Hola, everyone! Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, so today I’m sharing a simple salsa recipe that you can easily whip up in a flash. This is perfect to bring to a party or just enjoy as a snack any other day of the year. It won’t take long to make and you can adjust the amounts depending on how much you need to make.

10-Minute Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Directions:

(Note: this is a very large batch – the chef recommends using a 12-cup food processor if you make it all at once, otherwise you can process the ingredients in smaller batches and later mix it all together in a large bowl.)

1. Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor.
2. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like. (Recipe suggests about 10 to 15 pulses)
3. Test seasonings out with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
4. Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour and serve with tortilla chips

If you’re feeling a little bit more adventurous, here are cinco other salsa recipes I found that sound really tasty and interesting:

• Mango Salsa recipe
• Grilled Corn Salsa recipe
• Peach Salsa recipe
• Vegetable Mint Salsa recipe
• Hot Salsa Verde recipe

I recommend going all out with your homemade salsa. Clean out a mason jar or other nice container, and then make your own custom label for the dip.

Do you prefer spicy or mild? If you make any of these, tell me in the comments!

P.S. Recipe is from The Pioneer Woman & photo is from here.

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Hey everyone! For this week’s TGIF I’m sharing a handful of cool décor ideas for your room. These are all great wall display ideas, and the best part is that you can make all of them on your own! Let me know if you try any of these out or have any other good ideas to add to the list.

1. Words to live by: for this clean and creative wall idea, just glue wooden letters to canvas to spell out the words you want, then paint over the whole thing when the glue has completely dried. Get thicker letters for a bolder shadow effect. If you want the letters to be a different color, paint the pieces separately and then glue together.
   
   
   
   
2. Chic shopper: This blogger’s idea to frame bags from her favorite stores is such a cute idea. I love how she decided on the colors. If you’re lucky enough to have a walk-in closet, his would be adorable to hang in there if you have the wall space!
   
   
   
   
3. Design Savvy: Cover shoebox lids in patterned fabrics that you love and hang on the wall for a clean but eclectic look like this one below. Floral patterns would be especially cute this time of year!
   
   
   
   
4. Spell it Out: And finally, I love the idea of sparkly letter displays. Elle blogged about something similar back in February for Valentine’s Day, but I would do mine a little differently and would probably use sequins to spell out my name (rather than a word). I’m in love with the idea of hanging this above a headboard! Click here for simple instructions I found if you plan to use sequins like in the photo below.
   
   
   

Which of these do you want to try?

Click here for a fun jewelry display DIY to make too!

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Happy Friday, everyone! Today I wanted to share this really sweet way to serve beverages at any spring or summer soiree that you plan to host.

I came across this photo of these adorable bottles and think they would be perfect for entertaining in the coming months. Aren’t they darling?

All you need to make them are your bottles, paper of your choice, tape and twine. Cut the paper into the size and shape that you want, secure it around a bottle with a little piece of tape, and finish by tying a piece of twine around it. You can also use a pretty piece of lace or ribbon for a different look! If you want to write anything on the paper, I suggest doing so before applying to the bottle.

I think that writing little summery notes on the paper would be so adorable. Or you can use lyrics from your favorite summertime songs! When I was little, I loved the song “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter, and something about these bottles really reminds me of that song. So for those of you that are over 21, a cute idea might be to actually make strawberry wine and then write a line from the song on the bottle. If you’re under 21, try strawberry lemonade instead for an equally sweet treat. Or, just do regular lemonade and squeeze in a tiny wedge of fruit for an extra seasonal flair.

Try this out if you’re entertaining this weekend, or keep it in mind for any future spring or summer gatherings! 

How would you personalize this idea? Tell me in the comments!



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Photo is from here.

Easter is almost here, so today I thought I’d put together a list of some pretty and colorful Easter-inspired treats for you to try making this weekend – or just drool over from your computer screen! Here they are…let me know which one is your fav in the comments. 

1. These are so clever – the twigs are actually chow mein noodles!
    

   

2. These look like they require some skill, but the payoff might be worth it! These little Brownie Eggs are so sweet:
    
3. Bunny Cake Pops! I LOVE the pipe cleaner ears on these:
    
4. This isn’t really a treat per se, but it’s just too cute to pass up. Click here to learn how to make this adorable Bunny Bread.
    
