Friday, July 11, 2014

Western Party: Food Labels {Free Printables}

FREE Printable Food Labels for Western-Themed Party | Apples to Applique #party #cowboy #cowgirl #western

 

It's amazing how simple little details can really "make" a party...but man, some of those little details get expensive! There are hundreds of darling printables out there for sale, but all those costs add up! You all know I'm a crazy DIYer, so for my daughter's western-themed first birthday, I designed these printable labels for the food we were serving from the chuck wagon (aka food table).

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #11: DIY Bandana Skirt

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

Last Tuesday, as part of my on-going series on throwing a cheap and easy DIY Western Party, I shared how to make these cute and easy invitations for 50 cents a piece.

Today, I want to share with you all how I made the bandana skirt my daughter wore for her first birthday party.

Quick and Easy DIY Bandana Skirt | Apples to Applique #sewing #tutorial #western

This skirt was so quick and easy, I was finished in under an hour--hence the inclusion in Two-Minute Tuesday. :) Honestly, a good portion of that hour was spent rethreading a serger I wasn't super familiar with, so I bet you could knock this out much faster than that!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Meal Review Monday #13: Banana Bread Pancakes

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

Up this week: Banana Bread Pancakes from Chef-in-Training.

Banana Bread Pancakes on chef-in-training.com ...These are SO amazing! Pancakes merge with Banana Bread to create something SO good!
Image from Chef-in-Training. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!
I love banana bread, and I love pancakes, so I just had to try this recipe! I mean, what could be better than two breakfast treats in one?

Friday, July 4, 2014

Western Party: Pennant Banner {Free Printables}

As part of my ongoing series on throwing a cheap, DIY, Western-themed party, I want to share with you one of the free printables promised in the first post! This one is for a pennant banner.

FREE Printable Western-Themed Pennant Banner (includes all letters and numbers) | Apples to Applique #western #party #cowboy #cowgirl #birthday

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Mabel's Labels Back-to-School Early Bird Pricing

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Now that school is out and kids are off to camp, are you looking around your house and wondering where all of the water bottles, hooded jackets, and that extra pair of sneakers disappeared to? Get a jump on the back and forth of belongings before school starts up again, and take advantage of Mabel's Labels Back-to-School early bird pricing. Whether you select the bestselling Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back-to-School Combo or the new Mabel's Labels Stylish Scholars Combo , you'll receive 108 tags that are UV resistant, waterproof, dishwasher and microwave safe—perfect to track everything from tablets to bento boxes. And, if you purchase in July, you spend only $39 per combo pack (regularly $42). Take advantage of Mabel's Labels Back-to-School early bird pricing and secure yourself some peace of mind before the school year begins. 

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #10: DIY Western Party Invitations

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

For today and the next couple of Tuesdays, I'm going to be sharing with you some of the shorter posts in my series on throwing a cheap and easy DIY Western Party. Today's project: invitations. (Okay, okay, this is longer than the usual Two-Minute Tuesday post, and these will take longer than a couple minutes to put together, but they are pretty quick).

Easy and inexpensive DIY invitations for a Western themed party | Apples to Applique #kidsparty #birthday

The first thing in throwing a party is sending out invitations, right? They set the tone for the party and help guests know the theme and what to expect.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Meal Review Monday #12: Gratineed Pineapple

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

On the menu today: Gratineed Pineapple by Wives with Knives. (I just love that blog name! Hilarious.)

Gratineed Pineapple from Wives with Knives
Image from Wives with Knives. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Phew! This weekend has been a blur, to say the least! A family wedding on Saturday and moving into our new home (yay!) on Sunday has left this momma worn out!
The wedding was lovely, though, and it is indescribably nice to be in a house again with my little family after spending the last two years in a shoebox-sized apartment. We have space to stretch, and breathe, and create, and cook!
You know by now that I love cooking, and things like weddings inspire me to cook fancier things. I would say this dish qualifies as fancy.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Yeehaw! A Western Party!

I can hardly believe it, but my little girl just turned ONE! Where does the time go? We just had her big birthday bash last Saturday, and it was a ton of fun!

YeeHaw! A DIY Western Birthday Party | Apples to Applique #cowboy #cowgirl #kidsparty
 
We went with a Western theme, and I just have to tell you why. This kid, since she was a newborn, has been in love with Willie Nelson. I kid you not, whenever we had a night where we couldn't get her to sleep, or whenever she would get super worked up about something, we would play Willie's Redheaded Stranger album and she would immediately stop crying, calm down, and go to sleep. Every.single.time. for the past year.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #9: Cookie Dough S'mores

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas!

