked Gouda, and Fontina cheese. It’s so tasty! You’ll be making this delicious appetizer dip recipe again and again.

Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip:

If you’ve been following Inspired By Charm for a while, you know I have a kind of love affair with sun-dried tomatoes. That’s why today I’m mixing them in another appetizer I enjoy, Spinach Artichoke Dip, to create this delicious Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Like many of the dip recipes on Inspired by Charm, this one can be served at almost any gathering or celebration. It’s also easy to put together. And if desired, you can prepare it in a slow cooker!

(Find my collection of IBC’s BEST Dip Recipes HERE.)

Let me walk you through the recipe and show you how to layer all of the fabulous flavors.

How to Make Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip

As with many dips, the process for making this Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is pretty straight forward.

To start, you will need:

frozen spinach
cream cheese
sour cream
smoked Gouda
fontina cheese
water-packed artichoke hearts
sun-dried tomatoes
scallions
garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste

Before making the dip, rehydrate the sun-dried tomatoes. This sounds complicated, but it’s not. Just place the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl with hot water (Water straight out of the tap is fine.) and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes. Once the tomatoes are soft, drain off the water. Then gently squeeze them to remove any excess liquid. That’s it. They are now ready to be chopped.

To prepare the dip, add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

Next, spread the mixture in a baking dish. I used a round baking dish, but any medium-sized baking dish will work fine.

Slide the dip into a preheated 350-degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until the dip is heated through and melted. (If the top of the dip is browning too quickly, lightly cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.)

You can also prepare this dip in a 1 1/2-quart slow cooker. Simply add all of the ingredients to the cooker. Then set it on low and let it cook for 2-3 hours or until the dip is melted.

I think this dip is best served with crackers, but you could offer sliced vegetables for a healthier option. I used sliced peppers and sugar snap peas.

Love Sun-Dried Tomatoes? You’ll Enjoy These Recipes too:

Thanks to all of the ingredients, this Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip is loaded with flavor. I have a feeling you’re going to enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Happy Snacking!

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Have you tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram, then share YOUR dish with #myIBC and tag @inspiredbycharm. It’s fun to see how folks are using recipes from IBC.

Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe:

Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer dip, artichoke, dip, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes

Servings: people

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

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This Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Artichoke Dip takes the classic recipe to the next level with sun-dried tomatoes, smoked Gouda, and Fontina cheese. It's so tasty! You'll be making this delicious appetizer dip recipe again and again.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach - thawed and squeezed dried
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese - softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
1/2 cup shredded Fontina cheese
1/2 cup chopped water-packed artichoke hearts
3/4 cups sun-dried tomatoes - (not packed in oil)
2 scallions - chopped
1 garlic clove - minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Crackers and veggies for serving

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
Before starting, rehydrate your sun-dried tomatoes by placing them in a bowl of hot water. (Hot water straight from the tap is fine.) Let them soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain the water and then gently squeeze out any excess liquid. Finally, chop the sun-dried tomatoes.
In a large bowl, add the spinach, softened cream cheese, sour cream, Gouda, Fontina, chopped artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, scallions, and garlic.
Mixed thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
Spread this mixture in an even layer in a medium-sized baking dish, Place in a 350-degrees-F oven for 35-40 minutes or until the dip is heated through and melted.
Serve with crackers and fresh vegetables.

Notes

If the top of your dip is browning too quickly, lightly cover the baking dish with a piece of aluminum foil.

You can also prepare this dip in a 1 1/2-quart slow cooker. Add all of the ingredients, set the cooker on low, and cook the dip for 2-3 hours or until melted.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 333kcal • Carbohydrates: 16g • Protein: 13g • Fat: 25g • Saturated Fat: 13g • Cholesterol: 72mg • Sodium: 523mg • Potassium: 498mg • Fiber: 2g • Sugar: 6g • Vitamin A: 4162IU • Vitamin C: 8mg • Calcium: 317mg • Iron: 2mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Mini Beer Shots

Recipes

Wednesday
Mar / 4 / 2020
Comments 4

Drinking Mini Beer Shots is a fun and delicious way to celebrate! Made with Licor 43 and heavy cream, these shots are even better when served in mini beer glasses.

