Deliciously Easy Recipes
Looking for a quick and easy weekend project to spruce up a small space? This DIY Pallet Console Table can be made in just a couple hours and is the perfect addition to an entryway, hall or any tight space that needs a little extra something.
Are you ready for fall or are you still hanging on for summer??? Well I’m sort of in-between. I love fall- it’s my favorite season. However, with the whole move & not getting to really jump in to summer posts here with both feet, I’m sort of wanting to cling on to summer for just a bit longer. The temps here this time of year are so up & down anyway – but I’m not complaining because if we were still back in Vegas, I would still be talking about 100’s. But with all that said – I just had to throw in this super tasty summertime Pineapple Sparkler that I know you will love.
This probably won’t be my last summer post of the season- but am feeling the need to wrap it up & start sharing with you all the fall ideas I have swirling around. I have to say- I started thinking about fall as soon as we got settled here back in July.
I love how easy it is to whip this up. I almost always keep a fresh pineapple on hand. So when I’m cutting one up to have with lunch – I just take a little & pop it in the blender with the other ingredients & there you go. Tropical drink in about 90 seconds – start to finish.
Want more refreshing beverages to cool you down?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
If you remember when we were first moving into our house, I mentioned that I was putting unpacking on hold while I worked on getting some final projects painted so they could finally be put into their permanent space. Well one of those little (& more fun) projects was this Glitter Wave Table Makeover. I had been dragging around this really inexpensive accent table since I bought it for my very first apartment when I was 18. Jump ahead all these years & I still have it. It’s traditionally used under a table skirt – which is how I had been using it or storing it for all these years. Until I saw someone paint a similar table a few months ago. The light bulb went off – duh! I love transforming things with a little paint. So I pulled out some colors to match the powder room & got to work. Check out how easy it was to complete.
Here it is – in all it’s sadness. You can still buy them at places like Walmart. I don’t even think Walmart had made it to the west coast yet when I bought mine. You can see a similar one here.
So I started with the pale pink shade all over the whole table – Valspar Cape Sands. Then I used the Martha Stewart Champagne for the waves. I was so excited to find actual glitter paint while shopping one weekend.
Once the paint was dry I used some leftover shape tape that I had from another project.
I purposely made the waves progressively larger from one side to the other.
Just a couple coats – pulled off the tape & let it dry overnight.
Then I added the glass piece for the top when I finally placed it in the powder room.
It was so easy. I wish all furniture makeover projects were this simple. I like it so much better than draping a table skirt over it.
I have a couple more projects I did for this room – so stay tuned for those in the coming weeks.
Want to see more from our new home?
Master Bath 2nd Vanity
Coastal Decor {Living Room Reveal}
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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I realized a few weeks ago that I have been spending so much time working- that I almost never pick up my camera for creativity anymore. It was sad. Not only that – but when it comes to creative processing…it was bad. I had lost all vision. I am clearly out of practice. So I have decided that since I began honing my photography skills by joining up to the weekly Scavenger Hunt Sunday years ago – that it would be a good challenge for me to jump back in as often as I can. I really need to keep up on my photography beyond work & this is a wonderful place for me to do it. So I am going to do my best to keep up & participate more frequently.
So here are the prompts for this week….
Flowers
Click through below to see the rest of this week’s prompts.
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So Labor Day is like right around the corner. Can’t even believe I just typed that. This year is just flying by. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? But because it is so close to the final BBQ of the season I wanted to share with you this recipe for Black Bean and Corn Salad. It comes together so quickly & makes a LARGE amount. So it’s perfect for those Labor Day entertaining with your friends or those fun end of summer church picnics. Whatever the occasion- this is a great side dish recipe to bring along to feed the crowds.
I love the vibrant colors. I literally just started throwing things in the bowl based on the colors I felt it needed to be visually interesting. Of course I took into account flavor medleys – but I really wanted this to have a nice array of colors to just pop out of the platter.
Simple & easy – you know that is the best when it comes to preparing for a large crowd.
My kids went back for thirds! We enjoyed this on the side of our Baby Back Ribs.
Want more great side dishes?
Restaurant Style Refried Beans
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Coconut Lime Tea – perfectly brewed with the refreshing flavors of coconut & lime. Such a delicious way to hydrate all summer long.
