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.

Kumquat Lemongrass Rum Punch

It's Earth Day and what better way to celebrate than drinking some lovely Kumquat Lemongrass Rum Punch courtesy of My Way Home.  Just be sure to drink it in a cute glass you upcycled from a flea market with a chic tray passed down from your grandma.  That' the way to enjoy Earth Day!

Fresh Flower Gift Tags

If you are anything like me when Spring rolls around the vases around the house start filling up.  There is nothing I love more than an open window letting in the first smells of Spring and bright colors in all the vases.  This tutorial caught my eye from Studio DIY because I'm always looking for creative ways to package gifts and with Mother's day approaching this idea is perfect.  I also love the fact that I always have brown paper on hand and I can just snip a few of my flowers from around the house and voila.  Check it out here.

The Ole' Burger

Cinco de Mayo is a couple weeks away and this year it falls on a Sunday.  This means there are few excuses for kicking back with a couple of friends and enjoying some good food and cervezas.  I LOVE Mexican food but I enjoy it most when other people prepare it for me.  That's not to say that we don't enjoy taco salad at the casa but I don't normally get into the enchilada, burrito or mole dishes very often.  It's also not a cuisine that I entertain with much due to there being a good deal of smashing, chopping and rolling (tortillas).  But I think I have a solution.

The Ole' Burger

Makes 4 burgers

4 thin slices serrano ham
1/4 tsp crumbles saffron threads
1 tbsp warm water
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3/4 lb. uncured chorizo sausage, removed from skins and crumbled
3/4 lb. ground pork
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
3 oz. manchego cheese, thinly sliced
4 onion buns, split and toasted
Boston lettuce leaves
2/3 cup drained roasted peppers

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lay ham in single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Top with a second piece of parchment paper and another baking sheet.  Bake until crisp about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, sprinkle saffron over warm water.  Let stand 15 minutes, then stir in mayonnaise.

3. In a large bowl, combine sausage meat, pork, parsley, thyme, paprika, salt and pepper until combined.  Form into four 1/2 inch thick patties.

4. Preheat barbecue to medium.  Grill patties, turning once, until no longer pink inside, 10 to 12 minutes.  Top each with cheese.

5. Spread buns with saffron mayo.  Fill with lettuce, burgers, roasted peppers and ham.

Enjoy!

Awesome Invitation

This is a great invitation...so cute plus you get to eat peanuts.  I love this idea from Sunshine Confetti for a child's party or even a grown up bbq.  Design a makeshift baseball diamond and play a little round ball after the burgers and beer.  The best news is that the tutorial as well as free downloads can be found here.

Link Love

Excellent Eats
Coffee ice cubes swimming in Bailey's...YUM!

Fancy
I would be the best read girl around.

 
Il Cavoletto di Bruxelles
Salmon and cream cheese puffs, great brunch item.

Love and Olive Oil
Chocolate Stawberry Oasis Pie

Grilled Brussel Sprouts

Now my love of brussel sprouts is a well known fact and I thought I had exhausted every possible way of cooking them.  In Toronto this past weekend I had a brussel sprout dish with bechamel and proscuitto which tasted like brussel sprout mac and cheese.  I'm still working on recreating that one. 

But in the meantime, we've already fired up the grill this season and I can't wait to throw some brussels on a skewer and get that slight smoky flavor.  Why has this never even occurred to me?  If you also share the love of the sprouts, check the recipe out here

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Blueberry Bundt Cake

What could be more fitting for a Spring time brunch than a bundt cake?  Plus Mother's Day is right around the corner.  I think I'll be giving this a trial run this weekend, all in the name of perfecting my bundt skills of course.  Nobody likes a sloppy bundt.  Take a look at the recipe over at Effortless Chic.

Link Love

Donna Hay
Lemon Cheesecake

Ana Antunes
Who could guess this side table is actually a trash can?

Cookin Canuck
This avocado soup looks refreshing.

Day Dream Kitchen
Sangria...always perfect for a Spring day.

Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

This little thing of beauty is a sloppy joe grilled cheese.  Check out how you can make your own at Grilled Cheese Social.  Plus what you can't see is that there are potato chips grilled right into the sandwich for a little extra crunch and a swoon worthy bite.

Toronto Bound

I'm off to Toronto on an early morning flight.  Excited to see the city again and check out the Good Food and Drink Festival.  I'm hoping there is new and exciting product around every corner to report back.  However, don't expect it to be Monday as my flight doesn't get in until late night on Sunday!  Have a great weekend and if you have any Toronto suggestions would love to hear.

Mint

The experts are saying that the "it" color for Spring is going to be mint.  Truthfully, I've never had a great appreciation for mint.  But these pictures swayed my opinion.  What do you think?  Do you see pops of mint making it into your life?

Elizabeth Ann Designs

Ontwerpduo

Number 2 pencil

Long Hair Style Show

25Media

License Plate Coozies

Yes that is right...you are looking at a license plate coozie.  I'm originally from Kansas where coozies are to beer as biscuits are to gravy, always served together.  When I saw these coozies made from authentic license tags, I thought what a great idea for a party, where people are gathering from different states.  It not only lets you identify your beer but it also gives a great conversation starter.  They are a little pricey at $28 a pop, but you know what they say.  Beer in a license state coozie expensive but a good times had by all...priceless.

Link Love

Kellie's Food to Glow
Apple pie pancakes with caramel sauce.

Recyclart
All you need is tin cans and a little paper.

In the Little Red House
Make your own sundried tomatoes

Eilen Tein
A tutorial with a little translation needed but well worth it for ombre vase covers.

Mediterranean Meals

When Spring arrives everybody puts away the stew and ragu recipes and starts looking to trade them in for some lighter dishes.  Casa Sugar put out a great piece on Mediterranean Meals and with 23 to choose from there should be something for everyone.  Check it out...I know that Mediterranean layer dip is going on my list pronto!