It wasn’t too long ago that I was gushing over denim. I’d apologize for the repeat style crush but I really don’t want to. It is denim after all – who doesn’t love denim? And it’s perfectly acceptable…scratch that, it’s downright stylish to be in this easy to wear, best invention ever fabric.
My heart desires ever single item below. In fact I own #2. (Which I wore this weekend…and now looking at it on the model am realizing it didn’t really look that fab on me. Oh to be 5’10″…) You may also notice a certain trend that has grown on me – yep guys, #4 is considered culottes. They are seriously fun, maybe not something I could pull off but I had to post because someone out there reading most certainly could.
If you are not brave enough to do a jumpsuit or culotte cutout romper (Who on earth ever thought that would be fashionable?) than a dress is most certainly right up your alley. Dress any of these looks up or down, with to without accessories, heels or flats – it is straight up that simple. If you have yet to own a one piece denim item you have no idea what you are missing out on:
Confession: I am not really a donut fan. I know, I know….that is so not normal. They are too sweet, or cakey, or sticky, or maybe a combination of all of it for me. (If I absolutely must eat one though the miniature powdered ones that come in a bag would be my selection. Admittedly those and coffee are not half bad. The munchkins from Dunkins’ are pretty good too. Okay, I take it back. Donuts rule.)
What I can’t deny is that these round confections make for the cutest damn party I ever did see! In honor of donuts and all their prettiness, I have put together a few of my favorite ideas for your next donut themed celebration:
Wait…what is that? You need invites and printables? The PPJ Shop has got you covered! These adorable donut invites and coordinating party printables will complete your sweet celebration perfectly:
Our home is within a short walking distance to a fine foods store that has been around since forever. Jimmy’s is what we call it (the official name being Collins Fine Food) and he’s got everything we love. Wine. Got it. Beer. Got it. Dark chocolate filled with more dark chocolate. Yes!!!
Jimmy’s also has a Jelly Belly bar that until we had a toddler living with us we had never even noticed. Now our home has a bag of colorful calories taunting me. It’s just a few…what harm can that do? Well that “just a few” almost always becomes a gigantic handful and within minutes I have a tummy ache. Yet not even an hour later I am back again for my jelly bean fix. Clearly there is no self control when it comes to me and mini beans of assorted flavors. (Please chose the strawberry daiquiri Jettie…and the watermelon…and the mango…but not the popcorn…)
Determined to kick the jelly bean habit I have my fridge stocked with strawberries at all times. They are colorful, quick to grab, easy to eat…but most importantly they are healthy. You know what else is healthy? Spinach. And avocado. Combine the three and you have something way better than a handful of Jelly Bellies. (Okay, maybe it’s a tie as far as how good they taste. But the salad is much healthier, there’s no contest there.)
The key to this salad is the dressing and salty cheese. You can keep it simple with a little oil and vinegar. Or you could make it extra delicious and whip up this creamy poppy seed dressing. It’s sweet, it’s tangy and a little goes a long way.
As far as the cheese I am and will always be a feta girl. Those briny, salty bits make my tastebuds smile. Gorgonzola or bleu cheese would be acceptable alternatives if feta is not your thing.
Everything about this salad makes me happy. The flavors are fresh and vibrant, the avocado adds creaminess and the feta keeps it from being boring. It’s a perfect way to make yourself feel better after a bit of a junk food binge. (And yes, I finally hid those jelly beans. Out of sight, out of mind.)
Enjoy!
strawberry, avocado & spinach salad with feta and poppy seed dressing
Put dressing ingredients in a jar with lid and shake until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Store in fridge for a week - shake well before putting on salad.
Divide spinach between 2 bowls and top each with strawberries, avocado and feta. Drizzle dressing on top (I use maybe 2tbsp a salad) and enjoy!
[Jettie] “We are going to make ice cream for the blog???!!!” [Me] “Yes, but it has beer in it so only adults will be able to eat it.” [Jettie] “Oh man! Why do you always make beer ice cream?” [Me] “I think this is the first time I have made ice cream with beer in it, Sweetie.” [Jettie] “Well when I get bigger next week we better make it again so I can have some.”