You know – the weather has been so fickle. This time of year it can’t decide if it still wants to be summer or if it really would rather start heading into fall.
We have a couple of days of low 80’s – which is soooooo nice. (The So Cal girl in me really wishes it were like that all the time) But then it gets back up near 90 again & I start heading for the kitchen for a cool down.
Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe
Prosciutto French Onion Tea Sandwiches are perfect for bridal or baby showers, Mother’s day celebrations, or backyard pool parties. Super easy & delicious.
August tends to be a very busy month for us in regards to celebrations. I mentioned earlier that the munchkin celebrated a birthday.
This month we also celebrate the birthday of my niece & the anniversary of my brother & sister-in-law. And before we had hit mid-month we also celebrate the hubs birthday.
Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe
Remember back in April when I attended the SNAP! Conference? Well – the first night of the conference they fed us this INCREDIBLE chicken smothered with this sauce. It was so good. It was all I could do to not ask for another plate of it…..or 4 or 5 more plates. I could have eaten it until I was sick. It was amazing. So literally ever since then I have been craving it. Clearly I didn’t get enough. So I started experimenting in the kitchen with different sauces for my chicken. I came up with this French Onion Cheese Sauce that is really quite tasty. It isn’t quite like the one I mentioned before- I’m still working on recreating that one. But this was still tasty & share worthy. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Top it on your chicken, add it to some noodles- whatever. It’s YUM-O!
We just grilled some boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the BBQ with just seasonings.
Then added the sauce just as we plated it.
Add a little additional parsley to the top to make it look pretty!
Makes for a scrumptious dinner with a side of baby spinach.
Want more dinner ideas?
Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamy Mac & Cheese
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Do you ever have those things on a so-called “recipe bucket list” that you keep meaning to make? Those things that you have been hearing about for a while & you keep telling yourself that you will do it & then days, weeks, months – maybe even years go by & you still haven’t done it yet? Yeah – for me – it was nut butter. In our effort to eliminate as many processed foods as we can from our diet- without taking away the wonderful conveniences of living in today – I finally tried my first attempt at making nut butter. Since macadamia nuts are my favorite nut – I already had a bunch on hand. So I started there…with a little mix of almonds for a twist to create this Almond & Macadamia Nut Butter. I’m happy with my first attempt. Excited to try some different varieties in the future.
It wasn’t hard to do. However- pack your patience. This did take far longer than I expected. Far longer than others mentioned in their recipes. Maybe it was me – maybe just how I was doing it. I did find that I had better success with my blender than with my food processor. I think there was too much space with the food processor & the nuts were not getting enough of the blades – which is probably what contributed to the additional time. I ended up transferring to my blender & things went a lot quicker after that. Sooooooo- my next batch I will start with the blender. I’m sure I will be sharing future recipes with you – so I will be sure to share my thoughts on the process change as well.
This turned out pretty tasty. I love that I made it myself.
I can’t wait to enjoy it with some of the jams I have been making lately.
So what will I pair it with?
Definitely this Huckleberry Jam for a great sandwich.
Want to try another SUPER YUMMY spread?
How about this Chocolate Chip Cookie – Cookie Butter?
For me, traditional Back to School time means good old fashioned Peanut Butter & Jelly! But many kids can’t bring peanut butter to school anymore. So I thought this would be a great Back to School alternative for those that need a substitute.
I have teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers (you know them all) & I’m sharing this recipe as part of our
Back to School Extravaganza & Giveaway!
Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!
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Remember when I said I was crafting up a storm & revamping things to fit in the new house? Well I’m still working on things but I thought I would share with you this super simple & Easy Rope Vase that I made for the hearth. I have had this plain ol’ vase sitting around for forever. We had some flowers in it on the coffee table at the old house. But it wasn’t very pretty & honestly, I was so tired of the same old look. I contemplated painting it on the outside, or maybe on the inside…..or even just staining it. I left it sitting in this box of “still deciding what to do with- last of the move” stuff for a while. Then I was inspired to take a little sisal rope & transform it into something that actually matches our house decor & is a little more visually interesting too. Let me show you just how easy this was.
Literally – just the hot glue gun, sisal rope & this vase – 20 minutes max.
Just a little dab of glue & wrap until you get it to where you want it. Dab & wrap, dab & wrap. All the way up.
