DIY Update: Shells.

A few weeks ago I wrote about a DIY project that I wanted to work on. I finally got the chance today.

I picked up some shells while on the beach a few weeks ago, and wanted to create something with them, so I purchased a glass container, colored sand, & a candle holder. Take a look!

Glass bowl - $3.99 at TJ Maxx
Candles - $2.99 for a bag of 20
Colored Sand - $2.99 a bag

It was so simple to make this and fun! I had the music going and the waves crashing in the background.

And of course I had a glass of wine to keep me company too.

Happy Saturday!

Delicious & Simple Dinner.

Last night we made another meal from our recipe magazine. These recipes actually make me want to cook, and trust me, I usually would rather not. The meal we chose was very simple and not expensive at all. 

If you follow me on Instagram (@tiffanyleighreeves) or Twitter (@TiffanyLReeves), then you might have seen the picture I posted of our dinner, but just in case you didn't, here's the low down on the meal that made my tummy happy.

Pasta Salad with Chicken:

Recipe:

Dressing:

3 tablespoons white vinegar

2 tablespoons light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup loosely pack fresh dill, chopped (we opted out of this because neither of us like it.)

To Mix:

In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mayonnaise, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk in olive oil and dill; set aside.

Pasta Salad:

8 ounces mini wagon wheels, bow tie, or fusilli pasta (we chose bow tie)

2 cups white meat from rotisserie chicken, cut into bite-size pieces (we used grilled chicken)

1 sweet red pepper, cored and diced

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 

Follow the package directions for the pasta. Drain and rinse; let cool until room temperature. 

In a large bowl, combine cool pasta, chicken, red pepper, celery, and crumbled feta. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve; toss to blend dress and ingredients before serving.

Per serving: 338 calories, 17 g fat, 68 mg cholesterol, 454 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 17 g protein. 

If you decide to try this recipe, please let me know! I would love to find out how you changed it up to meet your needs, and if you enjoyed the pasta salad.

Happy Thursday!

July 4th Goodies.

Hi y'all! I'm back! After a very long trip to Dallas, I've made it home to Myrtle Beach.

I'm happy to be home!

With my birthday right around the corner, and soon after that the Fourth of July; I've been looking at ways to entertain, and for cheap. My boyfriend picked up a recipe book with goodies that won't break the budget.

Are you having a party for Independence Day? If so, here are some great ideas for your party, or someones party you may be attending. It's always nice to not show up empty handed. 

Strawberry Lemonade:

Recipe:

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled

1 cup fresh lemon juice (4 or 5 lemons)

1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon zest

Directions for blending

Summerberry Cooler:

Recipe:

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

3 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate

1 can (12 ounces) diet lemon-lime soda

Directions for blending

Fresh Mint Water:

This is one of my favorite recipe's. Simple & looks like summer in a glass.

Recipe:

1 small cucumber, thinly sliced

1/2 medium honeydew melon, peeled, deeded and sliced into wedges

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish (optional)

 Directions for blending

Red, White, and Blue Parfaits:

Recipe:

1 carton (8 ounces) low-fat vanilla yogurt

1/4 teaspoon almond extract or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 container (8 ounces) frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed

3 cups fresh raspberries and/or cut-up fresh strawberries

3 cups fresh blueberries

Directions for making

Marshmallow-Crisp Brownies:

Recipe:

1 package (19 to 21 1/2 ounces) fudge brownie mix

1 package (10 1/2 ounces) tiny marshmallow

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal

Directions for making

Those were just some ideas for drinks and treats, here is the link for delicious food for the holiday.

Thank you to Recipe.com for providing all of these yummy treats! 

Time to shop for tonight's dinner!

Here's the menu for "Meatless Monday":

Ravioli and Greens Salad:

Recipe

What's your favorite snack/drink/meal for Independence Day?

Texas.

I am away on business for about 10 days, so no fun blogs until I return home. Dallas has been a little crazy so far. It's only day 2, but the weather has been awful. Storm after storm. My flight into Dallas was very shaky, and since I hate to fly you can imagine my concern when the plane started to become overwhelmed with turbulence. I made it safe and sound, though (obviously). If I have time to take pictures while I'm in the "Big D", I will and make sure to post them for your viewing pleasure!

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!

xoxo

DIY: Shells & Such.

My boyfriend's moms birthday is coming up in a few days, and I thought it would be nice to send her something that reminds her of us and where we live. While taking our evening stroll on the beach last night, I realized that I could DIY (Do It Yourself) an awesome gift with SHELLS. I think they are beautiful, sometimes colorful, and it's neat to hold the shell in my hand, and think about it once being a home to a sea creature.

There are so many options when it comes to Shell decor. My plans for her gift, though, are to fill a clear round vase with the shells we hand picked from the beach, and give her the option of using it as a flower holder or even to hold her candles. I found so many ideas for more DIY projects, but check out these companies and their Shell-tastic designs.

Our hand picked shells. Make sure to clean them before use.

Etsy - Starfish Mirror - I'm in love with this.

Etsy - Shell Letters - Available in other letters.

Martha Stewart - DIY - Shell Candles

Pottery Barn - Shell decor 

I will be sure to post an update with the finished product of my DIY project.

What do you think of the shell decor? 

Are you working on any DIY projects?