simple & elegant

i love this centerpiece idea from martha stewart.   the varying heights and shapes of the candlesticks keep it interesting and simple.  i like that it's not fussy and doesn't have to cost a fortune {snag all shapes and sizes from family & friends). best part - this setting won't have your guests sneezing from flower allergies all night.

 

this is another great display from hostess with the mostess, ms. martha.  

what a creative idea to incorporate lighting at your next outdoor event, without running ugly power cords all over the place {and risking a wipe out after a few glasses of wine}.  fill old glass bottles with lamp oil and wicks and arrange.  cover with a hurricane and wahla-all set!

pigskin pick'em

hope everyone is enjoying the first weekend of fall! 

here are the week 3 picks...hopefully by me not picking dallas, they might actually win a game. 

 

check out schaich petey's blog for his take on pigskin pick'em. 

one day...

i'll have a bright and cheery kitchen like this.  for now, i'd settle for the turquoise kitchen aid mixer.  how fresh is that color paired with the yellow cabinets and checkered floor?  i love it all.

check out what else this north carolina couple did to renovate their home for $2,300.  be ready to be awed.  

i pin. do you pin?

all the cool people are doing it.  pinning.  don't know what i'm talking about?  its this new {at least to me} website that allows you to "pin" any image that you like.  each image gets "pinned" to a board.


its a great way to capture all the images that strike your fancy and keep them in one place, the inter-webs.  and you can show anyone your pin boards anytime.  take for instance, my wishlist pin board.  say, i'm at work and ryan calls me and tells me he wants to get me something nice.  i can send him a link to my wishlist pin board and he can see what i'm lusting over.


want to see what i'm pinning about?  then check out my pin boards below.


{the wedding} - inspiration for when the big day comes.
{the sweets} - mouth watering treats - enough said.
{the parties} - inspiration for my next get together.
{the house} - eventually i'll break it down even further into rooms...{obsessive compulsive much?}
{the books} - books i want to read, its pretty blank now.
(the wishlist) - items i lust over.


think this site is pretty cool?  then request an invitation for yourself.  be sure to follow my pins and let me know if you register, i'd love to see what you pin about.    

brie-licious

its no secret that i love cheese.  and its no secret that i love to entertain.


one of my go-to favorites for entertaining is a baked brie appetizer served with fruit and crackers.  i've found that the recipes require minimal prep so i can spend more time obsessing over my hair, makeup, outfit and accessories.  and drinking wine.


some of my favorites:

baked brie with pecans

baked brie with apple compote 

{great for fall!}

apricot-almond bruschetta with brie

baked brie with raspberry jam

{or baked in mini phyllo cups}

what are some of your favorite entertaining recipes?

pigskin pick'em

last week was utter nuts.  but i survived and what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger right?  today's sunday which means football.  here are the picks for week 2.  i'm already up one game :)

what are you surprise picks for the week?  be sure to check the standings on my sidebar!  

wine wednesday {butterfield station chardonnay}

perusing the aisles in my local wine store, i came across this wine.  with butter in the name, i knew i had to try it.  after all, i've never met a buttery chardonnay i didn't like.  

wine : butterfield chardonnay


price: under $10 {some places online i've seen it under $5!}

the name didn't disappoint.    hints of citrus and pear balance out the toasted oak and each glass is smooth and tasty, with a buttery finish.  this wine would pair well with fruits and cheeses {my two favorite food groups}.  i also think it would be perfect a bottle for a wine and cheese party or to share with a girlfriend while gushing over my celebrity crush shia labeouf.  

next time i'm getting more bottles to have on hand.  

pimento cheese, please

this recipe from my sister jessica, is quickly becoming a staple at get-togethers.  i like my pimento cheese served with crackers {for some crunch}, but i know the masters has been known to serve it as a sandwich.  if you haven't had this southern tradition, i highly recommend making it for your next party.  it won't last long! 


adapted from jessica


3 oz cream cheese, softened 
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar **
1 cup shredded monterey jack 
1/2 cup mayo 
3-4 T pimentos, smashed {you can also buy pre-diced}
salt, pepper, & cayenne to taste 
** about half a block = 1 cup shredded 

beat cream cheese until whipped.  add in shredded cheeses and mayo.  beat until mixed.  add in pimentos and beat again.  add spices to taste.  enjoy! 