It matches with the coastal vibe of the space so nicely.
These are so popular these days. But with $10 coil of sisal & some hot glue sticks I made this for a bargain. Especially since I have seen similar ones sold for as much as $140. Really??!!
I love it when I see something I would like for the house & I look at the hubs & say “I can totally make that”. Then I go home & I actually do it. Then he’s all impressed & I’m pretty happy that I was able to save while still getting the look I want.
Want more projects for the home?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Do you like re-purposing projects?? The kids & I are always looking at things we have collected, used containers & whatnot to see if there is anything we can use it for before it goes to the trash or recycle bin. One thing we go through A LOT of in this house is coffee creamer bottles. I hang on to them to store things like buttons or glitter or beads in the craft room. But then I came up with this fun craft for my tween – Rag Wrapped Bracelets. We may not be going back to school (because we break during the holidays)- but most public school kids ARE heading back to school soon. So I thought this would be a fun back to school craft for girls to do with their friends or as a mom/daughter activity.
These are incredibly simple to make. Took just a few minutes!!
Start with some fabric of choice & your empty & washed creamer bottle.
You will also need a hot glue gun & ribbon if you do the second style I created.
Cut your bottle into rings. I STRONGLY suggest you use scissors & not the exact-o knife like I did.
I ended up slicing myself pretty good with it & nearly needed stitches.
Cut some long strips of fabric about 1″ wide.
Because I was closer to the neck of the bottle & this ring was smaller – I cut it to make it wider.
Place a dab of hot glue at your starting point & then attach the end of your fabric.
Then just wrap the fabric around until you come to the end & you have covered the entire bracelet piece.
On the one I cut open – I then attached a small piece of ribbon on both ends.
Then I glued another piece around the tip to finish off the ends.
If you do a standard bangle style- just glue the end piece down when you get to the end. It will blend in.
Here’s the finished bracelets. I love how they turned out. I see many of these in our future.
As you can see I did some thin & some wide. My girls like to alternate them.
I’m just LOVING these! Such a fun little project with my girls.
Be sure to pick up your International Delight to enjoy & then re-purpose the bottle into these Rag Wrapped Bracelets.
Look for the new International Delight Logo when picking up your own favorite flavors!
I would love it if you would connect with International Delight!! It’s easy!
Join the International delight Community at internationaldelight.com
International Delight members are entered to win prizes every month. This month, the prize is a tablet.
Follow on Twitter @indelight & use #IDelight & don’t forget to connect on Facebook too.
They’re on Google+ & Instagram too!! Find more International Delight on PINTEREST
Want more re-purposing projects?
Coffee Can First Aid Kit & Printable Checklist
DIY Wasp Trap – from an International Delight Creamer Bottle
Corn Husk Luminaries
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
With the whole hubbub of back to school going on I thought I would make a little something that just screams school time to me. Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream! With just 3 simple ingredients, completely dairy free & it’s ready in just 5 minutes. So incredibly easy. When I did my little quality control taste test – I was really surprised by how it truly tastes JUST like a good ‘ol PB&J. It also made me realize just how little the bread contributes to the overall flavor of a PB&J. This Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream is all I ever need when I’m craving those two wonderful flavors together.
The kids were all over this. I love that I can whip it up in my blender & it’s ready so quickly.
I decided to use my Huckleberry Jam that I shared with you on Monday. So I suppose this is really peanut butter & jam ice cream. But it doesn’t have the same ring to it now does it?! Besides – you can use any flavor jelly you like with this so the name still holds true for recipe recreation purposes.
Want more recipes made with frozen bananas?
Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SharpieBTS
I am slowly getting each room dialed in around here. One of the big things for me is my office/studio space. I thrive on keeping everything organized so I can stay functional. Between working full time on the blog, homeschooling 3 kids, running my product photography biz & the regular family activities – my head is swimming trying to remember everything that needs to happen everyday. I purposely added as many windows to my work space as we could during the planning process because I wanted to flood my space with lots of natural light. This is wonderful when taking pictures. Not so great when it comes to places to hang all my usual office organizers that kept me running before the move. So I had to come up with a different system. I knew I wanted something large & it had to be colorful to catch my attention. So I headed to Staples to take advantage of all the great back to school deals happening this time of year & I started with Sharpie to create this Simple White Board Organizer.
