My Creative Blog [Search results for food] 

You all know I'm cheap careful with our money, so it should come as no surprise that when I was considering what type of party I should have for my son (Bob the Builder? Veggie Tales?), I decided to go with an All-American Boy party because I could get all the July 4th stuff cheap the day after the holiday (Charlie-man's birthday is the 9th). Even though it was really affordable (yay!), I was really excited about all the cute stuff I got or made for the party. Monica helped me out with a few of the projects and then was there to help set up, so I want to send a big thank you out to her!: )

I made Charlie's invitations on Picmonkey (stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make your own!), and since I didn't have time to mail them because I am a last-minute kind of girl, I just sent them as an attachment to an email. I know that probably breaks all kind of birthday party invitation rules, but I figured my friends and family would love me anyway. I had planned on having the party at a local park so that the kids could play on a big playground, but the weather was supposed to hit 101 degrees, and we Bucks Countians can't handle that kind of heat. Thankfully, a good friends of ours let us move the party to their house so we could be near a pool. Crisis averted! (Or so I thought…)

I hit the jackpot with the Target dollar bins (is there ANYTHING you can't do with supplies from the dollar bin? Seriously, they totally should be paying me!), and cleaned out their fourth of July goodies like big stars, cute pails with handles, adorable sunglasses and a couple of other things I can't think of now.

Changing the location messed with all of the plans I had for decorating, but we managed to tweak some things and come up with this backdrop for our food table (this is pre-food. Darn that I didn't get a picture of it all set up lookin' fine!)

I love this pennant banner that we made, and can't wait to fill you in on how we made it, and what I'm doing with it now that the party is over!

I also made and printed out a few food labels (as if anyone needs help identifying Chick-Fil-A nuggets, right?!). I did these last minute-of course!- and so decided to poke a hole and stick a toothpick through to help the sign stand. Worked like a charm! Monica may have said that this was ingenious.; )

I think this table runner was my favorite feature of the whole party! It was super easy, but deserves a post all of it's own.: )

My mom gave Charlie this chair for Christmas, and I thought it would be the perfect spot for him to open his presents. We added a little banner (from Target) to the bushes behind his chair and two little pinwheels to either side. A red blanket completed our present-opening spot!

Each kid got to choose a pair of sunglasses to take home, and to help them"stay cool".

This is when the drama started. A major storm with lightening, thunder, and high winds blew in fast and knocked down all of the decorations and ended our party rather quickly! I'm thankful for such helpful family and friends who didn't care at all, and helped clean up the place in a hurry!

We took a few minutes to eat our brownie-fruit kebabs (recipe from here).

…and eat our cupcakes, and then wrapped things up.

So, it was not exactly as I had envisioned but it sure was memorable. I love this sweet, funny, little boy more than words can express. Happy birthday, Charlie-man!

Have you ever had any major weather drama during a party? Did it make you wonder why you even bother, too?; )

So, you all remember that little ol' magazine we were in last month? You know…HGTV magazine? Umm, yeah, it was a really big deal for us. You can find us on page 92 of the October 2012 issue sharing a super practical idea that your guests for Thanksgiving are really going to appreciate!

Even though the photo they used was awesome, we didn't get to style the products ourselves for the magazine, so we wanted to show you how WE would put together an awesome Thanksgiving leftovers station. One major advantage to hosting Thanksgiving dinner is that you end up with TONS of leftovers! One major disadvantage to not hosting, is NOT having any leftovers to make a turkey sandwich with! So, we came up with the idea of setting up a little leftovers station for thanksgiving guests – think of it as self-serve take out!

Here's the idea… Before guests arrive have an area designated as the leftover station. You'll need it to be in or near the kitchen, and have enough space for packaging containers and 1-2 food bowls at a time. How to Create a Leftovers Station:
Step 1- Gather fun containers to hold food for your guests. There are so many cute take-out boxes available at craft stores these days. We plan to pop a plastic sandwich bag inside each one so we don't have any messy leaks.

Step 2- Provide labels and markers. Your guest can put both their name and the contents of the container on labels. It drives us crazy when we order Chinese food and then have to open every container to find what we're looking for. Labels are helpful and to be honest, we think they look so cute! We're loving the mix of plain, functional and decorative labels.

Step 3- Have serving utensils available. Guest will be scooping all kinds of yummy leftovers, so just make sure you have utensils handy for them.

Step 4- Provide stuff for quick cleanup. Leftovers can get messy so make sure to have something on hand for easy clean up. We gave our roll of paper towels a fun look by suspending them from a basket using a tree branch. Now our guests can clean up in style!

STEP 5- Provide bags to hold each family's leftovers. Our plan is to let each family pack what they want and then put their containers into a bag, and we'll keep them on a shelf in the garage where they can stay cold until guests leave. Inexpensive brown bags from the craft store work great look awesome when stenciled with fun messages.

I'm really excited to try out the leftover station and we;re hoping it's one of those projects that our guests love AND one that makes the day even easier and stress free!

Will you be trying out a left over station this year? Have you ever done something similar for your guests?

Before I even begin this post, I have to make a HUGE disclaimer… I am SO not a food blogger. In fact, as I tried to take pictures of food I was laughing hysterically at myself and how clueless I was! However, I do entertain a LOT and have 4 kids to feed and this recipe rocks! So if you can get past the poor styling and silly pictures, then read on and enjoy one awesome recipe!!

A few reasons why this recipe is awesome… 1- My kids all eat it! 2- Zero dishes- only the crockpot needs to be cleaned after! 3- It takes about 5 minutes to prepare! This recipe comes directly from one of my best friends, Jane! Thanks for letting me share it with the world!
Okay, now onto the recipe!
Crockpot Chicken Chili 1 large can diced tomatoes 1 small can black beans 1 small can tomato paste 1 package boneless skinless chicken tenderloins or thighs (these two cuts get the most tender and fall apart) 1 packet McCormick chili seasoning

Dump (yes, that's the technical term) all the ingredients into your crockpot (don't drain anything) and cook on high for about 4 hours or on low for 6-8. Both times work well, it just depends on how much time you have before you plan to eat.

