Lilac Love

Everyone have a great long weekend and what better day to prepare for summer than start with some fresh flowers for the home.  I love lilacs and they are so easy to style.  The hubby and I are off to Mexico for a little R&R.  Have a happy and safe holiday.

Cutting Boards

I have a great love of cutting boards.  All shapes and sizes, types, styles and the more vintage the better.  They are practical and can make an ordinary dish look extraordinary.  Lately, I have curbed my habit a little due to my limitation of space.  This post from At Home In Love has some great ways for storing your boards when they are not in use.

Baby Shower Gold

Want to be the hit at the next baby shower.  Pick up one of these little jumpsuits...instead of oohing and aahing they'll get a good laugh. 

Link Love

Make Bake Celebrate
Birthday Cake Cookie Bars

Design Love Fest
This office is stunning!

Pass The Sushi
Peanut Butter Banana Bars

Her Blog
Love the makeshift buffet complete with wine barrels

Tomatoes, Homemade Ricotta and Grilled Bread

Each year about this time I like to choose a signature dish that serves me well over the season.  This year I am choosing tomatoes, homemade ricotta and grilled bread.  The ingredients are easy to find and economical.  This way when people stop by or come over for a bbq I have any easy and impressive dish at my fingertips for an appetizer or side dish.  Since we usually serve some kind of grilled meat this will pair perfectly and it means I don't need to start up the oven to toast the bread.  What's your go to summer dish?

Lemony Feta Dip

Lately, down time has been something that I dream about but can't seem to make it happen.  So, after I do a few hours of work on Sunday morning the rest of my day will consist of this delicious lemony feta dip, a glass of wine and a pile of magazines waiting to be read.  What do you do to unwind when life gets a little crazy?

Banana-Pecan Crumble

Last night we had scallops over salad which is one of my favorites...my husband really reaches 5 star restaurant quality on this dish.  Although it is delicious it can sometimes leave us hungry an hour later so we usually pair it with a cheese course.  However, last evening, I decided to get crazy and go for dessert.  I ran across this Banana Pecan Crumble recipe a while back and decided to give it a go.  It was AMAZING and reminded me of apple crumble but I think I prefer the bananas.  When you read the recipe it looks labor intensive but the steps go quick...just remember to cook it before your main course so it has enough time to cool to put over ice cream.  You should try it.

Upcycled Aluminum Cans

Stephanie Lynn wrote a blog post on 50 ways to recycle and upcycle aluminum cans.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  I've seen alot of these here and there but somehow they are VERY inspiring placed in a post all together.  I think my husband is going to be seeing a lot more corn and I'm going to start a stash for one or many of these cute projects.

Link Love

Something Swanky
Black Bottom Butterscotch Cookies

Wedding Chicks
Tulips and Peonies in mercury glass=Beautiful

Just Putzing Around The Kitchen
Blackberry Champagne Margarita

Cecelia Fox
Love these hanging baby's breath pomanders

Butterfly Cupcakes

Want to make a big impression but short on time?  How about picking up some vanilla cupcakes at your local supermarket and few bags of candy.  The candies placed strategically transform into butterflies in no time and voila you have a hit dessert for your summer soiree.

Individual Salads

How cute is this idea from  My Baking Addiction?  I especially love this idea for around the pool or for a backyard soiree.  It's a great way to set out a healthy snack that people can grab when they want and it looks adorable to boot.

DIY tray

Check out this tutorial at A Bubbly Life to see how you can turn a thrift store find into a chic tray.  I love this look and the fact that it cost $1.50 makes it even much sweeter!

Ultimate Nachos

You know how I like to keep an eye out for additions to my gift stash.  Well Ultimate Nachos is the perfect  gift for an acquaintance who just acquired a new home or apartment.  It has 80 fun filled ways to make nachos and homemade chips and salsa's.  At $16 it is the perfect sentiment and the perfect gift for someone about to host a housewarming.  Who wouldn't want to be invited to a party with multiple styles of nachos?

