Serendipity and Spice: June 2012

Saturday

Manic Monday 24 FEATURES

Can you believe it's already July?! Are you ready for Independence Day? What are you doing this week...any big plans?
We're spending today at the pool, on the 4th we're going to cook out and watch fireworks, and then next Saturday we're having a PAR-TAY!!!

Alrighty...
First, I would like to send a big
Thank You
to Danni for Co-hosting this week!
Don't forget to head over to Silo Hill Farm to see more features.

So here we Go,

Time FOR FEATURES:

10 Minute Ravioli Dinner

Do you ever have those days that you just don't have time for ANYTHING?!

I HATE doing fast food but sometimes it just seems easier than going home and cooking. But, I have found a few staple meals that I can keep everything on hand at all times and am able to whip up a quick yummy healthier meal in just minutes.

Today I'm going to share my super simple 10 minutes ravioli bake.

Manic Monday Linky Party 24

I'm feeling like Manic Monday needs a little pick me up. So some changes have been made! :)

What do you think of the new button?

I felt like changing things up a bit and I hope you like the new look of Manic Monday!

Danni from Silo Hill Farm is my FANTASTIC Co-Host this week!

Her blog is FULL of cute and easy crafty projects. Danni shares about her life on the farm-- yep, she's on a farm.... and they're growing pumpkins and a corn maze for the fall- I can't wait to see what she has in store this Fall!! I sooooo wish I lived close enough to take the little man to visit!

There’s just 3 SIMPLE rules:

1. Follow Host and Co-Host

Host: Serendipity and Spice

Co-Host: Silo Hill Farm

You can follow each through Facebook, Pinterest, GFC, BlogLovin, RSS, or Email.

2. Put a Backlink

If you don't know how to put a backlink in your post here's a quick tutorial.

You can also find out about Linky Party Etiquette here.

3. Limit yourself to 3 links Make sure you link directly to your post.

Now let's have some FUN!

Do you want to host Manic Monday one week? Send me an email at SerendipityandSpice@yahoo.com.

Friday

Bigger Jeans? "YES PLEASE!" Some profound advice!

My best friend came over the other day with her son and she had some profound advice that has really resonated with me.

White Lights on Wednesday

Have you met Julie?

Today I would like to take a moment and introduce you to Julie over at White Lights on Wednesday. If you follow my blog on a regular basis I know you've seen her amazing recipes featured week after week from Manic Monday.

I know that if Julie and I lived close (she's all the way out in Arizona...boo!) we'd be hanging out ALL the time and it'd be LEGEN........wait--for---it.................DARY! I am constantly drooling over her recipes! But we have alot more than just food in common too! We both LOVE to quote "How I Met Your Mother".... I think I'm safe in saying we're big HIMYM geeks... we quote that show like men quote Star Wars! I too will not touch mushrooms and LOVE extra cheese on my pizza and am TERRIFIED of unrestricted heights. Anywho.... enough about how much we have in common. :)

Julie is constantly sharing AH-MA-ZING recipes on her blog!

Every Wednesday she hosts a rockin' linky party, Wednesday Whatsits, to share your creations. Head on over and join in the fun...it's going on TODAY!!

Check these Fantastic recipes out:

Thin Mint Knock-Offs

Chocolate Wasted Cake

(I so want to get chocolate wasted!)

Guinness Gingerbread

Chick-fil-A Slider Knock Offs

I hope you'll swing by and say Hi to Julie!

Do you want to be featured on Serendipity and Spice? All sponsors get a feature post- just visit my Advertising page and purchase a spot. I will write up a feature post to go up sometime during the month. Have a linky party you want to promote? I'll post your feature the day of your party with links to the party. :)

Tuesday

Homemade Baked Beans- From Scratch? Almost....

Is there anything better during these warm summer months than grilling out with friends?!

I think not!

