Sweet Spot Sunday: Zucchini Lasagna

skinnytaste.com

I saw this image on pinterest and decided that it is an ingenious substitute to use zucchini instead of high-carb pasta in lasagna.  My husband is a type 1 diabetic so I am always on the lookout for healthy dinner ideas.  I am super lazy, though, so I didn't follow her recipe but I will try it her way next time.  I have to say that I liked it the way I made it also:

I cooked about 1 cup of chicken sausage (from Trader Joe's).  I put the cooked sausage into the bottom of a baking dish and added spaghetti sauce with that.  Then I layered on the thinly sliced zucchini adding more sauce and a bit of mozzarella cheese (it's what I had in the fridge) layering more zucchini and topping it with more sauce and cheese.  I baked mine in a 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Simple and delicious!

Sweet Spot Sunday: Black and White and Red All Over

The Major and the Minor
image via

Since the Cat and I are still on vacation, I thought I would just do a quick post on one of my favorite movies, The Major and the Minor.  I can't remember the first time I actually saw this movie- way, way back when I stayed home from school one day, maybe.  But I love it.  It stars Ginger Rogers as Sue-Sue Applegate, a small town girl who tried to make it in New York only to realize the city was too big and she wanted to go home.  The problem arises when she goes to buy a train ticket, only to discover the fares have gone up and she doesn't have enough money.  She solves the problem by pretending to be a kid (hence the minor) to get a discounted price.  Mayhem ensues when she makes it onto the train and in order to hide from a suspicious conductor, ducks into the car of Major Kirby.
It is a super cute movie and I love it and I love that Rebecca bought me a copy of it for my birthday.  I had it on tape, but no longer have a working VCR, so I was so happy to receive a dvd of the movie.  And a bottle of Lindemans Framboise in raspberry.  This is my kind of beer; have you tried it?  Rebecca introduced me to it a while ago, and it is delicious, people.  They sell it at Trader Joe's and BevMo.  Go forth and purchase some- raspberry and cherry (kriek) are my favorites, but there are other flavors too.  It pairs perfectly with an old black and white movie, by the way!

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I recommend taking the time to watch the movie.  And drinking the beer.  Trust me!

Sweet Spot Sunday: Look What I Got!

Happy Sunday, all!  Today I thought I would link up with The Tiny Heart for Look What I Got.
The Cat and I had Tuesday off from karate, and she asked if we could go shopping.  She has a gift card that is burning a hole in her little Alice in Wonderland wallet.  So, we went to Forever21, and then she wanted to go to Wet Seal.  I haven't been to a Wet Seal in a while, but some of her little friends can fit in to their clothes, so she wanted to give it a go.  I'm glad we did, because look what I found!

via 

Forever 21

Actually, the ring is from Forever 21 and is less than $2! The scarf was $10.80. Not too shabby!

In case you missed it yesterday, Rebecca and I are co hosting a book swap with Quick Cheap and Pretty.  You can read about the details in yesterday's post (here).  We hope you'll join us in sharing a favorite book with a fellow blogger.  We thought it would be a great way to find a new book and make a new blogger friend!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://desertgirlsvintage.blogspot.com" title="Desert Girls Vintage"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3749d1pEPq6Dna0W3wiHkJQX4KQjyyrKRvPiLS1ub7NULL4Xsej1zDpgVeCPll08jkkPTwu4hePy0gVGB8CVam4Q7TrC9E75-uwnrrJw4TPA0Zgkyh_JVsYX0eWq0Osde6rFpg0iYusz/s400/book%2520swap.jpg" alt="Desert Girls Vintage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Sweet Spot Sunday: A Southern Bucket

I love finding beautiful things, don't you? So you can imagine my delight when I saw these gorgeous silhoutte-buckets on etsy.

Love this.  Buy it here.

I mean, really.  Come on.  I cannot stand how perfect these are.  I love silhouettes, and I love burlap.  And who doesn't just love a good bucket?!  Well, maybe that last one is a stretch, but a bucket is always a good thing to have on hand, right?!

Buy it here.

Or a tote.  Especially a beautifully monogrammed tote.  Simple.  Classic.  Gorgeous.

Buy these here.

Wouldn't these make beautiful gifts?  For your friends.  Or, you know, for yourself.

Buy it here.

I'm not getting married, but somebody is, right? How sweet/clever/fantastic is this ice bucket?

 So, as it turns out, I'm a little late to the party that is A Southern Bucket (they've been featured in House Beautiful and mentioned by Nate Berkus), but I am going with better late than never. 

Their site on etsy is definitely worth checking out.  I'm still dying over those personalized silhouette buckets in the first picture.

I hope you have a sweet Sunday!

Sweet Spot Sunday

I thought I'd share a sweet spot for you today.

image via fieldstone hill design

How much do you love this space?  It was featured in Rue Magazine's January/February 2011 issue, but I found it over on Fieldstone Hill Design's blog.

I love this room.  I love the velvet wall-to-wall couch.  I love the gallery wall (of course)!  And I love the giraffe.  I want the giraffe.  I've been looking for pieces (especially white pieces) for my living room, to pop against the blue walls.  

