These Cookies and Cream Brownies are one of my favorite easy and decadent treats to make.
Today I want to share a bodacious brownie recipe with you: Cookies and Cream Brownies!
A couple weekends back my friend Krista’s in-laws were visiting her new house. Her mother-in-law Dot made some of the most fabulous brownies I’ve ever tasted and I decided I just had to recreate them.
They literally take minutes to make. Plus, you can customize them to your liking. It doesn’t get any better than that, right?
Cookies and Cream Brownies:
First off, a huge thanks to Dot for the delicious inspiration.
To make these brownies, you will need two boxes of your favorite brownie mix and four king-size bars of your favorite chocolate. Dot used Hersheys Milk Chocolate Bars. I’m using Hershey’s Cookies and Cream.
I didn’t have the exact recipe, so I did a little research online and found a few variations. This combination seems to be the best.
How to Make Cookies and Cream Brownies:
Basically, you just mix up your boxes of brownie mix according to the package directions. I like mine “cake like” so I throw in an extra egg.
Half of your brownie mix goes into the pan, then you layer in the chocolate bars. Then cover with the other half of your brownie mix. I lined my pan with aluminum foil as directed in one of the recipes. This made removing and cutting the brownies super easy.
That’s it! I told you they were simple. Just, wait ’til you try them.
They are so wonderfully delicious. I recommend eating them warm because the layer of melted candy bar is perfect that way. The candy bar will firm up a little bit as the brownies cool. But, in all honesty, I’ll eat them either way.
I hope you enjoyed this simple recipe. Have you tried this before? What other fun ideas do you have for jazzing up store-bought brownie mix?
2boxesbrownie mix - plus the ingredients you'll need to mix them together (eggs, water, oil.)
cooking spray
4bars(4 ounce each) Cookies and Cream candy bars
Instructions
Prepare the brownie mix according to the directions on the package.
Line a 13 x 9-inch cake pan with aluminum foil. Spray the bottom with cooking spray. Spread half of the brownie mix into the cake pan. Place the candy bars as close as possible to one another on the batter. You may have to break up one of the bars. Cover with remaining batter.
Since you are doubling up on the cake batter, these take about 35 - 40 minutes to bake. You can test their doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center. When it comes out clean, your brownies are done.
When the browinies are cool, the aluminum foil allows you to easily lift the brownies out of the pan and makes cutting them a breeze.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
These Cookies and Cream Brownies are one of my favorite easy and decadent treats to make. Today I want to share a bodacious brownie recipe with you: Cookies and Cream Brownies! A couple weekends back my friend Krista’s in-laws were visiting her new house. Her mother-in-law Dot made some of the most fabulous brownies I’ve […]
If you’re looking for a delicious appetizer recipe idea, try this Homemade Buffalo Cheese Ball. It’s so easy to make and loaded with delicious flavor!
Homemade Buffalo Cheese Ball
I don’t know about you, but this summer has been a busy one for me. I am thankful, though, because it has meant lots of fun times with my family and friends.
Whenever I head to someone’s house, I always like to bring something with me. Whether it is a big pitcher of sangria, a tray of cupcakes, or another yummy treat, I try not to show up empty-handed.
Although I tend to rely on a few standard recipes, I always keep an eye out for something new. Any recipe that is delicious, easy, and affordable is a winner in my book! If it involves cheese, so much the better!
How To Make a Buffalo Cheese Ball:
I’ve found that cheese balls are always popular at parties. They are a tasty snack, and you can get really creative with the ingredients. Since I’m also a big fan of buffalo chicken, I knew that combining the two would be a match made in heaven.
I started off with some delicious, rich, and full-flavor Extra Sharp Cracker Barrel Cheese. When you are making a cheese ball, I’ve learned you need to use really good cheese. And when you can buy award-wining cheese at the grocery store, I’m all about it! Cracker Barrel Cheese is know for it’s rich and full flavor. It really does make this recipe shine as it’s bursting with flavor!
This dish comes together so quickly; you may just want to bring it to every party.
That’s it! A delicious, quick, and easy recipe for any get together! Your friends and family will gobble it up. Just be prepared – they may be inviting you to every party from now on.
In a large bowl, mix blue cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, buffalo sauce, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. Then, form the mixture into a ball.
Spread out the chopped walnuts on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll the cheese ball in the walnuts. Wrap the plastic wrap around the ball and refrigerate it for at least thirty minutes. Serve with celery and crackers.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
If you’re looking for a delicious appetizer recipe idea, try this Homemade Buffalo Cheese Ball. It’s so easy to make and loaded with delicious flavor! Homemade Buffalo Cheese Ball I don’t know about you, but this summer has been a busy one for me. I am thankful, though, because it has meant lots of fun […]
As some of you have already guessed, I have decided to close my Gift Shoppe. Earlier this year, I closed the doors to my little inn with plans of keeping the Gift Shoppe open. However, as life moved forward, my plans changed. To be honest with you, I haven’t had the shoppe open since March.
I’m not going to get into all of the nitty-gritty, but the shoppe just wasn’t working for me anymore. A part of me feels terrible because I’ve had some amazing and supportive customers throughout the years that it was open. With my work here on IBC and my other freelance writing opportunities, I just couldn’t do it all. I think the brain, or at least my brain, can only focus on so much at one time. Plus, my travel schedule continues to pull me away, leaving the shoppe unstaffed. I also realized I wanted to invest more time and energy on IBC. While I could have hired someone to assist me, I felt that wasn’t the best option for me. I’ve been longing to turn this house into my home for so long now and I feel that the gift shoppe and all the “stuff” that comes along with it, has been preventing me from doing so. Bringing someone in to work in the shoppe would have only made this house less homey. Does that make sense?
Anyway, that’s where I am today. Starting next week, I’m having a huge clearance sale to empty the shoppe of all merchandise. (If you live around Central PA and want to visit, you can find more information about the sale here.) Once the shoppe is cleared, I’m going to turn the space into a large office / studio / living space. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.
Over the past few months, I’ve used a section of the shoppe as a makeshift office. Since I’m about to open the shoppe doors for this one last hurrah, I needed to find a temporary office. I thought the little sitting room off my bedroom would be the ideal spot. And since I haven’t had you all in my bedroom for a couple months, I figured I’d invite you back in for a minute.
Even though it’s not an ideal setup, it should work for a couple weeks. I have my computer, a few journals and notebooks, and some extra storage space for things like cameras and other devices while I work. I’m also surrounded by windows which is a huge plus! Since you’ve last been in here, I’ve added some plants (including my tabletop cactus garden) and a few other accessories.
I love so much about this space, but since this room was originally designed as a bed and breakfast room, it still doesn’t feel quite like my room. Once things are settled in the shoppe, and I can move my office back to its permanent home, I’m hoping to make a few changes in here as well.
Next week I’ll try and snap some pictures of the shoppe. In a few weeks, I’ll be able to share more about my exciting plans for the space.
