A Totally DIY Pampering

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

I’ve always been a DIY fan, and with the recent Pinterest hype, finding DIY activities is now easier than ever. Some of the easiest (and most beneficial) DIY items are beauty products. Who ever thought that you would be able to fully stock your medicine cabinet with DIY items from teeth whitening to lip gloss? Well, you can. Here are a few to get you started on the totally DIY pampering:

EASY AT HOME TEETH WHITENING from The Budget Diet

DIY HONEY FACIAL from Petit Elefant

HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB from Homemade Ginger

10 HOMEMADE SHAMPOO RECIPES from Scoochmaroo at Instructables

HOMEMADE KISS GLOSS from Cheeky Kitchen

Like I said. It’s never been easier! Give these few items a try and you’ll more than likely be begging for more. Let me know with a comment below, a like, or a tweet and another post like this will come to you shortly! You can also find more penny saving ideas on our Pinterest board. Pamper on!

What are your favorite pampering activities?
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Happy 100th Birthday, Oreo!

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Today, March 6, 2012, marks the 100th birthday of our good friend, the Oreo cookie. And what a great 100 years it has been! The first Oreo cookie was sold on March 6, 1912 in Hoboken, NJ. Back then, Oreos were sold in bulk tins and by weight — 1 pound was only 30 cents! This was also the year that the Titanic sank and the South Pole was discovered. There’s some trivia for ya! *

In celebration of one of the world’s favorite cookies, here are 3 recipes that highlight the Oreo in the only way we know possible — DELICIOUSNESS.

OREO COOKIES AND CREAM CHEESECAKES from La Mia Vita Dolce

OREO STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES from Picky Palate

COOKIES ‘N CREAMTINI from Snappy Gourmet

How do you eat your Oreo cookies? Share with us!
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* Oreo facts from Examiner.com

Do the shammy shammy!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

St. Patrick’s Day is less than a month away! Get into the festive spirit — wear lots of green (Kelly, that is), make everything chocolately and minty (Bailey’s, anyone?) and eat lots of Lucky Charms (just kidding .. but they are delicious). Here are a few recipes to help boost the St. Patrick’s Day spirit in preparation for March 17th!

SHAMROCK SHAKE (COPYCAT RECIPE) from The Family Kitchen
Okay, we get it if you don’t want to have to drive to McD’s each time you want a Shamrock shake (or as we like to call them, “Shammy” shakes) — now you can make them at home!

SHAMROCK MILKSHAKE CUPCAKES by Better Homes and Gardens
What’s better than a shammy shake? A shammy shake CUPCAKE.

SHAMROCK SHAPED RICE KRISPIES by Pirates and Princesses
All you need is some food dye and a cookie cutter to seriously add some pizzazz to your Rice Krispie treats.

ICED SHAMROCK COOKIES from just*iced
Looking for some Irish inspiration? These cookies are so adorable!

SWEET SHAMROCK PRETZELS from Family Fun
Super easy! A can of Pillsbury bread stick dough, cinnamon and some green colored sugar are all you need.

SHAMROCK PIZZA from Cute Food for Kids
What a cute idea for english muffin / hamburger bun pizza. The shamrock is a green pepper!

SHAMROCK “SNUGGLE UP” from ShopIrish.com
And of course, you should be enjoying all of these treats while wrapped up in your shamrock-adorned blanket with sleeves. (Did you really think this didn’t exist?)

Do you get into the spirit on St. Patrick’s Day?
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Maple meats all around!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Here in New England, we love our (PURE) maple syrup. And any Vermonter can tell you that maple inspired foods are a-plenty here. But even when we’re not pouring maple syrup on our entire breakfast (not just the pancakes!), enjoying a maple creemee (that’s soft serve ice cream, if you’re not familiar) from the local creemee stand or buying maple cotton candy at the fair, there’s other ways to enjoy that fantastic maple flavor. And you can, too! Here are SIX different maple-inspired meat recipes you should try:

ROSEMARY CHICKEN WITH ORANGE-MAPLE GLAZE from allrecipes

MAPLE & BLUE CHEESE STEAK from Taste of Home

MUSTARD-MAPLE PORK TENDERLOIN from Eating Well

MAPLE SALMON from allrecipes

MAPLE-ROASTED TURKEY WITH SAGE from Food Network

PAN-SEARED MAPLE VENISON from Cooking Club of America

And if that doesn’t get your maple fix, you can always just chug some syrup instead.

What is your favorite way to eat maple syrup?
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Is that a drumstick or a cookie?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

If you follow Social Grocery on Pinterest, you know that we’re all about cute — and funny — foods. This is among many other things like crafts, how-to’s, DIY projects, etc., but Pinterest is just full of the cutest foods you’ve ever seen, especially when it comes to desserts and treats. For instance, when I saw this KFC bucket full of drumstick-inspired decorated cookies, I couldn’t help but give in to my urge to post it:

If you are wondering how to create this insanely amazing and hilarious cookies, here is the post from Bake at 350. They refer to these cookies as “desserts for dudes.” Love it!

To complete this post – what, you thought that was it? – I have found two other sets of decorated cookies that are along the same “dude food” theme .. or just fantastic in general.

S’MORES from Glorious Treats

BEER & HOT DOGS from Bake at 350 (Can’t get enough!)

What is it about decorated cookies that has us captivated? Is it the humor? The skills? The realistic art? And that’s not even including the TASTE. Whatever the reason is, keep ‘em coming!

Have you ever taken a stab at decorating cookies?
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Pass that Guinness!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Now that Valentine’s day is over, next up on our holiday hype is St. Patrick’s Day — a day loved by all, Irish or not.

In order to celebrate this holiday to the fullest, we are working our hardest to build the best Pinterest board — full of Irish destinations, food, clothing, collectables, decor and more. You knew we were going to do it — and with a month to go before St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th), we’re certainly off to a good start! We give you “Pass that Guinness!”

Be sure to follow “Pass that Guinness!” to be updated on all of our findings — we might throw a few on Twitter, as well. Have a Pinterest board suggestion for us? We’d love to hear it!

How do you celebrate March 17th?
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Valentine’s Noms & Flicks: Foodie Style

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Oh, today is the day. Valentine’s Day is one of those days where you can either acknowledge it’s existence (with embrace or hatred) or just completely ignore it altogether. Personally, I only enjoy it for the food, as a day devoted to candy and baked goods is completely fine in my book. And whether or not you have a special someone to share it with, who’s to say you can’t enjoy a little R&R? So tonight, my fellow foodies, kick back with one of the following films. If we can’t be endlessly romantic on this greeting card holiday, at least we can be in love with food: