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    Home » Recipes

    “Our Love is ‘Sizzlin'” Dinner Party

    “Our Love is ‘Sizzlin'” Dinner Party

    February 12, 2017

    So pretty! Pink, coral, red tablescape! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Party Theme for Adults: Our Love is Sizzlin’ Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game: A romantic and fun party idea for adults!

    So pretty! Pink, coral, red tablescape! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Party Theme for Adults: Our Love is Sizzlin’ Dinner Party

    If you caught my Facebook “LIVE,” video the night before we hosted, then you were able to see a lot of the behind the scenes of what the party consisted of. But there’s WAY too much fun to squeeze all of this Our Love is Sizzlin’ party, in to one blog post. So here, you get to see the “out of the box,” dinner party idea details, AND I’ll tell you about the party game that we played… that’s still cracking me up. Then, tomorrow, I’ll share the crazy-delish chocolate fountain dessert bar that we also had that night. (Trust me, my belly was hanging over my yoga pants after I consumed all of this party food.)

    Pink, red, coral table decorations: Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Cast Iron Place Settings

    Don’t ask me where this idea came from, but I’m SO thankful it came from somewhere because it turned out to be my favorite place settings ever.
    So I have a new, deep fond love for cast iron skillets, (thank you momma) and while planning the party, I knew I wanted to incorporate them somehow. (I just didn’t know until later how MUCH they’d be involved.)

    Cast Iron Dinner part! SOOOO CUTE! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Each person had their own Lodge mini cast iron skillet. I mean, how stinking cute are these? Did I have to talk myself in to buying them for just this one-use? Yes. But I justified in my head of how I could use them in the future. (I’m really good at convincing myself of why I need necessities like these, ok?)

    Buy the mini cast iron skillets here!

    Ahhh!!! Cast Iron Dinner Party! SO stinking cute! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Free Printable:

    Inside each mini cast iron, was a sweet little place card that said, “Our Love is Sizzlin’… and too hot to handle.” Since this was a dinner party with couples, I had to squeeze in as much romance as I could get away with. 😉

    If you’ve been following me long, then you know that I can’t keep a lot of things to myself. So as I created this place setting for each skillet, I went ahead and made it in to a PDF so you all could download and use them for free for your party too! Download the free printable here: Our Love is Sizzlin’

    Wood slabs for charge on tablescape! SO cute! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Coral Doilies

    I placed the printables on top of coral doilies that I found at Hobby Lobby a long time ago, that I’ve been holding on to for a special purpose. THIS was that special purpose. (I just didn’t know it until a week before the party.) Then, I added an itty bitty stem of flowers that I cut off of some of the flowers that I decorated the tablescape with. More on the flowers in a bit.

    Napkins:

    The biggest struggle that I had styling this party, was deciding if red would compliment the pinks and corals that I so desperately wanted to decorate with. I had already bought the red and white napkins, when I bought the cast iron skillets, and being able to use what I had on hand, along with what I just bought would work out perfectly. To my relief, the colors went together like they were made for each other.

    Buy the red and white napkins here!

    Small cast iron skillets for place settings for this rustic romantic dinner! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Wood Planks:

    To tie in the cast iron feel of things, using wood planks for each place setting was a no brainer. BUT, when I had a hard time finding them online, I relied on my parents to help a gal out. I sent one quick text message to them, asking if I could come down one day and cut a few round wood slices for a party that I had coming up. Before I knew it, they sent me a text back later that day saying they already did it for me. (I guess they didn’t trust me with a chainsaw? Smart, smart people they are.)

    But if you aren’t super luck to have parents who live on a farm, then I finally found a place online where you can buy them!

    Buy round, wood planks here!

    Cotton Candy & Pink Champagne Cocktails. Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Cocktails:

    Keepin’ it classy and keepin’ it real, I wanted the girls to have a pretty little thang, and the guys to feel right at home. So how was I to do this? Well, the girls were served cotton candy champagne, and the guys were sippin’ on ice cold beer. The best of both worlds!

    I made my own cotton candy, using the machine that I showed you on my Facebook LIVE video the night before the party, and it was a HIT! Using Jolly Rancher candy, I whipped up small servings of cotton candy for each glass, and it was a delicious addition to the bubbly.

    Buy the cocktail and beer supplies here:

    Cotton Candy Maker

    Wooden drink stirrers

    Martini Glasses

    Beer Pilsner Glasses

    Beer pilsners for the guys, martini glasses for the girls! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game
    Place settings for rustic and romantic tablescape: Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Tablescape Decorations:

    Using kraft paper, that was folded in half, I created a tablerunner, that had the same rustic feel and color, to compliment the wood slices of the place settings. Something that would be SUPER cute, (that I didn’t think of until after the fact) would be to write fun, romantic sayings on the table runner too. Or, give each person a black magic marker to write a sweet comment about their spouse, and you can save the table runner and host the same party again the next year… adding to it, year after year. Fun, right!!?

    Buy the kraft paper jumbo roll here!

    Cast iron place settings! So pretty! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Main Serving Dishes:

    Have you ever been to a fondu restaurant, where you fill yourself up on dips, dips, and more dips? With the same concept, I wanted a romantic, “eat with your hands,” kind of meal, all while keeping it rustic and chic too.

    The meal consisted of 3 dips that were baked in large cast iron skillets, served alongside of complimenting bread for dipping. We had:

    • Pizza Dip with Breadsticks

    • Caprese Dip with toasted french bread slices

    • Spinach and Artichoke Dip with soft rolls

    Each dip was served in 10.25 cast irons, and placed throughout the table for easy sharing.

    Buy the 10.25 in cast iron skillets here!

    Flowers and Candles: red, pink, coral. Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Candles:

    What kind of romantic dinner party would it be without tall, chic candles!? We all sat around the table with the beautiful glow of the lit candles.

    White and coral candles: Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    Flowers:

    I had went to Hobby Lobby a few days before the party, hoping to find flowers that I could make an arrangement or two out of. I was ecstatic to find already-made bouquets with almost all of the colors that the party decor consisted of. Only thing missing flower wise? Red. So I found red berry twigs in the next isle over that I knew would be the perfect addition to the bouquets. They added height, and the pop of red that I was looking for.

    I also bought a small piece of white and gold polka dot fabric while there, to wrap around the base of the bouquets, to allow them to pop on top of the kraft paper table runner. The bouquets had burlap around the base, which I loved, but wanted a color contrast so they wouldn’t blend right in to the runner. The white was just what they needed!

    BEAUTIFUL flowers from Hobby Lobby for this tablescape! Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game
    LOVE this!! Dips were served in the big cast iron skillets: Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    “Dirty Cupid” – Adult Party Game

    This game sounds a lot worse than it really is. But I couldn’t resist calling it this, because it’s so stinking comical.

    With the idea of the “Dirty Santa,” game concept, I wanted the night to have a gift exchange game to keep things entertaining after dinner.

    How to Play:

    Each person brings a $15 romantic gift for the exchange. (Now, depending on the person… this could get extremely hilarious, which it totally did at our party, or it could be a nice, sweet gift exchange.)

    Using the same rules as Dirty Santa, we drew numbers to see who would pick a gift from the pile first, and then went about the game choosing/stealing gifts along the way. We all went home with new romantic gifts, and SO.MUCH.LAUGHTER was had.

    Gift Ideas?

    I know your next question already. “Jessica, what were some of the gift items?” Well I will tell you that I’m not going to say all of them, because some make me blush. But I will give you the ones that I feel ok saying in front of my mother.

    • Chocolates

    • PJ’s

    • Massage Oil & Warmer

    • “Kinky” Vodka

    Chocolate Fountain Dessert Bar

    Have you ever had a chocolate fountain at a party? Well let me tell you… it will be happening again around here. Not only was it an easy way to serve desserts but all of our guests LOVED making their own chocolate creations!

    See ALL the details of the chocolate fountain bar so you can get ideas for your own!

    Chocolate Fountain Bar - Party Theme for Adults- Our Love is Sizzlin' Dinner Party & Dirty Cupid Game

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    January 31, 2017

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    This post brought to you by The Clorox Company. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Fantabulosity. 4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom: The areas that can get overlooked in the bathroom that traps that pesky smell, and how to get rid of it!

    I have two little boys home. So I, along with many others in this world I’m sure, am VERY familiar with the urine smell in the bathroom. Before kiddos, I never really knew what moms meant when they said, things like, “The bathroom just always smells! Just wait Jessica… just wait.”

    I’d smile and secretly roll my eyes to the ignorance of what they were talking about. Two little boys, and 5 years in to parenthood… now I’M the mom saying, “Just wait dear, just wait.” But I’m tickled to death to share how we finally CONQUERED the urine smell in our bathrooms here at home!

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    How to get rid of the urine smell in the bathroom…

    After having a normal recap-of-the-day conversation with my husband one day, I mentioned that I was flabbergasted with the bathroom smell. I had spent HOURS in the boys bathroom that day, trying to clean everything that I could think of, to get rid of the urine smell from my potty trained (But yet not the best with “aim,”) little boys.

    He said, “Well have you tried “X,” “X,” and “X?” I must have looked at him like a deer in headlights with a whole new level of excitement. My husband may have helped me finally conquer the urine smell.

    I immediately ran in to the bathroom, did what he suggested, and I kid you not… the urine smell was GONE!
    Months. MONTHS!! I spent trying to get rid of that “smell,” in the bathroom. My husband is officially  genius. (Don’t tell him I said that.)  So now, I’m sharing with you what finally worked!

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    First and foremost, I have to say I also tackled these sneaky hiding places in the bathroom with the new Scentiva by Clorox.  Guys…have you smelled this!? One of my friends came over the other day after my recent shopping trip to Target, and saw my Scentiva “haul,” of the spray and wipes, and I had to admit that I’m in love, and had to stock up. I had her smell both scents, (Tuscan Lavender and Jasmine & Hawaiian Sunshine) and she went to the store later and bought it too. When I clean with this, the amazing smell lingers for hours. I ADORE using this in the bathroom to help make it smell delightful, PLUS is has the power of Clorox clean, (Kills 99.9% of Viruses & Bacteria, Cleans, Disinfects and Deodorizes) so it’s a win-win.

    1. Remove the toilet seat lid:

    My husband has been building homes for years, so he will fill me in on tricks of the trade from time to time with household fixtures, and this is one of them. I had NO idea that the toilet seat would pop off so easily, and that this was a HUGE culprit of the bathroom smelling so awful.

    Disclaimer: In this post, I show you a video and photos that you may not want to see if you have a weak stomach. But I feel like I MUST share it with you, so you can see what you may be missing in your very own bathroom.

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    See the hinge that I’m grabbing on to there? If you have a newer toilet, you may be able to just turn and twist this to unlock it. Then, when unlocked, grab the toilet seat and pull the toilet seat up, and off.

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    EW! Do you see that? It’s the hidden spot that I can’t get to, when I’m performing a normal cleaning operation! The urine will sneak in the crevices and just sit there, collecting.

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    So I grabbed a Scentiva wipe and went to town, cleaning away! When finished wiping away, simply lay the toilet seat back down, (don’t forget to wipe down the underside of the toilet seat too), and lock back in to place.
    If you have an older toilet, you may have to use a screwdriver to remove the lid. 

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    2. Wipe Down Surrounding Furniture

    When little boys are in the bathroom, (at least my little boys) they can get curious and start looking around, not really paying attention to what’s going on. So this means that at times, they can splatter and the urine will end up splashing on the items located around the toilet. The side of the vanity, the side of the bathtub, etc. The moment that I realized that I couldn’t see the urine spatter on the tub or vanity, but that it existed… changed my whole perception of cleaning. Wipe it down, even if you don’t see it!

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    3. Wipe the Floor

    I know how much work it can be to get out the mop, and fill the bucket full of soapy water. So I usually keep the Scentiva spray and wipes, underneath the sink, and when quickly running through the bathroom for quick cleanup, I’ll wipe the floor around the toilet. Like mentioning earlier, urine can go EVERYWHERE,  and the floor around the toilet is no exception. A quick wipe down can help prevent the urine smell. This way, you won’t have to wait until it’s time to mop again.

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom
    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    4. Remove the Rug

     I’ve always wanted a rug in my bathroom, because it makes it feel a bit cozy. But hear me when I say, it will be one of the sneaky spots that the urine smell will hide. If you must have a rug, (like I like to have when my kiddos get out of the bath, but sometimes forget to remove it), I toss it in the washing machine. So my advice is to get rid of the rug, or wash it regularly for sure!

    4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom--4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

    So happy you stopped by! I hope you found these 4 tips helpful for getting rid of the urine smell in your bathroom!

    Our Home Tour:

    Now that you’ve seen the most disgusting part of our home, come take a gander at the rest on our Home Tour. I promise, no more pictures of urine on the toilet. 😉

    How to erase chalk marker off of chalk board
    how to get rid of the urine smell in the bathroom
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    The areas that can get overlooked in the bathroom that traps that pesky urine smell, and how to get rid of it!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket

    May 8, 2017

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurexCrystalFresh #CollectiveBias

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket: A bright and cheery basket filled with goodies that anyone moving in to a new home will love!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket

    It’s Spring, and that means if I can cram as much pastel and bright, beautiful colors in to just about everything I wear, create, and cook… then I’m a happy girl.

    Recently, we had friends move in to a new home, and I wanted to make them a gift basket of goodies to help celebrate the big move, and that could hopefully help them until they unpack everything.

    When I went to Walmart to find the goodies to build the basket with, I found the prettiest bottles of Purex® Crystals, and KNEW they’d look adorable in the gift with their bright colors! Plus, it would be a perfect item to help our friends with laundry in case they hadn’t quite unpacked their laundry supplies yet!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    Gift Basket Building Tips:

    If you haven’t been around here very long, then you may not know my obsession with making DIY gift baskets, when it comes to gift-giving. They just seem so personal, and full of thought. So in most of my other DIY gift basket tutorials, I explain how my two main techniques for making a gift basket look great, is:

    Say “NO” to Tissue Paper:

    • Using something other than tissue paper, for the fluff. Of course it’s ok anytime to use it. I just prefer to use something else if it’s going to be visible. Now, I do shove it down inside a basket to give it some “umph,” if you can’t see it. But using something like dishtowels or baby blankets, work great! Plus, it adds to the gift!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!
    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    Trash the Trash:

    • Take items out of the “boxey,” boring, packaging that it comes in, and remove the tags. Removing the “store-bought,” look of items can really add a “cleaner,” touch to the gift basket. But when the packaging is as adorable and decorative like the Purex Crystals… leave it! I think these made the gift basket POP with color.

    New Home Gift Basket Ideas: How bright and cheery is this! So easy.

    A Little Decor:

    As part of the housewarming gift, it’s always really nice to add a small element of “home decor.” Being able to put something decorative out in their new home, right away, can be JUST what a corner or shelf needs to make it feel homey, until they get all unpacked. Items like a small floral accent, (something seasonal, or neutral, so odds are it will fit the decor theme they’re going with) are a great choice.

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    Incorporate Multiple Rooms

    Well this little colander, spatula, candle and soap could be it’s own little housewarming gift if you ask me. But when making a gift basket full of all kinds of items, adding in a few items for different rooms of the home, like the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, living, etc. is always a good move.

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    Plus, who wouldn’t love a mini colander, and an adorable little spatula? 

    Adding Flair…

    Sure, items in a gift basket are cute anyway. But when you can add things like ribbon around some of the items to add a little flair… it can make it THAT much cuter. Here, we simply wrapped a ribbon around the candle to give it a little more pop of color.

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    In the back corner, we tucked a bottle of hand lotion that they can keep in their bathroom on the sink, for guests visiting to see the new home. Functional, AND pretty!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    Basket Buying:

    Then of course shopping for the basket that you put it all in, can be just as fun as finding the items to put in it. But here’s my basket-buying tip: Buy a basket or container that has open sides like this one. That way, the recipient can see right in to the basket, and not have to dig through to see what’s in there!

    Making sure the items are visible right away, when you hand it to them, can add such a “wow,” factor to the overall gift!

    DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas: Love how it includes things that you need right when moving in, to help out! Plus a little decor to make it homey!

    If you love making gift baskets as much as I do, then you may want to see the other gifts I’ve created for friends and family recently:

    Other Gift Ideas

    Sunshine Gift Basket Ideas https://fantabulosity.com

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas

    May 16, 2017

    Cheesy Chicken Empanadas

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #31DaysWithRotel #CollectiveBias

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas: A delicious blend of chicken, RO*TEL, sour cream, cheese and spices inside of small pastries, that will make your taste buds jump for joy! 

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanada. Mmmm!!!

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas

    It’s the month of May and you know what THAT means! It’s fiesta TIME around here. When I shared the Sweet Confetti Fiesta party with you a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d share ALL of the recipes that we filled the table with.

    So today, I’m sharing the RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas recipe with you, and you’re going to love the ease behind these little tasty morsels. Mmmm, the combination of cheese, chicken, sour cream and spices combined with RO*TEL (to banish the bland and bring on the bold) was incredible!

    Cheese, chicken, RO*TEL! These sound amazing!

    We use RO*TEL in so many recipes, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even snacks, because it’s add a spicy spin that we love, and it’s so easy to add a can to whatever we are making. Plus, it can be used in so many ways; toppings, dips, marinades, and so much more!

    Fiesta Theme Party: A confetti and pastel fiesta party!

    The Goodness:

    Let’s get started with the filling of these babies. Seriously, I could have eaten this like a salad right out of the bowl. (But I didn’t, because it was about to get even better.)

    RO*TEL Cheesy Chicken Empanadas

    • First, you’ll mix the filling ingredients together in a bowl. Then, using a 2 or 3 in. circle cutter, (or a wide-mouth drinking glass) cut out circles of the pastry sheet.

    • Place a dollop of filling in the center, and brush an egg wash around the edges to help it “stick,” when you fold it over.

    Cheese, chicken, RO*TEL! These sound amazing!

    • Use a fork to seal the edges together so it will lock in that yummy filling.

    Cheese, chicken, RO*TEL! These sound amazing!

    Pop ’em in the oven, and bake at 425 for approximately 10 minutes, or until they reach a golden brown.

    Cheese, chicken, RO*TEL! These sound amazing!
    Cheese, chicken, RO*TEL! These sound amazing!

    I so hope you enjoy this easy recipe. They’re great for a weeknight meal, OR to serve as an appetizer for any part that you host.

    Have an air fryer? Then try these air fryer empanadas too!

    You’ll also love the Taco pinwheels recipe where we used Rotel too!

    Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken Empanadas
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas

    RO*TEL Chicken Empanadas: A delicious blend of chicken, RO*TEL, sour cream, cheese and spices inside of small pastries, that will make your taste buds jump for joy! 
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 227kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken I used a rotisserie Chicken
    • 1 cup shredded cheese
    • 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro
    • 1 can RO*TEL diced tomatoes with green chilis drained
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • 2 puff pastry sheets 2 usually come in a pack
    • 1 egg
    • 1 Tablespoon Water
    • sour cream for dipping (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Mix together the first 7 ingredients.
    • Unfold puff pastry, and cut 2-inch circles with a cookie cutter.
    • Put 1 Tablespoon of the chicken mixture in the center of each circle
    • Mix egg and water together to make the egg wash.
    • Brush the egg wash around the edges of the circle and fold to make a half circle. Use a fork to seal.
    • Poke a couple of holes on top with a toothpick to let steam.
    • Place on a baking sheet or cake pan, and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
    • Dip with sour cream if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 78mg | Vitamin A: 125IU | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

    Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    June 3, 2017

    Brownie Trifle Dessert in trifle dish.

    Easy No Bake Dessert: Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle. Yes, it’s a dessert of the God’s, it’s quick and you don’t even have to bake or cook anything! 

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle Recipe

    Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    So yes, I’m fully aware of the big title of this blog post. But seriously, would have even come here if you didn’t see that this dessert included all of those amazing ingredients?

    Or possibly, it was the “easy” or “no bake” part of it that tickled your fancy, like in these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars? Either way, you’re here and I’m about ready to fill you in on this dessert that I made for my husband’s birthday.

    This year for his birthday dinner, I made a ribeye with my easy steak recipe, and paired it with a healthy side dish: Roasted Broccoli, so I could cancel it out with the fiesta ranch potato wedges and buffalo bacon blue cheese dip.

    The look on his face when I brought this trifle out to him after dinner, was absolutely priceless.

    What did you do?

    He looked with amazement at this beauty when I walked towards him, almost like when you see one of those crazy-wild milkshakes for the first time? But the look on your face, when you see how quick and easy it is… will probably be pretty similar to his.

    Store Bought Brownie Bites:

    Alright, I can hear all of you out there that love homemade desserts, and think that store bought anything is a sin. But I adore being able to buy things already made if it will make things in life a bit easier. So for this dessert dish, I bought brownie bites in the bakery of my local grocery store. First, layer the brownies in the bottom of a trifle dish…

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    Cheesecake Filling:

    Yep, they make a cheesecake filling ready to eat, in the store too. Feel free to make your own homemade cheesecake filling for this! I’m sure it will be delightful!

    Then spread the cheesecake filling on top of the brownie pieces.

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake TrifleReeses Cups:

    Sprinkle on chopped up Reeses Cups for tastebud “joy,”… (and use any extras to make these 2-ingredient peanut butter cup cookies!)