Gotta love her misconception of time. (And don’t worry I’ll get the poor girl a bowl of nonalcoholic ice cream.) I have to hand it to her though, she happily played my sous chef even after finding out she couldn’t try a bite….of course that doesn’t count all the chocolate covered pretzels she thought I didn’t see her sneak. The melted chocolate crumbies in her teeth sort of gave her away.
Who doesn’t mind that there is beer in the ice cream would be Sticky. In fact the combo of beer, coffee and chocolate essentially make up his top five food list. Throw some bacon on top and we would have ourselves a grand slam. (But then I couldn’t eat it so no to the pig. Not to mention I am already messing with a Jeni’s ice cream recipe by adding the pretzels – bacon would have felt far too scandalous.)
Of course Sticky wasn’t missing a thing as he consumed his bowl of homemade frozen goodness tonight.
This ice cream is everything you want a perfect bite of ice cream to be and then some. It’s luscious..and smooth…and oh so creamy. First you smell the coffee and think “this is going to be good!” And you have never been more right. Then you take a taste…there’s that coffee again – bold, rich, slightly bitter….delicious. But wait, there is something else…what is that? It’s beer. Very dark, malty man beer. All the sudden you are tasting chocolate in the form of dark coffee and beer. How on earth can this get any better?
Chocolate. Covered. Pretzel.
And all is right in the world.
I am going to go ahead and say that barring a lactose intolerant issue most dads would do a dance over this ice cream. Jeni herself claims it’s the perfect mate to barbecue and whiskey. From my own experience I can attest that all coffee drinking, chocolate consuming, beer guzzling humans of both genders would thoroughly enjoy this frozen dream. But I can’t deny the manliness of it…which just so happens to make it the dessert to whip up for dad this Father’s Day!
Enjoy!
coffee stout ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels
3oz cream cheese, very softened (zapping in the microwave for 8 to 10 seconds works great)
⅛tsp fine sea salt
1¼cups heavy cream
⅔cups sugar
2tbsp light corn syrup (I did not have this so I substituted raw honey)
2tbsp of a dark roast coffee bean coarsely ground
½cup dark stout beer (I used Guinness)
1cup chopped small chocolate covered pretzels
Instructions
First mix the cornstarch with 2tbsp of the milk in a small bowl (making a slurry as Jeni says). In a large bowl whisk the cream cheese and salt until well combined. Set both aside.
Fill a separate large bowl with ice and water (making an ice bath). Combine remaining milk, cream, sugar and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium hight heat. Bring to a rolling boil and allow to boil for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add coffee grounds. Allow to steep for at least 5 minutes.
Strain the milk mixture though a sieve lined with cheese cloth. Be sure to squeeze excess milk out of cheesecloth (don't want to waste any of the yumminess). Discard the grounds.
Return milk mixture to saucepan and gradually whisk in cornstarch slurry. Bring back to a boil, stirring with a rubber spatula. Allow the mixture to thicken and boil for about a minute. Remove from heat.
Gradually whisk the milk mixture into the cream cheese (waiting for it in a large bowl). Add stout and combine well.
Carefully pour mixture into a gallon freezer bag. Secure bag and set in ice bath for 30 minutes, adding ice as necessary.
Snip a corner of your bag and pour mixture into a frozen ice cream canister. Spin in your ice cream maker until thick and creamy. Add chopped pretzels right at the end - allow to spin just under a minute until well combined.
Pack ice cream into a container and press parchment paper directly onto top surface. Freeze for at least 4 hours before devouring. It's worth the wait!
Even though they may not admit it, men like products made specifically for them as much as us girls do. Okay, maybe not quite as much. (Alright, maybe not at all in most cases.)
Needless to say there are some fantastic grooming products out there for our misters. You know, the kind that smell like a man as opposed to cake batter or a field of lavender. Products that are just as much for the ladies because there is nothing better than that clean, burly smell on our favorite guy.
If you have a special mister to buy for or need to pick up something from the kids for Father’s Day how about something just for him in the grooming department? Whether he is into his head of hair, beard or armpits (putting Dolce&Gabbana there seems so wrong yet so right at the same time) there is a product oozing with yummy man smell out there for him:
1Lulu’s chambray dress/2Forever 21 button down denim jumpsuit/3Forever 21 denim dress/4ASOS denim wide leg cutout jumpsuit/5Forever 21 boxy denim dress
