10.31.2014

Waterlogue App...Before and Afters of my favorite spaces!


Do you guys have the Waterlogue App on your iPhones or iPads? 
For those of you who use images all of the time, like me, I'll bet you have it. 
I am kinda addicted to it and its magical transformative powers to make any space look instantly more romantic and lovely with the watercolor application.
If any of you guys follow me on Instagram, then you probably see a lot of my Waterlogue images of spaces I've been working on. I usually do these when I want to give you guys a little peek into what I'll be blogging about soon.

I thought it may be fun to share with you guys what I have Instagrammed via Waterlogue and the actual spaces behind the paintbrush.

Enjoy! 












































Happy Halloween to all of my fabulous readers! 
Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! 
xoxo

Waterlogue App...Before and Afters of my favorite spaces!


Do you guys have the Waterlogue App on your iPhones or iPads? 
For those of you who use images all of the time, like me, I'll bet you have it. 
I am kinda addicted to it and its magical transformative powers to make any space look instantly more romantic and lovely with the watercolor application.
If any of you guys follow me on Instagram, then you probably see a lot of my Waterlogue images of spaces I've been working on. I usually do these when I want to give you guys a little peek into what I'll be blogging about soon.

I thought it may be fun to share with you guys what I have Instagrammed via Waterlogue and the actual spaces behind the paintbrush.

Enjoy! 












































Happy Halloween to all of my fabulous readers! 
Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! 
xoxo

10.29.2014

Hope to See You Here!


Once again, I am proudly volunteering with Marketplace here in Gainesville. The Marketplace event, held at the Civic Center, showcases many local vendors just in time for your Christmas shopping!
Women's clothing, men's clothing, children's wear, home accessories, furniture, gourmet food items...and more! 

Here is more information on the event.

I am a part of the Artsy Garden committee, too. Artsy Garden, a collection of fabulous donated items all available for silent auction, is held on the porch of the Civic Center over the course of the 3 day event. 
The money is raised for the volunteer services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, a cause close to my heart! 

As a member of the NGHS Auxiliary and the Trellis Society Board at NGHS, I see first hand the incredible community outreach that's served through our hospital. 
We, as a community, are beyond blessed to have such wonderful, nationally recognized healthcare at our service. 

Please plan to attend the events coming up soon! 
Preview Party is so fun, and gives everyone a chance to dress up, have fantastic food, and participate in the energetic live auction, as well as the limited-time-offered silent auction. 

Hope to see you guys in November! 

Hope to See You Here!


Once again, I am proudly volunteering with Marketplace here in Gainesville. The Marketplace event, held at the Civic Center, showcases many local vendors just in time for your Christmas shopping!
Women's clothing, men's clothing, children's wear, home accessories, furniture, gourmet food items...and more! 

Here is more information on the event.

I am a part of the Artsy Garden committee, too. Artsy Garden, a collection of fabulous donated items all available for silent auction, is held on the porch of the Civic Center over the course of the 3 day event. 
The money is raised for the volunteer services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, a cause close to my heart! 

As a member of the NGHS Auxiliary and the Trellis Society Board at NGHS, I see first hand the incredible community outreach that's served through our hospital. 
We, as a community, are beyond blessed to have such wonderful, nationally recognized healthcare at our service. 

Please plan to attend the events coming up soon! 
Preview Party is so fun, and gives everyone a chance to dress up, have fantastic food, and participate in the energetic live auction, as well as the limited-time-offered silent auction. 

Hope to see you guys in November! 

10.27.2014

Monday Maven: A GIVEAWAY!!! from Betsy of Shugart and Spice

I am thrilled to share today's Monday Maven with you guys! 
Betsy is a friend and sorority sister of mine from UGA with a pretty serious talent for making the everyday meal look amazing. Her fabulous lifestyle blog, Shugart & Spice, showcases her incredible meals, family recipes, and more. Recently, Betsy began offering a way to have her delightful dishes grace our tables....her menu of ready-made frozen casseroles is mouthwatering to say the least! 
Follow the link to peruse her menu:
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2014/08/casseroles-main-dishes-to-go.html

Everyone, be sure and check out her inspiring blog for recipes to share with your family and friends over Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
Browsing her recipe list is a bit like going to the grocery store while hungry....I am left wanting to try each and every one! 

Betsy is also offering a super fun giveaway today!:
Her home-made shrimp and grits frozen casserole is up for grabs for one local Atlantan! 
Cast your votes by commenting on this post and you'll shine at your next dinner party or family gathering compliments of Betsy. :) 



I'm such a carb nut ....every.single.one. of her pastas looks amazing! I'm not Italian either, but I will try my hardest to be while channeling my love of penne pasta. 