What is it about Sharpie? I can’t seem to get enough of them. I have an entire drawer in my desk dedicated just for Sharpies. Every size, shape & color they make – I seem to pick them up as they are available. Look at all of these!! I think I was squealing as I was finding more & more displays in the store. Did you know that right now Staples has all Sharpie Fine & Ultra Fine markers & highlighters on sale – while supplies last of course. I definitely picked up my fair share.
I started with my assortment of colors & types. I used both the standard permanent markers & also the new paint markers.
I picked up a large white board & used some washi tape I had on hand.
I used the paint markers & colored these little wood shapes. Then used the standard permanent markers to write the subject name on each one. Then I added a small strip of magnetic tape to the back of each one so they would stick up on my white board.
I used my washi tape to mark off my sections/ categories. I decided on 9 for this board.
I also picked up some dry erase magnetic strips that I can move around as I work on things.
As you can see I have my categories for things I am working on now, what’s coming up next week, personal tasks I need to remember, things on the calendar, sponsored posts that I have coming up, ideas for upcoming posts, upcoming holidays & then the completed area. I love taking my tab & moving it over to the completed box – it’s mentally cleansing.
It didn’t take long to put it altogether & I use it SO MUCH!
As you can see – I can look up from my desk & easily see everything I have going on at a glance.
I can’t believe I have lived this long without this board. I love it!
Now to finish all the other little things in my space to make it complete.
To check out all the Sharpie products – visit their website or connect with them on Twitter | Facebook & Instagram
Want more projects for the home?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Have I mentioned how much I love huckleberries? It was such a treat when we moved here. Being a So Cal native I had never had one before our transplant here to North Idaho. Oh man- no wonder everyone here won’t share their picking spots. They are so amazing. I decided that before the big bag I picked up was gone I had to try making some into jam. Homemade jam is something I truly enjoy having in the house. I can’t remember the last time we bought jam from the store. It must be years now. I love the whole process from start to finish. It’s one of those things – I can’t explain it. But you know what?? This Huckleberry Jam is probably my most favorite flavor to date.
If you have the opportunity to get your hands on some huckleberries – this is THE recipe to use them in. YUUUUMMM!
Now to make some crusty bread to have it on some toast.
Want more spreads & syrups?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cookie Butter
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Happy Friday! It’s time to grab your favorite drink & find a shady spot to cool down. We have been experiencing some unusually warm weather for this area. We spent most of July above 90 – which for here is decently hot. What we are used to after so many years in Vegas – it’s not all that bad. But I did find myself making more & more tasty frozen treats. I originally shared this recipe at I Heart Nap Time on July 22 as Creamy Dirty Diet Coke Pops. But since they are now a huge favorite – hello….dirty diet coke – YUM – I had to share them all with you here. These Dirty Diet Coke Pops are DELISH!
I LOVE coconut anything- add lime & I’m in heaven.
I’m sure you have noticed around here – I talk a lot about coconut & all the wonderful things I can make with it.
Have you tried a Dirty Diet Coke?? So good!!
Mmmmmmmmmmmm – seriously, that’s all I have left to say about these.
Want more frozen treats?
Double Berry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt
Banana Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Smashed Broccoli is a quick and easy side dish that features tender broccoli, lightly smashed, seasoned to perfection, and topped with cheese.
Get ready to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary with Smashed Broccoli! This dish transforms the familiar broccoli floret into a crispy, cheesy delight that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.
Think of this: each piece of broccoli, smashed flat and baked until the edges are irresistibly crispy, and the parmesan cheese forms a golden, flavorful crust. It’s a simple side that packs a punch of texture and taste, making it perfect for shaking up your veggie routine.
View postSweating yet? I bet you need a cool down. I have just the thing to help. This Blackberry Watermelon Fizz is a simple & easy drink recipe that is perfect for backyard bbq, pool parties or just chillin’ with the family over the weekend.
These easy-to-make Matcha Brownies are packed with white chocolate chips and great matcha flavor. Perfect for any time you want a sweet treat.
Imagine biting into a rich, fudgy brownie with a vibrant green color and a subtle, earthy matcha flavor. These Matcha Brownies are not only visually stunning but also incredibly delicious.
