Chili Beef Wraps

Recipes

Tuesday
Jan / 13 / 2015
Comments 20

As I’ve mentioned, one goal of mine this year is to be more intentional about the foods I’m eating. I’ve contemplated trying various diets: Whole30, Paleo, counting calories, etc., however none of these sound very appealing to me. I think that not being able to eat a piece of pizza, have a pancake on Sunday morning, or enjoy a cupcake occasionally would most certainly steal from my happiness. So, I’ve decided to lean in and create my own diet.

My goal is to consistently eat more healthfully. On weekdays I want to limit my sugar consumption as much as possible, cut out carbs, and stick to a diet of lean meats, nuts, veggies and fruit. I’m still going to drink coffee in the morning. I may even sneak in a Hershey Kiss once in a while. I also plan to not eat after 8 p.m. and eliminate or at least limit snacking. I found that over the past year I turned to food a lot for comfort. I also ate when I was overwhelmed, anxious / stressed, and procrastinating. Another goal is to recognize when I’m physically hungry and only eat then. I also want to eat more slowly in order to recognize when I’m actually full instead of continuing to eat until the point that I’m stuffed.

Now, I know those are ambitious goals. I plan to fail plenty along the way, but I’m actually excited about this change. This lifestyle sounds fairly simple and one I’m comfortable doing. I think that’s most important. Along with daily exercise, I hope this diet will help me shed the pounds I added over the past year and live a generally healthier life. I’ve also decided to eliminate alcohol (except for big occasions / celebrations) and drink at least 90 ounces of water daily.

Now don’t worry, I’m still going to bake and make lots of delicious things full of butter and sugar, but I do want to throw in some healthy recipes, too. The other day I saw this video on YouTube from The Lean Machines. The guys were making Chili Beef Wraps and recommended them for an after-workout meal or dinner. The wraps looked and sounded delicious to me, so I figured I’d give them a try.

While the ingredient list seems long, you probably have most of these things in your pantry. I also really love this recipe because it comes together in the blink of an eye. Prep, cooking, and clean up is under thirty minutes. Who doesn’t love that?

I used ground beef here, but I think you could substitute ground turkey or ground chicken. There will be slight change in flavor, but I expect the result would equally delicious. If I give turkey or chicken a try in the coming weeks, I will let you know what I find.

Chili Beef Wraps

Here's what you will need:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 small white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons coconut oil ( or extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon chili sauce
1/2 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon chili powder
3 green onions, chopped
1 head romaine heart, stem removed washed and dried

Let's get cooking!

Place a large skillet on medium high heat and add your oil to the pan. Once warm, add the peppers and white onion. When the pepper and onions begin to soften (about 4 minutes), add the beef. Break up the beef and stir enough so that it doesn't burn. Next, add the garlic.

Once the beef is almost fully cooked, add the rest of the ingredients: hosin sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, honey, salt, pepper, ground ginger, chili powder, and green onions. Cook for a few more minutes until the beef is cooked through. Remove from the heat.

With your washed and dried lettuce pieces, fill each lettuce "cup" with a spoonful of the chili beef mixture. Serve and enjoy!

I really hope you enjoyed this recipe and will give it a try. As always, thank you for stopping by.

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Frosted Eggnog Cookies

Recipes

Tuesday
Dec / 16 / 2014
Comments 15

Frosted Eggnog Cookies #christmas #cookie #recipe #frosted #eggnog

These Eggnog Cookies are pack the flavor of the holiday and Christmas season in a few tasty bites!

Yes, that’s right friends! Today we are making these Frosted Eggnog Cookies!

Have you started making your Christmas cookies? To be honest, I never really know when to begin. I’d like to have all of my baking done in advance, but I also want everything to be fresh for the holidays. Growing up, it seemed as though we had cookies sitting around for a month, and they always tasted fine. I guess it must be my adult perspective that’s questioning things.

Those of you who have been reading IBC for a while may have noticed that I haven’t shared many holiday cookie recipes. It seems that I’m always under so much pressure to get them made that I don’t take time to photograph them and write the posts. This year, however, I’m going to attempt to share a few of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

How to Make Frosted Eggnog Cookies:

I’m starting off with these Frosted Eggnog Cookies. Last week I made eggnog from scratch, and since I had no plans to drink it all, I decided to use some of it in cookies. Also because I’ve teamed up with the Incredible Egg to share some festive recipes using eggs, I thought this would be a fun opportunity to do so. Just the other day I stocked up on all of my cookie baking essentials – lots of flour, sugar, sprinkles, milk, and plenty of eggs.

I was really excited to try these Frosted Eggnog Cookies. They reminded me of my Frosted Pumpkin Cookies, and I just LOVE those. Plus, I really enjoy all of the flavors of eggnog, so I assumed these would be a winner.

The cookies baked up beautifully. They are a soft cookie loaded with delicious seasonal flavor. I loaded them up with frosting and topped them off with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Yum! Let me show you how to make these eggnog cookies!

Eggnog Cookie Recipe:

Frosted Eggnog Cookies

Here's what you will need:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
1/2 cup eggnog
Cinnamon for garnish

*Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, unsalted
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3-5 tablespoons eggnog
3 cups powdered sugar

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.

Then in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, whip together the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This will take 3-5 minutes. Next, mix in the egg yolks, one at a time. Then add the vanilla and rum extract and mix until blended.

With your mixer on low, slowly add about half of the dry ingredients, then the eggnog, then the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Place heaping tablespoons of the dough about two inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 11-14 minutes. Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet several minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool.

To make the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the butter until light and fluffy. Add the rum extract, vanilla extract, salt and about three tablespoons of eggnog. Then, gradually mix in the powdered sugar. Add additional eggnog to reach the desired consistency.

After the cookies have cooled completely, frost them with Eggnog Frosting. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon before the frosting sets.

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container. If stacking, I recommend refrigerating the cookies first to harden the frosting. Then stack using wax paper in-between each layer.

That’s it, friends. One holiday cookie down and several more to go. Are you in charge of seasonal baking at your house? What’s your favorite cookie to bake or eat?

For lots of delicious holiday recipes, baking hacks and more, visit IncredibleEgg.org and Incredible Eggs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

This post was created as part of my collaboration with the Incredible Egg. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Creative Holiday Wrapping Ideas

DIY

Monday
Dec / 15 / 2014
Comments 13

Creative Holiday Wrapping Ideas | Inspired by Charm

For me, wrapping Christmas presents is bittersweet. I love coming up with the plan and color scheme (Yes, I plan out my wrapping scheme.) I enjoy the act of wrapping, and I love giving gifts. However, being the procrastinator that I am, I usually wait until the last minute to wrap, and all that joy and excitement quickly turns to anxiety and stress. Will I ever learn?

This year, I decided that my color scheme would match my official Christmas tree (the one in my dining room). Being part of Staples Holiday Council, I headed to Staples to pick up a few essential wrapping supplies. With everything I need now on hand, today I’m going to share a few creative holiday wrapping ideas.

Of course, there are hundreds of ways one can wrap and decorate a gift. I was totally stressing about what to share with you today because there are so many possibilities. I’ve decided to show you some of my ideas now, and save the rest for another time.

Let’s get wrapping.

For the first idea, I just used brown craft paper and drew on a pattern. Here I made large loopy lines. The pattern can be anything: straight lines, circles, triangles, whatever you can draw. Have fun with it. I find it easiest to cut the paper to the size of your gift and then to do the drawing.

As you can see, when you wrap up the gift, your drawing ability (or lack thereof) will not be noticed.

I also did another piece of paper the same way, but with a different pattern. A gold sharpie worked well on this saturated peacock blue paper.

You may have noticed that I stuck with satin ribbons in teal and green. I wanted the wrapping paper to stand out. The satin ribbon allows that to happen while still adding a beautiful, festive sheen and elegance.

On this package, I spelled out seasonal words: “Merry & Bright,” “Comfort & Joy,” and “Ho Ho Ho.” A piece of pine tucked in adds color and texture.

Another idea is to attach a photo to your wrapping with washi tape.

The photo acts as a decoration as well as a gift tag. I even decided to attach a photo to another package with a gold paper clip. So simple, but really personal and special.

Remember those peel-and-stick letters I used to give a little holiday bling to my decor? Well, I had a few letters left over, so I added them to my packages.

Again, you can spell out a holiday word or the recipient’s name.

These metallic sharpies are my favorite. Keep things really simple by just writing a message on the package.

You can also eliminate the need for a name tag by writing directly on the paper in a unique way. I love this baby blue paper. I adhered colorful strips of washi tape to amp up the color.

Speaking of washi tape, after wrapping this gift in gold paper, I used washi tape around the package in an abstract way to give it pattern and more color.

And that’s it. Easy and fun, right?

There are so many ways to make a gift extra special. What unique ways have you wrapped a present?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Staples. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Flocked Christmas Tree

DIY, Interiors

Thursday
Dec / 11 / 2014
Comments 21

Flocked Christmas Tree 2014 | Inspired by Charm

It’s Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas. Welcome!

If you toured my house on Monday, you might recall the navy blue tree in my dining room. You’ll also may have noticed another tree in my office next to the desk. We are going to talk about that tree today.

