Let's Cut a Rug!

Hope ya'll had a good weekend!  We had a pretty low key weekend, which is always nice.  Today, I wanted to show ya'll some amazing rugs from Urban Outfitters...not only are they cute...but they are super affordable too!  I am really loving this 5x7 chevron rug for only $74..would go perfect in my new home office :)

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I first saw this rug over at Your Style Scout.  Look out how cute it is in her daughter's nursery.  Check out the rest of this fabulous little room here!

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I've also had my eye on these great floral patterned rugs.  I think one of them would be perfect in front of our kitchen sink or in the mudroom.  I'm most excited about their price ranges of $18-$39!  Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. 

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Which one is your favorite?  Would love your feedback!

Happy Monday!

The Perfect Party

As we are getting ready to move into our first home, I can't help but get excited for what's to come.  Not only am I excited to decorate and make it our own...but I am also excited for the memories we will create in our home.  I love having people over, and I am looking forward to dinner parties, game nights, baby showers, barbeques, and the bonding that will occur inside our little abode with friends and family.  So, today I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite party inspiration pictures with you guys.  Whether it is a small dinner party with close friends, a birthday party, or a fancy holiday party...I can't wait to entertain in our new home!  

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To me, the perfect party can come in many different varieties.  I love spending quality time with the people I love, and I enjoy the fun details of party planning.  I have to say that those two aspects combined make for the perfect party in my book.  

Happy W-E-E-K-E-N-D friends!  

{DIY} Spring Yarn Wreath & A WINNER!

Today I wanted to share my first yarn wreath with you guys!  My friend Bethany had a girls night at her new house last Saturday.  She made chicken fajitas & we all watched Sweet Home Alabama while we made Spring wreaths!  The idea was that we were going to have a Pinterest inspired craft night...but we ALL ended up deciding to make a wreath!  So, there we were...5 girls in their 20's sitting on the floor crafting and watching a chick flick...it was seriously so much fun!

Bethany taught us all how to make fabric flowers that we hot-glued on the yarn wreath.  Unfortunately we were so busy crafting, that we forgot to take pictures, but here is how mine turned out!

I made a few flowers with fluffy petals and glued a pearl button in the center of each one.

I'm excited for this be hung on our mudroom door in the new house.  We move in 3 weeks!!!

NOW...on to the good stuff!  The WINNER of my first RoRo's giveaway is:

Meg {henninglove}Apr 23, 2012 01:07 PM

oooh i so want to win!!! the best part of my weekend was dinner with a friend on Friday night, a 9 mile run with another friend on Saturday morning, seeing two wonderful friends get married on Saturday afternoon with running the Color Run with my husband and some blogger friends on Sunday :-)

Email me at amycollins25@gmail.com to claim your prize!!!

Happy Thursday friends!

Hi Sugarplum & Long Distance Loving!

Yes...you read it right!  Today is an exciting day for me!  I am over at Hi Sugarplum! while Cassie is away schmoozing with her hubby...and I am very excited to be taking over her blog with my own version of Marry, Makeout, & Muzzle!  

AND...just when you thought it couldn't get any better (humor me!)....you can find me over at Long Distance Loving sharing my long-distance love story about me and my hubby!  I would love for ya'll to visit both of these awesome ladies' blogs and get to know me a little better!

You can see my version of this fun game here!

Now head on over to Long Distance Loving to read about our story.  I am so happy to be a part of AV's fun series.

I really am so thankful that these ladies let me take over their blogs today...I have loved getting to know both of you :)

 Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Tasty Tuesdays ~ Yummy Fudge Brownies

The other night, I was craving chocolate, and searched online for a good brownie recipe.  I had all the ingredients already, so this one seemed perfect.  I am so glad I tried this, because it was seriously delicious!

1/2 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature, plus 1 Tablespoon butter to melt with chocolate

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease an 8x8 square pan.  Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt & set aside.  In a mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, & vanilla extract.  Melt 1 Tbs. butter & chocolate squares in microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in between.  Stir in melted chocolate to mixing bowl.  Beat in flour mixture.  Stir in chopped nuts.  Pour in pan and bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  

If you are a chocolate fan, you should definitely try these.  It was very easy and fixed my chocolate craving :)

Today, I'll be linking up to Tasty Tuesdays.  Hope ya'll have a good day!  

