Color Me Crafty - Chic Coasters

Coasters were never big in our house growing up. Until we redecorated the family room and fresh, new tables arrived. Then coasters were essential.

Then came college when coasters were a fun girly accessory for our apartments but rarely used.

Color Me Thrifty - For the Bride To Be

Celebrating Bachelorettes is a long-loved tradition of ladies everywhere. It is a fun night, or entire weekend, of laughs, shots and inappropriate jokes.

But when you've got several to go to these weekends can add up on you and your bank account.

At each of the bachelorette parties I've been to this year, Target has accounted for just as many gifts as the classic Victoria's Secret! 

For the gift above I found a bralet and underwear to match as well as the red lips cup at Target. The intimates are part of the Xhilaration Juniors Lace Collection. The cup these pieces are packed in was found in the dollar aisle but you can snag a similar one at Urban Outfitters. 

Color Me Domestic - Tabouli Salad

It is always nice starting the work week on a Tuesday! I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day Weekend.

You've probably had your fill of potato or pasta salads this weekend. But Memorial Day officially opens up the summer BBQ circuit and today's recipe will shake things up for your next one.

Tabouli (or tabbouleh, tabouleh or tabbouli) is traditionally an Arab salad but variations are found in several Mediterranean cuisines. The core ingredients are bulgur wheat, tomato, cucumber, onion, parsley, mint, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. The recipe below is how I usually make it but if you love any particular flavor in this salad more than another feel free to add more to your version!

Tabouli Salad (originally via The Food Network)

Ingredients

 - 1 cup water 
 - 1 cup fine cracked wheat (like bulgar)
 - 1 cup minced fresh parsley leaves
 - 1/2 cup minced fresh mint leaves
 - 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
 - 3 tomatoes, diced
 - 2 cucumbers, seeded and diced
 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
 - 1 teaspoons sea salt

Process
In a large mixing bowl pour the water over the bulgar wheat and cover for 20-30 minutes while other ingredients are prepped. Combine the oil, lemon juice and salt in a small bowl. Chop the herbs, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and toss together in the bowl with the dressing. When the wheat is tender and all the water has been absorbed toss in the vegetables and dressing and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

This salad is the kind that is better the next day because all of those flavors work together. The onion is softened and the herbs are more potent. Make it the night before your party. Or, make a batch on Sunday and snack on it all week long!

Color Me Domestic - Memorial Day Decorations



Memorial Day is upon us! The official opening of summer! And the first 3 day weekend of the season.

The good news is that decorating for Memorial day is easy and with a few investments now you'll be good to go for the 4th of July and Labor Day too!

American holiday decorating is all about the red, white and blue!

I love this drink dispenser from World Market (similar here) and the red and blue ribbed tumblers, and American flag cocktail napkins. World Market also sells the Freedom Chips which are delicious red, white and blue tortilla chips!

World Market also has Americana stripe napkins and a table cloth and classic bunting flags.

But you can save on those decorations by putting together a quick DIY with crepe paper, double stick tape and string.

It literally is as easy as folding a 5-6 inch strip of crepe paper in half and using a piece of double stick tape to close it off. Then string them together on kitchen twine and hang it up.

Seriously, that easy.

The little bows are also made with crepe paper. This was a pinterest find and I will not pretend that I can explain it better. Here is the crepe paper bow tutorial.

The elements of a great Memorial Day party is to serve finger-food eats, BBQ classics and easy to sip drinks! If you've got a grill you can host a BYO-Meat party where each guest brings something to grill. This way you don't have to pay to feed the whole crowd nor do you have to worry about taste preferences, allergies or special diets!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Color Me Styled - Champagne Cocktail Thyme

As much as I love the idea of making up fancy cocktails at parties the truth of the matter is that everyone seems to stick to wine, beer and maybe a basic mixed drink. At least in my social network. So with New Year's approaching I wanted to find a way to serve a "fancy" champagne cocktail that was easy to make, easy to understand and delicious!

I tested it out on my in-laws and it was a big hit... as was the headache we all had the next morning... don't forget that there is booze in these drinks!

Lemon Thyme Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
Lemon Thyme Sprigs (2 per glass)
Lemon Peel (I use organic lemon peel and just sliced it... nothing fancy)
Rose / Pink Champagne

Process
Place 2 sprigs of Lemon Thyme (or normal Thyme if you can't find it) and a slice of lemon peel into a champagne glass or saucer. Top with pink champagne and enjoy.