So it has officially been summer now for a few days! I love summer! Playing outside, going to the pool, having cookouts--it's all wonderful.

Cookie Dough S'mores - a fun twist on a summer time classic! | Apples to Applique #smores

Monday, June 23, 2014

Meal Review Monday #11: Bacon & Egg Stuffed Avocados

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.
Up this week: Bacon & Egg Stuffed Avocados from Recipe by Photo.

Bacon & Egg Stuffed Avocados | Recipe By Photo
Image from Recipe by Photo. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Progressive Dinner Date {with Free Printables}

I wanted to do something new and special for my hubby's recent birthday (other than making his dream dessert, German Chocolate Tres Leches, a reality). I wanted to take him someplace new, because we love exploring new restaurants; it's one of our favorite things to do together. As I started thinking about places to go, it dawned on me that I could take him to several new places by doing a progressive dinner date.

Progressive Dinner Date {with free printables} | Apples to Applique #datenight #dateideas


I ended up taking him to four different places: one for appetizers and drinks, one for dinner, one for entertainment, and one for dessert. I had the most fun planning it all out!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #8: Butter vs. Margarine

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.
This is also the 4th installment in my on-going series on Cooking 101.
Today, I want to talk to you a little about baking with butter versus margarine.

Cooking 101: Butter vs. Margarine | Apples to Applique #baking #cooking #kitchentips


Monday, June 16, 2014

Meal Review Monday #10: Knock You Naked Brownies

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

I can't believe this is the 10th week of Meal Review Monday! In honor of this small milestone, and the fact that the recipe I reviewed last week was a dud, I wanted to share a truly great recipe with you today.

Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies from Cooking with Boys.

Image from Cooking with Boys. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Easy Patriotic Kids' Snack

Can you believe the 4th of July is just around the corner! Where is this year going?

There are so many fun patriotic food ideas floating around Pinterest and the blogosphere right now, so of course I had to make my contribution to that. :) But unlike a lot of the ideas out there that require a lot of time and work, this one is easy enough for kids to make for themselves!

Easy patriotic snack kids can make themselves! | Apples to Applique #RedWhiteandBlue #AmericanFlag #4thofJuly

Aren't these just the cutest things?

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Stella & Dot Stylist - June Special!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Why can't work be fun and fabulous? Well it can! You can get free accessories, trips to amazing destinations and join a warm community of inspiring women, all when you become a Stella & Dot Stylist. They have fabulous accessories for you to share by having trunk shows – online or in-home! You have the potential of earning extra spending money or a six figure income, it’s up to you! And to make this deal even better, now through the end of June, when you sign up to be a Stella & Dot Stylist, you will get an additional $100 ($450 total) in free accessories! All you have to do is sell, they take care of everything else. For additional details and to sign up, visit: www.stelladot.com/stylist.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #7: How to Extend the Life of Strappy Sandals

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

This week I want to share a quick tip on extending the life of your strappy sandals.

How to extend the life of your strappy sandals | Apples to Applique #summer #DIY #tips


Monday, June 9, 2014

Meal Review Monday #9: Crockpot Pizza Casserole

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.
Up this week: Crockpot Pizza Casserole.

Amazing taste and so easy to prepare!  My family loves pasta and pizza so this is the perfect recipe for them! .
Image from Stockpiling Moms. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Guest Post: DIY Rice Neck Warmer

Happy Friday, everyone! We are in the middle of unpacking and getting settled after our big move from Texas to Kansas (our home state), so I haven't had time to put together my usual recipe or tutorial that I post on Fridays. Thankfully, Allie from Crafty Allie agreed to do a guest post for me today!

Allie is so much fun, and we share so many mutual interests! She's got a great project for you today that I know you'll enjoy.
Take it away, Allie!



Hi I'm Allie. That's me to the left(the crazy one), willing to do anything, well almost anything! I obviously, love crafting, 
hence my blog name "Crafty Allie".
I'm a fun loving Texan, obsessed with anything to do with crafting, sewing, knitting, crochet, cooking and so much more! Please join me in my adventures of creative insanity!



Thank you so much for having me on today Amber, I am so honored!

Today, I'd like to share with you my DIY Rice Neck Warmer.

