June's Book Club Read is a Must!

I never thought I'd say this, but after a few short months of book club readings, I've developed a new appreciation for fiction reading!  This month's book, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett just put me over the edge and I'm just in love with this book. 

A brief overview of the book from Barnes and Noble:

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women-mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends-view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

Stockett's writing style and her use of multiple character narration really puts the reader in the moment and captivates you into the story setting.  As the reader, you have the opportunity to "walk a mile" in the various character's shoes and see just how things are from their vantage point, experiencing each little detail just as it is your own.  Group consensus was that we all just loved Aibileen, wouldn't cross Minnie if our life depended on it, related with Skeeter and all despised Hilly!  Each character was just bigger than life and developed so well. 

For this southern belle, our book club couldn't have picked a better book to kick off the summer.  I've always found great interest in the works of southern authors, but Stockett's book grabbed my attention more than most and I just loved each page. 

Last night, our book club gathered poolside to discuss the book and everyone agreed that this was their fave title thus far.  We dined on fabulous chocolate pie, a humorous selection given the stories about Minnie's pie in the book, and enjoyed lively discussion about all things southern and related to the book. 

Move on over To Kill A Mockingbird, Secret Life of Bees and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ... The Help is joining you at the top of my MUST READ list!

~charmed b

Shower Games

All us gals have been forced to endure more than our share of shower games.  From the bridal fun kind to the mom to be games; we have wrapped ourselves in toilet tissue, played purse bingo, guessed the nursery rhyme and played all sorts of funtivities at parties and get togethers.  Each time the game is announced, it's met with eye rolls from the gals attending who don't want to be rude but would rather not partake most of the time.   

At our recent couple's baby shower, the hostesses with the mostess came up with some inventive and fun baby shower games.  This time ... the participants were the gents and all of us gals got a big laugh out of their antics and fun! 

The Baby Bottle Chug game received great reviews from all the gents that took part and it was a proud moment when Dear Hubs took home the prize for winning!

The Baby Bottle Chug
The Dish (what you need):

• inexpensive baby bottles
• beer
• willing participants :)

The Rules:
1.  Fill the bottles with beer so that each bottle has an equal / even amount. 
2.  Distribute the baby bottles to the gents.
3.  Line up the fellas, preferably with a counter surface in front of them.
4.  Without using their hands (unless they must hold the bottle to start), each fella must flip his bottle upside down and drink the contents of the bottle as quickly as possible.
5.  Remember - NO HANDS!
6.  Winner finishes first.

Necklace Scavenger Hunt

So many necklaces ... so little time, well - so little time to locate the perfect one to wear when you are rushing out the door late to a meeting, event or even just for errands!  Try as I might to stay organized, it seems that my obsession with fun necklaces has outpaced my ability to keep them all orderly stored in my closet. 

Inspired by the notion of those fabulously stylish jewelry boards that experts use at jewelry shows and remembering that bestie S told me she had made herself one of these years ago, I made two adorable (and spacious) storage boards to keep my fun finds organized and easy to grab in a snap!  In under and hour, I had completed the project and hung my little gems.  Now, these two are hanging perfectly at the end of my closet and ready for use!

 The Dish (what you need):

• inexpensive shadow box (these are on sale in the framing dept at craft stores frequently)
• foam board
• batting
• muslin fabric
• push pins
• glue gun
• tape

How To Voodoo (what you do):
1.  Begin by cutting all your supplies to size.  First, cut the foam board the same size as the opening of the shadow box.  Cut the batting and muslin a bit larger so that it can wrap around the foam.
2.  Use hot glue or adhesive to attach the batting to one side of the foam board.  Pull tight and flat as you go.
3.  Wrap the batting around the foam and pull tight.  Tape to secure it into place.
4.  Lay the muslin fabric flat and repeat steps 2 and 3, except do NOT glue the fabric to the board or batting.  Be sure to pull tight.
5.  Assemble your shadow box by popping the fabric wrapped foam board into the back.
6.  Add push pins (clear are preferred) to the top in a straight row.  I used the "two finger" technique and inserted each pin "two finger" distance from the top and "two finger" distance from the pin next to it. 
7.  Hang on the wall and add your necklaces.

The shadow boxes

Batting laid out around the foam board

Secure the batting

Secure the fabric

Two finger measurements

Finished product

These shadow box organizers are just perfect for organizing your fave accessories.  Have some fun with the project and use some fun fabrics to coordinate and jazz up your dressing area!

~charmed b

This post is partying over at Savvy Southern Style

Happy Hour

TGIF!  There's nothing like a hot June Friday to make you crave a refreshing and fun happy hour!  Last week I whipped together a little impromptu happy hour after a full day at the pool; complete with a fantastic fresh corn and black bean salsa (recipe compliments of bestie M) and blackberry margaritas (recipe from Cooking Light).  Dear Hubs and I first had the salsa at bestie M's house a few weeks back and I think we ate at least 2 gallons of it - delish and oh so summery!  And, the margs compliment it nicely, both of these recipes are perfect for your next get together, you absolutely must try!

Blackberry Margaritas; from Cooking Light June 2011
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 lime
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup 100% agave blanco tequila
• 3/4 cup Grand Marnier
• 2/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 12 ounces fresh blackberries

Instructions:

1.  Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar and kosher salt in a dish.
2.  Cut lime into 9 wedges; rub rims of 8 glasses with 1 lime wedge.
3.  Dip rims of glasses in salt mixture.
4.  Combine water and 1/2 cup sugar in a microwave-safe glass measuring cup. Microwave at HIGH 2 1/2 minutes, stirring to dissolve sugar; cool.
5.  Combine syrup, tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, and blackberries in a blender; process until smooth.
6.  Strain mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve over a pitcher; discard solids. Serve over ice. Garnish with remaining lime wedges.