**AND Don't forget to enter the RoRo's Giveaway!  Free Cinn-A-Rolls sent to your door!**

RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls Giveaway!

Hey friends!  We have a giveaway for a FREE pan of RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls (we ship nationwide!) on our Facebook page!  You can enter by leaving a comment telling us the best part about your weekend - the most creative answer wins!  Winner announced Wednesday afternoon!

AND, just for my blogging friends, you have an opportunity to win twice!  For EXTRA entries:

Follow my blog here at Fresh & Fancy

Like RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls on Facebook, and leave a comment saying that you did

Like RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls on Twitter, and leave a comment saying that you did

Leave a comment here telling me the best part of your weekend!

Thanks, and happy Monday!

**P.S.  Don't forget to check out my Bathroom Shelf post below - I need your advice!**

Bathroom Shelf ~ I Need Your Advice!

Good morning friends!  Did ya'll have a good weekend??  Today I wanted to see what you all think about this shelf that I am wanting to put in our hall bathroom of our new house.  Moving day is May 20th!  Woohoo!  I have seen alot of cute Pinterest ideas, and want to get your thoughts on what I should do!  Unfortunately this is the best picture I currently have of the hall bathroom...but on the opposite side of the mirror there is a little nook, that would be perfect for a shelf for added storage.  For reference, the wall color is "Front Porch" by Sherwin Williams, and it is definitely staying - love it!

This is the shelf (currently in our living room).  It used to be in my room growing up.  I have never loved it in our apartment living room...but there was no other place for it to go, and I didn't want to get rid of it.  So it has just been filled with random items that didn't have a real place...as you can see :)

Here are some ideas ~ Sanding it and painting it Coral or White:

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Or...Now use your imagination here....Keeping the frame brown, but paint the shelves a glossy white.  This would give it a cool two-tone effect that is popular right now.  Julia's entryway table was my inspiration for going this route.  Isn't her table amazing!?!

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So those are the options - Give me your feedback!  Which route should I go??  

Can you tell I am a little antsy to M-O-V-E?! Have a good day everyone!

AND...

Did you see The Real Housewives of New Jersey last night?  I missed these ladies!  Definitely one of my favorite guilty pleasures :)

Overnight Oats & A Sephora Freebie!

This is a quick and healthy Overnight Oats recipe to get your morning going on the right foot.  I have seen several recipes in blog land, but I tweaked this one a bit to make it my own.  You mix it all up the night before, and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight...then in the morning you are good to go.  It makes a lot and was very filling.  Mine ended up being a breakfast/lunch combo.  

Recipe:

3/4 cup 1% Milk (or vanilla almond milk)

1/2 cup Old-Fashioned Oats (I used instant oats because that's all I had - either is fine)

1 container Chobani Strawberry/Banana Greek Yogurt

1 Tbs. Ground Flaxseed

1 Tbs. Agave Nectar

The night before I mixed 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup oats, and 1 container of greek yogurt, and 1 Tbs. Flaxseed.  I covered it and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.  In the morning I took it out and added 1/4 cup milk & 1 Tbs. agave nectar.  Mix it all up, and eat cold.

*I may use less Agave Nectar next time - it was a little bit too sweet for me, but still yummy!*

I'm trying to incorporate healthier items into our diet, and this is a great breakfast option.  I would definitely split it into two meals, it's great the next day.

Calories for the whole recipe:  483

Now, I'm off to bake Cinn-A-Rolls.  Not so healthy, but a fun All-Natural treat! 

P.S.

If you're not a Sephora Beauty Insider...You should be!

Tomorrow, Sephora is celebrating Earth Day & giving away a FREE full-size Origins moisturizer if you bring in any empty cosmetic product container to trade in.  Can't beat that win-win situation!

Happy weekend!

The Silk Bow Cami & Other Randoms

Happy Friday friends! Today, I'm feeling a bit random...so this post will most definitely reflect that.  Are you all a fan of the silk bow cami's that are popping up everywhere?  J.Crew really did well with these numbers.  I think all 3 are pretty great :)

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Last night we made chicken fajitas, guacamole, and this fancy drink!

