Monday, January 30, 2012

{taste this} candy filled pudding mix cookies

Most of the time, I maintain a pretty happy life ... love my family, my job, my friends, this blog ;) ... and though there are things that could be better, I am pretty darn blessed.  And I try to remember that.  But this week?  I could totally use a DO-OVER ...

The Saint broke his right foot on Wednesday night and came home Saturday evening.  Poor Saint!  Those are some LONG hours spent in a hospital, shuffling The Bugs here and there, packing a bag that weighed 600 lbs (that's a rough guesstimate, ha ha!) and getting lost in the hospital parking garage (who knew they had 2?!?!).  The Saint had surgery, can't put any weight on this foot for 6-8 weeks and feels pretty bad right now.  Not my favorite week if I can be completely honest.  This girl needs a little stress relief!

So, forget a massage or a good run ... put me in the kitchen and let me bake!!  This week's {taste this} has YUM written all over it!  candy filled pudding mix cookies



Ummmm, so I may have found my new sweet obsession.  These are the easiest, versatile and DELISH cookies.  Ever!  Don't believe me?  Let's bake, shall we?!

Here are the ingredients:
  • 1 small box (3.9 oz) instant pudding mix (flavor of your choice)
  • 1 cup of buttermilk baking mix (i.e. Bisquick)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • candy of your choice (mini snickers, peanut butter or white chips, mini Reeses cups, cookies & cream chocolate bar)
Preheat your oven to 350*.  In a large bowl, stir the pudding mix and baking mix together with a wooden spoon.  Then, stir in the oil and egg and mix until the dough forms a ball.  Shape into 1 inch balls and place on your baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  (I used an ungreased baking stone.)  Make an indention with your thumb on each cookie and fill the indention with whatever delightful candy you want.  Bake for 5-8 minutes until cookies are lightly browned.  This recipe makes 18-24 delightful cookies.

For these chocolately masterpieces, I used chocolate pudding in the dough and dotted the cookies with mini Reeses cups and chunks of a cookies & cream chocolate bar.  Does life get any better?  See, I'm feeling better already!! 



I have a hunch that you might just see a few variations of these cookies in your future ... butterscotch/caramel, cheesecake/strawberry, chocolate/mint ... MMMM!  You could even tint a vanilla dough different colors for baby showers, wedding showers or birthday parties.  Drizzle cooled cookies with a glaze or tinted white chocolate and toss on some sprinkles ... the possibilities are pretty much endless!


Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!


Can we talk a minute about that cake stand?  GORGEOUS, no?  $9 in a new little antique store I stumbled across.  I mean, a curtain of beads, the coppery finish and a mirrored top?  LOVE!!
These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

{create this} key to my heart valentines art

Oh, and quick side note, {create this} is posting early because the poor, poor Saint fractured/dislocated some bones in his foot and we are heading for surgery sometime today (Thursday).  Any positive thoughts, prayers or well wishes are SUPER appreciated!!

And where was I?  Oh!  I think I have decided that Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday ... the color red everywhere (my fave!), an excuse to say all the cheesy lovey-dovey stuff that sounds a little dorky any other time of the year, themed treats for classmates ... I am sold!

Taking a cue from the love my Lovebirds Specimen Art got last week, I figured I would use the matching thrifted frame to whip up this ... key to my heart valentines art!!

Here is one picture I snapped of most of the supplies you'll need (not pictured:  thread or bakers twine, ink, ink pad & stamps).  I was a little lax in taking pictures of the steps, but I listed them below...
    
  1. Insert a cute valentines paper behind the glass in a fun, funky picture frame.
  2. Using a cool chipboard piece from a 7 Gypsies LOVE board kit (here are a few places to buy it), I cut out the heart from this notebook paper-like scrapbook paper, inked the edges - surprise, surprise - and adhered it to the chipboard.
  3. Then, using variegated pink embroidery thread, I tied on an antique key.
  4. Stamp your phrase on the notebook paper around the key.
  5. Use glue dots to adhere the chipboard shape directly to the outside of the glass.
If I left anything out, or if you have questions about any of the steps above, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer them!

And now, how about a few more photos of this lovely little beauty?!



