DIY: Fall Chalkboard Decor

This girl right here is a crafter on a budget.  Instead of buying all the supplies to make a chalk board - like a tray or wood, tape, brushes, chalkboard paint, etc (which add up quickly) Michaels has these adorable already made framed chalkboards.

When it comes to decorating, I always want it to feel homey and simple.  So when I saw all these Fall  chalkboards on Pinterest, I knew that I had to try it out for myself.  This DIY is very easy, and the perfect touch to any home.

What you need:

• Michaels chalk pens 
• Chalkboard
• Imagination - fall words: pumpkins, lattes, sweater weather, autumn, apples, etc.

Instructions:

1. Clean your chalkboard - just take a wet paper towel and wipe down.
2. Think about what you want on your chalkboard, and draw it out first.  
3. Using your chalk pen write out the fall-tastic wording, and leave spaces for little leaves, pumpkins and swirls.
4. Add your little art pieces in the spaces.
5. Let dry, and hang. Use rope or burlap to use to hang.

The great thing about this DIY is that you can erase it if you don't like it, you can put new things on for new seasons, or if you have a dinner party - you can put the menu on it!

Happy Crafting!

Snack Attack: Chocolate Chip Raspberries

Looking for a snack, your tempted to eat that chocolate bar, and you know you shouldn't - but you want that chocolate fix.

For a quick and easy, healthy snack - with your little chocolate fix, try this simple idea.

THREE EASY STEPS -

1) Get fresh raspberries
2) Get chocolate chips
3) Stuff one chocolate chip in however many raspberries you want for you snack.

AND YOUR DELICIOUS SNACK IS DONE!  (and you still get your chocolate fix).

These are absolutely amazing and its the perfect amount of sweetness.

Enjoy,

Old Bay Shrimp Tacos

Simply Shrimpy - quick, simple, easy & cheap.

Imma be honest, guys.  I did NOT want to cook dinner last night.  So what did I do?  Exactly what anyone else in this generation would do, I went to Instagram in order to figure out what I wanted to do.  I follow a couple fitness accounts, and foodie accounts, and I cam upon Shrimp Tacos by @great_healthy_recipes.  Since I didn't have half of those ingredients, I took it upon myself to wing it...hence, my Maryland self, the Old Bay had to come out and play.

First, Mr. and Mrs. Frugal McDoogal here, bought the cheapest uncooked, peeled, defined shrimp we could find, some pre-cut cabbage (it was a buck), and some yellow pepper - it was the cheapest compared to the red and orange.

The yummy shredded cabbage above, and the sweet, crisp yellow pepper to the left (and avocado in the back) is what I used in my tacos.  Adam added the minty sour cream.  Switch it up guys, add your own flare and let me know in the comments below what you do!

Bring a little Maryland into your home,

Throw it in the Crock Pot :: Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

Sunday's in the Herre Home is day of relaxation, for it is said that it is the day of rest.

As Adam and I came back from church, he says to me that he just wants to have a chill Sunday, and since we just bought a pork loin roast, he wanted us to just throw that in the slow cooker and snuggle today.

Relaxing and kicking back, I wanted to do something different with my pork roast.  Normally, the brown sugar, honey, and garlic recipe from my Momma is what I use, but I decide to google different recipes.  I came across Leigh Anne's recipe at Your Homebased Mom, for her Slow Cooker Parmesan Honey Roast.  As y'all know, I like to take recipes and put my own little twist on it, so that is exactly what I did!  It looked delish and I knew that we had to try, and share with you!

 

It warms the whole house.  Once you put this in the crock pot, y'all's house with start filling with wonderful smells.  After about 5 1/2 hours, Adam and I decided to pair our dinner with my Mom's Rosemary Garlic Potatoes, and a side of veggies!  With the remaining liquid, I just put it on top of the roast, and had a little extra on the side for some dipping sauce.

450 degree oven, 10-15 minutes, then flip potatoes for another 10-15 minutes.

Throw this in the crock pot, sit back, relax and watch a movie, while your yummy food is cooking away.  After y'all try it, tell me what you think?  What changes you made, what you paired it with.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Baked Sweet Potato Quinoa "Anytime" Patties

Whenever we are preparing dinner, and we know that we really want sweet potatoes, but we're tired of having it the same way? 

{Baked, with maybe some brown sugar and butter?} 

Yeah I was tired of it too, y'all, so I went out there and found something COMPLETELY different, that I fell in love with and I know you will too!

Yep, there's sweet potatoes in this bad boy!

I found the recipe here, that I changed and added to in order to make it my own, and to create something a little different.

