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Browsing Tag: master bedroom

Leprechaun Popcorn

With St. Patrick’s Day just about 2 weeks away, I saw this fun popcorn recipe. I love that you can use microwave popcorn. It makes it so easy. I am looking forward to making it this weekend. I wish I had all the ingredients or I would have made it tonight it looks soo good!!!

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Image Mom Foodie

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Ingredients

  • 1 bag of microwave popcorn light or regular butter (full-sized, not snack)
  • 1 cup green chocolate candy melts*
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate candy melts*
  • St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles
  • Green Mint M&Ms

Instructions

  • Pop the popcorn and remove the unpopped kernels.
  • Place the candy melts in small bowls or glass measuring cups, one for each color.
  • Microwave the green candy for 40 seconds then stir, repeat in 20 second intervals until melted and smooth. (takes 1-2 minutes dependent on melt brand and your microwave).
  • Drizzle the melted green chocolate candy over the bowl of popcorn and toss to coat (use a silicone spatula to ensure you get it all out.) Toss the popcorn with your hands until nicely coated. Then spread out onto a large serving platter (or baking sheet, if you are going to bag the popcorn up after). Optional* Add some green sugar sprinkles at this point.
  • Melt the white candy melts and drizzle over the platter of popcorn, immediately top generously with St. Patrick’s themed candy sprinkles. They will adhere to the melted white chocolate candy.
  • Finally, toss on the M&Ms. Allow the Leprechaun Popcorn to cool a few minutes before serving.

Let’s Throw A Virtual Party…

Social distancing due to COVID-19 has had an adverse impact on just about all areas of our lives. In the past, we would be able to get together with the people who matter the most to us to celebrate special events and travel. Now, most of our social interactions must take place virtually. What are a few examples of parties that used to take place in-person that are now taking place virtually? How can you turn these parties into a success? There are several virtual party tips that you should keep in mind to ensure the event is a success and everyone has a blast.

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The Virtual Birthday Party

First, a lot of people have had to move their birthday parties to the virtual world. The days of having someone take the birthday boy or girl out to his or her favorite restaurant have been put on hold for a little while. For example, a lot of people are using Zoom to bring loved ones together to celebrate this special occasion.

When planning a virtual birthday party, it is important to think about what type of theme is going to be used. For example, there are lots of banners that people can deploy in the background of a video chat to make sure the birthday feels as special as possible. Then, it might even be possible to get a cake delivered to the birthday boy or girl! This is a way to bring the entire birthday party together. While it does take some pre-planning, it’s a surprise that is certainly worth it.

Pulling Off a Virtual Bachelor Party

Finally, there are lots of people who have had to change their wedding plans because of the pandemic. This includes bachelor parties. If you are looking for a way to pull off a bachelor party virtually, there are a few tips that you need to remember. First, make sure that you find a date and time that works for everyone. There are plenty of websites that can help you secure a date and time that works for all attendees.

Then, you can start planning the entertainment and details that you are going to include. For example, make sure you have a menu put together that everyone can follow. This might include booze, steaks, and party favors. Consider getting the attendees set up with food delivery, or even alcohol delivery the day-of. You might even want to bring in a virtual stripper to bring the entire party together! There are plenty of ways to pull off the perfect bachelor party even if it has to be virtual. Don’t let the lack of in-person interaction stop you from experiencing some of the best bachelor party entertainment available. 

Think About Pulling Off a Virtual Party

When you think creatively, you’ll find there are many ways to host a fun and exciting virtual party that is far more than just sitting on a video chat. Even though this is not something that is going to last forever, the pandemic is still going to be with us for the near future. Therefore, everyone has to think about how they can still make a virtual party feel special. With the right platform, the right guests, and the right party staples, it is possible to make every virtual party a success. With this in mind, get a little creative and let the imagination run wild!

Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

My friend Margarita, made these cookies a few weeks ago and shared them with me, and OMG!!!! I was in shock at how good they were for cookies made with rolled oats and no flour. The entire week after, I could not stop thinking of them. So far we have made them 2 times already. This is probably one of the best recipes I have shared with you, honestly. They remind me of protein bites but even better!!! Bon Appetit!!

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Adapted from ambitious kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
  • 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if desired)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips, dairy-free if desired
  • Flakey sea salt for sprinkling on top

Instruction

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl mix together the oats and baking soda; set aside.

In a large bowl mix together peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Mix in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon, then gently fold in chocolate chips.

Roll cookies into 2-inch dough balls and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. BARELY flatten the top of the cookie with your hand. The dough should be pretty sticky so if you find this method annoying, simply use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. The cookies may not be as round in shape and perhaps a bit thicker, but that’s okay, they will still be delicious!

Bake cookies for 9-12 minutes and remove when edges barely begin to turn a golden brown. The cookies may look a little underdone, but they will continue to cook once you remove them from the oven. 

Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle each cookie with flakey sea salt. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. Makes 16-20 cookies.

Recipe Notes

You can use less sugar or less chocolate chips — I have tried using 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and they turned out great.

Feel free to substitute almond butter or another nut butter in replace of peanut butter.

Geometric Rugs, Do You Dare?

For the past 2 days, I saw 2 incredible rooms with the most beautiful geometric rugs. It really got me thinking..do I need a geometric rug? Maybe on my stairs or in my office. YES!! I think I do. I of course went to Google for some inspiration and found some really fab options. Statement rugs are in!!! They are all the rage and I need to hop on this wagon for sure!! The David Hicks carpets are my absolute favorites. I definitely like the hexagon design but they all are beautiful!!! I have to say, as usual, I saved the best for last. The room designed by Nina Draddy stopped me in my tracks. I love love love it. That is exactly how I want my office to look….someday!!!!!