5. These Peeps S’mores are so fun and colorful. Maybe these will cure Elle’s hatred of Peeps? LOL.
    
6. These Homemade Marshmallow Nests are so precious:
    
7. I feel like just about everyone would like these Easter M&M Cookie Sticks. Click here for the recipe.
    
8. Can’t forget about popcorn! Click here to learn how to make this Salted Caramel Easter Popcorn.
    
9. Do they still make pastel Oreos for Easter? Because these look yummy…
    
10. And finally, this Easter Candy Bark might be one of my favs on the list. It’s got it all...even pastel candy corn! Click here for the recipe.
     

Which one do you want to try the most?

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Happy Friday everyone! Why not give your makeup brushes a mini makeover this weekend? There are so many cute ways to give your brushes a little update or personalize them to fit your style.  I usually take the bottom inch of my brush handles and paint them with a hot pink nail polish. I do this because Blair and I have the exact same set of MAC brushes and we always get them mixed up. I wanted to see what other ways you guys were customizing your brushes and give you a few ideas!

Here are some other ways to give your old brushes a fresh look and make them stand out from the rest:

1. Paint the entire handle. You could paint it a solid color, or use tape and other materials to create a unique pattern. Taping it and painting stripes would be quite simple and pretty.
   
   
2. Cover the handle in a fabric or adhesive pattern. Similar to the DIY Beauty Tools Holder, you could customize your brushes using Mod Podge and fabric and/or paper. (Click here for a great DIY that walks you through how to do that.)
   
   
3. Add a label to the handle using an adhesive label maker. The label could have either your name or the brush’s name for an understated but personalized look.
   
   
4. Glitz them up with crystals. Just like with the paint, you could cover them entirely or just stick to a pattern.
   
   
5. Add your first initial in a bright color towards the tip of the brush handle. Keep them all the same color or vary them by brush! You could also stick to a solid color over the entire tip of the handle, like this person did, for a pretty and subtle look.

Have you ever personalized your makeup brushes before? What are some other ways?



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Photo is from here.

Hi loves! Do you have any fun plans for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow? Since I had so much fun putting together my post on Valentine’s Day-inspired treats last month, I thought I’d put together a similar post for this month’s holiday!

Whether you’re having a get-together with your friends or you just feel like doing something festive, here are 10 yummy treats that keep the St. Patty’s Day spirit alive:

1. You guys know I love my Thin Mints, so naturally I had to include these Thin Mint Krispie Treats in the recipe round-up:
   

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2. These Green Velvet Cheesecake Shamrocks look like they could just melt in your mouth:
   
3. For your more “traditional” velvet cake, why not try these Green Velvet Cake cupcakes?
   
4. This recipe for Shamrock Ice Cream Pie looks really quite simple and would be great to make with your family to enjoy right away:
   
5. I think these Leprechaun Hat S’mores are so creative! You could even keep this recipe on hand to make top hat s’mores come Thanksgiving.
   
6. If you like a little salt with your sweets, I would try this Lucky Leprechaun Cookie Bark that’s made with pretzels:
   
7. Back to cupcakes! These Andes Mint Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream frosting are both scrumptious-looking AND the prettiest shade of mint green:
   
8. These Chocolate-Mint Thumbprints from Betty Crocker look like the perfect size dessert to pack for an on-the-go treat:
   
9. These Homemade Mint Oreos look so dreamy!
   
10. And to round out our list, I give you the “Leprechaun Trap Cake”… I applaud anyone who attempts this intricate creation!
    

Do you have a favorite green treat? Which one on this list do you want to try? Share in the comments below!

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Hi everyone! TGIF! Fridays are such a happy day, and what happier item to pair with a happy day than glitter shoes?! I love that these are such a big trend right now and I love the fact that you can make them yourself even more!

There are a ton of DIYs out there to make your very own glitter shoes and endless possibilities in terms of creativity. I’ve seen these done with all different styles of shoes ranging from heels to flats to booties and more. You can get creative not only with the type of shoe that you use, but also with the type of glitter. Different colors and different sizes will lead to a different overall look. Check out the images below for inspiration!