 

Summer Corn Salsa; derrived from a tasty recipe compliments of the divine chef M

Ingredients:

1 can white corn

1 can yellow corn

1 can black beans

1 can black eyed peas

1-2 avacado; diced

1 container plum tomato

3 vine tomato; seeded and diced

1/2 cup (or more to taste) lime juice

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

salt and garlic powder

Instructions:

Adding avacado last, combine all ingredients and chill for at least 1 hour.  Serve with chips.  This recipe makes a ton - but trust me, you will want it!

Ya'll enjoy!

~charmed b

The Backyard Challenge

June 2011 marks five years that Dear Hubs and I have lived in our home.  It seems like such a short time ago I was busy sewing curtains and planning the decor for our new digs as the builders took what seemed like forever to build our home.  While the five years have past like a flash, one constant reminder that there is still work to be done has been our backyard.  Don't get me wrong ... there was nothing "wrong" with it and so we endured and focused our attention on projects inside the home.  Well, the projects inside have pressed the limit and it's time we start that backyard overhaul we have dreamed of for some time now. 

We were one of the first new homes in our neighborhood when we built and we have loved welcoming each of our neighbors and friends to the place we call home.  Most anxiously though, we have waited for the lot next to our house to be built upon.  You see, in our builder's infinate wisdom, the lot directly next to us was deemed the "final phase" of the development and as such has remained untouched all this time.  As that new street begins to get some real estate shopping traction, we cross our fingers and hope for a lovely family to buy the lot next door and become our wonderful new neighbors!  It hasn't happened just yet, but we decided to press on with "phase 1" of the backyard overhaul anyways. 

Our vision for the overall backyard renovation was pretty elaborate.  The first step was to remove the deck off of the back of the house and to replace it with an even more spacious screened in porch.  I grew up with a screened in porch and have always just loved these outdoor rooms.  And, since I'm a bug magnet in the summertime, a screened in porch provides a welcome break from the constant bites and zaps of these pesky critters.

In time, we plan to add appropriate hardscaping to the yard; such as retaining walls and steps around to the finished basement.  Along with the hardscape, Dear Hubs has a vision of re-leveling the entire yard.  Now, I didn't know exactly what that entails (and still really don't), but apparently there's a lot of dirt movement, ew sod and he promises that when complete Baby B will have a perfectly flat yard to run and play on.  Besides the screened in porch, we hope to build a deck or an outdoor patio area behind the house for entertaining, conversation and enjoying the gorgeous outdoors when the mosquitos aren't!  Lastly, of course ... it's the pretty, pretty lipstick part - plantings!  And I'm hopeful there will be plenty of those to give us the perfect southern backyard in our minds eye.

Here's a few snaps of the before of the porch area and I promise to keep you informed every step of the way!

Now ... let's get digging!

~charmed b

Shortcake

I must confess, I haven't met a strawberry I don't like!  One of my fave parts of summer is being able to dine on delish fresh produce at every turn.  Well, look no further - June is upon us and the very best dessert is so easy to pull off you must give it a whirl for your next get together!

It's just so simple, I probably should just hang my head in shame for even bringing it up and take for granted that everyone already has this recipe ... yet everytime I prepare this tasty treat it's met with rave (and I mean RAVE) reviews.  Who am I to dispute with raving fans ... and so I give the people what they want!  And so strawberry shortcake it is!

A recipe for this dessert might be an insult to some, but here's a few tips and tricks to pull off this oh so simply delish dessert we all know and LOVE!

First, skip those spongy pre-prepared ladyfingers from the deli section of the grocery store and whip up a batch of shortcakes.  I know, I know .... it sounds like work, but I promise it's as easy as Bisquick (thank the Lord for Bisquick!), sugar and milk (recipe is on the side of the Bisquick Light box).  Ten minutes and a few whisks of the batter and you will be the queen of the kitchen with your own sweet shortcakes that look like you slaved for hours. 

Second, enhance a large container of whipped topping (Cool Whip) with a little almond extract.  Just a cap full or two does the trick for a full container of whipped topping.  The almond adds such a great flavor and will leave everyone thinking you whipped your own (ssshhh... our secret!).  Then, simply slice up the berries and mix with a little sugar if you like, I skip the sugar because I think the berries are usually sweet enough and fab on their own.  Serve the short cakes, whipped topping, strawberries with a bit of vanilla icecream and voila ... it doesn't get any better than this!

For a recent get together, I opted for a make your own shortcake station, where each person had the opportunity to pile on as much sweet strawberry and cream goodness as they like!  It's a big hit and everyone will love making their own and chatting about how they love this summer sweet!

Ya'll enjoy!

~charmed b

Holiday Weekend

What a wonderful LONG weekend to kick off summer!  We have been on the go for so many weeks now that Dear Hubs and I were so looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home.  From celebrating bestie P's son C's 5th grade graduation on Friday to fun filled days at the pool, we spent many hours outside with friends and family soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the company!  We took a break from the sun long enough to finish up a few odds and ends prepping for Baby B's arrival and also enjoyed hitting the movies for one last popcorn filled fest before baby arrives!

The diva dogs were in full on patriotic gear this weekend, thanks to a trip to the groomers on Friday!  These two actually posed without much intervention and I thought this pic was just presh!