Food

Halloween Tree Decorating

5 · Sep 25, 2015 · Leave a Comment

I’ve tried something new this year for Halloween… Have you ever decorated a Halloween tree before?

I know the trend is picking-up steam and people are doing all kinds of cool things for Halloween. I’ve teamed up with a handful of talented bloggers for a fun Halloween tree blog hop and GIVEAWAY! You need to run over and check-out Jennifer Perkins, Cathie Filian, Tried & True, My Paper Crane! Their trees are also so fun!! Hang tight and I’ll have the giveaway info at the bottom of the post.

I had a ball decorating this beautiful white tree from Treetopia with black, white & gold glam for Halloween. I LOVE how it looks with my Jack O’ Lope display that I created a few weeks ago… The tree adds a beautiful new element to the room that I just adore!

I’ve alway been in love with black & white decor when it comes to decorating for Halloween and knew that I wanted to carry that through with this tree. I found some fun large & small pumpkins at Target that were perfect. I was planning on painting my own, but these were already so cute I caved and bought them instead.

I added some beautiful fox masks from JoAnn that I fell in love with.

I also added more of my favorite black & white dice that I made a few weeks back and some apothecary jars from Target. I was looking for some kind of black filler to add some dimension to the tree and couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. I wanted something that looked kind of like feathers mixed with spooky foliage. Weird, I know. I looked all over the place for the right look. I finally found a wreath in the Halloween section at Target and it was perfect. I deconstructed the wreath and used it as my tree filler. LOVE IT!

I also absolutely love my white tree from Treetopia, it looks perfect up against my black chalkboard wall for Halloween. It’s the Whisper White Cashmere Tree and it is fabulous. I’ve wanted a white tree for awhile now and I’m just so darn picky I couldn’t find one that I liked. They always looked so cheap. This one is nice and full and looks beautiful. I was so impressed with how easy the tree was to set-up. It has an extra long cord with and on/off foot peddle for ease of use. It also has a plug at the top of the tree to plug-in a tree topper if you have one of that sort, BRILLIANT!

The folks at Treetopia are giving away some fun trees for Halloween, Head over to their Facebook page for all the details!

Details // This post was sponsored by Treetopia however, I had a ball decorating this tree and wouldn’t have shared with you if I didn’t truly love the product!

Lincoln Nebraska City Guide

3 · Sep 14, 2015 · 6 Comments

Disclaimer // Compensation for this Lincoln Nebraska City Guide post was provided by Discover card via AOL Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Discover card or AOL.

+ Haymarket Farmer’s Market + The Doughnut Hole + Bread & Cup + Goldenrod Pastries + Simply Bungalow + Paper Kite + Select Style + Honest Abe’s Burgers & Freedom + Crafthouse +

Three years ago, my husband asked me what I thought about Nebraska. We were in the beginning stages of a possible job change so I knew this was loaded question. My initial reaction was, “I DON’T think about Nebraska, Why?” Three weeks later, our family was the newest residence of this lovely state. It took a little bit to get over the shock of the move, but as soon as I took the time to explore Lincoln, I started to fall in love.

Today, I’m sharing a City Guide of Lincoln, Nebraska from the WhipperBerry point of view. I have truly come to fall in love with this little city. Many people don’t realize how big Lincoln really is. It’s not some podunk town in the middle of some cornfields. Cornfields surround us but we are a thriving, friendly city. Lincoln is a great little city rich with good eats, fun shopping, talented makers and great activities for all ages.

It may not be on your destination radar just yet, but just you wait… This may change your mind. The next time you’re driving through Nebraska, you should take some time to visit and stop and stay for a while.

Every one of the places that I have chosen to highlight are local-owned eateries or shops that have been built through the blood, sweat & tears of their owners. They are all amazing spots that I’m thrilled to showcase. They are places where I hangout frequently and love. They are kind of like my little fishing holes… I’m a little afraid to share my fishing hole for fear of the hole being over run, but all of these restaurant and shop owners totally deserve it. I applaud all of their hard work and I’m happy to share with all of you!

Eat

Believe it or not, Lincoln has an amazing food scene and it’s getting better and better every year. Keep in mind… This is coming from the girl from Las Vegas who is used to a REALLY GOOD food scene. I’ve lived good food and I’m telling you, Lincoln is starting to hit the mark. Case in Point… Bread & Cup.

Bread & Cup

Chef Kevin a.k.a The Sustained Chef is a master in the kitchen. His food is simple, yet sophisticated. Rustic, yet elegant. I love everything about Bread & Cup. Located down the street from the Haymarket, Chef Kevin shops as much as possible at the Haymarket Farmer’s Market during the warm months to source as much of his ingredients locally. Everything served at Bread & Cup is made in house and it’s truly amazing. If you go for breakfast, give the Eggs Benedict and a cinnamon roll at go, you’ll be happy for the rest of the day!