_____________________________________

Betsy also graciously answered a few of my questions for you guys. Loved her answers and am a bit jealous of that shrimp and grits winner already! ;))

Tell me about yourself….who is Betsy the cook?
Wow, I don’t know where to begin. I’ll admit - I got any cooking genes from my Dad, who did all the cooking when we were growing up. I learned a ton from him & my grandmother over the years. Ones cooking skills can always improve, you can always learn a new technique or just discover a new recipe…I love that evolution! 

I love to cook for a few reasons:

  1. It’s relaxing & rewarding. A glass of wine, music in the background, chopping {the stress relief of slicing & dicing - sigh!}, mixing & BAM…something great is on its way!
  2. I see a recipe as a guideline - omit this, add that, a pinch of this, a little more of that. This technique also explains why I’m not much of a baker!
  3. To save money! I’m a stickler about trying to eat in a few nights each week-prepping & freezing meals when I have free time makes for a perfect weeknight dinner when you’re exhausted.

What inspires your dishes/menus/meals? 
I enjoy cooking dishes that are simple, yet delicious and don’t require too many ingredients. I love trolling cookbooks and cooking magazines for new ideas or dishes that I want to try. I also love meal planning! The entire atmosphere is set with an appetizer so I put a lot of thought into that first bite. Just remember to keep it simple – I keep a pantry full of South Georgia canned, boiled peanuts, that I can crack open if a guest pops in! Any South Georgian knows that’s a conversation starter, “these are great, now where are these from?!”

What are your favorite dishes for the Thanksgiving holidays? 
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays; we spend it in Destin, Florida with about 30 family members and friends so there’s always something social going on. The weather is absolutely perfect in November and we toggle between a bathing suit during the day and a sweat shirt at sunset. We have a gathering house for Thanksgiving lunch and everyone brings their favorite dishes. I usually stick to my Thanksgiving staples because they get rave reviews and people ask for them every year. 

Here are a few of my favorite dishes for the holidays:

Tomato Tarts
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/02/tomato-heart-tarts.html

Dill and Blue Cheese Green Beans http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/02/dill-blue-cheese-green-beans.html

Easy Bake Toffee Brownies
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2014/07/easy-bake-toffee-brownies.html

Do you have any recipes that are particularly special to you?
My meatballs! We don’t have a drop of Italian blood in the family but I’d like to think I do - my meatballs are amazing! The recipe came from my Grandmother and I’ve tweaked it a bit over the years. The biggest change I made I learned from Mario Batalli - it’s all about the braise. Drop the raw meatball directly into the sauce, cover & you’ve got the most tender, fall apart meatball in about 3 hours. Every few months I make a double batch in my crockpot; I freeze dinner-sized portions in plastic containers so I always have a meal on hand. And one to take to a new mother or someone in need or someone who smells them next door…

It’s pretty foolproof and anyone can perfect the art of a good meatball. And unlike the Italians, I’ll share my recipe because a meatball really does cure all!

Irresistible Italian Meatballs http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/01/irresistible-italian-meatballs.html



How does your hospitality and love for cooking translate into your home? 
I really started to love cooking when my husband and I got married, and I had someone to cook for full time. I also fell in love with our home when I saw the open kitchen/dining room/living space; this makes it ideal for cooking, socializing and hosting friends and family. We have had tons of laughs, conversations and countless bottles of wine sitting around our dining room table. I love that food brings people together-it creates a memory or milestone that is heartwarming!

A Few Tips for sharpening your cooking skills:

  1. Make it a goal to try one new recipe a month. This is how I’ve discovered some of my go-to’s!
  2. Freeze a few meals - these are great for busy nights or to gift for someone in need of a nice meal.
  3. Keep it simple and fun - if you’re trying something new, don’t stress! It’s not always perfect the first time.
_________________________________

Thank you Betsy for the awesome guest post today and amazing giveaway for one lucky B&B reader!

Here are a few more of my favorites from Betsy's recipe list:

Cheeseburger Pasta (extra fabo with kiddos)


Skewered shrimp (amazing appetizer!)


and that tried and true Southern treat - Pimento Cheese

Ok friends, y'all start commenting! 
Remember, you can comment as many times as you like!
As usual, you've got 48 hours to cast your entries! :)))
Best of luck!!! 

Monday Maven: A GIVEAWAY!!! from Betsy of Shugart and Spice

I am thrilled to share today's Monday Maven with you guys! 
Betsy is a friend and sorority sister of mine from UGA with a pretty serious talent for making the everyday meal look amazing. Her fabulous lifestyle blog, Shugart & Spice, showcases her incredible meals, family recipes, and more. Recently, Betsy began offering a way to have her delightful dishes grace our tables....her menu of ready-made frozen casseroles is mouthwatering to say the least! 
Follow the link to peruse her menu:
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2014/08/casseroles-main-dishes-to-go.html

Everyone, be sure and check out her inspiring blog for recipes to share with your family and friends over Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
Browsing her recipe list is a bit like going to the grocery store while hungry....I am left wanting to try each and every one! 