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Yes, I got a little excited and started adding brownies before the peanut butter drizzle.

    Peanut Butter Drizzle:

    Then just get crazy with it, and drizzle on some Peanut Butter (or caramel) ice cream topping.

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    Repeat:

    Repeat the process of the layering until you reach close to the top and add a layer of whipped cream, chopped brownies, Reeses Cups, and peanut butter drizzle. Before you know it, you’ll have a glorious trifle that’s ready to eat.

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    Is that not glorious looking!? If you have a sweet tooth needing conquered, than I would stop looking. This no bake dessert trifle should win you over.

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    No Trifle Bowl?

    Would you like to make this, but don’t have a trifle bowl? Well you can buy one here for only $14.99, OR… make this in a baking dish for more of a “sheet,” style dessert.

    Easy No Bake Dessert- Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle

    I’m sure he won’t like me telling you this, but I totally caught my husband eating the leftovers, directly out of the trifle bowl the next morning for breakfast. It was still his birthday, so I decided to just turn around and act like I didn’t see anything…

    Recipe

    Brownie Trifle Dessert in trifle dish.
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Brownie Trifle Recipe

    Brownie Trifle Recipe: Layered with cheesecake filling, whipped cream, and peanut butter.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 418kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 12 mini brownie bites* see notes for substitutions
    • 1 24-ounce container ready-to-eat cheesecake filling see post for details
    • 2 cups Miniature Reeses Peanut Butter Cups chopped + more for topping
    • 1 cup whipped cream or Cool Whip
    • melted peanut butter for drizzle

    Instructions

    • Begin by placing a third of the brownies in bottom of trifle dish, covering the bottom.
    • Next, layer on a third of the cheesecake filling.
    • Sprinkle on a third of the chopped miniature peanut butter cups.
    • Drizzle on some of the melted peanut butter.
    • Repeat layers 2 more times.
    • Add a layer of whipped cream and top with any remaining brownies (chopped) peanut butter cups, and peanut butter drizzle.
    • There’s no wrong way to make this recipe, so have fun with it! Refrigerate any leftovers.

    Notes

    Can use 1 batch of homemade or store-bought brownies – cut into bite-sized pieces.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (about 1 cup) | Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2.3mg

    Easy Party Appetizers

    August 6, 2017

    Image collage of easy party appetizers.

    Easy Appetizers For a Party or For Snacking – A collection of party appetizers that are simple to whip up for guests or just for enjoying at home!

    Image collage of easy party appetizers.

    Easy Party Appetizers

    Before any of my parties, I find myself thinking

    Ok, now that I know what the theme is… what in the heck am I going to make?

    Most of the time, I LOVE to fix appetizers for a party, more than main dishes. It’s easier for the guests to pick at all evening, and it leaves a ton of variety instead of trying to pick one or two main dishes, HOPING everyone likes it.

    I’ve found that a lot of you are looking for party appetizers too, so I wanted to make it super easy for you to find some great recipes and ideas. Besides, that’s what we’re all about here, isn’t it? (Real life. Well Styled.)

    So you’ll find all of the easy party appetizers from our archives right here on this page… all in one place! Simply select the one that tickles your fancy and it will take you right to the recipe!

    Baked Brie with Maple Syrup and Bacon

    Maple Baked Brie 

    Gooey melty cheese, topped with crunchy nuts and sweet maple syrup makes a great appetizer that everyone will want to grab a second taste of.

    Ham and cheese sliders stacked on top of one another.

    Ham and Cheese Sliders

    Sometimes called “funeral sandwiches” these sliders are the perfect party food or even an easy dinner idea!

    Little smokies in grape jelly and bbq sauce, cooked in crockpot, in green bowl.

    BBQ Little Smokies

    Made in the Crock Pot, these little smokies are a crowd-pleaser at any type of party! Easy to make, simple ingredients, and tons of flavor!

    Reuben dip in white pie dish, and a spoon scooping out a serving.

    Reuben Sandwich Dip

    Serve this cheesy meaty dip with crusty rye bread slices. This is a unique and tasty way to get the sandwich flavor you crave in a dish that can feed a crowd.

    A plate of soft pretzels with cheese dip.

    Homemade Soft Pretzels

    Everyone loves a soft pretzel. Make these for a delicious appetizer that you can top with seasonings, or dip into melty cheese.

    A platter of smoked stuffed mushrooms.

    Smoked Stuffed Mushrooms

    A platter of stuffed mushrooms is always a good idea for a party food to share. This recipe makes stuffed mushrooms even tastier by smoking them.

    Pizza monkey bread with sauce in a bowl.

    Pizza Monkey Bread

    This take on pizza is perfect for a crowd. Everyone will want to dip this cheesy treat into sauce for a really delicious appetizer option!

    Bacon wrapped dates that are stuffed with blue cheese.

    Bacon Wrapped Dates

    Make a tasty yet elegant option to wow your guests with these bacon wrapped dates. They are sweet, salty and so yummy!

    Cheese board with pita, grapes, and nuts.

    Cheese Board

    Setting up an epic cheese board doesn't have to be complicated. This idea uses fruit, cheese, nuts and crackers to set up a spread worthy of celebrating at your next gathering.

    Mini potato trifles with sour cream on top with bacon crumbles.

    Easy Potato Trifles

    These trifles have all of the goodies you like on a baked potato like bacon and cheese, but they are served in little glasses for a parfait unlike any other!

    Frito Chili Pie in food boat.
    Frito Chili Pie with all the fixings!

    Frito Chili Pie

    Appetizers don't have to be fancy! Tasty is enough to make it worthy of sharing. This recipe makes for a frito pie that your guests will work up an appetite for.

    A bowl of pico de gallo.

    Easy Pico de Gallo

    Set out a bag of chips and a big bowl of this easy pico de gallo for a simple yet satisfying appetizer. Everyone is going to love these fresh flavors.

    Close-up of chicken empanadas.

    Cheesy Chicken Empanadas

    These empanadas are loaded with chicken, cheese and rotel tomatoes for a really delicious snack. These are portable so you can munch and mingle at your next party.

    Bacon ranch and chicken bites on a cake stand.

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Crescent Cups

    These crescent cups are filled with chicken bacon ranch flavor for a snack that everyone will hope to grab seconds of. Maybe you should make a double batch for your party?

    Fruit and crackers sitting next to cream cheese dip in a small white bowl, all on a white platter.

    Fruit Board

    This easy spread offers fruit, cookies and the best dip! Set this out for your guests to graze on and you are sure to have a sweet party.

    Slices of focaccia bread, on a wooden cutting board.

    Easy Focaccia Bread

    You can't go wrong with homemade bread as a starter. This recipe is so easy to make, you might want to add it to your weekly routine for fresh and flavorful bread.

    Berries stuffed with cheesecake.

    Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

    I know you are going to love this recipe for strawberries stuffed with creamy cheesecake. This is easy and so elegant! Serve these at a party for a summer inspired snack.

    A bowl of jalapeno artichoke dip.

    Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

    This dip is creamy, spicy and so good! Serve with chips, crusty bread or crackers for a crowd pleasing appetizer.

    A pile of pigs in a blanket.

    Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

    You can't go wrong with a classic like pigs in a blanket for a snack. This recipe is so easy to make as it bakes in the air fryer for perfectly flaky rolls with beefy franks in the middle.

    Football cheeseball on platter that's made out of food to look like football field.

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip

    While this appetizer is perfect for football party food, it is so tasty you can serve it at any gathering. Be sure to have a variety of dippers to go with this dish.

    Southwestern egg rolls on a plate with green dipping sauce.

    Southwest Egg Rolls

    These egg rolls have the best flavor! They are made with chicken, corn, black beans and plenty of spices. You are going to love this tasty dipping sauce also.

    Close-up of pinwheel sandwich on cutting board.

    Pinwheel Sandwiches

    These mini sandwiches are easy to make, using deli meat, cheese and your favorite toppings!

    A plate of portobello mushrooms.

    Baked Portobello Mushrooms

    Baked portobello mushrooms with plenty of cheese and spices makes for a really tasty offering to serve to guests at your next party.

    A platter of pinwheels shaped like a tree.

    Christmas Tree Pinwheels

    The presentation of this appetizer makes it the perfect holiday party food. This recipe is so delicious you can serve it anytime of year for a crowd pleasing snack.

    A bowl of elote dip with chips.

    Elote Dip

    Mexican street corn flavor is going to be a big hit as an appetizer. This recipe is fuss free and makes enough that everyone can have a bite of this great dip!

    A charcuterie board shaped like a Christmas tree.

    Christmas Tree Charcuterie

    Plan to make this epic and adorable charcuterie board for the holidays! It has such a colorful and tasty variety of ingredients so everyone can find their favorite combination.

    Spicy ranch crackers close-up.

    Spicy Ranch Crackers

    If you want something simple yet so good to snack on with friends, then try this easy spicy ranch crackers! These are so tasty you won't be able to stop at just one.

    A cheesy biscuit.

    Cheddar Biscuits

    If you love those iconic biscuits from Red Lobster, then you will appreciate this recipe. It has plenty of cheese, butter and garlic to make a biscuit that will keep everyone coming back to the food table for another taste.

    Air fryer buffalo chicken tenders on plate next to ranch dressing.

    Air Fryer Buffalo Tenders

    This finger food is perfect for a party or just to snack on! If you are a fan of bold buffalo flavor, then you are going to want to make these ASAP. Serve with blue cheese dip and celery on the side.

    Cheese dip with soft pretzels.

    Pretzel Cheese Dip

    If you want a simple snack that was made to share, then try this cheese dip with pretzels. This is so cheesy and so delicious!

    Orange bell pepper slice being dipped in to smoked queso.

    Smoked Queso

    You can't go wrong with chips and smoky, cheesy queso as a starter. This recipe is perfect for taco night, or anytime you need some melty cheesy goodness in your day.

    Texas toast topped with pizza toppings.

    Texas Toast Pizza

    Who could resist pizza as a starter? This recipe uses garlic bread to make a tiny slice of pizza that is bursting with buttery, garlic flavors!

    A casserole with taco layer dip.

    Taco Layer Dip

    Taco dip is such a good starter or snack. But, it is so delicious that you could totally make a meal of this! Serve with chips and soft taco shells for a dish that you will fall in love with from the first bite.

    A bowl of rotel dip with chips.

    Rotel Dip

    Cheesy, spicy dip with plenty of ground beef, chiles and spices makes for such a good starter. Serve this with taco night, enchiladas or just as a snack.

    Close up of bbq meatballs.

    Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs

    Pop these meatballs in the slow cooker with plenty of bbq sauce and grape jelly. This recipe uses sriracha to spice things up for a delicious flavor addition. I know you will love these as a party food, or serve them at the holidays for a light snack.

    A skillet of queso with black beans, corn and lime.

    Cowboy Queso

    Make this queso with black beans, corn and plenty of cheese for a starter that is so tasty and filling! Serve with chips, but save a few spoons to top your taco with, if you can!

     A bowl of saucy meatballs.

    Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs

    Go from frozen to fabulous in no time with this easy instant pot recipe that is great for any occasion. These are ready in just 4 minutes for fast and filling food!

    A bowl of blue cheese dip surrounded by veggies.

    Buffalo Bacon Blue Cheese Dip

    Serve this extra flavorful dip with chips, crusty bread or fresh raw veggies for the best starter. This is great to offer guests, or to graze on before dinner. It has a pronounced flavor that you are sure to find delectable.

    Close-up of blue cheese dip in white bowl.

    Blue Cheese Dip

    If you enjoy the flavor of blue cheese this is the dip for you! It has simple ingredients, takes no time to make, and goes so well with fresh veggies, chips or crackers.

    Guacamole in a small white bowl.

    Homemade Guacamole

    A great appetizer doesn't have to be complicated. This guacamole recipe uses plenty of fresh veggies to make a starter that you will want to serve with many future meals.

    Air fried shrimp on a white plate, sitting next to a lemon.

    Air Fryer Shrimp

    Pop these succulent shrimp into the air fryer for a fast first course. Pair with your favorite cocktail sauce for a classic appetizer option.

    A dish of hot taco dip topped with onion and tomato.

    Hot Taco Dip

    Serving something spicy tonight? Why not offer this tasty taco dip as a starter? This also makes a good option for parties as it is delicious and easy.

    Close-up of pinwheel sandwich on cutting board.

    Pinwheels

    Make a few of these pinwheels, and cut them into rounds to share with friends at a party. These have so many fresh flavors to entice your guests to have a bite.

    Marinated grilled shrimp kabobs

    Grilled Shrimp Marinade

    Make this marinade for grilled shrimp and serve this as your first course. These would be great on lettuce cups, skewered with grilled veggies, or on mini tacos.

    Sliders with crunchy fried chicken and pickles.

    Fried Chicken Sliders

    Bring classic fried chicken flavor to your first course with these sliders. They are small in size but have such the big, tasty flavor of comfort food in every bite. 

    A stack of Italian sliders.

    Italian Sliders

    Serve some super flavorful sliders as an appetizer if you want to indulge in sub shop flavors while serving a healthy dinner.

    A  bowl of fruit salad with honey lime dressing.

    Honey Lime Fruit Salad

    Start the meal with a bowl of juicy fruit salad with a tantalizing dressing for an appetizer that appeals to everyone! Use your favorite in season fruits to make this salad unique to your preferences.

    Everything bagel dip with fresh veggies and bagel chips.

    Everything But The Bagel Dip

    Serve this flavorful dip with veggies, chips, bread or even bagel chips if you like. It has a great flavor that works as party food, or a simple starter for so many meals.

    A plate of saucy sloppy joe sliders with cheese.

    Sloppy Joe Sliders

    Start the meal off with some saucy sloppy joe sliders. These are just the right size to entice your appetite for more.

    A plate of wontons made with guacamole.

    Avocado Wontons

    If you love the flavor of guacamole, then you need to make these fresh and flavorful wontons. Make them in your air fryer for a super healthy appetizer everyone will love.

    Strawberry jalapeno bruschetta.

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta

    Sweet, spicy and so good are the ways to describe this bruschetta recipe. Use in season berries and peppers for the freshest flavor.

    Mussels cooked and in plate.

    Mediterranean Style Mussels 

    This fancy starter is so easy to make! They have a great Mediterranean flavor that feels elegant, but is fuss free for the perfect party food.

    More Party Ideas

    Whew! That’s a lot of party appetizer recipes! I hope you found one or 15 recipes that you want to make! If you now have your party menu planned and need decorating thought-starters, feel free to browse my easy party ideas to snag more simple and easy party planning ideas!

    Affordable + Adorable Swim Suit Finds – Zaful Review

    July 28, 2017

    Black off the shoulder swimming suit from Zaful. So affordable and adorable! One piece! Zaful review

    Affordable + Adorable Swim Suit Finds – Zaful Review: I took a chance on this online store, and so glad that I did! Cheap and cute swimsuits! 

    Black off the shoulder swimming suit from Zaful. So affordable and adorable! One piece! Zaful review

    We’ve all seen it. The ad that pops up in our Facebook newsfeed, showing us the super affordable swimsuits at Zaful. I even found myself saying

    Ok this is way too good to be true. Seriously, $12-$13 for a swimsuit?

    So when I couldn’t resist anymore, I asked you all on Facebook what you thought. Some of you said “RUN!” While others said, “Well, check out ‘so-in-so’s’ review on YouTube. She kind of liked them…”

    So I was STILL torn. Then, I decided that $12-$13 for a swimsuit was totally worth the risk, so I took a chance. I put two suits in my shopping cart and crossed my fingers…

    Affordable + Adorable Swim Suit Finds – Zaful Review

    First, I never thought in a million years I’d get the nerve to do a photo AND video review of me wearing a swim suit in front of so many people. But let me tell you… when I find something good, cute, and affordable… I’m not about to keep that from you. So I’ll risk showing you my mom-bod. Just please be nice!

    Zaful Good or Bad?

    Friends, please don’t hear what I’m not saying. You may end up ordering something from Zaful and have a horrible experience. But this being my first time ordering from them, I am totally pleased. It took maybe a week and a half to get my two suits, and when they arrived… they fit.

    Now, I did pay attention to the reviews of each one, to see if I should order “up.” I did order a large in both suits, and I’m thrilled that I did. They fit perfectly! (I’m 5’4, 140 lbs and a 34 DD or 32DDD – according to Victoria Secret.)

    Photos and Links Below to Each Swimming Suit…

    Off The Shoulder Flounced One-Piece Swimming Suit

    I think I love this one the most. It has a bit of ruffle (we all know from my Trunk Club’s how much I love ruffles, yes?) and I swear… when I wore it this week swimming, it literally felt like it sucked some of my stomach in. Hello bonus!

    This also comes in other SUPER cute colors, like an army green, white, bright yellow and a pastel pink! So so cute! I would like one in every color!

    Black off the shoulder swimming suit from Zaful. So affordable and adorable! One piece

    Buy this Off-the-Shoulder Suit HERE!

    Buy my Favorite Sun Hat HERE!

    The image shows straps that come with it, and I’ll be totally honest: I forgot that it came with straps and have no clue what I even did with them. The suit fit great without them and stayed up on me just fine while swimming!

    Cut Out High Leg Scalloped Swimming Suit

    I love this suit a ton for the price too! My belly and back (ahem, flab) does tend to stick out the front and back a bit when I don’t stay on top of adjusting it… but it’s totally wearable and doable.

    I love the scalloped look to the bust, so so much! This one also comes in more colors, like an adorable baby blue that I’m DYING to get!

    Black scallop swim suit one piece from zaful! Zaful review, cheap and cute swimming suits! Such a good experience and review!

    Buy this Scalloped Swimming Suit HERE!

    Thank you SO much for coming by to see what I thought about Zaful. If you choose to buy from them, I hope you have a good experience like I did! I’d love to hear about your experience too, to help others out! Just comment below!

    zaful reviews

    Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

    July 22, 2017

    caramel drizzling on chocolate gooey butter cookie

    Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies made with a Devil’s Food Cake Mix: A spin on the original cookie with a touch of caramel drizzle makes these some of the easiest and best cookie recipes, that are made with a chocolate cake mix! (Along with this Rocky Road Cookies recipe and these Devil’s Food Chocolate Cookies that use a cake mix too, of course!)

    Chocolate Caramel Gooey Butter Cookies

    At first, I really didn’t think it could get much better than the original gooey butter cookie. Then, we made the strawberry shortcake gooey butter cookies. I believe I ate 15 of those bad boys in about 3 minutes that day. I swore it was the best cookie I ever had.

    But now… although those are still amazingly delicious… I bring you the ultimate gooey butter cookie: Chocolate Caramel Gooey Butter Cookies. Chocolate and caramel together are a way to my dessert loving heart. Remember the chocolate peanut butter salted caramel toffee cake? My chocolate + caramel love affair was on high alert that day.

    But then we also took things up a notch for Christmas and made these reindeer cookies!

    Ingredients

    With only a few ingredients (and ingredients that you more than likely have on hand), these cookies can be made in a jiffy and last-minute!

    • 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
    • ½ cup (1 stick) butter softened
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 egg
    • 1 devils food box cake mix (we also use this for these turtle cookies!)
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • ¾ cup salted caramel ice cream topping divided

    The ingredients are similar to this Turtle Pie recipe if you find that you have extra and want to whip up something else too!

    Ingredients for chocolate caramel gooey butter cookies

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
    2. Mix together cream cheese, and butter until well blended.
    3. Add in vanilla, egg, cake mix and ½ cup of caramel ice cream topping until combined.
    4. Roll into 1 in. size balls
    5. Roll each ball in powdered sugar
    Rolled gooey butter cookies - chocolate caramel
    1. Bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 for 12 minutes.
    Baked chocolate gooey butter cookies with caramel. This recipe is easy and delicious
    1. Remove from baking sheet and drizzle each cookie with remaining caramel and additional powdered sugar if desired.

    Similar Gold Cooling Rack // Buy HERE

    Easy chocolate cookie recipe with cream cheese, cake mix and powdered sugar

    Caramel Drizzle Tidbit

    Once the cookies have cooled, drizzle on the caramel sauce. (We used ice cream topping to keep things super simple. This didn’t harden, so if you’re looking for something to harden more, melting caramel candies may work better for you!)

    After cooled, drizzle more caramel on to the gooey butter cookies

    Love caramel in your cookies too? This Twix cookie recipe is definitely one to try.

    Mmmm! Chocolate Caramel gooey butter cookie recipe. So easy and delicious!

    They won’t last long, and you’ll eat WAY more than you should. As a mom who loves her children unconditionally and would do anything for them… I still hid this batch and ate almost every single one -without sharing!

    Let chocolate caramel gooey butter cookies cool on the wire rack

    Substitutions

    Although the chocolate devil’s food cake mix is absolutely delicious, you can absolutely switch out the cake mix for your favorite!

    Try red velvet cookies, or even funfetti cookies with a cake mix!

    Oh my WORD! Chocolate Caramel Gooey Butter Cookies! These are so easy, and the caramel drizzle and adding it to the batter takes this original cookie to a whole new level with a chocolate cake mix

    More recipes you’ll love:

    Thank you so much for coming by, and don’t forget to check out the other fun dessert recipes, such as these caramel cupcakes with a caramel buttercream frosting and this chocolate bread and butter pudding.