(sorry for the raw chicken pic- I know it's kinda gross- see, not a food blogger!) Once the time is up, shred the chicken using two forks, stir, and serve! We like to garnish with cheese, sour cream, and Fritos!

This is one of our favorite fall recipes! Try it out and let me know what you think!

And if you think it sounds good- we'd love you to Pin this baby! Thanks!

Well, I was moving the cat food sack and accidentally lost it. Cat food all over and all three cats thought they'd died and gone to heaven. After that; vacuum cleaning. Cat food decoration isn't really my thing.

Adorable Gingerbread tree:

J ust a quick note... F OOD & WINE magazine included a picture of our kitchen in a piece entitled, Food Bloggers' Best Kitchen Design Ideas (page 56) in their January 2011 issue. It came out while Trina was in the hospital, so we've just picked up a copy ourselves. Here's the digital version as shown on their web site.
Wishing you all the happiest holiday season.
All the best, Mike

This is a repost from last year, but it's packed full of delicious drinks that are perfect for Memorial Day, or any other day of the Summer! We hope you have an awesome day honoring those who have sacrificed for and served our country! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whip out those flip flops, fire up the grill, the unofficial start of summer is just days away! We have come to LOVE Memorial Day Weekend and all of it's festivities. Today we're excited to share some must have Memorial Day (or any day) drinks! We've tasted tested three drink recipes that we think you'll love!

Pineapple Planter's Punch as seen in June 2012 issue of All You Magazine

Although it's not Red,White, or Blue, we think this is the perfect punch for ushering in SUMMER! What says summer more than fresh fruit? Pineapple Planter's Punch Recipe 4 cups pineapple juice 2 cups orange juice 1/2 cup lemon juice 2 liters ginger ale fresh pineapple to garnish Mix all ingredients together and garnish with fresh fruit *You can add rum to make this an"adults only" punch, but then we don't suggest drinking it with breakfast!*

Let me tell you, we were having a good laugh as we took pictures of ingredients etc. We're not food bloggers by any stretch, but we do know what's really yummy!

We thought we'd let Jess demonstrate how to pour, just in case you needed some direction. Have we ever mentioned we're dorks? Look how happy she is to be making punch! Ha!

One thing we actually did learn (from trial and error) is how to cut a pineapple so that it sits nicely on the side of your cup. First, cut a triangle wedge

Then, cut a straight line half-way up the middle.

Most of the time people don't think of breakfast as being special on Memorial Day weekend (the focus is more on BBQ food etc.), but we thought a simple patriotic breakfast would be fun! I know my kids would LOVE it if they woke up to a fun, little breakfast like this!

Combine your Pineapple Planter's Punch with some blueberry muffins and voila! We picked up the cute decorative flags and stars for 40% off at JoAnn's. And, since we're calling this the SIMPLE breakfast, I'll share a secret with you…

These muffins take about 4 minutes to whip together and we love them!
Stars and Stripes Sangria We made this drink up…and the name too. Who knows, it might actually be the name of another drink (it appears we're good at taking names from other places- HA!), but for this post we made it up and named it ourselves.

Wanna hear a funny story? I'm not a big drinker, I just happen to like Iced Tea or Coke Zero better than any other drink. So, I headed off to the liquor store for red wine…UGH! It's like sending my 4 yr old into Lowe's to find upholstery tacks. I actually had to Google Merlot, to make sure it was a red wine (it is btw). Then, the checkout lady DIDN'T card me… I was bummed. Does she know I just turned 30 and she wanted to rub that in a bit? It wasn't Awesome.

Stars and Stripes Sangria Red Wine Sprite Blueberries Strawberries You can combine this to your liking. We preferred 2 parts Sprite to 1 part wine (but neither of us are big wine fans). Our husbands thought a 1:1 ratio tasted fine. Layer your fruit in an alternating pattern and add the wine and Sprite. Allow to sit for a few hours before serving. This helped the flavors to blend really nicely.

This drink is the perfect color for the holiday weekend, and the taste is really light and fruity. Taking a few extra minutes to garnish your glasses is a must. Blueberries on a skewer, a little flag, and some strawberries make all the difference.

East Coast Creative's Favorite Drink
Lime Rickey
We've been enjoying this drink for years. An old friend of mine taught me to make them about ten years ago and I'm so glad she did!

Lime Rickey Ingredients 4 or more limes 1 cup sugar 1 cup water Seltzer water Lime zest Juicer (not required, but recommended)
Combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in medium saucepan. Heat over medium until sugar has dissolved (cooling is recommended, but we're usually too impatient) Juice 4 or 5 limes. (We love the Pampered Chef juicer because it gets out ALL the juice.) Combine lime juice and simple syrup. Zest a few of the limes and save zest for garnish. Add ice to a glass, fill 3/4 of the way with seltzer water, add about 3 Tbls. of the lime syrup and garnish with zest. There's no exact ratio of seltzer to syrup, because everyone likes theirs a little differently, but you can add more or less syrup to taste. This recipe will make about four drinks, but we usually double it up to make lots more!

We hope you enjoy these drinks as much as we do! Be sure to let us know if you try any of them over your holiday weekend! What are your weekend plans or traditions?