Speaking of offices, you MUST head over and visit Joy the Baker today. She recently redid her home office and it’s fabulous. Thanks to my friends at My Colortopia I actually got a chance to help Joy with her redesign and was even featured in her fabulous video! While Joy had the vision and ideas, it was a blast chatting with her on the phone about color and techniques. Talk about a dream come true! Anyway, you be the judge. You can check it out here.
So that’s my news for the day. Are you working on any exciting projects in your home?
As some of you have already guessed, I have decided to close my Gift Shoppe. Earlier this year, I closed the doors to my little inn with plans of keeping the Gift Shoppe open. However, as life moved forward, my plans changed. To be honest with you, I haven’t had the shoppe open since March. […]
This Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria is a fun and tropical twist on classic sangria. It’s a delicious and unique cocktail recipe for summer sipping!
Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria:
To say that I’m kind of excited about this weekend would be a bit of an understatement. I’ve been talking about this for a couple months now, and the inevitable has arrived. Today marks the start of my 30th Birthday Weekend. My actual birthday is Monday, but I might as well make it a weekend-long event, right? You only turn the big 3-0 once, right?
My friends and I are planning a trip north to do some wine tasting, antiquing, and sightseeing. We may even stop at a casino to try our luck at the penny slots. It should be a blast of a day, and I couldn’t be more excited.
I thought a round of Drinks and Links would be the perfect way to kick off the weekend! I’m super excited to bring you today’s recipe. It’s a Pineapple, Mango, Basil Sangria. Last week when I was in Chicago I was served one of these as part of a fabulous dinner. While I didn’t have the exact recipe, I got creative and made a pretty close, if not better, replica at home.
This is such a fun take on traditional sangria. It’s really fresh and not overly sweet. Instead of the usual brandy, I used St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur. It gives a unique flavor and freshness to the drink. I will warn you – it’s a bit expensive (about $30-35 per bottle), but it’s worth every penny!
Also, mangoes are readily available in the supermarket these days and are so sweet and juicy. They make a great little garnish.
Yep, it’s really that simple! This might easily become my favorite drink for those late-summer evenings on the porch. It also gives me an excuse to use up some of my basil that is growing like a weed.
Now, in true drinks and links fashion, let’s check out what’s inspired me this week.
Cheers to these awesome people:
Any other Drop Dead Diva fans out there? It’s the only show that I watch religiously throughout the summer.
Although, I’m not the biggest Ikea fan, I am always excited to browse their annual catalog. The 2014 issue is out!
In a really strange way, I am kind of loving Selena Gomez’s new CD. In fact, the other night it helped my run three and a half miles in 28 minutes. I was so excited. I’m also really looking forward to The Civil Wars’ new album which comes out on Tuesday.
All right, I’m off to enjoy a fabulous weekend. Feel free to follow along on Instagram if you want to see what I’m doing to celebrate my big day. It should be pretty fun! You can find me at @inspiredbycharm. Last, but certainly not least, thanks to my Uncle Bill, I will leave you with this…
This Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria is a fun and tropical twist on classic sangria. It's a delicious and unique cocktail recipe for summer sipping!
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria is a fun and tropical twist on classic sangria. It’s a delicious and unique cocktail recipe for summer sipping! Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria: To say that I’m kind of excited about this weekend would be a bit of an understatement. I’ve been talking about this for a couple […]
I can’t remember if it was here, in social media land, or maybe both places, where I mentioned I have decided to start a new series on IBC. As you may have guessed from the title of this post, it’s called “I Create.” It’s sort of inspired by my “i create” Pinterest board. At any rate, over the next 365 days I’m challenging myself to create, make, or DIY 50 things. That may not sound like a lot, but if you think about it, that’s about one project per week.
In the recent blog survey, some of you wrote that you’re wanting to see more creative, crafty, and DIY things. To be honest, before you mentioned this, I had been wanting to get back into creating things myself. Thank you for the extra encouragement and push. I hope this series will provide lots of inspiration for you and help to revive my creative spirit.
As you know from previous posts, like my DIY Dot Table Runner and Gold Plant Stands, I’m part of the Lowes Creative Ideas Blogger Network. This month, our challenge was to create a tabletop garden! My initial thought was to do something with succulents, but when I was shopping at my local store, I stumbled upon some fantastic cacti. Since succulents are everywhere these days, and I already have enough, I figured I’d give cacti a try.
Needless, to say, I’m so glad that I did! Check out how adorable my little Tabletop Cactus Garden turned out. I’m loving it. To be honest, I had been steering clear of any sort of terrarium because the ones I tried in the past always died within weeks of planting. Feeling a little more confident, I’m giving it another go. I think the key is not to overwater. I’ll keep you updated.
Let me show you how I put this together.
Here’s what you’ll need:
a shallow container
soil (for cactus, palm, and citrus)
gloves
rocks
assorted cacti
Let’s get creating!
Line the bottom of a shallow dish with rocks. You can use any type of dish you have. I liked this particular dish because it’s clear, round, and fairly shallow.
Then start putting in your cacti. Because the pots are taller than my dish I cleared as much soil as possible off the of roots of each cactus before putting them into my dish. This way, the bottom of my cacti would be flush with the top of the dish.
After that, fill in with dirt.
Finish off the garden with a few more rocks. I like to put them in groups of two or three.
That’s it! Your garden is complete. It literally takes all of ten minutes to do this project and the results are spectacular. Other than the dish, I got allof my supplies at Lowes.
To be honest, I haven’t really been a cacti fan in the past, but I’m totally in love with them these days. Their textures and shapes add so much variety, interest, and life to a space. Plus, they bring a wonderful contemporary feel to a room. I think a terrarium filled with cacti would also make a great gift.
Have you had any success with tabletop gardens or terrariums? Think you’ll give one a try?
I am a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Network (along with some other fantastic bloggers). I did receive a Lowe’s gift card to purchase supplies to complete my project. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.
I can’t remember if it was here, in social media land, or maybe both places, where I mentioned I have decided to start a new series on IBC. As you may have guessed from the title of this post, it’s called “I Create.” It’s sort of inspired by my “i create” Pinterest board. At any […]
Well, this weekend turned out to be a little busier than I expected. I made a last-minute trip to Chicago for the BlogHer Conference – my first-ever blog conference! It was certainly a fun weekend.
Travel – I didn’t have plans to travel a lot this summer. With so many trips earlier this year, I just wanted to stay home and savor the warm weather. But, when opportunity knocks, you have to answer. I was actually able to attend the BlogHer conference thanks to my friends at RedEnvelope. You may remember that I worked with them about a year ago. They are a fabulous company, so I was honored to tag along.
Meet – Blog conferences are certainly interesting. I would have to say my favorite part is getting to meet wonderful people I’ve been following online for years. At this conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Eden of Sugar and Charm, Amy of Mod Podge Rocks, Jenny of Picky Palate, Maria of Two Peas & Their Pod, Ali of Gimme Some Oven, and Katja of Skimbaco. I was also thrilled to see some familiar faces, including Jamielyn of I Heart Naptime (pictured above) and Joanne of Fifteen Spatulas. For me, this will always be my favorite part of the conference.
