Remake 4 Christmas Edition {Pinterest}

It's already almost the end of December and I have yet to post about my latest accomplishments!! The entire list is a mix of Christmas ideas/gifts and Pinterest projects, so
here goes:

1. Eggplant***

Eggplant is not an easy vegetable to work with. Ever since having this dish over in East Asia, I've been craving it. I think I finally found a recipe I like.....

*Nothing like the authentic :)

2. Blog Button (with drop box)****

I took Web Design for two electives in high school where I learned basic HTML, but I hardly remember anything I learned! Haha! I've been meaning to make a new Etsy banner for my shop (now accomplished), and thought I'd start out with a blog button first. 

*As long as you follow the instructions, you can do it (there are a lot of steps though)!

3. Fabric Flowers**

These were definitely harder than I thought to make. I switched the directions and did the wrong stitch lengths and had to start over. 

*I liked the flowers better when the length was cut in half.

4. Gift Bag****

What a great way to repurpose wrapping paper! I bent in the center so I could fold it up to store. Later I added handles from a Trader Joe's paper shopping bag.

*Make sure it's pretty heavy duty/thick enough to withstand weight

5. Tinsel & Ornament Wreath****

Such a fun, vintage twist on the usual Christmas wreath!

*I technically didn't really follow a tutorial. I had bought the tinsel wreath last year in the Target One Spot and then hot glued ornaments all around in green, silver, & red!

6. Tile Coasters*****

I purchased 6 basic white tiles at Lowes (16 cents each). Chose coordinating scrapbook papers and cut to size. Use Mod Podge to adhere to tile and then coat with too (I used Matte) and then spray with a sealer (I used Clear Valspar Matte). Hot glue cork to the bottom. Ta-Da! 

*I made these for every single woman in my family. That totals to 8 sets of coasters!! 

7. Puppy Chow**

My mom has a peanut allergy, so we never made puppy chow in our lineup of Christmas cookies. We decided to make some last night and split it up into 8 sandwich bags to give/portion control

*Didn't do the hazelnut step in this recipe and mixed Nutella with some Peanut Butter

[As always: the Pin & the Board]

#1 from Good Eats

#2 from Creations

#3 from Celebrating in Style

#4 from Gift Wrap

#5 from Christmas Cheer

#6 from Inspiration

#7 from Sweet Tooth

Hope everyone has a merry Christmas Eve!!! :)
and a wonderful holiday season!

Remake 2 {Pinterest}

I really enjoyed putting together my first post about Pinterest "remakes", and so I've decided that writing about projects I've pinned would be a fun monthly thing to do.
I enjoy being inspired by so many ideas!!!
So once (maybe twice) a month I will do just that.

{The ratings are my personal opinion/recommendation}

1. Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Recipe *****

This recipe is extremely close to the wonderful, tasty nuggets I so dearly love!!
*If you are a little disturbed or turned off by the recipe (the marinade is pickle juice), PLEASE PLEASE still try it just once- you won't regret it!!!! Trust me :)


2. Chalkboard menus ****

There are several different projects on Pinterest with this idea and I wanted to make some signs for the food tables at my brother & future sister-in-law's wedding. Using dollar platters and a can of chalkboard spray paint this project was cheap and super easy to make. 

*With the weather cooling down, I let mine dry outdoors on the porch so I could add several coats of paint before letting it dry overnight.

3. Paper lidded jars ****

I took the lids from a salsa and pimiento pepper jar to try these out. With scrapbook paper and a little bit of Mod Podge, anything is possible :) This project took under 10 minutes to do.
*Perfect for holding little things or gift giving! Mine are now holding sewing pins and buttons


4. Embroidery Hoops *****

Another easy & cheap craft made with just a hoop and some fabric. They look great by themselves or with little embellishments!
*This is the fall hoop from my first giveaway :)


5. Mini Buntings ****

I know that the bunting I pinned is made from paper, but I decided to use a linen type fabric for mine. I stamped on the letters and then sewed them with the criss-cross stitch onto twine.

*Cute to hang on a mantle, wreath, or place in a picture frame!

#1 from Good Eats

#2 from Mark & Sandy

#3 from Office Space

#4 from Inspiration

#5 from Celebration

{Actual links & Pinterest boards I've pinned them to } 

Remake {Pinterest}

I have 1,400 pins (way too many) on Pinterest and only a few things have I actually accomplished in recreating. This post is going to be dedicated to those projects which I have actually done and their outcomes. These have all been done in the past several months that I've started my Pinterest account, so please don't think I cranked out all these crafts within the past week! HA! That would be crazy!!!

1. Halfway to Heaven Cookies *****

I showed a picture of these in one of my previous posts. I've made them 3 times now. For the first time a few weeks ago, once while in Kentucky for the week, and again when I took them to a tailgating party. Seriously- if you love cookies that are crispy and soft at the same time- try these! They're "healthy" because of the oatmeal & peanut butter!! ;)


2. Watermark Tee **

Whenever I get time to spend with my little sister, I would have a craft for us to do. I can't tell you how many paintings, beadings, wedding crafts, nail paintings, face paintings, makeup/overs, felt, etc things we have done. This time, K wanted to make a shirt for going to football games. We decided on this pin because she could write out song lyrics and popular quotes while I used Dr. Seuss quotes on mine.
*Unfortunately my quotes blended together and both of our colors ended up purple and not navy blue.


3. Fishtail Braid ****

I finally got the hang of doing this braid and really like it alot! You can even pull it apart to look messy! Plus, I can't believe how easy it is!! You have to try it!