No… I'm not getting all creepo on you… this is a PG blog-Our moms read it! What I'm talking about it this adorable ball of fur that's now a part of the Mangin family…

I'm seriously head-over-heels in love with her! She's a Bernese Mountain Dog that will be eight weeks old today and she has the sweetest disposition ever! Jess came over to meet her the other day and was surprised at how smitten I am, so she said,"I didn't think you were a dog person?" to which I replied,"I'm not! I just like my dog!" Ha! What can I say? It's true!
So in honor of Miss Pennlyn (AKA Penn) I'm sharing some Doggy Style projects…
Four Post Bed… Puppy Luxury! I first saw this bed a few years ago in a Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine, and immediately loved it. I don't think the size will work for Penn, but I love the look and idea of it.

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
You could also just find a coffee or end table, flip it over and get your DIY on, turning it into a bed. And of course, I'm loving the yellow!
Crate Bed Since Pennlyn will be a pretty big dog, I'm thinking this style bed is a bit more her speed. I'm loving this DIY bed made by Home Frosting and I can't wait to make one. She used leftover 1x4s, but I think I might use some free pallets. The finish she created is fabulous!

Source: home-frosting.blogspot.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
DIY Pet Tags Leave it to Martha to come up with these adorable tags.

Source: marthastewart.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
I was about to order a generic tag from the pet store, but I plan to try this DIY this week before going the generic route. I just need to make sure it's heavy duty enough. I'll let you know how it goes!
Pet Art I'm not really a huge fan of having pet pics all over the place (remember… not a"dog person") but I do think some pet art might be cool in the kids' playroom.

This took me about 30 seconds to create on Picnik. I used the"Posterize" effect and voila… Pet Art! I think I'll order it as a canvas this week.
Hungry Puppy? Since we've only had Penn for 5 days, her food is just in the bag, but I do have ambitious plans to create some kind of cool looking container. The hubs thinks I'm insane and wants to know why the dog food container needs to be cute, but he knows who he's married to, so he's cool with it. Here's one fun idea…

Source: tidymom.net via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
The style isn't mine, but I think I could add some of my own modern flair to it. I sorta had something wooden and rustic in mind, so we'll see…
Custom Stuffies These are the funniest things ever! I think they'd make such an awesome gift! This seller on etsy makes custom stuffies for your pet. Just send a picture of your pooch and you'll get a look-a-like stuffie in a few weeks! I've contacted the seller, because she doesn't have this as an active listing right now, but I'm hoping she'll be back at it soon! Pennlyn definitely needs a mini-me stuffie!
WAIT! Hold the press! Shevon contacted me and you can now buy a custom stuffie!
Here's the link: Custom Stuffies (Soooo stinkin' Cool!)

Source: etsy.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest

So, it looks like I have a lot of projects to get working on! Although, before I get working on my puppy projects I think I need to get Penn house-broken and doing fancy tricks (can I teach her how to go get my laptop for me?) I'll keep you posted on Miss Pennlyn and any cool projects we make for her!
Oh, one last thing… She WILL NOT be owning one of these… Thundervest…No Comment!

Source: thundershirt.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Thanks for letting me introduce my little lady to you!

WAIT! Don't stop reading! The voting for Crafting with the Stars is now open! We've entered our first project and we need your votes. We obviously can't tell you which project is ours, but we can give you a hint… look for the coolest one… that'll be ours! Nah, we really do have some stiff competition, so head over and vote for your favorite 3 projects. The winners will be announced Wednesday. Thanks! Click HERE to see the entries and vote!

This post brought to you by Whitney Farms. All opinions, creative ideas, and the cute kid are 100% mine.

My oldest child is a lot like her grandmom. She loves all animals, being outdoors, and growing things. At any given time you'll find at least two Red Solo Cups filled with dirt and some kind of seed on my kitchen counter. This spring Kenzie started sectioning off a little area of one of our beds as her"garden." We decided that a kids garden was a great idea and let her run with it. Of course it got my DIY wheels turning, and I actually struggled with letting go and letting her"make it her own," but, in the end, I think she did a fabulous job and her garden is just how she wanted it. Here's a peek into Kenzie's Garden…

Greenhouse Starter Kit Her kit was an Easter present and all the plants are doing so well. We plan to transplant them in about two weeks. We've still been having some cold nights here in Bucks County. Painted Rocks What's a garden without some pretty rocks? Kenzie LOVES our dog Pennlyn, so this rock is for her! We used acrylic paints, but coated it with a spray sealant to keep the rain away. She tested it with the hose before this picture.

Garden Sign I wanted to make an awesome barnwood sign with a custom transfer etc… but my girl had other plans. Sometimes it's hard to let go and let her do her own thing, but she was quite pleased with her little yellow sign. I think it's pretty cute too. These little wood plaques are at Michaels for $0.99!

Paint Stick Fence This project was a little tricky because Lowes wasn't really into the idea of giving me 50 paint sticks. They did give me 30ish, so we decided to spread them out a bit more and make it work! I also bought two yard sticks. To make the fence, we just used a staple gun to connect them to the yard sticks.

Kenzie painted it black and then sprayed it with white spray paint to give it an"old fashioned" look, as she put it. I think for under $1.00 it's perfect for a kids garden! (I also think it would look adorable to have an ombre fence, by lightening each picket. Not that I butted in and suggested that to Kenz, of course not!: )

Paint Stick Labels Another really simple, but fun project with paint sticks. She and her BFF painted them during a sleepover this weekend, then used a sharpie to write the names. I sealed them with Valspar's clear spray sealant. I think they're so cute!

Plants Kenzie chose all of her own plants (I might have been tempted to make suggestions, but I kept them to myself). She has sunflowers, strawberries, a tomato plant, vinca (my personal favorite), lavender, and I'm pretty sure she planted a maple tree! We already have strawberries! (We had these plants from last year, so they got a head start)

We planted some vinca because it's the best flower ever! Really, it loves the heat, doesn't need to be watered hardly ever, and gets lots of flowers. This is perfect for kiddos because it doesn't require much, and will bloom all season long.