Yep. I have two trees. (Well, I actually have three trees. There’s another in my bedroom, but it’s not quite finished yet.) Now, I know I’ve already dedicated two posts of the 12 Days of Christmas to trees. I didn’t really want to throw in another one in there, but this one just sort of wormed its way in. I hope you’ll forgive me.

My original intention for this room was to put up the gold tree that I used last year. It was so much of a plan that I actually set that tree up, decorated it, hated it for two days, and then took it all down. It’s not that it looked bad, it just didn’t work in the space. As I was taking it down, I had an image in my head of the ideal tree. I knew that it needed to be either all white or flocked.

Living in a small town, I have a limited number of places where I can buy trees. However, as luck would have it, Walmart (Yes, Walmart!) had a beautiful flocked tree in just the right size. Into my cart it went, and as you can see, it worked out very well in the space.

As with my navy tree, I found a garland of ornaments. This particular set is multicolored. (If you’re trying to find them, they are made by RAZ Imports.) I began by wrapping my tree with them for instant color and sparkle.

I also picked up about two dozen of these ceramic deer heads from Lowes. I wanted them to look more modern than country so I trimmed off the twine hangers that were attached to them and used gold ornament hooks instead. I like how they complement my new moose, Kevin.

Since red is one of the colors in my space (and obviously a color of the season), I filled in with my collection of red glass ornaments. I also tucked in a few of these red wire stars I bought several years ago.

The tree topper is vintage. I found it on eBay last year.

The tree skirt is from RedEnvelope. I don’t think they sell it anymore, however they do have the matching stockings.

As of Monday, that was basically all that was on my tree. Then, my Mom and I went on our annual Christmas shopping trip, and I picked up two more things that really finished off this tree.

First, these glass clip-on mushrooms. I know they are totally weird.

However, for the past few years I’ve wanted mushroom ornaments on a tree. When I saw them, I knew they would be PERFECT. My wish came true. (In case you’re looking for the source, they are made by a company called Krebs.)

I also thought the tree needed some kind of garland. When I spotted this aqua one, I knew it was the one.

And that’s it. Another completely decorated tree.

I think someone is ready for a nap. If I could fit under there, I’d join him.

I’m officially obsessed with flocked trees. A little messy, but totally gorgeous. Oh, and see that pillow on my desk chair? I need to show you that.

You know I love Elf. It’s my favorite Christmas movie. So when I saw this pillow pop on up Pinterest, I ordered it immediately. I couldn’t be more perfect. Well, actually it could. It’s a 16×16″ pillow cover, and I have it stuffed with an 18×18″ pillow until the smaller-size pillow I ordered arrives. Oops!

However, isn’t it the best?! You can find it (and a bunch of other Elf-quoted products) here.

And that. my friends. wraps up Day 11. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow for our final day.

SEE HOW THE OTHER 12 DAYS BLOGGERS ARE DECKING THEIR HALLS:

Free Printable Chalkboard Ornament – Shanty 2 Chic

Crate Shadow Box – Funky Junk Interiors *GIVEAWAY*

Chalkboard Christmas Tree – Thistlewood Farms

Christmas Chalkboard – Songbird

Rustic Scrap Wood Wreath – Remodelaholic

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Decorating with Ornaments

DIY, Interiors

Wednesday
Dec / 10 / 2014
Comments 14

Can you believe how fast this 12 Days of Christmas Series is going? It’s already Day 10. Let’s start decorating with ornaments.

Today I thought it’d be fun to round up quick holiday decorating ideas. This year fellow blogger and friend, Laura of Finding Home created a series called 10 Minute Decorating. You saw of few those posts play out here on IBC over this past year. (Frugal Fall Flowers and Holiday Letter Bling) Well, today I’m back for my final 10 Minute post (Well, maybe not final. The future of the 10 Minute Decorating series is TBD.)

The focus of this post is easy decorating with vintage glass Christmas balls. Many of us have ornaments that we no longer use and spots in our home that need a splash of holiday cheer. Or, if you’re like me, you have a strange obsession with glass Christmas ornaments and have totes and totes full of them.

Yeah, it’s a problem.

If you don’t fit into either of those categories, but still want to play along, go to your local thrift shop. I can almost guarantee that you will find a box of glass ornaments for a dollar.

Let’s take a look at a few ways to decorate with Christmas balls, shall we?

Decorate a tree.
This is an obvious use of ornaments, but I really wanted an excuse to post a picture of my tree from last year.

This tree is covered entirely in plain glass ornaments in various colors. Most were purchased at Goodwill, but there were also a few new ones.

If you want to stick to a particular color palette, you can use my tree from this year as an example. Two colors (green and blue) can create a lovely tree.

Add them to a wreath.
This was another project from last year, However, it is still one of my favorites.

I arranged leftover ornaments from my tree, hot glued them to a wreath, and added a bow. It was that simple. This wreath hangs on my door and really is a show stopper. It even looks amazing when viewed from the street.

Put a cloche on it.
If you have a collection of random ornaments, gather them up in a cloche (bell jar). This creates a beautiful and unique look in seconds. Literally.

Just make sure you put the cloche out of reach of curious hands or you could have ornaments rolling all over the place.

Dress them up.
If you have ornaments that you’d like to use, but they don’t quite fit your theme, alter them with a paint pen.

I find that drawing on basic geometric shapes is the easiest.

Stars and snowflakes are also winners. This also allows you to make an ordinary ornament really special and unique.

Add them to a gift.
Speaking of writing on ornaments, why not use an ornament as a name tag for a package.

Mark on the ornament using paint pens or just write the person’s name. That way, the “tag” could later be used on the recipient’s tree..

Use them as place cards.
This is one of my favorite ideas, and one I shared with you in my previous post about 10 Minute Decorating Ideas. Just buy silver and gold metallic letters and stick them on an ornament.

I like using these as place cards, but again, you could simply hang them on a tree. I think the silver letters work best because they appear to be etched into the glass.

Hang them from a chandelier.
On Monday, I shared the first part of my Holiday Home Tour (If you missed it, you can check it out here.) One of the things I did to decorate my dining room this year was to hang a few smaller ornaments from the chandelier above my table.

It was so simple, but it really helped to tie the holiday decor together.

Fill a bowl or basket.
And finally – probably the easiest of all of these ideas. Fill a bowl or basket with ornaments. If you want to add a pop of color or sparkle on a shelf or tabletop, this is the way to do it. I have a couple of bowls of ornaments scattered around my home.

My favorite container, however, is this old wood screw / nail sorter I’ve filled with ornaments in a gradient effect. It is the right shape and size to sit in front of my television. It adds the perfect amount of festive color, don’t you think?

Have I convinced you to start hoarding glass ornaments? If so, please stay out of my local thrift shop. I’m calling dibs on any ornaments that are still there!

For more 10 minute decorating ideas, please head over to Finding Home and say hello to Laura. Her ideas will amaze you. While you are at her site, also check out her Holiday Home Tour. She has a gorgeous home!

I hope you enjoyed (and use) a few of these easy decorating tips. What other ways do you use Christmas balls?

SEE HOW THE OTHER 12 DAYS BLOGGERS ARE DECKING THEIR HALLS:

DIY Lego Tray – Remodelaholic

Outdoor Ornament Holder – Shanty 2 Chic

Junk for Joy – Funky Junk Interiors

Front Door Decor – Thistlewood Farms

Fairy Light Vignette – Songbird

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Holiday Home Tour 2014 / Christmas Decorations

House Tour, Interiors

Monday
Dec / 8 / 2014
Comments 62

It’s Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas! Welcome back, everyone.

Today is sort of a special day. I’m doing Part One of my Holiday Home Tour. In an ideal world, I’d just have one home tour for Christmas, however, I’m not quite finished decorating. I know, I know. I’m probably the only blogger who didn’t have this task completed weeks ago, but whatcha gonna do? Most of it is finished, Still … my mantel needs to be tweaked, I’ve barely touched the upstairs, no gifts are wrapped, etc. So, as we get closer to Christmas (hopefully in a week or so), I’ll show you around again.

Today, in addition to the 12 Days of Christmas Series, I’m participating in The White Buffalo Styling Co.’s Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours Christmas 2014. Wow. That’s a mouthful, but it should be. Lindsay has put together a truly amazing Holiday Home Tour. It’s a week long and features over 40 bloggers. Talk about inspiration, right?

The White Buffalo Styling Co. started off the tour. (Isn’t Lindsay’s house beautifully festive?) If you’re hopping over from there, a hearty welcome to you. In case you’re new to IBC, be sure to join our mailing list, follow on social media, leave a comment, etc. I’m always excited to have new people tagging along. (Besides, this way you’ll know when I post part two of this tour.)

Now I’m going to be quiet now and show you my Christmas decorating progress. I’ll chime in here and there with links and such. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments. Oh, and you can find all my wall colors here.

Sound good?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I can’t thank you enough for stopping by. Please come back soon. I’ll have wine and cheese and plenty of Christmas cookies.

My front door is adorned with the DIY festive rainbow wreath I made last year.

Art print from Lindsay Letters. You should know that Elf is my absolute favorite Christmas movie.

You can get a closer look at my tree (and enter to win one) here.

