NOT Hot Wings!Lighter Version -'Tip'

Well, it's that time of year where most of us make resolutions and say "we are going to eat lighter and healthier and vow to lose to weight!"

Every little bit helps so I try to find ways to lighten up or cut the calories of foods I love.

I’ve found a way to satisfy my craving for “Hot Wings” in a much healthier way.

I call this NOT wings!  Grilled Chicken Breast with Buffalo Wing Sauce.

I completed my meal with Roasted Broccoli and a simple side Salad with Chunky Blue Cheese-Yogurt Dressing.   All the flavor without all the guilt!

Yummy!  Enjoy!

You're welcome!

Framed Wreath Artwork/Decor

This beautiful art print was a gift to myself, for Christmas!  I purchased the beautiful mirrored frame for it from Amazon, and I love them together!

The talented artist is Melissa, I found her on Instagram @housefenway she has a vast array of artwork, sizes and styles to choose from in her shop!  I hope you will visit to see for yourself, I love viewing all of her beautiful artwork and definitely want to get more! What a lovely gift idea for yourself or someone special on your gift list!  

I’ve enjoyed displaying this “Christmas Olive Wreath with Copper Bells” print during the holidays and it’s perfect for winter too!

Hope you’re having an awesome day!

Winter Tablescape

How’s your new year going?

As the new year began I added some sparkle with touches of gold glitter to our dining room table. Helps me chase away the winter blahs!  Just changed it up a little since I hadn't done much in here over the holidays.  We spent much of Christmas away from our home visiting family.    

Now I’m thinking about next month, hearts and Valentine’s Day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!  I hope your new year is off to a great start!

~*~

I love my sweet pillow and fun greeting!...Happy New Year!  My friend Charlie at Pillow Panels created these adorable pillows and changeable panels.  Such a cute and creative idea!

I purchased a pillow and panels earlier this year, you can see it here and get all the details to get one for yourself or someone else!  I treated myself to some new panels for Christmas to add to my pillow.  And I gave a pillow panel set to my daughter for Christmas, she loves her’s too.  I also got one for a friend!  It’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!

Happy New Year!

Crafty Christmas Ornaments

Aren’t these the cutest ornaments?!  I think they are so adorable!

I received them as an early Christmas gift.  My daughter and her daughters/my granddaughters crafted and hand painted these!  A fun Pinterest inspired idea.  And, if you hadn’t figured it out, they’re wine and champagne corks!  So perfect for a wine lover, which I definitely am!

~ Such a fun gift to treasure!

My Christmas Gift Baskets

I made these cute gifts for a few friends, a fun gift basket for making cookies with their kids/grandkids!

~*~

I filled each basket with a cookie mix, sprinkles variety, oven mitt and pot holder, tea towel set, holiday cookie plate, cookie cutter and a few small candy canes, embellished the basket with a Christmas ornament and all tied up with a clear bag with a bow & a bell!

Gift Basket # 1

Gift Basket # 2

Gift Basket # 3

::: Tip of the day :::

If you need a last minute gift idea...This makes a sweet gift! I picked up the basket and contents at Target, the bag, cookie plate and embellishments from the Dollar Tree!

~ I enjoyed making and gifting these, and they enjoyed receiving them!

Christmas/Holiday Centerpiece

Merry Christmas & Ho~Ho~Holiday Greetings!

I did a little Christmas-ing to my thrifty candelabra centerpiece by changing out the previous candle holders & candles for plain glass candle holders & gold candles, added some holiday/winter accents/picks & red sparkly tulle ribbon!

This candelabra has been a fun decor item to decorate, and re-decorate throughout the seasons!

Such a great thrifty find this year!

Sources:

-Glass candle holders, Gold candles & Red sparkly tulle ribbon - Dollar tree

-Candelabra centerpiece - Thrift store

-Greenery, holiday/winter accents/picks Hobby Lobby & Michael's

Visit these links to see my original Centerpiece Makeover & Fall Centerpiece 

~ Happy Christmas-ing!

My beautiful Star!

Well Hello to December!  Time to prep for the Christmas holiday!  Seems to come around much quicker each year, doesn't it?!

I'm planning in my mind as to what I'm doing with my decor for the holidays.  I did get this beautiful large star recently and it will be here long after the holidays!

Talk about “hang a shining star!”

I had lovingly admired this beautiful large star in a family friend’s home, they said “they were doing some redecorating and would be getting rid of it and would I like to have it?” “Heck yeah!!!”

And, I had just the spot for it!  As you can see it's very large, the star is about 4ft tall and is also about 5ft across at the widest star-tip to tip span.  I’m so glad it fit in my SUV when I picked it up over the Thanksgiving weekend!  Early Christmas present!;)

Here it is in its new home in our foyer!

~It’s beautiful and I love it!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

This delicious Lemon Zucchini Bread is amazingly good!  Yep, there’s zucchini in it!

I adapted an original recipe found on Pinterest a while back and made it my own.  Now don’t be afraid of the zucchini if you’ve never had any type of zucchini bread because you won’t taste it!  Plus, I shred the zucchini very finely and it’s barely even noticeable.  You could peel the zucchini, but I don’t peel mine.  The zucchini is important though, because it makes this delicious bread amazingly good!

And, it’s amazingly easy to make, too!

If you like sweet breads you’ll love this!  I think it tastes very similar to the lemon cake at Starbucks!

~*~

This was fresh from the oven and the house smelled so good!  I found the recipe back in late summer and we have had it a few more times since.  We really like this sweet bread and I think it's perfect any time of the year, no matter the season.  It truly is delicious!  My husband was skeptical at first but he was surprised that it doesn't taste like there is zucchini in it!  I hope you'll give it a try!

I figured it would be great as something different on the dessert table for Thanksgiving!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

Zest of 1 large lemon

2 large eggs

1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil) -I used melted coconut oil

3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup grated zucchini

Glaze: Optional 

1 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest, and stir well. 

Add eggs, oil, lemon juice, and vanilla, and stir until smooth.  Stir in the dry ingredients until combined. 

Fold the zucchini into the batter and pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow to rest in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing the loaf onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

While the bread is cooling, make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth. 

Drizzle the glaze over the bread.  Slice and serve.

Enjoy!...