I'll be completely honest, I'm not the most organic person you'll ever meet (ask my good friend Steph!) But, I didn't want Kenz handling a bunch of chemicals and toxic stuff. I was thrilled to find out about Whitney Farms® organic plant food. Kenz asked what was so special about it, and I explained that it's basically plant food made from all healthy stuff from the earth. She was cool with that answer and I'm a happy mom because I know she'll be safe working in organic soil and still have some huge, healthy flowers soon!.

So, does your kiddo have a green thumb? Maybe it's time for you to start a kids' garden too! I hope Kenzie's projects have inspired you! She was pretty excited that she was getting"her own blog post" Ha! Oh, and the good folks at Whitney farms are giving you a $3.00 off coupon if you want to try it out for yourself! We can see who's flowers get bigger! If you have a second, let Kenzie know what you think of her garden in a comment! Thanks!

Our lives have been so crazy lately. I've picked up a couple extra shifts at work in the evenings, my hubs has been playing 2-3 softball games per week, and we're trying to cram in as many summer activities as we can into each day. That leaves very little time for planning and eating good meals. Remember one of my very first posts on this blog about being intentional with meal planning? Well, that idea has gone right out the window this summer. And that's ok. We'll get back on track when life settles down (hooray- softball ends this week!). All that to say, I miss good food.

Source: etsy.com via Jessica on Pinterest
I totally agree. I just love food. Anyway, every recipe that catches my eye on Pinterest makes my mouth water. Here are three recipes that I can't wait to try, and I thought you might be interested in them too. We'll start with an appetizer/snack, then a dinner item, and then, of course, dessert.

Fruity Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip

Source: thewannabechef.net via Jessica on Pinterest
Ingredients(Makes 6-8 servings):

• 1/2 cup fruit-flavored yogurt*
• 1/2 cup natural runny peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (or 1/4 cup honey)
• Fruit/veggies for dipping

Source: styleathome.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Ingredients

• 4 pitas
• Extra yogurt for garnish

For chicken marinade:

• 1/2 cup yogurt

• 2 tbsp honey

• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice + 2 tsp lemon zest

• 2 tsp hot sauce

• 1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

• Pinch salt

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)

• Pinch salt

• 1 cup seeded, finely diced tomato

• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion

• 6 tbsp coarsely chopped and pitted black olives

• 4 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh parsley

• 2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh dill

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 4 tsp fresh lemon juice

2 Meanwhile, prepare the cucumber relish. Lay cucumber slices in a sieve placed over a bowl and sprinkle with pinch of salt. Leave for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until cucumbers soften and their liquid begins to drain into the bowl. Stir occasionally.

3 Combine the tomato, onion, olives, parsley, dill, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Stir in drained cucumbers, then cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

4 Grease grill and preheat to medium-high. Remove chicken from zip-lock bag and discard marinade. Grill chicken breasts until cooked through, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove chicken from grill, let rest for a few minutes and slice thinly on the diagonal. Lay chicken slices on top of each pita round and divide relish evenly among them. Garnish with a little extra yogurt and serve.
Gooey S'Mores Dip

Source: tastebook.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Ingredients:

• 1½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
• ½ cup marshmallow creme
• 1 box (13 oz) graham cracker honey sticks

I'm going to attempt to share my adoration with mason jars with you, without completely embarrassing myself. I do love these guys. They are extrememly versatile, easy to find, and very inexpensive! What more can you ask from a decoration? Lately I've been seeing quite a few of these jars at flea markets in the light blue variety shown above, and the regular clear jars. If you aren't into scouring flea markets, my local grocery store carries them in boxes of 12 for less than a dollar a jar. I've used mason jars in a couple of projects over the past few months:
1. First, my daughter and I made cinnamon honey butter for our friends and neighbors at Christmas, and packaged it in small mason jars with the lids covered in fabric and tied with a ribbon and homemade mongram tag.

2. Next, I used them as a vase for the floral arrangements I made for my sister's sugar and spice baby shower. They were perfect. 

3. And finally, I whipped up this arrangement this afternoon for a little something different on my dining room table. I had these leftover jars and an old drawer with pulls on both ends that I had been wanting to use. Then I remember that I had dried flowers from a visit to Pike's Place Market in Seattle a few years ago just sitting in closet. Within five minutes, I had a pretty new centerpiece for my table.

I'm thrilled with it! (But I've already decided to do something else with the jars. Ahh! Sometimes being impulsive is a curse.: ) And yes, I do need curtains for my poor naked windows, and yes, those are my custom bird art pieces in the back. Aren't they cute? *Side note: my hubs and I found our dining room table on clearance for $60.00 at a furniture store in Harleysville. Excellent find, if I do say so myself. Ok, enough about my mason jar projects! I've rounded up some great mason jar inspiration from the world wide web. Feast your eyes on these pretty pictures, and be inspired!
Food/Drink There are a million cute ideas for serving food and/or drink in mason jars but I thought these two were adorable.

Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest
Use small jars as individual cup for lemonade-genius! I love the decorative cut-out in the lid.

Source: curbly.com via Jessica on Pinterest
This is so sweet- who wouldn't want to eat pie from a jar?; )
Storage/Organization
Both of these ideas utilize mason jars, clamps and a board. Easy as 1, 2, 3, I'd say. I absolutely love the toiletries stored in mason jars- such a great idea for a guest bathroom!

Source: curbly.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: weepingcherries.wordpress.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Decor/Lighting I can't wait to try out some of these simple projects!

Source: lh5.googleusercontent.com via Jessica on Pinterest
In September, we are celebrating my parent's 40th wedding anniversary, and these pictures in a jar would be a great way to showcase pictures from their four decades together.

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest
This is so much fun! This would instantly add whimsy to any room, and be a conversation starter, for sure.

Source: atozebracelebrations.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
These mason jar lanterns are SO easy to make, and I can't wait to give it a try. If you're looking for an easy way to update your porch or deck with ambient lighting, look no further.