    Recipe

    caramel drizzling on chocolate gooey butter cookie
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

    Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies: A spin on the original cookie with a touch of caramel drizzle makes these the best cookies ever. At least in our house.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time 27 minutes minutes
    Servings 30 cookies (number may vary depending on size)
    Calories 122kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
    • ½ cup (1 stick) butter softened
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 egg
    • 1 devils food box cake mix
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • ¾ cup salted caramel ice cream topping divided

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Mix together cream cheese, and butter until well blended.
    • Add in vanilla, egg, cake mix and ½ cup of caramel ice cream topping until combined.
    • Roll into 1 in. size balls
    • Roll each ball in powdered sugar
    • Bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 for 12 minutes.
    • Remove from baking sheet and drizzle each cookie with remaining caramel and additional powdered sugar if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.7mg

    DIY Stenciled Anchor Pillow Cover for Guest Room

    July 19, 2017

    DIY Anchor Pillow with a stencil

    As part of the Martha Stewart "Make it Martha" program, I received complimentary products to make this DIY craft. Thank you Martha!

    DIY Stenciled Anchor Pillow Cover for Guest Room using Martha Stewart Crafts® paint and stencil. This easy tutorial and craft made decorating a breeze!

    DIY Anchor Pillow with a stencil

    DIY Stenciled Anchor Pillow Cover Tutorial

    If you’ve been on my home tour, then you may have kicked your shoes off and stayed a while in part 14, the Guest Room.

    Fantabulosity's Home Tour Part 14- The Guest Bedroom https://fantabulosity.com

    Well in that room, the adorable new chair that I purchased specifically for this space looked incredibly lonely sitting there without a pop of color. So when I saw this anchor stencil, I knew it would be the PERFECT accent on the guest room chair!

    Martha Stewart Paint Crafts DIY Anchor PIllow

    If you saw my flamingo drink serving tray that I featured last month, then you know how I run to my momma’s house anytime I want to stencil something. The woman knows her STENCILS. For real. For years I thought you just dip your brush in the paint and fill in the stencil.

    Friends, to have the best results with stenciling, there are certain techniques you can follow. With approval from my mom, I get to share with you her favorite stenciling techniques. While tackling this project with my momma, on a warm summer day on her back porch, I captured the process and her pro tips to share with you all today!

    DIY Stencil Pillow Tutorial

    First, I’ll briefly show you the process of how we made the actual pillow cover, but to get started on the right foot for cutting and measuring your pillow cover, you should really check out this post: Three Ways to Make a Pillow Cover on MarthaStewart.Com.

    Martha Stewart Crafts Satin Paint - Blue LOVE this paint!

    Supplies Needed to Stencil Pillow Cover

    • For this painting project, we used the “Greek Tile” Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint that you can also find on Michaels.com. The variety of colors that you can choose from is incredible.

    • Anchor Stencil

    • Martha Stewart Crafts® Stencil Brush, Large

    • Fabric Cut to Size for Pillow Cover

    • Tape Measure

    • Painter’s Tape

    • Paper Plate

    • Pencil

    Measure to the center of the pillow cover to know where to center the stencil

    Measure the Center

    When you have your pillow cover cut to size (front piece), grab a tape measure and mark where the center of the cover is, and place your stencil in the dead center.

    Using painters tape, tape the stencil (if it's not adhesive especially) to hold in place. Using Martha Stewart anchor stencil

    Tape Down the Edges

    Using painter’s tape, tape down the stencil so it does not move during the stenciling process.

    Dab stencil brush in to Martha Stewart Craft Paints

    Paint and Dab

    Next, pour a small amount of paint on your paper plate. (You’d be surprised that you don’t need as much as you think. So pour a little and you can always add more if need be.)

    Using your stencil brush, barely tap your brush in to the paint and move to a clean part of you plate and begin rotating and pushing the brush down to remove any excess paint from your brush. (Having too much paint on your brush can result in the stencil bleeding, so better safe to apply two coats of stencil paint, than sorry.)

    When the paint has moved up inside the stencil brush, take it to your stencil and begin dotting the stencil.

    Stencil tutorial on to a pillow with this anchor cut out from Martha Stewart

    Two Coats

    For this craft, we did one coat of paint, and decided to make it darker. So a second coat was applied and then it was ready!

    How to stencil a pillow. Using martha stewart crafts supplies from Michaels

    TIP: To check to see if you’re happy with the color darkness of your first coat, barely raise one corner of the stencil to take a peek. This way, if you decide to do another coat, you won’t have to reapply the entire stencil.

    Love this anchor look. She's making a pillow using a stencil with Martha Stewart Crafts

    Time to Stuff and Sew

    The stencil turned out perfect. Allow to dry (it dries really fast) and then you can move on with the pillow cover!

    Remember, to get a FULL pillow cover tutorial, you can find that on MarthaStewart.Com.

    Don’t be intimidated. If I can sew a pillow, you can sew a pillow cover. But if my crafty mom is around (like on this day) you better believe I’ll ask for her assistance. 

    Cut out the other pillow square: How to make a pillow cover

    Final Pillow Cover Steps

    Next, she measured and cut out the back of the pillow cover to sew to the front that we just stenciled.

    (Make sure when cutting your fabric for the cover, you add an inch in measurement, to make the cover one inch larger than the insert. (This way you’ll leave space for sewing the edge and room to stuff.)

    Flipping the stenciled cover over, we placed it on top of the other sheet of fabric. You do this so when you sew, the stitching is on the inside of the pillow cover. (You’ll flip the cover inside-out before stuffing with the insert.) 

    How to make a pillow cover then stencil a design on it.

    Time to Sew

    After pinning the edges together, it was time to head to the sewing machine.

    I absolutely love her sewing machine. It has been around for AGES and it has so many stories and memories to go along with it. What a champ. I can’t even begin to tell you how many outfits and crafts this thing has made for our family.

    Sewing machine making a pillow cover and stenciling with Martha Stewart Crafts paint

    Flip It!

    Once three of the sides were sewed up (leaving the bottom of the cover open so you can insert the pillow) it was time to flip the cover right-side out and insert that pillow!

    Sew the Gap

    Once the pillow insert is in, it’s time to sew up the opening. My mom chooses to hand sew this edge so it has a cleaner look.

    Hand sew the top of the pillow cover for a clean look.

    Decorate!

    I mean for real. Look how adorable this little craft project turned out to be! Want to know the best part? It was the exact look that I wanted for the bedroom and haven’t been able to find online anywhere.

    Another great tip?

    My mom found the white fabric that we used at a yard sale. Anytime that she finds white curtains, a tablecloth, or anything in white fabric at a yard sale or flea market… she snags it up, because you never know when you’ll want a white pillow for something!

    So so cute! This DIY stencil anchor pillow in the guest bedroom

    Perfect Pop of Color

    This pillow turned out to the best perfect pop of color for the guest room! Now… I’m already thinking of what other pillows can be made with a stencil.

    This anchor pillow was made using a Martha Stewart stencil from Michaels.

    Love DIY Projects

    If you love this project to create DIY projects for your home, I think you’re also going to love this Wine Bottle DIY Vase we made, which would look beautiful in your home with your favorite paint colors and flowers!

    I Took YouTube Away from my Kids, and This is What Happened

    July 14, 2017

    I Took YouTube Away for a Week, and This is What Happened

    I Took YouTube Away from my Kids for a Week, and This is What Happened. This isn’t another post on limiting screen time, or I’m a Better Than You Post…

    In the event that this post gets shared on social media, I want to be completely up front with those of you who are visiting my blog for the first time. I write from passion, heart, and experience. I’m not a perfect mom. I’m not a perfect writer, and I’m sure as heck not a child psychologist. But I do speak from the heart, and adore sharing what I love and am passionate about. My children are by far one of those things that I’m passionate about, so here I go…

    I Took YouTube Away from my Kids for a Week, and This is What Happened

    I Took YouTube Away for a Week, and This is What Happened

    Don’t worry, this isn’t a blog post about “spend more time with your children,” and how you should get on the “limit electronic time” train.

    And I’m also not saying avoid electronics. It’s inevitable. It’s where the world is going. I’m an advocate for online presence and we use it daily in our home.

    I’m not saying avoid YouTube. Heck, I have a YouTube channel and MY KID even has a YouTube channel. So don’t hear what I’m not saying…

    We can’t avoid YouTube. We can’t avoid electronics. But when our children are just that-children-and they are unable to make rational decisions on their own while their tiny little brains are still forming and learning… it’s time we get in touch with what we want influencing our children.

    The Free Babysitter

    Truly, I put YouTube in front of my kids (ages 6 and 3) at times as a babysitter. It’s amazing. I’m able to clean the house, attend a quick meeting, make dinner, get some work done with little interruption. Yet, when I take it away, the iPad goes dead, or we forget it for a long car ride, the “gimmies” make an appearance. The whining amplifies. The ungratefulness soars.

    So I began to notice where the gimmies started rising to the surface on a high level. I began to watch, observe, take notes and become aware of when the bratty attitude started showing more.

    Friends, it was when my 6 year old had control of what he could pick and watch on YouTube (and yes, even YouTube Kids).

    I took YouTube away from them for a week, and the difference in behavior was incredible. Respect started showing back up, the gimmies weren’t as plentiful, and the whining subsided. Not kidding. Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.

    Kids on YouTube

    SOME kids on YouTube are the stars of the show. They talk back to parents, get what they want by whining and complaining, and the parents let it happen. Why? Because (are you ready for this?) it sells.  (YES. If you did not know that YouTube makes money for some of these people on YouTube… you know now.)

    They know exactly what they’re doing by giving kids what they want to watch. Kids at a young age are learning independence, seeing what they can get away with. So watching a young boy or girl on TV gain that independence by telling mommy “Meh, I don’t want that, I want this and I’m getting it,” is our child’s preferred behavior and they thrive on seeing someone like them get what they want.

    • Endless amounts of toys

    • “I want to go to McDonalds” OK!

    • “I don’t want to Mommy!” - Ok sweetie. It’s your show. Whatever you want.

    Impressionable Actions

    You Can’t Avoid the Influence in Life

    Our young children are so impressionable, and they learn by seeing. They learn by action. When they spend so much time watching a young kid on TV mouth back to his/her parents, whine, complain, get all of these fabulous toys… what do you think our children are soaking in and learning?

    I could have 50 talks with my boys every single day about important roles in life, and about topics that I think will influence them in a good way. But when they see someone their age getting whatever they want by acting an absurd way on their favorite YouTube channel, over and over and over again (because let’s face it: our kids watch the same videos over and over again, yes!?), you might as well throw everything I said to them away.

    “Alright Then, So What Should They Watch?”

    “Okay then Jessica, what should they watch? Or should they not watch it at all?”

    Well that’s up to you. The parent. The adult. The decision maker of the household.

    If  you love the ease and convenience of YouTube, then maybe consider what show/channel you want influencing your child. Is it the Berenstein Bears? A kid who is amazing at science and does science experiments? Bible stories? Is it videos to prep him/her for the next school year?

    It’s up to you. This isn’t a “I’m a better mom than you are blog post,” that tells you what you should do.

    If you like the ease and convenience of YouTube and how it holds the attention span of your kiddo… fabulous. But maybe consider what they’re watching, and consider how whatever they’re watching is influencing and teaching our kids how to live and learn.

    For me, I’ll continue to let them watch YouTube. I’ll just be more selective of what they watch. After our YouTube break last week, this week I reintroduced it and let them watch videos on kindergarten lessons. After a quick “Mom, this will be boring,” they were soon sharing their excitement for how they learned to add and subtract! Bonus!

    I took youtube away for a week and this is what happened

    Let the “Perfect” Parents Shine…

    Now, some will argue this and say:

    “Well it’s all in the parenting. We can’t avoid this stuff, and it’s up to us as parents to teach what’s right and wrong.”

    Yep, I agree with you 100%. But why can’t we at least tackle some of what we know may be causing some of the non-preferred behavior upfront, instead of going back to try and erase it later? I’m a huge fan of using the term “baby steps.” We don’t have to conquer the world all at once, or find one major life changing tactic that will turn our children into perfect adults. But we can do baby steps, and small bits along the way to improve aspects in our lives. So why not start with something small, and with what we know causes behavior that we’d rather not see?

    There may also be parents that comment below saying: 

    “I knew this. I NEVER let my child choose what they want to watch on YouTube.”

    …and yatta yatta yatta. Well that’s because some parents like to hear themselves say they’re doing a good job, and that they knew something before me. Well, if that’s true, yes… you realized something before me. And YES, you are doing a good job. How do I know? Because you saw a blog post about children and you came over to read it. You care for your children and want what’s best for them. That’s a good job as a parent, right?

    I’m only sharing what I have experienced in my own home, and if we really want our children to grow in to something amazing (although we can’t control them, and we are certainly not perfect parents), I think it’s time we get in tune with our children and focus on who/what is teaching/influencing them how life works.

    Potato Soup with Instant Potatoes

    July 11, 2017

    Easy Potato Soup Recipe Using Instant Potatoes on the stovetop. So quick!!

    Easy Potato Soup: This Quick Stovetop Recipe using instant potatoes can be made in under 10 minutes! I also added leftover chicken too, but it’s not mandatory!

    Easy Potato Soup Recipe Using Instant Potatoes on the stovetop. So quick!!

    I hadn’t gone grocery shopping in DAYS! Ok… WEEKS! Things were getting pretty slim in the house.

    I knew I had leftover chicken tenders in the refrigerator, and wanted to utilize them to make something different so I didn’t hear:

    Chicken tenders AGAIN!?

    from my kids.

    Easy Potato Soup: Quick Stovetop Recipe

    Well we all know how I feel about slightly homemade recipes. (Recipes that are made at home, but utilize some store-bought ingredients and shortcuts to make things quick and easy.)

    So when I saw the instant potato package in the pantry, I knew right away that I should utilize those in some way with the chicken. Who knew adding chicken broth and a little heavy cream to this would make a crazy quick and tasty soup for dinner! (You can even make my easy homemade chicken broth for this soup.)

    NOTE: You DO NOT have to use chicken for this soup like I did. (Or I would call this Easy Chicken Potato Soup) But I found it a great way to add some protein and texture to the soup using leftovers, kind of like when I use leftover ham to make this bean soup recipe!)

    Using instant potatoes to make a stovetop potato soup is sooo easy!

    NOTE: I believe it’s HIGHLY important to use a loaded or supreme package of instant potatoes, or else you may need to add cheese, spices, sour cream, and other ingredients to give this soup some flavor.

    Another favorite soup to make with rotisserie or leftover chicken is my chicken noodle soup recipe! Mmm… the herbs in it make a dynamite flavor.

    What to serve with this potato soup

    These garlic cheddar biscuits are similar to the cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster, so when I can fix them alongside a soup like this, it makes me feel all warm and cozy inside!

    Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

    Get the chicken noodle soup recipe!

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - Quick and Easy

    Freeze For Later

    Another tip I love? Afraid that chicken will spoil if you don’t do something with it quickly? Make this soup and freeze in containers for quick lunches!

    Easy Potato Soup Recipe Using Instant Potatoes on the stovetop. So quick!!

    More Soup Recipes

    If you love easy soups, then you’ll really love these other soup recipes here on Fantabulosity! You may also love this easy loaded potato soup too!

    • Homemade chili in small bowl with Fritos and cheese on top.
      Simple Chili Recipe
    • Southern chicken and dumplings in bowl.
      Chicken and Dumplings
    • Homemade Chicken Broth
    • Loaded Potato Soup in small crock, next to fabric napkin.
      Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

    Recipe

    Easy Potato Soup Recipe Using Instant Potatoes on the stovetop. So quick!!
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Potato Soup with Instant Potatoes

    This Quick Stovetop Recipe using instant potatoes can be made in under 10 minutes! I also added leftover chicken too, but it's not mandatory!
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes minutes
    Total Time 18 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 217kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 package supreme or loaded instant potatoes I used a 3.74 oz package of Idaho Spuds Supreme
    • 4 cups (32-ounces) chicken broth
    • 1 cup heavy cream

    Optional:

    • left over cooked or rotisserie cubed or shredded chicken I used 2 cups of chicken
    • shredded cheese for garnish
    • parsley for garnish
    • sour cream for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a stockpot over medium heat, combine the package of instant potatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, and chicken if desired. Cook, stirring often, over medium heat and until heated through. (About 7-8 minutes for me.)
    • Serve!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (¼ recipe without chicken or garnishes) | Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 233mg | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 16.9mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 0.5mg

    Apple Pie Nachos with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisps

    July 3, 2017

    Apple Pie Nachos - Cinnamon Sugar baked tortillas, topped with apple pie filling! fantabulosity

    Apple Pie Nachos with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisps - A recipe that you can whip up with a few store-bought ingredients, with an option to make them even easier!

    Apple Pie Nachos - Cinnamon Sugar baked tortillas, topped with apple pie filling! fantabulosity

    Wait til you see how you can think outside the box with a can of pie filling here! This is such a fun dessert, and I’ve actually also used pie filling in these Apple Pie Baked Beans! How fun is that?

    Apple Pie Nachos

    I can’t tell you the last time I devoured an entire platter of dessert, practically on my own. Well… until two days ago when my friend Kate came over, and we made apple pie nachos. I had texted her the night before and said:

    Hey, I’m headed to the store. Do you have any fun dessert ideas that we can whip up really quick for the blog?

    She replied with:

    Yep, grab some soft burrito tortillas and a can of apple pie filling. We’re going to make some apple pie nachos.

    Uh, hello! You got it, sister.

    Apple pie nachos ingredients, quick and easy using canned pie filling

    Apple Pie Nachos

    I have seen others make cinnamon-sugar tortilla crisps/wedges/whatever… and serve them with fruit salsa. (I think I Heart Naptime has my favorite recipe for that delicious dish.)

    But when Kate told me that we were going to pour apple pie filling over the top of them, I kind of fell in love with her.

    UPDATE: While browsing Pinterest, I found this other recipe where Mandy’s Recipe Box Blog used tortilla chips to make Caramel Apple Nachos! So so cool! I love all of the different ways that you can make the “chip” part of these nachos.

    But when you have a few minutes to spare, I have a feeling that making these cinnamon-sugar tortilla crisps at home will tickle your fancy a bit more.

    Slice each burrito size soft tortillas in to 8 triangles. After baking, top with the apple pie filling
    Slice a burrito size soft tortilla in to triangles and bake them with sugar and cinnamon for a quick apple pie dessert
    Using canned pie filling, top the baked cinnamon sugar tortillas
    Canned apple pie filling on top of baked cinnamon and sugar tortilla triangles - easy dessert idea when you don't want to make a whole pie

    We literally ate the apple pie nachos just like this. The filling was poured right out of the can on to the crisps and we ate it. BUT, if you pop this in the microwave for a minute, I bet it would be OUT of this world.

    Top the apple pie nachos with whipped cream for a yummy quick dessert idea
    Using chocolate syrup or caramel drizzle, top the apple pie nachos for a delicious quick and easy dessert idea
    Apple Pie Nachos with Baked Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas

    I caught my kids AND my husband devouring their own little platter when we left the room the other day to work on something else for the Fabulously Fast Dinners Cookbook. So it’s safe to say that this recipe is family approved!

    Recipe

    Apple Pie Nachos - Cinnamon Sugar baked tortillas, topped with apple pie filling! fantabulosity
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Apple Pie Nachos with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisps

    Apple Pie Nachos with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisps - A recipe that you can whip up with a few store-bought ingredients, with an option to make them even easier!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 282kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 4 large burrito size tortillas
    • 1 21-ounce can apple pie filling
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 Tablespoon water
    • 2 Tablespoon melted butter
    • caramel or chocolate drizzle and whipped cream if desired

    Instructions

    • Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Using a pizza cutter, cut each tortilla in to 8 triangles
    • Combine sugar and cinnamon
    • Place triangles in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet
    • Brush tortillas with melted butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy
    • Assemble nachos by layering tortillas on a serving plate, and top with a ¼ of apple pie filling.
    • Warm in oven/microwave for a few minutes if desired
    • Top with whipped cream and caramel/chocolate drizzle if desired

    Notes

    Nutritional information is figured WITHOUT drizzle and whipped cream. Also, please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (¼ recipe without whipped cream) | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2.1mg

    Home Tour Part 18 — Craftsman Home Patio Reveal

    June 27, 2017

    Back patio with white cushions, yellow pillows! Craftsman style home

    Home Tour Part 18 - Craftsman Home Patio Reveal: It’s an outdoor oasis surrounded by white patio curtains, with a white cushion sectional from our craftsman style home.

    Craftsman Home Patio Back patio with white cushions, yellow pillows! Craftsman style home

    Craftsman Home Patio Reveal

    I featured our “old” patio in our home tour a couple of years ago (see our other patio decorating ideas), and it has been a YEAR from the moment I started thinking about a new patio look, and I’m happy to say that I finally have it how I’ve wanted it. There have been incredible hurdles through this process, and the crazy part is… there’s really not much to it.

    I mean, new furniture and some patio curtains. How hard can that be, right?! Well oh my goodness. This patio project quickly turned into a story similar to the storyline in the movie The Money Pit. Although I didn’t spend a lot of money on this project, it seemed as if everything kept going wrong from the start. I’d get one item figured out, and then something else would go wrong.

