Sling Pack

I really like these sling packs from Eddie Bauer - they're affordable, a great size, and a cool idea for any weekend trips or road trips!

A Sneak Peek

Fall shoes are making their appearance, and there are so many cute styles.  I love these oxfords from Urban Outfitters - they are cute and they look comfy.  

Jalapeno Style!

My  husband had a great philly cheesesteak tonight from a local deli in our town and here's what was on it:

Shredded beef rib-eye or chicken topped with grilled jalapeños, onions, provolone cheese, smothered in
homemade queso.

Now that's a cheesesteak!

Cute Tops

Have you ever shopped at Francesca's online store?  I used to think they sold mostly accessories, but their tops are some of my faves.  Right now there's a huge sale on site.  

Pretzel Kit

I ate a horrible pretzel at a soccer game tonite, which reminded me of a wonderful pretzel - Auntie Anne's - which you've probably tasted at a mall.  But have you made them at home with the kit?  They're just as good!

Super Sponges

These are my favorite sponges - found at Sur La Table!  They come compacted in flat rectangles, then as you use one and get it wet - it expands into a nice big beautiful sponge that so nice for having in the kitchen.  I buy them in a pack of 10!

Roasted Veggie Pizza

I LOVE roasted veggies, and placing them on a pizza is even better!  Check out this recipe from Rachael Ray.  It took a bit of time to make, I used an artisan whole grain pizza dough, and subbed in a bit of marinara sauce for the sun dried tomatoes, and white cheddar for the fontina!  Make it how YOU like it!  Enjoy...

The Design Cookbook

Saw this lady on a show, and she's put together a book for DIY home decor, all in the same way as a recipe book with "ingredients" and then how-to do it step by step, with great photos too!  Order a copy for you or for a friend! The Design Cookbook. 

Pita Bread Salad

Pita Bread Salad - easy to make and oh so tasty.  There's no leftovers on this one though, as the bread will get soggy - so eat it up when you have it made.  It's colorful, healthy, and the lemon dressing puts it over the top!

Lunch Caddy

My daughter told me about this today.  Those cute little caddies you can get at the dollar store?  Turn them into a lunch caddy for the car, or even for a party for kids.  Look how each section holds each part of the meal?  Awesome!

Potatoes to Die For!

Christmas in July Salsa Style - it's what we had with our family this weekend.  One of our side dishes was twice baked potatoes with green salsa - and it was scrumptious!

ECOTE sandals

LOVING these sandals!  If you have an Urban near you, they are on sale $10 off...or just order on line here.  They come in three colors. (Blue was beautiful!) Elastic in the heel, easy to slip on!

Pallets

A new store in our mall has pallets hung on the walls and the ceiling as part of the decor. They look so cool.  Pallets can be painted as well, for artwork, or you can write sayings on them and hang them in your house.  Got an old pallet lying around?  Create and imagine!

Heavenly Cauli

This is absolutely the BEST veggie recipe, best cauliflower recipe, maybe the best recipe...ever!  We ate almost the whole head tonight for dinner!  Try it out....

50 Ways

I love the Food Network Magazine. It includes a little booklet in it each month with 50 recipes for some ingredient or theme.  Recently, it was 50 salsa and guacamole recipes.  Check them out!  And have a salsa party!  You can subscribe to this magazine through one of our advertisers in the magazine - PTP!

Chickpea Tacos!

I subscribe to Redbook Magazine and recently tried a Chickpea Taco recipe - which I loved!  It literally took less than 15 minutes to prepare, the tacos tasted absolutely wonderful with the lime juice and zest, and it was a hit with my husband, too!  Try it!

Summer Dessert

Are you celebrating Christmas in July this month? Our family is, and this is the dessert we're having - cold and creamy for summer - yet green and minty for Christmas! It's the Pepperidge Farm Mint Ice Cream Dessert.

Ice Cream Bar

Why not have an ice cream bar for dessert and let that be your entire meal one night this summer?  Either make your ice cream or buy it, and then set out all sorts of toppings.  Here's a site of how to set one up.  Be creative and use your own ideas for toppings!  Include summer fruit that's in season, nuts, sprinkles for the kids, crushed up cookies, and chopped up candies.  Then add a few toppings such as butterscotch and chocolate, and of course whipping cream for the finale!

Shop at the dollar store for cute trays, cups, and holders - as well as signs and decor.

Eleven Eleven

Cute store in our town, but it's on line too - Eleven Eleven!  They have really cute shoes - check out these below!

2-minute Service Piece

I often watch The Chew television show, and just this week I saw how to make a three-tiered serving piece for my next party - it took me all of two minutes!  I purchased the terra cotta trays and pots at my local nursery at a great price, and used a glue gun to attach and build!  Can't wait to fill with grapes on top, crusty bread and cheese on the bottom. Watch the video here.

Wall Art

An inexpensive, pretty wall piece made out of cork board and notecards/envelopes.  Just spray the notecards and envelopes with matte finish art spray - to seal them.  Use foam board to adhere to back of cards to get a 3D effect.  Mount the cork tiles and arrange your cards!

Tiny Perfume

This is the best smelling perfume ever!  You can get it in these tiny bottles that fit in your purse - great for a gift or for yourself! Lollia Perfume.

Blueberry Dressing - Yum!

I'm trying new salad dressings this year - homemade.  Today's choice was a blueberry vinaigrette - and it was super!  It's out of Redbook Magazine.  It was easy to pack in a lunch box with a salad of greens, carrots, cucumbers, pistachios and a bit of grated cheddar.

Enjoy!

A Candle so Good You Could Eat it

Wonderful candle in a beautiful jar, looks great when lit, and smells up the room with this awesome "edible" fragrance...

Corner Lamp

What genuises!  No room for a floor lamp, and no place to set a table lamp, so my son and his wife engineered a corner lamp suspended in a frame!

Avacado Wrap

My lunch today was one of my favorite wraps!  It's just an avacado mashed with a can of drained, white beans.  Layer in a large tortilla with chopped red onion, radicchio, and grated cheddar - and you've got yourself a meal! (one avacado mashed with one can of beans makes two wraps)

Simple to Do

Ate lunch at a cute little restaurant and on the tables were simple vases with a large sprig of rosemary inside. These were on each table.  What a cool, cute decoration - inside - or out!

Fruit for the Fourth!

Fresh Fruit Skewers are low in calories, high in flavor and nutrition, and look great on your July 4th table!  They're so simple...yet you can dress them up with honey, mint, or set out a nice dip!

Cute Jacket

Shopping at the  mall, I found this cute jacket on a clearance rack for 10 bucks!  And look how cute it is with a lightweight denim shirt underneath.  Find jackets now on clearance, and store them away to wear this fall!

For the Baby

We have a friend whose baby uses this mustache pacifier all the time, and it's so darn cute - and gets lots of compliments!  Great gift for your own baby, or a shower gift!

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