Eat – While in Chicago I had dinner at the amazing Zed451. It’s a Brazilian steakhouse, and this was my first time at a restaurant like this.A waiter delivered and carved meat at the table while appetizers and sides could be gathered at one of the most impressive buffets I’ve ever seen. Not only was everything delicious, but it was quite an experience.I highly recommend it if you are ever in the Chicago area.
Review – During my travels, I’ve been reading through the amazing comments you all left via the reader survey. This particular one made me laugh out loud. I hope to share some survey results this week or next. Stay tuned!
Drink – After waking up at 4 am in Chicago on Saturday morning, by 1:30 pm I was back home and at the local Tasting in the Wilds art, wine, beer, and food festival. It rained the entire day, but that didn’t stop us from having a blast!
Taste – So after another couple days of not-so-health-conscious-food, it’s back to salads for me. Just when I started to get on track, I fell right off again. Aaack!
Enjoy – On Sunday evening I wrapped up the weekend with the first deck-dinner at my BFF’s new house. We grilled, ate corn-on-the-cob, enjoyed amazing brownies (recipe coming soon), and had lots of great conversations. I live for evenings like this! I don’t want this summer to end!
That about wraps things up for my weekend. How did you spend yours?
Well, this weekend turned out to be a little busier than I expected. I made a last-minute trip to Chicago for the BlogHer Conference – my first-ever blog conference! It was certainly a fun weekend. Travel – I didn’t have plans to travel a lot this summer. With so many trips earlier this year, I […]
As I mentioned earlier this week, my overall diet for the summer has been downright terrible. Because of this, I’m now convinced that diet really does affect a person’s mood. A diet heavy on sweets, carbs, and a few beers here and there has left me feeling so tired and sluggish. This week when I went grocery shopping I filled my cart with fruits, veggies, yogurt, almonds, and lots of other healthy goodies!
That means I’ve been eating lots of salads, oatmeal for breakfast, and snacking on fruits. I’ve also been drinking a lot more water. And you know what, I’m already feeling more energized and focused. It’s actually pretty amazing. I wanted to share my Tuesday night dinner with you as I was really pleased with the way it turned out. I think it would make an awesome main course for a small get together. I’m calling it a Veggie Wedgie Salad.
Fair warning, this is one of those no-recipe recipes. I’ll share what I did, but feel free to mix it up and serve it any way you like. I think the real trick here is the presentation.
Veggie Wedgie Salad
Here’s what you’ll need for one salad:
1 head of romaine lettuce, cut in half
1 cup vegetables, diced
1/2 cup chicken, diced
2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles
1/4 cup croutons
2 tablespoons light blue cheese dressing
Let’s get cooking:
Lay the halved head of romaine lettuce on a plate. Sprinkle with diced vegetable, chicken, cheese, and croutons. Then drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
That’s it!
You can use whatever vegetables you love. For this particular salad, I used cherry tomatoes, corn, carrots, green olives, and red onion. I highly recommend this combination. What I particularly love is that all the veggies are diced into small pieces. This way, when you are eating the salad you are able to get a little bit of everything in one bite. It takes a little more time to prepare, but it is totally worth it. I learned that little trick from my grandparents.
I also decided to use those slate boards I got a while back. With things set slightly off center, it’s such a unique way to present the salad. Plus, there is room for your flatware!
Give it a try and let me know what you think. What combination of ingredients do you like on your salad?
As I mentioned earlier this week, my overall diet for the summer has been downright terrible. Because of this, I’m now convinced that diet really does affect a person’s mood. A diet heavy on sweets, carbs, and a few beers here and there has left me feeling so tired and sluggish. This week when I […]
I have a delicious, adorable and easy treat to share with you today!
These doughnut hole cake pops are one of the easy desserts I ever made. And I don’t think I need to mention how stinkin’ cute they look! If you can believe it, I found all the ingredients to put these delicious little treats together at Walmart! You can find the recipe, and more doughnut hole cake pop ideas, on my post today for Better Homes & Gardens.
What’s your favorite cake pop flavor?
I have a delicious, adorable and easy treat to share with you today! These doughnut hole cake pops are one of the easy desserts I ever made. And I don’t think I need to mention how stinkin’ cute they look! If you can believe it, I found all the ingredients to put these delicious little […]
I’m sort of in a mid-summer slump. To be honest, that is just a nice way of saying that I’m a hot mess. My diet is out of whack, my motivation is at an all-time low, plus a recent barrage of other general crappiness – not to mention I’m turning the big 3-0 in less than two weeks. I can’t even. Anyway, that’s my own issue to deal with. Anyone else feeling the same? Here’s what kept me busy (and temporarily out of the doldrums) this past weekend.
Wear – This just may be my new favorite shirt. If you’d like to rock the same awesomeness, you can find it here.
Snuggle – During the summer months it’s rather unusual to find my kitties snuggled together. Thankfully, I had my phone in hand when this magical moment occurred.
Drink – Okay, so Cupcake Vineyards makes some of my favorite wines and I don’t care who knows it. I was so happy to see this little guy pop up. I have yet to open it, but it sounds delicious. Thanks to all of you who recommended it via Instagram. What’s your favorite winery?
Celebrate – This past weekend was our annual family reunion at my dad’s. This year, we had more people than I’ve seen in a long time. It was a blast hanging out with my family. That’s my Dad, my brothers, my nephews and niece and me.
Bake – For the reunion, I whipped up another cake-in-jar. Remember my last one? This one was an Ooey-Gooey Chocolate Butterfinger Cake. It was pretty incredible, but I failed to take any pictures. (Evidence of what I said above – midsummer slump, hot mess, crappiness!?). I guess I will just have to make another one. Stay tuned for the recipe.
Dip – My friends and I stopped for some ice cream at the local DQ. It was one of those-wish-it-could-last-forever summer evenings – cotton candy skies and a vanilla ice cream cone dipped in cherry sauce. Perfection!
Flip – Thanks to multiple recommendations from The Handmade Mama, a.k.a. Maggie, I decided to try the new Key Lime Crumble from Chobani. Um, they are brilliant. Maybe if I start eating more of these and less cake-in-jar and ice cream, I might get my diet a little more on track.
Decorate – Last but not least, I worked on some new posts for my friends over at BHG. You know how much I love my bar cart. Well, I put together a collection of some of my favorite bar cart accessories. There is even a pig corkscrew. You can check that out here. As always, your comments there are amazing and much appreciated.
I hope you all had a fabulous summer weekend. What kept you busy?
I’m sort of in a mid-summer slump. To be honest, that is just a nice way of saying that I’m a hot mess. My diet is out of whack, my motivation is at an all-time low, plus a recent barrage of other general crappiness – not to mention I’m turning the big 3-0 in less […]
I made something. – It’s been a while, I know. And if felt really good. Several of you mentioned in my Reader Survey that you wanted to see some more projects and DIY things, so here you go. I actually have a bigger plan to bring you more posts like this, but we will talk about that on another day.