If you haven’t heard of matcha, then you’re in for a treat! It’s a super anti-oxidant and has all kinds of other health benefits too. Its flavor blends amazingly with sweet treats.
View postYou know- this time of year we are grilling quite a bit. That means that we are going through quite a bit of sauces & dips for all that charbroiled goodness. Living here in North Idaho one of the things that you find a lot is huckleberry flavored things. They grow in abundance around these parts – however most people who pick them are very tight lipped about where they go. They have their favorite places & they don’t share that spot with anyone – except the bears. So I decided just to buy some- even though they are crazy expensive. One of the first things I decided to make with them was this Huckleberry BBQ Sauce. You see- homemade bbq sauce is just perfect for people like us who are grilling so often. I think I need to make this particular recipe in abundance & sock pile it in the freezer so we can have it all year long.
A little sweet with a tangy kick makes the perfect sauce for us. This batch won’t last long.
The best part is that it is so quick & easy to make- I may never buy sauce again.
Try this sauce on these Baby Back Ribs!
Want more sauces, dips & spreads?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Easily convert standard oven temperatures and cooking times for convection baking with this handy convection conversion chart. Perfect for home bakers and cooks!
View postYou all know how much I love coffee. I start my morning with a huge 28 ounce mug. In the summer I like to sip on iced coffee all day long. So it should come as no surprise that I found a way to make my dessert with coffee too. These Caramel Macchiato Pudding Pops turned out so good. Just the perfect thing to enjoy on the porch in the warm summer evenings.
So incredibly simple to make. Pudding & this YUMMY Caramel Macchiato Iced Coffee & a little patience while I waited for them to freeze. That was all I needed for these & I was in iced coffee heaven.
Like I mentioned earlier this week, it’s sort of nice to have a few little treats around here that I don’t have to share with the kids. I love having a little goodie just for the hubs & I.
I so love easy recipes – especially in the summer.
It’s so nice to not have to spend all day in the kitchen. Just pour, whisk & freeze. That’s all it takes.
Make some!!!!
Right now you can enter the Summer Iced Coffee Tumbler Sweepstakes through Twitter & Facebook!
Open daily through the end of August. International Delight is giving away 100 tumblers a week!
Connect with International Delight through Facebook, Twitter & get some great ideas on Pinterest.
Want more great recipes to make using International Delight?
Cake Batter Gelato
Caramel Sugar Cone Frozen Yogurt
Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that make life sweet. I was wanting to whip up something with some leftover iced coffee that I had on hand & I was racking my brain on what on earth to do with it. I didn’t want to toss it but it was getting close to the use by date. Then as I was sorting through the bags & bags of frozen bananas in the freezer it hit me! Caramel iced coffee in a dairy free ice cream would be fantastic! In just a couple minutes dairy free Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream was born.
Really- it doesn’t get any easier. We topped this with a few crunched up Oreos & chocolate syrup. So tasty. This was a little snack reserved for just the hubs & I- since it contains iced coffee. It was nice to have a little something I didn’t have to share with the kids.
Want more frozen banana treats?
Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream
Banana Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Now that we are all moved & somewhat settled – we are back on our normal gym schedule. It feels really good to get back into our regular routine. One new thing I am happy to be doing is making our own snacks. I have discussed before that I am now well over a year of making nothing but homemade breakfasts for the kids. Well we have branched into beyond breakfast & I am experimenting with protein bars to have as a snack before heading to the gym. One of our favorites lately – these Chocolate Date Bars. You would never guess that they are dairy free, packed full of protein & good for you because they are just so tasty. I feel like I’m having a treat. Let me show you just how easy they are to make.
These whip up in just a few minutes – no baking.
Just process, press into the pan & freeze for about 15 minutes. Simple!
The kids love these – I ended up having to make a second batch right away because these were gone in minutes.
Even with a busy as life gets – you don’t have to compromise maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Recipes like these make it easy.
I love that they are dairy free – everyone in the house can enjoy.
There are so many varieties of Silk Almond Milk now too.
To find out more about Silk & grab a coupon- visit Silk on Facebook.
Connect with Silk on Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram too!
You can learn about the benefits of almond milk on Silk.com
Want more Silk Almond Milk recipes?
Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats
Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
Have got the perfect sweet treat to share with you all today!! My FABULOUS contributor Claire is back today to share with you all a super tasty way to use all those summer strawberries AND cool off while doing it. Now I’m off to make my own Strawberry Lemon Sorbet & sit on my new porch to enjoy it. Check it out & then head on over & give another hello to Claire!
Hello again Kleinworth & Co. readers! I’m Claire from The Simple, Sweet Life, and I’m here to share another sweet recipe with you! I don’t know how the rest of you are fairing, but I’m here in Oregon visiting family and it is HOT. Like, too-hot-to-turn-your-oven-on hot! But not to worry! Today I have a sweet treat that will allow you to use some of that wonderful, in-season fruit, it doesn’t require any fancy machine to make it, AND it’ll cool you down!
Thank you so much Claire!!! I just LOVE this tasty treat!
Be sure to head on over & visit Clarie & check out all her great ideas at The Simple, Sweet Life
Want more great frozen treats?
Raspberry-Pineapple Frozen Fruit Pops
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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*This blog has been compensated by LinaJake Bags with product in exchange for this post.
I get asked quite often what I shoot with. I will be the first to tell you that it’s not what camera or gear that you have – it’s how you use it. But still- I think it’s good to share what I am using so others can get an idea for themselves. So today I am sharing not only what’s IN my bag – but the bag itself. I had the opportunity to receive & try a Lina Bag from LinaJake Bags. These bags are traditionally a diaper bag. Wha?????? Yep – a diaper bag. My other camera bag- also repurposed from a diaper bag. You know why – they have lot’s of compartments (so they hold a TON) & they are so fashionable now. They don’t scream diaper bag or camera bag – definitely a Win, Win in my book. Check out what’s inside!
This bag is an eye-catcher and comes in 3 beautiful unique colors – green, purple & this FABULOUS orange.
(Have I mentioned how much I love orange?)
Just look at all the gear I was able to cram in here!! I couldn’t even list all the extra little things in the image that go in to my bag….gum, business cards, lens cleaner, rain hood, mini reflector, extra lens hoods & SO MUCH MORE!
* This convertible bag can be a tote or shoulder bag! (LOVE this feature)
*The Lina bag by LINAJAKE features a polyester exterior with snakeskin printed detail.
The Lina bag is currently selling worldwide and LINA Bags are selling on Zulily, plum district..
Connect with LinaJake & find out more!!
website: www.linajake.com | Blog | Video | Facebook
BUY your own here
Thank you LinaJake for making my camera bag super stylish & yet still so functional!
If you have questions about my gear – please leave me a comment & I am happy to reply.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Disclosure: This blog has been compensated with product by Modern Masters to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.
You remember a while back when I attended the SNAP! Conference. While I was there I had the ABSOLUTE PLEASURE of connecting with the team from Modern Masters. You see- for a long time now I have been dreaming of painting all sorts of things in metallic paints. I have a thing for the shimmer & sparkle, what can I say. So when I found Modern Masters there at SNAP I was beyond thrilled (complete understatement) to find that metallic paint does in fact exist & comes in all the colors I could dream of. Knowing that at the time our house was about 50% done- I was practically squealing when I was playing with the demos they had there. I’m pretty sure they thought I was nuts. But really – being able to paint on shimmer just excites me beyond belief. So once I got home they were nice enough to send me my own samples to play with on a smaller project before I tackle something like my studio wall. So I did a little Metallic Hutch Make Over & I’m loving it!
I decided it was time to give the old hutch that my mom gave me new look. I had been looking at this hutch in it’s very country type look since I was probably about 7-8 years old. This thing had worn this look for far too long.
(Check out my new studio space. I’m so thrilled I can finally do projects like this in my nice bright & spacious area – inside. Don’t mind the junk in the back – I tackled this project just days after we moved in. It’s all perfect & pretty now. I’ll be sharing that later.)
I started with a coat of primer. So much easier than sanding the whole thing.
I couldn’t help myself – I had to get a little macro of the paintbrush.
These were the metallic colors I chose to work with for this. Champagne & Oyster.
I didn’t have enough to do the whole hutch in metallic -so I used the taupe (called Monk’s Cloth # MSL097) that our doors are painted in for the base shade.
