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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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:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding + Greek Style Braised Lamb Shanks

Chocolat + Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Julie & Julia + Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon

No Reservations + Spaghetti Oreganata with Tomato Sauce

Ratatouille + … Ratatouille (duh)

What will you be watching this Valentine’s eve .. or better yet, eating?
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Valentine’s Day = An excuse for food.

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Really, though. Valentine’s Day is just another day to self-indulge in the things you love most — sweets, treats, fattening foods and cocktails. And what could be better, really? Nothing I can think of.

If you don’t believe me, I’ve laid out what I think is a successful Valentines Day “menu.” Really. I wish I had all of these things:

BREAKFAST:

Chocolate Crepes with Raspberry Sauce

LUNCH:

Be-My-Valentine Pizza

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK:

Heartfelt Cookies

APPETIZER:

Blue Cheese Heart Tarts

DINNER:

Apple-Stuffed Pork Roast

COCKTAIL:

Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

DESSERT:

Be-My-Valentine Strawberry Tart

NIGHT CAP:

Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Cocktail

See what I mean? Perfect day for eats! For more Valentine’s Day food ideas, take a peek at our Be Mine, Valentine? Pinterest board.

What will you be eating this Valentine’s Day? (Other than copious amounts of chocolate.)
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Be mine, Valentine?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Valentine’s Day is a week away!

Whether or not you’re romantically involved, Valentine’s Day is just an excuse to get overly lovey-dovey, crafty, cute, and (my favorite) eat deliciously fattening foods. Right? So right.

That’s why we have been hard at work building our Be Mine, Valentine? Pinterest board. We’re talking craft ideas, recipes, tips, how-to’s, gift ideas, and pretty much anything cute. It’s definitely worth a peek!

We’ll be adding more pins all week. Let us help you get into the spirit!

What’s your typical Valentine’s Day like?
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Float-a-licious!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Ice cream soda floats! Can you say delicious .. or FLOAT-a-licious?

These are such a perfect treat — they’re refreshing and satisfy your sweet tooth.

And the best part about ice cream floats is that you can create your own! There is no limit to the soda-ice cream combos. Go crazy!

Here are some combinations to noodle:

… and so many more!

What are your favorite combinations?
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* Sources: How Does She? //
Divine Caroline //
Personal experimentation

Time for BRINNER (that’s breakfast for dinner).

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Maybe it’s the background on my phone that keeps flashing an amazing diner breakfast, my obsession for maple syrup, or the eggs sitting in my fridge — but let me tell you, I have a craving. And that craving is BREAKFAST FOOD. Might be an issue seeing as how “breakfast” is a good 15 or so hours away, right? Wrong. All wrong.

The solution?
BRINNER.
Yes. Breakfast + dinner.
Combined.
You like that?
You should.

Of course, this craving brings me to Google (the internet’s best friend). The first thing I find is that the geniuses behind theKitchn call breakfast for dinner “brinner” as well. GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE! Because they’re so great, they kick off my brinner must-try list:

BREAKFAST PIZZA by theKitchn