Laina Turner's Blog, page 68
November 12, 2014
What’s In My Closet
While I don’t wear a lot of animal print, they just doesn’t seem to look good on me, I love this simple dress that I bought a couple years ago from Kohls.
When I started the What I Wore/What’s in My Closet series (I couldn’t decide what name I liked best) it was to systematically go through my closet and pull out things I hadn’t worn in a while. Then decide if I wanted to wear them (as in the pictures) or put them in the Goodwill pile and get the clutter out of my house. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but I haven’t thrown anything out yet so I may need a new plan.
I hadn’t worn this in a while when I pulled it out, and I forgot how much I liked it. It’s comfortable and versatile. In these pictures, we were having some unusually warm weather for November but when it’s cold, I can throw on a long sleeve t underneath or put on a sweater and off I can go!
Have a wonderful day!
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November 11, 2014
Tasty Tuesday: Buffalo Falafel Wraps with Garlic Blue Cheese Fries
It’s been way too long since I’ve added a Tasty Tuesday post and the dinner I made the other night is so worth telling you all about! I don’t know about you, but I LOVE anything buffalo-style! Maybe it’s the fact that I’m pregnant and I’m having secret cravings for this type of food, but I could make everything buffalo-style and be completely content! The inspiration for this easy-to-make recipe came from a local gyro joint that my husband and I like to eat at. They have a buffalo falafel pita sandwich there that I just love! Then I found a similar recipe from Half Baked Harvest that I modified just a tad:
First, work on your fries…
Garlic Blue Cheese Fries:
4 medium size potatoes
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
1 tablespoon salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
Preheat oven to 425. Place cut potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, garlic, parsley or basil, salt and pepper. Gently toss potatoes in the bowl. Spread on a baking sheet in one layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip and bake for 15-20 minutes more.. Once the fries are cooked, remove them from the oven and toss with the blue cheese and fresh chopped basil.
Falafel Wraps
1 pkg of prepared falafel mix (found in the Asian section of your local grocery store)
1 cup buffalo sauce (to make, just melt 1 stick – 8 tablespoons – of unsalted butter and add 1/2 cup of Franks Red Hot Sauce. Stir well.)
1/2 cup ranch dressing
Few pieces of romaine lettuce
4 wraps (white, whole wheat, garden — whatever you like best)
Prepare the falafel according to package instructions. Once falafel has been cooked, immediately toss falafel balls with buffalo sauce. Place 3-4 falafel pieces on wrap, top with romaine lettuce, blue cheese fries and extra buffalo sauce. Drizzle some ranch dressing on top and wrap it up. Place a toothpick in center of wrap to hold it together.
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November 10, 2014
Easy Frosted Pastries
I’m not the type of cook who does pretty. It’s more about easy. My food is usually edible even if it doesn’t look all that great. At my soon to be brother-in-laws wedding last year, my soon to be mother-in-law (STBMIL) had a friend who made this amazing dessert (how’s that for a convoluted start to a story). I probably had about a hundred of these tiny pastries thingy’s with yummy frosting.
I got the recipe from the STBMIL and was immediately apprehensive because she said when she tried it, it was an epic fail and SHE is a good cook. But I figured what the hell? What’s $40 in groceries? Ok it didn’t actually cost $40 in ingredients but I sent the fiancé to the store and he got beer and coke. Neither of which I needed for these pastries but technically the trip cost me $40.
The ingredients were actually very simple, surprisingly so.
1/2 cup butter
1 lb. small curd cottage cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
Mix thoroughly, form into a ball, and refrigerate 2-4 hours.
That part I just breezed right through and felt pretty proud of myself. It was the next day when I went to roll them out that started to get dicey.
Roll each ball in a 16 – 18 inch circle.
Now that sounds simple, right? Yeah not so much. For me anyways. Rolling dough in a nice circle is hard. I can’t even draw a circle on paper so it’s not surprising I couldn’t do this. In theory I understand that if the dough starts out in a ball and you roll it evenly in each direction it will come out in a circle. That’s not how is usually happens for me but the end result is the same.
Cut in 16 pieces like a pie. Roll each piece like a crescent roll and place on ungreased baking sheet.
These instructions include cutting in a straight line. Another challenge for me.
Bake 300* for 40-45 min. Makes about 24.