Love the two of these Valentines art pieces together - I can't wait until Valentine's Day next year!!  You could definitely slip a photo into the heart shaped opening in the chipboard or another piece of coordinating paper, but I sort of liked the simplicity of the pink stripes.  I'd love to see your version if you were inspired to {create this}!! 


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Monday, January 23, 2012

{taste this} double decker valentines cookies & cookie pops

I had the best of intentions to post more "savory" recipes this year.  Salads and soups and easy dinner recipes - and have no fear, they're coming - but give me a holiday and I will bake something sweet!  I think it's in my genes.  Which makes a little more of me in my jeans ;) but thank goodness I have lots of willing taste testers who make quick work of my blog baking!!

BUT, if you need an easy sweet treat for co-workers, the kiddos' classmates or something to butter up a certain someone, give my double decker Valentines cookies & cookie pops a go!!  Oh!  And thanks for stopping by for {taste this}!!



These really couldn't be easier!  Start out with a basic "cut out cookies" recipe - you know, the ones where you actually roll out the dough and use cookie cutters!  Cut out circle cookies (I used a 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter) and an equal number of little hearts (mine was a 1 1/2 inch heart cookie cutter).  Bake as directed. 

While your cookies are cooling, melt some white candy melts (or white chocolate chips) as directed on the package and tint the chocolate pink.  Put it in a squeeze bottle and gather whatever delightful sprinkles and colored sugars you have.  Decorate your large circle cookies and the little heart cookies ... swirl on the chocolate in a spiral, artistically drizzle it, draw hearts and dots or whatever else you can dream up!  Add your sprinkles and sugars while the chocolate is still wet. 



But we're not done yet!  Add a little heart cookie right on top of each circle cookie - see ... DOUBLE DECKER!!!

And since just regular cookies weren't quite enough, I made Valentines double decker cookies pops!

Bake your cookies as directed and when they have cooled slightly, insert lollipop sticks into the large circle cookies, careful not to poke them outside of the back of the cookie. 



Decorate as you will, place in cello bags, add some pinkalicious ribbon and these make quite possibly the cutest and most delicious Valentines treats EVER!




Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

{create this} the reasons i love you valentines advent banner

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With Valentines Day coming up, my crafty mind defaults to heart-shaped cookies, cards for the Little Bug's classmates, something "cool" that my 6th grade Bigger Bug could do for any one he might find lovely and charming ;) and cute crafts for this little ol' blog.

But this year, I figured my hunky hubba hubby - The Saint - deserves a little something special.  While he may not dig the touches of girly pink or all the lovey dovey hearts, the sentiments inside are heart felt and oh okay, maybe a little cheesy.  But isn't that what love is? 

So, as a little 2 week long countdown of love notes, here is this week's {create this} craft and tutorial ... the reasons i love you valentines advent banner!!

I apologize for the pictures - it has been SO overcast the last couple of days & there was no good light :(
Anyway, on with the show ...

I picked up a pack of 12 little brown paper bags with kraft card stock inserts for a song at Michael's with a coupon - I think $1.50 after a 40% coupon!  Score!  In addition to the 12 little bags, I grabbed cute little red and white envelopes, various number stickers, tickets, pins, chipboard hearts and scrapbook embellishments from my stash - buying less, using more!  Then, I just arranged (and rearranged and rearranged!) the 14 sweet little love notes.  I am in L-O-V-E with the way they turned out!  Here are a few close ups ...
Get creative ... tickets and pins, punched borders, chipboard hearts, number stickers!