Today, I wanted to show you how I made this polka-dot-gradient-inspired table runner.
About a month ago, I saw a piece of fabric on Instagram that had these small, imperfect, almost leopard-print dots on it. I’ve also been really attracted to darker blues lately. (I blame this girl.) So, with all of this running through my brain, I decided to make a table runner. I’m so pleased with how it turned out. I will forever love anything with a dot print, plus it ended up having an accidental gradient effect which I just adore.
I intended to make two of these, but I ran out of paint. Once I get back to the store, I’ll be making another.
As I mentioned last month, I recently joined the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Blogger Network. I thought this would be a perfect project to share this month so let me show you how it came together.
DIY Dot Table Runner
If you want to make this project, here are some things you’ll need:
canvas drop cloth (from Lowe’s)
fabric paint
paint brushes
scissors
tape measure
iron
ironing board
sewing machine
thread
I had everything on hand with the exception of the drop cloth and fabric paint. I picked up the drop cloth at Lowe’s.
First, you’ll want to wash and dry the drop cloth. Then measure your table and cut the drop cloth to the size you’d like. Be sure to leave an extra 1 – 1 1/2 inches on all sides for the seam allowance. I used a runner I already had to determine the size. My finished runner is 16 x 52″. Therefore, I cut the drop cloth so it was 19 x 55″
Drop cloth is pretty amazing because it tears in straight lines. Feel free to cut out your runner, but you can also make a small cut with your scissors and then simply tear the fabric. It makes a perfectly straight line (and also helps to relieve any aggression you may be feeling).
Once your runner is cut out, give it a quick iron. This will make painting a whole lot easier.
Now you’re ready to paint. I recommend using a scrap piece of drop cloth to find the right brush, choose your colors, and perfect your pattern. Get comfortable with the paint, then move to your runner. I knew I wanted to do dots, but I tried out a few other patterns just for fun.
Once you are ready, start painting! My original plan was to do the whole runner in the darker blue color, but once I got started, I quickly realized one bottle of paint wasn’t going to be enough to cover the whole runner. This is how the gradient effect happened. Since I knew, I wouldn’t have enough, I decided to use all three colors. I did a little measuring and determined that I would start with the navy blue, fade into royal blue and then gray, go back to royal, and finish with the navy. Since there were five sections of color, I divided 55 (the length of the runner) by 5. This meant that each color section would be 11 inches. Make sense?
Not having enough of the darker blue paint and having to use the other colors was serendipitous. I’m just ecstatic about the final look!
So, this is where things get a little tedious. It took me about two hours to paint the entire runner. To be honest, I actually enjoyed the process. It gave me time to relax and rest my brain. I recommend turning on the TV or your iPad and catching up on your favorite shows. Parks and Recreation was an obvious choice for me! Treat yo self!
After you’ve finished painting, follow the directions on your particular fabric paint to make sure the color is set. The brand of paint I used indicated that it should dry for four hours. Then with an iron set on steam, I held the iron about 1/2 inches above the painted surface until the paint looked textured.
Now, it’s time to sew the edges. If you don’t have a sewing machine or don’t know how to sew, I assume you could use Stitch Witchery to get the same effect. (Also, I’m not a professional seamstress, so I apologize if I’m not doing this 100% correctly. I just did what worked.)
With your fabric painted side down, starting with the shorter side, fold the fabric over 3/4 of an inch. Iron along the seam.
Then fold over another 3/4 of an inch. Again, iron along the seam. Even though no one will see it, this will give you a clean edge on the underside of your runner. Do the same thing on the opposite side. Then, repeat these steps for the longer sides.
Your corners are going to be a little thicker, and this is where I probably should have done something different, but that doesn’t really bother me because it’s not really noticeable in the completed piece.
Then with your sewing machine, sew all around the runner.
If needed, cut off any loose threads and give it another quick iron (paint side down). Your runner is now complete!
What do you think?
I love runners this size because you can use them in two different ways. First, it can be a super cute runner lengthwise down the center of the table. This is a great look for everyday. Personally, I don’t leave my table set with plates and glassware.
Second, you can turn the runner and use it in the opposite direction on your table. Now, the runner becomes a functional piece serving as a placemat. It makes a really pretty table setting. Totally cute, right? I prefer it this way.
Paired with some green and gold, it looks super chic and contemporary while remaining kind of fun and wild. Love that! The aloe plant is also from Lowe’s. They’ve had the coolest indoor plants lately. Isn’t that pot awesome, too?
I really love a project like this because when it’s complete, you have something totally unique and homemade. Plus, when your guests ooh and aah over it and ask you where you bought it, you can tell them that you made it! Things don’t get much better than that.
So, what do you think of my new DIY Dot Table Runner? Will you be making one for your home?
I am a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Network (along with some other fantastic bloggers). I did receive a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.
I made something. – It’s been a while, I know. And if felt really good. Several of you mentioned in my Reader Survey that you wanted to see some more projects and DIY things, so here you go. I actually have a bigger plan to bring you more posts like this, but we will talk […]
Someone, please tell me it’s not actually the middle of July. Why does the summer always go so quickly? I’m hanging on to every minute of this season and enjoying it every way possible. Here’s what kept me busy this weekend.
Celebrate – First and foremost, my friend Emily celebrated her 30th birthday this weekend. It’s that time in life when our particular group of friends is turning the big 3-0. I have mixed feelings about the whole situation. Thankfully I’m the youngest of the group so I’m still enjoying my 20’s. Ha! Either way, it gives us a reason to celebrate each other so that’s never a bad thing.
Drink – We had a few celebratory drinks, including a birthday cocktail. I believe consists of birthday cake-flavored vodka (Yes there is such a thing.), vanilla vodka, and ice cream. Not too bad, right!? We also had mini-beers which are Licor 43, topped with cream. They were actually quite delicious, but tasted more like a milkshake than a beer. That works for me.
Leak – In some unfortunate news, a toilet in one of my rooms upstairs sprung a little leak. I discovered it when water started dripping from my downstairs ceiling. That’s never a good sign. Thankfully, I got the leak fixed, but it left me with some water stains on my walls and ceiling. Looks like I will have some painting to do in the near future.
Bake – In other news, this fabulous new book arrived on Friday. Yay! I can’t wait to dive into all its wonderfulness. (Theoretically, I wish I could physically dive into it. Everyone wants to swim through frosting, right?) I’ll be sharing a recipe from it soon!
Eat – You’d think the heat would have the opposite affect on my appetite, but I always find myself a little gluttonous in the summer. Over the past few weeks my diet has been nothing short of horrible and I’m feeling it. I’ve been sluggish, tired, and unmotivated. So starting today I’m moving forward with a more health-conscious diet and attempting to be a bit more physically active. Hopefully, I can shed a few of the pounds I picked up this summer.
Decorate – I snipped a few of my hedges this weekend and was able to bring a few pieces indoors. Who doesn’t love free flowers? I believe these are some type of hydrangea, but that’s about all I know.