    It definitely wasn’t as easy as the front porch of our craftsman home.

    First the Furniture…

    I originally ordered the new sectional to have for my Favorite Things Party, but the original seating set that I ordered never made it. (Lost in shipping.) Then after reordering, it went on back order for a few months. When I finally received it, the cushions were gray instead of white, and the furniture was black instead of brown. I kind of went a bit crazy during this time, but I must say that after about 5 months of back and forth… Wayfair sent me the white cushions, and I decided to just live with the wrong color of furniture. So, needless to say, THIS is why my patio wasn’t complete and ready to reveal last season.

    Craftsman Home Patio. Outdoor curtains for a back patio. LOVE the white flow to this on this craftsman style home

    Then the Patio Curtains…

    I LOOOOOVE my patio curtains. (I talked about them a lot in the post about how to make DIY Patio Curtain Tie Backs) But our house is up on a hill, and the back patio can take a big gust of wind like nobody’s business. So through a bit of trial and error, I think we finally have these babies hung on hooks that can take a tornado. Bring it, mother nature!

    You can buy the same patio curtains!

    You can also buy the outdoor curtain rods!

    Plus, get my DIY tutorial curtain tie-backs that I made for these, for under $5.00!

    But I’m In Love…

    Even though it has been a bit of a struggle here and there, I’m happy to say that the patio is now a place I refer to as my oasis. It’s simple and it’s relaxing.

    Video Tour

    Along with the photos that you’ll see below, I’ve created a quick video tour on my YouTube channel to give you an up-close visual experience too!

    Craftsman Home Patio. Back patio seating area with couch/sectional and white cushions! Perfect with a craftsman home style.

    I’ve included links to similar furniture pieces at the end of this post, in case you’re in the market for your own patio too!

    Craftsman Home Patio. Back patio design with sectional and curtains. White and yellow pillows - Fantabulosity Home Tour

    White Cushions? She-Crazy!

    When shopping for a new sectional for the back patio, I knew I wanted white-white cushions. My friends thought I was crazy, and STILL think I’m crazy to have white cushions with two messy little boys at home. But I wanted to take the risk, and I’m happy to say that a year later… I’m still happy with the decision.

    Scotchgard has been my best friend, and bleach and OxyClean have also been a swell thing to have on hand.

    Craftsman Home Patio. Yellow outdoor pillows for a white sectional sofa

    Yellow Throw Pillows

    With dark brown (almost black) furniture, and white cushions and patio curtains, I had the hardest time deciding on a pillow color. But when I stopped in at World Market the other day, they had their outdoor pillows on sale and the yellow caught my eye. I’m still not 100% sure I’m going to stick with yellow, but they’ll work for now. I’ll be honest, I’m keeping my eye out for some pale pink pillows, and will just hope that my hubby doesn’t notice them. 

    Craftsman Home Patio. Flowers for a back patio—craftsman style home with white cushions and pillows

    Floral Touch

    I’m a sucker for a green plant on my patio. I’m not much of a green-thumb, so if it’s a plant that can take care of itself, that’s even better. I snagged this one at Lowe’s the day I took these photos, and my poor little flower died the next day. Looks like succulents are in my future.

    Or Fake Grass…

    Better than succulents, is FAKE greenery. It may not look the best, but it at least adds a pop of color and can withstand that wind and nasty weather that may come about.

    Craftsman Home Patio. Greenery floral for back porch and patio decor fantabulosity home tour

    I put this arrangement on my dining table. I love having this table and chairs out for when the kiddos want to eat outside or when we have people over for a cookout.

    Craftsman Home Patio. Outdoor dining table for patio. Aluminum - brown with white curtains

    My Happy Place

    The back patio is definitely my happy place. Feel free to virtually come over anytime! You’ll more than likely find me out here (yes, I’m sitting out here typing this now) if the weather is above 60 degrees here.

    Craftsman Home Patio. Brown outdoor wicker with white cushions and yellow pillows - craftsman house plan

    Sectional Details

    Sectional seen here against the wall, but with gray cushions: Magari 4 Piece Deep Seating Group

    Similar sectional with white cushions: Outsunny Rattan Wicker 7 pc Sectional

    Similar sectional with white cushions: Varick Gallery Camron Lounge Seating Group

    4-Piece Seating Group Details

    Similar 4-piece seating set with gray cushions: Varick Gallery Ferreira Deep Seating Group

    Similar 4-piece seating set with beige cushions: Overstock – Costway 4 Pcs Outdoor Seating Set

    Similar seating set with white (or they look white) cushions: Best Choice Sectional

    Tour the Other Rooms in Our Home:

    Part 1: The Exterior

    Part 2: The Master Bedroom

    Part 3:  The Master Bath

    Part 4: The Kitchen

    Part 5: The Playroom

    Part 6: The Guest Bath

    Part 7: The Pantry

    Part 8: The Patio/Deck

    Part 9: The Nursery

    Part 10: *Old* The Office/Craft Room

    Part 11: Big Boy Room

    Part 12: The NEW Nursery

    Part 13: The Dining Room/Foyer

    Part 14: The Guest Bedroom

    Part 15: The Living Room

    Part 16: New Office Reveal

    Part 17:  Garage 

    Craftsman Home Patio. Patio on craftsman style home-how to decorate

    DIY Stencil Drink Serving Tray

    June 23, 2017

    Flamingo DIY Drink Tray using Martha Stewart Paint

    As part of the Martha Stewart “Make it Martha” program, I received complimentary products to make this DIY craft. Thank you Martha!

    DIY Stencil Drink Serving Tray: Using Martha Stewart’s new line of paints, we created the cutest flamingo serving tray for summer entertaining! 

    Flamingo DIY Drink Tray using Martha Stewart Paint

    DIY Drink Serving Tray

    Since my childhood, I’ve been so infatuated with the creativity of Martha Stewart. She totally encompasses everything I love: DIY, cooking, home decor, flowers, and so much more. So I’m sure you can guess how I did cartwheels when I received the invitation to work with the “Make it Martha” program for Martha Stewart.

    I may have jumped up and down, done a twirl, and left my husband saying “Uh, what’s going on, and why are you acting like that?” 

    Martha Stewart Paint for DIY crafts

    Here’s a peek at some of the Martha Stewart goodies that I’ve received. I canNOT wait to get to crafting a ton of DIY projects with the new line of paints and paint tools at Michaels!

    Martha Stewart Paint for DIY crafts

    DIY Stencil Drink Serving Tray Tutorial

    The first craft I wanted to tackle was this drink serving tray. When the idea came to me, I knew EXACTLY where I was headed. To the FERGUSON FARM. My momma is the ultimate crafter, and she knows her way around a stencil or two. She was a huge help making this project!

    This DIY tutorial was incredibly easy, since I was able to use the new adhesive stencils. Have you used these!? Oh my goodness. The adhesive helps so much with any potential paint leakage, and prevents the stencil from moving around while painting. These were MADE for people like me!

    Flamingo DIY Stencil Drinking Tray

    To get started, we used the following:

    • White platter/tray

    • Martha Stewart Crafts® Soft Gel Watercolor Paint, Pink Dahlia color

    • Martha Stewart Crafts® large stencil brush set

    • Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Laser-Cut Stencil

    • Painter’s tape

    • Paper towel

    • Paper plate

    Martha Stewart Paint for the drink tray

    Peel the stencil from the adhesive paper, and place the stencil where you’d like it on the tray. We preferred it centered on ours.

    Flamingo stencils from Martha Stewart DIY crafts

    Next, disburse a small amount of paint (a small amount will go a long way) on to a paper plate.

    Pink paint for flamingo drink serving tray
    We taped our paper plate to the surface so the wind wouldn’t blow it away while crafting outside.

    Push the paint up in the brush for the stencil. Martha Stewart Paints

    Dab the stencil brush gently into the paint, and blot it on a paper towel, twirling in a circular motion, pushing the paint up into the stencil brush.

    Flamingo DIY Drink Serving Tray: Martha Stewart Paints

    Next, dab the brush onto the stencil, covering the stencil cut-out. Repeat the process until your craft has reached the desired look.

    Pink stencils for drink serving tray using Martha Stewart paint

    Flamingo DIY Stencil Drinking Tray using Martha Stewart Paint for DIY Projects

    When you’ve finished painting the stencil cut-out, remove the stencil very carefully.

    Pink stencils for DIY flamingo drink tray

    DIY Drink Serving Tray - Pink Flamingos

    When the paint dries, it’s ready to use!

    NOTE: Paint is not dishwasher or food safe!

    Drink Serving Tray made with Martha Stewart Paint

    Drink Serving Tray made with Martha Stewart Paint. Such a cute DIY

    Flamingo DIY Drink Serving Tray using Martha Stewart paints

    After crafting, the boys took a break from playing in the bubbles and mud, and thought they needed to partake in my little lemonade party.

    Kiddo drinking lemonade

    Martha Stewart Crafts® Line at Michaels

    You can find all of the Martha Stewart Crafts® at Michaels.com, that I used on this DIY project here:

    Pink Dahlia Martha Stewart Crafts® Watercolor Paint

    Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Laser-Cut Stencil, Flamingo

    Martha Stewart Crafts® Stencil Brush Set, Large

    Thank you!

    Thank you so much for coming by! I’d LOVE to hear what you plan to stencil on your drink serving tray! Let me know below in the comments!

    Fried Cake Bites — At Home Carnival Food

    June 16, 2017

    Fried Cake Bites - Carnival Food at Home

    Fried Cake Bites - At Home Carnival Food: A sweet treat that your taste buds will fall in love with, and it will BLOW your mind how easy they are!

    Fried Cake Bites - Carnival Food at Home

    Oh friends… I couldn’t keep this from you any longer, and I may have stumbled upon a guilty pleasure that will engage your taste buds on so many levels. Anytime a dessert is “fried,” it tends to become a new favorite in our house, like these fried chocolate pies.

    So while at the grocery store the other day, walking past the

    “Oooops, I Baked Too Much”

    sign, I saw this incredibly delicious cake sitting all by its lonesome on the shelf, with a bright yellow price tag. The cake was marked down so cheap that I didn’t think twice about putting it in my cart (with no plan in mind for this sweet treat at all).

    The next day when my gal pal Kate came over (on the day where we get crafty in the kitchen), we started pondering over how we could use this cake for something incredible. Well friends, the thought “Fried Cake Bites” came to mind, and we ran with it. I can’t WAIT to show you how easy this was, and I especially can’t wait to hear how much you’re a new fan of fried cake bites too!

    Fried Cake Bites Tutorial:

    Alright, we’re going to keep things super simple here and you’re going to LOVE the outcome.

    Fried Cake Bites - Using a store bought cake to make this super easy.

    Frosted Store Bought Cake

    You’re MORE than welcome to make your own cake and add your own frosting for these, but it was insanely easy to just use a store-bought frosted cake. The cake we used was a 2 layer, 8-inch vanilla cake with vanilla icing. But any flavor should do.

    Stir/mash until frosting is evenly distributed with cake.

    Fried Cake Bites - at home carnival food

    Although a store-bought cake makes things super easy, these cake bites wouldn’t be NEAR anything special without the other stars of the show that make them to-die-for.

    • LouAna Peanut Oil –  See notes below
    • Pancake Mix
    • Egg
    • Milk
    Peanut Oil for fried cake bites dessert idea

    LouAna Peanut Oil

    You’re going to use 2 teaspoon of Peanut Oil and mix it in with the pancake batter, but you’ll also use 2 cups of the oil to fry the cake bites in.

    Fried Cake Bites - Carnival Food at home

    Cake Bite Batter + Assembly

    Using your hands, roll up individual cake bites into about one-inch balls and set aside.

    In a separate bowl, mix together the 2 teaspoon oil, egg, milk, and pancake mix.

    Fried Cake Bites
    Fried Cake Bites - Carnival Food dessert idea

    Fry those Babies

    Heat up 2 cups of Peanut Oil in a pan/skillet (my favorite to use for these is cast iron), over medium-low heat. To test to see if the oil is ready (and not too hot), drop in a dab of the batter to make sure it’s ready for frying.

    Once the oil is ready, dip each cake bite into the pancake batter and gently place each cake ball in to the pan.

    Fry for one minute, rotating often, until each cake bite reaches a golden brown. Place fried cake bites on to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.

    Fried Cake Bites - easy dessert idea

    Remove from pan and allow to cool for a few minutes, and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

    Fried Cake Bites - easy dessert idea

    I Mean… For Real…

    Are the insides of these a glance at Heaven or what? You could even dip them in to a fun ice cream topping for some extra tastiness, or eat them just like they are.

    TIP: These are not the best leftover (just like any of your favorite carnival food), so make sure you make yourself sick eating as many as you can right away. 😉

    Fried Cake Bites - easy dessert idea

    If you love fun dessert recipes like these, then you’re also going to really love this cakesicles recipe!

    Recipe

    Fried Cake Bites - easy dessert idea
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Fried Cake Bites

    Fried Cake Bites - At Home Carnival Food: A sweet treat that your taste buds will fall in love with, and it will BLOW your mind how easy they are!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 25 cake bites (number may vary based on size)
    Calories 181kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 premade 2 layer 8-in cake frosted
    • 1 egg beaten
    • 1 cup milk
    • 2 cups pancake mix
    • 2 cups + 2 teaspoons peanut oil divided
    • powdered sugar for garnishing if desired

    Instructions

    • Crumble store-bought cake in a large bowl
    • Stir until frosting is evenly mixed with the cake
    • Roll cake mixture in to one-inch balls
    • In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, pancake mix, and 2 teaspoons of oil.
    • Heat 2 cups of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat.
    • Test oil by dropping in a dab of the batter to make sure it’s hot enough, or not too hot.
    • Roll each cake ball into pancake batter, then place in oil.
    • Fry each cake ball for about 1 minute, rotating often, until golden brown.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cake bite | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 53mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Fried Cake Bites - Carnival Food at home

    I can see fried cake bites making an appearance at your next family gathering, or at a future birthday party! (Or on a random weekend in your house, just because you want something fun & sweet!) I can’t wait to hear how you topped them, or if you prefer them plain!

    Thank you so much for coming by! If you’re in the mood for more recipe browsing, you can see all of our recipes here on the blog:

    More Easy Recipes

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    January 29, 2017

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos… that aim to please for those doing Beach Body, and looking for something tasty and fast!

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    We are huge fans of crispy chicken tacos, but if you’re not in the mood for baking, these stovetop chicken tacos are going to be a great option!

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    My friend Amy is a Beach Body Coach, and I’ve been seeing the most delicious looking recipes that she’s been sharing on her Instagram page lately. Then, while browsing on Pinterest the other day for a dinner recipe, I started seeing “21 Day Fix,” EVERYWHERE! (And the food actually looked delish!)

    So I reached out to Amy and asked if she had a 21 Day Fix dinner recipe that she’d like to share with me, so I could make it and hand it out to all of you. She agreed, and here we are! Let me tell you… I took a bite immediately after adding the last topping, (as you’ll see in the video below) and it was absolutely tasty.

    Recipe and more photos below:

    21 Day Fix Soft Chicken Taco Tutorial Video:

    In this video, I simply warmed up the rotisserie chicken with the spices in the coconut oil, since it’s already cooked.

    If the video didn’t do it justice… the photos make my mouth water alone. Even if you aren’t participating in the 21 Day Fix, you’ll want to try this one. It was so incredibly quick to make, and it will now go on my dinner rotation. PLUS, I’ll feel so much better about how healthy it is.

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    Chicken Tip:

    Amy mentioned that we could use a rotisserie chicken from the store to make it even easier. (I knew she was my friend for a reason. She’s speaking my love language for certain.)  Then, once we were done with the rotisserie, we boiled it in a bit of water, veggies, and spices to make our own rotisserie chicken stock; WHICH later became the base of my favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup that my husband loves so much. Get that recipe here: The BEST Chicken Noodle Soup.

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    21 Day Fix Measurements:

    *1 red (chicken), 2 yellow (if using both tortillas & black beans), 1 blue (avocado), 1 green (lettuce & tomato), ½ purple (salsa), 1 teaspoon (oil)
    You could substitute the avocado for cheese (still would count as 1 blue container).

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    Don’t they look delish!?

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    If you love delicious chicken recipes like this one, then I think you’re also going to love these chicken fajitas wraps! Or if taco recipes in general are your thing, make sure to try this walking taco casserole recipe that’s delicious!

    Recipe

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    21 Day Fix Dinner Recipe: Quick & Easy Soft Chicken Tacos

    Whether you are on the 21 Day Fix or not, this healthy tacos recipe is so easy to make and takes less than 20 minutes. Shredded chicken and veggies wrapped in a corn tortilla is the ultimate, Mexican-inspired dinner idea!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 tacos
    Calories 363kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups shredded chicken Rotisserie chicken already cooked from the grocery store is a great option! If not, about 4 pieces of frozen chicken tenderloin pieces
    • 1 cup black beans
    • 4 corn tortillas
    • 1 avocado mashed
    • ½ cup salsa
    • ½ cup lettuce
    • ½ cup tomatoes diced
    • coconut oil or olive oil if cooking chicken
    • minced garlic
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook chicken in a skillet with oil & garlic until done & then shred
    • Heat up black beans & tortillas (just in the microwave)
    • Place chicken, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, & lettuce in a tortilla & enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1taco | Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 540mg | Potassium: 839mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 8.4mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2.1mg

    DIY Teddy Bear Cookies

    January 28, 2017

    Teddy Bear Food Idea - DIY Cookies. So cute for a woodland friends, camping, or forest party as a party favor too!

    Teddy Bear Food Idea – DIY Bear Cookies: A “beary” good food or snack idea for kids, for a birthday party treat, dessert, sweets, or party favor idea.

    Teddy Bear Food Idea made out of Star Crunch with vanilla wafers.

    DIY Teddy Bear Cookies

    My friend and I were grocery shopping together the other day (Yes, it’s WAY more fun to grocery shop with a friend), and we stood in the snack cake aisle drooling brainstorming over cute ways to create a fun treat for our kiddos, making something out of something on the shelves.

    The minute I saw the Little Debbie Star Crunch’s, I saw the potential “fur,” of a little critter. I ran it by my friend, and she exclaimed “YES! Let’s do it.” So we grabbed a box and headed back to my house to experiment. We had so much fun creating these little DIY Teddy Bear Cookies, and my kids went NUTS when they got home and saw them.

    Then I began to think of how fun these would be if you’re looking for a bear food idea on Pinterest, for a “Build a Bear” birthday party, or a forest birthday party, so I couldn’t WAIT to share them with you. I also realized how adorable they would have been for the Woodland Friends Birthday Party and Camping Party that I designed in the past, and I was slappin’ myself. See those two parties here to get your party fix…

    Camping Sleepover

    A Camping Sleepover Birthday Party!  Fire birthday cake, smores mix, all on a table.

    Woodland Friends

    Woodland Friends First Birthday Party Dessert Table

    DIY Teddy Bear Cookies or not… the parties still turned out pretty cute I think.) 😉 

    Bear Cookie Video Tutorial

    If you’re looking for a photo tutorial, you can see that below too!

    Bear Cookie Photo Tutorial

    Ingredients for Teddy Bear Food Idea
    Teddy Bear Food Idea

    What you’ll need:

    (To make one bear snack)

    • One Little Debbie Star Crunch

    • 2 Vanilla Wafers

    • 2 candy eyes

    • 1 black jelly bean

    • Royal Icing for “glue.” (You MAY be able to use canned frosting, but royal seems to hold up much better.)

    • Brown icing coloring (if desired) to color the royal icing.

    How to Assemble:

    • To “glue,” each of the pieces on to the Star Crunch, royal icing seemed to work best. I use Wilton Royal Icing Mix, and added in a couple of drops of brown Wilton icing coloring to help blend in with the colors of the “bear,” but it’s not necessary.

    • “Glue” one Vanilla Wafer on to the Star Crunch smearing some of the royal icing to the underside of the wafer, and press down on to the Star Crunch.

    • Using a small dab of the royal icing, attach the black jelly bean sideways on to the wafer.

    • Next, using a couple of dabs of royal icing on each eye, secure the eyes to the Star Crunch

    • Cut the other Vanilla Wafer in half, using a knife. (I seemed to have better luck with a clean cut when I sliced it, rather than pushing straight down.)

    • Attach each “ear” to the “bear,” using the royal icing, and hold in place for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Once the royal icing hardens, the ears should stay in place.

    Teddy bear made out of Star Crunch.

    Teddy Bear Food Idea

    If you’ve found your way here, looking for a bear food idea… I sure hope you like this one! It was incredibly easy and it turned out even cuter than I imagined. Based off of the reaction of my kiddos, I’d say they were a hit too! 😉

    Little boy holding DIY teddy bears.

    We think you’ll also love these chocolate covered Teddy Bear snacks!

    Teddy Bear Food Idea with Starcrunch

    Hostess Bread Basket Gift Idea

    November 25, 2016

    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity

    A Hostess Bread Basket Gift Idea is incredibly thoughtful, and something that the hostess can put out that evening to let guests enjoy, or even at a later date!

