There is simply nothing better than homemade ice cream on a hot summer day. I have so many memories anxiously waiting for my Noni’s ice cream maker to get loud because that meant it was almost done. Then we would all scarf it down not even giving it a chance to set up in the freezer! I'm sure I am not the only one with these fond memories. While my family ice cream recipe is near and dear to me, I have created a recipe that is very similar. It does require a few extra steps. It is a plain vanilla ice cream recipe, but I jazzed it up with whatever ripe fruits I have around. The possibilities are endless with this basic recipe. (My Mom used to make Big Red ice cream, and goodness... The best thing ever.) I also want to add that my Cuisinart® Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker is ... [Read More]
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Dot Glasses DIY
Summer is right around the corner, which means patio parties, grilling outback and my personal favorite, poolside catching up on the latest Hollywood gossip. This also means everyone is knee deep in gathering up Summer décor. I can guarantee these painted dot glasses are sure to give your summer drinks an extra kick with little to no investment! Supplies: Glasses of your choice Rubbing alcohol A pencil Craft paint Start off by wiping down your glasses with rubbing alcohol. Using the eraser end of the pencil, dip into the paint and begin to create dots on your glass. Once you are satisfied with your lovely dot pattern, simply let them air dry for at least a week. Another option is to oven-cure. Once they have air dried for at least 72 hours, place them in a cool oven ... [Read More]
Picnic Perfect Kabobs
What are your weekend plans for this Memorial Day weekend? I am so looking forward to a long weekend by the pool and some homemade ice cream. ( Which I have been scheming up a yummy twist on my Great Grandmother's recipe, so stay tuned if all goes well! ) I created a super simple and quick red, white and blue picnic tablescape for this Memorial Day weekend. I already had the traditional checkered tablecloth and added the pop of navy by tying up bandanas. They worked perfectly as my "runner". The enamel white caddy has been my absolute favorite buy for our outdoor living space. It is so versatile and you can easily fill up with the essentials and take it on the go. This table is a far cry from fancy, but it allows the food to speak volumes. Such as these tortellini kabobs that are ... [Read More]
My Current Top 10 Favorite Kitchen Items
Happy Wednesday everyone! I would like to break it up a little today and share my current 10 favorite kitchen items instead of another recipe. I get a lot of questions about the tools and gadgets I prefer to accomplish mainly baking recipes, but I have honestly thrown in anything and everything in my kitchen. If you like these types of posts or have recommendations on a post, be sure to leave a comment below! ( P.S. Your comment may not show up immediately, because I manually approve them. Mainly for spam purposes. (: ) Dutch Oven/PW All Purpose Turner/Nielsen-Massey Vanilla/Vintage Butter Dish/Food Storage Canisters/ChicWrap Parchment/Enamel Pitcher/Baker's Joy Spray/Expanding Bottle Stopper/10.Custom Rolling Pin Dutch ovens can get pricey quick, but I received this one in ... [Read More]
Pinco De Mayo Margaritas
Being the Texans we are, we don't just love Mexican food, we crave it, live for it and would die for it! Okay, maybe not die for it, but would come close! So, of course, Cinco De Mayo is celebrated to a degree at the Clark household. We make guac, fajitas and most importantly margaritas. While on our honeymoon in Riveria Maya, my love for on the rocks margaritas began and it continues to grow. I came across this beautiful hot pink Prickly Pear Margarita on Mackenzie Horan's blog Design Darling and had to try it out for the perfect "Pinco" De Mayo drink. Now, living in a small town like mine you might not find the Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup, but do not fear, Amazon to the rescue! You could easily switch it up with watermelon or pink lemonade if you are not about the syrup hype, ... [Read More]
Nautical Knot Key Chain
Spruce up your bag for the Spring season or add it to your keys and they will never be misplaced again! This surprisingly easy craft has endless possibilities and is fun for all ages. There are truly hundreds of knots that you can try out, from the box knot, sailors knot, monkey knot, etc. This cute DIY definitely took me back to my friendship bracelet making days! XO, Ashton Things you will need: Rope of your choice One-Inch swivel key ring Scissors How to: Cut some cord to about 40 - 50 inches in length. You can use whatever cord you like, from thin, thick cord, doubled, or even fancy patterned cords. Thread the cord through a one-inch swivel key ring and tape to a flat surface. Make sure the two sides are even. Cross the left side of the cord to the ... [Read More]
Paintable Watercolor Cookies
I want to say up front that I am NOT a painter in any form or fashion, but I have been wanting to give this decorating technique a whirl for some time now. Granted I do love the sleek look of royal icing and this technique does incorporate that a tad, but the plus is it takes ½ the time! While royal icing takes a lot of time, prep and not to mention patience. This water coloring technique only requires a base coat of royal icing by using a flooding technique, or lots of people use fondant which is fine but I am not a huge fan of that route. While the fondant looks perfect and sleek, it is a little too gummy for my taste. To create your watercolor “paint pallet” all you will need is gel food coloring and a clear extract, I used almond extract. Dilute food coloring with the clear ... [Read More]
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