They still turned out tasty though. Especially once adding the cream cheese frosting. You can’t go wrong with something topped with 16 oz of cream cheese, ½ c butter and 2 c powdered sugar mixed to frosting form.
Easy Frosted Pastries 2014-11-01 20:48:42 Serves 24
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Prep Time
30 min
Prep Time
30 min
Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 1 lb. small curd cottage cheese 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups flour 16 oz of cream cheese ½ c butter 2 c powdered sugar
Instructions Combine the butter, cottage cheese, salt, and flour. Mix thoroughly, form into a ball, and refrigerate 2-4 hours. Roll each ball in a 16 - 18 inch circle. Cut in 16 pieces like a pie. Roll each piece like a crescent roll and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 300* for 40-45 min. Makes about 24. Frosting Soften then beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar. Spread on cooled pastries.
By Laina Turner Laina Turner http://www.lainaturner.com/
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November 9, 2014
Fall Fashion Buys: Women’s Coats & Sweaters
There’s no doubt about it now — it’s definitely Fall and the colder weather is here! Need to spruce up your wardrobe for the season? Check out some of our favorite picks for women’s coats and sweaters!
Green Cutout Back Sweater Dress
This is a super adorable long sweater dress from American Eagle. Love the design and colors!
American Eagle Outfitters – Green Cutout Back Sweater Dress – $69.95, Free shipping – Available at American Eagle Outfitters
Boyfriend Cardigan
While it’s still chilly but not freezing, try this adorable light weight boyfriend cardigan. You can choose from multiple color and pattern options and the price is right!
Mossimo – Boyfriend Cardigan – $22.99, Free shipping – Available at Target.com
Brown Cocoon Sweater
This lightweight, brown cocoon sweater can go with any outfit!
American Eagle Outfitters – Brown Cocoon Sweater, Womens – $59.95, Free shipping – Available at American Eagle Outfitters
Shelby Poncho Sweater
Poncho sweaters are a big hit this year and this one is both fitted and fashionable.
Prana – Women’s Shelby Poncho Sweater – Fog (Medium) – $84.95, Free shipping – Available at Backcountry.com
Chunky Cardigan Sweater
Everyone needs a long, white cardigan sweater for their wardrobe – give this one a try for under $30!
Merona – Chunky Cardigan Sweater – Merona – $29.99, Free shipping – Available at Target.com
New York Zip Front Belted Wool Coat
This belted wool coat can be a staple in your wardrobe and pairs well with any outfit.
Kenneth Cole – New York Zip Front Belted Wool Coat w/ Beads On Shoulder Women’s Coat (Gray) – $227.99, Free shipping – Available at 6pm.com
Betsey Johnson – Cotton Double Breasted Trench Coat
Another classy coat for your wardrobe — the cotton double breasted trench coat. This coat will always remain in style!
Betsey Johnson – Betsey Johnson Womens Coated Cotton Double Breasted Trench Coat-Black-Size L (12 : 14) – $114.99, Free shipping – Available at Overstock.com
(41 reviews)
Babydoll Women’s Coat
I love the flattering design and fit of this baby-doll coat! And it even includes a zip-off hood.
DKNY – Knit Collar Babydoll Coat Women’s Coat (Gray) – $129.99, Free shipping – Available at 6pm.com
(22 reviews)
The North Face – Women’s Osito Jacket
Finally, if you need something more casual but warm — The North Face jacket is always a great buy!
The North Face – Women’s Osito Jacket – $69.99, 10.95 shipping – Available at Cabelas
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.
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November 8, 2014
Get 5 Cozy Mysteries for only .99 cents
In this 2nd box set you get Presley Thurman Cozy Mysteries 5-10 all in one great bundle!
Presley wins a bet with Cooper and thinks she finally is going to get her chance to work with him. She knows she’s got the potential to be a good security detail for his company. She’s miffed when she finds out her first assignment is to protect a bunch of self-absorbed beauty queens at a Texas pageant she had ben hoping for something a little more exciting. It soon becomes a more interesting gig than she thought when one of the beauty queens turns up dead. The fierce competition leaving the door wide open to suspects. Can Presley find the killer before anyone else turns up dead?