As you can see I love decorating with glass ornaments during the holidays. My go-to source for new and quality ornaments is HomeGoods. They always have the best selection.

I created a little hot cocoa bar in my dining room. You can get all the details on that and three homemade hot cocoa recipes HERE.

Meet Kevin! He’s my new moose (and personal assistant).

As I mentioned above, my mantel is only halfway finished. I’m waiting for a few items to arrive in the mail. 90% of the things on it are from Target. The gold wreath is from Treetopia.

I swapped out my DIY artwork in the living room for a woven wall hanging. I love the fabulous texture.

More ornaments! (I’m telling you, hit up HomeGoods before I buy them all.)

You can DIY the colorful wood trees on this shelf with the tutorial I created lasted year. Find that here.

This is Tree #2. It’s a flocked tree that I picked up at Walmart. I tried a few different trees in this space, but none of them worked. When I put up this one, I knew I had a winner.

That’s my Holiday Photo wreath. Learn how to make one here.

These plastic deer were my Grandmas. They are one of my favorite Christmas decorations.

I also decided to put a tree in my bedroom. It’s only partially decorated. Sebastian doesn’t seem to mind.

Thank you so much for stopping by! There’s more holiday inspiration to come, so be sure to follow along.

Next up on the Blogger Stylin’ Home Tour is Bliss at Home.

Enjoy her lovely abode and tell her Michael from IBC sent you. Come again soon.

SEE HOW THE OTHER 12 DAYS BLOGGERS ARE DECKING THEIR HALLS:

Christmas Home Tour – Thistlewood Farms

How To Make a Christmas Swag – Songbird

Holiday Tablescape – Remodelaholic

Christmas Tree Crate – Shanty 2 Chic

Vintage Window Display – Funky Junk Interiors

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Merry Entry Table

DIY, Interiors

Saturday
Dec / 6 / 2014
Comments 19

Greetings, friends! If you can believe it, we are officially at the halfway mark in our 12 Days of Christmas Series.

Since it’s the weekend and my holiday to-do list is growing by the minute, I’m going to keep the next couple posts short and sweet, but hopefully still just as inspiring!

A few weeks ago I shared a couple updates from my office. Namely, a new rug and the handles for my sliding barn doors. Directly in front of those doors are my entry areas. I’ve always struggled with those spaces because of their size and layout. Although I was making progress, something still seemed off, so I asked for your help.

I love having a little table in this entryway, but as you can see it doesn’t really work. A few of you suggested painting the table, and I think one of you even told me I should paint it black.

Well, that’s just what I did.

Here’s what happened. I was doing some Christmas shopping and came across some gorgeous side tables at Crate and Barrel. They were black. I thought they would be perfect for the entry, but after measuring them, I realized they were way too short. Then it hit me. “Why don’t I just paint MY table black. … Wait a minute, that’s what folks told me to do. They are genius.” Do you ever have one of those moments where you suddenly see a solution that was right in front of your face all along?

Well, the next morning I ran out to Sherwin Williams and got a quart of their all surface enamel paint in black satin, sanded my table, and gave it two coats of paint.

And let me tell you what, it has made a huge difference. It’s perfect! (Please pardon my photos. Not only is this area of my house hard to decorate, it’s impossible to photograph, especially on a day so dreary and gray that it feels like sunset at 1pm.)

As I was painting the table black, I had another a-ha moment. I could paint the top with chalkboard paint! Now, I know what you’re thinking. Chalkboard paint is sooooo 2012. Well, not around here. I wanted it, so that’s what I did. I had just enough paint to apply two coats.

Once the paint was dry. I had a brand new entry table that works so much better for the space. And it only cost about $20.

Anyway, the space just really came together around the black table. I also hung festive wreaths and a piece of artwork. It feels so much more homier.

I’ve been playing with a few different messages to see which one I like best. I think “Merry and Bright” will stay for now.

My office is a bit of a mess at the moment, so I’ll show you a photo from that angle on Monday. I also need to tweak my greens a bit. I think I went overboard. (I told you my holiday to-do list just keeps growing!)

What do you think? Better?

SEE HOW THE OTHER 12 DAYS BLOGGERS ARE DECKING THEIR HALLS:

Wood Black and Twine Frame – Shanty 2 Chic

Illuminated Shutter Toolbox – Funky Junk Interiors

Christmas in the Kitchen – Thistlewood Farms

Christmas Vignette – Songbird *GIVEAWAY*

Embroidered Reindeer – Remodelaholic

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Navy Blue Christmas Tree – Copper, Blue, and Green Christmas Tree Decorations

DIY, Interiors

Friday
Dec / 5 / 2014
Comments 423

Welcome to Day 5 of our 12 Days of Christmas!!

True confession time: Getting ready for Christmas this year has been nothing but a big ball of stress for me. (Anyone else?) I’ve been trying to decorate my house for a while now, and I’m still not finished. To be honest, this year the comparison monster has grabbed hold of me tight and just won’t let go. I don’t know how many blogs you read, but people are crafting things and decorating in ways that are blowing my mind, literally – I’m pretty sure there’s a small hole in my brain which is part of the reason I can’t wrap my head around Christmas this year. (I will do a roundup of my favorite ideas soon. Stay tuned.)

Anyway, despite all of the holiday decorating decisions I still haven’t made, fortunately this year’s Christmas tree was a no brainer. After doing my rainbow-inspired tree for the past couple years, I decided to try something a bit different. The result was my Mona Lisa, Here’s the backstory:

Last year I started working with Treetopia as part of their Holiday Council. They are some of the nicest people, and I’m crazy about their trees. (Several months ago they even asked me to style some trees for them to show on their site. I shared my creations with you here and here.)

Navy Blue Christmas Tree – Copper, Blue, and Green Christmas Tree Decorations

For my own tree this year, I knew that I wanted something really special. Something different, but not that different. When I saw Treetopia’s Navy Blue Christmas Tree, I knew I had found “the one.”

Thanks to Nate Berkus’s suggestion to paint my dining room a different color, I had a whole new color palette to play with this year. After trying different colors in that space all year long, I discovered how well blues and greens looked with the rest of the room. I also wanted a little nod to last year’s tree, so I thought a gradient / ombre effect would be fun. Finally, because I’m actually starting to get sick of soooo much gold, copper was my metallic of choice. Armed with bags of vintage glass ornaments that I’ve been collecting over the years, I was ready to tackle my tree.

Tada! (Do you hear the angels singing?)

Haha. Totally kidding. However, I am enthralled with the way this tree turned out. It’s so much better than I ever dreamed.

In going for a different look this year, I also opted for no ribbon. One of the reasons was because of this copper (rose gold) ball garland I found at CB2. I purchased 7 strands of it and wrapped it around the tree before decorating.

This turned out to be genius. For very little effort, it filled up so much of the tree and added tons of sparkle.

After that, I started adding ornaments. I began at the bottom with navy and worked my way up to light green, creating a gradient effect.

As I mentioned above, most of the ornaments are just glass balls I amassed over the years. However, I did purchase a few new ornaments from Crate & Barrel. The color palette was perfect and they added interest with their glittered design.

For a dash more copper, I found these sequined ornaments from H&M’s home line.

I also picked up a few of these metal ribbon drop ornaments from CB2.

The tree topper is a vintage find from eBay. I love this style and was so lucky to find one in copper.

Finally, the tree skirt is a faux fur one I picked up at West Elm. (Also, please pardon the lack of decoration around the tree. I know it’s totally cool to wrap up a bunch of empty boxes in pretty paper and tuck them under the tree amongst birch logs sprinkled with fake snow, but my cats like to lay under there because it’s warm and cozy, and honestly, they are all I really want or need under my trees.)

Pretty, right? The navy blue needles of the tree are fascinating to look at. From a distance they almost look green, but when you get up close to the tree, they’re totally blue.

So that’s my official tree for 2014. I have a couple more trees throughout the house, but they aren’t quite as artfully decorated. I’ll be sharing those with you soon.

What to see more Christmas Trees? Check out these:

Happy Holidays and Good Luck! Also, thank you for indulging me while I shared way too many pictures of my tree.

SEE HOW THE OTHER 12 DAYS BLOGGERS ARE DECKING THEIR HALLS:

DIY Entertaining / Bar Cart – Remodelaholic

DIY Wood Sign – Shanty 2 Chic

Wood Bead Christmas Wreath – Funky Junk Interiors

Decorator’s Showhouse / 10 Holiday Decor Ideas – Thistlewood Farms

Christmas Hutch Window Decor – Songbird

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Eggnog Recipe

Recipes

Thursday
Dec / 4 / 2014
Comments 9

Today we’re mixing up a holiday classic: eggnog! That’s right, I’m sharing my eggnog recipe you can make at home! It’s easier thank you think!

Can I Refill Your Eggnog for ya? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

Haha. I’m kidding. Please tell me you’ve seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. If you have, you may remember that scene. If you haven’t, please stop what you’re doing and go watch the movie right this very minute. You’re welcome.

Today I’m sharing my eggnog recipe with you!

Speaking of Christmas, welcome to Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas!

Anyway, while I loved so much about that movie, one thing that always stuck out to me was how delicious the eggnog looked. Seriously, every time I watch that movie, I want a huge glass of eggnog during that scene. (I’d also love to have it served in one of those moose glasses, if that’s possible.)

