Does anything go better with the start of a new season than a good cocktail? I think no. This is it. A cocktail. And maybe an outdoor fire. And a sweater. Ok, so a drink at the fire wearing a cute sweater. That's the best way to start the new season.
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It's football season. It's time for a hail mary.
Is your pantry stocked for fall? Are you ready for fall entertaining? It doesn't take much to have a grand time!
Kettle Brand Salt & Pepper Popcorn
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Do you have a regular dinner that you go to every week? This is one of ours. The children can customize it - I can marinade the meat ahead and make the tzatziki ahead. It's done in no time. Because that's how much time I have after school and before dinner.
No birthday is complete without a cake. And when you ask Amy Christie to make the cake - she brings it! Amy made a Champagne Cake with fancy frosting and edible gold leaf. It's even cooler because she started with a boxed cake mix! Easy! Fancy! Totally Weeknight Party Girl!
Click here for the recipe + Amy's coolness in general
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Did you miss any part of my birthday!? {Shame on you, it's rude to be late to a party} But you can catch up here. And hopefully you brought a good gift to make up for it.
Smooches!
Dance on the tables with a HAWT playlist from Classic Play
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Dine on Caramelized Pear and Brie Crostini from Lulu the Baker
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Sip a phenomenal Black Cherry Punch
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Set the table with MJ's sparkling place cards
Have a great weekend! See you Monday.
This week is my birthday! So we're celebrating all week long - both in real life and on the blog. I rallied a few of my favorite gals to help me celebrate my birthday. Melissa of Lulu the Baker has an amazing appetizer tomorrow, Amy of This Heart of Mine baked a cake, I made a cocktail {doy yoy}, but first, Jen of Classic Play curated a play list that literally has me dancing on the tables already!
I realized the invitations could easily be cut and used on the records - perfect decor by the DJ stand when a record isn't as useful {to anyone other than my sister} as an iPod. But it's the most fabby backdrop for a tiny bluetooth speaker and an iPod.
Party on!
The girls and I partnered with
to bring you an entire week of fabulous birthday party celebration all inspired by
on the
site.
Hey, have you had a Michelada? How do you make yours? I've heard everything from Clamato to plain tomato juice to spicy beer. I like mine with lime juice, hot sauce and an amazingly spicy rim. I also like it over ice, but that's totally optional.
Steak tacos are one of my favorite ways to serve a crowd! Especially at a tailgate or a backyard barbecue. Using a cut like a Certified Angus Flat Iron, Tri Tip Roast, or Flank Steak means you can serve a crowd fairly inexpensively.
Also, I am currently obsessed with Certified Angus Beef. It's shocking how much better it is than 'standard' beef. The meat is tender, juicy, and reliable - even on cuts {like a tri tip roast} that I would usually say are stringy and weird. And they aren't paying me to say that. I'm just obsessed.
A really simple marinade works perfectly for a tailgate too. I throw everything into a ziploc bag with the meat - slosh it around in the marinade - then take it to the tailgate in the cooler. Cooking the meat in the parking lot and slicing it to serve at the tailgate makes these tacos the absolute best. That, and a good beer.
This is a sweet topping for your steak tacos - or really for anything. It desperately needs the jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce to balance the sweetness of the roasted pineapple. But holy moly it's tasty. And it's fab for your tailgate!
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Can you believe it's already tailgate season again!? The Huskies and Cougars both have games next week which means we all have to start planning how we're going to tailgate. Since the Huskies will be playing in Hawaii to kick off the season, Dawg fans will have to tailgate from afar...
While I was planning a little tailgate soiree, all I ran into was fall flavors and warm soups and cider. And I just couldn't do it. It has been amazingly beautiful summer in Seattle and I'm not ready for summer to end - even if it means more football.
So I put together a perfect SUMMER tailgate with all of the fruit that is still ripe and a refreshing cocktail that you may not have tried yet! Cheers to tailgate season
and GO DAWGS!
Also, if you aren't following me on
, I suggest you hightail it over there! There is going to be a huge HUMONGOUS giveaway this week that you'll want to be watching for! Especially if you are a Cougar fan.
Get the recipes here
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