Dear Starbucks,
We need to take a break. This doesn’t mean I’m leaving forever, but you cost me more than Spotify, mascara and dog food combined.
I will always love you.
One thing I’ve noticed since getting into cooking is that a ton of recipes call for herbs, and those herbs are usually what makes the food taste extra delicious. But I was always so lazy and cheap, did I really need to buy an entire bunch of parsley or basil just to use it as a garnish? Ugh, so wasteful. But once I gave in and stopped foregoing the herbs (read: got a real job after college), I realized what I was missing.
Honestly, there are very few things that girls love more than a boozy bachelorette brunch. In typical me/bridesmaid fashion, I decided to plan a mini bachelorette brunch at my apartment to kick off my friend Karly’s wedding month. I love a good challenge, so obviously I thought making this a surprise party would be the cherry on top to this bachelorette brunch idea. My friends are THOSE girls who group chat all day, so keeping this a secret was NOT an easy task for any of us. But of course, her tears of joy and countless “are you guys serious?” was well worth the hard work.
So I’ll be honest, this week’s been crazy, and I haven’t had hardly any time for sticking to my blog schedule. BUT, a friend and I did throw a 4th birthday puppy party for our dogs (yes I know, crazy dog moms over here) last Sunday because they both turned four this month. They’re growing up so fast. Amidst the festivities, I also discovered another fantastic way to pamper our furry friends—by exploring the latest luxury dog bed sales. This ensures they not only had a memorable celebration but also have a comfortable haven to rest and relax in style.
We are planning to have them groomed first so they can look great during the party. We have our very own set of dog clippers that we use only for them. Like us, if you are using home dog clippers to cut your own dog’s hair, you can check out Household Pets’ list of the 13 best dog clippers.
If you’re anything like me (and 90% of humans) you probably love cheese. I was introduced to the art of the cheese board when I first moved to Austin, TX and little did I know, I would never be the same. My grandmother always gave me cheese and apples as a snack when I was younger, so I was aware of the delicious cheese and fruit combo. But my mind was blown by the full cheese board experience, the sweet and savory combination of cheese with honey, jam, nuts, olives, chocolate… and the list goes on. Let’s just say, if there’s a cheese board on the menu, I’m most likely going to order it. And don’t even get me started on how bad I feel for people who are lactose intolerant.
In my book, there are few desserts cuter than cupcakes. With sprinkles and a cherry on top, these little cupcake Christmas tree ornaments are too sweet to resist (literally I wish they were real so I could eat them). The themed Christmas tree trend is undeniably here to stay, and in my opinion, the more Christmas trees in your home, the better. I feel like cupcakes are a random theme for the main Christmas tree (but if you’re into that, go for it) so a mini tree in the kitchen is the perfect spot to decorate with these irresistible cupcake ornaments.
Growing up, my mother was the queen of making bows. No matter what season, you can always bet there are some pretty ribbon bows somewhere within the house. Somehow throughout all of this, I never actually learned how to make a bow and failed miserably whenever I would try to make one. BUT not to fear, mama to the rescue. She taught me with this super easy step by step process, and as long as you have ribbon with wire, it’s pretty much impossible to screw up. Whether it’s topping a Christmas tree or tied around a mason jar of flowers, a ribbon bow is a classic statement. Anyway, let’s get to tying.
The other day, I called my mom who still lives in my small hometown south of Buffalo, NY and asked what she was doing. She quickly responded, “I’m going back to pick up some birch branches that I saw on the side of the road yesterday.” Oh? Honestly, I wasn’t surprised to hear this because my mom is awesomely creative and I knew she probably had an idea ready for her side-of-the-road find. The final product was this beautiful rustic plaid Christmas front porch decor with sprigs of fresh spruce, perfect for the chilly and snowy atmosphere!
If you saw my last post about DIY Nautical Rope Knot Garland, you’re well aware of my nautical decor obsession. I like to pretend that I’m going coastal with my decor this Christmas because it’s my first year living by the beach, but realistically I’d probably have a nautical themed coastal Christmas tree regardless of where I live.