My Quirky New Pad

What happens when you've got a mother who is super crafty with a sewing machine, a mild Pinterest and Craigslist obsession, and love of bold, quirky decor?  This is what happens...my new apartment!  It's not my first big girl apartment but it's certainly the first one that really feels like home. I only just moved in on June 1st so wall decor comes next.  A gallery wall of fun art prints is definitely in the works.  


Here's a few details:

• Chevron rug is from RugsUSA.com and they have great discounts.  
• The spool table was FREE from a local company (found on Craigslist). 
• Curtains are homemade using this tutorial and fabric + curtains from Walmart
• TV stand was a yard sale find with a 3 coats of Behr paint in Mint Sprig
• Chairs are covered in fabric from Walmart (like $5 a yard!)
• Kitchen table set is from Craigslist
• Cow art is from Ikea (only $9.99)
• Decorative tchotchkies are from Ross, TJMaxx, Garden Ridge, Marshalls, but they're a few years of collecting in the making (more not pictured)

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Zesty Turkey Meatloaf

A few months ago I got a hankerin' for some meatloaf. Since I was on a health kick at the time I thought using ground turkey would be the best option.  I found a great recipe online and made some edits along the way as I made it 10 times in a row.  This recipe is unique because salsa gives it a little zest while keeping it from getting dry.  Let me know how you like it!

Image from The Bitten Word, mine haven't been so photogenic.

Amanda's Zesty Turkey Meatloaf

1 pound ground turkey

2 eggs (or egg substitute)

1/2 cup salsa (I recommend the corn and black bean salsa for extra flavor!)

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (red, yellow, and orange look the prettiest)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

lemon pepper to taste (or Mrs.Dash works too)

Worchestershire and ketchup for glaze (if desired)

Combine the turkey, egg, salsa, bell pepper, onion, bread crumbs and seasoning. Mix 

well with hands until blended. Press mixture into a loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until meatloaf reaches at least 165 degrees with a meat thermometer. If you want a sauce/glaze for the top, mix together some ketchup and Worchestershire sauce and brush on the loaf for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. Enjoy delicious, zesty meatloaf sandwiches for days!

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Positively Glowing

Neon brights are all the rage this season and they instantly add pops of fun to outfits if done correctly.  Going all the way with a dayglow yellow dress or highlighter pink pants might not be in everyone's comfort zone.  As with any of-the-moment trends, it's best to test them out with accessories until you're sure you like the trends.  Target, Forever 21, Go Jane, and Tobi have you covered with a lot of great affordable options.  We'd love to hear your favorite ways to add neon to your ensembles!


Target: Orange Neon Satchel (canvas, also available in pink) $19.99 here

Forever 21: Aqua Wayfarer Sunglasses $5.80 here

GoJane: Colorblocked Peeptoe Heels $23.10 here

Tobi: Oval Buckle Neon Belt $8 here

JCP: Neon Ballet Flats (available in pink/orange) $30 here

Endless: Breda Green Silicone Watch $29.40 here

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Mad About Mint

Look minty fresh this Spring and Summer with these budget-friendly options. How great does mint look with white jeans? We're in lust.  If you have a store called "Know Style" in your mall check there for great mint green options including the second blouse from Nasty Girl (which I paid only $28 for today!)

Mad About Mint by frugalfoxes featuring short skirts

CÉLINE draped top
$48 - nastygal.com

Embellished top
$44 - tobi.com

Dorothy Perkins tunic
$49 - dorothyperkins.com

Miss Selfridge short skirt
$38 - missselfridge.com

Topshop ballerina flat
$36 - topshop.com

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Competitive Baking - A Family Tradition

Kelly and I are pretty good cooks and we clearly inherited the genes from our mother.  Every once in a while, we get the itch to have a family cooking competition.  A few months ago, we had the Great Cake-Off, where mom and I took a crack at decorating simple round cakes with colored fondant.  Let me tell you, decorating with fondant is fun! It's like slightly harder Play-do and the decorating options are endless.  The cake was the same so only appearance mattered. We put the vote out on Facebook and I whooped my mom's butt!  Which one would you vote for?