I thought I’d try making some eggnog from scratch. Since I’ve teamed up with the Incredible Egg to share some festive recipes, eggnog just seemed like kind of a no brainer. And while I was looking for eggnog recipes, I found a recipe for Coquito, which is a Puerto Rican Eggnog. I decided to give that a try as well, so today you’re getting two recipes.

Oh, and before I forget, when you’re out doing your holiday shopping, don’t forget to stock up on baking essentials – flour, sugar, butter, and of course, eggs.

Now, let’s talk eggnog.

How do you make Eggnog at Home:

I decided to follow a pretty traditional recipe. This recipe cooks the eggs so there is no issue with eating raw egg.

I also noticed that some eggnog recipes have you fold in whipped egg whites before serving. I tried this and didn’t like the results; the eggnog separated. Plus, it didn’t seem to make sense to whip in raw egg whites after I’d gone to the trouble of cooking the yolks.

My experimentation was worth it because I’m really pleased with this recipe. This eggnog has the perfect amount of sweetness, delicious flavor, and great texture.

Eggnog Recipe:

Traditional Eggnog

Here's what you will need:
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3 ounces bourbon, spiced rum, or brandy (optional)
Whipped cream and grated nutmeg to garnish

In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they lighten slightly in color. While continuing to whisk, slowly add the sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream, and nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and very slowly add this hot mixture to the egg and sugar mixture while continuing to whisk. Return everything to the saucepan and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from heat, stir in liquor (optional), pour into a bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.

Once chilled you're ready to serve.

I always assumed eggnog would be pain to make, but the process was very simple.

As I mentioned above, spiking the eggnog is optional. You can use whatever type of liquor you like best. Bourbon, spiced rum, and brandy are pretty traditional options. I also really like amaretto liquor in eggnog.

Homemade eggnog totally lived up to my Griswold Christmas expectations.

Moving on. I want to share one more recipe with you. This is for Coquito, which is an eggnog-like beverage traditionally served in Puerto Rico around the holidays. Again, it’s made with eggs, but also uses a few different ingredients such as sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, and cinnamon.

While I prefer the traditional eggnog, it was fun to try this recipe. I found the Coquito to be a bit sweeter and thicker. So if that’s your preference, you may love this recipe. Again, the alcohol is optional, however rum is the traditional liquor used in Coquito.

Today, I’m serving up a full glass, however if made with rum, this could be a fun little shot or toast served after a holiday meal.

Traditional Coquito

Here's what you will need:
2 cups water
6 cinnamon sticks
6 egg yolks
3 (12 ounce) cans evaporated milk
2 (15 ounce) cans coconut milk
3 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
3 cups rum (optional)
Cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon to garnish

In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the water and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the liquid is reduced to a cup. Strain off cinnamon sticks with a mesh sieve and set the liquid aside to cool.

In a medium saucepan, beat egg yolks with evaporated milk until well mixed. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens (about 10 minutes). Make sure to not boil as this will cook and scramble the eggs. Set aside to cool.

In a bowl, mix together the cooled cinnamon water and coconut milk.

Finally, in a large serving bowl combine the coconut milk mixture, yolk mixture, the sweetened condensed milk, and rum (optional). Set in the refrigerator to chill.

That’s it! Pour yourself a glass and raise a toast to the holidays.

Now you have two eggnog recipes to get you through the season. Which recipe do you like better?

For lots of delicious holiday recipes, baking hacks and more, visit IncredibleEgg.org and Incredible Eggs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

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Spiked Chocolate Covered Cherries

Recipes

Wednesday
Dec / 3 / 2014
Comments 23

Chocolate Covered Spiked Cherries | Inspired by Charm

These Spiked Chocolate Covered Cherries are a delicious and fun treat to make for the holidays or any time of the year. Cheers!

Hey there, friends! Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas adventure! Are you enjoying things so far? Picking up a few ideas? I hope you’re taking a hot minute to check out all of the bloggers’ projects. You can follow along easily with our shared Pinterest board or on Instagram with #12days72ideas.

Spiked Chocolate Covered Cherries:

This wouldn’t be a proper series on IBC without a few recipes. Today I wanted to share something that’s super easy, but extemely delicious and very fancy looking: Spiked Chocolate Covered Cherries.

I’ve been a fan of chocolate covered cherries since I first tasted one. When I was a child, Santa would always bring me a box of Queen Anne’s Cherries, and I’d gobble them up in no time. Now as an adult (and a blogger), I thought it was time to try making them. However, I’ve kicked them up a notch by spiking them with delicious liquors. Remember the rum soaked gummy cherries I made this summer? Apparently I like to soak things in liquor.

These cherries are pretty simple to make. (See the bottom of this post for the complete recipe.)

Start off by soaking the cherries in your liquor of choice. I tried cherry vodka and white creme de cacao. Let them soak for several days, ideally a week.

Now you’re ready to dip them! I chose milk chocolate for the vodka-soaked cherries and white chocolate for the ones soaked in the creme de cacao. Quick tip here: Dry off your cherries with a paper towel before dipping them. This will help the chocolate to stick.

How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherries:

Once dipped, set the cherries on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Since I was making two varieties, I used the opposite chocolate on each to make a decorative drizzle. Pretty!

Place the chocolate covered cherries in your refrigerator to set them completely.

These spiked chocolate covered cherries are fun to make and delightful to have around for holiday get-togethers. If you keep them covered in the fridge, they should last for a few days.

As it turned out, I liked both liquor flavors equally. The cherry vodka is higher in alcohol so the cherries soaked in it are a bit stronger, but still very tasty. It all depends on what you prefer.

The cherries look fabulous when served by themselves, but you can also tuck them into your cookie trays for a pop of color. The cherries also work beautifully as a cocktail garnish. (They’d be extra delicious in my Cherry Almond Cocktail and White Christmas Martini). I think they’d look really beautiful atop a cake or cupcake.

For some reason, I just love the flavor of cherries during the holidays. They are comfort food. Maybe it’s all those Queen Anne’s I ate as a kid. Who knows?

Give these a try and tell me what you think. If you use any other liquors, please let us know in the comments what you tried and what you liked best. Cheers!

Spiked Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe:

Chocolate Covered Spiked Cherries

Here's what you will need*:
1 jar (16 ounces) maraschino cherries with stems
1/2 cup liquor (Cherry vodka or creme de cacao work well.)
1 cup chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white)
1 teaspoon shortening

*I recommend making two batches at once so that you have an additional chocolate to garnish your cherries.

Begin by soaking maraschino cherries (with stems) in liquor for 4-7 days. I tried two different versions. One with cherry vodka; the other with white creme de cacao. I soaked my cherries right in the jar they came in. Just empty out the red syrup and fill the jar with the liquor.

Once they have soaked for the specified time, drain off the liquor. (You can save this for cocktails.) Then, dry the cherries on a paper towel. This will help the chocolate to stick.

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and set aside.

In a double boiler (or the microwave), melt your chocolate chips and shortening. (The shortening prevents the chocolate from getting really hard.) Stir until smooth.

Next, dip the cherries into the chocolate and set on wax paper. Add any leftover melted chocolate to a plastic baggie. Cut a very small section of the tip of the bag and pipe lines or designs on the cherries.

Happy Holidays!

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Festive Touches for Holiday Entertaining

DIY, Entertaining

Tuesday
Dec / 2 / 2014
Comments 18

Festive Touches for Holiday Entertaining | Inspired by Charm

Hey there, friends! Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas. Today is Day 2.

In case you missed the start of this celebration, yesterday I shared a woodland-inspired Christmas tree. You can click here to get caught up.

Today, we are moving on to holiday entertaining. Last Friday I showed you a fun DIY Holiday Art project I created for Staples. Well, during the process of coming up with that idea, I purchased a bunch of other random things that I thought I might be able to incorporate in future projects (A bad habit of mine).

I thought about returning the items, but instead I used them to create four ideas to add a really unique and personal touch to your holiday entertaining. Let me show you what I whipped up.

First, I found this chalkboard tape. Love it! I had no idea that this stuff existed, so I was super excited to give it a try.

Since I have way too many white plates and platters, I decided to add a piece of the tape to one of them. I thought the tape would be perfect for writing a holiday greeting or labeling food.

The tape went on easily. I decided on a fun diagonal line to break up the goodies on the plate. We have a winner.

Another great thing about this tape is that when the party’s over, it peels right off without damaging the plate. You can find the tape here.

Speaking of labeling plates, did you know that you can write directly on them with dry erase makers?

Again, this is another fun way to label your food, write a seasonal message, add some personalization, or even do all three.

Here, I left a little note for Santa with his cookies and milk. After his visit, the dry erase marker comes right off with a soft cloth. I should note that I prefer to write the message near the rim of the plate so the marker doesn’t come in contact with food.

For me, cocktails are essential at a holiday party. However, with a sizable group, folks are always forgetting which glass is theirs. The solution? Wine Charms.

I created some custom metallic wine charms using these key tags and metallic Sharpies. The big advantage to these is that you can completely customize them to your party or guests. Use various colored markers, draw on different designs, or write out guests’ initials to suit your party theme.

