Weeknight Dinner Made Easy: Baked Ziti and Avocado Caesar Salad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KitchenCraftedItalian #MichaelAngelosMeals #CollectiveBias

This time of year always has us going in about ten different directions every night.  Whether I have a work event, we're playing tennis, or out with friends, we always try to make it a point to eat dinner together.  Even when we don't have a lot of time, we obviously always want delicious meals with homemade taste and simple, clear ingredients.  Michael Angelo's is one of our new go-tos.  Their line of premium, slowly crafted authentic Italian meals has something for everyone.  Our current favorite is their Family Size Baked Ziti with Meatballs, and to go with it, I always like making a little something from scratch.  My avocado caesar salad is both fresh and delicious.

Avocado Caesar Salad Ingredients:
For dressing:
- 1 avocado, mashed
-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 anchovy fillets, mashed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For salad:
- 1 heart of romaine
- croutons
- grilled chicken, sliced

I shopped for all of my fresh produce and Michael Angelo's meal at my local Walmart, in the freezer section.  Not only do they make one-step meals like the baked ziti we enjoyed last week, but also meal starters like lemon chicken and shrimp scampi as well as calzones and family-sized dinners!

Directions:
1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until smooth.
2. In a large bowl, tear apart the romaine heart into small pieces.  Toss with dressing.
3. Add in croutons and top with grilled chicken.

These Michael Angelo's meals are easy, family-favorite and single-serve meals in minutes, and pair perfectly with warm garlic bread or a fresh salad, just like my avocado caesar.

Make sure you visit this link for even more Michael Angelo's-inspired meal time inspiration, and when you go shopping, click here to earn cash back on Michael Angelo's products with Ibotta!

Five Must-See Sites in Historic Charleston

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #DASANISparkling #FlavorContest #CollectiveBias

I always love getting questions from friends and readers who are visiting Charleston: Where should I go? Is Charleston walkable? How can I make the most of a weekend trip?  I've rounded up  list of my five favorite sites that comprise the perfect walk around the Holy City and took the adventure myself with my favorite go-to beverage, DASANI® Sparkling, to share everything with you!

Stop #1: Charleston City Market - The historic market has been around for more than 300 years, along four blocks in the heart of downtown Charleston.  Everyday, artisans set up booths filled with handmade sweetgrass baskets, jewelry, candles, paintings, photographs, and souvenirs for tourists to bring back home.

Before heading out to the market, I shopped at my local Harris Teeter to stock up on DASANI® Sparkling.  They have such a wide variety of flavors, my favorites right now being the White Peach and Pear Kiwi.  You can shop for DASANI® Sparkling at a Kroger store near you!

Stop #2: Pineapple Fountain - After turning down East Bay Street and onto Vendue Range, Waterfront Park greets you just before the harbor.  Exactly what you would picture, this fountain is definitely one of the most photographed spots in the city!

Stop #3: Rainbow Row - Don't forget to enjoy all of Waterfront Park before walking south to one of the wharfs back out to East Bay Street.  You cannot miss Rainbow Row with its bright colors!  Located between 79 and 107 East Bay Street, these Georgian Row houses are the longest of their kind.  They've been painted their pastel colors since the 1920s and are often repainted to keep them as vibrant as can be!

While I'm walking down to Tradd Street for the next stop on my own adventure, DASANI® Sparkling wants to join you on your next adventure.  Speaking of adventure, October 1st through November 15th, you can enter for a chance to WIN an experiential trip to Albuquerque, NM for the 2019 Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Festival!

   1. Take a pic of your favorite flavor of DASANI® Sparkling 

   2. Post it to Instagram or Twitter using #DasaniSparkling AND #FlavorContest 

The Grand Prize winner will win a trip to the 2019 Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Festival in October 2019 for the winner plus 3 guests! The prize package consists of round trip, coach-class air transportation for 4 from a major airport near the winner’s home; 3 nights' accommodations; rental car; 2 Gondola Club passes (2-day passes) to the Festival; a hot air balloon ride for winner and 1 guest; $1,000 spending money; and travel agent services. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Legal residents of certain U.S. states and D.C., 18 years or older.  Ends 11/15/18.For rules, hashtags, alternate methods of entry, odds, prize and complete details, click here.  Void in CT, FL, IA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, PA, SD, and VT and where prohibited.