More recently, Kelly and I had a dinner party with friends and decided to have an apple pie bake-off.  We used different recipes and decorating techniques because pies were judged on appearance and flavor.  Now, I really can't remember who won because it was really close.  Kelly is probably going to scream that she was the winner when she reads this but I'll just call it a tie since both pies were awesome. I opted for a traditional basket-weave crust and Kelly used a cookie cutter to cut out a large leave shaped hole and made some small leaves for decoration. One key distinction between the fillings was butter--mine had a whole stick and hers had no butter.  Clearly butter lovers will enjoy my caramel-y filling much, much more.  It's not health conscious but it sure was delicious!

Here's the recipes in case you're looking for a new apple pie to try:
Amanda's recipe: Apple Pie by Grandma Ople on Allrecipes.com
Kelly's recipe: Bobby Flay's Apple Pie on FoodNetwork.com 




Do you have any cooking competitions and traditions with your family?  We're looking for ideas for our next cook-off!
~Amanda



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Green Goodness Smoothie

I have been on a fitness quest since the beginning of the year. With only a few minutes to pull together a tasty, healthy breakfast I find myself relying on my blender to whip up something quick. My go-to smoothie is the Green Goodness Smoothie. Tasty, healthy and quick to make. Go ahead and try one.

1 handful of baby spinach
1/4 cup of Greek yogurt (we prefer Fage)
1/4 cup of almond milk
1 banana
1/4 cup of frozen pineapple
1 tablespoon of peanut butter or apple butter
1/2 scoop of vanilla whey powder

This tasty beverage is around 200 calories and chock full of fiber, protein and vitamins. It will leave you feeling full AND energized- who doesn't want that?? Cheers!
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Mad about Maxis

Spring arrived here in Atlanta a few weeks ago so we've been stocking up on sassy sundresses like it's our job.  Nothing makes getting dressed easier than throwing on a cute dress and some accessories.  We have a lot of what we call "plazas of dreams" near our house--plazas with Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Target all in one place! Check them on Saturday mornings or Friday nights because that's when they tend to be restocked for weekend shoppers but not cleaned out of fabulousness yet.  Also, the farther you go into rural areas, the more likely you are to find awesome buys.  Unfortunately, most of my favorite maxi dress finds aren't available online but here are 4 maxi dresses under $40 you can find now:

Bailey Blue - Multi-Colored Chevron Maxi
It might be polyester but it's comfortable, colorful and cost-effective.  What's not to love? Get it for $26 on this UK version of TJ Maxx, aptly named TK Maxx. Check your local TJ Maxx and you might get lucky! 

London Times - One Shoulder Print Maxi
This maxi is a little bit dressier so it's perfect for a Spring wedding or date night.  Jazz it up with a fun pair of earrings and pow, you're instantly fabulous! If you're short like me (I'm 5'2") this is just the right length to wear with flats or low heels.  Snag one for $35 on Amazon or look at Ross Dress for Less.

Kardashian Kollection - Red Striped Halter Maxi
This dress makes me feel like I belong on a cruise or catamaran. The halter ties are rope and the bold red stripes are sure to grab attention! Add some gold bangles, cute wedges and a wide brim hat and you're ready for a day at the shore.  Even better, it's on sale for $39 (down from $99!) at Sears!

Old Navy - Color Block High-Low Maxi
Old Navy has been stepping up their dress game this year with great prints and on-trend designs.  This high-low hem maxi dress in pink and orange is a lovely way to add a punch of color to your wardrobe.  Keep the accessories simple and neutral to let the bold colors take center stage.  For only $30 it's a wallet-friendly way to try this season's colorful trend.


Have you found any fabulous maxi dresses lately?  We're always looking for more shopping suggestions!

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