Betsy is also offering a super fun giveaway today!:
Her home-made shrimp and grits frozen casserole is up for grabs for one local Atlantan! 
Cast your votes by commenting on this post and you'll shine at your next dinner party or family gathering compliments of Betsy. :) 



I'm such a carb nut ....every.single.one. of her pastas looks amazing! I'm not Italian either, but I will try my hardest to be while channeling my love of penne pasta. 


_____________________________________

Betsy also graciously answered a few of my questions for you guys. Loved her answers and am a bit jealous of that shrimp and grits winner already! ;))

Tell me about yourself….who is Betsy the cook?
Wow, I don’t know where to begin. I’ll admit - I got any cooking genes from my Dad, who did all the cooking when we were growing up. I learned a ton from him & my grandmother over the years. Ones cooking skills can always improve, you can always learn a new technique or just discover a new recipe…I love that evolution! 

I love to cook for a few reasons:

  1. It’s relaxing & rewarding. A glass of wine, music in the background, chopping {the stress relief of slicing & dicing - sigh!}, mixing & BAM…something great is on its way!
  2. I see a recipe as a guideline - omit this, add that, a pinch of this, a little more of that. This technique also explains why I’m not much of a baker!
  3. To save money! I’m a stickler about trying to eat in a few nights each week-prepping & freezing meals when I have free time makes for a perfect weeknight dinner when you’re exhausted.

What inspires your dishes/menus/meals? 
I enjoy cooking dishes that are simple, yet delicious and don’t require too many ingredients. I love trolling cookbooks and cooking magazines for new ideas or dishes that I want to try. I also love meal planning! The entire atmosphere is set with an appetizer so I put a lot of thought into that first bite. Just remember to keep it simple – I keep a pantry full of South Georgia canned, boiled peanuts, that I can crack open if a guest pops in! Any South Georgian knows that’s a conversation starter, “these are great, now where are these from?!”

What are your favorite dishes for the Thanksgiving holidays? 
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays; we spend it in Destin, Florida with about 30 family members and friends so there’s always something social going on. The weather is absolutely perfect in November and we toggle between a bathing suit during the day and a sweat shirt at sunset. We have a gathering house for Thanksgiving lunch and everyone brings their favorite dishes. I usually stick to my Thanksgiving staples because they get rave reviews and people ask for them every year. 

Here are a few of my favorite dishes for the holidays:

Tomato Tarts
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/02/tomato-heart-tarts.html

Dill and Blue Cheese Green Beans http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/02/dill-blue-cheese-green-beans.html

Easy Bake Toffee Brownies
http://www.shugartandspice.com/2014/07/easy-bake-toffee-brownies.html

Do you have any recipes that are particularly special to you?
My meatballs! We don’t have a drop of Italian blood in the family but I’d like to think I do - my meatballs are amazing! The recipe came from my Grandmother and I’ve tweaked it a bit over the years. The biggest change I made I learned from Mario Batalli - it’s all about the braise. Drop the raw meatball directly into the sauce, cover & you’ve got the most tender, fall apart meatball in about 3 hours. Every few months I make a double batch in my crockpot; I freeze dinner-sized portions in plastic containers so I always have a meal on hand. And one to take to a new mother or someone in need or someone who smells them next door…

It’s pretty foolproof and anyone can perfect the art of a good meatball. And unlike the Italians, I’ll share my recipe because a meatball really does cure all!

Irresistible Italian Meatballs http://www.shugartandspice.com/2011/01/irresistible-italian-meatballs.html



How does your hospitality and love for cooking translate into your home? 
I really started to love cooking when my husband and I got married, and I had someone to cook for full time. I also fell in love with our home when I saw the open kitchen/dining room/living space; this makes it ideal for cooking, socializing and hosting friends and family. We have had tons of laughs, conversations and countless bottles of wine sitting around our dining room table. I love that food brings people together-it creates a memory or milestone that is heartwarming!

A Few Tips for sharpening your cooking skills:

  1. Make it a goal to try one new recipe a month. This is how I’ve discovered some of my go-to’s!
  2. Freeze a few meals - these are great for busy nights or to gift for someone in need of a nice meal.
  3. Keep it simple and fun - if you’re trying something new, don’t stress! It’s not always perfect the first time.
_________________________________

Thank you Betsy for the awesome guest post today and amazing giveaway for one lucky B&B reader!

Here are a few more of my favorites from Betsy's recipe list:

Cheeseburger Pasta (extra fabo with kiddos)


Skewered shrimp (amazing appetizer!)


and that tried and true Southern treat - Pimento Cheese

Ok friends, y'all start commenting! 
Remember, you can comment as many times as you like!
As usual, you've got 48 hours to cast your entries! :)))
Best of luck!!!