Cooper surprised Presley with a trip to an all-inclusive resort in Cabo San Lucas for Valentine’s Day. She couldn’t have been happier to think of a long week of fun and sun with her man. No work and all play was all that was on her mind until well-renowned Mexican soap opera star, Lucia Vegas, turned up dead in the hotel pool where they were staying. It was no accident; it was murder, and Presley couldn’t help but wonder what had happened. Then she met reporter, Belinda, who told her the theory she had that Lucia was just one of a string of murders targeting young actresses but no one would listen. Vacation or not, Presley couldn’t stand by and take the chance another young actress would be killed! Can her and Belinda find out who’s behind these murders in time before anyone else turns up dead?
Presley goes back home to help best friend Katy plan for her wedding to Chris even though Presley thinks Katy is making a huge mistake. But wedding plans are dampened when realtor, Bethany Granville, is found dead in Katy’s salon and Katy didn’t even know Bethany. Ever curious Presley wants to solve the murder but as usual things aren’t that simple and grow even more complicated when ex-friend Dirt, who was in jail for murder escapes. Is he coming after the people who helped put him there? And how did Katy’s fiancé know Bethany? Presley just hopes finding the answers won’t hurt Katy.
The bookkeeper at Jared’s company has been murdered. If that wasn’t bad enough someone is also trying to sabotage the company by leaking company documents to other firms who are then upstaging their presentations. This is causing the company to lose accounts, loose money, and could possibly force them to close their doors. Jared asks for her help to find out who is trying to take Sleeping Bear Designs down and Presley is more than happy to help. While Presley is always willing to help a friend, she is also hoping it will take her mind off obsessing over Cooper.
They’ve been on a break or are they broken up? It was never clarified, and she just found out he’s in town and he hasn’t called. Is he avoiding her? What does that mean? Are they done for good?
Grabbing the wonderful opportunity to buy the now failing retail boutique, Silk, which she used to work at Presley thinks she finally about to embark on her new career. This is her chance to make her mark on the world.
The excitement is short lived when on the first day of business ownership store manager, Roxanne, is arrested for murdering her boyfriend. Roxanne insists she’s innocent and asks for Presley’s help.
Presley believes her and tries to help all while getting the boutique up and running. Things there aren’t going to smoothly as Presley finds out someone has been ordering merchandise using company funds, but none of it can be found in the store. Who is stealing from Silk? Did she make a mistake in taking this on? And what’s the real story with Roxanne? Has Presley been too trusting?
Purchase this complete box set here!
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November 7, 2014
Fab 5 Friday
Here are just a fraction of all the fabulous posts I saw around the web this week.
Living in Yellow – Creativity Killers….Because I suffer this all the time.
Mix and Match Mama – Sweet Corn Chili…This looks amazing and I will be trying!
Helene in Between – Using PicMonkey For Your Blog…This is a great tool.
A Spoonful Of Style – Hooded Cardi…Because I’m always cold and need more sweaters.
Pumps & Iron – 4 Ways to Stay Fit During the Holidays…Because I am going wedding dress shopping the week after Thanksgiving. I NEED this!
Have a great Friday!
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November 6, 2014
5 Steps To Take When You’re Overwhelmed With Clutter
That’s me/my house right now. We moved into our rental house July 1st as a temporary solution for a year so we would have time to buy a new one. So I admit I wasn’t overly motivated to unpack right away and organize. However, I have been noticing that the last few weeks the house has seemed to be spiraling out of control and this weekend I realized there wasn’t a single room that felt organized.
Initially, it frustrated me and filled me with dread because I’ve been super busy lately with work and the kids schedules. The thought of taking the hours I know are needed to get the house back in the shape it needs to be was a horrible thought.
Then I realized as with any big, and seemingly overwhelming, goal breaking it up in smaller chunks will make it manageable and less stressful.
These are the 5 steps I recommend you take to accomplish this task.
Make a list. Even though it can be fun to live in denial and not face exactly what it is you need to get done. Plus it can be so much fun when you get things done and cross them off.
Create a timeline that breaks the list in small pieces that you can work on daily or weekly.
Start off with the project you don’t want to do the most. Eat That Frog it will get it out of the way and make everything else seem easier.
Don’t try and do everything yourself. Enlist the kids, and I know it can be a challenge to get them to clean, but if you make if fun it will be easier. Learning to be responsible can’t happen too early.