DIY Rice Neck Warmer {guest post on Apples to Applique} | Crafty Allie


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #6: 5 Reasons to Encourage Summer Reading

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

School is either over or drawing to a close within the next few days, depending on where you live. I know parents, teachers, and students are all looking forward to some time off from the responsibilities of school.

5 Reasons to Encourage Summer Reading with your Kids: A Teacher's Perspective | Apples to Applique


Even though summer is here and there are no official assignments, except for the occasional summer reading book, you should really encourage your child to still read at least 20 minutes a day.

Here are five reasons why...

Monday, June 2, 2014

Meal Review Monday #8: Chocolate Tres Leches

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

On the menu today: Chocolate Tres Leches from Food.com.

Chocolate Tres Leches Cake. Photo by moniqueandmusic
Image from Food.com. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Friday, May 30, 2014

German Chocolate Tres Leches

My husband's birthday was last week, so I was asking him what kind of cake or cheesecake he wanted. Last year I made him a chocolate tres leches cake I had found on Pinterest, so I asked if he would like that again. He replied that he wanted a German chocolate tres leches.

German Chocolate Tres Leches; completely from scratch and completely amazing! | Apples to Applique #cake #baking #dessert #bestcakeever



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #5: How to Work with Dough

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.
This is also the third installment of Cooking 101; today I want to share a quick tip for working with dough.

A Quick Tip for Working with Dough | Apples to Applique #cooking #baking #cookingtips


Monday, May 26, 2014

Meal Review Monday #7: Stuffed Mini Peppers

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you all get some time today to relax with your family and friends and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The recipe I'm reviewing today would be quick to add to your picnic menu this afternoon: Stuffed Mini Peppers. They're so simple and tasty.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Ruffled Top Refashion

Happy Friday, everyone! Are you looking forward to the weekend as much as I am? Although I'm not working outside the home right now, I love weekends since I get to have my husband home for a couple of days.

So, I've told you how I am trying to extend the life of my wardrobe in the interest of saving a little cash. Last week I showed you how to lengthen shirts by adding lace. This week's refashion is a little bit more involved, but so much fun.

Ruffled Top Refashion | Apples to Applique #sewing



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #4: How to Measure Ingredients for Cooking

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links. Thanks for supporting my blog!)

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

In today's second installment of Cooking 101, I'm going to give you a quick rundown on how to measure ingredients in the kitchen.

Cooking 101: How to Measure Ingredients for Cooking | Apples to Applique


Monday, May 19, 2014

Meal Review Monday #6: Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts

Welcome to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

I hope you all had a great weekend! We're busy packing and getting ready to move two states away, so it's been chaotic around here. We will be back in our hometown, though, with all of our immediate family and most of our extended family, which we are super excited about, especially with having a kid now.

In the midst of all this craziness, however, I am still (somehow) finding time to cook.
This week's Pinterest recipe: Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans by Rachel Schultz.

PAN-SEARED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CRANBERRIES & PECANS from Rachel Schultz
 Image from Rachel Schultz. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!
I like brussels sprouts, but I don't have them often, because they're usually kind of boring. I had never tried them in a recipe like this.

Now, if you're not a fan of brussels sprouts, you won't like this recipe, but if you are, you should give it a try. This dish really fancies-up boring old brussels sprouts, and makes an impressive-looking side.

I would recommend using fresh sprouts, though. I used frozen (because the recipe doesn't specify) and mine didn't look nearly as pretty as hers. The taste wasn't affected, though! The combination really worked well: the tart cranberries, the tangy cheese, and the crunchy pecans all complemented the brussels sprouts perfectly.

It didn't take too terribly long to prepare, either. The longest part was prepping the sprouts, but it wasn't too tedious.

All in all, my final rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars. Give it a try the next time you want a fancy side dish!

Have you tried this recipe? Do you agree with my rating?

Need a tasty main dish to go with this recipe? Try my Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Meatballs.

http://www.applestoapplique.com/2012/04/barbecue-meatballs.html

Friday, May 16, 2014

How to Lengthen a Shirt with Lace

Lately, I've been going through my summer wardrobe trying to see what I can make work for me this year. Most of these clothes haven't been worn for two years; my daughter was born last summer, so of course I was not in 90% of my regular summer clothes after her birth. And, of course, my body is just not the same post-baby, so there's that. But I'm trying really hard to be frugal and not spend a gazillion dollars on a new wardrobe, so I've been looking for ways to make my existing wardrobe work.