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Here’s a basic how-to that combines two different DIYs by the same blogger, which you can find here and here. This version uses the basic instructions for both

What You Need:

• Shoes
• Sandpaper
• Glitter (any color!)
• Acrylic glue
• A disposable container
• A paint brush
• Spay-on lacquer

What You Need to Do:

1. Make sure the shoes that you are going to use are all cleaned off so that the glitter will adhere nicely. If your shoes are patent leather, it’s recommended that you use sandpaper to rough up the surface enough for the glitter and glue to stick…you don’t want it to slide off the smooth surface.
2. Mix the acrylic glue and glitter together in the disposable container.
3. Paint on the glitter glue mixture with the paintbrush.
4. Sprinkle the shoes with extra glitter so that the material that you’re covering doesn’t show through. If you need to do a second coat once it’s dry, that’s fine too.
5. When the shoes have dried completely, spray them with the spray-on lacquer to seal the deal. Let them dry again overnight and that’s it!

What do you think about glitter shoes? What color would you make yours and how would you style them? Tell me in the comments!

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Shoes in Inspiration image (clockwise from top right): Givenchy Chunky-Heel Sandal; Whoopie Strappy Glitter Wedges; Rodarte for Opening Ceremony Bootie; Cutie Stardust Boot; L'Autre Chose Glitter Sandal with Plateau; Miu Miu Glitter and suede peep-toe ankle boots.

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Hey everyone! I need your help...

Three of my close friends are coming out today to visit me for the next week and I am SO excited. We have a lot of things planned but I want to make sure it’s a super fun trip for them and don’t want to leave anything out. That’s where you guys come in. I want to know, what would you want to do if you were visiting LA for the first time?

Even though I live in LA I still haven’t gone on many tours or done a lot of super tourist-y type stuff, so I need your suggestions. So far we have a star tour in Hollywood planned and I want to take them to The Grove, around Santa Monica, and then up into Malibu too.

If you’ve traveled here before or are planning to travel here, what are some of the things that you’d want to do or have done that you would recommend I do with my friends while they’re in town? Also, what are your favorite things to do when you visit friends in other towns, no matter what city they live in?

Please leave your suggestions below and then I’ll do an update post later and let you know what we decide to do!

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Photo is from here.

Hi everyone! Since the Oscars are on Sunday, this TGIF post is all about how to throw a fun Oscars party with your friends (“party” is a relative term… it could be anything from you and your pets on the couch to a full-blown black-tie affair!). Here are 10 fun ideas to make your viewing party a standout:

1. All about the envelope: Although it may be too late to send invitations by mail, you can still work the all-important envelope into your party décor. Turn your napkins into envelopes with this “Nominee Napkin” idea from the Food Network:
   
2. Make your own Oscar statues: This is such a brilliant idea! Just spray paint some old Ken dolls from your Barbie collection, glue to a stand, and voila! Mini Oscar statuettes:
   
3. Make your own Oscar statues take 2: If you don’t have any Ken dolls, you can use this printable from Twig & Thistle to make your own Oscar statue cutouts using thick card stock paper:
   

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4. Walk the red carpet! Half (or all, depending on how you look at it!) the fun of the Academy Awards is the red carpet side of things, so why not make it part of your party, too? You can order actual red carpets online for under $10 here or you can improvise with a cheap red tablecloth or welcome mat.
   
5. Lights, camera, action: I’d like to know how many photos get snapped at the Oscars each year. Take your own photos with your friends at your Oscars party; a Polaroid would be so fun or you can stock up on some disposable cameras and give one to each guest. You could even bring some glam accessories and do a funny photo shoot on your red carpet.
   
6. Popcorn party: Popcorn and movies go together like…well, popcorn at the movies. To make this creative spin on the ultimate movie snack, just roll a doily into a cone shape (any other paper would work too).
   
7. Dress up your dog…hot dog that is! These hot dogs wrapped in tissue paper are perfect for an Oscars party:
   
8. Stirring Sticks: Make stirring sticks for your beverages with the nominees’ faces and nomination category on the end of the stick. I think these would look so funny and cute. The person with the stirring stick of the winner could even get a prize. Click here for a great how-to on how to make the ones pictured below (just swap out the picture and message).
   