Cheers!!

Color Me Domestic - Charcuterie Cones

Every Christmas season we are invited to a few more parties or find ourselves hosting parties. And sometimes those parties are on week nights or Friday nights where you don't have all day to prepare for them.

Prepping the cones. You get a peek of the cucumber salmon bites! I'll post that recipe too!

Enter - the make ahead appetizer - Charcuterie Cones

I found this recipe in Food and Wine magazine last month and tried it out on family before Thanksgiving. It got rave reviews. It is very flavorful and easy to eat with a drink in your hand!

Charcuterie Cones

Ingredients

1 head of raddichio - shredded (start with half and add more as you see fit)

5 pepperoncini peppers - stemmed, seeded and chopped

2 oz fresh goat cheese crumbles

1 tsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp pine nuts, toasted

4 oz of soppressata - sliced thin (yield 24+ slices)

Process

Dry toast (don't add olive oil) the pine nuts over medium-low heat in a non stick pan until just fragrant and remove from heat immediately. Combine all ingredients (until soppressata) in a small bowl and mix. Let sit for at least an hour but up to 1 day.

Before serving spoon a mound of the raddichio salad onto each slice of soppressata and roll / fold into cones. Secure with a tooth pick if needed (but you shouldn't need it). The prepared cones can stay in the fridge for a few hours but bring them out towards room temperature before serving to get the most out of the flavors.

Color Me Trendy - She Wears Short Shorts

She Wears Short Shorts by ebdaily

Giuliana Rancic inspired today's outfit post with her Health Magazine cover for November. It got me thinking  about how close shorts are to the skirts and dresses that I would wear to parties.

And the same rules apply. If you were going to wear tights with your skirt, then wear tights with your shorts. I love the look of black tights on black pumps which creates a long leg line.

Giuliana wears simple jewelry to accentuate her hot pants. I suggest doing the same. Since you're flashing a lot of leg wear a long sleeved sweater or cardigan to keep things classy. It is winter after all.

Get the look here:

Color Me Domestic - Confetti Popcorn

If you need an easy party favor or just a delicious snack give Candy Coated Popcorn a shot! It is super easy to whip it all together. I made this batch with my friend Amy for my cousin's baby shower.

Confetti Popcorn

Ingredients:

6 cups of popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups melted almond bark or white chocolate

1 1/2 cups white or yellow cake mix

1/4 cup of sprinkles

Melt the almond bark or white chocolate in the microwave and once melted add the cake mix. Pour the mixture over the popped pop corn and toss to coat it. Then I laid it all out on a cookie sheet and sprinkled it with the sprinkles. Wait until it cools and serve!

Color Me Domestic - Shortcut Cake Pops

Cake Pops are becoming more and more popular. Mostly because they can be customized to fit any theme you might have. They can be made in any flavor cake you like too.

But have you ever tried to make them without the fancy cake pop pans? 

I have... it was a major fail.

I did the bake a cake, let it cool and then crumble it with some frosting method and they turned out mushy. The chocolate candy coating worked well but the pops were very heavy and didn't stand up on the sticks.

Then I got to thinking, and trolling the internet, and I found this little trick.

Use doughnut holes!

The plain cake doughnut holes will work best. And the process is pretty simple. I suggest dipping each lollipop stick into the candy coating or frosting and sticking it into the doughnut hole first and letting it "dry" before frosting the rest of the doughnut hole.

We found Styrofoam blocks at Michael's crafts and the lollipop sticks (also found at Michael's... the Wilton Cake section) stick into the block easily. 

Color Me Styled - Hostess Gift

The time comes in every woman's life when she is called upon to host a wedding shower, baby shower or graduation party. There are the invites, the favors, the venue, the menu and any games to plan and then you've gotta look pulled together and chit chat with everyone who attends.

Oh, and you need to give a gift.

For a lot of these events the lady of honor will be registered but there is something about opening a surprise gift that makes the day more special. Add in a super thoughtful element and your event will rank among the favorites for years to come. So, in addition to your "Cooking for Two" or "Mute Button Binkie" there is a gift that takes it to the next level.

What is this thoughtful gift? (And, I can't believe I am sharing this secret with you) Thank you cards. 

Since you invited the guests you've got the list of names and addresses. Pick up some stamps and fill in the return address and all the bride / mom to be / new grad has to do is add her personal note!

For added fun order a custom address stamp from Etsy (this shop is our favorite) and include that in the gift.

Notetrunk on Etsy