Cute, right?

Now, for my final idea. This past weekend I spent a lot of time setting up my Christmas trees and decorating the rest of my house for the season. I was decking out the shelves in my office and had completed all but one of them when inspiration struck. I’d create a candy tray and place it on that empty shelf.

I grabbed a wood tray I had on hand, added some bowls and glasses, and then filled them with Christmas candy. Instant party tray.

I don’t know the holiday customs in your part of the country / world, but around here at this time of year, people often stop by to chat, celebrate, snack, and check out your tree. (In Central PA, we call this “Treeing.”)

With that in mind, I thought it would be nice to have a tray of ready-to-go sweet seasonal treats for folks to nibble on when they visit.

Since everything is set up on a tray, I can just pull it off the shelf and take it to the kitchen if folks are gathered there for cocktails or pop it on the dining room table to serve as dessert after a casual pizza night or even slide it onto the coffee table for snacks while we’re watching a favorite Christmas movie. Pretty handy, right?

The season of celebrating is upon us. I hope these festive ideas will make your holiday entertaining even merrier.

Cheers!

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Woodland Inspired Christmas Tree – Rustic Christmas Tree Decorations

Holidays

Monday
Dec / 1 / 2014
Comments 454

Today I’m sharing my woodland-inspired Christmas tree decked out with red and rustic Christmas tree decorations!

Welcome to Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas! I can’t tell you how much I love participating in this series each year. Honestly, it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when the holiday season rolls around. Not only do I get to share inspiration with all of you, but I get to team up with some of my favorite bloggers. Be sure to check out all of their Day 1 projects at the end of this post.

Also, if you’d like to join us in this 12 Day adventure, we’d love to have you. If you are inspired to recreate anything we make, share it with us on social media using the hashtag #12days72ideas. We can’t wait to see what inspires you!

Technically, I’m cheating on today’s post because I’m sharing a tree I decorated back in October. It turned out super cute, and it is a Christmas tree after all so I hope it’s OK to post about it. Please know that I also will be sharing some techniques and unique touches that you can use to make your tree extra special. Sound fair?

Woodland Inspired Christmas Tree with Rustic Christmas Tree Decorations

I started with a standard green tree. (This one here.). I always think it’s wise to invest in a quality tree. Not only will a good tree last for years, but you get what you pay for. You want a full tree so you can’t see through it. Realistic branches are also always a plus. I opted for the pre-lit variety because it saves so much time.

Whenever I’m decorating a tree, I like to begin with a ribbon. Ribbon offers a bit of a backdrop for your decorations. It also helps to fill up the tree if you happen to be light on ornaments. I chose this thick black and red gingham flannel. I could spend all winter in a shirt with this pattern, so why not wrap my tree in it?

For this particular tree, I opted for an “Into the Woods” theme. Although the tree bears no resemblance, the theme was inspired by the movie of that name that’s coming out soon and Taylor Swift’s new song. (People, you have to take whatever inspiration you can get wherever you can get it, no questions asked.)

As much as I love traditional ornaments, it’s always fun to think outside the box when it comes to Christmas tree decor. (Donna of Funky Junk Interiors is the queen of unique tree trimmings.)

These red lanterns are the perfect non-traditional ornament! Not only do they go with the tree, but you can put smaller ornaments, battery operated tea lights, or other treasures inside the lanterns.

I also found an inexpensive Christmas village, so I just tucked several of the houses right inside the tree.

Lastly, I picked up these adorable woodland creatures (a.k.a. squirrels) and added them as well.

I then threw on some traditional ornaments to fill in anywhere things looked a little sparse.

Finally, to bring my “Into the Woods” theme home, I added some icy red berry picks and a few snow covered pinecones.

What to see more Christmas Trees? Check out these:

With that, my tree was complete! Colorful, warm, and cozy. I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?

See how the other 12 Days Bloggers are decking their halls.

Front Door Christmas Decorating from Shanty 2 Chic

Branch Candle Centerpiece from Funky Junk Interiors

Blue and White Christmas Decorating from Thistlewood Farms

Advent Calendar from Songbird

Colorful and Crafty Printables from Remodelaholic

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DIY Holiday Art

DIY

Friday
Nov / 28 / 2014
Comments 6

IBC readers know that I love good DIY / craft projects. This time of year I love them even more. To me, there’s just something about homemade that adds an extra special touch to the holidays.

When doing a DIY project, I prefer a craft that is practical and useful. I don’t like to make things just to make things. I already have plenty of stuff in my house (I’m noticing this even more as I start decorating for the holidays.); I don’t need a closet full of unused crafts.

As the Lifestyle Expert for Staples’ Holiday Council, one of my responsibilities is to help folks get ready for the holidays with as little stress as possible. When Staples gave me the challenge of creating a DIY project for the home, I knew it needed to be useful, beautiful, and stress-free.

With all of that in mind, I made this DIY Holiday Art using colorful tape from Scotch (Staples has a huge selection.), cardstock, and an X-Acto knife. Switching out existing art or adding some new art is a great way to deck your halls with a little holiday spirit. Plus these are fully customizable so you can change the words, size, color, etc.

Let me show you how to make this type of holiday art for your own home.

DIY Holiday Art

You will need:
cardstock
X-Acto knife
washi tape
glue (optional)

Begin by creating a document on your computer with words or image you’d like to use for your artwork. (I used the word “merry” and an image of a pine tree.) Then print the words and design on card stock. (If you don’t want to use a computer – you can freehand the design with a pencil.)

Next, cut out the design with an X-Acto knife. Do this on a self-healing mat, scrap piece of wood, or another surface you don’t mind damaging.

For letters such as “R” or “O”, you’ll want to save the center pieces you cut out, so that you can glue them on later.

With your design cut out, get another piece of card stock and start applying washi tape. This card stock will go behind your cutout, revealing the design of the tape.

You can apply the tape in a pattern or random fashion. I chose horizontal stripes with gold “garland” for the tree and a plaid pattern for “merry”.

Once you have completed your design, secure your cutout on top and tape it in place on the back. At this point, you can also glue on any of the letter center pieces that you cut out and saved.

After that, pop your art into a frame, and it’s ready to display.

Easy and customizable art; who doesn’t love that?

I just swapped out this seasonal art with some everyday pieces so that I didn’t have to buy new frames.

I took a modern approach with my design. If you like things a bit more rustic or country, use a brown kraft cardstock instead of white and use red, green, and gold tape. Tuck the art in a wood or black frame and you’re in business.

There are so many options.

I hope you enjoyed this project. What things are you planning on DIYing this holiday season?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Staples. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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White Christmas

Entertaining

Wednesday
Nov / 26 / 2014
Comments 6

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Do you have your stretchy pants on? Are you ready to consume a massive amount of food? I am!

I’m popping in today to share a little holiday celebration I whipped up. I created this pretty little party themed around a White Christmas. I was in a bit of a panic about putting this together because my creative brain has been on the fritz lately. What really helped, however, was having a color as my focus; I chose white. It guided the decor as well as the cocktails I whipped up.

My lack of energy also paid off in another way. I didn’t want to iron a white table cloth so I just used a sheepskin rug. The texture was gorgeous. I’m always amazing how simply by choosing a color (or two), you can create a celebration around it.

I also made two cocktails for the party – a White Christmas Martini and this Cherry Almond Cocktail. You can find the recipe for the White Christmas Martini HERE. You can find the recipe for the Cherry Almond Cocktail HERE.

They both taste as delicious as they look!

In other news, I’ve been busy developing more posts for BHG. These chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookies are my new favorite. And, if you’ve started decorating for the holidays, take a look at my latest roundup of festive wreaths.

Over on eBay, I’ve created a few new guides. My seasonal favorites thus far are Ideas for Decorating with Vintage Ornaments and everything you wanted to know about Hosting a Cookie Swap.

Lastly, have you heard the new Paramore song featuring Joy Williams? I’m officially obsessed. Check it out here.

Okay, back to holiday decorating and eggnog drinking.

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Holiday Letter Bling

DIY

Thursday
Nov / 20 / 2014
Comments 7

Holiday Letter Bling | Inspired by Charm

Hey there, friends! I’m back with another 10-Minute Decorating Idea. You may remember that I teamed up with some of my blogger friends and host Laura of Finding Home this year to share decorating tips and tricks that can come together in fewer than 10 minutes. With the holidays almost upon us, we figured that you could use some ideas for decking your halls in as little time as possible.

Today, I have three ideas for personalizing and adding holiday sparkle to everyday items. I’m calling it Holiday Letter Bling! Sound good?

While I was shopping the other day, I stumbled upon these gold and silver letter stickers at Staples. Since metallics are made for the holidays, I bought a couple packs knowing that they would come in handy during my seasonal decorating. Little did I know how many ideas I’d be able to come up with. Let me show you.

Each year I like swapping out some of my artwork to add little festive touches around my house.

For this project, I used a piece of pink paper and spelled out the word “Noel”. I popped it in a white frame, placed it on the shelf, added a couple other accessories befitting the season, and BAM – instant colorful holiday cheer.

You can spell out whatever seasonal word works for you – merry, comfort & joy, Christmas, etc. You get the idea.