    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity

    Hostess Bread Basket Gift Idea

    If you’ve dug in to the blog much at all, you may have seen the Sunshine Gift Basket, New Baby Gift Basket and the Relaxation Gift Basket that I created for a few people in my life. I absolutely adore building gift baskets, and thinking a little outside of the box when creating them.

    When we made the White Chocolate Spiced Pecans, and the Homemade Blackberry Butter the other day, I looked at the two and realized how cute a gift basket those two combined with a few other items would be.

    Even though this sympathy gift basket is typically for someone who has lost someone, I can’t help but think that it would also be a great gift as a hostess gift too!

    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity

    How to Style a Bread Basket Gift

    • I chose a see-through basket for this gift, because I LOVE for the host or hostess to be able to see everything inside of it, right away if they want.
    • Take as many items as you can, and unpack them from any store bought packaging if possible.
    • Drape a dish-towel over the front of the basket, to add a “pop” of color or pattern to the gift. This also hides any items, and kind of acts as “tissue paper,” in a gift!
    • I like to use items inside the basket to give them a “lift,” so they tower over the rim of the basket. This gives it more of a “wow,” factor when handing it over. To do this, I inserted more dishtowels, and added those as part of the gift. You could vary easily use some sort of “fill,” if you don’t want to spend the money on additional hand/dish towels.
    • Adding small details to some of the items can make a gift-basket a little more personal. For instance, tying a sprig of thyme to the bread loaf using a cute ribbon, and then stamping a red heart that coordinated well with the “joy,” on the free printable gift tag around the homemade butter, adding details that were incredibly easy, but really added to the “look.”
    • If giving homemade butter or jam as part of the gift, you can print my free “Spread the Joy,” gift tags here!

    Free Printable

    Free "Spread the Joy" gift tags for a homemade butter or jam gift! Hostess Bread Basket Gift Idea
    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity
    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity

    Two different types of bread

    Also recently purchasing pretzel buns, I added those to the basket by placing a few inside a white muslin bag. I thought a second type of bread in the basket would be a fun touch, and the muslin bag just added to the cuteness. With a little heart stamp, we simple used red ink, and added the small detail.

    Bread Basket Hostess Gift Idea: DIY and FREE Printable!! fantabulosity

    I so hope you enjoy this gift idea! It was super easy to assemble, and can make your host/hostess smile!

    Vests are Best + Hunter Boots

    November 24, 2016

    J.Crew Vests paired with Hunter Boots. One of my FAVORITE outfits in the winter! fantabulosity.com

    With a vest in almost every color from J.Crew, I always try to find a place for one in my daily outfit selections during the Winter! Plus, the new style of Hunter Boots!

    J.Crew Vests paired with Hunter Boots. One of my FAVORITE outfits in the winter! fantabulosity.com

    Hunter Boot Train + Boot Socks

    I’m going to admit. I didn’t really want to jump on the Hunter Boot train last year. Why? Because every rubber boot that I’ve ever tried on seemed clunky and uncomfortable. But late one night, I found myself on Nordstrom’s website, and I found the NEW Original Refind Hunter Boots. They are a sleek, thinner, more flexible rubber with a slimmer silhouette. I absolutely fell in LOVE, and had to have them.

    As I threw the Hunter Boots in to my virtual shopping cart, the pretty little Original Tall Fleece Welly Boot Socks enticed me. I thought the cream fleece color would look gorge with the dark slate boots, and I am NOT disappointed! They’re not only cute, and add an extra look to an outfit, but you talk about COZY-COZY! I’m kind of looking forward to snow this year, just so I can wear the cozy little things and appreciate the warmth.

    Hunter Boots

    Buy the Hunter Boots HERE in Dark Slate // Buy the Hunter Tall Fleece Welly Boot Socks HERE in Cream Fleece

    The first ever????

    That same night, I branched out and bought my first scarf. YES, I said “first,” scarf. I never really had a desire for a scarf, because I thought they were all big and bulky which is something that I DON’T want on my top half. But when I saw that this BP. “Heritage Plaid” Infinity scarf was pretty thin, rather than bulky, and then found myself swooning over the colors, I had to have it. Now I find myself hoping it will go with every outfit, every day.
    PLUS, I’m a huge fan of BP. brand at Nordstrom, because it’s more affordable than most Nordstrom items…so it just made sense.

    J.Crew Vests paired with Hunter Boots. One of my FAVORITE outfits in the winter! fantabulosity.com

    Buy the scarf here!

    Vests are Best

    My husband and I adore vests. If we are getting dressed to go out somewhere, you can almost bet we will both be wearing a vest. I’m not sure what it is for him, but I feel all warm and cozy in them, and they make layering easy.
    Not to mention that I can throw one on, zip it up, and hide any extra fluff around the waist line from too much white Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake.

    I love snagging a new colors of quilted puffer vests each season, and this bleached sand vest from J.Crew Factory was a steal! I’m crushing over it this season because it goes with a ton of outfits.

    J.Crew Vests paired with Hunter Boots. One of my FAVORITE outfits in the winter! fantabulosity.com

    Buy the vest HERE!

    Sweater Weather

    Although they no longer have the red sweater that I’m wearing here, they do have a similar one that’s even cashmere!! I know, I know… the word cashmere is scary because that usually means a price tag that’s over $100. But this sweater is under $100, and comes in a ton of different colors! Woot!

    Shop the sweaters HERE!

    This photo makes me giggle. I remember exactly what I was doing when she snapped this shot. I said, “This is so awkward Megan. Why can’t I just pose like those other fashion girls that are naturals? They just turn and pose and twirl so nice. I’m just a hot mess… look.” (And she snapped it.)

    J.Crew Vests paired with Hunter Boots. One of my FAVORITE outfits in the winter! fantabulosity.com

    Shop the look here:

    (Remember, the red sweater is similar, not the one I have on in the photos.)

    [show_shopthepost_widget id=”2148640″]

    Pumpkin White Chocolate Smores

    November 19, 2016

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Pumpkin White Chocolate Smores: A twist on the original smore, that SCREAMS Fall, and can be made outdoors over a campfire or indoors in a microwave!

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Pumpkin White Chocolate Smores

    Let me just start by saying, original smores are completely blissful. Yes? But the minute we added a white chocolate square, and a spoonful of pumpkin pie filling onto the top of a melted marshmallow, we kind of fell in love all over again.

    Ghirardelli White Chocolate

    Using the white chocolate squares was kind of amazing. Ok, a lot amazing.

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Indoor or Outdoor?

    We live smack dab in the middle of town, so the day that we wanted to whip them up, we really didn’t have the kind of atmosphere to build a fire outside. So we did the next best thing, and made them indoor. I absolutely love making them inside, because no matter the weather… we can still enjoy smores for movie nights.

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Toast those mallows!

    How did we toast the marshmallows then? You can snag one of those creme brulee torches here, and they seem to toast marshmallows just as well!

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    A little more warmth?

    Then once the marshmallow reaches its desired “toasty-ness,” we put ours in the microwave for just a few seconds to get it to melt a bit more. (But depending on how long you use the torch, you may not have to microwave it.)

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    The Pumpkin

    You can make your own pumpkin topping for these by adding your favorite spices, or you can simply grab a can of pumpkin pie filling, to make it super easy. Warm it up just before making the smores, and you’ve added a whole other level of deliciousness.
    Making the smores outside?  Just empty the can in to a cute little bowl, with a spoon for dipping, and put it right by the smores station!

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!
    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Top that marshmallow with a spoonful of pumpkin, and close the creation with the other graham cracker.

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    Its kind of heavenly, really. But sadly, I can’t stop there. My mind is already wandering, and dreaming up more topping ideas for smores. Perhaps, an apple pie smore? A lemon smore? Don’t get me started… I’ll never stop.

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!

    If you love white chocolate as much as we do, then you’ll also love this white chocolate crock pot candy!

    Or, if you’re craving everything pumpkin right now, you’ll want to try these pumpkin cheesecake bites too.

    Recipe

    The PUMPKIN White Chocolate Smores are INCREDIBLE!
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Pumpkin White Chocolate Smores

    Try a delicious twist on the campfire nostalgic treat! White chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and pumpkin and sandwiched between two graham crackers!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time 12 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 179kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 4 full sheets graham crackers
    • 4 squares white chocolate
    • 4 large marshmallows
    • 4 Tablespoons pumpkin pie filling

    Instructions

    • Top a graham cracker with a white chocolate square (we used Ghirardelli).
    • Add a toasted marshmallow.
    • Add a spoonful of warmed pumpkin pie filling.
    • Top with remaining graham cracker and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1s’more sandwich | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1225IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake

    November 1, 2016

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

     This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DelightfulMoments #CollectiveBias

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake: Chocolate cake, LOADED with delectable frosting and crunchy peppermint candies, that’s perfect for beginners in the kitchen.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    It’s time to finally admit, my heart has been set on dreaming of a white Christmas, for some time now. It seems as if stores are starting earlier, the songs on my radio stations are sneaking it in, and my Pinterest feed is slowly overflowing with holiday cheer!

    So I decided it was time to make a holiday-inspired cake, full of peppermint flavor. (But if you’re looking for a peppermint-flavored dessert, and want a no-bake version, you’ll love this no-bake peppermint pie!)

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake

    We all know that I’m more of a “simply homemade,” kinda gal, right? So it’s no surprise when I wanted to use a cake mix for this, instead of a recipe from scratch. But no worries, if you’re more of a “from scratch,” kinda baker… you can do that too! We made mini chocolate cakes from scratch, that you’ll love to check out!

    We even used a chocolate cake mix in our Ding Dong Cake, and that one is absolutely delicious too!

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    Full recipe will be below, but I wanted to walk you through the process with a few photos in case you’re more of a visual type of reader!

    Cake Tutorial:

    • Start with mixing, and baking the chocolate cake mix according to package directions, for two 8-in. round pans.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • While the cake is baking, break peppermint candies up into little pieces. We simply put the unwrapped candies in a plastic zip-top bag and beat them with a rolling pin. Set aside. (This is a fantastic job for the little ones in your kitchen, for a super fun baking activity.)

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • When the peppermint candies are broken and ready, and while the cake is still baking, it’s a great time to mix together the frosting/filling. (Frosting recipe below.)

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • When the cake is finished baking, allow to fully cool on a wire baking rack. It’s then time to pipe on the frosting and the filling.

    • Start with spreading the frosting on top of one round cake. Sprinkle some of the peppermint candies on top of this layer of frosting.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • Place the other round cake on top, and using a piping bag with a large star tip, pipe the frosting on top of the cake, until the cake is completely covered.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com
    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com
    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • Taking some of the peppermint candies, place them into the sides of the cake where the middle is filled with frosting.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    • Then sprinkle the top of the cake with additional broken peppermint candies.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com
    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com
    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    We MAY or may not have waited a good 2 minutes before slicing and digging into this cake, to taste test. Trust me when I say it is mouth-watering goodness.

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake Recipe, fantabulosity.com

    I so hope you enjoy this Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake! Let me just say… my youngest little guy (who’s 3), and all the way up to my 70 year old grandpa… LOVED this cake. It will definitely be a staple in our home this holiday season!

    🍰 More Cake Recipes

    If you love chocolate cake recipes, you’ll also love this Milky Way Cake!

    Recipe

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake

    Moist chocolate cake with a rich peppermint buttercream, this cake recipe is perfect for the holidays!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes minutes
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 552kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    Cake:

    • 1 box chocolate cake mix cooked according to package EXCEPT: replace the amount of water needed with International Delight® Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer.

    Frosting:

    • 1 cup shortening
    • 4 Tablespoons Peppermint coffee creamer
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoons clear butter flavoring
    • 1 cup semi-crushed peppermint candies
    • ½ teaspoon clear peppermint flavoring optional

    Instructions

    Cake:

    • Divide prepared cake batter into 2 greased, 8-inch round cake pans.
    • Bake the cake according to the box directions, except replacing water required for mix with Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer.

    Frosting:

    • While cake is baking, and cooling, prepare frosting/filling.
    • With the mixer, mix together shortening, creamer, butter flavoring, and peppermint flavoring if desired.
    • Slowly, one cup at a time, mix in powdered sugar, until smooth.

    Assemble:

    • When cake has completely cooled, frost one cake with the frosting, and sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top.
    • Place the second layer of cake on top.
    • Arrange peppermint candies into the middle filling.
    • Frost the top of the cake, using a piping bag/large star tip like shown in photos.
    • Sprinkle remaining peppermint candies over the top of the cake.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 63g | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg

    Sympathy Gift Basket Idea

    October 14, 2016

    This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    Sympathy Gift Basket Idea: Sending necessities to those who’ve recently lost someone, so they don’t have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral,  and condolence.

    Sympathy Gift Baskets: This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    I’ll never forget when Karen, a sweet, sweet friend of ours, sent over a gift basket FULL of necessities, when we tragically lost my husband’s father. During that time of grief, condolence, and incredibly busy time, the last thing we were thinking about, was heading to the store to stock up on paper goods.

    Instead, we were spending time with those that we love, and greeting out of town guests. We were insanely blessed with fabulous comfort food, flowers, and other sympathy and remembrance gifts. But with all of the food, and guests in my in-laws home, we found a major need for paper goods, and everyday necessities. That was… until our friend Karen came over. She had a basket overflowing with everything we needed, to get back the next few days.

    It was from that moment on, that I knew, when someone was going through a tragic change in their life, I would create what our friend Karen created that day. A sympathy gift basket.

    Sympathy Gift Basket Idea

    This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    If you’re looking for a grieving gift basket idea, although it may not have the incredible appearance of beautiful flowers, I assure you, this gift will provide a feeling of relief for those in need.

    Sympathy Gift Baskets – Content Ideas:

    There are no “right,” or “wrong,” items for this gift basket, but just keep in mind when you’re shopping around, to look for things that will come in handy for those that will be spending a lot of time at home; eating, resting, hosting, etc.
    Also keep in mind that the family may not be at home when you drop off the gift. So staying away from perishable items is ideal, in case you need to leave the gift basket on the doorstep.

    Consider these suggestions:

    • Facial Tissues
    • Disposable Silverware
    • Paper Plates
    • Trash Bags
    • Zip-top Bags
    • Paper Towels
    • Toilet Paper
    • Aluminum Foil
    • Plastic Wrap
    • Sweet note/card

    How to Send This to Someone Far Away…

    I recently had a reader leave a comment about this gift idea, saying they wanted to send a sympathy gift basket to someone who lives far away. What she did, was ordered everything she wanted to include, from Amazon Pantry, and had it shipped to them that way. I thought that was an amazing idea!! Thank you so much for offering this brilliant idea! Shop items like this in Amazon Pantry HERE !

    This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    When I created this gift basket for a friend, I loved how the recipient could use the basket for something else later if need be. But you could easily use a gift bag instead.

    If you are planning to create a gift basket, keep in mind my favorite suggestions that I told you when I created the “Box of Sunshine Gift Idea,” for making a gift basket look more appealing.

    Gift Giving:

    Not Home: If they’re not home when you deliver, simply place the basket in a place (out of weather), that you suspect they’ll see it upon arrival. (Keep in mind, that THEY have a lot of things on their mind, so texting/calling them just to tell them you’ve dropped a gift off, may be more bothersome than simply thinking outside of the box, and placing it in a safe location where they don’t have to “work,” to find it. Besides, you want them to find it/use it, as soon as possible because the food and guests start arriving almost immediately.)  Don’t forget a sweet card/note explaining how you hope the contents of the gift helps make their next few days a little easier, without having to worry about everyday items.

    Home: If they are home when you arrive, simple explain to them how you hope the gift basket will make the next few days easier with out of town guests, and an abundance of food that will more than likely be arriving. If you have a close relationship, you may even consider putting away the items that you brought, to help ease the load a little more.

    Sympathy Gift Ideas: This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    Although food and flowers are extremely thoughtful, and SO appreciated during a time of loss, you may consider this type of sympathy gift, instead of what you can almost count on a lot of others bringing to them.

    A Small Gift Idea:

    If you’re looking to do something a bit smaller, yet BIG with thoughtfulness, this lunch box gift is something you could do as a small gesture, when a friend may not even want to think about eating.

    This is so smart! Sending necessities to those who've recently lost someone, so they don't have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral, and condolence.

    Fish Finger Tacos

    October 1, 2016

    Cilantro Avocado + Hummus Fish Tacos

    Fish Finger Tacos: These breaded fish tacos are made using cheese, coleslaw mix and a delicious dressing! Feel free to use your favorite breaded fish instead of fish fingers too!

    Maybe even consider putting a spin on them with this fried tacos recipe!

    Cilantro Avocado + Hummus Fish Tacos

    We had a little frozen (breaded) fish leftover from a previous dinner, and a few odds and ends like tortillas, shredded cheese, cabbage shreds, hummus, and a fun dressing.

    However, we LOVE making a lot of tilapia in the air fryer and this panko-crusted cod, so we can eat leftovers with these tacos, too!

    Cilantro Avocado + Hummus Fish Tacos

    I so hope you enjoy this version of fish tacos, and get a little experimental in the kitchen. Remember, with these… you don’t have to follow it to a “T!” Branch out, and try something new, with what you have on hand! Maybe even try these ingredients with these baked crispy chicken tacos too!

    Cilantro Avocado + Hummus Fish Tacos

    Next time, I’d love to try this same recipe with some shrimp that we have on hand, for sure.

    Serve alongside of chips and salsa, and this will be a meal that you’ll love for the ease and convenience! Besides… who doesn’t love tacos?

    Recipe

    Cilantro Avocado + Hummus Fish Tacos
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Fish Finger Tacos

    Fish Finger Tacos: These breaded fish tacos are made using cheese, coleslaw mix and a delicious dressing! Feel free to use your favorite breaded fish instead of fish fingers too!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 tacos
    Calories 289kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 4 tortillas
    • 12 pieces breaded fish fingers cooked (or preferred style of fish)
    • 4 Tablespoons hummus any flavor
    • 4 Tablespoons shredded cheese
    • 2 cups coleslaw We LOVE this KFC coleslaw recipe
    • ½ cup cilantro-avocado dressing I used Bolthouse Farms dressing, found in the cold section of the grocery store.

    Instructions

    • First, mix together the coleslaw shreds with the cilantro-avocado dressing. Set aside.
    • If using frozen fish, cook according to package directions.
    • Cut up the fish into small pieces. Set aside.
    • Using a tablespoon of hummus for each, spread the hummus down the middle of each tortilla.
    • Top with fish, shredded cheese, and coleslaw. Serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1taco | Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 580mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 12.8mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1.6mg

    Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    September 18, 2016

    Asian chicken lettuce wraps - quick weeknight meal Fantabulosity

    Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: A weeknight meal for those nights you stay in, but feel like take-out! A gourmet-inspired dish, for beginner chefs!

    If you love wrap recipes, then you’ll also love these chicken fajita wraps for an easy dinner recipe.

    Asian chicken lettuce wraps - quick weeknight meal Fantabulosity

    Why Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    With an early start to planning dinner one day, I decided that I would give these wraps a try. The original recipe was created for a slow cooker, but most days I’m not that on top of my game, and I’m realizing at 4:00 that I never planned anything for dinner.

    So my own little “stove-top” Asian chicken lettuce wrap recipe, was created.

    Asian chicken lettuce wraps - quick weeknight meal Fantabulosity

    I rarely cook with ground chicken, so when I saw it in the cast iron, it felt a little odd. I’m used to seeing dark ground beef sautéing away. So the white-meat “look,” took a few minutes to get used to, but quickly stole my heart when the dish was complete. I also use ground chicken in this easy chicken meatloaf recipe!

    Ingredients for this Recipe

    See full recipe card below for ingredients and instructions!

    What you’ll need for this dish:

    • 2 pounds ground chicken
    • 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
    • 1 red bell pepper cored and finely chopped
    • ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
    • ½ cup hoisin sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts drained and rinsed
    • 1-½ cups cooked white rice (or try this wild rice recipe!)
    • 3 green onions sliced
    • 1-½ teaspoons sesame oil
    • 1 package butter lettuce

    The ingredients are similar to my Asian sloppy joe recipe if you want to make those later too.

    One-Pot Dish

    I literally ate it RIGHT out of the pan, when it was complete. My husband was running late for dinner, and I wasn’t waiting. (It’s ok… we made that agreement early on in our marriage. Me + Hangry = Not something he wants to come home to.)

    Asian chicken lettuce wraps - quick weeknight meal Fantabulosity

    I decided to use butter lettuce from the store, and I’m SUPER happy with that decision. I usually buy “leaf” lettuce for my salads but decided to give the butter lettuce a try, and so glad that I did. It was perfect for small little servings, and has a natural curve to it, locking the Asian chicken inside a lot better than leaf lettuce.