Company – I’m often sharing pictures of my cat Sebastian because he seriously loves the camera. My other cat, Jax, goes into panic mode anytime I reach for my phone or camera so he’s gone before I can get a picture. Thankfully, this weekend he was distracted by a bunny outside so I managed to snap a few pictures. Adorable!
Love – As I’ve mentioned previously, my friends and I are on a mission to discover local restaurants instead of going to the same old places. (I can’t recommend this enough by the way. We are having a blast.) Anyway, on this week’s gastronomic foray, an Elk head greeted us at the door. It was love at first sight.
What fun adventures filled your weekend?
I also promise to stop talking about this in the next couple days, but I wanted to give you another friendly reminder to please take a couple minutes to fill out the first-ever Inspired by Charm Reader Survey. Your feedback will help me make this site even better! Thanks so much! Click here or on the image below to complete the survey.
Someone, please tell me it’s not actually the middle of July. Why does the summer always go so quickly? I’m hanging on to every minute of this season and enjoying it every way possible. Here’s what kept me busy this weekend. Celebrate – First and foremost, my friend Emily celebrated her 30th birthday this weekend. […]
These Frozen Watermelon Margaritas are a delicious and refreshing cocktail perfect for summer sipping!
Watermelon Margaritas:
During the summer one of my favorite things to snack on is watermelon. Not only is it refreshing, but it’s sweet and can sometimes fill those cravings for cake and cookies.
Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of folks around the blogosphere making watermelon drinks, so I decided to join the club!
My dad is incredibly good at picking the perfect watermelon. I’m getting better.
There are two things I look for when choosing a melon. First, a big yellow spot on the bottom. Second, a melon that feels heavy for its size.
These two criteria work pretty well for me, but I’ve also found that certain grocery stores have better watermelons than others.
How to Make Watermelon Margaritas:
All right, it’s time for the drink. This is my take on a Watermelon Margarita. Let me tell you, if you like watermelon, it’s insanely delicious.
For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Begin by making a simple syrup. In a small saucepan, bring water, sugar, and orange zest to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove orange zest. Allow to cool completely.
Place watermelon, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simply syrup and ice into a blender. Pulse until pureed.
Put a small amount of salt (or sugar) on a saucer. Rub the edge or your glass with a lime wedge to moisten. Lightly dip the rim of the glass into the saucer to rim. Tap off excess salt (or sugar).
Pour your margarita mixture into your rimmed glasses and garnish with a lime slice.
I also love this drink because you can easily eliminate the liquor and salt rim and you have a really fabulous watermelon cooler. Let’s whip up a couple so I can show you what I mean.
This recipe makes two fairly large drinks. Using smaller glasses, you could probably get four servings.
Looks pretty refreshing, right? Trust me, it is! Now go whip up a batch and enjoy!
If you like this margarita recipe, you’ll love these:
Begin by making a simple syrup. In a small saucepan, bring water, sugar, and orange zest to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove orange zest. Allow to cool completely.
Place watermelon, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simply syrup and ice into a blender. Pulse until pureed.
Put a small amount of salt (or sugar) on a saucer. Rub the edge or your glass with a lime wedge to moisten. Lightly dip the rim of the glass into the saucer to rim. Tap off excess salt (or sugar).
Pour your margarita mixture into your rimmed glasses and garnish with a lime slice.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
These Frozen Watermelon Margaritas are a delicious and refreshing cocktail perfect for summer sipping! Watermelon Margaritas: During the summer one of my favorite things to snack on is watermelon. Not only is it refreshing, but it’s sweet and can sometimes fill those cravings for cake and cookies. Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of folks around […]
Over the past several months I’ve had the opportunity to travel more than I have in my entire life. It’s hard for me to believe. I’ve been to New York City multiple times, Atlanta, Detroit, and Chicago – each experience has been better than the last. While I’ve honestly had a blast on each and every one of these trips, they’ve all had a work aspect tied to them. This summer I’m really looking forward to an unforgettable summer trip. One of those trips where you throw all of your essentials in a cute bag, toss them in the car, and head wherever the road takes you. Even a good old-fashioned camping trip would be a blast. It’s been so long since I’ve spent the night in the great outdoors. Campfire blazing, no Internet, s’mores, and maybe a big batch of sangria.
Today I thought it would be fun to share some of my summer road trip essentials. While this list clearly doesn’t include all of the necessary items, it certainly covers a lot of my favorites.
Scout Sixteen x Ernest Alexander Bag – A bag is important for packing a supply of clothes. The fact that this one is amazingly handsome and well-made is an awesome bonus.
Jasper Sunglasses – Shades for days! I’m a huge fan of Warby Parker. These sunglasses are perfection.
Cracker Barrel Cheese – Yes, cheese is an essential item when I’m going anywhere. You know my love for Cracker Barrel Cheese runs deep. Their Cracker Cuts and Cheese Bars are the perfect full-flavor snack when you are on the go. You do know their cheese is award-winning, right? The Extra Sharp is one of my favorite flavors! It’s perfect on a cracker or paired with an apple. You can also check out Cracker Barrel on BlogHer.
Americana Tank Top – I’ve become a huge fan of tank tops this year. I think it helps to release my inner hipster while keeping me cool at the same time.
Wine – Pinot Noir from New Zealand is my hands-down favorite wine for summer. The Crossings’ Pinot Noir is perfect for any occasion, including a summer road trip. Of course, not before or while driving. Drink responsibly, people!
Technology – While a break from technology is important, having my iPad or iPhone nearby is crucial. Not only has such a device become my go-to camera, but it also plays music, stores my books, and provides directions should I somehow manage to get lost. (Which happens from time to time.)
Powergen – These days, I don’t leave the house without my Powergen. It’s a portable unit that charges the previously mentioned electronic devices when an outlet isn’t handy. It’s a lifesaver!
Sperry Top-Sider Canvas Boat Shoes – I used to live in flip flops. This summer I live in boat shoes. These are one of my favorite pairs.
Music – Last, but certainly not least, I would be lost without some good tunes playing in the background. Country music is a standard for the summer and for that I have the new album from Pistol Annies.
And that’s it! My summer road trip essentials. What’s the one thing you can’t live without when you travel?
Just a friendly reminder to please take a couple minutes to fill out the first ever Inspired by Charm Reader Survey. Your feedback will help me make this site even better! Thanks so much! Click here or the image below to complete the survey.
Over the past several months I’ve had the opportunity to travel more than I have in my entire life. It’s hard for me to believe. I’ve been to New York City multiple times, Atlanta, Detroit, and Chicago – each experience has been better than the last. While I’ve honestly had a blast on each and […]
Yes. I have another table setting and more red velvet cake. Can you handle it? I’m going to send you other places to fully check them out, though I will tempt you with a few pictures here first.