Next, I decided to give these letters a try on some white plates. Guess what? They worked!

The letters aren’t super sticky, so they will peel off easily when the holidays are over.

You can spell out a Christmas word like I did, or use the letters to describe what you’re serving. Although it’s kind of obvious, I think the word “cheese” would be fun on a cheese plate. I’ve always been a big fan of details. It’s little touches like these that make a party memorable.

Last but not least, these letters look great on glass ornaments. I have a huge collection of colorful glass balls, so I’m always looking for different ways to use them.

Here, I just added the first letter of a person’s name.

Of course, you can hang these ornaments on your tree. However, I also love using them in place settings on my holiday table. It’s a unique way to indicate where people should sit, plus guests can take home the ornament as a little favor. Personalization makes everyone feel special. Again, it’s all in the details.

Also, if your ornament is large enough, you could use all three letters of a person’s initials. This would also be helpful if you have multiple guests whose first names begin with the same letter.

Cute ideas, right? There are bound to be more before December 25. At least I hope so. I have a lot more letters to use.

How would you use these letters to add a little holiday sparkle and cheer to your home, gifts, etc.?

For more 10-Minute Decorating Ideas, check out what my fellow bloggers are doing around their homes this holiday season. Everything is linked up below.

Four Generations One Roof – Holiday Ornament Napkin Holder
Thistlewood Farms – Advent Calendar Votives (and more!)
I Heart Organizing – Embellished Tea Towel
Finding Home – Faux Fur Garland

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Silver Christmas Tree – Pink Christmas Tree Decorations

Interiors

Wednesday
Nov / 19 / 2014
Comments 17

Perfectly sweet pink Christmas Tree decorations inspired by the sweet things in life!

Believe it or not, I’ve been decorating for Christmas since early October. Well, sort of. Last year I received a couple trees from Treetopia and used them in decking out my home for the holidays. (You can check the trees out here and here.) Treetopia was so pleased with my mad tree trimming skills that they commissioned me to do a couple trees for them to show on their website.

Since I love coming up with themes and decorating trees, I happily obliged. However, I had to get started early so they could get the photos up on their site. It was so long ago, that the trees are actually down and packed away.

Pink Christmas Tree Decorations:

Displaying the trees on IBC wasn’t part of our agreement, but I figured you might be interested in seeing how they turned out. Today I’m going to show you one of the trees I decorated, and next week I’ll share the other. Sound good?

For this first one, I started with a pre-lit silver tree. Because I once owned a gift shop, I still get catalogs from wholesalers and was able to order a lot of really amazing ornaments. My theme for this tree was inspired by a collection of sweets-related ornaments: Ice cream sundaes, cones, cakes, and gingerbread houses in pretty pastels.

Since I love mixing old and new, I also included some vintage pink and gold balls and pink teardrops.

To bring everything together, I found this luscious hot pink and red velvet ribbon.

Pink Christmas Tree Ribbon:

Starting at the top, I worked my way down and around, very loosely tucking the ribbon in here and there. – If you ever feel your tree is missing something, begin your tree trimming with gorgeous ribbon. (The wide wired kind works best.)

Instead of just putting everything on all at once, I like to add one type of ornament at a time. That way I can make sure there’s a nice distribution over the entire tree.

With all of the ornaments in place, I decided to add one final element – this white netted ribbon with pom poms attached to it. I couldn’t believe how well it worked. It was like the icing (and the sprinkles) on an already exquisitely decorated cake.

A vintage tinsel topper finished off the tree.

To me, it looks almost good enough to eat. What do you think?

Pink Christmas Tree Decorations:

What to see more Christmas Trees? Check out these:

Join me back here next week to see the second tree I styled for Treetopia. It’s a totally different look!

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How to Brine a Turkey

Recipes

Tuesday
Nov / 18 / 2014
Comments 11

How to Brine a Turkey | Inspired by Charm

A week ago I cooked a turkey for the first time. I’d never really had a reason to make one before. For Thanksgiving, my mom, grandma, or some other family member has always had turkey duty. I was just in charge of eating duty.

You might be wondering what prompted me to finally cook a turkey. Although I love to bake, I’m trying to hone my cooking skills as well. So when Wish-Bone asked me to be one of their Chief Turkey Officers this year, I jumped at the chance.

You also might be asking yourself what Wish-bone salad dressing has to do with turkey. Well, you can use their Italian (or Robusto Italian) dressing as a brine to get a really moist and juicy turkey. I mean, it makes a great marinade, so why not a brine? Plus, the flavor is fabulous! Who knew?

Well, apparently a lot of people. Since lots of folks seem to be using Wish-bone as a brine, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give it a try too! The process is simple. The night before you plan to cook it, place your thawed turkey in a large plastic bag. Add in chicken broth and your Wish-Bone dressing and tightly close the bag. Then, pop it in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight. That’s it.

Let the turkey sit in the brine in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours or overnight, and you are set for a delicious, juicy bird.

I wasn’t making stuffing with my turkey, so I put a quartered orange and quartered onion inside. This added a wonderful savory, citrus flavor to the meat.

After my turkey had been in the oven for a few hours, my house smelled ah-mazing and my turkey was ready. I gave it a quick basting and let it set for about 15 minutes before slicing.

The flavor was so wonderful, and the brine really kept the turkey moist. I was immensely pleased with the success of my first turkey cooking venture. (Thanks, Wish-Bone!)

If you want to give this a try, check out the full recipe below. Enjoy and Happy Turkey Day!

How To Brine A Turkey

Here’s what you will need:

1 turkey (12 – 16 lbs.)
2 bottle Wish-bone Robusto Italian Dressing
1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
Large food-safe plastic bag

Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities; refrigerate for another use or discard. Place turkey breast side down in bag or container. Pour dressing and broth over turkey. Close bag or cover pan. Marinate in refrigerator 12 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove turkey from bag or pan; discard brine.

Place turkey on a flat rack in a roasting pan; add 1 cup of water to bottom of pan. (I also placed a quartered onion and orange inside the turkey for a citrusy, savory flavor.)

Cook 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reaches 180°F. Cover turkey loosely with aluminum foil after the first 30 minutes to prevent turkey from getting to dark. Let turkey stand 15 minutes before carving.

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Wish-Bone. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Tiramisu Martini

Recipes

Friday
Nov / 14 / 2014
Comments 13

Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, this Tiramisu Martini is an delicious and decadent cocktail recipe!

Okay. Okay. I know I’ve been gushing about my recent cruise, but it was so magical and memorable, that I just can’t stop talking about.

If you’ve never been on a cruise, it’s definitely something I hope you will get to experience at some point in your life. I was very lucky to go on this particular one with my mom. I know it might seem a bit strange for a thirty-something to go on a cruise with his mom, but my mom is one of my best friends, our trip totally rocked, and I’m super proud to admit that.

In addition to getting to spend some quality time together, it was a relaxing week for both of us. With limited access to the outside world, it truly was a getaway. I won’t bore (i.e., tease) you with all the details, but I would be remiss not to say a few things about our Carnival cruise.

First, the food. Incredible. Everything, from breakfast to the late night chocolates on our pillows, was fabulous. If you’re ever hungry on a cruise ship, it’s your own fault. The culinary options are practically endless. I’m pretty sure we were full 90% of the trip. Which might explain the 5+ pounds I gained. Secondly, you are constantly entertained – if you want to be. While there are plenty of quiet places around the ship where you can relax, there are also shows, musicians, magicians, a piano bar, comedians, bingo, a casino, minigolf, a water slide, dance classes, yoga,. . . the list goes on. I will also say, we had THE BEST Cruise Director, Gary. (The Cruise Director is your guide and host throughout the entire week.) I can’t tell you how many times Gary had my mom and me cracking up. Hilarious. And as if all of those activities weren’t enough, we had access to a spa and gym, three pools, countless hot tubs, and many other amenities aboard the ship.

Among those amenities were several bars. So of course, Mom and I indulged in a few drinks. My favorite drink, hands down, was a Miami Vice – half Pina Colada, half Strawberry Daiquiri – garnished with a slice of pineapple, a cherry, and a cute umbrella. YES! It was like a mini-vacation in a glass. And while I wanted to show you how to recreate one, I realized that making one at home would a bit labor intensive. Plus, some things are better saved for a real vacation.

I did, however, bring home a cocktail recipe to share with you. The bar that Mom and I seemed to frequent the most was the Lobby Bar. We found ourselves there every evening listening to live music and having a drink before dinner. (I’d also like to give a little shout out to Indah, our favorite bartender [and person] on the ship. (Indah, If you’re reading this, I want to thank you again for treating us like family.)

Tiramisu Martini:

In addition to the Miami Vice, we loved the Tiramisu Martini. After my first sip, this quickly became my go-to martini for the trip. It’s a combination of so many of my favorite liquors. And, with the ingredients listed on the menu, it was a breeze for me to recreate and share with you! That’s right, I brought home a delicious souvenir for each of you. You’re welcome.

You’ll notice that this martini is comprised almost entirely of alcohol. (If you think about it, most martinis are.) However, by some magical powers, when mixed together, these seven liquors barely taste like alcohol. Yeah, it’s that good. Plus, the glass has a chocolate swirl. In my book, anything with a chocolate swirl is automatically delicious.