Stop #4: Church and Water streets - Zig-zagging down Tradd and Church streets, one of my favorite corners in Charleston is Church and Water.  There is the most Charlestonesque courtyard with a brick-lined street and some very Instagrammable spots.  If you follow any Charleston bloggers, you might recognize those shrub-lined steps on Church Street - make sure you take your own photo!

Stop #4: Church and Water streets - Last but not least, a walk back up Meeting Street and west on Tradd is absolutely necessary if you want to see some of my favorite homes, window boxes, shutters, doors, and door knockers in the city.  Make sure you walk all the way down to #126 to see the famous lion door knocker on the perfect peach door!

Have you been to Charleston before?  Did I hit your favorite spot?

Fall Pumpkin Party Cooler

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #HomeGatingHacks #CollectiveBias

Football season and fall just go hand-in-hand in our house.  We love having our friends over on Sunday afternoons to watch all of the games and root for our favorite teams (and fantasy players!).

I'm always looking to create something festive, whether the party is big or small.  This time of year, how can you go wrong with pumpkins?!  You can find them at any store (even the market!), and they last so long, even when carved.

Last weekend, when we had our friends over for the games, I carved out a pumpkin to use as an ice bucket.  Of course, we filled it with our favorite Coca-Cola beverages.  What's great is that Coca-Cola offers so many different varieties that there's a Coca-Cola for everyone.  Coca-Cola Zero has all the real Coke flavor with zero sugar and Diet Coke is always a fan favorite.

When I went shopping at Food Lion for my Coca-Cola, pumpkin, and pumpkin-carving tools, I also picked up a few of their Private Label items to serve with my favorite soda:

Once you get home, all you will need to make your own festive fall cooler is:
- 1 medium to large pumpkin (preferably with one flat side)
- pumpkin carving knife and scoop
- ice
- your favorite Coca-Cola varieties

Directions:
1. Lay the pumpkin on its flat side, and cut a wide hole around the top side of the pumpkin.
2. Remove the lid, and scoop out all the insides of the pumpkin and discard.
3. Fill the pumpkin with ice and Coca-Cola.

What's great about this DIY is that after you're done, make sure you save the lid!  You can stand it back up and carve a pumpkin face for Halloween!

Shopping at Food Lion gives you the rewards with every dollar you spend.  Are you a part of their MVP program?  If you aren't, you can visit the customer service desk next time you're in to start earning, and if you already are, making sure you've activated to start earning:
1. Activate: Activate your personalized monthly offers by visiting the Shop & Earn offer page through the Food Lion Mobile App or on foodlion.com. Offers begin tracking as soon as you visit (so visit early!).
2. Shop: Start shopping and scan your MVP Card with each purchase. Track your progress towards your rewards by visiting the Shop & Earn offer page. You have until the end of the current month to earn your rewards. Earned rewards are added to your MVP Wallet.
3. Redeem: Earned rewards are automatically redeemed on your next purchase by simply scanning your MVP Card. You'll have until the end of the following month to redeem your earned rewards. Check you MVP Wallet for your rewards balance.
To learn more, click here!

With a Coke for everyone, you can be sure that it's an integral part of Fall Football!

Summertime Pairing: Peaches and Whiskey

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #CelebratorySips #BecauseSummer #LoveTheyNeighborhood #CollectiveBias 

With summer in full swing, we have been enjoying the beautiful weather and eating as many dinners as possible outside. This time of year, I love grilling anything I can, and for our Sunday supper last weekend, we finished our meal with delicious grilled and topped peaches and a peach whiskey smash. South Carolina grows the best peaches, and right in the height of peach season right now, I'm finding anything and everything to do with them.

Seriously, how good do all of these ingredients look? Yup, that mint you see there is from my herb garden. If I can grow fresh mint, I know you can, too!