Normally I would have started with the large areas I wanted one color. But I wanted to see just how much I could stretch the metallic colors – so I started with those areas first. So the fronts of the doors, the drawer fronts & the top drawers I painted with champagne. Then I had a little more so I added it to the top of the open area too.
Then I added the Monk’s Cloth on everything else. Then I added the oyster in a light coat over the champagne to give it more iridescence. Let it dry & placed my glass back in the doors.
This is where I store my food props in my studio.
I’m loving the fresh look & the shimmer makes me smile every time I look at it.
Check out all the GREAT ideas & get inspired over at Modern Masters!
What would you paint??
Right now I’m co-hosting a GIVEAWAY for some great Modern Masters paint!! Don’t miss your chance to ENTER!
Want more paint projects for the home?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Lightly breaded and seasoned to perfection, Italian Chicken Cutlets make a delicious and easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love.
I’ve got a simple and satisfying dish for you that’s packed with Italian flair—Italian Chicken Cutlets! These thin cutlets are coated in a golden breadcrumb mixture, seasoned perfectly with Italian herbs, and fried to achieve a yummy crispiness that makes every bite irresistibly good.
Whether you’re gathering around the dinner table on a busy weeknight or hosting a special occasion, these cutlets are sure to impress with their perfect balance of crunch and seasoned, tender chicken.
View postFor months I have been searching Pinterest for decorating ideas & inspiration knowing that I’d finally be able to decorate our new living room. Having a clean slate for decorating gave us the opportunity to change things up. The entire 5 months we waited for the house to be completed we planned on what we would do once we finally moved in. After 18 years together & almost all of that time looking at the same old rustic decor that we had collected to accent our family antiques – we were VERY ready for a change. We decided on a coastal decor feel for many reasons. One being that I grew up on the beaches of So Cal & he grew up vacationing there. We met while both living at the beach – so it’s only fitting that it’s a huge part of our lives- even if we live in North Idaho. The other reason is that my mom’s place is decorated in a very beachy, coastal decor. Now that I will slowly be transitioning all her things from So Cal to our home- it will all blend nicely with what we have in place now. I have always loved how she had her place decorated & it’s comforting to have a home that I know she would have loved.
So – while we still have a LOT of fine tuning & larger project decorating to do, this is our Coastal Decor {Living Room Reveal} (3 weeks after moving in). I am sure I will be sharing updates as we get things more dialed in.
Here is what it looked like our first night after getting the keys. We basically had been shopping for about a month straight & collecting everything in our garage of our rental. We signed papers, went out & did a little more shopping – until our truck couldn’t hold any more stuff & waited for our keys. Once we had them we started taking over all our new finds & then crashed at our new house before tackling the moving truck the next day.
It’s amazing how $20 for a bucket & a couple bouquets of dried pieces can bring so much visual interest & texture to a room.
I’m BIG on texture.
One of the very first things we did was take out the cheap, builder grade ceiling fan & install this one that suits the room far better.
I have plans for doing something to this coffered ceiling to make it more interesting.
Again with the texture. The hubs has a thing for cat tails – so we have been adding them all around the house & in the planter beds.
This old antique lantern was the typical red. It totally fit our rustic decor for many years. Then it was like 11 pm & we were sifting through things & the hubs looked at me & says “hey- what if we paint this turquoise?” SURE!!! We went outside right then & there & did a little late night DIY-ing. I’m sure the neighbors thought we were nuts spray painting in the yard at 11 o’clock. But sometimes you just have to do it when you are inspired to do it. 🙂
This lamp originally had a dark red lampshade on it. It was a favorite of the hubs. I was ready to just hide it in the closet so I didn’t have to look at it anymore. I am SO OVER the deep red decor from all these years. So I happened to be in Walmart without him & saw this on on clearance for $7. I grabbed it & didn’t consult him. Turned out he loved it & I was able to say “buy-buy” to the red shade & keep the lamp after all.
This boat is actually one of those little shelves. It worked great in our rustic cabin theme.
But you know- it works quite well filled with starfish, textured balls, glass buoys & other coastal decor too.
The mantle. I did these pics of the kids years ago – yes I really need to do a new photo shoot with them.
The corn husk wreath was the right texture & colors as were the corn husk luminaries I shared a while back.
Just a couple new things – the sea horses & metal orbs. The rest I had already been using- but adding the new colors & pieces gave it a fresh look.
