Nautical By Nature

DIY.

This season has been jam packed with cute nautical themed items. I’ve purchased a couple of nautical striped shirts and some not-on-sale Tory Burch nautical shoes (luckily my husband won’t know which one of the Hip Hostess’ wrote this!). Since I have spent my allotted money on other purchases and would still like to add a touch of nautical to my home I was very excited to see design sponge’s tutorials. I can’t wait to add my nautical touches around the house and all for $8 a piece…that definitely makes up for the shoes.

Sailor's Knot Doorstop and Paperweight.



Knot Trivets or Coasters

Link Love

Tuesday Inspiration.

Snippet and Ink
Check out the newly designed site at S&I. And oh yeah...gorgeous photos like this are pretty nice too!!



Joy The Baker
In case you ever get the craving for just one pancake…this recipe is the mother of all pancake recipes.



The Selby
Can you believe that this baroque frame is made of corrugated cardboard? So cool.



How About Orange
If you are a beginner to canning, check out this link for some great pointers…and these adorable jam jar ideas.



A Cup of Jo
Show some local pride with state-shaped cutting boards.

Root Beer Float Day

Infused liquor and cocktail recipe.

I wanted to give everyone fair warning about a very imporant day that is coming up this week. Friday, August 6th is National Root Beer Float Day. Right on.

It has been FAR too long since I've treated myself to a root beer float. And few things taste better or make you more nostalgic on a summer day. But...if you'd rather invest your calories on a TGIF cocktail, I might have a way that you can still enjoy the taste of a float in libation form. Enter: Three Olives Root Beer Flavored Vodka.



On a normal day, I would mix this flavored vodka with club soda or ginger ale, but today we want to imitate a float. So how does a Floatini sound? Is it Friday yet?

Root Beer Floatini
1.5 oz. Three Olives Root Beer Vodka
.5 oz. Amaretto liqueur
.5 oz. Irish Cream liqueur

Shake hard over ice & strain into glass. And if you are feeling like having an extra little treat...float a melon-ball size scoop of vanilla ice cream in center.

Berry Tempting French Toast Skewers

Recipe.

Looking for a fun addition to your brunch menu? How about French Toast Skewers? I saw this recipe on YumSugar and thought it not only looked beautiful but also guarantees portion control, something I need when it comes to French Toast. I also like the fact that it is served with healthy blueberry sauce instead of syrup. If you want to make an impression at your next brunch, check out the recipe here.

Naughty Betty

Snarky stuff.



My husband and I are slowly becoming the last couple standing...the last couple to be sans child. All of our drinking buddies are dropping like flies and becoming grown-ups! Oiy vey!

But I know that our buddies are still trying to get used to the different sets of priorities that come with being a parent. Instead of taking advantage of an unseasonably beautiful day to go drink outside (my favorite past time), they take their child to the park. But deep down, I know they'd like to join us for an al fresco cocktail hour.

So when I recently ran across a line of products from a company called Naughty Betty, I couldn't stop giggling. Started by two 30-something moms, Naughty Betty is a compilation of products adorned with snarky comments that hit right at the heart of what my group of friends is experiencing.

And I think this pretty much says it all:



But make sure to check out the Naughty Betty site...it's chock full of some very clever stuff.

Light Lemon Bars

Recipe.

I have one heck of a sweet tooth...a trait that I know comes directly from my mother. Pies, cakes, ice cream, chocolate bars, cookies...they all make me very happy. But I'm always looking for a way to have dessert without the guilt afterwards.

Fitness magazine had a great recipe for lemon bars in July's issue. Each bar only has 100 calories and packs that deliciously tart-sweet punch that is so satisfying during the summer. And I don't feel the least bit guilty about eating them either.

Boxsal

Packaging.

If you have been looking for a bad-ass way to make an entrance into your next picnic…look no further. Boxsal has made it easy with their cool picnic boxes disguised as briefcases, boom boxes and works of art. Each box contains compostable dinnerware and utensils and is just waiting to be filled with the fun food items of your choice.

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

Z's the Day
Check out Cari's ice cream social birthday bash.



Shelterpop
Don't let the wrong glass ruin your perfect summer drink.



Table 6 Productions
You are sure to find a flag style you love in this great compilation.



Ruffled
These tractor escort cards are the perfect touch to this fantastic farm wedding.

Ecojot Giveaway

Contest.

Get excited, folks. We have a wonderful giveaway starting today and five lucky readers are going to win a wonderful product!

Ecojot is a Canadian based company that creates 100% post-consumer recycled products. As someone who loves a stylish product that is also earth-friendly, here are some other great stats about Ecojot:

* Acid-free, processed chlorine free paper & board is used.
* All inks & glues are vegetable based, therefore bio-degradable.
* No new trees are used to make the paper & the paper mill is powered by biogas harnessed from a nearby landfill.
* All of the protective packaging is corn-based.
* Their "Buy One Give One campaign" donates a school notebook to young students around the world for every jounal, jumbo journal, or sketchbook purchased.

And of course...their graphic prints are bright, cheery and fun.



So here's the contest skinny. Five randomly chosen readers will win (2) 5x7 journals. All you have to do is leave a comment telling us what you use your journals for...shopping lists, random thoughts, whatever. You have until August 9th to enter.

As for me, I keep a journal with me always to jot down (1)blog ideas, (2)note cocktails and wine that I enjoy at restaurants, and since I'm trying to furnish our new apartment (3) furniture and room dimensions.

Good luck, all!

Carnival Cauliflower

Food.

Have you noticed the cauliflower bin is full of psychedelic colors lately? You use to find the orange, green and purple cauliflower mainly at the farmer’s market but Andy Boy jumped on the bandwagon and now you can find the different varieties at your local grocery stores. Don’t be afraid, in fact embrace them.

The different colors are not only a way to make an otherwise boring salad or veggie stir-fry pop with color but they actually include more nutrients. The taste is the same as the white variety but the orange is loaded with vitamin A and the purple has the extra antioxidants like the ones found in red wine, blackberries and blueberries.



My favorite way to cook cauliflower is to chop it up into thumb size pieces then toss with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and a touch of cayenne pepper. Then roast in a 450 degree oven until popping with flavor. It’s easy, nutritional and now beautiful.