Emergency Compliment

I found this site via Mashable (one of my favorite "industry" reads) today. For those in need of a little pick-me-up, Emergency Compliment delivers. Offering cheeky, little sweet nothings such as, "You have the power to win a dance off" and "Your friends worry they aren't as funny as you".... or this one, that really spoke to me: 

Once you find a compliment that speaks to your heart, you can then click on "Thanks! I feel better" which will give you the option to purchase your quote in print form. Poster prices run around $15-$20. 

All images - emergencycompliment.com

Glammed up Pumpkin

This is what gold spray paint, rhinestones and 5 minutes of time can do to transform your pumpkin. (thank you Pinterest!) So easy and literally these are the only supplies you need.

In years past, I went the old school route and carved out various designs. This was from last year - you might say I'm a fan of pirates.

Happy Halloween!

Spooky fonts for Halloween

Hello lovelies! Looking to spruce up your blog, make your own Halloween cards or just send an email with some creepy letters? Check out these Halloween-y fonts I found on Mashable. Links to where you can download are below each sample.  

 Download "Caracura" font here

Download "Dancing Vampyrish" font here

Download "Face Your Fears" font here

Download "Zombie Holocaust" font here

Download "Evilz" font here

Download "Sketch Bones" font here

And check out these adorable little social media buttons for your FB, Twitter, or blog!

source

Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar

A bookstore that serves wine - genius!

Plenty of places to crawl up and read for a bit.

The Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar

Asheville, NC

http://www.batteryparkbookexchange.com/

Crème D'asperges (Asparagus Soup)

One of my favorite soups and healthy to boot. You're thinking lots of cream is involved, right? {Mais non!} This is a broth-based soup and is loaded with ingredients that are oh-so-good for you.  And it could not be easier to make. 

You only need 6 ingredients:

1.      Green asparagus (easy to find a 2 lb bag at Costco)

2.      A large onion (this onion chopper makes things so much easier)

3.      Unsalted butter

4.      Chicken broth (low sodium is best)

5.      Crème fraîche or heavy cream (half & half works just as well in a pinch)

6.      Fresh lemon juice

Plus salt & pepper to taste. 

Optional: a dollop of sour cream on top or greek yogurt if you want to be good

Get the full recipe here 

Tips: If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can peel the stems of the asparagus a bit to help get rid of any strands. That’s when the larger asparagus is more ideal than the skinny ones. I use just a regular blender to whip this up. But a word of advice – let the soup cool down before blending in a blender.  If you don’t, you will end up with soup flying everywhere and it will end up in locations of your house that you wouldn’t believe. I speak from experience. 

And The Oscar Goes To...

So many gorgeous gowns drifted onto the red carpet last night.  Here are some of my favorites...

Gwyneth Paltrow, who just so happens to be made for this color

Jennifer Lawrence in a body hugging Calvin Klein

Halle Berry in a dreamy, frothy frock

Scarlett Johannson...maybe it's the color but I think it works

Amy Adams...stunning in this sapphire gown

Anne Hathaway, Dress 1

Penelope, Penelope, Penelope. This photo simply does not do her justice. Straight up va va va VOOM!  This is also a woman who had a baby. A month ago.

In my eyes, Reese Witherspoon can do no wrong.  You can't accuse her of being fashionably daring, but what she wears, she wears well.  And I love her 60's retro Barbie hair.

Sandra Bullock. Fabulous color, fabulous cut, fabulous figure to show it all off. Can you tell red was THE color last night?

 Images: Huffington Post, Getty Images, People

sunday funday

I'm embarrassed to say that when someone recently asked me who I thought was going to win the Super Bowl, I had to ask who was playing. I had no clue at all.  Zero. 

Living in the South usually means you are tied to a college football team {people here will actually plan weddings around big games...it's true} but pro football typically isn't as big of deal. 

What IS really fun about these events though is the social aspect and the food! And since this doesn't happen every weekend, I don't think about silly things like calories or fat grams. So this, my dear readers, is what I'm looking forward to this weekend...

Bakerella Chocolate Oreo Football Truffles

If that looks too involved, take this route instead...

Betty Crocker Football Brownies

Sur la Table has football shaped cookie cutters for less than a dollar. Find them here.

Or maybe you want cupcakes...that look like little hamburgers! 

Bakerella Hamburger Cupcake Brownies

Don't have a sweet tooth?  Try this...

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Images Sources 1, 2, 3 and 4