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"The Paloma Cocktail"

It was super easy ~ here's the recipe:

1 1/2 shots tequila

juice of half a grape fruit

1/2 shot agave nectar

3 shots club soda

squirt of fresh lime juice

Mix the tequila, grape fruit juice, & agave together.  Pour over club soda with ice.  Squeeze lime on top, & enjoy!  Simple & tasty recipe from Drizzle & Dip.

Now, in an attempt to not be lazy anymore and run a 5k, we're off to the lake to go on a run with Miss Finnley...followed by a yummy breakfast I stole from this lady!  You should try it - it's delicious!

Happy Friday!

Fabulous Rooms ~ Abode Love

I have been a long-time reader of Laurel Dawn's blog, Abode Love.  A true Southerner with amazing style.  Her home is incredible.  I'm sure you've seen her striped hallways and perfect gallery wall floating around Pinterest.  You have to hop on over to her blog and check our the "Man Mountain" she designed for her husband & the rest of her fabulous home!  

Today, I wanted to show the home that she designed for some of her close friends, Landon & Kelly.  Everything about their living room, kitchen, and dining room was focused on detail, and definitely my style.  Take a look, and enjoy the work that is Abode Love!

Check her blog for details on all the furniture/decor if you are interested!  The ikat slip covers were custom made from Ballard Designs...and I am completely in love with them!

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A peak into their kitchen...I love the detailing of the backsplash and white accents.

Laurel-Dawn also designed the living room, which blends so well with the decor in the dining area and kitchen.  She did a great job creating a neutral space with pops of interest and color.

I love a well designed gallery wall :)

I hope ya'll enjoyed a glimpse into this beautiful abode.  Laurel-Dawn knows where it's at!  Have a wonderful day friends!

Favorite Specialty Foods ~ Sweet Treats

Since I am in the specialty food business, I thought it would be fun to occasionally share some of my favorite gourmet foods with you guys here on my blog in hopes that you will find some new treats!  As an owner of a specialty food brand, I find myself always looking for new, interesting, and tasty products to review and try.   Before starting our company, I would scour the internet and grocery aisles of stores like Central Market and Whole Foods to find products that were visually appealing to me.  It was important as we established our brand to create a logo that was current and relatable to people and the market today.  During that process, I happened to find some amazing food products that I love :)  Today, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite sweet treats!

Callie's Charleston Biscuits 

Owner Carrie Morrey started this company using her mother's successful recipes.  They are now sold in small gourmet stores nationwide as well as major specialty stores, Central Market & The Fresh Market.  They are a bit pricey, but delicious!  You can also order online.  Their signature flavor is the Country Ham, but my favorite are the Black Pepper Bacon Biscuits.  They are delicious.

Charleston Crepe Company

This small crepe company is also based out of Charleston.  Husband and wife team Jack & Rachel Byrne started selling their mix after the success of their crepes & crepe cakes!  The mixes are sold in Charleston area whole foods and gourmet stores around the US.  They also ship their 25-layer crepe cakes, which are beautiful and so unique.

Wackym's Kitchen

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Paul Wackym is a local Dallas "Baker Man", as he calls himself!  He makes fun & unexpected flavors such as ginger orange, cinnamon kettle corn, and salted caramel. (My favorite!) His tiny and crunchy cookies can be found at Central Market and small gourmet stores throughout Texas.  

RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls

You didn't think I would leave out my favorite brand did you?!?  :)  I began RoRo's Cinn-A-Rolls last year with my husband and grandparents as co-owners.  This has truly been a labor of love, and one of my most exciting endeavors.  We hand make gourmet cinnamon rolls based off my grandmother's (who is RoRo!) recipe.  The rolls are sold fully cooked and frozen, so all you do is heath them up, and they are delicious!  You can find our cinn-a-rolls in smaller gourmet retailers across the US, as well as major specialty store Central Markets throughout Texas.

I hope you enjoyed my first edition of my favorite specialty foods. Not only are these products tasty, but they also make excellent gifts!  I would love to hear some of your favorite specialty food items.  So glad you stopped by!