    Recipe

    Asian chicken lettuce wraps - quick weeknight meal Fantabulosity
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    These lettuce wraps are super easy to whip up and are a great low carb dinner option!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 309kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground chicken
    • 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
    • 1 red bell pepper cored and finely chopped
    • ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
    • ½ cup hoisin sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts drained and rinsed
    • 1-½ cups cooked white rice
    • 3 green onions sliced
    • 1-½ teaspoons sesame oil
    • 1 package butter lettuce

    Instructions

    • Cook the ground chicken and garlic, until juices run clear.
    • Add remaining ingredients, (except butter lettuce) and let cook through for 5 minutes, or so. Just long enough to let the flavors mesh together.
    • To Serve: Scoop a couple of tablespoons into each lettuce leaf and serve.
    • Or eat straight out of the pan like I did. 😉

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 799mg | Potassium: 923mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 680IU | Vitamin C: 28.7mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.9mg

    BBQ White Queso Nachos

    September 6, 2016

    BBQ White Queso Nachos on wooden cutting board.

    BBQ White Queso Nachos: A weeknight meal that your family will love and it’s a great way to use leftover meats that you have on hand! If you have leftover taco meat, these Doritos Nachos with Ground Beef are a great choice too.

    BBQ White Queso Nachos

    Every once in a while, I get the urge to clean out my freezer, and experiment in the kitchen with only what I have on hand. (Does anyone else do that, or am I a little crazy?)

    The culprit is, that I’ll make a trip the grocery store, see an ingredient and think

    Ohhh! I’ll grab X, and make X this week.

    Only to get home and realize that I forgot the other ingredients that I would need to make X, so I’ll just stick, what I bought in the freezer, and save it for later.

    A few trips like that to the grocery store, and I have so many odds and ends taking up precious space in the freezer. So about once a month, I get my chef hat on, and get to work.

    BBQ Nachos with Leftover Meats

    Because I DO love cooking an oven baked roast, I did just that… and a few hours later, took the roast out, pulled it off of the bone, and coated it in BBQ sauce.

    BBQ White Queso Nachos

    So what does that look like for you, for a busy weeknight? Put your roast in the slow cooker before you leave for work, and when you get home, pull the meat off of the bone, and tear/cut in to little pieces. Toss with BBQ sauce, and your have the delicious protein to top your nachos with!

    Where’s the beef? 

    Now my favorite part of this recipe is that you can switch out any type of meat that you have on hand, or prefer.

    For instance, making a large batch of chicken in the crock pot, is a great way to get a quick meal on the table!

    I absolutely LOVE the idea of using these burnt ends on nachos! Could you imagine the deliciousness that comes with that!?

    Say you have a rotisserie chicken that you need to use. Rip the meat off of that baby and coat it with BBQ sauce, throw it over some chips and cheese, and chow down. But let me tell you a little more about what I put on mine, to make it incredibly delish…

    My family LOVED the bbq white queso nachos, and considering how easy they were, and I was able to use only what I had on hand… it’s now a favorite of mine for weeknights too!

    Want additional toppings for your nachos?

    If you’d love more ideas for toppings for your nachos, then you MUST check out the nacho bar that I styled for a birthday party, and see the list of toppings that you can use on your BBQ nachos! Get the topping ideas from this nacho bar!

    Nacho Bar Party Ideas

    Top these with my famous guacamole recipe, and you may just fall in love.

    This is always requested at my parties. The BEST Guacamole Recipe

    More Easy Dinner Ideas

    If you love easy dinner ideas, then you’re going to love seeing what we have here:

    • Hot Dog Mummies resting on round plate.
      Hot Dog Mummies
    • Chicken salad with grapes and apples, sitting on bread.
      Harvest Chicken Salad
    • Crispy panko chicken breasts sliced on plate, with lemon wedges sitting beside them.
      Crispy Panko Chicken Recipe (Baked or Fried)
    • Mussels cooked in white wine and garlic sauce, stacked on plate, next to toasts.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce

    Recipe

    BBQ White Queso Nachos on wooden cutting board.
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    BBQ White Queso Nachos

    This nacho recipe is soo comforting and is perfect for appetizers or parties! Gooey white queso, chicken, and veggies piled high on tortilla chips
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 66kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 block white queso Velveeta
    • 2- 3 Tablespoons milk or desired amount for preferred texture
    • 1 cup cooked beef can substitute with chicken, shrimp, or preferred meat
    • ½-1 cup BBQ sauce
    • green onion chopped
    • 1 tomato chopped
    • ½ red onion chopped

    Instructions

    • According to package directions, melt your white queso and milk in the microwave.
    • In a separate bowl, generously coat your cooked meat with BBQ (The more the better, in my opinion)
    • On a large platter or individual plates, place a layer of tortilla chips.
    • Pour melted white queso over the top of the chips.
    • Top with additional ingredients that you desire.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (⅛ recipe) | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 136mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 2.7mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Dip Dip Hooray!!! How to Style a Dip Bar

    September 1, 2016

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    This post brought to you by Chobani. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Fantabulosity.

    “Dip Dip Hooray!” Dip Bar: A creative and fun way to serve bite-size snacks and dips at any party. 

    As a hostess, I’m always looking for simple ways to serve food to our guests, and setting up a decorated-designated “spot,” for the event, is something that guests LOVE! It’s inviting, and if your guests are like ours… they tend to crowd around the food anyway, so you might as well spruce it up a bit, right?

    Besides, who doesn’t love a good food bar at a party!?

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    “Dip Dip Hooray” Dip Bar

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    For a dessert dip, it would be amazing to serve this red, white, and blue dessert dip on this bar, too!

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    It’s Labor Day! The perfect excuse to decorate with the red, white & blue! However, a dip bar can be created and served any time of the year! Indoors or out. Designate a table (or bookshelf like I did here) and fill it full of dips, snacks, and any coordinating decor to match your theme or event purpose.

    A Dip Bar

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    Styling Tip: Have a napkin or dishtowel that matches your party color scheme? Fill a vase with a napkin, to give it the “filler,” look, all while adding a little extra color!

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    Pre-Made Dips:

    To keep things SUPER simple with this dip bar, I knew buying pre-made dips was the answer – except for this blue cheese dip. (You just can’t find anything in the store as good as this one!)

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    Bite Size Snacks to Dip:

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    Fill your dip bar with items that can be dipped, and you’ll keep your guests busy snacking, all without having to serve and cook up a large meal. Yay for more time to visit with your guests!

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    You can also fill your dip bar with goodies that they guests may need, so they can easily serve and help themselves. Items like cocktail plates, napkins, silverware, drinks, and of course… dessert.

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    If you’re doing a red, white and blue theme, you’ll also love this flag dessert pizza we love making!

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.
    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    Fantabulous Hostess Tip: Don’t fret over trying to decorate a dip bar. Take a close look at the one I have styled here. It’s simply using things around the house, (including my obsession with fabric and fun napkins) to style a table that I normally use in my foyer. Plan a color scheme, and start looking around the house for items that would match the theme! Before you know it, you’ll have more items to use, than you thought!

    A Dip Bar! Such a fun way to style snacks for a party.

    I hope you’re inspired to entertain this Labor Day. Keep it simple and enjoy your guests! No one likes a stressed hostess!

    Hot Dog Week: Pizza Dog

    August 30, 2016

    Pizza hot dog, on a bun.

    Hot Dog Week: Pizza Dog. Marinara, mozzarella, chopped bacon. Day 3 of 6 of the BEST gourmet hot dog recipes! 

    Hot Dog Week: Great topping ideas for hot dog bar

    How to Make a Pizza Dog

    Hot Dog Week: Pizza Dog

    Welcome to day 3 of “Hot Dog,” week! Yesterday we covered the “BLT Dog,” and the first day we introduced (possibly my favorite) the “Buffalo Chicken Hot Dog.”

    But adding my OTHER favorite food, pizza, in with this combo for today’s hot dog recipe… makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. (I’ve told you how “food = love” in my mind, right?)

    A warm mound of marinara, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled bacon (just for fun), is all that is needed to top it off, making it a “pizza dog.” Once assembled, throw it back on the grill for a little sec, to give it an overall “toasted,” texture, and you’ve just taken it to a whole new level.

    You could even top it with this hot dog sauce if you want to live on the wild side!

    Hot Dog Week: Pizza Dog

    Other Hot Dog Recipes this week:

    Sunday: Buffalo Chicken Hot Dog

    Hot Dog Week: Buffalo Chicken Dog

    Or pin this image to remember for later:

    Hot Dog Week: Great topping ideas for a hot dog bar

    If you love a little heat on your hot dog, this spicy hot dog recipe is definitely one to check out.

    You’ll also love making hot dogs wrapped in bread and cheese!

    Recipe

    Pizza hot dog, on a bun.
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Pizza Hot Dog

    Dreams do come true with pizza and hot dogs come together in this pizza hot dog. Melted cheese and tomato sauce are piled on a hot dog!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 1 hot dog
    Calories 328kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 hot dog
    • 1 hot dog bun
    • 1 Tablespoon marinara sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons mozzarella cheese
    • crumbled bacon optional, or other meats/veggies

    Instructions

    • Cook hot dog according to package directions, (we prefer ours grilled)
    • Place hot dog in a bun, and layer marinara sauce, mozzarella, and bacon.
    • Optional: Place on a super low heat, grill, to toast the bun and gently melt the cheese

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1hot dog | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 689mg | Potassium: 157mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 296mg | Iron: 2.9mg

    30th Birthday Gift Ideas for Him

    November 29, 2016

    30th birthday gift ideas for him

    30th Birthday Ideas for Him: A list of birthday gift ideas from men who were asked what they would like to receive for their 30th birthday!

    30th birthday ideas for him and gift ideas to make your gift giving easier! fantabulosity

    30th Birthday Ideas for Him

    Just a couple of years ago, I was right where you are…

    What do I get my husband for his birthday!?

    Before marriage it was,

    What do I get my boyfriend for his birthday?

    I totally get it. They can be SO hard to shop for, no matter what your relationship with them is.

    Well, I wanted to put an end to all of the guessing games when it comes to 30th birthday ideas for a husband, good friend or even a brother or family member!

    I polled a TON of men around the age of 30, to get to the bottom of it, and find out exactly what men really wanted for their 30th birthday. (Give/Take a few years if need be.)

    30th birthday gift ideas for him

    One of my favorite gift ideas for him is this “I think you’re Red Hot!” Valentine’s gift “basket.” See how I made it for my hubby here for Valentine’s Day, but could be for a birthday or a “just because” gift:

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    For the Sports & Outdoorsman:

    • Golf equipment
    • Overnight trip to play at his favorite golf course with buddies. (Plan a trip with Expedia.)
    • Sporting event tickets (Baseball, Football, Hockey)
    • Fishing gear
    • Hunting equipment
    • CCW Class
    • Grill
    • Man-cave - Get him out of town, buy a tv or two and fix up a space just for him. When he comes back, surprise him with his friends already hanging out inside.

    For the Handyman:

    • Tools (Air tools)
    • Large tool chest
    • Tool box for truck
    • Paint Sprayer
    • LED Flashlight

    For the Musician:

    • Guitar
    • Drums
    • Tickets to a concert
    • Keyboard/Piano

    For the Professional:

    • Cigars
    • Necktie
    • Cologne
    • New pair of shoes
    • Bottle of bourbon with nice glasses (Shop decanters)

    For the Adventurer:

    • “Escape the Box” – Check your area to see if this is offered. He can take some friends, get locked in a room with a one hour timer, and have to find all the clues to get out before the hour’s up.
    • “Drive a Tank” – A place where he can drive a tank, and plow over cars, houses, and operate machines.
    • A Mexico vacation – See what I did for my husband’s 30th birthday, with all of the little surprises along the way!

    Surprise 30th Birthday https://fantabulosity.com

    For Any Man:

    • Favorite Cake (Cheesecake, Ice Cream Cake, or favorite flavor)
    • Money to spend on himself
    • Full body massage (Extra special from wife or girlfriend, but spa is nice too!)  If it will be from you, make sure you read up on the post I wrote, Preparing for a Romantic Weekend away with your Husband. You may just find a few tips for yourself in there!

    I so hope you found a few gift ideas for the man in your life! It was so nice hearing from men, what they’d actually want for a gift for their birthday. I was completely shocked at how many actually spilled the beans. But that’s good news for us! Woot!

    DIY Chocolate Melts Gift Idea

    December 3, 2016

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee & Hot Chocolate Toppers… a delicious way to top your drink, or give as gifts for a sweet touch!

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts

    When I found a silicone square ice cube tray the other day at Ikea, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d use it for, but I just knew that I had to have it.

    Then on my hour and a half drive home, I started brainstorming what I could put it to use for, and DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts came to mind! I had never heard of such a thing, nor would ever deny putting squares of milk or while chocolate in to my coffee or hot chocolate.

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    Explore the possibilities

    It’s actually kind of fun to explore what you have on hand, that would work in beverage chocolate melts. That’s kind of how I came up with this hot chocolate gift idea too!

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    How-To

    After determining what ingredients to mix in to your chocolate melts, sprinkle them in to the tray first. Then pour the melted chocolate on top of these, so the fun ingredients can be seen at the top when the chocolate hardens!

    We used almond bark, and chocolate chips, although my favorite is to use Ghirardelli chocolate chips or melts. Slowly melt the chips or almond bark in the microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until fully melted.

    Pour the chocolate in to each cube, filling close to the rim. (However, you don’t have to fill it completely if you’d prefer a smaller “cube.”)

    Place the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolates harden. Carefully pop each square out, and enjoy or save for later!

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    Varieties

    Much like the toppings you can use on this hot cocoa dip recipe, these are so fun in these cocoa melts…

    • Sprinkles

    • Crushed peanuts

    • Toffee bits

    • Crushed peppermint

    • Mini Chocolate Chips

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity
    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity
    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity
    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    When we made a large amount of these, I quickly realized that they would make WONDERFUL gifts for some of my coffee and hot chocolate loving friends.

    Coffee and Hot Chocolate Gift Idea

    Last year, I created a DIY Coffee Mug for my mom for Mother’s Day, and she absolutely loved it. So this year, I thought it would be fun to create a spin-off of that gift, for some of my gal pals, using the chocolate melts.

    All you need is a coffee mug, a clear treat bag, ribbon, and chocolate melts. Fill the treat bag with the chocolate melts, secure the bag with a ribbon, and place it in the coffee mug! You’re all set. Create a cute gift tag, and that may even kick it up a notch.

    DIY Beverage Chocolate Melts: Coffee or Hot Chocolate Toppers! Fantabulosity

    If you love quick and easy gift ideas, then you ABSOLUTELY have to check out everyone’s favorites here on the blog, like these:

    DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen & Entertaining

    December 10, 2016

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    This post was created in partnership with Ninja Coffee Bar® System. I received complimentary products and compensation to facilitate my review, but all opinions within are my own.

    DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen: An easy set-up for a small coffee station in the kitchen, dining room, or any small space in your home. Keeping it simple, and cute!

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    I’m slightly crushing on DIY coffee bar ideas all over Pinterest. Ok, ok, a LOT crushing on them. Ever since we moved in to our home a couple of years ago (have I mentioned that we are listing this one soon?? I know, we are absolutely CRAZY.) I’ve wanted a small designated space in our kitchen for a built-in coffee bar, for everyday coffee recipe creations and for entertaining.

    Not realizing this at the time of building, I didn’t really set aside a space for such a thing. But I did have a little extra space in the breakfast nook area for a small table, that I kept my eye out for at antique shops and flea markets. The day that I found the cutest little dark brown (yes, dark brown) table at a used furniture shop, I knew she had to be mine and that she was going to be my little coffee bar table. My right-hand gal Kate (who LOVES to refinish furniture), took the table under her wing and turned it in to exactly what I imagined.

    DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen & Entertaining

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    Coffee Bar Ideas:

    No matter if you have a designated space or just a small space to squeeze in a few coffee bar items, I wanted to give you a few ideas of what you could do, to create a coffee bar in your home.

    1. Cute Table

    Think outside of the box when needing a place to store your coffee bar items. You don’t have to go big or go home when it comes to finding something cute and practical. Keep your eyes open for used furniture, or even look around your home for something that would serve as a great coffee bar table! You may be surprised at what you can find!

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    2. Coffee Bar Decor:

    Whether it’s a small sign, a vase full of flowers, or something else that would fit the style of your home… adding a bit of decor to a coffee station can make it suddenly feel homey and “dressed up.” For our coffee bar station, I already had the “Eat Cake for Breakfast,” sign, and since I frequent the coffee bar in the morning around breakfast time… it was absolutely fitting.

    I found a cute croc to store the drink stirrers in, that also helped add a bit of a decor touch.

    The cupcakes?  Yeah, those are real. When entertaining, I LOVE having this coffee bar set up with fun snacks and bite-size foods for my guests.
    If you’re looking to add this type of look to your coffee bar too, but don’t always want real food sitting out, you’d be SURPRISED at the artificial food that you can find at craft stores these days! Artificial donuts, bagels, cupcakes, and cookies would look so stinking cute on a coffee bar table.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    3. Coffee Cups

    It’s always a great idea to have coffee cups ready to go at the coffee bar station. I’m a sucker for all-matching coffee cups like the white mugs that I have here. (But don’t get me wrong, I have a ton of mismatched random cups just like you, hiding away in my cupboard.)  When having guests over, take all of the guesswork out of how to “help themselves,” by making sure everything they would need is already sitting out and ready.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    4. Coffee System

    Then the most important aspect of the coffee bar… a coffee system. You all, I have fallen in absolute love with the Ninja Coffee Bar® System. I’ve had my eye on this guy for quite some time, and I finally have my hands on one. Its sleek appearance looks STUNNING on my coffee bar, and doesn’t take up a ton of space. It amazes me what all this thing can do, in such a compact space.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    When I gave a sneak peek on Facebook the other day of one of my first coffee’s that I made with this, I couldn’t believe the response from you all, about how bad that you’ve wanted one too.

    Coffee Bar Ideas

    A Few Details on the Ninja Coffee Bar® System:

    You all, the set up was so easy, the moment I pulled it out of the box. I was so intimidated at first, thinking that I’d have to put it all together, and I didn’t! It was ready to go, with a quick-start guide! 

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    No guess-work:

    It has a “Ninja Smart™ Scoop,” with it, so I can measure out exactly how much coffee to brew, for the amount that I need to make, day to day.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    Big or Small Brew:

    I can make a 10-cup glass carafe on the mornings that I know my husband and I will be drinking more than one cup. Or, if it’s just me at home… I can brew one cup and call it a day!

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    Frother:

    The system includes a built-in hot and cold frother, (I LOVE this feature), six brew sizes… and five brew types (including the Ninja-exclusive Cafe Forte brew, which amplifies the flavors of your favorite coffee. I didn’t even know how GOOD coffee could taste at home, until I used this feature. I kid you not.)

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    Inner Barista:

    Then it also came with a recipe book that has customized recipes, of fun beverages to make and experiment with! I’ll admit, my inner barista totally slips out some days.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!

    Mmmm…. I have so much fun experimenting with different recipes. But my favorite so far? This one. A simple brew of coffee, frothed milk, topped with bits of toffee.

    This is PERFECT for a small space! DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen!
    Easy clean-up:

    It has a permanent filter, that I can just clean out when we’re done with coffee for the day, and easily get it ready for the next. No need for disposable filters.

    Eeeek! I couldn’t WAIT to share my new coffee bar with you all! I hope you love it as much as we do!

    Gift Idea for Him: “I Think You’re Red Hot” Gift Basket Ideas

    January 19, 2017

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Gift Idea for Him: “I think you’re red Hot” Gift Basket Ideas. Always needing a gift idea for my husband, I decided a toolbox full of a lot of his favorite things (in red) would be the perfect gift!

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Gift Idea for Him

    It’s the struggle that a lot of women experience once a year…

    Valentine’s Day gift ideas for him

    Right? Can I get an amen? Heck, Valentine’s Day isn’t the only holiday that I struggle with gift ideas for my husband. It’s ANY gift ideas for my husband. The man has everything he could possibly want. He’s one of those, “He wants it, so he just goes and buys it,” kind of guys. Do you have one of those?

    I admire his will to just make it happen, but that sure makes it difficult come gift-giving time.

    More Ideas for Him, You’ll Love:

    • Gift Ideas for Him
    • 30th Birthday Party Ideas for Him
    • Gift Ideas for Teenage Guys

    So if you’ve found yourself struggling for a gift idea for your boyfriend, husband, or anyone that you think is well… “Red Hot,” then you may like this gift basket idea that I’ve created this year.

    “I think You’re Red Hot” Gift Basket Tool Box

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Tool Box Gift Tutorial:

    • Container: It all began with finding something to put all of the goodies in. For the other gift ideas I’ve created, I’ve either used a simple basket or box to arrange them in. But this time, I wanted to be a little more creative, and package it all up in to something that he could re-use again. Because let’s face it, my husband would NOT be excited about a cutesy little box or wire basket from Target, like I would. 😉  So a toolbox it is! They had the cheaper plastic toolboxes, but I fell in love when I saw this metal, stylish toolbox instead. (Because it’s always about “style,” right?)

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    • Contents: Then, it was time to start trying to find all of the red things at the store that my husband loves. This was not as hard as you’d expect. Really! It was actually kind of fun, and a challenge. I’m a challenge junkie.

    Yeah, don’t look too close mom. Some of these may make you blush. Sorry ’bout that.

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    You use what??? Awesome.

    Want to hear one of my favorite gift-hacks? Well, I DESPISE tissue paper. Do I use it? You bet. But when I’m making a gift basket, it kind of makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit. Why? Because I have the hardest time trying to tame the lion of the tissue paper, to make it look “good.” It always looks like my toddler crinkled it up and stuffed it in.

    Rather, I like to buy those little pieces of fabric at Walmart or the craft store, that are super affordable. I believe they’re made for quilting??? Anyhow, they’re made for gift basket stuffing in my house. The edges ARE frayed, so that kind of stinks, and puts off a ragged look. But I’ll usually try to get creative and tuck the ends under if I’m able.
    If not, fabric glue may be a good option to fold the ends under to have a cleaner look.

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    I’m not going to lie. I peed my pants a little bit when we (My right-hand gal Kate and I) saw this wine at Target. How perfect is this for this mens gift idea?

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Red Gift Basket Ideas:

    Ok, so here’s what I put in my husband’s toolbox gift basket. Feel free to take away/add anything to yours of course. I found all of this at Target! This may just give you a jumpstart of some ideas…

    • Tools
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cola
    • Chocolate Cigars
    • Hershey’s Kisses
    • Jerky
    • Nuts (These didn’t fit, so I ended up keeping those myself.)
    • Sunflower Seeds (Neither did these. So I ate them. I wish the wine wouldn’t have fit.)
    • Chocolates
    • Body Wash
    • Mints
    • Massage Oil (Sorry mom. I know, that’s gross. But hey, it was red so I had to get it.)
    • 5-Hour Energy (You know, for later.)
    • Candle (You know, for later. Again.)
    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Gift Tag:

    So I have this fancy-schmancy Silhouette Cameo machine that could have made the cutest gift tag I’m sure. But let’s face it. I’m a mom, I’m busy. So my husband got a hand-written gift tag and a stamp of some lips. He wouldn’t care if I spent hours designing a gift tag anyway. Magic marker and a stamp it is.

    Tie it on with a ribbon (I tied it to the clamp of the toolbox.)

    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    More Valentine’s Day Ideas

    • A slice of tandy cake on a round plate, sitting next to the rest of the cake.
      Tandy Cake
    • A slice of cherry cheesecake on a plate, next to full cheesecake.
      No Bake Cherry Cheesecake
    • Slice of pink lemonade cake, with pink and white striped straw sticking out the top.
      Pink Lemonade Cake
    • Close up of chocolate peanut butter brownies
      Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies Recipe
    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas
    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas
    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    That’s it! How fun is this?

    Now if red isn’t your color, and you’d be more in to a “sunshine basket,” then you may want to head over and see how I styled that one, and gave it to a couple of our friends.

    Sunshine Gift Basket Ideas https://fantabulosity.com
    Gift Idea for Him- I think you're red Hot Gift Basket Ideas

    Thanks so much for coming by!!

    Hawaiian Breakfast Sandwich

    January 17, 2017

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    The Hawaiin Breakfast Sandwich: The flavor combination will blow your mind! Sweet and salty are delicious on a Hawaiian bun!

    I’m about ready to rock your world with a sandwich that not only “wowed,” my family, but was so incredibly easy to make. It has turned out to be one of our favorites, along with this fun breakfast egg roll recipe!

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    Why you’ll love these sandwiches

    With only a few ingredients, this sandwich can be created in no-time, but also fill up your family. Have you ever been to a restaurant, and happen across an item on the menu that has rare ingredients, or a combination of ingredients that makes you go, “Whaaa!?”

    That’s how I feel when I think about this sandwich. From the moment of experimentation, I’ll admit… I was thinking, “This can either go really bad, or be surprisingly amazing.” Well if it wasn’t surprisingly amazing, then I wouldn’t be sharing this recipe with you today.

    My husband? You better BELIEVE he loved it. He loves an over-easy egg on a hamburger or on a fried bologna breakfast sandwich, so I knew he’d love an egg on a hot ham sandwich. The pineapple??? I wasn’t sure he’d go for it… but he did, and fell in love.

    Ingredients we used:

    (Full Recipe Below)

    • Honey Ham
    • Pepperjack Cheese
    • Pineapple Ring
    • Over-easy eggHawaiian Buns

    For a family of four: Use 4 buns, 8-12 slices of ham, 4 slices of cheese, 4 pineapple rings, and 4 eggs.

    It’s not just for breakfast:

    Although it’s made with an egg, you may be thinking, “Breakfast.” Well, it would be absolutely delicious for breakfast. But we even love this for lunch, or dinner! (Or a midnight snack, when we get on a Netflix binge watching kick.)

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!
    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    Tutorial:

    If you saw my “Best Cheeseburger Recipe,” video tutorial, then you know I’m a firm believer in toasting buns. Either butter the insides of your bun, and toss on the skillet for about 30 seconds, or coat the skillet with butter, and toast the buns a bit. Set aside.

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    Next, fry your ham in the skillet, and top it with cheese a minute or so right before you plan to take it off. (To allow the cheese to melt on top of the ham a bit.) Top the bottom slice of your Hawaiian bun.

    This is when you can place a pineapple ring, right on top of the ham/cheese, or you can place the pineapple ring in to the skillet for a bit, to allow it to heat up/sear. Either way, it’s delish.

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    In the same skillet, (toss in a little more butter if necessary), and fry your egg “over-easy.” When it has completed frying, place it on top of the pineapple.

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    Place the top bun on, and gently push down, allow the bun to slowly “pop,” the egg so the yolk will slightly flow out on to the rest of the sandwich.

    I’m not going to lie… my mouth is completely watering, writing that last step.

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    It’s a sandwich that your family may say, “Huh?” But that left my family saying, “Yum.”

    For the new year, I pledged to start cooking more at home. We were ALWAYS eating out, and literally throwing money down the drain. But I LOVE food, so I struggled with not being able to try new things all of the time. So I decided to try new recipes at home, and I must say… if we can save money, AND eat amazing things like this Hawaiian sandwich… I don’t know if we’ll ever choose to eat out, over eating at home again. Making 4 of these for my family of 4, took hardly any time at all!

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    Side Note:

    When I started eating this sandwich for the first time I took a bite and immediately ran over to my camera to capture this gloriousness of the egg yolk dripping down over the meat, cheese & pineapple. Oh.My.Gosh. So, so good.

    I found the Castle Wood Reserve® Honey Ham at Walmart near the deli. They have a full line of deli meats, and when preparing a meat/cheese tray, it’s a favorite to use, because of the quality of the flavor.

    Recipe

    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    The Hawaiian: Ham + Egg + Cheese + Pineapple

    Get a taste of the tropics with this Hawaiian breakfast sandwich. Ham, egg, cheese, and pineapple sandwiched between a bun to make the ultimate breakfast recipe.
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 426kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 4 Hawaiian buns
    • 8-12 slices ham We used Castle Wood Reserve® Honey Ham
    • 4 slices pepperjack cheese
    • 4 eggs
    • 4 pineapple rings
    • butter for cooking

    Instructions

    • Begin by buttering the insides of the buns, and toasting them in a pan over medium-high heat, for about 30 seconds. Set aside.
    • Fry the ham, topping with a slice of cheese after warmed/fried, and place on the bottom portion of the bun.
    • If desired, place pineapple ring in the pan to sear/warm for about a minute. (Flipping half-way through.) Place on top of ham/cheese.
    • If necessary, add a little butter to the pan to fry your egg(s) over-easy
    • Place on top of meat/cheese/pineapple
    • Top with other bun, and gently push down, allow the egg yolk to slightly drip over the rest of the sandwich.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 961mg | Potassium: 314mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 5.4mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    OMG YUUM!!! Ham, Pineapple, Egg and pepperjack cheese, on a Hawaiian bun!

    I hope you enjoy it!

    Electric Skillet Hamburgers

    January 12, 2017

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Electric Skillet Hamburgers: a quick and easy way to make burgers without the stove top splatter! Plus, cooking them like this, results in a juicy, all-around cooked burger that’s perfect for a busy weeknight!

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Straight out of my husband’s mouth

    “Jessica, this is such a GOOD burger. So good.”

    My husband doesn’t just tell me what I want to hear when it comes to my cooking and/or recipes. So when he goes on and on about how good something is, you better believe I’m going to call it the BEST.

    Don’t miss the SUPER popular and Fantabulosity fan favorite, the Hamburgers in the Oven recipe and the NEW Smoked Burgers recipe!

    Browned Butter Cheeseburger Recipe

    Right along with Fantabulosity recipe tradition, we’re gonna keep things easy.

    I’m not a gourmet chef, and sometimes simple is better. So you can count on this recipe only using ingredients that you more than likely have on hand and can be whipped up in just a short time.

    For YEARS, I made a not-so-appetizing cheeseburger. No lie. They were dry, unflavorful (is that a word), and just “edible.” Now, we have them once a week, and look forward to “cheeseburger day” and I can’t help but think that these are so delicious because of the browned butter (like we use when cooking steaks in the oven) and “steaming” effect that the electric skillet gives!

    Best Cheeseburger Recipe Photo Tutorial

    Don’t let all of the photos scare you. There aren’t many steps to these! I just wanted to be extra thorough for you!

    For the full recipe with measurements, you can see the recipe card towards the end of the post!

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Get the Skillet Ready

    Butter (REAL butter… not that fake stuff), Peppercorn, Garlic Powder, and Kosher Salt. Ahh… a heavenly mix, wouldn’t you say?

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Using an electric skillet, heat it to 350 degrees, and then coat the skillet with about 2-3 Tablespoons of butter. (You can also cut a chunk of butter and toss it in. I just secretly love sliding the butter back and forth, and enjoying the moment.)

    While your butter is browning (this is KEY… BROWN THAT BUTTER), patty out the burgers.

    If you don’t have an electric skillet, you can cook burgers on the stovetop in a frying pan!

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!
    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Prep the Burgers

    1 lb of ground beef usually makes three burgers for us. (We like them thick.)

    Roll a third of the ground beef into a ball, and then mash down into a patty using both hands. Using your thumbs and fingers… smooth out the edges the best that you can, making sure there are little or NO cracks. This will help hold the juices in, and keep it from falling apart.

    Have leftover ground beef? Or more ground beef in the freezer? Save this list of ground beef dinners.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    I also push down a bit in the center of each hamburger patty, to allow the juices to flow towards the middle while cooking, rather than running off of the sides and into the skillet.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    What Temperature Do You Cook Hamburgers in an Electric Skillet?

    Put the lid on the electric skillet, and let the burgers cook over 350 for a couple of minutes, or until the tops start turning a grayish/light brown, and the bottoms have a BEAUTIFUL brown color to them.

    Flip the burgers.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Put the lid back on, and let them cook a few minutes more.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    The photo above shows an example of how they’re NOT done. The juices coming out of the top are still pink/red.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Now, THIS is how you know they’re done. The juices coming out of the top have changed colors to grayish/tan.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    What Kind of Cheese for Cheeseburger

    Turn the electric skillet on simmer, and place a slice of cheese over each burger.

    (Here, I used provolone and American, just because we had the extra cheese on hand and I wanted to see how it would taste. It was good, but I’m still a fan of American cheese on a burger.)

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Place the lid back on, and let the cheese slowly melt on to each burger.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    How to Toast Hamburger Buns

    Ok, I know it looks nasty. But pouring out the grease/butter into a bowl from the electric skillet is what needs to be done, to get it ready for the buns.

    Pour most of it out, but it’s a-ok if you leave behind some of the seasoning/grease/hamburger pieces. This just adds more flavor to your buns.)

    Coat the skillet again with butter (turning the skillet up to about 300 degrees) and place each half of the buns on the skillet.)

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!
    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    The buns should toast in about 30 seconds, and they’ll have this glorious brownish/black look.

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    Your burgers are ready for assembly!

    How to Make the BEST Cheeseburgers

    This is totally optional, but one of the things my family loves is when I assemble the burgers (without toppings or condiments) and wrap each cheeseburger in aluminum foil and let them sit for about 5 or 10 minutes before serving.

    What this does is “steam” the burgers and connect the burgers, cheese, and buns for a DELICIOUS texture.

    Then, my family will put their toppings or condiments of choice and enjoy!

    Cheeseburger Toppings

    Top your cheeseburger with some of our favorites and other goodies like:

    • Tomatoes
    • Bacon
    • Red Onions
    • Lettuce
    • Mustard
    • Honey Mustard
    • Spicy Mustard
    • Ketchup
    • Mayo
    • Pickles
    • Avocado
    • Spicy or Fiesta Ranch
    • Crispy Fried Onions
    • Fried Egg
    • BBQ Sauce
    • Sriracha
    • Steak Sauce (like A1)
    • Carmalized Onions
    • Peppers
    • Hummus
    •  Hot Sauce
    • Relish
    • Spinach Leaves
    • Slaw
    • Chips
    • Jalapenos
    • Grilled Pineapple – trust us! It’s so good on these Hawaiian Burgers too!
    • Teriyaki Sauce
    • Queso
    • Crumbled Blue Cheese
    • Chili

    More Hamburger Recipes You’ll Love:

    If you love this one, then you’re REALLY going to love these other fan-favorite hamburger recipes, such as the donut burger, waffle burger, stovetop burger and for a fun twist… the crispy chicken burger!

    Recipe

    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Electric Skillet Hamburgers

    Electric Skillet Hamburgers: Learn how to make the best cheeseburger with this easy to follow recipe. Juicy burger covered in cheese is the ultimate comfort meal.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 3 burgers
    Calories 459kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Equipment

    • Electric Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • pinch kosher salt approx. 1-½ teaspoon
    • ground peppercorn to taste
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 stick butter 8 tablespoons – The REAL unsalted butter is my favorite
    • 3 slices American cheese

    Instructions

    • Turn skillet on to 350 degrees.
    • Mix together ground beef, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Coat the electric skillet with the butter. (Approximately 3 Tablespoons.)
    • Patty out the burgers and place in the skillet covered, cooking for a couple of minutes until the tops of the burgers turn tan and the bottoms are a gorgeous brown.
    • Flip the burgers and cook for a couple of minutes, or until the juices forming out the top run clear and are no longer pink/red.
    • DO NOT mash down the burgers while cooking. This will release the juices that you want to stay in.
    • Turn skillet down to a simmer, and place a slice of cheese on each burger.
    • Remove cheeseburgers from skillet and place on a dish close to one another to trap in heat.
    • Dump the grease out of the skillet into a heatproof bowl.
    • Increase the heat to 300, and coat the skillet with butter.
    • Place each bun half on the skillet and toast the buns for about 30 seconds.
    • Once the buns are toasted, you’re ready to assemble the cheeseburgers!

    Video

    Notes

    For an extra delicious burger, wrap each burger (after assembled with the bun) in aluminum foil to allow the bun/burger to steam, like we do with the burgers in the oven that have gone viral!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (⅓ lb burger) | Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 163mg | Potassium: 440mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3.1mg
    These were SO juicy and easy! Love what she uses. The BEST Cheeseburger recipe!

    I hope you enjoy them as much as my husband and my boys! Another quick and easy recipe that’s a house favorite… in the books! Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out my other “BEST’S” recipes like my:

    The BEST Side Salad Recipe

    BEST Beef Tenderloin Recipe

    Holy Cow!!! This is the BEST Beef Tenderloin Recipe EVER. https://fantabulosity.com

    The BEST Guacamole Recipe

    This is always requested at my parties. The BEST Guacamole Recipe

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip – Football Party Ideas

    January 12, 2017

    Loaded cream cheese dip in bowl.

      This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TheNewFanFavorites #CollectiveBias

    Football Party Food: This Loaded Cream Cheese Dip can be shaped in to a football, making it perfect for any football party, or left in a bowl for dipping!

    Football Party Food idea: Chips/Dips stadium. So easy and YUM!
    Football party appetizer: Dips & Stadium. So fun!

    Football Party Food

    I think I’ll base my next statement off of a quote of one of my favorite people.

    A party without snacks, is just a meeting.”

    I’ve recently fallen in love with Julia Child, and her quote “A party without cake is just a meeting.” rings so true with my thoughts exactly.

    I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed decorating and organizing parties, but I must admit that I look forward to the food and snacks the most. It’s an excuse to eat good food, and a great chance to get creative.

    It’s rather an obsession really, that I stock up on snacks, and chips every time I make a trip to the grocery store.

    As a hostess by heart, it’s just too easy to always be prepared for unexpected guests, when you have snacks in the pantry, ready to go.

    Then, if you can find a dip recipe that can be made out of items that you typically have on hand anyway, you’re golden!

    The other day, my friend Kate and I decided to get a little creative with some of my favorite snacks, and create a football-themed party in case you will be hosting a party for the big game this year.

    In the process, we also created a dip that’s out of this world and has become a new favorite.

    PLUS, I can’t WAIT to show you what we ended up creating with it, to bring out a little more “football,” to our “football party.”

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip! Ranch, bacon, jalapenos, cheese, YUUUM!

    With only a few ingredients, this dip turned out to be one of my FAVORITES!

    You can easily mix together all of the ingredients and serve it as a dip, or go one extra step and shape it in to a football like we did… for a bit of a wow factor for your party!

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip! Ranch, bacon, jalapeños, cheese, YUUUM!

    When making the “football,” shape, combine all of the ingredients EXCEPT the real bacon bits.

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip! Ranch, bacon, jalapeños, cheese, YUUUM!

    “Football” Dip:

    After refrigerating the dip for 10 minutes (Full tutorial below in recipe), it can be shaped in to a football, and ready to coat it with bacon pieces, to resemble the football color.

    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!

    Lastly, “draw,” the laces on with sour cream, and it’s a football!

    Take it another step further and follow the tutorial below for the “Football Field,” to center it on. 

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip! Make it in to the shape of a football for a football party. So fun! Ranch, bacon, jalapeños, cheese, YUUUM!

    More Dip Recipes You’ll Love

    This jalapeno artichoke dip is not only to eat but it has tons of flavor and perfect for game day!

    Recipe

    Loaded cream cheese dip in bowl.
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip

    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip: Made with cream cheese, jalapenos, ranch seasoning, cheese and bacon, mixes together everyone's favorite ingredients in this easy to make dip!
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Chill 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 107kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese softened
    • 3 tablespoon Ranch Dip seasoning
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ¼ cup diced jalapeños
    • ½ cup real bacon bits

    Instructions

    • If making the dip to serve in a bowl, mix together all of the ingredients, chill for 10 minutes and serve!
    • If making the football, mix together all ingredients EXCEPT bacon pieces. Chill for 10 minutes, form in to the shape of a football and coat with bacon pieces.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 174IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 1mg
    Loaded Cream Cheese Dip! Ranch, bacon, jalapeños, cheese, YUUUM!

    For a football cheese ball:

    Mix together cream cheese, ranch seasoning, shredded cheddar, jalapeños.
    Poor cream cheese mixture on to plastic wrap, folding the wrap all around the dip, forming a football shape.
    Put back in refrigerator for 10 more minutes.
    Pour bacon bits in to shallow dish
    Remove from plastic wrap and roll cream cheese football in bacon bits, totally covering the cheese ball
    Place reserved cream cheese in to a piping bag, and “draw” the football laces on to the cream cheese football.

    Food Football “Field” Tutorial

    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!

    • Using a rectangular dish/tray, place pico de gallo on each end. (Forming an “end zone,” look.)

    • Line the middle with a layer of guacamole. (I love making my own guacamole, but chose to buy plain, store-bought guac, to get a pure green-look, for the field.)  See my FAMOUS Guacamole recipe HERE.)

    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!

    • Using chopped green onions, sprinkle those over the guacamole to give it more of a “turf,” look.

    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!
    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!

    • Using sour cream, or cream cheese… draw the lines of a football field across the green onions/guacamole.

    • Then simply place your football loaded cream cheese dip, in the middle of the field. (You can wait to decorate the football lines, after you’ve place it on the field if you like, like we did. Or you can do it beforehand.)

    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!
    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!
    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!
    Football Party Food: Field made of guacamole and pico de gallo, then a football shaped dip! So fun!

    Football Party Decorations

    Football Party Ideas: Banner made out of green "turf!"

    To create the banner “Go Team,” we used a burlap banner and combined it with a little DIY. We took a green artificial “grass,” rug, and cut it in to triangles to add a little more of a “football,” touch to the banner.
    Then, using my Silhouette Machine, we cut out the letters and simply hot glued them on to the pendents.

    Football party ideas: Craft paper table runner with football plays drawn on. So easy.

    Next, using brown contractors paper as a table runner, (that I picked up at the home improvement store), we drew football “plays,” with a black magic marker.

    Yellow napkins for "flags," at a football party

    Yellow napkins were folded to look like “Flags,” and simply placed in a cute little wooden box.

    Football party ideas: drinks with black straws

    Football Snack Stadium

    Now this was fun to create. Taking little boxes, we filled them with the snacks that we purchased at Walmart, and filled them up, to create the “stands,” for the football stadium.

    Secret Tip:

    To prop the boxes up, we grabbed rolls of ribbon and hid them underneath, and with other party decor.

    Prop up the boxes of snacks, to form "stadium seating," around the dip football field.
    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!
    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    Snyder's of Hanover® Pretzels and Cape Cod® Potato Chips lined one side of the football field!

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    Mmm, I’m obsessed with the Garlic Parmesan Snack Factory® Pretzel Crips®! So those HAD to be on the table!

