Friday, January 29, 2016

CELEBRATE SUPERBOWL WITH GREAT FOOD!

Welcome to TLB friends!

On February 7th, in Santa Clara, California at Levi Stadium, Super Bowl 50 will be held. Fans from across the nation will gather to support the Denver Broncos or the Carolina Panthers.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a ticket to this hallowed event, so many of us celebrate in our homes, gathered around our TV's, eating, drinking and cheering for our favorite team.

I put together a quick tablescape and a couple dishes to get the party started.





No sporting event is complete without some sort of buffalo chicken.....SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN is an easy party recipe which takes very little preparation. You may use it with lettuce wraps or mini whole wheat rolls as I did. 

The recipe may be found here:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/242269/slow-cooker-buffalo-chicken-lettuce-wraps/print/?recipeType=Recipe&servings=10


There's always room for a cheese ball. This year I've made BACON RANCH CHEDDAR FOOTBALL CHEESE BALL. If you like bacon, cheese and Ranch dressing.....you'll love this cheese ball. Serve it with Ritz crackers--yum! (You actually shape the cheese ball in a football shape!)

The recipe may be found here:
http://blog.hwtm.com/2016/01/coke-soaked-bacon-recipes-for-game-day-coca-cola-home-bowl/#more-143812


We love chips and salsa and since moving to Texas our favorites are Julio's Chips and Salsa.  http://www.julioscornchips.com/ So we'll be serving them too!

Whether you are routing for Peyton Manning and team or Cam Newton and team, we hope you enjoy SUPER BOWL 50!

May the best team win!



Kathleen

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

CREATING A LOVELY VALENTINE VIGNETTE

Welcome TLB friends!

In today's blog I'm showing you how easy it is to create this beautiful "Valentine Vignette" in your own home.



Items you will need:

-A small vase that will hold one dozen flowers of your choice. I used tulips and roses.
-Small piece of raffia or ribbon to tie around the vase.
-One small silver dish (Hobby Lobby) filled with candy of your choice.
-1 twiggy branch with tiny flowers of your choice on the branches, branches cut off
(Hobby Lobby)
-1 shiny Valentine themed item similar in size to my silver ceramic statue of LOVE 
(Kirklands)


Steps to creation:

1. Arrange you flowers with roses in the lower front and tulips a bit higher in the back. Add green twigs of your choice for texture and contrast.

2. Fill candy dish with Valentine candy of your choice.

3. Cut branches off the large twiggy branch, and place strategically around items to give the vignette a soft flowy look.

4.  I purchased 2 yards of deep gray fabric and some white chalk. (Hobby Lobby) I serrated the sides of the chalk, and rubbed it on the fabric giving it a similar look to chalk on a chalkboard.

5. Arrange your vase, candy dish and floral arrangement to your liking. Then add the twigs where you see fit.

I love to try new and different things for Valentine's Day! Give it a try....you can do it!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!


Kathleen

Thanks so much for stopping by TLB! 













Friday, January 22, 2016

MOM WHAT'S KUCHEN?

Welcome to Foodie Friday TLB friends! 

When I told my youngest daughter that Peach Kuchen was on the blog today, she said, "Mom, what's Kuchen?"





Tuesday, January 19, 2016

NEW HOUSE COLOR PALETTE

Good Morning TLB friends!

I've been so busy I just couldn't wait to share my last few days with you. After browsing the pages of our home inventory that is in storage, I have come up with a plan for "most" of our furnishings. Of course I had to pass this by hubby, who seemed a bit skeptical, but open to conversation on what rooms were in need of updates. He immediately sees those dollar signs and starts to panic!


Friday, January 15, 2016

THRIFTY VALENTINE IDEAS

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends!

The New Year is shaping up to be a busy one. With the house moving along nicely we should have some concrete poured within a couple of weeks.....that is if inspections along the way don't hold us up. I know the importance of the inspections, but the excitement to physically see those studs started is killing me!

In the meantime, I'm seeing RED everywhere, in a good way of course! I thought I'd better jump on the Valentine wagon. Since time is so precious now-a-days here's a couple of quick and thrifty ideas I've created to share with you that hopefully, will save you time and money.

First of all look at these sweet little cookies, great for a sweet gift......





Besides using limited ingredients, and being the easiest cookie I've ever made....aren't they the cutest little dollops?

All you need is:

1 Box of Strawberry cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
Red sugar sprinkles
Heart shaped jelly bean candies ( I just used Starburst jelly beans---the recipe originator used Gimbal's, however, I could not find that brand....I think for future purposes old fashioned candy hearts would be great too!)




The recipe may be found by clicking the link below:
http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2016/01/valentines-day-cookie-recipe.html

When I think of  Valentine's Day I think chocolate (or sweet) and flowers....pretty traditional right? So let's talk about flowers.........red roses in particular. 

No longer is it necessary to order or purchase flowers from a florist. It's so great now to be able to go to the supermarket or big box stores and find quality, inexpensive, beautiful flowers.

So I headed to my local grocery store. I found a beautiful bouquet of red roses, ON SALE! Score!! Then I decided not to display them in just one vase, but to pull out the crystal vases, all gifts from hubby's travels to Ireland! I chose various sizes and played with them. 

This is my result......beautiful, simple and elegant!




Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a little something sweet and the beauty of a red rose! 




Wishing you all a very sweet and beautiful Valentine's Day!

Kathleen




Tuesday, January 12, 2016

DIY SNOWY WINTER WREATH

Welcome to a chilly Tuesday here in Texas! The weatherman is predicting mid 30's at night and 60's during the day, a bit warmer than our New Jersey winters. (at least so far!) I was channeling NJ when I decided I needed a Snowy Winter Wreath to hang on our door.

Friday, January 8, 2016

SPRING COLOR INSPIRATION

Hello TLB friends,

Our New Year will most likely bring many changes to our lives, one being the release of the Pantone 2016 Spring color selections. Since I'll be changing up some of the furniture and accessories in the new house, I couldn't wait for the colors to be released......

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

LOOKING FORWARD TO A YEAR OF CHANGE

WELCOME TO 2016 TLB friends!

It was time to jump the plane back to Texas yesterday, and I needed some new reading material. I grabbed a January copy of Oprah's magazine. These words on the front cover sprung out at me.....THE YEAR OF YOU.