Here's how to make my grilled peaches with ice cream and honey pecan glaze:

Ingredients:

- fresh peaches, sliced in half with the pits removed

- 1 tablespoon butter

- 1/4 cup honey

- 1/4 cup chopped pecans

- 1 quart vanilla ice cream

Directions:
1. Place the peaches on the grill (sliced side down) and cook for 5 minutes with the lid closed.
2. While the peaches are grilling, combine the butter, honey, and pecans in a small bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds.  Stir the glaze and set aside for later.
3. After 5 minutes on the grill, turn the peaches 45 degrees for perfect grill marks.  Close the lid again and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Remove the peaches from the grill and allow to cook slightly before topping each half with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of glaze.

The perfect pairing for any dessert is always a delicious cocktail.  Whiskey and summer go hand-in-hand to me, and Jameson is triple distilled and remarkably smooth.

If you're looking for more of an island flair for your evening drink, Malibu is an original coconut rum from the Caribbean and tastes just like summertime!

Using Jameson, my favorite summer cocktail is a peach whiskey smash:

Ingredients:
- peach slices
- lemon slices
- fresh mint
- Jameson Irish Whiskey
- crushed ice

Directions:
1. In a low ball glass, muddle together 2-3 peach slices, 1 lemon slice, a couple mint leaves, and 2 ounces of Jameson.
2. Top the glass with crushed ice.
3. Garnish with a lemon slice and sprig of mint.

Head to your local grocery store to save when you buy Jameson or Malibu this summer. Through 8/18/18, save $2 in store (Valid in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, West Virginia, Wyoming) or save $3 by mail (Valid in: Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington) on the purchase of any ONE (1) 750ml bottle of JAMESON® IRISH WHISKEY or MALIBU®.

To save these recipes to Pinterest, hover over the image below and click on the Pinterest logo to pin this post to your summertime recipe or cocktail-inspired board!  If you're looking for even more Malibu and Jameson originality, click here to check out more recipes, DIYs, and party planning ideas.

SIP EASY. ENJOY MALIBU RESPONSIBLY. MALIBU® Caribbean Rum With Coconut Liqueur. 21% - 24% Alc./Vol. ©2017 Pernod Ricard USA, New York, NY

JAMESON® Irish Whiskey. 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof). Product of Ireland. ©2018 Imported by John Jameson Import Company, New York, NY

My Style of Calligraphy

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerToThePen #PilotYourLife #CollectiveBias

Hand-lettering and calligraphy has always amazed me.  I love the way a hand-written letter looks with every letter on the envelope perfectly scripted.  I learned a very formal style of calligraphy for my wedding a few years ago, using specialty calligraphy pens that didn't leave much room for error.  To be honest, I really haven't picked those pens up since I finalized my last place card before my wedding.

Over the last few years, I've done some hand-lettering, but mostly with your typical pen.  I love the way this style looks, and it's so much easier to doodle.  For those fellow hand-lettering enthusiasts who want to try their hand at DIY calligraphy (pun intended), I have the absolute best pen for you: FriXion® ColorSticks by Pilot Pen.

FriXion® is the only pen that gives you the power of infinite do-overs, so you can write, erase, and re-write with the smooth writing gel ink until calligraphy strokes are just right.

I thought I would share with y'all some of my tips for creating your own calligraphy:

1. Create your own alphabet with simple strokes.  Don't be afraid to go back, erase, and change anything you don't perfectly like!

2. Fill in vertical pen strokes to create dimension.  This is what will turn your simple lettering into true calligraphy.

3. Practice, practice, practice!  Create your own alphabet and stick to it, practicing over and over. 

4. Add in florals or other accents you like.  Swirls, lines, leaves - anything you want to make your calligraphy stand out.  FriXion pens come in a variety of colors, so you can create anything your imagination dreams of!

5. Create your own artwork!  I love using music lyrics or famous quotes when I doodle in my book.

What makes FriXion pens great is that you don't have to be afraid of mistakes or rip out a page after a simple mistake.  Now, those are easily fixable with erasable pens!  I shopped for my Pilot Pen supplies at Target, and you can even click here to get $1 off any FriXion® 2-pack or larger.

Have you tried calligraphy before?