Anyway, I’ve blabbered more than enough, and you’re clearly here for a delicious cocktail. Thanks for humoring me. PLEASE try this cocktail; then book a cruise. You’ll thank me.

How to Make a Tiramisu Martini:

Tiramisu Martini

Here's what you will need:

1 oz Coconut Rum
1 oz Frangelico
1 oz Irish Cream
1 oz Amaretto
1 oz Kahlua
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
Maraschino cherry
Chocolate syrup
Ice

In a martini glass, add a swirl of chocolate syrup, then garnish with a maraschino cherry. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all liquors. Shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared martini glass.

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Decorating with Travel Souvenirs

Interiors

Thursday
Nov / 6 / 2014
Comments 16

Decorating with Travel Souvenirs | Inspired by Charm

Over the past couple years I’ve had the chance to travel to some wonderful places for either work or vacation. I’ve been to New York City, Ireland, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), Atlanta, and most recently, a cruise with Carnival through the Caribbean. It’s been a whirlwind, and I’ve loved every minute of it.

No doubt, you’ve already realized that I love to shop. Wherever I’m traveling, I always try to carve out time to visit some of the local stores. I do this for two reasons. First, the shopping in my area is limited. So when I’m traveling, especially to larger areas, I love hitting up my favorite clothing and home decor places to check out what’s new. Secondly, I like to buy mementos of my trips. Things that I can look at, touch, or taste. Things that transport me mentally to that time and place.

While I like to bring home items for friends and family, I always make it a point to get a little something for myself. A souvenir that I can use to style my home. I can’t recall his exact words, but I remember a few years ago hearing Nate Berkus talk about decorating with things that matter. He said he likes to have things around his home that remind him of where he’s been, who he loves, and where he wants to go. He went on to say that when you have things like this around you, that’s when the magic happens with design and style, and you can really start having fun.

That idea has stayed with me, so in addition to taking photos (which can also used for decorating – witness my wanderlust gallery wall), I like to bring home a souvenir or two.

Just as I did following my Portland adventure, I thought I’d share some of the things that I brought back from my cruise and show you how I’m using them (or plan to use them in my home.) Cool?

While cruising on the Carnival Liberty we stopped at four different ports, so I picked up something at each. Our first stop was in Cozumel, Mexico. There, I found this beautiful carved vessel.

With intricate details and tiny piercings, I thought this would be ideal for a candle. I love small items such as this that don’t take up much space, but are sure to spark conversation.

Next up, we traveled to beautiful Belize. After checking out a few of the shops, I found this unique stone artwork that was actually crafted there. I’m planning an art wall of sorts in my closet renovation (more on that soon), and the color palette of this piece is perfection. Plus, it makes me smile.

I’d also picked up a tie-dyed tank top that reads “You better Belize it!” And while I’m not featuring the shirt in today’s post, I will try to Instagram it at some point. I love a good catchphrase on a shirt and this was especially meaningful as my friends and I had thought about planning a trip to Belize. I think they’ll get a kick out of it.

Sailing a little farther South, we stopped in Mahogany Bay, Roatan in Honduras. This was my (and Mom’s) favorite stop. The boat docked near a beach. We took a chair lift over to the white sands, floated on the water, caught some rays, and sipped on really big pina coladas. Truly a slice of heaven. After sunning ourselves, we did a little shopping. I immediately gravitated to this colorful and gold trimmed tray.

Having been to a few of the places featured, I thought this would be fun to have on my coffee table or use for serving drinks and snacks at a party. It’s also a cute catch-all for vacation Instagram pictures.

I was so in love with this port that I actually picked up another treasure – this woven bowl with (for lack of better word) plates. I was really drawn to the colors and texture.

While I haven’t picked a permanent spot for them yet, they are destined to hang on a wall somewhere in my home in the very near future. Stay tuned.

As we neared the end of the trip, we traveled back north and stopped at our final port of call: Costa Maya, Mexico. Here, with thoughts of the upcoming holidays, I found a pair of ornaments for my tree.

The colors and artistic paintings on each bulb had me at first sight. My mom also picked up a pair for her tree.

Thankfully, all of my purchases fit nicely into my carry-on bag and arrived home safely. Now, there are souvenirs tucked throughout my home to remind me of the unforgettable and beautiful vacation I got to share with my mom. As Nate said, they are truly pieces to remind me of where I’ve been, who I love, and where I want to go.

Do you pick up souvenirs on your travels? What is your favorite piece and how have you used it to decorate your home?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Color Hunting in the Caribbean

Interiors

Wednesday
Oct / 29 / 2014
Comments 9

The Caribbean (or some other warm, tropical place) just might be where I’m destined to be. As I mentioned here on IBC, last week my mom and I set sail on a Carnival cruise. Not only was it super special because I got to spend tons of time with Mom, but I was able to warm my toes and my soul in crystal clear waters, warm sand, and brilliant sunshine. I think I’ll need to find a way to skip out on the cold PA winter and spend more time in someplace warm. Salt water and sand required.

While on the cruise, I kept my camera nearby to do some color hunting. I’ve always dreamed of owning a place by the ocean, and since I don’t see that happening anytime soon, I thought I could bring the sea back to my home. With color inspiration all around me, I decided to share a few of my favorite shots and how my recent adventure on the sea can inspire beautiful and colorful interior spaces.

First, in Costa Maya, Mexico I stumbled upon some of the most beautifully painted buildings. The colors were so rich and vibrant. This coral-colored shop was probably one of my favorites. Shades of this color have been popping up in interiors everywhere this past year. It’s so bright and happy. In addition to the color, I also love the texture of the cement window grid. Every space needs a little texture, right?

I’ve actually incorporated a similar color palette in one of my guest bedrooms. Coral bedding brings in that beautifully saturated color, while macrame curtains mimic the grid of the window.

Speaking of this bedroom, I’ve been struggling with the teal color on the wall around the fireplace. While I love the color, I’m just not sure it’s working in the space. However, in Roatan, Honduras, I found inspiration at another store front.

A turquoise fence in front of lush green foliage (with a pop of yellow) looks beautiful against a cream and coral background. This classic tropical color combination just may be what I need to finish off this guest room. What do you think?

I also found a little color happiness on the seas. If you’ve never seen a sunset or a sunrise in the middle of the ocean, I hope you’ll get a chance to do so. Either will truly take your breath away.

As all of you know, I have one other bedroom in my house that’s in desperate need of a makeover. I’ve actually had this room planned for quite some time. Without giving too much away (because you know my plans can change quickly), I was inspired by a morning view off the balcony of my stateroom. Bright orange lifeboats complement the sparkling sea and white fluffy clouds perfectly. Orange and blue are opposite on the color scale so they work beautifully together without trying too hard. Who would have thought you could find color inspiration in lifeboats?

This color combination can be seen again in this beautiful sunset. I told you it was a breathtaking time of day.

Last but not least, my color hunting wouldn’t be complete without something for my living room decor. While nature has yet to reproduce all of the colors found in this space (I know, there are a lot), I did find touches here and there.

I love this picture from Costa Maya, Mexico. The yellow markings of the curb are striking near the crystal clear waters.

Throw in a little red and blue with Carnival’s signature funnel and a little green in a palm tree and you basically have my living room in the Caribbean.

Do you see it?

While I have a bunch more pictures, I think the ones I’ve shared here show that you can find color inspiration everywhere, even on vacation. And quite honestly, what better place to look than in the Caribbean!

Where do you find color inspiration for your home?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Recipes

Thursday
Oct / 23 / 2014
Comments 8

Friends, I’m starting to get worried. We are already halfway through October, and my pumpkin-flavored intake is unusually low. I have only had two pumpkin spice lattes all season. I’m starting to get the shakes.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake:

Many of you are probably aware that, In addition to my fondness for light fixtures, cats, and brass, I have an obsession with pumpkin bake goods. While I have made a few pumpkin things this year, I’ve been trying to eat a bit healthier so most of my creations have been sent away almost as soon as they come out of the oven.

So, despite all of my efforts to avoid temptation in order to drop a few pounds (which hasn’t worked), I figured I might as well indulge a bit and enjoy a few pumpkin-y treats while the season is here.

Today, I’m going to show you how to bake this flavorful Pumpkin Coffee Cake. I was inspired to create this deliciousness from a recipe on Sally’s Baking Addition. Thanks for the inspiration!

I also recently got this adorable stoneware pan (unfortunately it’s no longer available) and needed a way to fill it with something sweet and wonderful ASAP. Isn’t it amazing!?

How to Make Pumpkin Coffee Cake:

Like any coffee cake, this comes together so quickly. Plus, the end result is great for breakfast, a snack, or an after dinner dessert. I can promise you it won’t be sitting around for long.

To make it extra special, I took a little time to do a fun cross-hatch pattern on the top with glaze. It’s a lot easier than it looks. Once your glaze is ready, add it to a piping bag (or plastic baggie – Just snip off a very small corner of the bag.) and drizzle over the cake horizontally, then vertically. That’s it! It looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.

If you have a moderate- to high-pumpkin obsession like me, be sure to give this coffee cake a try and let me know what you think. Happy baking!

