Cranberry Sauce

Confession: I do not even like cranberries! I desperately want to tho lol they're just so pretty! and look like the holidays. So I figured I 'd share this lovely recipe I tried in case you do like cranberry sauce, or God forbid you have been eating the canned stuff.. This made my house smell so so good! And I did love the flavors so I'm thinking of making it again, only with tart frozen cherries! Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cup of water

1 cup of sugar

12 oz of cranberries

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp grated orange peel

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

Mix sugar and water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Add cranberries, cinnamon, sugar, and orange peel; return to boil. Reduced heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst and sauce begins to thicken. Stirring occasionally. 

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

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July's favorite buys

I like to shop... okay, I love to shop. I'm a bona fide bargain shopper. I rarely purchase anything at full price and I'm just a pro at getting ridiculous deals. Here's some keepers from July's purchases...

I'm obsessed with this keratin oil conditioner..it smells divine and smooths my long wavy hair.

My 1st pair of designer jeans..LIFE CHANGING! I don't know if its because I have a booty or what but these are the 1st pair of jeans I've owned that are truly comfortable. So long Gap & AE jeans!
(7 for All Mandkind originally $200, purchased for $35 on piperlime.com)

Here's another life long addiction I'll have.. Boom Chicka popcorn. This stuff is highly addictive and I love all the flavors but especially this sweet & salty! Might I add that this stuff is vegan, low calorie and not full of additives)

I got this Vince Camuto perfume on a whim in Target's clearance. It was only $7.50! Turns out I love it and it reminds me a lot of Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb 

OPI Sweetheart. This was actually my wedding day polish color and I finally purchased it. It's the perfect nude shade with a touch of light peach. 

Lizzy's 8th Birthday

My precious niece Lizzy's 8th birthday was on July 6th. 

We had her "under the sea" party at the lake!

(decorations inspired by Pinterest, created by me)

Oyster Cookies

Whale pops

closer view

Easy & cheap balloon decoration , just blow up balloons and knot them onto string

Lizzy's 1st jump off the high dive (a major feat for an 8yr old)

My heart & soul. Love you always Lizzard xoxo

Blueberries

I love blueberries.

I honestly think they're my favorite fruit. Not only are they delicious and full of health benefiting properties, but they are nostalgic to me.

I went blueberry picking every summer behind my grandparents home, and many evenings were spent in the kitchen. We made jam, cobblers, breads, pancakes, you name it! (my grandmother was a professional baker). 

I'm very fortunate that my grandparents are still living, but we spend less time berry picking and baking than we used to.. 

So in honor of my love for blueberries, and my grandparents, I will gladly keep the tradition going. 

Freshly picked

Pink blueberry lemonade

Blueberry salad

4 ingredient Blueberry & Cherry cobbler
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dessert/brown-butter-blueberry-cobbler.html#comment-129160

1oo Blueberry Recipes: http://tipnut.com/make-blueberries/

Wedding Day Album

Tim and I married on May 15, 2014 in Key West, Florida. Actually we eloped. My thoughts on eloping (which I do not regret) will come in a future blog post. We took a total of 3 months to plan our little rendezvous, and it was absolutely perfect! 


We got married at Ft. Zachary Beach on the island of Key West. In attendance; myself, my husband, the officiant, 2 wedding planners and The good Lord. Words cannot describe the feeling on your wedding day when you marry the love of your dreams.

I'll allow my pictures to tell the story, as I so often do...

               

                                         

Dress by: Vera Wang

                                           

Rainy Day Wine Tasting

Today we had plans to visit a local winery with friends (the friends bailed, presumably because of the dreary weather) but we didn't let the rain spoil our Saturday fun! I can always count on my husband to join in on my shenanigans.. I mean what better thing to do on a rainy day?!

This place is a gem

                           

I think I'll eventually turn him into a wino :)
Today he purchased a bottle of Concord!

                  

                               

Lunch view...

                                   

We shared spinach dip and an Italian salad..

                 

And Shrimp Diavolo..

                               

Winery Info:  http://www.narcisiwinery.com/