4. Yarn Letter ****

I had a cardboard letter from Hobby Lobby that I knew would work perfectly for this craft. It was a pretty simple craft that anyone could do!

*The easiest thing for me was to wrap it all one direction and go back over in the opposite direction

5. Waterfall Braid ***

At first I tried to do this without instructions by french braiding and taking the top piece and dropping it thru the twist part. I was able to practice this on my sister-in-law and it was kind of hard to concentrate trying not to do a french braid. There is a better video tutorial on my board where the girl takes out a piece from the bottom and lets it drop instead of the entire piece. I'm not sure which is correct, but either one works.

6. Deep Dish Cookie Pies ***

These were pretty good cookies as well, but I used M&Ms inside instead of chocolate chips! 

I linked the actual pin and which board I pinned it to :)

#1 from Good Eats

#2 from Inspiration 

#3 from Closet 

#4 from Inspiration 

#5 from Closet

#6 from Sweet Tooth 

Enjoy!! I look forward to sharing more soon!

& follow my boards too if you want!

Linking this to

Drink Recipe Knock-Off {Bread & Company}

The first time I ever visited Nashville, I recall having lunch at Bread and Company. After I graduated from UK several years later, I took a job, and moved to the Music City. I definitely enjoyed many lovely lunches there eating lots of yummy bread, chicken salad, and always (always) a glass of fruit tea.

Their fruit tea is sweet tea with a punch of sour and spice. It is definitely different, but so very delicious!!
& so

I decided to make my own concoction and came up with this tasty recipe:

{from the Bread & Co online menu}

Fruit Tea Recipe

2 Family Sized Iced Tea bags (or 4-6 regular sized tea bags)

1 Peppermint tea bag

1 can frozen Welch's Pineapple, Apple, Orange Juice

2 quart pitcher

1.Bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil (about 6 cups). Place the Iced Tea bags along with the  peppermint in the pot. Take off the burner for the tea bags to seep (*can be made in an Ice Tea Maker or you can use an electric water heater).

2. and then pour into a pitcher and fill with water until about 1.5 quarters full (keep the bags in to continue steeping). Once the water has become lukewarm, take the tea bags out.

3. Add in the can of frozen juice and mix together.

4. Fill a glass with ice and the tea- Enjoy!!! It's the perfect tea for summer & fall!!

See where I've linked up HERE

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Recipe Knock-Off {Bread & Co}

Fact: I love Bread and Company's Honey Pecan Chicken Salad. 

I like most chicken salad, but I haven't been able to find a tastier chicken salad than theirs. So, I decided I would try to recreate the recipe. Mine includes the same ingredients as their version and I think it's just as good!!

[From their online menu: it's the last item on this list]

Honey Pecan Chicken Salad 

4 1/2 cups shredded Rotisserie Chicken (use ground chicken if you want it finer)

1/4 cup chopped Red Onion

1/4 cup chopped Celery

1 Tbsp chopped Parsley

1/2 cup chopped Pecans

1/2 cup quartered grapes (red or green)

1 1/4 cups Mayonaise

1/3 cup Honey

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

    

1. Mix together the mayo, honey, salt, pepper, and parsley. *Spray your 1/3 cup before pouring in the honey (that way it will come right out).

2. Chop and add the pecans, red onion, celery, and grapes (chop the pieces as small or as large as you want).

    

 3. Finally, cut your rotisserie chicken apart and shred it into a bowl. Stir the chicken into the dressing mixture. Refrigerate for 2 hours and then serve.

    

When I order this at the restaurant, I choose to get it as a sandwich on Cranberry Pecan bread along with green apple slices & avocado slices. Gives it a bit of crunch :) Mmmm- I want some now!

Bread and Company is unique to Nashville. 

If you're ever in the area, make sure to stop by for breakfast or lunch.

Or take a quart of the chicken salad home with you :)

Cinco de Mayo

Around blog land there have been plenty of inspiring recipes for this fun holiday- appetizers, desserts, drinks, and main course meals! Here are just a few that I have found to look amazing:

Mexican Fried Ice Cream @ Tatertots & Jello 

Ancho Chili-Cinnamon Chocolate Bark  @ Food52

Slow-Cooked Pork Tacos @ Food52

Churros con Chocolate @ Baking bites

1. Shrimp Cocktail with Guacamole

2. Beer Marinated Chicken Tacos

3. Prickly Pear Margarita 

4. Lime Margarita Cupcakes 

from Pizzazzerie

Super Nachos via Rachael Ray

Black Bean Tostadas @ a couple cooks

Crunchy Tacos from Duhlicious

Margarita Lime Cheesecake @Liv Life

MMMM- All of these recipes have made me really hungry! Excited to go out tonight and have some Mexican and a good 'ol margarita! My husband could probably eat Mexican every night of the week, but I definitely can't! Not only do I enjoy this fun holiday, 

but it's also my BIRTHDAY!! 

I am 26 today, and I imagine that I'm still in my mid-20's :)  It makes me miss all the meals I ate with my closest friends from college and with my family. I enjoyed having a birthday while in college because it was at the end of Finals Week, Cinco de Mayo, and usually before/after the Kentucky Derby! But this year, it's my first married birthday! Whoo! 

My 22nd with Haley & Rachel

My 25th with K, Lauren, & Momma Pepin

Thanks for all my wonderful birthday celebrations in the past! 

Short side story: My freshman year, as I was studying for finals, my friends had a surprise party planned out for me.....but I wouldn't come. I didn't want to take a break. They had to lie and say that Haley had broken her foot in order for me to come with them to the "hospital"....needless to say it was a fun Luau :) 

notice the large posters in the background?  :)

including a beach!