Inked white chipboard numbers, a few more tickets and pins ... all attached to jute with mini wooden clothespins! 
What do my sweet nothings say?  These are the reasons I love you so, Saint:
  • You are The Bugs' biggest fans ... they will always remember you cheering on the side lines.  Love that!
  • Your tenacious spirit and unwillingness to give up your hard won sobriety.
  • You go to the grocery store to pick up whatever odds & ends I forgot because I am already in my PJs.
  • You tell me I'm beautiful.  And I believe it.
  • You put your legs over mine in bed just because you want to know I'm there.
  • You spend more than our agreed upon budget because you say I deserve more.
  • You understand my need for a little alone time ... and occasional retail therapy.
  • You loved me at 19 and still do at 33.  And still will at 93.  I can't wait.
  • You wear flip flops because I asked you to.  Even though you're a "shoes and socks" kind of guy.
  • You stop to help the woman who is stuck on the side of the road.
  • You say, "I'm sorry" first. 
  • You won't let me settle.
  • You remembered I wanted a heart shaped ruby engagement ring.  And I only mentioned it once.
  • You love me when I don't deserve it, forgive when you might not want to and laugh at all my jokes.  Will you be my Valentine?
This is a sweet and sentimental gift for someone that just totally floats your boat!  I haven't even shown this little banner to The Saint, so if I can keep him out of my craft room, I am going to surprise him on February 1st!!   

Hope you were inspired to {create this}!!


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Monday, January 16, 2012

{taste this} "The Mrs." strawberry champagne cupcakes

Love is definitely in the air (and in the blogosphere) as Valentines Day draws closer ... and it is no exception here at shaken together.  Oh!  And welcome to {taste this}!  Have you met our resident sweet little newlyweds?


Last week, I introduced "The Mr." - a delicious maple cupcake with maple buttercream and crispy bacon crumbles.  This week, we'll meet his counterpart, the strawberry champagne lovely "The Mrs."


I know these look good enough to eat, so let's get this cupcake train started!!

"The Mrs." Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Just like The Mr. these start with good ol' fashioned French Vanilla cupcakes.  Use a boxed cake mix or your favorite 'from scratch' recipe.  While these are baking and cooling, put together the strawberry champagne filling.

Strawberry Champagne Filling
  • 1 16 oz. carton of fresh strawberries, chopped (you can also use a small bag of frozen strawberries)
  • 1 oz. champagne/sparkling wine (or 1 tsp. champagne flavored extract)
  • cornstarch slurry (mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch to about 1/4 cup water)
Place the strawberries in a small sauce pan and heat until the berries have cooked and broken down a bit.  Remove from the heat.  Add the cornstarch slurry to thicken the filling.  Use your blender or hand mixer to blend the filling until it is smoother but still has tiny pieces of berries.  Stir in champagne or champagne extract.  Store in the fridge until ready to eat.

And just for the record, you can use the leftover filling on yogurt, in smoothies or to serve alongside the cupcakes for a little extra indulgence.   

Now that your cupcakes are cool, core each cupcake.  Use a cupcake corer (got one for Christmas from the Bakerista - LOVE!) or a small paring knife to remove the center of each cupcake and hang onto the little cupcake smidgen.

Fill each cupcake with the strawberry champagne filling and replace the cake piece.


Whip up a batch of your favorite vanilla butter cream frosting and add a teaspoon of champagne extract if you really want these to be decadent!  Immediately before serving, top each cupcake with a sliced and fanned strawberry and these ladies are ready for a night out on the town!

These were a hit with everyone who tried them and would make the perfect treat for a Valentines party, bridal shower or engagement party, tea party or Sunday Southern brunch.  Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Okay! Okay! My one little word ...

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Okay, I caved.  I've got 'one little word' for 2012, too.  Have you heard about this?  It's a pretty big thing around blog land.  I was introduced to the concept of one little word via Ali Edwards' blog a few years ago and here is her take on it for 2012.  

What's my word for this year?


Yep, balance. 
(And thanks, Graphics Fairy for the awesome scale graphic!)

Balance:  equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.; a state of equilibrium; mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.

In her post (the one I linked above), Ali asks:
And what do you do with this one little word?