Okay, before we get going – I don’t know about you, but at one point in my life Pottery Barn was the decorating mecca for me. The bees knees, if you know what I mean. I loved visiting their stores, and getting their catalog in the mail was just pure joy. Over the years, my style has grown and changed. Somewhere along the way I developed a love for some modern styling, pure white and bold colors. These days I’m shopping at many different stores, but I will admit I still get that happy feeling every time their catalog arrives in my mailbox. I always flip through it to see what new pieces they have. I’m a huge fan of their lighting fixtures,I love my dining room table and, as you will see, I have a few of their other wonderful accessories. I still haven’t figured out how to define my style, but the one thing that I do know is that it’s always likely to contain a little Pottery-Barn-Style.
Anyway, my point in telling you all of this is that this once-teenage-wannabe-designer, turned B&B owner, turned Lifestyle Blogger’s work is featured on Pottery Barn’s blog! Over the past couple years I have been truly blessed and I am incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities that have somehow appeared along my journey. It’s rare for me to sit down and really soak it all in … and that’s kind of sad. So, it’s moments like this one when I sit staring at my computer with pure joy – a dream I never realized I had has come true. Had you told me four years ago that I would somehow be associated with Pottery Barn, I would have probably laughed in your face. Now my work is on the their blog. (Even if it’s just a couple pictures.) Unbelievable.
I’m sorry about such a long and wordy tangent, but I hope you get what I mean. If you are ever in the same boat, take some time to savor your success and proclaim your joy from the rooftops!
Basically, I put together a red, white, and blue-inspired table. I even got to use my new white dinnerware from BHG! I think it turned out pretty darn snazzy, I also got my hands on a few of their new products. I’m totally loving their whale cocktail shaker.
So festive and fun! Anyway, you can head on over to their blog today to check out a couple pictures and read about how the table came together. I would absolutely appreciate it if you could leave some comment love on their blog post. It would really mean the world to me.
The recipe is from Trisha Yearwood, who happens to be on the cover of their July issue. It’s a fairly basic red velvet recipe, but there is magic in the icing. She had the idea of throwing in chopped pecans.
It’s pretty sensational!
You can head on over to Delish Dish for all of the yummy details and the full recipe by clicking here.
Last but not least, a huge thanks to each and every one of you!!! Your support, comments, emails, likes, pins, etc. really do make my heart sing. I know I couldn’t do this without you. So thank you again, and again, and again!
Have a very Happy 4th of July!
Yes. I have another table setting and more red velvet cake. Can you handle it? I’m going to send you other places to fully check them out, though I will tempt you with a few pictures here first. Okay, before we get going – I don’t know about you, but at one point in my […]
Sorry that I’m a little late in posting this. I made it a couple weeks ago, but because this week we celebrate Independence Day, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Right?
Before I get started; I must warn you that this recipe creates a fairly large dessert. If you are going to a party with a lot of people, the size will be great. However, if it’s a smaller gathering, feel free to cut the recipe in half.
For my trifle container, I’m using a giant glass jar I picked up at Walmart for about $10. I don’t know the exact measurements, but I assume it holds 2 or 3 gallons.
I needed a quick dessert, so I took the easy way out with this recipe. Yep, I’m using box cake mix and Cool Whip! I will admit though, it’s still super delicious! If you’d like, I’m sure you can easily substitute homemade whipped cream and made-from-scratch cake.
So the process is pretty simple. Bake your cakes (I made 9-inch rounds.), cube them, and start layering all of your ingredients. I even made a little Instagram video to show you the process.
Here’s what you'll need:
2 boxes red velvet cake mix
2 pints blueberries
2 pints strawberries, tops removed and sliced
Frosting:
4 (8 oz.) tubs Cool Whip (I like the extra creamy if you can find it.)
4 packs White chocolate (or cheesecake) instant pudding
4 cups cold milk
1 cup powdered sugar
Let’s get baking:
Make the red velvet cake according to the package directions and allow the cake to cool. Using a serrated knife, cut the cake into one-inch square pieces and line the bottom of the trifle bowl with a third of the cake squares.
Next prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the pudding mix, milk, and sugar with a whisk for about two minutes. Then, fold in Cool Whip.
Layer a third of the blueberries and strawberries on top of the whipped topping.
Layer another third of cake pieces on top of the berries to form a second layer of cake. Add more frosting and more berries.
Repeat this step one final time. Top everything off with the rest of your berries to complete the trifle.
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While I love fancy looking sweet concoctions, I also love desserts that look rustic and homemade. This is it! And let me tell you, this is delicious! The fresh berries in the trifle make the cake.
Thanks to my uncle for the photo of me proudly carrying my creation to the party. (Even if I look slightly crazy. )
Hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy celebrating America’s birthday!
Sorry that I’m a little late in posting this. I made it a couple weeks ago, but because this week we celebrate Independence Day, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Right? Before I get started; I must warn you that this recipe creates a fairly large dessert. If you are going to a party with […]
Can I share a secret with you? I’ve never made a pie crust from scratch. Never. I think I’ve had a fear of it similar to my previous fear of yeast. I think my fear might stem from the fact that it took my mom a few attempts to learn how to make pie crust like my grandma’s. Mom still gets teased about it to this day. Though, I will say, at this point, my mom’s pie dough is pure perfection and I would happily eat any pie she prepared.
Though technically not a pie, I can officially say I conquered my fear with this fabulous crostata. And what better way to do it than a classic apple filling. There is something quintessentially American about pie, especially apple pie. With Independence Day just around the corner, I thought this would be the perfect treat for an impromptu porch party. Don’t you think?
My favorite part about this particular crostata is the cheddar crust. Apples and cheese are a match made in heaven. Plus, cheese is an American favorite. Cheese and apple pie are so deeply ingrained in our culture that some people can’t picture life without them! Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get what I mean. Anyway, cheese and apple pie are the perfect combination for a Fourth of July celebration. Plus, this recipe is as easy as … well … pie!
This recipe comes from Martha Stewart. (Thanks, Martha!) You can check it out here. I adapted it slightly to suit my needs. The pie dough comes together in a food processor, which makes it almost foolproof. I also opted to use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese because I wanted to be able to see specks of orange in the crust. Plus, this particular cheese is so amazingly rich, creamy, and delicious – it was a perfect addition.
I know that some of you may be thinking that cheese is a weird addition to pie, but don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. It’s pretty subtle, but it adds a really unique depth of flavor to the dessert. It’s quite wonderful. And to make things even better, your guests will think you are pretty fancy for having cheese baked into your homemade crust.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for surface
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
1 cup shredded Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten for egg wash
Coarse sanding sugar, for sprinkling
For The Filling
2 tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup apricot preserves, warmed
Let’s get baking!
Pulse flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. Drizzle 1/4 cup water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture just begins to hold together (dough should not be wet or sticky). If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse. (I ended up using almost ½ cup of the water) Add cheese; pulse until combined.
Shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes or up to overnight. (You can freeze your other disk of dough for up to one month.) Roll out dough to a 13-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Toss together apples, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread filling over dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Fold edges in to form a crust; brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sanding sugar (I didn’t have sanding sugar, so I just used standard sugar. I also sprinkle a little cinnamon on the top of the crostata.)
