Gifts for Mom

Moms are super special - including mother-in-laws, friends that are moms, moms-to-be, dog moms, caregivers, the list goes on and on. Show the moms in your life some love this Mother's Day. Here are a few gift ideas!

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1- Ring Dish - This cute dish holds rings, knick knacks, loose change, etc. I have a similar one next to my sink and when they are sweet and whimsical like this one, the receiver of this gift will always think of you when they see it!

2- Spirilizer - need I say more? Turning veggies into noodles will make any mom happy!

3- Tea Towels - I am a huge fan of tea towels that add color and sweetness to any room. There are so many more on that link that are so beautiful!

4- Cookbook - I love the Skinny Taste cookbook and website so much, there are so many great things for anyone to make, and for the mom in your life, this could save her during the week figuring out what to make for her family - plus cutting through the repeats and trying something new that is still healthy!

5- Apron - Aprons make any mom, great cook or not, look like they know what they are doing in the kitchen! ;-) This comes in all types of colors and is durable and high quality.

Show the moms in your life some love this year!

My First Garden

I've been talking about growing some vegetables of my own for a while now, and had an idea of how I wanted to do it. I got started with research early and was able to set up my first vegetable garden this year. I hope it turns out, cause it was a ton of work!

First, getting the ground ready was the toughie. Luckily, with all the rain the ground was nicely saturated so it was easy to dig and till the ground in the area that I saw had good sun most of the time (obviously not in picture below!).

Then I wanted to have a small garden to start with. I found a 4x8 garden "kit" at Home Depot for less than $100. If I tried to build myself, it would have been a hot mess and well over $100 due to mistakes. This was really easy to build and took me about 15 minutes total!

Not pictured, but still essential to the project, adding soil. RESEARCH, read the reviews, its the best advice I can give. This is still really brand new, so I don't have my review yet, but I chose an organic soil that had rave online reviews.  I put a couple of bags down, watered, raked, then put another bag down, watered and raked. I kept doing this until I thought there would be plenty for the plants to root in. I added around 8 inches high, with my 32 sq ft boxes. I used about 7 bags.

Now to the good stuff!  I got my starters from a local greenhouse and they all had convenient detailed instructions on how far apart and how deep to plant them. I just followed the instructions as best I could, so help a girl out and cross your fingers and hope I did it right!

These are my pots with the herbs we use most!

Cilantro

Mint

 Basil

And here are the garden choices. I went for 'relatively easy' to start with for my first time, so it might look way simple, but you gotta start somewhere, right!?

Lettuce

 Cucumbers

 Summer squash

 More summer squash

 Bell peppers

 Tomatoes

 Cherry tomatoes

 More lettuce! I heart salads, and I think I will feel a huge sense of accomplishment if I get to eat a salad that I personally grew! I also have some jalapeños that I didn't take pics of (it would have been a picture of soil, so sorry!)

 All together now:

Checking out the goods.

That's it for now, a cage for keeping the critters out is built and I owe that to my sweet Joey and his best friend Scott. They know how to keep a gal happy!

If you have a garden, what do you have growing?

Into It

A few things I am into lately this fine spring season...

 Into this candle scent. It is fresh and perfect for spring. I found it at anthropologie.

Digging this brew lately. It's a great grilling beer. Drink while you grill, you know the drill.

 Childhood flashback? I HATED PB&J when I was a kid. I now super love my grown up version with JIF and strawberry jelly on toast. All day.

 This sweet face. Who am I kidding, I am into her all the time, not just lately.

Have a great weekend!

Slow as what?

You know the saying, "slow as molasses"? Yeah, well I learned that molasses isn't as slow as all you peeps make it out to be. Maybe it was a little warm in my house, but my friend molasses was anything but slow. Girl was running for her life towards my measuring spoon.

Also jusssst now noticing the clever brand of this said molasses - you'd think with it's reputation it'd be something along the lines of "Field Tortoise" molasses....but, apparently lives up to her name. (Yes, this particular molasses is a girl.)

Happiest Monday Friends!

**Thanks Alexis for the post idea! 

I Heart Burritos

I received my early birthday gift, a new cam, so now I am able to annoy you with pics of my food 24/7. After my dog was tired of being a model, I played around and took a few of my delicioso Qdoba burrito. Here for your viewing pleasure!

And one of my faves of the beautiful model of the day:

And because I like to embarrass people, here is a McDonald's burger going down the hatch ever so beautifully by Joseph himself:

There's a lot more where these came from. Stay tuned. 

You Know It's True

Image via F***Jerry Instagram

TGIF

TGI to the F!

Cheers to the freakin weekend, friends.

Image Via

Here are some Friday Links for you:

Have been binge reading Camp Patton - Grace is hilarious, relatable, and even though I am not a parent, I totally get her!

This looks awesome and filling and super delicious. I feel like Deb gets it right...100% of the time!

Look at this kitchen reno! Amazing!

I spied these all winter long--- and did not make the purchase. Boo. Too late, but hoping to watch the price drop during warmer months. Who buys lined house shoes in spring/summer? This girl.

My girl Miranda is talking Living proof. over on her blog - click here to read her stuff. She's the best!

Just ordered this raised garden bed for my first veggie garden. Looking forward to see what I can get out of it!

I hope you have some good weekend plans! It's going to be cold here, hopefully for the last time this season! I've got dinner with my gal pals, basketball watching, and time spent with family planned. Weekends are where it's at!

Snowed In

After having a delightful surprise extended weekend - due to being snowed in, it has given me some time to think of a few of my favorite things that have happened/I have enjoyed lately:

Bacon-in-Pancakes. Thanks Pinterest!

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for brunch. Stuck inside? Might as well EAT what ever the heck you want! The recipe calls for a ton of baking powder, but they always turn out really light and fluffy. This is my go-to. I added ghirardelli chocolate chips, because we fancy like that (aka they were on sale)

The Macdaddy of Monopoly boards

Monopoly. Who knew? It's my new (old) favorite boardgame, even though I seriously lost in the worst way. I had 2 houses, Joey had hotels and extreme board control. I was in jail more times that I was in an actual spot - and when I was, I was owing rent like something crazy.

Fleece-lined Leggings.
Seriously. It is negative temps here. You know those leggings you see at Walgreens and you are like, ew, who buys those? It's me. While I am over here warm and cozy and you are like "I am SO COLD", I will wait while you go purchase the 2/$12 fleece leggings on the end of the aisle. Then we can wear them together, and I can say "I KNOW, RIGHT?". I mean, what's more comfortable than a size of "one size fits most" and fleece lined? Not much, guys. Find them here on amazon too.

Practicing Driving in Snow.
It is one of my biggest "damsel in distress" characteristics, but I really hate driving in snow. So, my most awesomely patient husband goes out in the blizzard with me up and down the street to "practice driving". Really, he's the best. This was NOT the blizzard we practiced in, btw.

Organizing Part 1 of my spice cabinet. Seriously, we walked in Lucky's one day, and Joey said "how does it feel to have a more organized spice selection than the actual grocery?" To be honest, feels pretty dang good.

This IGE recipe was soo good and comforting while snowed in. We barely made it through the day without me "practicing driving" Joey to local bar for an hour or so. My house was spotless, all laundry was done, and I was on a major caffeine high...randomly wandering my house looking for the next thing to clean/organize. He had to get out of there! So then I made this for dinner after we had a "cabin fever break" and it was seriously yum.

These things have made me happy lately, in this time of depressing cold weather!

On another note: WHEN IS SPRING COMING? I MISS YOU. Which means, isn't it about time for an OPI Strawberry Marg manicure? Cali nails, I am coming for you.