With the summer holidays, pool parties, cook-outs, etc I like having a staple dish that I can whip up quickly and people remember as Legen--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DARY! (Yep, my How I Met Your Mother dorkiness is coming out again! Seriously though, if you've never watched it and you're between 25-35 then you really MUST watch it!!!)

Anyhow....

I LOVE baked beans, but I don't love slaving away in the kitchen during these HOT summer months. So I cheat. Yep, you heard me right.... I'm a cheater! I am not SuzyQ Homemaker, I do not have hours and hours to make everything from scratch. I like to think of myself as an aspiring Sandra Lee (no, not Sandra Dee- goody two shoes turned sexy vixen from Grease- another really good movie!). The Sandra Lee from Semi-Homemade on Food Network.

If you notice ALL of my recipes are relatively easy. I don't do complicated! But, I digress. Let me just tell you.... no one will know you cheated on these baked beans! Everyone thinks I make them from scratch and they have become the staple request when we're invited to a BBQ. Err, well, I guess they don't think that anymore....since I've written this post. Oh well, I'm here to share my secrets and make your life easier, right?!

Alrighty, here's the super fabulous recipe:

Manic Monday Linky Party 23

It’s Time for

Manic Monday!

I hope everyone is have a WONDERFUL Father's Day! I'm spending the day with my wonderful husband for his first Father's Day as a Dad... he really is a SUPERDAD!

Now time to PARTY!

The Rules are simple:

Manic Monday 22 Features

I feel like this has been a rather productive week! My projects are turning out cute, my recipes are tasting YUMMY, we've been packing up the house (in a VERY organized manner), the dog and cats have been de-flea'd (ie: baths, haircut- for the dog-, and flea meds applied), ALL laundry is clean (woohoo).... Now I have some free time for blogging (YEAH ME!!!).

So here we Go,

Time FOR FEATURES:

Beachy Vases- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You know me, I'm all about repurposing items that would normally be thrown away. Well, I'm at it again! What do you think of these super cute Beachy Vases?

They turned out ADORABLE didn't they?

You'll never guess what I used to make these little cuties!

DIY Easily Refinish Your Dishwasher, Refridgerator, and Coutertops

Okay so this has got to be one of the easiest ways to refinish your appliances! I stumbled upon this AMAZING site the other day while researching another post.... and let me just say, this is FABULOUS!

How would you like to change your black or white refrigerator to stainless???

You can do your dishwasher too! Or what about turning the dishwasher into a dry erase board for your young children:

No kids? No problem- what about a beautiful piece of artwork:

Or decorative:

I can't decide which one of these I want to go with:

They have styles to match every decor! And these are super simple to install- all for under $40!

And don't forget the holidays:
If you love the Holidays you will love these holiday panels.

You could decorate your dishwasher and fridge to change with the seasons..... how cool!

They also have chalkboard panels that you can adhere anywhere. I love that they're easily removable so you don't have to worry about messing anything up.

Peel and Stick Chalkboard as seen on Good Luck Charlie.

Finally, the most AWESOME thing ever! Change your boring countertops to look like granite in one simple step!

The best part- they are completely AFFORDABLE!

All opinions are 100% my own. I was not asked to write this post I really do think this is a great concept. After deciding to write this post I signed up to be an affiliate with Appliance Art and will now receive a nominal fee for all purchases made through these links.

Tuesday

Sweet & Salty Cheesecake with Strawberries

You know how sometimes you just have a craving but can't figure out what the craving is for?

You want something sweet yet salty?

Well, I had one of those cravings this weekend!

I didn't want chocolate or caramel or peanut butter....

So, what to do- what to do.....

Experiment in the kitchen, that's what!!!!

My husband and I are cheesecake fiends! Our FAVORITE dessert spot is the Cheesecake Factory- unfortunately the closest one to us is like 40 minutes away- so I decided to make my own...... but with a twist, of course!

I wanted to work with what I had on hand in the kitchen- no grocery store runs at 8pm for me!

What I came up with turned out to be absolutely AMAZING! It was the PERFECT combination of salty with sweet yumminess!!!!!