Link Love

Cakes for Wedding
Tuxedo Cake

Paula Deen
Tomato and Mozzarella tarts would be perfect with a glass of Rose

A Daily Something
Fresh flower napkin rings

A Beautiful Bite
Avocado fritters with cilantro dipping sauce

Creamy mushrooms with poached eggs

This melt in your mouth recipe is just what mom needs for her special Mother's day brunch.  Creamy mushrooms with poached eggs on top of toasted brioche.  Who needs a crowded, over priced restaurant when you can whip up a fabulous dish like this.  Save your money and have a nice, peaceful mother's day with mom all to yourself.

Floral Straws

We've all seen paper straws in polka dots and stripes but how about floral?  I love paper straws but was looking for something new this season and voila here they are.  These would be darling adorning glassware as well as your outdoor pieces.  Plus they come from Australia so you have a conversation piece as well.

Orange Basil Mojito

This recipe from Recipe Girl sounds cool and refreshing...just exactly what a Spring cocktail should be.  I love the replacement of mint with basil.  If the rest of the recipes from Recipe Girl are anything like this then the Amazon order department should get ready to work overtime.

Orange-Basil Mojitos

Ingredients

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup thick simple syrup
10 large fresh basil leaves, stems removed and discarded
1 cup white rum
1 cup club soda
Crushed ice
Orange slices, for garnish
Additional basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

In a medium pitcher, combine the orange juice, simple syrup and basil.  Use a wooden spoon or a muddler to crush the basil leaves in the bottom of the pitcher.  Stir in the rum and club soda.  Serve immediately in individual glasses over crushed ice.  Garnish with orange slices and fresh basil.

To prepare thick simple syrup, in a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup granulated white sugar to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring the mixture until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove the pan from heat and let cool.

Cinco De Mayo Spa Day

Okay, so when you look at this picture you think of a margarita right?  Well maybe what you should be thinking is Cinco de Mayo spa party with margarita body scrub.  Time to get the phone tree activated ladies.  As if Cinco de Mayo wasn't fun enough, now you can check out Henry Happened for a tutorial on how to make a scrub out of your favorite ingredients.  I think this is definitely muy bueno.

Link Love

Aedriel
Love the embroidery hoops…cute and easy on the pocketbook.

Kevin and Amanda
Survey says these brownie batter cupcakes are "the best".

Style Me Pretty
Love this cute summer hairstyle.

Cooking Classy
Lemon Meringue Pie Smore's=sold

Hummus, Sundried Tomato and Pea Shoot Crostini

This recipe is listed under killer app and for good reason.  Any time you combine hummus with tomatoes and pea shoots, I think it's a winner.

Summer Drinkin'

Every summer I buy a new set of "summer drinkin" glasses.  I actually have a bit of a problem with drink ware but seasonal buying helps me keep it in check.  I love the Hawaiian feel of these glasses and the fact that the stainless steel interior will keep my beverage super frosty.  What do you think?  Do you have a seasonal must have?

Baked Margarita Donuts

A healthy donut that is baked and tastes like a margarita... that's almost to much for my brain to handle.  I am going to purchase a donut pan this weekend just to give this recipe a go.  First of all I love donuts and I love the versatility that the ingredients give the little goodie.  Due to the addition of tequila it makes it just not for breakfast anymore.  It could easily be served as a dessert. 

Spring Flowers

 Do you ever see those initial coffee mugs and think, I kind of like those but I already have coffee mugs?  I've had this discussion with myself many times and mainly because they always seem to be in the discount section plus they look so elegant.  Well leave it to The Effortless Chic to come up with the perfect solution. What a great way to display Spring flowers.

Link Love

Apartment Therapy
Love this repurposing of an old dresser for the kitchen

Camille Styles
This salad looks yummy!

Martha Stewart
Raspberry Mousse Pie

Home Depot
This outdoor space is amazing.