The Doughnut Hole

I love stories like The Doughnut Hole… Two brothers, former male models take the doughnut world by storm, first though farmers markets then a hip retail location is born. You seriously can’t make this up. The Doughnut Hole has taken Lincoln by storm and has everyone craving their scrumptious doughnuts. Made with high quality ingredients, The Doughnut Hole doughnuts are light & fluffy without being the weakling on the team. Sweet, but not too sweet with all kinds of fun flavor combinations. This is a Lincoln must, but arrive early! They open at 6:00 am and stay open until they sell out. On the weekend, that could be as early as 10:00 am.

Goldenrod Pastries

Goldenrod Pastries is another story near and dear to my heart. Angela Garbacz is a food blogger turned bakery owner. She was able to take her talents in the kitchen and move forward and realize her dream of owning her own bakery. Angela caters to ALL diets. Having a food related condition her self, she’s passionate about creating treats for EVERYONE. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc… Angela has you covered. Her style is impeccable and her treats are divine. Again, a Lincoln MUST!

Honest Abe’s Burgers + Freedom

Honest Abe’s has a special place in my heart. Again, a ground-up restaurant that was started by some culinary school graduates just looking to make their way in the food world. They started with a food truck with a dream to have their own fine dining restaurant. They’ve worked their way up masterfully creating burgers + their freedom fries that are true works of art. They are fun, quirky, slightly irreverent and full of flavor. They just moved to a larger location plus they have also opened their dream fine dining restaurant Sebastian’s Table.

Other Options

To ask me to pick my favorite restaurants here in Lincoln is almost like asking which of my children is my favorite. It’s an impossible task. Here are a few more of my favorites…

Shop

Paper Kite

Paper Kite is one of those dreamy stores that the minute you walk in you instantly fall in love! Every single item in this store is meticulously curated with the stylish home and family in mind. Located in the quant College View neighborhood, Paper Kite specializes in babies, moms, home & gifts and they do it masterfully. If you are looking for something special, Paper Kite is your best bet. Located around the corner from Golden Rod Pastry and Select Style, it’s a great destination for an entire afternoon.

Select Style

Looking for something special to wear? Look no further than Select Style. Again, this locally grown boutique is something to sing about. The minute you walk in the door, you feel like you’ve stepped into a high-end New York fashion boutique packed full of elegant ensembles & expertly curated accessories and gifts. Shopping at Select Style is an experience rather than a chore. Megan, the owner, helps you feel beautiful, pampered and like you’re shopping with your best friend. She has the magic touch when it comes to creating a beautiful boutique experience.

Simply Bungalow

Simply Bungalow is a Junker’s dream. Looking for vintage finds, artisan goods or quirky gifts? Simply Bungalow has you covered. No need to wait until the next Junkstock, you can find all kinds of wonderful items that will transform your home into a one of a kind stow stopper. Simply Bungalow also carries BB Frösch, the chalk paint powder that is taking the DIY world by storm. Stay in touch with Heidi, she hosts BB Frösch workshops right in the shop!

Other Options

Play

Haymarket Farmer’s Market

I adore farmers markets. I make it a point when I travel during the summer months to pin point all of the local farmer’s markets on my route and visit as many as I possibly can. Therefore, I have been to farmer’s markets all over the country and even some in Europe and the South Pacific. The Haymarket Farmer’s Market is by far one of my all-time favorite markets and I’m thrilled that it’s right in my own city! Located in the Historic Haymarket district right in the heart of downtown Lincoln, the Haymarket Farmer’s Market is home to 200 market vendors and is spread over several blocks in the Haymarket area. Open May-October from 8:00 am- 12:00 noon it’s a fun activity for the entire family.

Crafthouse

For the creative soul Lincoln has a number of locally owned and expertly curated fabric and craft stores. One of my favorites is the Crafthouse. This fun quirky place is an excellent way to spend and afternoon shopping and taking a fun creative workshop. Don’t expect your grandmother’s fabric bin when you shop at the Crafthouse, they keep a heavily curated stock of the most current styles and trends in fabric & artisan yarn. Plus they have all kinds of creative workshops that are super fun for a night out with your friends.

Other Options

The Party Bunch Link Party // no. 94

2 · Sep 12, 2015 · 3 Comments

Let me introduce to you The Party Bunch!

Amy from The Idea Room, Mique from 30 Handmade Days, Heather from Whipperberry and Desiree from The 36th Avenue want to thank you for partying with us… You guys are the best!

Here are some of our favorite projects from this week!

Heather’s Favorite

Filling the Time Jar at My Love for Words
A cool concept with a printable to make sure you have your priorities straight.