So there you have it – so far. Now that we have been here for about 3 weeks & things are in place & can finally start looking at the house more from a designer perspective beyond just unpacking. I think after dealing with moss green & burnt orange walls in our cabin rental- I may be leaving the walls cream for a while.
Still to do – the coffered ceiling like I mentioned before. We added wood blinds in the same shade of grey in the stone work. Nicer look than white but less darkening than if we had gone with the same dark shade as the hard floors in the rest of the house. Still have to decide on draperies. We added lots of windows after living in that dark cabin. I don’t want to hinder any light- so still pondering that one. I also need to decide how to punch up the impact for above the mantle. Any suggestions???
Also – will be working on a painting with my daughter for above my chair.
Just avoiding going into Michael’s for a canvas – I never walk out of there without a full cart.
For the tutorials on some of the things you see here in this room…
Re-purposed Christmas Ornaments
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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I have to say – it’s actually a little bit on the hot side here in CDA. I never really thought I would say that after living near Death Valley for so long. Don’t get me wrong – nothing compares to that kind of heat. 125 is just plain miserable. But we have actually flirted with 100 here- which seems strange here in North Idaho. So I am super happy that we splurged on A.C. for the house so I don’t have to suffer for these couple weeks a year that it gets uncomfortable. But that doesn’t mean that I have forgotten how to cool off in the summer. All those years of desert life has given me oodles of refreshing recipes to share with you all for years & years. 🙂 Like this Sour Berry Fizz for example – the perfect beverage to help you cool down on those super hot summer days.
This was a drink we would whip up before heading out to cool down by the pool. So refreshing.
Berries & sour together – YUM! Then adding the ginger ale gives the perfect fizz!
This is such a great party beverage! Your guests will LOVE IT!
This post was originally shared on Or So She says for my monthly contributor recipe post.
Want more great beverage recipes?
Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Oh good heavens! I think I made the family’s new favorite treat. These S’Mores Bars are so incredibly easy to make & they were gone in record time. It seems that with all the campfire fun happening during the summer, S’Mores are just a summertime staple. But when you live with the fire chief – not only are fires in the summer a big “no-no”… but time to vacation & get out to have those opportunities in the summer months just don’t happen for us. So rarely do we make things like S’Mores – until now. All the yummy flavors you love about S’mores – no campfire required!
These whip up in less than 5 minutes & the set time in the freezer is quick too.
Just those 3 simple ingredients that we all LOVE!
I think next time I will double the recipe.
Want more great summer treats?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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It’s warm now. Not quite as warm as say…when we lived so close to Death Valley. But for this area- it’s comfortably warm. So I’m starting to pull out all my “no-bake” recipes again. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? I love utilizing my crock pot during the warmer months. I want to be enjoying these gorgeous days – not slaving away in the kitchen. One thing that we make a lot of is this recipe for Restaurant Style Refried Beans. We use them in tacos, enchiladas, tostadas & then on the side of so many other things too.
It’s SO easy to make. Just throw it all in the slow cooker & blend at the end of cooking. They taste amazing – just like what you get in the restaurant (so much better than canned). Best part – no preservatives.
We make this recipe at least once a week.
I’m sure you will find yourself making these again & again.
Do you want more summer dishes? How about these?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Silk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My kids have a new favorite breakfast. Overnight oats. It’s so easy – my son & I prepare the jars the night before & when they all get up in the morning they just grab one. They no longer have to wait to all have breakfast together. It’s all done & ready to go. So you can imagine we have been trying all sorts of different ways to make it to find our favorites. My son- being the biggest cinnamon fanatic in the house – is really partial to this Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats recipe. It’s loaded with cinnamon, dairy free with the addition of Silk® Almond Milk Protein + Fiber & packed full nutrients that keeps them all going all day long.
Just add the ingredients to the jar – give it a good shake & refrigerate until morning. I told you it was simple.
We like to add a little granola with raisins on top of this one to really give it that Oatmeal Cookie flavor.
It’s great to use the Silk® Almond Milk Protein + Fiber for this because making it dairy free means that everyone in the house can enjoy it.
Visit – Silk® – use the store locator.
Don’t miss this great coupon offer through the link above!
Want more dairy free recipes?
Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream
