Tag: new blogger

September’s “Top 10” Amazon Purchases

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T.G.F.A – Thank God for Amazon, am I right!?

Amazon is taking over the consumer world, and I don’t mind it. My Amazon Prime app has become my first stop and ultimately one-stop-shop for home items, food and pantry items, beauty care, tech and even fashion! With two-day free shipping, free returns to Kohls, and a new “try before you buy” program, Amazon is making it easier to shop online for items you may have been hesitant about purchasing in the past including oversized furniture or clothing. While I still appreciate a good brick and mortar store and really try to shop local whenever I can, I can proudly say that Amazon Prime is the my new Target.

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20 Gingham Summer-to-Fall Transition Pieces

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Give me gingham or give me death! In recent years, gingham has taken storm in the fashion industry attracting a variety of styles including rustic country, rock grunge and my personal favorite – classic, preppy. Once appropriate for only milkmaids and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, I love that this iconic pattern lost its “folk country” stigma and re-emerged in present day fashion. 

Gingham, also called checkered, is one of those patterns I believe is appropriate and in style every season of the year. Originally influenced by tartan and plaid, brands have been printing this pattern in a variety of colors on dresses, tops, pants and accessories as well as home goods since the 17th century. While pastel pieces may go out of style after Easter and red and country blue may resemble that summer picnic tablecloth, there’s nothing more classic than the original black-and-white or navy-and-white checkered design. And thanks to Joanna Gaines and her modern farmhouse style, classic black and white gingham is becoming an even more popular design for not only clothing but also home decor and rustic winter holiday decorations. 

I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite gingham pieces that you can easily transition from summer to fall (and maybe even winter for a few!)

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Grilled #Summer Skewers

Summertime and the grilling is easy!

Now that we’re officially in those hot, dog days of summer (no pun intend!), grilling has been our preferred method of cooking. The thought of turning on the oven and heating up our kitchen even more makes me cringe. From proteins to veggies and even fruit, I love that you can throw nearly anything on the grill and make easy weeknight and weekend meals.

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Summer Watermelon Salad

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Who else agrees that summer season = watermelon season?! There’s nothing I crave more on a hot summer day than a bowl of cold, refreshing watermelon. What I love most about this fruit is the versatility of use in a variety of recipes. Add it to a cocktail, throw it on the grill, freeze it into a sweet popsicle or simply serve it as is. The mouthwatering possibilities are endless, which is a good thing considering the hefty size of a single watermelon can feed a family of four or more!

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#AmazonPrime: Father’s Day Gift Guide

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Alert Alert. In case you didn’t remember – Father’s Day is this Sunday! Before you head to Kohl’s for the annual tie (that he might wear once), or grab a sporting goods or home improvement gift card, head to Amazon and 2-day Prime ship a gift that dad will actually love this year.

I’ve rounded up 10 gifts for the man of the hour, from tools and outdoor equipment to tech gear that will keep your dad in the 21st century. 

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5-Ingredient Patriotic Desserts to Make this Memorial Day

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Whether you’re the host of the party or heading to a picnic, don’t skimp out on a dessert that “wows” your friends and family. I know it’s easy to run to the grocery store and buy a container of pre-made cookies or cake and call it a day, but making a dessert doesn’t have to be difficult and time consuming either!

For the master bakers or the newbies in the kitchen, I’ve shared five simple recipes that all require 5-ingredients or less to make. Bonus: They are all red-white-and-blue themed to get you in the holiday spirit.

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Save Money with Honey: Web Browser Extension

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Raise your hand if you like paying full price? I hope the silent, yet still 100% unanimous answer is, “heck no!”

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved the thrill and joy of getting a good deal. I remember clipping coupons from the elementary school entertainment book we carried around in our car, understanding at that young age that clipping coupons was the responsible thing to do. As I got older, I remember my mom teaching me tricks to determine percentages while inside Limited Too. I know she was tired of me nagging her, asking her each price of every item I lusted over, but I know she was also setting me up for success as a conscientious, discount shopper. And trust me, that couponing and quick mental math applies to more than just clothes, but also grocery shopping. Nick gets so embarrassed when I pull out my wad of coupons or fight the cashier on gas points, but what’s wrong with saving a few dollars here and there! My Giant grocery store receipts show how much money we’re saving this year and I’ll continue to coupon away. 

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5 Game of Thrones Inspired Drinks

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Can anyone else believe that Game of Thrones officially ends this Sunday? Honestly, I don’t know what we’re going to do with our Sunday nights now that we don’t have these episodes to look forward to. While Nick and I aren’t having a viewing party with our friends, I haven’t stopped thinking about GoT inspired food and beverages that we could make this Sunday as tribute to the series finale. While we may be snacking on character favorites throughout the day, such as Sansa’s sweet lemon cakes or the Hounds classic fried chicken, I wanted to share a few drink recipes you can enjoy during the series finale as a toast to eight great seasons and ten great years.

So cheers to you Game of Thrones with these five inspired cocktails:

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Our First Month with HelloFresh

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It’s a no brainer that cooking and “adulting” go hand in hand. Gone are the days of microwaved ramen, frozen meals, and regular take-out dinners. Unless you want to weigh 200 pounds and go broke, something has to change. And rightfully so! As we get older, our food palette changes too. Over the year’s we’ve tried different foods and flavors that we’ve grown to love, but how do we recreate them in our own, millennial budget kitchen? Insert HelloFresh. 

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