I am so excited to be sharing my first gift guide with you all! It is time to shower your Mom with ALL the love! Mother's Day is less than a month away after all. I have really been holding off on creating a gift guide because I did not want to share products I just threw together to fill a space, but products I personally know Moms, Grandmothers, etc. would love. 1. pom pom beach towel 2. self-watering herb kit 3. breakfast in bed chocolates 4. rose soap bouquet 5. color in apron 6. aromatherapy diffuser 7. sunglass case 8. candelles monthly subscription These Mark& Graham pom pom beach towels are adorable! Plus adding the monogram, I mean come on, the cherry on top! Any mom would love this for a pool day or to take to the bleachers to sit on. I chose the ... [Read More]
Rosie’s Birthday Pupcakes
Our little nosie Roise is a whole-year-old today! How can this be? I guess it is true that time flies by when you're having fun! Zac and I both grew up with dogs, but never had full responsibility for one. So Rosie was definitely our first adventure as a married couple and she has taught us a lot. She is seriously the sweetest puppy and has turned into the smartest, yet silliest pup. In honor of her first birthday, I whipped up 6 dog-friendly cupcakes for her to enjoy and share with her friends! ( Yes, I am that crazy dog mom, but she doesn't seem to mind. ) They are full of shredded carrots, peanut butter, honey and sprinkled with treats! How could it get any better than that? Well, other than a steak of course. (: ... [Read More]
Squash Puppies
With gardening season upon us, I have been gathering up new recipes to try out with my seasonal produce. These squash puppies are loaded with freshly cooked squash to keep them moist and delicious. I also added a fresh jalapeno, seeds and all, for a little extra kick! Happy gardening! XO, Ashton ... [Read More]
Eggshell Planters
Spring has officially sprung and I could not be more excited about it! There is just something about the air changing and everything coming back to life that makes we want to spend as much time as possible outdoors. I am so excited to share with you this fresh idea for your succulent planter. The first time I saw eggshell planters were in a greenhouse in college. Grad students were actually starting their Summer garden with these little guys. Planting the seeds and letting them establish a root system and then planting the whole plant, eggshell and all in the ground. Genius idea, right? Well, I am using that idea and tweaking it a bit. I adore succulents and they are all the rage right now. So, I thought wouldn’t it be cute to display them in a raw setting like this versus a ... [Read More]
Bird’s Nest Cookies
Easter has to be one of my absolute favorite holidays all the way around. For the obvious reason, Resurrection Sunday, Lord Jesus Christ rising from the dead. But also, from the food, switching from heavy, hardy stews to light, colorful salads and shedding the layers of sundresses. It definitely sets the tone for the Spring season! John over on the Preppy Kitchen blog is the mastermind behind these cutie bird’s nest cookies. He whipped them up a few weeks ago and I thought they were the perfect mixture of Easter and Spring, so I decided to make them for our office Easter luncheon this week! The only things I tweaked from John’s recipe was using royal icing instead of buttercream, and I cheated on the eggs by just buying Whopper Robin Eggs versus making my own. (I am a firm believer ... [Read More]
Mint Brownie Bites
I am sure you are all aware by now that I have been on a little bit of a brownie kick lately, and I am still taken back by it! I am a cupcake lover through and through, however, I am digging all of these amazing brownie recipes this spring. Also, I found out that 55% of you on Insta voted brownie versus cupcake! ( So apparently I need to love brownies a tad bit more, but not TOO much more! ) St.Patrick's day snuck up on me this year, due to my planning for Spring and Easter as well as our Anniversary trip, which actually falls on St.Paty's day, it seemed to just get pushed to the side. This past weekend though I used a crawfish boil as an opportunity to try these guys out and have my friends taste test! Which I knew no one would oppose to. (; These brownie bites are a blank ... [Read More]
Easy DIY Bath Bomb Recipe
I have been itching to make bath bombs since it seems to be the big hype right now, and I am here to tell you they are truly so simple to make and very inexpensive. Now, I am not too sure about the emoji or unicorn colored ones, so don't hold me to that if those are difficult! I know the YouTube videos for those were like 30 minutes or something crazy like that. The opportunity hit perfectly for me to try these little guys out. Plus, I love creating original content. It gives me an extra excuse to get crafty! I will say these turned out SO much better than I was expecting and their wonderful scent made my whole entire house smell like a spa. ( That essential oil seriously goes a long way! ) These would be a great gift for your Mom, a weekend project with your kids, or just to whip ... [Read More]
Ombré Blondies
Spring is just around the corner and I could not be more excited! While the days here in East Texas have been filled with rain, rain, and more rain I have been anxiously awaiting a ray of sunshine. Spending our evenings planning our vegetable and flower garden has me chomping at the bit. These ombré blondies are sure to put a little pep in your step no matter the weather! Usually, I am not the biggest brownie fan, well unless they are piping hot and smothered in ice cream, but I think I would eat anything if it included ice cream… Anyways! I have loved all of the blondie recipes floating around I decided to give them a whirl and added an ombré finish, because why not? The brownies alone are to die for, so if frosting is not your thing, no worries. The frosting was a ... [Read More]
