Browsing Category: Life

Ideas for The 4th of July Desserts

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I love the Fourth of July, especially when it falls on a weekend (3-Day weekend!!) Despite the usual intense heat, the day of noshing on delicious smoked meats followed by a night of watching fireworks with family and friends is just a perfect summer day to me and I have so many memories of said perfect days from my childhood.

Now despite all the great entree’s of BBQ, baked beans, and  cole slaw, desserts tend to be very lack luster. My memories of desserts on the 4th are very bleak. All I remember is assorted pints of ice cream, which I never mind because ice cream is my BFF. Still, there are so many dessert options with a patriotic twist that will stand out any cookout.

Keep reading for some ideas for 4th of July desserts.

Cheesecake-Stuffed-Strawberries

Why not start off with something super easy and delicious; cheesecake stuffed strawberries! I recently ran across this quick recipe over on Dessert Now, Dinner Later and was so inspired (and hungry) that I went to the store that nigh to pick up the handful of ingredients needed. My sister and I pretty much devoured them during a binge of Lifetime movies. However, plan to make some more this weekend and hopefully they will last a little bit longer.

patriotic_pretzles

Sweet and salty is always a winner in my books and these pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate look scumptious and for guest to grab, go, and socializ. The red, white, and blue add a patriotic flair, but you can substitute the sprinkle for drizzles of milk chocolate or crushed nuts for a various events and flavors.

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These patriotic pudding parfaits are so easy, so creamy, and so delicious.

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Looking for a healthy option? Well, this red, white, and blue fruit terrine would be perfect, because not only is is vegan friendly and fat free, but it is also a refreshing treat for a hot summer day.

For more ideas for dessert for the 4th of July, check out my Patriotic Desserts Pinterest board filled with more tasty patriotic treats!

 

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DEFINE DESIGN: Scandinavian Design

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As a beginner minimalist, one of favorite decor aesthetics is Scandinavian design. Basically, the term Scandinavian design emerged in the 1930s to describe the design style from…wait for it…..Scandinavia which includes the countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

The Scandinavian has a very simple, clean, and minimal design and functional furniture, which is created with natural materials  such as wood, leather, and hemp. This is design element that I’ve slowly been incorporating in my home since I’ve been purging a lot of useless and non-functional items.

If you are interested in ways to add this design element to your home, keep reading to see some awesome ideas for Scandinavian design.

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light-and-white-scandinavian-living-roomscandinavian-designs-atlantic-beddeco-paintcolours03The-Charming-Scandinavian-Apartment-Design-in-Stockholm-02A-Lovely-Maisonette-in-Gothenburg-03-800x533interior-design-scandinavian-and-parisianBedroom-design-in-Scandinavian-style-The-Scandinavians-love-wood-909x606

 

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UNSUBSCRIBE…from useless emails

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We live in a time when we can do any and everything at practically the tap of a computer mouse or screen and that also includes signing up for countless upon countless of newsletters.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate all the newsletters I’m currently signed up for, because they serve a purpose in my life. They do everything from keeping me informed on current sales at my favorite stores, tips on business and branding, and even emails that inspire me with new ideas. Pretty much, things that are currently of interest to me.

However, it took me a minute to get to this perfectly condensed list of newsletters and notifications and to learn how to declutter my digital life. Between us, I’m sure you might need to remove and unsubscribe from some emails in your life, too.  Admit it.

Remember signing up for the newsletter of that cheap trendy spot just so you can save 10% on a $20 order, which is barely free shipping, might I add.

Maybe you remember that time you were literally obsessed with that game that was awesome at blowing time by matching same colored crowns or cows or whatever? You became so obsessed you signed up for any and every email newsletter about said game to stay current on new updates and tricks, but now you’ve moved on to the latest “it” game and have completely forgotten about the previous colorful time waster.

We’ll just clump all the other random emails that pertain to sites that no longer update or interest you, hobbies you no longer remember doing, and that newsletter to that one site you signed up for just to win a tassel or notebook or whatever into one general bulk category.

Yet, in all of these cases, those emails still hit your inbox 3-4 times a week and you instantly delete/purge it without even glancing at the contents.

So…why?

It’s time be honest with yourself.  Why haven’t you unsubscribed?

If you aren’t sure if you should unsubscribe to an email, here are 3 quick questions to ask yourself before opting out:

  • Are you still interested with the sender?
  • Do you open emails from the sender at least once a week?
  • Do you ever participate in the call to action (i.e. shop sale, click link to main website, etc.)

If you answered no to either of these questions, then that’s a sign to unsubscribe.

Trust me, it servicing no purpose to constantly clog up your inbox and spam folder. So, to save you time and space, unsubscribe from those emails.

Trust me, in the end, you’ll be okay and won’t miss anything.

Also, if the thought of having to manually go through and delete and unsubscribe from each email makes you break out is hives and convulse, there are a handful of sites that do this for you. The current crowd favorite seems to be to UnRollMe. UnRollMe, with one click, unsubscribe you from unwanted emails. So, definitely, look into that.

Before I let you go a.k.a I need to go get some more coffee, finding the option to unsubcribe can usually be found at the very bottom with a link. Marketers do this, because most people do read all the way to the bottom of an email (even if they are interested in the email) and close it before they even see the option. They are so sneaky, but it’s effective in keeping me signed up. I would know considering I’ve work in online marketing for years and that is one of the golden rules to keep your email list high. Smart.

So, do your self a favor and do an audit of your inbox, because I’m positive you find that there are some residents that need to be evicted from your emails.

 *This post is UNSPONSORED! However, may contain affiliate links.

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WEEKEND AT HOME: Creating The Perfect Cheese Platter for Summer

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In the summertime, I tend to not eat has much or have full and hearty meals, with the exception of a handful of BBQs. FYI, if you attend a BBQ, EAT!

Still, in the warmer months, I tend to eat lighter meals, mostly salads and lean meats and snack on fruit and nuts, which explains why I tend to drop a few pounds in the summer. Win!

However, one thing I really love to nosh on during these hot months are cheese platters. A simple cheese platter for summer usually consists of a few selections of cheese (obviously), crackers, fruit, and complimenting smears and are all so delicious like this one from Sprouted Kitchen. Also, they are best appreciated with a lovely selection of chilled wines.

I usually have one (wine and cheese platter) chilling in the fridge for the moments when I just want a quick bite to eat, to pull out for last minute guests, or an impromptu Netflix binge. Either way, I recommend you incorporate one into your life and summer.

Speaking of BBQs, these make a great, unexpected, and somewhat bougie additions to even the most casual of barbeques and summer shindigs. Check out these suggestions for cheese platters this summer.

Beautiful-cheese-Board-ideas-from-Fashionable-Hostess

Fashionable Hostess (whose blog I’m currently obsessed with and is totally worth stalking…daily) created this drool worthy cheese board that is not beautifully loaded with perfectly selected cheeses, but also delicately curated meats, nuts, and herbs.

DYG-summer-cheese-plate

Want to whip and break out a pretty crafted cheese tray to share with your girlfriends for a Girl’s Night In? This cheese tray from Dress Your Guest is the ideal tray, because aside from the obvious cheese, meat, and crackers, it also includes fresh sliced veggies, oils for extra flavors, and also chocolate. Chocolate is just awesome to pretty much anything. So, pile it up.

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Need ideas of how to serve cheese platters if you aren’t into the “everybody go for what you know”, then you might love A Fabulous Fete’s cheese platter presentations with miniature chopping boards. So cute!

I’m pretty sure that this weekend I plan to plop on my sofa with my sister as we devour a nicely crafted cheese platter and wash it down some lemon iced tea and of course wine. Yes, there will be wine. I drink wine.

Have a great weekend!

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The Skinny on Skinny Teatox

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If you are an avid or even just an occasional person on social media, then you have probably been hit by the new rave of detox teas. Well, I know I had and when Skinny Teatox gave me the chance to try one for myself coincided with my need to take a detox following a weekend of inhaling numerous plates of cookout food (summertime weakness) during Memorial Day weekend, I had to take them up on the offer.

So, about this detox tea…

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