* Literally, eat these anytime, last night I had mine with chicken, but this morning I also had them with an egg on top!
* Makes about 14-16 patties (depending on your patties size, cause size matters. lol)

What You Need ::

- 2 medium to large sweet potatoes
- 1 cup quinoa (2 cups water) - we'll be cooking it
- 1/4 red onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 Tbls. thyme (rub between your fingers when putting in the pan in order to release scent)
- Dash of cilantro
- About a Tablespoon olive oil
- Coarse sea salt
- Olive oil for the fryin' :)

Directions ::

1. First, make sure those potatoes are ready y'all, so get your oven to 400 degrees, and bake them for 45 minutes. At about half way through, I took mine out and cut them in 4th's so that they cooked through, and were softer.
2. Cook your quinoa.  1 cup quinoa, 2 cups water, bring to a boil, once it has reach a vigorous boil, reduce heat to low (simmer) and keep on heat for 15 minutes.  Once cooked, take off heat and set aside.
3. In a pan, take your onions, the 1 Tbls of olive oil, and a hefty pinch of coarse sea salt, and sauté until the onions are translucent.
4. Add the garlic, and stir for 1 minute, add thyme and cook for about 30 seconds. Take off heat and add to a large bowl.  Add the {mostly} cooled quinoa to the same bowl and stir. Set aside.
5. Take potatoes out, peel them, then mush them up and add them to the quinoa mixture.  Add another 1/4 tsp of the sea salt and mix everything together.
6. Form a small golf ball size of the mixture in your hands, then squish together to form a patty.  Cook on medium heat, for about 2.5 minutes on each side, until crisp and browned.  Make as many as you want.   

* If not using all of the mixture, it will keep up in the fridge for about 2 days.  But they are so delicious I don't think that you would want to leave them that long!

Now, look at you making something delicious, healthy, and irresistible!

GO YOU!

Do you have "Ruff Lips"? :: Balm Review

Oh My Goodness, y'all! I just got my Ruff-Lips Lip Balm in the mail!!

It is fantastic, it goes on really simple, it smells amazing and the BEST part of it all, 10% of all profits go to Animal Rescue Shelters! Isn't that great guys?

I am a HUGE lip balm fanatic, I collect EOS Egg Lip Balms, Soft Lips, Nivea, etc!  So when I heard that my Sorority Sister, Kelsey was making these All Natural, Organic Lip Balm, I knew that I had to try it!

Scents: 

Peppermint

Orange

Lemongrass

Lavender

I ordered the Peppermint and the Orange balms. There is something about the scents that you are just attracted to immediately and it is strong, yet when you put it on your lips it is not too over-powering.

Wear:

These balms go on so easily, y'all. They are really soft and creamy, you can feel it moisturizing your lips immediately.  When I put the balm on, it's smooth and has a long lasting wear.  My lips actually feel so much better after using this, especially with all this crazy weather in the Queen City.

Packaging: 

1 container as seen here:

The label is unique from the little puppy face, cute colors, to the bubbly font.  As stated on her site, these yummy lip balms can be anything from an everyday gift, to great stocking stuffers. And AGAIN, 10% of profit goes to Animal Rescue Shelters. I just cannot handle how amazing that is, giving back to all those fur-babies.

Price:

Only $3.25 a container, which is a fantastic price for the balm being all natural and organic!

Ingredients:

Local North Carolina Honey

Organic Bee's Wax

Organic, Unrefined Coconut Oil

Essence Oil (Orange, Peppermint, Lemongrass

On top of all these great qualities that Ruff-Lips provide, I can also GUARANTEE you that the owner is phenomenal, and she has also said that if you do not LOVE Ruff-Lips, then she will give you your money back and a letter saying sorry.  That is how sweet she is, y'all!

Side Note - I doubt that you won't like it.  Spoiler Alert - It's creamy and great!

Order as many as you want, guys!  1, 3, 200, whatever - Ruff-Lips will provide!

GO GET SOME NOW! It goes to a great cause! :)

Lipstick & Squats,

Quick and Healthy Snack ATTACK!

Happy 'Skinny' Sunday!

So, you're looking for a snack, but you want something healthy?

You don't want to go to that snickers bar in your pantry, or those chips, or cookies.

I have the solution for you, a quick and easy, and HEALTHY alternative to a lovely sweet snack.

I don't know if there is a name for it, I don't believe there is.  Well, what about A(p)BC Healthy Snack?

It's as easy as ABC and only takes 1-2-3 INGREDIENTS! Did anyone else sing the Jackson 5 song?

What you need ::

a) Apples

b) Peanut Butter

c) Chocolate Chips

Directions ::

1. Take an apple of your choosing (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or Gala), and cut into pieces.
   
   
   
2. Take as much peanut butter as you want, I did about 1 Tbls. put in the microwave for 15 seconds, take out, stir a little, if not fully melted put back in microwave for another 15 seconds.
   
   
   
3. Pour the melted PB over the apples.
4. Take your chocolate chips (I used mini) and sprinkle over the apples and PB.  I used about a 1/2 Tbls.

BAM! You're done! You just created a fantastic snack!  This could be a great pre or post workout meal or just a snack whenever you wanted.  Stay healthy my friends.

Lipstick & Squats,