summer school

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For bloggers, that is...

I started blogging about five years ago, and I still enjoy it. Needless to say, I'm still small potatoes and don't have very much figured out.

MK and I have talked about going to Alt Summit for the past two years, but we've chickened out both times! I think we're more anxious about our outfits than the conference itself! The next best thing has been these online web classes Alt offers; they're only $15, are about an hour each, and you get a download of the presentation. I've participated in Content is King and Growing a Readership, but there are so many more to choose from. Next I think I'll backtrack and do Blogging 101 (since I'm self-taught, I'm sure I'm missing some tips and tricks).

And guess what? You can win four free classes! All you have to do is blog about Alt Summit classes, thank Bing, and you get two free once you email Melanie at Alt and link the classes you're interested in. As if that's not enough, you can tweet or post about The Bing Summer of Doing on facebook, and you get two more for free once you let Melanie know!

Doesn't this make you want to be productive this weekend?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


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* That someone would wheel up an old-fashioned ice cream cart to my office.

* Prayers for my mama! Her first treatment is today!

* Is it too early to start thinking Christmas ornaments? Every tree needs a Golden Snitch.

* These seersucker napkins would make any summer meal special.

* How 'bout a break from the heat?

What's your wish?

beans + winning - good for the heart!

Happy Monday! This is me today...



I hope you all had a great weekend. Kell and I had big plans for cleaning out closets, but it never happened. Nap time was just way more appealing. I did do a little cookin', so I've got a bean-tastic (sorry) Delicious Dish for you.

I typically don't love a baked bean. I get that they're a summer cookout staple, but I always felt like there were other sides out there that were way more enjoyable. Plus, I knew there had to be a better way to prepare them that just dump a can into a pot. Agree?

Good ole Tasty Kitchen to the rescue.

Simple and Delicious "Baked" Beans

6 slices Bacon
½ whole Red Onion, Diced
1 can Maple Flavored Baked Beans (28 Oz)
¼ cups Brown Sugar
¼ cups Ketchup
⅛ cups Red Wine Vinegar
⅛ cups Water
½ teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashes Hot Sauce (to Your Taste)
2 teaspoons Ground Mustard
¼ teaspoons Paprika

Start by heating a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Chop bacon into small pieces. Add bacon to hot pan. When fat starts to render, add the onion. Let cook until onions are translucent and bacon is starting to crisp. Lower heat to medium. Add the rest of the ingredients into the bacon and onion mixture. Let mixture bubble for a couple of minutes and then turn heat down to just a simmer. Simmer for 20-30 minutes to let the flavors combine.

*If you are needing to make this for a large crowd, increase all of the ingredients as needed. Cook the bacon and onions as above but then just add all of the ingredients to a 13×9 pan and place in the oven for 45-60 minutes with the temperature set to 275 degrees F. *

In other news, we have a winner for the giveaway! Congratulations, Nina!

If you didn't win, and you're devastated (I never win anything, either), you can visit Rambling Road in Oxford or Taylor, Mississippi. And don't give up - I may have something else up my sleeve for a later date.

Don't let the Mondays get you down!

book at that!

Delft University of Technology (I've never heard of it, either) used salvaged books for the receptionist desk at their new architecture library. Have you ever seen such? I wish I could figure out a way to incorprate this into a house...maybe a headboard in a kid's room? A bar or island in a kitchen? A coffee table in a study or living room?

all images from here

And don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway! The winner will be announced here on Monday. Can you take the suspense?

Have a great weekend, darlings.

wish list wednesday (yep, it's still here!)

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

image from here

* A stylist. Wouldn't it be great to have someone bring incredible clothes to your home?

* I'm not over bar carts yet. Are you?

* Wendy's now has a Strawberry Shortcake Frosty Parfait. I don't think I need to elaborate.

* This x-bench would be so great in my bedroom when the face-lift is complete (who knows when that will be).

* For you to leave a comment for the Rambling Road/Wagon Wheel giveaway!

What's your wish?

fresh

So, whaddya think?

I'm glad you found me! I'd been toying around with the idea of a blog upgrade, but things got crazy in my life, and sadly I haven't been able to dedicate the time to blogging like I typically do. Well, I'm finally ready to pull the trigger and reveal it to you all.

Hopefully you didn't have any trouble finding me. I'd love to know your thoughts!

Also, to celebrate this super-fun occasion, I've got a wonderful giveaway (my very first), courtesy of Mary-Kathryn's Rambling Road Interiors and Wagon Wheel Candles.

I'm a candle snob, and trust me, these are wonderful. They're hand-poured soy candles, and they really smell great (this scent happens to be Creme Brulee, a "flavor" I have in my own house at the moment)! And as a little bonus, you get these darling little hand-stamped gift tags, too!

It's kind of hard to tell, but the Mississippi is in gold. What a fun excuse to give someone a gift!

How about you visit MK's blog, Rambling Road and Wagon Wheel and leave a comment here? I'll draw one name on Friday, June 22 and announce the winner here! Good luck!

And in other news, today happens to be the birthday of these darling boys:

Happy birthday, gents!