Reward yourself. Whether it be an hour of reading a good book or taking an uninterrupted bubble bath give yourself something to look forward too. You deserve it!
Remember the clutter didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t get fixed overnight.
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November 5, 2014
Creating your brand as a blogger
Branding. You may have thought about it or maybe not. Regardless of which camp you fall into if you are serious about your business as a blogger than you NEED to make it a priority.
I know what you must be thinking. I’m just blogging here. What do I need a brand for? Well, you don’t if your blog is just for fun. But if want to be a professional, not an amateur you must have a brand.
Brand is defined as the “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s product distinct from those of other sellers. Think Apple, Target, or Starbucks. Most of us can spot one of those stores from a mile away even if we can’t read the letters, but that’s just part of what a brand it. It’s more than a recognizable logo or image. It’s not JUST the red bullseye for Target or the lady on the cup for Starbucks. A brand is the feeling it invokes. To me I equate Starbucks to a hipster place for overpriced (but really good) coffee where I can hang out with my Mac Book and surf the web with other people doing the same. I tend to feel more creative at a Starbucks than I do at home in my office. I like going there because of how it makes me feel not just the place to grab a cup of coffee. It’s an experience.
Apple is a lifestyle (or a cult if you want to go that route) when I see someone with a MacBook I feel a kinship and think, “that’s a cool gal, she’s a Mac user.”
The feeling these two companies evoke is what brands them. You want people to have that feeling when they land on your blog.
You want your blog to be distinct from all the other blogs out there don’t you?
Think of the blogs you love and why. Between the blog design, their voice, and the content they write on, what is it they say to you? What is the experience you have on those blogs. Then think what is the experience you want folks to have when they come to your blog.
There are a couple blogs I think do a great job of creating a brand. A couple I will list here and why.
I Wore Yoga Pants – Whitney, the author of this blog, is a fun loving person who is transparent about her life and what’s happening in it. I go to this blog because I know I will laugh and sometimes sympathize with her as she goes through life experiences we all go through.
A Beautiful Mess – When I visit their site it inspires creativity, and I can see the beauty in everything. They are way above my DYI skills, but they make it seem effortless.
Yes, they also have a logo but without the personality, the feeling coming from these blogs the brand wouldn’t be as meaningful.
When people visit my blog, I want them to feel like they are coming to my house to hang out with a glass of wine and some great conversation. Every post I write I ask myself if that is how it comes across. I don’t always hit the mark; it’s a work in progress, but I have a goal in site.
What is your blogs brand?
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November 4, 2014
What’s In My Closet
I love eBay. In fact, after years of working in retail I hate paying full price for anything so love Goodwill and eBay where I can find great bargains.
This dress was a find. Michael Kors I got it for 2.99.
Now there are some things that I do buy new. Mainly because I can’t find what I want for the right price used. This year I needed (I promise it WAS a need not a want) new black boots and purse. At the end of last year mine were so worn I tossed them. These 2 items are main staples of my winter wardrobe and I completely wore them out. So I headed to DSW with a coupon and found 2 great deals!
I see construction cones and I can’t resist posing.
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November 3, 2014
Espresso Bellavitano Crescent Rolls
One of the many great things that have come out of my relationship with my fiancé is Sartori cheese. I can’t believe I made it to my late 30’s without having discovered this amazing stuff. There are many different kinds, all good in my opinion, so when my fiancé showed me their recipe website I was thrilled. The recipes all look yummy and using such great cheeses how could they not be.
I warn you, you will be seeing a lot of these recipes in weeks to come because I want to try them all.
I started with this one because the combination of cheese and chocolate is a favorite of mind. It’s simple to make and only takes 3 ingredients.
I pkg of crescent rolls
1 c. mini chocolate chips – I used dark because that’s why I prefer. I’m sure any flavor would be just as good.
½ wedge shredded Espresso BellaVitano – This cheese does have a strong flavor. You might want to cut down a little if you’re not a fan of strong cheese.
Just roll out the crescents fill with chocolate chips and cheese and roll up.
Cook at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. See…super easy.
They are best served warm so if you don’t eat them all in one sitting like we did (no judging) you can warm them back up in the microwave. I assume. I couldn’t actually try it since there wasn’t any left.
Happy eating!
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