Blessed be the Fruit- Handmaid's Tale Emmy Snacks

The Handmaid's Tale is nominated for 20 Emmy Awards this year.
It is cause for celebration or as they would say in Gilead,
Praise Be!

It is a dark and suspenseful story 

and I felt like we needed a little brightness and levity to enjoy during the show.

Blessed be the Fruit and the Handmaids...

Fresh, ripe strawberries are instantly transformed into handmaids 

that even Aunt Lydia would be proud of...

You just need berries, mini white baking cups and toothpicks...

fold the cup in half...

and secure on either side of the strawberry with a toothpick... 

(I broke mine in half)

Enjoy the show...

the Emmy Awards are sure to be a Blessed Day!

and if you'd like to toast the show...

check out the Handmaid's cockTAILs I made last year

Trash to "Pleasure" - Earth Day Garden Gifts

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."

                                                           -Audrey Hepburn 

We are getting into the Earth Day spirit, 

by giving gifts for the garden in repurposed containers.

As a packaging junkie and someone that has a hard time throwing things away, 

I couldn't be happier to make someone's day with a small treat 

and make a tiny difference for the world by reusing what would end up in the trash.

                       

We've planted Strawberries and Cream,

simple, decadent and ready to grow and ripen...

and some very "pop-art-ular"

Tomatoes in Soup Cans...

I know Andy Warhol would eat this up...

Everyday should be Earth Day 

but the official day this year is April 22nd.

Give a plant and love tomorrow!

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Tutti Frutti - Summer Fruit Dessert Bar

With the bounty of fabulous summer fruit available,

it is the perfect time for a Fruity Dessert Bar.

Last night I surprised my family with this...

A juicy, sweet pineapple for

upside-down cake...

LOVE-ly berries for

strawberry "heart" cakes...

and everyone knows that the watermelon seeds are the best part...

It is no secret that I love to entertain,

I love a festive display and

I love things that are quick and easy.

Well, Bright Star Kids could not have made my fruit buffet signs any cuter or simpler.

Their colorful, graphic fruit chalkboard stickers are my newest obsession.

You adhere the magic chalkboard sticker to the center,

peel the fruit off of the paper and stick it on where ever you need them.

Then go ahead and write on them with chalk and wipe off with a damp towel to remove.

Perfect for parties, grocery lists, lunch boxes, decorating...

the uses are endless

and have you seen liquid chalk pens???

Amazing for writing on any surface you would use chalk.

Bright Star Kids has a little something for everyone and

is a great source for back to school...

gifts, clothes, labels, lunch boxes, back packs.

But for now,

enjoy the rest of the summer and get fruity!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bright Star Kids. 

 The opinions and text are all mine.

Thank you for your support as I work with fabulous brands 

to be able to keep creating for Jaco'lyn Murphy Designs.

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Farmer's Market Inspired Iced Tea...a Beau-TEA-ful Summer

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Lipton, but all my opinions are my own. #bemoretea #pmedia  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

I love going to the Farmer's Market, especially in the summer.

Everyone is carefree and happy, 

the farmers are handing out samples of their bounty left and right, 

it is so colorful and fun you can't help but be inspired.

But it has been HOT! 

All I could think about at the Farmer's Market last weekend was how to cool down.

The peaches and lavender were calling my name...

and I can never resist strawberries...

The perfect pairings for cold, refreshing iced tea.

I popped Lipton K-cups into my Keurig, 

poured over ice and instantly I had fresh brewed iced tea.

To stay true to the Beau-TEA of the season, 

I garnished with

peaches on lavender stems...

and strawberry straws with sugar rimmed glasses...

It was all ready so quickly,

 I barely had time to get dressed for the occasion with my

Summer Strawberry Shirt!

(to make strawberry straws:

simply poke a straw through the bottom of your fresh berry and push up toward the top... 

it even hulls it for you!)

(to make strawberry sugar:

I combine 3/4 of a cup of sugar with 5 Tablespoons of freeze dried strawberries in a blender and 

pulse until berries and sugar are about the same consistency...

keep in a mason jar so you always have some on hand)

Lipton K-cups come in 5 fabulous flavors and

are available in most supermarkets and on line.

Cheers to a Beau-TEA-ful Summer

and the ease of Lipton K-cups!

Join them on Facebook and Twitter for other great ideas.

Thank you for your support as I work with fabulous brands 

to be able to keep creating for Jaco'lyn Murphy Designs.

project inspired, bloom designs

My "trick" to growing Strawberries...

High School Volleyball tryouts start today for my daughter

and all her friends are heading to our house afterward.

They are all Freshman, they are all terrified, they will all do great...

These strawberries couldn't be simpler to "grow".

Fill pot with ice and add soda to top and fruit in bottom holes.

It is the perfect cooler...

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Strawberries and Tomatoes for Earth Day

It was a beautiful weekend here.

My son and I spent A LOT of time at the nursery stocking up on plants
and getting our garden in tip-top shape.

We had a some extras,
 so we decided to give a few out for 

Earth Day,
in recycled containers, of course!

Strawberries and "Cream"...

Strawberry plants nestled in cream containers,

waiting for a new home...

and Tomato "Soup"...

Tomato plants that CAN't wait for
a sunny place in the garden...

 Happy Earth Day!

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