Sunset & Vine

I am a sucker for anything woods related right now and this looks sinful. For the recipe (and these pictures) you can follow here!

A Subtle Revelry has all the information for this fun idea! I’m keeping fingers crossed that this could work as our fire starter for Tyler’s “Shmockery” camping trip in Santa Ynez. The old man is going to be a quarter of a century old this Memorial Day Weekend!

This has summertime, beach bike rides, and camping written all over it! I believe this may become the next purchase I make for T and me.

6 Pack Frame Cinch Polo Mallet Holder $22.00

These have become all the rage lately and Green Wedding Shoes is now teaching you how to make them! Perfect for decoration, herb garden markers, or seating for a party. Find all information, including these pictures, here!

Find all information about this beautiful design here.

To prove that I am a sucker for cleaver phrases, typography, and anything in the form of a totebag, I just put this in my shopping cart and an minutes away from purchasing. Although I know I really don’t need ANOTHER tote bag, I see myself using this at all Thursday night and Sunday morning Farmer’s Markets this summer. Ps. it comes with a super cool button, how can I not get this?

When Life Gives You Hands Tote $12.00

I’m finishing this off in the oven for my family’s Easter breakfast as we speak. It has made the kitchen smell delicious and I’m pretty sure my Dad is drooling each time he walks past the oven. For more on this recipe from tablespoon click here. 

• 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) butter, melted
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 loaf brioche or challah (French toast can also be sliced 1 1/2 inches thick)
• 8 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup pecans, measured then chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• (optional) maple syrup and powdered sugar for topping

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine brown sugar and melted butter and pour on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Arrange slices of bread in the baking dish overlapping if necessary.
3. Combine milk, eggs, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl and pour evenly over bread slices.
4. Sprinkle chopped pecans over bread slices.
5. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4-12 hours.
6. In the morning, take the casserole out of the fridge for at least 10 minutes while you are preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
7. Bake casserole for 30-35 minutes. If top starts browning too quickly place a foil loosely over the top of the casserole for the last 10 minutes or so. You want it to cook long enough to make sure the bottom part is cooked but don’t dry it out completely.
8. Remove casserole from oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Pictures and recipe from tablespoon.

Yesterday, I had the absolutely pleasure of babysitting my friend’s daughter and son. Celia, now 8, just had a gypsy style bollywood party last weekend and now her son, Gavin, wants a tent party (although he pronounces it “tint party”). After he flirted with me - I asked him what he wanted for dessert and he replied with “you” and then flashed the largest, cutest smile ever seen - I was hooked into the party planning.  This adorable idea comes from Cari at Socially Circled and is perfect for the affair. (Also see this previous post if you are looking for feeding the adults too, although the idea was originally planned for a baby shower, the decorative theme and food would be perfect!)

Pottery Barn manages to do everything well when it comes to home design. With every catalog that comes to my doorstep, I can’t hep but dog-ear multiple pages of fun ideas, necessities, and wants. Here is a great idea for jewelry, nick-nacks, or maybe even keys. This could be a pretty easy DIY too if you really think about it: all that would be needed would be various sized antique frames, thin wire, a few nails, a coupe of hooks and you could be good to go!

If you decide to make this in green, white, and red, this could be a great decorative banner for Cinco De Mayo! Or pick pastels for your easter egg hunt - or various pinks (or blues) for an at home baby shower! The possibilities are honesty endless with this cute idea from Green Wedding Shoes! Find the directions, including these pictures, here!

Lace Satchel Bag $68.00

I can’t stand how yummy this looks. I am a huge fan of How Sweet It Is and happen to have the website as a “top site” on my Apple computer. As I woke up this morning and started my internet, I immediately wished my cup of coffee could magically turn into one of these mason jars full of deliciousness. Here is all the information, including these pictures and the recipe!

If you add rice krispies to a holiday, it’ll easily become my favorite day in the whole wide world. The kitchn shows us how to make these little guys (that come from the famous Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, Ca - just outside of Napa). Once finished, roll them in crushed Oreos, pistachios, coconut, colored sugar, or anything else that tickles your fancy. (All rice krispies information, including the picture and recipe come from the kitchn website)

Rice Krispies Easter Eggs

Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Easter Eggs
7oz Marshmallow
1.5oz Butter
3.5oz Rice Krispies
2.7oz Peanut Butter
2.7oz Spanish Peanuts, chopped

In a heavy bottomed saucepot whisk together the butter, marshmallow and peanut butter over medium heat until they have melted together completely. In a mixing bowl fold the Rice Krispies and chopped peanuts into the peanut butter mixture.When cool enough to handle, shape the Rice Krispies mixture into small egg shapes..

Strawberry Rice Krispies Easter Eggs
7oz Marshmallow
1.5oz Butter
4.5oz Rice Krispies
0.4oz Dehydrated Strawberries, chopped (can substitute with freeze-dried)
1.25oz Strawberry Compound (this is a natural concentrate paste imported from France)
4 drops Red Food Color

In a heavy bottomed saucepot whisk together the butter, marshmallow, strawberry compound and food coloring over medium heat until they have melted together completely. In a mixing bowl fold the Rice Krispies and dehydrated strawberries into the marshmallow mixture. When cool enough to handle, shape the Rice Krispies mixture into small egg shapes.

Chocolate Rice Krispies Easter Eggs
7oz Marshmallow
1.5oz Butter
3.5oz Rice Krispies
2.7oz Crunchy Pearls (these are dark, milk and white chocolate covered cereal from Valrhona)
2.1oz 64% Cocoa Chocolate
0.5oz 100% Cocoa Chocolate
0.35oz Cocoa Powder

Bring 2” of water to a boil in a saucepot and place a bowl on top to create a double boiler. In the bowl, melt the chocolates together and then stir in the butter, marshmallow and cocoa powder until the mixture has completely melted together. In a mixing bowl fold the Rice Krispies and crunchy pearls into the marshmallow mixture. When cool enough to handle, shape the Rice Krispies mixture into small egg shapes.

Happy Easter!

Great news, Bottle Bling is now being sold at Wine 661 in Valencia, California! 

Online shopping for these little guys (and also headbands made with the flowers pictured on the bottles) to come shortly!

My grandfather was a pilot and my family has been collecting airplanes since I can remember. After stumbling on the Hip Hip Hooray! website and consulting with my favorite little cousin, his next party will not only be a fun travel inspired party, but it will also help remind us of the memory of our “Granda” and his passion for the air. Here is more information on the party designed by Laura from little frills (including these pictures) and watch for her online shop of all these goodies coming soon!

I would buy this stationary set for Tyler, but in all the years that I have known him, I’ve only seen him once write a letter (namely a thank you card to my parents last Christmas - it was a 12 pack from Walmart and the other 11 cards were thrown out after 6 months). Page Stationery is the genius behind the ‘art of manliness’ stationary for men.

The art of manliness stationary for men $15.00

Follow the directions (and all pictures from) here.