On The Go Snacks

This may not be the most beautiful presentation but it is a fool proof way to have some healthy snacks on the go. This is the time of year for family road trips, kid’s camps and beating the heat at the pool. Put together a couple of snack jars with celery and peanut butter, carrots and hummus or apples and caramel dipping sauce and go, go, go.

Courtesy of choose to thrive

Roasted Italian Sausages and Grapes

Recipe.

I've never been to Providence, Rhode Island. And I've never been to Johanne Killeen's Al Forno Restaurant. But I saw Johanne prepare one of her dishes on an episode of Barefoot Contessa last weekend, and I can't stop thinking about it.

photo courtesy of golocalprov.com

Roasted Italian Sausages and Grapes. My goodness did it look good. The sweetness of the roasted grapes mixed with the spicy pork sausage and then coated in a balsamic & butter pan sauce. Hello! What's not to love?

Check out the recipe here.

Looks like I need to add italian sausage and grapes to my grocery list...

Plastic Spoon Wreath

Have a few boxes of plastic spoons gathering dust in your cupboards? Well why haven’t you turned them into a wreath? This is the perfect project if you have a bare wall in your kitchen and have been waiting for just the right funky objet d’art. The fun part is that at first glance you don’t really notice they are just a bunch of spoons hot glued together.

Modernist Mugs

Housewares.

Now I know that I have an unusually strong penchant for cute tea cups, but you have to admit that these new 50's inspired designs from West Elm are abso-freakin-lutely adorable. I'll take a set with a tin of Earl Grey, thank you very much!

Link Love.

InStyle
Hand rolled white chocolate pearls…wow.




Luna and Chloe Weddings
Love the use of aluminum cans with a little spray paint.




Honest Cooking
Lemon Meringue Pie Shooters




Nabe Fabric
Perfect reason to scour flea markets for light fixtures.

Filler Flower

Flowers.

I love to have lots of fresh flower arrangements in our apartment. The pop of color and life that it adds to the overall aesthetic just can't be beat. But I also don't like to spend a fortune on these flowers either. Which is why I love Solidago...



Most of you might know Solidago as Goldenrod, but I know it as the cheap and attractive filler that makes my flower budget pocketbook friendly.

I am an Amatuer with a capital A when it comes to arranging flowers; but I do know that if you stick to a monochromatic palate and throw a bundle of Goldenrod in to fill up space, it just seems to work.

Give it a try...your pocketbook and your home will both thank you!

Mike's Hot Honey

Michael Kurtz first tasted hot honey in a remote village in Brazil and has spent seven years perfecting the condiment. He uses a secret mix of honey from Pennsylvania, chiles from Minas Gerais in Southern Brazil and vinegar.

Mike’s hot honey is available here for $8 per bottle. What a great addition to your next BBQ. Some delicious grilled ribs with a side of buttery cornbread drizzled with Mike’s hot honey will not be soon forgotten.

Card Trick

I saw this idea on Family Chic blog and thought, now that’s a keeper. Everyone has a spare deck of cards around and while you may not have a round hole punch that is easy enough to remedy. Next time you have a gathering that includes wine, make sure to show them your card trick.

Matryoshkas Measure

Clever Kitchen Tool.

I'm a bit of a product stalker. I often have a difficult time buying something the first time I see it. I usually stew about said product. Search it on the web for best pricing. And then stew about it some more.

Well I've been stewing about these adorable measuring cups for months now!



I love that they are a kitschy play on traditional Russian matryoshkas. They are adorable enough to set out on the counter. And are actually quite practical because there are 6 dry measures nestled into one cute package.

Should I stop stewing and just buy them???

Ten Minute Tomatoes

One of my favorite things to buy at the farmer’s market is tomatoes. I spend a great deal of time at the tomato table smelling and touching trying to find the perfect ripe tomato. Every once in awhile you strike gold and cut into the tomato to find that it is ripe all the way through and that the flavors are just what you were looking for. But let’s be honest, my good tomato to bad tomato ratio is about 2 out of 10.

