A Thank You...In A Jar

Recently, my parents sent me 30 gifts for turning 30. All were wrapped separately and in different ways. A few numbered, a few in pursy lip print cloth napkins, some surrounded by confetti and pom poms, covered in ribbon, metallic and silk, and then a couple in colored jamming jars. My Mom tends to give me a lot of inspiration and creative ideas. My 30 gifts for 30 was just another one of those times. Who doesn't love reusable gift wrap!? The jars, colorful, and stuffed with paper confetti had me thinking...what an utterly adorable thank you gift. Maybe not even thank you, but a small congratulations gift. Hell, stuff some cash in the jar for the happy newly married couple and make it a big whopping win. A.C. Moore, Michael's, Jo Ann Fabrics, and really, any local craft store carries multiple options of jars and stuffing. Stuff with your gift of choice and clasp closed for the one/s you love! xo RCN

 

Wrap It Like You Mean It

There are a few reasons why I love giving and getting gifts. One of the reasons is solely about the wrapping. Being the visual person I am, I absolutely LOVE when a gift is as stunning on the outside as on the inside. Because, I love wrapping so much, I am thrilled that Anthropologie is having a gift wrapping contest this year. One prize is being given for the best recycled gift wrap, among other prizes. My wrapping will be entered into a few categories, and I am happy to say it qualifies as recycled. Here are my specially wrapped gifts that will be entered into the contest.

I thought, what better to use then some beautiful lace and baubles. I collect an abundance of vintage lace doilies, collars, ribbon, brooches, and earrings as I travel. I have more than enough to gift away. The presents will be personable and pretty, something well deserved of all my loved ones. No paper, scissors, tape or glue. The vintage lace and baubles will perfectly do! This is exactly the type of recycled gift wrap I would like to receive. A hint of fresh evergreen adds a natural touch, those greens were all clipped straight from the Christmas tree.

Hint: If you decide to try something like this at home, clip on earrings and hair pieces with bobby pins serve very well as closure pieces. They easily wrap and intertwine between the crocheted holes of the lace and work great as fasteners along with ribbon. Or, they just work great as the trim on the center of a bow. xo RCN

 

All You Need Is Brunch

Who doesn't love brunch?  On a weekend when it's perfectly okay to sleep in a little later than usual, that means it's also a great time to smoosh breakfast and lunch into one.

A delightful and thoughtful brunch with one or two friends only takes perfecting five things.  Taking care in just these few things is a sure way to have your friends chatting about your brunch for months.  What you need:

1. Tasty and pretty food; one sweet and one savory (at the least). 

My menu is small with just two of us eating so I decided to make two of my favorite lunch and breakfast recipes.  They are both simple to make and can be put together in an hour.  Better yet, they can be prepped the evening before, which is what I did.  This helps save time for picking out the perfect outfit and lipstick the morning of brunch.  Read Recipe directions below for my   Chicken Curry Salad Lettuce Wraps and Cherry Parfait Pizza.

2. Fresh drinks!  

A lot of my girlfriends are all expecting at the moment, so this brunch menu includes fresh brewed peach ice tea with lemon and sparkling water.  A simple Mimosa would be a great addition for any chick looking for a little more buzz to their brunch.

3. Beautiful flowers.  

You can't go wrong with hydrangeas.  White are my favorite as they are most natural.  Publix grocery store is my go to for hydrangeas because they always last me at least a week.  Three bunches, six stems are only $12!  Heavenly!  Click here for my Lemon Vase DIY to make your flowers even more special.

4. I-tunes playlist.

Now this is for you to decide, but all I know is that music is a must. I don't like restaurants without some music, even quite in the background is fine, so when hosting a party or gathering I always have my i phone present and playing. Currently, I am addicted to Bon Iver and Ed Sheeran and my favorite song right now is Bruno Mars's 24k Magic.  If I am with girlfriends I always throw a little Whitney in there, too.

5. Lastly, an unexpected take away.  

A "thanks for being my friend" gift that doubles as a place setting is the best way to give appreciation for coming to brunch and adds super cute flare to the table's styling. Beautiful teacups like the ones pictured above can be found for a couple dollars at most thirft stores.  Fill the cup with potting soil, a small succulent and top with mini garden rocks.  All can be found at Home Depot or a local nursery.  I guarantee your friends will LOVE these and the thought.  Plus, succulents are very easy to care for.  Only a few water spritzes and a 1/4 cup water every 8-10 days with sun!

Chicken Curry Salad Lettuce Wraps

 

3 Chicken Breasts

1 cup Mayo

2 1/2 tsp Raw Honey

1 tsp Curry Powder

2 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts

1/2 cup Red Seedless Grapes quartered or halved

Salt & Pepper to taste

Serve with Romaine Lettuce Leaves

Cook chicken in boiling water until no longer pink in middle.  Let chicken chill in frig for a half hour.  Remove chicken and pull apart into shredded pieces and mix together in large bowl with mayo.  Once evenly mixed, add in honey, curry powder, chopped walnuts and red seedless grapes (quartered or halved).  Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon chicken onto large romaine lettuce leaves. When you place chicken in center of lettuce, leaves are easily folded in and over the chicken salad just like a letter.  Very easy for eating.  Enjoy! xo RCN

Cherry Parfait Pizza

1 Frozen Pillsbury Pie Crust

1 1/2 cups of Cherry yogurt (about 2 small containers)

1/4 Nectarine sliced thin

1 Kiwi cut into equal 1/4 thin slices

1/4 blueberries

2 Strawberries cut in quarters with tops off

1/3 Mango cubed

1 Tangerine

1/3 Banana cut into 1/4 thin slices

Mint Leaves for garnish

Cook 1 pie crust per directions on box.  Pillsbury frozen pie crust only takes 10-15 minutes in 450 degree oven.  Cool crust for half hour once golden brown.  After crust is cooled, spread yogurt on crust like pizza sauce.  Begin topping with fruit.  Follow image above and begin with placing the blueberries in round bunch in center of pie.  Then place seven slices of kiwi equally around pie with even amount of space on either side towards outer edge of crust and blueberry center.  Next, place strawberries between kiwi slices with pointy thinner end facing towards center of pie. Spiral nectarines overlapping edge of kiwi, leaving small space to next place bananas fitting between nectarines and blueberry center.   Add section of tangerine between edge and kiwi. Touch curved inner edge of tangerine along round edge of kiwi.  Next, place mango cubes between each tangerine and strawberry.  Lastly, fill in empty spaces with blueberries and top center with mint leaves.  Place on cake stand and slice with sharp knife.  This pie crust cuts well with a small sharp knife and serves easily without cracking.  Yum, enjoy!  xo RCN