In the meantime, I will keep hunting for the perfect pieces.  I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Sweet Spot Sunday

Frosted Doily Dessert Plates

Anthropologie's new dining and kitchen ware makes me hungry!  I'm loving these sorbet and floral inspired items.  It's time to get stocked up for Spring.  The above dessert plates make me crave lemon bars sprinkled with powdered sugar!

Sorrento platter

How about this lovely platter?  Perfect for Easter brunch.  

Hand-Embroidered Etiquette Napkins

I love a cheeky and equally pretty napkin.  These are just perfect for everyday use.

A beautiful mess dishtowel

I think I need this for my kitchen.  No really...I do.

Manchester glass set

I think this is my favorite new item at Anthropologie!  These glasses that you mount onto a kitchen wall:  They will keep your herbs fresh or you can put in a few fresh blooms.  Cute and useful.  

Have a sweet Sunday!

Sweet Spot Sunday: Almond Biscotti

Hello there!  I hope you are having a very lovely Sunday.  Do you have any plans?  I am going to be spending the day with my friends Kim and Kerri at the Long Beach Antique Show.  I'm pretty bummed that Rebecca can't make it, but she will definitely be there in spirit.
I thought that I would share a sweet and easy recipe with you today.  It comes from my Mom's friend Patti, who made these one day and sent them over.  I got to my parents' house after a looonnng day of work to find a cup of coffee and some tasty homemade biscotti waiting for me.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy they are to make.

This is it for the ingredients:

2 eggs, butter, almonds, yellow cake mix, and flour.

Mix all ingredients to form a dough.

Shape the dough into about 1/2 inch rectangle.

Cut the biscotti into delicious strips, perfectly perfect for dunking.

All done!  Covered in chocolate and just waiting to be dipped into a nice cup of coffee!

Almond Biscotti

Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1 stick melted butter

1/2 cups almonds (sliced, chopped, or slivered)

Directions:

Mix above together- knead well.  Form mixture into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick.  Place on parchment paper (or silpat) and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cut into pieces and turn onto side.  Bake additional 10 minutes and then turn off oven.  Leave in over another 30 minutes.  Cool.

(It is important to watch the biscotti for the last 30 minutes, as the time will vary depending on your oven.  For us, 30 minutes in the shut off oven was too long, but for Patti is was perfect.)

You can add melted chocolate to the bottom of the biscotti once it is cooled.  We used the milk chocoloate melting chocolates that come in a tub.  You can use your preferred chocolate (I think dark would be delicious!)

And... that's it!  Really easy homemade biscotti that is quick and delicious. 

Sweet Spot Sunday: Valentine's Day Inspiration

luxefinds

Valentine's Day is only a few days away.  I myself don't do anything extravagant for the occasion, but I do like to make a few special things for my family and friends.  These are my inspirations this year!

DGV pinned on pinterest via signesugar.bigcartel

I love the simplicity and beauty of this little cake.

pinterest via domesticfashionista

DGV pinned on pinterest via Kara's Party Ideas

I want to make a little setting like this for my kids on Valentine's Day morning.  I love the old window with vintage fabric.  

Rebecca Iverson pinned on pinterest via The Perfect Palette 

Rebecca Iverson pinned on pinterest via Sarah Nazim

The perfect Valentine Day treat.

Rebecca Iverson pinned on pinterest  via The Perfect Palette

How sweet and easy are these glitter heart picks?

DGV pinned on pinterest via Country Living Mag

I'm looking forward to Downton Abbey tonight!

Sweet Spot Sunday

I had grand plans this week of bringing you a recipe for some very tasty homemade biscotti, but I ran out of time.  I have barely been home this week, and never early enough to whip up a tasty treat and then take pictures of it.  Sigh.  Maybe next time.
Instead, I thought I would bring you a sweet idea from the web.
But first up is a super sweet set of cards, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Ink and Iron

Want to know one of the reasons I think these cards are so sweet (besides the obvious cute factor)?  Because I won them from the fabulous Birdie to Be!  I happen to think that is super sweet, and I'd like to say  a  BIG thank you to Birdie to Be and Ink and Iron for the fun giveaway!

Now how about these gorgeous cameo pops?

                                                                             Source: countryliving.com via Lori on Pinterest

You'll need the mold, and the directions are here.

Seems easy enough, right?!  Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!

I hope you all enjoy your Sunday!



AND...For Superbowl Sunday!

 Lori was a doll and let me add my little treats for Superbowl Sunday to her cute post today!  My husband and son are really into football.  We are headed over to a friend's house this afternoon so I thought I would bring a little treat for everyone.  I saw these chocolate covered footballs on Pinterest and I thought I would try my hand at them.  They are NOT perfect, but they were fun and, of course, super yummy!

One little tip: Don't use the little cake decorating tube for the detail; it just ran right off (as you can clearly see on some below).  Use a thicker frosting, like a cream cheese in a tube.  It stayed on better even though it was difficult to get it on straight--and I didn't!  let me know if you have any tips for me!

Have fun today!