Source: blog.freepeople.com via Jessica on Pinterest
And don't get me started on this. Isn't it gorgeous? I die.
So give me your thoughts: Are you a fan of Mason Jars just like me? What projects have you done that include these simple beauties?

I realize that I've been posting a lot on food recently. I would say it's because I'm pregnant and food is on my mind quite a bit but honestly, it has more to do with dragging my feet on other projects. Shall we say these have been the lazy days of late summer?
Not too lazy to make my new favorite muffins though! These come from a Blueberry Muffin recipe from the fabulous gluten-free baking book called, " Gluten-Free Baking Classics," by Annalise G. Roberts. Go here to see the book.
My friend Karen, who follows a strict gluten-free diet, recommended the book. We are not a gluten-free household but these recipes are delicious and I think having variety in your diet is always a good thing.

Recipe:
2 cups Brown Rice Flour Mix 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon xanthum gum 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4-1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 1/2 cups unsweetened fresh dry blueberries 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup canola oil 2 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin pan with cooking spray. 2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xantham gum, salt and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl. Add blueberries; stir to coat evenly. 3. Combine milk and oil in small bowl; remove 1 tablespoon of combined liquid and discard it. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add to dry mixture and stir until just blended. 4. Fill muffin pan and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.* 5. Bake 18-25 minutes and until light golden. Cool on rack.
* Cinnamon sugar is 2 tablespoons sugar to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
We happened to have wild huckleberries on hand, so we used those in place of blueberries.
I hope that everyone had a lovely long weekend. We, once again, spent our entire weekend working on the house. The upside is that we accomplished a lot and I'll have some after photos of the dining room in my next post!
xoTrina

Happy December, everyone! If you've been following us then you know that our 3rd appearance on The Nate Berkus Show airs today! If you're new here as a result of the Nate Show, welcome! We're so glad you're here. We honestly still get a little giddy when we think about Nate calling us his best DIYer's, and are hoping all of this is not some crazy dream. No matter how often we get called back to the show (fingers crossed they ask us again!), it is still so surreal. But, we can't.get.enough. We're going to give a little glimpse of the two day room transformations, and our time in NYC for the live taping. Plus, we have a fun announcement, so read on!
Behind the Scenes The first part of the process is getting miked, which was stinkin' hilarious to me this time. Monica's outfit created all sorts of problems for our sound guy, Matt.

Case in point. Hehe. Tell me that doesn't make you giggle.
Then the filming started with an interview with Jesse, the big shot producer (which did not make it onto the show, but we thought we were really funny. Obviously, they did not.: )

Love this picture!
And this cutie is Jesse:

Adorable, right? (Sidenote: he is our age and so successful! Kinda made us feel like underachievers.)

Dean, cameraman #1, was on our very first shoot with the show, and is phenomenal. Just sayin'.
Eventually, we got to do our ridiculously silly and goofy smooth and athletic run out to take a peek at Nate's Crate.

The rest is history, as they say. Anyway, we're so excited to show you the rooms we decorated for Christmas for the show. Of course, Nate pulled another switcheroo on us (see our first house swap here), and I had to decorate Monica's family room, and she had to Christmas-ify my basement den. Switching houses totally puts us out of our element because we have to find all their DIY supplies to use without their guidance. Plus, it's a lot more pressure to decorate someone else's house! We couldn't use any of our existing Christmas decorations and could pretty much use only what was in the crate, although we could shop the house. But the end results turned out pretty good, if we do say so ourselves.: ) Ready for some before and afters?
Monica's Family Room

Jessica's Basement Den

Wheeeeeee! Don't they look amazing? There are soooooo many projects we want to share from these two makeovers- way too many for one post- so we'd like to invite you to:

Beginning tomorrow we'll be breaking down each of the projects from our room makeovers. We'll be sharing loads of ideas for Christmas decor that are easy and cheap- anyone can do them! You don't want to miss it, so come back with pens and paper in hand.: ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, so back to Nate…we headed into NYC in mid-November for another live taping. This is super fun for us, especially watching all fun, crazy stuff that goes on behind the scenes. When we arrived, we headed up to our green room to get settled in and make ourselves look presentable.

Yes, this is another pose-in-the-mirror shot. We're sorry. We won't do it again.

Thank goodness for the wonderful makeup ladies. Each time they do our makeup differently, but every time it's great!

We kind of coordinated without planning it. Great minds…

Our green room didn't stand a chance against us make-a-mess-of-everything girls.

I was so hungry that I needed two plates full of food. (Sadly, this is not abnormal.)

Oh, wait, here's another mirror shot.

And another. Oops! She's cute, though, so that kind of makes up for it, doesn't it?

Once the show was over, we met up with Ed: the sweetest, most personable, down-to-earth, extremely successful producer on earth. I can't say enough nice things about him, so I won't even try. But, we love him.
Then it was off to see the sights!

I can't believe we toted some of our projects around Times Square. We are such dorks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, that's it in a nutshell! We're seriously hoping to be asked on the show again, and if we are, we will be pulling out all the stops to get a picture with Mr. Nate himself. (We're coming for you, Nate!; )
Please don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Monica's easy handwritten lamp shade transformation.
Thanks so much for all of your support! Have a great day!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome, Moo & Puppy, our newest sponsor! Moo & Puppy is a modern digital paper shop, and their stuff is seriously amazing. We created our 12 Days of Nate Show DIYs header with paper from her shop (Brewster Red & Teal). You should totally go check it out, and use the code HOUSEWIVES20 for a 20% discount on your order.

You're welcome.

I t all began with these beautiful organic cherries. It's cherry season here in orchard country so there's lots of them. After snacking on them for a couple of weeks now, I decided that it was time to make ourselves (Hubby, me and babies included) a cherry pie.

