DIY: Easter Egg Garland, Inspiration and Sweets

With Easter coming quick, I've found some really fun posts for DIY projects, party inspiration and sweet dessert ideas.

I love to make seasonal garlands with my kiddies to hang up in my office. I found this super-creative Easter Egg Garland that I can't wait to do! It's practically free, easy and requires some patience (which is exactly what we're always working on!). This DIY tutorial can be found at Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Photos: Modern Parents Messy Kids

As for Easter gatherings with family or friends, there's no reason to have a plain or boring celebration. Here are a few fabulous inspirational parties/table settings I found at one of my favorite sources, Hostess with the Mostess.

A Fresh & Modern Spring Table

Chic {and Affordable} Spring Bunny Theme

Modern "Easter Has Sprung" Party Theme

Also at Hostess, I found some great inspiration for Easter desserts and treats via Martha Stewart.

I have been dying to make "flower pot" cupcakes. These look so simple and so cute!

Cupcakes rolled in coconut?? Yum! These are ADORABLE, can't wait to make them!

I actually made these in cupcake-form for a baby shower last year. Check out my post here. 

Photos: Hostess with the Mostess / Martha Stewart

xo

Dear Heart, Don't Stop Fighting.. Prepare, Ride the Lightning

Lots of things have happened in the past several weeks..

Work has been OK but stressful.. Every year around this time, I face the fear of losing my job, as a result of job cuts and downsizing. I can only trust that God has something great planned for me, whether it's this job (that I love) or something else, somewhere else.

I'm coming up on my 4-year anniversary of living in South Carolina. So crazy! Has time really gone that fast? It feels like just a few months ago, Justin was helping me pack my car to the brim and head down to warmer weather. Since then, we've been married and seen friends get married, we've made new friends, we've gone through the excitement of babies being born and soon-to-be born, we've had a ridiculous amount of parties and beach trips.. Oh, and speaking of weddings and babies? Eeee! I'm so excited for my friends! I can't wait!! More excitement on some big news later (and no, I'm not preggo).

Justin and I had the sweetest Valentine's Day. We made our usual reservation at P.F. Chang's and dinner was delish (as always) and our server was really cool. The only downside to the whole evening? If you've ever been to P.F. Chang's (or at least the one in Greenville), there is some good seating and some blah seating. We knew it would be too much to ask for a booth, so we followed the hostess to our table against the wall (half booth/half chairs). The wall-side tables are spaced really close.. almost too close. Everything was great and lovely until a really awkward couple was seated right beside us. The guy actually looked like he might be her dad and the girl had crusty hair and was dressed like she was getting ready to host a Garage Sale. They stared at us for most of the evening, which was ignorable. The part we had a hard time ignoring was every single time Flannel Girl hacked up phlegm and made gurgling sounds as we were eating our fantastic Lettuce Wraps and Crab Wontons. C'monnn! Besides the gagging and gurgling, the couple didn't even interact! They were on their phones the whole time. Happy Valentine's Day, weirdos!

We agreed not to exchange gifts this year, but of course Justin broke the agreement. We even had the discussion a few weeks ago: "So, babe.. 'no gifts' this year really means 'no gifts', right? It's not the kinda thing when we say 'no gifts' but then you go and get something anyway, is it?" Riiighht. Well, I sure felt like a loser when Monday rolled around, and my husband surprised me with beautiful flowers, a cute card, chocolates and a little gift bag for me. What?? Cheater! I couldn't believe it.

Me & My Valentine..

His "Lil' Monster Valentine" card cracked me up!

Pretty Daffodils & Irises

The first time I've ever received boxed chocolates!

Although I didn't get him an actual gift, I did cheat a little myself. After my client cancelled for Monday afternoon, I chose not to tell Justin. Instead, I planned to clean the apartment like a crazy-woman and bake some yummy things for him. I made one of his favorite desserts from when he was a kid - Funny Cake, and a new dessert that I haven't had a chance to make yet. It's called "Better-Than-Sex-Cake".. The name is a little risqué, but the cake is flippin' amazing. We spent the rest of the night rotting our teeth and watching movies. Man, I love Valentine's Day.

The recipe came from my Aunt Sheree.. I can't believe I haven't made it before! It's SO EASY!


Better-Than-Sex Cake 
1 box chocolate cake mix (I used a fudge cake recipe)
1 jar butterscotch/caramel ice cream topping
1 (8oz) Cool Whip
2-3 crushed Butterfingers


Bake cake according to box (I used 2 springform pans and when they cooled, I stacked them with a super-thin layer of chocolate frosting between). After the cake has cooled, poke several holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden or plastic spoon. Drizzle butterscotch/caramel topping over cake, making sure it flows into poked holes. Frost with Cool Whip and sprinkle with crushed Butterfingers.

Other than working and baking (ha!) I have been planning quite a few parties! I have a Rockstar Birthday Party coming up at the end of this month that I'm helping with, as well as a bridal shower, a birthday party and a baby shower for the month of March. Am I crazy?! Either way, I can't wait! PLUS, Marta is coming back for Round Three! She flies in on March 10th to celebrate my birthday and make even more memories together. I can't even put into words my excitement when friends/family come to visit!