Mini Beer Shots

I’d been thinking about posting these Mini Beer Shots for the longest time and just kept putting it off. Recently, however, I stumbled upon these mini beer glasses. That’s when I knew it was time to finally share this recipe with you.

I figured a post about Mini Beer Shots might also be timely since St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. So I ordered the mini glasses and whipped up these Mini Beer Shots a few days later.

And if you like these mini beers, you’re going to LOVE these baby Guinness shots. It’s the same idea, but these look like a mini glass of Guinness beer! You’ll never guess how to make them. Get the recipe HERE.

I’m always a bit hesitant to share shot recipes because I’m not a advocate of heavy drinking. Of course, if done in moderation, a shot can add an enjoyable element to a celebration. And like all of the alcoholic drinks posted on IBC, these Mini Beer Shots are intended only for adults who are able to drink responsibly.

WANT MORE SHOT RECIPES? TRY THESE:

What are Mini Beers made of?

When it comes to ingredients, it doesn’t get much easier than this. You only need two things to make these Mini Beer Shots:

– Licor 43
– Heavy cream

Yep, that’s it! Pretty, simple right?

What Type of Alcohol is Licor 43?

You may be wondering about Licor 43 if you haven’t heard of it or tasted it. Licor 43 is a sweet, vanilla-flavored liqueur. It’s produced In Spain and made with 43 flavoring ingredients, hence the name.

What makes these shots so delectable is when the Licor 43 mixes with the cream; it almost taste like a milkshake. Yum!

How do you Make Mini Beer Shots?

Start by filling a shot glass 2/3 full of chilled Licor 43.

I recommend using a shot glass that looks like a mini beer glass for the best effect. The ones I’m using here are no longer sold, but here are a few other great options:

Then, create the “foam head” by added a layer of heavy cream to the top of the Licor 43. You can do this by pouring the cream on very slowly. Another method is to pour the cream over the back of a spoon.

That’s it! All that’s left is to pour a few more for your friends. The it’s time for cheers and that enjoyable taste!

The flavor of the Mini Beer Shot resembles a sweet vanilla milkshake with just a kick of alcohol. It’s a shot many adults will enjoy!

Looking for more unique cocktail recipes? Try these:

I hope you give these a try. If you do, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! Have you ever hear of Mini Beer Shots or are they new to you?

Love this Recipe and Want More?

Connect with Michael! Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter

Have you tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram, then share YOUR dish with #myIBC and tag @inspiredbycharm. It’s fun to see how folks are using recipes from IBC.

Mini Beer Shots Recipe:

Mini Beer Shots

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: licor 43, mini beer, shot

Servings: shot

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 5 mins

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Drinking Mini Beer Shots is a fun and delicious way to celebrate! Made with Licor43 and heavy cream, these shots are even better when served in mini beer glasses.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1.5 ounces Licor 43 - chilled
Heavy cream

Instructions

Start by filling a shot glass 2/3 full of chilled Licor 43. (I recommend using a shot glass that looks like a mini beer glass for the full effect. I’ve linked a few of my favorites in the note section below.)
Then, create the “foam head” by adding a layer of heavy cream to the top of the Licor 43. You can do this by pouring on the cream very slowly. Another option is to pour the cream over the back of a spoon.
Finally, it's time to toast and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Need some adorable mini beer glasses, these are a few of my favorites!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 150kcal • Carbohydrates: 1g • Protein: 1g • Fat: 6g • Saturated Fat: 3g • Cholesterol: 21mg • Sodium: 6mg • Sugar: 1g • Vitamin A: 221IU

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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My Current Music Playlist

Life

Tuesday
Mar / 3 / 2020
Comments 4

Inspired by Charm's Music Playlists - My Current Music Playlist #spotify #sonos #playlist #music #songs

Recently, when I’ve shared little moments on Instagram stories, I’ve gotten questions about the music that’s playing in the background. Even though I’ve been putting up playlists on Inspired by Charm for a while now (You can see my Tuesday Tunes collection here.), I thought it might be a good idea to have a place where I could send folks when they ask, “What are you listening to?”