Pitting the cherries is something I really enjoy, pink fingers and all. Hubby bought me this cherry pitter last year — it pits four at once and is completely splatter proof. Good thing.
Pie filling recipe:
4 cups pitted cherries 4 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca 1 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

This is the pie before I put it in the oven. I use a pie crust recipe that I learned in a class at the town hall several years ago, taught by a blue ribbon winner at the county fair. Her secret....Martha Stewart's pie crust recipe and really, really good butter.
Pie crust recipe:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup butter
Combine above (I use a food processor) until mixture has pea-sized pieces and coarse crumbs.
Drizzle 1/3 cup cold water over flour mixture and work in until dough clings together in balls. Separate into two equal parts and roll out.
Bake pie at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

Here's the cherry pie, fresh from the oven.
I spent my first trimester in survival mode. I had to eat whatever I could that didn't make me feel woozy, and had a very strong aversion to sugar. But now that I'm in my second trimester, my dietary aversions are a little more manageable. I'm even beginning to sample a few sweet things...

Good morning to you. It is such a beautiful July morning. I've been sitting out on the porch with my usual litre of water, enjoying the cats jumping around catching flies. This morning I'm a bit worried though, one of the cats are missing. The little one has been gone for three nights now and is simply nowhere to be found. As an emergency solution we've put out water and food for her but it doesn't seem she's touched it. I'm so afraid that something has happened to her and I'm starting to think she won't come home. It hurts.

The picture is from French Larkspur and I just love the porcelain. I wonder if it's Rice's Italian but not sure.

We're having a blast with the Fall Lovers Series and hope you are too! If you missed day 1 or 2, click here and here, because you wouldn't want to miss out on the Anti-Wreath or Fancy Mantle posts.

I love fall foods. Perhaps I just like the fact that summer is coming to an end, routines are back, and fall foods are comfort foods in my book. We got home Saturday from a week at the beach and since it officially marks the end of summer for us, I made a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes (my favorite food), corn, stuffing, biscuits, gravy… it was so yummy!
I have many foods that are a Mangin family fall tradition, but one is kind of famous… my apple pie. It has to be baked for the Eagles' opening game every year. We actually make an apple pie like once a week all fall! Monica’s"Famous" Apple Pie So, my pie is nothing special. Actually, it's right out of a Betty Crocker cookbook we got as a wedding present, but it's a never fail recipe for sure. Anyone can handle this recipe… even the hubs makes a mean pie now!

(Sorry about the old TO jersey… we're too cheap to buy new jerseys all the time!)

An insider pie maker tip… Get yourself one of these bad boys from the Pampered Chef. I love it! Cores and slices the apples so easily. I've used generic ones before… blah! This cuts like butter! Check out our sidebar for Jane's info if you want to get one. She'll hook you up!

Here's the secret recipe…

Here's where the fun begins… the crust! Now, if you want crazy fancy pie, well check out some of these links Adorable and Impressive!

Source: thestoryofkat.blogspot.com via Sandy on Pinterest Almost too pretty to eat! (But trust me, it wouldn't stop me! )

Source: instructables.com via Jane on Pinterest Ok… get ready to be amazed and wowed and awed… My Pathetic Excuse for a Decorative Crust… Haha! I totally had just gotten in the door from running (ugh!) and I had company coming in like 10 minutes. I always do an EAGLES crust for the first game, so I started on the crust totally forgetting I was planning to blog about it, so this is real life people…

I ran out of room for the S so we were cheering for the EAGLE not EAGLES! One fun thing I usually do, when I want to make a fancy crust, is to use a marker lid. You can make holes of all sizes and it looks really cute to do a pattern of some sort. For this pie I did nothing cute nor creative!

You just pop that crust on top and voila… No, I'm not showing you a finished picture for two reasons… 1. It looked atrocious 2. We ate it before I remembered to take pictures

Ok, so save myself from this rather humbling post, I'll share some awesome recipes and ideas I've found. S'mores Party How fun would this be with a group of your gal pals on a cool, fall night? Jess and I added this to our To-Do list already.

Source: sidebysideblog.blogspot.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Sunflower Dip- Caramel Apple Downright adorable!

Source: fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Fancy Caramel Apples This would be awesome as the centerpiece on your table and then you just eat them for dessert. My kids would definitely want to help me make these!

Source: countryliving.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate The hubs loves pumpkin. Can't wait to try this!

Source: closetcooking.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Sliced Garlic Potatoes I made these a few nights ago and they were fabulous! I had mine with sour cream! Yum!

Source: foodgawker.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest

Well, after showing the world my ugly crust, I think I'll go eat a piece of humble pie…

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for reasons to have a party, so why not celebrate the return of school?! Whether or not your kids need some encouragement to get back in the swing of things, or you just can't wait to send your kids back to school (hooray for me time!), a party is definitely in order.
Back to School Breakfast Party You could plan a party just for your kids, or, if you're up for it, invite the neighbors, or the families whose kids ride on the bus with your own kids for a quick and easy breakfast before school, ala Katie Brown.
1. Set the table. Make going back to school something to look forward to with an awesome tablespread. I love the vibrant colors and cute centerpiece with apples, a clipboard and cute printable. So easy!

Source: 6dukes.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Go the extra mile for your kids with namecards at their seats, a little gift on their plate, and fun details like this lined-paper utensil holder. Adorable! And there's no way they won't feel special and loved after that!

Source: tipjunkie.com via Kim on Pinterest
2. Choose your menu wisely. Remember to pick food items that will give them energy to get them through until lunch.

Source: katiebrownblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest
A bagel buffet could include peanut butter and jelly, granola, raisins and banana, just to name a few.

Source: katiebrownblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Set out cereal in cute containers (you better believe sand pails and beach accessories are on sale now. Use them!)