Refrigerate until edges are firm, about 30 minutes. Bake crostata until apples are tender and crust is golden, about 1 hour 20 minutes. (Mine baked for about 1 hour. I also covered it with a piece of aluminum foil about 40 minutes into the baking to prevent any burning.) Let cool slightly. Brush apples with apricot preserves.
That’s it! As you can see, the recipe is fairly straightforward and simple. Be sure to factor in your dough cooling times. They may seem silly, but they are important. While, I’m no pie crust expert, I think my mom would be proud of how well I did on my first attempt.
Now, I’m off to dig into this new American classic! What do you think of crostata? Will you be adding some cheddar to your piecrust?
Can I share a secret with you? I’ve never made a pie crust from scratch. Never. I think I’ve had a fear of it similar to my previous fear of yeast. I think my fear might stem from the fact that it took my mom a few attempts to learn how to make pie crust […]
Before you read this post, there are two things you should know. First, I love sangria. Second, tinto is just a fancy Spanish work for red.
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get going. A few weeks ago my friends at Black Box Wines sent me two boxes of their wine. Yes, boxed wine. I know what you are thinking. Boxed wine has a bad rap.
Well, if there is one brand that can change your mind, it’s Black Box. Not only is it reasonably priced, it’s delicious, stays fresh for up to four weeks, and gives you four bottles in one box. Pretty amazing!
A couple weekends ago my brother and his family visited, so it was the perfect time to get out the Black Box Merlot and whip up a big ol’ jar of sangria! It’s entertaining at its easiest! While there are many, many, many recipes for sangria out there, nothing beats this simple, classic one. You know it’s going to be delicious every single time.
I picked up the glass jar at Walmart a few years ago. It was about $10, and as far as I know they still sell them. The jar is the perfect size for a big batch of sangria! It also makes entertaining a breeze. Just set out the jar with some glasses, ice, and a big ladle and your guests can easily help themselves.
All right, let me show you how easy it is to put this together.
Sangria Tinto
Here's what you'll need:
1 1/2 cups simple syrup*
1 box Black Box red wine (I used Merlot.)
1 1/2 cups blackberrry brandy
1 cup triple sec
1 1/2 cups orange juice
4 oranges, sliced into thin rounds
4 green apples, cored and sliced thin
4 lemons, sliced into thin rounds
Let's put it all together:
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 2 days. Serve over ice.
*Bring 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water to a simmer over medium-high heat until sugar is completely dissolved. I usually let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to create a thicker syrup. Allow syrup to cool completely.
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Aside from cutting up all of the fruit, this recipe is fool proof. Also, if you don’t need this much sangria, you can easily cut the recipe in half. I should warn you, however, that once you start drinking the sangria you may not be able to stop. In fact, you may end up sipping it straight from the glass jar.
Cheers to great sangria and lots of enjoyable summer parties!
How do you plan to enjoy summer entertaining and Black Box Wines ?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Black Box Wines. The opinions and text are all mine.
Before you read this post, there are two things you should know. First, I love sangria. Second, tinto is just a fancy Spanish work for red. Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get going. A few weeks ago my friends at Black Box Wines sent me two boxes of their wine. […]
Have you ever had one of those weekends when you do a little bit of everything? This was that kind of weekend for me. There was swimming, antiquing, cooking, relaxing, etc. It was delightful. I was actually hoping to get a bit more work accomplished, but I’m okay with the fact that I didn’t. That’s what summer is all about, right? I’ll catch up this week.
Cook – I whipped up a batch of my favorite corn dip for snacking by the pool this weekend. It is one of the easiest things to make and such a crowd-pleaser!
Antique – I hit up one of my favorite local antique shops and was so excited to find this vintage thermometer. I hung it on my porch. It adds a touch of weathered charm, plus it still works!
Celebrate – My uncle (who’s often confused with Santa Claus) was up visiting this weekend. It was his birthday on Friday so we celebrated with cake. Can I tell you a little secret? Store bought vanilla birthday cake, with vanilla icing, and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream is probably one of my all time favorite things to eat. My dad’s side of the family always has it for birthdays. Not only is it delicious, but that flavor brings back many happy memories.
Bake – I made a ginormous cake in a jar this weekend. It was red velvet with Cool Whip frosting and fresh berries. Delicious! Stay tuned for the recipe later this week. In the meantime, you can watch my first Instagram video that shows me putting ittogether.
Swim – Both Saturday and Sunday were gorgeous, so I was finally able to go swimming. It was a great way to cool down, relax, and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Soak – My brother’s wife made a batch of rummy worms on Saturday. Have you had them? They are so yummy! Basically you just pour some rum (or vodka) on gummy worms (or gummy bears) and let them set for a day. (Oh, I should mention these are obviously for adults only.) They are a fun and unexpected treat for parties
Surprise – I was whipping up my corn dip on Saturday morning when I received a message on my IBC Facebook page with a picture telling me I was in the July issue of Better Homes and Gardens! Let me tell you, I nearly lost it. I had no idea! I recently put together a shopping guide for them based on my Dream Buick Encore Design and it was featured / mentioned toward the back of the magazine. Talk about an amazing surprise and a dream come true. My face in Better Homes and Gardens! I’m still in shock. If you have the issue, be sure to check it out.
That was about all the excitement I could handle for one weekend. What sort of fun activities did you get into?
Have you ever had one of those weekends when you do a little bit of everything? This was that kind of weekend for me. There was swimming, antiquing, cooking, relaxing, etc. It was delightful. I was actually hoping to get a bit more work accomplished, but I’m okay with the fact that I didn’t. That’s […]
Holy Bananas! It’s already Friday again. I have this nagging feeling that summer is going to go by so quickly this year. Anyone else? Why does summer seem to fly by when winter seems to drag on? I wish it were the other way around.
Anyway, today’s drink happened by accident. A few weeks ago I was at the liquour store and saw a fun-looking pink bottle. To me, It’s exciting to try new things so I picked it up. It’s called Sweet Revenge and the flavor is sour strawberry; basically fresh strawberries and citrus.
The other night my friend Krista (the one that’s moving back to town) somehow got talking about it and she told me an amazing recipe to try. Just mix the Sweet Revenge with lemonade and strawberry puree.
So the following day, I whipped one up! Let me tell you, it’s pretty darn fantastic! If summer had a drink, this may be it! It’s light, fruity, tart, and incredibly refreshing!
Spiked Strawberry Lemonade
serves 1
Here's what you will need:
1 ounce strawberry puree*
2 ounces Sweet Revenge
4 ounces lemonade (I used Simply Lemonade.)
Fill a glass with ice. The add the strawberry puree, Sweet Revenge, and lemonade. Stir to mix. Garnish with a fresh strawberry, lemon wheel, and a cute straw!
*To make strawberry puree, just throw some fresh strawberries in a blender or food processor and pulse until they become a liquid.