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    I’m a sucker for a good jalapeno potato chips, so we also lined one edge with a box of Jalapeno Kettle Brand® Potato Chips.

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    Some prefer a good ole tortilla chip to use with dips, so we put out Late July® Tortilla Chips on one corner as well!

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!
    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    • To round off the corners and close off the gaps of the stadium, we used small round bowls full of the popped, Pop Secret® Popcorn.

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    Salt and Pepper ANYTHING always ends up in my shopping cart. I had no clue that Salt and Pepper Cashews from Emerald® Nuts, even existed until I saw them at Walmart. They were AH-mazing!

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    What I love about this idea, is that the chips/snacks and dip are all right there together, all while resembling a football stadium. So, so fun.

    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!
    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!
    Football party food idea: football field dip with chips as the bleachers. so cute!

    To see another football party that I have styled, you can see that HERE:

    Football cookies DIY! So cute, and doable!!! Perfect for a football party. Football party ideas fantabulosity.com

    Easy Potato Trifle Appetizer

    January 5, 2017

    Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Easy Potato Trifle Appetizer for Parties: A quick and fun appetizer idea for a party, that can be easily created and made to look incredibly classy!

    Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    No matter the party theme, I’m a sucker for making small/bite-size appetizers for our guests. They seem to be easier for the guests to grab and go, and less fuss over making a plate.

    If you’re planning a game day party, these easy potato trifle appetizers need to be on your menu! Especially if your crowd will consist of “meat and potato,” kind of guys & gals… then you’ll be speaking their love-language.

    To go big on game day, I wanted to create an appetizer recipe, that you could easily whip up to help make the game day a bit less stressful on you!

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Keep it Easy…

    It’s no secret around here, that I’m all about keeping things super easy in the kitchen. I’m no gourmet chef, so if I can find easy ways to create recipes, and THEN make them look classy for parties, I consider it a success!

    For these, we chose to use the Idaho Spuds Supreme Baked Mashed Potatoes. We literally only had to add water, cook them on the stovetop and we were ready to style the mini trifles with bacon bits, shredded cheese, sour cream and chives.

    In just minutes, these little guys were ready to serve.

    Mini Potato Trifle Tutorial:

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    We used a piping bag to make life a little easier, getting the potatoes in to the mini trifle glasses.

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    You could cook your own bacon, and crumble it up… but hey, when they sell real bacon bits in the store, that’s hard to pass up, right?

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties
    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Sprinkle on a layer of shredded cheddar…

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Add another layer of potatoes…

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    A bit of sour cream…

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    …and finish them off with a sprinkle of bacon bits and a couple sprigs of chives for a spiffy little look.

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Recipe

    Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties
    Print Pin
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Easy Potato Trifle Appetizer

    These mashed potatoes titles are the cutest appetizer recipe. Mashed potatoes, bacon bits, sour cream, cheese, and chives make this loaded mash potato recipe a real crowd pleaser!
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 20 servings
    Calories 71kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 package Idaho Spuds Supreme Baked Mashed Potatoes
    • 1 cup real bacon bits
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • fresh chives

    Instructions

    • Prepare Idaho Spuds Supreme Baked Mashed Potatoes, according to package directions
    • Using a piping bag, place a small layer of mashed potatoes in each trifle glass.
    • Add a layer of bacon bits, then shredded cheese, and then another layer of mashed potatoes.
    • Top the trifle off with a layer of sour cream, and a few sprinkles of bacon bits.
    • Place a couple of springs of chives in the top of the trifle, and they’re ready to serve!
    • Serve warm!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1trifle | Calories: 71kcal | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 50mg | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Sweepstakes!

    I’m super excited to fill you in on the sweepstakes that’s going on right now too. You can hoose your favorite Game Day recipe, and then possibly win a Big Adventure in Boise, ID!

    Enter the sweepstakes, and find out more here: Idaho Spuds Game Day Sweepstakes

    Good luck, and I hope you get a chance to make these for any party that you have coming up!

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    Pin this recipe to remember:

    Mini Trifles! So cute. Easy Potato Appetizer for Parties

    I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta

    December 30, 2016

    Strawberry Jam Bruschetta with cream cheese.

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta: A quick and easy appetizer to whip up for last minute guests, or to serve for an elegant cocktail party!

    Jalapeno jellies have been all the rage around our house lately, and I’ve been looking for new and creative ways to incorporate them in to snack-size treats and appetizers. My mom made KILLER jalapeno jelly the other day, but we ate most of it within the day.

    So on the hunt at the grocery store I went to find a jalapeno jelly to restock our refrigerator. I was tickled to see that they had multiple flavors, and fell in love when I saw a “Strawberry Jalapeno” jelly. It just sounded fun and flavorful!

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta: A quick & easy appetizer to serve for unexpected guests, or a classy dinner party!

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta

    With a little thought, I grabbed a small loaf of french bread from the bakery, a block of cream cheese and a bit of fresh mint from produce. Before I knew it, a quick and easy appetizer was created.

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta: A quick & easy appetizer to serve for unexpected guests, or a classy dinner party!

    Quick & Classy

    Like most of my other recipes, it is one that can be made in just a short time, but yet looks classy enough to serve to guests. I thoroughly enjoy making these when family or friends top by at the last minute, because the ingredients are usually common goods that I keep at home.

    If I’m out of french bread, I’ll substitute it with crackers, and it’s JUST as good. You’d be surprised how good a jalapeno jelly combined with cream cheese actually is.

    It’s “no-bake,” it’s quick, it’s easy, it’s classy. Some of my FAVORITE characteristics of an appetizer.

    If you’re a bruschetta-lover, then you’ll also LOVE the BEST Bruschetta Recipe on the planet. (At least I think so.)

    The BEST Bruschetta

    The BEST Bruschetta Recipe. It's a quick & easy appetizer that's PERFECT for a party!

    I’ve made this for numerous parties, and especially adore serving it around the holidays. Like I did at my Favorite Things Party last year, where the colors were super fitting!

    Enjoy!

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta: A quick & easy appetizer to serve for unexpected guests, or a classy dinner party!

    Recipe

    Strawberry Jam Bruschetta with cream cheese.
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Strawberry Jalapeno Bruschetta

    Crispy bread piled with cream cheese and jelly makes a super easy (and delicious) appetizer for parties! Only requiring a handful of ingredients, this appetizer recipe is a must try!
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time 12 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 140kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 1 loaf French bread
    • ½ cup cream cheese
    • ¼ cup jalapeno jelly I used strawberry jalapeno
    • fresh mint optional; for garnish

    Instructions

    • Simply slice the french bread into 1-inch slices.
    • Lay out the slices on a cookie sheet and broil for just one minute (or until bread is slightly toasted.)
    • Spread the toasts with cream cheese.
    • Then spread the jalapeno jelly on top of the cream cheese.
    • Garnish with a mint leaf and serve!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2bread slices | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 55mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1.2mg

    Month in Advance, at a Glance — Free Printable

    December 26, 2016

    Month in Advance, at a Glance! Free printable to keep track of what's ahead next month. LOVE this.

    Month in Advance, at a glance — Free Printable: An organized way to see what’s in store for you next month, so nothing will sneak up on you!

    Month in Advance, at a Glance! Free printable to keep track of what's ahead next month. LOVE this.

    I’m not sure why, but for some reason, when a new month arrives, I feel like someone slapped me upside the head with a “surprise” of activities, events, and bills that are due. I know they’re coming, but it always seems like it’s so far off, because it’s “next month.”

    I’ve found a way to help keep my sanity, and I couldn’t WAIT to share how with you. So if you’ve found yourself with the “slapped upside the head” feeling, then this free printable may be just for you too!

     Month in Advance, at a Glance: Free Printable

    Month in Advance Free Printable

    What about my planner? Or my phone?

    I needed a one-page printable, where I could write down everything that I knew of that was coming up. Birthday parties, date nights, bills, meetings, etc. Sure, I keep a calendar on my phone to help stay organized, and my planner… but when I would want to see a whole month, I would struggle. It was either all condensed on my phone, or too spread out on my monthly planner page. (Which left me feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and the month hadn’t even started yet.) Now, this way, I can see it all clear as day, in advance, at a glance, organized in its own special little categories. Be still my heart. My organized-loving momma should be proud.

    Month in Advance, at a Glance! Free printable to keep track of what's ahead next month. LOVE this.

    When to fill it out:

    Fill out the sheet about a week before the next month arrives, (or whenever you find the time for it. Better late than never, right?) and stick it in your planner, put it on your desk, or hang it by the door you go in and out of, at home.

    Download your FREE PRINTABLE HERE!

    Month in Advance Free Printable

    What Size to Print?

    If you plan to put this in your planner like I do, you should have an option to print it out, the size that will work best for your planner. For instance: 5×7, or an 8×10 may fit perfect, depending on which planner it is that you have!

    Happy monthly planning!

    Month in advance free printable

    FREE Printable Month in advance, at a glance. It's great to see all of this on one sheet each month

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe – Quick and Easy

    December 22, 2016

    Homemade chicken noodle soup.

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe – Quick and Easy: “This is the BEST Chicken Noodle soup I’ve ever had,” said her husband. Plus a weeknight meal that’s healthy and delicious!

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - Quick and Easy

    So you may have noticed a trend by now around here. I have about 5 recipes in the Fantabulosity archives, that start with “The Best.” (The BEST Guacamole Recipe, the BEST Side Salad Recipe, the BEST Beef Tenderloin Recipe, The BEST Punch Recipe)

    But I want you to know that I do NOT take this term lightly, and only apply it to those that I (we) truly think are the best. And you can pretty much count on there being a story of why I think each one is the best version.

    There are other recipes in Fantabulosity recipe “land” that I think are super delicious, but only those that leave people pausing to say,

    Jessica, I kid you not… this is the best “X” I’ve had.

    get the honor of the title “The Best,” around here.

    Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe: Quick & Easy

    So homemade chicken noodle soup is all the same, right? Oh heavens no. For YEARS I’ve wanted a chicken noodle soup recipe that would almost beg someone to get sick, just for an excuse for me to make it for them. I’m happy to say that I think this is IT.

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - Quick and Easy

    So full of flavor, fresh herbs (and dried), and it’s easy to put together.

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - Quick and Easy

    Why You’ll Love This Soup Recipe

    • It’s a soup recipe that tastes amazing when you’re feeling under the weather.

    • It can be doubled/tripled and put in the freezer for quick lunches or dinners during the week.

    • It’s so quick and uses a lot of items on hand that can be made last minute for someone feeling under the weather.

    • It’s not egg noodles. Yes, you can use just about any noodle that you like…and I know egg noodles are used in chicken noodle soup a lot but ditalini pasta is bite-size and so great for the spoon! We do use egg noodles in chicken and noodles though!

    • Don’t be intimidated by the fresh herbs. I know when you’re new to cooking, or heck, even just see fresh herbs in a recipe, it’s easy to think that’s it’s too “fancy,” or too “time-consuming,” for you. But adding fresh herbs can add SO much flavor to something, in an incredible way. I didn’t believe it until I tested it myself.

    The Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - Quick and Easy

    Now, along with every other recipe here on the blog, you can count on it being incredibly easy.

    I’m a mom of two little boys and a husband that loves for me to sit down with him in the evenings so we can have our family time. So a big time-consuming meal doesn’t happen around here during the week. On Sunday’s, yes. But that’s also when my husband usually chips in with the cooking, and we make it an event.

    So this chicken noodle soup recipe is NO different. It’s incredibly quick and easy and fits right in with our weekly menu plan. Would you believe that my picky eaters even eat it, and ask for it?

    PRO TIP: Cook chicken breasts in the slow cooker and keep it in the freezer for quick meals like this soup!

    So the fresh herbs. I can hear some of you now…

    Do I have to use fresh herbs?

    No. Of course not. But man ALIVE. I made this without the fresh rosemary and thyme twice against the dried, and it was a HUGE difference. Can you also use fresh herbs in place of the dried herbs that I suggest. You bet! Just make sure to adjust and remember that fresh herbs are more “potent,” than dried. So use more dried if you plan to go that route, and visa versa.
    Although I must admit… I’ve never had something with TOO many herbs and seasonings. I just haven’t.

    Looking for Quick Weeknight Meals?

    If you’re planning your weekly menu, check out some of my other favorite weeknight meals that tend to rotate in our menu plan.

    • Close up of Boom Boom Shrimp on a white plate, sitting next to sauce.
      Boom Boom Shrimp
    • Spiral ham cooked in the slow cooker with pineapple.
      Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple
    • Crack Chicken Sandwich on wooden cutting board.
      Crack Chicken Sandwiches
    • fried shrimp on plate next to sauce
      The BEST Fried Shrimp

    Recipe

    Homemade chicken noodle soup.
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

    This chicken noodle soup recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners. Fresh herbs, pasta, vegetables, and chicken are combined to make this aromatic and delicious soup recipe.
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 162kcal
    Author Jessica Burgess

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups chicken broth Try my homemade chicken broth recipe
    • 10 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
    • 1 Tablespoon basil
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon parsley
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 2 carrots chopped in to small pieces
    • 2 stalks of celery chopped in to small pieces
    • 4 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup Ditalani pasta
    • 1-2 chicken breasts chopped in to small pieces
    • 1-2 cups water optional

    Instructions

    • In a stock pot, combine chicken broth and all spices, and heat over low-medium heat.
    • In a separate saucepan, saute carrots and celery in olive oil over medium heat for 15 minutes.
    • Add in chicken breasts (sprinkle with additional salt and pepper; optional)
    • Cook an additional 5-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender.
    • Add chicken/veggie mixture to the soup base.
    • Add in noodles about 10-15 minutes before serving.
    • Remove bay leaves and sprigs of rosemary and thyme. (It’s ok if some of the herbal leaves have broken off into the soup. It will just add a bit more character.)
    • For a thinner soup, add in 1-2 cups water once the noodles have softened. (Noodles will soak up most of soup base.)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (⅛ recipe) | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 990mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2615IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.8mg

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch

    December 15, 2016

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party fantabulosity.com

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EmergenCRecipes #CollectiveBias

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch: Add a simple fresh juice recipe to your brunch table when hosting for a beautiful pop of color, and a healthier option for your guests. 

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party fantabulosity.com

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch

    For a few years now, I’ve been juicing fruits and vegetables for our family. (Not every day, and some times, not even every month.)

    I’ll go through spells where I’ll do it a few times a week, especially during the Winter months when a lot of “sick-bugs,” are floating around. It’s a challenge to get my littles to eat raw veggies, so if I can turn them in to “juice,” they’re more willing.

    Luckily, my husband really enjoys it when I juice as well, and I love tying it into my routine for an extra boost of immunity if possible especially during the Winter months. So when my girlfriends came over for brunch the other day, I set up a tablescape filled with some of my favorite items and my favorite fresh juice recipe. Yes, it’s true… I’m one of those that likes to set up a display for just about EVERY excuse to get together. I mean, who doesn’t love food bars for a get-together?

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party

    Decorating a Brunch Table with Items on Hand:

    A brunch tablescape filled with pops of beautiful colors and ready-to-serve items, is the perfect combination to an easy entertaining spread. As with any party or get-together, one of my favorite party tricks is to decorate the display table with items that I already have on hand.

    • Home decor

    • Seasonal Decor

    • Garnishes

    • Linens & Fabrics

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party
    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party

    Brunch “Eats”:

    I served some of my favorite pancakes (that I made ahead of time, and froze for quick meals) and prepared bowls of cereal so all they’d have to do was add milk! It was one of the easiest food-prepping tasks for a get-together yet!

    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party
    Fresh Juice Bar Brunch Party

    Brunch Drink:

    Quite possibly one of my favorite juice recipes YET, is Carrot-Apple juice. Garnished with a sprig of rosemary and an orange slice, it looked absolutely stunning on the fresh juice bar!

    For this occasion, I wanted a touch of fizziness in the fresh juice drink, so I added Emergen-C, which also provided extra vitamins for my gal pals! BONUS! Sometimes when we get together, we crowd around a cup of coffee. But this time I wanted to enhance energy naturally using Emergen-C WITHOUT caffeine, and the healthy touch of fresh juices.

    Fresh Juice Carrot Apple Recipe YUM!!!

    Emergen-C Carrot & Apple Recipe:

    Ingredients

    For a large batch of homemade fresh juice, (about 5 servings)

    8 small apples
    5 large carrots

    Directions:

    In a juicer, simply juice the apples and the carrots. Serve immediately.

    Single 8 oz. serving of Emergen-C Fresh Juice:

    Pour 8 oz. of fresh carrot-apple juice in glass

    Stir in one package of Emergen-C, and serve.

    Fresh Juice Bar Carrot Apple Recipe YUM!!!

    Where to find Emergen-C

    Topping off the fresh juice with a packet of Super Orange Emergen-C that I found in the vitamin isle at Walmart, gave the drink a fizzier texture, and I LOVED that aspect.

    Fresh Juice Bar Carrot Apple Recipe YUM!!!

    Fresh Juice Bar Options:

    Make their own: With your fresh juice bar, you can really let your guests have fun, and have them pick out their own juicing ingredients, creating different combinations and flavors to try. Place fruit and vegetables on the table, in separate containers and pretty bowls; and a cute sign (think of sign like my “it’s so good to be home,” sign) that give the directions on how to use the juicer.

    Buffet Style: For my juice bar, I wanted it more of a “buffet,” style, so they could walk right up, grab & go. No thinking involved.

    Fresh Juice Bar Carrot Apple Recipe YUM!!!

    New Finds & Easy Win-Win’s

    Eeeek! I just love new fun finds and decorating party spaces. When you realize how easy it can be, to use items that you already have on hand, and find a simple way to feed your guests… it’s a win-win.

    Thank you SO much for coming by today, and I’d love for you to drop a line below and say “Hey!”

    This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

    BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid

    December 11, 2016

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too light around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid: Without a doubt, this is my favorite Winter outfit this season. I didn’t know what I was missing until a friend recommended these leggings to me!

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    You know that I NEVER recommend anything to you, that I TRULY don’t recommend, right?

    See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

    I hope you do know that, but I felt super compelled to tell you that again today because I’m getting ready to use a term that can be taken lightly. What term? “BEST.”

    BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid

    Holy.Smokes. After doing Stitch Fix and Trunk Club for some time now, I can STILL even comfortably say that these tights are my favorite fashion find EVER. But the thing is, I didn’t get these leggings in a subscription box. I went shopping with my “personal stylist,” friend last month, and she literally told me,

    You HAVE to get these leggings. They’re the best you’ll ever find.

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    Leggings (No Muffin-Top, No “See-Through,” No Adjusting)

    I’ll admit, I took what she said with a grain of salt, and even put them in the bottom of my closet and forgot they were in there for a few weeks. I mean, tights and leggings are all the same, right? Ummm… No. My leggings world has forever been changed.

    Muffin-Top

    The minute I put these on, I stood in front of my mirror… amazed. Where was my muffin-top? I always have a muffin-top when I wear tights or leggings. But not with these.

    See-Through

    Even talking to some of my friends, we’ve hesitated wearing leggings out in public because we were afraid you could see-through our leggings because of the thin fabric. Not with these.

    Adjusting

    Along with a muffin-top, I always assumed all leggings were constantly having to be pulled up over the “pooch,” and felt loose-fitting throughout the thigh. Not with these.

    The Best: They stay in place, are fleece-lined (but not thick), and flatter my waistline in a way that I haven’t seen before having my first kiddo.

    UPDATE: I have some bad news friends. Victoria Secret sold these, my favorite leggings, and they no longer carry them. WHY VS, WHY!?

    So what I’ve done, is found similar leggings online that I HOPE will be just as good. They’re fleece, have the wider band, and even better news… way cheaper than the Victoria Secret leggings. You can buy them HERE!

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    Leggings // Buy similar HERE since Victoria Secret no longer carries this style.

    The vest is a staple in my closet that you’ve seen before in my Trunk Club Review – Try On Video. I kind of like it, a lot. It goes with a ton of outfits and is great to have for those chilly days that I don’t want to throw on a big coat.

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    Cream Vest // But it HERE, although the pockets have changed a little, but I prefer the updated pocket-look!

    This shirt quickly became a favorite of mine too, simply because my eye is drawn to buffalo plaid this time of year. Heck, I styled a whole stinking party in buffalo plaid last year around the holidays. See that “Favorite Things Party” HERE.

    This red plaid flannel shirt is SOOO amazing on, but it’s showing sold out on H&M right now. BUT… I’ve found a similar red flannel button-up tops for you in case you’ve been looking for one too! You can see them on Amazon HERE!

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    Similar Red Buffalo Plaid Shirts // Buy HERE

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too light around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    The BOOTS! I sooo love these Hunter Boots. Even if I never wore them again, I’d still be able to say that I’ve gotten my “money’s worth,” with these. They’re the new Hunter Boot design, with a sleek style and lighter than the original boot.

    When I pair them with the Hunter socks, my toes are so comfy cozy that I feel like never taking them off.

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity

    Hunter Boots // Buy HERE  |   Hunter Socks // Buy HERE

    See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

    These are the BEST leggings ever. They aren't too tight around the waist (aka less love-handles), and are fleece lined but not thick. HEAVEN!! Love this red buffalo plaid shirt too! fantabulosity
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    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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