Anyway, that’s the impetus for this post. I also plan to be a bit more intentional when I’m creating my playlists on Spotify.

Speaking of Spotify, it’s my go-to digital music service. (You can follow me on Spotify HERE.) I use it exclusively and pay for the premium service, which includes shuffle play, higher quality audio, no ads, and more. However, this post is not sponsored by them in any way. I just like to tell others about Spotify because I use it daily and am so happy with it.

Even if you use another streaming service, you can still use Spotify for free to listen to my playlists. And of course, you’re welcome to make a note about any tunes you’d like to add to your playlist in your preferred music app.

Because I get questions about it, I wanted to likewise mention that I use Sonos speakers when listening to music via Spotify. I currently have four of the speakers in my house, and I plan to get a couple more. They are an investment, but I think they’re worth the cost. I love that they play via wireless internet rather than Bluetooth. That way, your music is never interrupted with noise from your phone due to a phone call, message notification, or calendar reminder. You can use the speakers to listen to podcasts and audiobooks – something I do as well.

These are the speakers I have. As I said, they aren’t cheap, but they work great in my situation. You’ll want to do your research to see if they might be a good fit for you and your home.

My Current Music Playlist:

I’ve created and shared more than 34 themed playlists through my Tuesday Tunes series, however, this is my first list focused on “What I’m Currently Listening To.” My Tuesday Tunes playlists are often what I’m listening to, but typically, I also have a current music playlist. I’ve just never shared one until now.

I never thought to post my current playlist because it’s always a bit random and kind of clunky. It’s a mashup of many different genres and artists and songs for a variety of purposes.

However, since so many of you seem to be interested in what I’m currently listening to, I thought I’d share.

How Will This Work?

This is going to be an evergreen post. That means every time I have a new “current music playlist,” I will update this post with the new playlist. Usually, I create a new playlist every season, though that might change depending on my mood and what’s going on in my life. Time will tell.

Whatever happens, this post will pop up at the top of my blog every time it’s updated. That means if you check the blog regularly, you’ll always be up-to-date. If you check the blog less frequently and want to stay updated, I recommend joining the IBC Mailing List. Every Saturday morning you will receive an email with a recap of any new blog posts from that week. It’s the BEST way to stay in the IBC loop! Join the IBC Mailing list HERE.

In addition to telling you about my latest “Current Music Playlist,” I will highlight several favorite playlists. There are a handful of Tuesday Tunes’ playlists that I listen to over and over again. I will link those below and note when I enjoy listening to them.

I hope all of this makes sense. The purpose of this post is to have a website location that I can share when asked about what I’m listening to.

I’m a huge lover of music, so I’m almost always listening to something. For those of you who prefer silence, this probably seems a crazy distraction, but I’m hoping my fellow music lovers will understand.

Without further ado, here are my playlists.

Current Music Playlist:

Early Spring 2020 (click HERE or listen below)

Other Favorite Playlists:

Want ALL of my playlists? Follow inspiredbycharm on Spotify! Find my profile here.

All That Jazz
Lately, I’ve been listening to this playlist the most. It’s my favorite to play while I’m having my morning coffee and eating breakfast. I also listen to it frequently when I’m cooking or baking.

90s Country
I love old country music. I listen to this a lot when I’m working around the house or painting walls. (I know that may seem weird, but it’s true.) It’s mostly upbeat music so I’ve listened to this when running or when I need an energy boost.

Spring Music / Folk Playlist
I have many folk and singer-songwriter music playlists. Although I enjoy them all, this one is my current fave. It makes a great background track for any activity.

Previous Current Music Playlist(s):

Late Summer 2019

I hope this post is helpful. As I’ve mentioned, music means so much to me. Being able to share things I love with you makes me happy.

Happy Listening!

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Funfetti Pancakes

Recipes

Monday
Mar / 2 / 2020
Comments 7

Sprinkles make everything better! That’s why today we’re fixing Funfetti Pancakes! I’ve given my Homemade Pancake Mix an upgrade with sprinkles and frosting to create a tasty and colorful breakfast treat.