9. Golden taste: Obviously, gold is huge for the Oscars. From the statues to the jewelry to the overall glam of the evening, it’s everywhere. This pretty gold cake would be amazing at an Oscars party. You can also use Lustre Dust, which is a gold powder that can be used on treats to give it a gold, shimmery finish. Another great dessert idea would be red velvet to match the red carpet.
   
10. Predictions! No Oscar-viewing party would be complete without them. You and your friends can share your picks ahead of time, or vote together just before the show starts. A prize to the guest with the most winners on his or her list! Click here for the full list of this year’s nominees.

What are some other fun ideas? How will you be enjoying the Academy Awards this year?

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Photo Credit: foodnetwork.com, everydaycelebrating.com, twigandthistle.com, Pinterest, shal.blogg.se, hostessblog.com, everydaycelebrating.com, sugarandcharmblog.com, everythingfab.tumblr.com

TGIF everyone! Redecorating my bedroom has got me in a really organizational frame of mind. One thing that I find is always particularly difficult to organize is my jewelry collection. It’s so important to keep it all tidy and safe in order to maintain the condition of your pieces, but I think you have to really like your jewelry stand or display in order to keep up with your organization. Below are 5 super cute and creative DIY jewelry display ideas that have me motivated and would be really fun weekend activities.

Using picture frames is a classic way to display your jewelry to make it more visually appealing. Here are three different takes on the picture frame method:

1. Applying chicken net to the back of a standard frame will give you the perfect size hooks to hang your earrings from. Get the steps for how to do so here.

2. Another way to use frames and wires for your jewelry is to simply run a single strand of wire across the back of the frame. This is a much simpler alternative to the chicken net idea above. Click here for more info on how to make this wire/frame combo.

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3. It looks like this framed display was made with shadowboxes, which you can get at Target or most home décor stores. Just hang on the wall as usual, add pushpins, and hang your jewelry, violà!

4. Okay, onto other materials! How perfect is this DIY jewelry stand made out of pretty plates? It’s such a simple and brilliant idea and they could turn out so many different ways depending on the plates that you choose. Click here for the instructions. (If crafts aren’t really your thing, try a cake stand for a similar effect.)

5. This DIY antler jewelry display is too cool. I love the tips and it's a really adventurous and original way to show off your accessories as well as your artsy-ness! Click here for the how-to.

What’s another creative way to display your jewelry? Leave your ideas below!

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It’s Friday! With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, I thought I’d put together a list of fun treats that you could try making this weekend and share with family or friends for the holiday. Here are 10 that caught my eye:

1. Adorable Valentine’s Day Buttons. You can get the recipe for these simple, pretzel treats here.
   
2. This Valentine Confetti looks like the perfect balance of salty and sweet:
   
3. These red velvet cake pops decorated for Valentine’s Day look super yummy:
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4. These Conversation Heart Cheesecakes look identical to the candy!
   
5. I love the tiny hearts on these chocolate-covered pretzels:
   
6. For the gluten-free gal on your list, try making this festive Valentine Chex Mix:
   
7. Rice Krispies Treats are such an easy treat to make, so if the rest of these recipes sound complicated, this might be the one for you. Get the directions for how to make these heart-shaped versions here.
   
8. Chocolate-covered strawberries are always a classic sweet treat and this recipe promises to make them in no time at all.
   
9. Melt-in-your-mouth rose marshmallows would be perfect for fondue or cocoa. I think the idea of cutting them out using themed cookie cutters is so sweet:
   
10. The decorated sugar cookie will always, always be a tasty holiday staple. Simple, heart-shaped cookies are lovely and would be so cute tied up in a plastic cellophane bag as a gift. To change things up, why not make them extra teeny tiny:
    

These would all make great gifts for family and friends alike. Have some fun with the packaging and write a sweet little note on the tag before you give them out.  Do you have a favorite tasty treat that you like to make (or eat!) for Valentine’s Day? Which of these 10 do you want to try?

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