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My Favorite by Nina Draddy Designs…. This is what my new home office is going to look like!!!

This is for the guys….5 tips feel comfortable and look sharp while working from home!

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Calling all our guy readers…Just because you’re spending all your weekdays now working from home doesn’t mean you can’t still look sharp! Of course, as any guy knows, the trick is to look good while still feeling comfortable. Your home office probably doesn’t have the same suit-and-tie requirements that your old office did, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still look put-together every day. In fact, some studies have even shown that changing out of your pajamas and putting on a more dapper outfit can have positive psychological effects that might even boost your motivations and improve your work product. For men who want to look great but feel comfy while working from home, here are some of the top clothing tips to remember.

1. Unpredictable Weather Patterns? Dressing in Layers Is Key

Do you live in an area with totally unpredictable weather patterns that seem to change every fifteen minutes? If so, dressing in layers is key, especially if you like to spend part of your workday working from your balcony, patio or backyard. If the temperatures are cool in the morning but get hot by midday, for instance, a light T-shirt topped with a suave jacket could be the answer. Check out these key pieces perfect for layering:

  • A cotton V-neck shirt
  • A light jean jacket
  • Pants that can be adjusted into shorts
  • Mid-length khakis

2. For Work Video Calls, Professional Shirts Made With Comfy Materials Are a Go-To

Just about everyone at this point has had the experience of needing to hop on a video call for work in the middle of the day, and when this happens, looking professional is essential. However, your bottom half may not matter as much since it won’t be on camera! That means that even if you’re still rocking your sweatpants, you’ll want to pull on a classy dress shirt. The trick here is choosing soft, comfy materials like cotton or polyester blends, so you won’t get that stiff, starchy, scratchy feeling that all too often comes with high-end professional shirts.

3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Comfortable Underwear

You might think that having plain versus pouch underwear might not make a big difference to your comfort levels at home, but a simple trial of comfier underwear could prove you wrong. Comfortable undergarments like boxers made from stretchy materials, for instance, can actually have a big impact on your overall level of comfort. This makes sense since it’s the most basic layer of your outfit! To be cozy overall, start at the core level with a solid pair of underpants.

4. On Work-From-the-Couch Days, Consider Tailored Hoodies

On days where there are no work calls to worry about, tailored hoodies could be the way to go. Hoodies are casual enough to wear while working from the couch from 9:00 to 5:00, but if you choose one made with nice materials and get it tailored, it could look snazzier on you than you realize!

5. Don’t Forget About Keeping Your Feet Warm, Too

Although it’s totally fine to go barefoot all day while at home, if you get chilly indoors or live in a colder climate, part of completing your outfit and staying cozy is keeping your feet warm, too. There are plenty of options for slip-on shoes that look great but feel comfortable, too – just try a pair of leather boat-style shoes that are fleece-lined on the inside, for instance.

Maybe your commute now involves moving from the bed to the couch and your pet dog is essentially your coworker, but just because you’re working from home all day doesn’t mean you have to start dressing poorly. With the right outfit planning, it’s totally possible to dress for success while still feeling comfortable. For any men interested in keeping up dapper appearances without compromising on comfort, these five clothing tips are key.

4 DIY Apps To Improve Your Home Right Now

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There are many ways that you can improve your home whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or some beautiful new artwork. With the help of arts and crafts tutorials, there are many decorative items that you can make to beautify your home. To give you plenty of DIY ideas and other options, check out these four neat apps.

1 . Craftgawker

If you’re looking for some excellent crafts ideas then you’ll just love the craftgawker app. Here there are thousands of DIY projects, including the work of top craft bloggers across the globe. It’s simple to use, once you’ve found a project you like simply click the photo and you can learn how to make it. A few of the key features include:

  • Browse the crafts projects by categories, popularity, or your favs.
  • Save the projects you love and add notes about each one.
  • Share your pics on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.
  • Get quality projects, curated by a team of craft experts.

Looking to customize your bookshelf? Want to make a cute table runner? Craftgawker offers plenty of project ideas to help you decorate your home.

 2. Make It Yourself- DIY Crafts App

Make It Yourself is another great app for DIY craft ideas. Whether you want to make decorations, simple homeware, or upcycled furniture items, this app has plenty to inspire you. There are lots of simple crafts decorations you can make for your home whether it’s decorative vases, bunting, cushion covers, or wall hangings. If you’ve got a knack for crafting and you want some extra ideas to motivate you, you won’t be disappointed. For plenty of easy DIY ideas, this is the app you need!

3. Hutch 

Hutch is an app that uses 3D tech to help you make virtual adjustments to your rooms. All you have to do is browse through the Hutch catalog, and pick out the homeware that you like. With the help of VR, you can test out different objects, styles, and designs, (before you choose to buy anything). Play around with colors, and create the virtual home of your dreams. All products are to scale, and the app has a simple interface that is easy to use.

4. Saatchi Art

Want to improve the interior design of your home? What you need is some beautiful artwork. Saatchi has plenty of gorgeous pieces, whether you’re looking for photography, paintings, sculptures, or screen prints. Plenty of new artists sell on here, so you can find some very unique and affordable things. Saatchi Art also has a VR setting, so you can test out different pieces of artwork in your home. Don’t forget to set the filters according to your style and budget.

Improving your home:

Once you’ve spruced up the inside of your home, it’s time to get outside and look at boosting your curb appeal! There are plenty of ways you can enhance the exterior of your home all you need to do is get creative. Whether it’s improving your yard, a new driveway, or even graffiti removal, there are plenty of options. Improving your house both inside and out is a fantastic way to enhance your lifestyle and make the most of your home.