You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.
I have got to find that equilibrium.  That place of stability.  A balance between:
  • A healthy lifestyle (i.e. eating & exercise, SIGH) and this crazy, hectic baseball life we live that leads to quick easy - probably not the healthiest of - meals and lots of bleacher sitting.  I want to be around for a good long while (God willing) and I need to be a healthy 33 year old wife and mom.
  • Time spent on this blog (probably more than I care to admit) and time spent with The Saint, The Bugs and making me a better me.  This is a big one.  I have a full time job outside out home.  And while I try to blog on my lunch break, it is so easy to grab a "few minutes" to check link parties or browse giveaways at home only to find that I've just let a 1/2 hour or more go by.  This is about using my time wisely and giving myself the flexibility to post a tutorial a little late or not at all.  Plus?  The Saint is pretty darn cute ;)
  • Doing things my way and allowing things to just get done.  Anyone else rearrange the dishwasher after it has been loaded by a well-intentioned Saint?  Or refold towels?  Enough!  Just git 'er done!!
  • Buying stuff and actually using stuff.  I am definitely guilty of buying fill-in-the-blank-item because I might make something out of it.  Note to self:  wooden coffee stirrers are not a necessity.  And I'm pretty sure there is not going to be a run on .
  • My Christian walk and the rest of life.  Again, it is so easy for me to leave my Bible in the church on Sunday and jump right into laundry, practice and the DVR.  And as I type this list, I have a feeling that if I get this bullet point in order, the rest will just fall into place ...
Okay, my friends, what is your "one little word" for 2012?  What is your inspiration?  Join me and link up your wordy post over at The Lettered Cottage!
The Lettered Cottage
Since there are some days that life feels a little like a circus (ha ha!), you're looking at the newest tightrope walker of the next 365 days!
Keri

Monday, January 9, 2012

{create this} lovebirds specimen art

I know it's only January, but around my house, I went from straight from Christmas to my regular decor ... boooooo!!  So this year, I decided to get all lovey-dovey with some fun Valentine's Day art.  This is the first four (maybe more!) Valentines crafty tutorials and it all starts with a little lovebirds specimen art ... welcome to another {create this}!!


First, I spray painted a thrifted gold frame - I love the chunky frame and the details but the gold just wasn't cutting it for me!  But red sure does!  When in doubt, I always go red or turquoise, ha ha.

Between coats of paint, I found this cute little bird template (and I am dying to make her scrappy little sparrows, too!) and reduced the size by 1/2 when I printed it out to trace.  I used bird #1 but use whichever one floats your boat.  If you have a fancy cutting machine, I'm sure there's a bird out there you can use, too.

Select several different coordinating papers (scraps work perfect for this project) and trace your love birds.  I cut out 9 birds - and don't forget to flip your template over for one bird so your love birds at the bottom face each other. Awwwww!


As I do with any project involving paper - ink the edges!  In other words, just run an ink pad around the edge of your shape for instant age and character.

Glue your birds down on a piece of card stock, don't forget a heart (they are love birds after all), throw it in a frame and instant romance!!  Or at least adorable home decor, right?!

Hope you were inspired to {create this}!!


Did you miss "The Mr." cupcake on Tuesday?  It's all sorts of delicious maple-y bacon-y goodness.  And in a few days, you can meet "The Mrs." ... she is all champagne and strawberries and divine!

These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

{taste this} "The Mr." maple bacon cupcake

Hi there!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  You picked such a GREAT day to come over!! 

One of my best friends - The Bakerista - stopped in for an impromptu visit this weekend.  You might remember her from my Six Takes on Cupcakes series (all 6 recipes are on my tasty stuff page)!  With Valentines Day right around the corner, I suggested we bake up a few more cupcakes.  (I know ... twist my arm, ha!)  So, "The Mr. & The Mrs." cupcakes were born ... one cupcake for the gents and one for the ladies!!


You know they say, 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach'.  So we channeled breakfast and went straight for the gut with the sweet and savory combination of maple and bacon!!  Check out this week's {taste this} recipe ...


"The Mr." Maple Bacon Cupcake

As usual, we start these cupcakes out by using a boxed cake mix and I settled on French Vanilla.  (White or vanilla would probably work just fine, too.)  Mix according to the directions on the box.*  Fill your cupcake pans - I made mini cupcakes for these and didn't use cupcake liners.  Bake for about 3 minutes to allow the batter to bake and set up slightly.  Add a swirl of maple syrup to each cupcake - yep, right in the batter.  Don't worry if the swirl sinks into the batter.  Bake until they are lightly browned and spring back to the touch.  These bake up a little like a pineapple upside down cake with a caramel-y sticky bottom.  And smell JUST like pancakes!!

*As an alternative, you can also substitute maple syrup for some of the liquid when you mix up your cake batter.*

While your cupcakes are cooling, mix up the maple buttercream.

