Blackberry Custard Pie

Between my fiancé and I, we knocked this whole pie out in a day!

You Will Need:

{1} unbaked 9” pie shell

{2} cups fresh blackberries

{4} eggs

{2/3} cup sugar

{1 1/3} cup milk

{1} tsp. vanilla

 Sprinkle blackberries in bottom of pie shell. Mix beaten eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla together.

 

Pour egg mixture over blackberries.

{For the overachievers….}

Bake at 400 degrees until custard tests done with a knife coming clean when stuck halfway between the rim and the middle {approximately 50 minutes}. 

Enjoy! J

Pinterest

Recently I have been seriously obsessing over Pinterest, the hottest new place to share your taste with the world! Formatted like inspiration boards, Pinterest allows you to pin all sorts of your favorite photos together in collections that you share with your “followers.” Follow me!   

DIY Doily Table Runner





Tasty Treats - Hydrangea Cupcakes!

   



Gorgeous Flowers!



Home Design + Decor



Mason Jars with Floating Tea Lights 



Wedding Inspiration



Hair Styles


  

Pretty Places

     

 

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

I love tacos, I love soup, and I sure as heck LOVE my slow cooker! So when my turn rolled around for hosting Girls’ Night, I knew exactly what to make! Not only is taco soup super delicious and easy to make, it requires no last minute hosting stress! A perennial favorite, I promise this recipe will leave your guests satisfied!

You Will Need:

{2} cans of kindey beans

{2} cans of pinto beans

{2} cans of corn

{2} cans of diced tomatoes {with chiles}

{2} cans petite diced tomatoes

{1} packet taco seasoning

{1} packet ranch dressing mix

{1.5} lb browned ground turkey or hamburger {optional}

Line crockpot with slow cooker liner. If you don't already use these, here are 5 reasons why you SHOULD!

Brown meat {if you are going to use it}. Drain fat and add to crockpot. Sprinkle seasoning packets on top of meat. Drain and rinse the beans and add to crockpot. Add the ENTIRE contents of the corn and tomato cans.

Stir! Stir! Stir! 

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5. {I think the longer you cook soup, the better, so if you have the time, opt for cooking on low.}

 Stir well, and serve with a handful of your favorite toppings!

Optional Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, crushed Doritos, tomatoes, onions.

Love you ladies! XOXO!

Slow Cooker Taco Soup for Girls Dinner Party!

The Best Things in Life are Free!

In a world that is crazily hungering for things, possessions, and stuff, I thought I would list some of the best things in life... the things that are free! Lately, I have rediscovered the true secret to a happy life, a secret that I had forgotten: Life's greatest joys are found in the little things that make life worth living - relationships, faith, bubble baths, and…POPPIES!!!

{Note: If you venture into the country side, make sure you do not pick the wild flowers. It is against the law and they are actually not free. L}

 

Other free joys in life: smiles, bed time stories, Sunday pancake breakfasts, best friends, hugs, walks on the beach, grilled cheese sandwiches, glimpsing a sunrise, good memories, forgiveness, fresh cut grass, laughter, family dinners, snow angels, and most of all, my Lord and Savior. J

Fresh Fruit Trifle

A tasty summer treat for a get together, or the perfect end to an excellent dinner!

You Will Need:

{1} 12 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed

{1} 8 oz. container sour cream

{1} 9 in. angel food cake

{1} 3.4 oz. package instant vanilla pudding mix

{3} kiwis, peeled and sliced

{3} mangos, peeled and cut into cubes

{1} pint blueberries

{1} pint blackberries

In a medium bowl, fold sour cream and unprepared pudding mix into the whipped topping.

Cut the Cake into thirds, horizontally.

Substitute or add any other favorite fruits!

Line a large trifle or other glass serving bowl with kiwi slices.

I actually used a clean flower vase instead of a trifle bowl!

Layer the cake in the bottom of the bowl, and add blackberries.

Repeat layering until all ingredients are used.

Top with whipped topping mixture and add desired garnish. Refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy!  J

 

A Cup of Joe

Nothing satisfies my taste buds like a warm beverage made by percolation! Just the distinct aroma of coffee filling the air is something of a pleasurable moment — music to my ear in every grind, a celebration to my eye of heavenly swirls of milk, and a savory moment for my palate in every sip.

An affordable luxury, coffee indeed fills my life with joy 3 to 5 times a day! A hot pot of Folgers Caramel Drizzle is absolutely necessary in getting me out of bed, followed by a refill for the commute to work. At the office I pair a cup of Starbucks Extra Bold French Roast with my Charlotte Observer Newspaper by 9 a.m. After lunch, a strong kick of Dunkin Donuts Hazelnut blend helps me sprint through the afternoon.

Fortunately, a few miles from my home lies the very best drip coffee in town, Nova’s Bakery.  Nestled in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte java junkies flock to Nova’s where coffee making is treated like an art, or at least a high form of craft.

Sipping on a Cup of Joe at Quotations in Brevard, NC

Honeymoon Destination?

Wonder if it is "all inclusive"?...calling tomorrow for details.

To Burn or Not to Burn?

May is officially Skin Cancer Prevention Month, and with summer quickly approaching it is extremely important to protect your skin! You can take huge steps to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer—and with little effort.

Here are 3 lines of defense to safely enjoy the sunshine:

Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Make it a habit to buy skincare products that already have sun protection built into the formula. {Don’t forget to use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days!}

Slip on sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.

Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck.

J.Crew Hat

My dear friend Brynn regularly gives me words of caution about being a sun-worshipper.

Put a Bump In It!

Wanna know how to get a voluminous bouffant in 2 minutes?..a BUMPIT! You can get a bumpit set for $9 at Ulta, Sallys, or even your local drug store. It is super easy to use! You can also find the dry-shampoo "PSSSSSST" at Ulta for $5.99.

Ta-da!!!

For other bumpit styles check out http://www.bighappiehair.com/.