That’s why I love this 10 minute tomato recipe from Fine Cooking. If you have some tomatoes that don’t live up to your full expectation just pop them under the broiler for 10 minutes to help bring out some of the natural flavors. Instead of throwing away those imperfections turn them into an easy, delicious side dish.

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

Tasty Kitchen Blog
I am a sucker for a runny egg. And this dish is right up my alley…



Design Sponge
Who knew that a DIY that includes paper cups and dye could end up this gorgeous?




Style Files
Wow…this Italian farmhouse bedroom is just stunning.



These Roving Eyes
What a beautiful setting for a wedding photo!

Multitasking Media Cabinet

Home Decor.

Nothing makes me happier in home decor than a piece that can multitask. So when I saw this new media cart from Pottery Barn, I thought it was pretty cool.



And then when I saw the same piece as a bar...I was pretty much in love.



And even though the catalogue stages this piece in a slightly rustic room...I think it would look fab as a bit more industrial chic piece in a crisp white room with white painted floors. Oh the possibilities...

Button Earrings

DIY.

I love when a DIY is incredibly cute and incredibly easy at the same time.



These adorable earrings are made from buttons. And the DIY is a whopping 2 steps right here. Love it!

Cloth is King

Hostess Gift.

I use paper Vanity Fair napkins just like everyone, but I have to say that I love using my cloth napkins when I have guests over...or if I'm feeling like "dressing up" our dinner table on a regular night.



I think that these napkins from Horchow would be a fabulous hostess gift, that I know I would love to receive. The colorful numbers add a touch of whimsy, but they would certainly dress up a summertime feast. Aren't they so cute?

National Tequila Month

Reader Advice.

There's nothing like coming home from a road trip on a steaming hot day only to find out that your power is out. What's a girl to do?

Well this girl high-tailed it to a very much air-conditioned Mexican restaurant and proceeded to drink COLD margaritas and eat LOTS of chips & guac. I quickly learned from our waiter that July is National Tequila Month. How did I miss out on that one?



What I want to know is if any of you readers have a favorite margarita recipe? I've recently tried a watermelon kind...and loved it. But I'm an equal opportunity margarita drinker and I want to know what you guys have up your sleeves.

So tell me...how will you make your margaritas for National Tequila Month?

Bastille Day July 14th

Bastille Day is France’s Independence day and is celebrated on July 14th. The soiree includes parades, fireworks and feasts with friends. Truthfully, I just look at it as an excuse to make mussels and frites and drink a little French white wine. If you want to partake in the feasting check out this fantastic mussels recipe. If you are not a fan of mussels then steak frites is equally French, festive and delicious.

Link Love

EAD Living
A frozen lemonade vodka slushie could really hit the spot right now!




Apartment Therapy
Love this Ikea mirror headboard.




Can you stay for dinner?
Seriously…smore's pancakes with marshmallow sauce.




Luna and Chloe Weddings
Who needs flowers for a centerpiece when tomatoes are so perfect?

Waialua Soda

Recently I was doing a little perusing at World Market and spotted Waialua soda on the shelves. I instantly loved the packaging and decided to investigate a little further.

Waialua Soda is all about homegrown Hawaii ingredients. The contents are handmade and hand-bottled by Jason and Karen Campbell from their artisanal soda shop in a former plantation village on Waialua’s North Shore. They offer Big Island Vanilla, Kauai honey in vanilla cream soda and island grown fruits are regularly infused into sodas for different tropical flare.

I think these are the perfect addition to any future outdoor event. Sipping from these tropical bottles poolside with or without adult additives is sure kick up the fun factor.

Bye Bye Pie

Recipe.

Listen...I love pie just as much as anyone. But sometimes I just do not feel like rolling out a pie crust when I could be outside enjoying a Pimm's Cup and soaking up some Vitamin D. So that's when I go for pie's slightly rural cousin, the cobbler.



This easy recipe from Williams-Sonoma calls for blackberries, but you can really use whatever looks freshest at the grocery store. Have a Happy Fourth of July Weekend everyone!

Firecracker DIY

DIY.

I love this firecracker DIY from Real Simple. It's a great project to work on with your kids before the 4th. And then it will be a real bang on the big day!