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe:

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Here's what you will need:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 whole egg
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup whole milk

Crumb topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cold butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2-3 tablespoons whole milk

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Then, spray a 9x13-inch pan with baking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Set aside. Then, in a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, egg, and maple syrup until blended. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. Do not over mix. Spoon the batter into your prepared baking pan. Spread evenly.

Next, make the crumb topping. In a small bowl, toss together the flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a fork or pastry blender. The mixture should be crumb-like. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the batter.

Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack.

In the meantime, prepare your glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Then whisk in the milk. If your glaze looks thick, add more milk, a teaspoon at a time. Drizzle the glaze over your cooled cake.

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Ghost Cupcakes

Recipes

Tuesday
Oct / 21 / 2014
Comments 7

With All Hallows’ Eve just a week away, I wanted to pop in with one final Halloween-inspired treat. As I’ve mentioned, I try not to get too involved with a lot of Halloween-related things, however, I do have moments when I get sucked right in. Sometimes so much so that I feel like I have this hidden love for the spooky holiday.

Last year my friends and I went to a Halloween party and had a blast. This year our plans are still undetermined. But should the need arise, I do have a few costume ideas up my sleeve.

Anyway, back to the recipe. There are so many creative ways to change up everyday treats for Halloween. So, when I saw this recipe for a ghost cake via BHG, I thought I would would give it my own little twist and turn it into cupcakes. I actually created these last year, but wanted to share them with you today.

The one reason I really wanted to make these cupcakes was the chance to experiment with these adorable chocolate trees. They were so fun and easy to create. I love the effect of the sprinkles which give the trees texture and some “leaves.”

These cupcakes are topped with a meringue frosting, also known as seven-minute frosting. The recipe might appear a bit intimidating since it uses a double-boiler. But give it a try; it’s actually quite simple.

All in all, because these cupcakes are made with a boxed cake mix, they come together rather quickly. However, with all of the fun and spooky little details, it will look like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Are they not the most adorable things you’ve ever seen?

They are such a sweet and spooky touch for a Halloween party or any fall get together.

What fun treats are you whipping up for this Halloween? If you happen to give these ghost cupcakes a try, be sure to share them on Instagram! Tag @inspiredbycharm and #inspiredbycharm so I can see your creations!

Ghost Cupcakes

Here's what you will need:
1 chocolate cake mix (and items, such as eggs, listed on the package)
1/3 cup chocolate melting wafers (I prefer the ones from Ghirardelli.)
Chocolate and colored sprinkles

Meringue frosting:
3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup cold water
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Begin by preparing your cupcakes according to the package directions. Allow to cool.

Next, you'll want to make your trees. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Then, in a double broiler (or microwave), melt the chocolate discs. Once the chocolate is completely melted, transfer it to a plastic piping bag (or plastic baggie) and snip off a small piece from the end / corner. On the wax paper, pipe out your trees. You'll want to make them about 2 to 3 inches tall. Also, be sure to make them thick enough so that they won't break when hardened. Before the chocolate sets, add sprinkles to look like leaves. Chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened.

In the meantime, prepare your frosting.

In a double boiler, combine the sugar, water, egg whites, and cream of tartar. Cook, beating constantly with the electric mixer on high speed for about 10 - 13 minutes. (The frosting should read 160 degrees F on a candy thermometer.) Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to prevent sticking.

Remove the pan from the heat and add vanilla; then continue to beat for about one more minute or until the frosting is fluffy and will hold soft to stiff peaks.

Add a base coat of frosting to each cupcake. Then, using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe the frosting in one mound on top of each cupcake. Use two dark colored sprinkles for the eyes.

Then, carefully peel the trees from the waxed paper and press into each cupcake behind the ghost.

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Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Recipes

Tuesday
Oct / 14 / 2014
Comments 17

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches | Inspired by Charm

Hey there, friends! I’m back today with another simple and totally delicious recipe. I’m always looking for easy yet flavorful party snacks, and these mini grilled cheese sandwiches are a winner.

As I’ve mentioned before, My mom and I are getting ready to set sail on a cruise. I’m ridiculously excited. Of course, I’ve been perusing the Carnival site in order to learn about all of the activities and dining options. We are sailing on the Carnival Breeze, and I noticed it has a restaurant called The Taste Bar. It’s basically a restaurant of snacks. Snacks, people! I live for snacks. Anyway, when I was looking through the photos and saw these little grilled cheese sandwiches, I was inspired to create my own.

I used two different cheeses in my sandwiches. Since there are only two main ingredients, bread and cheese, you want to use the good stuff. For these, I’m using Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheddar and Kerrygold’s Dubliner. When I made my Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, I discovered that these two work well together so I knew the combination would also be perfect for sandwiches.

For the soup, you can certainly make your own. However, I just picked up a really thick and hearty premade tomato basil bisque.

Let me walk you through the recipe; then we will talk about presentation.

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Here's what you will need:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
12 slices white bread
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
7 ounces Dubliner cheese, sliced
2 cups tomato basil soup

Begin by preheating a large skillet on medium heat. Then, generously butter one side of a slice of bread.

Place the bread butter side down onto the skillet; then top with a slice of each cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place it butter-side-up on top of the sandwich.

Grill until lightly brown and then flip over. Continue grilling until both sides are golden and the cheese is melted. Do the same with the remaining bread and cheese.

Allow the sandwiches to cool slightly. Trim off the crust and cut the sandwiches into 4-5 thin strips.

Heat the tomato basil soup in the microwave or on the stove and serve on the side.

And that’s it. I really love these as an appetizer because they are classic comfort food. Plus, they are not overly fancy, and you can still make them look really special and elegant. Below are a couple ideas.

One possibility is to set all of your mini sandwiches on one plate and serve with a bowl of tomato soup for dipping.

So simple, but still really beautiful and fun.

If you have a bit more time, and maybe a smaller group, you can set up individual servings. Use shot glasses for serving the soup and pair with two mini grilled cheese sandwiches.

Who knew that grilled cheese could be so fancy, right?

However you decide to serve them, you really need to give this recipe a try at your next gathering. I promise your guests will rave!

Oh, and be sure to swing by the Carnival website and check out some of their other on-board dining options. What looks most delicious to you?

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

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Stylish Halloween Mantel Decor

DIY, Interiors

Friday
Oct / 10 / 2014
Comments 14

Stylish Halloween Mantel | Inspired by Charm

Another week has passed and Friday is back to greet us with a big hug. I couldn’t be happier since I’m headed to a concert this evening with my BFF. I managed to score front row seats so I’m crazy excited. I’ll share all of the details next week

Anyway, after recently creating a few Halloween-themed projects (a succulent pumpkin planter, my three DIY copper candlesticks, and this guide to stylish Halloween decor), I thought my living room, specifically my fireplace, needed to be styled for the upcoming holiday.

As much as I enjoy pumpkins and spiders, I’m not into the blood and guts side of Halloween. I love my newly creepified mantel and the simple, yet festive ideas it includes. Let’s check out my stylish halloween mantel.

Stylish Halloween Mantel Decor:

Spooky, but still chic and pretty, right? Okay, let me walk you through how it came together. First, I decided on a theme. Since I already had some spiders crawling around, I went with that.

Next, I chose a color scheme. I think this is so important when planning a display. I started with black, then incorporated teal and green. I used the latter colors because I already had them in my space and my seasonal decor would blend in nicely.

With those decisions made, I was off. To keep my decorations securely in place, I relied on some of Command’s Party Products. Normally, I would tape things or put in some nails and then be left with a disaster afterward. To avoid that, I used a variety of hooks, mini spring clicks and anchors. It made this so easy. Plus, they are damage-free. and I can reuse them. Love that.

Other than that, the only things I needed to purchase were the large web, some worn looking fabric, and more spiders. The rest of the items were things I had on hand. To stay within my budget, I always try to use things that I have in a different way.

I began by draping the mantel in a tattered black fabric. I attached it with the Command Banner Anchors. This allowed me to drape it in an asymmetrical way.

Across the mirror, I hung a large web. The mini spring clips were perfect for holding it in place!

Then, I stacked books in my color scheme to give a variety of heights. To keep the colors to a minimum, I placed the books so that most of the spines are facing toward the back. This also added an eery effect.

You know I love my brass, so I had to incorporate a bit of that through candlesticks. I actually repurposed the paint-dipped candlesticks I made last year since they fit the color scheme. In an ideal world, I would have all black candles, but I didn’t have enough of them so I used some deep navy ones as well.

With all of that in place, I added velvet plush pumpkins. I also incorporated real pumpkins and squash that stayed within my color scheme.

After that, I tucked in a few fake crows to lend a haunted look.

Then, spiders were scattered everywhere. I even hung one from the mantel with a ceiling hook and fishing line.

Finally, to tie the whole room in with the mantel, I moved my succulent pumpkin planter to the coffee table.

I am so pleased with how the mantel turned out.The only thing I need to do now is throw a big Halloween bash to show it off.

Halloween Mantel Decor:

What do you think? What chic ideas do you have for All Hallow’s Eve decor?

In case you are looking for other spooky but stylish Halloween decorating ideas, check out this guide full of tips!

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Command Brand. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to make this blog possible.

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