Table For Two: Spring Evening By The Pool

Unless you have cooling misters and a plethora of mosquito repellent you most likely won’t find me outside in the summer evenings here in Texas unless I’m neck-deep in the pool. But Spring? Spring is my friend. Those April showers keep the temps down to a bearable warmth and the mosquitos haven’t multiplied by the thousands quite yet (granted if there is even one it will find me). So, since we are a family that enjoys the outdoors, you will find us outside quite a bit this time of year. And that calls for a little date night by the pool!

Margarita Cookies with a Tequila Lime Glaze

You read that right 🙂 I told you I’m not missing out on Cinco de Mayo again this year! With all this recipe testing I think I’ve celebrated the holiday ten times over (and after this one, ten pounds over..hehe).  These margarita cookies don’t disappoint and with the vibrant tequila lime glaze they are ADDICTING! Break out the tequila and get to baking.

Easy Corn Napkin Tutorial

It’s corn-on-the-cob season y’all! I always get so excited when I start to see the fresh corn arriving at the grocery stores. Nothing says summer and pool parties quite like a beautifully charred piece of corn right off the grill (of course slathered in butter too). Or, my new favorite, this Mexican Street Corn recipe. The hubs has already requested this twice since I made it the first time a few weeks back – get on it! With all of this corn happening in our lives, these corn napkins are the perfect way to roll your silverware and dress up your table.

Cinco de Mayo Tablescape

Margarita glasses, corn on the cob napkins, tequila place cards? Sounds like a fun Cinco de Mayo table setting to me! 🙂 In all honesty I think I’m just trying to make up for years of missed Cinco de Mayo celebrations. So many margarita filled days flew by without me – not cool. This year I am prepared! With my Mexican Street Corn and this fun table setting it’s bound to be a festive day that includes one heck of a siesta.

Easter Brunch Tablescape

We recently went to visit my parents and I learned two things: 1. flying with a toddler during their nap time is both stupid and one of the most stressful things ever (why did we think that would be ok again?) and 2. playing with my mom’s china is my grownup version of dress up. Literally within moments of recovering from the worst plane flight ever, I spotted my mom’s beautiful vintage china and said, “I’ll be doing an Easter brunch table setting. Cool?”

Garden Brunch Tablescape

Brunch is definitely different with a kiddo. Those days of sleeping in until 11am, stumbling to our favorite brunch spot and indulging in bottomless mimosas are long gone. These days it’s more like rise and shine at 6:30, down our coffee, scarf some food down (I suggest Southwestern Breakfast Muffins :)) and then have our friends over to the house to indulge in the second breakfast of the day before putting the little one down for her nap so I can enjoy a couple mimosas. Ya…it’s definitely different but I gotta tell ya…I love my new style of brunching. Partly because I love being able to eat breakfast twice in one day but mostly because it allows me to stick to my 8pm bedtime…I am not ashamed.

Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes

Let me just brag for a moment…Texas is having an AMAZING winter this year (and now I’m sure I just jinxed it). In fact, I’m currently enjoying the sunshine and 65 degree weather as I write this (I’m pushing my luck at this point, I just know it). I think my favorite part about it so far are the abundance of bright, springy flowers in the shops around here. Bushels of bright yellow calla lilies can be seen everywhere! Perhaps this is the normal time of year for it but for some reason it just feels like this is the first time I’m thinking “yay!” versus the typical, “ok, you’re getting ahead of yourself spring.” Maybe it’s the calla lilies, maybe it’s the sunshine, but at this point in time all I can thing about is getting out from the heavy dark chocolate lava cakes and making springy, fluffy, bright desserts.

Strawberry Hearts

I know it’s not quite strawberry season just yet but nothing can stop Valentine’s Day from covering fruit in chocolate to convince everyone they’re getting a healthy goodie right? See …it’s not me…it’s that tricky Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day. Regardless, Trader Joe’s has my strawberries and I had an idea I just HAD to try. And now I just HAVE to share it with yall! I present to you…drumroll please…strawberry hearts!

Table for Two: Valentine’s Day

If you haven’t been told this already – date nights are a bit more challenging when you have a kiddo. 🙂 I won’t go on about the reasonings as I’m sure they’re pretty obvious (if you’re curious just google it…you’ll be inundated). What I will say is when you become a parent just because date nights are harder to do, DON’T STOP DOING THEM! The hubby and I make it a point to do at least one date night a week. Now, let me clarify, that does not mean finding a babysitter and spending money at a nice restaurant. What it does mean is showering and putting something besides active wear on (the struggle is real here), waiting until after the babe has gone to sleep, not sitting in front of the TV and setting the table – for two. Thus, the Table for Two series. This series will follow me on my date night tablescape journey and what a perfect time of year to start – Valentines!

Bite Size Party Appetizers

It’s 2pm and you’re having a party. What to make!? Bite size apps my friend, bite size apps. These three super easy and super yummy appetizers provide the perfect sophisticated assortment of food and still fit perfectly on a toothpick – win win.