Mique’s Favorite
Grilled Mexican Street Corn by Giggles Galore
Oh my goodness- I LOVE Mexican Street Corn. I can’t wait to try this!

Amy’s Favorite
Gallery Wall from the Winthrop Chronicles

I’ve seen lots of gallery walls but this one is so well put together.

Desiree’s Favorite
Birthday Printable by Create Craft Love

This is adorable! What a sweet gift idea.

As always thank you for so may fabulous projects and recipes!

We hope you take a minute and button up HERE!

Also we want to invite you to click here and follow
The Party Bunch Favorites on Pinterest.

We are featuring more of our favorite projects and recipes from the link party on this board!
Now it is time to party!

TPB Party Bunch Link Up... Every Friday to Sunday link up your projects over at theidearoom.net , thirtyhandmadedays.com , whipperberry.com or the36thavenue.com Four bloggers = ONE BIG PARTY! We can't wait to see your projects!

Here are a few things to remember before you link up!

Please make sure to share the love and grab a button here to let your readers know that you linked up with us! By linking up with The Party Bunch, you are giving permission to any of us to feature your projects and recipes on our social media with a link back to you. Thanks!

Summer Brunch Recipes // Peas with Bacon Side Dish

4 · Sep 8, 2015 · 1 Comment

Compensation for this post was provided by Unilever via AOL Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Unilever or AOL.

Who’s ready for a beautiful summer brunch?

In the last little bit, I’ve shared some of my favorite brunch dishes. First, we have the Lemon Drop Crêpes…

Followed by a savory Summer Vegetable Frittata…

Today… To round off the entire meal, I’m sharing a perfect side dish, Peas with Bacon…

To me, fresh peas just scream summer. I’ve loved peas my whole life. I know they are one of those love-em-or-hate-em foods, but I LOVE them. I have fond memories of my mom giving me little bowls of frozen peas to snack-on while she was making dinner when I was little.

For this menu, I thought a nice peas dish would round out the menu nicely. I’m keeping it simple with just a few basic ingredients.

Peas with Bacon

1 10 oz. package of fresh or frozen peas

1 tablespoon I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter®

1/2 of a small white onion diced

3 pieces of thick cut bacon (feel free to substitute with turkey bacon as a lighter option!)

Cut your bacon into small pieces called lardons and cook in a medium sauté pan over medium heat until fully cooked. Remove the bacon and drain the remaining bacon grease. I also wipe the pan out with a paper towel to remove as much of the bacon grease as possible. As much as I love to have the bacon in this and many other dishes, I don’t want to use the bacon grease as the fat to cook my food in. Any kind of animal fat is full of saturated or trans fat that we don’t really need in our diet, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have any kind of fat.

When I am planning out meals for my family, I look for ways to add good fats to our meals, such as plant-based fats like avocados, sunflower oil, almonds (which contain omega-3 ALA) and salmon (which contain omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acids). I’ve found one of the easiest ways to incorporate some of those good fats is to use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® to my meal planning. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® has 40% fewer calories and 70% less saturated fat than butter per serving. Not to mention, it has no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives and no partially hydrogenated oils. It has non-GMO sourced ingredients, it’s cholesterol-free with 0 grams of trans fats per serving plus so much more! Now that’s the kind of good fat that I want my family eating. You can find out all kinds of good stuff about I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter® HERE.

With all that… I took out as much bacon grease out of my pan as possible and replaced it with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter®. I let the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter melt in the pan and then add the onion and let it sweat.

After a minute or two I add the peas. If you are using fresh peas make sure you steam them first.

Sauté the peas for 3-4 minutes in the onion and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter add salt & pepper to taste. When the peas are cooked through, add your bacon and give it a toss.

Add to a serving bowl and top with a dollop of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter & chives if you have them on hand…

This tasty side-dish rounds out our summer brunch menu. All you need to complete the menu is to add some fresh fruit and a tasty drink like my Herbal Tea Lemonade and it will be lovely!

One serving (1 Tbsp.) contains 295mg of omega-3 ALA, which is 18% of the 1.6g daily value for ALA

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! sources ingredients that are not genetically modified. However, in the field-to-tub journey of making our buttery spread there is some contact with genetically modified vegetable oils, resulting in a small amount in this product.

The Party Bunch Link Party // no. 93

0 · Sep 5, 2015 · 1 Comment

Let me introduce to you The Party Bunch!

Amy from The Idea Room, Mique from 30 Handmade Days, Heather from Whipperberry and Desiree from The 36th Avenue want to thank you for partying with us… You guys are the best!

Here are some of our favorite projects from this week!

Heather’s Favorite

Peanut Butter & Salted Caramel Granola Bars at Lemons for Lulu

These look incredible – and would be perfect for back to school!