Source: katiebrownblog.com via Stephanie on Pinterest
Fruit kabobs couldn't be easier and are so healthy!

3. Send them off with a treat and a little encouragement!
This is so cute and you can get the FREE Smartie Pants Printable to make it even easier.

Source: bethproudfoot.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Brown Baggin’ It

Source: onecharmingparty.com via Laura on Pinterest
There are a million ways you can spice up your kid's lunch bags to make them a little more fun. How about these adorable School Lunch Labels?

Source: littlelovely.typepad.com via The Paper Chick on Pinterest
Or these Back to School Lunch Printables by Little.Lovely.

Source: tothemoonandback143.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
And don't just stop at decorating their lunch bags. Actually pack healthy foods in a fun way for them, too. To the Moon and Back has tons of suggestions for Awesome School Lunch Ideas. And how great is that lunch box?

Source: itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Or simply add a little love note to your kids to tell them how proud you are of them and how much you love them. (Click on the links below each picture to be taken to the site for the free printables.)

Bring on the Dessert!

Spoil your kids with an after-school treat, or wait until after dinner to celebrate the first day of school. It only happens once a year, people, so bring out the big guns!: )

Source: bettycrocker.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: womansday.com via Erin on Pinterest
Mmm… cake pops.

Shawni, of the blog 71 Toes, has a Traditional First Day of School Cookie Chat after school where she sits down and talks with each of her five kids (yes, five!) about their first day. It's such a great idea to start this tradition when they are young so it's something they can look forward to each year, and a way you can easily connect with your kids. Because really, who doesn't love cookies?

Source: iammommy.typepad.com via Kiwi on Pinterest
According to the NY Times, these are the best chocolate chip cookies ever. Sadly, I can't vouch for the validity of this statement, but maybe one of you are willing to put that recipe to the test for an after-school cookie chat. (And please, by all means, feel free to send us a batch so we can"taste-test" these so-called best cookies ever.)

Let your kids know they're special with a little extra love this year.
Back to School never was sweeter!

Have you voted today? Please take a minute to do so- we will love you forever!

Today's post has nothing to do with DIY (nope, not a lick), but I thought maybe some of you might be able to relate to our worst date night ever. At least I hope we're not alone!

Eric and I love the band Fun. We saw them last summer at a tiny concert before they were crazy popular- it was awesome! This summer they were coming back to Philly, so months ago- the day they went on sale, we bought really good tickets. Saturday night was the big night! So here's how it all went down… 4:30pm leaving our house to head to Philly. Now, I never like to take Eric's car- it's 9 years old and kind of a beater. But, since it was a date night and I know he really likes to take his car because it's economical, I decided to be a good wife and suggested we take it. Wife of the year, I know right!
5:00pm arrive at Chipotle for dinner We enjoyed an awesome dinner- do you know that I went to Chipotle for this first time ever a month ago?!? I'm a pretty picky eater, so I never was too interested in it. BUT… I stinkin' love it! Anyhow, we ate really fast and were headed back to the car in about 20 minutes.

5:20pm Beater car has a dead battery and won't start! Are you kidding me? The one time I agreed to take the beater. Ugh. We called a tow service and had the car jumped within 30 mins. Okay, not too bad, we still have tons of time before the concert started at 7:30pm.

6:30pm Arrive in Philly and are super excited for the concert We were so thankful for a smooth drive into the city and we were getting excited about hearing the opening band Tegan and Sara. We had to get off this exit and then go 1 mile to the Mann Center.

6:30pm-9:05pm We Sat and Sat and Sat In 95 minutes we moved 400 feet. Literally, my GPS told us we moved only 400 feet. We couldn't get out and walk because we were on Rt 76, there was no alternate route, and get this… it was 99 degrees outside and we couldn't use the air because of the dead battery. Can it get any better?? Oh wait it can, we thought we'd have our own mini car concert and popped in our FUN. cd… ERROR. Yup, randomly the CD player stopped working. It was Amazeballs!

9:05pm Turn around and head home. #DateNightFail After seeing via Instagram that Fun. was already playing and we had only moved 400 feet and had 1.2 miles to go we made the crappy decision to cut our losses and head home. We knew we wouldn't get there until around 10:30pm- three hours late and just in time to get back into traffic.
So, 100% certifiably, it was the worst date night ever. We got home around10:30pm and the only thing we'd accomplished was a fast food dinner and about 6 hours spent in a car without air conditioning. The thing is, five years ago in our marriage that kind of epic fail would have had both Eric and me completely annoyed and upset and most likely testy at each other. Thankfully, neither one of us was in a bad mood. We both kind of laughed it off, and felt like why get upset when we can't change it. I don't know if it's a sign of getting older and wiser, or being further along in our relationship (I promise you year 2 or 3 of our marriage I would have ripped him a new one about his crappy car- lol), but we were just happy to hang out together. (This blurry instagram pic was after 75 minutes of traffic and 99 degree heat, but we're still smiling)

I'd love to know if you've ever had an epic date night fail… Can you top our date night?? I should also mention the total cost for the night (not including the new battery we had to buy the next day) was like $350! Fun times I tell ya.
So, thanks for letting me share, we'll be back later this week with projects from our tiny kitchen makeover. Don't miss it- there are some awesome ones!!

PS- If you happen to be in the band FUN. or you have awesome connections, I'd be totally fine with you hooking us up with some kind of private concert or something. Just tossing it out there- never know who reads DIY blogs right?!?