How to Lengthen a Shirt with Lace | Apples to Applique #sewing #tutorial #DIY #fashion

The first project I took on was a simple one. I had this pretty black top that I like, but it's always been just a tad on the short side, so I never wore it. Last fall I showed you how to lengthen a knit shirt by adding a band in the middle, but that technique wouldn't work here. It wouldn't look right with the shirt, and this shirt is not made of knit fabric, so I knew I would need a different approach.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #3: Cooking Abbreviations and Measurement Conversions

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.

I had put out some "feelers" a while back to see if there was any interest in a series on cooking for the beginner. I received positive feedback, so I've decided to present some quick cooking tips through Two-Minute Tuesdays. I'm calling the series Cooking 101, and today is the first installment.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Meal Review Monday #5: Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Welcome to to Meal Review Monday, where I review Pinterest recipe finds.

On the menu today: Bacon Cinnamon Rolls by Gimme Some Oven

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Image from Tablespoon. Please respect the creator and pin from the original site!

Bacon rolled up inside cinnamon rolls = the most genius breakfast idea ever!

Sunday, May 11, 2014

"Moem" for Mother's Day

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MetLife Foundation. All opinions are 100% mine.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms and grandmas out there!
This is a special Mother's Day for me as it is the first one I get to celebrate with my daughter since her birth (although my sweet husband gave me a gift last Mother's Day, when I was 8 months pregnant).

Mother's Day in the past has always been a little bittersweet for me, as my relationship with my mom is not what I would wish it to be. However, I am blessed to have two amazing grandmothers who have always been there to encourage me and drive me to be the best I can be. That's why this year for Mother's Day, I have decided to write a #Moem in their honor.

#Moem

What is a Moem, you ask? A “#Moem” is a tribute poem written and posted on social channels, preferably rhyming, in 135 characters or less. Isn't that sweet?

But it gets even better, because for every #moem posted, MetLife will donate $10 toward Dress for Success’ goal of $50,000. How awesome is that? (Note: while you can make Moems after Mother's Day, the donation ends at midnight on Mother's Day).
 
Not poetic? No problem! Check out the Moem Maker www.moemmaker.com for a little help to get you started. I used it and it was really easy. There are several first lines to choose from, and then you type in the second line yourself. (It even gives you rhyming word suggestions).

I encourage you to give it a try, and then post a tribute to your mom or grandma on social media with the hashtag #moem for the world to see. It only takes a few minutes, will make your mom feel special, and make a difference in the lives of other moms, as well.

Visit Sponsor's Site

Friday, May 9, 2014

Cap and Gown Champagne/Wine Bottle Cover

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links).

It's graduation season! I'm sure you all know a few people who are graduating this spring. This champagne/wine bottle cover makes a cute and festive addition to a bottle of wine or champagne, making a nice gift for the college graduate. You could even use it for high school graduates by putting it over a bottle of sparking grape juice.


Cap and Gown Bottle Cover Tutorial | Apples to Applique #graduation #wine #gifts


I originally saw this idea on Pinterest, but when I went to the page, it was a dead link (so frustrating when that happens!) I tried searching for the original blog, but the blog had been removed. A further search brought up some results from Etsy, where these were being sold for $20. I knew I could figure out how to make this myself, and sure enough, I did, and was able to make it for about $2. I can spend that extra $18 on my graduate friend!

It took a little bit to figure out the pattern, but once I did it really wasn't so bad. Now I'm sharing the pattern with you, so you don't have to figure it out for yourself!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Two-Minute Tuesday #2: 15 Last-Minute Gifts for Moms and Teachers

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links).

Welcome to Two-Minute Tuesday, where I share quick tips, tidbits, and ideas.
Today's overall post is longer, but each idea should only take you a few minutes, hence the inclusion in Two-Minute Tuesday. :)




This Sunday is Mother's Day...eek, that's only 5 days away! On top of that, this week is also Teacher Appreciation Week! Have you found the perfect gifts yet? If you're a procrastinator like a lot of us, you may still be needing a gift for the special mom or teacher in your life. Well you're in luck, because today I have some quick and easy ideas for you that moms and teachers are sure to love. You don't have to be crafty to put together these DIY gifts. They won't take you long at all to assemble, but they're still thoughtful and show you care. Moms and teachers deserve that, right?