other variations include:
-mixing in jalapeños
-adding a dash of hot sauce
-throwing in diced onions


what's your favorite southern food?  

fashion friday : soft & sexy wrap

you know how you might order once from a website and you are forever on their email distribution list?  well i ordered from victoria's secret a while ago and keep getting their e-emails.  sometimes i look if the subject line intrigues me {read: SALE} and a recent e-mail got me.  soft and sexy wrap.  i love a wrap.  so i investigated.  

behold the soft and sexy wrap.  

what i love about it: the cashmere and cotton blend makes it lightweight, the color selection, the versatile ways to wear it, and the fact i could throw it in a bag and it wouldn't add bulk.  

what i'm not so sure about: how the back looks.  and for those familiar with victoria's secret, their return policy sucks.  

i'm thinking this could be a great piece for fall but i'm hesitant to order since i can't see the back.  and google isn't providing any help either.  so what do you think?  go for it and risk hating it and then being annoyed about the return policy?  or keep hunting for a store that has a decent return policy.  

and ps.  how major are those boots?  love them.

its baaaaack!

Pigskin Pick'Em is in its second year.  up for grabs this year (besides a year of bragging rights) is a $75 gift certificate for a spa day (me) or a $75 gift certificate for a massage (ryan).  the rules are the same, we'll pick the winning teams each week and go head-to-head in an all out points battle.  if your team wins, you get 1 point.  at the end of the 17 weeks, the winner will be crowned and the loser will do the dishes.  results will be posted on tuesdays.  wish me luck!

{pink = differing pick}

the next week

this pretty sums it up.

this next week at work is going to be brutal.  i just want to close my eyes and wake up and have it be next friday.  is that so much to ask?  please send positive thoughts my way.  cupcakes, jelly beans, and cherry coke zeros are also welcome.

menu planning

one of my goals was to be more consistent with menu planning.  taking some time one night a week to plan our menu not only saves time, it saves money.  and who doesn't like to save money.  pinching pennies might help me get those kate spade shoes i am lusting over.

tuesday : chicken parmesan sliders and salad

wednesday : leftovers

thursday : mushroom mac & cheese

friday : breakfast for dinner

weekend : garlic lemon chicken kabobs and pork chops for ryan

what are you cooking this week?

this little piggy...

went to the market...

...this little piggy stayed home...

...and these little piggies went to a bbq cookoff.

last week i created some piggy cake pops for a bbq cookoff at ryan's work.  i think they stole the show.  how stinkin' cute are they?!

to view my other cake pop projects, click here.

goals - let's recap

september is here!  that means football, cooler weather, and pumpkin spice lattes at starbucks!  yippee.  i've been dreaming of cooler weather..,.perhaps it factored into me not accomplishing a whole lot.  it surely couldn't be the fact that i had no motivation all month long.


august goals :
craftiness :

: organize magazine clippings : fail.

: make a new set of coasters : fail.

: repair ryan's jeans finally : after 2.5 years, i fixed the jeans.  nevermind the fact it only took 20 minutes.

healthy habits :

: make natural home cleaners : fail.  

: donate 15 items to charity

: get bike fixed

food & fun :

: try an eggplant recipe

: prepare for cowboys nfl pre-season game : beer was consumed, chips were eaten, all was good, except the team.  

: make a new dessert recipe : pictures coming, you will die of cuteness.  

other :

: backup music and pictures : fail.  

: donate old magazines : fail.  still accumulating in a paper bag.  

let's try and get back into the swing of things with september.

{craftiness}

: make a new wreath

: embellish a t-shirt

: make some jewelry

{healthy habits}

: bike rides after dinner twice a week

: hike in great falls

: get back into yoga

{food & fun}

: visit some wineries

: new chili recipe

: kick off pigskin pick'em

: new dessert recipe

: regular menu planning

{other}

: read 1 book (that's ballsy, i know)

: update food inventory

what's your biggest goal for the month?