We interrupt this regularly schedule DIY program for an important announcement (I've always wanted to use that phrase somewhere!): We have some incredible sponsors who provide loads of amazing products just waiting to be purchased for one-of-a-kind Christmas presents! I've broken them down into categories for you…
Gift-Giving

Ok, you may remember me talking about the amazing art prints from Red Letter Words, but did you know Dee also offers adorable greeting cards and candles? Not only that, but messages printed on the greeting cards are so meaningful and thoughtful- perfect as a stocking stuffer, a gift for a friend, a teacher and the list goes on and on. Get 15% off until December 15th with the code MERRY15. Order by December 19th for Christmas delivery. (Excludes custom prints and the print of the month) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every year I try to give my neighbors a little gift, and this 1-2-3 Dip! Gift set from Pampered Chef is perfect! I am such a sucker for chips and dip. I pretty much could live on it. And if you don't have neighbors, buy a few as hostess gifts (they'll be sure to get you an invitation to next year's party!: ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, Jane sent us a few of her 100% soy candles to try, and I can.not.get.enough. of the Christmas pine scent. I've been burning it around the clock since I got it, and the beautiful thing is, that because it's soy, it's long-lasting! Order a few of these as gifts, or just go ahead and buy a stash for yourself! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How about this adorable Littles Carry-All Caddy in the Winter Wonderland pattern from Thirty-One Gifts for teachers in your (or your kid's) lives? Fill it with a mug, some good chocolate and a gift card to Starbucks and you're set! It comes in 10 different patterns, so you'll be sure to find something for everyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Entertaining

Planning a holiday party? Spread some Festive Cheer with this cocktail idea from Garnish. Goodness, could their stuff be any more darling? I could literally spend all my party budget on the goodies from Garnish- who needs food anyway? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I came across this super-cute idea to use scrapbook paper as a charger on a holiday table, and I'm in love! You could totally use this fabulous paper from Moo & Puppy and alternate the patterns underneath the plates for coordinated, but not identical place settings! {Swoon}

Use the code HOUSEWIVES20 for 20% off of your order. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love Dream Dinners. I really do. And they are total life-savers if you are hosting a holiday party or dinner. So many of the meals can be easily turned into appetizers, like this Coconut Shrimp with Sweet & Sour dipping sauce. Make your holidays stress-free with ready-to-cook meals. Use the code DDNC201110 for 10% off your first order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Home

Well, looky what I found on Craigslist. A $15 chair that would be absolutely stunning if reupholstered in some new fabric! Jet Upholstery could do that in heartbeat, and guess what? You can save 25% off any fabric order when you mention RHBC. Now go! That chair won't last long (especially because I can't keep my eyes off of it!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In our winnings from Crafting with the Stars, we both got to choose stencils from Royal Design Studio. They are the best place to get designer decorative stencils and tools. Monica chose this Morrocan Stencil- Chez Sheik:

And I'm getting this lovely Large Fabric Damask stencil:

We both have big plans for our stencils and come on, you know you have an area in your house that's just dying to be stenciled. Am I right? Head over to Royal Design Studio to be totally inspired.
Use the coupon code RHBC10 for 10% off your order! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving Back

We are often so focused on buying gifts at this time of year, but really, it's also a great time to give back. Head on over to Scout & Nimble to see how you can be a part of her awesome iniative to do just that. Also, did you see this ah-ma-zing rug she just got?

So jealous. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, that's it! No excuses for lame gifts this year, people!; )

This Fab Find is near and dear to my heart:
Dream Dinners!

Why, you ask? Several years ago my mom and I decided to go into business together, owning and operating our very own Dream Dinners store. It was a fabulous experience that we'll never forget, but because of my growing family and the declining health of both of my grandmothers whom my mom cared for, we made the difficult decision to close our store. If you don't know about Dream Dinners- you are missing out! I know this company to be a good one, and the care that goes into creating delicious, excellent quality, healthy meals can't be outdone! Do you ever get home from a busy day and ask yourself,"what's for dinner?"At Dream Dinners, they answer that question for you. Their monthly menu includes over 14 different recipes each month, along with additional pre-assembled dinners, sides, breads and desserts ready for purchase while in one of their stores. A wide variety of options means there are plenty of meal preparation choices to satisfy everyone in the family.

1. Garlic & Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak 2. Raspberry Stuffed French Bread 3. Greek Island Shrimp 4. Fruit-Stuffed Pork Roast
You know I LOVE food, and the meals, sides and desserts are mouth-watering! (My personal favorites are Chicken Mirabella, Herb-crusted Flank Steak and Arroz con Pollo and Monica can't get enough of their amazing biscuits with cinnamon-honey butter!)

The best part about this whole thing is when you take the meals home and realize you have 12 or more meals in your freezer ready to cook at a moment's notice. (Side note: do you see all that loose corn in my freezer? One of my hubs' biggest pet peeves is the fact that I tend to leave open containers everywhere or don't properly put the lids on things. Case in point.) Anyway, I have a regular size freezer and 12 meals fit perfectly, so don't worry about a lack of space! And now, the question I'm sure you are dying to ask: is it affordable? Well, take a look at this little video and see for yourself:

I know the owner of our local store, Kris, well since we worked closely with her for several years and she'll take good care of you! Plus, she's offering 10% off your first full order! Just use the code DDNC201110.
I do hope you'll check Dream Dinners out! Happy Eating!

PS. Dream Dinners can save you LOADS of time when it comes to holiday meal planning. They have some really great entree items, and even offer delicious appetizers for your parties. I've used them several years in a row for my big Christmas party, and the stuff is amazing and always gets rave reviews!

I thought I would share my top ten blogs I'm reading right now. You probably know most of them but hopefully some of them are new to you. Enjoy!

Christmas is closing up and so my first blog is an amazingly inspirational food blog.

White and beautiful country style.

Lots of beautiful tips and inspiration.

A little red house, adorable interior. Sadly Rickard would scream if I tried to decorate our house with so much white.

Truly a Scandinavian summer dream!

Details, details, details.

Cosy and creative.

Second hand, home made and a shop to go wild in.

True country style. I want this home!!

One of the blogs I've followed for the longest time.

Happy Saturday evening to you!