I guess that's basically the latest.. No crazy stories for now, but I'm sure we'll have some soon enough. Oh yeah, one last thing.. Justin and I are super-pumped for an upcoming show we're hitting in May. Sleigh Bells!! AUGH! Gonna be insane.

What I'm Listening To:
Sleigh Bells







xo

[Lyrics: Sleigh Bells - "Riot Rhythm"]

Recipe: Stuffed Shells

My sweet, little mom is one of the best cooks I know. I couldn't possibly be more blessed with an abundance of mouth-watering recipes and knowledge, thanks to her. For dinner the other night, I made one of my favorite recipes of hers.. Stuffed Shells. It's so delish, I thought I'd share.

Stuffed Shells

To get started, boil a box of large pasta shells. Meanwhile, fry a pound of beef with with minced onion and garlic powder. After you drain, combine meat with a jar of traditional Prego and about 3/4 cup brown sugar and simmer for a few minutes. I am a nerd who loves (and I mean, LOVES) brown sugar. I add brown sugar every time I make spaghetti, chili, baked beans.. you name it. Be sure to rinse your shells with cold water. In a 9x13 dish, cover the bottom with a little of your sauce.

(My little cooking buddy)

As your sauce continues to simmer, combine 1-1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, 1 beaten egg, 1 Tbsp season salt and 1 Tbsp garlic powder. Add to sauce.

Fill each shell meat sauce and arrange in dish, facing up. Be careful, the shells love to stick together/tear and the sauce will be hot.

Cover stuffed shells with remaining 1-1.5 cups mozzarella cheese.

Cover with tinfoil/aluminum foil and bake 50-60 minutes at 350°F [Be sure not to over-bake.]

I love to serve this with New York-brand "Five Cheese Texas Toast". Oh man, the best.

Stuffed Shells:

1 box jumbo pasta shells

1 large jar Prego Italian Sauce

1 small/med. onion, minced

1 lb. ground beef

3/4 c. brown sugar (to taste)

2-3 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1-2 eggs, beaten

1 Tbsp season salt

2 Tbsp garlic powder

Fry beef with onion and 1 Tbsp garlic powder. Drain. Add Prego and simmer.

Boil shells and rinse with cold water.

In a bowl, mix well: 1/2 of mozzarella cheese, beaten egg(s), season salt and remaining garlic powder. Combine with meat sauce.

In a 9x13 pan/dish, cover the bottom with a little sauce. Fill each shell with sauce and place in dish, facing up. Cover with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 50-60 minutes @ 350°F.

xo

Creative Eggs & Baby Birds

I came across the April issue of the Food Network Mag at Barnes & Noble a couple weeks ago, and was remembered how Justin and I had talked about wanting to try to attempt to create the "Bird's Nest"/"Egg in a Basket"/"Nest Egg".. Justin calls it "Egg in a Hole" (Haha!!). I found the magazine again the other night and Justin was pretty excited to try it this morning.

We made 3 of them and really got the hang of it. We figured out, the trick not to use large eggs. If large is all you have (which is all we had) we just drained some of the egg white out of the shell before dropping it in it's spot. It was way easier than I thought..

Butter bother sides of the bread. Use a glass to punch out the middle of the bread. Grill one side. Once you flip it, crack the egg and drop it in the center. We tried it with the yoke broken a little bit too and it was just as delish!

We saved the middles to make little doughnuts (sorta) like the ones they always have in Chinese restaurants! It was already buttered, so I just covered it in sugar (SO healthy.) and grilled in the pan on both sides. MMM!! I was in my glory.. I love those little Chinese doughnuts..

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Since I'm blogging about taking on some cooking/baking challenges, I thought I'd include pictures & recipe from some of the cutest little cupcakes I've ever seen.

A few weeks ago, I found this recipe for Martha Stewart's Baby Bird Cupcakes. I HAD to make them for my friend, Beth's baby shower. [Photo - marthastewart.com]

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pan once. Set aside to cool.

Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate buttercream; set aside. Tint 2 tablespoons reserved buttercream pale yellow; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #349 Ateco leaf tip; set aside. Tint remaining buttercream light blue; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #11 Ateco plain round tip, and pipe three bluebird heads, 3/4 inch in diameter, onto each cupcake. Using leaf tip, pipe yellow beaks. With a toothpick, add melted-chocolate eyes. Form each nest with 2 tablespoons toasted coconut.

So here's how mine turned out. I thought they turned out pretty cute, but obviously not the same. I knew I didn't have frosting bags and tips, so I decided to try a different route.

I followed the instructions to toast the coconut. It seemed to toast pretty easily, so I pulled it out before the directed time. I thought the different mixture of colors/tones are cute anyway! Since I didn't have all of the frosting bags/tips, I found a bag of milk chocolate eggs and dipped them in dyed almond bark (similar to white chocolate). The cupcakes were too small to do 3 birds on each, so I just did one. I did have trouble with their little beaks! For some reason, the frosting I used, wouldn't stay standing up, so I decided to do more of a "triangle" beak. For the eyes, I melted a few chocolate chips and used the tip of a toothpick to paint them on. I would definitely make these little dudes again!

xo