Maple Buttercream

  • 2 sticks softened (room temperature) butter

  • 1 cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 2 lb. bag powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla or Wilton butter flavoring (you can use a mixture of both)
  • Maple syrup - about 1 or 2 tablespoons
  • Up to about 2 tablespoons of milk or water if necessary to bring frosting to a piping consistency.  (Use milk if you want richer, creamier frosting and you're not worried about refrigeration.)
  • dash of salt

Chop and crisp up 6-8 strips of bacon - you can use more.  More bacon is rarely a bad idea ;).  Now, top each cupcake with a generous dollop of maple buttercream and sprinkle on your bacon crumbles.

A cupcake that tastes like pancakes and bacon?  Really, can life get any better?!  But don't just take my word for it!  In a very scientific survey of ... oh, everyone who tasted these ... they are unexpectedly fantastic!  Two solid thumbs up!!  "I feel like my mouth is tricking my brain," one taster said.  Cracked me up!!

Anyway, the cupcake has just the right amount of maple to taste just like pancakes and the salty, crunchy bacon screams breakfast and cuts through the rich sweetness of the frosting.  These just might be the perfect addition to every brunch menu I'll ever put together!  

Hope you were inspired to {taste this} and bring a little bacon-y goodness to someone special!!


This week, I am kicking off 4 weeks of lovey-dovey Valentines crafty tutorials for {create this friday}!  And come back next week for the girly counterpart to The Mr. cupcake, The Mrs. - with a strawberry champagne filling ... dreamy!!  Better half?  You be the judge!

These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

{create this} coffee & tea kitchen art

Hey there and happy Friday!  It is finally starting to feel like winter here in FL and that means we actually have to put socks on (boo!), snuggle under a blanket to watch tv and it definitely calls for mugs of something warm in the evenings.  Yay!!
 
I love coffee.  And hot tea.  (Especially since I wasn't allowed to drink coffee at home!)  There is just something comforting and caffeinated ;) about a warm mug to sip in the morning before any one else is awake.  It is one of my favorite things.  Coffee with cream only in a big ol' mug ... a mug of Lady Grey or Constant Comment hot tea with milk and sugar.  Mmmmm ... so delightful!

So for this week's {create this} post, I decided that I needed an appropriately delightful place to prepare said beverages.  And here you have it, my quirky little coffee and tea kitchen art ...


Pick out a corner of counter in your kitchen (sorry, the lighting in this part of our kitchen is TOUGH to photograph in for a amateur like me!) and doll it up with whatever you love - a container to hold spoons, a basket for mugs, cute little framed something-or-others to make you smile ... make it your own!  Here's what I whipped up:

I picked up the "make tea, not war" postcard from East of India at my local Sam Flax store (seriously LOVE this store ... if you are ever in Orlando or Atlanta, you have to stop in!). I matted it with some teal cardstock and slipped it in a white frame. 


Next up, I removed the glass from a 5x7 black frame, added a cheery piece of yellow cardstock and used a piece of ribbon to tie on a thrift store spoon.


And I made my own "but first, coffee" sign using good ol' Microsoft Word and printed it on kraft cardstock. I added a mat of bright pink cardstock and added it to a 5x7 black frame.


Finally, I framed the awesome graphic piece of American Crafts paper and added a little tea bag tag made with cardstock, white string and a staple - seriously EASY and totally adorable!! 


Just makes me so darn happy to wake up and see this each morning! 

I found a few more things that you might like to add to your kitchen ... like the little spoon, fork and kettle printables from Mr. Printable - download the Victorian flash cards here. There is a cute free "keep calm & have a coffee" printable here from The Pretty Blog, too.
Okay, I hope you were inspired to {create this}!!


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012 new year non-resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  How in the world is it 2012 already
SO, I am not a huge fan of resolutions.  Most of them are things I should have been doing anyway and I just feel bad when two weeks into the year, there is a big, fat FAIL.  This year, I wanted to jot down goals - yes, let's use the word 'goals'.  Much easier to stomach than resolutions. 