Funfetti Pancakes

It’s party time here on Inspired by Charm, and we are celebrating with Funfetti Pancakes. You might remember that a couple of months ago I shared my recipe for Homemade Pancake Mix. That has been my go-to pancake recipe since I ran my bed and breakfast back in the 2000s.

Today, I thought we’d take that Homemade Pancake Mix recipe and kick it up a notch with the help of sprinkles, frosting, and a few other ingredients.

The result: festive and flavorful pancakes that are perfect for a birthday or holiday. (These pancakes can also make the most ordinary of mornings memorable.)

I used rainbow sprinkles, but you could switch up the sprinkle colors to suit a particular holiday, event, or sports team. The color of the sprinkles is up to you.

How Do You Make Funfetti Pancakes?

First off, you’re going to need my Homemade Pancake Mix. You can find that recipe here. This is a dry mix that you’ll use to make the batter for the Funfetti Pancakes. My recipe makes enough dry mix for several batches of pancakes. The extra mix can be stored in the pantry. That way it will be handy anytime you get a craving for pancakes.

Once the dry mix is ready, whip up the wet ingredients:

buttermilk
milk
egg
melted butter
vanilla extract
almond extract

If you’re familiar with my homemade pancake mix recipe, you’ll have noticed I added almond extract to this Funfetti pancake recipe. To me, almond extract gives that extra “birthday cake” flavor. It’s a subtle change that makes a big difference.

Once the wet ingredients are well combined, add a cup of the dry homemade pancake mix. Stir until just combined.

Next, gently stir in the sprinkles you’ve chosen. Stir as little as possible to avoid spreading the color from the sprinkles into the batter.

Now you’re ready to griddle up the pancakes. I used about 1/4 cup of batter for a 3-inch pancake. The full instructions and the ingredient list are on the printable recipe card below.

You can find my stove-top griddle here.

As you can see, I served my Funfetti Pancakes with a big dollop of melted frosting, extra sprinkles, and a sparkler. It makes for a great photo!

However, if all of that seems a bit much, you can just drizzle on frosting and a little maple syrup like I did below.

For the frosting, use whatever variety you like. (Here, I used some of My Favorite Cream Cheese Frosting that I had left from another cooking adventure.) Microwave the frosting in a bowl at 30-second intervals until it’s the right consistency for drizzling.

Looking for More Funetti Treats? You’ll love these:

These Funfetti Pancakes are a delicious, colorful, and unique treat that’s ideal for any special celebration. Enjoy!

Love this Recipe and Want More?

Connect with Michael! Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter

Have you tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram, then share YOUR dish with #myIBC and tag @inspiredbycharm. It’s fun to see how folks are using recipes from IBC.

Funfetti Pancake Recipe:

Funfetti Pancakes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: birthday, birthday cake, breakfast, funfetti, pancakes, sprinkles

Servings: pancakes

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Pin It!

Sprinkles make everything better! That's why today we're fixing Funfetti Pancakes! I've given my Homemade Pancake Mix an upgrade with sprinkles and frosting to create a tasty and colorful breakfast treat.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 cup homemade dry pancake mix - The recipe is linked in the Notes below.
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup sprinkles
Frosting and maple syrup for garnish

Instructions

To prepare the pancake batter, add buttermilk, milk, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract to a medium bowl. Whisk together to combine. Add 1 cup of the prepared dry mix. Stir until just combined. Let the mixture sit for 1-2 minutes before cooking.
Just before cooking, gently mix in the sprinkles. Avoid overmixing as the color from the sprinkles can change the color of the batter.
Set the griddle on medium-low heat. Brush with butter and allow the butter to melt. (Optional: Remove excess butter with a paper towel.)
Pour 1/4 cup* of the batter onto the hot buttered griddle. Cook each pancake until bubbles form on the top and the bottom is golden. (This will take 4-5 minutes.) Flip the pancakes and cook for about 2 more minutes until golden.
Serve with melted frosting, butter, and pure maple syrup.

