June 21, 2013

I love lists, Friday!

Grandmothers & their meals. I love this.
I styled this Shrimp Taco recipe for the kitchn. It’s SUPER GOOD.
If you love seeing how people pack on a trip, you’ll love this post.
Cookie Stacked Cakes? WHERE DO I SIGN UP??
I want to eat this ice cream all summer long.
14 Simple Things Perfectionists Love (SO TRUE).
I’m obsessed with this film petit series! Moonrise Kingdom! Napoleon Dynamite! Lebowski! Beuller!
Such a cute way to wrap a present.
This Cheesy Tex Mex Skillet looks like the perfect weeknight meal.
I want Catherine to adopt me. These lunches look amazing.
SUMMER MUSIC!!! Let’s make a playlist.
If you’ve ever been pregnant, you might relate to this powerful post.
I’d park myself up to this Gooey Chocolate Coconut Skillet Cake ALL DAY LONG.
I’d like to make a light painting one day.
If you’ve got leftover strawberries… make these pops!

The Simplified Feast made my Farro Salad

Thoughtful Plate made my Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad

The Petit Kitchen made my Honey Banana Smoothie

Love, Laurie made my Espresso BBQ Sauce

Wild Friends made my Asian Slaw with Wasabi Dressing

out & about, Photography

June 19, 2013

Out & About: Austin, Texas

Hello hello!! I was recently in Austin and LOVED it. It was my first time visiting and am already plotting my return!

Here’s what my 2 1/2 day trip to Austin looked like.

recipes, Uncategorized

June 17, 2013

Honey Lime Drumsticks

Best part of summer? Outdoor grilling! Can I make a confession? I do almost all the grilling at home. It’s not that Casey doesn’t want to. He totally wants to! But… I might be a bit of a control freak about grilling. Since I do all of the shopping and I know how much our organic meat costs, I’m like SUPER paranoid of over-cooking anything. When you’re grilling, you have to be ON IT. You can’t get distracted with ANYTHING…like outdoor speakers, drink mixing or stressful Red Sox games.

In order to excel at grilling, you have to have a good sense of time. You have to park yourself there and be patient. That’s the key to grilling. Grilling gives me a chance to sort of meditate and relax while sipping on a cocktail while I dodge basketballs & soccer balls Casey & Cooper are playing with. I really love it.

I paired these Honey Lime Drumsticks with Honey Butter Grilled Corn (recipe soon!) and a simple tomato salad dressed with feta, mint & lemon juice. It’s such a simple meal to throw together on a weeknight. Now what’s for dessert? How about some Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwiches? Yeah baby!

my everyday life, Photography

June 15, 2013

My Everyday Life: Week 24

Here’s what this past week looked like:

So true.

Uncategorized

June 14, 2013

I love lists, Friday!

A 40 hanger closet? Whoa!
If you’re a mom, you can totally relate to this post about table manners.
Summer Bucket List! This reminds me that I need to make mine!
This salad looks incredible.
Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes. Need I say more??
I’m totally bringing these to a BBQ. You should too.
Camp Cobbler. A beautifully written post with VIDEO!!!
This will make you want to go to Paris.
Cats with clothes on. Watch what happens.
Signs+ Puns= My favorite.
I want this drink. Always & forever.
I loved looking at Ashley’s home on Design Sponge this week!
Remember Jackie from Roseanne. OMG you’re gonna love this.
Need some new music? NPR did a roundup for you.
25 Reasons Why Adulthood Doesn’t Suck. Hahaha!

Shame Hangover! We talk about that, housewife wine clubs & Austin on the latest Joy the Baker Podcast. Thank you for listening! We appreciate you.

I’m taking a little break on my High Straightenance posts right now. Hopefully I’ll be back soon with another organizing project. Stay tuned!

It Was Just Like That made my Blueberry Pudding Cake

Dula Notes made my Spinach Salad w/ Dates & Almonds

Victoria Sponge Pease Pudding made my Goat Cheese & Arugula Pizza

Hearth Homemade made Grilled Asparagus & Tomato Couscous

recipes, Uncategorized

June 12, 2013

Strawberry Ginger Punch

Punch bowls always make me think of school dances. Although I never went to a school dance that had a punch bowl. It seems like something one only sees in movies. Did you ever have a punch bowl at a dance? Somehow I don’t think Boys II Men & punch bowls mix well. Funky Cold Medina? Yes. Now we’re talking.

I’ve always wanted a punch bowl. I’m actually on the look-out for one. But when I read this recipe for Strawberry Ginger Punch and when they suggested using a big vase as a punch bowl I thought…WHOA. GENIUS. I also had all of the ingredients at home to make this punch but was missing Brandy…so I used vodka instead! Vases for punch bowls. Vodka for Brandy. We’re improvising!

With the strawberries, ginger & basil I’m sure gin would also make a good substitute. Bubbly seltzer finishes this sweet/herbal drink off to make it more of a spritzer! It’s such a refreshing drink! Perfect for summertime. Perfect for school dances? Hmm. I might be guilty of spiking (my own) punch bowl…And if you’re not into spiked punches, you could totally make this without the booze. Just watch your back…someone might have a hidden flask…

recipes, Uncategorized

June 10, 2013

Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

New recipe! Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

My parents switched schools on me when I was in 7th grade. I was super nervous and pretty upset to be changing schools because I had been with my friends since kindergarten. On my first day of the new school I found out that they sold ice cream sandwiches after lunchtime. SCORE! When my friend Caley bought me one to welcome me, it was then when I knew my parents made the right decision. It was also then that I knew I had made a solid friend.

This is my first time making ice cream sandwiches and it definitely won’t be the last. There’s something so satisfying about spreading
melty ice cream over a sheet of cookie and squishing another cookie on top to make a sandwich. And when you cut out individual sandwiches, it’s like jackpot!! Who wouldn’t want this ice cream sandwich loot in their freezer?

These sandwiches are packed with flavor! The lemon zest & juice really enhances the vanilla ice cream. It’s tastes like blueberry muffin ice cream! The blueberry swirl captures my heart and adds such a pretty color to what would have been a very monotone ice cream sandwich. I’m quite smitten with these and I’m sure you’ll agree when you share your first (of many batches!) with your loved ones. Ice cream sandwiches are how friends are made.