And since I l-o-v-e lists, I'll make one!  Personal goals for 2012:
  1. Balance.  This one is so tough for me.  But this year I want to keep the balance a little more even between family life and blogging.  Our lives are so jam packed with baseball, school work, baseball, blogging (for me anyway) and just 'regular life' that all of it suffers a little.  SO, I guess that means I am going to have to...
  2. Organize.  I actually love to organize, but because #1 is out of whack a lot, I just don't have the time and energy to do it.  I have a feeling there will be chore charts and lots of lists in our future ;)
  3. Health.  For all of us, in general.  For me, exercise - ugg - and eating healthier.  Again, this tends to go by the way side when #1 is neglected.  But it is important to me to be here and healthy for as long as God let's me.  And I sure can't buy a whole new wardrobe!  So, who wants a wheat grass shot and a Just Dance date?!
  4. Document.  Or scrapbook.  Or smash book (thanks, Santa!).  Whatever the means, I want to record and document our lives.  With pictures.  And dates.  And commentary from yours truly.  So The Bugs can hear my voice long after I am gone.  And so The Saint will stop whining ;)
And what is a blog without bloggy goals?!  Let's start another list!  Blog goals for 2012:
  1. Share.  I want to continue to share recipes and craft tutorials - that's the heartbeat of this blog.  But some weeks it is everything I can do to come up with an idea, make it, photograph it, edit those photos and string somewhat intelligible words together.   So, I want a plan, a blue print, a road map - basically, see #2 above :)
  2. Grow.  I love that folks stop by and follow and pin and comment here at pressed down, shaken together.  And I want to continue inspiring folks to do so and in a bigger way.  But manageable - basically, see #1 above :)
  3. Host.  Yep, I want to host a link party.  I am throwing around a few ideas and a few catchy names, but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to link your awesomeness here in the coming weeks - stay tuned!
  4. Use more, buy less.  Enough said.  I think I, along with lots of you, probably have enough 'stuff' to craft with.  So, I am resolving striving to make do and make it work!  There may be a few minor exceptions, but big picture, I want to give this a go!
Okay, there they are.  Immortalized forever(-ish) here at pressed down, shaken together.  Oh who am I kidding?  Those are resolutions.  SIGH.  Guess I better brush off my resolve and get started ...

Heading head first, full steam ahead, best foot forward ... whole self in hokey pokey into 2012!!
Keri    

Monday, January 2, 2012

{taste this} ginger sweet tea sparklers

Welcome to the first {taste this} recipe for the new year!!  Did you ring in 2012 with a kiss and a toast?!  Since we knew we were headed to the beach early on New Years Day morning (kinda crazy, huh?!), we were tucked in long before the ball dropped ... but we did watch a few fireworks outside in our neighborhood before bed :)

So, this is the beginning of 52 (give or take one or two) recipes to add your repertoire - woo hoo!!  No pressure here, ha ha!  I figured since we just started the year with a bang, I'd start {taste this} off with a little FIZZ!!

How about a ginger sweet tea sparkler?!


For us Southerners, sweet tea is the beverage of choice ... but why not fizz it up with a little lemon and ginger?  Ale that is!  Yep, this is a simple but fantastic mix of sweet tea, lemon juice and ginger ale!!


Ginger Sweet Tea Sparklers

Combine:
  • 2 cups fresh brewed tea
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice (use fresh squeezed if you have it; I didn't and it was still delicious)
  • 1/2 cup sugar (you can substitute Splenda or any other artificial sweetner)
Stir until the sugar is dissolved and chill until ready to serve.  Just before serving, add 32 oz. of ginger ale.  This version is non-alcoholic, but you could definitely add a dash of that sweet tea vodka I've heard so much about ;)

Now, my regular readers know I took a short blog break and there was not a {taste this} or {create this} post last week.  SO as a big thank you for sticking around and coming back, I figured you deserved a little bonus crafty tutorial!!  Check out the easiest wine glass tags/charms ever ... my sweet southern slice of life wine glass tags:

Low cost garnish and wine glass name tag - the best of both worlds!
And there you have it ... a recipe and a mini craft tutorial!!  Sure hope you were inspired to {taste this}!


I took a little break but I am back and just brimming with stuff to share with you!  She's back and she brought sweet tea!

These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!