Notes

You can find the recipe for my Homemade Pancake Mix HERE.

*1/4 cup of batter makes a 3-inch pancake. You can create a larger or smaller pancake by adjusting the amount of batter you pour on the griddle.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 94kcal • Carbohydrates: 13g • Protein: 2g • Fat: 4g • Saturated Fat: 2g • Cholesterol: 31mg • Sodium: 100mg • Potassium: 64mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 9g • Vitamin A: 131IU • Calcium: 58mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipes

Wednesday
Feb / 26 / 2020
Comments 7

Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting #cupcakes #pineapple #coconut #creamcheese #frosting #flamingo #tropical #beach #party

Almost anytime is perfect for a party, and these Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting are perfect for almost any summer get-together or island paradise-themed party.

Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting

After finding these cute flamingo picks, I knew I wanted to make something sweet with a touch of the tropics. And what’s more tropical than pineapple and coconut? – These are the two major flavors in my Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting.

I love this flavor combination and think you’re going to adore it as well.

I used a box cake mix so the cupcakes were super simple to make. Pineapple juice and crushed pineapple give the mix that refreshing taste of the tropics.

To get the look of island sand, I dipped the frosted cupcakes into graham cracker crumbs. The graham cracker crumbs add a sweet crunch and also make the perfect place to nest a flamingo pick.

I made these for a tropical-inspired party. You can see more of that party HERE! It was so fun to create.

You’ll be able to grab the free download for my palm tree banner and get my pineapple martini recipe.

But before you check out more of my party in paradise, let me walk you through this Pineapple Cupcake recipe.

How to Make Pineapple Cupcakes:

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl combine the cake mix, pineapple juice, melted butter, egg whites, egg, and crushed pineapple. Beat for about 2 minutes or until combined.

Portion the batter into prepared muffin pans filling each cupcake liner about 3/4ths of the way full. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely.

In the meantime, prepare your frosting.

Beat the cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the milk and vanilla, beating well. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Stir in the coconut.

Frost the cooled cakes with the coconut frosting and then dip the frosted cupcakes into the graham cracker crumbs to create the look of sand. Top with a flamingo pick and enjoy!

Easy, right? And adorably delicious!

Even better, you can customize your Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting by using picks and liners that coordinate with the color scheme and theme of your party. I love these flamingo picks you find them HERE.

Yellow or green liners with sunglasses picks would also be appropriate for this time of year. Or you could go with blue liners and tiny umbrella picks. You can find lots of different picks and cupcake liners online.

Looking for more delicious cupcakes? Try these:

Have fun planning your next party and customizing your Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting. They are simple to put together and perfect for that “island dream getaway” in your backyard!

And don’t forget, you can get more paradise / flamingo party ideas HERE.

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Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cake, coconut, cupcakes, pineapple

Servings: cupcakes

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 35 mins

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Almost anytime is perfect for a party, and these Pineapple Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting are perfect for almost any summer get-together or island paradise-themed party.

Pin It!

Ingredients

1 box white cake mix
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup melted butter
2 egg whites
1 whole egg
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple - with the liquid drained
cupcake liners

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese - softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter - softened
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup graham crackers crumbs - for garnish

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners and set aside.
Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl combine the cake mix, pineapple juice, melted butter, egg whites, egg, and crushed pineapple. Beat for about 2 minutes or until combined.
Portion the batter into prepared muffin pans filling each cupcake liner about 3/4ths of the way full. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
In the meantime, prepare your frosting.
Beat the cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the milk and vanilla, beating well. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Stir in the coconut.
Frost the cooled cakes with the coconut frosting and then dip the frosted cupcakes into the graham cracker crumbs to create the look of sand. Top with a flamingo pick and enjoy!

Notes

Flamingo Picks can be found HERE.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 297kcal • Carbohydrates: 47g • Protein: 3g • Fat: 11g • Saturated Fat: 7g • Cholesterol: 33mg • Sodium: 238mg • Potassium: 96mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 36g • Vitamin A: 328IU • Vitamin C: 3mg • Calcium: 69mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

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