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This could also be a fun drink to serve in one of those big drink dispensers or even as a punch with big scoops of lemon sherbet floating in it. Talk about yum!
I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend! The weather is supposed to be pretty nice around these parts so I’m hoping to enjoy some time at the pool. What about you?
Holy Bananas! It’s already Friday again. I have this nagging feeling that summer is going to go by so quickly this year. Anyone else? Why does summer seem to fly by when winter seems to drag on? I wish it were the other way around. Anyway, today’s drink happened by accident. A few weeks ago […]
For the past few weeks, my dining room has been a magnet for anything in my life without a specified place – books, glasses, mail, DIY projects, etc. I think most folks’ dining rooms go through this phase, right? Well, today I got the motivation to turn it back into a functioning dining room and get it ready for impromptu summer guests and parties. (Have I told you that my real-life BFF is moving back to town in less than a week? I am beyond thrilled!)
I also have been wanting a set of white porcelain dishes. I love my Fiestaware, but there’s nothing better than a set of white plates. I love both the look and the price of BHG’s new white dinnerware (at Walmart, no less), so I picked up four sets. I’m so pleased with it. I also got my hands on some of the new FEED line from Target. Loving the white canisters with wood lids. But more on those things next week. Anyway, I’m so happy to have my dining room cleared and ready for parties with my friends!
What do you think of my space?
For the past few weeks, my dining room has been a magnet for anything in my life without a specified place – books, glasses, mail, DIY projects, etc. I think most folks’ dining rooms go through this phase, right? Well, today I got the motivation to turn it back into a functioning dining room and […]
I figured it was time for another “Where Are They Now” post. You may remember that last year I made some outdoor shelves. Then, I turned one of those shelves into a vertical wall planter for some hens and chicks. It started off pretty slowly. Okay, really slowly. When this puppy first started. I just had a few little baby chicks from my brother’s driveway.
Anyway, during this last year I added a few more plants to fill things out. By the fall, it was getting slightly fuller. I left the planter hanging in that very spot all winter. Hens and chicks, unlike most succulents, can survive very cold weather. Still, I was a bit nervous about whether these would actually come back.
Well, I have good news. Not only did they come back, but they are thriving.
And I mean thriving, They are unbelievably-ginormous-growing-out-of-the-planter thriving. Seriously, who would have thought!?
I did give them a couple good doses of Miracle-Gro Plant Food this year. I also tucked in a little more dirt. Other than that, I’ve really done nothing to it. That’s my kind of gardening.
I was even more thrilled to see that one of these guys was flowering. I didn’t know they did that!
All in all, I’m super pleased with this project. Since I still have people asking me about it, I figured a little update was necessary.
In other news, apparently I decided this would be my succulent porch. In addition to my colorful potted succulents, I just received this succulent wreath that I ordered from this Etsy shop. Isn’t it cute!? Understandably, it’s a little flat and beat up from shipping, but I think it’s perfect for the space.
I’ve been struggling with what to hang on my front and back doors. I’ve just not been impressed with most wreath options these days so I was glad to find this happy addition to my back door. Now, I just need to tackle the front one. Any suggestions?
That’s it for my update on the planter and my new wreath! Has anyone made a similar vertical planter? I’d love to see it!
I figured it was time for another “Where Are They Now” post. You may remember that last year I made some outdoor shelves. Then, I turned one of those shelves into a vertical wall planter for some hens and chicks. It started off pretty slowly. Okay, really slowly. When this puppy first started. I just […]
Nothing beats a flavorful salad on a hot summer day. But a salad that involves strawberries is even better! Today, I’m pulling recipe inspiration from one of BHG’s newest publications, Fresh. It’s a fabulous cookbook full of recipes for enjoying ingredients at their peak.
Come check out the recipe in my post over at Better Homes and Garden’s Delish Dish. Click here for all of the yummy details!
Nothing beats a flavorful salad on a hot summer day. But a salad that involves strawberries is even better! Today, I’m pulling recipe inspiration from one of BHG’s newest publications, Fresh. It’s a fabulous cookbook full of recipes for enjoying ingredients at their peak. Come check out the recipe in my post over at Better Homes and […]
Well, my vintage food mill planter has made its yearly return. I love that I am able to consistently post about this because it is probably one of my favorite things to plant every year.
This year it was pretty easy to plant since last year it got a bit of a makeover with a liner in an effort to hold in more water. All I had to do was squeeze in two plants and add some soil. So easy.
Two years ago I was inspired to create the food mill planter from this post on Design*Sponge. Just a few days ago I saw the image pop up on Pinterest. It’s funny how great ideas keep circling around.
Anyway, this year I took a new approach and planted some different plants in my food mill. The purple plant is called Purple Passion or Velvet Plant. It’s actually an indoor plant, so I’ll be able to bring it inside at the end of summer. Love that! According to my mom, it should flower as well.
The other plant is called Fiber Optic Grass. Isn’t it the coolest?! It really does remind me of fiber optics or fireworks. My dad and his wife picked up four of them for me at a nearby greenhouse. They know exactly what I love. Thanks, Dad!
I think it turned out pretty cute! What do you think? What odd or vintage things do you like to plant in?
Well, my vintage food mill planter has made its yearly return. I love that I am able to consistently post about this because it is probably one of my favorite things to plant every year. This year it was pretty easy to plant since last year it got a bit of a makeover with a […]
As I mentioned yesterday, last Thursday I joined my friends from BHG and hundreds of volunteers from the Meredith Corporation, Lowes, Rebuilding Together, and Crate and Barrel to work on rebuilding a community devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Our efforts were focused on several homes in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn.
It was such a joy and honor to be able to assist these families who so deserved and appreciated the help.
After several inspiring and motivating speeches. we got to work. Split up in teams, our focus was a house located on Melba Court where the homeowners Dominic and Susan also pitched in! At this particular site, the volunteers rebuilt a garden, added a fence, painted the interior, installed tile, and even sided the house. Actually, that was my project. I teamed up with Liz Frantz, BHG’s Social Media Editor and Gayle Butler, the Editor-in-Chief to put new siding on the house. It was hard work, but we had a blast. It was a huge honor to work beside these talented and giving ladies.
At the end of the day, the place was truly starting to come together. It was quite magical. It began to look like a home again.
Once the project is completely finished, I’ll be sure toshare more photos. You may even see the space in the pages of BHG Magazine.
If you are interested in helping this cause, enter BHG’s Pin-a-Thon via the link below and pin items on your summer wish list from shopBHG.com. BHG will donate $2 for each entry, up to $10,000! Click here to enter.
If you’d like to learn more about the Gerritsen Beach project, visit WeRebuild.com. I’m so grateful to the BHG team and Rebuilding Together for allowing me to be part of this amazing opportunity. It’s something I will never forget.
As I mentioned yesterday, last Thursday I joined my friends from BHG and hundreds of volunteers from the Meredith Corporation, Lowes, Rebuilding Together, and Crate and Barrel to work on rebuilding a community devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Our efforts were focused on several homes in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn. It was such a joy and honor […]
